It was this experience that enabled me, in 2019, to leave a job that I loved, at the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) - Bureau of Mitigation, Floodplain Management, to strike out for pastures new. My own company. Time to sink or swim (again?). The fact that I had the support – and admiration – of my boss, Steve (the State Floodplain Manager) was encouraging. Thus began 2020.
I spent January creating my website and social media, catching up with contacts, reaching out to new and budding networks. I suddenly had a contract!!! Not a large one, but somebody trusted me enough to employ me - and pay me the rate I requested. It was exciting.
As we know, the year quickly took a turn for the worse. We began hearing about Covid, but information was conflicting. Reaction and regulations differed depending on the country, and even the part of that country, in which one resided. Finally, on March 1, the Governor of Florida issued Executive Order 20-51. This order directed the State Health Officer and Surgeon General to declare a public health emergency in the State of Florida. This was followed on March 9th with Executive Order 20-52, declaring a State of Emergency. Many other Executive Orders followed, suspending on-premises food and alcohol consumption for customers, closing gyms and fitness centers, requiring visitors to Florida to self-isolate, limiting gathering to a maximum of 10 people, until, on April 1, Executive Order 20-91 stated unequivocally that “Senior citizens and individuals with a significant underlying medical conditions… shall stay home…” and that “all persons in Florida shall limit their movements and personal interactions outside of their home to only those necessary to obtain or provide essential services or conduct essential activities.” This was Florida’s version of lockdown – with many items included in ‘essential activities’ that were excluded in other regions of the world.
Although lockdown, throughout the world, was undoubtedly painful for many people, it was amusing seeing the memes posted by introverts. I am one of those introverts. My friends know that I lead an active life, but as active as it is, it is also largely solitary. It came as a mild shock, largely a surprise, and an oddly humorous revelation, that what many people considered hardship, sacrifice even, was, in effect, my typical life! I would have trouble filling a bubble limited to 3 or 4 people! Perhaps this is something that I need to reflect on once the threat of Covid passes.
Limiting activity had many repercussions, especially in a state top heavy with seniors. The closure of bars and restaurants meant unemployment and a corresponding increase at food banks … food banks whose volunteers had been told to stay home. Again, I am in that demographic still allowed to leave home for essential activities, and opportunities began to present themselves.
I belong to Team Rubicon (TR), a disaster relief organization. Most members of TR are military veterans, one percent (1%) are “kick-ass civilians.” I am not ex-military, but TR is a good fit for me. TR put out a call to man food banks throughout the nation, and I answered that call in both Manatee and Sarasota Counties, eventually leading TR operations on two (2) projects providing food to more than 500 people each day. I would not have had the time had I been working a 40-hour job at FDEM. Fortunately, my efforts were applauded and supported by the gentlemen on whose contracts (by this time plural) I was working.
Later in the year I was able to deploy remotely with TR, on the four (4) hurricanes that hit Louisiana. Deployments like that are truly humbling experiences.
2020 was also an election year. Seniors typically provide the manpower at precincts on election day – and, in Sarasota County, there is a lengthy waiting list. The call went out that paid volunteers were needed for the primaries. I applied, was accepted, did the online and in-person training to be a poll worker, and worked as an Inspector at a nearby precinct. This was a great experience, especially as I had been a US citizen for less than a year. I had also recently become a precinct captain for my precinct. In ‘I know why the caged bird sings,’ Maya Angelou describes her grandmother as being ‘a precinct captain; a very important person.’ This makes me laugh. It really means that I am responsible for making sure that ‘my’ registered voters have the correct information to enable them to vote (where to vote, who is on the ballot etc.,). Being involved in the electoral process meant that I had updated and correct information at my fingertips! And this was going to be an election year like no other!
After the primary election I was asked if I would like to be an Assistant Clerk for the General Election. That sounded interesting - dealing with the serious issues that an inspector is not equipped to handle, so I applied, was accepted, did the online and in-person training, and worked at a different precinct for the November election.
In between the elections, paid volunteers were sought to help fill numerous temporary positions at the Supervisor of Elections. Again, these are typically positions filled by seniors, many of whom were not allowed to leave home. I applied to do a couple of hours a week. I was blindsided by an offer of 40 hours a week to scan the Vote by Mail (VBM) ballots and verify the signatures. That was more than I wanted to do, but VBM was shaping up to be a really big deal in this election… I spoke to my clients who, to a man, said “do it, and thank you!” I spoke to HR and said that if I needed to step away for phone calls concerning my business, then that came first. Everyone was on-board, so I participated in the election of 2020 on so many levels it was both informative and entertaining.
2020 was also the year of the Census. Now, that was a learning experience! As a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) person; a map maker and data analyst, it is always interesting to see how other people develop and deploy GIS software.
I should add that I was free to take these opportunities because I have no-one depending on me. It sounds harsh, perhaps pitiable - or pitiful, to say that my life is expendable, and that is not what I mean to infer.
For too many people, 2020 was a horrible year. However, pandemic aside, it was one of the most enjoyable and fulfilling years of my life. In trying to remain sensitive to others, I delayed writing this, but I also wanted to share with friends. Besides volunteer opportunities, my 2020 was filled with the following memorable activities:
• I had a photo accepted in the Museum of Youth Culture ‘Grown up in Britain’ exhibit.
• After 20+ years as a Servas member, I became a Servas interviewer and even conducted my first interview. Unfortunately, no travelling is taking place, and may not resume until 2022. When it does, I’ll be ready.
• I participated in a GIS competition, beta testing new GIS software.
• I participated in the annual Horseshoe crab survey season, surveying Charlotte Harbor Estuary.
• I became certified, through the UN, on designing resilient cities.
• I did my first ever tree survey.
• I surveyed eagle nests!
• I was selected to represent my City as a 2021 ambassador for Island Innovation.
Yes, for me, 2020 was a good year.
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