marathoner452 | (no subject)

I now have semi-official word that I won't be staying here in Frederick next year. For one thing, Judy and Mary and I sat down yesterday to talk about transitioning my programs to volunteer leadership. For another, Karen emailed me after I left for my presentation yesterday, sans good news and with a recommendation to start looking.

I'm not pleased. It's not Judy or Karen I'm upset with but the idiot that decided not to tell us this until it was too late. Had they told us about the cost-sharing or cutting the program 3 months ago, we could have worked it into the budget, applied for site sponsorship from Volunteer Maryland, or applied for outside grants. Now it's too late what with only 3 months until I'm cut off, cut off right in the middle of what's supposed to be a bad hurricane season. Brilliant move folks. Shoot yourselves in the foot, why don't you?

I'm weighing my options for next year. These seem to be the possibilities.
1. Apply to National Preparedness and Response Corps in Baltimore. From the way I understand that you sit around and wait for disasters, so you're ready to go out on a fire call or national deployment at any time. In between you do education presentations and office stuff. Less flexibility to design my own CDE programs from the ground up, but more of a chance to get disaster experience. I think it sounds like a distinct possibility. Besides, it's probably my only choice if I want to live at home, be a part of AmeriCorps, and continue in disaster response.
2. Apply for an AmeriCorps term down on the gulf, whether in disaster response/recovery or something else. That's scary, first of all because it's a long ways from home but also because of how things still are down there. It would be quite the experience.

I'm going to apply for both of the above. Baltimore takes precedence because it's closer to home. If Baltimore doesn't work out and I'm offered a position down on the gulf, you all know where I'm going.

~Bethany

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I really agree with you--whoever didn't figure this out months ago needs a whack on the back of the head. You didn't need or deserve this, regardless of when it happened, and neither did the people who you're working with or the kids you have contact with.

And as for your possibilities, I will just say I am behind you completely no matter where you go. I have always supported you through this, and will always. This is what you love, and that comes before anything else.

The interview went alright, though there are a lot of people she's interviewing. I'm going to keep applying to programs down on the gulf too, because I know after our trip, that's the only place I'll want to be.

Hope we can talk soon.

~Adam

And you know if you need to talk/vent, I'm always here.

~Adam

No venting about this. While it's frustrating to not be able to stay here, I'm trying to look at it as a blessing in disguise. I have so many choices right now. That's a very freeing feeling.

~Bethany

Somehow I knew you'd say that. I'm glad you feel that way.

I hope everything's alright with us now.

~Adam

I'll be calling this weekend to talk, or you're welcome to call me. My class runs from 8:30-4:30 both days, so I should be home by 5:30.

~Bethany

You are going to love that class!

I almost wish I could take it again.

Disaster Assessment wasn't nearly as fun. :)

Collaboration is a very cool class. One day down and one to go.

Disaster Assessment was fun too, partially because one of the instructors was the one who took me out on my first DAT call back in September. :-)

~Bethany

You'll do good work no matter where you end up. ;)

Thanks for the vote of confidence. :-)

~Bethany

You know I feel the same way she does. :-)

~Adam

Good luck-- whatever happens, you'll learn a lot and will be "getting things done".