Now viewing articles posted in 2023.
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One Final Trip in 2023
December 25th, 2023
Normally my year ends with a few corporate holiday parties but not this year. My 2023 ended on the road. We have several schools in the northern part of Wisconsin that we work with and this year they booked us for our photo ornament program for the second week in December. To say I was not looking forward to the trek would be an understatement. Yes, it is a long drive out there but that wasn’t the issue, the problem for me was the cold. Northern Wisconsin in the winter is not known for its balmy temperatures, especially for the campus in Superior which is right on the lake. (For those that are a bit geographically challenged that is Lake Superior one of the 5 Great Lakes.) They have this little thing called the Lake Effect, which can mean additional snowfall, wind, or frigid temperatures.
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Missing a View from the Chair
December 18th, 2023
There it hangs, still wrapped up in the plastic from the dry cleaners. As the sun hits it, the red fur glistens while the white fur appears almost pristine, like a new fallen snow. Next to it sits my bag complete with boots, gloves, makeup kit, suspenders, and of course my bells. This will be one of few years, over the last 47, that I will not don the suit and take my place in a Santa chair ready to welcome kids of all ages onto my lap. For some, playing Santa is a job. For me, it is a delight. There is something magical about playing that “right Jolly Old Elf”.
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Charity, It Does a Body Good
December 11th, 2023
At this time of year many ads on TV are for charitable organizations. Our screens are filled with images of starving kids, abused animals, families singing the praises of a variety of hospitals like Shriners or St. Jude’s, and of course photos of beautiful, majestic animals that are nearing extinction. For some, they will spend far more on giving to charities this season than they will on gifts for friends and family.
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Not Sure How I Feel About Artificial Intelligence
December 4th, 2023
Recently, I paid for a webinar on artificial intelligence. It was promoted as a CEO or other C-Suite executives basic guide to AI. Everything that I read, or have read, on AI says that if you don’t jump in now and at least begin to start understanding the artificial intelligence wave, you will be left behind. For those that are familiar with Clifton Strengths, learner is one of my top strengths so when you combine the threat of being left behind and the natural desire to learn new things this seemed like the perfect opportunity for me to explore this blossoming technology. Unfortunately, the day of the webinar I had a conflict and was unable to attend the live session, but I was able to access full recordings of the 3 presentations that were given.
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Rays of Sunshine in an otherwise Cloudy Fall.
November 27th, 2023
It is easy to get bogged down in all the gloom and doom that is going on in the world around us. There is no question why many people don’t read the paper, listen to the news on the radio or watch it on TV. Years ago, many Americans would tune into their local and or national news to stay informed. Over time, more people began to distrust the information being provided and the individuals that were delivering said information, with good reason. If you are paying attention this fall, what you have digested has to leave you feeling ill. Whether it is the conflict in the Middle East, shootings closer to home, or natural disasters, it has been a tough few months.
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I’m a Turkey Guy
November 20th, 2023
When did this become a debate? When did people start looking at foods other than turkey being the star and centerpiece of Thanksgiving dinner? This year, my wife is pushing for lasagna to be added to the festive table. Don’t get me wrong, I do enjoy a good lasagna and I’m not picky about what kind of cheese, meat, or seafood, it all works for me. Not a huge fan of a veggie lasagna, just my personal taste. That being said, I struggle with it being part of a Thanksgiving meal. Does it really go with the traditional sides of stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, and creamed onions?
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Now What Do I say?
November 13th, 2023
This is the time of year that I write my annual piece on how it’s okay to wish me a Merry Christmas even though I am Jewish. No, I don’t think you are ignorant or an anti-Semite, I just think that you are wishing me well at this time of year. Peace on earth and good will towards men and all that. Many have stopped saying Merry Christmas and have replaced that with Happy Holidays, but is that also wrong? Frankly, I’m not sure.
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Handling Unrest on College Campuses
November 6th, 2023
May 2020 and the months that followed were a difficult time in America. Of course, it was the beginning of the most serious phase of COVID and there was a lockdown nationwide. On top of that, George Floyd’s murder, at the hands of the police, sparked civil unrest nationwide, the likes of which had not been seen in decades. Protesters of all races, religions, and socio-economic levels took to the streets to demand police reforms and better treatment for people of color. In some areas, the protests turned violent but more often than not they were peaceful, loud but peaceful. It prompted discussions at all levels of society and in the halls of government, both local and national, as to what the problems were and how they could be solved. Colleges, because of the shutdown, were not faced with how to deal with the protests or what forums should be offered to address student concerns. When schools started to reopen in the fall of 2020, there were so many restrictions in place for events or gatherings that administrators still didn’t have to worry about communal unrest.
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Halloween: A Frighteningly Good Time.
October 30th, 2023
When you are a bit on the chunky side (okay maybe more than a bit) and you don’t celebrate Christmas, Halloween is the next best thing. It wasn’t just about the candy, although in my world that was the main attraction, October 31st was, and still is, a great day/night. Putting on a costume and scouring the neighborhood with your friends for hours is a spectacular way to spend an evening. Followed by hanging out, dumping your candy in a pile, and trading with one another to get the goodies you really wanted.
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Conference Season is Here
October 23rd, 2023
For whatever reason the fall is when many of the associations involved in Higher Education plan most of their conferences. It’s something I looked forward to each year. For us, the conference we attended the most are put on by the National Association for Campus Activities (NACA). Years ago, the association had 11 regions, 10 of which did their conferences in the Fall and one in the Spring. Starting in late September going right through to just before Thanksgiving several us would hit the road for exotic locations like Danvers, MA, Peoria, IL, Seven Springs, PA, Oklahoma City, Lancaster, PA and many more. It was an interesting time to say the least. For those few that did all 10 regions you were basically on the road for a little over 2 months. You lived in hotels and out of suitcases. I believe six was the most I ever attended in one fall season and that was more than enough.
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