Ensuring the light continues to shine

By Fred Crans, Bellwether Class of 2020

When you're enveloped in darkness, you're most immediate top-of-mind concern may be to search for a light — any light — that might indicate bearings and a direction to take.

The light, like that of a beacon in a lighthouse, helps to direct you to safety and away from danger or to lead you to where you need to go.

Bellwether League Foundation (BLF) has used the lighthouse icon to symbolize its mission and vision since inception 16 years ago.

BLF was founded to honor the accomplishments of those who helped to build the modern-day healthcare supply chain. The organization gives three major awards: Recognition as a Future Famer for those in the first 12 years of their careers; recognition as an Ammer Honoree for those in the middle of their careers who receive the "Dean S. Ammer Award for Healthcare Supply Chain Performance Excellence;" and induction as a Bellwether into the Hall of Fame for Healthcare Supply Chain Leadership.

To date (2023), there are 39 Future Famers, four Ammer Honorees and 143 Bellwether inductees.

Do the math: That's 186 innovators, leaders and visionaries representing more than 250 years of collective healthcare supply chain achievement in the United States, outpacing the age of the U.S. itself. Still, that's an impressively small number, which makes the honor — at all three levels — that much more meaningful. It's a big deal, right? Surely, everyone must know about it by now.

Right?

Wrong.

The fact is, too few seem to know about Bellwether League Foundation and its important — no, make that essential — contribution to the profession and the industry, and therefore, cultural society as a whole. And that remains an ongoing challenge.

Recently, I attended a meeting of one of AHRMM's regional chapters. There were around 35 in attendance-- probably a 65/35 mix of suppliers and providers. Those representing the providers were generally low- to mid-level management people. I asked four people if they recognized the lapel pin I was wearing, which showed the Bellwether League's iconic logo of a lighthouse as well as the number 2020, the year of my Hall of Fame induction. They did not. I asked them if they knew what Bellwether League was. They did not. I asked the leader of the meeting if I could make a brief presentation about Bellwether League at their next meeting.

She said I could.

At the moment, the Bellwether League's light seems to be covered by a shade. Something needs to be done so that its light can shine strongly among the members of the healthcare community that it represents.

Here are some thoughts:

If you are a Bellwether, Ammer Honoree or Future Famer:

1. Represent. Wear your Bellwether Class, Ammer Honoree or Future Famer pin prominently. If people ask you about it, tell them the story of the League. You're not bragging, you're REPRESENTING. You are spreading the word.
2. Tell the story. At staff meetings, tell the story of the Bellwether League to the people in your department. Tell them not only about the Bellwethers, but also about the Future Famers and the Ammer Honorees. Make these honors something that is aspirational.
3. Nominate. Find the rising stars and up-and-comers in your organization. Nominate them. If you know the names of folks that you believe should be considered Bellwethers, talk to their co-workers, do the research and nominate them as well. Remember: Someone thought enough of you to nominate you, so repay the effort.
4. Talk to your C-suite. Let them know how prestigious the awards are and get them to become financial supporters.

If you are a Bellwether's, Ammer Honoree's and/or Future Famer's Employer:

• Honor your awardee(s). Stage a ceremony to highlight your winner(s). Put their picture up in a prominent place. Remember, having a Bellwether working (or having worked) in your organization is a strong statement of how accomplished your organization is in a key discipline.
• Look for others to nominate.
• Become a sponsor. Honor your awardees by investing in Bellwether League Foundation. Sponsorship is affordable and makes a difference. Further, Bellwether League is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization so your donation is tax deductible.

If you are the Sponsor or Host of Professional Supply Chain, Sterile Processing or Value Analysis Conferences:

• Donate five minutes on your stage. Show a visual slide and explain what the Bellwether League is. Recognize any Bellwethers, Ammer Honorees and/or Future Famers in the audience.
• Think of creating an educational presentation that features Bellwethers in your meeting.
• Become a sponsor. See above. It's a great value for a worthy cause that reinforces your people who serve your customers — the clinicians and patients for whom they provide care.

Supporting Bellwether League is good business for everyone. By recognizing the organization and its awardees, you are lifting the entire discipline -- bringing attention to a function that has long languished unrecognized and unneeded in the basement until a crisis arises, only to be relegated back to anonymity after the day has been saved. You are giving recognition to those that have spent their lives working tirelessly for others and you are creating something for the youngsters, mid-career and soon-to-be Bellwether-ready people in today's arena.

And by helping Bellwether League to free its light from beneath the shade, you are allowing your light to shine brightly as well.