Hello, everyone -
I haven't retired - just took an extended break from blogging, but am back (thanks to Susan Young of Aimfiremarketing.com) with an earnest effort to commitment to "social media communication."
Am getting on Twitter and Linkedin and Facebook. Keeping up is the challenge.
Since last we connected, I have been traveling extensively to Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Kentucky, Ohio, Oregon, North Carolina, and West Virginia. Speaking engagements as well as calling on Community bankers Associations in those states. As I meet with leaders in those states and hear how challenging these times are, I am re-committed to partnering with as many people as possible.
Every place is indeed challenged by the huge change occurring in our communities.
What is the status of your city, town, county? What is being done about it? What role are you playing? We can be assured that your counter part in China, Brazil, or eastern Europe is thinking about how they can develop their market to compete with you!
I have been fortunate to assist many communities in developing a VISION/Action plans as they meet those challenges. Give me a call and I will tell you how your fellow leaders are attacking the future with vigor!

Wow! It has been months since the last blog! Much has happened, but the biggest is the publication of my book! It has been two years in the making and thanks to Susan Young of Aim Fire Marketing, it has become a reality. We will be making the major announcement through media outlets.

It is called 90 Days to a Winning Community and is an inspirational guide and workbook that will help cities, towns, counties, and regions set a Vision and take action on their plans!

We have a website where more information is about the book: http://www.90daystoawinningcommunity.com/. You can order it there. When you do, I am available to assist you and your community in the development of the plan following the process in the book.

I am very happy to also tell you that Jack Schultz, speaker and author of Boomtown USA has written the Foreward and he and I are committed to helping communities become what they dream!

The future is there energized by the good, old American work ethic! It is a tough, internationally competitive world, but we can build Boomtowns and Winning Communities!

I am off today to Milford, Illinois. It is a community of about 1,400 people and I have been engaged to facilitate a Community Vision and Action Plan. Two leaders in Milford, Art Murray and Bill Hudgens, convened (one of the 9 C's of a Winning Community) 12 others who will comprise the Steering Committee that will guide the process and see to the implementation. At a time when we are very busy preparing for the Christmas celebration, these fine people are getting ready for the activities of the New Year! We will, in January and February, develop their plan through community meetings.
In March, we will have a "role out" of the Vision and Action Plan and have the Declaration of Commitment signed. And then the work of doing! Accomplishment!
I salute these leaders who care about their community!
More as they continue - another C of a Winning Community!

Everyone is writing a book. Well, a lot of people anyway. That includes me. The working title is: Building a Winning Community. It will be a a message about the nine C's of a Winning Community and a workbook for people to set a Vision, Goals, Objectives and an Action Plan. It will give examples of how cities, towns, and counties are achieving what they desire.
Let me know if you are interested.
And, my people are trying to get me on Oprah!

My good friend, Tom Chown, and I go a long way back. We played against each other in grade school football (my team won) and basketball in high school (his team won) and our wives have been friends since 2nd grade. They live in Florida and we live in Indiana. We have kept our friendship alive for over 50 years! They are " good folk".
He is someone to admire! Why? Because he has "sticktoitniveness". That's defined in my book as: not giving up when the going gets tough. He has written a novel based upon his family history. The first installment is titled, Wolves at the Door, published by Pipers Willow and available at Amazon.com. It begins in the 1860's and will continue the adventure saga until the present day. He has recently been on a book tour in the midwest following the book's introduction in Florida.
Many people talk about following their dreams, but Tom has done it! It is a good yarn and I recommend it. More importantly, I recommend that you, like Tom, "follow your dream" as well!
What is it that you want to do? What is holding you back? Develop a plan and start NOW!
Who knows? Maybe you will be a nationally known author, too!

"Imagination has always had powers of resurrection that no science can match."

- Ingrid Bengis

How do you see your community? How do you visualize it in your mind? Is it limited by science, mathematics, the attitude of "We tried that"?

Or are you challenged and are you challenging others in your city, town, county, neighborhood?

Are you leading yourself and others by questioning the "status quo"?

You have power! You can lead!

What idea do you have? What do you see as possible that others feel constrained by?

Here's an idea: Call someone. Have a cup of coffee and talk about it your idea. The possible improbable. See the reaction. Call in some more people. Convene others. State the issue. State the options. State what is desirable. Create an action plan. AND THEN: DO SOMETHING!

I have the opportunity to work with these kinds of leaders: Imaginative, powerful people who are not limited by constraints and their communities are better for it!

Use your imagination! Get resurrected!

I was very pleased to be at the Community Bankers Association of Illinois Annual Meeting in Memphis last week where they presented the first "Certified Winning Commmunities" award to Tremont, Illinois. Accepting were Jim Shafer of The First National Bank in Tremont and Rick Jameson of Tremont Savings Bank. These two along with Tremont Savings Bank VP, Kendall Stewart, led the community in developing a Vision and Action Plan.

Twenty organizations were co-sponsors and over 250 people attended public meetings and provided their thoughts about how the future of Tremont should be. They developed 37 measurable objectives in 6 goal areas. The reason they recieved the reward is they are accomplishing many of the things they said the will do!

I will be speaking to the Heart of Illinois Mayors meeting and will present an award to the Mayor, Todd Bong, on Thursday. He will display it proudly in the Village Hall. This excellent community understands leadership and working together. Those are the keys to moving forward.

If you want to hear more about the Certification program, pleae contact me. You can provide that spark that will ignite your city, town, village or county!