Full-time volunteer makes character qualities count

By Libby James
Correspondent

About Community Cornerstone Nominations

Bob Powell has always given back to his community. For nearly 25 years he's been an active Rotarian, and for 15 years, he served on the Foothills Gateway Board. He was a member of the Fort Collins Symphony Board, and when his children were young, he was active in Boy Scouts and parent teacher organizations.

It wasn't until he retired from the insurance business in 2001, however, that he became a full-time-plus volunteer, logging 50 to 60 hours a week as executive director of Character Fort Collins.

In May, the Fort Collins Rotary Club (downtown) honored him with its most prestigious award for "Service Above Self." It wasn't easy getting Powell to share this information. "I don't like to talk about myself," he said.

A Pueblo native, Powell began a career in the insurance business with Travelers Insurance in Wichita, Kan., which took him to five different offices over a 13-year period, ending in San Francisco where he was a regional supervisor. In 1973, he opened a district office for Travelers in Fort Collins, worked there until 1976 and then joined a local insurance agency, Galyardt and Harvey, his final place of employment.

"By that time I'd fallen in love with Fort Collins and wanted my children to grow up here," he said.

During his final year in the insurance business, when he served in an advisory position, he was asked by a friend to write a letter in support of declaring Fort Collins a Character City. He complied, not knowing very much about the designation or the initiative that was to become his passion and full-time work. A yearlong, letter-writing and awareness campaign gained the support of the city, county and school district. The three entities passed a joint resolution declaring Fort Collins a Character City in 2001.

That same year Powell attended his first conference of the International Association of Character Cities - and that hooked him. During his years in the insurance business, he'd had an ongoing interest in ethics in business and had taught continuing education ethics classes conducted by the Colorado Insurance Commission.

"The concept resonated with me," Powell said, emphasizing his conviction that developing character in businesses has far-reaching positive implications for economic development.

When the time came to appoint an executive director for the initiative - someone who could carry the work forward - Powell seemed the perfect fit. He had wide-ranging contacts in the area, was credible and trusted, and had time to do the job. Over the last six years, he has presided over the growth of Character Fort Collins and its expansion into areas such as sports, law enforcement, faith communities, families and youth agencies.

And he has still found time to work as vice chair of the group developing Inspiration Playground, a completely handicapped-accessible playground opening this fall, and as president of the board for DMA Plaza, a high-rise, low-income housing complex in Fort Collins.

Powell likes to quote Cicero, a Roman philosopher whose words he believes set the foundation for his work with Character Fort Collins: "Within the character of its citizens lies the welfare of a republic." On a personal level, Powell said, he's come to realize that if one lives by these principles, the wheels won't come off in life.

"My work is the reason I get up in the morning," he said.

Character Fort Collins defines character as the qualities built into an individual's life that determine his or her response, regardless of circumstances. The initiative lists 49 character qualities it is important to develop. Each month the group highlights a specific character quality according to the Character Training Institute national schedule. July's quality is "humility," or "acknowledging that achievement results from the investment of others in my life."

Other qualities on the list include the following:

• Alertness vs. Carelessness - Being aware of what is taking place around me so I can have the right responses.
• Benevolence vs. Selfishness - Giving to others' basic needs without having as my motive personal reward.
• Compassion vs. Indifference - Investing whatever is necessary to heal the hurts of others.
• Dependability vs. Inconsistency - Fulfilling what I consented to do, even if it means unexpected sacrifice.
• Endurance vs. Discouragement - The inward strength to withstand stress and do my best.
• Generosity vs. Stinginess - Carefully managing my resources so I can freely give to those in need.
• Initiative vs. Idleness - Recognizing and doing what needs to be done before I am asked to do it.
• Justice vs. Corruption - Taking personal responsibility to uphold what is pure, right and true.
• Resourcefulness vs. Wastefulness - Finding practical uses for that which others would overlook or discard.
• Truthfulness vs. Deception - Earning future trust by accurately reporting past facts.

• Wisdom vs. Foolishness - Seeing and responding to life situations from a perspective that transcends my current circumstances.

For more information about Character Fort Collins and to see all 49 character qualities, visit the web site www.characterfortcollins.orgwww.characterfortcollins.org.