Many corporate and Kiwanis Leaders make frequent reference to Jim Collins' book "Good to Great", even as I did in last November's eBuilder article "Preparing for Greatness". If you still haven't read the book, I highly recommend it; not simply because it might help you lead Kiwanis from good to great, but because you may personally benefit from the principles if you apply them to your personal and professional lives.

This article isn't intended to be a plug for Mr. Collins' book, of course, so if you would like a little more background on it, I refer you back to the November eBuilder. What this article focuses on is just one of the concepts Mr. Collins explains so well - the concept of "getting the right people on the bus".

Very simply, companies that became great did not set a course and then go find people to come along for the ride. They recruited high-caliber people (got them on the bus) and then let their strengths determine where the bus should go. It's a pretty simple concept when you think about it, and it has been expressed in many ways: "Go with the flow", "Play to your strengths", "Use the homefield advantage", etc. Another way to look at it is "Don't force round pegs into square holes, and vice-versa."

How does this apply to Kiwanis? I am convinced that Kiwanis is overflowing with high-caliber people. We are community and corporate leaders and we are dedicated to mankind. Not a day goes by that we aren't solving big problems or enhancing the quality of life for others. So why don't we Kiwanians help ourselves? Why do we continue to fill Kiwanis vacancies with untrained, unqualified or inexperienced people, who many times also qualify as "unmotivated"? Folks, that's a bus that's going nowhere while the rest of the world passes it by.

Where do our professionals hide when asked to serve on a District Committee? For example, our Finance committee should be stocked with financial professionals. How about a healthy does of legal professionals on our Bylaws and Policy committee; or professional businessmen on the Long Range Planning committee? Committee chairs should be good organizers and communicators, not just someone that is passionate about that committee's function. And speaking of the passionate ones, they are the ones we need serving as regional representatives; fanning the flames and supporting the local clubs.

Governor Art is working hard to build on the foundation of his predecessors, and in doing so, he is paving the road to greatness for 2008-2009. Right now - today - is the day to load up the Capital District bus and get on that road, because this bus leaves the station in just a few short weeks when we start training our committees for success.

I am very excited by the Kiwanians that answered my earlier call to service by agreeing to serve this District along with me, but there are still good seats to be had. I sure hope you don't find yourself left standing on the platform!

As always, I thank you for everything you do for Kiwanis, but more importantly, I thank you for everything you do to make your communities better places to live.

With a Kiwanis servant's heart,
Tom Ganse
Governor-elect, 2007-2008
Questions? E-mail TG at tganse13@earthlink.net