A final way that emerging sage leaders are helping their favored civic organizations is through finance and fund development expertise. Their assistance includes identifying financial problems and opportunities and ensuring transparency and sound financial practices. In the area of fund development this includes putting “best practice” policies and processes in place, writing grant proposals, soliciting money from donors, and taking calculated risks:
When I first started I spent a lot time trying to understand the organization’s business practices, which were few at that point. Staff were just waiting for the phone to ring to rent the theater, but it wasn’t happening. The biggest challenge was understanding that you can’t make a profit off a 300 seat theater when you’re only charging $20 per ticket. The big questions were, “Should we continue to exist? Are we truly needed?” Once we realized we had to take some risks and bring in bigger shows, we were able to raise the price of tickets and began selling out. We brought in big acts at $50 a ticket and found that many people would buy them.
Reflections
One of the emerging leaders observes that most service clubs in Twin Towns are filled with very senior men and women. He suggests that he brings “youthful energy” to these clubs and new initiatives that can be attractive to the youth population of Grass Valley and Nevada City. However, this young sage leader also offers a balanced perspective when he expresses deep and abiding respect for the wisdom and history being brought to the community and service clubs by senior sage leaders. This balancing suggests a process of reciprocity: youthful energy in exchange for the lessons learned from older sage wisdom: “I just sit there and listen.” He notes rich insights to be gained from the careers of senior sage leaders, insights that seem relevant to the career of this emerging sage. It is not so much the conversations that take place during and after the service club meetings; it is just being in the presence of these wise older leaders and listening to them.
Thoughtful Listening
Emerging sages view themselves as contributing most to their organizations when they take in what is said by everyone present; they then reflect on the experience. While they bring youthful energy to their organizations, most emerging sages try to do so in a calm and deliberative way. Unlike their earlier adult years they no longer leap to a solution but, rather, encourage and appreciate diverse perspectives and alternative answers to complex community problems their organizations are facing.
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