MAYDAY! MAYDAY!

So it is possible that my slugishness is at risk. This whole saga started about 4 months ago...let's go back.

So there's a deadline approaching for our community-based grant. (For the uninformed, my section works under two grants: one is community-based, for organizations such as YMCA, and the other is school-based, for public school programs.) It is a competitive grant, which cycles every three years. (So, intuitively, one should realize in mid-2003 that this baby would come due in mid-2006.) Well, it is February 2006, and the deadline is quickly approaching. There are several sections to the grant application, and writing grants is no mean feat. There are some in our office who are uber-organized and don't go so much for procrastination, there are others who live in complete disarray and somehow always manage to finish things sort-of on time. Then we visit the third category of g-slug that works in our office. This type of person is the one who is mostly organized and likes things to run to plan. All well and good. This type makes goals and deadlines, most of which are met. It's the big ones that seem to be problematic. Like grant submission deadlines. The school-based grant was a few hours late, but it wasn't a big problem since it isn't really competitive. However, in late February, this third type of personality has a large section of the grant to write. The other two groups of people finish their writing and submission with a few hours to spare. The third is still plugging away, so the first two ask if the third needs assistance. Group 3 assures 1 and 2 that everything is good and there are no problems. RIGHT. Well, to make a long story not quite so long, the grant is not submitted on time. Argh.

Fast forward to yesterday.

We receive the list of grantees for the new grant cycle. Guess who isn't on the list? Bingo. Groups 1, 2, and 3. Although there is no word yet exactly why our esteemed section did not receive said grant, would anyone like to volunteer logical reasons? ---I probably here should let you know that even if logic ever did play into any g'ment decisions (which it doesn't), it probably isn't the only reason for the current situation...but it IS the most obvious.

So half of our funding is gone, and we can't reapply for three years. Since salaries are paid from this grant, my slugishness could possibly be endangered. Unlikely, but possible. We have 15 months to phase out the community side of our subgrantees. That may include a staff person. Hopefully not me. I would like to be the one to decide when and why I cease existance as a government slug.

Grr.