I'm very pleased to see that Ian Bell's, in my opinion, disingenuously expedituous removal from our Lonehill estate management function has been RIGHTED by our new LRA leadership... and I provide proactive links to POSITIVE ideas on how to appreciate the efforts of volunteers and stimulate a greater sense of community in Lonehill.
Whether anyone believes Ian is/was the right man for the job, or not, is of little importance... no individual, in my opinion, ever deserves to be treated in the manner that Ian was treated - especially given his almost 20-year long history and commitment to environment & estate matters in our Lonehill community.
The lesson to be learnt: Leadership is entrusted to do things RIGHT by their people - or to lose the respect of their community.
Ian knows that I, as something of a tough taskmaster with high expectations of the human potential, have always had higher expectations of his potential for making great things happen in Lonehill than perhaps even he had of himself... so I welcome the LRA's decision to allow Ian to cap an amazing history of contribution to this community. This is an opportunity for Ian to leave an indelible legacy for our estate and environment management into the future.
Perhaps this is the time to bring up another past dysfunction that MUST, in my opinion, be changed within our LRA management philosophy. And that is to raise the levels of RECOGNITION of key contributors to the Lonehill Community.
Nothing disturbed me more in this past year than to witness the failing health and brave cancer-stricken death of Dr. Jan Nel (no relation) - a past Chair of the Lonehill Security Committee and committed gentlemanly fighter for the Lonehill Community Initiative - with nary a blink of concern or interest seemingly shown by anyone involved on the LRA at the time. To the point of even ignoring to post a deeply-felt obituary and invitation to Jan's funeral on his passing.
These things do not go unnoticed, and it was an indication to me that our then LRA leadership, supposedly professional management and service providers were so far removed from any sense of 'community' so as to be considered ludicrous in the lip-service they deigned to provide. Perhaps a further insight into those who still seem to wonder why I was such vocal instigator for CHANGE to the fresh ideas of a NEW leadership team. To be fair, the past LRA Chair did attend the funeral.
Regardless of any of the personalities involved and how I might feel about them, or for the good or bad decisions they might have made, I believe that individuals should be feted and remembered for their critical contributions to this community. Not that I expect that any such individual ever 'needs' the recognition, but more to lay down a foundation for the future and to build a tradition of on-going respect and recognition for those contributors to come in the next 10, 20, 50, 100 years.
To me, every past, present & future Chairperson should AUTOMATICALLY be feted on a Board/Roll of Honour (if purely for their intention to step into the breach of leadership to take responsibility for making a difference in this community). Some may well be better than others - for which exceptional service honour awards can be made - but I cannot believe that anyone of them did not take their tasks seriously as best they could with the best of intentions.
LRA Boards of Directors should be team-photographed each year, framed and displayed in pride of place to recognise their contributions.
And, then there are the INCREDIBLE individual contributors to whom I have my own individual bias arising from watching their IMMENSE contributions since the launch of our mass community initiative in 2000. There are so many that stand out over this time. Without embarrassing some in our midst, I offer the late Dr. Jan Nel as an example of the type of contributor deserving of such recognition. Regardless of the number of people that may be eligible, criteria should be identified to honour such past, present and future people so critical to this community initiative.
Here are some links for proactive ideas on how to THANK volunteers and community contributors:
1. Valuing Volunteers
2. 101 Ways To Say THANK YOU To Your Volunteers
3. Matching Volunteer Residents To The Right Role
4. Community Leader Guide: Volunteer Management
5. Thanking & Supporting Volunteers - 50 Ideas
6. Thanking Volunteers
7. Survey on Preferred Recognition for Volunteers
8. When a 'thank you' can be meaningless or insulting
9. Community Volunteer Recognition Ideas
Compliments & Kudos: - To whomever had the potholes done in the last week. Comes off the list below. Also for tending to the long grass on Franschoek corner.
The Embarrassing Unattended To: - Please feel free to add to list or comment on when the matter is attended to.
i. Graffiti on electrical box outside Studio Park - since Jan. 2006
ii. Graffiti on electrical junction box - since Jan. 2006
iii. Eskom holes/diggings left uncovered and unkempt in Leslie Drive - Oct. 2006
Regards
Trevor Nel - 705-2790
Lonehill Resident
Custom Search
