Working for a non-profit organization
August 25, 2007 By: almostgotit Category: Chapter 2, Uncategorized, career change, non-profit workThe reason I’ve not been blogging is that, besides being in major house-rearranging frenzy, getting kids back into various school routines, and celebrating a 21st wedding anniversary (Yay, us!) I seem to have landed myself a job. I will be directing a non-profit “quality of life” organization with a large donor base and a history of visionary projects, several of which will come into fruition under my watch this coming year. It’s very exciting.
It’s also scary as heck. I know a little of what I’m in for, delving into the non-profit world, having worked for a large non-profit organization once before. Hours can be endless, results can be hard to measure, and working with a large number of volunteers and board members (who are also volunteers) is often like herding cats, or trying to stuff an octopus into a plastic grocery bag. One needs a fair tolerance for chaos, in other words!
Moreover, I’ve never supervised a paid staff before, let alone run a meeting using parliamentary procedure. What if I really do pick my nose? 
And, speaking of blogging, where do I go from here with this one? How to (almost) survive working for a non-profit? How to (almost) get your working groove back after staying home with children for several years?
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*COMING MONDAY* Recipe for Daring Do-over, Double-Baked Biscotti
August 26th, 2007 at 10:14 am
Cheers! Not knowing how you’re going to do something is one of life’s strongest catalysts, in my experience. Either that or great desperation makes for great inspiration. I get them mixed up. Congratulations. These guys were smart to hire you.
August 27th, 2007 at 7:13 am
Congratulations on what sounds like the first step in an exciting journey. I feel a certain affinity with your decision, as I do a lot of consulting work with nonprofits and have a special place in my heart for a number of them. I hope you will stick with the blogging even as you try to discern the best angle to follow your new direction. I would miss your voice!
August 27th, 2007 at 10:09 am
@ Rocky: Thanks very much. You’ve been a terrific ally all along –
@ Ann: I appreciate your encouragement as well (always have) and may call upon you again before too long
Thanks for the gift of your own voice, too… I always enjoy your comments, which are a definite “value add” to my blog!