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Life, the Universe, and Everything*
Musings from Linda / LUE-42 Enterprises
Issue #114, August 2020
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Didn't July feel like a long month? I mean that in a good way! August sounds too close to autumn and I'm not quite ready for that.
Traditionally, our summers have been free of Annual General Meetings but this year was different. Several organizations put off their spring meetings until they could find a way to do it virtually, and do it well. Shout out to two organizations that had the best virtual AGMs I've seen (and I've seen many!): Institute of Certified Management Consultants of Alberta and Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating. They both managed to do the business of an AGM thoroughly but efficiently, they were well scripted, they had multiple presenters, there were opportunities for member involvement, and they did a great job of member recognition once the business was complete. Thank you, ICMCA and CIPH, for showing me what's possible.
Many of you have asked me how I'm coping without football (so far). I'll be honest...it's surreal. Just to provide a bit of sanity, a few of us did a social distance tailgate in the Commonwealth Stadium parking lot on the evening of what would have been our first game. This helped immensely and I expect we'll do it again pretty soon.
The second most asked question I've been getting is what I think about the Edmonton Eskimos name change. Some of us have talked about this the last few years, and more often in recent weeks. My view was always that the name was about pride, strength, and resilience, but because that wasn't universally felt/understood, we would have to change at some point -- and better now than later. The club stepped in last week and retired the name effective immediately. We are now the Edmonton Football Team and/or the EE Football Team. I am fine with that as a place holder, and also with trying to keep the EE and the green and gold colours (I am proud we started with cast-offs from the University of Alberta Golden Bears!).
Here are two things I don't like about the whole "name change" thing. First, fan chat streams. Oh man, are people ever ignorant. For every sensible comment there are two dozen inane and/or inaccurate comments. Sometimes I can't believe I feel any collegiality towards these people at all. It's not just our fans of course, but because reading their stuff makes my head ache, I don't look there anymore. And while I'm fine with public consultation on a new name, the Edmonton Football organization had better not let fans "vote" for the name. Just sayin'...
Secondly, I am really choked at the team's sponsors who have used the team name as an opportunity to boost their own profile. In football there is a penalty called "piling on." It essentially means that you jump on/tackle a player who is already down. In my view Bel Air Direct and Boston Pizza are both guilty of piling onto the Edmonton Football team. Bel Air Direct has been a long time sponsor and would have had ample opportunity to raise this concern if they were truly morally outraged. Instead, I get the sense that they saw what was happening in the US and decided to jump on the bandwagon. Their opportunism is why they will never get a nickle of my money. Never. I am disappointed with Boston Pizza for different reason. They were already out of their deal with the team. A business decision had been made ages ago to discontinue (not based on the team name), and they were just running out the clock on the contract. Instead of letting it end naturally, they also jumped on the bandwagon and tried to make their departure about the name. That's garbage, and for that reason they also won't be getting any more of my business.
Aren't you glad you asked? That's a lot of football talk for there not being a season (yet).
I've been happily settling into my new space and trying to donate (or otherwise get rid of) one-third of everything I unpack. I am actually doing pretty well. I went so many months without most of my possessions that it's clear now I don't need as much. Impeding my progress, however, is the arrival of garage sales (Phase 3 re-opening). Oops.
I've been reading a ton and also enjoying socially distanced coffees, cocktails, dinners, and bonfires. I even had an overnight camping trip! I also visited Leduc to see the signs they posted about the PWA crash in 1973. That event has a link to my family, so I wanted to see it. The staff at Leduc City Hall went above and beyond to make sure I could find it. Great customer service is still alive and well.
Alas, my juggling attempts have stalled. My revised goal is to be a competent juggler by Labour Day. What are you plans?
"It isn't a perfect place. There are no perfect places. But nobody cares about perfection when there are sand castles to build and kites to chase, children that are being born, old hearts that are giving in."
-- Lauren DeStefano
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Question: What if our association's history doesn't quite fit with what's going on now?
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ANSWER: Ask yourself some hard questions, give honest answers, and change.
I was really taken by James Taylor's blog entitled "Now That We Know Better"
(June 10, 2020 BoardSource). At the time of writing it, Taylor was watching various monuments to U.S. history come crashing down. I know here in Canada we are going through similar, whether it's monuments or names of communities, streets, or teams. I found his response thoughtful and helpful.
I also liked his use of the Maya Anjelou quote, "Do the best you can until you know better; then when you know better, do better." This really is what is being asked of us and of our organizations. Taylor notes that in just a few years, public opinion has shifted away from resistance and more towards consensus to do something about our ties to history.
I love that Taylor brought this back to the not-for-profit sector. He encourages board members to reflect on these questions:
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What are the "monuments" that have been "erected and hono(u)red" historically in your organization? Are they standing in your way? What are the practices, policies, procedures, values, and cultural norms that have been "immovable," that have been in place for too long - or perhaps never should have existed at all?
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Are there issues that your board has consciously avoided discussing, issues your board has yet to "acknowledge, understand, and reconcile"? Are they holding you (and the audience you serve) back from a better future?
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Which issues are most relevant and important to the audience you serve? Are you willing to be persistent, resolute, and committed to advocating for them over time? (At BoardSource we have developed the Stand for Your Mission website to provide helpful tools and resources in support of your advocacy efforts.)
I hope this gives you something to talk about (as though you didn't have anything!). As I think about boards I've had the privilege of working with, I trust you will find your way through to being refreshed and revitalized.
Taylor's blog has two more pieces that are consistent with this topic ("Ceding Power and Inflience" and "Growing Your Knowledge Base"). Each of these also has questions for your board that you will find useful in this evolution. Take care.
/lmwe
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AUGUST 2020 OBSERVANCES AND OCCASIONS
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Shout Out
to s
ome people who made my life better in July: MaryJane Alanko, Leslie Arnott, Glynnie Cara, David Cheoros, Keleigh Cormier, Susan Crowe, Patricia Darbasie, Ken Davies, Mandy Foster & Dave Sutherland, Liz Garratt, Leah Iszakovitz, Gloria Killins, Lynn MacAskill, Cheryle & Leonard McCullough, Sherrill Mcgilvray, Doug Macnamara, Andy Northrup, Hector Pothier, Misty Sklar, Tanya & Patrick Smith, Esther West and family
"No friendship is an accident." -- Unknown
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A Moment to Change (Statistics-based article by BoardSource CEO on board diversity & mandates. Translates well for Canada)
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Wish I'd Said That
"Low Self-Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7pm. Please use the back door." -- From a church bulletin
"In every community, there is work to do be done.
In every nation, there are wounds to heal.
In every heart, there is the power to do it." -
- Marianne Williamson
"One must take what comes, with laughter."
-- Olivia de Havilland (1916-2020 RIP)
"Two and a half thousand left-handed people are killed every year using things made for right-handed people."
-- Maggie O'Farrell (The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox)
"Anyone who thinks he's too small to make a difference has never been bit by a mosquito."
-- Jeanette Walls
"When a crow says an intelligent thing, chickens may laugh at it. This is the laughing of the sand castles at the powerful waves! -- Mehmet Murat Ildan
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Talking to Your Friends About Race
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There is more out there on this topic than a person can possibly process, but the "spirit" of this article by Alia Hoyt (HowStuffWorks.com) appealed to me. It addresses how difficult it is to open one's mouth at all for fear of offending. But if we don't talk (and listen), we can't learn. So here are some tips for "keeping charged conversations constructive" and here's a link to the whole
article.
- Keep it kind. During heightened emotions, be especially kind and thoughtful.
- Think through your intentions. What do you hope to gain from the conversation? Be honest.
- Be open, honest, and unafraid. "Don't hesitate to ask for insight on issues you don't understand."
- Sympathize, don't empathize. "Don't try to normalize the other person's experiences or apply your own situation."
- Legitimately listen. "Listen to listen, not to respond." Listen with ears and heart.
- Don't get defensive. Don't get defensive about your culture. Refer to #5.
Hoyt says, "Few complex issues are thoroughly understood or resolved after one conversation, but each one is a step in the right direction. If done correctly and with respect, at the end of the talk both people might not totally get each other's positions, but they'll be in a better place to continue the talk later."
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Heads Up, Alberta Health Professions!
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You already know, but others might be interested. On July 06, 2020 the Alberta Government tabled Bill 30
, the Health Statutes Amendment Act, 2020.
This proposed legislation would result in amendments to the Health Professions Act, among others. There is a list of proposals for changes to regulatory colleges of health professions, not the least of which is to increase public representation on Councils/Boards and Hearing Tribunals to 50% or more (with the balance being members of the profession). If passed, the new legislation would come into effect on April 01, 2021. Believe me, you'll want to review Bill 30 and respond. Ask Alberta Health for a copy of the discussion paper. Good luck!
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How to have a beach body: 1. Have a body. 2. Go to the beach.
Have an awesome August!
LUE-42 Enterprises #BeKind
* with fond acknowledge to Douglas Adams and The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy
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