Vox Lucens

I’m almost a week behind on posting these, but better late than never, eh?

The San Francisco Bay Area might be known for a lot of different things, but beauty should certainly be one of them.

I think it wonderful to live in a place that allows a day trip to the Yosemite Valley.  And I think it’s about time we took it.  We had a great excuse this weekend, because Katie’s sister is out to visit!

We lunched on the Valley floor…

The “Tunnel View” of the valley…

The viewers looking down on the Valley…

And then we timed it just right to see this as we came around the bend.  There was a turnoff - and we took it.

While last year’s Wisconsin Alumni Association meeting was held in amazingly beautiful fall weather.  It seems highly ironic that this year’s, in Nevada, was covered in a wonderful snow.

There was at least one similarity, though - the same guy was elected President both times.  I appreciated the vote of confidence and the many kind words.

Being re-elected also gives me the chance to look backwards and forwards at the Alumni Association.  In doing so, I discovered that the Alumni Association is at the same point that I am in my own life: We are at the spot where we need to turn vision into reality.  It’s a hard place to be, in many ways, but it’s sure an exciting one.  The foundation is laid, the vision is there, and now it’s time to make something out of it all.

Here are my thoughts for the Alumni Association blog - which manage to be similar to introspective musings in re: yours truly.

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Every organization starts with a vision of something great. For the Alumni Association, that was a vision of expanding, promoting, and growing OBCL’s unique calling. Even as a student, I could see the vision of those that worked to establish this organization. It was apparent, and it trickled all the way down to my study-swamped self. In the intervening years, the vision has been clarified and built.

And in every organization’s life comes a time in which the established vision must be put into practical reality by dint of hard work. And as I looked back on the last year’s work done by the Alumni Association Board and numerous volunteers, I can’t help but realize that we are at that point in the Alumni Association’s life. The vision is there, and it is clear - and now comes the time in which we must turn that vision into practical reality.

This past year, the Board worked to lay the foundation to build this reality on. So many “small” components go into effective communication, effective promotion, and effective fundraising…and this list of essentials could go on. Beyond those normal challenges, the Alumni Association faces unique challenges simply because we are scattered all across this nation! One thing that I have greatly appreciated about the Board of Directors of this association is their willingness to do things the right way. We’ve never taken an idea and gone off half-cocked; we’ve taken good ideas and made them better - those ideas and that work is the foundation.

But right now we have this chance to turn vision into reality, if we are willing to put our noses to their respective grindstones and do the work. It’s time to take the foundation and build on it, taking those ideas into reality. And that is our goal for this year.

It was terrific to see the excitement of the alumni at the annual meeting last week. Indeed, I found it impossible not to get excited myself! We have the skills and the desire to do the building - and we have the foundation to build on.

It is going to be a great year.

Every year, the Woodward Shakespeare Festival puts on two shows for free just north of where I work.  I thoroughly enjoyed the recent production of Richard III.

And I took the opportunity to try my hand at low-light photography.

I can hardly look at a map of San Diego without the childhood memories flooding back.  There’s Lake Murray, for instance, where Grandpa and I used to go feed the ducks - with an obligatory grocery store stop for bread (for the ducks) and M&Ms (for us).

But this I will say, nothing brings back the childhood memories like being able see the Padres play at home.

We’re back.  Actually, we’ve been back for a while, setting up our home and digging out of boxes and piled desks.

I really like saying “we” and “our home.”

We had just a wonderful wedding, thanks to the tireless effort of my bride and countless willing and able helpers, and had an excellent trip home, managing to avoid a blizzard one day and survive 90 degree heat two days later.

But most importantly of all, my best friend is now also my wife.

(With a huge thanks to Kelly for these pictures and the ones we have yet to see!)