Drive: The Surprising 

Truth About What

Motivates Us

By Daniel H. Pink

From Publishers Weekly:

"According to Pink (A Whole New Mind), everything we think we know about what motivates us is wrong. He pits the latest scientific discoveries about the mind against the outmoded wisdom that claims people can only be motivated by the hope of gain and the fear of loss. Pink cites a dizzying number of studies revealing that carrot and stick can actually significantly reduce the ability of workers to produce creative solutions to problems. What motivates us once our basic survival needs are met is the ability to grow and develop, to realize our fullest potential. Case studies of Google's 20 percent time (in which employees work on projects of their choosing one full day each week) and Best Buy's Results Only Work Environment (in which employees can work whenever and however they choose-as long as they meet specific goals) demonstrate growing endorsement for this approach. A series of appendixes include further reading and tips on applying this method to businesses, fitness and child-rearing. Drawing on research in psychology, economics and sociology, Pink's analysis-and new model-of motivation offers tremendous insight into our deepest nature."

To learn more about this book, click here.

 (17th Century American  poet; 1612 -1672)

_______________________

"Inside my empty bottle I was constructing a lighthouse while all the others were making ships."

--Charles Simic (Serbian-American poet; b. 1938)

Chair's Corner with Michelle Hernandez,  

Board Chair

Welcome back to all those returning from summer vacation. I am honored to serve as the new Chair of Valley Leadership and look forward to working with the board, staff and incredible volunteers to keep building on our outstanding momentum. We are eagerly gearing up for the program year, complete with the new Class 33 of Leadership Institute. Congratulations to all those selected, and many thanks to all our alumni and community friends who recommended applicants and helped with application reviewing, interviewing and selection.

We also welcome several new board members to the new fiscal year. They include: Victor Aranda, Wells Fargo; Amy Buchan, Apollo Group; Jenny Holsman, ASU Alumni Association; Rebecca Kennell, Custom Financial Design; and Brian Wood, Waste Management. The board and committees look forward not only to planning an excellent Leadership Institute and Teen Leadership program, but also an engaging Community Dialogue Series and other exciting events. There are many opportunities available for your involvement if you would like to participate on a committee this year. There are also opportunities to serve on individual LI class days. Please notify the Valley Leadership office if you are interested.

Please join us for the Class 33 Kick-Off on August 31. It promises to be a great gathering. 

Recognizing the Accomplishments of Valley Leadership Alumni   

• Jessica Catlin (Class 30) began a three-year term as a board member of the Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation in July, and as of August 1, 2011, she began her role as Director of Strategic Planning and Development at the Greater Phoenix Economic Council.

• Rusty Foley (Class 8), who has served as the Interim Executive Director of Arizona Citizens/Action for the Arts since September 2010, has been named to the position on a permanent basis by the organization's board of directors as of July 2011.

• Nikki Hicks (Class 31) has taken a position with Save the Family as their new Volunteer Manager.

• Margaret Leichtfuss (Class 29) recently became Executive Director for the Scottsdale Charros and The Charro Foundation.

The following alumni and current class members were recently inducted in the Phoenix Business Journal's "2011 Forty Under 40": 

• Katia Brown Howard (Class 32)
• Pete Griffin (Class 33)
• Shelly Hodges (Class 31)
• Brett Mecum (Class 33)
• Avein Mariel Saaty-Tafoya (Class 30)

The following Valley Leadership alumni are running for city office. We commend them for their dedication to local government leadership and wish them the best of luck in their campaigns.

• Peggy Neely (Class 26) and Greg Stanton (Class 19) are running for City of Phoenix Mayor, and
• Eric Sloan (Class 28) and Brenda Sperduti (Class 14) are running for Phoenix City Council - District 5.
• District 3 Councilman Bill Gates (Class 28) is running for re-election.

The Arizona Center for Civic Leadership has announced the second class of Flinn-Brown Civic Leadership Fellows. Coming from many cities and towns, a broad spectrum of professions, and many walks of life, the group will begin the Flinn-Brown Civic Leadership Academy on September 9. Among the fellows are the following VL alumni:

• Molly Edwards (Class 27)
• Justin Johnson (Class 31)
• Dr. Sue Sisley (Class 21)
• Brandi Hunt (Class 31)
• Brad Vynalek (Class 26)

Talonya Adams (Class 32) has also been tapped for the Spring 2012 Flinn-Brown Civic Leadership Academy. To see the full list of this year's fellows, click here.

Job Opportunity with Emerge Arizona 

Title: Executive Director

   - Part-time position.

   - Requires some weekend

     or evening work hours.

   - Statewide travel is required.

Mission: Emerge Arizona is a political leadership training program for Democratic women in Arizona.  Our mission is to identify, educate, and inspire Democratic women who want to pursue a career in politics at the local, state or national levels.  Arizona Emerge Arizona is part of Emerge America, a national movement to address the under-representation of women in elected office.   

Position Summary: Under the direction of the Board of Directors, the Executive Director is responsible for building and maintaining the organization's infrastructure. 

Yours for Only $12 

5 Things You Can Do to Help VL Conquer Social Media: 

1) Connect on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn
2) Friend/Follow other VL alumni
3) Suggest alumni connect with VL social media
4) Post on the wall
5) Share VL news and events with friends