Angel Food...a redemptive task

Angel Food Ministries is a food coop powered by volunteer effort and organizational genius. Founded in 1994 by Joe and Linda Wingo to help some local families in Monroe, Georgia, it has grown from supporting those original 34 families in 1994 to providing a mission-based, volunteer run, 35 state food distribution system to over 500,000 families each month. It's a simple system. Organizations (usually churches) request a certain number of food boxes. The requests are consolidated and shipped in bulk to the requesting organization which does the work of creating individual food boxes for their "customers" who ordered the food. The food is not free, but costs roughly 50% of the average retail grocery price. There are no restrictions on who can purchase the food. The system allows for families to stretch their food buying budget. Angel Food is a ministry...purposed to make it easier for those in need to get the food they need. Many of the boxes are purchased by donors for others who cannot even afford the modest amount.

The divine task is shown in the work of the thousands of volunteers that do the distribution at the end of the line. These people take the orders, prepare a distribution site, meet the semi trailer truck with the palleted food, create individual boxes and in some cases deliver the food to the door of those that need it.

These people are not paid. They are not recruited. They get up early and work hard. As a result, many people get some help...a little relief.

I have observed first hand the distribution process. It is a pure form of an enjoyable task. The volunteers are chatting, smiling, joking and working while performing in a disciplined system. They are enjoying the task. The pay is the joy of the work and that joy is a result of particpating in the mission of doing good.

The leaders of the distribution location I observed are Gary and Marilyn Frazier. Difference makers for sure.

September 11...a special day

Yep, its THE September 11...the 41st anniversary anniversary of the birth of Stephanie. She married our son 20 years ago. She has excelled in marital partnering with Jeff and mothering the three A's. There is no other event on this day that can shock away nor eclipse the impact this fine person has had on the world. Amen to that.

Enjoy the Task by engaging a naturally enjoyable one

Ok, this may be the first official notice of a growing storm of an adventure. Last night, Brad and I spent some dream time on the net looking at maps, blogs, books and possible chase vehicles for our next adventure. You must know that 4 years ago, Brad M., Gary M, and I rode to Alaska on Harley's...even included a muddy 400 mile round trip from Fairbanks to the arctic circle. I must tell you that long trips on paved roads are Harley trips....most very long trips that might include non-paved roads are done on BMW's. We are Harley guys...paved or not.

[a note about the pic in the upper right...I got fooled by my GPS on the first day of the trip into going on a dirt(read 'mud') road south of Dodge City, KS. As you can see, I got bucked off the old girl...no injuries and after a 2 mile hike across muddy wheat fields, a country tow truck experience, some shop time in the Dodge Harley dealer which included some welding and new handle bars....we kept the shiny side up the rest of the way]

Sometime soon, the next trip will extend our Alaska ride of about 5000 miles to a 6500 mile ride almost straight South...as far as you can go. Central US to the tip of South America. Oklahoma City, Kansas City, Chicago (we live at these places) to Tierra del Fuego, Chile, SA. This will be work...hard work, but it's the kind that has so many unknown, once-in-a-lifetime ingredients that the task portion is way subordinated...way, way subbed. The planning is even fun...this is a regular feature of adventure...the anticipation. We are actually riding to Moonshine, Illinois in two weeks to have the official planning retreat. Moonshine, population 2. There is only a single building left in Moonshine...the Moonshine Store. http://www.clarkcountyil.org/Communities/moonshine.htm

The Tuttle's run it. They run the town. They are the only residents of the town. And they make Moonburgers. We intend to eat some and meet about the trip.

We have a few details to nail down like... When do we take this trip? Do we ship the bikes to Tierra del Fuego and ride home or ride South to the tip? [do you have an opinion on this...I'll take your suggestions in to the group] What kind of vehicle should we buy for the chase vehicle? [suggestions welcome here too] We're just getting started...I will keep you posted...literally.

Much more later

Why is 'enjoy the task' the title of this blog?

In 35 years of leading and managing in organizations, I believe the employees who succeeded at any level were those who exhibited the 'enjoy the task' attitude. I have been one of these kind of people much of the time, not all the time. I don't believe these are always the most gifted or prepared people...but they are the ones that make working with a group an enjoyable experience.
This is one thing I know for sure. Leaders (As a reminder, these are the people that decide who goes on to the next level, influence bonus structures, design programs with specific people in mind, create opportunities for growth) like to have never-say-die people around them. Organizational leaders know which employees enable an organization to achieve an internal sense of momentum. They are the ones that are asked to do the things on the edge...exploratory, experimental, risk laden projects.
For the sake of the obvious contrast, there are always a percentage of employees who are critical of the leadership, resist opportunities to show creativity, give the appearance of doing just enough to stay out of the doghouse, complain that they are not appreciated (because often they really aren't, small wonder), and seem to genuinely miss the observation that those they envy and criticise have a different outlook.
Here's my question. Is it possible for a person to become one characterized by the 'enjoy the task' attitude if they aren't naturally that way?