Leaders Needed to Beat the Virus
From Ed O’Malley, President and CEO of the Kansas Leadership Center
“Dear KLC Alumni and friends,” (and Leadership McPherson Alumni)
“I write to you today with singular purpose, unique in our 14-year history. Since our founding in 2007, the Kansas Leadership Center has been careful to “start where you are,” designing experiences that help you make progress on what matters most to you and your organization. Now, we need your leadership for what matters most to our state: getting the pandemic under control. And I exhort you to say yes.
“We have never called upon our alumni and friends with a charge as grave, urgent or important as the challenge that confronts Kansas today. If there was ever a time to mobilize our network for the sake of the greater good, we believe that moment is now.
“The purpose of this message is to invite alumni and friends of KLC to engage in a bold intervention to mobilize Kansans to slow the spread of COVID-19. There are too many new cases. Businesses are struggling. Families are suffering. Hospitals are full. It is time for Kansans in every community to act experimentally in encouraging one another to combat the virus.
“As you may have seen or heard in the news, KLC has partnered with the State of Kansas to activate our alumni network to generate local solutions that slow the spread of the virus. Our audacious goal is to catalyze more than 1,000 small group meetings before the New Year. Out of those meetings will come a dramatic increase in the number of locally generated efforts and initiatives to reduce the spread of this deadly virus.
“I ask you to commit to host one of these meetings. KLC will provide a professional facilitator. All you need to do is use your influence to gather eight to 15 people in your network who share a common interest for the virtual meeting.
“Who could you gather? Think of any established groups, networks or associations you already belong to: your church, clubs, professional associations, neighborhood groups, large families, PTA groups, non-profit boards, work colleagues, friendship group, etc. Pick the group that seems best to you, gather the people and KLC will facilitate. The result will be more Kansans exercising more leadership to combat the virus.
“The pandemic is a deep, daunting, adaptive challenge. Progress will require leadership from many.”
If you are a Leadership McPherson or KLC Alumni and are interested in learning more about the initiative and hosting a meeting with your group, email chamberdirector@mcphersonks.org or contact Debbie Hawkinson at the McPherson Chamber of Commerce 620-241-3303.