This posting could not have been more timely. Our organization has agreed to do a direct mail appeal this spring. Our part of the otganization have never done on before and I’ve been dragging my feet. From what I read here, I might be able to satisify both. I’m thinking I will make my appeal, a mini-report highlighting some of the activity and people engaged in our mission. With an invitation to visit, volunteer or otherwise get involved in a bigger way. YOur Charity Channel post this morning led me to the blog. Thanks for the wake up call.

Pat

I think your transcript of Saul Alinsky’s example is brilliant. It’s the best illustration I’ve seen in a long time of how much engaged connection matters, and how we are starting to come into an awareness of the impact.

I have to admit though, looking back on my own experience, that it seems like a good portion of that “awareness” really took off for me too, when I started thinking and talking about what I could learn and use from the business sector.

Ya, I know, the whole “2% return on a cold direct mailing” thing makes you crazy, and I share your perspective… truly… been there, done that, bought the tee-shirt, and burnt it (wink!).

And without getting into bunny-trails about how we were once again defining ourselves by what or who we are not, or getting into a heated debate about the differences, strengths and weaknesses between social entrepreneurship and social enterprise…

In my experience, there clearly was one major concept from that line of thinking which has since revised my thinking and trumps all my learning of any of the other (still potentially contributive) “business” mind-sets or techniques.

And that is the realization of the myth that people run businesses.

Because the truth is, that people don’t run really successful businesses, systems do, and people run the systems.

Particularly when all of us in the Community Benefit Sector make so much of what we do about “the people” and “the cause”, and how we don’t want to be like AT&T, I believe you once again hit the nail on the head when you wrote in your article about our belief in each other that “systems fail before individuals fail”.

I agree that the only reason our industry has been so personality-driven and falls into the finger pointing for the most part, is because systemically something exists (or doesn’t exist, as the case may be) to allow that to happen.

This is why your approach for Community Engagement, not to mention your own systematizing of the training to disseminate the philosophy and the methodology behind it is as ground-breaking as it is exciting.

At least from what I have learned so far, Community Engagement assists us to care in a way that is perceived to be safe (or at least “safer” than a sacrificial “all or nothing” perspective). Because it focuses on giving and gratitude. On saying “thank-you” to someone for who they are more than who they have been or could be to you.

So here I am, once again saying to you, THANK-YOU. Thank-you for being the writer you are, and for not only speaking your mind, but for being willing to share, openly seek feedback and continuing to learn – starting the cycle all over again. You are an example to all of us.

I for one want to be like you when I grow up (not that I intend to grow up – it’s highly over-rated!), and welcome participating with you toward bringing all of us into action in a way that is truly “transformational” vs. merely “transactional”.

In Spirit,
Tracey Sisson
Licensed Belief Re-patterningTM Practitioner
Calgary, AB Canada

Way to go kicking us in the gut with your concept of engaged connections and fund raising. Ouch! By the way, keep on kicking!