A Farewell Message

March 19th, 2009 - Posted by Susan Weddington - No Comments

Friends of OneStar Foundation –

At week’s end, I will complete what has been an incredible journey as president and chief executive officer of OneStar Foundation. My decision to step down and make a place for a new leader is exciting for me. It is exciting because I believe passionately that Texas State government needs to have the same level of understanding, expertise and investment in the nonprofit sector as they have currently in the State’s commissions and offices on economic development, the arts, historical preservation, film, music, women and more.

It was a great honor to be asked by Governor Perry over five years ago to lead a supporting nonprofit of the Office of the Governor that would become a national model of excellence for how a State government supports and promotes a strong and vibrant sector of community based organizations, including faith-based organizations. His vision for OneStar Foundation gave a voice to the nonprofit sector within State government that did not exist before. This voice is important because:

• The Texas nonprofit sector is a diverse and rich collection of faith-based groups, community organizations, health-related enterprises, educational institutions and foundations.  While these entities may have different social missions, collectively they are a significant resource in Texas to address short-term human needs as well as long-term social issues.
• Without the nonprofit sector, State government would lack the capacity and resources to provide a major portion of the social services it funds. For fiscal year 2008, total contracts with nonprofits across the five Health and Human Service Enterprise agencies amounted to $6.1 billion, almost doubling from 2007. This is but one example of why State government needs the Texas Center for Social Impact that operates in a similar manner to the Division of Economic Development and Tourism.
• While the nonprofit sector is a major force for good, it is also a major economic driver as well, employing 20% more people than all of Texas State government, providing almost $13 billion in wages annually, and employing twice as many people as the real estate industry.
• State government’s mission to ensure and protect the safety and well-being of all Texans would be incapacitated without the nonprofit sector.  From health care to basic social services to care for the aged, the nonprofit sector is the bedrock support for services most people take for granted. The value of service provided by volunteers, who are a supplemental workforce in the nonprofit sector, is $14 billion annually.
• Our State’s most significant social problems require lasting solutions, not temporary bandages.  To accomplish this ambitious strategic goal, the Texas nonprofit sector must have the tools and skills that lead to efficient and lasting positive long-term impacts.
• In building a competitive, diversified, and growing Texas economy, we cannot forget or ignore the nonprofit sector’s economic and social importance.  Given its enormous strategic, economic and human impact, it is essential that the nonprofit sector benefit from long-term investments in training, education and integration into the leadership structure of Texas communities.

Over the past five years, OneStar has refined its vision and mission to one that is critical to increase the quality of life for Texans and to reduce the costs of social services. OneStar works to strengthen the nonprofit social sector so that people served by the sector gain their greatest level of self-sufficiency.

Now known as OneStar: Texas Center for Social Impact, the organization is structured to support its mission through four focus areas titled Service and Volunteerism; Nonprofit Organizational Excellence; Research, Evaluation and Learning; and Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship. OneStar also serves as the State’s National Service Commission administering the AmeriCorps grant program, and serves as the Faith-Based and Community Initiative office.

The more I have learned about this sector, the stronger my belief is that OneStar’s mission is vital for a healthy State. My experience and skills has allowed me to lead OneStar through its developing stages and to a point of mission focus. OneStar is ready to go to the next level, and different skills from mine are needed. I see them in Elizabeth Seale, OneStar’s incoming president, and am committed to her success because I am committed to OneStar’s success. Elizabeth is a highly experienced and qualified leader who begins her tenure as president/CEO of OneStar on March 23, 2009. Elizabeth’s qualifications and background can be found here.

A major topic of discussion in our sector is about leadership succession—preparing for it and doing it. We read about it, attend trainings about it and declare its importance. I decided to make it a measure of my success as leader of OneStar. I believe to talk about something is never as good as the actual doing of something; and in leaving OneStar, I have learned it is intensely difficult and equally rewarding to exercise this responsibility of leadership. I can honestly say the rewards far outweigh the difficulties.

Some of you reading this are at the same place I was a few months back. You have a nudging feeling that your skills can be used elsewhere and that different skills will greatly benefit the organization that you care for so deeply. Others of you will get to that place at some point. I can attest to the challenge of leaving what you deeply care about when things are good and to the accomplishment of fulfilling your leadership role by leaving at the right time. I hope that, by sharing this experience with you, I have encouraged and given courage to leaders everywhere whose only desire is to leave the world a bit better than it was before.

In service to Texas and its citizens,
Susan

Tags: Leadership·Texas