Every organization needs not
only a mission statement and a business plan — and yes, even non-profits need a
“business plan” because if you cannot state clearly why your organization
exists . . . why does it exist? Further,
the more vague or general an organization’s mission statement (e.g., “The Much Ado About Nothing
Society works to promote interest in William
Topaz McGonagall (1825-1902), the greatest poet who ever lived or ever
will live, and to jabber on endlessly without knowing anything about him.”*)
the more chance there is that the organization will eventually lose its
way. It may continue, but more and more
people will simply ask Why?
In addition, all
organizations need not merely a clear and definitive mission statement and a
business plan, but a set of core values and a code of ethics. Without these, members and friends of the
organization will simply use or even hijack the organization to promote their
own agendas, whether or not they have anything to do with the stated purpose of
the organization because they can get away with it, and they do get away with
it because those in charge, without a clear mission statement or core values
will “go along to get along,” and will bend over backwards just to keep the
organization together even while those inside of it are tearing it apart.
That is why in today’s Just
Third Way Podcast, your host Dave Hamill takes ten minutes or so to go over
CESJ’s Core Values and Code of Ethics.
If you’ve ever wondered why CESJ or people involved in the Just Third
Way don’t agree with so many of the “isms” floating around these days, it’s
because of the focus on personalism that is at the heart of respect for the
dignity of each human person, and we think that is embodied in the Core Values
and Code of Ethics:
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| Your Host Dave Hamill (until he sends us a better photo) |
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| William Topaz McGonagall (1825-1902) |
The last stanza of William McGonagall’s greatest and most
immortal poem, “The Tay Bridge Disaster” (1880):
Oh! Ill-fated bridge of the silv'ry Tay,
I now must conclude my lay
By telling the world fearlessly without the least dismay,
That your central girders would not have given way,
At least many sensible men do say,
Had they been supported on each side with buttresses
At least many sensible men confesses,
For the stronger we our houses do build,
The less chance we have of being killed.
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| The Tay Bridge Disaster |
#30#