Message from the Executive Director
We are terrible carpenters. For much of the past decade, we focused on renovating our house at Vantage Point. We tried to modify the standard, tried-and-true ways of involving volunteers. In the process, we failed miserably. When we were acting as carpenters, every renovation failed.
Eventually it became apparent. It was time to look for a new business. How could we engage all the talent we knew was out there? Could we maybe become architects after having failed miserably as carpenters? Could we stop modifying an old structure and begin to plan and create a completely NEW structure?
With those questions in mind, I assembled an outside group of experienced talent “architects” to build with us. If we were going to create a completely new structure, we would require people who understood Vitruvius – the Father of Architecture – who says a good building should satisfy the three principles of firmitas, utilitas, venustas. Wikipedia loosely translates these as:
• Durability - it should stand up robustly and remain in good condition.
• Utility - it should be useful and function well for the people using it.
• Beauty - it should delight people and raise their spirits.
Aha! Maybe that was it…
Firmitas. We had to build a durable structure that involved ALL the people together in significant ways. It would have to stand the test of time and not be dependent on any one person. That meant the Board had to understand the structure; the employees all had to understand the structure. It had to be built for the long term.
Utilitas. The structure had to be about delivering our mission. Everyone who worked in the structure – ALL the people – had to understand their part in making a difference. We had to be doing this work to achieve our purpose. Not to serve employees, not to serve the Board, not even to serve funders. We were all about delivering our mission.
Venustas. The architects all know Vitruvius’ idea of beauty was complex. Meaning literally “found in nature". It is this idea of beauty that really excited us. Could we build a beautiful structure? What if we gave up our “carpenter ideas” and created an organization where everyone worked together and learned from each other?
And so, over this last decade, we have become students of Vitruvius. We questioned and experimented, explored and wondered – IS it natural for ALL the people to work together harmoniously to deliver a mission?
Today, we think so. Through all our failures we’ve ultimately created a new house. We are very proud of it. We truly hope others will move into the neighbourhood and create exciting new homes of their own.
We are betting our future on this. We have burned our carpenter’s apron.
A longer version of this article is available on our blog.
Colleen Kelly
Executive Director—a.k.a. “Chief People Officer”