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Message from the CEO
An Exciting Summer Ahead...
Summer 2023 is already shaping up to be far surpassing the past few summers...thanks to forging ideas, productivity and action from our talented staff at the STRIDE HQ! There's enthusiasm from our staff that exudes ideas resulting in productivity.
In today's American work culture, many employees are drifting from organizations – even when they are not actually leaving. Only 1 in 4 employees strongly agree they feel connected to their work culture. But employees who believe in the leadership and feel aligned with coworkers are present and innovative. Highly engaged employees thrive on connection to create ideas andin turn creates feeling of ownership in their work and truly want to move the mission forward. This drive and passion leads to innovation. Our staff proves just that, and I see the connection that's become our office team. A few recent examples: 1)Joe (COO) converted the sand/dirt bocce court that was so hard to maintain by ordering a huge roll off artificial turf and rolled it out and stapled it to the wood structure creating a new surface to create a multi purpose field for a corn hole league!
2) Alli (Program Director) uses her personal network to align groups and friends as volunteers for camp, kayak, respite and other programs, building a new volunteer network and awareness for STRIDE. 3) Chris (Development Director) has created a steady stream of NEW funding sources where we hadn't seen new sources in years. 4) Lisa (Office volunteer) has collected thousands of $ auction and prizes, an unexpected outcome; and lastly 5) Patrick, Office volunteer has scanned and filed all ski athlete profiles/evals so that we will be 100% digital this winter, a project we expected to take all summer! just a few samples of the productivity we collectively see.
The Covid-19 pandemic pushed many organizations into a fully remote work model, and for many that experience comes with challenges for employers who didn’t expect this whole remote-work thing to be long term. The debate about remote versus in-person office work continues, both with benefits. In-person office work provides more structure and connection for employees. It allows for the more informal chats that can’t be replicated over Zoom. Humans are social creatures who crave connection, and the office serves as both a professional and personal gathering place.
A study reported in Harvard Business Review showed that face-to-face meetings are 34 times more successful than digital and showed that people actually need in-person meetings, and socializing. Connecting with colleagues can actually improve mental function, combat mental health issues and improve cognitive performance. After all, isn't that the STRIDE mission?
With Deep Appreciation,
Mare Whitney, CEO & Founder
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