How did it get to be the
end of another week? Sometimes I am alarmed at how quickly the weeks
seem to fly by. In two months I will be 67 I don't know why but this
terrifies me. Today is also the first day of December. Today is the
Assist, Inc. Annual holiday open house, This is the organization on
which I serve on the citizens advisory committee/board. This of
course is a volunteer board one that I like being part of. I used to
really enjoy the annual open house. I was always impressed with their
outlay of alcohol and food. People went to this function and seemed
genuinely happy. There were a lot of city and county officials mostly
from the housing sector and some from the governmental finance sector
as well. I talk about transportation a lot but I talk about my
career with independent living/state but I was also heavily involved
in housing. Part of my position of the developing in the house inside
bus to work with consumers with disabilities assist them find
affordable and accessible housing the oversight at position was to
work with state County and city officials (statewide ) To bring about
more affordable and accessible housing. So these are my people,
housing people. I worked with the Executive Director of this
organization quite a bit over the years Roger,as well as their
housing engineer DavidI guess I was closer to David then to Roger.
In the past, when I was
employed, I attended these open houses as part of my job. Identified
my time as community involvement in the cultivation strong housing
resources for people with disabilities. Roger retired last year and
this is the first open house with the new director – – Jason. I
must say the open houses are not quite the same. As Jason begins to
put his imprint on the agency or organization it becomes somewhat
easy to judge his direction against Rogers. All architects, don't
seem to be one of the mandates are qualifiers for the director of
Assist. Jason was much younger than Roger and Jason is also the local
culture and Roger was not. I believe there's a local culture was to
put a descriptor on Roger that would be that he was of the world and
that would be true. Rogers well-traveled and spends a lot of time in
Europe on vacations. Roger had a certain level of sophistication.
Jason is young even though it's been an architect for some time he
still comes off as young. As a Mormon Jason definitely fits in with a
large portion of the local population. Jason is wholesome and it
shows pink cheeks and is always is happy. You can help but like
Jason. He's fresh, he has ideas which are quite unique.
I spent a couple hours
this morning with my friend Lori before she went to work then
returned to my apartment and washed clothes and waited for the time I
needed to catch the bus and train into town. I make good time and
good connections. I'd like to have been to Assist earlier But had to
dry my load twice. When I got to the office there some kind of
presentation going on. Different members of the staff were giving
presentations are no idea how long these presentations have been
going on. It will offer about 10 minutes after I arrived may have
been longer. Jason finally ended the presentation by showing two
checks one check made out for $250 But would only be signed if enough
donations were given by those present to reach a certain number I
think which was $250. A small church like building had opened doors
and Jason challenged folks to donate to the local church to see if
assessed can earn the extra $250. This is an old public radio
fundraiser tactic. It just seemed tacky to me especially in light of
previous open houses from Christmases past. Quite frankly I was a bit
embarrassed for my friend David and Assist Incorporated. It's the
last private nonprofit I would've thought would use such tactics to
raise money. I should not be so harsh on Jason – – It had to be
Jason's idea, Jason is the only new variable in the equation.
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