Michelle's Musings
Author: Michelle Greanias - GMN's first ED

First, thank you all so much for the warm welcome I received via email, on GIGI, and in person.  Serving as Executive Director of the Grants Managers Network is an amazing opportunity and the only job that I really wanted (and I looked at many). One of GMN’s greatest strengths is the community that we’ve created—a community that provides advice and information at the drop of a hat and whose collegiality and friendships are based on what some may see as an unnatural interest in business processes, tax statuses, and coding (among 10,000 other grants management responsibilities). In short—we “get” each other.

When I first joined GMN, in 1996 as it blossomed into a national organization, I was so caught up in the community—finally feeling like I wasn’t alone and gleefully borrowing the best practices of others for my own foundation—that I didn’t realize I was gaining marketable new skills through my volunteerism.  It was only as I started looking for a job earlier this year that I realized what a wealth of experience I had gained. 

On my resume and in interviews, I addressed my work with GMN as a separate job.  I cited the communications skills gained through writing newsletter articles and speaking at meetings.  I gave concrete examples of the leadership, strategic planning, and financial management skills I developed as co-chair of the board. I explained how my experience in collaborating with other members to create GIGI allowed for professional connections that helped to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of grant making.

As I think back on it, I’m not sure how else I would have gained these skills.  It’s always a catch-22: you can’t get a job without experience and you can’t get experience without an opportunity.  GMN gave me those opportunities and I encourage all members to look at volunteering with GMN a little more selfishly. 

Think about your last performance review or an attractive job posting that floated across your desk.  Were there skills you lacked or were less confident about?  If so, I hope you consider how GMN might help you improve upon your existing skills or even better, gain new ones! 

If there is a specific skill you are looking to develop, I’d be happy to help make that happen for you.  Please contact me at mgreanias@gmnetwork.org.

I’d love to hear through GIGI from members who have gained skills through GMN volunteering.  Please share your stories on the GIGI discussion “Marketable Skills Gained in GMN.”

To get involved, please contact a GMN committee (http://www.gmnetwork.org/committees.php) or regional chapter  (http://www.gmnetwork.org/chapters.php).

Finally, I’m looking forward to meeting or reconnecting with you at a regional gathering or next year in Denver.

Sincerely,
Michelle