Professionals In Transition

03/19/2026

Dear Members of the Professionals In Transition® Community,

We will continue our **Zoom only** “open format” meetings this week due to the ongoing construction at the Red Cross estimated to be completed by late March. Our hope is to be able to resume meeting in person next week. 🤞

We are sorry for any inconvenience that this may cause.

Please bring your reemployment questions to our meeting tomorrow.

Thanks

*Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81850200985

Meeting ID: 818 5020 0985

Damian Birkel is the Founder &

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03/05/2026

Dear Members of the Professionals In Transition® Community,v

A quick reminder for all…

Due to construction at the Red Cross we will be meeting

***via Zoom ONLY*** through

March 20th. We are sorry for any inconvenience that this may cause.

Please bring your reemployment questions to our meeting tomorrow.

Thanks!

When: THURSDAYS

Where: American Red Cross

650 Coliseum Drive

W/S, NC 27106

Time: 7:00 to 8:30 pm

(in person or on Zoom*)

*Join Zoom Meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81850200985

Meeting ID: 818 5020 0985

03/04/2026

Hi Everyone,

The Red Cross will be under construction throughout February and most of March. Because of this development we’ll be meeting via Zoom only. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Thank you.

When: THURSDAYS

Where: American Red Cross

650 Coliseum Drive

W/S, NC 27106

Time: 7:00 to 8:30 pm

(in person or on Zoom*)

*Join Zoom Meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81850200985

Meeting ID: 818 5020 0985

02/26/2026

Dear Members of the Professionals In Transition® Community,

I learned tonight a little bit after 6 PM that the American Red Cross is in the process of reconstructing our regular meeting room. I don’t know at the moment if this means we will be meeting in person in an alternate room or if we will be meeting completely on Zoom. Construction is scheduled to go on through March 20th.

Please look for *another email* from me in the afternoon to let you know our new room (which we have easily accommodated to in the past) or if we will only meet on Zoom tomorrow night (Thursday) through March 20th.

We will continue with our “open format” meeting tomorrow to address your re-employment needs.

We continue to progress towards selective “topic driven” meetings and speakers too!

Remember, one of our key goals is to reignite our weekly networking community, while maintaining our Zoom attendance. Please call or respond to this email with feedback or suggestions.

Bring any of your re-employment questions tomorrow.

Thanks!

12/12/2025

12/12/2025

Dear Members of the International Community of Professionals In Transition®,

We celebrated tonight our 33rd annual Christmas 🎄 Party. It was awesome, well attended and represented Members across our many years; some whom I haven’t seen in over 20 years! It was wonderful to see kids and grandchildren too. I also heard from many others who couldn’t make it.

Special thanks to Annamay Douthit, Carolyn Wheeler, David Stewart and Charlene Menke.

Tonight’s party reminded me of why we started our free, all volunteer, nonprofit that has touched the lives of over 10,000 people online and in person.

When we were starting PIT, a common phrase often came to mind: “It is far better to light one small candle than to curse the darkness.”

Tonight demonstrated to me how important it is to keep our small candle burning.

Although “Giving Tuesday” has already passed, the critical need for your support remains.

As many of you know, we are in the middle of our annual fundraising appeal. Would you consider helping us keep the Professionals In Transition® candle burning?

If you are able to donate, just click on this link: https://www.jobsearching.org/donate

Thank You!

Photo: https://pixabay.com/photos/candle-light-a-candle-light-flame-1750640/

Damian Birkel is the Founder & Executive Director of Professionals In Transition® Support Group Inc.

https://www.jobsearching.org

(336) 972-8876

linkedin.com/in/birkel

11/20/2025

Unemployment affects every aspect of your life, including family members and close relations. When you're out of work, whatever issues already exist in your household tend to be magnified, especially during the Holidays.
Thanksgiving can be very difficult if you’re out of work. Holiday “chit chat” with relatives around the table can quickly become awkward, too.

Relatives and family members may inadvertently hurt you with judgmental phrases like: “Remember last year when you told me about the fight you got into with your boss? Well, you probably had this coming.”

Even worse, if you've had trouble communicating with family members in the past, unemployment may further aggravate this tendency because talking openly can become more difficult.

This week we will share our holiday frustrations and ideas on how to deal with them.

Please join us at *YOUR* Professionals In Transition® meeting held every week at the American Red Cross.

When: THURSDAYS

Where: American Red Cross

650 Coliseum Drive

W/S, NC 27106

Time: 7:00 to 8:30 pm

(in person or on Zoom*)

*Join Zoom Meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81850200985

Meeting ID: 818 5020 0985

Damian Birkel is the Founder & Executive Director of Professionals In Transition® Support Group Inc, one of the oldest non-profit organizations in America dedicated exclusively to helping the unemployed and underemployed find work on-line and in person.

https://www.jobsearching.org

(336) 972-8876

11/13/2025

Please join us at *YOUR* Professionals In Transition® meeting held every week at the American Red Cross. David Stewart will be your host this week.

When: THURSDAYS

Where: American Red Cross

650 Coliseum Drive

W/S, NC 27106

Time: 7:00 to 8:30 pm

(in person or on Zoom*)

*Join Zoom Meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81850200985

Meeting ID: 818 5020 0985

11/06/2025

Meeting the need of Professionals In Transition®

Each week we have the opportunity to meet you where you are in your employment needs. Things change quickly. Questions arise that need to be answered now.

Having the opportunity to practice your thirty second commercial, provide feedback and refine your “personal pitch” each week is always amazing to witness.

Many times we spend our meetings addressing the critical employment issues members have. It is interesting, invigorating and an excellent investment of your time.

Please join us at *YOUR* Professionals In Transition® meeting held every week at the American Red Cross. David Stewart will be your host this week.

When: THURSDAYS
Where: American Red Cross
650 Coliseum Drive
W/S, NC 27106
Time: 7:00 to 8:30 pm
(in person or on Zoom*)
*Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81850200985
Meeting ID: 818 5020 0985
Damian Birkel is the Founder & Executive Director of Professionals In Transition® Support Group Inc, one of the oldest non-profit organizations in America dedicated exclusively to helping the unemployed and underemployed find work on-line and in person.

https://www.jobsearching.org

(336) 972-8876

linkedin.com/in/birkel

11/04/2025

Across my professional life, I have made a point to not bring politics into the workplace; until today.

Today Is Election Day
===============

Reelect Randy Wooden
For VILLAGE COUNCIL
Village of Clemmons, NC

https://www.clemmons.org/209/Randy-Wooden

I have worked with Randy Wooden for over 25 years. He’s terrific and is running for reelection today. If you live in Clemmons, NC. please consider voting for him today.

Thanks!

Voting info: https://www.americantowns.com/clemmons-nc/voting-guide-polling-place-locations/