Association Puzzle

Women’s Issues: Hillary Clinton – Misogyny’s Latest Victim

This is a Viewpoint.

 

Disclaimer: I am not now, nor have I ever been, a member of any political party. I registered to vote at the age of 18 as an independent, and that is how I will leave this world: an independent.

 

However, that doesn’t mean that I don’t follow politics.

 

Watching the nomination process this year, it was interesting to compare how easily the Republicans settled on a nominee with their relatively uncomplicated process, and the ridiculous street brawl that emerged from the Democratic Party due to their overly complicated and bloated system.

 

It was painful to watch the strenuous machinations in the back rooms of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) to make certain that Hillary Clinton did not get the nomination. It only reaffirmed my choice to stay away from any political party, as they are all ridiculous and many times run by idiots.

 

Another disclaimer: I did not vote for Bill Clinton, nor did I ever like the guy as President. I thought he was a lightweight, although I liked that on the Barbour Scale he was a positive/passive. He loved being President, but he really didn’t do much. It was fun to watch him be President.  

 

I never liked nor trusted Hillary Clinton, either. Until the last two months, she always came across cold, calculating, and aloof, and it seemed to me that she was going to tell all us peasants what was what. However, during the campaign, it turned out she actually is a human being, so I was pleasantly surprised.

 

Now, keeping in mind that I never liked either of the Clintons, I am still objective enough to see when someone has been screwed.

 

For the last three years, Hillary Clinton was the heir apparent to the Democratic Presidential Nomination. She is smart, hard working, and has raised millions of dollars for the Party. She has been in the Senate for a full term, and even had a “real job” before entering politics, having been a partner in a law firm. She earned her chance to run for President from many years of dedicated service to a group of people that she thought returned her loyalty. And, I really think she could have won.

 

But then the DNC decided that two states that would have easily made her the nominee months ago -- Florida and Michigan -– didn’t count. What?? This is the Party that demanded a RECOUNT in the 2000 election to make sure that every vote counted. Now, they are denying a full vote and voice to their own members. Why? SO A MAN CAN RUN FOR PRESIDENT. And,this man is such a lightweight and has so little to contribute, he doesn’t deserve naming.

 

That’s how it looks from the cheap seats, folks. It’s more important for a MAN to run for President than a WOMAN. Who cares that Hillary Clinton has more experience,is smarter,actually has substance in her speeches,and has a long track record of party service? Obviously,the DNC doesn’t.

 

Why? Misogyny reigns. It’s everywhere, and it even affects United States Senators.

 

Hillary, I’m sorry you got screwed because they didn’t even kiss you first. In the breakup, make sure you get half their stuff.

The Bonita Jacks Case: DC Should Sue the Families

VIEWPOINT

If you are not familiar with the tragic case of Bonita Jacks and her four ill-fated daughters, the facts are simple and straightforward, although the truth of the situation may not be known for years.

When DC Sheriffs went to the home of Bonita Jacks a few months ago to evict her for non-payment of rent, they made a horrible discovery: her four daughters, ranging in age from 5 to 17 years, were all dead, and had been for quite some time based on the advanced state of decomposition.

No one had seen the girls for an estimated four months, and Bonita Jacks had withdrawn into a place no one could really reach her. The neighbors had noted a foul stench coming from the Jacks home, but never imagined the girls were the source.

The bodies were so badly deteriorated that the authorities are still not sure how they died, although suspicion has fallen on the mother and she has been charged with murder. It is believed that she murdered all of them because she claims they were possessed by demons.

However they died, and for whatever reason, it doesn’t matter. In the end, four little girls are dead, denied their chance to make a life. The fault was not theirs, but they suffered the most terrible of fates because the one adult in their life couldn’t cope, and the other adults they knew failed them.

All of the members of this sad family are victims. The daughters were victims of their mother’s mental illness, and the mother is a victim of it as well. They are all victims of the overworked Social Services Department of DC, which made motions in the Jacks family direction but never followed through.

None of them got the help they needed or deserved. A young mother cracked under the pressures of her life, or maybe she just got sick, and never got any help from anyone. This led to her defenseless children being held at the mercy of a mentally ill person. They suffered before they died from things little girls shouldn’t know about: fear, isolation, hunger, and lack of parental love.

Moving this tragedy from mind-numbing, head-shaking sadness to just plain sick is the news reported late last week that the “families” of this poor woman and her dead daughters are now suing the government of the District of Columbia for negligence in the handling of this case.

The very people who should have been there – Bonita Jacks’ mother, a grandmother of one of the girls, and a father of another girl – are now blaming everyone but themselves for this tragic turn of events that did not need to spiral out of control.

These people are adults. They can act. They could have, and should have, made sure these children were safe and cared for and getting their education. Instead, they all just ignored the problem until the Jacks girls were dead and their mother was put in jail, charged with their murder.

What makes this sick is that the very people that could have averted this tragedy are now trying to make money off the dead bodies of these children, and the damaged mind of a struggling young mother.

If anyone should get sued, it is the families of these innocent girls. When Bonita Jacks and her daughters needed help the most, their families failed them, not the DC Government.

The families of Bonita Jacks and her daughters are the ones who should be held accountable. They should not be allowed to profit from their personal callousness and negligence.

Now that they are dead, will no one speak for the Jacks girls?

Words Have No Weight

I love words. Since I can remember, all I have wanted to do is talk, read, and write.

Some of my fondest childhood memories are linked to books: reading them, discussing them, and even making my own. The little books I made myself (all long since gone) were usually stories about mice. I think this was because I was a big fan of some cartoon mice called Pixie and Dixie. To this day, I have a soft spot for the little critters, and I will only use humane traps.

But as much as I love words, when I grew older, I learned that words have power. Words have power because words are the tools that form ideas, but I also grew to realize that words mean nothing without action to back them up. Words are ephemeral, timeless, made of stardust -- yet, they cannot act nor are they actions. Words only inspire action.

Words are only so many letters on a page or a computer screen unless we give them meaning. "We the people" only gained strength because some of those people risked everything to give them meaning through action. A bloody revolution followed the dissemination of those words, which would have meant nothing without the risk taken and the blood shed. Without that action, it would have been ink on paper, nothing more.

In our daily life, words and actions need not be so dramatic, yet the small gestures we make following our words are equally powerful. You cannot just tell someone you love them, or that they are your best friend, or that they are "great" -- this has no weight. Words have no substance.

However, if you show someone you love them by doing the dishes when they've had a long day, or demonstrate to someone they are your best friend by picking up the phone to just chat, or showing someone you think they are great by recommending them for a job, that is what puts the power behind the words.

If your actions don't support your words, you might as well stop talking.

Credit Where It's Due

On Saturday, June 9, I was attending a conference.  For the first (and definitely last time) I walked away from my bag.  I thought it was okay because I had left it near the front of the room of the session I was planning to attend, and the room was full of people. 

During the five minutes I was in the hall making a phone call, a thief went into my wallet and stole my bank card, and two credit cards. 

I didn't realize until Monday, June 11, that any of my cards were missing.  This was because I received a call from my bank, Wachovia, reporting what they considered fraudulent activity.  The security department was alerted because the thief tried to use my bank card as a Visa card, which I never do.  I only use it for deposits and withdrawals.  The bank card was used at Nordstrom's in Tysons Corner.

When the bank card wouldn't work, the thief used my American Express card, which worked instantly.  However, the Nordstrom's salesperson was suspicious because the bank card wouldn't work, so she (or he) contacted the Tysons Corner Police.

The Tysons Corner officer who took the call has a friend who works security at American Express, so he called his friend.  A little while later, the American Express security investigator contacted me with valuable information I shared with the GWU Police.

The thief went on to spend several hundred dollars at Bloomingdales using the American Express card, and then went on to use the MasterCard at another Nordstroms and Bloomingdales.  It's possible that the thief was at Potomac Mills since there was a MasterCard charge for gas in Leesburg, VA.

Before all this heavy shopping and thievery, the thief treated themself to lunch on my American Express card.  I guess they thought they were really getting away with something and thought they were very clever.

Fortunately, the bank was vigilant and after contacting me, immediately cancelled my bank card and made an order to send me another.  Later on June 11, after I had made calls to the credit card companies, I received a call from a Wachovia branch in Falls Church, VA.

Some nice man found my bank card and American Express card abandoned at a 7-11 across the street from the Wachovia.  This person took the time to walk across the street and turn in the cards at the bank.  I asked the bank person to just cut up both cards as both had been cancelled.  (Perhaps this is why the thief abandoned them -- neither worked any longer.)

American Express offered their usual excellent service, immediately noting the charges as fraudulent, removing them from my account, cancelling my card, and sending me another by overnight mail. 

MasterCard noted the fraudulent charges, and sent out new cards within one week.  They also sent the paperwork necessary to file for the fraud investigation.

I also interacted with the GWU Police, and the 2nd District DC Police.  Both departments were very helpful and understanding, and did their best to keep the experience at a minimum for stress and time lost.

Despite the fact that I was initially an unwitting victim of theft, all the help and support I received to deal with the bad situation completely outweighed the bad part.  I received prompt, courteous attention and service, and at times, a sympathetic ear.

So, thief, where ever you are, you still stink.  You are still a small, petty, person and a common criminal.  You are no match for those who help clean up your messes.

I am thankful and glad for the help and support I received; I hereby give credit where it is due:

Wachovia Bank
American Express
Citi Bank MasterCard
GWU Police
2nd District DC Police
Nordstroms Salesperson
Tysons Corner Police
Nice man who turned in the cards

Thanks to all of you for the great job, and for your help during what could have been a messy situation.  I cannot express my appreciation enough.

Although commenting on a much worse situation, I still agree with Anne Frank:
"Despite everything, I believe that people are really good at heart."   The above list is a resounding example of this sentiment. 
 

Guest Blog: Senate Immigration Bill Needs Work

Posted Thursday, June 7, 2007

My neighbor Laurie practices eternal vigilance, as she knows this is the cost of liberty.  Last night, she stayed up way past her bedtime watching the Senate live on C-SPAN as they crafted an immigration bill with more holes in it than the Mexican border.

Knowing the power of the people, Laurie circulated the following message to her email list, hoping to add to the groundswell of messages to the Senate to fix the bill or start over.  Following is her message, which includes a report on the Senate activities last night:

Guest blog:
Below is a link to a list of our Senators' email addresses.  WRITE TODAY and tell them how you feel about the immigration bill.  They are about to pass the bill - later today or tomorrow. 

Hillary Clinton (NY) voted against an amendment last night to make English the official language of our country.  Last night Sen. Cornyn's (TX)amendment which would NOT GIVE AMNESTY to illegals in our country who have already been convicted and are marked for deportation was voted down!  So all these illegal criminals will get a free pass if this bill passed [Note: this excludes gang members and sex offenders]. 

The bill does contain provisions for tracking people entering our Country on a visa.  More than 4 million people are already in this Country who have overstayed their visas, and we have no way to track them.  Sen. Vitter (LA) offered an amendment last night to close the loophole and track those going out just as we track those coming in.  IT WAS DEFEATED!  I know this all to be true because I watched it LIVE on CSPAN. 

These are just examples from the last 12+ hours!  You've already heard on the news and in the media additional reasons why this bill should be defeated.

THIS IS A BAD, BAD BILL.  NO BILL IS BETTER THAN A BAD BILL.

WRITE TODAY and remind your Senators that they work for us - that this Country and this Government is a government of the people, by the people and for the people.  WE ARE THE PEOPLE.  The Senate needs to listen to us.  

If you are short of time, please, please try to write to one or two - especially those who have let you down.  THIS MUST BE DONE TODAY.

Then encourage your friends on your email list to do the same. 

There is a large swell of voices today, that just may make the difference.  Join in and let your voice be heard.  Even if the Bill passes, you will at least know you tried.  If it's defeated, you'll feel good about yourself and may sleep a little better tonight !

The following link shows a list of Senate email addresses:
Shortcut to: http://www.wsrcc.com/spam/senators.html

Editor's Comments:

Thanks, Laurie, for sharing your concerns and this report on the Senate activities last night.  The United States was founded by immigrants who came here to find a new life.  While this attitude continues today, too many immigrants are taken advantage of and abused by criminals all over the world.  Illegal immigration is now an international humanitarian crisis as human smugglers steal the life savings of desperate souls, who are at times left to die in horrible ways. 

If we are to have true immigration reform, we must address the human side of it.  Wages must be fair, and immigrants should not fear stepping forward to ask for help.  Today's system is not working, and none of the suggested legislative "reforms" will actually make things better -- they will only prolong a desperate situation. 

Don't support a system that encourages human smuggling and the assassination of hope.  Contact your representatives today and ask for REAL reform that will protect hope and the dream of everyone to live free. 

Lettuce Pray

This past Saturday, I was at the grocery store with my husband.  While he was picking up some items in one of the aisles, I was in the produce section.  A very excited little girl ran up to me and said, "Excuse me, but can you tell me where the lettuce is?  My mom told me to get her a head of lettuce." 

I thought this was a strange question since we were standing right in front of the iceberg lettuce display.

I responded with my own question: "What grade are you in?"
"Third grade," was the reply.
"You're in the third grade and you don't know what a head of lettuce looks like?"

She sighed and said, "Well, EVERYTHING is green and my mom said to get her a head of lettuce." 

I showed her a head of lettuce and said "This is a head of lettuce."  She thanked me and started to take it when I had to point out that she didn't want that head of lettuce because it was already turning.  I showed her one that was good and she thanked me again and ran down the aisle.

I was very surprised by this encounter, as she seemed bright and was definitely outgoing.  I considered perhaps this was an attack of "little girl silliness," but she really seemed lost amid the greens.  A rather disheartening scene, because even though there were several kinds of lettuce, only one kind was head lettuce.  Perhaps (and I hope this is true) the little girl was just in a hurry.    

But, if an 8 year old child doesn't know what a head of lettuce looks like, where is our return on investment on all the tax money we are pouring into public education?  What about all the nutritional and health education that is supposedly being taught in our schools? 

"Lettuce" pray that our money is not being wasted., and that these young minds aren't rotting on the vine.  

Thoughts to Begin the Week

I just wanted to share some thoughts that I had over the weekend, in the hopes it may help others out there have a better week:

*Chocolate is not medication.

*Leaders do not have bad days.  Leaders help other people get through their bad days.

*When technology fails, you will have the cascade effect, which means you will have to deal with an entire series of very frustrating computer situations that you do not have time to deal with.

*The Cascade Effect is not a license to abuse people because you are having a terrible week.

*"Geeks on Call" is not worth $99.00 for the first 15 minutes.

*Consultants and freelancers have the right to be paid promptly. 

*Make time for your friends and family -- work is not more important.  Sorry, bosses. : )

Remember Flight 93

Monday, September 11, 2006, is the five year anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.  This tragedy woke us up to something that the rest of the world deals with daily: violence can happen to any one, any time, any where. 

While statistically most accidents happen in the home in the US, you can get blindsided by the evil intentions of others just going about your daily routine: going to work, stopping for coffee, or something as mundane as a business trip, can put you in the wrong place at the wrong time. 

Looking back on that day in 2001, while I still feel sadness and sympathy for those who lost loved ones in the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, I find myself looking more and more to the heroes of Flight 93 and how they embodied what we like to think is best about the people of the United States. 

The terrorists on Flight 93, wanting to brag about what had already been accomplished, let the passengers know what they did.  This act of stupid bravado on the part of the terrorists led to the bravery of the Flight 93 passengers.  They realized that their plane had also become a weapon and would be used to continue the horror of that day -- unless they did something about it.   

Unlike the unsuspecting passengers and crews of the two planes that blew up in Manhattan and the one that blew up in Northern Virginia, Flight 93's passengers had the advantage of knowing what happened, and the terrifying insight that they were next.  However, instead of causing them to cower in their seats, it motivated them.  What the terrorists thought would instill paralyzing fear was a catalyst to stand up to their captors.

Flight 93's passengers embodied what makes Americans different from everyone else: we don't think that we can act -- we know that we can act.  We don't accept things; we try to change them.  Even if our actions are not always the success we hope they will be, we know that we have the personal power to choose, to decide, and then to act.  Americans know that we can make a difference, whether it's getting a new crosswalk put in our neighborhood or holding our President accountable. 

Or, taking the risk of crashing our plane in order to stop another act of terror.

The Hollywood ending to Flight 93's story would have been that the passengers overpowered the terrorists, took back control of the cockpit, and then one of the several pilots on board would have landed the plane bumpily, but in one piece, in that field in Pennsylvania.  Instead, we had to take comfort in the second best ending -- the passengers died to save the lives of others and by their action, reminded us that we were not powerless.  The passengers of Flight 93 showed us we were bloodied but still standing. 

To be an American, whether born or made, is to be among the most unique people ever to walk the face of this planet.  No other country in the history of the world has been based solely on ideas.  No other country in the history of the world has made membership contingent on personal beliefs rather than bloodlines.  No other country in the history of the world has had an "ordinary" population of such extraordinary individuals. 

Do we still need to improve?  Yes.  We are falling into laziness and apathy, letting the moneyed cliques run our country again because we are overwhelmed with daily living.  Do we have what it takes to get back on the high road?  Yes.  Just look to the passengers of Flight 93 -- they are the hope in the bottom of the box. 

Judas -- Is Scaring Us?

Exciting news on the Biblical archaelogy front -- the lost Gospel of Judas Iscariot has been researched, authenticated, and released. 

Contrary to what we've all been told for over 2,000 years, Judas may not have been the hell-bound scoundrel we were taught to hate.  His betrayal of Jesus may have been a direct order from Jesus himself.

This is scaring some people.  Everything they were taught to believe and follow is slowing coming unraveled.  Couple this with the recent scientific announcement that Jesus was probably walking on ice and not "regular" water, and you have a lot of nervous Christian traditionalists out there. 

I say, judge for yourself.  You can go to the National Geographic Society website (www.nationalgeographic.com) and download the Gospel of Judas as a pdf file.  It's only seven pages long in the English version (you can also download the Coptic version if you are so inclined). 

How does this apply to association management?  Well, I think it's a good lesson in not listening to the office rumor mill and finding out for yourself what is really going on.  The truth will set you free.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Monday is a holiday and many people are preparing for a three day weekend, making plans for fun and relaxation. 

It troubles me that I have heard several people refer to this as "MLK Day" as if there is no real meaning behind it.  In a town that runs on acronyms, it shouldn't bother me -- but it does. 

I wonder how many will stop, even for a moment, to remember it is the anniversary of the birth of Martin Luther King, Jr., who was, in my opinion, the greatest civil rights leader in our history.  I have admired the Reverend King since I was a child, so I am biased on this point, but when you read his words and match them to his actions, you can see a man with a vision and a commitment.   

King was motivated by the desire for change, the kind of change that can lead to a better world for everyone.  He went out seeking the battle, wanting to bring it to the forefront of everyone's mind and heart. 

Being human, Martin Luther King, Jr. was flawed in addition to being great, but as we know from studying history and literature, all great heroes have one fatal flaw.  A few examples: for Othello, it was his jealousy, for Hamlet, his need for revenge, for Napoleon, the drive for Empire, and for many British kings, it was the desire to take back France.  King's fatal flaw was a love of women (many women, by some accounts), and the FBI had the evidence to prove it. 

Despite threats from J. Edgar Hoover, he went on with his work.  This took a lot of guts considering how many people would have loved to knock him down for many reasons, the first and foremost being he was a black man. 

In the tradition of Mahatma Gandhi, who brought down what remained of the British Empire, Reverend King proved that non-violence works just as well, if not better, than violence. 

Why is this true?  Because you can break a person's bones without their permission, but you cannot break a person's spirit unless they let you.  Non-violence leads to true change, because to succeed it calls for a change in thought.  The assassin's bullet killed the man, but it could not kill the idea. 

Happy Birthday, Martin Luther King, Jr.  I'll take a moment to remember what you did and why, and I'll always thank you for putting it so succintly: 

"I have a dream . . . [that] one day [we] will live in a nation where [we] will not be judged by the color of [our] skin but by [the] content of [our] character."

Namaste.

Suggested reading: " A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr.," edited by James M. Washington. 

Hurricane Katrina & God

There's a great line in an episode of the HBO series, "The Sopranos," where the one-legged Russian woman (if you're a fan, you know who I'm talking about) says to Tony Soprano, "The difference between Americans and the rest of the world is that Americans never think anything bad will happen, and are always surprised when it does."

My husband told me this morning that a columnist friend of his, Deroy Murdock, posted a column stating that he no longer believed in God because of Hurricane Katrina.  I haven't read the column, but I can only assume that the massive impact of this natural disaster is too much for Mr. Murdock to take.  (Mr. Murdock writes from New York City, where they are still healing from the human-made tragedy of September 11, 2001.)

I contrast his attitude with the attitude of the family of Katrina survivors profiled in The Washington Post earlier this week, who believe that Hurricane Katrina and the aftermath are a punishment sent by God because New Orleans was an evil city on par with Sodom & Gomorrah.   

So, does Hurricane Katrina prove there is no God, or does it prove there is a God, and He/She/It is fed up?

Since I can't answer that question, I will pose another: Why is it more tragic when it happens in America than when it happens in a country far away? 

Why can you read about the same type of disaster or tragedy happening in Bangladesh, or some other far-flung place, and just shake your head and go back to your coffee?

Was your faith shaken last December after the tsunami wiped out part of Indonesia, washing away 250,000 lives?  Or did you just shake your head and go back to celebrating the holidays?

Being American is not a shield against disaster.  Anyone remember the Johnstown Flood? How about the Triangle Shirt Factory?  Let's not forget Love Canal or Three Mile Island, or my sentimental favorite, Times Beach.  All these are "made in America" tragedies that yielded the same accusations we are hearing today about the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. 

Hurricane Katrina is the most recent example of this type of tragedy: the broken levees that let the waters into the city.  The Hurricane passed and the city withstood the brunt of the storm, but it was the poor planning by people, and the poorly made levees, that destroyed the city and created the humanitarian crisis -- not God or a lack of God. 

The comic strip "Pogo" was set in the Louisiana Bayou, and in light of this recent American tragedy, it's most famous quote rings true:
"We have seen the enemy -- and it is us." 

Who needs a God to punish us or abandon us when we do such a good job on our own?

Unplanned Hiatus

My blog isn't terribly popular, except maybe with friends and family, but I hope someone out there missed new postings the last month.  I had an unplanned hiatus, called life.

Every day I get up with a list of things to do, or plan, or get back to, but then the day unfolds and it usually looks nothing like my to do list when it's finished. 

We all try to plan, organize, grasp, multi-task, and fit as much into one hour as we can.  However, life has a habit of going its own way if we like it or not.  In fact, that's one of my favorite sayings: "Life is what happens when you are making other plans."

I'm like a lot of people.  I do what I "have" to do and what I "should" do instead of what I WANT to do.  Why?  Because I have responsibilities, just like all of you out there.  I sometimes forget that my first responsibility is to myself. 

My favorite thing to do is write, but I kept putting off my blog for things that are "more important."   Even though writing is important to me, I put my commitments to others before the commitment to myself. 

In order to be our best and do our best, we must remember that it's okay to take care of ourselves.  It's not just okay but important to put our priorities first.  If we become unhappy and bitter, it brings down everything around us, so take care of yourself.

I'll close with another favorite saying: No one ever died wishing they spent more time at the office. 

So remember to do one thing today that YOU want to do.  That will make the day a success. 

The Original Network

This blog's "raison d'etre" is to explore and discuss the many components -- or pieces -- that make up an association.  Component relations, which grew from Chapter Relations to encompass all the networks that connect our members, can sometimes feel like a wild and woolly place to be. 

Sometimes, in component relations, we need to step back and review the basics.  Networks of individuals in all areas of our life work basically the same, so have you ever considered looking at the "original network" for some ideas?  What, you may ask, is the "original network?"  The family, in all its extended glory!

When you think about it, there are many similarities between the network of your family and the network of your association.  Since we all use our nuclear family unit as a point of reference, we could consider our parents the Board of Directors, while our brothers and sisters can be considered members of the association.  Unfortunately, in most families, there's no staff support! 

Now, continuing this thought, cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc., could be considered "other membership categories," while family members outside your city or state could be looked at as chapters. 

There's always family members who organize things and get them done (like birthday parties, holiday celebrations or family reunions); these active relatives could be considered committees. 

Communication in families can be difficult at times, since we all get caught up in our daily schedules and we don't always have time to keep everyone abreast of our activities or explain what is going on in our lives.

As you can see, the many pieces that make up the puzzle of our families are similar to the pieces that make up our organizations.  What can we learn from looking at our families and then looking at our networks with different eyes?

As we know, the key to successful networks is communication.  How do you keep your family involved in your life, or at least updated on your activities?  Do you keep a birthday list so you can drop a card in the mail?  Or maybe you have created a family email list for sharing information?  The more ambitious among you may even have a family newsletter. 

Any of this sound familiar when you think about how you do your job?

Many times in dealing with each other tensions arise, especially among the various "pieces" of our organization; Board members don't understand what "Joe Member" is complaining about; staff outside the membership department don't "get" chapter relations; the person at the front desk didn't get the memo about the meeting . . .

All of these examples can be remedied by communication and understanding.  How does this relate to family?  Instead of office examples, let's look at them this way:

Dad doesn't understand why daughter is upset the family is on a tighter budget so she can't have the new dress

Older brother doesn't understand why younger brother's violin lessons are so important since older brother likes sports

Cousin is hurt because he feels everyone in the family knew something except HIM

Now, how do you handle these issues in your family?  Do you sit down and explain things?  Do you apologize if necessary?  Do you try to remember in future to be aware of treating other's feelings with respect? 

These are all techniques we can use to interact with staff and members.  We have all had those times when work became tense over something we realized later wasn't all THAT important, but we still did our best to resolve the situation because relationships are important. 

And what is a network but a series of relationships strung together with effort, time and shared experiences? 

Kind of like your family. 

How we conduct ourselves in our personal lives can inform our professional lives, and make them richer.  Don't be afraid to apply your personal experiences to your professional interactions -- you will be surprised at how successful you will be.