Applied in-person after being asked and told by administrative "leaders" that I was perfect for the position. I visited the branch and spent several hours checking it out (small rural town), then asked more detailed questions of other branch directors in the region regarding expectations, problem areas, how they are evaluated etc. After this research I decided to formally apply. I was granted an interview a couple of weeks later with “C” level staff and HR. Pretty easy interview, lots of basic questions as well as some "what would you do" in this situation type things or what would you change. Again pretty straight forward stuff. I was called a few days later and asked to come back the following week and present an "innovative idea or initiative to help grow membership at this branch" using local businesses or other groups as partners if I wanted to. So I first looked at census data for this small town and all of the surrounding towns and quickly noticed that the median age was 7 years higher than the rest of NYS. I then requested and received an age demographic of the membership at this branch. It was immediately clear that the "older" age groups 50 and up were percentage wise lower than the rest of the membership age brackets. When you consider that the median age for this town and all of the nearby towns was over 45 it didn't take long to identify the group I wanted to focus on. I also noticed the total branch membership was larger than the entire population of this town. So where were these people coming from and why else might they be in this town? It didn't take long to identify the only supermarket within a 10 mile radius as a VERY good reason. I contacted the store manager and did some brainstorming with some of my ideas which included these possibilities: store employee boot camps, order your groceries on-the-go where a customer could place an online order and then go to the Y to take an adult group exercise class such as a Silver Sneakers and then go back to pick up their order at the store across the street when done. These plus a couple of other ideas had the store manager saying "I love your ideas". Ok so I figured this was pretty good, innovative and something no one else had come up with. I next had my 3-5 min presentation with the “C” people and HR rep. I run through my ideas and their mouths literally dropped open. All three of them said "this is a great idea", one said "it was right in front of us and no one ever thought of this". I replied that sometimes it takes a fresh set of eyes to see this type of thing. Anyway, I don't think that it’s a home run, I KNOW it’s a grand slam and there isn't a prayer of my not getting it. Unfortunately I did not get it. Now this is NOT sour grapes, but you tell me if this sounds right. The offer was not extended because I live more than 5 minutes from the branch. That is their reasoning. When I was called and given the bad news I was told that they value me and my work with Y and that there is a place for me. I’m having trouble seeing it so they tossed out the fact that a new branch is opening a year from now as a carrot to keep me on-board. Odd, I don’t live in that town either. So, I have infinitely more professional experience, have stronger leadership qualities, understand that a 2 page resume is proper and a 5 pager is not, and have been a consistent volunteer for ALL of the major fundraising campaigns for several years. Yet I am not hired, so shortsighted of them.