Schools Using the Harley-Davidson Effect

September 11, 2012 2 Comments

St. Peter's Lutheran School, Helenville, WI, 1906

There’s a really long article by management guru H. Donald Hopkins (Temple University) entitled “Using History for Strategic Problem-Solving: The Harley-Davidson Effect.” In it he tells of corporate CEOs solving problems such as employee moral or product direction simply by examining their own history. And because Hopkins champions Harley-Davidson, his thinking has become known as the Harley-Davidson Effect (although if you google this you’ll likely find more on the Harley-Davidson sound affects:-).

Anyway, my latest project has been an online program for the Wisconsin Lutheran State Teachers’ Conference. I know, I know, associating church with business gives a lot of people the heebie jeebies. After all, it’s the Holy Spirit that works in us, not some business theory, right?

I agree.

But I also go by the conviction that much of our God-given earthly knowledge works really well for his heavenly purposes. The Harley-Davidson Effect is a perfect example.

The Wisconsin Ev. Lutheran Synod (WELS) schools have a strong history in Wisconsin and throughout the U.S. There are 337 schools nationwide, some of them dating back to the mid-1800s. They’re parochial in nature, yet they face the same problems of budget, integration and student-teacher ratio as does every other school. Nowadays congregations do a lot of strategizing and praying just to keep their school doors open.

This year the WLSTC chose “Your Statutes Are Our Heritage” as its conference theme, based on Psalm 119:111. For the program (click here to check it out), we used historical photos to help convey this message. We asked congregations to dig into their archives and, wow, did they do some digging! Not only did people send photos, they also included anecdotes of how their schools were started, what their classrooms were like a hundred years ago, and so many more fascinating stories.

Strategically or historically, however you want to look at them, these photos and stories are poignant reminders that schools have overcome many challenges. They’re proof of so many blessings throughout the generations. And they evoke a sense of pride in the educational work God has allowed them to do.

“Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart,” Psalm 119:111.

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Filed Under: Communicating Christ, Creative Thinking: Good Business, Portfolio
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Involving Participants Makes Conference Fun

July 2, 2012 2 Comments

WLSTC teachers' conference program cover

I’ve got an interesting project going on right now and, being a history buff, I’m really enjoying it. It’s the program and promotional pieces for the annual Wisconsin Lutheran Teachers’ Conference.

How’s the cover looking so far?

In previous WLSTC programs, we’ve always used stock photography for the imagery. This year we’re doing something different. Because the committee chose ”Your Statutes Are Our Heritage” as its theme, based on the Bible verse Psalm 119:111, we decided to celebrate heritage by using historical photographs instead of stock.

Real photos from real schools. That’s my husband wearing a suit in the lower, left corner—you certainly don’t see elementary students in such attire nowadays, do you (my husband either, for that matter)!

So, we’re now in the process of gathering photos. We’ve contacted all the schools in the WLSTC district and not only are they getting involved, they’re responding with gusto! I’ve gotta say, opening my email has been so much fun these days—like a trip back in time!

Here’s what’s really great about this project: It gives participants some ownership. Those who submit photos not only feel part of the project, they’ll go to the conference with a greater sense of belonging. More interest. More enthusiasm. Because, hey, their picture is part of the program!

Want to participate?

There’s still time, but not much. Contact me right away and I’ll let you know how to submit your photos.

 

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Filed Under: Communicating Christ, Portfolio
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Appreciating Teachers as More Than Scapegoats

May 8, 2012 Leave a Comment

Today is Teacher Appreciation Day. My son is a teacher so I’m proudly directing my kudos to him. He’s also a poet, bookmaker and student. Isn’t his hand-bound chapbook impressive?

Teacher Appreciation Day seems a bit oxymoronic considering the lashing this profession has taken lately. (Ironically, here in Wisconsin today is also a recall primary brought on largely because of this disconnect). The fact is our whole education system is under fire, and while it certainly is due for an overhaul, teachers shouldn’t be the only scapegoats.

Maybe there’s more to teaching than we lay people know? Maybe policy makers, politicians and the general public should take greater responsibility for a failing system instead of generalizing our educators as lazy, overpaid whiners.

Take a look at what my son is doing, along with his many compatriots. As a graduate student pursuing his second master’s degree, he’ll put in four years of post graduate education by time he’s finished (thankfully he’s doing this on a scholarship and teaching stipend—imagine those who can’t).

If my son pursues a doctorate, his humanities degree will require another 6-7 years. He’ll be in his 30s before he’s qualified to apply for full-time college teaching positions—jobs that really aren’t that plentiful. After all those years of living on $15,000 stipends, the $45,000 to 135,000 he might eventually earn will finally bring him to the economic level his friends in other careers have been for almost a decade.

I don’t hear my son complaining. He knew this going in. But I bet he didn’t expect to become a prime source of blame for our country’s economic woes.

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Must Non-Profits Look Like a Charity Case?

February 21, 2012 1 Comment

National School Leadership Conference

When I met with Rachel DiGiorgio two months ago, I knew I was going to like working with her. Rachel is the project manager for an upcoming National School Leadership Conference and she wanted topnotch promo pieces for this non-profit event.

“We want to look like a class act,” she said. Oh, that gave me a warm and happy feeling!

I do a lot of work for non-profits and I must admit sometimes it’s a challenge. They’re usually working on limited budgets, understandably so, and this defines how much they can spend on communicating their message.

It’s challenging in other ways as well. There’s a mistaken notion that if the visual communications for a non-profit are too flashy, too professional, or maybe just too “well designed,” they convey wastefulness on the part of the organization. Non-profits worry their audiences won’t open their checkbook or sign up to volunteer.

But guess what—it doesn’t benefit any organization, non-profit or not, to look like a charity case. Here are three reasons why.

Good Design Does Invisible Magic

A non-profit’s communication goal should be to attract its target audiences and hold their attention long enough to tell its story. Good design does this. It does it invisibly, without viewers even realizing why they’re impressed. Good design doesn’t have to be flashy or expensive, but it must give thought to theme, style, topography and imagery.

Good design is good communication.

Communication Establishes Credibility

Your visual communication is your image. It tells who you are. A poorly executed promo piece says you’re amateur, cheap, and you do not value your organization. A well-designed piece on quality paper (which doesn’t have to be expensive) says you are professional, honorable, and worthy of your audience’s time and money.

Your Effort Shows You Care

I love how Rachel explains her class act goals.

“God gave us his best,” says Rachel. “And while our best cannot rival God’s, we continue to strive to do our ‘human’ best out of love and gratitude.”

Really, why wouldn’t an organization want to look its very best? Why wouldn’t it want to communicate its message in a way that brings the best results?

Obviously, I’m not the only one asking these questions. Check out this DesignTalk discussion, where more than 85 people voiced a similar opinion.

 

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Filed Under: Communicating Christ, Creative Thinking: Good Business, Portfolio
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A Golden Logo for Golden Alumni

July 11, 2011 Leave a Comment

PhoenixGold, Luther Preparatory School, Watertown, WI
May we please have a drumroll!

Introducing PhoenixGold—the name and logo for the new alumni association of Luther Preparatory School (LPS), in Watertown, WI.

Being on the ground floor of branding a new organization is honorary, exciting and fun. It’s also intimidating. So when Ken Taylor, mission advancement director for LPS, asked me to be part of his branding team, I felt all of the above. Not only was his committee creating a logo, they were literally building the structure of a brand new baby—name, identity, and all.

Here’s a bit of history:

Luther Preparatory School is like a merged family. As a WELS Lutheran high school, it was formed in 1995 by the amalgamation of Northwestern Preparatory School of Watertown and Martin Luther Preparatory School of Prairie du Chien. Back then, students came with histories from their original schools. Now, 16 years and more than a thousand graduates later, LPS is a united family cherishing strong Christian bonds.

Such a family needs its own alumni organization. It needs an organization unique from either of its feeder schools and it needs a visual identity to brand itself.

Ken has been awesome to work with. He knows his school well and gave the project lots of goal-oriented thought. In our initial conversation, he spoke of students emerging from LPS with spiritual and educated strength. He called them Golden. He also felt, as alumni, they share a love and responsibility for their school. As we brainstormed names and ideas for the organization, he directed our thinking toward those concepts.

 

PhoenixGold, Luther Preparatory School, Watertown, WI

The committee wanted to firmly associate the alumni organization with Luther Preparatory School. Using the same bird, typeface and colors, we visually tied the alumni’s name and logo to that of the school mascot’s.

Wrapping “Gold” around the Phoenix’s head emphasizes the idea of emergence, or rising. Adding a curved underline unites logo elements and conveys the school’s emphasis on the Word of God (the Bible).

 

PhoenixGold, Luther Preparatory School, Watertown, WI

As a new organization, PhoenixGold needs to be branded, or made known. This will take time and effort. In its introductory stages, LPS will use a tagline with the logo. Later, when the logo is easily associated with the organization, variations without the tagline will also be used.

Congratulations Luther Preparatory School on your new alumni organization! God’s blessings to PhoenixGold!

 

 

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