2026 52 Card Project: Week 10: Manager

[pegkerr]

As I have referred to obliquely before, I am Doing Something with regard to the events in Minneapolis/St. Paul.



I was pulled in as a volunteer, oh, perhaps a month and a half ago. I was asked to set up the project, and despite my genuine nervousness at the responsibility I was handed, I did. I analyzed what needed to get done, wrote documentation to describe the process, and handled it alone for three days. Then more volunteers were added, and I was asked to train them. Then the team was doubled again, and I had to train them, too, and incorporate them into the team. Then I had to set up a couple of subteams, hold standup meetings, and start thinking about process, team building, donor relations, technological security, resource sharing, and budget.

Rather to my astonishment, now that I have retired, I have become for the first time in my career, no kidding, an actual manager, overseeing a team of ten people.

Over the last week, things have ratcheted up, and the phrase "It's like herding cats" has definitely floated across my mind.

I've been told I'm rather good at it. But it's a bit daunting. I'm definitely spending more hours at it than I spent at my job at the Synod.

Wow. I'm an actual manager. Who knew?

Image description: Lower third: a double monitor showing a world map, and a hand holding a phone, also showing a map. Center: a hand holds a marker writing the words "Project Planning" in red letters. Just below stands a row of cats, lurching forward in an uneven line. Upper right: a partial view of a woman with the word "Manager" superimposed over her. Upper left: Signal icon.

Manager



Click on the links to see the 2026, 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022 and 2021 52 Card Project galleries.

Comments

[princessofgeeks]

Thank you for doing this essential work.

[julian]

You rock. Thank you.

(Also, good composition.)

[pegkerr]

Thanks! The cats were a last minute inspiration/addition, and they’re what make it really work, I think.

[minnehaha]

I am not surprised at all at your facility. Not even a bit. *duh*

K.

[ndrosen]

Yes, thank you for doing this.

[d_square]

Over the course of a year, the average U.S. woman aged 55 or older provides 182 hours of unpaid care. This is the equivalent of 26 days of full-time (35 hours/week) work. Most likely the older gentleman taking groceries to our cars was an accountant at some point. Our economy depends on this sort of service seniors provide.

[minnehaha]

Pretty sure my grocery carry-out gentleman is paid. It's a union shop.

K.