In September, Bob Wilson penned a public thank you note on his Cluttered Desk. It was a mixed message, with some subtle undertone that I write today to magnify. First, I want to acknowledge Workerscompensation.com for its efforts as regards our workers' compensation community. There are a variety of people who earn a living from this community, and they each contribute in some manner to our overall success. But, it is admirable when an effort is made to recognize those striving to improve the community. The Workerscompensation.com Best Blogs program does that.
In the interest of full disclosure, this blog wears the Best Blog badge, having been recognized each of the last four years. It is frankly humbling to be nominated. Having been named repeatedly is an affirmation as are the periodic emails, conversations, and comments that these posts instigate. I am grateful that some find value in these pages periodically. There have been occasions upon which I have considered sunsetting this effort, such as when it recently, quietly, eclipsed the 1,000 post mark. But, the news in this community interests me, motivates me, and for now, this continues.
The Wilson post is somewhat focused on his Cluttered Desk being once again named. In four iterations of the program, his blog has likewise been recognized each time. But, the subtle undertone is that Workerscompensation.com does not judge the posts. As Mr. Wilson noted there are "independent judges." And, it should be appreciated that those people volunteer to read and evaluate these efforts. While Mr. Wilson's post does not name those volunteers, the Best Blogs website does. They are:
Pamela F. Ferrandino, Vice President of Business Development, Gallagher Bassett; Jonathan Mast, Director of Social Media, Sedgwick; Mark Walls, Vice President Communications & Strategic Analysis, Safety National; Thomas A. Robinson, Co-author - Larson’s Workers’ Compensation Law; Mark Pew, Senior Vice President, PRIUM; Sandy Blunt, Vice President of Insurance Services, Medata. What these folks have in common is simple, they are each leaders in this community. Some are also bloggers. Each is engaged in what the workers' compensation community is all about. They should be recognized and noticed for their contribution through what is otherwise undoubtedly a thankless job.
The next subtlety that bears mentioning is Mr. Wilson's mention of the nomination process. This is not a new topic. I have repeatedly encouraged members of this community to nominate their peers and inspirations for a Comp Laude awards. It takes mere minutes to let someone know you have noticed their contribution, spirit, attitude, or skill. And, that is true of Best Blogs also. A blog cannot win if it is not nominated. When you read something useful, informative, or simply admirable for its effort, why not make a note and then make a nomination when the time comes?
The final subtlety in Mr. Wilson's post comes in the closing paragraph. There, after he has lamented the struggle to get this community to make nominations, he closes with a request that you take the time "to nominate those blogs you like." Not so subtle. But, he leads that phrase with a less noticed "if we do this again . . ." There is a suggestion there that perhaps the Best Blogs recognition has reached its nadir. Perhaps the end is near? Should it be? Is there room in a community this large to recognize what is being done around us?
Whether I read too much into the word choice is unclear. But, it appears to me that this community needs to acknowledge the value of recognizing contribution and cooperation. There are precious few that are making it a point to recognize this community. There is room for Best Blogs, CompLaude, and more. But, whether those efforts are fruitful depends entirely upon you. They depend on you finding value in making this community self-critical as well as self-congratulatory.
I will not add to my entreaty that you take the time to make nominations in these settings. But, I will suggest in the broadest context that you each need to take time to pass a positive word when you can. When you perceive some community member contributing, say something. Compliment an effort, a gesture, a participation. Community thrives on communication. And, this community is no different.
We are engaged in a monumental challenge, one which seeks to ameliorate the effects of illness and injury to those who are the very lifeblood of this nation. This is a process that seeks to serve America's employees and employers with balance, compromise, and clarity. Our challenges are huge, our resources limited, and our friends too few. If you have not yet figured out that we all need each other to champion workers' compensation, take it from me on faith. We need each other, and we need to encourage, respect, recognize, and uplift each other when possible.
I am grateful to whoever nominated this blog over recent years. I am grateful for the judges who volunteered to do the hard work involved with the Best Blogs. I am grateful that workerscompensation.com invests the resources to privately produce the recognition. But, more I am grateful that you took the time to read this. Know you are appreciated.
