Humor is Required

Four years ago today, Corrina Salvadori was on her way to the airport to join friends at the Active 20-30 International Midterm meeting when her life was cut short in a fatal accident. Corrina, a single mother who was once served by the Active 20-30 Club and then who served others as a member, left three children behind.

As our members and clubs often do, the ladies of Redwood Empire immediately went into action to raise funds to make sure the kids' immediate and longer-term needs were taken care of. They did all that, but they went further - Sarah Walker-Clark opened her home and took the kids in, turnng her own life upside down as kids typically do. Individual members stepped up and gave what they could. The club came together to make sure the kids were nurtured and supported as they began to heal and as they grew into the people they were supposed to be. 

The road has been a challenging and often heart-breaking one, for sure, with more twists, turns and potholes than anyone could have imagined. But Active 20-30ians have stuck by them. It's been amazing to follow this story through emails, Facebook and the occasional conversation with members. I received an email from Sarah WC this weekend with an inspiring update about these three unique young adults - the oldest about to graduate from high school, a 16-year old who is ready to take on the world volunteering with the Redwood Empire club whenever she can and a boy who is struggling with the direction to take his life in.

I am awestruck at the steps the people around the Salvadori family have taken to make the best out of a sad situation. The thing that stands out the most, though, is how club-mates and friends of Corrina's made a commitment and continue to refuse to give anything short of their all for three kids in need.

In situations like this, I'm reminded that the lines are so easily blurred between those who help and those who need our help. Corrina touched people in ways she never imagined and her passing has changed so many lives in ways she'd never intended. The people impacted never could have imagined how one early-morning moment four years ago could change their lives. I truly believe that each of these women would give almost anything to have their friend back in their daily lives, but - at the same time - wouldn't change much of what has happened since.

It's times like this when our true character comes to light. I'm amazed and inspired by what Sarah and her fellow members have done for three young people in need in their community.

If you'd like to join in supporting Corrina's daughters, son and those working to help them thrive, please let me know. If you were fortunate enough to know Corrina and would like to share memories, a memorial page has been set up on Facebook.

In Corrina's words...
"Humor is required. I love laughing at myself. I want to die with wrinkles on my face. I want to say I have lived a full life. I am at peace knowing I can make a positive contribution to the world. My life is not perfect and I am grateful for that. Everything happens for a reason. I try not to have regrets. I always have expectations. Self-serving expectations are for the weak. I think love will come to those who want it. By the way it’s not a secret. I want to live everyday as if it were the day of my funeral and my best friends were speaking of me. I love ART in any form! I love to learn about it, share it and or be inspired by it. I feel that everyone has the ability to be artistic in his or her own special way and find that the most attractive art is unleashed fromthe virgin artists. I am involved in a local service club call Active 20-30. This organization supports children in need on a local level as well as an international level. I have made some of the best friends ever from this group. I am looking to meet new friends and to connect with old ones" - Corrina Salvadori (via myspace)

Thank You Trinkets

One of my very few rules for myself on here is that I won't use it as a platform to rant. I want this space to be uplifting, inspiring and challenging to our member and other young leaders who stumble through here. I will try to honor my "no rant" rule, but can't promise anything today.

We count on volunteers in Active 20-30. That's just part of the game, right? Most of the time the volunteers come from within our membership, but often we look outside our walls and draw in community members, other organizations or friends to lend a hand. Regardless, volunteers want to (and deserve to be) thanked in a way that's meaningful to them. I get that and absolutely appreciate it. For me, I am thanked by seeing a project completed or by the stiff back I have from a hard day's work. So perhaps I was rubbed wrong for no good reason. I should realize that each person needs unique motivation and reward.

Read the story below of an encounter I had about 10 days ago and share how you would have reacted and responded. No wrong answers. Also, if you'd be so kind, share how you or your club tries to make sure every volunteer has a meaningful thank you

After about 110 volunteers with Active 20-30 Club of Indianapolis and One Brick Indianapolis completed a pretty darn cool project inside Lucas Oil Stadium ahead of Super Bowl XLVI - a job that took the better part of 2 days - I got several emails from volunteers. Most were filled with notes about the friends they made and inquiries about what the next project would be or how they could get involved (yeah!!).

One note stood out. A man and his wife wrote paragraphs and paragraphs about why they didn't receive (and I quote) "thank you trinkets" for the work they did. They'd heard the verbal thank yous and words of appreciation from our team leaders, but they needed something else. They wondered if - because they left early* - they had missed the "presentation of trinkets", but still felt deserving of them - whatever they may be.

At first I was embarrassed that I hadn't thought to bring giveaways or gifts, but then I thought: do people really do this because they expect a trinket? Why would they assume that a community service project would culminate in a "thing"? Nothing was advertised beyond "we'll feed you lunch", which we did. I'm pretty certain we won't see this pair at future events. That's sad in a way, but not that disheartening for me. I know that the people who will give up a Saturday to help are there for the same reasons I am - to make friends, to have a really cool and unique experience and to fill some sort of need.

I get it. I really do. We all need some symbol of thanks. This couple wanted tangible recognition. So... what's the "thank you trinket" that makes the effort worthwhile for you? I promise, I won't judge.

*I should have run with that and talked about the glorious parting gifts the last volunteers out of the building received, but I guess I wasn't feeling snarky enough that day.

History & Tradition :: Lucky No. 3

I woke up to a wonderful email this morning - a note from National Director and Active 20-30 Club of Redwood Empire past president, Gioia Hershey, marking the 22nd birthday of her home club. 22 years is nothing to sneeze at, but what's more remarkable is that they were only the 3rd women's club in our association's history.

It hasn't even been 25 years since women were admitted into Active 20-30 as full-blown members. Before then, we had 20-30ettes and auxiliary groups in support of the men's clubs; but today we can see the real impact of bringing men and women together as equals to run our clubs, serve our communities and shape our future. Whether you feel our best clubs are single-gender or co-ed, we all can see that having a balance of views, experience and ideas makes Active 20-30 stronger and more effective regionally and nationally.

Coming into this term as only your 4th female national president, I didn't see the significance of being a woman in a leadership position. I was here to do a job and hoped to be measured by the same stick as the men who walked before me. Through conversations with men like Vineet Wahi, readings and new experiences, my viewpoint is changing. I see the importance of having women in leadership positions and as role models for girls and young women... and even for the boys and men around us. I still struggle with how much importance to put on gender, especially in the developed world, but I will keep learning and developing in that space.

Thinking Active 20-30 - our history and our future - how significant is it that a women's club has turned 20 years old, opposed to simply saying another one of our clubs has reached that lofty milestone? Do you believe it's important for the young ladies in Santa Rosa (or Sacramento or San Francisco or Tucson for that matter) to see a group of women in service to their communities? Why or why not?

One Never Stands So Tall...

We all know how this quote ends, right? (... as when kneeling to help a child.) But do you know where it originated?

I saw it earlier this week attributed to Abe Lincoln and had planned to use this post to share when it was said and its significance back in the day. The more I dig, the less certain I am that it was President Lincoln's quote. Maybe it is - he seems to be the oldest of those it has been attributed to.

Regardless where it came from, it's been used widely. By Freemasons, Kiwanis, Spalding Sporting Goods in a 1933 campaign and even the North American Fishing Club, to name just a few.

So my question changes. What is it about this single sentence that resinates so strongly with so many? For me, it's the picture that it paints. It's the simple act of joining a child at his level; being where the child is. That's the moment that we can be at our fullest... our tallest.

What about you? What do you think?

Town Hall

Two of my goals for this term as your national president are: (1) transparency and a sense of openness across our organization and (2) improving members' connection to the national association and to other member clubs.

In an effort to do so, an Active 20-30 "town hall" will take place on Tuesday, February 28th at 5:30p PST. It'll touch on a few key successes, challenges and general points of information from the past several months. Members may attend by phone only or through a WebEx session - details below.

I want to make sure I touch on items that are important to you, so I invite you to submit questions and/or talking points prior to the call. You can do so in the comments below, by emailing me or by calling/texting 317.418.4786.

RSVP on Facebook for reminders: https://www.facebook.com/events/338188812880932/

------------------------------------------------------- 
To join the online meeting (Now from mobile devices!) 
------------------------------------------------------- 
1. Go to https://exacttarget.webex.com/exacttarget/j.php?ED=170424182&UID=1294528617&PW=NNmVkYzViYjM0&RT=MiMxMg%3D%3D 
2. If requested, enter your name and email address. 
3. If a password is required, enter the meeting password: active2030 
4. Click "Join". 

------------------------------------------------------- 
To join the audio conference only 
------------------------------------------------------- 
Call-in toll-free number (US/Canada): 1-866-469-3239 
Access code:717 612 753 

Reputations Come From...

"Our reputations do not come from how we talk about ourselves. Our reputations come from how others talk about us." - Simon Sinek

Isn't that the truth. It's Monday and the morning after perhaps the biggest sporting event of the year, so I'll give you an easy post.

Keeping this quote in mind, how would you want someone to describe your personal reputation? What about the brand reputation of Active 20-30? 

To Quote :: Use the Power

"Use the power of emotion to move." I don't remember where I heard this, but it has been stuck in my head for weeks. It's even found it's way onto the white board in my office because it's just a really darn good mantra in my job and for Active 20-30.

The core of my job is to help companies tell their stories in order to make emotional connections and drive behavior change. That's the same thing Active 20-30 members and clubs are trying to do when we recruit, fundraise and inspire within. Right?

But how we make the connections and move people is often a challenge for us. We can spend all day spewing facts like:

• 25% of children in America live in poverty
• 5.9 million children under the age of 6 live in poverty (2010)
• 18% of children have at least one parent who is currently unemployed
• and on and on and on...

Or we could tell the story of the child we took shopping. You can share the stories he told and you can talk about the difference that one hour made in his life. You can tell the stories of the friendships you've formed and how fellow club members showed up at our door in a moment of need or celebration. You can tell the specific story of when you found your footing and voice as a leader within the club and how that has made a difference in your life or career.

Use the power of emotion to move someone to change or to engage. What's your story?

In It For The Kids

Active 20-30 Clubs have been in the spotlight a lot lately, and deservingly so. The North Bay Biz published a really remarkable article touching on many of the ways Redwood Empire, Santa Rosa, Healdsburg, Napa, North Bay, Rohnert Park and our association as a whole are serving their communities.

Take the time to read it. It's worth every minute. But don't stop there - pieces like this are fantastic for building a sense of pride among your members, even if your club is 3,000 miles away on the east coast. It's perfect to share with recruits. Prospects want to join successful, impactful organizations.

Finally, seek out opportunities with your local media. Invite them to a meeting to hear about how you're serving the kids around you. Better yet, invite them to participate in your next service project and - if they're inspired - to share their experience.
Congratulations to the clubs and members featured here. A question for you, fellow Active 20-30ians, how were you inspired by reading or hearing about the successes of other clubs?

There's No Time To Be Afraid

I'm in full-on Super Bowl mode with the big game just over a week away and my calendar dominated with volunteer shifts. I thought I'd wrap up this week with this sports-inspired piece of motivation.

This applies to every aspect of our lives as leaders and learners. It's right - we only get one go around. Is it worth behaving badly or sitting scared? What would you take on if that little voice in the back of your head would just shut up?

I Can Only...

Agree? Disagree?

How much of that we do is driven by what someone tells you to do and how much is driven by what we feel inspired to do?

Discuss.

To Quote - Be The Best...

Martin Luther King, Jr. has so many memorable and inspiring quotes to his credit. Many were circulating on Facebook, Twitter and the blogosphere Monday as the nation celebrated his amazing legacy. The two quotes below go hand-in-hand and, I believe, are necessary to be reminded of as we continue to develop as servant leaders in our communities.



"All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance."

"If it falls your lot to be a street sweeper, sweep streets like Michelangelo painted pictures, sweep streets like Beethoven composed music, sweep streets like Leontyne Price sings before the Metropolitan Opera. Sweep streets like Shakespeare wrote poetry. Sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will have to pause and say: Here lived a great street sweeper who swept his job well. 

If you can't be a pine at the top of the hill, be a shrub in the valley. Be the best little shrub on the side of the hill. Be a bush if you can't be a tree. If you can't be a highway, just be a trail. If you can't be a sun, be a star. For it isn't by size that you win or fail. Be the best of whatever you are."

To me, these speak to the personal growth aspect of our mission. It's an attitude. It's an expectation. It's setting a standard for those who follow behind us.

And, just in case you were curious... that's a picture of Stanley the Street Sweeper from WOW Toys.

It's Not OK

Today many of us are marking the birthday of civil rights leader, Martin Luther King, Jr. Some are doing it by tweeting quotes, others are sleeping in and enjoying a day off of work, while still others are coming together to serve in their communities and recognize the difference one inspired person can make.

I was talking with a friend this morning who couldn't believe he didn't have the day off of work. I guess it was carryover from a weekend with the RoudyBoys*, but the first thing out of my mouth was, "do you know why MLK was important?" The response, "he had a dream." ... and off he walked.

Today, my answer to that question would be that MLK saw the culture, the beliefs and the practices around him and declared: It's not ok.

How many times have we taken stock of the world around us, noted the wrongs and kept going with the status quo. Perhaps it's that we don't believe in our own power to change things. Maybe it's that there are just so many things wrong with the world and we believe we can't remedy them all. Maybe we see the cost and feel it's just too high - especially the personal costs like safety or criticism.

Active 20-30's founders declared it's not ok to tell young potential-leaders to sit quietly and let the established leaders lead. Our local clubs have said it's not ok to allow a child to go without a Christmas present under the tree or go hungry when away from school.

Vineet Wahi challenged me to read the book "Half the Sky". It opened my eyes to practices around the world that are not ok. Many that I've turned a blind eye to - from human trafficking to prohibiting girls from attending school in developing nations to allowing mothers and babies to die needlessly. These were all accepted behaviors until someone said "it's not ok..." to buy and sell humans. To deem someone a lower class citizen because she is a girl and not a boy. Each story includes someone who saw the uneducated girl or young woman sold to a brothel and declared "it's not ok", changing lives along the way

It's our responsibility to follow the lead of Dr. King and many many others. To recognize things around us that offend our sensibilities then to stand up and say "it's not ok!" We don't have to have the answers for how we'll fix the problem - we do, however, need to realize that until we say this simple phrase, nothing will change.

What has caught your attention and made you say "it's not ok"?

* Teachable moments abound as we walked the miles of museum exhibits in Chicago.

Will Your Tribe Change the World? [Video]

No matter what we call ourselves, we're members of tribes. We make up a bunch of small-ish local tribes, regional tribes and one far-reaching national tribe. Our beliefs and egos and attitudes control what we'll achieve to a great extent.

Take a look at this TED Talk video below. Don't hit play, check your email and play Words With Friends. But really listen to it and think about how it applies to the tribe that is your local club. Think about the larger tribe that is Active 20-30 US & Canada.

When you're done, please post in the comments: which stage do you believe we're in? Do you think understanding this will help us to evolve? There's no right or wrong answer.

 

Your Major Award

Service is about giving to and doing for others, but it really is nice to be recognized for the effort sometimes, isn't it? Annually, Active 20-30 seeks to find and showcase the best projects, officers, members and clubs through our national awards program.

This year's awards and the judging process have been modified a bit to level the playing field between large clubs and smaller ones. The awards committee and national board would love to see an increase in the number of clubs participating and being recognized.

Will you showcase your best and brightest? The packet is available for download at:http://active20-30.com/index.cfm?page=national-awards. Submissions are due no later than April 1st.

If you have questions about the process or a specific award, drop chairwoman Vanessa Norgauer a note or post in the comments and they'll be addressed.

The McKnight Principle (aka Mistakes Will Be Made)

I started this blog when I started my term as Region 1 Director back when dinosaurs roamed the Earth (ok, 2008). It was intended to be a short-term project to help connect my region's clubs to each other and to resources and knowledge. It has grown and evolved and changed focus over time - much like the very people who make up Active 20-30.

Today marks a milestone for me: my 500th blog post. It gave me a good reason to pause, look back and take stock of the journey I've been on and some of the people* who have shaped that journey. It really has been an amazing ride so far - with more twists, turns and hills than I imagined back in the first post.

All in all, I like the woman and the leader I've become. I've found my legs and my voice during this journey and continue to strengthen them. I've enjoyed so many opportunities to connect and (hopefully) inspire. I've made my fair share of mistakes and surely will find new ones to make before I'm done. I've been fortunate enough to have wonderful leaders beside me when I've stumbled. 

There is one principle that has stayed at the core of what I do; at the forefront of my mind as I talk with people and as I lead and serve. Former 3M Chairman, William McKnight's 1946 address, now known as the McKnight Principle, finds its way into my head often: 

"As our business grows, it becomes increasingly necessary to delegate responsibility and to encourage men and women to exercise their initiative. This requires considerable tolerance. Those men and women, to whom we delegate authority and responsibility, if they are good people, are going to want to do their jobs in their own way.  

Mistakes will be made. But if a person is essentially right, the mistakes he or she makes are not as serious in the long run as the mistakes management will make if it undertakes to tell those in authority exactly how they must do their jobs.

Management that is destructively critical when mistakes are made kills initiative. And it's essential that we have many people with initiative if we are to continue to grow."

I can't think of a better statement to govern us as young leaders and mentors. Active 20-30 is very much about finding our own styles and letting others find theirs. It's about creating a safe place to try and to experience... and even to fail. It's our job to be compassionate not only with those in need, but with one another.

Do you have any mantras or quotes that have shaped the leader that you have become?

* You know who you are, I hope.

Day One

The new year always seems to bring its fair share of resolutions. "This year I will ______." "This year I won't _______." We proclaim our often vague goals and go out into the world to achieve them. Until mid-February. You know, when the gyms clear out and the new shiny blog sits abandoned.

The new year is a logical milestone to reset your goals. I wonder how often we put off goal setting until such a lofty milestone when we could treat today as Day One and just get on with it. So, my resolution (started in late October 2011) is to stop waiting. Stop saying "I'll do it when...".

Sure, there are priorities and dependancies, but no more just pushing things off because I can. No more waiting for something great to happen or for the clock to strike midnight.

My questions for you:
1. What resolutions have you made over the past year (or week)?
2. What do you do to make sure they don't fall by the wayside before they're complete?

2 Hours in Scotland

Wednesday night I had got to spend two hours with some of the Roundtable members from Arbroath Scotland. I can't thank them enough for inviting me and coordinating the logistics (oh, and for being gentlemen at 10pm).

I'd met a few of these gents when they traveled to Las Vegas for the WOCO Convention in 2008 and have kept in touch with one loosely on Facebook. The call started off with a little Q&A* and quickly moved into swapping stories of service projects carried out and friendships formed. It was as if we'd been hanging out together regularly for years - no one held back.

There were a few brand new members in the room, so I got to ask one of my favorite questions: "With all the options you have to serve, why join this group?" The answers were to the effect of "here, we can have fun while we give back" and "the work is easier when it's with friends". It's nice to know some things are the same no matter where you are.

It truly amazes me that I could be so welcomed by a group of people and talk as if we were life-long friends. That's one of the many things Active 20-30 (and WOCO) gives us as members - an instant connection; a brotherhood. Whether I need a fresh perspective or a word of encouragement, I know I have an even larger circle I can look to now.

My 2 hours in Scotland reminded me of one very important lesson - we are connected and should take far more advantage of it than we do. We meet members of other US clubs, International associations and other service groups at conventions and visitations. What happens when we go home? We tend to let the conversations die. We forget that we have a larger circle than just the people at our local meetings. The cost of these lost connections is immeasurable. There's the potential shared resources, inspiration and friendships that will never play out. I encourage each of you to connect with one person you've met, but lost track of. Why not go one step further and reach out to someone in another club and make a new connection?

By the way, the Arbroath men have invited all of us to come visit in person and to find a time they can come to the US to visit us. If they were this much fun on a SKYPE call, I can only imagine them in my living room!

* Yes, now that I know there will be Highland Games in Indy in October, I will indeed be going. No, I won't call the Sheriff of Boone County Kentucky and tell him some Scot named Jamie says hi.

Lights. Cameras. Take Action.

Active 20-30 Clubs across the country have executed some really unique fundraising ideas. Some have been conceived by members. Others have adopted events that have been successes for other clubs or organizations. A few lucky ones have been inherited from other organizations who chose not to run them anymore.

This is the case with the Redding Club and their newest fundraising project: The Sundial Film Festival. Presented with the opportunity to take charge of an already-established event that just needed a little TLC seemed like a great idea for a club passing their 5-year mark in the city.

It doesn't mean the project will be an easy one, though. They still have to secure entries (see shameless plug below), sponsors and guests. They can't sit back and watch everything happen - like every project or event, they'll be in the thick of it every step of the way. They do, however, have the benefit of seeing what's gone right and wrong in the past and get to put their own touches on the film festival.

I can't wait to join them in Redding on March 10th to see the photographs and short films that were submitted from around the country.

Scottsdale and Denver share the Brokers Benefiting Kids project idea; Albuquerque's kickball tournament plans have spread east to Indianapolis; black tie events, crab feeds and 80's parties are popping up among our clubs.

Feel free to share your experiences in taking a project and making it your own. What event have you done that you'd like to see spread?
The Sundial Film Festival is accepting entries through January 3rd (less than 1 week from now) Active 20-30 has some incredibly talented photographers and filmmakers, I'm certain. Why not take advantage of this opportunity to showcase your work?
For entry information, visit: http://www.sundialfilmfestival.com/

How Do You Choose?

A while back, I spent a whopping $3.65 and took part in what I can only describe as a social experiment in charity with Penny For Your World. Each day I receive an email featuring two little-known or grassroots charities serving different causes. I then have to pick one to receive my penny that day.

It's hard to imagine how many people have to be taking part in order for our pennies to add up to something meaningful for any single charity. Sure, we collectively could give thousands of dollars over the course of the year, but isn't it spread so thin?

The more I thought, the more I wondered if it's about the money at all. Perhaps its more about awareness of the organizations, issues and solutions that surround me. I see organizations I never knew existed: helping people still impacted by the Chernobyl disaster was head-to-head with supporting entrepreneurship for women in third-world villages; pairing pets-in-need with the elderly competed for my penny against helping a food bank feed hungry children in Montana; serving the families of deployed soldiers squared off against keeping high-risk kids in school.

You get the idea. All worthy causes. All major issues to those effected.

For me, some are easy choices, but most aren't. I want to help both, but I only have 1 penny for the day. So, how does one decide?

I've started paying attention to the patterns that have emerged in my giving on the site. For me, it's life-sustaining first (food bank), then life-enhancing (entrepreneurship). It's also close-to-home (United States), then abroad. Human, then animal. I don't know if any of these decisions are right and I could make a good argument for why the other choice would be equally as wise. But it got me thinking about the choices I make in my giving of time and resources.

We're faced with the same choices everyday. There are so many worthwhile partners and people in our communities that could benefit from the work of your Active 20-30 club, but you only have so much manpower and money. How do you decide which to serve?

There are more and more service organizations that do good work. How, when you were considering joining Active 20-30, did you decide?

I really am curious: when faced with such important choices, how do you choose? Please share your thoughts in the comments.

Who Is Your James?

This is my absolute favorite holiday story. In fact, it very well may be my favorite giving story. It was shared with me by a Past Active who often brightens my day. The story is simple and genuine and reminds me why we're really here. It reminds me of the small things we can do to really make a difference. Among the chaos of life, I encourage you to each take a minute to reflect on the amazing things you've done and find your own James.

Who Is Your James?
In thinking about my future in Active 20-30 and the course I hope to chart, I have spent a lot of time thinking about why so many of us do what we do... why we give our hearts and souls to the organization, our friends in the club and - most importantly - the kids around us. Many of the members I encounter have a story to tell about the moment that solidified their commitment to Active 20-30.

I'd like to use this post to pass along the story from a past national officer. He's asked me to share this anonymously, but I would like to thank him for bringing tears to my eyes in the middle of a work day and putting things in perspective. 
Please share your story in the comments and with your new and prospective members and donors. It is so important that even as we endure the everyday grunt work of fundraising and club management, we remember why we're here.

Why We Do What We Do
One cold, rainy Wednesday morning in December 15 years ago, a small band of 20-30 elves accompanied Santa on his annual journey. For me, it was just my 7th month in 20-30 and my first experience with my club’s Project Santa - an event that basically brings Christmas gifts of essential clothing and toys to “at-risk” and low-income kids that would otherwise receive nothing.

While visiting Wintun School, classes were brought in one by one to sit on Santa’s lap, get a candy cane and a photo. I was amused, amazed and even a little embarrassed, not having known at the time that Wintun featured a curriculum that combined “mainstream” kids with those that endured emotional and severe physical challenges.

As the kids filtered through, we watched their reactions range from outright joy to abject fear, but in almost every case Santa was able to win them over with a laugh and some candy.

As what we thought was the final group left, one teacher asked if we were in a rush or if we had time to wait for one last class that took a little extra time. Seemed that one student in particular required some extra care due to his wheelchair, but the teacher explained that he had been talking about little else for the past 2 weeks than getting to see Santa Claus. She explained that all day, everyday it was, “when do I get to see Santa, I can’t wait to see Santa, when is Santa coming, is he bringing reindeer”? We all laughed and assured her that we’d be happy to wait for this young boy.

A few quiet minutes later they brought in James, all chatting and squirming while strapped in his chair (for his own safety). The teacher explained that he was partially quadriplegic, having very limited control of his upper body, yet he insisted they take him out of the chair so he could “sit on Santa’s lap and see him up close”. Past-Active Life George Carl had been the Santa Claus for this event for over 25 years and was such a great guy in these cases, and he was careful to support James completely while he moved around uncontrollably and chatted away making Christmas requests and asking about flying reindeer.

Finally the time came when, candy cane given and photo taken, James was strapped back into his chair and left with a wave from Santa. It was then that the administrator, with tears flowing, thanked us for all of our annual visits and in particular for waiting to make one little boys dream come true. We assured her that it was our pleasure, as well as our purpose, and that no tears were necessary.

At that, she smiled and shook her head and revealed what all of us in our joy and pride had missed… James was also blind. He’d never seen Santa Claus and never would; yet he knew in his heart that’s who had truly held him. Suffice it to say there wasn’t a dry eye in the room as we all turned away to dab at our tears.

I found out the following year that that Christmas had been James’ last. He passed away quietly over the summer.

You never know when inspiration will strike your life, or what shape it may take. For some, it may be a winning Lotto ticket or landing a new job. But if you’re really lucky it may be an opportunity to watch a 10 year old boy in a wheelchair hug Santa Claus. To watch him “see” his dream through blind eyes… and blind faith.

There are many ways to show gratitude for the blessings in your life. Small scale or large, what the Active 20-30 club does matters to someone. Don’t ever, for even a minute, think that it doesn’t.

I can never repay the gift James gave me that day… but I always strive to try.

Happy Birthday!

Active 20-30 US & Canada turns 89 years old today. We've gone through enormous changes over those years and have evolved into an organization that, I hope, would make our founders proud.

I often wonder when they set out on those first days what their hopes were for the organization. Did they have hopes that their idea would spread from Washington state and Sacramento, CA across the country to Colorado, Kansas, Indiana and New York? Did they understand the power of a few impassioned men (and women) could spread that passion to friends and strangers, alike?

In my role, I get bogged down some days with the challenges of sustaining and growing Active 20-30, of giving our members everything they deserve in exchange for their dues and dedicated service. But when I step back and look at the evolution - from year-to-year and from 1922 to now - I am absolutely blown away that this was all created and shaped by people, by volunteers with a passion for serving.

As you blow out the candles on your Active 20-30 birthday cake, what's your wish for the future of the club?

Bonus question: how should we celebrate our 90th birthday next year?

The Best of Us

Last week we memorialized a Past Active member who was described as embodying what it means to be an Active 20-30 member. I've also been part of many many conversations lately talking about who our "ideal" member is, what qualities he should possess - demographics, skill sets, personality, place in the community, etc.

My question for you is this: how would you describe the ideal Active 20-30 member? I realize and am thankful that it takes a diverse set of people to make our club what it is, should be and will be. I don't mean to insinuate that it should be at all limited. But there is some common thread that runs between all truly successful, exemplary members. What are those traits?

Please share your thoughts in the comments. If you care to share an example of a current member who embodies Active 20-30, I welcome, too.

Anonymous Extraordinaries [Video]

My journey in life and in Active 20-30 has helped me flush out what my passion is. It's aiding in the development of young and emerging leaders. I see such hope and promise in young adults - people in their teens and 20's who are discovering their passions and their voices.

The origins of Active 20-30 resinates with me because a few strong people, in 1922, stood up and said "we're tired of old stuffy men with old stuffy ideas telling us to be quiet. That one day it'll be our time to lead and learn. No. Our time is now." (Paraphrased, of course. Our founders were certainly much more eloquent).

But the sentiment holds true and is among the things that drive me forward each day. In the work I do with my local Girl Scout council's Gold Award committee and in my role as a leader in Active 20-30, I am so fortunate to see the amazing things impassioned people - ourselves included - are capable of.

Below is a TED video that I have to share with you. At 18, Natalie Warne’s work with the Invisible Children movement made her a hero for young activists. At TEDxTeen she uses her inspiring story to remind us that no one is too young to change the world.

Grab a coffee and spend the next 13 minutes listening to Natalie's story that took her from LA to Oprah's studio in Chicago to help save countless lives in Africa. Then share how you are an anonymous extraordinary. I'm pretty certain you are in one way or another.

"You can change the world. You're not too young. Start today. Start now."

"Don't ignore the young. They may not have your experience, but you don't have their ideas. Imagine what you could do if you worked together."

Red Wine & Aloha Shirts

Joey Gray, a past active member and past president of the Active 20-30 Club of North Bay and past national director, passed away last week. Through the postings on Facebook and conversations with many members across our organization, I've heard many stories about his character, quiet dedication and impact on the people he touched.

In general, I've found that we have a tendency to turn people into saints when they die. All their faults fall away and we hold them up in a false light. There are rare people who don't need this treatment - they lived their lives as an example for the rest of us. I truly believe Joey is one of these men. 

I've heard stories this week of his playful spirit, but also of his sincere friendship and loyalty. Past National President, Duane Dougherty, talked to me about inside jokes and stop-overs whenever Joey passed through Reno. He talked about how Joey operated behind the scenes, bolstering those around him without seeking credit for himself. The embodiment of the Active 20-30 mission - friendship and service at their highest levels.

National Director Gioia Hershey is one example of someone guided by Joey's advise. "When I was campaigning for Regional Director, a wise, wonderful man named Joey Gray told me to visit all the clubs and have a good time getting to know people.  Joey was someone that I looked forward to seeing at #656 meetings and getting a big hug from. The last time I saw him was Oct. 6th with a gavel in his hand and where he was in charge of North Bay’s Past Active Night.  Not only was he a PAL, a #656 Past President, he was also a previous Regional Director that told me to have some fun while getting my work done... Active 20-30 lost a wonderful man when he passed away Dec. 1st."

I challenge you to look at the bar Joey has set for who we are as Active 20-30 members and see if you can - through your life and actions - raise that bar. 

I invite you to post remembrances in the comments of this post - about Joey and about others like him who have exemplified the Active 20-30 spirit. What was it about this man that left such a big hole when he passed?

In Joey's honor, the men of North Bay #656 have created a scholarship fund. For more information, please contact the club.

Crabs

 

I read an article recently that started with: What do crabs in a pot have to do with leadership. The author went on to tell the story of crabs in hot water and the advise his father gave him.

He began by asking if we’d ever seen crabs in a pot getting boiled. We said sure but weren’t sure where he was going with this.  “Here’s the thing, he said, there will always be one crab who gets his claw up on the rim of that pot and is just about ready to pull himself out of there.  And then the other crabs will grab him and drag him back into the pot.  They’re not getting out of there, but they’re going to make sure he’s not getting out either. Both of you guys are smart and talented. You could go places. Don’t let them drag you back into that pot, boys.” 

Mr. Neal shared a lot of wisdom with Ty and me back in the day but the crabs in the pot story is the one that I’ve always remembered. One of the big challenges of leadership is not getting pulled back into the pot. It’s about understanding what the current reality is (i.e. it’s hotter than hell in here and if we don’t get out, we’ll be cooked) and influencing others to come with you to something better while resisting their efforts to pull you back in. 

I don't believe any of us intentionally hold another back, but haven't you seen this very thing at play? Many of you have climbed out of pots - at work, in Active 20-30, in other aspects of your life. Some of us have been pulled back in a few times, sweating it out and living to climb out another day.

Thinking back, what helped you to do that without getting pulled back in by those around you?

Please share your tips and tricks for climbing out in the comments.