by Sharon Bean, a small Kansas family farmer
To the Center For Rural Affairs--
I’m afraid I cannot get a few puzzle pieces to fit properly, even after several attempts. The pieces that perplex me are marked “Our Mission”, “Our Values”, and the other is marked “SPDC”. Perhaps you can help me out here. I am assuming you took ample time and tremendous research efforts to decide that SPDC is such a great thing for all of us. So I’m sure you wouldn’t mind taking your Mission Statement and your Values and explaining to me exactly how those puzzle pieces can ever fit right with your glorious SPDC scheme.
My understanding of a good mission statement is that it gives assurance to members, clients, and the public that you are credible and always will be. I also thought it was a tool, perhaps a compass, that would keep any potential new idea or plan to stay in line with your original vision. In other words, simply put, keeping all the dots connected properly. I thought a mission statement was put into place to help you achieve your goals and not lose sight of why you started your organization in the first place. While you may believe your mission statement may be your “touchstone”, it looks to me like it is becoming a tombstone for your values. I have been under the impression that values don’t change regardless of whether or not the world is changing. It is my understanding that they remain steadfast even when undue pressures may be felt from external sources or when temptations arise to grab at the bright, brilliant, blinding light from a bunch of dangling carets. Isn’t it true that while purpose may change, values should NOT change?
Might I ask, when was the last time your organization bothered to take the time to read (not skim) CFRA’s “Our Mission” and “Our Values”? As I mentioned earlier the puzzle pieces just don’t fit and the SPDC piece is, without doubt, the culprit.
To be frank, it appears to me that you, Center for Rural Affairs (an organization of conscience) has lost your vision, passion and direction and our rural communities, our society, our environment, and our future generations will pay the ultimate price. That’s quite a legacy you and your grand plan, SPDC, will be leaving behind.
To the Center For Rural Affairs--
I’m afraid I cannot get a few puzzle pieces to fit properly, even after several attempts. The pieces that perplex me are marked “Our Mission”, “Our Values”, and the other is marked “SPDC”. Perhaps you can help me out here. I am assuming you took ample time and tremendous research efforts to decide that SPDC is such a great thing for all of us. So I’m sure you wouldn’t mind taking your Mission Statement and your Values and explaining to me exactly how those puzzle pieces can ever fit right with your glorious SPDC scheme.
My understanding of a good mission statement is that it gives assurance to members, clients, and the public that you are credible and always will be. I also thought it was a tool, perhaps a compass, that would keep any potential new idea or plan to stay in line with your original vision. In other words, simply put, keeping all the dots connected properly. I thought a mission statement was put into place to help you achieve your goals and not lose sight of why you started your organization in the first place. While you may believe your mission statement may be your “touchstone”, it looks to me like it is becoming a tombstone for your values. I have been under the impression that values don’t change regardless of whether or not the world is changing. It is my understanding that they remain steadfast even when undue pressures may be felt from external sources or when temptations arise to grab at the bright, brilliant, blinding light from a bunch of dangling carets. Isn’t it true that while purpose may change, values should NOT change?
Might I ask, when was the last time your organization bothered to take the time to read (not skim) CFRA’s “Our Mission” and “Our Values”? As I mentioned earlier the puzzle pieces just don’t fit and the SPDC piece is, without doubt, the culprit.
To be frank, it appears to me that you, Center for Rural Affairs (an organization of conscience) has lost your vision, passion and direction and our rural communities, our society, our environment, and our future generations will pay the ultimate price. That’s quite a legacy you and your grand plan, SPDC, will be leaving behind.
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