The best part about summer for me is that I actually have time to think and to write.

While I get that it may not be everyone’s idea of a good time, it definitely makes me happy even though it’s often hard work.

The challenge for me is that I’m typically using different types of writing.

By way of example, this summer my writing included a chapter of a textbook being published by Athabasca University about leadership for active, creative, and engaged communities as well as another article called How One Small Rural Community Found their… More Posted on 08-13-13

Leadership Learnings for Active, Creative, and Engaged Communities

“ACE Communities gave us the confidence to say, “We can do this.  We don’t need a professional leader. We don’t need a planned government program. We need some support and some funding helps, but give us skills and we will amaze you.”
                                                                                Local Community Leader

INTRODUCTION

Rural communities get stronger when their leaders do.  And, local leadership… More Posted on 07-22-13

Engrossing But Not Gross

My young nephews, age 11 and 14, are visiting us from Ontario and, of all the possible activities we suggested, their number one interest was a visit to the Telus Science Centre. After consent from their parents was received, they were especially excited to learn the timing of their visit would allow us to take in the Body World exhibit.

Not exactly something I would have signed up for, Body World and The Cycle of Life uses real, human bodies preserved through a process called plastination.

Plastination of the bodies involved removing all of the body fluids and soluble… More Posted on 07-09-13

Who Speaks for Canada’s Rural Regions?

Almost one third of Canada’s population - approximately nine million people - live in rural regions and yet, the Government of Canada took the final steps to eliminate the Rural Secretariat on May 9, 2013 when they laid off the 13 remaining staff members. In about a year they went from 92 staff members to none.Responsibility for non-financial co-operatives was transferred to Industry Canada on March 4th, 2013.

The Rural Secretariat website still states the following: “Almost one third of Canada’s population - approximately nine million people - live in rural regions. The Government of Canada is helping… More Posted on 06-07-13

My Mother Planned to Name Me Wendy

My mother planned to name me Wendy.

But, when her Ukrainian mother-in- law came to visit her in the hospital shortly after my birth, she misheard the name as Windy. Her response was not positive. 

My Baba said somewhat scornfully — and you’ll need to read this with a thick Ukrainian accent — “Windy? Who ever heard of a baby named Windy?”

As a result, my mother decided to name me after her younger sister and I became Brenda.

While I like the name Wendy, there is something special about being a namesake especially when the person… More Posted on 05-05-13

Google is Not a Synonym for Research

While I get that “Google is not a synonym for research”, I’m definitely not a research wonk either.

So, while I blame my being right-brained for my tendency to be driven by intuition rather than facts, I have also learned that the balance between spidey senses and hard data is a critical one.

That being said, I think every Canadian should be worried about the lack of emphasis our federal government appears to be placing on research and hard data, as well as their seeming propensity for ignoring it once they have it.

This month the federal government… More Posted on 04-29-13

Why We Need More Co-ops, Credit Unions, and Worker-Owned Businesses

I guess it’s because I’ve always rooted for the underdog, but right or wrong, I have always been drawn to the quality of life side of the community ledger rather that the economic side.

Regardless, I’ve accepted the reality that the majority of people believe money and jobs are more important than community building so I’m always trying to expand my knowledge and understanding of economic development.

So, to make a long story short, I’ve somehow ended up being part of a crowdsourcing team that is helping to develop a new course at Graceland University in Iowa called Leadership… More Posted on 04-22-13

Stepping Up and Stepping In To Challenges

It wasn’t an easy workshop to design and one that in some ways I had been dreading.

Even though I don’t wear a cape or Wonder Woman bracelets, the client was anticipating I would be able to address a long list of needs identified in their stakeholder survey.

In a mere two hours, they were looking to me to provide participants with solutions and tools to help engage more citizens and to address a declining volunteer base.

And, have some fun while they were doing it.

Additionally, participants attending the workshop were already stretched pretty thin, bearing out the Statistics… More Posted on 04-15-13

Tough Boots to Fill

Not that long ago while doing some consulting work in a small town in rural Alberta, a colleague and I watched curiously as all traffic stopped and pulled over for what we initially thought was some kind of small parade or celebration.

As it turns out, it was a celebration, albeit a funeral procession celebrating the life of a cowboy.

It was a tip of the hat to funerals of the Old West that were often simple and fitting tributes to cowboys who owned little but died with their boots on.

In addition to a wagon carrying the coffin, the… More Posted on 03-31-13

Listening is a Powerful Force

Without a doubt he was a smart man who cared deeply about his community. He was an active participant involved in many organizations serving in a helping role and as an advocate for many good causes.

She was cut from the same cloth, serving as an engaged, responsible citizen who bubbled with energy and ideas.

With their sound core values, good hearts, and the very best of intentions, both should have been considered stellar community leaders.

Yet, as I got to know them better in recent workshop settings, it became clear they both lacked credibility as well as… More Posted on 03-17-13

Volunteering is in Our DNA

“Volunteering is on the decline.”
“Young people are disengaged.”
“People are abandoning community.”

I heard versions of these same concerns while delivering workshops this week in three very different communities.

While on the surface many would believe these are valid issues, personally I’m not buying it.

I’m not buying it because everywhere I go, in addition to these concerns, I’m also hearing that people are hungry for a sense of community and for being connected to one another. And, despite not always being involved, they very much do want to give back to their… More Posted on 03-11-13

Healthier Lifestyle is Paying Dividends

While the sturdy “baba” genes I’ve inherited from my Ukrainian grandmother may mean I’m never going to be svelte, my workout regime and focus on making healthier food choices just might be paying off.

I’ve recently done a fair bit of work-related travel — Whitehorse, London, and Winnipeg alone within the past two weeks. Despite the reality of hauling hefty luggage, sleeping in uncomfortable beds, and hoofing my way through airports and parking lots, I realized I was holding up pretty well.

Nowhere near as tired as I might have been in the past, my healthier lifestyle is making… More Posted on 03-03-13

What is it that allows one to flourish?

Like many seniors these days, my mother-in-law is in a difficult place.

No longer able to live safely on her own, she has recently moved into a retirement home leaving behind her beloved house where she had raised her family and lived for over 60 years.

While she is now safe and well-cared for, the truth is that her emotional well-being and happiness is very much at-risk.

I was thinking of her this week as I participated in a workshop that shared the concept of PERMA from a book called “Flourish” by esteemed psychologist Martin Seligman — the father of… More Posted on 02-21-13

A Woman of Dysfunction?

I recently had the opportunity to deliver leadership training at a provincial conference. Geared to the presidents and vice presidents of their local chapters, I liked and appreciated this particular organization’s emphasis on identifying emerging leaders and supporting them to develop and grow.

As a result of this priority, they encouraged a young and somewhat nervous vice-president to hone her ability to speak in front of a crowd by having her introduce me.

With my bio in hand and a rueful smile, she proceeded to read a bit about my background.

Among my credentials is an award… More Posted on 02-12-13

Why We Should Care About Global Issues

I am, and have for years, been a passionate advocate of communities and grassroots leadership. The flip side of that has meant that, like a lot of other people, I’ve had a tendency to ignore a lot of what’s been happening at the global level.

While that used to be somewhat acceptable, today, as Bob Dylan would sing it, “the times they are a changin”.

The constantly changing nature of our hyper-connected world means we are all increasingly susceptible to be being impacted by global issues. It will be especially important for us to pay attention because it is… More Posted on 02-02-13

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