Page 12 - Voices-2021-05

PJ’s PERSPECTIVE
Rise to the Challenge
PJ Kleffner, DTM - District Director
Did you rise to the challenge and attend the
District 7 Annual Conference May 13-15? If not,
you missed some fabulous keynote speeches by
Past International President Jana Barnhill on
Friday night, and current International President
Richard Peck on Saturday morning.
Both speakers strongly reinforced our
conference theme, Rise to the Challenge,
by relating stories of how challenges bring
opportunities. Jana gave us many specific
examples of how stepping up to challenges
resulted in learning new leadership skills. The
title of Richard’s presentation was Change your
view, change your outcome. He spoke about
perspective, and how you can view challenges
as obstacles or opportunities – your choice.
On reflection, two things that motivate me
to rise to the challenge of leadership roles are
simply seeing something that needs to be done,
and the satisfaction of helping others learn and
grow. I spent many years of my career teaching
and motivating others. I always found it very
rewarding to see “the light come on” when they
got it. Of course, the student often becomes the
teacher, and I learned much from others along
the way.
My first memorable foray into leadership
happened when I was five years old and in
kindergarten. There may have been other
examples, but this one was memorable because I
got into trouble. I lived seven blocks from school,
12 ONE COMMUNITY
and walked there without adult supervision every
day—rain or shine. While some may consider
that child neglect in this day and age, it was
perfectly acceptable back in the 1950s. It wasn’t
the proverbial five miles, through the snow, uphill
both ways. It was actually slightly downhill most
of the way going and uphill returning.
It was five blocks to the school crossing on
the only busy street on the route, then another
two blocks to school. We were instructed to obey
the school crossing guards and cross only when
they determined that it was safe to do so. One
morning I arrived to find two girls that were in
my class waiting—no crossing guards in sight.
We waited until I said, “We need to go, or we’re
going to be late for school.” They protested, but
followed me when I looked both ways—twice
—and determined that it was safe to cross.
As we approached the school, we encountered
the two crossing guards who were casually
sauntering toward the school crossing. The
crossing guards were actually just older students,
who were so smug wearing their brightly colored
safety vests, badges (Yes, they had badges!), and
carrying their flags to stop traffic. They reported
us, so we were called to the Principal’s office. The
two girls started crying as the Principal lectured
us about following rules, but I became indignant
and explained that I knew how to safely cross
the street and made the decision to proceed
rather than be late for school. He suddenly had