Cynthia D’Amour on Leadership and Life

   What would you do?
Kevin was a first-time volunteer.

Helping with the chapter’s big holiday parade.
Assigned to the parade experience team.
Their job to make watching the parade fun.

Kevin was given an assignment.

Buy candy to throw at kids.
And jazzy buckets so folks saw the chapter name.
He had a specific budget to spend.

Kevin did a Google search.

Found a [...]

Filed under: Getting More Members Involved, Volunteers | 1 Comment »

   It’s been a long week.
The problem began last Sunday.

Flew to Denver.
For several days with a client.
Very full days.

Within a matter of hours, the problem hit.

My lungs were heavy.
And so was my head.
Oh the pain…

Walking to the car left me breathless.

(Almost worse than working out with Joy Queen of Torture!)
It was a total drag.
And created [...]

Filed under: Savvy Leadership, Volunteers | No Comments »

  Huh?
Just got an email from a woman I didn’t know.

She offered to let me use her article on potty training accidents.
For my Active Member Minute e-zine.
What’s that got to do with Chapter Leaders and their success?

Here’s the main advice for accidents…

Be comforting.
Don’t despair.
Be ready to clean up.

Why did she send this to me?

It’s a [...]

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   I totally rejected him.
Last night James was at a meeting.

I got in my extreme comfy clothes.
(Not for public viewing)
And settled in to read a great book.

I saw the salesman approach.

He tried to ring the doorbell.
(It doesn’t work - on purpose.)
He wouldn’t give up.

He looked in the window of our front room.

Saw me immersed in [...]

Filed under: Adventures of Raindrop, Getting More Members Involved, Volunteers | 2 Comments »

   Killed the deal.
Received an email request last week.

I was recommended to her.
She wanted some advice about an event I attended last year.
A few tips for a first-timer.

I got a unexpected break in my schedule.

Used the time to write up a few ideas for her.
Also asked her for ideas about cool things to do in her hometown.
(I’ll be there [...]

Filed under: Keeping members, Volunteers | No Comments »

  My energy was zinging.
Luckily I caught myself in time - and got into bored traveler mode before it was too late.
What was going on?

Just before I left for the airport I read Kevin Holland’s review of my blog.
He said I was hypnotizing.
And hokey - with kooky photos!

It was a hilarious review - and so on the [...]

Filed under: Savvy Leadership, Volunteers | No Comments »

  And I was willing to give her lots!
Today I went in pursuit of a pair of walking shoes designed to help prevent plantar fasciitis - a lovely form of heel pain.
My friends told me to go to Mast Shoes.

They specialize in comfortable shoes.
Their staff is highly trained.
They have been around since the 1940s.

I’ve lived in [...]

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

  I got a sneak peak!
ASAE and the Center for Association Leadership surveyed 26,305 association members to identify how they volunteer, where they do it - and why they do it.
The Decision to Volunteer is the resulting book and goes on sale this Saturday.
I received an advance copy – and thought I’d share a sneak peak at some [...]

Filed under: Getting More Members Involved, Volunteers | 2 Comments »