The road map Jane is following isn’t unusual for many ReServists. ReServe was created to help people like her pursue the interests they had to put on hold during their first careers. ReServe is giving them the opportunity to build new resumes that leverage their skills and passions and direct them to work that has real social impact.

Jane’s interest in helping children prepare for adulthood is also not unusual. Many ReServists want to help kids who should go to college but whose parents do not have the life experience or time to help them navigate the college admissions process. That’s one reason why ReServe is hoping to pilot a new initiative called READY (ReServe’s Education, Advancement and Development for Youth) that will train and place ReServists in under-resourced schools to help high-need students make attending college a reality.

What’s more, in response to the growing demand for grant writers and the growing interest of ReServists in using their writing skills, we’re launching the Grant Writing Residency Program that will train retirees to help struggling nonprofits with their development work.

Both initiatives apply ReServe’s winning business model to significant societal problems. Unlike our typical assignments, they will require Reservists to undergo some training and to make a time commitment of 15 hours a week for at least 10 months. And most of the assignments will be located outside of Manhattan.

I’m pretty sure that these ReServists will have a significant impact on the lives of disadvantaged high school youth and on the bottom line of struggling nonprofits. What I don’t know is who of you will choose to have your life changed by taking on these assignments. Think about it and let us know so that when the jobs appear on the Opportunity Board, we’ll have you in mind. To find out more about either of these initiatives, check out the information featured in this newsletter.

Have a great summer.

Mary

Dear Friends,

One of my first official acts as Executive Director was to send out more than 1,000 holiday cards to people who have helped grow ReServe through their support or participation. I was amazed by the extent and diversity of ReServe’s network of friends:  People from every neighborhood in New York City and beyond; former and current ReServists, supervisors from partner organizations including over 20 city agencies, dozens of contributors of gifts large and small. Just as impressive was the fact that our staff seemed to know most of these people really well and spoke of many with great warmth.  How did ReServe create such a large and vibrant network in just three years?

By the end of my first month, I began to understand the reasons for ReServe’s rapid growth and popularity. It has created a new community, one that brings together for the very first time a growing number of retirees who want to put their skills and experience to work for the greater good with employers in the not-for-profit sector who are in desperate need of their talents. This new community also includes public officials who are struggling to maintain the City’s safety net in the face of plummeting revenues, and private philanthropists who need to make their gifts go further. Under the leadership of its dedicated Board, ReServe’s staff has created new systems and cultural norms which foster respect and appreciation for experience across generations and economic sectors, and at the same time promote large scale social change. The fact that employers are required to pay ReServists, who work at below market rates, serves to strengthen our communal bonds by increasing the expectations and motivation of both groups.

Everyone benefits from being a part of this community, which is diverse, committed and expanding rapidly. It includes people who retired 20 years ago and people who are just coming off glamorous and all consuming careers.  Unlike some other communities, ours is not limited by geography. As the first class of baby boomers – more than 70 million – enters traditional retirement age, we are gearing up for a big growth spurt.

I am honored to be part of the ReServe community. I look forward to working with you and learning from you. I look forward to getting to know most if not all of the people on our Holiday list and to helping that list double in size!

With best wishes for a happy and healthy new year,

Mary S. Bleiberg ]]> http://reserveinc.org/blog/2009/01/09/letter-from-executive-director-mary-bleiberg/feed/ 1