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Old Guys Rock Downtown Appleton

Who says old guys can’t jam? On June 26, several Goodwill CEOs, board leaders and their guests turned out in downtown Appleton to watch The Geezers close down the Harmony Music Fest 2005. Playing rhythm guitar and singing vocals was none other than Bob Pedersen, CEO of Goodwill Industries of North Central Wisconsin (Menasha). Mike Vanevenhoven, the Goodwill’s Multi-Media Specialist, ably led the tempo on drums and percussion. The band – made up entirely of men working in the Fox Cities’ nonprofit field – kicked off their set with The Beatles’ “Baby, You Can Drive My Car,” and followed with songs from Jimmy Buffet to The Rolling Stones. It was enough to make a young girl named Hope twirl and dance in the square before them.

Keynoter Encourages Careful Collaboration 6-27

Harvard business professor James Austin believes that businesses and nonprofits will have to rely increasingly on collaboration. The reason? “…There’s a growing recognition that the magnitude and complexity of problems facing the world transcends the capacity of any one organization to address them,” Austin told Goodwill delegates during his keynote address June 26. He offered the seven C’s of strategic collaboration to guide a Goodwill’s decision as to whether it should collaborate: clarity of purpose; connection with purpose and people; congruency of mission, strategy and value; creation of value; communication from the inside and outside; continual learning; and commitment to the partnership. For Battle Creek (MI) CEO Bob Holderbaum, the message was clear: “The fact is that everyone has to be open to the responsibilities of collaboration,” he said.

Kessinger Says Continued Collaboration Needed

George Kessinger at DA 2005 Opening Business Session

In spite of the conference theme, “The Collaboration Challenge,” GII CEO George Kessinger chose to highlight the movement’s successful collaborations over the past year during his President’s remarks June 26 at the 2005 Delegate Assembly opening business session. With collaboration, the Goodwill movement has helped influence federal policy, governance and legislation dealing with everything from car donations to tax deductions on household goods to executive compensation. “..Collaboration, dare I say it, has won the day for us,” Kessinger said.

Thinking Together Improves Working Together

‘Thinking together’ is simply something not often found on one’s to do list. But Bill Bellows – an Associate Technical Fellow with The Boeing Company – says organizations must learn how to think together if they want to work together better. During a luncheon address June 26 at the 2005 Delegate Assembly, Bellows introduced the concept of ‘Enterprise Thinking,’ or an organization’s ability to increase its awareness of how its staff works together. In this environment, the staff manages all of its relationships, rather than focusing on what’s wrong. CEO Deborah Alvarez-Rodriguez (San Francisco, CA), said she was gratified that her staff has started regularly generating ideas together, talking about them and addressing issues through cross-functional teams. “[This] helped me affirm we were on the right path, and it also helped point out how much more we have to do,” she said.

Best Practices, Family Strengthening Programs Honored

On June 27, Goodwill delegates recognized stellar Goodwill programs and partners at the 21^st Century Initiative Awards Luncheon at the 2005 Delegate Assembly. The event recognizes both family strengthening programs and the winners of the Goodwill 21st Century Initiative awards. In his welcome at the start of the luncheon, GII CEO George Kessinger said the Goodwill movement knows well that some goals seem insurmountable. “Thanks to your commitment, we know we can reach the 21^st Century Initiative,” he said. “We hope you will not only recognize these achievements, but also try to replicate these programs.”

Alumni Catch Up Before Awards Banquet 6-28

Nine Goodwill alumni mingled with Goodwill CEOs, board leaders and guests during a cozy reception June 27 at the Radisson Paper Valley Hotel in Appleton, WI The event brought together Goodwill delegates with GII staff before the evening’s main event, the GII Awards Banquet. Retired CEOs in attendance were Jim Collins, Mary Edington, Judy Beckett Watson, Marie Mareda, Bob Goodman, Don Landrum, Ralph Shiner (Goodwill NCW), and Carol Miller. Not pictured are Chester Sherman and Bruce Larson.