TheBanyanTree: Consortium Girls gone Wild!

[Sharon Mack]

Had a good chuckle over this...being equally as "jaded" with a dose of
cynicism added in.  

After raising 3 husbands, 2 sons, and numerous boyfriends (live-in and
otherwise), I'd had enough, and made a conscious decision to live alone.
I've never ever regretted it, not once in 13 years.  I am sure I am the odd
(wo)man out, though. Not everyone is made that way and so the beat goes on,
and well it should, I suppose.  I just don't want to be a part of it
anymore.  I'd rather write a book or a poem...or read one!  Ha ha!

P.S.  I kept the sons.

Sharon

-----Original Message-----
From: thebanyantree-bounces at lists.remsset.com
[mailto:thebanyantree-bounces at lists.remsset.com] On Behalf Of Bonnie Brace
Sent: Friday, August 29, 2008 4:55 PM
To: TheBanyanTree at remsset.com
Subject: TheBanyanTree: Consortium Girls gone Wild!

I attend a Consortium meeting each month that my organization is a part of.
This month, a few days ago, the agency Execs met to discuss the result of
the grant allocations from the city where I live and work. Just as we
suspected our funding was cut again this year. All ten of us shook our heads
and wondered "what's next?"  We weren't even level funded. (For those of you
who aren't into grants this just means that what you received last year you
get the same this year.) The question remains then, How do we split the
money up in a fair and decent manner? 

Imagine 10 intelligent, professional, women who run non-profit agencies.Some
are multi million dollar agencies, while others are small organizations,
such as the one I run, discussing how to divide up this money. Here we are
working together concentrating getting the job done coming to an agreement.
Not liking it but facing the reality of the situation. It's done! we are all
going to take equal cuts straight down the line. 33.3% from what we received
last year. ouch, but hey, we managed to figure it out in a relatively
reasonable time.All the while the wheels are turning over in our heads on
how we are going to have to make up for the lack of funding. What services
are we going to cut back, or is there a layoff coming, etc. It's a never
ending cycle for non-profits, especially those who have an already small
budget to begin with.

On to the next order of business. We go around the room and give a brief
synopsis about what is going on with our agencies/organizations. In the 5
years I have been  part of this Consortium I have seen Executive Directors
(ED) come and go. They leave for new positions, move, or retire. On this
particular day one of our ED is leaving in order to go back "home". Leave
New England to go back to CA. Why would anyone ever want to move to CA is
beyond me! But we all say our obligatory "best of luck to you", "we will
miss you" etc and continue around the table until finally we get to the last
ED. 

 Now please note that I'm in a room of PROFESSIONAL WOMEN. These are women
are leaders in the community. (frankly half the time I have no clue as to
how I got in this group.) The last ED finishes her brief synopsis of what is
happening in her agency and then does an "OH, and I'm engaged, I'm getting
married in February." Where upon she holds out her left had to show off the
shiny new rock on her ring finger. 

To describe to you what happened next, I still shake my head in amazement
when I think about. I sat back in my chair and watched in amazement as 9
women, who up until a few moments before were all business and professional
suddenly went "GIRLIE"! That's right, I said  GIRLIE! They got all drippy,
gooey and gushy over the ring and the engagement/wedding. And had her tell
all about how he proposed. They sighed, (can you BELIEVE IT! ) they actually
sighed and put their hands on their chins and  said how romantic!  I thought
I'd been transported into some sort of  awful teenage movie and was waiting
for someone to start singing about "Can't help Loving that Guy of Mine or
"How I love him"  while jumping on the conference table to dance. I could
just picture all these ED's dancing on the table singing ...Yes, I have a
very vivid imagination and a warped sense of humor (rolling my eyes here,
and yes I'm jaded too). Trust me when I say it was a good thing I was at the
back of the room and no one was paying attention to me. I had to put my
hands in front of my mouth to stifle the laughter that was trying to burst
forth from my lips. I watched with amusement as  these wonderful women, whom
I respect tremendously, put aside their professional personas for just a few
moments, and indulged in a bit of feminine aka "GIRLIE" camaraderie. 

As for me, I'm jaded and while I congratulated the bride, inside, my brain
was screaming "NO, Don't do it! Just live with the Dude. Think of all the
money you will save, especially if it doesn't last." ( See what 26 years and
a divorce does to you?) Like I said, I'm jaded, especially when it comes to
marriage. But hey, watching a bunch of professional women get all GIRLIE,
NOW THAT was fun! I wonder if next month will be just as fun? Guess we will
see.


<>>>>>>>>>>>>>----------Bonnie