VOAD meeting

I woke up early and went to the EMA office today. As soon as I walked in, we were out the door to the VOAD meeting (Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters) at the Public Health Department across from Bowers Park. There were about 50 people in the meeting all representing organizations in Tuscaloosa that unite during disasters and provide basic needs to the community 24/7.

The chairman of VOAD is the executive director of the American Red Cross in Tuscaloosa. He made a special point to stop by and chat with me before and after the meeting. He seems like such a nice man and I look forward to working with him. During the meeting, he suprised me by talking about the Americorps VISTA program and saying how proud he was of their newest recruit. Then he introduced me and he had me stand up and say a little about myself. Everyone applauded and congratulated me. It was so sweet!

Now I'm back at the EMA office watching the severe weather that will be coming in this afternoon. I have class at 2 but will be back here afterwards.

It will be interesting to see what the rest of this day has coming. Hopefully nothing too stressful lies ahead but I'm okay with that if there is!

BIG DAY!!!

I posted earlier that I would find out tomorrow about whether or not I got the job with the Red Cross...BUT they called this afternoon and offered me the position! I said yes! I'm so excited!

Tomorrow I go back to the Red Cross office and fill out the paperwork to finalize the commitment. It's a one-year commitment to serve 40 hours a week in addition to teaching classes, recruiting and training volunteers, and working with the armed forces. It will be a lot of hard work but I'm definitely not going to shy away from this great opportunity!

The position begins May 11th, only three days after I graduate. I will be attending an Americorp Conference in Atlanta, GA (not finalized yet if that's where it is) where they will give me an introductory look at what I will be doing for the year. All expenses paid! :D That's just too cool. Then when I get back from Atlanta, I will be running a "gauntlet" of training classes that will last approximately 2 weeks. At the end of the two weeks, I'll be attending a course on how to be a trainer!

This opportunity fell in my lap just six days ago. Now my life is going in a direction I did not expect and I'm definitely okay with that! God knows what He's doing!

Big Day!

Today I interviewed for the Americorps VISTA program with the West Alabama Chapter of the American Red Cross. I think the interview went well but I won't be finding out until tomorrow if I am chosen or not. Let's hope so!

If I am, I'll be staying in Tuscaloosa for another year. At the end of the year, I'll have a chance to renew my commitment to VISTA or go on to other things. If I am not chosen, then it's on to graduate school at Jacksonville State as originally planned.

Isn't it strange how one decision can take your life in two opposite directions?