CANADA!

Hello Family and Friends! I have some pretty exciting news to share. It seems as if all my summer job searching has paid off. Last week I was contacted by Northern Tier National High Adventure Base. It is a Boy Scout camp that has three locations, and is based out of Ely, MN. You may recall that I have attended their winter camping program, called Okpik, twice (in Ely). They also have two other bases (locations), one in Atikokan, Ontario, Canada and one in Bissett, Manitoba, Canada. I have been offered and accepted a position as a trading post staff member at the Don Rogert Canoe Base in Atikokan, Ontario, CANADA! I am really excited about this opportunity and the great summer ahead! I will be working in the trading post (camp store) selling equipment, souvenirs, etc. I will be gone (either in Ely, MN or Canada) from late May to mid-August, in just enough time before I have to head back to Michigan Tech for my fall training for my PA job. Atikokan, Ontario is almost directly north of Ely, MN, just into Canada (see map in my pics soon). To get there you have to go through International Falls or Thunder Bay. I'm sad that I will be gone the whole summer, but I will blog my experiences and keep in touch. This job will be a great experience working at a different camp, getting paid to do so, and being in the great outdoors and wilderness of Canada! The camp is in almost the middle of nowhere and is really secluded. Again, I can't think of a better way to spend my summer; Boy Scouts, the outdoors, and providing great customer service! I could talk your ear off about this, but I won't now. Let me know if you want to know more about my plans!

In other things....I had an extremely busy week returning back to school. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday were jam-packed and I had to plan those days out hour-by-hour. Between a presentation Monday, papers for Tuesday and one for Friday, a chem exam on Wednesday, a generally high amount of homework, and a host of other things, my brain was an high function all week.

On Tuesday I attended an advising meeting through my department that was used to explain how to best utilize a degree and helped to define where a student can go in the future.

On Wednesday I was part of a group that met with the AQIP evaluators. AQIP is the organization that grants Michigan Tech its accredidation. We discussed things the University is doing well and where it could improve.

We also had a lengthly USG meeting on Wednesday were we discussed many good issues. At this meeting we voted on carry-over representatives. Every class has six representatives and each year two of the six are voted to stay on USG for the next year (called carry-over). This means that those students don't have to re-run, they are then automatically on USG again next year. I was lucky enough to be elected to USG (via carry-over ) for next year!

On Thursday things took a small break...phew! It was an extremely nice day (60's and sunny). I had class, lab, and I worked.

On Friday things became busy once again. I had a tight schedule with a lot of things to fit in, including my classes, regular meetings, and work. I then started budget hearings at 4:45pm. I explained budget hearings in my last post, but in essence they are where student organizations on campus come before the WAM committee (which I sit on) and explain to us why they should get funding for next year. We sit down with each org. and talk over their budget (expenditures, revenues, etc.) in ten minute time slots. We then propose, debate/discuss, and vote on a recommended amount of money that USG should give each org. We began this process at 4:45pm on Friday and did not finish until Sunday at 9:30pm. I got done each night extremely late (just enough time to "nap" before getting up again) and then was back up really early (BH's resumed at 8 or 8:30am each morning). We ordered food throughout the weekend (because we didn't have much time for meals). Also, it should be noted that it was 80 degrees out and really nice all three days and we were stuck inside :( Also, the AC was not on yet so it was extremely hot, uncomfortable, and humid. But, I had a great time being cooped up with the same five other people for three straight days and we feel great about our work (we ended in the dollar range we were shooting for!).

So, because I was in meetings, literally all day, all weekend, my homework is just receiving its share of time. No worries though, I am pretty caught up at the very moment. In other notes, the Husky hockey season came to an end on Thursday as we lost to Colorado in overtime in the WCHA Final Five, which was held in Saint Paul. This next week I will be attending the first of some training for my PA job, an Honors Institute meeting, and my regular WHSA, WAM, and USG meetings. I will also be attending the next step in the budget process. After org.'s learn of the amount we are thinking about giving them they have the opportunity to come in and refute the amount and ask us to reconsider and increase their allocation. We then rethink, redecide and then all of our recommendations are given to the whole USG body to be voted upon.

Well, it certainly has been unseasonably warm (hot!) here. We have very little snow left (what is left is where the piles use to be -- like the 3M pile :)

Thanks for reading this far down on the post...it has been a pretty long blog, I know. Thanks for reading about me and my activities! I always look forward to hearing from any of you!