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Posted on July 22, 2011 10:53
Community Connections
Creating Miracles At Meetings
BY PAM KETTERING
Yankton Area United Way
Published: Wednesday, July 20, 2011 10:23 PM CDT
Meetings. Don’t you just love them? I have the opportunity to attend quite a few meetings. Some of them I really look forward to attending. Other meetings are just okay. Then there are the meetings that I drag my feet, think of a dozen other issues that need attention, rather than attend the “dreaded” meeting.
Regardless of my foregone conclusion of attending a meeting, I am very appreciative of the creative solutions that are generated when a group of people gather around a table, share their thoughts, and build a seed of an idea until it germinates into a plan or program of action.
Have you ever attended a meeting or been in a group of people when a person has an idea that is just “off the wall”? Those words start an amazing process. Thinking in the groove takes a detour. Some detours lead to a dead end. Other detours take a part of that idea; add a little twist that soon generates additional sparks. When this process occurs with a group of minds thinking on the same path toward a common goal and when all comments are welcome, miracles happen!
These miracles are not necessarily huge, unless you consider the satisfaction of accomplishment of each person involved, the momentum felt when everyone is energized, the relationships developed during the process, and the ownership of the miracle of each of the participants upon exiting the meeting. This is when I love meetings!
Last week I attended a meeting in Huron - - - South Dakota. Eight South Dakota United Way Directors gathered together to network. We were of like minds on the same mission – working in our communities for its citizens. It was great! We mostly talked about common projects like the Imagination Library, Delta Dental Care Mobile, campaign planning, allocation process,
Networking, discussing, questioning, reaffirming, is the greatest outcome from this gathering to, in turn, relate back to our organization’s board. Sometimes it is reassuring that we have another office to turn for support. When a community has issues that we are not experiencing, there are learning opportunities on how programs have developed to address the needs.
A couple of communities have experienced a large number of people of various cultures come to the community for jobs. We discovered how a number of their agencies collaborated to address diversity. Other directors shared how different funding methods were established for a 12 week fitness program for middle school girls. This reaffirmed that though we all have basically the same mission, each community makes its own decisions on their needs and how they are addressed.
Every United Way has their own Board of Directors that determines their mission and how to fulfill the community need. Every United Way affiliated with United Way Worldwide has requirements to fulfill to meet their certification standards. Due to our diversity and commonality, we greatly benefit from the networking, attending meetings, and working with truly dedicated, caring leaders that give direction throughout South Dakota.
One of our partner agencies that come to the rescue when people are in distress is the Red Cross. Continue reading the critical information they have shared for this time of year.
Expert’s Advise on Staying Cool in Record-breaking Heat
In recent years, excessive heat has caused more deaths than all other weather events, including floods. As temperatures and humidity levels soar this weekend, protecting yourself and others from overheating is critical to avoid a potential heat-related illness. Here are some easy tips for staying safe during heat waves, courtesy of Dr. David Markenson, chair, American Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council.
• Never leave a child or pet in a parked car – even for a few minutes. The inside temperature of a car can quickly reach 120 degrees.
• Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of fluids throughout the day – even if you don’t feel thirsty. Avoid drinks with caffeine or alcohol that dehydrate the body.
• Dress for the heat. Wear loose-fitting, lightweight, light-colored clothing in layers. Avoid dark colors that absorb the sun’s rays.
• If you must work outdoors, take frequent breaks to hydrate and cool yourself. Avoid strenuous exercise during the hottest part of the day.
• Protect yourself from sun exposure even on cloudy or hazy days. In addition to dressing for heat, apply a broad-spectrum (protection against both UVA and UVB rays) sunscreen and reapply as indicated, wear eye protection (wraparound sunglasses that provide 100 percent UV ray protection) and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
• Be a good neighbor. Check in on the elderly, young children and pets to make sure they are not suffering from the heat.
Additional heat safety tips are available on redcross.org. Learn how to prevent and treat heat-related illnesses by attending a Red Cross First Aid course. Contact your local Red Cross at 665-7572 or visit redcross.org/training for details or to register.
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