Book Report

Read a great book on the plane home Wednesday evening. "How the Mighty Fall" by Jim Collins.

Collins studies businesses as they can be tracked and analyzed in a number of ways. However, much of his analysis is applicable to non-profit organizations such as the Grange.

He found five steps in the process of decline. He found that the time in each step could vary immensely and that decline could be reversed in the first four steps of decline. He defined the steps as: #1, Hubris born of success; #2, Undisciplined pursuit of more; #3, Denial of risk and peril; #4, Grasping for salvation; and #5, Capitulation to irrelevance or death.

In reflecting on what he wrote, I realize I've heard from all levels of the Grange some of the symptoms of some of the steps. I will say I've never heard indicators of Step 5 from the National level or from my home state. I have heard it from a number of Community and Pomona Granges and maybe one or two states.

After reading the book, I am even more enthused by what is happening at National Grange and many State and Community Granges. We are on the way back to being one of America's leading organizations. Unlike business, we can rescue some of our Granges that have reached step 5. All it takes is new blood and a desire to share our organization with others.

Read this book and share your perceptions of it with your fellow members.