NPRC could work

[marathoner452]

I have a decision to make.  I've been offered two VISTA positions with the United Way of Calvert County, Success By 6 and the Volunteer Resource Center, a position with the Maryland Conservation Corps at the Patapsco River State Park, and a position with the NPRC at the Central Maryland Red Cross chapter in Baltimore.  None of the positions in Louisiana have gotten in touch with me and as much as I'd like to wait for one of those opportunities to open up, I don't want to wait, then miss out on what I've got in front of me right now, then not have any of those positions work out.  I have until July 10th, the day I get back from NOLA, to make my decision.

I'm leaning toward the NPRC position because then I'll be able to stay with the Red Cross and deploy a couple of times, but the Maryland Conservation Corps sounds cool too because you get to be so active and outdoorsy and they offer lots of training you can't get too many other places (like wilderness firefighting).  Or I could move back to Southern Maryland.

Are there any of these positions that if I didn't take them I would regret it later on because I'd never be offered an opportunity like that again?

If I don't stay with the Red Cross am I going to regret it when the next major hurricane hits?

I'm going to leave it at that and head off on my trip and let the decision come to me.  I'll know what to do when it comes to me.

~Bethany

Comments

[drunah.livejournal.com]

Good luck, no matter what you choose.

[roadwarrior220.livejournal.com]

As I've been saying all along, you'll do great work regardless of which choice you make, and I'm still behind you 100% whatever you choose.

The question I asked myself when it came between choosing NPRC NOLA and Habitat was this: Do I have any doubts about either one of these?

The one I had no doubts about was the one I chose. Whenever there is any doubt, there is no doubt.

~Adam

[marathoner452.livejournal.com]

The only doubts I have about the NPRC position are the ones Judy and Mary put there and I take those with a grain of salt. This is my life after all.

That and being deployed for Bachman Valley, but I'm hoping I can manage working in the call center in DC should that be an issue. If not, then I'll direct the race from a shelter in Florida or something. :-) I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.

~Bethany

[roadwarrior220.livejournal.com]

Those are understandable doubts, and obviously you have them under control. If you need somebody to kind of carry out your instructions during the race while you're deployed, I'd be happy to do so.

~Adam

[roadwarrior220.livejournal.com]

I forgot to ask, have you heard if NPRC is willing to wait for you to start until you're done in Frederick?

~Adam

[marathoner452.livejournal.com]

Yes they are willing to wait. Esp. after working Mass Care most of the day today at a rescue operation in Keymar (you know where that is), I'm leaning towards the Red Cross. :-)

No, I did not remember sunscreen. I also did not remember to take my purse out of the Suburban before Judy took it back to the chapter house. By the time I got back from Keymar, the Suburban (and my purse) were on their way to Wolfsville to assist with flooding.

I'm still at work. And it's storming. And hundreds of thousands of people are evacuating from northeast PA before the dams break. And I leave in 2 days.

Why oh why does it all have to happen at once?

~Bethany

[roadwarrior220.livejournal.com]

Well, it's good to know that you're pretty sure about the direction you want to go, and I had a feeling you'd have some kind of watershed experience (if you'll pardon the pun :-P) that'd help you more sense of it.

And I hope those people will be okay--I've been hearing about all the flooding for a couple days. I saw two or three cars in the parking lot at the grocery store tonight with Pennsylvania plates and luggage carriers.

Hope you got home at a decent hour.

~Adam

[roadwarrior220.livejournal.com]

Help you MAKE more sense of it. Wow, I'm out of it tonight, and I'm not even tired. :-P

~Adam

[roadwarrior220.livejournal.com]

And I hope you're doing alright, too--that could have only been a very difficult experience. Though I know you won't until Friday, you're welcome to call and talk/vent.

~Adam

[marathoner452.livejournal.com]

Actually, we were pretty much detached from the rescue. We saw all the vehicles, some of the family and friends, and a lot of the rescuers, but it wasn't as stressful as you'd expect.

Much easier than a disaster deployment, for us anyway. The family and friends were, entirely justifiably, very upset.

~Bethany

[roadwarrior220.livejournal.com]

Good to know it wasn't that difficult. I've been seeing a lot of video of what's been going on, at least in Pennsylvania, which is why I offered.

And I can completely understand their pain--many of them lost quite a bit. I can only imagine.

See you tomorrow. :-)

~Adam

[(Anonymous)]

In this case, it wasn't houses they lost. It was two teenage boys. I think that's worse, much worse.

(I'm not breaking confidentiality rules by telling you that either. I'm sure it's all over the news by now. It's on the Frederick site anyway.)

~Bethany

[marathoner452.livejournal.com]

That was me. I keep forgetting that I allow anonymous comments these days.

~Bethany

[roadwarrior220.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I figured. I do the same, but I forget sometimes that I screen them.

~Adam

[roadwarrior220.livejournal.com]

I just saw that about a half-hour ago...that's absolutely terrible. My heart goes out to them and their families.

[beantowngrlie.livejournal.com]

from what i can tell about you from your journal, any of the above sound like theyd be great for you. i agree with letting the decision come to you...taking a step back will probably bring some clarity, and then youll just know which one will be the perfect fit. best of luck with whichever you chose, i know youll be great.

have an awesome time in new orleans...i know youve been looking forward to it :)

[marathoner452.livejournal.com]

That's the problem...any one of those would be a good fit. Now I just need to find out which one would be the best fit, and I'm leaning towards the Red Cross because I can't imagine doing anything else, esp. not after the disaster response yesterday. Have you been following that on the news? Myersville is northwest in Frederick County, and Little Pipe Creek/Keymar is on my way home if I go through Taneytown.

Hits pretty close to home.

~Bethany

[beantowngrlie.livejournal.com]

wow....yeah...i heard a little bit about that....really close to home for you....

and as far as the job goes, like you said...youll know...

[quick-step.livejournal.com]

What Beantowngirlie says. You'll arrive at a decision.

[marathoner452.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the vote of confidence. :-) I'll be sure to let you all know what that decision is as soon as I know.

~Bethany

[fitfool.livejournal.com]

sounds like you're asking yourself the right questions. Have fun mulling it over. (also, when the next hurricane hits, can't you still volunteer even if you're not working for the Red Cross?)

[marathoner452.livejournal.com]

I could probably volunteer, but I couldn't deploy for 3 weeks like I'd be required to if I took the NPRC AmeriCorps position.

I'm leaving tomorrow. I'll have a lot of time on the plane to think about it.

Your icon is beautiful.

~Bethany

[fitfool.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I found it online searching google for royalty-free images of tigers :)