Mark Keillor spent a career in education, work experience, organizational memberships, church, military service, and family life, learning that every person’s key to success in any organization and in any circumstance lies in a single acronym. D.R.O.P. The much misunderstood and often academically commandeered term “civics” is more inclusively defined as learning and living the DUTIES, RIGHTS, OPPORTUNITIES, and PRIVILEGES of citizenship and/or membership in organizations.

This became apparent after a reflection on his education and active career in community and economic development. Working with and being an active member of numerous groups and organizations, he discovered that all groups and organizations had their own sets of duties, rights, opportunities, and privileges. Some even offered some level of protection. Interestingly, we are introduced to the basics of civics as toddlers.
Civics principles and experiences grow and expand through school, sports, and career pursuits. We gradually gain more personal responsibility for those basics of civics in such a way that they make us more suitable for membership, growth, and success as we proceed through life.
The four principles of civics also become apparent in the American Dream, the community, practicing sustainability, America’s founding documents, understanding basic economics, choosing leaders, and much more. Having spoken at churches, non-profits, youth groups, and veterans organizations, He has discovered a near ravenous appetite for these discussions and perspectives that help individuals assemble a complicated American puzzle. Mark encourages family groups to attend his presentations in order to foster more civics-related conversation at home and in the community.