I'm very pleased to announce that Miriam has finally moved her blog out of the depths of MySpace and onto a real blogging platform. Now all of us adults can read it, too.

I am such a bitch about MySpace, but really, it's the devil's tool. You should stop using it. Right now.

Since she added me to her blogroll, I plan to reciprocate. But this also opens another can of worms that I've known for some time needed opening: I need to seriously update my main site. The services offered on my website no longer coincide with the range of services I provide to Tucson's non-profit and political communities.

To wit: I've made sort of a cottage industry out of interim development work. I'm currently Interim Development Director for Wingspan, southern Arizona's LGBT community center. It seems to be where there's the most need among Tucson non-profits right now, and I'll gladly do the work.

So keep your eyes peeled for an upgrade to m²powered.com over the next couple of months. And since my contract with Wingspan ends on July 31, please also keep your eyes peeled for new opportunities for me to support the non-profit sector.

Labels: career, jobs, Miriam, social networking, Wingspan

My resume was due for an update, and I've done it. Use the link at right to view it. Bowing to Hillary's and apparently Miriam's concerns, I took out my home address from the online version.

Labels: career, jobs, personal

I don't really have enough on any single topic to justify posting, so here are a few droppings on an assortment of things. Now with linky-goodness in almost every bite!

I'm edging closer to making reservations for my birthday trip to NYC, I just want to make sure I can afford it. You only turn thirty once, right? Unless you're my mother, in which case you just keep turning 29 year after year.

Speaking of Phyllis: her latest quip that made me uneasy, from a couple of weeks ago. When they were back east, they decided that instead of getting buried in caskets when they die, they will be cremated (to save us kids the money and trouble, of course). As mom put it, they're going to get "crispy-fried". She kept repeating "crispy-fried crispy-fried crispy-fried" with almost a southern twinge, like she was trying to channel the Colonel.

It will be public knowledge soon enough, so I think it's safe to leak it on the ole blog first: I've been named Outstanding Advocate of the Year by the Men's Anti-Violence Partnership of Southern Arizona. I'll receive my award along with five other honorees at the MAP Gala on November 18 at the Westin La Paloma. I'm deeply honored to be among such an amazing group.

Yes, Wingspan's Executive Director resigned after less than a month on the job. No, it's not the end of the world. Wingspan was around before Kent Burbank and Joseph Bodenmiller, and it will be around after them. The strength of the organization lies not in its figurehead, but in the community that has built and sustained it over the last 20 years. The sky is not falling. This too will pass. Chill.

Speaking of Wingspan, the Annual Benefit Dinner is September 29. Have you bought your ticket yet? I hear they've sold out.

I really love being a consultant. No, really. If I can figure out how to do this and continue making a good living, I'm totally doing it. Health insurance be damned!

Patreus or Betray Us? The Republicans are just grumpy because MoveOn came up with a pithy rhyme and Republicans hate whimsy as much as Germans love David Hasselhoff.

I bought my Avenue Q ticket! Yay! And I bought it as part of the LGBT&S Alliance Fund benefit, so it's going to a good cause. The internet is really really great...

I have a new favorite TV show. Mad Men on AMC. I love anything mid-century Americana, but this has an edge of realism that I particularly admire. Television Without Pity has it on their recap roster.

I also recommend Moliere, which is playing at the Loft. In case you don't know, Moliere is often referred to as the French Shakespeare. Which I'm sure the French love.

And finally, my yoga practice was thrown off by being out of town last weekend and by meetings in the evenings throughout this week. In the last 7 days, I only made it to yoga class twice. Saturday's 3-hour yoga practice has been canceled due to a major event at the studio. I hope not all of the classes are canceled, or I may be one very grumpy yogi when Monday rolls back around.

Labels: birthday, career, jobs, MAP, mom, musicals, New York, personal, Republicans, television, theatre, Wingspan, yoga

That's the headline of today's Yoga Journal Newsletter Daily Insight that I get delivered to my e-mail inbox every morning.

It's a mantra that I've taken to heart.

The e-mail includes this pearl of wisdom:

"A dry spell can be connected with stress at work, emotional issues, or relationship difficulties—wherever your energy is tied up. My best advice: Don't get caught in negative self-talk."

Recognizing my own negative self-talk and stopping it in its tracks is the very thing that has sustained me through what could be a very difficult time. Can you imagine where I'd be or what I'd be doing if I hadn't taken up yoga?

Yes, I realize that "get over it" is not good advice in all situations. My point is that not everything bad that happens means the world has to come crashing down. Your joy is your sorrow unmasked, remember?

Instead, I trusted that the universe would provide, and it has. I started this week in an interim Development Director position for a local DV agency. The pay is excellent, the time is flexible and it's a great resume builder.

And now I have the freedom to explore and pursue any career opportunities that come along.

And I get to continue my yoga practice.

Labels: career, jobs, personal, yoga

We're still working out some of the minor details, but it looks like I will start next week as the interim Development Director at The Brewster Center, one of Tucson's two largest domestic violence organizations. My hourly rate will be roughly the same as that which I made at Planned Parenthood. I'll be working up to 35 hours a week, and I can do as much of that as I need to do from home.

I'm telling you, getting laid off has been the best thing to happen to me in a long time!

I'm a little cautious about going to work for another anti-violence organization (did I ever really leave the field?!), knowing the strain that vicarious trauma can have. That said, I'll be in a mostly administrative role with no direct service and I have my yoga practice to keep me centered and stress-free.

And don't forget, Grease sing-along tomorrow night at The Loft!

All things considered, this weekend is getting off to a pretty good start.

Labels: career, jobs, musicals, personal, yoga

My former assistant sent this to me. It's the most perfect musical number ever!


In other Jew news, I didn't get the JCC job, but I'm pretty OK with it. I have a meeting in the morning to discuss one of several new and very sudden opportunities at The Brewster Center with their interim ED. When one door closes, another door leads to singing puppet Jews. Or something like that.

Labels: career, INAPPROPRIATE, jobs, musicals, personal

I have a final (I think) interview scheduled with the Tucson JCC on Thursday late afternoon.

I'm told my references said glowing things about me (I've thanked them already) and that the JCC's major concern about me right now is whether or not I'd be happy in an apolitical, non-advocacy job.

I think it would be a nice break, and I can still engage in plenty of advocacy, politicking and campaigning in my volunteer and community service work.

So it looks like my job search is moving along nicely (I haven't heard anything further from the Women's Commission, so I'm thinking I may be out of the running, which is definitely their loss).

I kept telling you all that I'm not concerned and it looks like I was right. To paraphrase Joseph Campbell, the universe opens doors where there once were walls.

Labels: career, jobs, personal

I met with three more people from the JCC today in the latest phase of their hiring process. I think it went well. I guess I'll find out soon enough!

Labels: career, jobs, personal

My interview at the JCC went well last week. So well in fact that they just invited me back to meet individually with the CEO, CFO, and Development Director this Wednesday.

This is an added intermediate step in the process that was described to me last week. At that point, I was told that last week's interview was an initial screening interview and then there would be a search committee formed that would meet with a narrowed-down list of candidates.

I'm a little grumpy about the additional step. This is like the very first professional job I interviewed for, education director at a rape crisis center. They kept adding more steps for me than for any other candidates. Apparently I was the only man to apply and the board was uncomfortable with a man as a full time staff person (this was a pretty old-school, second-wave board at the time).

I finally said no to all the additional hoops they made me jump through. I was taken out of consideration at that point, but ended up working at the same organization in a different capacity nine months later. I'm not at a point yet where I'm even considering not jumping through hoops for the JCC, so fear not.

The woman who interviewed me last week also apparently called one of my references, which was an odd thing to do after a screening interview. I can't tell if they really like me or if they're really nervous about me.

Anyway, the search is moving along pretty well but please continue to pass leads along to me.

If worse comes to worst, I could always enroll in the yoga teacher training program...

Labels: career, jobs, personal, yoga

I was invited to submit a bid today to do some contract grant-writing work for an organization with which I'm quite familiar. It's not so hard to guess which one, but I'll leave an air of mystery for right now.

I also was hired for an hour this morning to take pictures at the Tucson Birthday Month kickoff event.

I have to say I really appreciate folks throwing me odd jobs now. It almost makes me think that I could, perhaps someday, afford to really make this business a full-time (or really part-time but paying full-time) gig.

I also just signed a new lease this afternoon at my current place of residence, so I won't be thinking about moving again for another 7 months. So much for that idea, but I did need to cut costs, and this will save me $135 a month compared with the month-to-month rate I had been paying.

All things considered, I'm actually enjoying my unemployment so far. I give it another week or so before I'm totally bored out of my mind. Of course, by then I expect to have found a new full-time job. Yes, it's hubris, but I tend to aim for the stars!

Labels: career, jobs, personal

I registered today for unemployment and will start collecting for this week next week.

I also set up an initial interview for the Communications Director position at the Tucson JCC for this Thursday.

Onward!

Labels: career, jobs, personal

One of the great things about my yoga practice is that the teachers use passages from sacred or inspirational texts to start or select a theme for each class. One of my favorites is from Khalil Gibran's "The Prophet"; it's been extremely helpful in putting my impending unemployment in perspective:

Then a woman said, "Speak to us of Joy and Sorrow."

And he answered:

Your joy is your sorrow unmasked.

And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears.

And how else can it be?

The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain.

Is not the cup that hold your wine the very cup that was burned in the potter's oven?

And is not the lute that soothes your spirit, the very wood that was hollowed with knives?

When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy.

When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.

Some of you say, "Joy is greater than sorrow," and others say, "Nay, sorrow is the greater."

But I say unto you, they are inseparable.

Together they come, and when one sits alone with you at your board, remember that the other is asleep upon your bed.

Verily you are suspended like scales between your sorrow and your joy.

Only when you are empty are you at standstill and balanced.

When the treasure-keeper lifts you to weigh his gold and his silver, needs must your joy or your sorrow rise or fall.

I may periodically post other pearls of wisdom as the mood strikes me. I hope you will find this wisdom as useful and fulfilling as I have.

Labels: career, jobs, journey, joy, Khalil Gibran, personal, sorrow, wisdom

There was a last minute change and my four week interim job has turned into a four day interim job. It's better than nothing, and now I'll still be motivated to find the permanent big thing as soon as possible. I trust the universe will provide.

Labels: career, jobs, personal

I was informed today that a decision has been made, given the unusual circumstances, to pay out for both unused vacation time AND unused sick time. Usually an organization only pays out for unused vacation time while unused sick time is forfeited.

I have used no time off during my brief tenure. This is very helpful and sets my heart more at ease.

Labels: career, jobs, personal

Wingspan's Office Coordinator is going to be gone for about a month. I have a meeting on Thursday to discuss the possibility of me filling in during that time as I continue my search for a permanent and suitable position.

More to come...

Labels: career, jobs, personal

Since a lot of you have been asking what opportunities I'm pursuing, I thought it would be more efficient to post the positions for which I've applied so far. If you know anybody connected to the hiring process for any of these positions, feel free to put in a good word for me.

• Executive Director, Pima County/Tucson Women's Commission - first interview on Friday, July 27
  
• Director of LGBTQ Affairs, University of Arizona
  
• University News Manager, University of Arizona
  
• Radio Announcer (part time), University of Arizona (it sounds like fun!)
  
• Marketing Director - Tucson, Arizona Theatre Company
  
• Director of Communications, Tucson JCC
  

I'm of course open to other opportunities, so please keep directing them my way. The ones for which I've applied above should give you some idea of what I'm looking for. Thanks!

Labels: career, jobs, personal

I posted my updated resume to the site; there's a link on every page of m2powered.com. Please refer any prospective employers here.

I'm also going to update the writing samples page to include my guest opinion on pay equity from a couple of weeks ago. That link also appears on every page of this site.

Labels: career, change, equality, jobs, personal

We're both lame duck Vice Presidents.

Of course, I'm the not-batshit-bloodthirsty-insane one.

Due to the merger of the two Planned Parenthood affiliates in Arizona, my position has been eliminated and the new position for which I interviewed has been given to someone else.

I'm actually doing just fine and am looking at this as a great opportunity to find a new and even better path. I respect the decision and the decision-makers, and I trust that the universe will give me everything I need.

Here's the text of the e-mail I sent to friends and colleagues this afternoon after I was given the news:

Dear friends,

As many of you know, my job has been in a state of limbo for a couple of months now as both Planned Parenthood affiliates in Arizona proceed with merging. I was told today that I will not be continuing with Planned Parenthood in any capacity moving forward. I have at least two weeks left here, though I've asked to remain employed for a little longer as I find my next opportunity.

I certainly appreciate all your well wishes and kind thoughts over the past few months as I've lived with the ambiguity. I'm actually doing well with the staffing decisions that were made and I'm optimistic about what the future will hold for me. There is severance, which should carry me through for about a month or so as I peer into the future. Layoffs happen to thousands of people every day, and it's certainly not the end of the world. I choose to look at this as a sign that I'm not doing what I should be doing and as an opportunity for me to find my next big thing.

That said, I'm appealing to you for help during this transition, particularly by way of feeding me any job postings that may be appropriate. I'll attach my resume to this e-mail to provide you with a more complete view of my professional and volunteer experience.

As you also know, I operate a small consulting practice and specialize in helping non-profit organizations and leaders communicate more effectively. My rates are highly competitive, so if you, you organization, or someone you know is looking for graphic design, speaker coaching, young leadership development, or sexuality/gender or disability awareness trainings, please visit my website (www.m2powered.com) for more information.

Working for Planned Parenthood has been a wonderful experience for me, and moving here from the Center Against Sexual Assault was absolutely the right decision for me at the right time. I wouldn't change that decision, even if I had known then what I know now. If you've been a supporter of Planned Parenthood in the past, I hope you will continue that support in the future, and if you haven't been a supporter, I hope you'll consider supporting the organization now, regardless of their decision about my position. There are far too few local organizations willing to stand up and take risks for progressive causes, or that give young people true positions of leadership within the organizational structure.

Thanks so much for your ongoing love and support. I feel truly blessed to count you as my friends.

Take care,
~ M

Please leave job leads for me in the comments of this post or e-mail them to me at michael -at- m2powered -dot- com. My preference would be something in the non-profit sector with supervisory responsibilities and in a senior leadership role.

Namaste.

Labels: career, challenge, endurance, friendship, hope, jobs, journey, opening to grace, personal, self-care, strength, success

I am officially the new Vice President of External Affairs at Planned Parenthood of Southern Arizona, effective December 19.

I will be responsible for and have oversight of the agency's marketing, communications, media advocacy, public policy agenda, and education program.

So go me.

Labels: career, hope, jobs, personal

I have been offered the position of Vice President of External Affairs at Planned Parenthood of Southern Arizona. I plan to accept the position. After four years at the Southern Arizona Center Against Sexual Assault and about six years overall in the anti-rape field, it's time for me to move on. Needless to say, this is an opportunity for me ripe with possibilities. Thanks to all my readers who were references and moral supporters.

And if you're not too busy on Friday night and want to help me celebrate, some of us will be gathering at the B Line on Fourth Avenue in Tucson around 5:30-6:00 PM.

Labels: career, hope, jobs, personal

I expect to have a major personal announcement to make on Monday or Tuesday of next week. Some of my more loyal readers already know what it probably is. I'm not keeping it a secret, and as sure a thing as it is at this point, nothing has been set in stone yet. So stay tuned...

Labels: career, hope, jobs, personal