Lots going on. Here is a bulleted list:
- Our outcomes video (being created by an intern to be shown at our annual meeting during Homecoming) is coming along great. Maybe I'll post it here in the fall?
- Candidates have been chosen for the 2008 ballot (announcement May 1ish...)
- Linda was in the office and we created an agenda for the May 31 BOD meeting.
- Had an AWESOME time hanging with the Guild friends before they were off "to the ball" (Harre Tribute)
- The Tribute was fantastic (so I hear)
- The Alumni Brunch was fantastic (I was there). A tribute video honored the Harres' work.
- Sitting in Chapel I realized how many people in the Valpo community have become so important to me and have been a big influence.
- After Chapel I got caught up with a fellow 94 grad that I hadn't seen for some time.
- Attended Songfest. The students did a great job...but it different than when I was here! (Got to hand out with a friend, MK, during and after the event.)
- Attended the Outstanding Student Leader dinner. One of my two nominees was honored. These students are amazing!!!
- Senior Lunch invites are out.
- Writing "Guild" stories for 150th web page
- Finishing up grant summaries to send to BOD committee
- Missed Greek awards, but plan to write the Greek leaders a letter to recognize their work.
- People are shifting offices here in Loke today.
- Will attend the Harres' retirement reception for staff and faculty today.
These are the highlights...much more to report on later!
April 29, 2008
April 23, 2008
Will someone tip over the hour glass...
to make time stop for a second!?! Seriously, time is flying like sand through an hour glass. It is after 4? It feels like it should be noon! And, I don't think that I should still be on my first to do of the day, still! I've gotten all sorts of stuff "done" today...just not what I had planned! That said, one event that I've been doing the dets (details) for is a wine and cheese gathering for a few Guild folks coming to Valpo this weekend. Totally informal, hopefully a quick opportunity to connect before most head to the Tribute dinner. Impromptu and fun. That's me!
Otherwise I've filled my time signing the fourth quarter renewal letters for last year's givers. PLEASE REMIND PEOPLE TO RENEW by June 30! Appreciating Diane at lunch (Admin Profs day), working with volunteers on their event plans, and some internal problem solving. Yippee!
I like days like this when time flies, but I regret leaving with so many things undone. So it goes! And in a few minutes I get to go too.
Otherwise I've filled my time signing the fourth quarter renewal letters for last year's givers. PLEASE REMIND PEOPLE TO RENEW by June 30! Appreciating Diane at lunch (Admin Profs day), working with volunteers on their event plans, and some internal problem solving. Yippee!
I like days like this when time flies, but I regret leaving with so many things undone. So it goes! And in a few minutes I get to go too.
April 21, 2008
For lovers of words...
I found this on another blog. Those who know me know that I'm constantly mixing up words. Maybe, English isn't my first language!
Why English is so hard
I will be curious to see if anyone needs a translation or clarification on these!
Reasons why the English language is so hard to learn:
1) The bandage was wound around the wound.
2) The farm was used to produce produce.
3) The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.
4) We must polish the Polish furniture.
5) He could lead if he would get the lead out.
6) The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.
7) Since there is no time like the present, he thought it
was time to present the present.
8) A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.
9) When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.
10) I did not object to the object.
11) The insurance was invalid for the invalid.
12) There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.
13) They were too close to the door to close it.
14) The buck does funny things when the does are present.
15) A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line.
Another Day
When I awoke, I had been dreaming (or nightmaring) that I was chosen to represent the faculty and staff at a tribute to President Harre. My charge was to give a speech in front of the entire Valparaiso University community. As usual, my inspiration came late: about an hour before speech time. But, since the entire Valpo community was there, everyone was stopping to chat. And, for some reason I lost my shoes. Fortunately, the alarm went off!
Saying goodbye is on my mind since there is a big Tribute to the President and First-Lady this weekend, followed by a brunch on Sunday. Next week there is a faculty-staff reception (which, as far as I know, I will not be speaking at!). President Harre is the only Valpo president I have known - as a student, alumna, and employee - so it is weird to think about witnessing an end of an era. We have invited Mrs. Harre to be the speaker at the Senior Luncheon, which makes me happy since I have so much respect for her.
To respond to a reader's question: We had about 21 guests at the Web Conference. I'm pleased with this number as a good base. The age range was wide and there were attendees literally coast to coast (Maine to California).
Saying goodbye is on my mind since there is a big Tribute to the President and First-Lady this weekend, followed by a brunch on Sunday. Next week there is a faculty-staff reception (which, as far as I know, I will not be speaking at!). President Harre is the only Valpo president I have known - as a student, alumna, and employee - so it is weird to think about witnessing an end of an era. We have invited Mrs. Harre to be the speaker at the Senior Luncheon, which makes me happy since I have so much respect for her.
To respond to a reader's question: We had about 21 guests at the Web Conference. I'm pleased with this number as a good base. The age range was wide and there were attendees literally coast to coast (Maine to California).
April 18, 2008
Earthquake!
Yes, we survived our earthquake - my first! At 4:46 am I felt the earth move. With trains always going by near our house, I'm used to a certain level of vibration, but today felt different. I knew I wasn't going wack-o when Rick confirmed he felt it too. We went right back to sleep, but I was excited to confirm that our experience was an earthquake when I checked the news.
I found this on another blog and thought my readers (all six of you) would enjoy a little weekend fun. Get creative. Visit this site and start moving your mouse and clicking.
I found this on another blog and thought my readers (all six of you) would enjoy a little weekend fun. Get creative. Visit this site and start moving your mouse and clicking.
April 16, 2008
Undergrad Research and more
Today is the Celebration of Undergraduate Research on campus, to which the Guild provides funding. I plan to get over to the Christopher Center to see the projects that the students participated in this year.
We had a "cake emergency!" I got to bake a cake last night, then Diane brought the frosting and delivered it. It was a team effort! Sometimes you do what you have to do.
The web conference was a success. I learned SOOooo much in the process and there are a few things I know now to do differently. I guess we'll have to do this again so my skills stay fresh.
I've been in meetings most of the past two days (including an over the phone meeting with Mrs. Heckler, VU's first-lady elect!) so today is a huge "DIG-OUT."
We had a "cake emergency!" I got to bake a cake last night, then Diane brought the frosting and delivered it. It was a team effort! Sometimes you do what you have to do.
The web conference was a success. I learned SOOooo much in the process and there are a few things I know now to do differently. I guess we'll have to do this again so my skills stay fresh.
I've been in meetings most of the past two days (including an over the phone meeting with Mrs. Heckler, VU's first-lady elect!) so today is a huge "DIG-OUT."
April 9, 2008
April 8, 2008
Web Conference
The Guild is excited to present its web conference on April 13...but the details to get there may be the death of me! Ha! Today I will be entrenched in the details. I think we're ok on the presentation end. We have good help from IT, so all the techno-mumbo-jumbo is not for me alone to figure out. Now the trick will be getting the participants prepared. I fear that they will want to attend, but won't have sophisticated enough technology on their end to view/listen. The good news is that we will archive the presentation so people can come back later to view it. This is a giant step forward for the Guild as we prepare for more virtual connections between members. This time, the Guild may be ahead of itself (and the world)! Let everyone catch up with us! To register for the conference, contact the Guild office at guild@valpo.edu!
April 7, 2008
Goodsearch
You'll see that I added a link to goodsearch.com at the right. This site will give the Valparaiso University Guild one penny per search. Just visit goodsearch.com and make sure that "Valparaiso University Guild" is your designated charity. Buying online? Check out the many, many retailers that will give the Guild a percentage of your purchase if you connect through goodshop.com. Let's face it: This is EASY! Please spread the word as ANYONE (with a computer) can participate. I have made goodsearch.com my search engine default. Thanks for the help! It goes to support Valpo students!
April 2, 2008
The numbers
Good news! 10,000 sheets of stationery ordered today; 110 people completed the web conference survey; our 77th anniversary is in 11 days; we received 30 Guild Campus Gift grant proposals; 2 new members yesterday; 1 more chapter closed its bank account; 1 member was elected mayor of her town. A good day for the Guild!
Spring Cleaning
Something seriously got into me this weekend! I basically cleaned the entire house. We don't even have company coming!!! I picked up, dusted, vacuumed AND windexed windows/picture frames!!! I usually only do one of the above per quarter! It feels good. Now when I go home, I have manageable household tasks and I feel like doing them because I can look at the parts needing to be done rather than the whole. Sadly, at work, I have several tasks that all have the same urgency. Therefore, I'm fretting about the whole rather than the parts. Every time I get one part done, I look up to see 3 new parts have piled up! Yikes!
April 1, 2008
Toll Road Woes
Today the price to ride the Indiana Toll Road went up. Of course, the Indiana Toll Road neglected to really tell anyone. I searched and found an article posted in the NWITIMES on 3-29. In 2006 our Governor leased the Toll Road to a foreign company for the next 75 years. The state received $3.8 billion. Soon after the deal was inked, the company started installing the transponder readers. For a long time there was a big debate on whether a person could use the I-Pass (Illinois' transponder) or would be forced to buy a second Indiana transponder (I-Zoom). For someone who drives in both states with frequency, this would have been a huge inconvenience. There was also haggling over the rates. I-Pass users were going to have to pay the cash rate, I-Zoom would get a discount (making it inconvenient, but financially better to own both). 90,000 drivers were in my boat. Eventually this worked out.
A year ago, I received two postcards from the Indiana Toll Road on the same day. One provided a protective sleeve to hold my transponder so it couldn't be read (allowing me to still use my commuter card), the other just shared the "good news" that I-Zoom was coming. Was there information on the rates? No. Was there a timeline provided? No. It just said as of Winter 2007 (which, technically would have meant done by March 2007, when the card was mailed).
In November my commuter card expired. I had to write to ask what to do. I was given the ok to continue using it. Great, except none of the workers knew how to accept an expired card to charge the commuter discount. Eventually, I started using I-Pass for one toll and the card for the other.
The Toll Road has been in horrible shape this winter. Potholes have disabled many cars, construction is constant but is related to widening the road rather than fixing the road. Thankfully, they have stayed on top of salting and clearing the road.
On March 31, I was told that the commuter card would not be valid starting April 1. ONE DAY NOTICE. I drive this road almost every day and this was the first I have heard of it? The price has gone up and I still don't know what the rates are. A toll that cost me 15 cents (as a commuter) a year ago cost me $1 today. It should be less using my I-Pass (which I loaned to my husband for yesterday and today while his car is in the shop so he doesn't have to come up with $2.50 in cash for the Skyway toll - each way- which is also crazy!).
While open road tolling has become the norm in Illinois, here in Indiana you have to wait for a meaningless ticket. I have to stop three times along the way to either wait for a gate, give money to an attendant or get a ticket. Half the time the ticket machine jams. Couldn't they have inconvenienced us to install the latest technology instead of using a dated ticket/booth system?
With gas prices doubling in the past few years and the added tolls and the wear on my car with the horrible road conditions my cost of just getting to work is skyrocketing! Over the past 8 years, I have had four sets of tires, three different cars, two new windshields and one huge headache. I estimate it costs $15 just to commute PER DAY. $10 in gas, $$ for tolls, and the rest for car maintenance. That is $75 per week. If I were reimbursed at the approved IRS rate for my commute (50.5 cents per mile - which doesn't include tolls!) it costs $227 each week. Multiple that times 50 weeks a year it equals $11,350 per year! With tolls, it is going to be around $12,500.
I recognize that it is my choice to commute, however the circumstances from when I initially made the choice until now have dramatically changed in a short amount of time. And, a lot of the decisions that are effecting my day to day well-being are being made my people who do not have my best interest at heart. Wake up every one - we're being nickel and dimed to death and no one is watching out for the big picture here.
A year ago, I received two postcards from the Indiana Toll Road on the same day. One provided a protective sleeve to hold my transponder so it couldn't be read (allowing me to still use my commuter card), the other just shared the "good news" that I-Zoom was coming. Was there information on the rates? No. Was there a timeline provided? No. It just said as of Winter 2007 (which, technically would have meant done by March 2007, when the card was mailed).
In November my commuter card expired. I had to write to ask what to do. I was given the ok to continue using it. Great, except none of the workers knew how to accept an expired card to charge the commuter discount. Eventually, I started using I-Pass for one toll and the card for the other.
The Toll Road has been in horrible shape this winter. Potholes have disabled many cars, construction is constant but is related to widening the road rather than fixing the road. Thankfully, they have stayed on top of salting and clearing the road.
On March 31, I was told that the commuter card would not be valid starting April 1. ONE DAY NOTICE. I drive this road almost every day and this was the first I have heard of it? The price has gone up and I still don't know what the rates are. A toll that cost me 15 cents (as a commuter) a year ago cost me $1 today. It should be less using my I-Pass (which I loaned to my husband for yesterday and today while his car is in the shop so he doesn't have to come up with $2.50 in cash for the Skyway toll - each way- which is also crazy!).
While open road tolling has become the norm in Illinois, here in Indiana you have to wait for a meaningless ticket. I have to stop three times along the way to either wait for a gate, give money to an attendant or get a ticket. Half the time the ticket machine jams. Couldn't they have inconvenienced us to install the latest technology instead of using a dated ticket/booth system?
With gas prices doubling in the past few years and the added tolls and the wear on my car with the horrible road conditions my cost of just getting to work is skyrocketing! Over the past 8 years, I have had four sets of tires, three different cars, two new windshields and one huge headache. I estimate it costs $15 just to commute PER DAY. $10 in gas, $$ for tolls, and the rest for car maintenance. That is $75 per week. If I were reimbursed at the approved IRS rate for my commute (50.5 cents per mile - which doesn't include tolls!) it costs $227 each week. Multiple that times 50 weeks a year it equals $11,350 per year! With tolls, it is going to be around $12,500.
I recognize that it is my choice to commute, however the circumstances from when I initially made the choice until now have dramatically changed in a short amount of time. And, a lot of the decisions that are effecting my day to day well-being are being made my people who do not have my best interest at heart. Wake up every one - we're being nickel and dimed to death and no one is watching out for the big picture here.
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