One teleseminar, hosted by EWI member Sharon Bennett, discussed the Cord Approach. The idea of this approach is that each member is a strand in the cord and they work together to build membership. This analogy makes me think of those puzzle pieces. We connected as one EWI member used her talents and skills to teach other EWI members. We advanced our careers through new learning and new ideas. And we included the community as we brought others into our meetings and into our Chapters.
Academy of Leadership
Two Academy of Leadership events were held in the spring: The Academy of Leadership on Tour, in Chattanooga,Tennessee, and Leaders Summit in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The careers puzzle piece was strong as both events were full of outstanding teachers and engaging professional development.
I was impressed with our Chapte rconnections as I watched both EWI of Chattanooga and EWI of Philadelphia contribute to the events’ success. EWI of Chattanooga offered the host venue at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, obtained great press stories, and secured sponsorships and donations. EWI of Philadelphia coordinated an exceptional Opening Reception, brought two excellent speakers, and assisted with much o fthe pre-summit planning. Each location showed its community to EWI and allwere enriched by the experience.
Reading Rally
There is no better demonstration of the puzzle pieces coming together than at the Reading Rally in Houston.Careerswere enhanced through sharing ideas and resources. Connections were strong among the main players:sponsors, teachers, Chapters, and committee members. Each contributed to the event’s success.
The committee members – a good example of cord strands coming together – used their different abilities to produce an event that was unparalleled. The committee members from EWI of Houston were key in locating resources in the community, and selecting the school. Children from the Houston community were invited to attend the Reading Rally event and luncheon where they were delighted by the books, characters, songs, and readings.
Leadership Conference & Annual Meeting (LCAM)
All the puzzle pieces came together during LCAM in Houston, Texas. The Corporate Board embraced the entire community of EWI members by asking their opinion during the strategic planning process.Findings and plans were presented during this event. The entire process was a unique opportunity to involve all EWI members, gather feedback, and develop a course of action based on the needs of the organization
.During LCAM, connections were endless as EWI representatives came together to socialize, learn, vote, debate, and embrace one another. Careers were enhanced by the inspirin gwords of each LCAM speaker – from Simon T. Bailey, to Joe Marlotti, Dr. Janet Lapp, Laura Stack, and Sheila Robinson – and the sincerity of Xinlu (Lulu) Xiao, our 2007 First Place EWISP award recipient.
The pieces of the EWI puzzle continually come together. Each event and project fits together: Connections, Careers, and Communities. And as the image unfolds, it looks like you.
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