I’m like a lot of other folks. I don’t watch golf on TV unless Tiger’s playing. The last couple of times I’ve watched it struck me how the officials insist on absolute quiet when golfers are hitting their shots. Yet, if you turn the channel and watch a basketball championship game you see something quite different.
With one second to go all eyes are on the person taking the last free throw attempt. If he/she makes it, the game is tied and if they make the second shot, they’re the champions. If not they lose. And while on the other channel there is absolute silence, during the whole time the round ball player is getting ready and shooting the fans are screaming, waving anything they can get their hands on and doing their absolute best to distract the shooter.
Just as much riding on either sport; yet, one insists on silence while at the other disruption and commotion rule. Big money and huge prestige riding on both.
These are the kinds of things that capture my attention and make me think about our work. Some times it’s nice and quiet. Moments later it’s distraction and diversion. Yet it doesn’t prevent the Delarc Team from scoring one victory after another for the children and adults we serve and support.
What a squad!
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Friday, September 25, 2009
Uncluttered Minds
Yesterday afternoon the Leadership Team met to review the first draft of our proposal to introduce the Shift Happens proactive philosophy and positive approach into the NYS OMRDD system (see last post).
What an incredible group of people! After a brief introduction I distributed the draft, broke them into small groups and asked them to do their thing. And what a thing they did. Their observations, comments, criticisms, inputs, changes and questions were all on the money. At the end of the meeting we had a whole new, and needless to say, better document.
Almost 20 years ago, the late Fred McDonald, a consultant, was hired by our Board of Directors to lead a strategic planning process. He worked with us 3 to 5 days a month for over a year and in the process came to know our staff very well. At one point he commented to me about the awe he felt when working with them. He said that no matter how busy they were or what the topic, when he spoke to them individually or as a group he marvelled at their "uncluttered minds".
Quite a few of the members have changed since then; some have remained but to this day when you get these folks together their minds remain uncluttered. This does not mean they are not busy. Nor does it mean they don't live full and abundant lives. Quite the contrary. The abundance of their lives and the importance and busy ness of their jobs is what makes their ability to put everything else aside, listen to the question or examine the issue and focus clearly, thoughtfully and thoroughly on the matter at hand continues to excite and inspire me.
They never fail to impress me and they never, ever fail to accomplish the job. And, in this case, the proposal we are developing has benefited greatly.
What an talented, amazing and fun group of people. How lucky The Arc of Delaware County is to have so many fine people.
What an incredible group of people! After a brief introduction I distributed the draft, broke them into small groups and asked them to do their thing. And what a thing they did. Their observations, comments, criticisms, inputs, changes and questions were all on the money. At the end of the meeting we had a whole new, and needless to say, better document.
Almost 20 years ago, the late Fred McDonald, a consultant, was hired by our Board of Directors to lead a strategic planning process. He worked with us 3 to 5 days a month for over a year and in the process came to know our staff very well. At one point he commented to me about the awe he felt when working with them. He said that no matter how busy they were or what the topic, when he spoke to them individually or as a group he marvelled at their "uncluttered minds".
Quite a few of the members have changed since then; some have remained but to this day when you get these folks together their minds remain uncluttered. This does not mean they are not busy. Nor does it mean they don't live full and abundant lives. Quite the contrary. The abundance of their lives and the importance and busy ness of their jobs is what makes their ability to put everything else aside, listen to the question or examine the issue and focus clearly, thoughtfully and thoroughly on the matter at hand continues to excite and inspire me.
They never fail to impress me and they never, ever fail to accomplish the job. And, in this case, the proposal we are developing has benefited greatly.
What an talented, amazing and fun group of people. How lucky The Arc of Delaware County is to have so many fine people.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Shifting New York
Over the spring and summer the Executive Directors Association of NYSARC (EDA) sponsored three regional training sessions for Executive Teams. The results were strong and a conference call is scheduled for later this week to discuss possible next steps. While timing may not be right for some and others may have other priorities, it seems very likely several organizations will be interested in more training or consultations.
At the third session, three high level officials from the NYS Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (OMRDD) attended. They felt the material offered serious implications for their organization and today our CFO, Teresa Skinner and I met with them and several other officials along with the EDA Chair. The meeting couldn’t have gone better. All agree the Shift Happens model is worth bringing forward to District offices for further review. A Nov. 4 date was set to introduce them to the model.
At the same time we will be developing a state wide plan/proposal. One of the foundation pieces will be to develop a pilot the model within the Broome District.
While all this is going on we continue to work with Orange County AHRC.
New York may not be Shifting yet, but it looks like it is about to.
At the third session, three high level officials from the NYS Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (OMRDD) attended. They felt the material offered serious implications for their organization and today our CFO, Teresa Skinner and I met with them and several other officials along with the EDA Chair. The meeting couldn’t have gone better. All agree the Shift Happens model is worth bringing forward to District offices for further review. A Nov. 4 date was set to introduce them to the model.
At the same time we will be developing a state wide plan/proposal. One of the foundation pieces will be to develop a pilot the model within the Broome District.
While all this is going on we continue to work with Orange County AHRC.
New York may not be Shifting yet, but it looks like it is about to.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)