Tonight's picture was taken in October of 2008. I can remember this day very vividly. Mattie was eager to spend time in the child life playroom. While there, Linda (his child life specialist) asked Mattie if he wanted anything particular to play with or work on. Mattie requested model magic, which is like clay or playdoh, just cleaner and it dries beautifully. Mattie created a seascape using a big piece of paper. He painted it and then started building a model magic bridge and sea creatures floating all around. I don't know if you can see it clearly, but lined up on the model magic bridge were hotwheel cars. Needless to say, I think I have one of these model magic sea creatures still on display in Mattie's bedroom.
Quote of the day: A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the equality of his actions and the integrity of his intent. ~ Douglas MacArthur
Joining professional associations was impressed upon us in graduate school. So I got involved early on. In 2000, I was still trying to complete my doctoral program, yet because of my level of activity in the Association, I was elected to be president elect. The way it goes in an Association is you become president-elect, then president, and finally past-president. So it is a three year commitment. In 2003, when my commitment was over, the leadership of the board did not want to see me go. Keep in mind by that time, Mattie was born and I was juggling him full time, teaching part time, and other professional commitments on the side. Yet, I agreed to stay on and the board appointed me the executive director of DCMHCA. I remained in that role until the day Mattie was diagnosed. Then like many of my professional commitments, I dropped them immediately.
I was the president of this 7,000 member organization, but I never was able to fulfill my position because I was caring for Mattie in the hospital. The Association did not want me to step down as President, but they also did not want me to come clean with membership and tell them what I was balancing. I was saddened by that reality, but frankly given all that I was dealing with, I really did not care!
Why am I walking down memory lane? Because today, out of the blue, I had an hour long conversation with a board member of DCMHCA. She called me because she told me the organization hasn't run effectively or smoothly since it lost its executive director. Cute way of saying.... me! As the Association never got a replacement once I left. I could see why, as the position was time consuming both administratively and logistically. Yet 18 years later apparently my work is still being talked about and I was asked to come back as a consultant to help the board get back on its feet. I am not going into more detail here because of the nature of some of the issues. But I have to say this is a part of my life that I almost forgot. As it seems like this was a different Vicki back then, who lived a totally different life. Yet all of these leadership experiences popped right back into my head with just this phone call today. I feel grateful in a way, because some people never learn the impact they made on others. Today I got to hear about it first hand.
1 comment:
Vicki, CONGRATULATIONS! I am so glad this woman called & you learned how positively, your worked was received. It is no surprise to me as you put your heart & soul into important areas in life. I am so glad to know you received this great compliment
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