by President & CEO, Kris Valerio Shock

Let's show some love for Leadership

“It is not the critic who counts; not the (one) who points out how the strong (one) stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the (one) who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends (themself) in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if (they fail), at least (they fail) while daring greatly, so that (their) place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”    ― Theodore Roosevelt

Leadership, like the bleak month of February, can be tough. Leadership can be lonely and thankless and critics can appear at every turn. The LAA community provides support and inspiration to help community leaders persevere for a worthy cause. This cold and dreary month of February, we invite the LAA community to lean into LOVE for Leadership. 

Here are just a handful of ways to #showyourlove:

1. Call a LAA colleague and check-in: Whether you are in the current Flagship or NLA classes, you graduated from the first Flagship Class in 1994, or you graduated anywhere in between, take a moment to reach out to one of your classmates and check-in. How have they fared in the last couple of years of pandemic? Are there initiatives you or we can amplify to help them in the coming year? A moment of connection will go a long way to warming up the weeks ahead. Click here to find your colleagues in the LAA Online Community.

2. Update your profile at leadershipaa.org: Did you know there's whole online community available to LAA graduates? Why not take a moment to take your place among fellow graduates - update your contact information, upload a photo, connect your social accounts and add volunteer activities and other additional information to your profile. Need help navigating the online resource? Join us for LAA101 or contact us today to make the most of the online community.

3. Like and share with us on Social: Have you liked us on Facebook? Do you follow us on Twitter? Are you with us on LinkedIn, Instagram or YouTube? You certainly don't have to be everywhere we are, but if you find yourself on any of these social platforms, be sure to connect with us there and take a moment to #showyourlove for #community #leaders making a difference in Anne Arundel County. 

4. Upgrade to Annual or Lifetime Membership: LAA Membership supports Anne Arundel County's Leadership ecosystem - funding the NLA program to inspire, develop and connect our grassroots leaders, expanding Alumni Development events and creating new and innovative ways to serve our community leaders. If you are a graduate but not yet a member, you can upgrade to Annual Membership for less than $10/ month. Already a member? Never think of renewal again with an investment in Lifetime Membership. Click here to explore all of the options.

5. Make a Donation: Already with us for life? Consider making a tax deductible donation of any amount to the General Fund or the Flagship Scholarship Fund to enable more emerging leaders in Anne Arundel County to participate in upcoming Flagship and Neighborhood Leadership Academy classes! Click here for more information and to donate today.

Do you have other ideas for how to #showyourlove for Leadership this month? Share them in the comments below.

One thing is certain - leaders need other leaders to inspire us, support us and cheer us on to dare greatly in the arena! That's what LAA is all about! #inspire #develop #connect #uncommonaccess #uncommonconnections