From the other items on this page – an article about editor Mary Otto’s fellowship, and the advertisement for a new executive director – you probably figured out that there will be a lot of transition here at Street Sense over the next few months. And you may also be wondering what the heck is happening to the staff of the organization.
But have no fear, the board knew of Mary’s fellowship plans – and my long term plans – many months ago and took time to put together a thoughtful plan to ensure that when Mary returns in spring 2010, Street Sense will be a stronger organization well prepared for the future.
So here’s the plan. When Mary leaves in mid-August, I will fill her very large shoes as editor on a part-time basis. Consequently, I will give up my role as executive director, passing that onto a yet to be named individual. Hopefully the new executive director will start sometime in September. (During this brief month or so when neither Mary nor the new director is around, former intern Lisa Gillespie will be lending a hand on the editorial side.)
Then when Mary comes back in 2010, she will jump back into her fulltime editor role and I will leave the staff of Street Sense. Mary will join the new executive director and Gregory, our vendor manager, who will hopefully be fulltime by then.
And where will I go, you ask? Well, I am going to spend a few years being a fulltime mommy to my now 16-month-old son Isaac and – God willing – a little brother or sister. I hope to still volunteer at Street Sense and perhaps do a little freelancing.
Wow! Even though I am part of all this, I am still amazed how everything worked out for the best for everyone and especially for the organization. It’s a great opportunity to hire a new executive director and still have myself – one of the cofounders and the first executive director – around for eight months to help ease this person into all the quirks and traditions here at Street Sense. With all this time together, the transition should be seamless with no negative effects on operations. Also as Mary now leaves, she can be assured the editorial side of things is in good hands while she’s gone. And then when I leave in May 2010, I can be worry free knowing that Mary is back on board doing superstar editorial work for Street Sense.
So that’s the plan. We wanted to make things clear to our readers to make sure there was no confusion on your end. But if you do have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at [email protected].
I look forward to all that is to come in the next 10 months and I hope you do as well.
