blogathon: walking into the CMHA – a surprise

canadian mental health association

this is a guest post by the CMHA vancouver-burnaby’s new executive director, rebecca shields.

it is an entry for my participation in the 2008 blogathon, a 24-hour marathon of blogging. please support the cause and donate – however much, however little – to the canadian mental health association (vancouver/burnaby branch). to donate, email me or use this URL: www.canadahelps.org/CharityProfilePage.aspx?CharityID=d2252. you should be able to get there by clicking the link; if not, just copy and paste the link into your browser. it will take you to the appropriate location at canada helps.

thank you for visiting, reading and, if you can, donating!

there are conceptions, pre-conceptions and then, there are total surprises.

last week i started my new position as executive director of the canadian mental health association-vancouver burnaby branch. i heard about the excellent programs, the innovative services, the success stories and the well-merited reputation of the agency. going in, i looked forward to working with a team of dedicated professionals, passionate volunteers and committed board members.

given the amount of new and innovative programming that are being recognized both here in our community as well as internationally, my pre-conception was that there were tons of staff members. which led to the total surprise: CMHA/VB manages a work load of one hundred with 1/3 of the people. wow.

there is an energy and passion here. there is a dynamism, a creative force all founded in a core belief in the power of people. honestly, it does not flood you as you walk in the door. there is no hustle and bustle of a busy restaurant or news control room. it is quiet movement that carries everyone who connects.

i am guessing that this is one of the keys to CMHA/VB’s success. that everyone who participates, volunteers or joins our professional team finds themselves empowered, encouraged, allowed, and ultimately appreciated for their work be it personal or public.

this is the best surprise of all.

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