Issue Archive: May/June 2009

Final Thoughts: Let's Make a Difference Today

The bright sun was rising over another beautiful Arizona morning as the Continuity Cares volunteers piled into the vans that would take us to Saint Peter’s Indian Mission School, the site of this year’s volunteer effort.

     The school is run by the Sisters of Charity, and the 200 students, from kindergarten thorough eighth grade, are all from the reservation and are very poor.

     Bolstered by coffee and Red Bull, we spoke about the day, each of us wondering what it might bring. During those conversations, Brett Glatfelter stated our goal very simply, when he said: “Let’s go and make a difference today.”

     Our tasks were simple: erect a shade structure, teach some science, conduct writing and photography workshops, weed gardens, and reach out to the students. What was unimaginable is that people could live in such conditions. We drove past mud huts, rundown trailers, and ramshackle houses, and through a community where alcoholism, diabetes, substance abuse, crime, and violence are common.

     It seemed a desperate place to live. But you couldn’t tell that from the smiles on the faces of the children who greeted us.

     As we toiled under the hot sun, we had a glimpse of daily life at the school. As I remember from my Catholic elementary education, the Sisters were all-seeing and all-knowing. Seldom did something get past them as they kindly redirected the children.

     During lunch I sat with the fourth grade students. As we ate our meatball and potato stew, they spoke about their ambitions. Some want to be doctors, some lawyers, some educators. Others kids want to be professional athletes. No matter their circumstances, these kids had goals and dreamed of making their mark on the world.

     As we finished our day, the Sisters, students and staff thanked us for our work. I was thinking to myself that I should be thanking them.

     I have had the honor of volunteering with the Continuity Cares program for the past three years. We have cleaned out and rebuilt hurricane ravaged homes and buildings in New Orleans, restocked devastated libraries, restored fire houses, and now worked with Native Americans on a reservation in the desert. As my friend Brett, Continuity Insights account manager, stated so simply, it’s about making a difference.

     I invite you to join us next year after the Continuity Insights conference. Plan now to take a day off and spend some time making that difference yourself. The work is hard and dirty. But the rewards are many. I’ll be looking for you on the Thursday morning following the conference. Get your coffee and hop into the van. What a journey it will be. CI 

Mike Jennings is manager of technology risk management services at RSM McGladrey and a member of the Continuity Insights Editorial Advisory Board. He can be reached at Michael.jennings@rsmi.com.