A Lot On My Plate

As summer cools off and makes way for fall, I find myself with a busier schedule than ever and a lot on my plate. Exciting new opportunities have just kind of fallen into my lap and it seems as if my luck has turned around.

During one of my outdoor summer concerts, the conductor of the orchestra asked me if I would be interested in expanding my fundraising career. So, I took on a job with the Nassau Pops as a grant writer. This is an awesome opportunity and a really great way to earn some extra cash! I've just begun the process and it's quite an undertaking. I have a ton of work to do. Hopefully, I will bring in some serious dough for our upcoming season.

Summer semester at NYU was awesome and I have decided to continue with the Professional Certificate in Fundraising that I began. Starting something and not following through is just not my style. Plus, it's hard for me to resist a challenge - I tend to get restless when I'm not working toward goals. This fall I'll be taking "Fundraising Research and Information Management." It's another short class and only meets 4 times so hopefully I won't be too bogged down with school work.

After a complete turnover of Board members with the UD NYC Alumni club, I was promoted to the Communications Chair. After a year of serving on the University Events Committee, I'm ready for a change and I really love serving on the Board. My very last event will be a tour of the Cloisters on September 29th complete with a UD Art History professor as our expert tour guide and a luncheon talk back in midtown. After that, I will be assuming my new position and will have a ton more responsibility. It's a new adventure and I'm ready for it!

And speaking of adventures, Alex and I celebrated the anniversary of our first date with a delicious meal at a romantic wine bar and an off-Broadway show at Roundabout starring Jake Gyllenhaal. We talked about all of the awesome times we had over the past year and the incredible time we had in France. It was the perfect time for us to begin planning our next vacation. In January, we'll be going to Peru - splitting our time between his family's hotel and an excursion that we have yet to plan. I'm really looking forward to our next vacation together!

It's hard to believe that a year ago, I was working at Juilliard and Alex and I had just met while hurricane Irene was fast approaching. That feels like days ago. Years go by faster and faster as I get older and busier. I'm happy to fill up my plate with more responsibility and I'm excited to see what's in store for the future. I think I'm getting the hang of this growing up thing...