Bruce's Blog

June 16^th, 2010

Like the first 8 things I love about my job, the other two are also PEOPLE.

9. People. As amazing as it seems to me, consumed as I am by the work UCOM is doing in the community, there are hordes of people in Grand Rapids, Wyoming and Grandville MI (our service area) that still ask, as I did when I first heard of the agency, “What’s a UCOM?” I love having the opportunity to speak with scores of people every week in person, more by public media, about the needs in our community, and about what UCOM is doing to meet those needs. Every where I look I find people who are interested, stimulated and inspired when they see and hear the work that is going on of which they were previously unaware. People all over the community are ready to get involved as soon as they see the needs around them. When they see UCOM as an instrument that really helps, they are ready to commit themselves to serve. I love being the conduit that connects people with needs to the people who collectively have the resources to meet those needs. (I owe that description of my job to past UCOM president Betty Anne Rowlands.)

10. People. People continue my education every day. I’ll admit it; I would be a professional student if I could. I love learning, not just gaining information, but experiencing the smell, the taste, the essence of spiritual, emotional and intellectual growth. I love writing and talking and listening and watching and learning from everyone. In this position I find continuing education opportunities abound. Whether it is the formal processes with groups like the Johnson Center for Philanthropy at Grand Valley State University or informal gatherings of people with more experience than I in the non-profit world, it is a joy to share information. Usually I spend a lot more time listening than talking in these situations, and every learning situation and every teacher and mentor that I encounter represents that much more that I love about my job.

Please feel free to comment about any of the things I have said about my job or to tell me about what you like and don’t like about yours. Every comment will serve a useful purpose in our growing together into all that we have the potential to be.

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