How to Grow Up Big and Strong for Small Towns and Organizations
Ranked #1,381 in Volunteering, #206,186 overall
Tips for Growing Your Community or Organization
I loved Robert Fulghum's book, All I really need to know, I learned in Kindergarten. It's a great reminder of the common playground rules that make life easier.
I've been working with organizations, towns and small businesses for about ten years and have been addressing complex challenges in adult-think for way too long. I recently took a break and put together this list of the childhood lessons that I consistently see used by successful, growing organizations and communities.Play Nice
Can we just get along, already? I'm sorry they hurt your feelings or stole your lunch 10 years ago, but the world has moved on. Today you need to pretend that the most important thing on earth is your current project. Please Play Nice so we can get it done. Take Turns and Share the Toys
Everything we do in a town or organization is about "us", not any single person or agency. If we take turns competing for an annual grant or share resources such as staff, volunteers, or office space, others will want to invest in our venture. They will see what a great 'community' we are and want to work with us. And besides that, we will have more fun, because it really does feel good to share. Think Happy Thoughts
Do not go down that history road while you are in the group. Keep your mind focused on what is on the table and how the community will look when you've achieved your project or goals.It doesn't matter that the past has not been pretty. It's not important what arguments happened yesterday. The only thing that counts is today and growing up big and strong. So we have something to pass on to our children. So we will have a service legacy that accomplishes its mission.
Today is a new day. What would the project or community look like if you knew you couldn't fail? Now there's a happy thought!
Say Something Nice
If you can't say something nice.... Granted there are times when the challenges on the table are formidable and you want to say very un-nice things. There are complicated problems to figure out and not everyone is trying, but all this moves faster if people make an effort to be respectful of each other. No matter what you really think, find a polite way of framing your response to the dumb idea. I have a friend who simply smiles widely at the participant and says, "Now there's an idea."
Once you put the problems/challenges/solutions into a matrix, the best answer will show itself. In the meantime, an environment that is open to all ideas is better for creating innovative solutions.
Once you put the problems/challenges/solutions into a matrix, the best answer will show itself. In the meantime, an environment that is open to all ideas is better for creating innovative solutions.
Wisdom and Inspiration
Oh, the Places You'll Go! (Classic Seuss)
The best inpiration--should be read out loud weekly.
Amazon Price: $10.52 (as of 12/15/2009) 
All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten: Fifteenth Anniversary Edition Reconsidered, Revised, & Expanded With Twenty-Five New Essays
A classic--full of the playground rules that work.
Amazon Price: $22.76 (as of 12/15/2009)
Join In
This is a group thing. We are a community. Everybody's voice needs to be heard. Everybody's hands are necessary to accomplish the task. There are not enough resources to exclude people, so don't sit on the log...jump in and share your wildest dream for the future. Believe the Best
I know that not everyone is great, but we are all living below our potential. Believe in each other, even if not one of you has accomplished a thing. Maybe everyone is just getting warmed up to change the world.There is a lot of research on what happens when an average person becomes extraordinary just because a mother or teacher believed in them.
Go watch one of my favorite shows: Music of the Heart, Mr. Holland's Opus, Mr. Clark, Akeela and the Bee, then take a new look around at the potential in your town.
Success Stories
Tim Fischer's Outback Heroes (New Speciality Titles)
I figure that if folks can make it happen 800 miles from anywhere, then anyone can.
Amazon Price: $17.90 (as of 12/15/2009)
Unstoppable: 45 Powerful Stories of Perseverance and Triumph from People Just Like You
Real people achieving real success.
Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 12/15/2009)
Celebrate the Wins
Throw parties when you succeed. Invite the whole town. Pat each other on the back-even those who stole your lunch 10 years ago-maybe they're sorry they did that.... Inspiring Stuff
People Matter! We are all capable of more than we ever thought.
Akeelah and the Bee
Amazon Price: $11.99 (as of 12/15/2009)
Mr. Holland's Opus
Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 12/15/2009)
Music of the Heart (Miramax Collector's Series)
Amazon Price: $13.49 (as of 12/15/2009)
Non-Profit Resources
People Changing Their World
Social entrepreneurs or idealists, whatever you call them, are impacting the world. There is a new, young group of activists that are working hard to create solutions for the complex problems communities face all over the world. Here are some of the people, the models and the resources.
- Action Without Borders
- A network of people and resources to make the world a better place.
- Echoing Green
- Echoing Green provides first-stage funding and support to visionary leaders with bold ideas for social change. Angel Investors for creative social entrepreneurs.
Fundraising for your Community Projects
If you don't have a lot of recycling outlets in your community you might try an ink cartridge & cell phone drive as a fund raiser...here's a company that pays for shipping the cartridges to them AND they pay for used cartridges and cell phones...just a thought.Any business, individual, or parent group could also set up a collection box in town and mail them off then turn the funds over to a favorite charity...Free Fund Raiser
Grant Sources for Your Community Project
- Grants Alert
- Grants listed are mostly for educational programs.
- Technology Grant News
- Funding for Libraries & Museums.
- The Foundation Center
- They have a nice free search function for finding national funders.
- Grants.gov
- Here's a sight to find Federal grant opportunities.
- Compassion Fund
- Here's the place to find Federal grants for church and faith-based projects.
Reader Feedback
submit
-
Reply
- SparkleChi SparkleChi Jan 23, 2009 @ 1:06 pm
- Fantastic lens! "Celebrate the Wins" is one I often forget! It can make such a difference to remember to do so.
-
Reply
- Wysiwigs Wysiwigs Oct 27, 2008 @ 1:55 pm
- Wonderful lens and all too true!
-
Reply
- David David Aug 14, 2008 @ 1:16 pm
- Really great lens. I've been involved with my community for a few years. I've also volunteered for Grassroots.org, which builds websites for non-profits for free. Here's a squidoo link about it: http://www.squidoo.com/nonprofit-internet-services
-
Reply
- Jul 8, 2008 @ 11:22 am
- Love your lens! Good job!
-
Reply
- jzorro jzorro May 16, 2008 @ 6:29 am
- Great lens. Very nice tips on a very interesting subject!
Mike Geary
-
Reply
- Global_Peace Global_Peace May 1, 2008 @ 5:57 pm
- good info....really nice and interesting lens.
- Load More
by Ms_Appleseed
I was raised in the wilds of the Pacific Northwest and have a definite entrepreneurial interest.
At the age of ten, instead of running a le...
(more)Explore related pages
Inspirational Quotes and Affirmations- The Law of Attraction does not work by constantly thinking about what you want....
John Vespasian - THE THREE PRINCIPLES OF RATIONAL LIVING AND HOW THEY CAN HELP YOU- The function of principles is to condense lessons from the past that we can appl...
Today What If...- This lens is designed to be a compilation of my own personal views and tho...
