Over the Top

Last night I gave a speech for a local program that I participated in two years ago, Leadership Lehigh Valley. Here's a brief description of the program from their website:

Leadership Lehigh Valley (LLV) is a regional leadership development program designed to prepare and enable future community leaders. LLV's mission is to build a continuum of civic leaders committed to our community's excellence by serving as a catalyst for civic engagement.

I've always been civically engaged. This was unconsciously encouraged by my mother, simply by watching her read from the altar at church, shopping at the local farmer's market, singing at hootenannies, reading books from the public library, voting, and listening to the adult conversations she had with her friends. Later in school, I remember feeling challenged and frustrated at the contradictions of statements vs. behaviors of grown ups. In college, as I began to realize a highly complicated and troubled world, I became overwhelmed. What in the heck was I supposed to do to change the world as a bassoonist? I was developing serious delusions of grandeur with all of my lists, goals and aspirations.

A few career twists, some other momentous milestones happened, and I find myself in this moment of numerous blessings:
1. a great marriage (If you haven't met my husband yet, consider your life incomplete until you do),
2. two wonderful kids (I know every mom is supposed to say that, but my kids really are awesome),
3. an incredible employment situation with challenging work, supportive colleagues and enough of a brain trust around me to meet daily issues,
4. generous friends both near and far, and as many ways to stay connected with all of them as there are memories to cherish,
5. a lovely neighborhood and community in which I live.

So back to last night's speech. I was asked by the program director to offer some "reflection and motivation" for the new class. I started searching for a few "leadership" quotes to find inspiration, looked over notes from some educational leadership courses I've taken at Lehigh, and then came to the conclusion for my speech.

Leadership isn't a noun; it's a verb. It's something one does when they see something that needs to be done. I often call leaders around me, "superheroes." It's not that they have super powers. It's that they have a conscience and act on it. They participate, they follow the rules, they make mistakes and find ways to make up for them. Their deeds don't always get noticed or celebrated, yet superheroes do them anyway. The best superheroes in my book don't seek praise. In fact, if it's heaped upon them, they blush and are sometimes very uncomfortable. They just do their thing.

From all of models of leadership in my life, both good and bad, I have learned to take actions that aren't intended to qualify for a leadership label on my LinkedIn account. I just want to contribute something to this world that will make a difference; something that will help others, bring a little joy, or ease a burden.

I woke up this morning in the middle of a dream about my Aunt Bernice. She's been in my dreams a lot lately. I've written about Auntie Bernice before. She and my mom were also pretty good friends. Beyond her cooking, she was also a feminist and sang SUPER loudly (albeit beautifully) in church. She said the congregational prayers loudly, too. Maybe it was her way to drown out the BS that may have been swirling in the parish (I remember that pastor being particularly dick-ish). Her generosity, humility, and integrity was huge. Mostly, I remember her living life "over the top." She was a leader to me - and a superhero.

My mom lives her life "over the top" by volunteering at the Kenosha Public Museum and at the Anderson Arts Center across the street from her house. She still reads, and has a book club, she still drives, and is doing some AMAZING things in genealogy. She and my sister still do multiple trips to Spring Green, WI to watch theatre, and she still shops at the local farmer's market and sings at hootenannies. She's starting to share secrets with me. Like, as I get older, my body will take longer to recover from a fall. When I acknowledge the undeniable fact that I'm getting older, I panic. I feel like I'm running out of time to meet my aspirations.

But..... I'm already living my aspirations when I live "over the top" just like Auntie Bernice and my mom. They didn't analyze their actions worrying about if others call them a "leader" or not. They just embraced life, found joy, and did what needed to be done.

And how do I live life "over the top?" I'm going to leave that up to my kids to figure out when they reach my age. If they want to.

Local Elections: a rant and a wish

On Saturday mornings, when we don't have some event or trip planned, we like to let the kids sleep in. Their growth spurts need it, and I need time to start gathering the dirty laundry and going through the pile of weekly mail droppings.

And what a mail dropping I had to sort through today! In two days, eleven 11x8.5 inch full color mailers; six of them from one mayoral candidate, two of which had been mailed (and recycled) previously, five of them negative. The other five were from candidates for other local positions; county executive, a judge and one city council member. 

I'm also getting daily emails from one county executive candidate that I don't read: they're too long. It's not that I have a short attention span. When does a candidate really have my attention? When I'm in a conversation with them.

Motivated by a post written by a friend and colleague that I respect, and also by the political insight of another highly respected local blogger, I wish to make my vote of a few candidates public. But before I launch into the opinion of an academic doctorate, university employee, and a pretty dedicated citizen - I need to state for the record that my opinion does not reflect those of my employer or of any social organizations with whom I associate. I also don't reflect the opinion of my husband. Forgive him, he actually allows me to have my own opinion - he's kind of evolved that way. 

When I was a kid, my mom would bring me to the voting booth, but wouldn't tell me who she voted for because she said, "It's private." I'm sure it's because she was afraid of engaging a 7 year old in political discourse. I was exhausting as a child. Imagine that. 

I also remember being shut out of adult conversations; always sent into a room far away from the grown ups so that I couldn't hear anything. I'm pretty sure it was for my own protection. My uncles didn't argue well. Political arguments never came to a conclusion, and they often pulled verbal punches that weren't part of the issue. They were meant to hurt feelings. But even as a kid - I didn't want to be excluded.

Negative campaigns are so over. I'm not interested in seeing them, and I won't be scared into voting for any candidate who chooses this method of campaigning. My vote goes to the candidates who engages me in their conversation. They answer my questions and seem to be glad that I am a citizen who cares enough to ask a question. 

I actually read local news. I'm hungry for more. I'm glad that there are reliable reporters who will share as much information about the candidates for the local elections as they can prior to the Tuesday primary vote. In fact, I'm counting on some well- curated pieces. Crap, even a single post with active links to all the candidate websites would be enough. I also read local bloggers. I care to read other opinions. I can also determine fact from rhetoric. Don't bullshit me. Give me answers, even if I might not like them. I want to know where each candidate stands on issues that impact our daily life. Local politics are a big deal.

You see, even though I'm a registered Democrat, I don't vote party line. I'm a Catholic, but I don't let my religion sway my vote. Public law and church law are separate for a reason. Public laws keep citizens safe. Church laws are between me and my maker, and nobody else's business. I won't push my Church law on anyone else. I vote for the candidate who best reflects my views on where I wish to see the community move forward. I vote for the candidate who is fair in decisions for all citizens he/she represents. I vote for the candidate I have seen engage with citizens, and works WITH others in government. Successful leaders aren't a success on their own merit. They empower others to contribute to progress.

I vote for the candidate who seeks solutions through exploration of multiple ideas. If through that exploration, their direction changes or evolves, I would applaud the elected official for responding to new information. This doesn't always mean "waffling." Goodness, if politicians didn't evolve we would have progress.

Three candidates have spoken to me directly about what their vision for the future of Bethlehem and Northampton County. One of them actually came to my home, and talked with me for 10 minutes. He told me he raised $8,000 for his campaign. He told me about his background, and his greatest concerns for county government. 10 minutes and he won my vote.

The campaign resource that is more valuable to me than dollars raised, is time spent talking/communicating with me. If not to my face and in person, through social media or through well informed and empowered campaign workers; not scare tactics. I prefer a campaign that engages in conversation about issues; not politics. A few candidates ran this kind of campaign. They give me hope for the future of our city, and county. They are also smart enough to work with a great team; and engage personally in our community. 

My vote also comes from my own time well spent. I read as many local news stories as I could, followed as many trusted bloggers and "twitteratti" as I have come to know through years of social media engagement. I look forward to reading a summary of all the local candidates. I hear from a local news writer that she's working on one that we can all read before Tuesday. I'm counting on you, Lynn. We all are. (update from Sunday morning: here is a link to Lynn's article on Bethlehem City Council candidates)

The three votes that I'll be casting on Tuesday are John B. Callahan for Northampton County Executive, Bill Wallace for Northampton County Council and William Reynolds for Mayor of Bethlehem. I made you read all the way to the bottom. Thanks for your time. Now give your time to the election be doing due diligence and reading the campaign issues of all the candidates you will be voting for in your local precinct. You owe it to yourself to know what kind of city you helped shape through your vote.