How I Met My New Job

I recently took a job in development and fundraising in NYC after an unplanned year’s absence. Getting back into the field was a little scary, but getting back to the 9-5 routine was even more frightening. You can only watch How I Met Your Mother reruns for so many days before you realize you need to put on some pants and get out of the house. If you don’t follow the show, I'm referring to plotline where Marshall quits his job unexpectedly and is constantly asking people “what are you doing?”out of complete boredom.

I, very fortunately, put in some time volunteering at the Hoboken Shelter prior to my unemployment and afterwards spent more time there, while I debated my next move. I had spent 8 years working in women's health for a domestic violence agency and Planned Parenthood - doing a variety of development diva tasks. Prior to that I had worked in public relations after graduating from Hofstra with a PR degree. I got involved with the shelter after seeing how many of my AFP colleagues were volunteers and wanted to give back in my community. It was during this time that I took on the role, in conjunction with a fellow volunteer, of Co-Chair for the 30^th Anniversary Celebration. The celebration is held every five years and, according to the E.D., the committee's initiating the event with more than six months’ time was a success in and of itself. Previously, I helped them with some planning aspects around individual giving, event planning and social media/marketing. This organization has really been working hard to bring in new donors and take their fundraising to the next level to stay competitive and I think it’s exciting to be working with them during this time.

I already have a blog going, Pasta and Power Squats: A Girl Fires Up the Gym and Kitchen, where I am able to blog about my adventures as a group exercise instructor, runner and triathlete as well as my kitchen experiments, good or bad as they are. I was certified as a fitness instructor in 2006 to supplement my nonprofit income at my first job. Now, I love both jobs equally and don’t think I could give one of them up. 

I started the fitness/foodie blog to see what it was like to manage a blog when I was working with Planned Parenthood in NJ, where I initiated the social media program. I suggested a blog for the Education Department and when met with hesitation relating to time constraints and “what do we write?" questions, I wanted to find out how I’d fare doing it myself. It was HARD. It’s only been recently that I’ve gotten into a groove. What to do then – sure start writing somewhere again.  It's hard to talk about nonprofits, fundraising, marketing and social media, community organizing, volunteering, leadership issues and social issues on a blog about spinning profiles, exercise routines and kitchen recipes. And I as I discover new things, read new resources and move ahead in my career I wanted a place to chronicle the journey. I toyed with the idea of writing about social issues on this P&PS, but I’ve mainly stayed clear and may make some comments, since I’d like this blog to speak to my group ex clients.

I'm hoping to share my thoughts and relevant comments on some of the fundraising causes I’ve been involved in: women’s health, domestic violence and homelessness as well as some experiences I have moving forward with my career . I've been doing more and more work in social media and I avidly follow several different blogs on the topic and would like to share cool tidbits and what's working and what's not. Additionally, I love living in Hoboken, and hope that by giving back the city we live in will continue to treat us well.