Complete Story
Choose to Commit!
by Edward A. Colozzi
The President�s new initiative, EACH ONE REACH ONE, is an initiative that will make a difference throughout our association because it is rooted in the power of one to make a difference. It does speak to the very essence of our interactions with clients and expresses a relational value that we hold close to our hearts; that each person is here for a reason and capable of making important contributions to our world and that our counseling with them facilitates this process.
The key to this initiative is to commit to logging onto NCDA's EACH ONE REACH ONE web page to view the multiple �each reach� options that are easy and enjoyable to accomplish. An alternative is to call NCDA at 1-888-367-3262 and speak to a staff member who will facilitate your choice by e-mailing or faxing you a list of �each reach� options to consider. This is a way to commit to our President, Spencer Niles, and our association to do ONE of the many options. Then, you have plenty of time to accomplish your commitment!
When you accomplish your commitment, simply log on or call NCDA to register your commitment so NCDA President Spencer Niles is able to provide a summary of all that was accomplished during 2003-2004. This is all about the power of one to make a difference that is felt throughout our association.
We did not get to be the premier association of practitioners and scholars that advances the implementation and quality of career services overnight. NCDA today is the result of many, many wonderful ordinary people for ninety years doing some extraordinary work with passion and commitment. Some of them, a few, have become our heroes, the �brain trust,� the senior scholars who are the visible eminent colleagues we have come to know over time.
The rest of these wonderful people are mostly unknown, quite ordinary folks doing extra-ordinary tasks with the hearts and minds of their clients. They are the people who provide services in our schools and colleges, agencies, private practices and a variety of corporate and non-corporate settings. They are the people you may see attending an annual conference, sometimes gathering together in groups, and sometimes just sitting alone at lunch or during a break, reflecting on a past program. All these people are important treasures and resources to NCDA.
There are some NCDA members who are the usual talkers and networkers. These folks pretty much mix in well anywhere and are used to speaking to friends and strangers alike. Then there are the quieter, more introverted members who are not as likely to network and mix in spontaneously as their extroverted colleagues. While they prefer more reflective and alone activities in general, they also enjoy that connection, that special bonding those extroverts just seem to soak up every day.
So how can we further ignite and activate this great resource, this pool of ordinary people who do extraordinary tasks with their clients? How can we learn more from those introverts who may be a bit shy and reserved about sharing their ideas through a program at an annual conference? How can we better utilize the energy of extroversion of some NCDA members to reach out to others, e.g., new members and graduate students, and involve them in collaboration, mentoring, presenting a program, joining a committee, even approaching a stranger at the conference and inviting her/him to lunch!
The power of reaching out is what �EACH ONE REACH ONE� is all about. There will be many options that suit varied personality types. You are welcome to come up with your own �reach� ideas that you feel will contribute to NCDA and increase a collaborative spirit throughout this wonderful association.
But it does require YOU and your willingness to commit to participate by logging on today, this week, as soon as you can, reviewing the many �each reach� options available and selecting ONE to accomplish. It really is as easy as it sounds; A) Log in or call, B) Commit to participate, C) Accomplish your �each reach� option, and D) Log in your accomplishment! That commitment from you will make a great difference for this association, and you will see and hear about the results in less than one year!
More important, imagine if each of our over four thousand members chooses to commit to ONE option from among the many �each reach� options. Imagine the collective �reach� throughout and beyond our membership. I encourage each of you to choose to commit! Log on the Each One Reach One web page right now!
If you have any questions or ideas for new �each reach� options, please feel free to contact me. Ed Colozzi, Membership Committee Chair.
Edward A. Colozzi, Ed.D.
Career Development and Counseling Services
165 Washington Street
Winchester, MA 01890
(781) 721-1200
Email: edlinda@world.std.com
