Wish me luck. I've been offered an excellent part time position helping create and basically run

[IrishAyes]

a newsletter for a growing non-profit HQ'd back East. Well, it's more important to wish us all luck since the organization's dedicated to helping the poorest of the poor on a number of fronts. I've been out of harness so long I don't really want the pressure that goes with a paid position anyway; and since I certainly support their cause, I said just fold back in what they would've paid me otherwise. That way they're spared an extra employee, more applicants can be helped, and I feel less pressure too. It's only part time. I couldn't handle full time. But since all my working expenses will be met, equipment etc., I'll feel well rewarded. No ownership will be in my name, either legally or in effect. I'll just devote a few hours a week from my home in flyover country doing very pleasant tasks. They'd be legally entitled to return of equipment if things go south, but I don't believe that will happen. And they wouldn't make me anyway. They're in expansion mode, so everyone please wish us well.

I have no intention of talking about my new project here where I retired, either. None of their business. Too many people have not been nice enough to know my business. And I don't need to brag.

[bigwillq]

1. Good Luck!

[classof56]

2. I second that!

And cheers, Irish Ayes!

[IrishAyes]

3. Thank you both for your support. I need it.

I'm the sort of person that no matter what a person asks about, I usually say "I can do that." Train a horse or dog? "I can do that." Write or act in a play? "I can do that." Jump off a 100' cliff onto an air mattress? "I can do that." Truth to tell, it doesn't always work out quite the way desired. So it might be my ego that finally does me in. My older brothers took full advantage of that, although I'll admit they never expected me to do anything they wouldn't.

But how hard could it be to call up 3 or 4 people a month, ask them a few friendly general questions about their life and inspirations, and thank them for participating whether as donor or recipient, dropping a little hint along the way to spread the word. I'm not smart enough to suffer stage fright. On stage I always figured those people in the audience wouldn't have shelled out $ if they didn't think we were worth it.

1) Identify self and ask if the person has a few minutes to spare or would another time work better for them?

2) Express sincere gratitude for their time and participation.

3) Find out if they want to be identified by name, general location, and profession or not.

3) Ask for any little (not too) personal story about what inspired them.

4) Find out if they want to send a picture to go with their story.

5) Thank them for their time and participation, and ask them to help us spread the word.

6) Shut up and hang up.

7) Write down what they said.

Easy peasy, right? I'm open to suggestions for additional questions.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. My dear IrishAyes!

Congrats!

And best of luck, though I doubt you'll need any of that!

The non-profit is lucky to have you. I think you sound like a very good fit.

[IrishAyes]

5. Thank you. I'm grateful not to have to handle money either before or after the fact, since

I hate sales and bookkeeping. Although I'll be an executive of sorts, no board meetings to attend or get in arguments about. My friend doesn't consider himself half as good a writer, so he'll probably give me plenty of leeway in my own corner. I already think of it as Reader's Digest Lite. Told him I needed a template because I don't design web pages. As top dog, he'll be the one to choose which people get featured. My part looks as easy as rolling off a table. Interviewees don't even have to be scared up or vetted. That's above my pay grade! So it looks as if I have the fun part. I was checking out the phone online that he's sending me, and apparently I can stream stuff to the big tv w/o extra attachments.