Integrity Matters Broadcasts
April 1, 2005
Global Integrity and Multicultural Organizational Integrity
Dear Friends:
We continue to expand the integrity conversation.
Like others making efforts to expand integrity-centered
behaviors, we are making the case for integrity-centered
leadership on television, radio and through lectures and
symposia. There is a need to set constructive examples
and wrestle "hard issues to the ground" by
assessing actions taken against values espoused.
Regarding enhancing productivity and improving
the quality of life, here are four examples
of how we are expanding the integrity conversation.
- On
February 27, a local television program was devoted
to: Integration for Productivity and how the American culture
seems to be moving from melting pot to mosaic. http://www.brachercenter.com/article_integration.html
One advisor has suggested that the real impact of our
work can be identified as Alignment for Productivity - of
bringing many resources into collaborative efforts to enhance
impact and profitability. Perhaps integration is global
alignment and the mosaic is about humanity, everywhere,
building bridges, not walls, to resolve business and economic
challenges and address global communications obstacles,
including natural disasters.
- On
March 10, global integrity was again the focus; this
time at the Third Annual "Integrity-Centered
Leadership Forum" hosted by
California State University Monterey Bay, with special
guest, retired Massachusetts Congressman, now Professor
of Law at Georgetown University, Fr. Robert F. Drinan.
Also featured were: Mayor Anna M. Caballero (Salinas,
California), former California Congressman Leon E.
Panetta and James F. Bracher.
Third Annual "Integrity-Centered
Leadership Forum"
California State University Monterey Bay at the
University Center -
Thursday, March 10, 2005
Mr. James F. Bracher and
Fr. Robert F. Drinan
Facing 200 students in CSU-Monterey Bay's University
Center - Fr. Robert F. Drinan, professor,
former member of the United States House of Representatives
and author, opened the Third Annual Integrity-Centered
Leadership Forum assessing international human
rights . He made the point in several ways that
the United States needs to do more, immediately, with reference
to securing and protecting human rights or the United States
risks further harm to its global image. Exporting democracy
and not protecting prisoners (of war) sends the wrong signal.
When Drinan completed his remarks, Former California
Congressman, Leon Panetta expanded the conversation, asking
fellow panel member, Jim Bracher, founder, Bracher Center
for Integrity in Leadership, whose book, Integrity
Matters he referenced; to define integrity in
the context of scandals at practically every level of society.
Bracher's comments centered on his Eight
Attributes as evidence that individuals can
behave properly when they do what they say and say what
they do. "It is about building trust and confidence,
between customers and companies and between producers and
suppliers, between and among all stakeholders. This is
the meaning of character and it requires honesty, openness
and a host of behaviors that confirm steadiness and dependability."
Panetta voiced urgency and outrage over the deep-pocketed
influence on policymakers. "I don't sense the outrage
of what we're seeing in corporate America, or even in the
media," said Panetta. "Money is speaking a great
deal these days in terms of policy," he said. "If
people remain quiet, then nothing is going to change."
Along with Jim Bracher, Salinas Mayor Anna Caballero
and former Massachusetts Congressman, Fr. Robert Drinan,
Panetta facilitated a two-hour discussion on international
human rights, professional ethics and integrity-centered
leadership.
Students were urged to organize and stand against corporate
scandals and crimes against humanity. "Integrity
is the foundation of reasonable and civil discourse," mentioned
Bracher, "and it is the only path upon which individuals
can never get lost."
Quoting Victoria Manley, from the Monterey (California)
Herald, on Friday, March 12, 2005, "I meet a lot of
people who are outraged, but are they organized?" asked
Drinan, a Jesuit priest known for his strong and outspoken
beliefs on human rights issues. "The voice of students
is very compelling," Drinan told the group. "You
can never know what the power of voice is going to do."
Though organized by the business school, the discussion
at times took a poignantly political turn, wrote Manley.
Panetta, Drinan and Caballero -- all well-known Democrats
-- didn't hesitate to criticize the leadership in state
and federal government.
Mayor Caballero spoke of accountability and related individual
responsibility with making sure that adequate housing was
provided for the workforce needed to sustain the economy
of Monterey County; namely, agribusiness and hospitality
workers.
Bracher reiterated the message about listening, carefully
and graciously, even to those with whom one disagrees.
Civil discourse can avert civil disobedience and violence.
Thoughtful and engaging interactions can lead to constructive
conversations, productive give-and-take and profitable
efforts, whether business-driven or socially-motivated.
- To learn what the Bracher
Center means by Global Integrity and Multicultural
Organizational Integrity; click here: http://www.brachercenter.com/services05.html
- In
the meantime, consider updating your living will .
The international attention given to the Ms. Terri Schiavo
situation could have many positive outcomes. Discuss the
ramifications of your preferences with those on whom you
depend for ethical, legal and financial advice. Circumstances
and laws differ, from place to place, all over the globe.
Know your rights and the rights of those for whom you are
accepting accountability. The following material by Robert
Tanner, of the Associated Press, may be instructive:
A look at living wills and how they work
By ROBERT TANNER
The Associated Press
The Terri Schiavo case has resulted in an explosion of
interest in living wills, which some estimate as few as
one in four Americans have filled out. A look at some basic
facts about living wills and other medical directives,
in question and answer form:
Q: What is a living will?
A: A document that allows a person to state how far they
want medical care to go if they become severely ill or
injured and are unable to function without assistance - and,
importantly, the limits they want to set on care.
Q: Where can you get a living will?
A: Forms for living wills or similar advance directives
can be obtained from each state, and are also available
in many other places - from hospitals, medical associations
and local organizations dedicated to aging or to caring
for the terminally ill. State-specific forms can be downloaded
online at the Web site for the National Hospice and Palliative
Care Organization.
Q: Do you need a lawyer to prepare a living will?
A: No, most documents only require witnesses. Some documents
require or suggest that the living will be notarized. But
a lawyer can help you think through related end-of-life
issues.
Q: Does a living will cost money?
A: The documents themselves can be obtained for free
from many sources. A standardized living will, meeting
legal requirements in 36 states, is the popular "Five
Wishes" document produced by the nonprofit Aging
with Dignity. It is available for $5 through that organization.
Q: What do I do with a living will once I've signed
one?
A: Make several copies. Keep one in a safe place, give
one to a close relative and one to your physician. Some
states suggest you file a copy with your county probate
court for safekeeping.
Q: Does executing a living will mean that I'm telling
a doctor not to help me if I become critically ill?
A: Not necessarily. The will, depending on the choices
you make, can specify what care you want and what you don't.
It can tell doctors or hospitals, for example, to keep
feeding you but not to help you breathe if you can no longer
do that on your own.
Q: Is a living will enough?
A: Experts recommend that you should also choose a person
to help manage your health care in case you become so ill
that you cannot do so yourself. That person is referred
to, variously, as a health care proxy, surrogate or someone
who is given durable power of attorney. "Not only
do you have the living will, but you have someone who can
say, 'Yes, that's what the patient would've
wanted," 'said Dr. Cecil Wilson, a Florida
internist.
Q: Once I complete the will and select a health care
proxy, am I finished?
A: If you choose to be, but experts recommend that you
update the will if you are diagnosed with a serious or
terminal disease.
Q: Why have so few Americans executed a living will?
A: Surveys estimate as few as one in four or one in five
fill them out, and experts say there are many reasons:
The idea of dying is an unpleasant one to consider; legal
language can scare people off. Living wills also can't
anticipate all possible health care complications, and
sometimes doctors and caregivers don't follow them,
or not quickly enough.
Q: So then what should people do?
A: The best path, say those who work on these issues,
is for a person to have a calm, detailed discussion with
family members and loved ones about the end of life. That
would include
executing a living will and choosing a health care proxy,
and could also touch on spiritual issues and messages to
survivors, as well as other medical issues like organ donation
and 'do not resuscitate' orders.
Q: That sounds complicated. How do I start down that
road?
A: Advice can be found from local hospices or aging organizations,
or from an attorney who specializes in elder law. Another
guide can be found for free online, the "Health Care
Advance Planning" tool kit from the American Bar
Association's Commission on Law and Aging.
Next month the May Broadcast will address Strategic
and Tactical Integrity.
Jim
