Gov.MarkParkinson, new AmerHealthCareAssoc Prez dialoguing at NC Health Care board meeting: future,Medicare/Caid,health care reform.

RebeccaWaggoner preached YouthSunday at St.Johns from Micah6:8. Seek justice,love mercy,walk humbly with God. She&other youth-great job!

Oops, it was LutheranHomeTrinityOaks that had Sam's Chair Wash. And boy did I hear about my mistake from a bunch of people?!

LutheranHomeHickoryWest sponsored Sam's Chair Wash: repair/wash chairs&have fun!Named for TrinityOaks' Sam Allen, founder of Sam's Car Wash!

Amber McIntosh celebrated her 10th anniversary as Administrator of LutheranHomeHickory.Reach out and congratulate.Only 6 admins in 50 yrs!

AbundantLivingAdultDayServices hosted 41 3&4 yr olds today for MartinLutherKingJr program. They rocked!

In Houston on way home from LutheranServicesInAmerica CEO Academy: faith/work connection, leadership, peers. Good mtg!

I'm last to know: LutheranHomeHickoryWest had Santa mailbox for kids.Staff answered all letters.Rec'd letter of thanks from grateful family.

Hope u had great Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as we remember/try to mirror one of America's greatest leaders.

Learning and Re-learning

A few years ago (who knows since time flies when you’re having fun), James Kouzes presented on his book, A Leader’s Legacy, at AAHSA. I was taken with the book. It opened my eyes to new ideas on leadership and confirmed some of my partially developed thinking. After AAHSA, we studied the book as the LSA leadership as part of our internal and personal education process. Today I am headed to a Lutheran Services in America conference where one of the sessions is on A Leader’s Legacy.

When I saw the topic and received another copy of the book, I was not particularly thrilled, since we have already plowed that ground. I brought my old copy of the book as I had already marked it up, circling and underlining my favorite parts. On the plane this morning, I started re-reviewing. The book has so many good points. It was a great refresher. It also reminded me of at least in part why we moved it some directions as an organization and why I moved it some directions. Por exampla: In the corner of one page talking about how we have to progress even when we are so comfortable with the old way, I had written Electronic Medical Records. Today, EMR is one of our most important and successful initiatives for the future. The book encourages a lifelong commitment to education. I just completed a Masters program. Hmmmm…..

Here is a laundry list of some of the concepts discussed in the book that at least influenced our/my behavior: servanthood, passion, education, feedback, collaboration, 100% responsibility, want to be liked, constructive insubordination, Crucial Confrontations, empowerment, honesty, followership, courage, trust, RPMs (Rosa Parks Moments), grace, ok to fail, baby steps in the right direction. This book is packed!

Now, I have heard the author, read the book with our team, and am heading out to hear it again. But now I’m looking forward to hearing the presenter’s view, and hearing the perspective of the 49 other CEOs attending this meeting have to share. To a good meeting…!

Just landed in Atlanta on way to LutheranServicesInAmerica CEO Academy: learning from sessions and peers.

LutheranHomeHickoryWest received letter from family: Christian atmosphere, wonderful care, Chaplain's special comfort. LHHW serves again!

LSA's JillNothstine&LatriceCarter spoke at national conference.Their evaluation score: 5.5 out of six! Near perfect. LSA is talent-blessed!

Beautiful snowy day & many can stay home. But all over LSA, staff is at work caring, serving, loving, and living. Neither rain nor snow...!

@ Baltimore airport coming home from LutheranServicesInAmerica bd mtg. Great org doing great things.Today discussed future/opportunities.

Flying to Baltimore for LutheranServicesInAmerica board mtg.

Thank you letter -LutheranHomeTrinityOaks family: food, accomodating family for holiday dinners, therapist, caring staff... LHTO shining!