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If there is any advice Col. Kirk Gibbs can give to his successor, it is this: Lead with honor and humility.
As Gibbs, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District’s 61st commander, prepares to relinquish command of the LA District July 19 to Col. Aaron Barta, he offered up some advice and reflected on the past three years as the leader of one of the largest Corps districts in the country.
There are many things Gibbs said he is proud of when it comes to the LA District, but three things stand out: the District being recognized two years in a row as a "Best Place to Work" in the Corps; completing Weed Army Hospital at Fort Irwin, California – the Department of Defense’s only Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-Platinum, carbon-neutral, net-zero certifiable hospital – on time and within budget; and the one-on-one time he was able to spend with employees in the District.
It is the people Gibbs said he will miss the most – the employees and the District’s close partners across the four-state area.
“I have never focused on relationships like I have here in this District, and I sincerely believe it is part of the District's culture,” he said. “When projects are tough, the close relationships get us through those challenges and ultimately deliver the program.”
During his time with the LA District, Gibbs has overseen a multimillion-dollar program that provides engineering, construction, planning, contracting, real estate, emergency operations, environmental and regulatory services to military, federal, state and local governments across a 226,000-square-mile area of Southern California, Nevada, Arizona and Utah. That also includes leading about 750 military and civilian personnel with a wide array of expertise.
But leading people is nothing new to Gibbs, who has served for more than 24 years as an active-duty Soldier, leading both military and civilian personnel.
“Each person is different, and I have learned that good leaders get to know each person individually and then lead them in a way that brings out the best in that employee,” he said.
Providing priorities and a solid intent on the District’s missions, particularly disaster response operations, helps employees stay focused on what’s really important, he said.
Gibbs will now serve as the chief of staff at the Corps’ headquarters in Washington, D.C. There, he said, he hopes to be an advocate for all of the Corps’ districts nationwide.
“I feel that this District and the great people are responsible for giving me the incredible opportunity of being the Corps’ chief of staff,” he said. “The people have taught me so much, and I will take that with me to make a positive impact on the Corps’ enterprise and help our Districts deliver our programs in civil works, military, Interagency and International Services, real estate and regulatory.”
Gibbs knows how the importance of mentors and having a good support system have played in shaping his career, and he credits his parents with instilling in him respect for others; his wife, Kim, who taught him to endure all challenges, no matter how great, with grace and dignity; and his former chief of staff – Col. Steve Hill – for giving him tough jobs to prepare him for success.
“(Hill) gave me tough jobs that I thought he could have done at the time, but as I look back, the toughest assignments he gave me in that civilian organization at the Corps headquarters prepared me for District command and enabled me to achieve the goal of commanding at the battalion, brigade and District levels,” he said. “I also remember he told me I would be a chief of staff for the Corps one day. He was preparing me for that. I didn't believe him, but that is my next job.”
And, as for additional advice he can share with Barta, Gibbs provided these words of wisdom:
- Be prepared to change leadership style when leading a District of professional civilians. Don't lead them in the same way as Soldiers;
- Engage with people and get around to see them across the District's entire area of operation. Don't sit behind a desk;
- Study hard initially and learn the policies, processes and programs. “You will never be the expert, but you must prepare yourself to make effective decisions as quickly as possible”;
- Always provide a commander's intent and an end state. The civilian workforce appreciates that; and, lastly,
- Lead with honor and humility. “It isn't about you. It is about the District's people and our vital mission.”
As for the future of the LA District, Gibbs said he hopes future leaders continue to change the culture to an organization that is more risk tolerant in streamlining processes and moving projects forward; deliver the Department of Veterans Affairs and Customs and Border Protection programs phenomenally – on time, within budget and to the highest quality; and to remain a "Best Place to Work" in order to retain and recruit talent to the high-cost living area of Southern California.
“I want the District to do what it always does and ‘knock those programs out of the park,’” he said."
We always did feel the same
We just saw it from a different point of view - Bob Dylan
More Bob Dylan Quotes and Sayings
Picture Quotes on Humility
12 Top things to do in Okinawa, Japan
Original photo credit: Daniele Ottazzi from Pixabay
A Tibetan pilgrim prostrates himself just outside the Jokhang Temple in Lhasa. You will find many pilgrims doing this here at any given time, they repeat the process many times each.
The Barkhor pilgrim circuit which goes around the Jokhang Temple is really the authentic heart of Lhasa. The Potala Palace is stunning from the outside, but it feels odd inside.
hu·mil·i·ty
Pronunciation: \hyü-ˈmi-lə-tē, yü-\
Function: noun
Defined: the quality or state of being humble.
Very quick snapshot this morning. My did came out and asked what I was doing. He doesn't like me picking flowers, so i had to hide them in my hands; that's why they're crumpled.
A tad bit blurry, since it was 6:30 in the morning and the sutterspeed was slow, but I did my best.
I'm trying a new script and playing a little bit with psp9. please give me feedback on this post processing. ^__^
Let us be humble today, pholks.
Photos by Miller Taylor.
April 2015 CreativeMornings/Raleigh event (global theme: Humility) with guest speakers Mike and Megan Gilger, husband and wife creative team behind Wild Measure studio and The Fresh Exchange blog.
In 2009, Megan and Mike began their lifestyle and design blog, The Fresh Exchange Today, the blog reaches over a half million people everyday, inspiring creators of all kinds to pursue their dreams and live a beautiful and intentional life. The creative couple works together to create original content through photo, video, editorial writing, aesthetic curation, and social media. With a simple, natural, and organic nature to their content, Megan and Mike have had the opportunity to work with brands such as Smartwater, Bing, Gap, Madewell, Bota Box, Levi’s, Feedly, Kinfolk Magazine, Over, Warby Parker, Tuft & Needle, Shinola, and many others.
Special thanks to our host CAM Raleigh and sponsors CompostNow, Counter Culture Coffee, who generously provided us with complimentary coffee, Yellow Dog Bread Company, who provided the tasty breakfast snacks, and Raleigh Raw , who provided the healthy, cold-pressed juice.
available as 12"x18" and 20"x30" posters
All images are © copyright caren park, RealistAtLarge.blogspot.com. All Rights Reserved
Window in the north aisle by Christopher Whall, 1905.
St Michael & All Angels at Ledbury is not only one of Herefordshire's grandest parish churches but also one of its most rewarding. There is much to enjoy in this ancient building from its unusual architectural features to its interesting monuments and top quality glass.
The church is set back from the town's main street and accessed via a narrow cobbled alleyway, the view of its soaring spire beckoning the visitor onward. Upon arriving at the churchyard gates this massive building reveals itself to be full of surprises, most noticeably the tower and spire being detached from the main building and standing a short distance to the north of a beautifully detailed chapel on the north side (formerly dedicated to St Katherine) whose large windows are enriched with ballflower ornament. To the right the mass of the three-gabled west front greets the visitor, centred around the original Norman west doorway with its carved capitals.
Much of the Norman building still remains but aside from the west door the building has been modified and extended in the following centuries to the point that most of the exterior now appears to be of 13th or 14th century date. The detached tower dates back to the 13th century in its lower stages, but the topmost belfry stage and the tapering spire above are an 18th century addition by architect Nathaniel Wilkinson of Worcester. The spire is nonetheless remarkable for its sheer height, and visitors can often ascend the tower to its base during the summer months.
Inside the church initially has a vast, almost barn-like feel owing to the great space and somewhat low level of light, particularly as the eye is drawn towards the chancel which almost disappears into the gloom at first sight. The church is lit by a series of tall windows but the light they admit is more limited by the extensive collection of stained glass (though fortunately most of this is exceptionally good). The chancel is the oldest part, retaining its Norman arcades with intriguing porthole-like oculi above that would have been originally glazed as a clerestorey before the aisles were enlarged. On the north side (almost acting as a transept) is the former chapel with its large Decorated windows that is now separated by a glazed screen and is referred to presently as the chapter house. It contains some old fragments of glass and a fine effigy of a 13th century priest.
Throughout the church there are tombs and monuments of interest (not all well lit so at times the eye needs to adjust to the darkness) from the medieval period to the 19th century. Most of the windows on the south side are filled with rich late Victorian glass by Kempe, whilst in the north side is a more varied display with good examples of Pre Raphaelite, Arts & Crafts and more modern work by Burne Jones, Christopher Whall and John K.Clark respectively, in my opinion the most outstanding windows in the church.
Ledbury church is normally kept open and welcoming for visitors to this popular, tourist-friendly market town. It is well worth a visit, a well above average church!
If there is any advice Col. Kirk Gibbs can give to his successor, it is this: Lead with honor and humility.
As Gibbs, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District’s 61st commander, prepares to relinquish command of the LA District July 19 to Col. Aaron Barta, he offered up some advice and reflected on the past three years as the leader of one of the largest Corps districts in the country.
There are many things Gibbs said he is proud of when it comes to the LA District, but three things stand out: the District being recognized two years in a row as a "Best Place to Work" in the Corps; completing Weed Army Hospital at Fort Irwin, California – the Department of Defense’s only Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-Platinum, carbon-neutral, net-zero certifiable hospital – on time and within budget; and the one-on-one time he was able to spend with employees in the District.
It is the people Gibbs said he will miss the most – the employees and the District’s close partners across the four-state area.
“I have never focused on relationships like I have here in this District, and I sincerely believe it is part of the District's culture,” he said. “When projects are tough, the close relationships get us through those challenges and ultimately deliver the program.”
During his time with the LA District, Gibbs has overseen a multimillion-dollar program that provides engineering, construction, planning, contracting, real estate, emergency operations, environmental and regulatory services to military, federal, state and local governments across a 226,000-square-mile area of Southern California, Nevada, Arizona and Utah. That also includes leading about 750 military and civilian personnel with a wide array of expertise.
But leading people is nothing new to Gibbs, who has served for more than 24 years as an active-duty Soldier, leading both military and civilian personnel.
“Each person is different, and I have learned that good leaders get to know each person individually and then lead them in a way that brings out the best in that employee,” he said.
Providing priorities and a solid intent on the District’s missions, particularly disaster response operations, helps employees stay focused on what’s really important, he said.
Gibbs will now serve as the chief of staff at the Corps’ headquarters in Washington, D.C. There, he said, he hopes to be an advocate for all of the Corps’ districts nationwide.
“I feel that this District and the great people are responsible for giving me the incredible opportunity of being the Corps’ chief of staff,” he said. “The people have taught me so much, and I will take that with me to make a positive impact on the Corps’ enterprise and help our Districts deliver our programs in civil works, military, Interagency and International Services, real estate and regulatory.”
Gibbs knows how the importance of mentors and having a good support system have played in shaping his career, and he credits his parents with instilling in him respect for others; his wife, Kim, who taught him to endure all challenges, no matter how great, with grace and dignity; and his former chief of staff – Col. Steve Hill – for giving him tough jobs to prepare him for success.
“(Hill) gave me tough jobs that I thought he could have done at the time, but as I look back, the toughest assignments he gave me in that civilian organization at the Corps headquarters prepared me for District command and enabled me to achieve the goal of commanding at the battalion, brigade and District levels,” he said. “I also remember he told me I would be a chief of staff for the Corps one day. He was preparing me for that. I didn't believe him, but that is my next job.”
And, as for additional advice he can share with Barta, Gibbs provided these words of wisdom:
- Be prepared to change leadership style when leading a District of professional civilians. Don't lead them in the same way as Soldiers;
- Engage with people and get around to see them across the District's entire area of operation. Don't sit behind a desk;
- Study hard initially and learn the policies, processes and programs. “You will never be the expert, but you must prepare yourself to make effective decisions as quickly as possible”;
- Always provide a commander's intent and an end state. The civilian workforce appreciates that; and, lastly,
- Lead with honor and humility. “It isn't about you. It is about the District's people and our vital mission.”
As for the future of the LA District, Gibbs said he hopes future leaders continue to change the culture to an organization that is more risk tolerant in streamlining processes and moving projects forward; deliver the Department of Veterans Affairs and Customs and Border Protection programs phenomenally – on time, within budget and to the highest quality; and to remain a "Best Place to Work" in order to retain and recruit talent to the high-cost living area of Southern California.
“I want the District to do what it always does and ‘knock those programs out of the park,’” he said.
If there is any advice Col. Kirk Gibbs can give to his successor, it is this: Lead with honor and humility.
As Gibbs, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District’s 61st commander, prepares to relinquish command of the LA District July 19 to Col. Aaron Barta, he offered up some advice and reflected on the past three years as the leader of one of the largest Corps districts in the country.
There are many things Gibbs said he is proud of when it comes to the LA District, but three things stand out: the District being recognized two years in a row as a "Best Place to Work" in the Corps; completing Weed Army Hospital at Fort Irwin, California – the Department of Defense’s only Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-Platinum, carbon-neutral, net-zero certifiable hospital – on time and within budget; and the one-on-one time he was able to spend with employees in the District.
It is the people Gibbs said he will miss the most – the employees and the District’s close partners across the four-state area.
“I have never focused on relationships like I have here in this District, and I sincerely believe it is part of the District's culture,” he said. “When projects are tough, the close relationships get us through those challenges and ultimately deliver the program.”
During his time with the LA District, Gibbs has overseen a multimillion-dollar program that provides engineering, construction, planning, contracting, real estate, emergency operations, environmental and regulatory services to military, federal, state and local governments across a 226,000-square-mile area of Southern California, Nevada, Arizona and Utah. That also includes leading about 750 military and civilian personnel with a wide array of expertise.
But leading people is nothing new to Gibbs, who has served for more than 24 years as an active-duty Soldier, leading both military and civilian personnel.
“Each person is different, and I have learned that good leaders get to know each person individually and then lead them in a way that brings out the best in that employee,” he said.
Providing priorities and a solid intent on the District’s missions, particularly disaster response operations, helps employees stay focused on what’s really important, he said.
Gibbs will now serve as the chief of staff at the Corps’ headquarters in Washington, D.C. There, he said, he hopes to be an advocate for all of the Corps’ districts nationwide.
“I feel that this District and the great people are responsible for giving me the incredible opportunity of being the Corps’ chief of staff,” he said. “The people have taught me so much, and I will take that with me to make a positive impact on the Corps’ enterprise and help our Districts deliver our programs in civil works, military, Interagency and International Services, real estate and regulatory.”
Gibbs knows how the importance of mentors and having a good support system have played in shaping his career, and he credits his parents with instilling in him respect for others; his wife, Kim, who taught him to endure all challenges, no matter how great, with grace and dignity; and his former chief of staff – Col. Steve Hill – for giving him tough jobs to prepare him for success.
“(Hill) gave me tough jobs that I thought he could have done at the time, but as I look back, the toughest assignments he gave me in that civilian organization at the Corps headquarters prepared me for District command and enabled me to achieve the goal of commanding at the battalion, brigade and District levels,” he said. “I also remember he told me I would be a chief of staff for the Corps one day. He was preparing me for that. I didn't believe him, but that is my next job.”
And, as for additional advice he can share with Barta, Gibbs provided these words of wisdom:
- Be prepared to change leadership style when leading a District of professional civilians. Don't lead them in the same way as Soldiers;
- Engage with people and get around to see them across the District's entire area of operation. Don't sit behind a desk;
- Study hard initially and learn the policies, processes and programs. “You will never be the expert, but you must prepare yourself to make effective decisions as quickly as possible”;
- Always provide a commander's intent and an end state. The civilian workforce appreciates that; and, lastly,
- Lead with honor and humility. “It isn't about you. It is about the District's people and our vital mission.”
As for the future of the LA District, Gibbs said he hopes future leaders continue to change the culture to an organization that is more risk tolerant in streamlining processes and moving projects forward; deliver the Department of Veterans Affairs and Customs and Border Protection programs phenomenally – on time, within budget and to the highest quality; and to remain a "Best Place to Work" in order to retain and recruit talent to the high-cost living area of Southern California.
“I want the District to do what it always does and ‘knock those programs out of the park,’” he said.
Dear Friends,
I want to let you know that I have just announced my candidacy for the United States Congress in the seat currently held by my friend, Congressman Robert Wexler, who is accepting a new position at the Center for Middle East Peace.
I make this announcement with great excitement and humility. I am gratified by the incredible encouragement and support that I have already received for this race, and I am extremely excited about the opportunity to be your voice in Congress.
Congressman Wexler served this community tirelessly for nineteen years. I am saddened to see him leave, but I am excited about the opportunity to continue to fight for the issues that he supports and that our community cares so desperately about.
Visit www.TedforCongress.com and Join Today!
This is a time of extraordinary challenges, both at home and abroad. I am running for Congress because I want to work hard every day to help solve the difficult challenges that the citizens of South Florida are currently facing.
I will bring to Congress the same strong work ethic and common sense that I took to Tallahassee. I am proud of the results that I have delivered in the Florida State Senate on education and seniors, health care, and through my initiative to ensure that the retirement funds of Florida’s workers do not support Iran’s illicit quest for nuclear weapons or genocide in Darfur.
Congressman Wexler will be leaving office in January which means his replacement will be filled by a special election that is just months away. This campaign will require an enormous amount of hard work, and if we are going to be successful, we will need to get to work immediately.
I am counting on the support of my friends and supporters who have seen my record of success in Tallahassee and my willingness to work hard to get results. Please join the campaign by going to www.tedforcongress.com, and consider making a financial contribution to my campaign.
Most Congressional campaigns are marathons - this one is a sprint. In order to win, I need lots of volunteers and workers, and I also need to raise over two million dollars in three months. This is no easy task, but with your help, I can do it.
Please Donate Today
You may contribute online today at my website, www.tedforcongress.com, or checks can be made payable to "Deutch for Congress" and sent to 20423 SR7, Suite f-6-383, Boca Raton, FL 33498.
I ask for your support to help me win a race for Congress. Please join my campaign today. I cannot wait to work on your behalf in the United States Congress.
My family and I thank you for your incredible support.
Warmest regards,
Senator Ted Deutch
P.S. Anything you can do to support my efforts is greatly appreciated. Please note that the maximum contribution an individual can make is $4,800 per person, and $9,600 per couple. Corporate contributions are forbidden by federal law.
P.P.S. Please forward this message to your friends and family, and ask them to join our campaign and contribute at www.TedForCongress.com.
Here is some information about me to share with your friends:
Senator Deutch Ideally Situated Senate District Make Him a Formidable Candidate
Senator Deutch’s senate district is ideally situated for a successful congressional campaign for the 19th District seat. Deutch already represents many more voters in the 19th District then any other elected official. In fact, Deutch currently represents almost half of the district’s voters. Wexler also represented this senate district prior to his successful run for Congress. Also like Deutch’s current state senate district, the 19th District is overwhelmingly located in Palm Beach County.
About Senator Ted Deutch
Senator Ted Deutch is an accomplished legislator who has passed legislation on critical issues that have benefited seniors, public education, national security, and victims of the Holocaust. Deutch, 43, was elected to the Florida State Senate in November 2006. His state senate district is largely located in Palm Beach County and includes some portions of north Broward County.
Deutch received national recognition and testified before Congress for his successful legislative efforts ensuring that the retirement funds of Florida workers to not support Iran’s illicit quest for nuclear weapons or genocide in Darfur. In 2009, Senator Deutch passed legislation that will reduce youth smoking and fund up to $1 billion in critical health care programs in Florida, including $50 million per year in dedicated cancer research funding.
In the Senate, Deutch has also passed legislation protecting children, improving health care insurance for seniors, and through his efforts he helped secure a new senior center in Palm Beach County.
Ted’s commitment to public service earned him the prestigious Harry S Truman Scholarship and his civic and philanthropic work earned him the James and Marjorie Baer Leadership Award from the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County. He also has been honored for his efforts in the State Senate, most recently being named National Distinguished Advocacy Award by the American Cancer society, and receiving the Florida Education Association’s Champion of Public Education Award.
A native of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Ted is the son of Jean Deutch and the late Bernard Deutch, who earned a Purple Heart serving his country during World War II. A graduate of the University of Michigan and the University of Michigan Law School, Ted is an attorney with the Florida law firm of Broad and Cassel. He currently lives in Boca Raton, Florida with his wife of 18 years, Jill, his 14 year-old twin daughters, Gabrielle and Serena and his 10 year-old son, Cole.
For more information visit www.tedforcongress.com
O God, please bless all families to unite as one community.
That their blessings may not only help families within their community –
But that their blessings and efforts be shared equally to those who are in need in Humanity.
That people do not belong to communities to feel special or better than others.
That people may not do these just to be praised or look good amongst each other.
That community services are for Free, never to oblige material things in return from others.
But in everything be done to help save the poorest of the poor, and the neediest of the neediest.
That children, fathers and mothers be blessed as worthy Pastors with an equal voice –
But are all mere followers of Our King and Lord Jesus Christ.
That no single human being is worthy of leading a community, be praised or worshipped -
But all families be given a chance to contribute in helping others as One.
And with The Holy Spirit of Humility to be kind to those who don’t belong to their group.
For God loves a welcoming Heart, always in favor to those who are more needy of Love.
For God loves a generous Heart, always to seek the greater benefit of others.
That a community is never a status that people may think that one is good or holier -
But simply that the Love, mercy and resources we receive from God –
May in turn be passed on to those who are needier of our Love.
Until the Love we received from God may reach the poorest and the neediest.
That communities may never compete each other, but rather unite in saving Humanity.
For as much as everyone seeks to belong to a group to feel loved and cared for,
But as God’s Children that we all belong to The Holy Family of God in Heaven.
And with Wisdom and Peace that we all become special in The Eyes of God.
For the True worship of God is found in good deeds of charity filled with Humility and Love.
Amen.
SASSETTA
(b. 1394, Siena, d. 1450, Siena):
Madonna of Humility with Four Saints c. 1435
Tempera and gold on panel, 172 x 257 cm
Museo Diocesano, Cortona
In the centre of the polyptych there is an exquisite Virgin with Child. On the left side there are Sts Nicholas and Michael, wearing rare, refined, and precious garments. St Nicholas has a chasuble bearing a Pietà. The two saints on the right side are St John the Baptist and St Margaret of Hungary. Above the side panels are two tondi representing the Annunciation.
Original Art by Henry Guimond
Graphic Design by Andrea Gutsche
Images Owned & Copyrighted by Turtle Lodge
www.theturtlelodge.org/sevenTeachings.html
With respect to Henry's original art I did not intend to lose the black dot that makes up the four "races" but thats the way the camera caught it.
If there is any advice Col. Kirk Gibbs can give to his successor, it is this: Lead with honor and humility.
As Gibbs, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District’s 61st commander, prepares to relinquish command of the LA District July 19 to Col. Aaron Barta, he offered up some advice and reflected on the past three years as the leader of one of the largest Corps districts in the country.
There are many things Gibbs said he is proud of when it comes to the LA District, but three things stand out: the District being recognized two years in a row as a "Best Place to Work" in the Corps; completing Weed Army Hospital at Fort Irwin, California – the Department of Defense’s only Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-Platinum, carbon-neutral, net-zero certifiable hospital – on time and within budget; and the one-on-one time he was able to spend with employees in the District.
It is the people Gibbs said he will miss the most – the employees and the District’s close partners across the four-state area.
“I have never focused on relationships like I have here in this District, and I sincerely believe it is part of the District's culture,” he said. “When projects are tough, the close relationships get us through those challenges and ultimately deliver the program.”
During his time with the LA District, Gibbs has overseen a multimillion-dollar program that provides engineering, construction, planning, contracting, real estate, emergency operations, environmental and regulatory services to military, federal, state and local governments across a 226,000-square-mile area of Southern California, Nevada, Arizona and Utah. That also includes leading about 750 military and civilian personnel with a wide array of expertise.
But leading people is nothing new to Gibbs, who has served for more than 24 years as an active-duty Soldier, leading both military and civilian personnel.
“Each person is different, and I have learned that good leaders get to know each person individually and then lead them in a way that brings out the best in that employee,” he said.
Providing priorities and a solid intent on the District’s missions, particularly disaster response operations, helps employees stay focused on what’s really important, he said.
Gibbs will now serve as the chief of staff at the Corps’ headquarters in Washington, D.C. There, he said, he hopes to be an advocate for all of the Corps’ districts nationwide.
“I feel that this District and the great people are responsible for giving me the incredible opportunity of being the Corps’ chief of staff,” he said. “The people have taught me so much, and I will take that with me to make a positive impact on the Corps’ enterprise and help our Districts deliver our programs in civil works, military, Interagency and International Services, real estate and regulatory.”
Gibbs knows how the importance of mentors and having a good support system have played in shaping his career, and he credits his parents with instilling in him respect for others; his wife, Kim, who taught him to endure all challenges, no matter how great, with grace and dignity; and his former chief of staff – Col. Steve Hill – for giving him tough jobs to prepare him for success.
“(Hill) gave me tough jobs that I thought he could have done at the time, but as I look back, the toughest assignments he gave me in that civilian organization at the Corps headquarters prepared me for District command and enabled me to achieve the goal of commanding at the battalion, brigade and District levels,” he said. “I also remember he told me I would be a chief of staff for the Corps one day. He was preparing me for that. I didn't believe him, but that is my next job.”
And, as for additional advice he can share with Barta, Gibbs provided these words of wisdom:
- Be prepared to change leadership style when leading a District of professional civilians. Don't lead them in the same way as Soldiers;
- Engage with people and get around to see them across the District's entire area of operation. Don't sit behind a desk;
- Study hard initially and learn the policies, processes and programs. “You will never be the expert, but you must prepare yourself to make effective decisions as quickly as possible”;
- Always provide a commander's intent and an end state. The civilian workforce appreciates that; and, lastly,
- Lead with honor and humility. “It isn't about you. It is about the District's people and our vital mission.”
As for the future of the LA District, Gibbs said he hopes future leaders continue to change the culture to an organization that is more risk tolerant in streamlining processes and moving projects forward; deliver the Department of Veterans Affairs and Customs and Border Protection programs phenomenally – on time, within budget and to the highest quality; and to remain a "Best Place to Work" in order to retain and recruit talent to the high-cost living area of Southern California.
“I want the District to do what it always does and ‘knock those programs out of the park,’” he said.
My Mentor Guru and Guiding Light
Evergreen personality Mr Danny Denzongpa.
People get knowledge reading books joining powrful groups clubs.
I got mine at the feet of Mr Danny Denzongpa.
36 years of nonstop learning he became the character I became the man clothing the character.. I began to think like the character he was to play.. I would visualize his accessories running around Chor Bazar.
I would source his fabrics get them vegetable hand washed hand dyed aged and it was not just the actor but the director adding his views so it was Late Mr Mukul S Anand and the look of Khudagawah my contacting late Karim Lalas kids for the original safas kulas from Swat his sandles hand made Inna village of North West Frontier.
So I learnt..
Every role Dannyji played was a challenge as a designer for me Army was his look that he liked very much and here two weeks went to put it on his body the dress and the drape.
Barsat Pukar Ghayal Ghatak with Mr Raj Kumar Santoshiji my director Guru pleasing him was never easy he could sometimes be a bigger taskmaster than Dannyji.
I would watch the trials make up and go deep into the character and this one actor Mr Danny Denzongpa made me complete.
He got rid of my rough edges.
There were times when everyone left he would talk to me on Spirituality on Life on Art Sciences I would listen avidly.
I would listen to the flute of the Master in silence..
He is a Buddhist I am a Muslim but it did not matter I had done kar Seva at Leh Ladakh with the Tibetan refugees.
His Holiness Dalai Lama sent me his biography and thanking me for my love for the Tibetan people.
On my birthday last year Mrs Danny presented me a Lama dress as I find spiritual solace in it.
I told Dannyji in some future time to help me join a Tibetan monastery to control and manage my anger.
In my life I worked with a lot of actors but in my life it was Mr Danny Denzongpa who made me from inside what I am.
I learnt my art my craft under him and it all started in 1986 with the making of Boxer.. a film directed by Mr Raj Dadhoo Sippy..
I have worked on two of his under production films too.
Dannyji for me is reality and folklore.
Happy Birthday Mr Danny Denzongpa
If there is any advice Col. Kirk Gibbs can give to his successor, it is this: Lead with honor and humility.
As Gibbs, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District’s 61st commander, prepares to relinquish command of the LA District July 19 to Col. Aaron Barta, he offered up some advice and reflected on the past three years as the leader of one of the largest Corps districts in the country.
There are many things Gibbs said he is proud of when it comes to the LA District, but three things stand out: the District being recognized two years in a row as a "Best Place to Work" in the Corps; completing Weed Army Hospital at Fort Irwin, California – the Department of Defense’s only Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-Platinum, carbon-neutral, net-zero certifiable hospital – on time and within budget; and the one-on-one time he was able to spend with employees in the District.
It is the people Gibbs said he will miss the most – the employees and the District’s close partners across the four-state area.
“I have never focused on relationships like I have here in this District, and I sincerely believe it is part of the District's culture,” he said. “When projects are tough, the close relationships get us through those challenges and ultimately deliver the program.”
During his time with the LA District, Gibbs has overseen a multimillion-dollar program that provides engineering, construction, planning, contracting, real estate, emergency operations, environmental and regulatory services to military, federal, state and local governments across a 226,000-square-mile area of Southern California, Nevada, Arizona and Utah. That also includes leading about 750 military and civilian personnel with a wide array of expertise.
But leading people is nothing new to Gibbs, who has served for more than 24 years as an active-duty Soldier, leading both military and civilian personnel.
“Each person is different, and I have learned that good leaders get to know each person individually and then lead them in a way that brings out the best in that employee,” he said.
Providing priorities and a solid intent on the District’s missions, particularly disaster response operations, helps employees stay focused on what’s really important, he said.
Gibbs will now serve as the chief of staff at the Corps’ headquarters in Washington, D.C. There, he said, he hopes to be an advocate for all of the Corps’ districts nationwide.
“I feel that this District and the great people are responsible for giving me the incredible opportunity of being the Corps’ chief of staff,” he said. “The people have taught me so much, and I will take that with me to make a positive impact on the Corps’ enterprise and help our Districts deliver our programs in civil works, military, Interagency and International Services, real estate and regulatory.”
Gibbs knows how the importance of mentors and having a good support system have played in shaping his career, and he credits his parents with instilling in him respect for others; his wife, Kim, who taught him to endure all challenges, no matter how great, with grace and dignity; and his former chief of staff – Col. Steve Hill – for giving him tough jobs to prepare him for success.
“(Hill) gave me tough jobs that I thought he could have done at the time, but as I look back, the toughest assignments he gave me in that civilian organization at the Corps headquarters prepared me for District command and enabled me to achieve the goal of commanding at the battalion, brigade and District levels,” he said. “I also remember he told me I would be a chief of staff for the Corps one day. He was preparing me for that. I didn't believe him, but that is my next job.”
And, as for additional advice he can share with Barta, Gibbs provided these words of wisdom:
- Be prepared to change leadership style when leading a District of professional civilians. Don't lead them in the same way as Soldiers;
- Engage with people and get around to see them across the District's entire area of operation. Don't sit behind a desk;
- Study hard initially and learn the policies, processes and programs. “You will never be the expert, but you must prepare yourself to make effective decisions as quickly as possible”;
- Always provide a commander's intent and an end state. The civilian workforce appreciates that; and, lastly,
- Lead with honor and humility. “It isn't about you. It is about the District's people and our vital mission.”
As for the future of the LA District, Gibbs said he hopes future leaders continue to change the culture to an organization that is more risk tolerant in streamlining processes and moving projects forward; deliver the Department of Veterans Affairs and Customs and Border Protection programs phenomenally – on time, within budget and to the highest quality; and to remain a "Best Place to Work" in order to retain and recruit talent to the high-cost living area of Southern California.
“I want the District to do what it always does and ‘knock those programs out of the park,’” he said."
Photos by Miller Taylor.
April 2015 CreativeMornings/Raleigh event (global theme: Humility) with guest speakers Mike and Megan Gilger, husband and wife creative team behind Wild Measure studio and The Fresh Exchange blog.
In 2009, Megan and Mike began their lifestyle and design blog, The Fresh Exchange Today, the blog reaches over a half million people everyday, inspiring creators of all kinds to pursue their dreams and live a beautiful and intentional life. The creative couple works together to create original content through photo, video, editorial writing, aesthetic curation, and social media. With a simple, natural, and organic nature to their content, Megan and Mike have had the opportunity to work with brands such as Smartwater, Bing, Gap, Madewell, Bota Box, Levi’s, Feedly, Kinfolk Magazine, Over, Warby Parker, Tuft & Needle, Shinola, and many others.
Special thanks to our host CAM Raleigh and sponsors CompostNow, Counter Culture Coffee, who generously provided us with complimentary coffee, Yellow Dog Bread Company, who provided the tasty breakfast snacks, and Raleigh Raw , who provided the healthy, cold-pressed juice.
O God, thank You for my birthday today.
Thank You for all the blessings I have received.
But most importantly is the Spiritual growth I experienced –
Through my Love for You.
Please, through my wonderful experiences and relationships with others –
That I may continue to grow in Humility, Love, Generosity and Forgiveness.
That the Holy Spirit of Virtues are the ones that keep us all alive each day.
I pray that my birthday wish be not for my own,
But for my family and all families throughout Humanity.
That we may all be happy and peaceful together as God’s Children.
That Humanity as a Child may learn to Spiritually grow each year –
Under Your Love and Care from Heaven.
Amen.
O God, please teach all children to unite to sing love, praise and worship songs -
Whether be shouts of praise or soft tones of mellow voices.
For Humility and words of encouragement are still more important than the skill of singing.
These that they may learn to express their Love for You as One Heart.
May they do these for their parents most especially for the Poor and the Needy, for Free.
That they may enlighten the hearts of many –
That good deeds by sharing their talents to others is a prayer to God.
So that children, no matter how different their skills may be for their presentation –
May learn to appreciate the uniqueness of one another -
By blending with each other’s talents.
And further do other activities with the common goal of fulfilling the needs of God.
That through Peace in expressing one’s talents that children become Angels on Earth.
Amen.
Dear Friends,
I want to let you know that I have just announced my candidacy for the United States Congress in the seat currently held by my friend, Congressman Robert Wexler, who is accepting a new position at the Center for Middle East Peace.
I make this announcement with great excitement and humility. I am gratified by the incredible encouragement and support that I have already received for this race, and I am extremely excited about the opportunity to be your voice in Congress.
Congressman Wexler served this community tirelessly for nineteen years. I am saddened to see him leave, but I am excited about the opportunity to continue to fight for the issues that he supports and that our community cares so desperately about.
Visit www.TedForCongress.com and Join Today!
This is a time of extraordinary challenges, both at home and abroad. I am running for Congress because I want to work hard every day to help solve the difficult challenges that the citizens of South Florida are currently facing.
I will bring to Congress the same strong work ethic and common sense that I took to Tallahassee. I am proud of the results that I have delivered in the Florida State Senate on education and seniors, health care, and through my initiative to ensure that the retirement funds of Florida’s workers do not support Iran’s illicit quest for nuclear weapons or genocide in Darfur.
Congressman Wexler will be leaving office in January which means his replacement will be filled by a special election that is just months away. This campaign will require an enormous amount of hard work, and if we are going to be successful, we will need to get to work immediately.
I am counting on the support of my friends and supporters who have seen my record of success in Tallahassee and my willingness to work hard to get results. Please join the campaign by going to www.tedforcongress.com, and consider making a financial contribution to my campaign.
Most Congressional campaigns are marathons - this one is a sprint. In order to win, I need lots of volunteers and workers, and I also need to raise over two million dollars in three months. This is no easy task, but with your help, I can do it.
Please Donate Today
You may contribute online today at my website, www.tedforcongress.com, or checks can be made payable to "Deutch for Congress" and sent to 20423 SR7, Suite f-6-383, Boca Raton, FL 33498.
I ask for your support to help me win a race for Congress. Please join my campaign today. I cannot wait to work on your behalf in the United States Congress.
My family and I thank you for your incredible support.
Warmest regards,
Senator Ted Deutch
P.S. Anything you can do to support my efforts is greatly appreciated. Please note that the maximum contribution an individual can make is $4,800 per person, and $9,600 per couple. Corporate contributions are forbidden by federal law.
P.P.S. Please forward this message to your friends and family, and ask them to join our campaign and contribute at www.TedForCongress.com.
Here is some information about me to share with your friends:
Senator Deutch Ideally Situated Senate District Make Him a Formidable Candidate
Senator Deutch’s senate district is ideally situated for a successful congressional campaign for the 19th District seat. Deutch already represents many more voters in the 19th District then any other elected official. In fact, Deutch currently represents almost half of the district’s voters. Wexler also represented this senate district prior to his successful run for Congress. Also like Deutch’s current state senate district, the 19th District is overwhelmingly located in Palm Beach County.
About Senator Ted Deutch
Senator Ted Deutch is an accomplished legislator who has passed legislation on critical issues that have benefited seniors, public education, national security, and victims of the Holocaust. Deutch, 43, was elected to the Florida State Senate in November 2006. His state senate district is largely located in Palm Beach County and includes some portions of north Broward County.
Deutch received national recognition and testified before Congress for his successful legislative efforts ensuring that the retirement funds of Florida workers to not support Iran’s illicit quest for nuclear weapons or genocide in Darfur. In 2009, Senator Deutch passed legislation that will reduce youth smoking and fund up to $1 billion in critical health care programs in Florida, including $50 million per year in dedicated cancer research funding.
In the Senate, Deutch has also passed legislation protecting children, improving health care insurance for seniors, and through his efforts he helped secure a new senior center in Palm Beach County.
Ted’s commitment to public service earned him the prestigious Harry S Truman Scholarship and his civic and philanthropic work earned him the James and Marjorie Baer Leadership Award from the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County. He also has been honored for his efforts in the State Senate, most recently being named National Distinguished Advocacy Award by the American Cancer society, and receiving the Florida Education Association’s Champion of Public Education Award.
A native of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Ted is the son of Jean Deutch and the late Bernard Deutch, who earned a Purple Heart serving his country during World War II. A graduate of the University of Michigan and the University of Michigan Law School, Ted is an attorney with the Florida law firm of Broad and Cassel. He currently lives in Boca Raton, Florida with his wife of 18 years, Jill, his 14 year-old twin daughters, Gabrielle and Serena and his 10 year-old son, Cole.
For more information visit www.tedforcongress.com
The balance between humility and pride isn’t about thinking badly of ourselves or eating dirt. We’re taught all through scripture to focus in humility on the grace of God, to love Him more than anything.
Photo used with permission; however, reproduction is prohibited. For more information on this photograph, please email kennymccune@mobaptist.org.
Dear Friends,
I want to let you know that I have just announced my candidacy for the United States Congress in the seat currently held by my friend, Congressman Robert Wexler, who is accepting a new position at the Center for Middle East Peace.
I make this announcement with great excitement and humility. I am gratified by the incredible encouragement and support that I have already received for this race, and I am extremely excited about the opportunity to be your voice in Congress.
Congressman Wexler served this community tirelessly for nineteen years. I am saddened to see him leave, but I am excited about the opportunity to continue to fight for the issues that he supports and that our community cares so desperately about.
Visit www.TedForCongress.com and Join Today!
This is a time of extraordinary challenges, both at home and abroad. I am running for Congress because I want to work hard every day to help solve the difficult challenges that the citizens of South Florida are currently facing.
I will bring to Congress the same strong work ethic and common sense that I took to Tallahassee. I am proud of the results that I have delivered in the Florida State Senate on education and seniors, health care, and through my initiative to ensure that the retirement funds of Florida’s workers do not support Iran’s illicit quest for nuclear weapons or genocide in Darfur.
Congressman Wexler will be leaving office in January which means his replacement will be filled by a special election that is just months away. This campaign will require an enormous amount of hard work, and if we are going to be successful, we will need to get to work immediately.
I am counting on the support of my friends and supporters who have seen my record of success in Tallahassee and my willingness to work hard to get results. Please join the campaign by going to www.tedforcongress.com, and consider making a financial contribution to my campaign.
Most Congressional campaigns are marathons - this one is a sprint. In order to win, I need lots of volunteers and workers, and I also need to raise over two million dollars in three months. This is no easy task, but with your help, I can do it.
Please Donate Today
You may contribute online today at my website, www.tedforcongress.com, or checks can be made payable to "Deutch for Congress" and sent to 20423 SR7, Suite f-6-383, Boca Raton, FL 33498.
I ask for your support to help me win a race for Congress. Please join my campaign today. I cannot wait to work on your behalf in the United States Congress.
My family and I thank you for your incredible support.
Warmest regards,
Senator Ted Deutch
P.S. Anything you can do to support my efforts is greatly appreciated. Please note that the maximum contribution an individual can make is $4,800 per person, and $9,600 per couple. Corporate contributions are forbidden by federal law.
P.P.S. Please forward this message to your friends and family, and ask them to join our campaign and contribute at www.TedForCongress.com.
Here is some information about me to share with your friends:
Senator Deutch Ideally Situated Senate District Make Him a Formidable Candidate
Senator Deutch’s senate district is ideally situated for a successful congressional campaign for the 19th District seat. Deutch already represents many more voters in the 19th District then any other elected official. In fact, Deutch currently represents almost half of the district’s voters. Wexler also represented this senate district prior to his successful run for Congress. Also like Deutch’s current state senate district, the 19th District is overwhelmingly located in Palm Beach County.
About Senator Ted Deutch
Senator Ted Deutch is an accomplished legislator who has passed legislation on critical issues that have benefited seniors, public education, national security, and victims of the Holocaust. Deutch, 43, was elected to the Florida State Senate in November 2006. His state senate district is largely located in Palm Beach County and includes some portions of north Broward County.
Deutch received national recognition and testified before Congress for his successful legislative efforts ensuring that the retirement funds of Florida workers to not support Iran’s illicit quest for nuclear weapons or genocide in Darfur. In 2009, Senator Deutch passed legislation that will reduce youth smoking and fund up to $1 billion in critical health care programs in Florida, including $50 million per year in dedicated cancer research funding.
In the Senate, Deutch has also passed legislation protecting children, improving health care insurance for seniors, and through his efforts he helped secure a new senior center in Palm Beach County.
Ted’s commitment to public service earned him the prestigious Harry S Truman Scholarship and his civic and philanthropic work earned him the James and Marjorie Baer Leadership Award from the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County. He also has been honored for his efforts in the State Senate, most recently being named National Distinguished Advocacy Award by the American Cancer society, and receiving the Florida Education Association’s Champion of Public Education Award.
A native of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Ted is the son of Jean Deutch and the late Bernard Deutch, who earned a Purple Heart serving his country during World War II. A graduate of the University of Michigan and the University of Michigan Law School, Ted is an attorney with the Florida law firm of Broad and Cassel. He currently lives in Boca Raton, Florida with his wife of 18 years, Jill, his 14 year-old twin daughters, Gabrielle and Serena and his 10 year-old son, Cole.
For more information visit www.tedforcongress.com
A quick snapshot to show you how the Humility Now shoot went for the release of there summer line!
Models: Santana Iglesias & Edgar Alfred
Thankyou SO much Zack Hughes for helping me out!!! Everyone check out his work: www.flickr.com/photos/zamphotography
"Humor and humility were essential aspects of Norman Rockwell's character, so when asked to do a self-portrait that would announce the first of eight excerpts of his 1960 autobiography, 'My Adventures as an Illustrator,' the result was lighthearted and self-deprecating." - from the museum label
(active in Ferrara 1405–1441)
Madonna of Humility,
tempera on gold ground panel, 62.5 x 45.5 cm, integral frame
Provenance:
with Georges Wildenstein, Paris, 1951;
with Galleria Celestini, Milan;
where acquired in 1960;
sale, Bonhams, London, 7 December 2011, lot 36 (as Antonio Alberti da Ferrara);
Private European collection
Literature:
L. Servolini, Una Madonnina sconosciuta di Antonio da Ferrara, in: Arte figurativa antica e moderna. Rivista bimestrale. Pittura, scultura, arredamento, antiquariato, vol. 6, no. 30, November – December 1957, p. 27 (as Antonio da Ferrara);
M. T. Zanchi, Antonio Alberti da Ferrara e il suo itinerario umbro-marchigiano, in: Commentari. Rivista di critica e storia dell’arte, vol. XV, July – December 1964, no. III-IV, p. 176 (rejected attribution to Antonio Alberti da Ferrara);
S. Padovani, Pittori alla corte estense nel primo Quattrocento, in: Paragone, vol. XXVI/299, January 1975, pp. 39-40, note 38, fig. 43a (as Antonio Alberti);
C. Guerzi, Pittori e cantieri della Ferrara tardogotica, da Alberto (1388-1393) a di Nicolò III d’Este (1393-1441), diss. ms., Udine 2007/2008, pp. 91–92, fig. I.75 (as Attributed to Michele dai Carri);
C. Guerzi, Il tardogotico estense tra critica e mercato dell’arte, in: Ricerche di S/confine, no. 1, vol. VIII, Parma 2017, pp. 98–99, illustrated p. 105, fig. 14 (as Attributed to Michele dai Carri)
We are grateful to Chiara Guerzi for confirming the attribution.
The present painting can be compared to other paintings by the painter from Ferrara including the Madonna and Child Enthroned with Saint Nicola presenting Pietro dei Lardi (Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, inv. no. 65.181.5) and the Trinity in the Pinacoteca di Ferrara (inv. no. 73). The latter work also bears the initials ‘G. Z.’ from which the master’s traditional identifying moniker derives. These works, along with the fresco of the Resurrection painted for the Confraternita dei Battuti Neri di Ferrara (in the Oratorio dell’Annunziata) constitute the basis upon which the reconstruction of the catalogue of Michele dai Carri is founded.
The Master G. Z., possibly Michele dai Carri, was one of the most important artists in Ferrara at the time of Niccolò III d’Este. Indeed, he became a reference point for various painters such as Antonio Orsini and the Master of Vignola. Furthermore due to this Master’s works, the pictorial innovations of Gentile da Fabriano were communicated to the painters of the local school; additionally, his works, such as the panel in the Metropolitan Museum of Art clearly reveal the painter’s proximity to another leading artist from the late Gothic period active in the Po valley: the sculptor Jacopo della Quercia who worked in Ferrara from 1403.
This small panel painting, created for private devotion, probably dates to the end of the 1430s and it appears to be the model from which many works made in the ambit of Ferrara derived, at least until the 1450s. Indeed, its repeated motifs include the roundels enclosing the Annunciation in the upper corners, the dense ground encrustation of pastiglia relief ornament and above all, the typical arch resting on twisted columns that frames the composition (see Guerzi, 2017).
Just to see if it was possible, I printed a very limited edition of posters on my Arab platen. That accounts for the need to fold the sheet – it would not fit onto the platen flat. The type is 10-line sans in wood, from Hayloft Press run by the late David Wishart.
"Nature is constantly sending even its oldest scholars to the bottom of the class for some egregious blunder." ~Alfred Austin (Alfred Austin was the English Poet Laureate after the death of Alfred, Lord Tennyson. The British do like their Alfreds!)
I am truly humbled that these beauties choose to grace my summer garden! HMM!
There is nothing more humbling than helping the elderly. It's an amazing feeling , having the ability to see what your future holds. When you are young you never stop to realize that your youth has an expiration date.
If there is any advice Col. Kirk Gibbs can give to his successor, it is this: Lead with honor and humility.
As Gibbs, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District’s 61st commander, prepares to relinquish command of the LA District July 19 to Col. Aaron Barta, he offered up some advice and reflected on the past three years as the leader of one of the largest Corps districts in the country.
There are many things Gibbs said he is proud of when it comes to the LA District, but three things stand out: the District being recognized two years in a row as a "Best Place to Work" in the Corps; completing Weed Army Hospital at Fort Irwin, California – the Department of Defense’s only Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-Platinum, carbon-neutral, net-zero certifiable hospital – on time and within budget; and the one-on-one time he was able to spend with employees in the District.
It is the people Gibbs said he will miss the most – the employees and the District’s close partners across the four-state area.
“I have never focused on relationships like I have here in this District, and I sincerely believe it is part of the District's culture,” he said. “When projects are tough, the close relationships get us through those challenges and ultimately deliver the program.”
During his time with the LA District, Gibbs has overseen a multimillion-dollar program that provides engineering, construction, planning, contracting, real estate, emergency operations, environmental and regulatory services to military, federal, state and local governments across a 226,000-square-mile area of Southern California, Nevada, Arizona and Utah. That also includes leading about 750 military and civilian personnel with a wide array of expertise.
But leading people is nothing new to Gibbs, who has served for more than 24 years as an active-duty Soldier, leading both military and civilian personnel.
“Each person is different, and I have learned that good leaders get to know each person individually and then lead them in a way that brings out the best in that employee,” he said.
Providing priorities and a solid intent on the District’s missions, particularly disaster response operations, helps employees stay focused on what’s really important, he said.
Gibbs will now serve as the chief of staff at the Corps’ headquarters in Washington, D.C. There, he said, he hopes to be an advocate for all of the Corps’ districts nationwide.
“I feel that this District and the great people are responsible for giving me the incredible opportunity of being the Corps’ chief of staff,” he said. “The people have taught me so much, and I will take that with me to make a positive impact on the Corps’ enterprise and help our Districts deliver our programs in civil works, military, Interagency and International Services, real estate and regulatory.”
Gibbs knows how the importance of mentors and having a good support system have played in shaping his career, and he credits his parents with instilling in him respect for others; his wife, Kim, who taught him to endure all challenges, no matter how great, with grace and dignity; and his former chief of staff – Col. Steve Hill – for giving him tough jobs to prepare him for success.
“(Hill) gave me tough jobs that I thought he could have done at the time, but as I look back, the toughest assignments he gave me in that civilian organization at the Corps headquarters prepared me for District command and enabled me to achieve the goal of commanding at the battalion, brigade and District levels,” he said. “I also remember he told me I would be a chief of staff for the Corps one day. He was preparing me for that. I didn't believe him, but that is my next job.”
And, as for additional advice he can share with Barta, Gibbs provided these words of wisdom:
- Be prepared to change leadership style when leading a District of professional civilians. Don't lead them in the same way as Soldiers;
- Engage with people and get around to see them across the District's entire area of operation. Don't sit behind a desk;
- Study hard initially and learn the policies, processes and programs. “You will never be the expert, but you must prepare yourself to make effective decisions as quickly as possible”;
- Always provide a commander's intent and an end state. The civilian workforce appreciates that; and, lastly,
- Lead with honor and humility. “It isn't about you. It is about the District's people and our vital mission.”
As for the future of the LA District, Gibbs said he hopes future leaders continue to change the culture to an organization that is more risk tolerant in streamlining processes and moving projects forward; deliver the Department of Veterans Affairs and Customs and Border Protection programs phenomenally – on time, within budget and to the highest quality; and to remain a "Best Place to Work" in order to retain and recruit talent to the high-cost living area of Southern California.
“I want the District to do what it always does and ‘knock those programs out of the park,’” he said."
I used "Texture 108" by Ellen van Deelen for the background.
www.flickr.com/photos/41904174@N06/6390740513/in/photolis...
The quote is from Rick Warren's blog: rickwarren.org/devotional/english/cultivating-community
Many people attribute this quote to C.S. Lewis but that is a false assumption according to "Quotes NOT by C.S. Lewis"
www.essentialcslewis.com/2014/01/26/quotes-not-by-lewis-a...
Cool poster representing David Archuleta as a Hobbit in Lord of the Rings. Made by a FOD (fansofdavid.com) contributer.
As an exercise in humility the Black Nun wished to be buried where everyone entering the Friary would walk upon her remains
Bonamargy Friary is supposedly haunted by the ghost of the Black Nun, Julia McQuillan, who lived there alone after the Friary fell out of use in 1641.
There is a common story that the Black Nun was murdered on the steps leading to the upper floor of the Friary while looking out the slit window. Legend has it that bad luck will befall anyone who walks on the step where she fell. (check out the photo of the steps - the one that is third from top is the step where she is supposed to have been murdered. It is untrodden and unworn
compared to the others)
If there is any advice Col. Kirk Gibbs can give to his successor, it is this: Lead with honor and humility.
As Gibbs, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District’s 61st commander, prepares to relinquish command of the LA District July 19 to Col. Aaron Barta, he offered up some advice and reflected on the past three years as the leader of one of the largest Corps districts in the country.
There are many things Gibbs said he is proud of when it comes to the LA District, but three things stand out: the District being recognized two years in a row as a "Best Place to Work" in the Corps; completing Weed Army Hospital at Fort Irwin, California – the Department of Defense’s only Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-Platinum, carbon-neutral, net-zero certifiable hospital – on time and within budget; and the one-on-one time he was able to spend with employees in the District.
It is the people Gibbs said he will miss the most – the employees and the District’s close partners across the four-state area.
“I have never focused on relationships like I have here in this District, and I sincerely believe it is part of the District's culture,” he said. “When projects are tough, the close relationships get us through those challenges and ultimately deliver the program.”
During his time with the LA District, Gibbs has overseen a multimillion-dollar program that provides engineering, construction, planning, contracting, real estate, emergency operations, environmental and regulatory services to military, federal, state and local governments across a 226,000-square-mile area of Southern California, Nevada, Arizona and Utah. That also includes leading about 750 military and civilian personnel with a wide array of expertise.
But leading people is nothing new to Gibbs, who has served for more than 24 years as an active-duty Soldier, leading both military and civilian personnel.
“Each person is different, and I have learned that good leaders get to know each person individually and then lead them in a way that brings out the best in that employee,” he said.
Providing priorities and a solid intent on the District’s missions, particularly disaster response operations, helps employees stay focused on what’s really important, he said.
Gibbs will now serve as the chief of staff at the Corps’ headquarters in Washington, D.C. There, he said, he hopes to be an advocate for all of the Corps’ districts nationwide.
“I feel that this District and the great people are responsible for giving me the incredible opportunity of being the Corps’ chief of staff,” he said. “The people have taught me so much, and I will take that with me to make a positive impact on the Corps’ enterprise and help our Districts deliver our programs in civil works, military, Interagency and International Services, real estate and regulatory.”
Gibbs knows how the importance of mentors and having a good support system have played in shaping his career, and he credits his parents with instilling in him respect for others; his wife, Kim, who taught him to endure all challenges, no matter how great, with grace and dignity; and his former chief of staff – Col. Steve Hill – for giving him tough jobs to prepare him for success.
“(Hill) gave me tough jobs that I thought he could have done at the time, but as I look back, the toughest assignments he gave me in that civilian organization at the Corps headquarters prepared me for District command and enabled me to achieve the goal of commanding at the battalion, brigade and District levels,” he said. “I also remember he told me I would be a chief of staff for the Corps one day. He was preparing me for that. I didn't believe him, but that is my next job.”
And, as for additional advice he can share with Barta, Gibbs provided these words of wisdom:
- Be prepared to change leadership style when leading a District of professional civilians. Don't lead them in the same way as Soldiers;
- Engage with people and get around to see them across the District's entire area of operation. Don't sit behind a desk;
- Study hard initially and learn the policies, processes and programs. “You will never be the expert, but you must prepare yourself to make effective decisions as quickly as possible”;
- Always provide a commander's intent and an end state. The civilian workforce appreciates that; and, lastly,
- Lead with honor and humility. “It isn't about you. It is about the District's people and our vital mission.”
As for the future of the LA District, Gibbs said he hopes future leaders continue to change the culture to an organization that is more risk tolerant in streamlining processes and moving projects forward; deliver the Department of Veterans Affairs and Customs and Border Protection programs phenomenally – on time, within budget and to the highest quality; and to remain a "Best Place to Work" in order to retain and recruit talent to the high-cost living area of Southern California.
“I want the District to do what it always does and ‘knock those programs out of the park,’” he said.
Path to Divine through humility.
O YE WHO HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING TO ACHIEVE NEARNESS TO GOD AND THE SOLACE OF HIS ACCEPTANCE, HAS ALLUDED YOU THEN TRY THE PATH OF HUMILITY. THIS PRESCRIPTION WILL CURE THEE OF ALL THOSE AILMENTS WHICH ARE KEEPING THEE FROM GOD.
"I was an Anglican and I did not know Our Lady. I was invited to a pro-life protest a few years ago by a Catholic friend of mine and during that we prayed the rosary. This was the first time I'd ever prayed it and in doing so I remember being struck to my heart by having an awareness of Mary's humility, purity and love. In comparison to what I saw going on around me, her faith in holding onto the child, in her obedience in saying yes to God. That's what strikes me: her humility, her love, her purity and her faith." ~David from England Medieval statue of Our Lady and the Holy Child from St. Louis Museum of Art, St.Louis, Missouri, USA.
Ever since I was a child the only profession that has been part of our lives has been tailoring ,,my fathers family were rich vinegar merchants but he opted for tailoring and master cutting.
He very much wanted me to get into this family trade but somehow my heart was not a bit into tailoring , I was a questioning child and my dad short tempered hated to give answers so the measuring curved scale was his reply .. I decided tailoring was not my cup of tea.. but somehow God pushes you towards what you hate and I opted for tailoring in the end , after a stint selling washing machines , air conditioners at Muttrah Muscat with Dr Hamed Al Riyamis Tecodev in the 80s did not get me anywhere .. I also tried to sell textiles at Ruwi with Al Anwar Stores at Ruwi Muscat but called it a day ,,
Came back to Mumbai and took up tailoring ,, and so this tailor down the road made me think of myself in his place ..but even that was not to be I became a high end Darzi,, I dont like to be called a stylist or a fashion designer ,, a trade that should be reserved for a few copy cats ,,
And whatever I am today is because of tailoring and luckily my kids wont have to be tailors ..in my family only my younger brother is in this tailoring cutting field ,, others all branched out to professions of their choice ,
But if my parents were well off and had I used my aptitude I could have become a journalist my Dad used to make clothes of Mr Rusi Karanjia and he took me to Mr Karanjias office ,, he looked at me and said Son you better take up your fathers trade there is a better future in it this was in the 60s ,,
And in the 80s I was making Mr Rusi Karanjias safaris and suits,, and suits of late Mr Leybourne Callaghan .
The only person whose clothes I will miss making is late Mr Rajesh Khanna he had great hopes for me and it was Mr Khanna who forced me to leave highly paid job I had ,, he said be self dependent and he promised he would see I was well settled these were his prayers wishes for me, perhaps in my entire life he was one of the most human loving actors and the next Mr Danny Denzongpa ,, who has contributed to my sartorial humility .. and Mr Shakti Kapoor and Mr KRK , the one and only Mr Kamal Khan.