A year ago I was complaining to my friend Anne Woodbury about the dreaded month of January. For this non-native Mainer, it is the cruelest month: there’s usually too little snow or the temperatures are too frigid to do much of anything outside. Ever the optimist, Anne told me that January was special because it was the month for reflection. Counting down the days until January 1, I take Anne’s comment to heart and offer a few reflections.
I have completed my first year as head of MaineCF. Much of what we set out to do was accomplished, a few things were not, and some things didn’t go as planned. After a frightfully sobering first few months, the year ended on a solid and positive note.
Here are a few things I learned along the way:
Teamwork makes the difference. The foundation’s success is largely the result of solid teamwork. A more vibrant communications program; an updated strategic plan; continued sound financial systems; enhanced donor services; grant programs that are responsive and flexible -- none of this would have happened without our staff working as one.
Board involvement is key. I sometimes think that our committee chairs and officers spend almost as much time on MaineCF business as staff. Their leadership and support, especially in the early months of my first year, made a significant difference.
Have fun. It would be easy to be burdened by the world’s challenges, but it’s much more rewarding to be hopeful about the future. Increasingly I focus on the positive, live in the moment, and try to have fun. Even in January.
May the New Year bring us renewed stability and security, and may the first month of 2010 be light, bright, and white.