Ok, so you want to know who this Wunderkind character is, huh? Well, let me start by explaining the handle. Wunderkind is a German expression, originally meaning wonder child or child prodigy. It came into wider use in the USA in the early 20th century to describe any especially bright or talented younger person. I'm of German heritage, though American-born from many generations of US citizens, and I was a pretty sharp youngster at one point, so I adopted this handle when I became an Internaut.
I'm a white male native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, born in October, 1954. Raised in south Florida, I graduated from the University of Miami in 1974. Yep, the math is right; I did a four-year curriculum in just over two. Went straight through, summers and all, working part time on the side. I CLEP'ed (use search index) out of 57 credits by examination, and ended up an honors graduate with Majors in Mass Communications and Politics and Public Affairs; plus minors in History, Philosophy, and English. I also earned a post-baccalaureate Professional Development Certificate in Association Management from the University of Maryland in 1981.
After a year post-college in public relations, I got a job in the non-profit sector in government relations. I moved to northern Virginia, just outside of Washington, DC, in 1975 and have lived here ever since, though of course I've moved 4 times since then.
My career in non-profit organizations, (principally in communications and marketing activities, with a little of everything else thrown in) spans the whole time since 1975, except for a couple years when I ran a contract association management and consulting firm with two partners in the early '80's. We provided shared services to small non-profit organizations who couldn't afford their own full-time staff and offices. Unfortunately, we were undercapitalized and the smallest fish in a market where conservative boards liked to "buy the storefront", so I went back to working for somebody else in 1984 and have been doing that ever since.
Today I'm the executive director and CEO of a small charitable nonprofit organization. I'm a Certified Association Executive (CAE), a professional designation carried by only around 2,400 professionals in the US. To get it, you have to pass a 7-hour exam on all aspects of non-profit organization management, plus have a certain level of experience and expertise. If you pass both "halves" of the certification process, you're certified for 3 years; you have to renew your certification every 3 years thereafter by demonstrating continued education and outreach. I was the youngest person ever certified, at age 26, so far as their records could tell. Told you I was a Wunderkind!
I have a son, born in 1981. For obvious reasons, I keep my "real" identity private. At some point that may change, but until then, you'll just have to be satisfied with what you see here. Hell, how many of your other cyberacquaintences have told you even this much, huh?
I've done a great many things in my life; I have a background in instrumental music, brass (mostly) and keyboard (a little); I've written a number of professional articles in my field; I am a respected speaker and trainer in a number of areas - I've taught non-credit courses at The George Washington University, the University of Maryland, and Northern Virginia Community College. I'm now trying to build a consulting practice in all aspects of non-profit management and fundraising, with hope that I can eventually go to that full time.
I'm presently working (slowly) on my first novel - no hints yet; my hobbies include playing board wargames - simulations of historic or ahistoric naval battles, generally using printed counters and maps with hexagonal grids superimposed, though also sometimes with miniature ships - I've won two different national championships in this area. I've had my own cable TV talk show - I did it, like this homepage, because I figured the experience would stand me in good stead professionally, and because it would be fun. It was. I did it for two years, until I got tired of being producer, staff, and host all by myself!
I became an Internaut (my own term) in the summer of 1996, and I got hooked, BAD! I found Interchat, now known as Rob's Place, in the late summer/early fall, around August/September, I think, purely by accident. I followed a banner link off another page on the demon.uk server. That simple mouse click - wholly out of curiosity - changed my life tremendously. I won't get into all of the effect it has had on me, but let me assure you I am not exaggerating or engaging in hyperbole!! My closest friends will know what I mean; the rest of you will have to take my word for it.
So, that's me, or at least all of me that YOU'RE going to see *LOL*. If you want more detail, buy the autobiography when it comes out! In the meantime, you'll obviously find out more about me by reading the other pages in this collection. Thanks for your patience and interest.
Links to other kewl (IMHO) sites.
The U.S. Navy Memorial page... my Dad was a Navy vet, so this is very important to me
"Some people will like me, and some won't. So I might as well be myself, and then at least I'll know that the people who like me, like me." - Hugh Prather
Good words. I believe them.
© 1998daswunderkind@hotmail.com
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