Today was the beginning of my career in political advocacy. Yes, I have been involved with political advocacy before but it was all high school politics. I managed to work my way up to student body vice president, but today was what I consider to be my first day of helping my community in a bigger way.
Thanks to my dear friend and mentor Jan Strout I became involved with Montana Women Vote. Montana Women Vote is a non-profit organization that focuses primarily on mobilizing and educating low-income women and those in the lower demographics. It is their/ our mission to support these women and their allies into becoming informed voters, community leaders and policy advocates.
Here is the Montana Women Vote link for further information http://www.montanawomenvote.org/
It just took a simple 30 minutes for me to realize how incredibly amazing this organization truly is. While being trained by Jan I learned so many little details that this organization does to make the voters experience as easy and educational as possible. Informational paper after informational paper was flying at me every five seconds. From a free voters guide to a non-partisan action alert email that sends out monthly updates on recent actions on the political battle field. After updating my own voter registration I was set to work.
Stationed outside the front doors of Bozeman's Safeway I; in a very mild and sincere way, badgered every individual who was about to go shopping. Sweetly asking "Hey there, is your voter registration up to date?" or "Hi, have you been registered to vote!?" When registering, we assume that most people are already registered and when someone does happen to say no it's always a little exciting. It feels so empowering to be able to assist an individual to get their right to have a vote, whether it's left, right, or upside down. But within the "no's" I'll still get a few who continue to walk away and not turn towards my little card table full of voter registrations, information pamphlets, and e-mail sign ups. When I ask the inevitable question, "Well, would you like to be registered?" and they answer, "Because I hate politics," or simply, "I don't vote," I always stop and wonder. Is our political system THAT messed up for individuals to quite literally not give a damn about what happens next? Or is it a personal choice to remain ignorant and uninformed? Whichever it is, I wish they would choose to take the few minutes to become educated. I believe it is our duty to be knowledgable and informed. As an American citizen it is our right to cast a vote and have a voice, no matter how tiny we believe it to be.
Anyways, back to my fabulous day! I worked for two hours, collecting a total of 12 new or updated voter registrations. I am so incredibly excited to have this opportunity to help out our community in such a detrimental way. It is one thing to get a person to register, it is another to get them to make it to the polls. When an individual registers with MWV they receive a free, non-partisan voters guide and have an opportunity to join a free "In the know" e-mail list where they receive monthly updates and invitations to open information forums and panels spread throughout the community. My next volunteer date is on Tuesday and I will be down at the farmers market in Bogart Park. So excited!
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Journal #2 To be or not to be
What makes a good leader?
Answer: a servant leader. An individual who is there for the improvement and aspirations of their people, not for their personal glorification. Someone who is present, passionate and inspiring.
But as a female, is it that easy? Sheryl Sandburg believes there is a fine line between success and personal fulfillment. As women, we put daily pressures upon ourselves to strive to be better, reach farther and push longer. But we strive to do this in every aspect of our lives, not just in the professional sector. And inevitably, when things become too much to handle, it is more often than not the professional part of ourselves that we let go.
We are nurturing, compassionate and caring. We are mothers, it is in our genes! We are servant leaders to our world. We give everything we can to every other person in our lives before we step back and give to ourselves. But how much can we give before giving up too much of ourselves?
I've experienced this a few times already in my many roles as a leader and busy life schedule. There were times that I gave so much to everyone else that by the end of the day I had nothing left of myself. My many positions and duties overwhelmed my daily life and left no time for my personal enjoyment. Like my passion for dancing. As a student athlete I've always looked at running as a part of me and now even a job. Dance however, is a hobby and an outlet to release stress. As my running career continued to excel and my duties as a leader in multiple organizations began to grow, my time for dance began to shrink. Eventually I had to quit.
Sandburg tells us to stay in the workforce and always keep pushing. To keep our foot on the pedal. But at what point do we finally let off the gas?
Answer: a servant leader. An individual who is there for the improvement and aspirations of their people, not for their personal glorification. Someone who is present, passionate and inspiring.
But as a female, is it that easy? Sheryl Sandburg believes there is a fine line between success and personal fulfillment. As women, we put daily pressures upon ourselves to strive to be better, reach farther and push longer. But we strive to do this in every aspect of our lives, not just in the professional sector. And inevitably, when things become too much to handle, it is more often than not the professional part of ourselves that we let go.
We are nurturing, compassionate and caring. We are mothers, it is in our genes! We are servant leaders to our world. We give everything we can to every other person in our lives before we step back and give to ourselves. But how much can we give before giving up too much of ourselves?
I've experienced this a few times already in my many roles as a leader and busy life schedule. There were times that I gave so much to everyone else that by the end of the day I had nothing left of myself. My many positions and duties overwhelmed my daily life and left no time for my personal enjoyment. Like my passion for dancing. As a student athlete I've always looked at running as a part of me and now even a job. Dance however, is a hobby and an outlet to release stress. As my running career continued to excel and my duties as a leader in multiple organizations began to grow, my time for dance began to shrink. Eventually I had to quit.
Sandburg tells us to stay in the workforce and always keep pushing. To keep our foot on the pedal. But at what point do we finally let off the gas?
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Journal #1 Push and Pull
Being a leader I've discovered that to achieve there is always a push before the release. Almost like when we were stretching the first day of class attempting to touch our fingers to our toes. First you may reach resistance but after further breathing and "sitting into" the pose, you can eventually touch your toe and even the ground. Same goes for the daily encounters of being a leader.
In Worst Enemy, Best Teacher, Combs says, "...Without opponents I would stagnate and weaken. We need our competitors to improve our businesses. We need our children to push against us to be better parents. We need our partners to disagree so we can find a deeper definition of relationship." pg. 115
We as leaders need the push and resistance to proceed to opening space and pushing forward. It is in the newfound open space when we make the biggest inspiration.
On occasion, the resistance comes from our "troops," as former Secretary of State Colin Powell said in his presentation to a group of students said. The role of a leader is to put people in the best place possible and set them up for success by providing them with the right package of knowledge and equipment. Zainab Salbi, founder and CEO of Women for Women, speaks similarly. She asserts that knowledge and access to resources can result in the change from victim to survivor. Knowledge is power. However, power can corrupt. "With responsibility comes irresponsibility, and with honesty comes deception," (Combs; 111) To avoid corruption we one must have a clear sense of purpose. One goal, one mission. And most importantly a clear set of values. For example, the YMCA stands close to the four core values of Caring, Respect, Responsibility and Honesty. I find that the best teaching moments of these core values comes from a moment of resistance of a camper or campers. Rather than scold and chastise the camper we redirect and lead by example showing positive interaction. By instilling these four core values at camp many conflicts are averted and/ or quickly fixed. Salbi says, "Leadership is about simple living of our own truth and to have the courage to share it with others." Having a set of values and the ability to share them as an organization is incredibly valuable and handy, just as King Arthur's knight had as his badge of knowledge with his gold star painted on his shield. When give our "troops," an easily accessible bag of tools, whether it be a knight or a seven year old camper, we can expect success, support, and positive change.
In Worst Enemy, Best Teacher, Combs says, "...Without opponents I would stagnate and weaken. We need our competitors to improve our businesses. We need our children to push against us to be better parents. We need our partners to disagree so we can find a deeper definition of relationship." pg. 115
We as leaders need the push and resistance to proceed to opening space and pushing forward. It is in the newfound open space when we make the biggest inspiration.
On occasion, the resistance comes from our "troops," as former Secretary of State Colin Powell said in his presentation to a group of students said. The role of a leader is to put people in the best place possible and set them up for success by providing them with the right package of knowledge and equipment. Zainab Salbi, founder and CEO of Women for Women, speaks similarly. She asserts that knowledge and access to resources can result in the change from victim to survivor. Knowledge is power. However, power can corrupt. "With responsibility comes irresponsibility, and with honesty comes deception," (Combs; 111) To avoid corruption we one must have a clear sense of purpose. One goal, one mission. And most importantly a clear set of values. For example, the YMCA stands close to the four core values of Caring, Respect, Responsibility and Honesty. I find that the best teaching moments of these core values comes from a moment of resistance of a camper or campers. Rather than scold and chastise the camper we redirect and lead by example showing positive interaction. By instilling these four core values at camp many conflicts are averted and/ or quickly fixed. Salbi says, "Leadership is about simple living of our own truth and to have the courage to share it with others." Having a set of values and the ability to share them as an organization is incredibly valuable and handy, just as King Arthur's knight had as his badge of knowledge with his gold star painted on his shield. When give our "troops," an easily accessible bag of tools, whether it be a knight or a seven year old camper, we can expect success, support, and positive change.
Kouzes Exercise Chapter 1&2 8/29/12
My Personal-Best Experience of Leadership
I
1. For the past four summers I have had the opportunity to spend time in Northern Minnesota working as a camp counselor for a YMCA camp that specializes in outdoor tripping into the Boundary Waters. This summer I had the honor of leading a 14 day Boundary Water trip with only two campers. These girls came from troubled backgrounds; one, age 17 and a recent graduate of Teen Challenge the other, age 14, addicted to a cocktail of prescription drugs and constant attention.
Their backgrounds alone brought a challenge in itself with having to navigate the difference between truth and lie, trust, and self-confidence. While on trail we as a team encountered many obstacles such as the inevitable changes of weather, pushing ones boundaries; mentally, physically and emotionally and the constant reminder of self- confidence and ability to persevere.
As a leader a lot was on my shoulders. All the decision making, the safety of not only my girls but myself, and all the little details such as navigation, when we are going to eat, portion management, whether to push farther for the day or to stay comfortable. Being on my own in that way forced me to constantly check in with myself and check my very own personal values as well as our goals for the trip. A key component to my successful trip was thinking back to the way my very own leaders handled this trip. The self discovery I had out in the wilderness was comparable to nothing else I had ever done in a leadership position.
2.
a. Lead by example
b. Encouragement
c. Adequate preparation (mentally and equipment)
d. PATIENCE
e. Trust
f. Engagement & Excitement
3.
a. I learned to be incredibly patient and take small steps to reach the bigger goal.
b. Allow them to learn from their experiences; the good, the bad and the ugly.
c. Listen
II
1. Two leaders I look up to with great respect and admiration are my very own trip leaders of the exact trip I had the fortune to lead this past summer. I was a part of a team of nine girls, two being my incredible leaders. We spent ten days in the Boundary Water Canoe Area pushing out limits and discovering more about ourselves and our team.
2.
One of my leaders on this trip, Gratia Ratzloff made me feel the following:
a. Appreciated
b. Values
c. Confident
d. Competent
3.
a. Encouragement
b. Excitement
c. Positive role-modeling
d. Trust in me & the group as a whole
e. Drive to push harder
f. Engagement
II
1
a. Coach Jenny Brown. Not only was Jenny a best friend of mine but she was a positive role model. She was constantly inspiring me to do my best and providing me with physical, emotional and mental strategies to push myself further and harder for my success.
b. Vice Principal Shawn Hendrickson. Mr. Hendrickson told me once that I could do better and make a bigger difference. In that tiny bit of positive criticism I was inspired to take on bigger, scarier challenges throughout my high school years and was a constant reminder to always do my best and put forth 110% in everything I did.
c. Journalism Editor Advisor Judy Woodhouse. I credit Mrs. Woodhouse with so many of the skills I possess today. She was always a person of comfort when I was overwhelmed and was always present with a smile and full of encouragement. The best thing she game me was her trust. Her trust in my decisions and leadership choices and Editor and always had my back if I ever faltered.
2. My leaders:
a. Lead by example
b. Were positive
c. Encouraging
d. Inspired change
e. Source of advice
f. Engaged and connected
I
1. For the past four summers I have had the opportunity to spend time in Northern Minnesota working as a camp counselor for a YMCA camp that specializes in outdoor tripping into the Boundary Waters. This summer I had the honor of leading a 14 day Boundary Water trip with only two campers. These girls came from troubled backgrounds; one, age 17 and a recent graduate of Teen Challenge the other, age 14, addicted to a cocktail of prescription drugs and constant attention.
Their backgrounds alone brought a challenge in itself with having to navigate the difference between truth and lie, trust, and self-confidence. While on trail we as a team encountered many obstacles such as the inevitable changes of weather, pushing ones boundaries; mentally, physically and emotionally and the constant reminder of self- confidence and ability to persevere.
As a leader a lot was on my shoulders. All the decision making, the safety of not only my girls but myself, and all the little details such as navigation, when we are going to eat, portion management, whether to push farther for the day or to stay comfortable. Being on my own in that way forced me to constantly check in with myself and check my very own personal values as well as our goals for the trip. A key component to my successful trip was thinking back to the way my very own leaders handled this trip. The self discovery I had out in the wilderness was comparable to nothing else I had ever done in a leadership position.
2.
a. Lead by example
b. Encouragement
c. Adequate preparation (mentally and equipment)
d. PATIENCE
e. Trust
f. Engagement & Excitement
3.
a. I learned to be incredibly patient and take small steps to reach the bigger goal.
b. Allow them to learn from their experiences; the good, the bad and the ugly.
c. Listen
II
1. Two leaders I look up to with great respect and admiration are my very own trip leaders of the exact trip I had the fortune to lead this past summer. I was a part of a team of nine girls, two being my incredible leaders. We spent ten days in the Boundary Water Canoe Area pushing out limits and discovering more about ourselves and our team.
2.
One of my leaders on this trip, Gratia Ratzloff made me feel the following:
a. Appreciated
b. Values
c. Confident
d. Competent
3.
a. Encouragement
b. Excitement
c. Positive role-modeling
d. Trust in me & the group as a whole
e. Drive to push harder
f. Engagement
II
1
a. Coach Jenny Brown. Not only was Jenny a best friend of mine but she was a positive role model. She was constantly inspiring me to do my best and providing me with physical, emotional and mental strategies to push myself further and harder for my success.
b. Vice Principal Shawn Hendrickson. Mr. Hendrickson told me once that I could do better and make a bigger difference. In that tiny bit of positive criticism I was inspired to take on bigger, scarier challenges throughout my high school years and was a constant reminder to always do my best and put forth 110% in everything I did.
c. Journalism Editor Advisor Judy Woodhouse. I credit Mrs. Woodhouse with so many of the skills I possess today. She was always a person of comfort when I was overwhelmed and was always present with a smile and full of encouragement. The best thing she game me was her trust. Her trust in my decisions and leadership choices and Editor and always had my back if I ever faltered.
2. My leaders:
a. Lead by example
b. Were positive
c. Encouraging
d. Inspired change
e. Source of advice
f. Engaged and connected
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