Here goes......

Well, welcome one and all (or perhaps none?). This is my first foray into the Blogosphere and I'm hoping I'm neither too old to get it, nor too square to write it effectively......

To say we live in a challenging time would be the understatement of this young year. My job is to garner support in dollars, people, and other resources to help a large, rural, community hospital in Upstate NY go about the great work it does -- saving lives, preventing illness, protecting our beautiful part of the country by always being prepared for the next major disaster (while praying that it never comes). We do that by telling our story, building relationships, and asking people to join us -- join us as soldiers for good health by bestowing upon us a gift. Usually that gift is monetary, but as often as not it is a gift of time, or of expertise, or perhaps it's just the gift of a good word about what we do.

And, of course, these challenging times makes the acquisition of these gifts a most interesting process.

Over the course of the next few weeks I plan to tell you how we go about our work. Why it is so uplifting and astonishing to be an active and enthusiastic worker bee in the Third Sector, and to ask for your comments, suggestions, advice and criticism. I'll try to share what we do -- well -- in ways that peel back the humanity and emotional connection of gift giving, not so much by analyzing the technical aspects of campaigning, scheduling calls, or prospect research (and yes, all that stuff's important). Along the way I'll probably comment on why it is I've spent my entire working life doing what it is we do.

It's March 2, 2009 -- we have two pretty important projects underway -- one for a new health center in an under served part of our region, the other for a renewal of our surgical services program. We're a little bit behind, but enthusiastically (maybe even brashly) confident about the former, and have secured a large, soon-to-be-announced challenge grant for the latter. As always, my glass is half full.

Stay tuned, please. Chime in often. Let me know what makes you an artful asker.