I’ll start by pleading your forgiveness… no, there wasn’t a blog post yesterday. Basically I just dropped the ball. Sorry about that. My brain was scattered in about five different directions—I actually asked one woman over the phone if she was my grandmother!! I just heard a voice saying my name, and it sounded like Grandma Rice. Of course, it did seem a bit strange to me that Grandma would be calling to ask about the NNPCW Leadership Event….

I have a feeling that today isn’t going to be much better. On one side, I’m leaving to attend the summer gathering of the Synod of Southern California and Hawaii’s Presbyterian Women organization tomorrow. This is probably a good thing, as Hurricane Dennis’ aftereffects have shrouded Louisville in gloom (something my roommate from Western Washington loves—as an east-sider from the Evergreen State, I hate rain). Moreover, I may meet up with my friend Kendroid out there. Two very good reasons to be heading out.

On the other end, Ann Crews Melton is leaving Women’s Ministries this week. Many alumnae know Ann, a former CoCo co-moderator and Austin College grad. Ann and I came into this craziness that is Presbyland together… most of you don’t know that Ann and I originally interviewed against one another for the same two internships (NNPCW and Women’s Advocacy). The National Volunteers Office put us up in a hotel room together for the night before the interviews. Imagine having to spend the night with the person you’re competing with for a job! Frankly, I was terrified of Ann because she was so quiet. I thought she disliked me. Then, right before we said goodnight, she said, “I’m really quiet in the mornings, so don’t think I hate you or anything.” Then, of course, Women’s Ministries offered her the Advocacy position and me the NNPCW internship. Ah, the memories.

I’m actually going to miss Ann quite a bit. We’ve been through a lot together here—both eventually losing our bosses, surviving the last RIF (reduction in force) where we lost Robin Yeary, and transitioning from interns to the primary staff people for our offices. During those difficulties, I always knew I could decompress with Ann. She’s quiet, yes, but not afraid to say what she thinks either. When things got really stressful around here, we used to have a running joke—we were going to quit our jobs and play Atari in our bathrobes all day. By the grace of God, it never got to that!

Ann has taught me a lot, too, about women’s issues and structures of oppression. I always said that Ann sent me the best articles from online about various social issues… some of them have been inspirations for blog posts. Hopefully she’ll continue to send them, and continue to challenge my worldview. And I hope she’ll continue to play some small role in shaping the direction of the Network.

And of course, behind all these other things lies the Leadership Event. Only 13 more days until showtime!!

“For you have been a refuge to the poor, a refuge to the needy in their distress, a shelter from the rainstorm and a shade from the heat.” --Isaiah 25:4a

Kelsey