Day of Service: A Day to Make a Difference

Posted by Deborah Chaddock Brown on January 19, 2009 under Connecting Moments | Be the First to Comment

Today is the day we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.   Our soon-to-be-President Barack Obama has coined it a Day of Service – a day to give back within our community.

I remember years ago sitting in a marketing meeting for Pearle Vision – it was in the late 80s and we had over 1400 locations.  A disagreement was taking place over how to spend marketing dollars.  As a relatively new regional manager I asked a “silly” question – or at least that was how it was perceived:

“If each of the stores used their percentage of the marketing budget purchasing advertising within a three mile radius – wouldn’t that have the same effect if not better, as if we spent the money on television or radio nationwide?”

My idea was viewed as silly for of course you shouldn’t do anything unless you can do it on the grand scale.  However, that is totally opposite of what Obama is asking of us.  He says:

We need your service, right now, in this moment – our moment – in history. I’m not going to tell you what your role should be; that’s for you to discover. But I am going to ask you to play your part; ask you to stand up; ask you to put your foot firmly into the current of history. I am asking you to change history’s course.

Each person making a stand, making a difference in their own community. 

In the email from David Plouffe, Campaign manager for Obama he says:

Monday is not only the eve of an inauguration that brings all of us so much hope, it’s also Martin Luther King Jr. Day — when we recognize the power of one man to bring about change by serving his country.

Help kick off an ongoing commitment to serve our communities by taking part in this extraordinary day of service.

Sign up to attend or host an event in your community and help rebuild America one neighborhood at a time.

The grassroots movement you helped build was always about more than an election. It’s about bringing much needed change to Washington and our communities.

I learned from Church of the Customer of another great resource to discover the local opportunities for giving back within your community. Visit US Service and enter your zip code for a place that needs your help today.

Today is a Make or Break Moment for our country.  Each man, woman and child has the opportunity to make a difference.

What will you do?