or in management — in all
kinds of business."
She herself parlayed her
presidency into a part-time
job that she loves, as newslet-
ter editor for Temple Beth El.
The part-time work offers
highly desirable flexibility, •
since she and the other
women who have taken paid
employment are still active in
the volunteer sector.

"It used to be that
volunteer credentials were
looked down upon. Now
they're looked at with great
favor. There's a more
enlightened view of the value
of volunteer skills in the cor-
porate world."
"At one time volunteer
work was looked down upon.
But we're doing a good job in
educating the for-profit sec-
tor," says Frannie Greene-
baum, 51, a former president
of the Junior League of Bir-
mingham and Director of
Development for the Com-
munity House.

While the skills are impor-
tant, the title does help.
"Once you get the title, peo-
ple are more respectful. But
I think it's also a matter of
what you feel about your-
self," Mrs. Grant says.
"To the outside world
you're still just a volun-
teer/housewife, but I think
that's disappearing. More
women are straddling both
worlds. And more corpora-
tions are looking at
volunteerism as a noble pur-
suit."

Photo by Glenn Triest

unknown territory. I didn't
know where I fit in it. You
think you're great in the
world you've come from. But
what makes you think that
they're going to think you're
great in the world you want
to go into?"
Mrs. Brown landed a short-
term position overseeing
fund-raising for the Anti-
Defamation League. That
gave her the boost of con-
fidence and direction she
needed to compete for the
Sinai Hospital position.
"Dick Lobenthal, (ADL's
Michigan Regional Director)
did express concerns about
hiring someone who had been
a volunteer, who hadn't
proved herself as a paid
employee. But he decided he
would gamble and take a
chance on ma"
She now knows that "a
good manager is a good
manager. And that it's
recognized by potential
employers."
Mrs. Brown, 53, says she
was lucky. Coming out of the
career volunteer environ-
ment, she used her skills and
networking to land a position
that provides both challenge
and personal satisfaction. She
feels she has the best of both
worlds.
"Volunteer work builds
character," Mrs. Grant says.
"I've seen women who say, 'I
don't know how to do that'
become executives. Suddenly,
they realize they're profes-
sionals. They go to work or
back to work as consultants,

❑

Barbara Cook, a
lawyer and
15-year veteran • of
the volunteer
world, says the
more you learn,
the better
volunteer you will
be.

U

THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

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