Gil's Page

I’m not 100% sure, yet, about my life-after-bookstore plans. I’d welcome thoughts and employment leads from those of you who’ve been friends and patrons of Books & Birds. I’ve had 24 years’ experience running the bookstore; managing staff; buying, pricing and selling inventory; and developing and exercising other business skills. Please let me know if you become aware of any opportunities which would benefit from my skills and interests.

My experience before Books & Birds was primarily in non-profits (no jokes, please) in the political, social, and health fields (most recent first):

• State Director – National Abortion Rights Action League - pro-choice political action, lobbying, public education…at the time, I was the first – and only – male state director.
  

• Director – Connecticut Justice Commission Victim Rights Program – on a Federal Dept. of Justice LEAA grant, created a Crime Victim Bill of Rights.
  

• Member – Connecticut Criminal Injuries Compensation Board – one of Gov. Ella Grasso’s three original appointees to this program to assist innocent victims of violent crime.
  

• Development Director – Greater Hartford Chapter, American Heart Association – fund raising director coordinating volunteers, planned giving, special events, door-to-door campaigns.
  

• Program Director – Victim Assistance Program – on a 6-month grant, created Connecticut’s first comprehensive program to help victims of crime; served 22 communities in northeastern Conn.; obtained funding for on-going program.
  

• Director – Help Line – 24-hour telephone hotline providing crisis intervention services to northwestern Massachusetts.
  

• Columnist – Culturnatives© - weekly column carried in 2 newspapers, dealing with social/political commentary, alternative lifestyles and cultural alternatives; and Draft Counselor’s Corner© (see next item).
  

• Director – University of Massachusetts Draft Counseling Services – during the era of the war against Vietnam, helped people find legal alternatives to the draft - (I’m very afraid we may be nearing a time when this sort of program may be needed again) – trained counselors, wrote twice-weekly newspaper column on the Selective Service System and legal routes to deferments, public speaking.
  

• Director – Martin Luther King Jr. Social Action Council – based at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, worked on issues of racism, poverty, social justice, equal employment, nonviolence, and, as the program evolved, women’s issues and the environment.

To put all this in a framework, I have skills in writing, speaking, business, organizing, troubleshooting and problem-solving, public relations, teaching, and creative alternativism. My other interests include political analysis, liberal-to-left politics and social issues, photography, birdwatching, fishing, and reading.

[Please let me know if you’d like to discuss, support, or just be kept informed about possible efforts to put together some sort of politically active group. Nothing definite in mind yet, but I’d like to create a possible feedback group.]

Gilbert J. Salk 860-643-0380

c/o Books & Birds

107 Jan Dr.

Hebron, CT 06248