Thursday, August 27, 2009

Quote of the Day

"Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does."
~ William James


(which is why this whole nonprofit thing really works for me....!)

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Quote of the Day

"Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old."
~ Franz Kafka

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Slouch

After my sophomore year of college, my first summer internship was at a Capitol Hill newspaper, where I was told to expect an "August Slump". As a fledgling reporter who spent a reasonable amount of her time chasing after members of Congress, asking substantive questions such as "Senator, what's on your summer reading list?", this meant that there would be no one around on the Hill of whom I could ask such deep questions. So, August was spent helping around the newsroom in other ways - which mostly consisted of answering phones and going through old clips for one reporter or another.

Fast forward to the internship I had one year after college, at my first public health non-profit. I was warned once again of this magical quiet time in August; but this time, as my duties were not related to Congress, my work load was more effected by coworkers vacations, rather than an absence of lawmakers. This internship became a full-time job, but when I experienced a lapse in my workload the following August, it turned out to be because I was being "phased out".

Oh well, I moved on! My next two positions were completely, totally and utterly disconnected from the comings and goings of the Hill - in fact, August was probably the busiest time for me in both of these jobs - yet I was still warned by supervisors and colleagues alike of this mythical August slump.

This will be my third summer at my current employer. Not once has anyone mentioned the slump of August. When I've asked my colleagues in the advocacy and outreach department about this so-called quiet period, they have looked at me as though I'm out of my mind. (More so than usual, okay.) My own work load ebbs and flows all year round.....

[Wed. AM]
... I had to stop working on this post yesterday because I was handed a large assignment out of the blue. And the point I was slowly making my way towards was that this may be the first summer that I've had a quiet August. Guess I was wrong. Carry on!

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Quote of the Day

"Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none."
~ William Shakespeare

Friday, August 7, 2009

Only At My Office....

A group of us were watching the webcast from the Dept. of Health and Human Services about the plans for health care reform. A few comments were made about the Secretary's beautiful choice of suit and choice in shoes (by me); there were some jokes about the strange lighting on one of the speakers; and repeated observations were made about another speakers failure to answer questions directly.

Some side conversations were held between members of the advocacy team and those of us who are less educated in some areas of Health Care Reform.

Then the Assistant Secretary said that the American health care system should be changed to one of "sick care" to one of prevention, which includes community health education. And that particular areas of concern included tobacco cessation and asthma education.

At that point, my coworkers and I were cheering at the TV, giving each other high-fives, and clapping. He'd just listed most of what our office is all about.

Nothing like health care dorks who love their jobs!

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Quote of the Day

“There are two things to aim at in life; first to get what you want, and after that to enjoy it.”

~ Logan Pearsall Smith