Paying it Forward: Times Change, Make a Lasting Difference?

Six+ year leadership changes throughout Wichita county bring fresh minds to come to grips with plans for our ongoing challenges of drought, jobs, workforce and economy. Please Vote in November!

“The middle is not free,” coaches yell.  The US men’s and women’s Olympic basketball teams clearly understand.

“I’ll like you till I don’t,” my CEO shared.  His board treated him the same, as fiduciary responsibility requires. 

Leaders serve others, regardless the organization’s charter: non-profit, for-profit, elected or appointed roles.

Vision begets goals, fulfilled by actions aimed to match the vision within time, budget, etc.  Reality and Murphy’s Law influence the final result even as time saps enthusiasm.

Leadership is not free, for responsibility and authority are twins, who may play together well or not. Learning what you didn’t know -- that you didn’t know, can be terminal due to time and budget impacts.

We’ve opened our first new schools in over fifty years.  Compliments to Dr. Lee, as well as all throughout WFISD, our community and all the contractors whose excellent collaborations are completing outstanding high schools for the 2024-2025 school year.

What a recruiting plum for our community to see these two new high schools coming from DFW or Abilene for next weekend’s Hotter ‘N Hell 100. 

Voting is also a way to volunteer.  The Texas Secretary of States Office reportts that 78,794 Wichitans registered for the November 2022 elections — only 80% of those eligible voted in our county.  These elections included the nearly 19,000 who voted in the WFISD school bonds that funded our new schools.

A new council majority was elected November of 2023 with 8,000 voters splitting 4 ways for mayor.  This November we elect new council members as well as a president. 

In the past week, we’ve seen our long-time city manager resign.  Changes accomplished over almost 20 years are enduring and foundational for our future. New leadership will come to grips with plans for our ongoing challenges of drought, jobs, workforce, and economy.

Similarly, November promises major changes from upcoming elections. From president though council seats, volunteers are competing, each offering different views of what should be done.

“Bigs” needed, just show up again and again.

"Little" Areli is delighted to joining his "Big" Adam last month for National Ice Cream Day.  "Littles" love when "Bigs" just show up, again. Life happens in the little moments.  Photo shared by Jean Hall, president Wichita County BBBS.

Big Brothers Big Sisters knows a relationship influences lasting change in a child’s life.  One in three homes are missing a parent. Volunteers can make a difference. Multiple engagement models help “Bigs” match well with “Littles”, independent of age differences. Littles just want to matter.

Think about what you can offer and want. How can you be part of lasting community change for other folks. Please vote and volunteer, wisely.

Jack Browne is a community volunteer and former technology sales and marketing executive who worked 40 years at Motorola, MIPS Technologies and other companies.  How are the children doing?

Published Wichita Falls Times Record News, Trends Section, Sunday August 25th, 2024.