The Doctor is in . . .

May 2009

A Gift of Service
On May 8 and 9, the School of Business and Economics hosted the 2009 Pacific Northwest Microfinance Conference. Over 400 attended this program led by SBE faculty member Dr. Kenman Wong and staff member John Terrill. It was a huge success. We partnered with many regional organizations involved in helping the poor through microfinance. My part in the event was as its webmaster. I learned in March of this pending event and much of my April and early May was devoted to it. Being responsible for the online face of the conference (and photography at the event itself) was vital to its success.

I realize that I covet the servant role and the "back office" tasks that add a polish to a publication or event. I often consider why I earned a Ph.D. to make nametags. But I make great nametags all the same.

Nathanael Gets in One More Race
To wrap up his 2008-2009 college running year, Nate ran one final 1500m race, this time where I ran my last high school race, at Husky Stadium. Even though this was a no-count race for Nathanael, he ran a 4:08.61, just 1.02 seconds off his personal best. certainly he could have run faster, but he jogged the three miles from SPU to the UW as his pre-race warm up. I look forward to watching him race again in XC in the fall.

I was happy when I got two nearly half-page photos published from this meet in different issues of The Falcon, the SPU student newspaper. Here are the online versions (Felt) (Larson) -- but they did not choose my best shots to publish.

JB Runs the 400m in the

Emerald City League Finals

Due to a timing error, Jeannie Beth got to run in the league finals, when many of her teammates were already done for the year. Although she surely ran faster on Thursday, May 14th, by running again on Saturday the 16th, she was present at King's High School to join her girl's team on the podium as the 2009 Emerald City League Champions.
Here are her season records.

200m	29.34	Apr 30, ECL West Seattle
400m	69.94	Apr 30, ECL West Seattle
1600m	6:36.19	Apr 25, King's Invite
Long Jump	11' -11"	Apr 21, Lynden Christian

Representing the Bellevue Reporter at State ―
BCS Girls Win State 1A Track Championship, Boys Take 4th
The last weekend of May was the WIAA 1B, 2B, 1A Track & Field Championships at Eastern Washington University in Cheney. Nancy and I left Jeannie Beth home (since the State meet started on a school day.) But Nancy and I took separate vacations in the same town. She went over with Liane and Bruce Fremd who have become good friends after sharing four years and eight seasons of running with their son Kyle -- not to mention that their other son Nathaniel was displaced from the BCS varsity XC team by freshmen Nathanael Sleight and Martin Geier back in 2004. I rode over in the team van (a much nicer ride than the team bus) and chronicled what was to become a memorable weekend for BCS. Nancy stayed at a P.E.O. bed-and-breakfast just three miles from the stadium and loved her vacation as much as I enjoyed mine.

Earlier in the month the Bellevue Reporter had already published my picture of Jordan Lake throwing the javelin and would publish my picture of new BCS record holder in the 1600m and 3200m, Andrew Van Ness, while I was off at State. Andrew's 9:46.92 in the 3200m at the Tri-District Championships not only set a new school record, but he finally broke my own two mile PR of 9:52 from 1973. I would represent the Bellevue Reporter as their photographer at the State meet. (Andrew will re-join Nathanael as he runs at SPU this fall.)

What an amazing opportunity. I prowled the infield with my media credentials around my neck, granting me complete (and free) access to the meet. And it was especially exciting for me to be able to record the best State meet in BCS history when the BCS girls team won it all and the boys team added the 4th place trophy.

I was there when the BCS 4x100m relay team of Schmuland, Fremd, Iseman, and Neal ran a 43.66 to win the State Championship and set a new BCS school record in the process. And I was there when senior Terra Oldham fell one step past the finish line and won the 300m Hurdles in a photo finish, with her freshman sister Bree just one step behind in 3rd place. I captured the whole exciting adventure! (Thursday-Friday) (Saturday-Sunday).

Nancy hitched a ride home with the Hussey's on Saturday night, but I came back with the team on the bus on Sunday. The team paid for my meals, hotel, and gave a gift of $125 toward my web expenses.

Certain relatives (not Nancy) wonder why I would devote such efforts to this service. Well, I have finally become a pro photographer -- even if it's not my day job. The Bellevue Reporter published my photo of Terra Oldham going over the last hurdle in her 300m State Championship. And the Kirkland Reporter published my shot of Kyle Fremd's anchor lap win in the 4x400m prelims. (Kyle ran eight times and came home with four State medals!!) For now, this is what I do, and photography will be a part of my life until I'm called to something else. (I wish Bruce Fremd had caught me with my 80-200 lens though -- much more impressive!)

Bits and Pieces

Dr. Henry Peterson will be leaving us for Alliant in San Diego. He will be replaced by Dr. Dan Osborn (at least for 2009-10). I was briefly Dan's faculty advisor in the Industrial Engineering Program at the UW in 1989, just before I came to SPU. He remembers me as "that Christian faculty member at the UW." The note he read outside my UW office has not changed much -- but is now on my SPU web site.

I participated in interviews for a new "Assistant to the Dean and Event Coordinator." Lindsey Peterson is moving over to the Associate Graduate Director position to replace Debbie Wysomierski who is retiring to Whidbey Island after 18 years at SPU. Debbie replaced me as MBA Coordinator in 1996 when I moved to my current technology manager position. I am delighted with the choice of Kathy Stegman for Lindsey's position. And Lindsey will be great with the graduate students. I cannot say I'm sad to see Debbie move on. She was very good at what she did -- but she was a terror to cross. Her proud political leanings off the chart to the left were always a challenge for the more conservative among us.

Annie will be leaving for a month in South Africa in mid-June.

My Quote from April

I dreamed a dream in time gone by
When hope was high
And life worth living
I dreamed that love would never die
I dreamed that God would be forgiving

from Fantine's song I Dreamed a Dream.

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