Steve Bissonnette
President
Volunteers in Service to the Elderly (VISTE)
In 2014 the Leadership Lakeland Alumni Association (LLAA) celebrated its 30th Anniversary. During the Annual meeting that year I had the opportunity to share some “pearls of wisdom” gleaned from the Association’s activities during its third decade of existence.
Pearl #1: It’s important to stay engaged with young people. Their energy and enthusiasm is contagious.
In 2003, the LLAA Board authorized creation of a Community Service Subcommittee whose stated goal was to engage in active leadership through community service. It was out of this initiative that several Alumni began volunteering as part of the ODK Annual High School Leadership Conference at Florida Southern College. This partnership evolved into a one-day leadership training program for select High School students throughout Polk County sponsored jointly by the ODK National Leadership society at FSC and LLAA. In addition to providing keynote speakers and co-facilitators of breakout sessions, LLAA provided organizational continuity to an event where the ODK student coordinator changes every year. This program provides a unique forum to engage exemplary high school and college students who are positioned to become future leaders within our community.
Pearl #2: It’s never too late to grow up, and even the most fundamental changes can reap big results.
An Organizational Task Force was formed in 2006. Although LLAA was established 22 years earlier, the task force was unable to locate Articles of Incorporation or confirmation of non-profit status. Having evolved under the umbrella of the Chamber of Commerce, it appeared that the LLAA had never been formally organized. Needless to say, that discovery began a series of events focused on such things as corporate records, IRS filings, and written policies and procedures. An additional byproduct was the establishment of operating committees, including Finance, Special Events, and Membership/Communications. These seemingly mundane organizational changes laid the foundation for greater continuity, accountability, and organizational capacity.
Pearl #3: Sometimes, the best gift we can give someone else is to be fully present to them, even if only for 1 minute.
In 2007 the Special Events committee was charged with taking a fresh look at program offerings and social activities. One of the more unique activities involved a joint effort with members of EMERGE. Organized in a “speed-dating” format, this event involved approximately 50 members from each organization who were given 1 minute to give their best introductions. When time was up each person switched partners and started over again. By the end of the evening every EMERGE participant had the opportunity to personally meet and exchange business cards with 50 of our communities top leaders. EMERGE was blown away with that opportunity and the ongoing business and personal relationships that resulted.
So our challenge today is to continue engaging new and emerging leaders who are already re-visioning what this community can be 30 years from now. If we instill in them the core values of generosity, civic-mindedness, volunteerism, and compassion that have uniquely defined our community culture for so many years, then we will help preserve the heart of what makes this such a extraordinary place to live, work, and play.
