Making A Difference . . . This phrase reminds me of a story about a grandfather and his grandson who went for an early morning walk along the beach and came across a beach full of starfish left by the tide. The grandson ran ahead and began picking up the starfish and throwing them back into the ocean.  The grandfather asked, “What are you doing?  Surely, there is no way you can save all of these starfish.”  The grandson looked at his grandfather, threw a starfish into the ocean and said, “I made a difference to that one."

 

Making a difference is one of the most important qualities any leader can have.  During my tenure as a Municipal Clerk, I have worked to make a difference in our profession and our professional organization through engagement and involvement. I have served on South Carolina MFOCTA committees, on the MFOCTA Board of Directors and as President for 2016-2017.  Since 2012, I have participated on IIMC Committees and have served as chair on three of those Committees.  Serving on the Committees has allowed me to learn more about IIMC, to experience what IIMC has to offer to its membership, and to visualize the future direction of IIMC. I have also served on the IIMC Board of Directors representing Region III from 2019 through 2022.  These opportunities have fueled a passion and desire in me to want to continue to make a difference in IIMC as a servant leader.

 

While receiving my CMC and MMC designations were my first priority after joining IIMC, I believe my most important achievement thus far is in making a difference in our members by serving as a mentor, presenter, and facilitator. Sharing information on leadership development and hard skill tasks allows me an opportunity to encourage others to tell their professional stories and embrace their leadership skills. It also provides me with an opportunity to listen and to gain perspectives from other Municipal Clerks and IIMC members. 

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Leadership is making a difference in the lives of others.  It is not about self. Leadership is lifting other individuals up and helping them to rise to a higher level of confidence and expectation within themselves. 

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While participating in conferences and training opportunities with local, state, regional, national and international organizations, I have developed a mantra that I share with attendees to help encourage leadership development and become a servant leader. 

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NETWORKING . . . ENGAGING . . . MENTORING . . . SERVING

 

By networking with one another, we have an opportunity to introduce ourselves and become engaged as we travel this professional journey together. It is through engagement that we learn more about one another and recognize leadership traits and abilities.  As we grow in fellowship, we become mentors, assisting and encouraging one another to a higher level of leadership and responsibility. Finally, it is through that growth, that we become more confident in ourselves and accept a higher level of responsibility in serving one another.  The philosophy is simple. If we do not grow leadership in IIMC, then we will have no leaders in the future.  It is our responsibility to recognize the possibilities and the potential that exists in one another, thus laying a foundation in IIMC and in our members. 

 

I want to express my deep appreciation to the IIMC members who have welcomed me to their states and regions and for allowing me to serve you. It has been a delight getting to know our membership better over the years and to experience the future leadership of IIMC. Thank you for making a difference in my life. I look forward to continuing to make a difference together. 

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Success is making a difference in the lives of others.  Happiness is watching them

grow because of it.  Make a difference. (Author Unknown)