I May Not Have the Cleanest Office, But...

I think I've put my computer along every wall in my office. Most of my day is spent in front of my 24" monitor. I eat at my desk so the carpet is a mess. I moved in here in 1991. It can be messy because cleaning it is usually a much lower priority than the project of the moment.  At the end of June I finished processing the spring teaching evaluations, distributed learning assessment assignments to 18 faculty (student papers they must evaluate), prepared offices for new faculty and staff, and had scores of other daily interruptions...er, opportunities for cheerful service. I know of at least three professors with much messier offices.

JB Letters 

in Track

Parents and coaches were generous at the end-of-season BCS Track & Field banquet. Over $400 was donated as thanks for my photographic efforts.  While Nancy and I would have preferred cash, the Fremd's added $50 in gift cards for the Cheesecake Factory (again!)

If JB wants to step up to a spot on the 4x200m or 4x400m relay teams, the way is clear as many seniors graduated.  We celebrated her team's State Championship, and while Jeannie Beth did not run at State personally, she can be proud that she's the only Sleight to be on a State Championship team -- and this twice in one year if you count Math. 

SBE Goes Through Changes

Five faculty members and two staff members missed of first ever SBE group photo. I had a student click the picture with my gear. 

In 1996, Debbie Wysomierski took over my job as MBA Coordinator when I was moved to technology manager.  She did a great job.  She was a joy to work with (when she was not a bear to work with).  One learned to walk softly on her turf.  The students only saw the "Good Debbie."  Her mother passed away this year, so at 56 she's retiring to a condo on Whidbey Island.

Lindsey Peterson is moving from her position as assistant to the dean to take over the graduate job.  She is a real joy to work with!

My first big task was to organize the 1991 MBA Graduation Banquet.  Here Debbie is flanked by Associate dean for Graduate Studies, Dr. Gary Karns (left) and Dean Jeff Van Duzer who are the two administrators with whom I work most closely.

Kathy Stegman (right) was hired in June and started on July 1st as the dean's new assistant and our event planner.  She is a friend of our former Undergraduate Coordinator Peggy Swanstrom.  When I took her for a walk to get her ID card and office key, she said, "I couldn't say this during my interview, but Peggy told me you are wonderful to work with" (or similar kind words.)  Yes, Peggy and and I were good friends (both "right wingers" and anathema to the proud liberal Debbie.) And no doubt Kathy will be a great addition to our team.  (Plus, I think she made a great model to show off my growing skill as a portrait photographer!)

She's a Free Methodist Pastor's wife and 14 months my junior -- so with Debbie leaving, I am the senior staff member by both years of service and age.

Alas, we also lost Dr. Henry Peterson (left) who will be teaching in San Diego in a graduate program emphasizing his specialty of "sustainable business."  We all miss Henry. 

We are not all Free Methodists at SPU.  I especially enjoyed the farewell dinner we had for Debbie at Hale's Ales Pub in Ballard.  Beer with the boss was especially novel.  Lindsey came in from her maternity leave. Wilma Garrett (semi-retired) was there.  And I had to walk off my excess fun at Fred Meyer's because I had Ginger's car after dropping Susan and her off at the airport before their trip to Hawaii this month.

From the Bosun's Chronicle, July 2009, the e-newsletter of author Julian Stockwin

Joe Green in Victoria, Australia asked: "When and where did the term

'wooden wall' originate?"

Julian answers: "It's become such a well-known phrase now, often

signifying the Royal Navy's fleet during the Napoleonic wars, that many

think it's a peculiarly English term. However this is actually not the

case - it is far older than that - and not English in origin...

Before the battle of Salamis (480 B.C.) the Delphic oracle predicted 'a

wooden wall' would ensure victory. On the strength of the Oracle's

words, Themistocles argued for the construction of a fleet of ships,

telling his fellow Athenians that this would be their wooden wall. He

was right, and the Persian fleet was destroyed."