AN INTERNSHIP AT 45?
By: Ivan Bartha
So
I
have
three
days
of
a
professional
internship
under
my
belt
working
at
the
Association
of
Outdoor
Recreation
&
Education
National
Office
in
Ann
Arbor,
Michigan.
Next
week
I
will
put
in
another
4
days
as
well
continuing
my
efforts
to
learn,
understand,
and
help
out
with
the
daily
operations
of
the
Association.
One
would
have
to
ask
what
is
the
value
of
doing
a
short-‐term,
voluntary
internship
after
having
a
fairly
successful
professional
career
to
this
point.
Well,
I
will
admit
I
only
know
what
I
know.
One
benefit
of
aging
is
realizing
that
being
teachable,
seizing
opportunities
to
learn,
and
working
with
people
who
you
admire
can
rearrange
the
way
you
look
at
the
world.
Jeannette,
the
Association
Executive
Director,
and
myself
have
known
each
other
for
some
time,
led
a
week-‐long
outdoor
development
course
together,
and
have
some
mutual
respect
for
one
another.
To
have
the
chance
to
work
together
again,
in
an
entirely
different
context,
was
outstanding.
Having
been
involved
with
a
variety
of
non-‐profit
organizations
on
all
levels,
it
has
been
intriguing
to
see
the
constant
state
of
flux,
tension,
and
planning
that
makes
up
an
organization
like
AORE.
I
will
say
this,
much
to
Jeannette's
chagrin,
that
she
is
one
of
the
finest
leaders
I
have
ever
worked
with.
She
truly
exemplifies
the
passion,
drive
and
commitment
to
keep
Boards
moving
forward,
committees
producing
deliverables,
and
relationship
building
with
all
sorts
of
vendors,
peer
associations,
and
institutions.
Watching
her
work
reminds
me
of
how
many
things
I
have
to
learn
and
how
I
need
to
continue
to
redefine
who
I
am
as
a
leader
and
what
I
can
do
to
not
get
"stuck".
Hannah,
the
Association
Office
Manager,
is
equally
surgical
in
her
work.
A
young
professional
with
limited
background
in
outdoor
recreation
&
education
is
the
customer
service
master.
She
is
steady
as
a
rock,
impossible
to
rattle
and
consistent
with
every
phone
call
she
takes.
Jeannette Stawski- One of the people I admire the most
both personally, and professionally. Having had the
privilege of co-leading a course together, developing a
mutual respect for each other, and watching her manage
a large and complex organization has been an honor. I
have learned more about non-profit leadership during
my internship than I will ever be able to retain. My
profession is better because of her leadership and ability
to transcend vision into practice.
I
would
challenge
any
of
the
members
of
AORE
to
make
a
point
of
understanding
the
daily
operations
of
a
National
Office.
It
is
not
what
you
think
it
is,
but
you
could
not
be
more
blessed
having
Jeannette
&
Hannah
piloting
the
ship.
Needless
to
say,
it
has
been
a
privilege
to
do
the
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