On an almost daily basis I am amazed at the intelligence, creativity, energy, zeal, and time people from nearly every walk of life are putting in to make Hartsville an even better place to live, work and raise a family. Some are doing these things because they are part of their jobs -- and in most cases the real compensation for the extra they are putting into the community-building aspect of these jobs is only covered under psychic income.
Public officials in Hartsville get paid but their pay is not substantial in most cases and in nearly all cases they would be compensated much more richly were they putting their efforts into earning money.
Community volunteers are getting no financial compensation at all for what they do. I work for a board of trustees at The Byerly Foundation who all have joined the Board to contribute to making this community one of the best in the world. They get no financial compensation. In the world of Foundations, many private foundation boards do earn money for their service.
City staff do get paid for their efforts. In some cases the pay is adequate and in some cases the pay is way low for city-value received yet we have some of the best "public servants" in Hartsville that you will find in government work around this country. Many of the people I am thinking of almost never turn off their availability to helping meet our city's challenges. Just had a conversation with one of those city people earlier this week and she was already planning her weekend around making significant headway on one of her city projects. No overtime involved in that decision; just a dedicated community builder.
I am glad we have people who will work for the psychic income their roles provide because we would not be able to afford them at market rates that people of their caliber bring in the corporate or business world.
My guess is that all of us know people who are dedicating a great deal of their time to making things better in our city, in our schools, with our children, in our public spaces, in our public places -- you would be amazed at how much a quick thank you would add to their life satisfaction. And, even without the thank you they are going to "keep on, keeping on."
Psychic income is often very valuable personal compensation.
Showing posts with label Community Building. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Community Building. Show all posts
Friday, March 04, 2016
Thursday, January 28, 2016
Community Building takes leadership and Leadership is not always easy
Building community is an undertaking that constant scrutiny by people who are willing to move from their comfort zone to spheres of leadership. Community building is not easy. Being a leader is not easy. One of the leadership principles that I have seen work over and over again is exhibited by gutsy leaders who are willing to own the problem. "It's not my fault" is the refrain we hear so often when a situation needs repair and rebuilding.
Leaders in community building generally are not all that interested in finding fault; they are interested in creating solutions.
The solution comes far more quickly when we decide it matters a lot less now about who caused it and why and a lot more about how do we fix it. There is only so much building energy to be tapped. A leader who comes in with a willingness to own the problem is likely going to have a team working on the solutions long before the manager who has a need to fix blame and punish shortcomings.
Michael Hyatt, whose platform is as a virtual mentor, had an interesting blog post this morning on key leadership characteristics written about by former Navy SEAL Team leaders. The post is a quick read and well worth the read if you are into leading community building efforts.
Leaders in community building generally are not all that interested in finding fault; they are interested in creating solutions.
The solution comes far more quickly when we decide it matters a lot less now about who caused it and why and a lot more about how do we fix it. There is only so much building energy to be tapped. A leader who comes in with a willingness to own the problem is likely going to have a team working on the solutions long before the manager who has a need to fix blame and punish shortcomings.
Michael Hyatt, whose platform is as a virtual mentor, had an interesting blog post this morning on key leadership characteristics written about by former Navy SEAL Team leaders. The post is a quick read and well worth the read if you are into leading community building efforts.
Saturday, July 06, 2013
Compassion and Community Building - according to Rich Harwood
Rich Harwood has put some of the major concerns he has heard from people across the nation into a new book to spark conversations on what we need to accomplish to rebuild stronger communities, stronger connections among people and new ways forward in what I might call here the American Dream.
Rich has written THE WORK OF HOPE with funding from the Kettering Foundaiton, which has funded much of the work that has built to this current reflection of thinking of people across America. In getting into his book, I have been using Facebook and this forum to share some ideas hoping others will go to the book to see how what Harwood is reflecting compares to their own thoughts and feelings.
In the third chapter he discusses some of the key values noted in the community discussions and he starts with the idea of Compassion. This is one snippet from the chapter:
Rich has written THE WORK OF HOPE with funding from the Kettering Foundaiton, which has funded much of the work that has built to this current reflection of thinking of people across America. In getting into his book, I have been using Facebook and this forum to share some ideas hoping others will go to the book to see how what Harwood is reflecting compares to their own thoughts and feelings.
In the third chapter he discusses some of the key values noted in the community discussions and he starts with the idea of Compassion. This is one snippet from the chapter:
What does it mean to be compassionate and for compassion to en-
gender a sense of hope among people? The answer, is that more people
must be willing to step forward and be in relationship with others—to see
and hear one another, to acknowledge each other’s pain and aspirations,
to know that we cannot go it alone in life. Then compassion can be a
guiding force for the nation and produce the hope people yearn for.
The ebook is a great resource and one that will allow a quick read and much more time for consideration of the content.
Monday, June 01, 2009
It wasn't about white men or even Latina women;Judge Sotomayor was right in 2001
When thinking about building community is seems to me we need to be grasping to see the bigger picture, which seems to be a major goal in our current "got-ya" culture. First, if all the enemies can find is one word in a speech eight years ago for a judge who has been writing judicial opinions for a couple of decades the turmoil is less than a tempest in the proverbial teapot.
But, let's think about the bigger picture as related to the gripe that Judge Sottomayor said a decision that included a Latina woman would be better than a decision that just included white men. Where is the controversy? How is that racist?
In my community thinking and community building activities and in my professional life there have been several instances that stand out to me about the need for the diversity that the Judge really was discussing in her speech.
#1 -- On the school board we were often told the reason for so few minority teachers and so few minority administrators was that there were just none available and non applying for jobs in our district. It was amazing when a minority was hired as the assistant superintendent for human resources how quickly there was a pool of applicants that represented the diversity of the county.
#2 -- Working in corporate America is was often said the reason for no women at the top was there were not capable female executive candidates. What a difference it made when a female became head of human resources and a new perspective was involved
in searching for candidates.
#3 -- Have been wondering since the mid 1970s what difference it would have made if city council had invited some community members to the planning sessions that put a municipal swimming pool within a hundred yards of a cemetery. Council always wondered why the pool never got more use. Many members of the minority community who lived in that neighborhood did not feel it was respectful to have the cemetery and pool right next to each other.
People like to simple answers and people like to put others in instant classifications so they don't have to think. If you are going to build a community at what we call the local level or the national level, you have to get around to thinking instead of knee-jerk reacting, which destroys but never builds.
But, let's think about the bigger picture as related to the gripe that Judge Sottomayor said a decision that included a Latina woman would be better than a decision that just included white men. Where is the controversy? How is that racist?
In my community thinking and community building activities and in my professional life there have been several instances that stand out to me about the need for the diversity that the Judge really was discussing in her speech.
#1 -- On the school board we were often told the reason for so few minority teachers and so few minority administrators was that there were just none available and non applying for jobs in our district. It was amazing when a minority was hired as the assistant superintendent for human resources how quickly there was a pool of applicants that represented the diversity of the county.
#2 -- Working in corporate America is was often said the reason for no women at the top was there were not capable female executive candidates. What a difference it made when a female became head of human resources and a new perspective was involved
in searching for candidates.
#3 -- Have been wondering since the mid 1970s what difference it would have made if city council had invited some community members to the planning sessions that put a municipal swimming pool within a hundred yards of a cemetery. Council always wondered why the pool never got more use. Many members of the minority community who lived in that neighborhood did not feel it was respectful to have the cemetery and pool right next to each other.
People like to simple answers and people like to put others in instant classifications so they don't have to think. If you are going to build a community at what we call the local level or the national level, you have to get around to thinking instead of knee-jerk reacting, which destroys but never builds.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Great American Clean Up follows Christmas in April
The city sponsored Great American Clean Up is set for this Saturday, April 25 beginning at Pride Park on Sixth Street in Hartsville. This event is 8 - 1 and they are looking for volunteers -- a tee shirt, work vest and some lunch after the work -- the good feeling for helping build your community you give to yourself.
In Hartsville - 4-25-09
If you follow the above link over the hartsvilletoday take a look at photos of a house being razed on Washinton Street. Progress.
In Hartsville - 4-25-09
If you follow the above link over the hartsvilletoday take a look at photos of a house being razed on Washinton Street. Progress.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Happy Birthday Marines
November 10th is the birthday of the United States Marine Corps. Okay, so maybe you have to have been a Marine to care but for 233 years members of the Corps have been one of the major defensive strengths of our nation.
A look at the traditions of the Marine Corps will give you some models for community building. There are not ex Marines, only former Marines. Semper Fi! One possible tradition that is more like a value is that the Marine Corps is about the mission. A plan, resources to execute the plan (always in short supply), and most importantly Marines, who bring that plan to life.
A look at the traditions of the Marine Corps will give you some models for community building. There are not ex Marines, only former Marines. Semper Fi! One possible tradition that is more like a value is that the Marine Corps is about the mission. A plan, resources to execute the plan (always in short supply), and most importantly Marines, who bring that plan to life.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
