Ohmigosh!

The Guild Endowment Fund ended last year with a grand total of about 212K in it. Yesterday I learned that it ended 06-07 with a pinch over $405K in it. A 91% increase. CRAZY! Way to go Guild members for making it happen!

Yesterday was a breakthrough day in other ways, too. I read the first draft of our strategic plan - and love it. A friend was hired at VU. Way to go. After a string of routine days, it was fun to feel like the Guild has taken a giant leap forward!

Something old, something new

Something borrowed, something blue? So the Guild is making every effort to continue any activity that Guild members participated in before the transition. One of these activities is selling Entertainment books. Not a new fundraiser. However, the Guild has a link directly on its webpage where ANYONE can purchase the book (for a discount) and the profits benefit the Guild. San Diego is overseeing this project this year. I'm excited about the collaboration and potential.

In addition, we received our first official Member Originated Activity form yesterday for the care package packing taking place in Milwaukee. This is another opportunity that members can use to initiate activities. Over the past year, we've transitioned many of the bigger fundraisers - cake project and football stand. The operations are very much the same, the difference is that the Guild is the treasurer. So far so good, now it is time to extend this to other fundraisers. I hope the membership recognizes that fundraising is still part of the Guild's contribution to Valpo and that even though much has changed, we've done our best to preserve what was working in our former structure.

Convocation

Convocation went well. I really appreciated what Pres Harre had to say and hope that they post a transcript or video to the web. Annual Commitment Plans and ballots are pouring in as the ballot deadline is Friday! Out of the blue, the former Treasurer of the Big Valley CA chapter called yesterday. She was in town and wanted to close the chapter checking account. The chapter disbanded in 2001 (I think). I gave her a quick tour of campus and shared what was new in the Guild. It was a delightful break in the routine!

Here we go again

First day of classes, opening convocation. President Harre's 20th convocation - and last. An exciting beginning full of the pomp that comes with collegiate life. It also means the end of casual days and summer. It is also my dad's birthday. He would have been 66.

The countdown

Classes begin in less than 24 hours. Yikes! Students are back. Thank goodness the weather improved before move in began. Just a little rain. I'm wondering how many parents got stuck due to the flooding. 80-94 was closed! I can imagine how frustrated it was for the student just wanting to start their life to be stuck in a minivan with their parents. At this time of year, I always reflect on how the beginning of college is a fresh start for many freshmen. They will meet life long friends, discover who they are and make 1000s of memories that last a lifetime...and it all started here at Valpo on Saturday.

Purple

The other day on Facebook (which I LOVE), I put my status as "feeling purple." I was feeling a little blue (a string of rainy days, a husband out of town and a mountain of work...can do that to a girl) and seeing red. Seeing red came from two sources 1. I'm frustrated with how a relative is acting and 2. I received a call from a past Guild supporter who didn't like the Guild before the change in structure...and, of course, doesn't care for it now. It is not the same Guild she claims. She was condescending and I was offended because so much of ME is in the new Guild. I'm letting it go...

The Board of Directors asked the question a couple weeks ago on whether the Guild should change its name to assert itself as a new organization. The Guild Advisory Team considered this very seriously and had some good reasons for not changing. I agree that now is not the time. That said, lately I have felt like calling it Guild2 or Guild: the sequel. Hopefully like High School Musical 2, it will be as successful as the original.

Rain

This weather is a downer. Robby and I entertained ourselves as best we could. Rick was up at his dad's hoping to mow lawn...but it is too soggy to attempt it. I hope the weather improves for move in day! Students come back at the end of the week....YIKES!

Flat Tire

After nearly 20 years of driving it is bound to happen...especially with the miles I put on my car! I had a flat tire. It all worked out. Seeing the glass half full, I'm thankful that I was in a safe location (on 49), had my cell phone (charged), it was sunny, I had gone to the bathroom on a whim before driving home, and I had snacks. It was also a relief to have two Good Samaritans stop to see if I needed help as well as a state trooper. When I assured these kind folks that help was on the way (I have road side assistance), they would drive off. Robby asked, "Why didn't they help us?" That was one of about 10,000 questions he asked during the experience. We got home about 90 minutes late - which was the most frustrating.

Hit the wall

Summer is winding down and in a way, I think I'm winding down too. I need a boost of adrenaline to finish up some projects - such as the Summer Bulletin which is 75% done. A mailing to about 650 lapsed members was sent yesterday. I hope it gets some results. Some of the people didn't rejoin because their student graduated and moved on. Some may not have rejoined because they feel there local group is dead. I hope that they see they can still support students.

Awesome weekend

The house is a mess...and really I almost don't even care. This weekend was fun. As one of the first weekends in a LONG time we didn't have any plans, we filled it up with fun family stuff. Robby and I watched movies and ate popcorn for dinner on Friday. We went to the library and beach on Saturday. Took a long nap Saturday afternoon. Grilled out and hung out with hubby Saturday evening. Bought a little yard pool and filled it up Sunday. Went into Chicago to hear Mavis Staples (for free) and eat a picnic dinner. Good times. It felt great to be outside!

I'm cake ready

I had a great time at the Cake Kick-off meeting last night. I'm ready to bake cakes! I was disappointed that there weren't more members there. I keep hearing "we want opportunities to connect" but then few people show up. This wasn't just last night - this has been at the majority of the gatherings - nationwide - that I've attended. The host says, "I was hoping more people would show up." The Making Dinner Fun fundraiser hosted on 7-31 was a success. Some Guild members were there, but the majority were non-Guild members who decided to support the Guild. This trend strengthens my confidence that the Guild's new structure will better meet the needs of our future member. Off to buy cake mixes...

8-9-07

I've always appreciated dates that have some pattern. Today we have a 7, 8 and 9 - though not in order. I liked the hype around 7-7-07 with jackpot themed weddings.

The ELCA Assembly reception was fun. People didn't eat...so there were leftovers (it is so hard to predict! At the LCMS we ran out of food). I saw a couple Guild members there. This ends a long string of summer events: FOCUS, LCMS, Strat Plan mtg, ELCA. A relief.

Tonight is the Guild Cake Project Kick-off meeting! We will have an opportunity to connect with other members and receive our cake pans. This week I will clock around 55-60 hours on the job, however much of it is with misc. stuff and I'm falling behind on "work." I anticipate a little catch up in the next couple of weeks...before students return....!

off again

After a few hours in the office and a meeting with CK (aka the boss) I'm off to Chicago to serve as a hostess at a Valpo reception entertaining Valpo friends attending the ELCA Assembly. I represented Valpo on Sunday at the ELCA's Jubilee. Valpo had a booth.

It is SO hot! We have refused to install our AC units at home...until this morning. Waking up sweaty is gross. We only installed one so we have a place to retreat. Being 4 blocks from Lake Michigan has made it bearable until this week. There is no relief from the heat in sight.

And, we're back

Vacation was awesome. I literally cried on the last night knowing that the days of going to beach, eating ice cream, reading on the porch and lake breezes were at an end. Though I like my reality, I also harbor fantasies about alternative ways of living. If I weren't here, what would I be doing? Could I be a resort owner? park ranger? charter fisherwoman?

Work actually began yesterday when I staffed Valpo's booth at the ELCA Jubilee taking place in Chicago. During some downtime I organized my list of what to tackle first upon my return to the office. The list is long. Too long considering summer is coming to an end, fast.

Campus has changed in my absence. New traffic patterns, resurfaced parking lot, the Union construction is coming along. I had the fortune of meeting with Dennis Trinkle today about how the Guild and campus technology can intersect. What an energizing and forward thinking person!