The Rundown - September 9, 2022
The latest news and notes from the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors
Remembering Queen Elizabeth II
Yesterday, the news hit that Queen Elizabeth II had passed away after a long and amazing life at age 96. Seventy of those years were spent serving as the Monarch of the United Kingdom and many other nations of the Commonwealth.
In all honesty, the news was more painful for me than I thought it would be. I spent all of yesterday afternoon and evening thinking about the Queen and legacy she left behind. A deep sense of sadness, but gratitude that we were all able to see a life well lived. We all instinctively knew that the day would come where she would no longer be among us and it was just a scant two days ago where the frail Queen was seen beaming a warm welcome to her fifteenth Prime Minister.
As someone who is in their 40s, it feels like I have lost a long lost grandmother. It might sound silly; I have never met or communicated with her, but there was such a spirit within the Queen where you felt a deep abiding love and sense of service for her subjects. Seeing this lady, you have this gut feeling that if you had a five minute audience with her, she would give you the feeling that it was the most important five minutes she could spend, not that you could spend.
The most fascinating part of her life is that she was thrust in the role of Queen at such a young age, barely a quarter-century old and a young mother when she was given the awesome responsibility of holding a job that in many ways, is impossible. Good heavens, when I was that young I barely had the good sense to take care of my own affairs, let alone have the awesome responsibility to help lead a nation. Yet, she had the fortitude and dignity at such a young age to hold herself to live a life of dedicated service to her people and her role; an incredible testament to her seven decades on the throne.
Living her entire life in the spotlight, every struggle and hardship was one she endured in front of everyone. She became Queen by losing her father at a relatively young age; a trade-off no one should ever have to face. She lost her husband just last year and the pictures of her and her family in a largely empty cathedral thanks to the pandemic were just flat out heartbreaking to see. She lost a daughter-in-law in 1997 in a horrific car accident, that I am sure accentuated family relationships that were often complicated. Even her own grandson, eschewing tradition, voluntarily left the Royal Family. There was no doubt she had her fair share of struggles and pain, yet there was a sense that she cared deeply and worried more about the lives of her subjects than her own. Her life was one of humble service, giving and caring more for others, regardless if those she touched could ever repay the favor.
The lessons we always learn from these lives is that people we admire the most, the people we have the deepest sadness about when they leave are those that are just a quiet, steady and caring presence in our lives. We never knew what the Queen cared about in terms of issues of the day, but we knew that when we had a chance to celebrate, she would be there to smile and when we needed to grieve, she would shed a tear with a deep sense of empathy and consolation.
It’s just a shame that many times we never properly treasure these people when they are with us, it’s only after they are gone where we feel a void that can’t be filled.
Our Queen Is Departed, God Save The King.
Registrations now open for Paul G. Duke Academy for Community Leadership!
Registrations are now open for continuing education offered by Edison State Community College in Piqua for the Paul G. Duke Academy for Community Leadership! I have been a proud alumni of both programs and have even been asked to help present sessions and teach classes. It’s an amazing program and I would encourage you to be a part of it if you are in the area! You can register here.
The Paul G. Duke Academy for Community Leadership 1.0 is a series of workshops designed to develop more effective directors, leaders, board members, staff and volunteers of nonprofit organizations. Course topics include the fundamental practices of board recruitment, planning, staffing, budgeting, evaluation, board meetings and community awareness. The classes are designed to help individuals make a difference on their boards and in their community.
The Paul G. Duke Academy for Community Leadership 2.0 has been created and designed specifically for experienced executive directors of nonprofit organizations and alumni of the Academy for Community Leadership 1.0. This challenging and intensive Academy is coordinated by the Academy development team and participants. Advanced participants will conduct original research and exchange results via reports and discussion. Participants will help to further develop the foundational agenda for each of the four monthly sessions that will explore nonprofit organizations—based upon their backgrounds, experiences, pressing issues and needs—through self-analysis, organizational analysis, guest speakers, best practices, resource review and in-depth discussions. At its conclusion, Academy 2.0 participants will be immersed in the annual Mosaic of Community Leadership Conference, both as participants and presenters. Academy 2.0 is the latest collaboration between the Paul G. Duke Foundation and the Edison State Community College Center for Leadership Development.
We are Trying Something New
Perhaps you read our last “Deeper Dive” where we talked about the amazing power of Youtube as a Social Media platform. Well, a reader challenged me and said hey, “Why don’t you start your own channel?”
Okay, challenge accepted. Here is our channel with our first four videos. We had some readers share them on LinkedIn (THANK YOU!) and the response has been positive. Check it out and let me know what you think! Feel free to drop me a line at pinnaclestrategiesltd@gmail.com or just comment below!
Here is a link to our YouTube Channel!
Check Out Some New Resources
Pinnacle Strategies has created a new resource! Check out our store here on the gumroad platform. These are the three most popular tools that I am hit up for. Take a look at these tools and of course, if you have any comments or questions, please feel free to contact me at pinnaclestrategiesltd@gmail.com.
What Can We Work on Together?
Did you know that Pinnacle Strategies works individually with nonprofit and public sector leaders to help them solve problems, achieve goals and gain confidence in their roles?
Why?
Because, this work is hard and it’s often a lonely road. Our nonprofit and public sector leaders need people that they can talk to to get solid advice and encouragement to do the work that is in front of them. If you feel that this can be of value to you, or a member of your team, please reach out to pinnaclestrategiesltd@gmail.com and let’s talk.
A Quick Note of Thanks!
Thank you all for subscribing to this newsletter. The subscription numbers continue to grow and from what I am learning, this side job seems like it has “sticking power”. I am not getting inquiries and calls from literally all over the world wanting to partner and work together to create value for you, the non profit and philanthropy leader. I feel very excited about the future of this newsletter and if you have any ideas or comments, please feel free to share them with me at pinnaclestrategiesltd@gmail.com
I know many of you have shared this with your friends and colleagues and I am very grateful. Thank you! If you haven’t shared it yet…..well, here is your chance….
Ready to Learn Something New?
One of the prettiest cities in Fall is Indianapolis and travelling there can open a perfect opportunity to sharpen your skills and meet new professionals in the field. I would encourage you to look at some of the offerings of The Fund Raising School at the Lilly School of Philanthropy at Indiana University’s campus in Indianapolis. The professional development school has great programming both on-line and in-person both in Indianapolis and at other sites across the country. Take a look at their course offerings here!
Other Ways to Connect
Our coaching practice has openings starting here in 2022. If you are interested in working with me to get your nonprofit organization on a track to achieve the big missions you have for your organization, please reach out to me at pinnaclestrategiesltd@gmail.com.
Here are some other ways you can keep in contact with Pinnacle Strategies!
Check us out on our LinkedIn Page
Check us out on the Celebrating Leadership Facebook Page.
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