WHAT A DEAL!
How do great organizations bring a structured and sustained sense of fun to the workplace? How could being humorous translate into personal business success? I think I witnessed a balance of fun and serious behavior at the “Woodbury Does a Deal” held on Friday 1st November. Hosted by the Woodbury Community Foundation at the Prom Center in Oakdale, the Woodbury Does a Deal was a Fundraiser & Friend-Raiser. It combined the fun of a Mardi Gras party with the ability to support our community through a live Game Show and a silent auction benefiting Woodbury citizens.
TWISTS OF FORTUNE…OR FATE…
Since its humble beginnings in 2003; when the Woodbury Community Foundation entertain, their gatherings are more than just parties - they are happenings. And the extravaganza this year brought us a Monty Hallesque host “Bart Chestman” (Eric Rislove, a financial advisor from Edward Jones in Woodbury) to host a game “Woodbury Does a Deal”. Guests from all over Woodbury dressed in various unusual and crazy costumes. Bart Chestman had several “deals” and bidders had to weight the possibility of an unknown prize which was concealed on the stage behind one of three curtains. Unpredictability hung like a magician’s cloak!
A GHOST in your genes…GENES remember the past.
Your parents would have to have another 1,000,000,000,000,000 babies before one possibly might have the same genes as you. Game host Eric Rislove who played Bart Chestman showcased such an accurate portrait of an authentic game host. He was like a bumblebee. The bumblebee should not be able to fly, because of its size, weight and shape in relationship to its wingspread makes flying aerodynamically impossible. But Erik & the bumblebee, being ignorant of scientific theory, flew anyway and made honey that night. There is no-limit to these mutants - Erik and the bumblebee. With such talent and positive attitude; people may want to swat the hornet, Richard Dawson, or wasp; but rarely the bumblebee and Eric.
INSIDE THE WOODBURY COMMUNITY’S BRAIN
Andrew Carnegie wanted to inscribe the following on his tombstone: “Here lies a man who knew how to put into his service more able men than he was himself”. I believe the focus of the Foundation is leadership development -- the mind-set to ask the right questions, to ask citizens to go beyond what they think; and focus on tomorrow to make Woodbury “an exceptional place to live”.
THE GREAT ACTIVITIES THAT TAKE PLACE DUE TO CONTRIBUTIONS.
One workshop the WCF hosts, [http://www.woodburyfoundation.org/citizens-academy/] The Citizens Academy, is preparing for tomorrow’s leaders by fostering human energies and visions. They are preparing citizens and moving business from yesterday to tomorrow and getting ready for the challenges of tomorrow. At the same time they remind us that many in Woodbury owe their leadership position to those people who did the heavy lifting. The generation before, we were reminded, by Jack Lenners (Vice Chair of the Foundation), powerfully evoked the beauty and blood that together have defined the modern Woodbury condition. We had fun on Friday night, AND we were also reminded of their determination of what they want for all Woodbury citizens.
SUPPORTING CHARITABLE GIVING FOR THE COMMON GOOD.
And, Woodbury businesses large and small, individuals young and old, responded by attending this event on Friday night. They supported the cause by bidding in a silent auction and bidding for a chance to play, “Woodbury Does a Deal” --
LEADERS DON’T START OUT ASKING, “WHAT DO I WANT TO DO?”
Leaders ask, “What needs to be done?” Managers of the following companies live the values of their organization and motivate and inspire loyalty and raise the morale of all around them. “We owe a debt of gratitude to companies like Heppners’s Auto Body, Thrivent Financial, Ewing-Hrastich Team of Edina Realty, CorTrust Bank, and The Woodbury Bulletin”, Jack Lenners said yesterday.
The way one dresses and presents oneself; the way one gives, is a reflection of one’s personality - it is a medium for their self-expression. No one did it better than the list above and it’s a true reflection of their unconventional spirit. Thank you all!
“WORK AS IF YOU WERE TO LIVE A HUNDRED YEARS. PRAY AS IF YOU WERE TO DIE TOMORROW” BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
Laughter has been labeled a jogging and juggling of the internal organs. When we laugh we feel physically better, and after laughter we feel lighter and more relaxed. True? The Community Foundation is committed to building a relationship where trust, respect, friendship, fun and camaraderie are indispensable. As they say…Individuals play the game, but teams win championships. Most people could give a lot more to those in need, than they do. Some people could selflessly serve a whole lot more than they do.
But few exemplify selflessness like all those that volunteered to make this night happen.
Tricia and James Wood from Dance and Entertainment are an example. “They, and no less than 20 other volunteers gave magnanimously of their time and talent (and treasure) in planning for and putting on this zany, fun event“, Roger Green from Health East Care Systems reminded me this morning.
Dick Hanson, Vice Chair & Secretary of the WCF added, “It (the Event) truly was made possible by a grass roots community team of dedicated souls, like Dave “The Door Man” Lamps who put his talents and hours into building the set for the stage, and his wife who did the creative center-pieces, and Larry Dodge from CorTrust Bank, and Norma Lanners and Joan Guider with behind the scenes organization and record keeping, and Troy Miller of MinuteMan Press doing all the graphics and printing for invitations, programs, bidding paddles, posters, signs and flyers“.
THE OLD GERMAN SAYING SAYS, “GIVE UNTIL IT HURTS”.
Give until it hurts??!! Nay! With charm and wit, the people that volunteered and the guests that participated gave, not until it hurt, they gave until it felt good!
This fundraising is not about bricks and mortar, it is simply a community focused nonprofit foundation. And, I believe they are like a lady I know; that receives joy simply from contributing heavy to a church that had brought her so much solace over the years.
We sense your sincerity, Woodbury Community Foundation!
