The Arc of Northern Virginia

A guest post from Diane Poldy, President of Vienna Chamber

“It Couldn’t Be DoneSomebody said that it couldn’t be done,
But he with a chuckle replied
That “maybe it couldn’t,” but he would be one
Who wouldn’t say so till he’d tried.
So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin
On his face. If he worried he hid it.
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn’t be done, and he did it.Somebody scoffed: “Oh, you’ll never do that;
At least no one ever has done it”;
But he took off his coat and he took off his hat,
And the first thing we knew he’d begun it.
With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,
Without any doubting or quiddit,
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn’t be done, and he did it.

There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,
There are thousands to prophesy failure;
There are thousands to point out to you, one by one,
The dangers that wait to assail you.
But just buckle in with a bit of a grin,
Just take off your coat and go to it;
Just start to sing as you tackle the thing
That “cannot be done,” and you’ll do it.”

 Edgar A. Guest

 Dear friends,

Last evening the co-executive directors attende the “Imagine the possABILITIES” event held at the Vienna Lofty Salon. (Many thanks to Mona and her team it was a beautiful setting.) The night was about exploring the options for businesses in the communtiy to hire people of all Abilities.  David Egan, a self advocate and employee of Booze Allen Hamilton did a great job sharing his personal story about his career–and how “with the right supports” all people can enjoy a wonderful career as well… Eric Lachteran and his Boss from the San Vito Restaurant shared stories about their working relationship. What was nice to hear was the fact that “At first a person may be hired and the employer may see his/her disability…but when they work together over time the disability disappears and a mutual respect is left in its place.

Diane and Toni from the Chamber as well as a handful of other guests were moved by these stories. Nancy and myself even had a chance to share a little. I was moved by a poem that Diane shared with me at the end of the night. She approached me and said, “My mind is working fast imagining the possAbilities and how the Vienna Tysons Chamber can embrace this idea.” And then she said the poem I have above –reminded her of Me (I  was honored)! To be honest the poem reminds me of all of us–regardless of our abilities.

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