Well, two days on the job and I’m ready for a three-day weekend!
Actually, today was mostly a recovery day, I had an hour-long meeting with my site supervisor and a colleague, but otherwise concentrated on laundry and a bit of online research.
Visiting with two fellows who have been on the scene for many years already and who will most likely be around a number of years after I depart the scene really put things into perspective for me.
That’s a notion that I intend to keep in mind. If I’m to accomplish anything really worthwhile, it will have to be something that continues after I leave town. If I concentrate on providing direct services, I’ll be of only temporary value.
One promising development is that I may be allowed to help with the ramp-up to a project that could have a significant long-term impact.
It’s called Building Healthy Communities. Fourteen small regions have been identified in the state for a major effort to make a difference over a ten-year period.
The main effort will begin around the first of the year. But by helping out during the planning process, which will include lots of community outreach, I may be able to help those in charge to identify needs and resources that will come into play for the following decade.
That’s the kind of impact i could feel good about.
Tags: '60s, all for good, AmeriCorps, americorps alum, asking again, baby boom, Building Healthy Communities, California, California Endowment, Community Development, community journalism, corporation for national and community service, HandsOn Central California, Johnson, Kennedy, Merced, national service, old VISTA, retired, Sargent Shriver, social networking, United Way, VISTA, Vista alum, Volunteer, volunteer infrastructure program, volunteering in america, War on Poverty, We Connect, we media
