Megan Curtis joins BOLLI staff
March 9, 2021
by Alorie Parkhill
“I am a people person,” reflects Megan Curtis cheerfully, flashing her winning smile. Her warmth, intelligence, and organizational skills will serve her well in taking over a demanding role as BOLLI Program Administrator. With Ilana Levine Seidmann’s helpful guidance initially, Megan looks forward to beginning at Turner Street on March 5th. We are delighted to welcome her.
The job description for this position includes seeking, organizing, and supervising volunteers, empowering people to create their environment and quality of life. She will also take charge of organizing and improving the physical space at Turner and the volunteer office at the Rabb School on Old South St. Megan will be maintaining and upgrading BOLLI A/V and Web capacity. Part of that role will be to support members’ ability to use our equipment. Megan will be promoting events, including classes, speakers, and groups. She will, of course, be coordinating regularly with both Avi and Ilana.
The majority of her time will be spent “moving about the learning environment, meeting with members, collaborating with leadership, maintaining the space, and trouble-shooting issues as they arise for membership or with equipment.” As primary staffer for our class and social space, Megan will be based at 60 Turner Street. Ilana’s office will remain in Old South St.
Megan’s experience as Volunteer Coordinator at Beacon Hospice and Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly has given her rich opportunities both to recruit and to train volunteers. Both of these tasks require a subtle touch. With characteristic energy, she facilitated the addition of 41 volunteers from the original four at Beacon Hospice. At Little Brothers, Megan planned and implemented many events to engage clients. She has gained perspective from these jobs on what it means to involve people in contributing to the common welfare. Megan communicates a deep respect for others. Working in hospice can be “intense and emotional,” requiring a balanced perspective. When the interviewing team asked how she managed potentially contentious situations, her response was that she “depersonalized the situation and remained calm,” important behaviors in any group.
Megan relishes reading, volunteering, and being part of the lives of seniors. She believes that “enrichment and social opportunities are very important for older adults.” She most values work that “includes a convivial environment, a clear set of goals, and opportunities to learn about people.” You will no doubt see Megan regularly around the Gathering Space, making connections and being helpful wherever she can be. By all means, introduce yourself, and join us in welcoming Megan Curtis into our community.