Chattanooga United Way February 16, 1996

ADDRESS
BY
IRA A. LIPMAN
CHAIRMAN AND PRESIDENT
GUARDSMARK, INC.
AT THE
ANNUAL MEETING
OF
CHATTANOOGA UNITED WAY

CONVENTION & TRADE CENTER
CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE
FEBRUARY 16, 1996

THANK YOU.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW HOW HONORED I AM TO BE HERE TODAY, PARTICULARLY BECAUSE FRANK MCDONALD ASKED ME TO COME. FRANK MCDONALD EXEMPLIFIES TO ME WHAT A TRUE HERO IS. HE IS A MAGNIFICENT LEADERSHIP EXAMPLE AND SERVES AS A GREAT ROLE MODEL FOR ALL UNITED WAY PEOPLE. WILL YOU JOIN ME IN HONORING FRANK?
IT IS A GREAT PLEASURE FOR ME TO BE HERE TODAY—TO HONOR UNITED WAY VOLUNTEERS WHO DO SUCH MAGNIFICENT WORK, TO TALK ABOUT WHERE WE ARE AS AN ORGANIZATION, AND TO DISCUSS WHAT WE NEED TO DO IN THE FUTURE.
I AM ALSO THRILLED TO HAVE THIS WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A BRIEF SALES PITCH TO THIS DELIGHTFULLY CAPTIVE AUDIENCE.
[PAUSE] AS CHAIRMAN OF THE 1996 LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE STEERING COMMITTEE, IT IS ONE OF MY RESPONSIBILITIES TO ENCOURAGE ATTENDANCE AT THE CONFERENCE, WHICH WILL BE HELD AT THE OPRYLAND HOTEL IN NASHVILLE FROM APRIL 19th THROUGH THE 21st.
IT WILL BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO EXCHANGE IDEAS, LEARN NEW STRATEGIES, SHARE SUCCESSES, AND MEET NOT ONLY UNITED WAY PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE NATION, BUT ALSO REPRESENTATIVES FROM—AMONG OTHERS—CORPORATIONS, AGENCIES, SCHOOL SYSTEMS, AND MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS.
[PAUSE] ALL ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, IN CITIES AND TOWNS BOTH LARGE AND SMALL, ANNUAL MEETINGS SUCH AS THIS ARE BEING HELD. PEOPLE ARE GATHERING TO REVIEW THE PAST YEAR AND PREPARE FOR THE NEXT, TO RENEW THEIR ENERGIES, PLAN THEIR AGENDAS, AND STRENGTHEN THEIR COMMITMENT TO MEET THE HUMAN NEEDS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
IT IS A SOURCE OF TREMENDOUS HOPE AND ENCOURAGEMENT TO KNOW THAT WE ARE NOT ALONE, BUT PART OF A MASS MOVEMENT OF INDIVIDUALS DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE LIFE OF THE COMMUNITIES WHERE WE LIVE, WORK, AND RAISE OUR FAMILIES.
THE UNITED WAY AND WHAT IT REPRESENTS—THE SPIRIT OF VOLUNTEERISM, SELF-RELIANCE, AND COMMUNITY ACTION—IS THE SAME SPIRIT THAT MOTIVATED THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO FOUNDED THIS GREAT NATION AND MADE IT THE “LAST, BEST HOPE OF MANKIND.” AND THAT IS THE SPIRIT—THE DRIVING FORCE THAT DEFINES FAMILIES, NEIGHBORHOODS, AND E DRIVING FORCE THAT DEFINES FAMILIES, NEIGHBORHOODS, AND COMMUNITIES—THAT WILL PRESERVE THIS NATION FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
AND SO I SALUTE ALL OF YOU TODAY, AND ALL UNITED WAY VOLUNTEERS EVERYWHERE, FOR YOU ARE THE UNSUNG HEROES OF MODERN AMERICAN LIFE. YOU AND THOSE WHO HAVE GONE BEFORE YOU HAVE LIFTED UP THE LIFE OF THIS COMMUNITY AND MADE A DIFFERENCE—A PROFOUND DIFFERENCE—IN PEOPLE’S LIVES.
FROM SHELTERING THE HOMELESS AND TEACHING THE ILLITERATE TO PRESERVING FAMILIES AND SUPPLYING DAY CARE, UNITED WAY FUNDING MAKES POSSIBLE ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO THOSE WHO HAVE NOWHERE ELSE TO GO.
WITHOUT YOU—WITHOUT THE UNITED WAY—WHERE WOULD THESE PEOPLE TURN? WHAT WOULD LIFE BE LIKE TODAY FOR THE UNTOLD MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN HELPED OVER THE YEARS? AND WHAT WOULD THE SOCIAL COST BE—IN TERMS OF HEALTH CARE, DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILIES, JUVENILE DELINQUENCY, ILLITERACY, TEENAGE PREGNANCY, AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON—IF ALL THE THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEERS JUST LIKE YOU DID NOT OFFER HELP WHERE HELP WAS NEEDED MOST, DID NOT HELP SOLVE THE PROBLEMS OF OUR PEOPLE BEFORE THEY WERE OVERWHELMED?
IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT AT THIS MOMENT, AS WE JUSTIFIABLY CONGRATULATE OURSELVES ON WHAT A GREAT JOB WE DO—WHEN WE HAVE GAINED DEEP INSIGHT INTO OUR MARKET, POLISHED OUR APPROACH, AND PERFECTED THE ALLOCATION PROCESS—THAT WE SUDDENLY FIND THE SITUATION HAS CHANGED.
I KNOW HOW UNCOMFORTABLE THAT FEELING CAN BE. ELEVEN YEARS AGO I ASSUMED THE POSITION OF GENERAL CAMPAIGN CHAIRMAN IN MEMPHIS AT A TIME WHEN THE UNITED WAY THERE NEEDED TO MAKE MANY CHANGES. JUST TIME WHEN THE UNITED WAY THERE NEEDED TO MAKE MANY CHANGES. JUST A FEW MONTHS BEFORE, WE HAD ESTABLISHED THE ALEXIS DE TOCQUEVILLE SOCIETY, AND THE FOLLOWING YEAR WE IMPLEMENTED A NUMBER OF SOCIETY, AND THE FOLLOWING YEAR WE IMPLEMENTED A NUMBER OF INNOVATIONS. IT WAS A THRILLING YEAR, AND ONE I WILL NEVER FORGET. .
IT WAS LITTLE MORE THAN A DECADE AGO, AND ALREADY—IN MEMPHIS, CHATTANOOGA, AND ALL OVER THE NATION—WE ARE FACING THE CHALLENGE ONCE AGAIN OF REDEFINING THE WAY WE DO BUSINESS. BECAUSE THE WORLD HAS CHANGED, AND TO PUT IT IN PLAIN TERMS, THE UNITED WAY IS IN DANGER OF BECOMING A DINOSAUR.
IT IS NOT THAT THE HUMAN NEEDS WE SEE ARE DIFFERENT. FOR THE MOST PART, THEY’RE THE SAME. IT IS NOT THAT THE NEEDS ARE MORE NUMEROUS. IF THAT WERE THE DIFFICULTY, WE COULD SIMPLY DO MORE OF WHAT WE’VE LEARNED TO DO SO WELL. AND IT IS NOT THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS PULLING BACK FROM TRYING TO PROVIDE SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS WE FACE, ALTHOUGH THAT WILL INCREASE THE DEMANDS ON OUR RESOURCES.
THE REAL PROBLEM IS MORE BASIC. SOCIETY HAS CHANGED, AND WE HAVE NOT.
IN SOME WAYS WE ARE LIKE THE OLD PHONE COMPANY WHICH FOR SO LONG ENJOYED A PROTECTED MONOPOLY AND WAS REVERED FOR WHAT IT HAD ACCOMPLISHED. WHEN IT WAS FINALLY FORCED IN THE 1980’S TO FACE COMPETITION, IT HAD TO INNOVATE, EXAMINE ITS LINES OF BUSINESS, AND RECAST ITS STRATEGIES.
LIKE THE PHONE COMPANY, THE UNITED WAY WAS ALSO ONCE REVERED. WE, TOO, LOST OUR MONOPOLY—THE PAYROLL DEDUCTION. WE, TOO, FACED NEW AND AGGRESSIVE COMPETITION FOR OUR MARKET. BUT UNLIKE THE PHONE COMPANY, WE FAILED TO EXAMINE WHAT IT ALL MEANT FOR THE FUTURE. AND THAT FUTURE IS NOW.
RAPID ECONOMIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGES ARE TRANSFORMING THE LIFE OF OUR COMMUNITIES. AND THEY ARE MATCHED BY SEISMIC CHANGES IN SOCIETY. TIES TO ORGANIZED RELIGION HAVE WEAKENED. THE RECIPROCAL LOYALTY OF EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYEE HAS BECOME A THING OF THE PAST. AND WHAT WAS THOUGHT OF AS A TYPICAL FAMILY ONLY TWENTY YEARS AGO WITH A WORKING FATHER, A NON-WORKING MOTHER AND TWO CHILDREN TODAY REPRESENTS ONLY A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION.
WHAT DO THESE CHANGES MEAN FOR THE UNITED WAY?
FIRST, THE PEOPLE TO WHOM WE LOOK FOR CONTRIBUTIONS ARE UNDER MUCH GREATER STRAIN THAN EVER. ACTUAL WAGES HAVE BARELY BUDGED IN THE LAST TWENTY YEARS, EXPECTATIONS ARE LOWER, PEOPLE FEEL LESS SECURE IN THEIR JOBS, AND INCREASING NUMBERS OF EMPLOYEES HAVE TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR OWN RETIREMENT. TO COMPLICATE OUR DIFFICULTY, S SECURE IN THEIR JOBS, AND INCREASING NUMBERS OF EMPLOYEES HAVE TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR OWN RETIREMENT. TO COMPLICATE OUR DIFFICULTY, PROVIDE FOR THEIR OWN RETIREMENT. TO COMPLICATE OUR DIFFICULTY, THE NUMBER OF OPTIONS FOR DONORS HAS MUSHROOMED, AND PEOPLE TODAY WANT TO EARMARK THEIR DONATIONS MORE THAN EVER BEFORE.
SECOND, THE WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT THAT WE UNDERSTAND SO WELL IS CHANGING ALMOST LITERALLY BEFORE OUR EYES. INDUSTRIAL JOBS HAVE BEEN DISAPPEARING YEAR AFTER YEAR, AND NOW OFFICE JOBS ARE BEGINNING TO FOLLOW. THE FLATTENING OF THE CORPORATE PYRAMID ELIMINATES THOUSANDS OF WELL-PAYING MIDDLE MANAGEMENT POSITIONS, AND AS LARGE CORPORATIONS DOWNSIZE, MANY MORE WORKERS ARE EMPLOYED AT SMALLER SALARIES BY SMALLER COMPANIES.
THE REVOLUTION IN COMPUTERS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS HAS ALSO CHANGED THE LOCATION OF THE OFFICE, AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO. COMPUTERS, MODEMS, AND FAX MACHINES HAVE LED TO A SURGE IN THE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE WHO WORK AT HOME. AND WITH THE ADVENT OF THE CELLULAR PHONE AND THE POWERBOOK, AN OFFICE CAN BE SET UP IN A CAR, AN AIRPLANE, OR A HOTEL ROOM.
AS A RESULT, WE CAN NO LONGER OPERATE AS WE HAVE IN THE PAST. WE CANNOT MEET GROWING NEEDS WITH A FLAT GROWTH RATE YEAR AFTER YEAR. LIKE ANY BUSINESS, WE NEED TO FIND NEW PROSPECTS AND MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE CHALLENGED TO GIVE. MANY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF UNITED WAY. AND WE CAN NO LONGER ASSUME THAT NEW PROSPECTS HAVE THE KIND OF RELIGIOUS UPBRINGING THAT MAKES THEM FERTILE GROUND FOR OUR MESSAGE.
I ALSO DEEPLY BELIEVE THAT MANY C.E.O.’s, DOCTORS, LAWYERS, AND OTHERS—HIGH NET WORTH INDIVIDUALS WHO DO NOT NOW CONTRIBUTE WHAT THEY MIGHT—WOULD WILLINGLY DO THEIR PART IF PROPERLY APPROACHED AND SOLD ON THE NEED FOR THEIR HELP.
WE MUST AGGRESSIVELY SEEK OUT NEW OPPORTUNITIES, SUCH AS THE INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT ROLE OF WOMEN IN PHILANTHROPY. THE UNEXPLORED TERRITORY OF PLANNED GIVING ALSO OFFERS IMMENSE POSSIBILITIES, WITH OLDER AMERICANS PASSING ON TO THEIR CHILDREN AN ESTIMATED TEN TRILLION DOLLARS IN THE NEXT TWO DECADES.
WE ALSO NEED TO ESTABLISH NEW PARTNERSHIPS TO ENSURE THAT WE REACH ONE HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE COMMUNITY THAT HAS THE ABILITY TO GIVE.
TO MEET THE RAPIDLY CHANGING NEEDS OF SOCIETY, WE WILL HAVE TO INNOVATE, CREATE, AND BE OPEN TO NON-TRADITIONAL METHODS OF OPERATION. UNITED WAY MUST ITSELF BE ABLE TO EFFECT GREAT CHANGE, TO BE IN TURN AN OWNER, AN ENTREPRENEUR, AN INDEPENDENT BROKER, A PARTNER, AND A FACILITATOR. IT WILL BE UP TO US TO FIND OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO GIVE AND SERVE IF WE ARE TO MEET THE CRITICAL NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY. S FOR PEOPLE TO GIVE AND SERVE IF WE ARE TO MEET THE CRITICAL NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY. OUR COMMUNITY.
TO DO WHAT WE MUST, WE MUST BE BOLD. WE MUST HARNESS THE POWER OF TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS. CABLE TELEVISION OFFERS US THE OPPORTUNITY TO REACH MORE PEOPLE TODAY IN 30 MINUTES THAN WE COULD HAVE REACHED IN YEARS WHEN WE FIRST STARTED. THE POTENTIAL FOR A QVC-TYPE GIVING PROGRAM IS ENORMOUS. AND ON THE HORIZON IS THE DAWNING WORLD OF INTERACTIVE MEDIA THAT MUST BE EXPLORED.
WE NEED THE ABILITY WHEN SITTING IN THE OFFICE OF A C.E.O. TO DIAL-UP AND SHOW ON A SCREEN WHERE A CONTRIBUTION WOULD GO, THE PEOPLE IT P AND SHOW ON A SCREEN WHERE A CONTRIBUTION WOULD GO, THE PEOPLE IT WOULD HELP, AND THE EFFECT IT WOULD HAVE ON OUR COMMUNITY.
WE MUST BECOME CUSTOMER-ORIENTED AND EXAMINE NEW WAYS OF RESPONDING TO THE WANTS AND NEEDS OF DONORS. FOR EXAMPLE, WE MIGHT MAKE IT EASY FOR DONORS TO DIRECT FUNDS TO NON-UNITED WAY AGENCIES.
ABOVE ALL, WE MUST CREATE AN AWARENESS OF HOW REAL AND BASIC THE NEEDS OF OUR PEOPLE ARE, ALONG WITH A CONSUMING SENSE OF URGENCY.
WE MUST CREATE A CULTURE OF CARING.
TOO MANY PEOPLE TODAY SEE OUR SOCIETY AS A ZERO-SUM GAME, WHERE TO HAVE WINNERS WE MUST ALSO HAVE LOSERS. OR THEY SEE THEIR O HAVE WINNERS WE MUST ALSO HAVE LOSERS. OR THEY SEE THEIR COMMUNITY AS A KIND OF RAFT, WITH ONLY SO MUCH ROOM TO GO AROUND.
IF YOU HAVE EVER HEARD A RAFT DEBATE, YOU KNOW HOW IT WORKS. ASSUME A BOAT HAS SUNK IN MID-OCEAN AND FIVE PEOPLE HAVE SURVIVED. BUT THEIR RAFT IS ONLY BIG ENOUGH FOR FOUR. THE SURVIVORS—WHO . BUT THEIR RAFT IS ONLY BIG ENOUGH FOR FOUR. THE SURVIVORS—WHO MIGHT INCLUDE A MINISTER, AN ARTIST, A LAWYER, AN ENGINEER, AND AN ECONOMIST—ENGAGE IN A DEBATE, MAKING THE BEST CASE THEY CAN FOR N ECONOMIST—ENGAGE IN A DEBATE, MAKING THE BEST CASE THEY CAN FOR WINNING A PLACE ON THE RAFT.
THE MINISTER MIGHT ARGUE THAT A COMMUNITY WITHOUT RELIGION IS NOT WORTH SAVING IN ANY CASE. THE ARTIST MIGHT SAY THAT ART IS WHAT WORTH SAVING IN ANY CASE. THE ARTIST MIGHT SAY THAT ART IS WHAT SEPARATES THE HUMAN RACE FROM THE LOWER ANIMALS, AND THAT A COMMUNITY WITHOUT ART IS NOTHING MORE THAN A ZOO WITHOUT WALLS.
THE LAWYER MIGHT ARGUE THAT A COMMUNITY NEEDS LAWYERS BECAUSE WITHOUT THEM THERE CAN BE NO JUSTICE, NO RIGHTS, AND NO SECURITY. THE ENGINEER WOULD BE LIKELY TO MAKE A MORE PRACTICAL ARGUMENT, THAT HE DESERVES A PLACE ON THE RAFT BECAUSE A COMMUNITY MUST HAVE SOMEONE WHO KNOWS HOW TO BUILD MACHINES AND MAKE THINGS WORK.
FINALLY, THE ECONOMIST MIGHT ARGUE THAT NO ADVANCED SOCIETY CAN EXIST WITHOUT AN ECONOMIST TO DESIGN AN EFFICIENT MEANS OF CREATING AND DISTRIBUTING WEALTH, AND MANAGING A COMPLEX FINANCIAL SYSTEM.
WHICH ONE OF THESE EDUCATED, INTELLIGENT, VALUED MEMBERS OF SOCIETY SHALL BE DECLARED EXPENDABLE AND LEFT TO DIE?
A RAFT DEBATE IS AN INTERESTING LEARNING EXPERIENCE. IT FORCES YOU TO DEFINE WHAT YOU MEAN BY COMMUNITY, TO DECIDE WHAT MAKES FOR A GOOD SOCIETY, TO EXAMINE WHAT YOU MEAN BY INDIVIDUAL WORTH AND SOCIAL VALUE. IT IS A USEFUL INTELLECTUAL EXERCISE, AT LEAST IN PART BECAUSE WE DO NOT REALLY LEAVE THE LOSER TO SINK OR SWIM. T BECAUSE WE DO NOT REALLY LEAVE THE LOSER TO SINK OR SWIM.
BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP COMES TO BELIEVE THAT OUR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, AND ECONOMIC SYSTEM REALLY IS A KIND OF RAFT DEBATE? RAFT DEBATE?
AND THAT THEIR VALUE, EFFORT, AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS MEAN NOTHING COMPARED TO THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN, THE WAY THEY PRAY, OR WHERE THEY COME FROM?
AS LEADERS OF THE COMMUNITY, IT IS UP TO US TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS—AND WE MUST ALSO ENSURE IT IS TRUE—THAT OUR SOCIETY IS NOT A RAFT.
THAT TO SHARE IS NOT TO SHRINK.
AND THAT NO ONE IS EXPENDABLE.
WE MUST COUNTER THE IMAGE OF AMERICA AS A RAFT WITH THE IMAGE OF THE BANQUET TABLE, TO WHICH ALL OF US HAVE BEEN INVITED. WE WERE NOT INVITED BECAUSE OF OUR INTELLIGENCE, OR EDUCATION, OR BUSINESS SUCCESS, OR THE ELEGANCE OF OUR TABLE MANNERS. S SUCCESS, OR THE ELEGANCE OF OUR TABLE MANNERS.
WE WERE INVITED BECAUSE WE ARE ALL CHILDREN OF GOD. WHO IS SO BOLD AS TO TELL THE HOST THAT IT’S TIME TO BOLT THE DOORS, THAT THERE IS NOT ENOUGH TO GO AROUND, THAT THOSE PEOPLE OUTSIDE HAVE LOST THEIR INVITATIONS, OR DID NOT DESERVE THEM IN THE FIRST PLACE, OR WILL EMBARRASS US WITH THEIR LACK OF ETIQUETTE?
THE UNITED WAY MUST ENSURE THAT THERE IS A PLACE AT THE TABLE FOR EVERY ONE OF GOD’S CHILDREN.
THE FUTURE OF THE UNITED WAY IS IN YOUR HANDS. ONLY YOU, WHO ARE THE MOST CONCERNED AND CARING PEOPLE IN THIS CITY, CAN DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO ENSURE THAT NO HUMAN NEED IN THIS COMMUNITY GOES UNMET.
TO MEET THE CHALLENGES WE FACE—TO MEET THE BASIC NEEDS OF OUR PEOPLE—WE HAVE TO BECOME MORE THAN A FUNDRAISING MECHANISM. WE MUST SEEK OUT AND ENLIST THE BEST QUALIFIED PEOPLE WE CAN FIND TO REPRESENT US. WE MUST BE AGGRESSIVE AND ASSERTIVE. WE MUST EDUCATE, INSPIRE, AND LEAD. AND WE MUST BECOME THE CONSCIENCE OF THIS COMMUNITY.
GOVERNMENT ALONE CAN’T DO IT. CHURCHES, SYNAGOGUES, MOSQUES, AND TEMPLES CAN’T DO IT. INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES CAN’T DO IT.
NO ONE BUT THE UNITED WAY HAS THE ORGANIZATION, THE RESOURCES, AND THE VOLUNTEERS CAPABLE OF GETTING THE JOB DONE. IT IS A GREAT RESPONSIBILITY, BUT IT IS ONE THAT WE MUST ACCEPT AND FULFILL. THERE ARE TOO MANY WHO DEPEND ON US, FOR US TO EVEN THINK OF FAILING.
UNITED, WE CAN MEET THIS NEW CHALLENGE—AS WE HAVE MET ALL THE OTHERS—IF WE HAVE THE WILL, THE WISDOM, AND THE BOLDNESS TO INFUSE THE UNITED WAY WITH A NEW ENERGY, CHART A NEW COURSE, AND SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT LIE BEFORE US. THE UNITED WAY WITH A NEW ENERGY, CHART A NEW COURSE, AND SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT LIE BEFORE US. E OPPORTUNITIES THAT LIE BEFORE US.
THANK YOU.