Category: Education

Rise up a genuine leader

Rise up a genuine leader
Who is driven by moral character and integrity
Who commits to truth and responsibility
Who models personal discipline and accountability
Who earns respect by giving it
Who is humble in self-imperfections and gracious in others’
Who nurtures trust and collaboration

Rise up a genuine leader
Who is we-oriented, not me-oriented
Who articulates vision with clarity and infuses pride in purpose
Who disables barriers to people development
Who confronts social ills with positive solutions
Who seeks understanding and resolutions in contentions
Who fosters creativity and inspires hope

Rise up a genuine leader
Who can undo chaos and create order
Who is composed instead of clamorous
Who promotes diversity of viewpoints in unity of purpose
Who invests in people and worthy dreams
Who is transparent, trustworthy, and teachable
Who upholds faith in a better future and spurs actions toward it

Rise up a genuine leader
Who values people and ideas over profit
Who knows virtue sustains character, but its absence destroys it
Who is considerate instead of caustic
Who brings competence with candor
Who discerns realities with compassion and directs resolutions with care
Who influences people to mutually elevate lives, institutions, and ideals.

Rise up a genuine leader
Who is attentive to needs of the people and builds their spirit
Who overcomes personal ego, arrogance, and unethical behavior
Who rejects conflict mongering
Who is consistent and persistent in value-added contributions
Who equips and empowers other leaders
Who builds an enduring legacy of transformational results

2024 Reading Roundup

Books have brought me into worlds I wouldn’t otherwise know

This past year’s reading has brought me into worlds and cultures I wouldn’t otherwise know. I have visited Nazi Germany (three times), ancient Palestine, Soviet Russia, Revolutionary Russia, Cold War Europe, South Africa, Victorian Australia, Spanish colonization, Antarctica, even those spheres of oppression, depression, gene editing, scientific research, cosmology, and quantum physics.

These books have taught me more about myself and those around me. I have reveled in the wonders of my own body, and have gained insights into wellness, happiness, and better working and personal relationships.

These books have ignited my imagination through creative storytelling. I’ve entered several classic tales for the first time, and have revisited some inspiring old favorites.

These books have expanded my knowledge in a great many subjects: natural, geologic, and cultural history; economics, public policy, activism; exploitation, greed, commerce, philanthropy; psychology, volunteer organizing, and leadership in philosophical differences and changing cultures. And so much more!

My favorites and recommendations are noted with an asterisk. But here are my special mentions:

  • Most satisfying ending: Angel of Vengeance
  • Most surprising over what I thought I knew about it: Tarzan of the Apes
  • Most over my head: The Physics of Immortality
  • Most annoying: HHhH (author reports true things, then confesses he made them up)
  • Most wide-ranging scope: Saving the Redwoods
  • Most spiritually revealing: New Morning Mercies
  • Most enjoyable biography/memoir: Sunday Nights at Seven: The Jack Benny Story
  1. * Destined to Witness: Growing Up Black in Nazi Germany, Hans J. Massaquoi
  2. The Handbook for Health: 5 Essential Pillars for Optimized Wellness, Dr. Christopher Turnpaugh with Dr. Cynthia West
  3. The 6 Types of Working Genius: a Better Way to Understand Your Frustrations and Your Team, Patrick Lencioni
  4. * The Body: a Guide for Occupants, Bill Bryson
  5. * Only One Year: How Joseph Stalin’s Daughter Broke Through the Iron Curtain, Svetlana Alliluyeva
  6. The Millionaires, Brad Meltzner
  7. Name All the Animals: a Memoir, Alison Smith
  8. * The Blue Zones of Happiness: Lessons from the World’s Happiest People, Dan Buettner
  9. * The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing and the Future of the Human Race, Walter Isaacson
  10. * From the Earth to the Moon, Jules Vern
  11. A Sand County Almanac and Sketches Here and There, Aldo Leopold
  12. * Inkheart, Cornelia Funke
  13. * Inkspell, Cornelia Funke
  14. * Inkdeath, Cornelia Funke
  15. * The Noticer, Andy Andrews
  16. HHhH “Himmler’s brain is called Heydrich”, Laurent Binet
  17. Bethlehem, Karen Kelly
  18. Homecoming, Kate Morton
  19. The Trail, Robert Whitlow
  20. Cry, the Beloved Country, Alan Paton
  21. * The Last Days of Night, Graham Moore
  22. * Still Life With Crows, Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
  23. * Shackleton’s Stowaway, Victoria McKernan
  24. The Magician’s Nephew, C.S. Lewis
  25. White Fire, Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
  26. Three Sisters, Heather Morris
  27. * Tuck Everlasting, Natalie Babbitt
  28. Murder in the Lincoln Bedroom, Elliot Roosevelt
  29. * The Scorpion’s Tail, Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
  30. The Leader’s Greatest Return: Attracting, Developing and Multiplying Leaders, John C. Maxwell
  31. Mayday, Nelson DeMille and Thomas Block
  32. * The Oath, Frank Peretti
  33. Community Recreation and Parks Handbook, Sue Landes
  34. Financing Municipal Recreation and Parks, Sue Landes
  35. Absolute Friends, John le Carré
  36. * The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland, Jim DeFede
  37. Humorous Stories and Sketches, Mark Twain
  38. Murders on Alcatraz, George DeVincenzi
  39. * Palisades Park, Alan Brennert
  40. Skin: Revenge is Beautiful, Ted Dekker
  41. * A Gentleman in Moscow, Amor Towles
  42. * Tarzan of the Apes, Edgar Rice Burroughes
  43. Just Tell Them I Love Them: a Hospice Chaplain’s Invitation to Live Well, Helen Burke
  44. * Take This Cup, Bodie and Brock Thoene
  45. The First 90 Days: Proven Strategies for Getting Up to Speed Faster and Smarter, Michael D. Watkins
  46. * Saving the Redwoods: The Movement to Rescue a Wonder of the Natural World, Joseph H. Engbeck, Jr.
  47. * Eternal, Lisa Scottoline
  48. * Sunday Nights at Seven: The Jack Benny Story by Jack Benny and his daughter Joan
  49. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Barbara Roobinson
  50. * Healing Stones, Nancy Rue and Stephen Arterburn
  51. * Angel of Vengeance, Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
  52. The Physics of Immortality: Modern Cosmology, God and the Resurrection of the Dead, Frank J. Tippler
  53. * New Morning Mercies: A Daily Gospel Devotional, Paul David Tripp

Leadership Rising

a sure investment

Helping train our emerging leaders is always rewarding – both now and in the future! Day 2 of the intensive Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society’s Leadership Academy included sessions on successful communications and creating collaborative relationships with key stakeholders, a working lunch, but also a few moments for a Class of 2024 selfie!

The delightful spice of reconnecting

after seasoning for 50 years!

I had the distinct, enjoyable, and recent honor of speaking to my high school classmates at our 50th anniversary reunion.

I pretended that it was the commencement speech that no one had asked me to deliver so long ago. Just kidding! I hadn’t yet acquired any kind of real smarts back then: that came later as I enrolled in the Herd School of Hard Knocks.

(You either pay for your education—or you pay for your learning!)

But it sure was a delight to reconnect with all those old people, who sorta reminded me of kids I used to know!

Turns out we have even more in common than we knew back then, as we are now seasoned with the spice of robust life experiences. I cherish all these, my old friends!

How to achieve more than you are able

Talent goes only so far

Standardized testing while I was in primary school reported to my teacher and my parents that I measured higher in “Achievement” than in “Ability.” I don’t know how they reached that conclusion, because by third grade, I really hadn’t done anything yet. But I do remember that this caused some consternation, because that was the reverse of what was considered normal. How could someone achieve more than they were able?

It seemed unthinkable.

Now, nearing the end of my career, I can say, yes, I’ve achieved some things—but it certainly isn’t because of great Ability.

I think, instead, the impetus behind Achievement is a synergistic process involving Attitude, Vision, Initiative, and Collaboration.

ATTITUDE controls action—specifically and primarily my own behavior. With the properly cultivated attitude, I determine what I choose to believe about myself, about my circumstances, about my possibilities, about my potential, and about my future.

VISION sees things that do not yet exist; akin to faith. It comprehends the end of a journey before the travelers arrive. It allows ideas—some little, some audacious, some preposterous—to root, grow, and develop into a preferred future. It believes dreams can come true.

INITIATIVE is what navigates ATTITUDE through all of life’s circumstances toward VISION. It is not permanently stymied, nor long stifled. It posits what-ifs, it explores things unknown, it aligns resources with opportunities.

COLLABORATION engages like-minded others to contribute diverse capabilities and insights, and produce a collective strength that no one can on their own—which is how any one person’s Ability is superseded to produce a higher level of achievement.

Together, an undefeatable attitude, a possibility-seeking vision, an unflagging initiative, and collaboration with similar mindsets creates a dynamic catalyst for achievements beyond anyone’s actual ability. 

So after a half-century of first-person application and research, I can confidently declare that Ability is not a direct determinant of success, contrary to the early 1960s educational theorists.

And while you can be justifiably proud of your accomplishments, recognize that greater results can nearly always be co-produced with collaboratively-minded others.

And collectively produce far beyond that of any one’s ability.

Seattle: where the point of view is the point!

My son once critiqued a movie as just a series of people staring at things. And I think he was justified in that one. But in our recent first-time visit to Seattle, Washington, we found that staring at things is what we did most productively.

First, I had a professional purpose to the trip: the city was hosting Greater & Greener, a biennial international urban parks conference for urban planners, park innovators, and policymakers. (I missed the last forum two years ago, hosted in Philadelphia in my home state, because that’s the week I suffered a passing-out case of covid!)

So the prime point of view was first to learn from the expertise and vision of those around the globe who are doing remarkable work in harnessing the power of parks to create more sustainable, resilient, vibrant, and equitable cities. Its opening reception was held at Pier 62 Waterfront Park, and its closing reception at the Seattle landmark and National Register of Historic Place Gas Works Park at Lake Union. Enlightening and beautiful!

But of course, while we were there, we took in the peculiar, picturesque sights of the city—starting with the famous Space Needle, with views from the ground, our hotel window, and from its top—from its rotating glass floor.

We toured The Marketplace, with its crowded cacophony of fishy smells, offbeat wares, cafes, retail niches, and sideshows. We rode the city’s famous Monorail, built for the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair, sitting right up front next to the young driver who engaged us in conversation about its unique history. We walked the fascinating streets, marveling at the variety of transportation methods, its quaint nooks, and its gleaming modernity. We gaped at the Norwegian Bliss, a cruise ship of 22 decks (!) docked at the terminal on Pier 66.

We particularly enjoyed the Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum featuring the career work of artist Dale Chihuly in eight galleries, a centerpiece Glasshouse, and a lush garden.

We very much found Seattle—with its uncommonly good weather during our stay—a particularly enticing city with a rich palette of intellectual, visual, cultural, and historic vistas. 5 stars.

This is my herd

The Council of State Executive Directors met this week in Park City, Utah. The annual gathering focuses on trends and best practices of association management, and mutual issues in the recreation and park profession. 

But we are more than just colleagues. We are a gregarious, fun, engaging (and exhausting!) bunch who continually and passionately invests in each other. This is my greatest gang of professional associates and personal friends – my collective, got-your-back brain trust. I appreciate and love them all. 

Everyone needs such a herd. Who’s in yours? 

Commencements revisited

50 years a graduate

Fifty years ago today, I graduated from high school. Photographic proof: My sideburns and me accepting our diploma from the school board president.

Northampton Area High School does a classy thing each year when it invites alumni who had graduated 50 years previously to attend the current class’s Commencement exercises.

More than 100 of my classmates returned to a reception in our honor, and mingled with vaguely familiar people who reminded us of old friends we used to know! (What a half-century can do to a person!)

Under perfect weather for an evening outdoors, we were privileged to sit behind the graduating class in the very same stadium in which we had last assembled. Each of us was respectfully introduced by name, before ceremonies moved forward with the speeches and business at hand. And at sunset, we stood and sang the Alma Mater with our younger mates, with lyrics that—remarkably!—came back to mind.

Speaking of privilege, the historic day’s other momentous event must be called out. 80 years ago, and 30 years prior to our own day in the sun, boys about the same age that we were then died in the D-Day Operation of June 6, 1944, in the largest amphibious invasion in military history. The sacrifices of our parents’ generation for ours, and for those of today, cannot be overappreciated. We stand on the crucial—and at times sacrificial and heroic—work of those who have preceded us. May it ever be so with each generation’s contributions to the future good of society. Here’s to the Class of 2024!

The gift of neurodivergent thinking

different perspectives bring unique solutions

This complex image was generated by a young man with autism spectrum disorder. He used a computer program he wrote that solved for the roots of millions of polynomial equations, plotted them on a complex plane, then stacked and colorized them by density on a logarithmic scale. Is that something you can do?

Not many of us, anyway. People who are neurodivergent think differently than we neurotypicals. As a result, they benefit from such unique perspectives that they can often come up with new and creative ways to solve problems. What appears to be a weakness in the way they learn—especially during school age, where teaching methods, textbooks, and testing systems simply do not meet their needs—is actually a unique strength, given the time and freedom to develop.

The creator of this image, and of many others of widely varied design, is our son, who had an awful time in school, but who is now a Research Engineer. Learn more about his story in the book he co-wrote, found at tinyurl.com/4c6bxw4s. To see more of his copyrighted “polyplot” designs, see tinyurl.com/plyplt.

Information ≠ Transformation

Of what use is knowledge unapplied?

If I learn all truth but do not allow it to change me,

I remain frozen in chosen ignorance.

Potential is realized only in becoming.

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