Comments for Leadership and Community

Comment on Should I Stay Or Should I Go? by Sue Warner

Sue Warner — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:13:50 +0000

Wendy –

I totally understand your angst. I’m feeling a bit of the same with an organization I’ve involved with. Quitting seems like I’m pulling a Sarah Palin. But, life is short and there are lots of things to which I can devote my time and resources.

Only you know if you did the right thing. But, you’re a reasonable woman with pretty good instincts.

Comment on Should I Stay Or Should I Go? by Quixote Foundation

Quixote Foundation — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:01:15 +0000

Your relationship analogy is a good one, and it sounds as if you’ve done the right thing by respecting the reality of your current situation instead of clinging to your earlier, different hopes for the involvement. If you stay on a board once those mutual hopes have become unrealistic, you’re just giving the illusion that leadership is present without actually filling the role. It’s much more honest and kinder to resign as you’ve done, so the nonprofit can identify and fill the resulting gap.

Comment on Coffee Party, anyone? by Brian Lucas

Brian Lucas — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 16:01:38 +0000

I hope you’re right… but when I watched the Health Care Summit… or as the Governor and the legislature clash over GAMC… I start to have my doubts. Maybe I need a little more coffee this morning so I can get some “hopey-changey” vibes going too!

Comment on White Collar Crime: Don’t let it happen to you! by Lexa Hoffner

Lexa Hoffner — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 02:39:25 +0000

Hank Shea has graciously agreed to add a white collar criminal presentation to The Minnesota Student Leadership Seminar on March 29th. He was an inspiring guest speaker at our inaugural seminar (2009) and to our great pleasure and gratitude has remained involved in the seminar this year.

The seminar is an interactive set of small group discussions for high school students (separate sessions for faculty) focused on values and leadership and how they intersect. We are excited to be able to include the white collar criminal session between group sessions because it will re-enforce the idea that values have to be 1) identified and then 2) continuously revisited so that decisions are congruent with them.

Comment on High-Impact Philanthropy Begins at Home by LuAnne Speeter

LuAnne Speeter — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 16:43:07 +0000

Thank you, Rachel, for calling attention to this organization and its website. I agree – it’s chockful of excellent ideas for family projects. And it encourages a holistic approach through planning, reflection and additional reading.

We’d love to hear from anyone who can share his or her experience with a family project – whether it involved volunteering, donating or fundraising. What kind of an impact did it have on your family members in addition to those you were helping out?

Comment on High-Impact Philanthropy Begins at Home by Rachel

Rachel — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 00:14:33 +0000

Getting children involved in service builds compassion, empathy, understanding and is a great way for families to spend time together, Check out the wonderful organization, Doing Good Together (www.doinggoodtogether.org), for ideas on how you can get started volunteering as a family.

Comment on White Collar Crime: Don’t let it happen to you! by Wendy Helgeson

Wendy Helgeson — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 15:14:19 +0000

Tim – PERFECT timing! Community Safety day is next month and of course Hank Shea will be there with another one of his clients. Always one of the most eye-opening and memorable presentations of the year. I think it is a story everyone should hear and your narrative is right on! Thanks for sharing and commenting.

Comment on Budgeting and ROI: Common Sense Decision Making by Angie Andresen

Angie Andresen — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 18:13:36 +0000

Agree with this, Brian — especially early childhood education and early childhood FAMILY education. Much research has been done on the importance of investing in these types of programs and the the positive impact it has on our state down the road. Much smarter — and less expensive — to invest in kids now (which reduces crime rates, drug use, etc.) than to pay for rehabilitation and incarceration later.

Comment on Budgeting and ROI: Common Sense Decision Making by Sue Warner

Sue Warner — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 15:56:35 +0000

One more ROI I’d add to your list is investing in care management for people with chronic health conditions. The GAMC and people with disabilities. By investing in simple things like accessible fitness programs, and basic health care, you can avoid the more serious and costly health concerns that drive up health care costs.

Comment on Neighborhood Names: Stereotyping or Better Neighbors? by Chad Weinstein

Chad Weinstein — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 03:53:56 +0000

I gotta say, sometimes the neighborhood naming cracks me up, especially in the hands of Realtors with poetic license. I nominally live in Merriam Park, though I can see the border with “Midway” from my third floor windows. The enclave is also known as Union Park, as well as Iris Park. What’s in a name? Apparently a few dollars in asking price.