Noon Rotarians were met by Mitzi M at the front desk and greeted by Steve L who later collected for brags and fines. John M employed an invocation adapted from an Irish Republic/ Northern Ireland prayer. Hal L led the singing; we ended with the new “Smile exercise”. There are still difficulties getting into formation and knowing how to start and when to end. However, our progress over last week excited Col Hunt enough to offer that given sufficient instruction and practice the whole thing could be reduced to the mindlessness of a military drill. There were two visiting Rotarians: David Manning, Gene’s son, and our speaker Scott Greelis. Our only visitor was Dan Combs, a guest of the speaker.
Rotary Minute
Bob R reviewed with us the destination of our dues. Seems Rotary International receives $85.56 from each member. From that amount $64.00 is spent for operations, $2.00 by the Council on Legislation, $12.00 for the Rotarian magazine, $0.90 for D&O insurance and $6.66 for other insurance. The Rotary District extracts $69.41 from each member and allocates $41.00 to operations, $15.00 to World Community Service, $10.00 to Youth Exchange and the remaining $3.41 is used to cover training for presidents elect.
Announcements
A Board meeting followed the day’s meeting. We have a new Honorary Member, Helene Doumro, the Chad Rotarian who coordinated our water well project in Chad. Seems her Chad club excommunicated her because she did not let her club control the finances. Next Wed the Lundeen meeting room will be receiving new carpet and unavailable so we will meet in the small Gym. There will not be a noon meeting, Aug 15th, but there will be a Rotary potluck at the Roosevelt Park shelter that day beginning at 5:00pm. Everyone is encouraged to attend and bring your family, potential members, a dish to share and your own utensils, plates, napkins and beverage. Jamie L announced that the peaches are arriving about Aug 24th and we would be wise to start selling and expect contacts for sales updates. Bob R informed us our next exchange student will be a 15 year old young lady from Salvador Brazil. Her name is Luiza Andrade but she goes by Lulie. He also mentioned we would be well advised to each do some research on her home town. Keith O reported on the drama and sacrifice involved in getting Pepe to an early flight and that he (Pepe) arrived home safely and on time. He suggested a contact from each of us would be appreciated. Pepe can now be reached by phone at +52 1 961 242 3252. His email is pepeTony1990@hotmail.com His address Av. Turquesa #189 Fraccionamiento Villa Tziscao, 29020 Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas, Mexico Brags and Fines
Buzz L read from a 1929 newspaper article covering then current officers and activities of our club. Mike S celebrated the 36th anniversary of his wedding yesterday. John M recognized Kenny Nelson of Perham for his recent induction into the Minnesota Business Hall of Fame and Mary P provided a scooter buck.
Program
Kathy A introduced Scott Greelis, a Moorhead Rotarian and owner of Lion's Way Consulting. Scott entitled his presentation "How to Destroy a Business," and while there are many ways to destroy a business his focus was completely on one; something he called the “Blame Game”. The “Blame Game” takes place when an individual in a position of power will not take any responsibility for anything that is unsuccessful. Rather they chose to blame others for the shortcomings (and likely take all the credit for successes). It destroys focus and growth, is hard to stop, kills trust and is toxic.
The “Blame Game” has only a couple of rules: first always blame someone else and second never look for solutions. It is attractive to folks with a lack of respect for others because it is easy, presents a great defense mechanism and is in keeping with their beliefs that others are unethical and prone to not telling the truth. It also allows them to stay in the attack mode, a place where they find comfort.
Those practicing it have a number of common characteristics. They stay worked up, keep their defenses up, speak loudly, tend to over react with anger, gossip, always need to be right, attempt to rally others to their side and are paranoid. In addition they ignore feelings of others, play the victim, and have poor communications skills. They prefer emails or texts to face to face communications (this is also a generational trait of millennials), and likely have low self-esteem. Organizations that host the “Blame Game” usually experience high turnover, a culture of fear, feedback is ignored and results are well below their potential.
There is some hope. To overcome the problem an individual practicing it must reverse the negative characteristics and behaviors mentioned above. They must stop what they are doing, find the positives, communicate in person, reflect on each issue, drop them and move forward. It is difficult to regain the trust of others; if it cannot be done an individual should seek different responsibilities that accommodate their shortcomings.
Scott closed with a bit of information about Lion’s Way Consulting. It specializes in small businesses and offers continuous improvement strategies and performance growth plans for today and the future. The firm is located in Moorhead with clients in Minnesota and North Dakota. It does not have any in Fergus Falls but would like be involved in the community. He invited us to google Lion’s Way Consulting for additional information.
Questions revealed Scott has a degree in engineering and practiced the craft, an honorable one, for a number of years and then moved into sales. He claimed to have sold more hemp than anyone else in the region-the industrial hemp was in products for the building industry. In 2008 the housing market crash occurred, the company was sold and he found himself in a side of corporate America that didn’t have values that synchronized with his own. He left that organization and was involved in forming Lion’s Way Consulting.
