By Julie Omer, MBA, CPA, CFO, MSBO Board President, Chief Financial Officer, Owosso Public Schools
Did you ever stop to wonder what would happen if we didn’t have knowledgeable, capable, and passionate people that agreed to be in leadership positions? If you really think about it, especially with today’s rhetoric that tends towards criticism of leaders, it would be understandable for people to keep their heads and hands down when asked to step up to a leadership position. Although, this may be an understandable response it is an unacceptable one with the potential for serious consequences. We could spend an entire lifetime studying history for failures when there was either a leadership void or the wrong leader was placed in a position of influence or power. However, my intended message today is not to dwell on the lack or inappropriate action of past leaders (or to debate it) but to: 1) express my gratitude for those that have taken action; and 2) to make a call to action.
Recently, at the MSBO Leadership Conference in Grand Rapids, MSBO’s current volunteer leadership group comprised of MSBO committee chairs, program chairs, regional presidents and MSBO board members came together with MSBO staff. One purpose of the leadership conference is for the volunteer leadership team to provide input into the topics to be presented at the MSBO Annual Conference in April of 2023. Another equally important purpose is to thank the leadership group for their contributions throughout the year by offering the opportunity to attend the conference at no cost, providing additional leadership training and presenting them with a gift as a physical representation of gratitude. I was also given an opportunity to thank the group for their leadership and share with them the next part of my message today, the call to action.
The call to action that I have today is twofold: 1) Consider volunteering or running for a MSBO leadership position. The opportunity that fits best for you can be within your regional group, becoming a committee or program chair, or running for the MSBO board. The later was what I asked the leadership group to consider. The process is simple, the experience is invaluable, and the reward is immeasurable; and 2) Express your gratitude for someone else’s action(s) either personally or professionally. I shared with the leadership group that during our MSBO board meeting that immediately preceded the Leadership Conference, I gave board members and the staff a thank you card. I asked them to take a minute or two to think of someone to thank, fill out the card and make a commitment to getting the card to the recipient (I provided stamps in case they wanted to use snail mail 😉). A simple gesture that results in focusing our attention on how others have made a difference to us. Afterall, isn’t that what the Thanksgiving holiday is all about? Or is about being as stuffed as the turkey? I get confused 😊! Happy Thanksgiving to you all!
Other Articles in this Newsletter
- Add Awards to Your Holiday “To Do” List
- Annual Conference Hotel Registrations Open December 6
- Leadership Skills for a New Generation of School Leaders
- MSBO Board of Directors Deadline to Submit Nominations is December 1
- MSBO Scholarships Help You Meet Your Education Goals
- MSBO Update – David Martell
- MSBO Welcomes New Associate Executive Director
- Surviving the Coming ESSER Cliff – Mary Beth Rogers
- Welcome New Members
- Winter Travel Advisory – Not a Problem