Your turn.

I am SO beyond thrilled.  My “How are you going to change the world in 2012?“ meme has already had a TON of responses.

Check some of them out (see links for full posts, which are all worth reading in their entirety!!):

Aaron Wolowiec:

It’s simple: We can do better. Just because organizations can and do offer continuing education and professional development opportunities for their members (vocal lessons), doesn’t mean these learning opportunities are successful at imparting knowledge and information in such a way that ensures retention and transference (a quality singing voice).

“We can do better” means delivering content via innovative design and delivery methods that is unique to the target audience. It means developing an evaluation process that actually measures learning (rather than preferences) both onsite and at a specified period of time following the program. It means engaging speakers and facilitators during the planning process to ensure a learning experience that is dynamic and meaningful. (I could go on, but I think you can hear the passion in my voice.)

Although my work forwarding these and other initiatives related to learning promises to take me beyond the borders of Michigan, I’m committed to making things better here at home, too.

Stefanie Reeves:

A large task indeed.  I mean I’m a small spoke in a very large wheel.  What can I possibly do to change the world?  After giving it some thought, I came up with two rather simple goals.

1. Increase the number of voices that are rarely heard in the association blogosphere. In the 17+ months this blog has been in existence, I’ve learned just how rare it is to see someone who looked like me or do what I do as a regular blogger in the association community.  I want to change that.  If I can influence one new voice in this area, I’ve accomplished my goal.

2. Kick assumptions and stereotypes in the ass.  From Presidential candidates, to hip-hop artists, to the media, I have been pegged as angry, obese, uneducated, over sexed, lonely, and ugly.  In 2012, I’m going to shock, surprise, and outrage those who uphold these stereotypes of black women.  I’m going to challenge what others think I should be reading or listening to or even who I should date.  I’m going to make it downright impossible to place me in a specific box.

Janet Fouts:

I love the chaos theory metaphor called the butterfly effect. The idea is that a small, relatively insignificant act can created marked and sometimes unexpected change. The flap of a butterfly’s wing can cause a hurricane on the other side of the world.

Small business that we are at Tatu Digital Media, we have been fortunate to impact corporations and individuals and show them how to be more effective and efficient in how they do business online. Hopefully the effect of our small efforts can help to change the world in ways we can’t begin to predict.

Stephanie Doute:

 Initially, I just threw off a quick tweet about being more appreciative and giving back to people in need.  But, now that the frenzy of the holidays has calmed down and we are settling back into life as usual, I think it’s important to take some time to make sure that “life as usual” does not mean status quo.

So, since firing off my tweet, I have given a lot of thought to what I mean by giving back to people who are less fortunate.  In reflecting on what 2012 will hold, I’ve come back to two key statements that I have always held to be integral to my personal philosophy.  The first is knowing what I do best and doing it.  The second is that I have always, since I was a young idealistic teenager, believed that I will make a difference in the world one person at a time.

Which brings me to my goal for the year, to give back to people who are less fortunate.   And I don’t mean by writing checks to a charity or two.  I mean, by putting myself out there and spending my time in mentoring, teaching and supporting people who need it.

Jamie Notter:

I am going to change…change. I’m growing weary of the idea that change is hard, and that we resist change, and that change needs to be managed. Those ideas are all logical. They make sense. We have experiences that seem to fit with these ideas. I get it. But like the allure of “best practices,” these ideas are actually holding us back. They are convenient excuses for not stepping up and creating the organziations (and the world) that we need right now. The focus of my consulting in 2012 is going to be on creating change that works. It is going to be with people and groups who are interested in making things happen, solving problems, and moving forward. All of that requires change, but does NOT require fancy change management programs or motivational posters. It requires discipline and clarity and hard work and being human.

Peggy Hoffman:

In 2012, I hope to help associations reinvent the volunteer model. With my intrepid partner, Peter, and a host of very cool peeps (like my fellow ASAE Executive Management Section Council team and good friend Leslie White), my goal is to deconstruct the volunteer model. Then, tapping cool examples from the community-service sector along with innovative ideas coming out of a few associations, we’ll explore lots of options, ideas and possibilities.

We know that volunteers are what make associations unique as organizations and fuel our success. But,  even as we in associations embrace new technologies and – to a more limited degree – new business models, we haven’t addressed the volunteer model. We are still recruiting, developing, managing and rewarding as we did decades ago even though this no longer works. ASAE’s Decision To Volunteer study sent out an alarm in 2008 that we can expect a turnover rate in our most active volunteers of up to 28%.  It’s time to change.

The way I plan on changing the world in 2012?  By amplifying how I help others:

1. gain clarity about what they most care about right now;
2. identify the contribution they most want to make right now, and
3. do what’s necessary to get in action right now.

It’s about identifying the inspiration. Putting in the perspiration. And trying to avoid acting out of desperation.

And you know what?  By making a contribution to what they care most about all of those people will help change their worlds.  And some of them might—just might—end up changing the world.