EXPERIENCE: Planning Analyst, City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Developed community-wide plans for public housing and conducted research in response to requests for zoning variances. Regularly met with community groups to identify housing needs, communicate city's policies, and advise on policies and procedures. Wrote policy papers and reports on city planning issues. Worked closely with citizen groups, landlords, contractors, and lawyers representing interests of various local groups. Developed a new information system for responding quickly to requests for planning information. 1995-present

Research Associate, Coalition for Community Service Agencies, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Conducted research, analyzed data, wrote reports, and lobbied government agencies at both the local and state levels on various aspects of community service organizations. Research involved interviewing government officials and representatives of community service groups. Several reports were responsible for providing greater public assistance to strengthen community service organizations at the local level. Reports cited by supervisor as "outstanding contributions to making community service organizations a central issue on the local government agenda." 1991-1994

EDUCATION: M.A., Public Administration, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 1991.

B.A., Political Science, State University of New York, Plattsburg, NY 1988.

REFERENCES: Available upon request.

RESEARCH Conducted 22 research projects on various aspects of planning and community service groups. Developed research design, conducted field interviews, and analyzed data. Research resulted in several reports which were responsible for changing local government policies. Consistently cited by supervisors as making "outstanding" contributions to both understanding and action.

PUBLIC RELATIONSDeveloped press releases, issued reports, and met regularly with community groups, government officials, contractors, and the press. Devised an innovative information system to respond quickly to requests for information.

COMMUNICATION Authored numerous position papers and major reports on public policy issues for government agencies and community groups. Frequent speaker before community organizations. Conducted several briefings for supervisors, city council members, and the press.

WORK HISTORY Planning Analyst, City of Philadelphia, PA, 1995-present.

Research Associate, Coalition for Community Service Agencies, Philadelphia, PA, 1991-1994.

EDUCATIONM.A., Public Administration, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 1991.

B.A., Political Science, State University of New York, Plattsburg, NY 1988.

PERSONAL Enjoy developing innovative approaches to public issues which involve research, writing, and frequent contact with government officials and community groups.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION             SARAH TAYLOR

CONTINUING EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Completed 15 graduate level hours of research and communication courses directly related to the public service.

Recently attended several workshops on strengthening research, communication, and community relations skills:

"Survey Research Methods in Local Government," International City Manager Association, June 4-6, 1998

"Briefing Techniques," American Management Associations, May 8, 1996

"Public Speaking," Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, February 20-21, 1995

"Effective Report Writing for Public Employees," November 12-13, 1994

"Planning as a Community Process," American Planning Association, March 21-25, 1994

MAJOR RESEARCH CONDUCTED AND REPORTS AUTHORED

"Making Community Service Organizations Work More Effectively," Coalition for Community Service Agencies, 1998.

"Serving the Community: A Practical Manual for Working With Government and Other Community Organizations," Coalition for Community Service Agencies, 1996.

"Planning Our Housing Future: A Comprehensive Approach to Balanced Growth," City of Philadelphia, 1994.

"City Planning Research: A Manual for Conducting Survey Research in the City of Philadelphia," City of Philadelphia, 1993.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

American Society for Public Administration
American Society of Association Executives
Toastmasters International

EDUCATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

Working toward Ph.D. in Public Policy with concentration on policy formation and community management.

Earned 4.0/4.0 grade point average in graduate studies.

EDUCATION: M.A., Public Administration, Temple University, Philadel-phia, Pennsylvania, 1991.

B.A., Political Science, State University of New York, Plattsburg, New York, 1988.

MAJOR STRENGTHS:

Research

Conducted 22 research projects on various aspects of planning and community service groups. Developed research design, conducted field interviews, and analyzed data. Research resulted in several reports which were responsible for changing local government policies. Consistently cited by supervisors as making "outstanding" contributions to both understanding and action.

Public Relations

Developed press releases, issued reports, and met regularly with community groups, government officials, contractors, and the press. Devised an innovative information system to respond quickly to requests for information.

Communication

Authored numerous position papers and major reports on public policy issues for government agencies and community groups. Frequent speaker before community organizations. Conducted several briefings for supervisors, city council members, and the press.

PERSONAL: Enjoy developing innovative approaches to public issues which involve research, writing, and frequent contact with government officials and community groups.

AACSO is one of the most important groups providing assistance to community organizations. I know, because I have worked with these groups for several years at both the local and state levels.

My work has been very exciting, but I would now like to contribute to the work of the national association. My experience includes:

Research: Conducted 22 research projects on local planning and community service groups. Research resulted in several reports which significantly altered local government policies.

Public relations: Developed press releases, issued reports, and met regularly with community groups, government officials, contractors, and the press. Devised an innovative information system to respond quickly to requests for information.

Communication: Authored numerous position papers and major reports on public policy issues for agencies and community groups. Frequent speaker before community organizations. Conducted several briefings for supervisors, city council members, and the press.

In addition, I am completing my Ph.D. in Public Policy with emphasis on policy formation and community management.

I would like to meet with you to discuss how my experience and skills relate to the work of AACSO. Since I will be in Washington, DC next month, I would appreciate an opportunity to meet with you at that time. I will call your office on Thursday morning, April 24, to see if we might be able to arrange a mutually convenient time to meet. I especially want to share with you some of the innovative research and public relations work I have done with community service organizations.

I look forward to meeting with you.

Sincerely,

Sarah Taylor(signature)

Sarah Taylor(typed)

I enclose my resume in response to your announcement in The Washington Post for a Community Research Analyst.

I am especially interested in this position for several reasons. First, I have six years of thoroughly enjoyable experience in working closely with community service organizations at the local and state levels. Second, I have conducted several practical studies of community service organizations which have resulted in strengthening their roles at the local level. Finally, my research work has placed me at the center of the policy process where I have worked effectively with government officials and other community groups.

I would appreciate an opportunity to meet with you to discuss how my experience might best relate to your needs. My combined research and community relations approach may be of special interest to you since it has resulted in some innovative approaches to community action. I will call your office on Tuesday morning April 22, to see if your schedule would permit such a meeting.

I look forward to learning more about your research needs and sharing some of my experiences with you.

Sincerely,

Sarah Taylor(signature)

Sarah Taylor(typed)

Dear Mr. Weston:

Alice White suggested that I contact you about my interest in community service organizations. She enthusiastically mentioned you as one of the best people to talk to about careers in this public service field.

I am leaving local government after three years of progressively responsible experience in community planning where I worked extensively with community service organizations. But before I decide to seek a career in this field as well as relocate, I believe I would benefit greatly from your professional experience and insights. Your advice would be very helpful at this stage in my career.

I will be in Washington during the seek of April 21-25. Would it be possible for us to meet briefly to discuss my career plans? I have several concerns you might be most helpful in clarifying. I will call your office on Thursday morning, April 15, to see if your schedule would permit such a meeting.

Sincerely,

Sarah Taylor(signed)

Sarah Taylor(typed)

I have been most impressed by your work with community service organizations in Philadelphia. Indeed, the recent article appearing in Association Trends on your promotion to assistant director of AACSO stressed what I learned a long time ago here in Philadelphia-you have an exceptional talent to get the local organization to work together in pursuing the national agenda of AACSO. Congratulations on a well deserved promotion!

Your public service career with community service organizations is one I hope to emulate. After six enjoyable years of working with these organizations at the local and state levels, I am convinced I want to pursue a long-term career in this field and especially from a much broader national perspective. My research and public relations work with these groups may also be of interest to you.

Would it be possible for us to meet briefly to discuss my career interests in this field? I believe your advice would be most valuable in helping me better define my future with community service organizations.

I will be in Washington, DC during the week of April 21-25. Perhaps your schedule would permit a meeting during that week. I will call your office on Tuesday morning, April 8, to see if such a meeting would be possible.

I look forward to meeting you and learning from your experience.

Sincerely,

Sarah Taylor(signed)

Sarah Taylor(typed)

Our meeting yesterday was truly informative and extremely useful in helping me clarify various concerns regarding careers with community service organizations. Your experience and knowledge of this field is most impressive.

I want to thank you again for taking the time from your busy schedule to meet with me. Your suggestions for strengthening my resume were very helpful. I am now revising the resume in light of your thoughtful advice. I will send you a copy of the revised resume next week.

Following your advice, I will contact Marilyn Plante tomorrow to see if she might have or know of any opportunities for someone with my interests and qualifications. I will give her your regards.
I hope to have a chance to meet with you again sometime.

Sincerely,

Sarah Taylor(signed)

Sarah Taylor(typed)

I want to thank you again for the opportunity to interview for the Community Research Analyst position. You and your staff were most helpful in clarifying many questions about this position and AACSO.

Our meeting further convinced me that this position is ideally suited for my interests, skills, and experience. My prior research and public relations work with community service agencies at the local and state levels has prepared me well for this position. I am committed to giving AACSO my very best effort.

I look forward to meeting with you again to further discuss my candidacy.

Sincerely,

Sarah Taylor(signed)

Sarah Taylor(typed)

Dear Mr. Weston:

I want to thank you again for considering me for the Community Research Analyst position. Although I am disappointed with the outcome, I appreciated the opportunity and learned a great deal about AACSO. I am especially pleased with the highly professional manner in which you and your staff conducted the interview.

Please keep me in mind for future vacancies. I have a strong interest in AACSO which will certainly continue in the future. I believe I could contribute a great deal to AACSO. I am sure I would work well with you and your staff.

Best wishes.

Sincerely,

Sarah Taylor(signed)

Sarah Taylor(typed)

I am pleased to accept your offer and look forward to joining AACSO later this month.

The Community Research Analyst position is ideally suited to my interests, skills, and experience. I will give you and AACSO my very best effort.

I understand I will begin work on May 14. Please contact me if I need to complete any paperwork prior to this starting date.

Thank you again for your consideration and confidence.

Sincerely,

Sarah Taylor(signed)

Sarah Taylor(typed)

The following excerpt is from Jobs and Careers With Nonprofit Organizations authored by Ron and Caryl Krannich and available at Impact Publications.