Moving Forward

Sunday, March 2, 2014

6:40 PM

The New Year has brought with it gained perspective.  Last year was a whirl wind of actives. Helping AWV , getting married, becoming President of the Board of Directors for CuidandoLos Niños, traveling to Ecuador and last but definitely not least learning about a new addition to our family.

All of these events have taught me a few things. First is love and be loved. I have always looked up to my friends who are married and who seem to still have that special love even after several years. My goal is to maintain that love with my Mountain Man. This year as we add our first addition to our family, I will make sure our priority is growing and loving together.

The second lesson  involves how we view the world.  I have been fortunate to have the opportunity to travel the world. Each place I visit brings with it beauty and respect for other cultures. Ecuador was no different.  I loved the hill-side homes, splendid views, parks, waterfalls and markets selling various treasures.  I cherished the fact that I could travel with my husband and that he too has that adventurous spirit. While it was wonderful to have this opportunity to explore this year, at the end of the day, the most beautiful sight in the world is the sunset I see every day in New Mexico.

The next lesson is one in responsibility and leadership. One thing I know about myself is I tend to keep a full plate. At times I take on more responsibility than I should.  And sometimes individuals take advantage of my time.  What I learned was if you have an opportunity for growth and a mentor helps by encouraging and fostering that growth  you will not feel as though your time is being taken advantage of. Luckily for me when I accepted the responsibility of Board President I had the support of not only the outgoing President but also our Executive Director. Both are amazing women who inspire and keep me motivated.

Moving on into this new year I have decided to work towards some personal goals. I have always preferred a life of service and ultimately I think a goal of serving my community as a leader is the next step. I was selected for the Emerge Program here in New Mexico  for the 2014 class.  I can't wait to learn and be inspired by other like-minded leaders in my community. And always remember we are all more than Just a Nurse.

To all those who inspire me: thank you from my soul.

Board Membership

Three years ago, I yearned to be involved with an organization that helped homeless children. After attending a local non-profit fundraising event I was approached by a friend involved with the program at Cuidando Los Ninos (CLNKids).  She asked if I had ever considered being a board member at a non-profit. Her invitation initiated some questions, including: what was involved, what time requirements were needed, and most of all, was it something I would be interested in?

With those questions in mind, I was clued into the roles and responsibilities of board membership during an informal interview disguised as a discussion. As we talked, I learned that board members work towards the mission of the non-profit and focus on tasks to keep the non-profit running smoothly. They usually establish fundraising goals and work to communicate the mission of the non-profit while using networking connections within the community to help the non-profit flourish.

So what makes someone a good board member? The basic tenant is to have a true commitment to the non-profit you are considering. Being involved with an organization whose mission is allied with your own beliefs and inspires you should be a priority. Additionally, are you willing to roll up your sleeves and do some work? Think quality over quantity. My friend did not specify devoting 40 hours a week, but instead mentioned smaller chunks of time: ten minutes typing a letter, an hour conversing with a sponsor, an evening attending an event and advocating for your non-profit.  All of these actions would benefit the non-profit in various ways, yet would require little amounts of time.

That initial discussion led to a formal invitation, and I decided to become a board member for CLNKids. It has brought amazing gifts into my life. CLNkids is a non-profit dedicated to end childhood homelessness for children aged 5 weeks to 5 years and their families. It inspires me daily to be active within my community.  Some of my board member events have included Christmas events where families and children who normally would not have a Christmas would have an opportunity to celebrate. I have also had an opportunity to speak at a national level about homelessness and its far-reaching effects.  I have helped families off the streets and into sustainable housing. With that effort, greater responsibility and opportunities have been presented to me.  After gaining experience and learning various board roles and responsibilities I am now the Board President. Together with the board, I created a strategic plan, and have helped to revise the board membership recruiting process, roles, and responsibilities in order to connect with the kind of leaders that CLNKids needs to be continue to be effective.  We strive to build key partnerships within the community.

At the end of the day, joining a board and being an active participant is an amazing life changer. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to take one more step to being involved in their community.  So seize the opportunity!  Reach out to your favorite non-profit or ask a friend. Be the positive change within your community today.

I hope everyone has an inspiring 2014! ~m