who am I and where am I going?

[marathoner452]

Judy just told me that I won't be here next year, not through my VISTA program anyway. They didn't give my chapter enough warning to build the cost-sharing into their budget. I might be able to work things out with Volunteer Maryland, as they sometimes place AmeriCorps people at Red Cross chapters, so that's a possibility. So is finding another local AmeriCorps program to work for. I'm not ready to go out into the "real world" just yet, and I don't have enough money for grad school. If I work another year in AmeriCorps I'll have $9500 to go to school, plus whatever I can save.

The possibility that really intrigues me is another AmeriCorps term...down on the Gulf Coast. Talk about doing AmeriCorps the way it was intended. Talk about a challenge. Talk about continuing the most incredible experience of my life (my 3 week New Orleans deployment) forward and really getting my hands dirty. Talk about needing to be flexible and turn on a dime (and give a nickel back, as Emily says). I thought I had my life planned out for the next year and a half. Now it turns out in 3 months everything's up in the air.

I do know that AmeriCorps has spoiled me for life for anything but community service.

*researches AmeriCorps positions in Mississippi and Louisiana*

~Bethany

Comments

[roadwarrior220.livejournal.com]

I am in complete shock...I was under the impression that I'd be closer to you when I got out there, and now that may not be the case. :-(

Whatever you find, you know I'm behind you...I just hope we get our chance, and I know you agree with me.

~Adam

[flamingjune07.livejournal.com]

Isn't Americorps working with the New Orleans Habitat for Humanity now, or am I remembering that wrong?

[marathoner452.livejournal.com]

They do have positions open, yes. I'm also looking at the local Red Cross chapter, SELA (SouthEast Louisiana).

There's still the possibility that I might be able to stay here, but I can't count on it anymore.

~Bethany

[marathoner452.livejournal.com]

This is exactly why I warned you not to move out to Maryland to be closer to me. There are no guarantees in life. Nothing is certain.

I know that you are behind me and I will continue to stand by you, but I will not be pinned down. I don't want to be harsh, but that's the way it is. Katrina changed everything.

~Bethany

[roadwarrior220.livejournal.com]

I'm not moving out there just to be closer to you, and you know that. And I know you won't be pinned down.

I guess now is a good time to tell you that I applied last week to Habitat and the Red Cross in NOLA. I just haven't had the chance to tell you yet.

~Adam

[marathoner452.livejournal.com]

I sure didn't see that coming. Guess it's a day for surprises on both sides of the table.

~Bethany

[roadwarrior220.livejournal.com]

I was going to tell you tonight, but I guess now that won't be necessary.

~Adam

[meeshabpuck.livejournal.com]

>hugs< i'm sorry, though it would be an interesting adventure for you to spend a year in the south :-)

[marathoner452.livejournal.com]

First choice would be staying in Frederick, 'cause I already know them and I could live at home and save up more money for grad school.

That said, I'm working on the application for AmeriCorps stuff down on the Gulf Coast right now. :-)

~Bethany

[batemanenroute.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry to hear that things have turned on their head. Let me know if I can be of any help search-wise.

(My unsolicited two cents would be to stick with VISTA and not venture into State, but I'm sure whatever you do will be perfect for you...)

Good luck!

[ratkrycek.livejournal.com]

Wow. Sorry to hear about Frederick, but talk about an opportunity to really follow your heart! I might apply to NOLA and hope I'd get it, but that's just me.

I'm sure that going to NOLA will change me, as well. For the better.

I was just breezing in here to find your itinerary for my mom, by the way. That woman worries too much. She's emailed Brooke twice and now theyre going to talk tomorrow. Le sigh. My mother, she worries too much.

[marathoner452.livejournal.com]

If I stick with VISTA I won't be working for the Red Cross, not in Maryland anyway.

The way I see it, I have a bunch of options:
-Judy could walk into my office and say this was all a huge misunderstanding and I can stay after all, but I'm not holding my breath on that one
-I could find an organization through AmeriCorps that's willing to sponsor me for another year, which is unlikely this late in the game (if only they had let me know 3 months ago...)
-I could apply to work at the Central MD chapter in the NPRC (National Preparedness and Response Corps), where from my understanding I'd pretty much wait for disasters and give presentations in the meantime. Definitely cool, but I'd miss the small office where everyone knows each other and I'd miss the flexibility to design my own programs/schedule my own time.
-I could look for another AmeriCorps position in Maryland, but it would likely be one where I wouldn't be working in disaster preparedness and response and wouldn't be able to deploy for 3 weeks in a heartbeat.
-I could apply for AmeriCorps positions down on the Gulf Coast, but I'd have to wait until at least the end of September to start because I already committed to directing the Bachman Valley 1/2 Marathon in Westminster (9/24).
-I could accept a position on the Gulf Coast with AmeriCorps and wait until January to start. That way I wouldn't start in the middle of hurricane season and I could save up some money by working as an elementary school sub. If a big storm blew up and I wanted to deploy, I could take myself out of subfinder for 3 weeks and go.
-I could look for a Red Cross job anywhere in the country and move there.
-I could look for a nonprofit job down on the Gulf Coast and move there.

In a way I'm glad I have my options open, but I'm also ticked I didn't find out about this sooner. I have two projects going right now that'll be tough to wrap up in the next 3 months-recruiting a CDE coordinator (Mary can only do so much, esp. with the children's stuff) and getting into the public schools (I was going to do PTA presentations next fall with the hope of getting them to sponsor in-school presentations). I was also going to sponsor a disaster supplies kit drive to get kits out to lower-income families. I feel cheated being only given 3 months to tie together what I was going to do with 15 months.

~Bethany

[marathoner452.livejournal.com]

My mom worries too much too, but somehow I've managed to convince her that I'm going to do what I want to do anyway, so long as it's good stuff that I feel drawn to. Like service stuff in NOLA. It will change you for the better, I know it will.

Two things though-get a tetanus shot and bring allergy meds (Alavert is my favorite; Benadryl does nothing for me). All that 9 month old mold is going to make you sick. At least we'll be able to wear masks and we won't be living in the "Black Mold Motel."

~Bethany

[ratkrycek.livejournal.com]

I'll call my doctor's office right now. Thanks! :)

[roadwarrior220.livejournal.com]

As I said last night, whatever your search results end up being, I'm right there behind you and will continue to be supportive, understanding, and loving. As hard as it will be for me, this is the best way I can show you what you mean to me.

~Adam

[marathoner452.livejournal.com]

I'm applying for AmeriCorps positions down there, as well as inquiring further about the NPRC in Baltimore.

In the meantime I'll keep hassling whoever I can about possibilities for me to stay here, and I'll work on tying up loose ends just in case. On the plus side, one of my dedicated CDE volunteers called this morning, and when I told her the news she offered to keep giving presentations to at least the two YMCA programs she's worked with since January. All I need to do is make her her own notebook full of presentation notes and worksheets and such. Hopefully I can get my other CDE volunteers to commit to doing that too.

~Bethany