You will see a different format for the Presidents Message this year. It will be focused on a theme that will reflect the upcoming meeting topic. I want to direct you to our newsletter for my comments about general chapter progress and events.
Service is Our Theme for February
I would like to begin our conversation with an experience that profoundly impacted my understanding of service.
I entered the office at the end of the day a little after on Friday. The receptionist and secretary were gone. There was a gentleman in the office that was hugging a load of papers with one arm and holding a brief case in his other hand as he struggled to open a door on the other side of the room. A sign above it said exit.
He was surprised, to say the least, when he turned and saw me standing there with two small children.
The look on his face was memorable and that was nearly 30 years ago. I watched the struggle of emotions as he tried to decide how to respond. I told him I was interested in his organization and had stopped by to find out more. He mentioned that everyone had left for the day and would not return until Monday. He then turned slightly as he started to push the door open to leave.
Something stopped him, he stood quietly for just a moment as if he was looking up and then he seemed to relax. He turned to face me and the struggle was over. His smile warmed my heart as he affirmed our value with that simple action. We became members of his organization that day. We stayed for many years and would be there today if we still lived there. You see he was the head of an organization with nearly 2000 members and he took the time to stop his busy schedule to help a stranger. Over the years his leadership demonstrated a pattern of service that gave his organization a reputation of service and stability in our community.?
Through the years his lesson has visually replayed in my head when I too have been pressed and felt I had no time or could give no more. That little encounter lasted no more than 7-10 minutes but has repeatedly restored my hope, energy and commitment to serve others over these past 30 years.
This act was a small intangible event but service from the inside out is about the intangibles of life. It?s about the little things - daily diligence, integrity and values. It?s about giving of our energy, talent, and knowledge with no expectation of a return.
When it comes to the bottom line that kind of service is something we can pass on to the next generation of members and to our community. When we think about our job, our roles, and our ASTD chapter we need to suspend time for a moment of reflection and ask ourselves: Who are we? What is COC-ASTD about? Who do we serve and why? How do we as an organization view and plan to demonstrate service in 2007? How do we plan to imprint our service value on our membership and community to give them memories that will restore their hope and courage to serve others in the future?
Think about it and join us in February to find out how your board intends to interpret their understanding of service this year.
