Stigma is going to kill us – May is Mental Health Month post

For the last two years, I’ve written a post in observance of May is Mental Health Month.  This time around I want to focus on stigma. Webster dictionary defines stigma as a mark of shame or discredit. Well, there’s nothing shameful about having a mental illness. However, society believe otherwise.

It’s stigma that prevents us from reaching to those who need help because we don’t want to be associated with someone with a mental illness. Some of us grew up having “that crazy uncle” who was locked away in a room at Grandma’s house.  The truth is that Crazy Uncle (fill in the blank) may have been depressed or schizophrenic. Stigma prevents medical personnel from asking questions about mental health during an examination. You may overeat because you love food.  Or you may overeat because you suffer from anxiety. It’s stigma that makes us fearful of that homeless person who’s screaming at no one in the middle of the street. Studies have shown that those with mental illness are more likely to be victims of violence than perpetrators.  It’s stigma that prevent those with mental illness from receiving treatment. It’s stigma that makes us even afraid to acknowledge that mental illness exists.  And it is stigma that will eventually kill us.

The time is now to speak up for mental health.  If you or someone you know needs help, don’t ignore it. Don’t hide from it.  That’s what stigma wants you to do.  Instead, stand up with your head held high and face it. Below are some resources to get you started. Take advantage of the last few days of May to take a stand against the stigma of mental illness.

American Psychological Association – http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/index.aspx

Mental Health America – http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/information/get-info

American Psychiatric Association – http://www.psychiatry.org/mental-health

When life gets in the way

You may have noticed that my blog posts have slowed down to a crawl. My goal when I started Association Advocacy Chick was to produce fresh content at least twice a month. However, it seems like I’m lucky to get one post up per month.

While the mind is willing, the time just isn’t there right now. Don’t worry. I have no plans to stop Association Advocacy Chick (or blogging for that matter) any time soon. I love it too much and still have a lot to say. I’m just trying to get a handle on this schedule of mine. My plan is to get back on track later this month with my annual May is Mental Health Month post. Thanks to everyone who supports and reads this blog.

Talk to you later.

-S

The leadership comfort zone

Last Saturday, I did something that I’ve never done before: I took an exercise class. I tend to work out at home where I felt I could be as uncoordinated as possible and didn’t have to worry about anyone but my dog.  However, on the invitation of my good friend Taice, I went to a Zumba class in Laurel, MD. I was concerned I wouldn’t be able to keep up. That it was more intense than my fitness level could take. Worse, Taice wanted us to be at the front of the class right behind our instructor Kay. So if you’re keeping score, I’m taking my first ever exercise class where I know one person and I’m standing in the front of a bunch of strangers. Awesome. What did I get myself into? I asked myself. 60 minutes later,  I realized my fears were completely irrational. Not only did I finish the class without collapsing, I felt amazing afterwards. I am officially hooked on Zumba.

Thinking about that experience has helped me in my current situation. You see, my boss of three years resigned from my association.  In a surprising move, I was asked to take on the responsibility of managing the office and staff in the interim. It was a surprise because I’m neither the most senior staffer on our team nor a PhD level psychologist, two of the qualities my former boss possessed when she was promoted. I’m honored that I’m seen as someone capable of taking on this role, but felt a bit unsure of whether I was up for it. The added responsibilities are on top of my heavy workload.  I wondered how my coworkers felt about reporting to me. Questioned how would this affect my schedule as far as family and friends. Can I really do this job?

When it comes to leadership, nothing can prepare us for everything we may experience. Whether we’re taking charge of our careers, our health or our love lives, taking that uncomfortable step out of the comfort zone is how we learn and grow. The moment we shy away from potential opportunities is the moment when we should run head-on towards them. What’s happening now is preparing me for something else, either in my current role or a future opportunity. Regardless of what happens over the next few months, my dear friend Artesha Moore said it best: Hold on and ride the wave!

A Scandalous lesson in social media

I’m a huge fan of the hit ABC drama Scandal starring Kerry Washington. Washington plays Olivia Pope, a person who makes a living “fixing” things whether it’s covering up a liaison in a congressman’s office or throwing a presidential election. With its legions of fans taking to social media daily to discuss all things Scandal, the show decided to embrace the chatter.

Outside of their Facebook page and Twitter feed, the show hosts a live Twitter chat each week (#AskScandal) where fans can talk to some of the stars and producers including Judy Smith, the inspiration for the Olivia Pope character.  There are fan sites with everything from in-depth analysis to blog posts on what Washington wore on the show. All of this energy makes Thursday nights at 10 pm a community event with every little plot twist dissected up to the cliffhanger at the end of each episode. More importantly, it leaves the fans wanting more and more each week.

So what can those of us in the association community take from this? We should learn to embrace social media for our benefit. Provide our members with memorable, exciting experiences. Give them the opportunity to talk to us about what’s really going on in the association community and how we can work together to make it a better place.

What associations can learn from the 2012-2013 NFL season

As we bid a fond farewell to the 2012-2013 NFL season, here are some lessons learned that may provide valuable to those of us in the association community.

1. Never underestimate your young talent

Rookies made a name for themselves this season. Andrew Luck. Robert Griffin III (2013 NFL’s Rookie of the Year). Russell Wilson. Three rookie quarterbacks who led their teams to winning seasons and the playoffs. Let’s not forget Alfred Morris who’s on his way to becoming the next great ‘Skins running back. Associations should also be willing to give their younger staff the ball and take the lead where appropriate. They may exceed your expectations.

2. Mistreat your staff at your own risk

The aforementioned RGIII is currently recuperating from knee surgery due to injuries this season. Much of the blame for this has centered around Skins coach Mike Shanahan and the decision to not pull his quarterback from the playoff game when he was obviously hurt. For a quarterback who is known for his rushing yards as well as his passing, ACL surgery is significant and may affect how RGIII plays from here on out. While association staff typically do not suffer ACL tears on the job (at least I hope not), they do suffer from toxic work environments, office bullies, and unsatisfying work. Continue to ignore this and you will lose valuable staff.

3. Institutional memory still matters

If you’re a Green Bay Packers fan, you’re well aware of the following image

For those who are not sports fans, this was the final play of one of the first Monday Night Football games of the season where one referee called it a touchdown for Seattle while the other called it a touchback for Green Bay.  Ultimately, the game is called for Seattle. The refs, replacements for the officials involved with a labor dispute with the NFL, were vilified for this call and others like it during the first few games of the season. The replacement refs had very limited experience calling NFL games and it showed. In fact, it was this game that was credited with ending the lockout and bringing back the professional refs. The successful association is one that utilizes both new and seasoned talent.  Staff with more than 20 years of experience have the institutional memory that no amount of research can replace.  They can tell you where the bodies are buried and more importantly, how they died.

4. The unexpected will happen. Deal with it.

Super Bowl 47 will be remembered for many things: The Ravens’ dominant first half, Beyoncé’s half time extravaganza, The 49ers’ surge, and a partial power outage in the third quarter. While it cannot be considered the SuperDome’s finest half hour, the power was eventually restored and play continued. What happens when something unexpected happens during your association’s legislative fly in or annual conference? You fix it and move on.

Fake your way to the top

Lance Armstrong admitted he lied about doping during his illustrious cycling career. Manti Te’o is either the victim or the perpetrator of a hoax involving a non-existent girlfriend. Recent media coverage on these popular athletes has forced us all to take another look at what’s real and what’s not. More importantly, we’re getting a first hand look at what some people will do to reach a certain point or take advantage of others. We can ask ourselves why people do the things that they do, but it may not tell the whole story.

We’ve all heard the phrase fake it until you make it. It refers to fitting in until you feel that you are actually in whether it’s a job, a relationship or social status. But how far are we willing to go to get there? Do we even need to get there?  And where is this mystical place called there anyway?

It took me a while to discover who I really was. We all grow up wanting to fit in and be popular, but the reality is we don’t need to fit this ideal mold that only exists our heads. I have this running fear/joke that I will be found out as a fraud as far as Government Relations is concerned. Why? Because for the longest time, I was convinced that since I didn’t take the “typical” career path of a lobbyist or even looked like one, there was no way I could actually be one.

The beauty of maturity is that you realize that faking it until you make it is a lie. The atypical path we all take is proof that we’ve made it. It was meant for me to stay in DC for college and grad school. It was meant for me to be an association lobbyist. It was meant for me to not marry the boyfriend I had in my 20′s. These are not deficiencies. These are my truths. Your truth is that place where you are happiest even when others may not understand. It makes you feel whole, alive and fearless.

Your truth won’t keep you up at night. Being fake will.

Giving Congress a political makeover

Welcome to 2013 where we just witnessed the 113th Congress being sworn in. There’s a lot to celebrate. There are 95 bright-eyed and bushy-tailed freshmen ready to change the world for the better. For the first time ever, we’ll have 20 women serving in the Senate. The House of Representatives is the most diverse we seen in a long time. Perhaps the best thing about the swearing-in of the 113th Congress is that it marks the end of the 112th Congress.

Only 220 bills became law during the 112th Congress (2011-2012) making it the most unproductive since 1948. By sake of comparison, 258 bills became law during the first year of the 111th Congressional session. The approval rating for the 112th Congress was 9% at one point. BP during their oil spill and Paris Hilton have rated higher. This Congress was also considered the most polarized in recent memory. Legislation that typically enjoyed bipartisan support were either voted down or not voted on at all.

In the spirit of a new year and new beginnings, it’s time to give Congress a political makeover. If I controlled Congress, here are some of the things I would do.

1. On day one, every member will be given a dictionary and asked to learn the word compromise. Learn to spell it. Learn to pronounce it. Learn to appreciate it. There will be a quiz.

2. We will bring back that time-honored tradition of socializing with people you don’t know. After 6 pm, you’re not a Democrat or Republican. You’re a person who will carry on a conversation with another person. That person may not agree with many of your views, but you both love Modern Family. Bonding over your commonalities is much more productive in the legislative process.

3. Don’t be a douche. We have way more important matters than whether your staffer put sweet and low instead of stevia in your coffee this morning. In fact, any member with a douchey reputation will have that tagline under their name when featured on CSPAN. Douches will also have their committee assignments taken away. I don’t want someone like you determining whether my program should be fully funded.

4. The colors red and blue will be banned from the House and Senate floors. I love these colors and hate that they are now considered representatives of a person’s political views. What’s wrong with green or neon orange?

In all seriousness, the 113th Congress must get back to legislating or risk repeating the sins of the past. With many of the 112thers carrying over to the 113th, we should all be a little wary. However, I’m hopeful that the debacle that was the fiscal cliff will serve a reminder that a change is long overdue.

Out of Office Message

To: You

From: Me

Re: Out of Office

As of Friday December 21, I will be out of the office for the rest of the year. 2012 has been busy, thrilling, tiring, upsetting and fulfilling all at the same time. Association Advocacy Chick continues to grow slowly, but surely. My iPad toolkit for lobbyists post was republished and circulated widely within the advocacy community. I gave 14 presentations for APA, ASAE, IgniteDC and other organizations. I witnessed some friends reach new heights in their careers while others were unceremoniously laid off. I made new contacts and reconnected with old friends. I faced unexpected challenges that forced me to reexamine, change and improve the quality of my life. And I fell in love

With all this excitement, it’s time to take a break. I want to know what 8 hours of sleep feel like. I want to eat more than one cookie at any given point. I want to go shopping at 1 pm on a Wednesday. I used to refuse to take time off during the holidays because I didn’t want to be away from the office. If I haven’t learned anything else this year, it’s that work is no longer #1 on my list. I love my job, but I love my family, friends and health a lot more.

So during this holiday season where we have witnessed both evil and good, I want to thank you for continuing to support this blog. I love having Association Advocacy Chick as an outlet when I can’t express myself in 140 characters or less. Whether you’re a regular reader or lurked from time to time, thank you for taking the time to read my blog, share my posts and offer a comment. I hope this holiday season brings you all that your heart desires and then some. See you in 2013!

Stefanie

How I stopped leaning on notes and started learning to trust myself

Looking back over 2012, I’ve done a number of presentations spanning from advocacy to  middle children. Whenever I prepare for a presentation, I start by drafting notes. Notes are a great way to organize your thoughts and ensure that you stay on topic. Recently, I was asked to give remarks to student members in town for a visit. As usual, I sat down and sketched out what I wanted to say. When I was done, I had crafted a nice one-pager of bullet points organized by subject matter. And that’s when it hit me.

During the actual presentation, I rarely use my notes. I would either abandon them after the first five minutes or some “technical glitch” would occur preventing me from accessing them. In fact, I’ve spent more time developing notes than actually using them. My notes became my security blanket because I thought I needed them.

Now, does this mean I should stop drafting notes? No. Writing notes is still the best way for me to prepare for a presentation. However, once it’s showtime, I should probably continue to ignore them.

The 4 myths about DELP

One of my passions in life is ASAE’s Diversity Executive Leadership Program otherwise known as DELP.  I’ve talked about DELP a number of times and have featured many of my fellow scholars in my blog posts. However, the program seems to still be a mystery for many people. That mystique has led to some misconceptions. Well, it’s time to clear the air about what DELP is and more importantly, what it’s not.

Myth #1 – DELP scholars are entry-level staffers.

Reality – DELP scholars are mid and senior level professionals. More than a few came into the program as Executive Directors. Many of us have advanced degrees and worked in the association community for more than 10 years. When I was accepted into DELP in 2008, I was Director of Political Advocacy for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, had worked in the association community for 13 years and earned my MA in Government from Johns Hopkins University in 2002. I don’t think anyone would’ve considered me an entry-level staffer.

Myth #2 – DELPers receive a ton of benefits and do nothing in return.

Reality – DELP scholars serve on ASAE boards and committees. We’ve given presentations and conducted workshops for ASAE. We’ve made financial commitments to the ASAE Foundation and APAC. We advocate on Capitol Hill. DELPers are among the hardest working, visible members of the association community.

Myth #3 – The selection process is not competitive.

Reality – Those applying to the program must submit an application which includes a statement of support from your ED or President; a resume; two letters of recommendation and responses to three essay questions. The process is so competitive, many current scholars had to apply multiple times before finally gaining acceptance into the program (myself included).

Myth #4 – DELP Scholars do not get the CAE.

Reality – 45% of DELP scholars have their CAE.

So what should you know about DELP? DELP is an initiative to promote individuals within the association community. DELP scholars are professionals looking to make their mark in this industry. They are intelligent, motivated and successful. They want to set an example for our younger and more seasoned colleagues. They do give back.