Shawn Walker's Blog: Letting go...

January 23, 2003

Letting go...

Today has bee an interesting day. I resigned from the board and active membership of CommonGround today. After the events on Tuesday, I just believe that my vision of the group is not the same as the general membership or the remaining board members. The impeachment process ended up being more about popularity and not hurting people's feelings then about leadership ability. I feel like I stood up alone and those that supported me were silent. If members cannot stand up and evaluate their leadership then how are they going to be able to stand up for their right of having a supportive environment.

CommonGround has become more about finding a trick or putting on a good show then being a support/activist group. It is sad that I have to let go of something that I invested so much energy and time into. My desire is that the group will prosper, but my gut feeling is that the group will continue to dwindle and fade away. Maybe I will be wrong, but CommonGround is nothing like it was a year ago. It is nothing like it should be or could have been with STRONG leadership.

I did what I thought was the best thing for the group. That was my final gift to the group. My talents and leadership are best applied elsewhere in the community where they will be valued and have a real impact.

Posted by shawn at January 23, 2003 06:39 PM

Comments

Hey man, just know you're not alone; see my page for my comments.

Posted by: Lin on January 23, 2003 10:14 PM

SHAWN-
IN RESPONSE TO YOUR RESIGNATION AND VIEW OF COMMONGROUND:
Maybe you can start your own group now--with your own prapaganda... A group (by definition) is the coming together of ALL people for a singluar cause... I AGREE that your time and energy would be better invested in other ventures--perhaps you should take up badminton...
To say that COMMONGROUND is but a playground for tricking and sexual devience suggests an attitude of superiority... A GROUP can not be run by one or two people who hold themselves in HIGHER moral and ethical esteem.. RATHER--leadership of a group should be focused on the betterment of the majority...YES, minorities of all groups should definitely have a say--- but such petty arguments as personality conflicts and popularity struggles only restrain what people can accomplish...
I always thought you were a strong willed spirit who possesed an open-mind to most any idea...
I guess I was wrong.
BRENT

Posted by: Brent Schanding on January 24, 2003 01:41 PM

Brent,

As someone who is going through his own politics with a GSA (specifically Lambda
Union at Wright State, and someone who knows a little bit about Shawn. (still waters run deep, I know that I only know a little bit)

All I would tell you to do, is stand back and really evaluate your leaders and what they DO and not what they SAY. Its very very easy to say something, but the real leaders do.

Nick

Posted by: Nick on January 24, 2003 02:07 PM

NICK-
TRUE: ACTIONS speak louder than WORDS.
Q. But when actions assert deeds of resignation, self-martyrism, and resentful disgust toward others what can one really be SAYING?
BRENT

Posted by: Brent Schanding on January 24, 2003 02:53 PM

Shawn,

I know you poured your heart and soul in CommonGround..be proud you display "HIGHER moral and ethical esteem". A leader needs to exhibit exactly those qualities, interesting they would be criticized, don't cha think?

The world is your apple...go forth and set examples everywhere.

deb

Posted by: deb on January 24, 2003 07:06 PM

Shawn, I want to say that I now completely support your decision to resign- of course I completely supported it already, given what you have gone through in the past few months. I haven't been around forever, but I did see a lot of the work you put into that group, and I want you to know that a lot of people on campus truly appreciate the good that you've done with it in the past.
Yes, you did resign, but after a fight.
I don't see you as someone who's aiming for self-martyrdom, since you know your resignation will have little impact on the group's leadership. I see you as someone who knows when to quit, and when to pick battles.
As far as someone who has resentful disgust, you and I have been over this many times, and you WERE very careful to make sure it didn't become a personal issue, and to keep the two realms detached as much as possible. Those who let business become personal... well... shouldn't be involved with the business.

I would say don't let it get you down, but I know you have so many other things in your life that are on your mind right now, that the reason you had to let CG go was because it *was* bringing you down. But you also have so many bright spots in your life, and many well-earned friendships with people who would take a bullet for you.

That's all.

Posted by: Jordan on January 24, 2003 07:19 PM

Shawn-

I hope you do take Nick's, Deb's, and Jordan's thoughts and regard them as little pearls of wisdom.

And like I've told you before, I sincerely hope you do not let any negativity regarding your decision eat away at you; you know I speak from experience, as I've let another group do this, and two years after leaving the high school which it stemmed from I'm still picking up the pieces, still carrying the regret. I'm proud of the fact that you did something positive for yourself that I did not have the strength to do my senior year for myself. You may let them think that they've won, but don't let them win you; such negativity doesn't deserve it.

You've told me that relationships have their good and bad times (and at varying degrees); an organization is a huge web of those relationships, it is meant to change. Keep in mind that some groups don't manage to get off the ground (*cough, Walnut Hills Class of 2001, cough*), and you've been a great part in getting CommonGround quite a few steps higher than that status. Realize that if the group exhibits future success, part of it is because you laid down a foundation, an example, something that a true leader does.

As someone who had a working/leadership-based relationship with you in several projects/groups (and I hope that doesn't stay in the past tense), I would like to mention that you've taught me atleast a thing or two about leadership, and I hope that you continue to take the chance in spreading it to others who are open to your pearls of wisdom.

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