acts.1.eight

two peices of good news that have been confirmed this week.  i didn’t want to say too much to too many people before i got the details ironed out.  now i feel comfortable informing the world.  or at least the fraction of a percentage of the people in the world that come here from time to time.

first news.  i got a message last week from an old intervarsity friend.  seems the und chapter was getting down to the wire with finding their first large group speaker for the year and they were wondering what my availability would be.  i checked my schedule, rearranged some vacation time and made it work.  i met with george, the area director this week, and we will be riding to grand forks together next thursday night.  i am so excited!  i spoke at und one other time, nearly 3 years ago (crazy how time goes by…) and this will be my first time doing anything significant on campus since the spring of 2007 when i appeared on a discussion pannel at msum.  i don’t think it’s likely that i’ll ever be back on campus full time, but if i can do some volunteering with stuff like this from time to time, i would be happy.  so if any of you out there will be in grand forks next thursday night at 8:00 pm, you should come check it out.  i don’t know the location yet, but i can let you know when it’s all finalized.

second news.  we had a fun in the sun day at work this week.  i was sitting out front hanging out with some students and enjoying a hot dog when two of the higher ups came back from lunch and approached me with a question.  i knew that they were going to ask me to do more work (they joke that i have many slahes behind my current job title), which i rarely say no to, but i have been increasingly reluctant and frustrated when i say yes.  the question this time:  would i be willing to teach a class.  my immediate reaction:  absolutely.  it is one of the few extra duties i have been asked to do in which i actually have some formal training.  in fact, i had been tempted in the past to ask if it was a possibility for me.  i will be teaching your basic skills-type/welcome to college class to first-quarter students.  because my job involves high concern for attendance and academic progress, this will be a good way for me to make initial contacts with students and also be the one to make sure they understand the importance of our policies and practices.  it should also go a long way in helping me figure out if my future in higher ed involves time in the classroom, or time strictly in administration.  so beginning in october, you can add a slash to my job title: /instructor.