Our first General Session Panel focused on Identifying Your Passion & Your Value Statement with the following panel:

• Lee Flinn, Advocacy Director for AARP Idaho
• China Gum, Political Director at Raul Labrador for Idaho
• Jana Kemp, Facilitator, Author, Speaker, fmr Independent Candidate for Idaho Governor
• Betty Richardson, Attorney/Advisor, U.S., Department of Justice, Executive Office for United States Attorneys
• Moderator: Marcia Franklin, Producer/Writer/Coach at Idaho Public Television

Betty Richardson’s Value Statement: I will make a positive difference in the world I will do this by developing my mental, physical, social and emotional abilities so I can be the best wife, mother, friend and attorney…I will act with integrity, authenticity and compassion to make my neighborhood, city, state and planet to better reflect the values of liberty, equality and justice

China Gum:

• I am loyal and I do not take no for an answer
• My advice for those in politics? Stay grounded, know who your friends are and fight to the end for them
• Leadership is a transferable commodity so find a mentor (& share it)
• China’s values list: family, patriotism, integrity, challenge, friendliness, generosity, dependability, flexibility and love

Jana Kemp:

• Personal values: faith, family and friends
• Professional values: integrity, improve the productivity, profit and morale of day to day  business decisions
• Jana shared sections from her book Run for Elected Office

The list of challenges facing society is endless. Numerous financial and social problems affect the world and individual countries. And they also affect states, counties, cities, and even school districts and neighborhood policy councils. It’s time for fresh thinking and new ideas in the public arena; it’s time for more civic-minded people to get involved by running for—and winning—elected office.   Run for Elected Office—and Win shows you how. It is designed to help readers make a positive impact on the world and in the communities in which they live. It starts with how to make a decision to run for a particular office and ends with how to proceed with a successful political career—and it covers everything else in between. This book helps readers: 

• Learn the ins and outs of winning an election—from an author who’s done it!
• Understand how to plan and schedule a political campaign
• Employ the power of social media in gaining name recognition
• Learn how much money it takes to run a campaign and what it really takes to win

The women of Idaho MUST come together, whatever our party affiliation, in order to achieve participation & representation so we are not left on the menu but at the table making decisions 

Lee Flinn: (Part of) her values list includes authenticity honesty kindness love, achievement healthy living, creativity curiosity

Sometimes when you go through really difficult things it helps define who you are and who you want to be. Bumps in the road help clarify who you want to be, what your passions are.

When you have opportunities, say yes, take risks, don’t be afraid to make mistakes.

Marcia Franklin shared the following quote from Mary Oliver to end the session “I don’t want to end up simply having visited this world.”