Lasting Impression Teams - We exist to create a welcoming experience thru serving with excellence

Posted in: on Wednesday, April 30, 2008 at at 12:50 PM 1 comments  

On Sunday I was reminded that LIT touches lives and how many times we don't realize that we do. I had walked over to the church office to leave something in Brian's office. However, it was locked. A few doors down, a friendly voiced called out asking if I needed help. I walked down to an office that was painted in team colors - I want to say the Bears, but I am not totally sure. I explained that I was trying to leave something for Brian that a family dropped off to help with the Uganda mission trip. This person said he would take it and make sure Brian got it. I was a few feet down the hall when the voice called out again - "You're Alex, right"? I backed up and stuck my head back in and said yes; he went on to say how great he thought LIT was. I agreed that I do work with a wonderful group of people, thanked him and went on my way.
Later, I made a point to ask Rod who it was that I had encountered and to pass along the positive feedback about the team.
Sunday night as I was working on some Summit stuff, I got to thinking about my earlier interaction and how LIT touches lives and we may never know that we did. I like to tell my receptionists where I work that they are "always on stage". Meaning that they are being watched by the patients sitting in our lobby and should always maintain a positive and professional demeanor. That also applies to myself, and how I represent LIT, as well as all of LIT. Whether we are serving or not, we represent the team at all times and should conduct ourselves as such no matter what.
Turns out, I was interacting with Todd Tolson who about 8 years ago oversaw our middle school ministry. He had been working in different states and different churches, but has now moved back to San Diego. His current duties cover college and other pastoral care directly connected to Mike Burns.
Thank you Todd for the positive feedback about the great bunch of people I have the privilege of serving with, but more so - thank you for the reminder that I am always serving an audience - even if it's only an audience of One!

Posted in: on Monday, April 28, 2008 at at 10:42 AM 0 comments  

LIT leaders gave up their Saturday morning yesterday to brainstorm on team purpose, mission and vision statements. We started with breakfast - how else do you think I could get everyone together so early on a Saturday morning?!?



After a better understanding of the differences between a mission, vision and purpose statement, we got to spend some time working through an exercise to come up with a few key phrases that stood out to us.

Each leader was then given the opportunity to share his or her key words and phrases with the team. The team then talked through the phrase seeking the best way to say what the team's vision was. It was amazing to see each team's indivduality shine through while still maintaining a common theme since we are all parts of a larger unit.
Individual Team leaders will now meet with key team members over the next few weeks to do some more brainstorming, working together towards a collaborative end project. The teams intend to use the future purpose, mission and vision statements in brochures as a recruiting tool for future team members.

Posted in: on Sunday, April 27, 2008 at at 7:29 PM 2 comments  

Many years ago, I can recall asking my brother what was so exciting about watching a bunch of cars drive around in a circle for hours. He said he couldn't explain it, you had to experience it in order to understand.
About 2 years ago, my husband and I started watching Nascar on TV. Good friends of ours went to Phoenix twice a year for the races and had been encouraging us to check it out. What can you say about a sport on national TV that prays before each race, and doesn't race on Mother's Day or Easter? There was even a driver involved in Pug Rescue, so he became "my driver".
Last year we started talking about renting a motor home and joining our friends in the April '08 race in Phoenix. I do have to admit that I have never seen a complete race on TV, I watch the beginning, check back about half way and watch the last 20 laps or so. (The hockey fan in me likes to watch the wrecks!) So, an entire weekend of racing was a HUGE step for me. We bought tickets, but missed out on the RV spots. As an alternative we were going to stay with family and drive home from the race each night.
Last week, Ken was able to find an RV spot on eBay. We were in! I was so excited about staying at the event and taking in the whole event without wearing myself out, I started making a list of what I needed to pack on the back of one of the inserts during Ed's message last Friday. (sorry Ed - God was in the details of the camping/Nascar experience!)
The day before we left, Ken called at work with bad news. Remember the pug driver? Well, he lost his ride. I missed the chance to meet him by one race. Now I had just days to find a new favorite driver. Do I choose based on stats? Popularity? No, I have a much more scientific method - my anniversary date is 9/29, so I checked out those 2 drivers, but settled on #99 - Carl Edwards. Whenever he wins a race, he does a back flip off of the car.
Now I need to back up. In January I went to Napa for a girls weekend. One of the wineries that we toured sponsors a car in the Nascar West series (sort of like AAA ball) I asked if I could have my picture next to the car and the tour guide said I could climb in. I dropped my purse and my jacket and gave my girlfriend my glass to hold and I was in!



We arrived Thursday afternoon after an uneventful ride from San Diego and a slightly less than pleasant rental experience from the RV place. (They need some work on their customer service) After settling into our spot and meeting our neighbors we went to walk around. Walking around the merchandise trailers, I have never seen so many tattoo covered, beer drinking, chain smoking group of people - who were the nicest, friendliest group I have ever been around at a sporting event!
That night, I find out that instead of the trucks racing, the Nascar West series would be. I was so excited and surprised - I actually "knew" one of the drivers - after all I got to sit in his car.
Ken has been like a kid in a candy store all weekend - collecting autographs and free give-a-ways.
I have no idea what any of this blog has to do with leadership, but I had such a wonderful time, I wanted to share it. The noise and the adrenaline is indescribable. We are making plans to return again - maybe for November, but definitely April '09.
PS - I still haven't been able to sit through the entire race - even live.
PSS - Check out my Flickr account in the next few days. I'll have downloaded all the photos from the weekend.

Posted in: on Sunday, April 13, 2008 at at 7:23 PM  

This weekend Ed talked about how God prune's our lives to encourage/increase growth and to eliminate the not so good stuff in our lives. I don't know about you, but when I am being pruned I never see it until I am thru that season in my life. Only then, can I look back and see what God was doing. I find it much easier to recognize it in other peoples lives than in my own.
I have a new coworker who is in something like a pruning season. In the 4 weeks she's been here, she's been involved in a car accident, been late to work 3 times and gotten 2 parking tickets. She believes this isn't the place for her because she has had such a string of bad luck. I have been trying to tell her that when stuff like this happens, it's a lesson not a punishment. After hearing Ed's message, I can better explain this season in her life. I hope she decides to stick it out, because I know she can make such a positive difference here.

Posted in: on Monday, April 7, 2008 at at 12:39 PM 1 comments  

Posted in: on Friday, April 4, 2008 at at 12:57 PM 1 comments