Scholars Accouterments from flickr user mharrsch
As of March 23, 2009, I started my 9-month journey as the Visiting Scholar in Residence at the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. Under this program, the Foundation invites a mid-career professional, accomplished in their field to be in residence at the Foundation to be a resource to staff and complete a project to benefit the field.
What does that mean? Some of my time will be spent on Foundation work, including exposing Foundation staff to social media strategies and tools and assisting in the enhancing of some of the offerings of their Organizational Effectiveness program with services adapted to networks. My field work will include continuing to write this blog (infused with lots of new thinking and ideas, no doubt) and co-authoring a book. I will continue to do a limited amount of outside work, primarily the NTEN WeAreMedia Wiki project.
What does this NOT mean! I am not responsible for making any funding decisions. So please respect that. Also, what I write on this blog is my personal opinion just as I've been doing for the past six years. My writing on this blog does not in anyway reflect official Packard Foundation policy.
My office
I am truly honored to have this opportunity for research and reflection on the effective use of social media by nonprofits and networks and be exposed to experts and thinkers here at the Foundation from many different disciplines. The staff at the Packard Foundation has given me a warm welcome and made me feel right at home.
Over the past 29 years that I worked in the nonprofit field, I've held many different titles, but never scholar. I looked up the term "scholar" in the dictionary. It has three definitions:
1: a person who attends a school or studies under a teacher : pupil
2: person who has done advanced study in a special field b: a learned person
3: a holder of a scholarship
My work here in a way embodies all three definitions. And while the term scholar implies "expert," it also means to be a learner. That's an important distinction for me because it is the key to using social media successfully. It's about constant and dynamic learning that is learning from doing and doing from learning.
On a personal note, over the next three months I will be commuting from Boston to Palo Alto and at the end of June my family and I will relocate to the West Coast. It is going to be a very busy time for me as I learn to navigate in a new environment! So, please understand that my email responses will be very slow and the best way to connect with me is via commenting on this blog or Twitter.
Speaking of navigation, for the first time many years, I am actually able to commute to an office by bike, walking, or public transit (5 miles each way). I am lucky that Stephanie McAuliffe lent me her bicycle, that Curt Riffle loaned me an extra helmet, and that Matt Sharp helped me figure out a bike route, so I'm now biking to work. On my first ride, I saw a hawk, got off the bike, and tweeted it. The prompted a couple of hawk riding a bike jokes!
I look forward to this journey and hope you'll enjoy coming along for the ride!
Sounds like it will be an amazing experience. Congratulations, scholar!
Posted by: Tara | March 26, 2009 at 07:32 AM
Beth,
Congratulations! Tt sounds like a perfect fit for you. I have the highest regard for the Packard Foundation and this will be a wonderful journey for both of you. I am so glad that you will keep this blog going as it really is the premier resource for so many of us.
Marion
http://marionconwaynonprofitconsultant.blogspot.com
Posted by: Marion Conway | March 26, 2009 at 07:45 AM
Brava for taking such an exciting journey -- and taking us along, too even on the bike ride. I'm looking forward to reading about what you're learning during your time there.
Allison
Posted by: Allison Fine | March 26, 2009 at 07:48 AM
wow - Congratulations Beth - that is such a great opportunity and I can't think of anyone better to have it then you. Enjoy Palo Alto - having worked there for a number of years I miss it - in particular the University Coffee Cafe.
Another great social media mind...leaving Boston :(
Posted by: Rachel Happe | March 26, 2009 at 08:57 AM
Thanks everyone! What I'm most excited about is the opportunity to extending the conversations and thinking with all of you!
Posted by: Posted for Shannon Aronin | March 26, 2009 at 09:45 AM
Beth,
Congratulations! This is a great opportunity for you and US as I know you will share all of your learnings with the nonprofit community. :)
Jocelyn
Posted by: Jocelyn | March 26, 2009 at 09:49 AM
Congratulations! You're close to us now - I hope we'll have some opportunities to connect in the coming year. Say hello to Matt and tell him I will be contacting him shortly - he will be working with Holly, me, and Marnie on the immersion learning session for the National Conference on Volunteering and Service.
Posted by: Laura Norvig | March 26, 2009 at 01:00 PM
Congratulations, Beth- this "scholar" designation and all that comes with the opportunity is so well deserved for the fantabulous work you do.
And moving to the West Coast! Yay, what an adventure. You are just one state away from Arizona ;-)
Posted by: Alan Levine | March 26, 2009 at 07:38 PM
Congratulations! This is important. Good luck.
Posted by: John Powers | March 26, 2009 at 09:13 PM
I'll add my congratulations Beth ... am looking forward to following your scholarly journey.
Posted by: liz lennon | March 27, 2009 at 06:03 AM
Beth,
They are lucky to have you!
John
Posted by: John Haydon | March 27, 2009 at 06:28 AM
Congrats Beth! Amazing news.
Posted by: Rosetta Thurman | March 27, 2009 at 07:47 AM
Hi Beth,
Congratulations on this role. I think the world would be a better place with more 'scholars' like you :)
Great to see you (albeit briefly) the other evening.
Best,
-Austin
Posted by: Austin Hill | March 27, 2009 at 08:56 AM
I heard that you were coming to the area, and that Packard is looking to increase their attention to social media in the coming years. I'm excited to see a major foundation, and one of our major funders, really looking at what the future will hold, not just continuing the way they've always done things.
Best wishes for the coming year!
Posted by: Robin Mohr | March 27, 2009 at 09:12 AM
Congratulations and good luck with your move Beth.
Posted by: Will Hull - eCommunications/eDevelopment Specialist United Cerebral Palsy National Office | March 27, 2009 at 09:47 AM
We have been looking forward to having you on board with us! Welcome!
Posted by: Matt Sharp | March 27, 2009 at 09:51 AM
Congratulations, Beth! I'm so excited to see what great innovation and new ideas come from this appointment. Have lots of fun and looking forward to seeing you in the bay area for NTC :)
Posted by: The Girl | March 27, 2009 at 10:04 AM
I agree with John Haydon, we are lukcy!
Posted by: stephanie mcauliffe | March 27, 2009 at 05:47 PM
Well, congratulations Beth. I am very excited to see what this new role brings you, and the community.
Posted by: Matthew Saunders | March 27, 2009 at 06:39 PM
Bravo! Beth.
Perhaps a not-for-profit in Indianapolis will see the wisdom of the David and Lucile Packard Foundation's decision.
I refer people to your blog as a proof source for the power and reach of social media. D&L Packard Foundation is lucky to have you.
Posted by: Amy Stark | March 28, 2009 at 05:04 AM
Congratulations on your new role. May it add as much to your life and interests as it does to Packard's knowledgebase.
Cheers!
Posted by: Nicole de Beaufort | March 28, 2009 at 09:34 AM
Hi Beth,
Congratulations on the start of this exciting new chapter. Enjoy your time in "beantown".
Kate Talbot
Posted by: Kate Talbot | March 28, 2009 at 01:10 PM
Congratulations, Beth! It is wonderful to see you receive this kind of recognition and support. I'm looking forward to following your adventures in CA. Hopefully I'll see you around while you are still commuting between Boston and Palo Alto.
Posted by: Ben Greenberg | March 28, 2009 at 06:42 PM