Leadership Spokane Newsletter

The Servant Leader

A Publication of the Leadership Spokane Alumni Association

March 2009

What's All This Fuss About Servant Leadership?
.
Message from the Executive Director,
Linda Finney

Servant leadership is the grounding philosophy of the community leadership organizations around this country-as well as a host of businesses, manufacturers, and non profit and educational institutions. Why does it work?

Servant leaders are guided by a moral compass-a commitment to the common good. They are able to let go of controlling the result and are willing to go against the grain. They know that all contradictions don't have to be resolved right now, and that it's okay if the work spans more than one lifetime. Servant leaders are in the game for the long haul-not just next quarter's balance sheet.

Servant leaders use their imaginations and are open to new learning. They pay attention. They listen. Servant leaders value diversity and collaboration. They know that bringing a variety of brains, eyes, hands, and hearts to a project will yield a better result. Someone in the room will think of the necessary piece that the rest of us overlooked.

Servant leaders have an understanding of the interdependence of systems and the ripple effects of actions. What are the impacts of a complicated tax structure on business growth and good jobs? What happens if only 70% of our kids are finishing high school? What happens when a person with a mental illness is put into the county jail?

Servant leaders have courage. Courage to be "the first drop in the pond." Courage to carry these values and act on them. Courage to not give up. Courage to believe in the future of the community and invest in it.

Finally, servant leaders know their first responsibility is to create more leaders. They mentor, encourage, empower and inspire the next generation of leaders. That's Leadership Spokane's job in this community.

Message from t

he Chair

Allen Battle, Class of 2006

There is a difference you know... It is important to understand the distinction between being positive and being definite.

Being positive is nothing more than having a hopeful perspective about life itself, the future. Adopting the positive/hopeful state of being creates an energy that is palpable when you enter a room, store, gym, office, etc. People gravitate toward you, they want to be in your space when you are positive, they want to hire you, purchase your products, and seek your advice and wisdom. People may look at you skeptically. However, it is only because they are not hopeful, they do not see a brighter tomorrow, therefore they cannot identify with why you are so happy and energetic.

When you become a more positive force, a more positive thinker, a more positive person, you create positive energy, resulting in better results in all that you are doing. As you are making measurable progress, your confidence grows with it, and you become addicted to the feeling of forward movement.

The forward progress brings about new levels of confidence, which will move you from being positive to definite. You are definite about what you are doing and definite about the results that you are going to get. Once you reach this realm, "success-to-significance" is imminent. Every step you take, every move you make, or word you speak has specific intent. This is the space that all "successful-to-significant" individuals can identify with--what about you? The first step to definite is remaining positive throughout your daily journey; the rest will follow in time.

Nominate an Emerging Leader for the Leadership Spokane Class of 2010

It's time to engage, train and mobilize tomorrow's leaders. Our newly revised and updated application for the Leadership Spokane Class of 2010 is posted on the website at www.LeadershipSpokane.org. Please identify a couple colleagues who are ready for the challenge, take them to coffee, and encourage them to apply. If you send your candidates' contact information to [email protected], we can keep them in the loop.

Prospective applicants for the Leadership Spokane Class of 2010 are cordially invited to join us for coffee, questions and conversation about the program

27 February, 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM, Spokane Regional Business Center, 801 W Riverside, first floor conference room
13 March, 12:00 noon - 1:00 PM, Kress Gallery, River Park Square, 808 W Main, third floor
26 March, 5:15 PM - 6:15 PM, Spokane Regional Business Center, 801 W Riverside, first floor conference room

Submit your application by 13 March 2009 and save $50 off the tuition price, reducing your tuition from $2800 to $2750. There is no fee to apply. All applications are due by 10 April 2009.

Healthy Community Day
at WSU Spokane

6 February 2009

Spring Executive Welcome

The Spring Executive Welcome is scheduled for 12 March, 5:00 to 7:00 PM at the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture, 2316 W First Avenue. The social and networking event welcomes new mid- and upper-level leaders (and spouses/partners) to the region and helps them get connected, integrated and active in the community. Who's new in your company? Send their names and contact information to
[email protected].

You are welcome to join us as well!

The National Hmong Grave Desecration Committee

In October of 2007, Vang Xiong X.Toyed, Class of 2002, was invited to attend a national Hmong leadership conference in Appleton, Wisconsin. At the conference, a delegation reported its findings on the desecration of graves of Hmong refugees at Wat Thamkrabok in Thailand.

As a result, the National Hmong Grave Desecration Committee (representing Hmong from around the world) was formed to pursue a peaceful resolution with Thailand in order to rebury hundreds of remains. The committee advocates with the United Nations to establish a charter banning grave desecration against Hmong and other refugees. "We have learned that most if not all Hmong refugee graves in Thailand have been destroyed for unknown reasons," noted Vang. The Hmong regard graves as sacred sites which deserve cultural respect and legal protection.

Vang serves as Committee Vice-Chair and devotes his evenings and weekends to engage Hmong chapters in the U.S., Canada, Australia, France and Thailand to address the issue.

July 2008, he joined a delegation that met with the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok, the Governor of Saraburi Province and the Abbot of Wat Thamkrabok to explore a reasonable resolution. Vang recommended to the governor that the Hmong people submit a Comprehensive Proposal to the Ministry of Foreign Affiars.

The proposal was submitted in November. "We are awaiting Thailand's response soon," stated Vang.

On 10 December 2008 at the University of Minnesota, Vang addressed the United Nations Special Rapporteur Professor James Anaya on the issue. He submitted the proposal and letters of support with more than 2,000 signatures urging Thai cooperation. "The Hmong people believe that the grave issue in Thailand is more than a human rights issue," stated Vang. "It's about basic human dignity and grace."

"I believe that the knowledge I have acquired through Leadership Spokane has given me the added confidence to lead my international team effectively and to develop a very disciplined governing policy to ensure good ethics and accountability," Vang said. For more information, visit the NHGDC's website at: www.nhgdc.org.

Vang Xiong X.Toyed graduated from Leadership Spokane
in 2002. He has served as the Alumni Association Historian
and is employed at Washington State Employment Security.

Class notes

Career Moves

Tyler Clements (2003) works for VF Imagewear as the Northwest Territory Representative. Paul Oleniacz (2004) is now a self-employed consultant specializing in strategic leadership, development, community relations, and marketing. Michael Rice (YLS 1998) is the manager of District Services at Expeditors in Seattle.

Servant Leaders

Torney Smith (1996), Spokane County Health District, has been participating in a Leadership Council with the Office of the State Insurance Commissioner to present to the Senate Health & Long Term Care and House Health Care & Wellness Committees.

Send updates to [email protected]

Opportunities for Education, Volunteering, & Having Fun