Retreat

Time for our first of the year retreat, the one where we all head for the Meridian Center and get our heads out of the daily routines to see if we are still heading in the right direction. An important activity. This year we have new people to bring on board, people who have not been through the opening and settling of a new building and a new work flow. People who have only been with us for part of a year and will not know all of the upcoming impacts that are a normal part of academia.

Where once we had a fairly well oiled team, one where we knew what to expect and who fit where, we now are in the process of reconfiguration and redefining our strengths and needs. We plan to revisit our Mission and Vision statements and see how we are fulfilling them, where we need to do better, where we need to change strategies. For me, this is an invigorating process. It reminds me of the eagle who beats his beak against the stone to keep it sharp and functional so that it can still eat. For others, this is sheer torture filled with pain and distress.

Even though there is not uniform buy-in, even though some grit their teeth and tolerate the silliness of team building activities, people come away with a better understanding of why we do what we do, and why we keep working at making it better. I hear the reinvestment in the conversations. I hear the "so that's why" surprise in their vocal inflection.

Those involved in planning the retreat are never sure we are hitting the mark until all is said and done. Grace of God, today as in the past, we feel that important conversations took place and good ideas were generated. We are closer, more tightly knit as a family despite our individual foibles and follies. And, I hope, people realize that here in this workplace, we do care - about each other, about our students, about our work, about our world.

Pinecone Cobs

Beneath every pine tree, Sugar and I discover empty pine cone cobs. It is obvious that the squirrels have been busy eating themselves happy. Like gnawed corn cobs, the tiny pine cone ribs lie scattered about on the still green grass, their white skeletons beginning to dry and wither. I resist the temptation to gather them up and create wreaths from their straw-like forms.

Sugar barks at the cheeky nibblers who barely raise a whisker in our direction. They simply crawl around to the other side of the pine tree trunk and flick their tails in disdain at our intrusion of their lunch. I wonder if squirrels consider the nuts in pine cones to be delicacies? Do they realize that by consuming the dangling pine tree fruit they are depleting what could be their only reachable source of food should snow actually appear this winter?

I have my hands full making sure Drew is fed and Sugar has her treats. I would love to put out seeds for the many feathered friends still hanging around, but that is not to be this year. Perhaps next year I will put something in the tree by my living room window, to entertain Sugar and keep the birds happy. Not that they seem to be wanting, mind you. Just that they would dine where I could enjoy their beauty.

Techno-lutions

There is a new move afoot called Universal Design. The idea is that what helps someone with some kind of disability actually benefits everyone. Rather than making accommodations for someone with special needs, you plan for the broadest possible access without making anyone have to ask for help. The example given is that although curbs were altered to allow for wheelchair access, the lowered curbs also helped many others including moms with baby strollers, people with walkers, skateboarders, bicycles, etc. An interesting concept with no small amount of merit.

For our reserve system, that means we have to provide access to the thousands of articles that professors put online for course readings in numerous formats. No small feat for sure. I call on our technology department to help us with a conversion plan. To my amazement and delight, they are already working on a special drive where you can drag a pdf into a folder and it is automatically converted into a word doc (and vice versa). Somehow I should not be surprised at this magic answer to what might have been a daunting process.

They promise to make it ready for us soon. Meanwhile, they will take care of the immediate needs until it is up and running. Answers before you even know there will be questions. Too bad more of life isn't like that. Or is it?