Cogitator April 25, 2012

Posted by George Cooper 
on Apr 25, 2012
 

Tom Stocker, 'Finding Your Omaha'

 

NO VISITING ROTARIANS/GUESTS/BIRTHDAYS

CLUB ANNIVERSARY

Happy Rotary Induction Anniversary this week for New Generations Chairman, Bill Ten Eyck.  Bill came into Rotary 7 years ago, on April 27, 2005, and has been charging full steam ahead since then. 

WINE TASTING/TASTE OF THE TOWN

Pat Lenihan is working feverishly to make the Friday, May 18th Taste of the Town a whopping success.  This year’s event will be held at St. Francis de Sales in North Kingstown, a night everyone will want to attend with family and friends.  Taste of the Town has become a terrific social affair for the club over the past few years, while also becoming a very important night for Community Service fundraising.

There is still time to donate silent auction items, and for only $25 you can advertise your business at the event.  ‘Business sponsor’ forms will be available over the next couple of weeks.  Finally, Pat has issued a ‘basket challenge.’  A prize will be awarded to the clever and generous Rotarian who creates the silent auction basket achieving the highest auction bid.

SCOTT CARLSON MEMORIAL ALS 5K RACE

Well…Judy Pratt, her committee, and the club can all proudly say…’we did it again!’  It was another terrific event, and, another record year.  The 12th Annual Scott Carlson ALS 5K, held Saturday, April 21st at Goddard Park, saw not only the largest number of registrants since day one; last year’s record of $55,000 raised was smashed (final figures should be close to $60,000).  Incredible. 

A record turnout, gathering near the starting line.

It was a beautiful spring day at the park, and Rotarians showed up early and in force, as always, seamlessly doing their various critical jobs.  Vin Meola lives on as the world’s fastest (East Greenwich) Rotarian (who raced that day).  And it ought to be noted that amongst the dozens of youth volunteers taking part, Bill Ten Eyck’s inspired Rotaract group from New England Tech made a great impression lending a hand in any which way.

 

Scott Carlson's father, pictured second from right, presenting awards to this year's race winners. 

To all event sponsors, including many generous Rotarians, the ALS committee, the club at large, and especially to Dr. Judy Pratt, without whom these record setting years would simply not be possible, congratulations, and thank you, for another fantastic event.  RI ALSA Chapter’s Ken McGunagle said it best a couple of months ago when visiting our club, telling us Scott Carlson is smiling down on us, beaming with pride for such an effort in his name.    

 

Judy Pratt conferring with Elizabeth McNamara of East Greenwich Patch. 

Another banner year!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Scott-Carlson-Memorial-Road-Race-ALS-5K-RunWalk/130004383679531

 

FEINSTEIN HUNGER CHALLENGE

Bonnie Sauer keeps proving that she is, in words from her own classification talk, ‘Chuck’s wife…but so much more.’  Setting and reaching last year’s Feinstein Hunger Challenge goal wasn’t enough during her first year in the club.  This year, she doubled her goal, and the final results, accomplishing $2010 in ‘total value’ from both food donations and cash donations.  Great job (again), Bonnie!  All proceeds will benefit the East Greenwich Ecumenical Food Cupboard at St. Luke’s. 

CHARLIE WINKLER

Our most senior Rotarian, Charlie Winkler, is at Roberts Health Center in North Kingstown, getting rehabilitation after some recent health ailments.  He is in good spirits, and he hopes it will be a brief stay. 

ALSA OF RI/WILCOX CENTER

Dr. Bob Miller, who with Dr. Judy Pratt serves on the board of directors of ALSA RI Chapter, reminded us that the club’s herculean efforts in, and total donations from, the ALS 5K go to very good use, right here in Rhode Island.  The RI ALSA staff and volunteers, along with the Louise Wilcox Center in Providence, provide life-extending quality care for local ALS patients.  In fact, it has been shown that the average ALS patient connected to the local ALSA of RI Chapter will live for an extra nine months due to superior support and care.  That nine months, noted Bob, is invaluable, ‘a lifetime,’ for the patients and their families.    

SPEAKER/PROGRAM

Tom Stocker, Managing Director of Owner’s Edge, LLC--‘Finding Your Omaha’

Tom Stocker noted that ‘sadly, fewer than 50% of businesses believe in strategic visioning.’  But why so few?  Do professional sports teams do this?  Does Bill Belichick tell the Patriots to head out to the field and wing it?    

On a road trip, would you simply get in your car and start driving…to nowhere in particular?  Probably not.  And the same goes for business.  A good plan must be created to reach your ultimate destination.  ‘It’s your trip, as owner of your company,’ Tom pointed out.  ‘You can get good advice, you can lean on others, but in the end it’s your journey, to ‘your Omaha.’ 

To get customers to follow you to ‘Omaha,’ whatever or wherever that may be, a solid strategy needs to be mapped by the fellow insiders of the business.  However, an outsider’s ‘extra set of eyes’ is critical for businesses to that ‘next level,’ year after year.  An outsider’s professional expertise is crucial to formulate game plans for perennial ‘championship seasons.’  

The most important factors of ‘finding your Omaha?’  First, you must determine your destination.  Secondly, you must devise successful strategies, with insight from inside and outside your particular business.  Finally, you must execute the strategies, with each team member knowing his or her assignment.  Otherwise, in Tom’s words, ‘You can’t get there from here.’

You can visit Tom’s website at:

http://www.ownersedgellc.com/index.php

Tom Stocker (on left) with President-Elect Ken Colaluca