God has so much to say about Governments; mostly everything I know about leadership I have learned from the Word.
Governmental authority is established to keep order. "Order" is like the grease that keeps everything moving smoothly. It's when things are "out of order" that problems begin. Disorder usually results in confusion. When you see confusion, it's usually because something is "out of order".
Policies and procedures are created to try and keep order. Imagine being at a meeting where everyone is screaming at each other. This scene could be deemed as "out of order", because the communication system would be unproductive. Anything that is unproductive is Out of Order!
I worked the federal election last year. This was the first year they required everyone to produce identification. My parents were in my pole, but they forgot their identification; they were not permitted to vote. So in this case, the policy that was set to achieve order actually produced disorder.
Order does not start with a list of rules, it starts with vision. Once we know where we want to go, then we can form a system that will help everyone get there.
Is Hornepayne in order? Are we achieving our goals? What are our goal as a community? What is our position in the North? When we pool our individual strengths we can see the big picture of exactly who Hornepayne is. I think we need to see this "picture"; this is the beginning of coming into order. Once we know who we are, we can better know where we are going. We can have community goals, and we can claim our position within the North. We can confidently say "this is who we are, and this is how we can contribute to the North." I'll just bet each community has a different strength, and only Hornepayne can fill Hornepayne's position. There is just nobody else like us. We are Hornepayne!!!!
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Immature Ideas- Post #3
I call these "Immature ideas" because at this point there has been no deep research, I'm just brainstorming...
1. Communication. Everything that can be made public should be easily accessible to the Public. The minutes used to be posted in the newspaper, this was a good start. Forums and blogs are great ways to communicate these days! Everyone is on the computer and the fears of communicating seem to disappear when using this format.
I would like to see a list of all the projects that council is currently working on. I would also like to see, perhaps in chart form, the progress and where the project sits. Again, this could all be online, but it would also be nice to have an actual public display. Perhaps a newsletter that could be given out to all the coffee/beer drinking hangouts. This will fuel the conversation at those tables and inspire people to get involved.
Of course, if we had a council who was living among us, there would be the regular relationship interaction. Friends communicating with Friends in the hockey change-room, at the bar afterward s, in the arena bleachers, at church, during community functions, where ever! Being involved with People is key.
2. Vision. We have to start on the "20 year plan"! So in 20 years from now Hornepayne will be _____. There are things that just take time; there are things that you can't do all in one year. Imagine if they had a 20 year plan to beautify Cedar Point? That place could be rockin' by now!
Vision can't come from just on person, this would take a team. I would like to see Hornepayne on the Tourist route. People who travel highways 11 and 17 would drive in just to experience what Hornepayne had to offer. I would like to see this town marketed as an old railway town. We have the roundhouse and the old station, a great start! But the true asset is that Hornepayne's People are railroaders! Nobody would have to play a part, because it's who we are. If not an actual CN employee, we are their wives, kids, neighbors,... We know the life of a railroader, we know the history, we know the stories, ....
I would also like to see the "20 year plan" to beautify Hornepayne. I spent a lot of time in the Buttercup trails this year, much could be done so many more could enjoy them. The River is another asset. Cedar Point, our community parks, side walks!
3. The Arts. Art in the Park and The annual Music Fest are FANTASTIC! I would like to see a regular outlet for the artists in our community. An outdoor stage in the middle of a grassy field would be perfect for the summer months. An Artist's cafe would be a great hangout.
The arts are important because this is one of the major ways the Gen X and under, express themselves. The lack in this area is one of the reasons I have considered moving to a bigger center.
4. Immediate Economic stimulation. The new council may come in right after the closing of the mall. If this happens, we are going to be without a lot of services, and the "20 year plan" is not going to bring much comfort. It's hard to come up with a solution at this point when we don't know what we are going to have to work with. A motel is a major factor. If we can't host people for the night, how can we plan events that would draw people here? I think re-building a motel should be of first priority, if the center closes.
5. The Arena. The arena is in need of a few things. Repairs to the upper floor, more change rooms, and office space. Business is booming, so to speak, and with a few changes we could capitalize on that. It's definitly an asset as a time like this.
There are many other needs I'm aware of, but I don't know enough about them at this point to come up with ideal solutions. So I'm going to stop here for today. ☺
1. Communication. Everything that can be made public should be easily accessible to the Public. The minutes used to be posted in the newspaper, this was a good start. Forums and blogs are great ways to communicate these days! Everyone is on the computer and the fears of communicating seem to disappear when using this format.
I would like to see a list of all the projects that council is currently working on. I would also like to see, perhaps in chart form, the progress and where the project sits. Again, this could all be online, but it would also be nice to have an actual public display. Perhaps a newsletter that could be given out to all the coffee/beer drinking hangouts. This will fuel the conversation at those tables and inspire people to get involved.
Of course, if we had a council who was living among us, there would be the regular relationship interaction. Friends communicating with Friends in the hockey change-room, at the bar afterward s, in the arena bleachers, at church, during community functions, where ever! Being involved with People is key.
2. Vision. We have to start on the "20 year plan"! So in 20 years from now Hornepayne will be _____. There are things that just take time; there are things that you can't do all in one year. Imagine if they had a 20 year plan to beautify Cedar Point? That place could be rockin' by now!
Vision can't come from just on person, this would take a team. I would like to see Hornepayne on the Tourist route. People who travel highways 11 and 17 would drive in just to experience what Hornepayne had to offer. I would like to see this town marketed as an old railway town. We have the roundhouse and the old station, a great start! But the true asset is that Hornepayne's People are railroaders! Nobody would have to play a part, because it's who we are. If not an actual CN employee, we are their wives, kids, neighbors,... We know the life of a railroader, we know the history, we know the stories, ....
I would also like to see the "20 year plan" to beautify Hornepayne. I spent a lot of time in the Buttercup trails this year, much could be done so many more could enjoy them. The River is another asset. Cedar Point, our community parks, side walks!
3. The Arts. Art in the Park and The annual Music Fest are FANTASTIC! I would like to see a regular outlet for the artists in our community. An outdoor stage in the middle of a grassy field would be perfect for the summer months. An Artist's cafe would be a great hangout.
The arts are important because this is one of the major ways the Gen X and under, express themselves. The lack in this area is one of the reasons I have considered moving to a bigger center.
4. Immediate Economic stimulation. The new council may come in right after the closing of the mall. If this happens, we are going to be without a lot of services, and the "20 year plan" is not going to bring much comfort. It's hard to come up with a solution at this point when we don't know what we are going to have to work with. A motel is a major factor. If we can't host people for the night, how can we plan events that would draw people here? I think re-building a motel should be of first priority, if the center closes.
5. The Arena. The arena is in need of a few things. Repairs to the upper floor, more change rooms, and office space. Business is booming, so to speak, and with a few changes we could capitalize on that. It's definitly an asset as a time like this.
There are many other needs I'm aware of, but I don't know enough about them at this point to come up with ideal solutions. So I'm going to stop here for today. ☺
Friday, June 11, 2010
Just have to be, ME! ...Post #2
I have been pondering how ridiculous my insecurities are! I believe in my ideas and in the vision I have for Hornepayne. I'm sold out to what I think the Municipal government's roll is. I know what I want and what I expect. If I were to run for Council, all I would have to do it run those things by the People of Hornepayne. If they agreed with me, then they would vote for me. If their vision for Hornepayne was not the same as mine then they wouldn't vote for me, and rightly so! If my heart does not line up with the Heart of Hornepayne, then I should not be in leadership of it. But if it does.....☺
Another thing is, I so believe in my ideas that I don't think I would have to resort to the usual political tactics. I wouldn't have to rip my opponents apart to elevate myself. We all have strengths and we all have weaknesses; I will not capitalize on my opponent's weakness to highlight my strength. I think my generation is just sick of all that political BS.
Another thing is, I so believe in my ideas that I don't think I would have to resort to the usual political tactics. I wouldn't have to rip my opponents apart to elevate myself. We all have strengths and we all have weaknesses; I will not capitalize on my opponent's weakness to highlight my strength. I think my generation is just sick of all that political BS.
The beginning...
I went to the HEDC annual meeting a few nights ago. I wasn't shocked to find out that I have been wired for this kind of stuff. We are each created differently, and I was definitely created to lead and to be creative. I went there pondering the thought of joining the board, but during it, I couldn't help but desire a place where I could contribute to bigger changes. I didn't feel the HEDC board was right for me...well, for now.
I know I'm a leader, I do not struggle with that. I do struggle with the fact that others have a hard time seeing my potential. I feel like I'm always trying to convince people to give me a chance. This is a major hurdle as I consider running for Town Council. For 11 years I worked for the Town, and they made feel like I wasn't good enough to scrub their toilets! Who is going to believe I can lead the town? Will people listen to my ideas?
Working for the Town for all those years does give me some advantages. I was able to see first hand the problems that exist on the inside. A major problem, I believe, is that Council does not make any effort to form relationships. How can they know what the people want and need when they don't spend time with people? They never used the pool or even came by, yet they are in the position to govern it! You simply can't know about something unless you are truly involved with it. They heard about the pool and about the staff, but did not know us! I think, if they did not take the time to know their own staff, then they definitely did not take the time to know their community.
I would like to see a Town Council that is one of us, as opposed to, set apart from us. People who care about the people, know the people, and are regularly involved with the people. I should not have to attend a council meeting to know what council is doing, because they should be involved with me, and we should be working together. We should all be about the same business, Hornepayne Business! If the majority of Hornepayne does not give a rat's ass about most of Council's business, then you have to wonder what and who their business is about.
A community is made up of all different kinds of people. Some volunteer and some don't. Some are involved and some are not. But every single person who lives here has a passion for something, and if you put all those passions together we see the true heart of Hornepayne. I think those whom are not involved probably can't see where they fit. Perhaps their passion was not valued at some point, and they were told "NO!", or maybe they just can't see how and where they can contribute. Imagine if we had a council that made a place for each person to manifest their passion into the community?
A leader is not above anyone, they just fill the leadership roll. A volunteer is not more valued than one who does not volunteer, because they were wired to contribute in this way; if they were not involved they would feel a loss. We have big idea people and small idea people, both are needed. We have creative artists who express the deep things of humanity, and we have business buffs who create and grow businesses. Town leaders do not have to be experts in any field except leadership. They have to know how to recognize passion in a person and find a way to connect them to the rest of the town. They have to be encouraging and believe in the Town's people. They have to see the value in everyone, not just in some. They have to serve the people by recognizing and fulfilling the needs in the community.
I really hope Hornepayne is ready for change. I hope when the people go to the polls they are thinking outside of the normal "Mayor and council" stereo-type. I hope they ponder what their needs are and they vote for the person(s) who will lead in that direction. Some things can be learned, like the legalities of the job. But nobody is going to automatically turn into a good caring person once they are elected; we have to figure out who is good before hand, and vote them in.
I know I'm a leader, I do not struggle with that. I do struggle with the fact that others have a hard time seeing my potential. I feel like I'm always trying to convince people to give me a chance. This is a major hurdle as I consider running for Town Council. For 11 years I worked for the Town, and they made feel like I wasn't good enough to scrub their toilets! Who is going to believe I can lead the town? Will people listen to my ideas?
Working for the Town for all those years does give me some advantages. I was able to see first hand the problems that exist on the inside. A major problem, I believe, is that Council does not make any effort to form relationships. How can they know what the people want and need when they don't spend time with people? They never used the pool or even came by, yet they are in the position to govern it! You simply can't know about something unless you are truly involved with it. They heard about the pool and about the staff, but did not know us! I think, if they did not take the time to know their own staff, then they definitely did not take the time to know their community.
I would like to see a Town Council that is one of us, as opposed to, set apart from us. People who care about the people, know the people, and are regularly involved with the people. I should not have to attend a council meeting to know what council is doing, because they should be involved with me, and we should be working together. We should all be about the same business, Hornepayne Business! If the majority of Hornepayne does not give a rat's ass about most of Council's business, then you have to wonder what and who their business is about.
A community is made up of all different kinds of people. Some volunteer and some don't. Some are involved and some are not. But every single person who lives here has a passion for something, and if you put all those passions together we see the true heart of Hornepayne. I think those whom are not involved probably can't see where they fit. Perhaps their passion was not valued at some point, and they were told "NO!", or maybe they just can't see how and where they can contribute. Imagine if we had a council that made a place for each person to manifest their passion into the community?
A leader is not above anyone, they just fill the leadership roll. A volunteer is not more valued than one who does not volunteer, because they were wired to contribute in this way; if they were not involved they would feel a loss. We have big idea people and small idea people, both are needed. We have creative artists who express the deep things of humanity, and we have business buffs who create and grow businesses. Town leaders do not have to be experts in any field except leadership. They have to know how to recognize passion in a person and find a way to connect them to the rest of the town. They have to be encouraging and believe in the Town's people. They have to see the value in everyone, not just in some. They have to serve the people by recognizing and fulfilling the needs in the community.
I really hope Hornepayne is ready for change. I hope when the people go to the polls they are thinking outside of the normal "Mayor and council" stereo-type. I hope they ponder what their needs are and they vote for the person(s) who will lead in that direction. Some things can be learned, like the legalities of the job. But nobody is going to automatically turn into a good caring person once they are elected; we have to figure out who is good before hand, and vote them in.
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