Working on It
My favorite Christmas gift was a small, not very fancy, but adorable digital camera. I thought the staff would be thrilled if I stopped bugging them to take pictures and, instead, took some myself. Yesterday, we were honored with a Bowtie Award (read the news!) and my new camera and I took great pictures to put on the website. Late yesterday afternoon, I went downstairs to visit the Youth Center and of course, took my new camera. In route, I dropped it, and it broke.
I think the camera doctor can retrieve the pictures, but I was upset when I thought about all the time I spent last month learning the features, buttons, bells and whistles.
After our name change last fall, many folks told me they didn’t know we were changing the name. Some of our older methods of communication (newsletter, old website, flyers, etc.) are clearly “broken” like my camera. At our recent Lunch Chat we gathered some great information and are in the process of improving the way we provide information to you and ask for input. We hope to have a different type of written newsletter and an electronic version out soon. And, a new advocacy committee formed from the November town hall meeting!
I can learn to operate another camera. The important thing is that I still have the pictures. We can learn, and will, new ways to provide you with news and information. The important thing is that we continue to communicate with you - our Deaf, hard of hearing, clients, friends, volunteers, and donors – and make it easy for you to find information. We’re working on it!
Come see us soon.
– Sallie
New Year’s Resolution!
While I enjoyed the rest, I’m really happy to be back at work after the holiday.
I always find the changes, or resolutions, folks want to make in the new year very interesting. One of our twenty-something, former Youth Center graduates told me he wants to focus completely on his career this year. A retiree and one of our regulars told me he wants to take better care of himself during 2010. (As did a staff member or two!) Those renewed commitments didn’t surprise me since the 20s seem to be the time when people focus on career, and somewhere along the 40s or 50s is when folks decide its time to focus on themselves.
In addition to individual resolutions, we’re making an agency resolution. In 2010, we resolve to learn how to communicate better with you, D/deaf and hard of hearing individuals, and find better ways of providing you with information. The programs and services here – after school program, Living Well, interpreter & transcription services, just to name a few – all need your input and support and we want you know what’s happening here and feel like you are a part of it. We want to make sure you have opportunities to give us ideas and feedback about everything we do.
Please mark your calendars for Wednesday, January 20, and join Eric and me at noon for the first monthly “lunch chat.” This month’s topic will be communication. We want to know how we can improve and this is the first step. See you soon and Happy New Year!
– Sallie