Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing Full of Praise; Questions

The Senate Armed Services Committee convened today to consider the nomination of two very important military officials--the next Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Admiral Mike Mullen (USN) and General James Cartwright (USMC) were present as the nominees for chairman and vice-chairman, respectively. Heaps of well-deserved praise were given to each officer for long and distinguished military careers; their families were also commended for their contributions. Both men answered questions about the future of our nation's military in Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, and elsewhere.

From a leadership standpoint...
-Senator Carl Levin, democratic chairman of the committee, and Senator John Warner, ranking minority member (filling in for Senator John McCain), did a terrific job of guiding discussion and keeping an atmosphere largely free of accusatory and derogatory rhetoric, despite the difficulties both men will face in their new positions.
-Some of the youngest senators on the committee provided the most well-presented, thoughtful questioning of the morning--Senators Clare McCaskill (D, MO), Jim Webb (D, VA) and Mel Martinez (R, FL) brought up the tough questions that both candidates will have to face in their new positions. McCaskill delivered a poignant campaign on military accountability for civilian contractors--including a plea for answers about a young Missourian contractor kidnapped in Iraq last year; Webb discussed extending the forced retirement of military officers who previously served as enlisted to beyond 30 years; and Martinez brought up provisions to bring back the Navy's nuclear aircraft carriers--and with them, enhanced business and regional credibility--to Mayport Naval Base in Florida.

One of the quietly telling aspects of the meeting came when Senator Levin remarked about the presence of 13 senators in attendance at one point during the meeting, "It appears we have a quorum, so I would like to take this opportunity to approve 1,875 military nominations that have accumulated since our last quorum." The statement was met with a surprised murmur from the crowd--apparently attendance at Senate committees has been lacking lately.

See more details on today's commitee hearing on:
MSNBC
CNN
FOXNEWS

Becoming President of the United States

Just for the fun of it, I Google searched "how to become president of the United States." I figure that with the Internet and search engines making it so easy to learn a new trade, why not try the top one in the land?

The top search result was a coy 10-step procedure on exactly how to become the Commander-in-Chief from eHow.com. It makes it look so easy that anyone could do it.

Some of the most important leadership lessons of our time can be learned from a study of the presidency. Fred Greenstein has written extensively on this, and his "Qualities that Bear on Presidential Performance" are also qualities that bear on the rest of us as we are called to lead in our schools, communities, and world:

-Effectiveness as a public communicator: be able to talk to your people, and more important--keep the respect so that they will listen.
-Organizational capacity: surround yourself with the best.
-Political skill: know the inning and the score--put your team in the best position to succeed.
-Vision: see our last post.
-Cognitive style: know the job to steer the ship as best you can.
-Emotional intelligence: provide the motivation for your team to move forward, but keep a level head when problems arise.

For more insights into the presidency, check out an outstanding research group in Washington DC-- the Center for the Study of the Presidency.

“The most pathetic person in the world is someone who has sight, but has no vision.”--Hellen Keller

What do people like Sam Walton, Bill Gates, Dwight Eisenhower, Clara Barton, Vince Lombardi, Steven Spielberg, and Abraham Lincoln have in common with you?

They all have a vision.

John F. Kennedy said, "our problems are manmade. Therefore, they can be solved by man." When you wake up in the morning, you're probably not thinking very much past getting out of bed and going through your daily routine. Maybe you've got a big project due, a long workout ahead, or a rough day coping with a loss. Above it all though, remember one important thing: don't let your vision down.

Jonathan Swift defines it for us: "Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others." No matter what your field is--medicine, farming, sports, business, government--you and the people who count on you will benefit from your strong vision. And it's as simple as saying, "I am going to eat healthy." That is a vision. Your plan to implement it might differ, but it's a vision nonetheless. Another vision might be, "I am going to cure disease X." No matter how far-fetched your vision is, pursue it. The world needs you to help keep it alive.

If we all develop our visions today, America will be in great shape as the leaders of the next generation take charge. We're going to need courage, we're going to need intellect, we're going to need compassion, and we're even going to need a little bit of cunning to lead America in the years ahead.

But when we realize that we must learn from the mistakes of the past; when we work for a better world; when we each take a stand for one another and lead together--

America will be seeing 20/20 in the 21st Century.

Outside the Box?

Don't limit yourself! Whether you think you're a leader, or not, open yourself up to new ways of thinking. Maybe it's overused, but try thinking "outside of the box." Here's the latest example:

-Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon talks to felon-turned-radio host-turned-police commissioner about how to cut crime.

We'll bring these to you periodically. If you have any stories or links about people "thinking outside the box," we'd love to post them here! Just share them with us.

Hawaii!

The spotlight's on Hawaii Community College in Hilo, Hawaii. Their student government is among the most active in the state, and certainly one of the most fun. Visit their website--http://hawaii.hawaii.edu/studentgov/--to learn more about them, but here are a few of the highlights below:

The Objective of Student Government is:

* To stimulate students to engage in purposeful curricular, cocurricular, and extracurricular activities.
* To promote and promulgate good will.
* To make positive contributions to the college and to the community at-large.

How Can Student Government help you?

* Assist with student concerns relating to issues/concern of College, College System, Community
* Support activites which enhances the learning experience
* Promote personal development and citizenship
* Provide seed money to support RISO activities
* Facilitate communication with student, faculty, staff, administration, and the community
* Provide a student voice in the UH system through Student Caucus Activities

Not your typical student government, HCCSG is made up of some working adults with families, too. Go check them out at http://hawaii.hawaii.edu/studentgov/!

John F. Kennedy Missile Crisis

The fallout of President Kennedy's decisions during the Cuban Missile Crisis have been lauded for decades as the pinnacle of presidential leadership--though for Kennedy, those thirteen days in October seemed anything but.

Pressured by the majority of his advisors--including Generals Maxwell Taylor, Curtis LeMay, and National Security Advisor McGeorge Bundy--to use airstrikes and a full-scale invasion of Cuba, President Kennedy kept a level head at the brink of nuclear war to suggest a "quarantine"--a move that his top advisors saw as "appeasement" and following the shortcomings of his father's efforts at the Munich Agreement.

After the institution of the quarantine, and through some tough diplomatic actions, the Soviet Union agreed to take its missiles out of Cuba in exchange for the US removal of missiles in Turkey.

We now know that if President Kennedy had not been a strong leader and had given in to the invasion group, the Soviet Union was prepared to use strategic and tactical nuclear missiles in Cuba's defense. Few presidential actions have ever had such profound impact.

What can we learn?
-Stand up for what you know is right. Even in the face of incredible odds, you never know who is counting on you to make that decision.
-Don't let pressure control your decision-making. Always keep a level head, no matter how harrowing the situation gets.

"The cost of freedom is always high--but Americans have always paid it. And one path we shall never choose--and that is the path of surrender and submission."

What is leadership?

That is the question of our time.

You weigh in, and tell us--comment on this post with a narrative on what you think leadership is. What does leadership mean, and what is it that separates a good leader from a bad one?

If you leave us a comment, you may see your name and face on the big screen, as we'll use you in our inaugural video on YouTube and MySpace. More details to follow...

Shout Outs!

Big shout outs are in order for the Universities of Minnesota and Michigan State, whose "Student Life" and "Student Union & Activities" pages include sections on Leadership Development--awesome tools for students to take charge of their futures. You can check out their websites:

Michigan State University

University of Minnesota

Got pride? Comment on this post with a link to your own school's leadership site to show it to the world! The ALO will help all universities implement new and exciting leadership opportunities for students--we need your input!

Are you from Michigan State or Minnesota? Comment and tell us how leadership development has impacted your life.

Keep coming back for updates!

Thanks for visiting us again! Keep coming back periodically as we add more content, deliver our actual website to you, and start to list all of the conferences, departments, and leadership entities in the United States. Look for your organization to be on the "spotlight" as we go forward.

THE MISSION

To unify the collegiate students of these United States in order that we may grow in voice, leadership, and moral courage. We firmly believe in ourselves and in our collective strength--our universities will be emboldened when we develop true collegiate interdependency, and our educations will be stronger when we each take a stand for one another. As the future leaders of these United States, we are ensuring that this country possesses the kind of leadership that will take it boldly through the coming generations. We are leaders who choose to lead and learn from each other.

We hope that you'll be a part of this mission--essential to the growth and success of our nation and one of the greatest student movements in history!

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows the great enthusiams, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.
-Theodore Roosevelt

Thought of the day? Get involved! Go out and volunteer for a charity, campaign, or other effort aimed at improving the lives of others. And then relish in the fact that you have made an immensely powerful and positive contribution to American society.

Facebook!

The ALO now has its own fledgling group on Facebook called "The American Leaders Organization." Go there to sound off on our message board, meet the people from across the United States who are interested in the organization, and give us your ideas. Remember, you determine the future of this organization--so let's make it as prolific as we can!

Here is the link: http://usna.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2610005778

Ronald Reagan-

Our first tribute to leadership--Ronald Reagan in West Germany and his famous "tear down this wall" speech.

Hello, America!

Hey there, world! The American Leaders Organization is proud to post to its first blog tonight! Look forward to hard work coming from our end here within the coming weeks, months, and years as we establish the first and largest interactive leadership network in the world!

"We need men who can dream of things that never were." --President John Fitzgerald Kennedy