My First Four Weeks at the ALS Association

Posted on July 9, 2010 by Kim Schmahl

The Columbus Foundation Summer Fellowship program has been a great experience from day one!  This summer I am working at the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Association Central & Southern Ohio Chapter where the staff and volunteers have welcomed me with open arms, even before I had my first day on the job.  The day before I started working at the office, I was invited to attend the ALS Awareness Day with the Cincinnati Reds.  The ALS Association rented out the party deck for over 100 people including patients and their friends and families and staff and the Reds recognized a patient and his family on the field before the game.  It was a great opportunity for me to meet some of the staff I will be working with, interact with patients and learn more about ALS – but in the fun casual setting of Great American Ball Park.  The game was a great start to the summer because I was really able to see how important the work that the ALS Association is to people living with ALS (PALS).

After my unofficial first day at the Reds Game, I was excited to get started with my internship.  My main project here at the ALS Association is to plan an educational symposium for PALS and their caregivers, along with healthcare professionals.  I will be involved in the entire process, from coordinating general event logistics to planning the specific content of the conference to marketing the event to both attendees and potential sponsors.  The great thing about this project is that I have the chance to work with not only the staff in the patient service department (the department I’m in), but all of the other functions in the organization, as well as people outside of the ALS Association, such as vendors, speakers, PALS and healthcare providers.

Before I started, the staff at ALSA had begun some preliminary planning, but once I got there the entire project was handed off to me.  So far I’ve kept myself busy communicating with speakers, determining an agenda for the conference, creating the event brochure, and mailing out letters to companies and businesses seeking sponsorships.  I’ve visited the McConnell Heart Health Center where the event will be held, met with the communications coordinator at ALSA to discuss marketing the event, and even secured my first vendor!

Since I’ve been here I’ve not only learned a lot about event planning (who knew so much work went into an event like this?!), but I’ve also learned a lot about ALS and the programs that the ALS Association offers.  These first four weeks have definitely been a learning experience and I’m excited to see what the rest of the summer has in store for me!

Kim – The ALS Association Central & Southern Ohio Chapter

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A Change Will Do You Good

Posted on July 7, 2010 by sarasblog10

The life of a graduate student can be described as follows: drink coffee, read absurdly long book, drink more coffee, attend class, sleep when possible; lather, rinse, repeat. Confined to quiet corners of the library and coffee houses for the past year I was in need of a change of pace to prevent inevitable burnout. The shift in seasons and the start of the summer fellowship has brought welcome opportunities to do precisely that.

Although grad school provides an ideal environment to learn and grow, it can easily result in what I like to call “bubble syndrome.” Put simply, academic tunnel vision takes over and it can be difficult to stay up to date with current news and events, locally and nationally. Although I make my best efforts to catch ten minutes of NPR on the radio while driving to class or browse CNN online over lunch I’ll admit I am rarely as “up to date” as I would like to be. As part of my fellowship this summer, I provide weekly media reports to my supervisor, meaning reading newspapers and online news sources is part of my job…I have no excuses now! Each week I track national, state and local news, paying keen attention to public policies that affect women. In fact, in a week I will be traveling to a Youth and Policy Organizing Summit in Washington D.C. to further expand my horizons. (Blog post to follow that trip for certain!) In general, I feel more connected to the people, places, and issues that impact both my personal and professional life. As a result of building my knowledge, I have developed an increased confidence in my ability to communicate and synthesize ideas. An added benefit of this assignment is that I often come across community events where outreach can be done.

Balancing research and office work with hands-on community work has proven invaluable to achieving many of our organization’s educational and support-generating goals as well as incredibly fun. In the past month I have marched in the Columbus Pride Parade, worked at a table at Comfest and just this past weekend participated in the fabulously frivolous Doo-Dah parade. Needless to say, these activities have hardly felt like work, although they undoubtedly help establish new and varied relationships and a strong presence in the community. In sum, I would describe the life of a Columbus Foundation Summer Fellow as such: embrace new opportunities, exit comfort zone, immerse self in community; lather, rinse, repeat. The occasional cup of coffee doesn’t hurt either…

Sara M.  -Planned Parenthood of Central Ohio

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Ordered Chaos

Posted on July 2, 2010 by kstucko

“Chaorder” is the buzzword around the Vineyard Community Center’s Summer Zone Program, and three weeks into my fellowship, I can certainly vouch for its appropriateness. Running a summer program 40 hours a week for nearly 500 children in kindergarten through eighth grade is no small feat and necessitates no small amount of time, effort, and energy. Fortunately, however, for those in the midst of this ordered chaos, or “chaorder” for those too busy too waste time using two words, the work is incredibly rewarding.

In my first few weeks, I have, to put it quite simply, seen everything. I spent two days in a fourth grade classroom developing relationships with the students and learning to appreciate the hard work of the teachers, and I assist daily with our food program to ensure we are serving each child a lunch and snack in accordance with state requirements.

I have learned what it is like to attempt to single-handedly manage 250 children on a rollerskating field trip and I have helped children to discover the process of printmaking and other crafts. I have read books to second graders and gone to the park with first graders. I have diagnosed invisible injuries and scary-looking head wounds. I have taken a Strength-Finder test to identify my own abilities and administered a pre-test to students to measure their experiences. I have played more silly games than I care to admit and I have been the unsuspecting victim of a fifth grader with a hose on Splash Day. But finally and most importantly, I have been absolutely awed and inspired by the people I interact with every day.

I am in the unique position of being an observer of many classrooms, and of the program as a whole, and I have seen repeatedly compassion and love juxtaposed with diligence and hard work in a manner I have never seen before. Despite the fact that each of the fourteen classrooms is overflowing with children, the Lead and Assistant teacher in each room fill every day with meaningful activities. Beginning next week, I am going to begin delving deeper into the “bigger picture” in that I will work on planning activities for the next few weeks and continue to research a potential literacy program.

Katie Stucko–Vineyard Community Center

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Getting Hands-On

Posted on June 28, 2010 by zalac5

A typical college internship may consist of coffee runs, note-taking, and a made-up project designed to teach you something—but nothing long lasting.  This is NOT the case at HandsOn Central Ohio (HOCO).  Unlike the current internships my friends have, my first two weeks at HOCO have been exciting and invigorating!  No coffee runs, no busy work.  Contributing to the Resource Management Department, my task is to update the training and procedural manual, and spend face-to-face time with some of the agencies we serve.

The first week of my fellowship was spent discovering all the different programs that make up HOCO. Listening in on the 2-1-1 and Foodline calls, I heard first-hand the innumerable ways that HOCO is helping the community.  Meeting with the leads of programs such as Dental Options and the Retired Seniors Volunteer Program, I also began to see how HOCO gets out and into the community directly.  After getting my bearings, it was time to jump in!

No dilly-dallying and no made-up projects for the intern. As a fellow, I have come to understand that my job here holds a considerable amount of responsibility.  The training and procedural manual will be used for years to come and during a period of re-accreditation.  At first, this was intimidating; could I handle the challenge?  But as I complete the first section of the manual, I am already feeling confident.  The staff here is more than welcoming and helps answer all of my questions.   I am proud to be producing something I know will make their lives easier.

As of now, the office is bustling with anticipation as the week arrives when a new database will be put to use. The call specialists will now have a more user-friendly system at their fingertips, giving them additional opportunities to help callers. Being at HOCO during these times of change is showing me all that goes into the operations of a non-profit.

Already I have met with the various departments at HOCO, attended a presentation at Children’s Hospital, volunteered to represent HOCO at a housing event, completed a section of the manual, helped prepare for the database switch, and enjoyed a delicious board luncheon!  Needless to say, I am doing a lot and loving every new experience.  I already feel passionate about advancing the mission of HandsOn Central Ohio and what they offer to the Central Ohio community.  I can only imagine what I will encounter in the weeks to come…

Laine – HandsOn Central Ohio

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Never a Dull Moment!

Posted on June 26, 2010 by juliaatthephoenix

Hi, everyone! We just completed week one of summer camps at the Phoenix Theatre for Children. This week, we worked with a group of 6-8 year olds and a group of 9-13 year olds at camps titled, “Scenes from the Big Screen” and “Movie Creation Camp.” The 6 to 8 year olds got to film scenes from well known children’s movies and the 9 to 13 year olds actually got to create their own movies- from the idea to the script to costumes and props to the actually filming and then assisting with editing.

One thing that has impressed me so much is the level at which I have been able to dig into the organization and the amount of information the staff has let me b privy to. As some of my fellow “fellows” have talked about in previous blog entries, I feel right at home at the Phoenix Theatre for children and that can definitely be attributed to the openness of the staff and their willingness and encouragement to participate in all of the different aspects of their work.

The overarching task for this summer that has been given to me is to help the Phoenix Theatre to identify what marketing tactics are working for them as far as getting students into camps and to make suggestions as to a marketing plan for next year’s campaign as well as in years to come. As a part of this task, I have developed a survey to have parents fill out at the end of the week asking them questions about how they found out about the camp, why they chose the camp that they did, if they plan to return, and if they do not plan to return, why this is so. I am hoping that the responses I gain from this survey can help with next year’s camp planning process as well as boost camp attendance based on the ways people have identified that they learned about the camps.

Another goal I have for this summer is to boost this year’s attendance, by gaining new campers and getting current campers to return for further sessions. This week, I was able to contact and confirm six different Columbus organizations that are going to let us publicize our camps- something I am very excited about! Of course, this meant making 275 copies of brochures and then folding them- which also included walking two miles one day to the Phoenix’s other location to make the copies, only to find out that the original on red paper would make the copies have gray backgrounds. I decided on driving over the next day to try copying again, only to lock my keys in my car at a parking meter downtown (yay for AAA!). It’s fair to say that there has yet to be a dull moment in my work, and I am loving every minute of it!

Julia – Phoenix Theatre for Children

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Feeling Like a Part of the Team

Posted on June 25, 2010 by stacy2010

Before my first day, I was worried that my status as a fellow would confine me to paperwork and data entry at a desk set aside in a lonely corner – previous experiences that I would prefer not to relive. Yet when I walked in last Monday, after a brief introduction to the other staff (there are only four total), they immediately rushed me off with them to a meeting and a group lunch. In just the first few hours, I felt more involved in the organization than I have in months at former jobs. My nerves were tested again, though, when I discovered there was a board meeting that evening. I had only met the staff that day and was already thrown in front of at least ten of the board members, most of whom had been involved with Consider Biking since its birth. Yet just as the staff had done earlier, the members made me feel as though I had been to countless board meetings before.

It is fascinating to see what goes into running a non-profit. The board members are considerably different in so many ways – age, career, opinions, etc. – yet they all care so passionately about Consider Biking’s cause that they take time of out their lives to ensure its success. I joined at a perfect time because the organization is going through a massive change. For years until just a couple weeks ago, there was only one paid staff member who worked out of his house. Recently, however, with major support from The Columbus Foundation, they were able to hire three more staff members and procure office space. In fact, my first time walking into the office was theirs as well! One of the employees spent the entire day setting up the computers, the phone lines, and everything that one needs in an office. I am so lucky to have come in at the beginning of this process. At the end of the summer I will be able to look back and see how much the organization has grown in just a couple months and know that I was a part of it. I have already participated in projects ranging from volunteer coordination, to research for our bike-to-work project, to creating video campaigns for our upcoming bike festival.

And while I’m at it… I am going to shamelessly promote the BikeColumbus Festival. It begins Friday July 16th and runs through the weekend. The goal of the festival is to promote cycling throughout Columbus, and you do not need to be an avid rider to participate! Spread the word to everyone you know who has ever ridden a bike. http://www.bikecolumbusfestival.com/

And with that, I will finish my first entry. I hope everyone has been enjoying the summer as much as I have!

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Thoughts on Week One

Posted on June 21, 2010 by murphycfblog

Greetings from the Columbus Housing Partnership! As a Columbus Foundation fellow this summer, I am working with the Columbus Housing Partnership, a local non-profit which provides affordable housing to low- and moderate-income families, as well as a multitude of other services. I’m working specifically in the Housing Advisory Center, which offers free housing counseling, financial and foreclosure prevention classes, and help for first-time homebuyers.

I’m now done with my first week at CHP, and I have to say, I am loving it! I’ve been sitting in on meetings and counseling sessions, and shadowing various members of the Housing Counseling department in order to get a better understanding of how CHP functions internally. I’ve gotten to see how a client’s file moves through the department, from the moment they call in for the first time to when the Follow-Up Specialist closes the file months or even years later. I’ve sat in on Foreclosure Prevention workshops, and I can confidently say that I know more about foreclosures and mortgages than most people my age! I also observed a Resource Development meeting, getting an idea of how the grant process works and how CHP is funded (hint: A LOT of grants!). One of the things I love most is that, as an intern, I get to see both the small, day to day activities and the overall structure and functioning of the organization, giving me a unique perspective on the workings of a nonprofit. 

Now that I’ve gotten the hang of how the department works and what they do here, I’m getting started on my project. This summer I am creating and distributing a survey to identify employment needs amongst CHP clients. Once I determine the needs of CHP clients, I’ll get to work creating a database of local employment resources with whom CHP can partner and refer their clients to. I’m really looking forward to digging in deeper and collaborating with both CHP staff and other organizations!

One of the things which has most impressed me about CHP is the dedication and passion of the staff. They work long hours here, and, like at most non-profits, probably not for a whole lot of money. But there is a sense of dedication and caring in everything they do here, and it’s so inspiring to be a part of it! 

Well, that’s all from me today. I’m having a great experience so far, and can’t wait to see what the next few weeks bring!

Christina – Columbus Housing Partnership

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A Week of Firsts

Posted on June 18, 2010 by kbridges12

This has been quite the first week indeed, a lot of firsts really. I learned how to read maps for stream naming, what I need to find for the stream naming form, how to find a free conference call site, how to write a request letter to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and how to fix the phone line. Although fixing the phone line was not the most important thing I did, and really not all that impressive, the process was pretty satisfactory and the phone was fixed within an hour.

The week has been pretty crazy, and I’m learning that I need several calendars just to keep up with all of the appointments: two on my computer, random notes in my folder, and I’m pretty sure my brain is forming its own calendar like structure as well. Like in any business, people have several obligations all occurring at different times, making it difficult to schedule events. Since there are really only two people working in the office, I am learning a lot about networking and effective methods of communication. Even though we are the only two people in the office, there are a lot of members of the board and other people who work with FLOW that we need to contact and meet with.

Meeting with board members outside of the office is even more crucial because the woman I work with at the office will be leaving soon. This has changed some of my roles within the office. For one, it is more important that I can learn quickly and efficiently how things function in the office, so that I may do well without her presence. Secondly, my focus for the summer has changed from the Back Yard Conservation course to stream naming along the Olentangy River. Although this is not what I thought I would be working on initially, I am sure I will learn a lot, especially since I have no prior knowledge on the stream naming process.

Though this week started with a lot of firsts, it ended with a pleasant second: my second lunch at the Columbus Foundation. Listening to President Kridler talk about his journey to the Columbus Foundation made me think about my life and future career as well. It is important that I continue to challenge myself as I go on with school because challenges are an invaluable way for me to learn about myself and expand my ideas. My fellowship this summer fits very well into this mentality, as I am sure it will be challenging and has already proved in the first week to be a learning experience.
Kelsey – Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed

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Food For Thought

Posted on June 18, 2010 by sarasblog10

The first week of the Summer Fellowship Program was fantastic…and fast! Acclimating to a new work environment can be slow and precarious, but the staff at my nonprofit has been incredibly welcoming and I already feel like “part of the team.” Reflecting back on the whirlwind week as I sit down to write this blog post (my first ever!) I find myself trying to pinpoint what exactly has made the experience so enjoyable thus far. Was it the invigorating energy of the volunteers? The sincere extensions of help and guidance from the staff? The process of absorbing new and exciting knowledge? Yes, yes and yes! Each of these aspects contributed to an overall sense of community, a climate engendered in part by, you guessed it, food!

I was welcomed on my first day with a fabulous pot-luck lunch far exceeding takeout or microwave meal standards…and after all there is nothing better than a delicious (and free!) meal when you are a graduate student. During the lunch I was able to casually meet and speak with other staff and interns in a comfortable environment. Later on, indulging in homemade brownies significantly enhanced the typically mundane process of filling out paperwork. Mid-week, two other interns and I met at our supervisor’s house to spend the morning preparing dinner for a dozen volunteers coming in later that evening for an outreach project. My supervisor Stephanie was adamant that we could do better than pizza and pop for the individuals who were donating valuable time to help us. With our mission in mind we made Gazpacho, focaccia and cupcakes from scratch, an activity that truly allowed us to bond as a group on both a personal and professional level…an added bonus!

Previously having worked as a volunteer coordinator, I understand the importance of cultivating meaningful relationships with volunteers; they are truly the backbone of many organizations and so it was clear to me that the time and energy put into making the volunteer experience enjoyable would be returned ten-fold. Fueled by buttercream frosting, and most importantly a sense of appreciation, our volunteers worked hard and passionately. Building and nourishing new relationships with volunteers, co-workers and community members is one of my goals this summer and thus far I have found that aside from friendliness and forwardness, food is one of the fastest, and most fun, ways to facilitate this process.
Sara M. – Planned Parenthood of Central Ohio

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Ready, Set, Go!

Posted on June 11, 2010 by tcfsummerfellows

The entire Columbus Foundation has been on a high today as we welcomed the 2010 class of summer Fellows!  This is a group of some of the best and brightest college students who are being partnered with nonprofits in the community.  The Columbus Foundation Summer Fellowship Program has been over a year in planning to insure the best experience for the fellows, the Foundation, and the nonprofits.  The opportunity for The Columbus Foundation to nurture next generation nonprofit leadership is a priority for us and we think this class is a prime example of the kind of potential leaders that are in the community and need to be highlighted.

The opportunity for the Fellows to share their experiences through this blog will provide real-time information and feedback to be shared.  As this is our pilot year, their observations will help the nonprofits and the Foundation refine the experience for the next class.  It will also provide the community with insight into the innovation and thoughtful observations of this generation of potential leaders.  We are looking forward with excitement to being given access to their experiences, reactions, and reflection here!

Sandi Smith
Sr. Community Research and Grants Management Officer
The Columbus Foundation

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