Feeley 1
John Feeley
Facilitator: Ron Siddell
SOC101: Week One
02/26/2000
��������������� In
the past, when one thought about the location of a foreign business in America,
the rolling hills of western Iowa likely did not come to mind. However, due to
a variety of social and economic reasons, my company, Schaeff, Inc., selected
this location two decades ago. People with long tenures in this organization
tell me that it was easier for the German owners to adapt to American ways,
than it was for the American workers to understand German mannerisms. Of the
current one hundred and thirty-member work force, only a handful was here from
the start, therefore, our division represents a small portion of the twelve
hundred workers in the entire organization. Schaeff GmbH, our parent company
located in Langenburg, Germany, has eleven locations around the world involved
in manufacturing products ranging from material handling to earth moving
machines. I represent the material handling products.
��������������� The
American division is located in Woodbury County, near Sioux City, Iowa. The
city sits on the borders of Iowa, South Dakota, and Nebraska. I can literally
travel between all three states in less than sixty seconds. Since my interests
gravitate around antiques and old homes, Sioux City presented me with many
historic housing options. Sitting on the banks of the Missouri River, this was
a riverboat town, and even Lewis & Clark recognized the potential of this
area during their explorations up river in 1804-1806. During this dangerous
journey they lost only one member, Sergeant Floyd, who fell ill and died where
our city is now located. Fifty years following that historic journey, river
travel was opening the west, and Sioux City came to life with a strong local
economy of wealthy opportunists. The home I live in today was constructed by
one of the founding fathers of this community, and is a fourteen-room mansion
built in 1883. While there are no homeowners� associations for this historical
area, there are preservation groups, of which I take an active interest. Sioux
City operates under the City Council Government format, where the City Council
members are elected and serve full-time duties, and the council appoints the
mayor.
I clearly
recognize the importance of my right to vote, and my voice is heard at the
ballot box. The Chamber of Commerce is very active within our city, and I am a
member of that organization, too. This is about as deep into politics as I
delve, as I feel running a company and mixing politics is not good business. I
also participate in other professional organizations, and am highly involved
with the local colleges and universities. At the state level, I serve as an
advisor to business and industry through Iowa State University, located in
Ames, IA.
My wife and I have
four grown children, and one grandchild. With just two of us in this big house,
there is ample room to spread out and stake our own spot! All of our children
and other immediate family members live within a five-hour drive of our
community, so visits here, and there, are frequent. As with most rural
families, holiday events are usually spent with the elder members of the
extended family, with a huge dinner providing a focus. Living in my fifth
decade, I appreciate more each year the importance of these gatherings. If I
were to define any organizational structure within my family, it would be based
on seniority, and nothing more. We each recognize the independence of the
other, and I enjoy this format.
My community has a
large Catholic population, and, our home is situated in the center of the
Catholic community. Across the street from our house sits a huge parish,
parochial school system, and the associated living quarters for priests and
nuns. Though I had an uncle who was a priest and truly an inspiration to me, I
was not raised in the Catholic faith. I fully recognize the value of faith, and
have deep beliefs in God, yet am not associated with any church at this time. I
admit being hurt in earlier years by people and their deep convictions to
absolute religious fervor, and I remain cautious to this day. I miss the
fellowship of having a church to call my own, and my bias may pass with age.
Being Irish by ancestry, I am confused over how my people can kill one another all
in the name of religion belief.
A number of my days each year are spent in
volunteerism. As previously noted, I work extensively with Iowa State
University and the state of Iowa, as an advisor to business and industry. In my
role, I travel to all parts of the state and review other businesses and
prepare recommendations on how they can improve upon their success. Currently,
I donate roughly 20 days a year in this duty, and have been named Chairman of
the Advisory Board for year 2001.
My company is
active in the JDF annual drive, and we field a team of 40-60 walkers to raise
money for diabetes research. I also support other activities such as D.A.R.E.,
Prom Night Alternatives, and local volunteer fire departments in smaller
communities. I feel my company is a good corporate sponsor to a number of
worthy charities and civic functions, and, I purchase tickets for all sporting
and cultural events in this area, and donate them to my company personnel.
Upon retirement in
a few years, I see myself volunteering my services in a number of ways. First
and foremost, I want to return to teaching, as I have done teaching in the
past. Whether I am compensated for this will be a moot point, as I am motivated
from the heart, not the wallet. I want to see the eyes light up in some student
when they feel inspired to learn more, and I would be honored to be a part of
that process. If I can make a positive change in just one life I will consider
my effort a success. By reaching that one person, I will have achieved a major
portion of the remaining goals I have with personal affiliations.
My duty for now,
however, is with my company, and this is my present focus. In her book The Manager�s Desk Reference, Cynthia
Berryman-Fink sends me a strong message on page 153.
Mentors are
workplace friends. They can listen to problems, calm fears, and boost the
confidence of proteges.
Because mentors are
more experienced and trusted colleagues, they can be an excellent sounding
board for
concerns and offer
empathy and advice.
In the book Kaizen
Teian 2 by the Japanese Human Relations Association, it states on page 9
that �Perceptiveness and implementation outweigh creative thinking.� Each of
these books sends me a key message on my personal affiliations today. First, I
must be a good mentor to my people, and secondly, I must remember that
creativity is wonderful, but actions speak louder than words!