Scanlon July 2006 E-zine

Greetings!

The 2006 Best Practices books are at the printer and will be shipped to members by the end of July. If you haven't received your copies by then please contact the office. More details are explained below. This month's featured member company is Ferro Corp., the featured member benefit is our consulting services. Dr. Frost has taught us that everyone should be 'descript' - a word he created to mean the opposite of nondescript. In that spirit we tell the story of Majel Maes (our Director of Programming) and her adoption of two incredible servant leader brothers from Poland. We also update you on the progress of the E.P.I.C. Leadership book, and relate the story of Thomson-Shore's invigorating Scanlon 101 program.


Majel Maes Adopts Two Polish Children
“We have had to go through a lot to bring these boys home and the process isn’t finished yet. The time spent is well worth it and we will be so proud to call Dawid and Pawel our sons,” said Majel Maes, Director of Programs and Administration, Scanlon Leadership Network.

Majel and her husband, Chris could not pass up the opportunity of giving Dawid (age 8) and Pawel (age 13), two brothers from Poland, a home.

We have been wanting to adopt from Poland for several years. When we were referred to these boys, initially we weren't sure we wanted to tackle the inherent risks in adopting older children, however when we heard their story we knew these were the ones for us,” explained Majel.

The boys and their two sisters had been in the orphanage for four years and when legal bonds with their parents were finally terminated they were eligible for international adoption. Since it seemed nearly impossible to find a family to adopt all four children the courts agreed to split them up into sibling pairs of boy-boy and girl-girl. The courts also required that one pair was not allowed to be adopted out unless the other had a family in line for an adoption from the same country.

Everything seemed to be working out for the children when a family from Maryland stepped up to adopt the girls and another family from Pennsylvania agreed to adopt the boys. The adoption was almost complete when the boys’ family pulled out of the process due to marriage complications. This is when the two brothers made a selfless act and insisted that their sisters be able to start new lives, although it meant leaving them behind not knowing when or if they would find another family of their own.

“Can you imagine making that decision at any age, much less as such young children?” said Majel. “This spoke volumes to us about their character. It seems to us to be the core of servant leadership – clearing the way for others to achieve their goals because they feel it's the right thing to do."

Majel and Chris will be spending several weeks in Poland this summer to complete their adoption process.

The Scanlon Leadership Network congratulates Majel and her family on their adoption and welcomes Dawid and Pawel to their new home in America!



Scanlon Foundation E.P.I.C. Book On Track
To introduce Scanlon to new generations of business leaders, the Scanlon Foundation is developing the first Scanlon anthology in almost 50 years. Contributions for the book have been received from Max Dupree, former CEO/Chairman of Herman Miller Corporation, Dick Ruch, former Chairman of the Board and CEO of Herman Miller, and first Scanlon Stewardsip Award Recipient, Randy Pendington, CEO, Pennington Group, Praveen Gupta, Six Sigma author, Accelper, and Scanlon consultants Dr. Peter Scontrino, and Dr. Dow Scott.

“This is a major project of the foundation and it is looking very good so far,” said Paul Davis, President, Scanlon Leadership Network. "We have already received manuscripts from leading authors and consultants and we have promises from others that are arriving daily. We are very pleased that Warren Bennis has agreed to write the Forward."

The new book is designed to help business leaders find a better way to lead. It will combine articles on Scanlon theorists like Dr. Douglas McGregor as well as cutting-edge contributions from current practitioners and authors.

Permission has been obtained to include historical material from places such as MIT and people like Dr. Carl Frost.

Paul Davis and Larry C. Spears, CEO, Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership are acting as co-editors of the book. Spears is taking a sabbatical beginning July 1 to devote time to editing the book.

“We hope to have the book completed by this Fall,” said Paul Davis. “Once the book is drafted a publisher will be sought. We anticipate we will be able to find a major publisher."


Get To Know A Scanlon Service-Consulting & Training
The Scanlon Leadership Network's Consulting Services provides prescreened, industry leading consultants and trainers who understand how to create high performance organizations the Scanlon way.

The Network was able to call on this resource when member Bradford Company contacted the Network office looking for help with financial literacy training for their organization. The Network immediately referred Bradford to Don Barkman.

Don, who is President of The Business Center in Oak Ridge, TN has worked with the Scanlon Leadership Network for 9 years. He has worked with a variety of Scanlon member companies from assisting in creating Scanlon Plans and speaking at Scanlon conferences to holding individual workshops for member organizations.

Don recently conducted his BIZ WIZ® training program Bradford Company in Holland, Michigan. BIZ WIZ® is basic business information for anyone without a business degree. While reinforcing the Scanlon Principle of Identity, employees gain a better understanding of the financial operation of their organization and the business system behind it. BIZ WIZ ® explains a firm’s income statement, balance sheet, financial measures and mechanisms for managing its capital and expenses.

“Don Barkman did a wonderful job. He balanced out conceptual ideas on how to run a business while giving our organization an opportunity to discuss specific company situations,” said Paul Anema, Director of Human Resources, Bradford Company. “The BIZ WIZ® program mirrored Scanlon Principles and was a creative adult learning atmosphere. It involved a lot of participation and critical thinking. Participants enjoyed what the program offered and it was a fun time for everyone.”

The BIZ WIZ® program involves pre reading materials that prepare the participants for the activities, group discussion and the BIZ WIZ® Simulation game. Don can customize the program and offers a “train the trainer” program. This trains internal employees in the BIZ WIZ® program allowing them to conduct the program using Business Center materials.

“The training is valuable for all levels of organizations. Bradford employee participants were all very receptive and satisfied with Don’s program and instruction. They found everything from the preparation to the Simulation game to be rewarding.” said Anema. “The program feedback evaluation forms were some of the most positive I have ever seen in my twenty years of work experience.”

Bradford was able to accomplish the training with assistance from their local government. “Bradford Company wants to thank Ottawa County Michigan Works! Agency for supplying a grant that covered 50% of the BIZ WIZ® program costs,” said Anema.

Consulting and Training Services are available for all. Organizations need not be a member of the Network. To learn more about services like Biz-Wiz or to discuss other Consulting and Training Services please contact the Network Office.



Get To Know A Member-Ferro Corporation
Ferro Corporation, located in Washington, PA has been a member of the Scanlon Leadership Network for 19 years implementing their UNITE, (Using New Ideas to Excel), Scanlon Plan.

“The UNITE Scanlon Plan has enabled employees to gain a sense of identity with the business, customers and corporate objectives the Washington site is subject to. If objectives are met employees are also able to share in the rewards, which encourages their participation,” said Jay Fidler, Washington Site Manufacturing Manager, Ferro Corporation, and UNITE Plan Coordinator.

“I have learned that employees appreciate having a Scanlon Plan in place because it gives them a sense of belonging. They have realized that their work, regardless of duties or pay scale, does have an impact on the success of Ferro,” said Fidler.

The Ferro Washington Site is a Color and Glass Performance Materials Site. Ferro manufactures and markets an extensive variety of glass coating products for the automotive, architectural and container glass industries. It is the worldwide leader ad supplier of ceramic and lead-free enamels and conductive paste for the automotive industry plus lead-free enamels for architectural spandrels.


For the container industry, Ferro markets a broad range of leaded and lead-free colorants, which can be applied in the glass or on the surface of the glass. Its CerMark business markets high-performance laser marking materials for permanent bonded marks on myriad aircraft, automotive and industrial parts and products.
To learn more about Ferro...



Best Practices Program Benefitting Members For 10 Years
The Best Practices Program is based on Joe Scanlon's idea that together we can achieve the impossible. This year marks the tenth year the program has been existence. To celebrate the Network has commissioned a professonally designed CD that includes all the best ideas. Members will find the 2006 book and CD in their mailboxes in July.

This Best Practice Program helps members of the Scanlon Leadership Network continually develop by sharing great ideas among the members. It also provides a way to recognize employees for generating innovative ideas.

All submitted practices are published, with the “best of the best” receiving gold, silver or bronze recognition.

Majel Maes has put a great deal of time and effort into ensuring that the last 10 year’s of Best Practices publications are in good shape and ready for distribution to members. All PDF files are fully searchable, and each individual submission is bookmarked for easy reference and access. In addition, the entire collection of archived Gold Medal best practices will be highlighted, with direct links to the files.


Members can also obtain previous Best Practices books from the Scanlon Web site or from the Scanlon Leadership Network office.
To learn more about the Best Practices Program...


Scanlon 101 At Thomson-Shore Inc
Four Thomson-Shore employees provided 223 of their coworkers a better understanding of the Scanlon Network and how the Scanlon Principles apply to their company through a program called Scanlon 101.

“After more than 24 years of Scanlon training even I can still be taught. Every bit of the Scanlon 101 training was well worth it,” said Myron Marsh, President/CEO, Thomson-Shore Inc. “I am proud of those who organized this program as well as those who took the time to participate. It’s nice to be able to witness employee growth and value to Thomson- Shore.”

Bobbie Barto, Manufacturing, Laurie Schiller, Customer Service Representative, Matt Swank, Buyer, and Jamie Bondie, Manufacturing of Thomson- Shore Inc in Dexter, Michigan coordinated six, two- hour sessions that consisted of a variety of informative presentations, the Scanlon EPIC Survey and activities.

“The participants were very receptive to the Scanlon 101 Program. They enjoyed interacting with other Thomson-Shore employees they don’t normally see on a daily basis. They also appreciated that the four of us who were running the program were average employees just like them,” said Barto.

By using mentors like Myron Marsh and Carl Trisdale, Thomson-Shore Scanlon Coordinator, the four program coordinators were able to design valuable sessions with key objectives, roles and messages to be delivered.

At the end of the session an informal feedback session was held. The Scanlon EPIC Survey was also given as a post test and the results will be used later this year in goal setting.

Scanlon 101 Coordinator, Laurie Schiller was enthusiastic about the Scanlon awareness the program created at Thomson-Shore. “We are a Scanlon company. If employees do not understand Scanlon they can not recognize what it has done for this company.”

“In the future Thomson-Shore Inc hopes to continue the Scanlon 101 program in some form,” explained Swank. “One possibility is gearing Scanlon 101 toward new employees several months into their job. Another is surveying employees to see if the Scanlon information they learned is still fresh in their minds.”


Network members who would like to develop their own Scanlon 101 program can obtain support materials from the member-only area of the web site. The Network office will help customize the program to meet their needs.
To learn more about Thomson-Shore