Monday, August 28, 2006

And We're Off!

Day One of Fall Semester 2006 went a little bit like this:

8 am: Arrive at Computer Store and for the next 3 hours take more calls and assist more customers than I usually see in a week....ok maybe an exaggeration but it was busy.

11 am: Supposed to leave for lunch before class, still with a customer. Tell another person where to find MS Office deal before closing a nearly $2k laptop and iPod sale.

12 pm: Pro Teacher

1 pm: World Lit

2-4 pm: Back to the store. More people to help.

4 pm: Stop in Superlab to print Senate applications since office printer is not up and running.

4:30 pm: Stop in the office to do paperwork. Notice it is coming together well.

5:15: Back to Maple

Busier days lie ahead...

Saturday, August 26, 2006

Move In Day...

The freshmen are in.

Sights and sounds of the school year slowly return to campus.

Academic year 2006-07 is only a day and a half away.

Is everybody ready?

Friday, August 25, 2006

Information Sharing

This evening I got a visit from my new RA. At the same time as he introduced himself, he also advised me of the new tuition payment policy...pay within five days of class starting or be dropped. That would have been well and good, a friendly reminder. But then he proceeded to tell me that based on information he had been given, he knew that I hadn't paid yet. (Waiting for arranged course paperwork to go through so I know what I actually owe)

Something's wrong with that:

1) Don't feel like you have to advise me of my status with regard to policies I knew about before you even did.

2) What business is it of yours who has and has not paid? I have to wonder what Residential Life was thinking giving that kind of info to student staff. My account status is between me and the Business Office.

Monday, August 21, 2006

Internship Over, Back in Bemidji

On Friday, I finished my tenure as an intern in the MSUSA office. It was, all things considered, a very good experience...I feel like I got to help the organization in a number of ways, really get into things. I felt like a part of the office...I think it comes from the fact I've worked with these folks a long time and know the organization, so I was no doubt more involved and my opinion sought more than if I had gone and worked in some big office where I didn't know anyone.

Some things I worked on:

  • Chronicling files
  • Chairing the DC Summit Task Force
  • Getting bids for things-lots of them
  • Setting up computers and troubleshooting technology-becoming the temp IT person, in a way.
  • Participating in the hiring process for new staff-reviewed resumes, sat in on some interviews
  • Helped with Summer Conference and the Golf Scramble
  • Helping with the website move, saving a ton of $$$
At my "Goodbye" lunch (Hardly goodbye, as I am still going to be Campus Rep and the organizer will be in town 24 hours from now) I was asked to sum up my internship in one word. Instead, I gave five--a little bit of everything. I really did do a wide variety of stuff, which I enjoyed because I became more familiar with different facets of the organization.

I was also asked what my favorite part was. I responded that I enjoyed the opportunity to work every day with our officers and staff. They joked that I was kissing up, but it is true...they are a really great group of people, both working hard and having fun, and it is apparent they truly do care about the work they do. Knowing what the association has been through in the past couple of years I am glad to know that it is in a good place. I may have said it in the past, but this is a better, stronger, happier MSUSA .... with our students and staff, great things are to come.

And now, I'm back in Bemidji preparing for my fifth and final year of undergraduate exitement. We'll see what develops!

Thursday, August 10, 2006

Berne at the Golf Course

Yes, you read that right. I don't golf, but I did spend the day at a golf course, helping out with MSUSA's Penny Fellowship Golf Scramble. It was a nice day, and luckily the rain stayed away.

And I even won a free iTunes card in the raffle. Fun stuff.

Saturday, August 05, 2006

Busy Summer for the Folks in "Berne's World"

In the past week, I updated my sidebar...fixed broken links and etc. If you are reading this and were taken off the list, it doesn't mean anything except that you haven't updated in a long time. Here are just a few highlights...new arrivals and updated old favorites.


I'm not the only one keeping busy this Summer...these people all rock!