On my toes

If you thought the title might allude to me revealing news that I am a practicing en pointe ballerina, you will be (only slightly) disappointed.   I could have also titled this post something like “playing it by ear,” but that might make you think I am a budding musician (which, in reality I am.  Hello new guitar!) and it would also be a second cliché reference using a body part to describe the fact that in my job I “fly by the seat of my pants.”  Oops, there I go again.

I remember interviewing for this job and asking my (future) supervisor what a typical day looked like.  He couldn’t give me an answer, rather promising each day was very different.  Now that I’ve been in this position for over 5 months, I have discovered three types of a “typical day.”  They are as follows:  a) Sitting in front of my computer emailing and calling people, including various breaks to stare out the window at interesting activity down on the street.  b) Training all day.  Training is draining, so once I’ve spent 6 hours in front of a room of people yapping at them and guiding them through the software, I’m spent.  c) Traveling to meetings.   This could also be interspersed with option a (staring at computer).  Traveling to meetings could be similar to what I did this morning, which entailed me driving a mile down the road from my apartment and sharing a cup of coffee and great conversation with a fellow VISTA.  It could also be driving over an hour to an outlying county (remember, I serve 15 of them) for a 20 minute meeting.  Where perhaps the person I am meeting with tells me my program is essentially worthless.  And I thank them for their time and drive back. 

The last point is a great anecdote affirming my supervisor’s explanation way back in April when I applied.  Despite there being three basic types of days, each situation is different and challenging.   Even with each cookie cutter training, I have different counselors who have different learning styles, a different sense of humor (laugh at my corny jokes people!  Come on!), and different opinions about public benefits and government programs.    

My favorite days, surprisingly, are the days I have nothing officially planned and I can sit at my desk and work.   This days are always different, always challenging, and always keep me moving, which is very important for this job.  Communication is constantly and quickly moving, and if I don’t stay up to date with emails and phone calls the entire network  could fall behind.   My desk days also give me the ability to not only react but act, or take proactive action by strategizing and preparing for goals and projects. 

This post grew increasingly boring as it went on, but our internet is down so I can’t check my email.   See?  Crazy!  On my toes!

It's Official!

Don't adjust your screens folks, and don't grab your reading glasses.  You are correctly viewing my very official Community Trainer certification.  I requested a neon sign advertising my position for over my desk, but this is all I got.  Oh well.

Food Stamp Challenge!

Despite the fact that I am already on food assistance, I am participating in an office-wide "Food Stamp Challenge."  Here is an overview:

Everyday individuals all of Ohio call the Ohio Benefit Bank hotline, come into the Site Support Office for the Ohio Benefit Bank, or visit an Ohio Benefit Bank counselor because they find that they are having difficulty surviving the difficult economic circumstances.  Unemployment benefits are expiring for many Ohioans, and they will turn to Food Assistance and other programs to meet their basic needs.  In an effort to show solidarity with the people whom we seek to serve, we are challenging the staff of the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks to live off of a food stamp diet. 

For one week, starting August 13^th, we are challenging you to take part in the challenge and live on the nationwide average food stamp benefit.  According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which is responsible for administering the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the nationwide average benefit in FY2005 was $94.05 per month, per person, or approximately $3 a day.  

Do you think you can do it?  Do you think you can:

1.       Only spend a total of $21 on food and beverages during the week

2.       Follow SNAP rules as to what can be purchased and only shop at stores that accept EBT cards. (No prepared foods, no dining out)

3.       During the Challenge, only eat food that your purchase for this project.  Do not eat food that you already own (except for spices and condiments)

4.       Avoid accepting free food or beverages at work.

5.       Please keep track of receipts on food spending and take note of your experiences throughout the week

The office will be recording their experiences on the intranet, but I'll keep blogging  on here about the Challenge.  If YOU want to particiapte starting August 13, I would love to include some guests posts or your thoughts about your own experience trying to live on the above guidelines, even if just for one day.

“Change will not wait for some other person or some other time. We are the one’s we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek!”

-President Obama

 

Swag

Look everyone, I got my very own snazzy new shirt!

They gave me clothes, yet I still have to deal out business cards that look like this:

 

It's all so very exciting and official.

Direct vs Indirect Service

9:30 every morning like clockwork, my stomach creates a ruckus that disturbs my work as I’m sure everyone around me. Why is it so needy? My trip to the break room to stave off hunger with a cup of coffee reminds me that I am finally part of this elusive “adult world” of office buildings that have water colors and break rooms with coffee (as opposed to my entire job consisting of making and handing out that coffee). The other difference is my work now consisting of indirect service, where before I was only doing direct service. Basically this means before I was hanging out with people, playing with kids, interacting with the community, giving out meals, etc, where now I am on an organizational level, building capacity and connecting organizations and people with tools. I can’t get a clear picture yet of which type I prefer, though granted I have only been at this less than a month. Already in my indirect role I feel like I can see results better, as I am dealing more with numbers equated to success.

Sticky Notes

My desk is covered in sticky notes. I am doing Norwalk Furniture a huge favor though, as their sticky notes are the only ones I have right now and their name/logo is plastered for all the office to see. As I am still trying to get a system down for scheduling (get email, send response, follow up, put on calendar, clear with Zach, confirm procedure, etc), the sticky notes are essential. I am hoping I will become better versed in organizing all the communication I do, but if little pieces of paper as reminders work best…I’m going to have to buy some more interesting looking pads of paper.

For all you environmentalists out there, rest assured that I ALSO use the digital sticky notes on my desktop. Don’t worry. I’ve definitely cut my use of the wasteful paper stuff down :-)