I am personally so thrilled to have Anne on board here at Squidoo and I am absolutely positive that you will be too! She's already been hard at work on her Cheerleading for Charity Blog which highlights all the cool charity stuff that's going on at Squidoo! And speaking of cool...she just announced her first project! Here's a hint: It has to do with men who wear tights and can fly without a net. Curious? You'll find the answer at the end of Anne's interview. So without further adieu, Meet Anne Reidy... Anne Reidy is Squidoo's new Nonprofit Organizer. A life-long New Yorker Anne enjoys baseball, cooking and nonprofits that excel at telling their story.
Hi Anne, you literally just started with Squidoo, what are you first impressions of the organization?
I have been watching the progress of Squidoo almost since it’s inception. What strikes me most is how community-driven it is, that a dedicated lensmaster has an opportunity to participate and be heard.
Your Official Title is "Nonprofit Organizer", can you tell us a little about your position?
The great people at Squidoo have noticed that lensmasters want to do more for their favorite charities. So I’m here to lead the groundswell for even more great lenses for nonprofits. And what better way to help than to organize, listen, empower and lead people who believe passionately in something. The people who believe in the causes they serve may not be the millionaires and moguls who change names on the buildings, but they are the ones who can make the most difference. They need a forum for sharing their story and their passion all in a way that helps their cause. Enter Squidoo! I think Squidoo can help change the fundamental nature of fundraising and idea-spreading. Make it not about the big and the showy but rather about the powerful and the personal. So I’m am here to help grow a network of people who want to support their causes and ideas and charities by making pages about them on Squidoo. Can you tell us about your background and what brought you to Squidoo? I’ve spent seven years of volunteering for, studying and working in nonprofits. It’s been a exhilarating and frustrating experience. I have learned a lot about structure and practice, much good may it do me. I have met the most inspirational people who work on behalf of something neither for glory nor accolades but rather because they simply believe it is the right thing to do. Such people have a viral effect - they infect you with their belief so much so that you want to help too. Even if they’re only 10 or 20 or 50 in number, those people become the real heart of the cause. There is no better story-telling platform than Squidoo. I want nonprofits to change and I want the Squidoo community to show them how! What do you think is the biggest problem facing nonprofits in 2008? Nonprofits change like molasses. They are often understaffed and under funded. They deal with the problem that’s happening right now and never take the time to think about the problem (or opportunity!) that may be further down the road. With the exception of a few nonprofits, very few have embraced the web. Does your favorite nonprofit even update their website, never mind post a blog or a lens! The last few places I have worked, web content has been the very last thing on a too long to do list. I believe there has to be a different way. Nonprofits have to redefine the way they reach out. The cost of direct mail, telethons and events continue to rise with a diminished return. No one wants to go to a black tie event at the Waldorf Astoria but people DO want to help. And it’s not always about donating money, either. What's one thing that a Lensmaster can do today to get more involved with Squidoo Charities? Create a lens on your superhero! Go to http://www.squidoo.com/superheroes/hq to enter and check my blog http://annereidy.wordpress.com/ for updates!
