Summer is still lingering in the air, although I know as I write this the holiday weekend is supposed to bring cool relief. As the heat winds down let our enthusiasm build! Fall is just around the corner here in West Michigan, for Quota this means our 2nd Annual Quota Cares Walk! I hope you’ll join us on Sunday, September 26th at Riverside Park as we walk to raise awareness of Quota. Remember to bring your friends and family. It’s a fun, relaxing walk on a Sunday in the Park… Is there anything better? We have reserved the Pavilion at Boat launch #2, if you have any questions, click here for more information or contact Kath.

If you missed the August meeting and haven’t read the minutes that were sent out, you might have missed an important announcement!! I have set forth a challenge for you. If there are a total of 16 guests at the five remaining regular meetings (September, October, November, February, and March) or there are 25 guests in attendance at the January Membership event, I will dye my hair what ever color you choose. It will be permanent (at least until it grows out)!! Are you up for the challenge? I know you can reach it, we had 21 guests at the last January Membership Event. Remember to invite your friends and coworkers. If you are unsure of how to approach someone, be sure you read this post. I share what I learned at the Leadership Training in Vancouver. Engage your guest in what interests them, find their hot buttons. They will join Quota for different reasons than you did, so talk about what they want. Then share with them how Quota can meet their needs!

The fall months are followed by some busy and exciting winter months. Be sure to check the blog for Committee updates and for our other upcoming events. I hope you enjoy the last unofficial weekend of the summer, happy Labor Day!

Emily

I brought home a lot of ideas from Convention. I have discussed several at our recent Board meetings. I also promised to share that information on the blog for all of the leaders in our club (that includes everyone)! I hope you gain as much from the following as I did. (Please note: this is my interpretation of the “Charge Into the Future” training session from Convention, 2010. For more information please visit the website for Cynthia D’Amour, Leadership Strategist by clicking here.)

Be A Lazy Leader

I know some of you just gasped at reading that. What? A lazy leader? How will our club ever survive? Well it’s quite simple. Imagine having one person give 110% to Quota. They are busy taking care of all the details, overseeing many things at once, dipping their hands into everything that is going on within the club. Now picture one person who is only giving 60%. She is having fun, she is able to bring more people to the club because she has the time. Her friends and fellow club members see that she is getting things done and is delegating tasks. Each one of us has our own special talents. For instance: don’t ask me to take care of Treasurer’s Reports, that is NOT what I’m good at, but I can manage the blog. I digress, our 60% member has now brought in seven other people, each giving anywhere between 20-40%. Remember the Martyr Leader? She’s stressed out, burnt out and is headed toward a melt-down. She didn’t want to let Quota down and knew that if she didn’t do things, nothing would get done. Let’s look at those eight members whose total percent of “giving” equals 200% (estimated on the low side). See how more people are more effective at being lazy, than one person who is being a martyr?

Okay, now you know how to be lazy, the members will start pouring in right? They will if you know how to approach them. We have to paint a vivid picture of who Quota is. If you want someone to join Quota, do you tell them why you joined? That’s a great way to start the conversation, but even before you get to that point, you should start from the beginning. What are they looking for?

Hot Buttons

• Personal/Professional Development
• Contribution to a greater good
• Community

Let me start by explaining the Hot Buttons. When you’re talking to someone about Quota and you’re trying to get them as excited about it as you are, the best way to do that is to find their hot buttons. What are they interested in. What is important to them. If you are talking to them telling them how much you love Quota because it gives you the chance to serve others, but they are really looking for a social group, then you’ve not only missed their hot button, but you’ve lost their attention. If you start off by asking what they are interested in, then you can hit their hot button because Quota really does relate to all three. Let me explain how.

The first one in that list is Personal/Professional Development. Do you know some companies hold training sessions that cost their employees $200-$300/session? We offer the same development through our speaker’s for our one year’s dues. Did you ever think to look at it that way? I certainly had not. It can be one more persuasive tool when speaking to someone about Quota.

Next is Contribution to a greater good. In other words: Service. That’s what we do in Quota. We help those in need. We provide many service opportunities throughout the year.

Last is Community. Before each meeting we hold a social time. We catch up with each others latest news. We have fun, we laugh and we get together outside of Quota too. Perhaps the person you are talking to wants to meet more people or even network with other business women. That’s what we do and who we are!!!

Great! Now you can find out what the potential Quota member is looking for and tell her how Quota meets her needs. We need to remember to focus on what we are and who we are helping.

One good way to bring in outside people is through our service projects. We have a walk coming up. Have you asked everyone you know to join in a walk around the park? You don’t have to ask everyone for money, but if you ask them to walk then you’ve opened to door of Quota to them. By asking someone from the outside to join us for a service project, they’ll see how much fun we have and they’ll get to know Quota better.

I will leave you with this quote from Cynthia,

“If not you then who? If not now then when?

August is a good time to look at the progress you’ve made during the year; to take stock of the things that are important to you. This includes recommitting your focus to Quota. The fall months are always busy, there are lots of things going on with the schools and with end-of-the-summer vacations, it is easy to get sidetracked. I find myself in this situation dealing with the death of a family friend, Bill’s “unrelocation”, a visit from my niece, and celebrating our tenth wedding anniversary.

Don’t we all go through rough times like this? Times when we need each other to rely on and call on. Times when we can’t do it by ourselves. Times when we should come together and remember who we are (as individuals and as this amazing group) and that we are making a difference in the lives of others!!

This September we will be focusing on our 2nd Annual Walk. I hope you’ll commit to being at the August meeting so you can hear more about the walk and how you can help make it a success. Join me in celebrating the good we do and the difference we make. Join me in lifting each other up and reminding each other that we are here to help. If you absolutely cannot make the August meeting, please contact Kath for more information. She has emailed out a packet, if you can’t find it or have questions please be sure to get a hold of her.

Emily

That’s usually how the new season starts off. Reminding us of what we forgot had happened on our favorite tv show.

After Convention, I would like to ask you if you remember what it’s like to have the Quota Enthusiasm? If you’ve been to Conference, an Area Meeting or a Quota International Convention; do you remember what it’s like to be refueled by the spirit? You get to see familiar faces and feel the energy created by fellow Quotarians. I know that in every organization, group, or program that I have been a part of; when there has been an annual training I have gone. It is the “pick-me-up”, my re-charge, my refueling, it’s what I need to be energized again!

We are an organization committed to Sharing. Let’s share Quota! The service we provide changes lives. We lighten the burden of others and we enrich and change our own lives.

“Believe in the Quota of tomorrow Be a part of the Solution Today” -Cynthia D’Amour

A lot of our general session was dedicated to a “Charge Into the Future” Leadership Training. We are an organization that is offering so much, we just need to find out what others are looking for! Here are a few examples as you talk to friends:

Find out what they are interested in. They aren’t going to care why you joined Quota, they want to know what’s in it for them.

• Are they looking for Personal/Professional Development? We offer that when we have speakers
• Are they looking to make a Difference? We do that through our fun service projects
• Are they looking to meet new people/get out of the house/have fun? We do that with our fundraisers and our meetings, and we even set aside time for social gatherings.

If you want to know more about the Leadership Training, I will be publishing another post soon based solely on that topic.

Convention 2010 – Vancouver

Friday evening started off with the Silent Auction/Reception. Then we moved into the gorgeous Pacific Ballroom for the “Q-lympics” Opening Ceremonies. Each Area wore a different color, Central Area was dressed in purple. The flags were presented and we heard from Rosemary Hannie, 2009-2010 International President. We had some interesting entertainment from several PIP’s (Past International President’s) and then participated in the first ever “Quorrling” Championship. Think Curling, only with a Quota twist. Laundry baskets, brooms and pool noodles were involved.

Saturday morning came early with our General Session. We had all the usual rules of Convention presented (Collects and Objects, the Memorial Presentation, Credentials Reports, Convention Rules, the Program, and the Nominees), we heard from the two nominees for Treasurer. Laura Lee Lahman (Coral Springs-Parkland, Florida) and Maureen Taylor (Penticton, British Columbia). We also heard about the Friendship Clubs. President Elect, Gwen Jackson, gave a Development and Growth Presentation.  Our coffee break was sponsored by District 20 (Michigan, USA-that’s us!) After the coffee break we went back in and heard the Treasurer’s Report and the Executive Director’s Report. Our afternoon session was dedicated to our guest speaker and leadership trainer, Cynthia D’Amour of People Power Unlimited based in Ann Arbor, MI (you can visit her website by clicking here).

Sunday began with the International Officer Election. Then we moved into the General Session and dove right into the Bylaws. Five Bylaws were presented and all five passed. District 20 submitted the third proposed Bylaw.

Article XIV: Club Section 7A. Club Meetings

Reads at Present: 7a.     Regular Meetings. Each member club shall hold at least fifteen meetings during its fiscal year.

Proposed change: 7.     Club Meetings. Each member club shall hold sufficient meetings to conduct its official business.

I have the rationale if you would like to read it, please contact me (I’m not retyping all of that). This Bylaw change was passed unanimously and without discussion. Quota is moving forward!

We were encouraged to meet with our Friendship Club, and I had the pleasure of meeting Florence, from Opotiki, New Zealand, our Friendship Club. We enjoyed lunch together. If you would like to send our Friendship club a letter, let me know by the end of August and I’ll put a package together.

The afternoon session was again dedicated to our guest speaker and more leadership training. At the end of the day, we broke off into separate rooms and held Area Meetings.

Monday morning we were invited to Convention July 13th-16th, 2012 in Honolulu Hawaii. We all practiced our hula. While giving a workshop on Publicity, President Elect Gwen Jackson was interrupted by a rowdy group of women in costume. They were all wearing a decorated bra (over their clothes of course), and proved the point that publicity is very important. One of the Australian Clubs bought bras and held a decorating contest to help raise breast cancer awareness. After getting approval to hang the bras on a fence in a very prominent spot, the city then said the club needed special approval for signs. Dragging this out as long as they possibly could without breaking any laws, the Quotarians soon agreed to take down any signs, leaving the bras in place, all the while attracting lots of attention from the media, locally and internationally!! (Click here for the link to the article in the 2006 Quotarian, page 16, which just so happens to have a picture of our own Kath Slagal celebrating Q.I. G.R.’s 60 years!)

Along with the publicity workshop, we also had a workshop on the Generation Gaps. The explanations left me with several Aha! moments. You can look for those in my leadership blog. We ended the session with our Service-on-Site presentation, and the Club-to-Club Service presentation, which served a big impact on who we are globally and the difference we make in so many lives around the world. It was amazing and very touching. District 18 ended the session by singing the song that they sing at the end of each of their meetings. (It was simply called “District 18 Song”, I have a copy if anyone would like to see it, but don’t ask me to sing!)

That evening we held our installation Banquet , and President Rosemary Hannie was led to the PIP table, after installing President Gwen Jackson, President Elect Christine Tracey-Patte, and Treasurer Laura Lahman. Area Directors finishing their two year term are: Linda Morton Central Area Director, Kathleen Shermann East A. D., and Karen Murphy South Pacific A. D. Newly elected Directors were: Marie Dobson-Dunlop Canada A. D., Sheila Morris South A.D., and Vicki Conable West A. D.

Again, I have all reports, Bylaw changes, Awards, Service Project Reports, etc. If you would like to see any of these, please let me know. I am happy to share.

It was very exciting to be a part of a Quota that is moving forward.

President’s Message – July 2010

Summer is in full swing and our favorite tv shows have long been forgotten as they ended with their usual season finale drama. They hope to keep us in suspense for the summer; wondering, questioning, and waiting impatiently for the new season to start. That is what the big-wigs in tv hope for anyway. But how many of us soon forget as we get outside in the sunshine, spending time grilling, and enjoying all the other fun activities that summer brings?

Summer brings Quotarians the chance to relax and catch up. Business is set aside for a few months while we picnic with the Cool Cats and are welcomed at Joyce’s. This year it also brings the International Convention. I am looking forward to attending and representing our club. If you have any questions or information you would like me to bring back, please let me know by Thursday, July 1st. I will post a post-Convention update so be sure to check back to find out what exciting information I bring back.

For now, I hope you all enjoy the summer. Happy 4th of July!! (Celebrate for me – I hope there are some fireworks in Vancouver?!) Remember this, “Hard work spotlights the character of people: Some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don’t turn up at all.” -Sam Ewing, radio announcer. And as the story goes,

to be continued…

What is it about volunteering that makes us feel good? Is it helping others? Giving back? Learning new things? Meeting new and fun people? Going to new places?

For me, Quota has been all of those things and so much more. For those of us who have volunteered in our Community and Quota know the benefits offered. We may not always see the results of our work, but we know how we have been effected. Take this example;

Ruthie Culver drives three miles from her condo in Sun City, AZ to the Banner Boswell Medical Center for her four-hour volunteer shift. Ruthie is 103 and has racked up more than 1,200 volunteer hours in the past six years!!! If she can do this at her age, what’s everyone else’s excuse? (Reader’s Digest, 2010. Article by Petra Guglielmetti)

As I said, Quota has now made a positive impact on my life. If it weren’t for Quota I would not know the Cool Cats. If it weren’t for Quota I wouldn’t have traveled to Traverse City, East Tawas, and soon Vancouver. If it weren’t for Quota, I wouldn’t have the connections I’ve made.

You have asked me before how do we get more younger people involved? I don’t have the answer. I am an exception to the rule. I enjoy serving others and giving of my time. My question for you is: have you asked younger people to come to a meeting? Have you told them about our work with the Cool Cats?

We all know why it is important to serve others. We need to continue to find and encourage those around us to do the same. Make sure you tell people about Quota, the work we do and the fun we have. Be sure you ask everyone you meet if they find service in the community important. Most of all share your experiences.

I would like to end with a poem that was on the table at Conference:

Women Who Change the World

There are women who make things better… simply by showing up.

There are women who make things happen.

There are women who make their way.

There are women who make a difference.

And women who make us smile.

There are women of wit and wisdom who ~ through strength and courage ~ make it through.

There are women who change the world every day… women like you.

- Ashley Rice

~Emily

I didn’t think I would be using a line from a song from my favorite band, yet here I am. Not only am I going to use the title of the song in my first President’s Message, but I have a link to the video as well. It is a great song, and I think the video reflects what progress Jan made during her term, and how I plan to carry on. Please take a moment to watch the video, it reflects my message more than the words of the song

Needtobreathe, Shine On video

As we walk side by side, do we shine so that others can see us? Do we pass the light to others? Will you continue to shine on for Quota? Will you share who we are? Will you continue to work for our growth and service?

We had a wonderful Installation Banquet at the end of April. I would like to say thank you to the Gavel Club for once again doing an outstanding job! We have a fantastic group of stars shining among us. Some like to be behind the scenes and shine so that we only catch a glimpse. One of those members is our newest Quotarian of the Year, Pam G.! We have other shining stars who step forward when help is needed. Those Quotarians are the 2010/2011 Committee Chairs who have agreed to help make Quota shine bright in our community. You will find our Board under “About Us” on the right hand side of the screen, by clicking “Meet Our Leadership Team” or by clicking here.

As we start another year, I encourage you to find a way to shine on. Remember the poem we read at the Banquet:

“Star light, star bright

the first star I see tonight.

I wish I may, I wish I might

Have this wish for Quota tonight:”

What’s your wish?

My wish is that everyone in Quota will find a way, big or small to be actively involved.

Shine On!

Emily Uebbing, President

As my term comes to an end, I have mixed emotions.  A part of me will relish the extra personal time and a part of me feels there is so much yet for me to do.

Then, I realized that I am not dying.  There will still be opportunities to continue to help build the Club and contribute toward our mission.  It will just be in a different capacity.  To see Quotarians make such a difference and touch so many lives is what makes all the hard work worthwhile.  It is so rewarding to be a part of that.

I am further grateful for the wisdom of fellow Quotarians in working to move the Club forward.  Looking back over the past two years, it’s impressive to see how open-mindedly and courageously everyone approached the major decisions confronting the future of the Club.  Because of you, we have a stable foundation and momentum going forward which will enable us to serve even more in the community.

I want to especially give my heartfelt gratitude to all the Board members who supported me and never wavered when difficult issues arose.  Despite many long meetings, the optimism was high and a lot was accomplished.

I have not only grown but learned so much during my term as President.  Thank you for the confidence you have shown in me.

I am honored to have had the opportunity to lead Quota International of Grand Rapids.

Yours truly,

Jan Gauthier, President

Watching the Olympics this past month, I was amazed at the hard work, dedication and sacrifices the athletes go through.  They are constantly taking risks to fulfill their dreams.

In February, a few Quotarians had an opportunity to observe another group that constantly take risks to achieve their dreams.  Only they were not doing sports at the time.

We were invited to observe the “Cool Cats” in their classroom.

With the energy, perseverance, and desire to learn that we saw in each student, it became apparent that it will only be a matter of time before their dreams come true.

“I Do My Best Because… I Have A Dream!”

Please plan on attending our March 18 meeting and be ready to be inspired as the Cool Cats join us and share their latest experiences.

–Jan

Living in Michigan, especially during the winter months, always enhances thoughts of those less fortunate.  Going without food, clothing or shelter in February is hard to fathom.

How appropriate that February 15-21 is “Random Acts of Kindness” week.

During that week, we all have an opportunity to perform an act of kindness by bringing a bag of can goods to our February 18 meeting. The food will be donated to Access of West Michigan to aid them in pantry assistance and emergency meals.

Should you choose to continue your acts of kindness throughout the month or longer, the following are just a few ideas. They may even stimulate ideas of your own.

• Select some people in your life who you feel need a special lift and send them a gift: flowers,  a gift certificate or even a card.
• Leave enough money in the vending machine for the next person to get a free treat.
• Call or write or e-mail to someone you haven’t spoken to in a long time, just to say you are thinking of them.
• Donate flowers to a senior center, nursing home, police station, hospital.
• Smile and say “hello” to someone you do not know.
• When you are waiting for service at a counter, trade places with someone in a hurry.
• Put a flower on a neighbor’s porch ( great spring time idea).
• Compliment a stranger about something they are wearing.
• Write something nice about your waitperson on the back of the bill.
• Let someone merge into traffic during rush hour.
• Collect goods for a food bank.

After doing a random act of kindness, you may get a surprise look at first but the smile afterward will make your day!

“No act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted”

Aesop

-Jan