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Mood Disorder Community
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EmergingArtist
Incredible Member (2000+ posts)
9136 Posts
Gratitude: 822
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 Posted - 10/27/2007 : 16:52:02
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Hello my fellow MT Members,
Guess what!? The Art Institute of Chicago Volunteer Director called me this afternoon!
Awhile ago, maybe 2 weeks ago?--I had checked the AIC website for volunteer op's b/c I have always thought about becoming a "docent"--(one of their volunteer tour guides to the collections).
So. I had then downloaded the pdf volunteer form to my desktop. It was non-interactive, so I emailed it to my husband to print out at his work. (3 copies in case I made a mistake, and one for me to keep to refer to) I recall thinking that the application was a breeze b/c it was all stuff I truly was interested in and didn't have to make up answers that "sounded good" to get the position... ...and--one problem I encounter lately with job ap's is that I have very few references--and happily, the volunteer form for the AIC didn't ask that.
OK. After I got the form, I let it sit on my desk for a weekend or so and then I filled it out in a big hurry, not thinking too much about the answers. Then I quickly tri-folded it and put it in an envelope and addressed it to the volunteer director as the ap directed me to do. I recall that I taped the envelope shut b/c I was afraid the regular env. glue was not going to hold...
Then I read more on their website about what it takes to be a volunteer and it said they require all volunteers to become members of the museum. (it's a $75 fee for individ. membership) I'd had a 2yr membership a couple X-mas's ago, and hadn't renewed it. So I renewed it for one yr via the web. (and there was the good fortune that this was just after my birthday and my mother and father-in-law sent me a check for $75)
What else. So today---(!)--the phone rings. My husband answers. It's for me. The voice on the phone sounds like a recording, a deep man's voice. He is assistant to the director of volunteering at the AIC! (This is where I went to school--School of the Art Institute of Chicago...the museum came second actually, the museum was built for the school, anyway--)
Long story short--this Friday I am going to the museum--I get to go in the "behind-the-scenes" entrance--to meet with the director and see what I can do for them! The ap asked for my preference--behind-the-scenes doing all kinds of stuff for and with the museum staff, or in the public giving directions to tourists. Well, yep, I jumped at the chance to not have to point out the Picassos to the tourists!
This is huge for me! This is coming out of a 10+ year hibernation of major major discouragement and disillusionment and down-in-the-dumps no-can-do about my BFA. There's hope.
Congratulations EA!Joseph Addison said: "Three grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for." Your new position embodies all three essentials to happiness. Well done! Phil Long M.D.
Administrator   |
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| aquamarine
Amazing Member (1000+ posts)
1238 Posts
Gratitude: 300
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Posted - 10/27/2007 : 17:15:11
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Wow EA,
This is such an exciting opportunity. It sound like it was meant to be. Please keep us posted about how it is and what you are doing. Congratulations.
...aqua |
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| dizzydean
Super Member (250+ posts)
838 Posts
Gratitude: 294
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Posted - 10/27/2007 : 19:40:48
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Awesome, EA!
Dizzy
A question that sometimes drives me hazy: am I or are the others crazy?
Albert Einstein
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| firebird
Amazing Member (1000+ posts)
1555 Posts
Gratitude: 561
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Posted - 10/28/2007 : 19:02:39
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Wow, I envy you EA. To be around and work with art, that's a dream job. You are very lucky. Such a great opportunity to study and learn too. Well done.
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| EmergingArtist
Incredible Member (2000+ posts)
9136 Posts
Gratitude: 822
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Posted - 11/02/2007 : 15:35:26
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Hi,
Thanks for sharing in my good feeling about my news, everybody.
So this afternoon I went to the Museum and very briefly, (5min), met with the volunteer director. He let me know he will be passing my application on to the departments that need help. Unfortunately, the dept. I'd wanted to work in (Print/Drawing) doesn't need help.
I wish I could be assured of an interesting job there, but so far, I've done what I can to get my foot in the door.
-EA |
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| EmergingArtist
Incredible Member (2000+ posts)
9136 Posts
Gratitude: 822
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Posted - 11/10/2007 : 08:45:51
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Woo hoo!
A moment ago, the assistant to the Vol. Dir. called and said C--- B----- of the Membership Office at the AIC is interested in havin me come volunteer in their office. I'm so excited! 
EAAge: 32
Sex: female
homemaker, married
Diagnosed Bipolar 1993 |
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| EmergingArtist
Incredible Member (2000+ posts)
9136 Posts
Gratitude: 822
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Posted - 11/11/2007 : 12:30:33
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Hi,
I would like to share some background story. I'd gone to meet with the Volunteer Director last week. I went in what they call the "behind-the-scenes" entrance (employee entrance) which is going through the Monroe St. garage (where I assume they load and unload the giant sculptures and that type of thing, it's a huge garage.
The lady at the security check-in was munching on a sandwich and talking on the phone while she gestured at me to sign in and handed me a adhesive Guest Badge under the window divider--all the while not looking at me. Here peripheral vision was excellent it seems. So I guess I was feeling kind of overly-injured by what I saw as her ignoring me. And then a delivery man rushed in and had her sign something, I started to feel like a little leaf, swirling around the regular activity...
Then there was a huge bouquet of flowers and a man in overalls was struggling to put them on a wobbly cart and was asking no one in particular where Mr. so and so's office was and then he swiped his ID badge in the entrance to the offices and I was too late in coming out of my frightened reverie so I felt extremely guilty for not holding the door for him to push through the cart. And I was wishing the flowers were for me.
I was having trouble deciding where I was going to put myself. I seemed to be in the way of every person who passed through. And all the while I was getting more agitated with worry that the Vol. Dir. had forgotten he had a mtg with me. Then suddenly I was shaking his hand, feeling ashamed that my hand was so cold with anxiety. He was half saying thank you and see you later to two men who walked through the doors with him, and half introducing himself to me.
I guess I was feeling more and more afraid I wasn't important enough to talk to or something.
I found myself hunching my shoulders and stiffly sitting on the edge of a chair across the desk from him. I was answering his questions in fearfully short and halting squeeks it seemed to me, and I got more and more mortified at myself.
To make a long story short, I went home on the bus after the meeting and was almost positive I'd bungled it all and he was going to throw my application in the trash.
But then I got invited to be a volunteer, so I'm doing the dance of joy!
EAAge: 32
Sex: female
homemaker, married
Diagnosed Bipolar 1993 |
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| EmergingArtist
Incredible Member (2000+ posts)
9136 Posts
Gratitude: 822
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Posted - 11/14/2007 : 10:17:46
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Yay! !!!!
I just got off the phone with the Membership Dept at the AIC--he is interested in having me come volunteer--I'm slated to meet with him Tuesday the 27th!
He said "I'm getting this weird reverberation echo on the phone,"
...so the phone line was giving us trouble.
He said that he started as a volunteer initially, and then he got hired, and suggested I could do the same. He needs help archiving documents, transferring them to archival materials, --he said he could teach me as much as I wanted and try to give me varied tasks so I could learn a lot--and introduce me to people in the various departments.
So I am so thrilled to have this opportunity...I have been in such isolation with my art-mind that I am crying and dancing that I will have the chance now to join with all these art folk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
EAAge: 32
Sex: female
homemaker, married
Diagnosed Bipolar 1993 |
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| firebird
Amazing Member (1000+ posts)
1555 Posts
Gratitude: 561
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Posted - 11/14/2007 : 11:11:53
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Wonderful News Emerging Artist . I am very happy for you, its a great opportunity to get your foot in the door. Sounds like it will be very interesting work. I look forward to your telling how your first day goes. |
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| EmergingArtist
Incredible Member (2000+ posts)
9136 Posts
Gratitude: 822
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Posted - 11/14/2007 : 12:10:01
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Thanks Firebird! |
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| dizzydean
Super Member (250+ posts)
838 Posts
Gratitude: 294
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Posted - 11/16/2007 : 22:38:34
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This sounds wonderful,EA. Your perserverance and ethusiasm are infectious.
Dizzy aka Aunt DD
The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new. ~Rajneesh
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| EmergingArtist
Incredible Member (2000+ posts)
9136 Posts
Gratitude: 822
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Posted - 11/26/2007 : 09:00:41
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Thanks Dizzy! (I felt great to know you saw my excitement...I just didn't post anything at the time).
This morning the manager of the dept where I'll be volunteering at the AIC called and we will be meeting for orientation and to get me my Volunteer ID Badge this coming Thurs.
I'm so excited. I was worried last week when I found out my work schedule for my new paying job which was during the time I'd scheduled to meet with the manager at the AIC. But he called this morning and said it was "perfect" (to reschedule orientation to this Thurs.)
EAAge: 32
Sex: female
homemaker, married
Diagnosed Bipolar 1993  |
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| EmergingArtist
Incredible Member (2000+ posts)
9136 Posts
Gratitude: 822
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Posted - 12/13/2007 : 12:41:13
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Hello,
I went to two brief sessions of volunteering at the AIC these past two weeks. Despite my impatience, I am not planning to volunteer until January. I feel too strained from a combo of things. I'm extremely impatient and want instant gratification for almost everything. So it's a tough decision.
  
EAAge: 32
Sex: female
homemaker, married
Diagnosed Bipolar 1993 |
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| xek
Incredible Member (2000+ posts)
2550 Posts |
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| xek
Incredible Member (2000+ posts)
2550 Posts |
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