Moving day: "I try all things, I achieve what I can"

I’ve used that M-D quote so many times (grad school applications, internal rationalizations, etc…), and it’s perfect for every occation.

And today, the occation is that I’ve moved my blog to my own domain at http://www.queequegs.net via HostMonster and WordPress.

I’ll have to play with the look and feel later, because now I have to pack for Monterey and Internet Librarian ‘06.

Grantwriting 101 handouts and examples

Join us in the OPAL auditorium tomorrow, Friday, Oct. 20 at 10 a.m. (CST) for Grantwriting 101: Developing Winning Proposals.

Associated handouts and examples: Handout (pdf)

• Example of an RFP (request for proposals) (pdf) and a full proposal in response (pdf-includes letters of support, and more)
• Example of IMLS National Award 2005 proposal (pdf) (in response to IMLS Award nomination guidelines)
• Example of a detailed budget (pdf)
• Example of a budget summary (pdf)
• Example of a budget justification (pdf)
• Example of a proposal datasheet (doc)
• Example of a project schedule 1 (xls)
• Example of a project schedule 2 (xls)

Happy Mid-October!

I love October...it's always exhilarating, and so far it has been an exciting month.

We have started work on KC Science, INC a new grant-funded science appreciation project, the contract has been signed on our new, took-almost-three-years-for-the-stars-to-align CMS, we had our library foundation's Rare Conversations--a gala fundraising event featuring local author salons, and I got to meet a few authors new to me as well as those I've admired for some time, I got a head start on my holiday shopping, I've been invited to be at a CNN town hall meeting with Lou Dobbs, we're launching our new local history Web site with a big shindig with local dignitaries on Oct. 19, I'm hosting/presenting our final librarian's continuing ed OPAL series this Friday with a program on Grantwriting (my own monomania), I'll be at Monterey for Internet Librarian on the 22nd, and on top of it all I turn 35. Go Libras!

But you know, I'm not the only one turning 35 in 2006. Below is a list of organizations, institutions, and creations also celebrating their 35th revolution around the sun (I'm stealing this line from my parents...Hi Mom & Dad! Love you!)

Greenpeace
Doctors Without Borders
The Eagles
Project Gutenberg
Starbucks
IBM's 8-inch floppy disk, which it called a memory disk
Border's Books & Music (Ann Arbor, MI)
Erykah Badu, Mary J. Blige, and Missy Elliott (hey, kids born in '71 have it goin' on, baby)
Southwest Airlines
United Arab Emirates
NASDAQ the world's first electronic stock market
UNO (the card game)
The baby jayhawk, who is also female, was hatched (just like me) in Oct. '71

Rock Chalk, Baby 'Hawks!

This Friday: Grantwriting 101...or...shameless self promotion

Friday, Oct. 20 is the final program in our librarian's continuing ed series held in OPAL...oh, and I'm the presenter.

Last January, Lori Bell asked if I would share my library's experience applying for the National IMLS Award, and I told her I was happy to share our full application; we got to talking, and she suggested that we do an OPAL program on grantwriting. I used to present on grantwriting all the time, so doing an OPAL program was a natural fit, but that got me thinking about all the terrific presentations my colleagues have given at conferences, and how these could all be repurposed into OPAL programs to get more libraries using OPAL and taking advantage of free online programs. Before I knew it, we had a whole series of monthly programs lined up throughout 2006.

Before I took my current job as Web content manager and returned to the world of libraries, I was a program director in university research administration. Part of my job was writing and reviewing grant proposals, and teaching faculty members to write successful proposals. Since my work now is mostly project based, we usually need grants to get our more ambitious projects off the ground. In the last three years, we've been awarded multiple grants and awards from federal, regional, and local funding agencies. I love grant writing. Now, actually running the projects after the fact is another story, but you know, we all have our strengths. ;)

Hope to see you all online on Friday...

Grant Writing 101: Developing Winning Proposals
Friday, Oct. 20 at 10 a.m. CST

Have a terrific project, but need money to implement it? Learn how to find funding opportunities, review proposal guidelines, develop budgets, avoid common pitfalls, and develop successful proposals.

This OPAL event will be held in the Auditorium.

Mindless posting in the meantime...

Ok, I got over not being nearly as evil as everyone else (damnit), and I've accepted it. I've moved on. Breathe.

But now I'm reminded that I'm just a weird romantic. How the hell did I ever get into management? Stupid surveys. I'm afraid this is probably oddly accurate...but I'll totally deny it in the morning.

Take the quiz at dicepool.com

Step up or stand down

This month is my birthday. I turn 35*...and if I actually felt as if I was any older than 26, I would probably be bothered by that--so, so much left to do--anyway, I'm lucky to have a terrific case of arrested development.

Plus, I'm about to go to my third Internet Librarian conference, and this seems a good time to wonder about the lifeline of this now-almost-2-year-old-often-neglected-blog. Do I give it up for good, or do I commit, get my own domain, and install the software like a good self-respecting webbie librarian would?

Stay tuned...

*a post of all the other oh-so well-respected institutions, organizations, and entities that also turn 35 this year is coming your way ;)

Want to change or lead it? Focus, energy and insight

At MPOW, our director is retiring, and in a few months we'll be interviewing candidates; we've hired lots of new whip-smart, motivated managers in the last few months; we're embarking on a new leadership initiative to encourage all staff to have more input into decisions and to make us a more nimble organization; oh, and we're rebuilding our entire suite of Web sites to create an online enviroment where our community can learn, explore, enjoy, create, and connect.

So, lots of change is afoot, and I thought this was an interesting article, The Neuroscience of Leadership.

Quick conclusions:

"Change is pain. Organizational change is unexpectedly difficult because it provokes sensations of physiological discomfort.

Behaviorism doesn’t work. Change efforts based on incentive and threat (the carrot and the stick) rarely succeed in the long run.

Humanism is overrated. In practice, the conventional empathic approach of connection and persuasion doesn’t sufficiently engage people.

Focus is power. The act of paying attention creates chemical and physical changes in the brain.

Expectation shapes reality. People’s preconceptions have a significant impact on what they perceive.

Attention density shapes identity. Repeated, purposeful, and focused attention can lead to long-lasting personal evolution."

Going to Monterey in October? Or...webbies can read, too

IL2006 is but a short two-months away. To get in the mood, we're reading Cannery Row and having an online discussion at our leisure at: http://cannery-row.blogspot.com.

Drop me an e-mail if you want to join the Monterey-inspired reading and blogging frenzy.