Vol. 123, No. 3
January 2020
INSIDE
We wish you a happy and prosperous New Year!
Changes made in structure of Marketung Department ➤ Pg. 4
Lodges strengthen community with donations, projects ➤ Pgs 5-8
Themes announced for this summer at Camp ➤ Pg. 17
hermannsonslife.org
Focused on growth in a new decade By TIM KOLBE Vice President of Sales When I was in second grade, it was apparent that I had some vision issues, but not enough to need glasses. The issue became officially significant when I applied for a driver’s permit at age 16. Off to Dr. Floyd Weber I went, local optometrist and a neighbor of the family flower shop. After the examination, it was found that I had one eye that was near-sighted and the other farsighted, which made glasses intolerable. I got a note relieving me of the requirement to wear corrective lenses. Ha, take that driver’s license lady! Years later I still had the same issue, but upon examination, an ophthalmologist friend remarked that pilots would kill to
have vision like mine. My brain uses one eye to see up close, and then switches over to the other to see far. This developed over time, and it happened without me thinking about it.
Unfortunately, with age I can’t function without reading glasses for close work. The ability to see up close, while looking into the distance, is a condition that most organi-
zations would love to master. By recognizing and understanding where one is now, while also having the vision to see where one wants to be in the future, is an attribute that makes for a successful journey. Hermann Sons Life is very similar, in that we must continuously take stock of our current condition with an eye on the future and where we want to be for the continued success of our organization. The up-close view of declining membership, decreased lodge meeting attendance, and fewer agents all are signs pointing to trends we cannot ignore. All fraternal, mutual and civic organizations are experiencing this same problem. Societal changes threaten to See 20-20, Pg. 3