Chuck Wall

Visit Eagle Mountain Casino with Chuck, Di and The Bakersfield Californian's Dianne Hardisty.  (This article also ran in The Bakersfield Californian on Nov. 17.)

                                                                                                                     Photo Courtesy of Dianne Hardisty

A Positive Voice Rises Above Local Government 'Doom And Gloom'

Written by  James Spencer   

November 23, 2009

At every level, government is down. Revenue is down, services are down and employment is down.

At the California State Association of Counties’ Annual Conference in Monterey last week, a more positive voice reached the audience of local government officials.

Dr. Chuck Wall addressed the crowd at the conference, relating his “Random Acts of Kindness” program to those who work in local government.

Wall put a different spin on the usual doom and gloom conversations that have shadowed recent conversations of local government.

“One of the things I talked about is the fact that we have a lot of good people doing good work in the counties and they are not getting the recognition that they deserve,” Wall said in an interview.

“We hear a lot about the State of California employees and city employees. But county seems to be lost, and that’s truly where the public comes in contact with its tax dollars.”

Wall earned a Ph.D. in Educational Administration and Marketing Management and is involved in his “Random Acts of Kindness” program, speaking to government agencies, in addition to private companies and individuals.

Wall spoke with enthusiasm regarding all the positives being done at the local level and those who work so hard to serve his or her constituents. He said that in spite of all the negative going, there are still spots of positive that need to be given attention.

“Counties should never overlook the fact that they are making a significant contribution to the quality of life in their area even though they are not getting the recognition deserved.”

He also spoke about burnout and stress among public employees.

“We are overdoing it in terms of our workdays and our workweeks,” Wall said. “We are putting in far more energy to try to solve problems that are often beyond our ability to solve and we’re tearing up ourselves in the process.

“We’ve got to back off and take a look at how we can allocate our time better to recognize that personally you can’t solve the California crisis. You need to protect yourself and at the same time protect your constituents.”

James Spencer can be reached at jspencer@publicceo.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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An Assignment that Got Away

 Chuck Wall, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus

(Fall 2008)

Today, I will commit one random act of senseless KINDNESS - Will You?

The year was 1993 and my classes in the Business Department at Bakersfield College were going along quite well, except, I was getting a bit bored with my outside assignments. Something different was called for immediately. A morning radio newscaster gave me the break I was looking for when he announced another random act of senseless violence. That was one violence more than I could take, so without further thought I merely plucked the word "violence" out of that well-known negative phrase and inserted the word "kindness," and without my knowing it an international movement was launched.

The outside assignment for my Human Relations students was to go out into our community and "commit one random act of senseless kindness," write up your kind act and analyze your experience as well as that of the recipient. What made this assignment so successful was the sincere personal interest shown by the students. Their acts of kindness and written and verbal experiences brought this idea to life.

Fifteen years later the idea continues to grow and now has a life of its own. From a single web site in 1993 to dozens if not hundreds today the idea of committing acts of kindness has become part of our culture. When I spoke at the request of the Prime Minister of Singapore a few years ago, I was informed that some 12 nations had adopted the concept of kindness as part of their humanitarian program. I have given hundreds of speeches all over our nation and some 350 radio and television interviews to say nothing of the hundreds of newspaper and magazine articles that have been generated. Many of these historical records are now housed in our Bakersfield College Archives in a manner far more sophisticated than anything I could ever have dreamed of developing. As new books, articles and interviews arrive; they are skillfully added to the growing collection including the actual Olympic Torch I carried as it made its way to the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Today, in addition to continuing motivational speaking, I am concentrating my efforts on creating kindness clubs in our local high schools. We now have four very successful clubs at Bakersfield High School, Stockdale, East, and Frontier. I expect several more to be added in the coming academic year. This has been quite a ride and I still enjoy every minute of it because there are no negative down sides to kindness. As the years go by, and the concept of kindness continues to expand, it will not be long until its origins will be lost to history. When that happens I know I did something useful that will live long after me. Such a future is what I wish.

Printed in The Bakersfield Californian, Letters to the Editor, 5/18/2009

Source of Inspiration

National desperation? Look to local inspiration.

Recently, I spent some time in the company of one our city's great natural resources. No, not the Kern River. I was actually enjoying a speech by retired college professor and international "kindness guru" Chuck Wall. I was a vendor at a Community Action Partnership event where Wall was one of the speakers.

I, like many residents, first met Wall when I was a student at Bakersfield College. Wall has traveled the world with his "random act of kindness" campaign, which has put him in newspapers, radio shows and TV. The message is to encourage everyone to commit one random act of kindness each day.

In a time when people are losing their retirement, homes, jobs, health care and more, Wall's message was more relevant than ever. It also explains why his enthusiasm and passion seemed to be at an all-time high. Being kind is contagious, he said. Wall brought a positive energy that's been long overdue.

During these tough times it is easy to look at what we no longer have, but knowing what we do have in local resident Chuck Wall is truly encouraging. To stop dwelling on the national problems, turn inward and control the only thing we can, ourselves, is the best way we can ignite change.

If you have the opportunity to hear Wall present his positive message, I think you too will count him as one of our great local natural resources.

SEAN KENNY

Bakersfield

In our communities, being kind to one another is not something that only happens out of the blue, but is a part of life

The phrase "random acts of kindness" has been a part of popular culture for many years now, though its origins are under dispute. Peace activist Ann Hebert is said to have written the phrase "Practice random kindness and senseless acts of beauty" on a place mat in a restaurant in the late 80s.

Dr. Chuck Wall, a professor at Bakersfield College, recalls hearing about "random senseless acts of violence" on the news in 1993, and was inspired to assign his students the task of committing "one random act of senseless kindness" as homework. He has since copyrighted the phrase.

This grass-roots movement, which encourages people to do something nice for someone else spontaneously or with no expectation of return, built up steam during the 90s, in by 2004, Oprah Winfrey devoted an entire episode to the concept.

People around the globe have embraced the concept. Websites have been developed to encourage and record these acts, movies like Pay It Forward and Amelie use the concept as their premise, and schools have monthly 'Random Act of Kindness' awards for students who committ them.

Yet, as the mother of a local young woman who was the recipient of one such award pointed out, kindness should be something we expect from our children and each other. The kindness her daughter had shown was, in fact, not random at all, but a part of her everyday life.

In communities such as ours, where we pride ourselves on being friendly and helpful, are random acts of kindness truly random?

Whether you live in the heart of downtown Moncton, or in the beauty of Albert County, you likely see several acts of kindness committed by the people around you every day, and commit a few yourself. For us, being kind isn't limited by familiarity.

Feeding parking meters, picking up a dropped mitten, returning a lost wallet or giving spare change to someone who needs it, the people who live here are kind every day, to family, friends and strangers alike.

We should be proud to live in a place where being unkind is the exception, rather than the rule, and start celebrating the not-so-random acts of kindness that happen here.

(Printed by Canada East - This Week Online, May 2008)

Speaking with Spark

53 spiral-bound pages packed with speaking hints to make your speech sparkle!

Why This Booklet

So you need to give a speech and you’re just not quite sure how to make your presentation a success. This booklet has the tips you need to make you feel good about yourself and leave your audience pleased with your presentation.

For many people, giving a speech is something to be avoided. It causes shaky knees, a quavering voice and an upset stomach at the very least. Here you will find essential information to make giving that speech much less stressful. After reading this booklet, you will see that public speaking need not be feared, but rather embraced as an opportunity to discuss your interests with others who may share your passion for that subject.

This booklet is the result of many years of speaking to audiences – small and large – throughout the world. Benefit from my experiences as a speech professor, motivational speaker and workshop leader and build your own skills without making the mistakes I made. Being “on your soapbox” can actually be great fun, so follow the tips I offer and hone those speaking skills – whether your goal is a successful career or just an occasional presentation.   

Cost: $5.95 + $1.75 shipping

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THE BOOKSHELF NEWSLETTER

A series of excerpts from Speaking with Spark appear in author Delia Latham's monthly newsletter, The Bookshelf, starting in January 2008. You'll find the current month's excerpt on her website, but be sure to check out the newsletter archives for past postings.

Look for mention of Dr. Chuck Wall in the January 2008 issue of U.S. News and World Report cover story about ways to improve your life. 

Interview with Senseless Acts of Kindness Creator Dr. Chuck Wall

by Beryl Meyer

Better Life Media News

When was the last time you thanked someone for doing a good job ... gave a compliment ... held open the door for a stranger? If you can't remember, consider this: Any one of these simple acts can improve the quality of your life instantly.

Dr. Chuck Wall, Ph.D., Educational Administration and Marketing Management, was looking for an assignment to give his Human Relations class at Bakersfield College in California when he heard a local radio announcer talking about yet another random act of senseless violence.

"I remember thinking, 'Is this the new definition of the news?'" he recalls. "A group of kids doing wonderful things ... sadly, that isn't news."

That phrase - "random act of senseless violence" - intrigued Wall, who imagined turning the negative message into a positive one just by changing one word. When he returned to the classroom the next day, he shared with his students their next project: Commit one random act of senseless kindness.

At the time, Wall had no idea what the efforts of his class would bring. Nor could he know that his minor change in verbiage would result in a catchphrase that would spread across the country - and the world - like wildfire.

"You would have thought we discovered human kindness - that no one had ever come up with the concept of being kind to another," he says.

The fact is, however, that social mores have changed, and even the simplest gestures, such as holding open a door or helping someone with their bundles, have taken a backseat to a more guarded - and more isolated - way of being.

The beauty of Wall's concept is that it has a ripple effect. Like a tiny pebble cast into a lake, that initial 'ping' fans out far and wide.

"One person can make a difference," says Wall, now President of his worldwide organization, Kindness, Inc., Random Acts of Senseless Kindness. "I'm the living proof."

Take a cup of kindness ...

How to effect change and improve the quality of your life by demonstrating kindness? The most important way you can have an impact is through the people you come in contact with every day, advises Wall.

"That group becomes your focus. If tens of thousands of people do that, we can really make a difference."

The possibilities are as infinite as your imagination. Niceties such as offering your seat on the bus to a pregnant woman or helping an elderly person across the street are certainly gestures from the heart. You might consider paying a utility bill for a relative who may be short on funds, or visiting a convalescent home and offering words of encouragement, as two of Wall's students did.

Look, too, to those people in your life whom Wall calls 'silent servants,' including your local school custodians, community groundskeepers, neighborhood mail carriers and hospital food service workers.

"We never think of them as people; we think of them in the results of their work. Many times, we don't even realize they exist," says Wall. "Seek them out, thank them and tell them what a fantastic job they're doing."

Reaching out and touching someone - on an emotional level - brings its own rewards. Wall believes getting more involved with children who are lacking a sense of nurturing in their lives will help to sustain them - and you, in turn, as well. The interest you show in a child in need sows seeds that last a lifetime.

It costs nothing but a minute of your time - and two willing arms - to make an emotional connection even more meaningful.

"I'm a firm believer in a hug a day," says Wall. "Adults need it as much as children."

... and share it readily -- and randomly

Another random act of kindness that ranks high with Wall: a show of appreciation, whether it's a simple handwritten note (or a thank-you card email) telling that person they've made your day.

"When someone has done something particularly nice to you, it's important to let them know how much you appreciate them."

Wall created a Kindness Coin for just that purpose. On one side it reads, "Today I will commit one random act of senseless kindness ... Will you?" On the flip side it reads, "You've made my day. Now pass this coin onto someone else who has made your day." 

Dr. Wall was included in the January 2008 issue of U.S. News and World Report cover story about ways to improve your life.