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This study examines the presidential addresses of the 21 women presidents of the National Conference of Social Work. Although content analysis is difficult because the speeches cross seven decades, three components stood out: The women presidents primarily used their expertise as power, used partisan leadership techniques with a conservative slant, and avoided discussing women or women's issues. The authors argue that these three stylistic components reflect the common desire of the women presidents to advance the professional status of social work, under conditions of subdominant professional and gendered status, despite the span of years. Keywords: leadership styles; National Conference of Social Work; social work history; women leaders

This paper deals with the issue of nonprofit executive problematics, which can be defined as behaviors that executives engage in that cause harm to themselves and their organizations such as inappropriate personal use of agency resources, embezzlement, and sexual acting out. It expands the study of 'derailment' by exploring cases where through their misbehavior executives do extensive damage to themselves, their families, and their agencies. The paper will explore contributing personal causes as well as those inherent in both the formal and informal organizational structures of nonprofit organizations, and identify possible solutions. In many cases, such causes stem from an executive's strengths that become weaknesses when over applied, especially in conditions where the executive is used to success (hence a predisposition to continue using the strength), has no observing ego (and hence is poor at self control), and controls a weak board (hence external controls are limited). The study of executive problematics, especially the most egregious cases, is of the utmost importance because in the nonprofit sector, when a chief executive engages in any form of problematic behavior, it reflects badly not only upon his or her own organization, but upon the sector and even to the philanthropic and social service world as a whole. KEYWORDS. Executive directors, nonprofit sector, executive derailment, governance

Transitions are a classic problem. Change--which is what transitions involve--is most often disruptive whether it is from new ideas, birth or death, the development or dissolution of relationships. Our perspective here is on executive transitions, leaving (or not!) and assuming a new position successfully while leaving the old position gracefully. We call this the Hanging on/Moving on Dilemma. There are several perils to the "hanging on part--inappropriate enmeshment with the old firm". Also, there is the executive who is deeply clueless, one who thinks promotion is on the way when it is really dismissal. And finally, there is a general lack of succession planning in the most organizations which means that every execution is sort of a "surprise". On the moving on side, there is the stayer who has already mentally moved on, the destructive mover who trashes the new organization, the mover who fails to see the new job is different, and the good player/poor coach problem. Executive coaching and regular performance appraisals can help smooth the transitions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Though frequently used, 'multitasking' is an unclear concept, with no clear distinction between the process of multitasking (its elements and facets) and those who do it successfully--multitaskers (what are the skills executives need?). At the conceptual level, there are facets such as foreground and background, noise, discernment/relevance schedule, cue recognition and channel switching. There is also an event flow as event-opportunities flow onto an agenda, remain on the agenda for a while, competing with other events, and then flow on (for good or ill!). In terms of skills, strategic decision making and task organizing are key. For the executive, leading and managing yourself (managing down, managing up and managing across) and leading and managing teams (internal, external, and internal/external ones) are essential to successful multitasking. Finally, there is the need to recognize micro, meso and macro levels of the organization as opportunity of intra management levels and inter management levels. These processes involve producing organizational integration and synchrony. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article surveys the life and work of Wilbur Cohen, an architect of and behind-the-scenes actor in War on Poverty legislation and politics. It focuses specifically on his mastery of the incrementalist approach to policy goals, the quantitative foundation of his work, and his dual role as policy developer and professor which formed his practitioner-academic approach to knowledge and activism during a pivotal point in American history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the authors discuss the history of correspondence with the well-known sociologist, Talcott Parsons, in 1977 and again, just before his death in May 1979. A prolegomenon introduces Parsons, contextualizes the correspondence, and explains how the authors came to collaborate on this project, which seeks to preserve the history of this correspondence with a leading school of social work. The discussion begins with a brief introduction to Parsons, followed by each of the other's reflections on the project. There follows a section on Parsons himself and a note on the collaboration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the social characteristics and personal opinion. The data presented in this paper permit a limited assessment of the extent to which various social and cultural characteristics influence opinion, with special emphasis on the roles of race and age in "determining" social choice. While the results are not completely unequivocal, they do strongly suggest that the malleability of a social position is one important variable that may well have been overlooked in plotting its influence on ideology. The methodology involved in this phase of the investigation is multiple regression analysis. A number of independent variables were selected based upon a face valid assessment of their importance, the extent to which they had been important in other investigations, or within the general analysis of the social structure. The substantial gulf between social characteristics, be they caste-like or class-like, and social values is indicative of the great need a person has to map these connections much more fully, and much more accurately.

These conundrums are not the result of peculiar or hidden quirks in the American character; but rather of the unresolved issues within its central tenets. We thus can expect programs aimed at helping the poor to be in a state of constant crisis and perpetual perplexity, primarily because the poor are continually threatening dominant values in America. Conversely, since aid to the poor is firmly rooted in a set of subdominant values, we can never be "rid" of the concern for them. Hence, the topic of "the poor" and "the welfare poor" is one which generates conflict and guilt, and particularly so as we individually and collectively struggle to resolve the value antinomies which we share. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What is forgiveness anyway? Why do some conflicts go on and on, while others seem to pass away? And as for me... why am I among those who never forgive? The values, and perils, of "unforgiveness" (my term) are explored in this essay. Contained and focused-acetylene-like-unforgiveness may act as an energy source and hence have positive elements. Unrestrained unforgiveness may-does-cause problems down through the generations. One important generative element of unforgiveness is, I hypothesize, powerlessness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article contrasts Catholic social service and the welfare state. The author of this essay advances three ideas. First, he argues that there is a set of beliefs that can be called the "Catholic Ethic." This ethic stands, in important respects, juxtaposed to its more popular sibling, the "Protestant Ethic." Second, some crucial components of the Catholic Ethic are of central importance to the development of a welfare state. Its tenets tend to facilitate the kinds of provisions that aid the disadvantaged and support those in need. Third, the different sequence of Protestant and Catholic ethos within Western societies may have been important in the different positions of countries today with respect to welfare state activities. This argument will have particular force with respect to the United States. The concept of a Protestant Ethic totally pervades American society. Its presence has been well established in social and in popular science. The original work of sociologist Max Weber on the "Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism," has been one of the most well established hypotheses in macrosociology.