USAACE Change Summit invites change

By Russell Sellers, Army Flier Staff WriterSeptember 30, 2010

USAACE Change Summit invites change
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT RUCKER, Ala. -- The Leading Change Team wants to hear from the community and it will get its chance Oct. 7 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Post Theater.

The Leading Change Team Change Summit, which will be co-hosted by U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence and Fort Rucker Commanding General Brig. Gen. Anthony G. Crutchfield and the Leading Change Team, will provide an opportunity for all members of the Army Aviation Family to present ideas and become active participants in change efforts.

"Change happens with or without you and I want us all to be on the front side of change," Crutchfield said. "Let's work together to make Fort Rucker a place where change is good, where change makes things better."

The summit is also an opportunity for people to ask the team questions and have their voices heard, said Wesley Hedman, U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence mission safety manager and LCT member.

Hedman added he hopes people who attend the meeting will not only voice concerns, but be willing to get involved in the change efforts taking place here.

The summit will feature representatives from the LCT, Fort Rucker and the entire Army Aviation community. Gathering so many members of the "Family" together is just one more step toward creating a very important culture of collaboration, according to Wade Becnel, USAACE Knowledge Management Office director.

"People need to be willing to be part of the change and not just talk about change," Becnel said.

Having realistic expectations is another key ingredient to making the summit effective, Becnel added.

"People need to know that change takes a while," Becnel said. "I think we're always going to build something smart for the place we're working. It would be great if people came to listen to what the team is all about and then find out what they can do to help."

During the meeting, there will be five presentations concentrating on the strategic initiatives that support the LCT's vision, Hedman said.

"Our mission is to empower the individual to take ownership and share the responsibility for the change that supports the best product and enhances quality of life," he said. "We're going to show people what we've done and, hopefully, get ideas from them about what we can do and what they can do to help. When people feel empowered, they feel they can take action."

Being involved in the change effort is what Becnel said he hopes will happen once summit attendees are given the opportunity to see what's been done over the past year.

"We've got a great vision and great leadership here," Becnel said. "Sometimes, people don't think about giving back. The only way things change is if people get involved."

For more information on the summit or the LCT, visit <a href="http://www.rucker.army.mil/leadingchange" target="_blank">www.rucker.army.mil/leadingchange</a>. To share ideas or submit questions to the LCT, e-mail ruck.lct@us.army.mil.

(Editor's note: Kathy Crisp, USAACE Knowledge Management specialist, contributed to this article)