Striking the Right Balance
Last night I went to see “To Kill a Mockingbird,” the first performance in our Arts on Tour series.I thoroughly enjoyed the play.There was one line that particularly touched me: “We trusted him to do right.”Doing right includes courage and compassion.It also involves making informed decisions that do not hurt others or ourselves.But it does involve doing, not just merely standing by in fear, self-doubt, or indifference.
On One Hand…
A few years ago I was going through the Chamber’s Magic Valley Leadership program when on social services day we visited the local Health and Welfare office.The administrator who greeted us in his speech said something that really resonated with me.He was talking about the importance of not making assumptions and hasty decisions without having the proper information.He said: “Know the facts.Know all the facts.Know all the facts first.” He emphasized that the types of decisions they make significantly impact individuals and whole families.The cost of making the wrong decision is high.Uninformed or ill informed decisions have significant consequences.His words stayed with me and every time I have to make an important decision, I try to do my best to find out what information I should know before I make the decision.Of course we don’t always have the luxury of having the time to do our homework before making a decision.Sometimes decisions need to be made right away.But by far my preference is to try to learn enough about the issue at hand so I can make a reasonably informed decision.Although there are no guarantees that with the right information we will always make the right decisions, being informed can help us avoid ignorance and arrogance.
On the Other Hand…
I also remember a very popular Hungarian story that I read when I was a child.It was written by a popular Hungarian story teller: Mikszáth Kálmán.The story was about a blacksmith who lived in a small village.This blacksmith had an extremely steady hand and an unusual gift: he’d been called upon numerous times by the villagers to perform a very delicate eye procedure.News about the blacksmith travelled to the capital where the professors at the university hospital were skeptical to say the least.They could not believe that a blacksmith who worked with heavy hammers all day long would have the steady hand required to perform such a delicate surgery that they themselves did not yet know how to perform successfully.The surgeons wanted to see for themselves so next time they encountered a patient with both eyes having the particular ailment they sent for the blacksmith.When the blacksmith arrived to the hospital the professors gathered around him and watched in amazement and sheer horror as the blacksmith took his pocket knife out of his boots, sharpened the blade on the hanging part of his leather belt, and with a quick, precise movement of his knife he lifted the greenish film off the surface of the eye.It was effortless, just a blink of an eye, a flash of the blade.“Now the window is open” declared the blacksmith.The professors gasped in disbelief and quickly proceeded to explain to him the delicate parts of the eye and the catastrophic consequences of a slight slip of the knife.And statistically how extremely low the success rate of the procedure was when performed by experienced eye surgeons, using the right tools, due to all the complications that could result if the surgeon’s hand slipped even by a hair.Sweat beads started to appear on the blacksmith’s forehead as the surgeons went on and on about the dangers of the procedure and all the things that could go wrong.When they finished, the doctors asked the blacksmith to perform the procedure on the patient’s other eye.The blacksmith replied shakily: “Oh, doctors I can’t see it, I don’t know… I don’t dare again.”From that moment on, having learned about the complexity of the human eye and the danger of an ever so slight slip of the blade, the blacksmith could never again perform the procedure he’s performed effortlessly countless times before.
Balance…
So while we should learn as much as possible about what we need to do, it is important that we do not become overwhelmed and paralyzed by that knowledge.The knowledge should empower us instead of scaring us away.Knowledge is important because without it we may leave the patient blind, but if we merely keep overanalyzing every step and second-guessing ourselves, we may never be able to achieve what we set out to accomplish.
“I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough; we must do.” Leonardo da Vinci
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Rep Meetings
Remember to keep abreast of last minute changes to the Rep meetings by checking your e-mail.
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Big Pat on the Back for CSI!!!!
The ISBDC and CSI have been hosting the AARP / IRS Tax Aid program volunteers (30-60 individuals) for their annual training every year for the last several years. Through those years; CSI has graciously donated the use of Evergreen C93 computer lab on Saturdays during the fall and for the first 2 weeks of January each year. The ISBDC has provided technical, planning (and moral) support. CSI has donated used computers to this group 2 different times in years past, thanks to Cindy Bond and Dr. Beck, making the job of filing taxes for low income tax payers so much easier for these tireless volunteers.
I was just informed today (Sept.10) that Ken Campbell just approved a 3rd donation of 10 Dell computers to the group from the lab where they do their training. These computers are a precious gift to Tax Aid and will make the service they provide even more effective. I want to say thanks on behalf of the SBDC and on behalf of this dedicated group.Each person donates 4-5 months of their own time to all of South Central Idaho and Northern Nevada by offering free Tax prep and electronic filing for low income, elderly and any individual tax payer.
The Director of the program, Fred Ripley said to me; “We love CSI and support them 100%and when I go to national conferences; other groups like ours sit in amazement at the support the College provides to us.No other Tax Aid program has the kind of relationship we have with CSI and other community minded area businesses”.
I think CSI overall deserves a big WOW!
Sher Rust, Course Developer
Idaho Small Business Development Center
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Picks From the Shelf
The Solosist (DVD). Starring Robert Downey Jr and Jamie Foxx this movie is based on the true story of a journalist and his journey of friendship with a homeless schizophrenic man with an amazing gift of music. The big message here is about stepping outside of your comfort zone and becoming friends with an individual and accepting them for who they are. There is nothing you can do to change their illness. If you are to be their friend you learn to accept their quirky moods and behavior. Robert Downey Jr does an excellent role as the journalist who actually “sees” homelessness for the first time. And Jamie Foxx – you just might swear he really is schizophrenic by the end of the movie. I would recommend this movie to anyone. I would also suggest watching the special features. You will not regret watching this movie. It is not a movie with a lot of action but it is a movie with a lot of soul.
If you have a favorite book, movie or CD from our very own CSI library you would like to recommend to your co-workers, let me know about it. You don’t need to be a professional critic. All you need is two to four sentences giving info on why you think it is something folks might want to spend their time on. – Ann Keane, PACE newsletter editor, ext. 6530,
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News from the Training Committee
The writer of “Who Moved My Cheese?” has now written a new book called, “Peaks and Valleys” by Spencer Johnson, M.D. “Peaks and Valleys are not just the good and bad times that happen to you. They are also how you feel inside and respond to outside events.” Spencer Johnson, M.D.
The Training Committee would like to invite you to read this book for an upcoming coffee break where we will discuss how to stay on a Peak longer and avoid the valleys. This book is good for your business life as well as life in general.
The library has a couple copies of this book that you can check out and the Training Committee will work on getting additional copies to pass around.
Training Session
Mark your Calendar for November 3, 2009
We will be talking about Importance of Service in the World Today.
Our very own Mary Marshall the Director of Head Start will be the Presenter for this training.
Upcoming Brown Bags
Making Apple Cider with Dave Kiesig – November
Meditation – TBA
Wills, Trusts and other legal information – TBA
Classes
CPR/First Aid Training – October/November
If you have any ideas for a coffee break or a brown bag lunch please let me know and we will try and get the event scheduled. Tina Standlee – Training Committee Chair ext 6205.
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New Faces on Campus
Pauline Fisher
New Part Time Grant Position
Office Specialist, PAW (Performance at Work)
Taylor 210, Ext 6393
Hello,
I grew up on a farm west of Burley, am a former Minico Spartan and a graduate of BSU.I spent almost 23 years in Elko, NV where I worked at Great Basin College for about 15 years.I have always considered southern Idaho “home” so I returned in 2005.I started teaching bookkeeping and QuickBooks part-time at the Mini-Cassia center shortly after that.Later, I also taught for the ESL program in Rupert and Burley.I recently purchased a home here in Twin Falls and I am thoroughly enjoying living in Twin and working at CSI.I have a 22 year old daughter who is my roommate along with her two cats.
Dawn Wendland, replacing Edie Unland & Merry Olson’s Office Specialist Position
Office Specialist – a.m. Agriculture/p.m. Business Education
Evergreen A40, ext. 4604/C85, ext. 6458
I’mDawn Wendland and I am happyto be a new memberof the support staff at CSI.I enjoy working in the Evergreen Building.I was born and raised in SouthernCalifornia but have lived in Idaho for28 years.My husband Jeff and I have been married for 32 yrs and have 4 great children – 2 are CSI graduates and our 2 youngest are completing their education in Boise and Portland, OR. We are also thrilled to have 2 beautiful grandchildren.
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Next Edition Scheduled For Oct., 2009
(Subject to Change)