As Karen mentioned last week, the return to work after the holiday closure is a transition. Hopefully, you returned rested and recharged and maybe, like me, a little bit intimidated about what the remainder of the fiscal entails! I try to take time earlier in January to recalibrate and catch up on some professional reading. I review Forward, Together and check in with progress towards both our short- and long-term goals. For me, this also includes re-reading consultant Chris Vlahos’ 2019 review of Alumni Relations and his recommendations.

I wanted to take a moment to welcome everyone back.

Knowing I was responsible for the content for ALTogether Now this week has weighed on me. It was a deadline on my To Do list. It was a task I procrastinated about completing due to other priorities. It was a stressor amidst other exciting work that just had to take priority. As a result, I didn’t write this message until the last possible moment. OK, I was late. 

I don’t write this to evoke sympathy. I write this because I know I am not alone. I write this to say that I know how you feel.

Content warning: The following column discusses sexual violence and harassment. 

Three in four women in fundraising have experienced sexual harassment. Seven per cent of men have experienced harassment. LGBTQAI+ and racialized fundraisers experience severe forms of harassment and abuse  – AFP Workplace Climate Survey.

Pretty alarming, isn’t it?