View From the Hill

Now, unlike ever before, grassroots leaders—people like you and I—have the power to make an impact. Thanks to the internet and the growing popularity of social media, the world is smaller than it’s ever been and some of the procedures we’ve known and trusted no longer apply. People’s attitudes towards leadership are shifting.

Change is coming, but it’s not trickling down from shadowy figures in an ivory tower. It’s coming from the bottom up, from community leaders who recognize they have the power to change the world. Regular people like you and I are becoming ACE leaders—Active, Creative and Engaged. ACE leaders are those who have the vision, energy and skill to build healthy communities. These are the six competencies that a leader today—an ACE leader—needs to demonstrate.

ACE leaders are agents of change. You have a great message, but if nobody hears it, nothing will happen. Finding likeminded people and building relationships is the key to progress.

ACE leaders have a commitment to continuous improvement. Sure, the status quo works, but is there a better way? Is there a way that’s better for the environment and our communities? ACE leaders constantly reevaluate their methods.

ACE leaders apply big picture thinking. Just as every part inside a computer has an important function, so does each member, organization and business within a community. All need to live up to their potential and work collectively to address the broader community.

ACE leaders are catalysts for citizen responsibility. They inspire others to take ownership of their community.

ACE leaders are quality of life advocates. They understand that recreation, parks, sports, arts, culture and heritage are essential elements of a community.

ACE leaders are community development planners. They don’t say all the right words and then wait for others to do the grunt work. ACE leaders take initiative and work with others to proactively apply innovative solutions.

Leadership today is no longer about a title—it’s about the capacity to get things done by engaging others. The days of the individual on the white horse swooping into town to save the day are gone.

Today, it takes someone with the ability to build partnerships and build consensus. It takes someone with the ability to inspire, to move others towards a shared goal. It takes an ACE leader.

Are you an ACE leader? Find out with our Leadership Self-Assessment quiz at http://acecommunities.ca/downloads/.

An Agent of Change has the ability to build trusting relationship, to be a catalyst for attitudinal shift and to exert influence through that trust they have built. What did you think of the relational marketing model I was advocating? Could it work for you or was it a bunch of nonsense? Either way let talk about it.

Also our survey function is not working and we will have it up shortly, till then email me your thoughts on future web cast topics…so here is the question; “What do you want to learn more about and what information, if you gained greater insight into, would make a significant difference in you daily efforts?”

Here are some suggestions so far:

o Recruiting and retain volunteers
o Fund development and fundraising
o Social Marketing
o Staff Motivation

Email me and let me know .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

ACE Community leaders and coaches did a fabulous job of pulling together the ACE Launch Tour with Ian Hill to ignite and generate enthusiasm.

In LEDUC COUNTY this article here shows a map done by young students to reflect their ideas for developing an ACE Community. At the Leduc meeting students also made placemats with drawings to show how ACE could impact their community.

Following the SANGUDO launch, 40 people came to help set up for their Christmas Blitz…more help than before. They were looking for leadership and wanted to be part of the team.

Over 50 people signed up for the next ACE Community Gathering, 12 people joined the Economic Development group, 28 people want to be involved with the sports ground project, and 21 people said they would help with whatever was needed.

Mayor Susan Samson in SYLVAN LAKE thanked Hill and said, “I’m inspired beyond belief to think we’re all going to do this together.”

A comment from ECKVILLE…“In today’s busy world it is often hard to find the time to collectively focus on our communities - but it is so important. We have lots of enthusiastic community members. Our committee is really looking forward to ACE evolving in Eckville”.

And, a powerful testimonial from a participant in the OKOTOKS session, “Ian: know that you made something of a difference for this one person. And that’s a start. And this thought too: “I may be old but I haven’t lost my capacity to learn from others”.

Another ACE Partner Community Leader shared the following, “The opportunity, support from ACE, and the buy-in from the community has made this a great experience for us! I really feel like it is gaining momentum and it’s exciting to see, I think the timing was right… our community is ready for change and the events we have done are bringing out different types of people every time and people we don’t ordinarily see out… it’s great!! Thanks for enabling and supporting us to be able to do this!!”

Ian’s message about RELATIONSHIP MARKETING was used by the majority of communities and many learned that while it may take time to talk one-to-one to personally invite their participation, people respond. Posters don’t work, phone calls do!