Steve Power

1. Retired? What %? 1. 95%. I retired from full time work in July, 2004. I was active as a fundraising consultant since then. I'm down to one client now, which is just fine.
2. Have you downsized? 2. Interesting question. We have changed our primary residence twice in the past six years and our vacation residence twice in the last 7 years. Part of this is sorting out where we wanted to live and second, we benefited from the housing boom in the last 10 years, especially in the northeast. Location, timing and luck have been in our favor. We consider the home on Martha's Vineyard to be our main place, with a small 1BR condo in a high rise in downtown Boston to be our escape to city living.
3. How many different homes since finishing school? 3. I was single for 12 years, spent 3 years in the Navy on sea duty and shore duty, went to business school, and resided in the Boston area in 4 different places. After I married things settled down and I lived in two homes (26 years in one home in Winchester, MA)
4.. Have you lived in a property on Nat'l Historic Reg? 4. No
5. Have you owned/now own a "classic" car? 5. No
6. Favorite sport/game now 6. Golf and tennis dominate, but I also enjoy trail bike nd downhill skiing.
7. Favorite pastime now 7. Home improvement and getting together with family and friends. My wife Elizabeth is an interior designer and we have upgraded every place we've lived, doing much of the work ourselves.
8. How are you saving the Earth? 8. Re-cycling; rejected the idea of buying another SUV.
9. Important Cause you support 9. Many small local charities I know. My career has been spent helping nonprofits raise money. My two favorites are food banks and hospice. My favorites among the large national charities are Habitat for Humanity and environmental groups such as The Nature Conservancy and World life Fund
10. If Life is Perseverance and Luck - for you it has been 10. Luck % 20% Perseverance % 80%
11. Have you run for Office? 11. No
12. Do you write letters to the Editor? 12. No
13. Lead/Led an Organization? 13. Business management has been my career for the past 37 years.
14. Personal Description in Life 14. Manager X Leader X Salesperson X Teacher X

More Info 15. Worst fashion fad since 1957 For men- leisure suits For women- hot pants
16. New word since 1957 that you use all the time _________?__________
17. Best invention since 1957 - large in scope Personal computer; software, internet
18. Best gadget since 1957 cell phone
19. Best medical breakthrough since 1957 birth control pill
20. Your participation in the Computer revolution Nothing has changed the way we live and conduct business more than the computer and the internet.
BIO-sketch:

My most satisfying success has been two-fold: having an outstanding marriage and family life with two daughters, and; having a career in business that I enjoyed every day. Going to business school after the Navy was an important fork in the road-it gave me the direction I needed to select a specific career path. My first job was with a small direct marketing company in Waltham MA that specialized in fundraising for nonprofits. I went on to work for five different agencies that provided services in data base management and direct mail fundraising. I never worked directly for a nonprofit but the clients were always charitable organizations. The thing I liked most about direct marketing was it was a measurably advertising medium that made it possible to do very accurate testing and analysis. I enjoyed providing a service versus a product, because so much of your value is what you personally provide.

Two personal experiences stand out in the late 50s and early 60s. In summer 1959 I performed professionally with the Dartmouth glee club at Radio City Music Hall. I enjoyed my three years in the Navy and was assigned to a ship that provided logistic support to the US scientific forces in Antarctica.

What am I known for? At my 60th birthday, I was given an award (from my wife) for being the most non-judgmental person. I thought about starting a national movement based on this, but concluded that the appeal would not be as compelling as cure cancer, save the earth, or ban handguns. Many of my friends know me for "Steve's Granola", something I make (a hobby) and give to friends, often an alternative to a bottle of wine.

I have fond memories of the 1950's. Our parents were truly members of the greatest generation. I like to read books about WWII and the economic boom of the 50s. I remember riding on my father's shoulders at the celebration in downtown Rochester at the end of the war. The fifties were a calm period before the storms of the 60s and 70s.

People say I resemble Clint Eastwood, so I think he should play the part of me in a movie. I like photography and I could see myself traveling around the west shooting the Bridges of Madison County with Meryl Streep in my pick-up.

Things I am still learning? The personal computer and the search engine have given us all instant access to any and every imaginable topic. Our capacity to learn new things is unlimited. Have a question about a subject you know little about? Fifteen minutes later you have the answer. Our senior years should never be dull, as long as we are blessed with reasonably good health.