Book Review: The Back Of The Napkin

The Back Of The Napkin
Solving Problems and
Selling Ideas,
by Dan Roam

I read this book in one sitting; the title itself resonated with me. Ken and I used to go for coffee every day when we first founded Souls Harbour RESCUE Mission, ten years ago, now. We came in with a vision and a dream, and God saw fit to see it to reality. Today, the Mission has 25 staff members, a strong board of directors, hundreds of annual volunteers, and several top notch facilities that run programming in a broad continuum of care.

Much of our early notes are jotted during brief times of rest at the local coffee shop--right on the back of a napkin! And to this day, I carry the tradition of visual thinking by "white-boarding."

I'm a terrible drawer, but mapping my ideas on a huge wall helps flesh them out. As Joe and I set up our new offices, we are excited to create a "war room" where we can sit and dream about a brighter future for the poor of this city.

Things like the brand new Little Souls Daycare beginning for 60 children in January. Or the Youth Centre programming to begin this spring. Small things like our newsletter layouts, to more web-like designs representing our ever-changing organizational chart.

Roam, the author, encouraged doodling as a form of learning, marking up the latest business book you are reading, and making friends with your highlighter.

While I wasn't interested in learning his particular style of pictures and their interpretation, what this book did was validate my learning style, and encourage me to continue the thing that assists my team and I, in turning dreams into reality.

Souls Harbour RESCUE Mission launches annual Operation Christmas Stocking

Souls Harbour RESCUE Mission launches annual Operation Christmas Stocking, by Kerry Benjoe
Regina Leader-Post

REGINA — The Souls Harbour RESCUE Mission (SHRM) is asking Regina residents to help it spread some Christmas cheer to those in need.

Each year, SHRM serves up a holiday dinner with all the trimmings for hundreds of Reginans who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford to celebrate. In addition to a Christmas meal, SHRM gives everyone a special gift.

SHRM is launching its annual Operation Christmas Stocking and wants the public’s help in making this year’s stocking drive a success.

Anyone can participate by following three simple steps;

* First, purchasing a warm pair of socks;

* Next, stuffing one sock inside the other and finally;

* Stuff the stocking with useful items.

SHRM is hoping to collect 1,000 such stockings for men, women and children.

They can be stuffed with things like toothbrushes and toothpaste, travel-sized items, washcloths, tissues, lip balm, gum, small candies, address book, pens, postage stamps, small crosses, gift certificates to fast-food restaurants or any other small, but useful, items.

The mission is asking people not to include items that contain alcohol (like aftershave, mouthwash, or perfume). Nor should the stockings contain medicine like Tylenol or cold syrup, breakable items, cosmetics, money or gift certificates to places that sell alcohol.

SHRM is reminding people that this might be the only gift some people receive this holiday season. Socks should be unisex, but if they are not, the socks should be labelled “man” or “woman” to indicate who should receive the stocking.

Socks can be dropped off at the mission, located 3535 8th Ave., by Dec. 11. SHRM is open 24-hours a day, seven days a week, throughout the year.

Book Review: The Change Cycle

The Change Cycle

How People Can Survive and Thrive in Organizational Change

A Practical Guide to Navigating the 6 Stages of Change,

by Ann Salerno & Lillie Brock

I was specifically looking for a book on how leaders of organizations can implement change in the best way possible. I stumbled upon this one at the library, and now they are beating down my door to get it back. I like to think I help keep the library in business with my late fees.

This was an excellent book. Rather than the usual psycho-babble, it was written in language that made sense. It was organized logically with relevant examples, and it wasn't overly focussed on emotions, but did acknowledge they play a part.

The 6 stages of change:
1. Loss: fear, cautious, paralyzed
2. Doubt: resentment, sceptical, resistant
3. Discomfort: anxiety, confused, unproductive
4. Discovery: anticipation, resourceful, energized
5. Understanding: confidence, pragmatic, productive
6. Integration: satisfaction, focussed, generous

The book begins by taking a look at how four general personality types might need extra help or caution with certain stages, and how change might specifically trip them up. I wish this concept would have been carried throughout the book a little more, but it was food for thought while reading through the stages.

Thanks to my upbringing and temperament, I am someone who finds change relatively easy, and often invigorating. Unfortunately, I can tend to disregard and run roughshod over the feelings and reactions of others. This book gives clear guidance on how to bring people onside to change, to recognize the stages they are going through and work with them through the cycle.

The Chinese word for change is 'wei ji.'
It means two things.
Crisis and opportunity.
That bears repeating.
Wei ji. Crisis and opportunity.

21st Century Scrooge

Today Derrick was manning a booth at the Southland Mall, when a wealthy looking businessman approached. He was well-dressed and wore an expensive watch. He stared down his nose at our information, and exhaled, “Harrumph!”

“This guy whose picture is on your Adopt-A-Plates. How much does he make on royalties?”

“He doesn’t get royalties", Derrick replied.

Mr. Scrooge said, “Well, I guess that’s why he’s homeless. Because he’s stupid.”

As he walked away, Derrick said, “Have a nice day!”

Scrooge said, “Same to you!” as though nothing was out of the ordinary.

If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tight-fisted toward your poor brother. Rather be open-handed and freely lend him whatever he needs. ... Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be open-handed toward your brother sand toward the poor and needy in your land.
-Deuteronomy 16:7-11

How To Trust Your Charity

• It has come to my attention that one of the most popular Canadian charities has been mismanaging their donations.
  
  How can you be sure that your donations are being used wisely, and that your income tax receipts are legitimate?
  
  Here are some helpful hints for holiday giving.
  
  1. Do your research.
  
  Type the name of your favourite charity here to find out how much they spend on programs and services, and whether they have current charitable status.
  
  You can see our charitable returns since our founding 10 years ago.
  
  2. Because the CRA is often a year or two behind (depending on when the charities fiscal year is), ask for a current financial statement. I cannot stress this enough: Never support a charity that won't reveal their financials.
  
  3. Don't support a charity that spends next to nothing on administration. It takes good, solid administration to make sure you have your current provincial incorporation documents, federal return documents, and annual audit filed. It takes administration to do reference checks. For instance, a charity working with children has to spend time and money doing criminal record checks of staff and volunteers.
  
  4. Don't be turned off by advertisements, particularly those that are not primarily government funded. A charity needs to remind people that their doors are open 365 days a year. In the same way that you wouldn't rebuke a grocery store for sending out a flyer, understand how much it costs for a charity to pay the power and heating bills month after month.
  
  5. See about a monthly giving program. Charities that are savvy to consumers going green, are setting up options for a donation to be made each month, automatically through your bank or credit card. This means income the organization can rely on month after month, and saves costs in postage! It also means you can keep that great feeling at Christmas, going all year round!
  
  6. Consider a gift of your time. If you want to get to know a charity, spend some time with the workers and volunteers there. Go sort produce at a local food bank, serve a meal at the soup kitchen, or sort through donations at the local thrift store. Recruit friends, family and colleagues to help out all year long, not just November and December.
  
  7. Your contribution during the Christmas season, no matter how small, is a significant gift and ought to be acknowledged quickly and respectfully. Thanks to all of you who know that giving is at the heart of Christmas.