Follow the yellow brick road

"It's always best to start at the beginning -- and all you do is follow the Yellow Brick Road" Glinda the Good Witch's quote to Dorothy about starting her journey on the Yellow Brick Road" in "The Wizard of Oz." 

You are working towards your goal even when you do not realize it. I have been in my new position as a Major Donor Development Representative for the Los Angeles Union Rescue Mission for four weeks now.  It has all been a completely new experience and it has been just right!  I am honored to work for the oldest rescue mission in the city, the largest of its kind in the nation, and the only Christian-based mission in Los Angeles’ Skid Row. I appreciate that the guests do not need to be Christian to utilize the services.  However, if they seek it, we offer the amazing solution of Jesus’ love and grace which redeems and restores.

I wondered why it all felt so right. Then this weekend as I was writing my blog, learning Twitter, researching future blog topics, watching Super Soul Sunday, etc. I came across something I had written two years earlier describing my vision for what I wanted my career to look like... 

WHO: INFORMATION OFFICER, FUNDRAISER, CAMPAIGN MANAGER, PROJECT MANAGER, PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER, SOCIAL MEDIA COMMUNITY MANAGER

WHAT:  COMPANY/CAUSE I BELIEVE IN, DEVELOP & IMPLEMENT STRATEGIC PLANS, RAISE AWARENESS, RAISE FUNDS, DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC, USE MEDIA BACKGROUND TO ADVISE, EVALUATE EFFECTIVENESS OF PLANS, ACT AS A SPOKESPERSON, PARTICIPATE AND REPRESENT ORGANIZATION  AT SPECIAL EVENTS, NO SALES!! NO MORE MONTHLY TRAVEL EVER!!!

WHERE: AN HOUR OR LESS COMMUTE FROM HOME

HOW: A MULTI-CULTURAL OFFICE WITH ALL AGE GROUPS/ETHNICITIES/SOCIO-ECONOMIC LEVELS, LED BY SOMEONE WHOSE VALUES I ADMIRE AND ARE REFLECTED THROUGHOUT THE ORGANIZATION, A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE ARE CONNECTED

OK, that won;t be me, but you get the idea!

WHY: TO FIND THE CAREER THAT I CAN GROW OLD WITH AND RETIRE FROM  

Having spent my 20’s and early 30’s with the #1 criteria being “How much money will I make?" quickly followed by #2 "How much time will it leave for me to be a Mommy?"  This list was different. It was about a career that I believed would speak to my soul. I wrote it and tucked it away but obviously it was still top of mind because it perfectly describes my work place. It's my yellow brick road, the road to my standard of success and happiness. I do not know the final destination yet but I don't have to.  I have started down the road!

So that is a recap of my first month as a URM Donor Development Representative. This week I will start setting appointments to meet my assigned donors; the wonderful people who support URM. Some have just made their first donation and others have been faithful supporters for 20 years or more. I cannot wait to hear their stories and to learn why this organization is important to them. I will be sure to let you know what I discover. Please check back often or subscribe by entering your email address in the "Follow by email" box. 

If you would like a personal tour of URM or Hope Gardens please contact me personally at (213) 316-2752 / dhicks@urm.org. If you'd like to donate please do the same or to donate anonymously: http://urm.convio.net/site/PageNavigator/signup.html

Love and Light, Dawn