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!

Here it is July 7! Over half the year has gone by! Did you ever wonder what July 5, 6, and 7 were like in 1776? The Declaration of Independence has been signed and the signers are still in Philadelphia with their necks literally on the line. The talk has occurred and now they must do something! That is the challenge that we all face.
With half the year gone by in your community what has happened since the beginning of the year? Has progress been made? Are people talking? Who is leading? What are you doing to make July 8, 9, 10, and beyond better in your town, village, city, or county?
Help start your own revolution against the change that affects you and your community!
DO SOMETHING!

It has been said, "Doubt breeds doubt" and this is very true if you are an individual or a whole community. One of my favorite childhood books is called "The Little Engine that Could. " The little steam engine "thought he could and thought he could"! And he did - make it to the top of the hill! What hill do you need to climb as a person or as a community? Don't doubt - BELIEVE!
The community of Tremeont, Illinois believes in itself. I have been working with them as their Vision and Action Plan partner and they are off to a great start! They believe and are setting out to go to the top of their "hill". More of them in future blogs.
Start or continue today to go to the top of your hill and help your community get there, too!

Introducing the Winning Communities Spring Seminar Series:
Power Tips from King Arthur -- Leadership and Influencing Action through Convening

Are you an effective leader?
How influential are you in your business, organization, or community?

Register for my one-hour, complimentary seminar, and you will learn:

• How to use your power or influence to make things happen
• The effective leadership skills we can learn from King Arthur
• How to overcome resistance to change in your organization or community
• The Three Rs of Leadership
• Tips on how to lead through convening
• How to use your leadership skills to get results
• Several concrete examples of winning leaders and their success secrets
  

You can choose from Two Seminar Dates:

Seminar #1:

Date: Thursday, April 26
Time: 11 a.m. Eastern Time (10 a.m. Central, 9 a.m. Mountain, 8 a.m. Pacific)

With Special Guests:

• Robert J. Wingert, Community Bankers Association of Illinois
• Jim Schafer, First National Bank of Tremont, Tremont, Illinois

To Connect to the Web Presentation: https:/ /www.spiderphone.com/79110407
(This link will help connect both your browser and telephone to the call)

To Dial into the Call: (888) 550-5602 or (212) 812-2800 and enter code 7911 0407

Seminar #2:

Date: Tuesday, May 1

Time: 10 a.m. Eastern Time (9 a.m. Central, 8 a.m. Mountain, 7 a.m. Pacific)

With Special Guests:

• David Bottorf, Association of Indiana Counties
• Ted Leas, Pacesetter Bank, Blackford County, Indiana

To Connect to this Web Presentation: https:/ /www.spiderphone.com/19097989
(This link will help connect both your browser and telephone to the call)

To Dial into the Call: (888) 550-5602 or (212) 812-2800 and enter code 1909 7989

To RSVP for the Seminar: To register for either event, please call (317) 402-0524 or email me at jim (at) winningcommunities.com, so we can plan for your attendance.

We also recommend you test your browser before the seminar at: http://www.SpiderPhone.com/BrowserCheck. For operator assistance, please dial (877) 877-1585.

Hope to see you there!

Jim Dittoe, Winning Communities

Hello, again, all -
It has been a while since I have written. Much is continuing to happen as is related on the latest newsletter. Please check it out at our website and sign up if you haven't already. That site is: www.winningcommunities.com. Awards to Blackford and Rush Counties in Indiana as the first "Certified Winning Communities" as recognized by the Association of Indiana Counties will take place on March 28 at their legislative conference. And in the community of Tremont, Illinois, great progress is being made in their Vision and Action Plan.
I will be visiting the Indiana Chamber of Commerce Executives winter meeting March 15 and 16.
As I am writing this, I am reminded about the role of leaders. Those people who represent those communities that are listed above, first must lead themselves. Make the right call daily. It takes courage to take a risk, but is very much worth it.
Speaking of making the right call, why not give Winning Communities a call (unashamed promotion here) to discuss how you can lead your community to a strong Vision of the future.
Until next time, keep charging!

It's January 16! 2007! Wow! We all ask where does the time go? Tempus Fugit! Time flies!
We all know that but the bigger question is what have we done with that time? Have we made a difference in the lives of our family, business, and community? True leaders are aware of the limited amount of time and take full advantage of it.
What needs to be done in your community in 2007? Remember that it is already the middle of January!
The man of action, President Theodore Roosevelt said, "Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." There is indeed much to be done in this ever competitive world. An assessment of just where your community is with other leaders will lead to ideas of improvement. This is happening in those cities, towns, and counties where we are consulting in developing a Vision and action plan. In Tremont, Illinois, the leaders of that community have gotten together and are preparing for public meetings to prepare for the future. They will begin these in February and they take their responsibility seriously. I know that Tremont, already a very fine community, will be even better because of the Vision Plan. They will accept the challenge of change!
So the questions remains: what are you going to do today to make a difference? For some ideas call Winning Communities and we will give you some examples of what others are doing on the road to success.

2007! Wow! It seems like we were just waiting for the new millenium to arrive! What has happened to you over those seven years? What is to come? What role are you to play?
These answers to the future are in your hands - if you set goals and objectives and take action! For certain something will happen. Are you going to let it happen or are you going to lead yourself and your community to make postive change that will affect that future. It is up to you. You have that choice!
Call me if you want to chat. Your decisions are important and sometimes it takes a good listener.
Take charge in 2007 so that the next seven years won't - just happen!