Perseverance

This is part of your resume, kids. You have to tell your own story to your prospective employer.

I was part of a large group that tried to get legal leash-free areas for responsible dog owners in local parks. None of us were paid. The number dwindled and only a few could lead and pull the weight and I was one.

We joined the local councils and went to meetings. We testified before the city. We were recruited to negotiate with the nay-sayers, who were both the city and negative neighbors. The cards were stacked against us. I promised my dog she’d be able to chase her ball in our park and she died before I could do so legally.

I realized I was out every night at community meetings, fighting for her but not being with her, which is what she needed.

Shy as a child, I found my voice here. Ask my friends, they’ll tell you. If you want to organize something know gays and lesbians. They fought AIDS. Letting your dog off leash is nothing like AIDS. Organization? Got it. Focus. Check that. I wrote and spoke to staff and testified and organized speeches and wrote most of them but each of us had a job and we did it.

We spent six years and I probably have a couple of boxes of documents, plus my seminal publication which the director of Parks and Rec said was very good. Oh, I ended up as vice president of the board that gives parks and rec money…. Perseverance, personified.

For six years I fought and won certain battles as a leader, and over 40 neighbors gave a tree to the city/park in memory of my dog. We won battles, lost the war on the beaches.

Whatever they say, if it means something to you, keep trying. Dee