Hands On Atlanta

I know you're all dying to hear about Joe's wedding this weekend (a teaser: his mom told me, at the rehearsal, in front of people who may or may not have heard her: I wish he would have married you instead)...but I don't have the energy for that kind of recap right now.

But I do want to pass along some prayer points!

I sent out an email yesterday to my Chrysalis peeps (the spiritual retreat I'm in charge of in NINE weeks! wow!) asking for prayer: we only have one confirmed participant when we need 12 and I haven't been able to notify and fully form my team of about 50 volunteers yet. We just need prayers that the Lord will provide, as He has been since I've been involved in this since 1997, and that things will come together in a supernatural way.

And here's my other prayer point: I had an epiphany Sunday night. I heard a sermon on Luke 16:19-31--The Rich Man and Lazarus.

Lazarus is this poor man that is kept out of the Rich Man's property by a gate. The Rich Man knew his name (no relation to the Lazarus that was raised from the dead), yet did nothing to help him. The sermon was about what kind of gates we have in our lives, the gates of prejudice and the gates that prevent us from helping others. Enjoy this video of the song I sang in high school (this is by the Asbury College men's glee club) about Poor Man Lazarus. I love the fullness of the parable because Lazarus goes straight to heaven and the Rich Man goes straight to hell and their roles are then reversed--Rich Man is begging for some water and Lazarus is in the position to help.





Anyway, I really had this overwhelming feeling not only during the sermon, but when my pastor was discussing this week's mission opportunities and I can't make it to any of them because I'm always working. Is the work I'm doing making a difference? Sure, I love TJ's...but is that really the most I can do with my love-people spirit? My ache to help people to have a better life?

So first thing Monday morning I got online and went to my favorite non-profit job searching site (opportunityknocks.org) and put in my parameters and this job showed up:

Associate Director of Recruitment & Marketing

Join Hands On Atlanta, one of Atlanta’s most highly respected and recognized nonprofit organizations. As a member of Hands On Atlanta’s Communications Department you will play a vital role in strengthening our community; bringing Atlantans together to address our city’s most critical issues.

The Associate Director of Recruitment & Marketing is responsible for managing the organization’s volunteer recruitment, recognition and retention initiatives.

Responsibilities
Recruitment: The goal includes recruiting 9,500 new members. The Associate Director of Recruitment & Marketing is responsible for creating long-term recruitment strategies and introducing innovative best practices into the organization’s recruitment and marketing initiatives.

Management: The Associate Director of Recruitment & Marketing is responsible for managing a team of staff members and interns who lead community outreach and recruitment, school-based recruitment for the Reading Adds Up program, National Service Recruitment (School-Based AmeriCorps, Community Action AmeriCorps, and VISTA), and volunteer relations, recognition and placement initiatives.

New Member Orientations: The Associate Director of Recruitment & Marketing is responsible for organizing all the new member orientations. Responsibilities include scheduling and managing all on- and off-site orientations, training staff and volunteers who participate in the orientation corps, and developing content and materials for orientation sessions.

Community Partnerships: The Associate Director of Recruitment & Marketing is responsible for developing long-term partnerships and recruitment plans with community organizations – collegiate, civic, faith-based groups, etc. Recruitment plan should also include strategies to increase participation from diverse populations, including ethnically and racially diverse groups, people with disabilities, seniors, families and youth.

Agency Special Events and Initiatives: The Associate Director of Recruitment & Marketing is involved in the development of all recruitment strategies for the organization’s special events and initiatives. This includes leading the organization to recruit volunteers for all major annual events such as 15,000+ volunteers for the annual Hands On Atlanta Day and 2000+ participants in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Service Summit.

Technology: The ability to manipulate computer software, especially database software and reporting functions in order to manage the organization’s volunteer database, accounts and project information.

Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree
At least 4 – 5 years demonstrated experience in nonprofit or corporate recruitment
A proven track record demonstrating excellent volunteer management, communication skills- both written and verbal and time management skills
Excellent computer skills- proficient with Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel and Access is necessary.
A commitment to community service is necessary

Now, I don't fit every single qualification (I don't have 4-5 years of demonstrated experience in nonprofit or corporate recruitment)--but I do have an unmatchable passion for life, and if I do say so myself, an infectious spirit (now whether that's a malignant infection is up to you to decide). I brushed off my resume yesterday.

And I wrote this cover letter:

I’ve recently had an epiphany.

I’ve always felt the driving force from inside of me telling me that I just need to help people. I’m the kind of person that wants to make sure people are happy and that I can always find ways to make them laugh and feel appreciated. My current employment, the “day job”, is just a job I got right out of college. Sure, I get to interact with our clients that have accounts nationally, but at the end of the day, I work for the publishing company that publishes the Apartment Guide. We’re a free publication that is displayed at movie rental places and grocery stores. I admittedly now know more about tray ceilings, Jacuzzis®, lighted tennis courts and state-of-the-art fitness centers than I ever thought possible. I now know where Inland Empire and the Tidewater region are, all thanks to the Apartment Guide. But is my job of coordinating national accounts and advertising campaigns really making a difference? I realize that personal comportment and day-to-day interaction are a large part of making an imprint and living a legacy, but I want to take pride in knowing that I’m a small part of a whole that is making a difference, especially in the city in which I’ve grown up.

My “night job” just started out as a simple part-time job just to pass away some idle weekend time and have a little spending money. But my year and a half at Trader Joe’s has been life changing! I’ve learned a lot about myself and about where my strengths lie. I love the company and really admire their business practices, one of my favorites being that their number one corporate core value is integrity. It’s nice to be surrounded by people that believe in the work they do, believe in the product their selling, and they always “do the right thing.” This work environment is refreshing in a world of corporate step-or-be-stepped-upon ladder climbing. I never knew that selling groceries could be so fun and something I could so closely identify with. Trader Joe’s prides itself on being a part of the community, so I’ve really enjoyed going to local fairs, high school marching band competitions, and teacher appreciation days bearing donations. Lately, however, I’ve found myself wondering if selling groceries is really where I’m supposed to be. Sure, I do a good job there and am well-liked, but am I making the biggest impact possible by suggesting the sweet basil pesto chicken sausage goes really well in a cold pasta salad? I don’t know.

Here is where my epiphany lies and here is what I know: I am meant to help people. I love to talk to strangers, I laugh and smile with ease, and I take pride in knowing that my actions are improving the situations of those around me. I was sitting at church this past Sunday night and we were reading a story where a landowner kept a poor man outside of his property with a gate. The landowner knew the poor man’s name, yet refused to help him; he would just step over him to get onto his property. And I thought to myself, how many people am I stepping over instead of helping just because I’m too busy with my two jobs and social calendar? My church is in the heart of downtown Atlanta and service is the buzzword. Every Tuesday there is a meal prepared for Safe House or the Hospitality House. Every Saturday morning is Mission Morning where the members walk the streets with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches just talking to people and caring for immediate needs. I’m never able to help because I work so much and that saddens me. Community service has always what has brought my heart the most joy and now I’m too busy with my “adult” jobs to help others. That’s where the epiphany comes in: I need to be working somewhere where my mission-minded heart can join hands with employment that supplies me with a means to live.

I logged onto OpportunityKnocks.org Monday morning and immediately saw the Hands On Atlanta posting for the Associate Director of Recruitment and Marketing. I immediately knew of the organization because my youth group in high school participated in quite a few of your events (I’ve painted a few school lunchrooms in my day, that’s for sure!).

I told a friend of the posting and how I wanted to apply, and she sent me an article this morning out of the AJC that was describing summer law interns and how they’re working through Hands On Atlanta as a part of their firm-courting process (pardon the pun).

I don’t believe in coincidences, so here I am writing this letter. I think I have the passion for people and hospitality needed to work with volunteers. I believe in volunteer work. I believe people serving others, regardless of personal faith or background, is the foundation on which a purpose-filled life and a life that matters is built. I was taught early on that I’m no better than anyone and that if I am able, I am to help those that are less fortunate just to show them a smiling face and perhaps a hope in tomorrow.

I’ve lived in Atlanta my whole life and have a lot of friends. I have friend-connections in all kinds fields—from faith-based groups, to lawyers, to stay-at-home mothers, to collegiate coaches and athletes. I’m active in the local music scene as well and could get really excited if my friendships meant aid for Hands On Atlanta to help this city that we all love to thrive.

I know my way around a computer (both Mac and PC), I am highly organized in an office setting (just don’t look in my garage!), and I have the kind of personality that makes people want to be involved in whatever I am doing.

I appreciate your time. I realize this is longer than an average cover letter, but community service and just helping people in general is something I am quite passionate about. I look forward to hearing from you and hopefully joining up with Hands On Atlanta!

Sincerely,
Anna [L.]

So I just want your prayers that perhaps between us and God we'll figure out how to make my passions into my job.

We're destined for great things, friends!

Love you all!