Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Heidi's Update #27

CAP training ended today with dinner at Hacienda and the excitement for Orientation week to start tomorrow.  Check-in begins at 7am so Josie and I plan to eat an early breakfast in the cafeteria and then make our rounds among the dorm buildings to meet and greet all of our 37 caplets for this year. :)

Tomorrow's going to be a busy day for the incoming class but I'm sure there will be a lot of excitement too as the first-years ring the Victory Bell for the very first time, signifying their official entrance into Coe College and as a student of Coe's Class of 2016.

The day's schedule entails registration, move-in, first meetings with the CAP group, a group/class photo, ringing of the bell and convocation, FYS first-time meetings, and the ever-entertaining and fun "Taking Adversity out of Diversity" talk by Maura Cullen.

Here's to a good night's sleep for everyone and plenty of energy and excitement for tomorrow!

- Heidi Heaton

Monday, August 20, 2012

Heidi's Blog Update #26

Yay for new people!

Last night was our Movie Night in the Writing Center and we had a lot of new faces show up, which was very exciting!  Coffee was brewing again and popcorn was popped for our enjoyable evening watching Disney's Mulan!  Because who doesn't love Mulan? :)

Before we began the movie, everyone went around and introduced themselves and mentioned where they were from.  It was great to see how friendly and outgoing all the new staff members were with one another.  No doubt that WC New Staff Orientation starting this afternoon at 5pm will be fabulous!

There were also several returning consultants that made an appearance and it was great to see their smiling faces back in the WC as well!

People began showing up around 7:30pm and stayed in the Writing Center to socialize well past when the movie ended around 10pm.  So the WC has not changed one bit and still deserves its title as the "Mecca of Random Conversation."

Check out the last few blog posts for a reminder of the WC New Staff Orientation schedule, but just so you know where to be when it starts...meet up in the WC tonight at 5pm for a bit of informal socializing before heading out for dinner at Xavier's at 5:30pm!

And for everyone's personal enjoyment, here are a few favorite quotes from our movie last night...

Mushu: Oooh! All right, that's it! Dishonor! Dishonor on your whole family! 
[to Cri-Kee] 
Mushu: Make a note of this: dishonor on you, dishonor on your cow, dis... 
[Mulan covers his mouth with her hand]


Grandmother Fa: Great. She brings home a sword. If you ask me, she should've brought home a man. 
Shang: Excuse me. Does Fa Mulan live here? 
[Grandmother and Mother dumbly point to the garden] 
Shang: Thank you. 
Grandmother Fa: Whoo! Sign me up for the next war.


Mulan: You're, um... 
Mushu: Intimidating? Awe-inspiring? 
Mulan: Tiny. 
Mushu: Of course. I'm travel-size for your convenience. If I was my real size, your cow here would die of fright. 
[Khan snaps at Mushu] 
Mushu: Down, Bessie. 


Mushu: I'm doomed! And all 'cause Miss Man decides to take her little drag show on the road.


Mulan: [to Shang] Would you like to stay for dinner? 
Grandmother Fa: [Yelling in the background] Would you like to stay forever?


Mushu: The truth is we're both frauds. Your ancestors never sent me, they don't even like me. But you risked your life to help people you love. I risked your life to help myself. At least you had good intentions. 
[Cri-Kee chirps sadly at Mushu] 
Mushu: What? What do you mean you're not lucky? You *lied* to me? 
[Cri-Kee nods sadly] 
Mushu: [to Mulan's horse] And what are you, a sheep?


The Emperor of China: The flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of all. 
Shang: Sir? 
The Emperor of China: You don't meet a girl like that every dynasty.


Quotes courtesy of http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120762/quotes


-Heidi Heaton

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Heidi's Blog Update #25

Today's the day that all CAP leaders not already on campus move-in and exchange students move-in.  It's the second week on campus for RA's and probably has been a few weeks on campus for the football players.  We're all anxiously awaiting the day the entire campus full of students will be back, beginning with first-years this coming Wednesday and the rest of campus this coming Saturday or Sunday.

If you're a first-year reading this blog and feel some nerves creeping up, take a deep breath...everything will be great!  If you didn't bring everything you could possibly need to campus, I can assure you that someone else will have exactly what you need and would be more than happy to share, plus there are also buses that have been hired to drive to and from Target, specifically planned into Orientation Week, for that purpose...to make sure you can rest at ease and have everything you could ever need to start your year!  Not to mention that plenty of CAP leaders, Residence Life staff, and football players would be more than happy to help you unload everything from your car with your family as you arrive.  So don't panic, don't start yelling at mom and dad because your stress is bubbling up and you think you'll miss them less when they leave if you make sure to disdain their presence for the time being, and don't worry...you're in good hands, Orientation will keep you so busy it would be a challenge to get bored or NOT to meet someone.  Trust me.

And I'd like to say Welcome! to all first-years who are currently moving in today with the upcoming Writing Center Orientation to tackle prior to First-Year Orientation.  Don't forget that Movie Night is tonight in the Writing Center (WC) at 8pm, so drop on by!  P.S. The WC is behind the Coe Bookstore in Lower Gage.  It will be the door to the left of the campus bookstore. :)  And get excited...your time to start meeting your college class, decorating your new dorm room, and enjoying some "free, fun, and planned for your entertainment" activities starts now!

Here's to a great 2012-2013!

- Heidi Heaton

Saturday, August 18, 2012

Heidi's Blog Update #24

So with today being Saturday, that means that tomorrow, Sunday, August 19th will officially be our first day of WC New Staff Orientation!  Don't panic, it's not an all-day Sunday thing, but Orientation will indeed begin tomorrow evening at 8:00pm with a Movie Night in the WC.

Manderson put together a schedule for the Orientation, which will mostly take place on Monday and Tuesday, August 20th and 21st.  For those of you who like to think/plan ahead or are just curious what might be happening on those days, here's the schedule!

WC New Staff Orientation Schedule of Events/Logistics:

Sunday, August 19th
-8:00pm (Movie Night in the WC)

Monday, August 20th
-5:00pm (Meet in the WC for informal socializing)
-5:30pm (Introduce Orientation Helpers...When all/most WC folks are present, head over to Xavier's for pizza.)
-6:00pm-7:30pm (Pizza at Xavier's)
-8:00pm-10:00pm (Informal socializing and games (Catch Phrase!) in the WC)

Tuesday, August 21st
-8:30am (Beginning of WC Orientation Day Two (BREAKFAST!))
-9:15am (Introductions Activity/Mixer for new consultants)
-9:30am (Pictionary)
-10:15am (WC Rotations...1. Coffee (and hot drink rules) + Kitchen (dishes, usage, etc.)-led by Courtney Marti, Connor Roth, and Kelci DeHaas; 2. Publication + Committees-led by Hailley Fargo, Ariana Uding, and Peter Hegland; 3. Desk, Phone, Logbook, Timesheets-led by Ryan Rey, Sam Orvis, and Patrick Johnson; 4. Beaver, Frog, Sloth, misc. rules of the WC-led by Kobe Spencer, Ashley Collum, and Spencer Roth
-11:30am (Lunch Break)
-12:15pm (Rock, Paper, Scissors Tourney-find a partner, best 2 of 3, loser becomes cheerleader for victor, continue)
-12:30pm (First Draft: Worst First Sentence of a Book-see http://www.bulwer-lytton.com/2012win.html for inspiration)
-12:45pm (Share worst first sentences, choose the "best")
-1:00pm (First round of conferences: Making the sentence worse-one older staff member works with two younger staff members)
-1:30pm (Share new, worse sentences)
-1:45pm (Second round of conferences: combine and revise your group's two sentences to make the worst first two sentences of a book)
-2:15pm (Share sentences and choose best)
-2:30pm (Catch Phrase match with everyone outside-explain how it's like consulting...finding the right words to get the person to make the connection, have to try different approaches sometimes)
-3:30pm (Dr. Bob Introduction)
-4:30pm (Unscheduled socialization/break time-frisbee, Catch Phrase, more Pictionary)
-6:00pm (Dinner!)

So there you have it, our couple days o' fun for the WC New Staff Orientation!  Sounds like a blast...might I add that the Catch Phrase activity was all my idea...you're welcome. ;)  I think I can speak for all WC consultants when I say that we're incredibly excited to get to know this year's new staff!  Personally, I'll have CAP training the 20th and 21st, but will try to make any of the Orientation activities my schedule will allow.  And who's pumped for the WC Staff Retreat?!  Camping!  Yay!  I can't wait to stay in a cabin...if only it was at the Boundary Waters as well. :)  Maybe next year?...hint, hint. ;)  Which makes me also think of you lucky ducks who attended the Orientation in the Wilderness to begin your first year at Coe.  Great decision!  I went on the Orientation myself and loved every, single minute of it!  That was probably the best decision I made my first year at Coe.  Can't wait to have all you wilderness junkies back as well!

Have a blast this official, last day of summer before Orientations begin...you won't know what to do with yourself, you'll be having so much fun and staying busy beyond belief!

 - Heidi Heaton

Friday, August 17, 2012

Heidi's Blog Update #23

Hey all, if you have not checked out our WC website page, you should have a look at the new layout, formatting, photos and information Manderson and I have been working on!  I think its come a long way from what we began with and now has up-to-date and relevant information for its audience...you!

Yesterday we were working on the website from 9am to noon, took a break for lunch, and began back up again at 1pm until we stopped for dinner again around 5pm.  We worked similar hours on Wednesday as well.  Kobe also happened to be getting some work done in the Writing Center, and we also saw Dr. Bob stop through quickly, as well as Peter Madsen later that day!  That was the most people I've seen in the WC all at one time this summer!  So nice to have people emerging on campus!

Today, sometime later this afternoon and evening, Manderson, Kelly Allen, and I are having a "Fun Day."  It was originally supposed to be a bike ride (well Mandy was going to rollerblade) but then I heard that I can't rent a Coe bike yet, and should probably have a helmet...so that idea turned into possibly seeing the movie, The Bourne Legacy.  Of course, it's craaaazy nice outside today, about 75 degrees, so it would also seem sad to be indoors on such a great summer day.  So basically the only thing we're sure of is probably getting dinner at Biaggi's.  I threw a beach idea out there too, so maybe we'll end up at Palo this afternoon for some sun and frisbee throwing.

In the meantime I'll finish up this post :) and write another post for my personal blog, because I need to make a happy of blogging before I study abroad.

Hope everyone else is enjoying the excellent weather and taking a break for some fun on this lovely day!

 - Heidi Heaton

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Heidi's Blog Update #22

Hey there WC blog followers!

So recent business...

Last night was our Heritage Office reception and lecture series with Professor Rick Eichorn presenting on "The Economic Crisis of 2008 and Its Aftermath."  The evening began with conversation over heavy appetizers as alums arrived in Hickok lobby.  I was stationed at the back door to Hickok and greeted guests as they arrived.  It was a great opportunity for me to put a face with a name I had seen or been accustomed to hearing working with Kelly, but had not yet met in person.  Then as small-talk and appetizers (which were very tasty and included meatballs, mini quiches, a large fruit platter, spinach and artichoke dip with bruschetta bread, roast beef and mini rolls for sandwiches, and an assortment of desserts and beverages), had run its course and as six o'clock approached, we moved into Kesler to listen to the lecture presentation.  After the presentation, I once again stationed myself by a door and thanked guests for coming as they exited.  It was a great evening and I think I can confidently say that all of the alums had a great time thanks to Kelly's careful planning and execution hosting the event.

Today Manderson and I are back to website business in the WC after the afternoon and evening spent at the reception mingling with alums, taking photographs, and recording the lecture series presentation.  Right now it's mainly formatting errors on the site that are driving us crazy!  Those horizontal lines I mentioned in an earlier blog popping up everywhere...yep, they're back again.  And we had to bring back the WAC and Colere sites because for some reason they magically disappeared.  Apparently depending on which computer you might be using to and what system, it can also make editing the site different.  So where as the computer I've been using at the front desk for some reason could not center a quote to save its life, Manderson didn't have trouble editing on his laptop.

Now it's just a matter of finishing formatting, making the site look nice, and making sure that everything on it is updated and relevant.

Wish us luck!

-Heidi Heaton

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Heidi's Blog Update #21

So I'm officially back at Coe since my trip home and to Annapolis, Maryland.  It was an amazing time spent with the family and I couldn't have been more thrilled to see my brother after his six weeks of Plebe Summer at the Naval Academy!  Compared to what he's been up to for most of his summer, I feel like a baby now ever having complained about being tired.

Now that I'm back at Coe, work starts up again with the WC and Heritage Office...and very soon CAP training as well.  I'll be working for the Heritage Office today at 2pm and through this evening because we are hosting a reception for alums.  I'm not exactly sure what part I will be playing yet in this reception, but I've been told I will be fed, so I'm happy to help with anything if it means a free dinner. ;)  Different priorities now that I'm living in an apartment. :)

Then CAP training starts on the 20th and finishes the 21st before first-years move-in on the 22nd.  Josie and I are super excited to be co-leading a CAP and FYS group and I'm sure Orientation Week will be packed full of fun activities and a good dose of competitive edge. :)

This year the CAP responsibilities do not last quite as long (aka, the entire Fall semester) because for years first-year students have been confused as to why they are still being bothered with texts and emails about group, board game nights and such when they would be perfectly content finding their own venue at which to socialize.  Personally, I felt my caplets were getting sick of me by November, or maybe sooner, because I was their CAP leader and Writing Fellow for a handful of them...so needless to say, they saw me a lot.  I think this year should provide a good balance between, "We care about you and want to make sure you're meeting new people and getting acclimated," and "Respond to my texts and emails gosh darn it!  We've been doing this for four months!" :)

Anyways, still keeping super busy and getting ready for the Fall semester at Coe.  I'm sure an update will be coming soon after the reception tonight with more news about how it went and what I was actually doing. :)

Thanks again for reading and keeping the WC near and dear to your heart!

 - Heidi Heaton

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Heidi's Blog Update #20




Ta-Da! These door decs are the product of a verrrry long day of cutting, glueing, tracing, and coloring.  Josie Visser (a new consultant addition to our Writing Center this year, joint CAP leader with me, and friend of mine) and I are both CAP leaders for the Nature of Science FYS this coming fall.  Josie and I were both CAP leaders last year.  I was a CAP for this same FYS of around forty students with two professors and Josie was a CAP leader of one of the other, many First-Year Seminar courses.

We're both super excited for Orientation week, coming up from August 22nd-26th, when we will officially meet the thirty-six first-years to whom we have been sending letters.  Josie just recently sent out the last letter to our caplets while I made the door decs we will hang on their dorm room doors before they move into their new home away from home.  I have to say I'm pretty proud of the stars in particular on these door decs.  You can't tell from the photos, but they are indeed felt. :)

Josie and I will also have the pleasure of working with a smaller group of around five out of our thirty-six caplets as their Writing Fellows.  A Writing Fellow is a WC consultant who assists a smaller group of first-years with papers pertaining to their FYS class, and other assignments and study tools to get them acquainted with college-level writing and expectations.  We meet weekly with our small groups and students are encouraged to conference regularly with their Writing Fellow on their papers.

I worked as a Writing Fellow for this same FYS last year and absolutely loved the experience.  All of the students I worked with were very diligent and hard-working, and it was much easier to discuss their course load after already establishing a relationship with them as their CAP leader.  I can't wait to work with a new group of students in the fall in a similar environment.

As I've also become used to including a quick Olympic update/blurb in all of my posts, I'd like to congratulate Kerri and Misty on their third, consecutive win for gold in women's volleyball doubles at the Olympics!  They're incredibly exciting to watch and fought for their gold this year, as always.  Yay!

Well, I'm going to be leaving for a flight to Annapolis tomorrow morning at 7:30am, so I better hit the hay here...and probably should pack as well. :)  Thanks for reading!  Fall's just around the corner. :)

- Heidi Heaton

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Heidi's Blog Update #19

Yesterday was the last day for all first-year students to submit their summer writing exercises, so needless to say, there were plenty of emails today expressing confusion, frustration, and apologies for tardiness.  It seems that most things have been sorted out now though, so that's great to have that job completed.  Now all my attention will be on updates for our WC website and producing our next alumni newsletter.

I logged onto our website today to work on some revisions of the layout so each page parallels the others in font style, size, and general appearance.  For some reason, a lot of the pages had awkward page breaks with lines separating headings and descriptions from their counterparts and unnecessary divisions throughout the page.  Most of my time on the website was spent battling the lack of clarity of gmail's set-up and not understanding how on earth one page could be double-spaced, another single-spaced, but no option was available to select spacing/alignment or to change one to mirror the other.  Some of the links also open up within a different tab when they should open in the same tab depending on if it's another WC website page or separate site all-together.

Most of the website has the same appearance now between pages, but some things I need to give some further thought...but mostly get another set of eyes on because I am not nearly as tech savvy as I'd like to be. :)

I also sent a quick email to Kobe about the goings-on of my side of the Alumni Newsletter and trying to uncover contact information for graduates of '09 and '10, which still doesn't show much progress, but might be easier to track down once I'm back on campus.

Other than the culmination of the summer writing exercise, and website and newsletter updates, not much else has changed for WC business.  I'm much happier with the beginnings of my personal blog now, so as I work on that blog, I'm sure it will give me more ideas for this one as well and vice versa.

Hope everyone's enjoying their summer and sleeping in while you can!

- Heidi Heaton

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Heidi's Blog Update #18

Hi WC blog followers!

Side-note before I even begin on WC business...I hope everyone's watching our US women's volleyball doubles.  Yikes, they are dominating Italy right now...so intense!  They just can't be beat.

Anyways, sorry, can't be watching the Olympics without actually commenting on the supreme talent every once in a while.  So in WC news, our website is slowly and surely coming along, so check it out and give us comments on what you like or what you'd like to see!  I'm hoping to hear back sometime this week from Kelly Russell about WC alums to start connecting with our alumni, but if you've been keeping up with the blog, here are the questions we'll be asking so you can prepare...

1. Where are you?
2. Are you married?
3. Do you have kids?
4. What do you do for money?
5. What do you do for fun?
6. Have you traveled anywhere recently?
7. What's your favorite Dr. Bob memory?
8. And share with us anything else that would be super interesting but we haven't asked you yet!

So alums, particularly from the class of '09 and '10, go ahead and give those questions some thought.  We'll be looking forward to hearing from you!  And we'd love a photo, so maybe shuffle through some scrapbooks while you're at it. ;)

When I return from my break at home I'll be helping Kelly Allen with a reception for the Heritage Office, so there will be lots to share about that night I'm sure.  I'm really excited.  That reception will be the evening of the 14th.

Thanks for keeping up with the blog!  Best wishes to my fellow blogger in Norway!  I'm sure Anna's adventures are way more exciting than my own right now, haha.  You go girl!

 - Heidi Heaton

Saturday, August 4, 2012

Heidi's Blog Update #17

Wow.  I've just been looking through wordpress.com at some more advanced blogging services and techniques and boy oh boy do I feel inadequate now with my WC blog, haha.  Hailley and Whitney were showing me their blogging sites via wordpress the other day in our apartment.  I've been hoping to start a personal blog before the school year starts so I can get into the habit of blogging before my spring semester in France.  Keeping up a blog while abroad will be a great way to remember the days, look back on experiences, catalog memories and photos, and allow friends and family to stay updated on my goings-on while away.

After a couple hours of navigating through blog themes, header photos, and sidebar descriptions, I was already exhausted by how much work goes into creating and maintaining a professional blog.  I have a ton of admiration for my tech-savvy peers who maintain successful blogs on a regular basis.  So two hours later, after some fun and slightly more frustration, I decided to return to the comfort of gmail and the Coe Writing Center blog. :)

Today I've been responding to emails from many first-year students inquiring about the summer writing exercise which always become more abundant during our deadline dates for submission.  This is our last timeframe in which they can be sent so by Monday the 6th, my summer writing exercise duties will be coming to an end.  I'll still have the Writing Center website, alumni newsletter, and Heritage Office to keep me busy though.

I haven't looked at the website since yesterday when I was updating it, but I'm planning to get back to work on some updates within the week while I await a response from Kelly Russell on a way to contact  graduates of '09 and '10 for our newsletter.

Other than that, just enjoying time home with my family with my sister returning home tonight.  And then eager to leave for Annapolis to visit my brother this coming Thursday!

Hope everyone's doing well and relaxing to their heart's content because the school year will be here before we know it.

More soon,

- Heidi Heaton

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Heidi's Blog Update #16

Back to the blog after my day of moving!

I was so proud of myself yesterday for my beastly speedy move.  I had everything (except a fridge, microwave, TV, and my papasan...if you don't know what a papasan is you are deeply deprived) moved out of Murray and into my van parked out front within an hour!

Then I grabbed my new apartment key for Schlarbaum 3 from Res. Life and headed over to my room to begin unpacking...

About nine hours later, I had everything set-up in my room, wall decor and all, and was ready to make a Walmart run with two of my three roommates, Hailley and Whitney, before coming back to the apartment to move another futon and watch more of the Olympics!

It was a jam-packed day but I'm so excited to be living in an apartment now...I love Murray bunches, but it's a welcome change in environment...

So today, with the move behind me, I went back to work on Writing Center business.  This morning Manderson and I met in the Writing Center to discuss the website more.  We talked about the changes made to the staff page and I finished editing it.  Manderson worked on the fabulous new template you'll now notice as the "notebook" template, and the rest of the day I've been updating our site, in particular the "Handout" and "WC Publications" tabs.  Also while in the WC, Emily Hipps called, a graduate of Coe and past WC consultant asking for an I-drive file to be sent to her for work tutoring immigrants...very cool, Emily!  Ah and the navigable tabs can now be found across the top of our Writing Center website page rather than down the side, thanks to Manderson's computer savvy.

On the Alumni Newsletter side of things, Kobe asked if I could get in contact with the class of '09 and '10 so we can feature graduates and their goings-on.  I emailed Kelly Russell today for their current email addresses and will be sending out a note soon with hopes that we'll get several responses with interesting things to include in the newsletter.

This coming weekend will be our last submission date for the First-Year Summer Writing Exercise, so hopefully we receive plenty more submissions and then those documents should be all set to go for the faculty review shortly.

I'll be out of town from the 3rd through the 13th visiting with family back home and then taking a trip to see my brother at the Naval Academy!  I can't wait to see him!

Then when I return I'll have a reception to work for the Heritage Office, more work hours, and a "Fun Day" for the staff to relax before the school year starts.  And of course there are still door decs to be made for my caplets and then Freshman Orientation starts.  It's going to be one busy fall semester, but I'm looking forward to it!

Hope you've enjoyed your first two days of August!

- Heidi Heaton