Experience #2

So, if you work at that place I work, I ask you to keep this blog to yourself, I'm sure I can trust you, right?

Thursday I flew to Tucson to meet Ken who began the interview process for the Scout Executive position in Tucson. It really is a grueling process. I'm not sure other jobs make people go through this much torture. The region and the local selection committee select three fairly equally qualified candidates. The candidates and spouses meet with the selection committee for a reception on Thursday, and then they break into groups and go to dinner. Then on Friday the candidates interview in a round robin format. He went through three sessions, about 3 hours total, then they have 10 minutes to summarize in front of the entire group. Then you go back to your hotel room and wait.

Here are some of the unexpected details. First off, whoever booked my flight was either an idiot, or had never traveled before and had flunked geography. They booked me to Tucson through Salt Lake City. If you watch the news, you realize this was a problem. I think I ran a marathon through the SLC airport trying to get a plane to Tucson after I missed my connection. Finally got a plane to Phoenix, and rented a car. Bad part, I landed in Phoenix at 5, took me over an hour to get out of town because of traffic. So, instead of meeting everyone for a lovely reception at 6, I was driving. I ended up joining Ken and a group of the selection committee at a very nice restaurant. We met in the private dining room in the wine cellar (yes, I was still in my sweats.)

Friday while Ken was getting grilled for three hours, one of the wives took me and the other candidate's wife on a tour of the city. It was all very interesting. Tucson is not like anyplace we've ever lived before. No tall buildings, very spread out, rustic, "small town", no grass, lots of cactus. So, after Ken finished we headed to our room to wait. We were told they would probably be done around 1 or 1:15.

The typical procedure is, if you get the job they call you to come down and sign papers, if you don't, then you get a knock on the door. We've been through this process twice before, and got the knock. So, 1 came and went, 1:15 came and went, I was getting mad at these people who could not see what a wonderful leader Ken would make. Then, the knock on the door. I was livid, I threw down the newspaper I was reading. It was housekeeping, REALLY, that was cruel. I had already started texting one of my friends lambasting the whole organization. Not long after that, the phone rang.

So, Ken is now the new Scout Executive in the Catalina Council Boy Scouts of America. He starts work on Feb. 1. We have lots to do in the meantime. Decisions to make regarding the house (sell or rent). Jake is trying to decide what to do, stay or go. If we decide to sell, the kids and I will stay until the house sells, if we rent, then we'll move closer to the first part of February.

So, excitement, a little bit of anxiety, lots to do. That is what the next couple of months look like for us. Tomorrow is Experience #3. I will make you wait to see what that is.