D&E in the News
03-30-07 - United Way Winner Leads by Example
Why talk about leadership, a former Eagles coach wonders, when a catalog of activities by this year's Wilbur H. Doran Award honoree describes the traits?
Reading Eagle
Erin Negley
Former Philadelphia Eagles coach Dick Vermeil planned to share seven leadership tips with the packed house at the United Way of Berks County's 44th annual awards presentation Thursday night.
Instead he found himself upstaged by the group's top volunteer. "I thought I would share with you seven leadership principles," Vermeil said. "They've already been described." Vermeil was referring to the accomplishments of Michael L. Shor, who received the Wilbur H. Doran Award for excellence and continuity of service.
Shor did extensive volunteer work at the Police Athletic League of Greater Reading, now part of the Olivet Boys' and Girls Club of Reading and Berks County.
Through that work, he started volunteering with the United Way 15 years ago.
Shor has severed as chairman of the group's board; has been chairman of the Tocqueville Society, an agency fundraising committee; and is involved with strategic planning.
He and his wife, Beth, were chairmen of the United Way's 2002 campaign, which raided 8.2 million dollars. They live in Wyomissing.
"The United Way touches one in three Berks County," Shor said. "It's really exciting to see the work they do."
Shor, 47, is senior vice president of engineering products at Carpenter Technology Corp. "The passion that he's brought and the work that he's done is exemplary," United Way President Karen A. Rightmire said.
Passion is absolutely critical in volunteering, she said after the awards presentation. "Mike has that abundance," she said.
About 600 people attended the dinner and awards presentation at the Sheraton Reading Hotel in Wyomissing.
The event recognizes the organizations the organizations and individuals lending their talent and time to the United Way.
D&E Communications, the event sponsor, was responsible for bringing Vermeil to the dinner at no cost to the United Way: Vermeil is D&E's corporate spokesman.
"We never bring speakers," Rightmire said. "It's a pretty nice gift."
Vermeil, who coached the St. Louis Rams to the Super Bowl in 1999, packed his talk with leadership truisms.
"It starts with caring," he said. "Leaders need to make people know they are cared about."
Leaders must be aware of their actions and be great example, he said.
"I personally always try to be what I wanted my players to be," Vermeil said.
Creating an atmosphere in which people want to work will motivate people to succeed, too, he said.
Good attitudes and sincerity lift a leader's potential, he said.
"There is no substitute for passion," Vermeil Said.
Also at the dinner, Douglas N. Yocum and his wife, Nancy, were announced as the 2007 campaign co-chairmen.
Douglas Yocum is president and CEO of Precision Medical Products, Denver, Lancaster County.
The 2007 campaign goal will be set by May, Rightmire said. Last year's campaign raised a record of 8.74 million dollars.