Margery's Note
Margery’s note….
How do we maintain equilibrium when we are faced with challenges and confusion from the outside world?
It would be so great to simply live in our preferred state of harmony and peace….
But the outside world keeps the drama going!!!
The political world is in chaos; we keep getting different messages about what keeps us healthy; social media seems to have taken over peoples minds….
Sometimes it is hard to get back to our center, our sense of wholeness….
So let’s practice kindness….
Let’s look for something to be grateful for….
Let’s have some grace for the human frailty of others….
Let’s not be so judgmental….
Let’s embrace change….
Let’s be more forgiving of ourselves and others….
These are ways to live from the inside out….
And leave room for being civil and calm….
How different would each day be if we practice these????
Member Notes
GGN Member Ann Ranson shares her take on Civility….
The Power of Civility:
A Heart-Centered Strategy for Engagement
Change One Thing. Watch What Shifts.
May is International Civility Awareness Month, so I’d like to take this opportunity to highlight its importance, need, and benefits.
Those of you who have followed me for a while may recall that I created The Civility Pledge in late 2010. I’ve shared before that it was a bit of a perfect storm that led me to it—a story on CBS Sunday Morning, a speech by Elizabeth Lesser (co-founder of the Omega Institute), and the contentious 2010 election all combined to inspire me to take action.
Thus, The Civility Pledge was born.
I continue to advocate for civility in all of our interactions. Once you decide to behave with civility, those habits will grow until it’s natural for you.
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What Is Civility—and Why Does It Matter?
At its core, civility is about courtesy and kindness, yes—but also about mutual respect. Why it’s important takes a bit more explanation.
First, by most accounts, it’s simply the right way to behave. It’s what many of us were taught growing up—the Golden Rule, and all of that.
And while it may seem like civility has only become a problem in recent years, even George Washington, as a teenager, wrote Rules of Civility & Decent Behaviour in Company and Conversation. That list included over 100 examples of how to live and interact respectfully. His verbiage is quaint for most of us today, but you’ll get the idea.
So no, civility isn’t new. And it’s still something we need to work on.
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Why Civility Is Essential—Especially Now
Though civility has been around for centuries, it has taken on a rougher edge in the 21st century—or at least it seems that way to me. All the more reason for renewed focus. You may want to consider your own definition and relationship with civility.
Here are just a few reasons it matters now more than ever:
• Civility eases problem-solving
• It leads to more collaboration and innovation
• It enables engagement and productivity
And the data backs this up. According to SHRM’s recent Civility Index:
• U.S. organizations collectively lose over $2.7 billion per day due to disengagement and absenteeism.
• Each act of incivility results in an average loss of 37 minutes of productivity per affected employee.
• Over one-quarter (26%) of U.S. workers indicated they are likely to leave their jobs in 2025 due to experiencing or witnessing incivility.
And, if you’re not in an organization, think about the impact of you feeling more engaged in your life. Feeling alive – that’s what can happen when we live our values.
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A Small Act with a Big Impact
Civility doesn’t require a title or a team to lead. It starts with how you show up—with respect, grace, and presence.
That’s why I invite you now to pause and consider:
What would change in your life or your relationships if you committed to civility as a personal practice?
To explore that, download The Civility Pledge and Quotient Assessment as a self-awareness challenge. It’s a chance to reflect, reset, and take aligned action—whether for yourself, your team, or your family.
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Civility Creates Community
Beyond the workplace, our families, neighborhoods, and communities need more civility. We need tools and values that bring us together to solve problems, create understanding, and build a better shared future.
As someone who focuses on Heart-Centered Strategies, civility is high on my list when I work with leaders and organizations aiming to improve workplace culture, engagement, and overall satisfaction. I can’t imagine improving communication or building trust without civility as a core value.
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Take the Pledge. Begin the Shift.
I invite you to download The Civility Pledge, reflect on its meaning, and take the Civility Quotient Assessment to see how you’re already living it—and where you might grow.
Use it as a guide for:
• Team agreements
• Strategic visioning
• Culture conversations
• Or your own quiet inner reset
You can adapt the wording to fit your needs. What matters most is the spirit behind it.
When heart-centered individuals model civil behavior, it quietly but powerfully transforms relationships, workplaces, and communities.
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P.S. Imagine the ripple effect if everyone in your family or on your team took The Civility Pledge. It starts with one small shift… and grows from there.
See you next time!
Thanks
Ann
(ann@AnnRanson.com)
The Civility Pledge & Civility Quotient Assessment
GGN Member Glenna Hecht has a new blog for you!
From Degrees to Directions: Reinvention Without a Map
I’ve been traveling recently in Poland and was inspired by these stories:
Bart has degrees in archaeology and a master’s in history. Michal earned both his undergrad and master’s in forestry. They graduated from Jagiellonian University in Kraków—founded in 1364, steeped in so much academic tradition that Copernicus studied there. A place that’s produced popes, poets, scholars. And, increasingly, tour guides.
Because in Poland, public university is free. Accessible. Almost expected. But a degree—even from Jagiellonian—doesn’t guarantee a future. Some locals call it the “University of Unemployment.”
Bart found work—in archaeology—but the job paid minimum wage. When he told his boss he couldn’t survive on it, the response was brutal: “There are a hundred like you waiting in line.” So, he reinvented.
Michal had a different kind of dream. He wanted to go back to his village, work the land, restore the forests he’d grown up in. But forestry jobs in that part of Poland were as mythical as unicorns. He reinvented too.
They did what most people won’t admit they need to do: rebuild when their plans collapse.
Choose purpose over pride. Start again without a map.
Bart started walking tourists through Kraków—telling stories with depth, context, a little sarcasm, and a lot of heart. He wasn’t just pointing out landmarks. He was reclaiming his field. On foot. In motion. With tips.
And what struck me most?
And they were good at it. Really good. Engaging. Sharp. Deeply human.
This wasn’t just a pivot. It wasn’t “making do.”
It was building something new.
Michal’s reinvention? Somehow even heavier.
He became a guide at Auschwitz.
Let that land.
From trees to trauma. From nature to genocide.
He studied. Learned the names, the silence, the weight of the place.
And became someone who could carry it—not academically, but aloud. To strangers. Daily.
That’s reinvention.
GGN Member Jane Baldwin shares a Free Workshop!
Free Workshop: Unearth Your Inner Guidance
Wednesday, June 11, 2:00-3:00 pm CT
Your next step is buried under the noise. This is how you find it.
When life feels busy, uncertain, or overwhelming, clarity can feel just out of reach. Not because you’ve lost it—but because it’s buried beneath habits, pressure, and the noise of everyday demands.
In this one-hour virtual workshop, you’ll be introduced to the Unwinding Compass, a simple yet powerful framework for reclaiming your attention and restoring clarity—even in the midst of chaos.
Plus, you will practice using this powerful tool for focus and clarity and leave with a useable framework to help you anchor when feeling off center or overloaded.
A replay will be sent after the workshop.
Link to register
BONUS: Free Download with Meditation Audio
Feeling off, overwhelmed, or just a little disconnected from yourself?
This free 5-minute practice helps you reset, realign, and feel like you again.
Download the Inner Guidance check-in
Thank you to Toni Portmann for sharing these inspiring messages….
Track Meetings
We still ask for $5 to cover costs. And yes, you can register at the last minute…. but it would be GREAT if you let us know a couple of days before so we can plan our refreshments!!!
Our Track meetings are designed to give us a sacred space to have meaningful, purposeful conversations without fear of being judged or competed with. Only Members can attend. They are amazing experiences, unlike any ‘networking meeting’ you have ever attended!
GGN members MUST REGISTER to attend these meetings, so just follow the links below! And if you want to learn about us, go ahead and join GGN~~if you decide it isn’t for you, we will refund your membership fee!
Currently we meet the 2nd Monday morning and 3rd Wednesday evening of each month (see below).
Each one is an event or happening in itself. Some members come frequently, some come only once in a while. Whenever you attend one, you will find out things you didn’t know, connect with women who will challenge and inspire you, and you will leave with some new perspectives.
Monday Morning Magic Track
- June 9, 2025
- 10 am to 12 noon
- Talking and sharing is our joy! Join us!!!
Click here to join us for Monday Morning Magic!
NOTE: Only one Track meeting this month and none in July. Margery is having ankle surgery…. Back in August!
Become a Member!
Great Girls Network is our way of being the opposite of the Good Ol’ Boys Network (which is still very much alive and well!). Even if you don’t participate in Track meetings, your membership gives you a way to support our existence and be a part of a growing group of women who really appreciate each other. And the Trii-Annual Gatherings are unlike any other “networking” event! We know women don’t network like men. We want to build relationships, we want deeper, more meaningful connections. That is exactly what GGN provides.
Our membership fee of $50 per year gives you access to our Track Meetings and also contributions to our Newsletter. The fee helps sustain our website, but it also ensures that when you participate in a Track meeting, you will honor the sacredness of the conversations because you are a member.
We created a digital card that helps people understand what they can get from joining GGN so click here to see the card.
Your membership helps give us that foundation, the strength to grow and have an impact on the lives of so many more women.
