“Nothing is worse than active ignorance.”
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)

Yesterday I was to have a 5pm meeting with the Chairman of the Board (No Frank Sinatra…not at all), this meeting was based on him not having an idea about what I do. So he didn’t even get her until 5:30 which sucks for me cause I basically sat around waiting. Then for about an hour I tried to explain to him what I do and have done for the last 7 years. It doesn’t take me that long to explain it to clients. Didn’t take that long to explain it to a developmentally challenged person…and that’s not a joke. The worse part is, if it wasn’t for the new director I might have been here even longer.

I feel…alot of ways about this…consider I’ll be going into my 8th year in this position in August. I worked a short walk from here for a year before I got this job. So I’ve been working in this area for almost a decade. this organization is only 13 years old. Alot of the “residents” on the board haven’t lived here for 5 years. I’ve had clients basically grow up with me. I’ve seen dudes from High School to the Navy. I’ve seen clients become my co-worker and move on to another job. I have clients from Baltimore City Community College to the University of Hawaii. I’ve had clients get a role on the WIRE. I’ve had clients speak to the State Legislature. I’ve gone to conferences in the last few weeks and had a former client set up next to me representing another community agency. I’ve had clients listed in obituaries. I’ve had clients pulled out of the harbor. I’ve had clients with mental issues. I have clients working for the city. I have clients that can get you a burnout. I have clients that can rent you a car. I have clients that have children. I have clients that have lost children. I’m sure most people would feel a kinda way about having to explain what they do to a person who has some authority over them…despite how tenuous it may be. It’s even worse when you do something that your clients, their parents, families and even random strangers value…but the chairman of your board questions it’s validity. Get the hell out of here.