session 3 – Ethics & Diversity

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Upper Main Line YMCA

It had been sometime since I had been to the Main Line YMCA, workplace of our classmate, Jennifer Au.  Last year, the Y added a new addition that was breathtaking when you pull into the parking lot with the new building reflecting the older section. 

When we were introduced to our first speaker,Suzanne Kaplan, of Organization Change Solutions,  she looked familiar to me.  In her opening remarks, I realized where I had seen her face before.  Her story was featured in a book called, Best Friends.  She used the story that she had in that anthology of friendship to illustrate examples about how our preconceived notions and upbringing had much to do with who we are today.

There were many times in her talk that my mind opened to a new way of thinking which was incredible!

After her talk, Jeanne gave us an exercise that changed my life as a business owner!  Many times I need to think of a process and put in steps that need to occur.  We needed to do this for our projects.  Taking multi-colored Post-Its, markers, and large rolls of paper (ok, so maybe it is the office supplies I love!) to design a process and timeline for our projects.  It was fabulous because if you misplaced an idea, you could simply pick it up and place it somewhere else!

Splitting into groups, we each took a stack of Post-its and staged our project out.

The real test came when we had to switch, and the Lock Box group had to critique ours and we had to do the same to theirs.

In the afternoon, we had Ethics with Mike Graves from the Delaware YMCA.  Mike kept us laughing with his personal stories.  We had many opportunities to do small group exercises that resembled the 80’s game “Scruples.”

 

 After Mike was done, we decompressed all the information of the day and made  constructive comments about each other’s processes.   We finally had a general plan of attack for our project.  It was exciting!

The Path is Getting Clearer!

“Go Green” Action Plan

Typed up by Karen – 3/12/2008 at our Ethics and Diversity Class at UMLY

 

Complete by March 21^st

 

Research what is “green” Allison will contact Green Chamber of Commerce

 

Research Energy Audit Jim & Karen

 

“Go Green” Blog Ken will create

 

“Go Green” Blog writer Brandie

 

Complete by April 8^th

 

Create/Develop survey for Main Line Chamber to evaluate the current “green” activity-  Paul, Jenny & Milena

 

Conduct Survey with Main Line Chamber contact- Paul, Jenny & Milena.

 

Complete by May 14^th

 

Define guidelines, best practices & outline benefits of going green- Group

 

Develop PR plan- Group 

 

Identify local resources & references- Group 

Complete by June 4^th

 

Create a step by step plan for the Main Line Chamber to “go green”

 

Getting Focused!!

Jeanne emailed the questions to remind us what we should be focusing on as we conduct our research. We should start posting answers/suggestions to the questions:

1. What EXACTLY is the goal of this project?

2. How will you know when that goal is reached? (this means how will you know you have been successful)

3. What is in place right now that can be used to achieve the goal?

4. What has to be done to achieve the goal? (this is the actual work of the project)

What could get in the way of your reaching the goal? (either too little success or too much success)

Oh Boy!!!  Going Green is SO broad!!  There are so many ways!!! 

My interpretation was:

1. The goal of our project is to increase awareness to local businesses (specifically ones in the chamber) to decrease their usage of natural resources.

2. Our goal is to get a commitment of _____ businesses in the area (or just chamber) to implement ___ steps for Going Green.

3. See what others have posted.

4. Top ten ways that businesses can save energy and help the planet, website, brochure.

We were going to have to narrow this thing down…..more research is needed!!!!

 

Fact Finding – On the Path to Green!

After the meeting on Valentine’s Day, emails flew back and forth gathering information as we begun to educate ourselves on what it means to “Go Green.”  Sure it was recycling and turning off lights, but what else was it?  Were there any standards?  Allison Ritchie added a link to te board regarding “green” business standards outlined by California http://www.greenbiz.abag.ca.gov/BGStandards.html. Allison thought these specifications would be a great place for us to start and they were!

Dave Braxton cited the Philadelphia Business Journal that ran Feb 8-14.   There is a one page ad called go green. There are helpful links in the ad including: http://www.pecpa.org/, http://www.sbnphiladelphia.org/, http://dvgbc.org/ and http://pennfuture.org/

 

Jim uploaded a PDF from his business called Thinking Green Brochure that his company uses to promote their environmental practices and another PDF about the EPA Green Lights program they acheived a few years back. Both good examples of what has been done.

Kenyon suggested teaming up with the Radnor Schools to see if they wanted to join our mission and to see what they are presently doing.

He also spoke with someone from Radnor Township, who referred me to an architect, who clued him in on what it means to have a “Green Building.” 

 

Kenyon wrote,

“Here is a brief summary of my research:

LEED is the industry standard for green building. For a building to be officially considered green, it should be LEED certified. For a building to be LEED certified, there is a process to get reviewed. The review process is a checklist of passive and active things that can be done to earn credits. Credits determine the level of LEED certification. Therefore, there are different levels of green building.

Also note, there is a cost involved in getting reviewed. This means that some builders may not want to pay to get certified, but may use the LEED checklist and guidelines to be as green as possible. They just can’t officially say their building is green.

Here is a link to more info re: LEED Rating System

http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=222”

 

Our information was growing!!  We were are our way!

 

 

Proposal for the Two Projects: LML 2008

Target Group/Organization: Eldernet and MLCC

by: Dave Braxton

 

Reason for choice: The LML class of 2008 believes that we can accomplish two programs simultaneously.  The chosen projects strike a chord with the group in such a way that we are willing to pursue this challenge with sincere effort.

 

Objectives: To produce two thorough and complete projects that will enhance the quality of life on the Main Line

 

Process: Create two teams to gather information and access the needs of the targets

Define the parameters of each project

Confer as a group the best way to pursue each project

Share resources within the group for best use of talent and desire to complete defined tasks

Get to it!

 

Estimated costs: $250 for a celebration party in June

 

Anticipated outcome: Successful completion of two quality projects while providing each member of the LML 2008 class an opportunity to discover, learn and enhance their leadership skills.

 

 

1. Target Group/Organization: Eldernet

 

Reason for choice:

Objectives:

Process:

Estimated costs:

Anticipated outcome:

 

 

2. Target Group/Organization: MLCC

 

Reason for choice: Many participants of LML08 are passionate about a green project.  It is important for the MLCC to begin a green initiative to support its members in their move towards becoming more environmentally conscious.

Objectives: To establish a “green” committee within the MLCC

Process: Contact MLCC point person (TBD) for green initiative.  Define MLCCs desires and concepts about the program.  Brain storm with our group and MLCC members to define our project.  Implement items defined.

Estimated costs: TBD, nominal

Anticipated outcomes: MLCC becomes a model “green” organization.  MLCC becomes an available resource for Main Line Businesses to Go Green too.

 

evening session #2 – make a decision, already!!

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Main Line Chamber Conference Room

 

This was a long session.  Meeting first, we broke into our respective camps – Eldernet and Go Green.  Piles of paper were on our tables, as we sifted through it together to find something simplified to present.

Karen and Jim found information through the Chester County SEI.  We start thinking more broadly – like for the community.

After some time, we vote our fearless leader, Dave Braxton to present our plan.  He does his best to try to whittle all the information down, with most of our answers being, “I don’t know.” or “I’ll have to get you information on that.”

Eldernet’s presentation is very strong.  They have defined jobs.  Jeff Lenderman from the group, says that “This project is ‘teed up.’” and he seems to be right!

Our project seems like a pipe dream, a wish.  We open the floor for questions from each group.  Our “green” group doesn’t have a lot of questions for the “Eldernet” one, but boy, do they have questions for us!!!

Jeanne opens the conversation to open discussion.  It gets into a friendly banter back and forth.  Eldernet is right.  Our topic is too broad, too vague.

We fight valiantly for our cause, despite not having information that is needed. 

 

Dave, Karen, Jim, and Milena state that with the right information, we can put together something amazing!

I comment that I did not sign up for Leadership Main Line in order to do something “Teed up.”  My interpretation of the program was to do something that made me stretch.  If we did not take on this magnitude of a project, I would feel gipped.

Jeanne’s head looked like it was going to pop off.  We had no consensus – but only a further divide.  The dreamers versus the realists.  Who would win?

 

 

session 2 – The World of Nonprofits

February 13, 2008

Main Line Chamber Headquarters

 

As a chiropractor, I don’t deal with non-profit and truly did not know a lot about them.  Lucky for me, LML had Laura Otten, from LaSalle University Non-Profit Center came and spoke about The Governance of Non-Profits.  We learned all the ins and out about joining a board, and the issues that came up with it.  Many of us had never thought we were qualified to sit on a board and were excited that many non-profits had a need for people that were inspired enough to spend time and energy for a great cause.

After lunch, we noticed the presence of a giant adorable bunny and a tiny kitty on one of the tables.  It was time to “Meet the Non-Profits.”  There were two other tables with equally lovely women, but not as cute as the snuggly animals.  I quickly made my way to the animal table and scooped up a gray fuzzy baby kitty.

Paula Kielich from Pals for Life (one of our classmates, Kristen Abbott’s organization).  Paula moved many people at the table with her story about following her passion to be happy and make a difference, despite having what would some would consider a successful job.  We learned that Pals for Life brings small animals to hospitals, schools, and senior centers as a form of therapy.   While she was talking, we got to snuggle the bunny and kitty.  I almost took the kitty home, she was so cute!

 

It was time to switch tables, and we met Carole Marchand of Interfaith Hospitality Network.  Carole is an amazing woman who helps families caught up in financial crisis and by the good deeds of others and a network of giving businesses, helps people get back on their feet.  Interfaith was helped by LML by having their brochure redone.  

 

We also heard from Ruth Sperber of Eldernet.  Ruth was a great speaker who told many stories about those who helped Eldernet work and the services they supply to the Lower Merion Township.  She also added to the discussion regarding her board.

 

John Dougherty from Lower Merion Township, said that Eldernet had a new project that they wanted to get going which was lockboxes.  Lockboxes are a contraption that is put on a door that gave emergency personnel access to someone’s home, in the event that they were not heard from in some time.  The project he suggested was to aid Eldernet in developing a marketing brochure and implementation plan to place these lockboxes in Lower Merion to those residents that truly needed them.  Lynne Samson reiterated the request that Ruth had mentioned in her talk, which was developing and executing a board survey to revitalize her amazing board.

In the end, we split into groups to discuss more ideas for our project.  At our table, we discussed the volunteer directory when Karen DiVincenzo yelled out, “Hey guys, what if we did something with “Going Green” for the chamber?”  We all became excited with her idea.  We split the group again like shuffling cards, and each of our initial group disseminated to other groups.

 

Each of us tried to sell the idea of going green with the same energy as Karen.  Some thought it was a great idea, while others thought that it was too much of a project to handle and it was way too vague.

 

When we all discussed as a group at the end of the session, it was the first time we began to see a division in the class, although friendly, there were people that had strong ideas either way.  I thought it was great to be in the company of people who truly cared for the Main Line.  It was truly awesome!

 

We agreed to make a decision about the project at the next session that was a week away (YIKES!).  The assignment for home was to gather information about either side that you were interested in, and bring it in for a working meeting.

 

 

Evening Session #1 – Pizza, Wine, and New Friendships

Wednesday, January 23, 2008 – 6:00PM to 8:00PM EDT

Reigl Home 

The evening was chilly, but incredibly clear tonight.  We gathered at the gorgeous home of the Ed and Nicole Reigl, members of the LML Steering Committee and graduates of the program.

 

Over pizza, wine, and amazing cookies we started to learn more about each other.  Around 7pm, Jeanne introduced us to Stan Schuck, the new president of the Chamber.  He gave us a wonderful toast and off to work we went.

 

Our charge was to brainstorm ideas for a project that we were to perform over the course of the remaining four months.

 

We discussed having a Volunteer directory to put those who were interested in volunteering in touch with those who needed volunteers – connecting the elderly or frail with those who wanted to help.

 

Paul brought up an idea for Restorative Justice, a program that helped those who were affected by crime to gain closure by meeting with their offender.  Not many of us had heard of this and thought it was a great idea.

 

With ideas swirling in our heads, and cookies in our hands, we left that moonlit evening with new friends in our hearts.

We Meet at Last!

In an effort to develop future community leaders in the region, the Chamber established the Leadership Main Line program in 2002.

Leadership Main Line provides an intensive six-month curriculum that involves the participants in learning experiences designed to enhance the infrastructure of the Main Line. Graduates benefit personally and professionally, but the big winner is the community as more qualified leaders are developed. 

We all met on a cold day at West Chester University. I think for many of us, it brought back memories.  Jammed into those little, rigid seats that squalked when you shifted, we all met Jeanne McClennan, our facilitator, and the ever fabulous, Kristen DiLuillo, from the Main Line Chamber. 

 

Quickly we were divided up by twos and had the task of introducing our partners.  As I listened to each person present their partner, I was blown away at the amazing people I that I had in my class.  My partner was Jason, an incredibly nice lawyer.  Some were bankers, some worked for amazing non-profits that had exceptional causes, one of the nicest cops I ever met, and even the co-owner of the place that all my patients rave about for their dog supplies!   We were truly from all walks of life, and here were in our jeans and sweatshirts meeting each other as classmates.  It was truly cool.

Prior to the class, we filled out a test called The Meyers-Briggs test.  It was a series of questions that helped you identify certain personality traits.  For each of the four categories, we did exercises to show why we do the things we do.  The biggest thing I finally found a reason for – is why I write 8 page emails explaining everything, as opposed to my husband, who might answer a word.  It was awesome to finally have an excuse!  We learned that even though we have these personality traits, we can harness what works for us, and use it to be a leader in different situations.

For the rest of the day, we were led through introspective team-building exercises that helped us meet each other.   In the introduction from the fabulous Jeanne, our facilitator, we learned that our mission, if we chose to accept it was to develop and execute a project that would impact the lives of those on the Main Line for the better.  

We left exhausted after the day’s activities, excited about the people we met, and what was to come.