In order to understand the context of Buzzards Bay, I am volunteering at the Buzzards Bay Coalition, "a membership-supported non-profit organization dedicated to the restoration, protection and sustainable use and enjoyment of our irreplaceable Bay and its watershed." Last night, I went to the coalition's offices for the first time for a training meeting. This Saturday, July 7th, the organization is holding one of its biggest fundraisers, a swim across New Bedford's harbor. I will be checking in swimmers with last names N through Z. I've wanted to do the swim myself for several years but havent been able to coordinate training for the swim or devote myself to the fundraising required of swimmers.
Because a huge part of my day-job was fundraising, the idea of doing even more fundraising in my spare time was not something I wanted to consider. But my employment has changed. And after working in the non-profit field for 12 years, it will be interesting to see how it's done outside of the art-world. Swimming across the harbor seems like a much nicer way to raise money than an art auction. Getting in the water and swimming -- these people are literally immersing themselves in the thing they are trying to save.
