Cynthia D’Amour on Leadership and Life

   And I got caught.
I’m sitting in a committee meeting.

Reporting out happening.
I already read the report.
My mind wandered for a moment.

The person reporting used an acronym.

Thought it was code for an approach.
Listened desperately meaning.
I was stumped.

I could take it no more.

I asked for decoding.
The entire room chanted a book title.
UGH! I felt dumb.

Ready to roll [...]

Filed under: Keeping members | 1 Comment »

   Missed the mark.
Got a creative conference promotion.

The hook: How to get your boss’s approval to attend.
Why did they send this to me?  I am the boss.
Still decided to check it out.

First mistake: I have no idea what their conference is about.

They used a code name.
Didn’t spell it out.
Looks like it’s something to do with marketing.

“What [...]

Filed under: Getting More Members Involved | 2 Comments »

   Prove me wrong.
A volunteer shared his experience with me.

This is a true story.
Names have been changed to protect the innocent.
(And the clueless.)

For two years Donald volunteered on a chapter committee.

He worked hard.
Brought fresh ideas.
Was committed to the team.

Donald’s chapter used an antiquated volunteer assignment process.

Members have to apply to be allowed to help the chapter.
Volunteering [...]

Filed under: Getting More Members Involved, Savvy Leadership | No Comments »

   At least in Atlanta.
I’ve been in Atlanta for 48 hours.

Some of the nicest 48 hours in a long time.
From the moment I arrived in airport.
To the present.

I decided to take the MARTA rails to my hotel.

Had two employees help me get my card.
The train was clean.
Fellow riders were welcoming.

My hotel arrival experience was the [...]

Filed under: Recruiting New Members | No Comments »

   Is so passe!
Growing up, men mowed yards on Saturday or Sunday night.

The weekend was for yard work.
My dad mowed Saturday morning to free the weekend.
Many mowed Sunday night.

Fast forward to walking Monday night.

I saw three people mowing their yards.
Within one block.
All looked around early 30s.

Personally, I don’t care when people mow.

I’ve got a pretty fluid [...]

Filed under: Getting More Members Involved | No Comments »

   James won.
A week ago, we had to take Raindrop to the vet hospital.

Her face had blown up.
Looked like an allergic reaction.
Vet predicted insect bites.

Saturday James discovered the source of Raindrop’s pain.

James mowed the backyard with his push mower.
Pushing makes it a personal experience.
Especially when you mow over an underground colony of yellow jackets!

I returned from [...]

Filed under: Adventures of Raindrop, Board challenges | No Comments »

   Fell three words short.
Got an email encouraging me to attend an association’s convention.

Finally one well done!
It’s been a dry spell for a while.
It was almost perfect - if not for three missing words.

First what they did well…

The writer was personal with me.
He understood and acknowledged the last few months.
He felt my potential pain.

He provided solutions.

To [...]

Filed under: Magic Meetings | No Comments »