EILEEN MCDARGH'S
Resiliency Report
Published monthly and when the mood strikes.
Update from Eileen
Take a deep breath. WASP does not stand for White-Anglo-Saxon-Protestant. Nope. My mom was a Women’s Airforce Service Pilot (a WASP). Along with 1,175 other women, Mom flew for the military in WWII. It’s a story that far too many Americans know nothing about and I’m committed to highlighting these amazing women.
At the bleakest part of the war, every able-bodied pilot was needed to fly combat missions in the European and Pacific theaters. But who would do the domestic military flying: towing targets for gunnery practice with live ammunition, ferrying planes from coast to coast, testing planes when they came off the assembly lines?
The call went out and thousands of women converged on an airbase in Texas. They did everything the Army Air Corps cadets had to do to earn silver wings… with a few exceptions. The women had to already have a pilot’s license. Male cadets did not. They had to pay their own way onto the air base. Male cadets did not. Mom became a test pilot and would recount the tragic experience of witnessing a fellow WASP die in a plane crash. In fact, 38 of them died in the course of duty but because Congress refused to officially role them into the military, there were no benefits. Mom said they passed the hat to send the body home to the parents.
These women, collectively, flew 6 million miles of wartime duty, flying every plane in the US arsenal. Sadly, they were disbanded when the war was winding down and they were told “find your own way home”. After that time, women were not allowed in the cockpits of military planes until the late 1970s.
Finally, in the late 1970s they were awarded honorable discharge papers and in 2010, they were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. Mom was too physically and mentally challenged to go back to DC so we “carried her” with us. A month later, we held our own Congressional Award ceremony at her assisted living residence and female pilots from Boeing presented her with the medal and gave her a flight suit.
I still cry to think of it.
Sadly, women are still often forgotten in their efforts to serve our country. Read the review below of Kristin Hannah’s THE WOMEN. If you are a first-time buyer through the app called CHIRP, you can get the audio for $2.99. I am a reader but this audio put me over the edge.
Always remember that freedom is never free. Democracy is fragile. Equality is priceless.
A Different Graduation—from a VERY Different School!
Imagine watching a graduation ceremony that has none of your kids in it and you still laughed and cried. Imagine that the seniors (called 2nd years) come from all over the globe: Israel, Ukraine, Scotland, Palestine, the United States, and many South American countries. Imagine that these junior and senior high school students have lived for two years in a community discovering how to build a world that transcends nationality, language, religion, or gender identity (and many students need to be there on scholarship).
I’ve just described United World College Costa Rica, founded some 11 years ago as part of a world-wide educational movement. At UWC-CR, junior and senior high school students earn the International Baccalaureate Degree. The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program (DP) is a two-year comprehensive and rigorous pre-university curriculum leading to an IB diploma. Successful IB candidates are typically granted advanced placement credit at the finest universities and colleges in the nation.
Mama was a WASP
September 2024
Screaming at My Phone!
I can’t be the only one who has done this: You get a recorded response when you call a toll-free number for assistance. None of the prompts are what you need, and your anger rises. Too many companies seem to refuse to have a human readily available to answer questions. However, yesterday, my anger reached a higher level.
I lost my Citibank Costco Credit Card. A lost credit card is a very big deal considering no one asks for any ID when you use a credit card. I call the toll-free number...
Humor from Mom
She called leftovers “WHOO”. We realized too late that when she smelled them, she’d make a face and say “WHOO!” Yes… we still ate it. Never wasted a thing,
I recently battled 2 months of a horrid allergic reaction on my face. My twin brother reminded me what Mom would sing:
My face is no shining star. I’m not much to look at from afar.
I really don’t mind it—because I’m behind it.
The guy in the front gets the jar!
Must Read Book
"Help Them Grow or Watch Them Go" by Julie Winkle Giulioni, along with her co-author Bev Kaye.
Career development has never been more challenging – or important. Given current levels of disengagement, burnout, skill gaps, stress, and unwanted turnover, effective leaders must master the art and science of helping those around them grow.
This book is filled with practical tools and actionable strategies that make career development an ongoing, natural relationship that allows individuals and organizations to thrive. When you pre-order Help Them Grow or Watch Them Go, you will get access to a library of 8 microlearning videos on development, engagement, leadership, and more provided by AthenaOnline.
About Eileen
If you are looking for a unique keynote speaker in resiliency, a facilitator for executive retreats, a speech coach or an emcee/moderator, then you want to work with Eileen McDargh, CSP, CPAE. Eileen has spoken for audiences as large as 15,000 and facilitated groups as small as 18! She is the author of seven books and other products that you can find in her online store. The British Research firm of Global Gurus ranked her #4 among the top 30 communication gurus worldwide. Why not hire Eileen for your next event?
Ranked 3rd!
This is the 6th year in a row that I have been ranked in the top 5 in communication. Global Gurus surveys some 26,000 business professionals to determine rankings plus professionals also vote.
Yahoo!
Thank You!
