Always Be Learning!

Ask me how my graduate class is going- IUPUI- Lilly School of Philanthropy and I may say: great I love the reading, I'm learning.  I may say- it is so hard referring to the on-line platform, the return to deep reading and analysis AND teamwork with three people I do not know, have never met beyond the cyber world.  I admire them, respect them, need them and appreciate their perspective.  However, overall it really is fascinating and I am loving the learning.  I value digging deeper into a cross-discipline academic approach to something I care deeply about and want to know more about: philanthropy!


I learned a new word and concept: Meliorism!  It is the blend of pessimism and optimism or the middle place: page 122 of Payton and Moody's Text (Understanding Philanthropy 2008). The word hope is connected to this concept! “James saw meliorism as hopeful but more realistic perspective than optimism or pessimism. “Page 125 goes further with hope to says “The belief that things can be made “better” suggests a bias toward hope, a disinclination to despair. The meliorist reasons that some things are probably acceptable as they are but could be improved, that many things that go wrong and appear to be out of control could be prevented, and certainly that most things that go wrong can be “ameliorated” through philanthropy. But while hopeful, the meliorist is a realist."  As I learn how the government, private sector and, nonprofit world intersect, support, engage and blur I'm in awe and loving learning!


And philanthropy is what gives me hope so I declare myself a Meliorist. This approach can be hard in today's crazy world but I am hopeful. I believe in these next generations coming behind my own- they are smart, flexible, committed, creative, hardworking and caring. I get to see it with my friend's children, my own children, their friends, and the Denison students and young alums of today!  I get to see it with the progress organizations I am engaged with are making- Rotary is today's example.  Last night we had a great event to raise funds for the good work Newark Rotary does in our local community.  The Rotary Park at OSU was and is an important, accessible playground. Camp Enterprise provides real life coaching and learning about running a business and carries on a commitment to our teens of yesterday, today and tomorrow with scholarships and networking. I'm proud of what Rotary International supports around the world.  It was a great night relaunching friend/fundraising and applying what I learned at The Works when executing events and obtaining Ohio liquor license.  Best lesson- Team Works Makes the Dream Work! Here is the team, minus one important member!!   

I am also learning about our village.  In my life on Newark-Granville Road I serve on the Granville Chamber of Commerce and am proud of work to support commerce- current and future business in our beautiful village. We're more active this year with Economic Development. This means working with our village council and governance. I need to understand more. I believe we can do better and I'm sharing this by asking questions to understand how I can help.  I need to understand and learn about financing and how decisions are made.  I read the Village's 2012 Comprehensive Plan and 2019 Annual Report to prepare for the Village Council Retreat I attended.  I have posted out there before we need to get more people involved and attending meetings.  Granville Township is an active player in all of this.  Join me in learning, help me learn- it does take a village!

Lessons from the Weekend - Feb 14-16

For those of you reading that are squash players- you can say “I told you so” but you won’t. You won’t because you exemplify the sportsmanship of your game.  For those of you with the novice view I had before a weekend at Vassar- I must share!  Here is what I appreciated:

•       Those close quarters and fast actions, in 4D (four walls, the ball can bounce off 4 walls) create an elegant meeting.  A parent compared it to wrestling and boxing- I agree.
•       The self-advocacy and confidence developed with requests for lets and strokes, important, our students need this and oh did they impress me..
•    The players' roles as a referee in partnership with an opposing team member- brilliant, purely brilliant. I’d hire any squash student for this reason alone or encourage them to accept a leadership role in their extracurricular activities. They will be able to facilitate any meeting with this experience.
•       The matches moved- there was no drudgery- I found it completely entertaining and in some case awe-inspiring. The flexibility, quick reflexes, athletism and strategies evident in this sport!
•        A parent used the word gamesmanship- the introductions, the respect, positive approach, the full attention beyond their own matches.  I like this.
•        The commitment of the Denison coach and these players now. History is being made. This sport is moving from club to varsity.  The Women’s program is recently launched- all because of those that have gone before and this crew NOW. Now is an impressive time to join the journey.  I look forward to talking more and sharing individual experiences and insights with you!  To be continued in my life on Newark-Granville Road.

Of course, I do not have a favorite Denison sport- that would be like having a favorite child or as Joe says a favorite beer or scotch.  Depending on the day and time, one or more are preferred!  Congrats to the DU Women's Swim Team on their NCAA championship. I loved my time at the pool on Thursday with you and was watching. Thanks to all the parent energy and commitment there!

 AND....I have to report on the lessons of homework and my grad work. IT IS HARD! I stayed "in" in NYC to do homework- reading, prep for the paper due on Monday. I woke up early on Sunday to work on the paper.  It isn't just flowing. The concepts and theories are deep and complicated. I'm waking up a part of my brain that has been dormant.  And it feels good.  It felt better last night when I was able to hit submit to the assignment I must say.

It was a busy weekend. I hope you felt the love in the air on Valentines' Day. It is fun to have a day where it is cool and good to say I love you and engage if you want to in tokens of expression.  We are low key about it but I was happy and grateful to find the Valentine's Card in my suitcase from Joe. I was happy to accept a sweet carnation at lunch on Friday from the restaurant during a work meeting.  I carried that flower to two hotels and put it by my bed. I have two carnations on my desk from the campus sale- grateful for the love I feel in so many ways. Hoping to send it to you as you read this and know what is happening in my life on Newark-Granville Road!

First Presbyterian Church- Call to Community

Spreading the word- our beloved church, very much rooted in the community and focused on mission work has a new project: 1500 Trees for Life! The imitative is housed at FPC but all are invited to join the effort. The goal is to secure donors and facilitate the planting of 1500 trees in five years!  The pilot of 25 trees went well and the effort is taking shape.  We saw a video and learned more about it at our annual meeting today.   AND a bonus for Valentine's Day- if you donate a tree ($150/$200) to be planted in a number of community spots around Licking County- you get a chocolate bar!  Let Your Love Grow!!  Want more details- email 1500tree@gmail.com  More in the news:  lhttps://www.christianpost.com/news/ohio-church-to-plant-1500-trees-in-5-years-in-restoring-creation-effort.html  

Our life on Newark-Granville Road starts most weeks at worship and Sunday school at FPC.  I attended this church as a DU student. When we moved to Granville almost twenty years ago we all joined as a family.   My first call to leadership placed me on the mission committee with incredible saints in the community.   This year I return to the session focused on faith formation.  I chuckle as I type that- should I be co-leading something so important?!  I walk with good people, caring members who serve a call- my role is to facilitate, ask questions, empower and represent.  For a few year's I've served the 2018 Commitment and Beyond committee- success- giving into perpetuity has been established and we talk about philanthropy with greater understanding and ownership.  We thanked Tom Martin for his leadership and all that contributed.  Today's Annual meeting and worship affirmed my call and the work we need to do not just as a congregation but as a community for our world- near and far.  Want to know more about FPC and what is happening- ask me or visit the website, or better yet- join us on Sunday mornings!  https://www.granpres.org  It certainly is a blessing for our family and in my life on Newark-Granville Road.

Being me and us in our Lives on Newark-Granville Road

The concept in this article is simple, complex and beautiful.  Accompanied by the Teddy Roosevelt's quote: Comparison is the thief of joy makes for an inspiring Monday!  Inc Article-Hidden Message in Super Bowl Article   Thank you Heidi, my childhood friend for the Facebook post!

This concept came back to me when I added yoga into my health and fitness routine during my five  year work hiatus.  I like to say everything got better when yoga was integrated. I could reach a bit further on the tennis court, my running started to feel more natural.  Was it the stretching and poses, or this golden nugget: no comparisons- you are here today- on this mat.  Do not compare yourself to others in the class on other mats. Do not compare yourself to yourself yesterday.  Be here and now and you.  The timing was right as a mother of young children surrounded by advice written and oral being me, us- Joe and Susan, was important to how we were raising our family.  The intentional mat felt like luxorious me time another piece to the puzzle.

This month Granville Yoga  Granville Yoga Meditation Challenge has a 29 day meditation challenge. I'm in and grateful.  It is not too late to join!!  I particularly like the encouraging emails from Laura Rees and coaching us to find time!  This effort aligns so well with the article above I wanted to share these activities in our life on Newark-Granville Road!  Here is where I meditated yesterday:

LONGR Greenhouse- summer lives on

What else!  Peter Leithauser is being Peter and we're proud of him and the Granville Swim Team! The girls team is the Licking County League champions and the boys came in second.  Peter had a PB on his 50 free and was on the podium for a 1st and 3rd with a relay.  Practice every day in a pool is his choice and we're proud of him.  A huge thank you to the incredible dedication of his coaches- Hillary and Tyler Paulsen!!

Great Events- Feb 28th- two to choose!

Feb 28th- don't want to wish the month away but it is going to be a good good night!

1st- St. Luke's Episcopal Church of Granville is uniting the community with food and fellowship for the Inaugural Low Country Boil. "Baptizing Shrimp One Pot At A Time"

The Low Country Shrimp Boil is a fundraiser for St. Luke's which will be held on February 28, 2020 in the Undercroft with a silent auction in the church. Tickets are available for $30.00 per person in the Paris Office, M-F, 9:00 am - Noon.

This will be the first Friday of lent- no fish fry at St Ed's that night...plan to attend, no doubt it will be a great event! Unless you are a Newark Rotarian.....

Another option as our guest....Newark Rotary event for the Newark Rotary Foundation: Around the World with Rotary! 6-9:30 pm, Heritage Hall- international food stations by LMH, cash bar and music by Big Bad Stach! The Newark Rotary Foundation built and maintains Rotary Park as a way of caring for children of special needs! Other interests and focus: Education at all levels and the advancement and perpetuation of the American Free Enterprise System  Learn more here:  https://newarkohiorotary.org/club-foundation/  Want to know about our club? We meet on Wednesdays at lunch at Moundbuilders Country Club. We are a part of an International Organization making an impact through service, learn more here: https://newarkohiorotary.org  or ask me, join me for a meeting to see for yourself.

Life on Newark-Granville Road - conflicted about February 28th- life isn't fair and the best things are always on the same day- always!!