When planning for the sixth Shared Leadership Team meeting, I put together a meeting that was intended to be a quick check in on the status of Churham, but it turned out to be much more than that. Some of our early work related to developing a workplan, and even more importantly a charter that set a “true north” for us to know that we’re navigating our 43 feet effectively. Some of the charter is lofty pushing us towards “illimitable heights”, parts of it remind us of our duty to male community leadership, and other sections help us make sure we’re hitting the goals we have set for the SLT and region. This meeting helped us see that although slow, the work we’re doing is making a difference, and that the effort we put in early is helping guide us now.
The first test of PAX and the charter started well before the meeting. A group norm that we set is: “Our social contract is to fulfill the obligations of the SLT. If a PAX can’t do so, they will recognize it and step away with grace.” Cosmo notified me before the meeting that due to some factors outside F3, he needed to step away from his role as 1st F Co-Q, effective at the meeting. Cosmo is a dear friend of mine, so I had an understanding of what he is working through. While I am saddened to not work with him anymore as an SLT member, he assessed his situation and stepped away with grace. Thank you, Cosmo, for the work you were integral to in getting the SLT rolling and thank you for fulfilling a tough tenet of our Charter. Maraschino has agreed to step into the 1st F Co-Q role, working with Bump Draft.
The region round up went like this:
1st F – Bump Draft & Maraschino – Things have been going well related to 1st Fs. Zook took over the AO Q responsibilities at The Big House this week. Northern Durham has been actively changing too. Fresh Prince has taken over for Shake It at Jolly Roger, and Texas Instruments has taken the helm from Chowdah at Hurricanrana. We also welcome Nucky at the newest Co-Q at the Honey Badger following Coxswain. The 3rd Quarterly Report crushed records with 81 PAX for a smooth workout, led by Maraschino.
2nd F – Bellhop & Uzi – Saturday was a busy day for 2nd F. 81 PAX, the majority of whom stayed around for the coffeeteria, attended the 3rd Quarterly Report. Later in the day, another 73 attended the Meat & Cream social hosted by Castaway and Cherry Baked. The 2nd F competition in June took a different approach to the monthly competitions. The 2nd Fs shared that coffeeteria numbers have been up and encouraged the PAX to keep them going. These guys are also working on some upcoming events to recognize leadership changes, and other fun activities to involve the entire family.
3rd F – Moore & Nickelback – The 3rd Fs are working on a mental health project, and are looking for input on the Q channel, please check out the survey if you’re on the channel and take the 5 minutes or less to respond. They have an important initiative that fits within our mission and can impact several men. Over the next month, they’ll continue to refine the project, and will run it by the SLT next month. More to come!
Expansion Qs – Boucher & Vice – The work to include PAX on the IR was strong in May but waned through June. Please use the IR channel to coordinate keeping the hurt PAX involved, if you have the Q work with the PAX on site to set up an alternative group of exercises where possible and encourage modifications if necessary. Fiddlestick has reinvigorated the basketball channel on slack with an evening venue. Paradise is working to keep the 2.0s healthy this Summer by hosting an 0730-0800 workout, putting kids in charge.
Commz Q – Castaway – F3Churham Instagram has 453 followers! Commz fixed an issue that was happening with posting backblasts, and he’s working with the 1st and 2nd F Qs to develop an F3 Churham business cards to help EH guys on the fly.
Rucking Q – Rambler – The Rambler Ruck was a major success! Green Acres is Qing a pop up sandbag/ruck workout on Fridays at Hooker Fields.
Weasel Shaker – Nightshift – We gave Nightshift the night off…
Nantan – Knope – It looks like we have about 39 PAX and 2.0s signed up for Dad Camp August 19-21, please remind your brothers of this amazing weekend. During our May SLT meeting we talked about a potential replant for our region. I met with our Sector Nantan, Shut In (F3 Nation has broken the planet into sectors, which cover a few states that help connect, coach and convene the regions. Our sector is made up of North and South Carolina.), and after my discussion with Shut In, describing our work in the past year, he told us that we already have replanted the region and are on a good path. During the meeting I was in the process of planning the Q School Quckie, which turned out pretty good. If you’d like to read more, please check out my backblast in the Falcon Channel.
While it wasn’t on the agenda, Uzi posed an interesting question. He asked if we felt the region was better with the SLT, than we were before. This was a question that I hadn’t pondered yet, but after a quick look at the charter, I can say we are. The Metrics of Success that we laid out in the Charter includes the following:
• We will promote regular region wide events
• We will retain and grow membership with a conscious emphasis on encouraging diversity
• We will invigorate male leadership in the community by encouraging opportunities for PAX to take leadership positions at AOs and serve on the SLT.
• Thoughtful, purposeful, strategic and continuous expansion of AOs.
Just within the past week, we held the largest Quarterly Report yet, we’ve had at least one FNG almost everyday, including at least 2 PAX at the QR. We have had discussions about expansion of AOs to encourage greater diversity during the SLT meeting. We have three new AO Qs, and our first leadership change on the SLT, and have expanded by adding Hogan’s Heroes since our last SLT meeting. Maraschino weighed in to the conversation, which provided great perspective from someone that hadn’t been a part of the SLT previously. He commented that when the SLT was established there as a fear from some PAX that the SLT was going to try to be more controlling, but we’ve taken on more of a facilitator role. Since the creation of SLT there has been increased opportunities for leadership positions, and there has been greater support for AOs and the PAX. Uzi concurred, adding that by his observations, we’ve been able to return to the numbers and full activities that we had pre-COVID.
The SLT then confirmed meeting dates for the remainder of the year, and after our 90+ minutes called it a night.
This meeting was a fantastic opportunity for the SLT to check in on our progress so far, make corrections where necessary, and make sure that we are maintaining the practices and standards that we set early on. We thank you for your contributions in making our region what it is, and I am comfortable speaking for the group in saying thank you for the opportunity for us to build the next 43 feet of road ahead.
Please let me or any other member of the SLT know if you have questions, are interested in the SLT, or have suggestions. We’re happy to discuss our work.
SYITG!