The New York Public Library, one of the world’s greatest organizations, has always had one of the world’s greatest Board of Trustees. They represent all that is good about that institution.
When I worked there as VP for Communications, I sat in on Board meetings and got to listen in on wonderful discussions about access and censorship, literature and art, infrastructure and #funding.
The #trustees I knew were involved, innovative and incredibly generous philanthropists. Some were celebrities– famous authors, theater producers, fashion designers and more. Every one of them had more ideas than could possibly be implemented, so naturally when one came to you with a suggestion, you took it seriously.
I remember at one meeting—which was particularly chilly with the a/c blowing hard—a trustee who had just donated many millions of dollars and could have made a noisy fuss about the freezing temperature, instead, quietly picked up an NYPL plastic book bag and tied it around her neck elegantly like a scarf. Once observed, the staff quickly took action.
Life lesson: Sometimes you get more mileage (and attention) out of not complaining but improvising.
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