*The Q & A content is presented in a conversation format, and not presented in a formal format to hold the integrity of the conversation.
Can you explain the indirect consequences of the largest financial budget deficit to District 4?
Impact for us is that we have 7 teachers retiring and we have absorbed 4 positions. We will be eliminating 5 or more non-certified positions as well. Additionally, we have changed our 6th grade athletic structure to minimize trips. We have invested in our people. We're hoping during our negotiations, our unions will honor that we're trying to keep people in positions. We hope that they help us by not asking for a great deal of anything. We hope to do this collectively, because this has been a surprise to everybody. The impact will not be felt near as much as next year, if this continues. If continues, we're getting into programmatic changes, getting into directly affecting students as far as higher class sizes and program changes. We're going over line item by line item, so were choosing to cut back and rationing ourselves. That's been pretty much the boards position, and I applaud them for that.
Will the children of Columbia have the same opportunity to succeed that Columbia alumni did, if the worst-case scenario plays out for District 4 regarding its financial position?
Educators in general are used to working with little. When you get in to programmatic changes and you can't afford opportunities for students that's when it gets very detrimental. We're minimizing some of the things that are opportunistic for kids to learn from experience. In the worst case scenario, kids will be impacted. We're on the forefront of our life being different. Every year things should be given more and get better. No one in the district has done anything wrong. The community has stepped up, our local taxes provide 80 percent for education. As time has gone on, the local contribution has increased. As data shows, Columbians take care of themselves. And now what happens, we're being asked to take care of more. It doesn't set well, it's been an abrupt demand. That coupled with not really knowing the details of how deep we are going to go. If worst case scenario occurs, there is no way will we be able to function and balance our budget. We have reserves to cover us 2 months' salary for our employees. If we were to lose a million dollars, we're now in deficit spending. And you have to ask yourself, how far down that road can you travel. That's what we will be facing. And some school districts don't have a reserve. I really applaud the people before me to have the district in the shape that it is that we can forgo some things initially to prepare for later.
Why should residents and alumni care enough to take action?
This is a global situation, not just secluded in Columbia. We've had legislature decisions made over the last decade that has put us in this position. We have a culture of entitlement. People have to pay for things. When we keep blaming each other, and continue to get what we can get; that ideology has to be thrown away. We need to say we're Americans and we need to fix this, and let's start cutting things and that's going to hurt. Instead of us saying, look how nice we've had it this long, now it's time to reestablish the baseline and create a new beginning of fiscal normalcy. Schools have had to do that over time anyway, and we're sitting here saying wait a minute, we've done everything you've asked us. You continue to put mandates on us that are unfunded or underfunded. You continue to change the rules as we go for what reason. I'm all for improvement and accountability. I would love to see schools get more authority in order to handle the events we face in order to benefit students and staff. But, we're playing the hand that's been dealt. And we're doing what we can. It's a shock to the system.
We're looking at a $13 to $14 billion deficit compared to Missouri who is struggling because they have a $400 million deficit. That in itself says volumes. Legislatively we have not been looking at our finances. Should we care enough to take action, yes. Because this is bigger than the schools, and this is about who we are as Americans. People are absolutely for schools, but anti-tax. It's about taking action. The majority that has been docile and been silent and has the values that our country was founded on, must take action.
This frustrates people who live in Columbia, and who don't live in Columbia but are alumni. What can Columbia residents and alumni do besides contacting local government?
We're at a cultural shift in our country. Most important thing, is for people to educate themselves about the leaders that are in place and about those who want to be. We must educate ourselves on the facts. The most important thing that we can do is hold our leaders accountable. Every election candidates say they're going to fix schools. Shouldn't politicians have fixed them by now? It's not that school's are broken. Have the where-to-fore and forgo the political correctness to separate the symptom and the disease to fix it for the children and the districts. I believe we're walking a fine line and as a whole we're scared to address the real problem. If you eradicate the disease or the root of the problem, you eliminate the symptom or bad school. I think that's part of the move in our country. We're starting to say, wait a minute. We're being misled, and we're not going to allow that anymore. I think it's ironic now, certain leaders are being held accountable, and are being asked very good, direct questions and there's no more skating. From the school's perspective, we've rightfully so been held to a higher standard. Now that the same is coming to pass for legislators they seem to not enjoy the scrutiny and direct attention. If other government agencies were run the way schools are, and I say this with pride, we wouldn't have this problem. We have an open door of helping others, and we do afford all the information everyone needs. Everyone should educate themselves about who wants to lead and once elected, hold them accountable.
One thing that is very telling to me too is the state legislature, in about 8 to 12 hours, introduced and passed a new retirement system. Instead being able to retire after 35 years of service, you're now going to work 45 years. Additionally, you're going to lose some of benefits as well. In 1989 when I was doing my graduate work, I did a paper on the inequalities of funding in Illinois, and it is still what it was. It's never been changed or addressed in a way to help the state, but in 8 to 12 hours they can change the pension system. So in itself, that is a very eye opening chain of events just to do in comparison. When I say hold leaders accountable, we have an absence of morality, integrity and character. All you have to do is what's right. Whoever we put in the leadership role should have character and ethics. We have to get back to the principles that our country was founded on. Leadership should be solid, and there should be no doubt, when I'm running this district and people trust me with their children, people shouldn't doubt what we stand for. They should know our mission and that's what's absent today, we don't have people standing on the principles that we were founded on.
You can make a difference by sending Senator Luechtefeld and Rep. Reitz an email.
Senator Luechtefeld email - sendavel@midwest.net
Rep. Reitz email - repreitz@egyptian.net
For more information, please read Mr. Settles' letter regarding the financial impact from state funding here.
Thank you for your support,
- TPC Team
ST. LOUIS NEWS 4 & Mr. LARRY CONNERS FEATURES TPC!
Good News 4 a Change: Basketball book to benefit local high school
(KMOV) -- As the college basketball season wraps up with a champion to be crowned Monday night, you can bet Reid Jones will be watching all the action. Jones, a former basketball player for Columbia High School, recently wrote a book about his experiences playing ball for the team. He says the lessons he learned on the court have translated into big lessons off the court as well. In his book, he shares the life lessons he learned playing sports, and he's donating any money he makes from book sales to the school. It's "Good News 4 a Change."
Thank you for your support,
- TPC Team
ATHLETICS CREATE LIFE-LONG MEMORIES, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, ATHLETICS BUILD LIFE-LONG SKILLS & VALUES!
Every student-athlete who graduated from high school and played a sport all four years has a cohesion amongst them all. This cohesion which bonds teams together; helps teams learn; bounces teams back from a loss; and drives teams to win are the values learned over the many years of a student-athlete's career. Human values are the foundation which student-athletes run their entire lives in a professional career, family and community. These are the values that so many people talk about when sharing why someone was successful in a professional career. And the same values that organizations invest big sums of money into their employees professional development in hope to learn, implement and execute these values on a day-to-day basis in the company and amongst their teams. Of course, in all hopes of helping the organization to win.The variables such as timing and outside forces cannot be controlled in an every day life, but these human values learned over many years of athletics can be controlled. Which human values; about every single value that drives success in a professional career. Team work, student-athletes have been a part of a team over their entire athletic careers. Discipline, student-athletes understand discipline is what separates them from the majority by going the extra mile while others don't. Coachable, student-athletes had a coach their entire athletic career. Priorities, student-athletes understand what's important and what's not, and focus on what will help the team. Communication, student-athletes understand verbal and non-verbal communication. Burning desire to win, student-athletes would not have climbed to the top of their athletic field, if they did not know how to win. And the values go on and on, what an athlete learned over many years from athletics are critical in a professional career, especially in today's super-competitive environment. Student-athletes know how to compete too!
In my book, TPC, we learned many lessons over our entire athletic career which we all apply in our every day individual and professional lives. Here's a few of the 42 lessons learned:
TPC Principle #13: Team is about sacrifice; sacrifice your body, spirit, and ego for the team.
TPC Principle #16: Don't be satisfied when you reach a goal. Greater success is followed with greater challenges, and you must work harder to reach higher goals.
TPC Principle #20: Leaders correct mistakes with their teammates by talking about their mistakes, and taking actions to ensure these mistakes do not happen again; rather than the authoritative measure of scolding without explanation.
TPC Principle #23: No matter how good you are, never become complacent. There's always someone out there practicing when you're not, and becoming better than you.
TPC Principle #24: After achievement comes recognition. Recognize the whole team as the reason for achievement rather than individual performance.
TPC Principle #25: Remain humble when life is good, and hungry when life is bad.
TPC Principle #28: Do not focus on problems at hand; rather, view problems as a challenge or obstacle that presents an opportunity to overcome.
TPC Principle #31: Take one practice and one game at a time. Focus on the task at hand, and do NOT overlook the current objective.
TPC Principle #32: Everyone has set-backs at some point in their career. Work harder to come back stronger, and learn what caused the previous set-backs.
TPC Principle #33: Dream BIG, and dream even BIGGER after you reach that dream.
TPC Principle #35: Team chemistry leads to team confidence, team confidence leads to team control.
TPC Principle #36: Instead of beating yourself up when down, use your energy on what needs to be done to reach the top again.
TPC Principle #37: View losing as an opportunity to get better. Losing is a chance to learn from your mistakes, losing takes cockiness back to reality, and losing brings out the best in winners.
TPC Principle #40: Do not allow a high pressure situation cause panic. Keep a focused and confident approach to handle any pressure situation.
TPC Principle #42: Build a strong foundation for when the storm comes, the strong foundation does not collapse.
To find out the stories behind the lessons learned and the remaining 27 lessons learned, please order here. And remember, each book sold raises money for the Columbia School system, my roots and alumni. We will always support you for the children's future.
Thank you for your support,
- TPC Team
MILLIKIN UNIVERSITY FEATURES TPC!
Former Millikin Men’s Basketball Player Publishes New Book
Millikin graduate Reid Jones has invested his love for basketball in his very own book, called TPC: Team, Pride, Commitment. This book is Jones’ tribute to his successful basketball career at Columbia High School.
Jones graduated from Millikin in 2006 with a Business Management major. He not only was successful as a student, but also as a basketball player. As a senior, started all 25 games, averaging 8.5 points with an average of 3.3 rebounds per game.
“I took what I learned individually and as a team to help out the rest of my teammates,” Jones said. “I was able to learn from coach Tim Littrell’s leadership, which helped me grow from a young man into a man.”
Jones started his career in Columbia, Illinois where he made quite an impact as one of the team’s standout players. He earned third team All-State honors twice, second team All-State his senior year, as well as three-time First Team All-Conference and First Team All-Area honors. Throughout his career at Columbia, he scored 2,053 points, and played on the school’s first Elite 8 team. He used his success in high school as inspiration for his book.
“I feel the need and motivation to give back to Columbia,” Jones said. “Our team was blessed with success: we were the most winning team at the high school. Playing there taught me that you don’t have to be the best, tallest, or most gifted. If you use values like hard work, you’re enthusiastic, have high energy, and you are determined and passionate it can go a long way.”
Coming from a town of 10,000, Jones really wanted to give back to the community which gave him such success. His book, TPC: Team, Pride, Commitment talks about what is like to be part of a winning team at Columbia High School, and how teams can go about doing that. It also presents how the team accomplished all of their goals, and how others can achieve all of their goals and dreams. Net proceeds from his book will go to the Columbia Athletic Booster Club. He also has a blog you can visit at http://tpcfundraiser.blogspot.com . Jones believes that his foundation in basketball has paid off in many other ways, including his profession today.
“It’s amazing how much those fundamentals I learned help out in my career,” Jones said. “Team chemistry is something that I learned at a young age, and I use that same idea in my career today in a business environment. When you leverage those values into my career, my hard work paid off tremendously.”
With a successful career both professionally and athletically, Reid Jones has made quite an impact on his hometown by giving back to the community. By writing this book, he is hoping to motivate others to have the same success. As Jones says, “start with a dream, end with a reality.”
Former Millikin Men’s Basketball Player Publishes New Book
GO BIG BLUE!
Thank you for your support,
- TPC Team
Millikin graduate Reid Jones has invested his love for basketball in his very own book, called TPC: Team, Pride, Commitment. This book is Jones’ tribute to his successful basketball career at Columbia High School.
Jones graduated from Millikin in 2006 with a Business Management major. He not only was successful as a student, but also as a basketball player. As a senior, started all 25 games, averaging 8.5 points with an average of 3.3 rebounds per game.
“I took what I learned individually and as a team to help out the rest of my teammates,” Jones said. “I was able to learn from coach Tim Littrell’s leadership, which helped me grow from a young man into a man.”
Jones started his career in Columbia, Illinois where he made quite an impact as one of the team’s standout players. He earned third team All-State honors twice, second team All-State his senior year, as well as three-time First Team All-Conference and First Team All-Area honors. Throughout his career at Columbia, he scored 2,053 points, and played on the school’s first Elite 8 team. He used his success in high school as inspiration for his book.
“I feel the need and motivation to give back to Columbia,” Jones said. “Our team was blessed with success: we were the most winning team at the high school. Playing there taught me that you don’t have to be the best, tallest, or most gifted. If you use values like hard work, you’re enthusiastic, have high energy, and you are determined and passionate it can go a long way.”
Coming from a town of 10,000, Jones really wanted to give back to the community which gave him such success. His book, TPC: Team, Pride, Commitment talks about what is like to be part of a winning team at Columbia High School, and how teams can go about doing that. It also presents how the team accomplished all of their goals, and how others can achieve all of their goals and dreams. Net proceeds from his book will go to the Columbia Athletic Booster Club. He also has a blog you can visit at http://tpcfundraiser.blogspot.com . Jones believes that his foundation in basketball has paid off in many other ways, including his profession today.
“It’s amazing how much those fundamentals I learned help out in my career,” Jones said. “Team chemistry is something that I learned at a young age, and I use that same idea in my career today in a business environment. When you leverage those values into my career, my hard work paid off tremendously.”
With a successful career both professionally and athletically, Reid Jones has made quite an impact on his hometown by giving back to the community. By writing this book, he is hoping to motivate others to have the same success. As Jones says, “start with a dream, end with a reality.”
Former Millikin Men’s Basketball Player Publishes New Book
GO BIG BLUE!
Thank you for your support,
- TPC Team
MAYOR HUTCHINSON & TPC DISCUSS GIVING BACK, LEADERSHIP & TEAM CHEMISTRY!
The TPC team sat down with Mayor Hutchinson of Columbia, Illinois at Mokka Kaffeehaus, and discussed giving back, leadership and team chemistry. Columbia is the setting for TPC where Reid, the author, and his team grew up. The team in TPC started their dream in Columbia, and turned the dream into reality at the Illinois Boys Basketball State Tournament. Mayor Hutchinson, the TPC team says thank you for your support!*The Question and Answer dialogue is meant to help the reader understand how giving back impacts the community, and also their view on leadership and team chemistry. The Q & A content is presented in a conversation format, and not presented in a formal format to hold the integrity of the conversation. These topics are key messages from TPC, and the TPC team partnered with Mayor Hutchinson to learn from a leader of the community. Key points from the conversation are in bold.
Q/Reid:
How does giving back impact Columbia?
A/Mayor Hutchinson:
Most people who grew up here, feel there is a certain charm and work ethic in Columbia, they learned values. When you go to the schools, you'll see they emphasize respect. Respect in yourself and respecting others. Those values are instilled at a young age. When students get into middle school and high school, and become young adults they have community service obligations, they start giving back through clubs such as Kiwanis , Boy Scout, and other civic organizations. This helps instill those values of respect and working together as a community in our youth. Individuals’ coming together as a whole for the better good strengthens a community.
Q/Reid:
For the folks who grew up in Columbia, but now live elsewhere: What would be the value that they could bring to Columbia if they decide to give back?
A/Mayor Hutchinson:
Growing up here, they received a great education. The public school system is one of the top in state, one of the top in the nation. We always rank high. That shows you we are teaching at a young age how to be successful, and how to make the most out of your life. And sometimes to get that successful position they have to move away. What they can give back are some of those experiences of success and bring it back to the community like you did to write a book that leads to a better good. Admiral Trost and Admiral Weinel they spent their careers in the Navy, and they gave back to the community the Admiral Circle, a symbol for children no matter who you are or where you come from you can be the #1 ranking official of the Navy and sit on the joint Chief of Staff reporting to the President of the United States. Just coming back and talking about their success, such as coming back and speaking at the school's career day. To let them know what's out there and who knows, maybe someday in the future, we will have some big name Fortune 500 in the bottoms, so people don't have to move away.
Q/Reid:
Some find it more beneficial to donate resources, while others find it more beneficial to donate service for giving back. What is the value from resources such as equipment, books, clothes, money, food, etc. have on Columbia? And, what is the value from service such as Kiwanis Club, Jaycees, Lions Club, donating blood, Boy Scouts, volunteer coaching, etc. have on Columbia?
A/Mayor Hutchinson:
Every effort you put out there requires time, people, and money. Whether it's from building a park to building a playground to building a memorial. For example, the KEEP tutoring program, the Columbia Kiwanis saw there was a need for children that were left behind, not the D and F students that the state takes care of. But, the kids just struggling a little bit to turn the corner, there was nothing out there for them. Principals came to us and the Kiwanis Club did a car show to raise money for that purpose. They raised around $8-9k for the KEEP tutoring program, it could not be done without the efforts of Kiwanis, businesses donating money and resources, and many people donating their time. One without the other fails, you can have all the people in the world doing a service, but if they don't have the money to purchase the tools or equipment to carry out the service, the fundraiser will fail. You can have all the money to buy the resources, but if you don't have the people to put it together and make it happen, the fundraiser will fail.
There are doers and check writers, going back to your second question. What can someone do if they move away? They can keep in touch with the organizations. This year there were 7 Eagle Scouts that did various projects from cleaning up the library ground to building walking trails, and all that required money. For the people who move away and want to give back to the community, find that organization you're passionate about, find that group, and write them a check if you can't be here. For the people who don't have the money but have the time, they'll take that money and turn it around 10-fold; they'll take and put it to good use, and that's how the two partner together. One without the other will fail miserably.
Tie-in Q/Reid:
If someone would donate money from outside Columbia is there a way after the service is done to show them, maybe pictures that they can show, to make them feel proud about their contribution to the cause?
A/Mayor Hutchinson:
Absolutely, to give you an idea the Eagle Scouts that received donations from outside sources, took pictures and put together a collage and sent them as a thank you. Another, Monroe County Humane Society sends a letter saying thank you for your donations and this what your money contributed to. There are buildings dedicated to people and rooms dedicated to people. As far as being endowed and having something there forever, it's available.
Q/Reid:
A lot of folks get a lot of enjoyment from giving back but aren't sure how to get involved, what advice do you have for people who want to find a fit with the right charity project, but aren't sure how to get started in Columbia?
A/Mayor Hutchinson:
Call us! Find out what you're passionate about. If it kids, get involved in Kiwanis, in school, in scouting, or in YMCA. If it's animals, get involved with Humane Society. There's always something, even if you're not a voting member in a club or group you can still be very involved. Everybody thinks, if you don't have a vote you don't have a say. I sit on numerous boards regionally to where I have a say, but not a vote. I'm the President of Southwest IL Council Mayors which represents 4 counties and over 40 municipalities. I sit on the board of East West Gateway which represents 7 counties in St. Louis Metro, millions of people, and I have a voice and so Columbia has a voice.
So, find out what you're passionate about and what excites you and ask a few questions. Go to the City Hall, go to the library, go to the principal or superintendent, go to the civic organizations, just get involved. Whether you write that check or whether you spend a day with a shovel in your hand or whether you went to breakfast with Santa and made sure the coffee is full, no matter what, when you finish with the event, you're going to feel good. That's the joy of my job it's not about the money, but that's why I'm a scout leader and that's why I'm active in the Kiwanis, and that's why I serve my community in the end, the fulfillment of giving back makes the difference. We have volunteering programs for everyone. Whatever you're into, there is a way to give back to your community.
Tie-in Q/Reid:
Is there a specific source that provides more information about volunteering or giving back in Columbia?
A/Mayor Hutchinson:
City website or economic development coordinator, we will connect you with a group that you're interested in helping.
Q/Reid:
How do you define leadership and team chemistry?
A/Leadership/Mayor Hutchinson:
First of all, respect is up-most important and I don't care if it's from the leader to the team members, or from the team members to the leader, or amongst the team members. You don't have to like each other and you don't have to agree, but you must have respect for each other. It is easier said than done but I think that's key. If you notice great leaders don't demand respect, they get respect because of how they lead. When I was in the army I found that just getting in there and working with the guys, letting them know that I care in what and how they were doing a job made a difference. Ultimately letting your team know you've been in their shoes before. If you treat people with respect and not get personal, it will go a long way as a leader.
Sometimes as a leader, you're in a position when you yell jump, they should hit the ground and ask was that high enough, not ask how high. But other times as a leader, your teammates come at you with a situation when you need to get their ideas, and you need to get the view from the people who do it on a day-to-day basis. I coined a phrase in city hall cowboy management. I'm not a micro-manager, and not going to tell you how to do your job. I will tell you, we need to get from point A to point B. That's the policy and plan. How you get from point A to point B, we will give you the tools and resources to get the job done. I'm going to leave you alone and let you do your job; you're the professional police chief, fire chief, engineer, or community economic developer. I don't have a professional background in those areas, but I know where we want to be as a city. I'm going to let you do your job. At the end of the day, I'm going to give you all the rope you need whether you bring in the prized steer or hang yourself, it's up to you, what you're going to do with that rope. That is why I call it cowboy management.
Tie-in Q/Reid:
I really like that, where did the cowboy management phrase come from?
A/Leadership/Mayor Hutchinson:
It went back to the term you give an inch, they take a mile. When I was in the army one of my squad members said, give an inch and they take a mile. And, a kid from Texas said give a rope, they think they're a cowboy. And for whatever reason when he said that, I put the two together and said give them a rope and see what they'll do with it. I just got cowboy management out of it.
Q/Team Chemistry/Reid:
How do you define team chemistry?
A/Team Chemistry/Mayor Hutchinson:
Sometimes chemistry just happens. I see it as everybody is different and Kiwanis is a great example. We have guys who are labor workers, we have business owners, we have secretaries, we have upper management personnel; all walks of life what we find is the individual roles and talents contributes to the whole. Like in basketball if everyone can shoot from the three point line who's going to drive the middle or rebound. To find everybody's strength and that's where the leader comes into play, he steps in and directs where everyone should be to utilize their strengths. Instead of saying you can't do a particular job, say you can do it, but the team is more effective if you do a different job. I think a leader should be more proactive and positive and nip negativity out before it happens. When you do that, now you're taking all the positive traits to fill a role for the better good of the team.
Another example, we were at an event and someone was complaining that a person only showed up for an hour and left. I said to the complainer, did you thank him? They looked at me and said what, I said did you thank him? Once again, positive and proactive. And actually in this case I happened to know what that person had to do that day. He went to a soccer game with his daughter, went by and saw his mom, and had another game that afternoon. When someone shows up for an hour that is an hour or more they gave. Some of us took the dedication to be there all day, while others have other commitments and give you an hour. When people dedicate any amount of their time, they took that amount out of their day to help; we should thank them and not belittle them.
Take the time to find the positive and be proactive. If you do that, the people around you will start seeing that and start following the leader. Team chemistry is built when every position has a role with a purpose and everyone feels like they contributed towards the win and treated with respect.
Q/Reid:
Everyone's not perfect, and everyone is constantly learning and improving. What do you recommend if people want to get better at leadership and team chemistry?
A/Mayor Hutchinson:
Analyze your results. Whether the result was positive, or negative make sure to analyze and learn from that analysis. As a leader if you take that approach, you will learn from those negative experiences and grow from the positive experiences. All that together makes me a stronger person. I think that goes back to team chemistry. If your passion is baseball play baseball. You may be a great basketball player but without the passion you will not be as great teammate as the average player that has that passion. The other players will pick up on the lack of passion and enthusiasm and that will kill team chemistry.
Tie-in Q/Reid:
How do you approach a problem to improve team chemistry?
A/Mayor Hutchinson:
Communicate honestly, factually, and with respect. If you do that, it will all work out. If you're honest with someone and do it respectfully, you can give them the worst of news and they will understand that it had to be done. Giving honest communication, straight from the heart, no belittling, not personal, no degrading, works. Approach everything with a loving spirit with honesty and truthfulness, it works out. It happens.
Mayor Hutchinson shared a Martin Luther King, Jr. quote:
"Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love." - Martin Luther King, Jr.
REPRESENTATIVE REITZ (D-IL) & TPC DISCUSS GIVING BACK, LEADERSHIP & TEAM CHEMISTRY!
The TPC team sat down with Representative Dan Reitz of the 116th District in Illinois, and discussed giving back, leadership and team chemistry. Rep. Reitz, the TPC team says thank you for your support!*The Question and Answer dialogue is meant to help the reader understand how giving back impacts the community, and also their view on leadership and team chemistry. The Q & A content is presented in a conversation format, and not presented in a formal format to hold the integrity of the conversation. These topics are key messages from TPC, and the TPC team partnered with Rep. Reitz to learn from a leader of the community. Key points from the conversation are in bold.
Q/Reid:
How does giving back impact the 116th District?
A/Rep. Reitz:
I think giving back just helps everyone. It's as good for the person doing the task as it is from the fulfillment of helping people. It's the Christian thing to do, and it helps people in this area. We have a lot of people who volunteer, so I think it helps the people doing it as much as it helps the people benefiting whatever the task is. I really think we don't realize how much it helps all of our communities, especially one that comes to mind a retired senior volunteer program that goes into schools and sits at the courthouse, city hall, and library. If we had to pay for all those services as bad as our tax bills are, it would be worse. So, I think we benefit as a community from the spirit of it and also economically.
Q/Reid:
For the folks who grew up in the 116th District, but now live elsewhere: What would be the value that they could bring to the 116th District if they decide to give back?
A/Rep. Reitz:
There's tremendous value in it. If they had the skills to come in and mentor others in whatever fields they are in, that would be a big help. We have a lot of people who are successful and have moved out, and unfortunately we may have too many people who have moved out. And it would be nice to have them come back and visit, and hopefully sometime in the future to relocate to their hometown wherever it is. And I think most people would want to especially as they get older. When you're younger, you want to go out and see the world and do different things. But, as you get older the more you realize how fortunate we are to have the communities and family structure that we have in this area that made them successful.
Q/Reid:
Some find it more beneficial to donate resources, while others find it more beneficial to donate service for giving back. What is the value from resources such as equipment, books, clothes, money, food, etc. have on the 116th District? And, what is the value from service such as Kiwanis Club, Jaycees, Lions Club, donating blood, Boy Scouts, volunteer coaching, etc. have on the 116th District?
A/Rep. Reitz:
It's a mix of both. Whatever you're trying to do, it always takes resources whether goods or money. And that's always important. Any task or mission has a fundraising component with resources, but I think the human value and social networking that goes along with the clubs is as important, and I think that helps build the communities and allows them the fellowship through their programs, churches, and organizations to interact with other people. And, I think that's worthwhile and even more worthwhile as they get older. There's a lot of seniors that look forward to those activities and gives them a reason to keep on going and have a purpose in their life. The more we can find ways for people to interact with everyone else, it's good for the community. It's especially good for the senior population just to hear that, and it keeps everyone else grounded.
Q/Reid:
A lot of folks get a lot of enjoyment from giving back but aren't sure how to get involved, what advice do you have for people who want to find a fit with the right charity project, but aren't sure how to get started in the 116th District?
A/Rep. Reitz:
I think the best is my office, or Senator's office, or any Mayor, or county board for finding organizations. Just go within your community as you mentioned within your community like Lions or Jaycees Club or Kiwanis club. Even churches, they all have members of their congregation involved in organizations. I think you'll find in our communities a lot of it starts in the church. Any elected official or organization you can contact will help you find a fit. And, you will find typically in an organization it's 5 or 6 people who are the driving force behind the organizations, so they can always use more people to help. As I said earlier if they do that, it's immeasurable in terms of dollars what that means to our area.
Q/Reid:
How do you define leadership and team chemistry?
A/Rep. Reitz:
I think leadership really is being proactive and going out there and getting things started. I think a part of leadership is getting along with other people. And trying to find a way or consensus to move whatever interest forward. I think we have a lot of people who exhibit leadership qualities in a number of organizations that are taken for granted. That kind of ties into team chemistry just being part of the team and moving things forward and doing what you're capable of doing and playing into whatever that person strengths are. Leadership is really just finding people who can help and use their strengths to help others.
Tie-in Q/Reid:
If people want to get better as leader or teammate, what advice do you have?
A/Rep. Reitz:
All of us will be better as a leader and team chemistry if we listen. Unfortunately, I think sometimes people talk too much. And using other strengths and assets. I'm always a firm believer in not re-creating the wheel. Someone has figured out a way how to do it, don't let your ego get in the way of thinking it has be your idea or this is better than something else. Just take what works and keep it going. I found out going to different conferences and meetings over the years, someone always has a way to save you time or make it easier to accomplish a task and make sure you're open to using that. And accepting change is one of the biggest things for team chemistry and leadership. You have to be able to change, because the world is changing and there's always a better way to do it and you need to accept that. And that's where the entrepreneurs come in, they find a better way to do it.
Reid shared a quote with Rep. Reitz:
"When the wind of change blows, some people build walls, others build windmills." - Anonymous
Rep. Reitz shared a quote with Reid:
"The only thing constant is change." - Heraclitus
Thank you for your support,
- TPC Team
SENATOR LUECHTEFELD (R-IL) & TPC DISCUSS GIVING BACK, LEADERSHIP & TEAM CHEMISTRY!
The TPC team sat down with Senator David Luechtefeld of the 58th District in Illinois, and discussed giving back, leadership and team chemistry. Senator Luechtefeld, the TPC team says thank you for your support!*The Question and Answer dialogue is meant to help the reader understand how giving back impacts the community, and also their view on leadership and team chemistry. The Q & A content is presented in a conversation format, and not presented in a formal format to hold the integrity of the conversation. These topics are key messages from TPC, and the TPC team partnered with Senator Luechtefeld to learn from a leader of the community. Key points from the conversation are in bold.
Q/Reid:
How does giving back impact the 58th District?
A/Senator Luechtefeld:
Giving back a lot of times can be a personal thing. An individual gives back to a community or people who have helped them. As far as the 58th District is concerned, personally, one of the things I get the most fun out of is trying to help people who have problems. Sometimes we can do that and sometimes we can't. But, it does give us the opportunity, and we spend a lot of time trying to help people. I often think what does giving back mean? There is no question when you do that, you feel good about it. I often look at people who do give a lot back and think about why they do that? I think they do that because it makes them feel good. Did you ever think about giving back can be a little selfish at times? I often think of a person like Mother Teresa and think why she did it? You know she did it to a certain extent for herself, because she felt good about giving back. So, from my standpoint giving back to the 58th District, it makes people personally feel good about themselves and in the process you're able to help other people.
Q/Reid:
For the folks who grew up in the 58th District, but now live elsewhere: What would be the value that they could bring to the 58th District if they decide to give back?
A/Senator Luechtefeld:
That's a tough one. It isn't what they can give back to the 58th District it's about what they can do where they live now. You look at life and ask what did I learn? People who grew up here, grew up in really good families who tried to do the right things. They got up every morning and went to work and tried to do the right things. And the best thing they can do is do that for their own families and for others around them today, set good examples. I think people who move out of the district do not have the where-with-all to give back to the district. But, they do have the ability to give back where they live and provide the communities where they live with the values they learned when they were young, hard work and good families. Those values that are part of this region and where they grew up, they need to try and carry that out where they live now. I think we're kind of losing those family values as a nation, and think that has to be something that motivates us as a nation to go back to those solid values. You can't legislate that, and you can't make a law that forces it.
They often say education is broken, and I don't believe in all that what is happening is the families are broken where there are bad parents. When you combine good parents with good teachers, you will have good education every time. Now, how do you fix parents? I think you would agree the number of dysfunctional families have increased dramatically, it's almost an acceptable thing today; those kids get screwed up and it's not necessarily their fault. And then when those kids raise families, they won't know how to raise the family and be a good parent. I see more and more of it and it is scary, it truly is scary. Sometimes it is being too good to their kids, and not having their kids work for anything. And, kids need to learn how to work hard and discipline and those sorts of things.
In Springfield, I get in trouble sometimes when the people say we need to spend more money on education and it will be fixed. And, no it won't be fixed as long as families are dysfunctional and the parents continue to send their kids to school who have no discipline and don't care to learn and never learned to work hard. You can't do much with them, you're going to have problems. So, how do you fix that? Often legislatures think we can fix that with money. No, it won't be fixed as long as you have dysfunctional families, you will have dysfunctional education. Columbia has great families and a great education system. A kid that goes to Columbia can just about do anything in life if they put their mind to it and wants to work hard at it.
Q/Reid:
Some find it more beneficial to donate resources, while others find it more beneficial to donate service for giving back. What is the value from resources such as equipment, books, clothes, money, food, etc. have on the 58th District? And, what is the value from service such as Kiwanis Club, Jaycees, Lions Club, donating blood, Boy Scouts, volunteer coaching, etc. have on the 58th District?
A/Senator Luechtefeld:
Obviously, some people do not have the where-with-all to give the physical things, and maybe don't have the money to do that. But, do have time and energy and that is the way they give back. The other way of course if someone who has the resources and can donate to a cause. Personally, I think you get the most satisfaction from the service part of it rather than from just donating money or goods. It's easy to just give the money, but you get much more satisfaction from the service part of it. Both are extremely important. You can't get along with just one, you have to have both of them. For example, maybe someone that left the community who wants to help and can donate but can't come back and give service, but can give his money or resources.
Tie-in Q/Reid:
When you say satisfaction can you explain more?
A/Senator Luechtefeld:
Because you live it and see the results. When you give back with services for example the Lions Club working with the blind you actually see the results. I think when someone donates money who no longer lives in his hometown but decides to give a resource; it's important when the service team follow through and shows the person who donated money, here's what your money did, and actually those efforts probably motivates that person to give more.
Q/Reid:
A lot of folks get a lot of enjoyment from giving back but aren't sure how to get involved, what advice do you have for people who want to find a fit with the right charity project, but aren't sure how to get started in the 58th District?
A/Senator Luechtefeld:
If they really want to get involved, then they need to. It's easy to say, but you simply go and do it. Go speak with the people, find out the different organizations, and you take that step. It's easy to say I want to help, then go and do it. Don't look for excuses, sometimes that's an excuse that you like to help, but not sure where to start. You can do things like go to schools or go to any organizations. Go directly to the problem, let's go to groups trying to fix that problem. Let's do what we can to help. You have to get active. But, you have to take that next step. I just don't want to give people that excuse, well I would of done something but I didn't know. No, you actively get involved don't use it as an excuse.
Q/Reid:
How do you define leadership and team chemistry?
A/Leadership/Senator Luechtefeld:
Leadership is something that is earned. People will follow you if you earn your respect. And, you can earn their respect by doing things. Talk doesn't get it. Some people do it in different ways, we see quiet leaders who simply went and did it and people followed. People who are good leaders usually have the ability to gain people's confidence. And, when people have confidence in you they will follow you. You can gain that confidence by what you do. You have to become active. Some do it quietly and others do it loud. There is nothing wrong with a leader who is the rah-rah guy. It's impossible to be a good leader, if you don't show results of what you do. When you think of leadership, you think who did I follow, who did I really follow? We all follow those people who we respect, and who shows us a way to be successful. And, who practices what they preach. And, many times it's simply hard work.
Reid shared a quote about Larry Bird and leadership:
“Leadership is getting players to believe in you. If you tell a teammate you're ready to play as tough as you're able to, you'd better go out there and do it. Players will see right through a phony. And they can tell when you're not giving it all you've got. Leadership is diving for a loose ball, getting the crowd involved, getting other players involved. It's being able to take it as well as dish it out. That's the only way you're going to get respect from the players.” - Larry Bird
Leadership/Senator Luechtefeld:
You see leaders who just go out there and do it. Leaders are consistent with results and are willing to work at it. They build confidence in you, and if you follow them, you believe you're going to a good place.
Q/Team Chemistry/Reid:
How do you define team chemistry?
A/Team Chemistry/Senator Luechtefeld:
You know this is one of the hardest things. Sometimes you work very hard to put together a good team and no matter what you do it just doesn't work. I think team chemistry has different parts. It has followers and it has leaders. It has doers and people willing to follow the doers. Good team chemistry has people who like and respect each other.
Tie-in Q/Reid:
How do you get teammates get to like each other?
A/Senator Luechtefeld:
That's a tough question, and I don't have a good answer for you, because I had teams that didn't have good team chemistry and no matter what I did, it didn't do anything. Usually, what breaks down team chemistry is jealously. Team chemistry especially at the high school age, you usually have good team chemistry when you have parents who are not jealous of each other. Parents usually set the stage for that. Many times it starts with the parents being jealous of the other. Let's say for example not wanting the other parents kid be successful. And that somehow gets passed along to the kid. No, don't throw him the ball, he shoots too much.
Good team chemistry you have people who are willing to sacrifice themselves for the benefit of the team. It's easier to get kids to do this than to have their parents buy into it. Let's say you're a parent and you have a kid who is not a good shooter, if you insist that he shoot and not throw Johnny the ball who is a good shooter, you have a problem. You happen to be Johnny and you have the ball, you know what, you should have the ball, you should shoot more than the others. Is that selfishness? No, that's how team's work. The kids who can't, have to accept that and get it to those who can.
Especially in a team sport, and a sport that is a little different I find is baseball. Baseball is a team sport, but really is not necessarily a team sport. If you think about it, I don't have to give up something to help you succeed in baseball. We can all be good hitters, and we will all get the same amount of times at the plate. And it isn't like I throw you the ball and you can shoot for us, it doesn't work that way. In basketball, you may play the whole game and not shoot at all and still be a good part of the team. In baseball that can't be, you're going to have to come to the plate just like everyone else. You don't have to have that good of team chemistry in baseball if you think about, you don't have to have someone give up something to let another person succeed. You need much more team chemistry in basketball, football, or hockey where certain people will not get to do the glamorous stuff. I've found that the teams I've had the best team chemistry were teams that liked each other, and were together off the floor, and kids were not jealous of each other. And, a lot of times I find that jealously starts with the parents.
Tie-in Q/Reid:
I've found a lot of team chemistry happens with instincts, can you share how you feel about instincts and team chemistry?
A/Senator Luechtefeld:
Some kids just have the instincts. Let's say you and I take piano lessons, you know one of us will turn out a lot better than the other even though we both work at it the same amount of time. Why? One of us has a better feel for it, up here, for music. It's an instinctive thing. Basketball has a lot of that in it. There are instincts that some kids have that others don't, not only on offense but also on defense. It's the ability to see what's going to happen before it happens.
Tie-in Q/Reid:
Do you think that ties into team chemistry?
A/Senator Luechtefeld:
No question about it, if you have all that it makes a difference. Just because a kid can't play defense doesn't mean he doesn't want to, he may not have good instincts. Why is it a kid isn't a good passer? He only sees the open man after his mother in the stands sees the open man, and by that time it's too late his teammate is no longer open. Some kids when you get into any sport just understand what's going on better than others, and they seem to see things happening before they happen. It's just a blessing for them.
Q/Reid:
Some find it useful to read books or follow a mentor to improve leadership or team chemistry. What do you recommend?
A/Senator Luechtefeld:
Only answer to that is talk to people who have been through it whether in sports, business, or community service. One thing to always keep in mind with team chemistry, it's hard to have a lot of team chemistry in anything, if you have a lot of selfish people.
Thank you for your support,
- TPC Team
SUBURBAN JOURNALS, STLTODAY.COM, & MR. RICK BROOME REPORTS ABOUT TPC!
CHS hoops alum gives back with new book about school heroes
“The team started their career with a dream and finished as the most winning team in their school’s history”
That quote adorns the front of Columbia alum Reid Jones’ new book, “TPC: Team, Pride, Commitment.”
Jones was an integral part of the Eagles basketball team that went 90-36 from 1997-2001. In its final campaign, that team made it all the way to the state tournament and the Elite Eight in Illinois.
The journey to the season’s final weekend, and everything that led up to it, lent Jones and his teammates a narrative that they believed could benefit the athletes of tomorrow.
“It is a collection of team stories from our 2000-01 state basketball team here at Columbia High,” Jones said. “We share stories from our Junior Eagle program in third grade all the way through senior year of high school and our last game at the state tournament.
“Through our journey we learned different lessons along the way which helped us out. There are 42 different lessons that we learned. Then we have individual drills, training, nutrition, strength. We have player profiles, on people like Ryan and Shawn Patton, who both scored over 2000 points here at Columbia High. They answered what it took to accomplish their goals and dreams here at Columbia.”
All of the principal players in the state drama, as well as the men who brought the future CHS stars along, contributed to the book.
“We have different teammates from the state team, Coach Dave Touchette, the middle school coach who helped us, Jon Wehrenberg, and the Junior Eagle coaches, my father (Don Jones) and Dennis Patton,” Jones said. “They originated the Junior Eagle program in 1986 and they worked with Ryan and Shawn’s team and also my team.”
Jones was inspired by the men that taught him. That education fostered a serious duty in the young man’s head, a loyalty to his school that he is trying to repay, one book at a time.
“The motivation for us is to encourage other athletes and students to give back here at Columbia High and Columbia Middle School, and do it in a meaningful way,” Jones said. “More than just giving money, we want them to think about providing some kind of service to the students and athletes. All profits go to the Columbia Athletic Boosters.”
Like the blue-collar ethos of the squad that went to state, “TPC” was a do-it-yourself operation from the start.
“I self-published it through a company over in St. Louis, Independent Publishing Company,” Jones said. “I did all the graphic design myself pretty much, from the front cover on. I picked the design and the story is in the book about why I picked that cover. We have pictures from different articles in the newspapers from the past.
“We have partnered up with different local businesses. They are buying a certain amount to donate back to kids here at Columbia. Marketplace (in Columbia) is also selling them.”
To reach Jones, send an email to tpcchs2001@gmail.com or see the website tpcfundraiser.blogspot.com.
Written by: Rick Broome | STLhighschoolSPORTS.com.
CHS hoops alum gives back with new book about school heroes
Thank you for your support,
- TPC Team
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