The UA webteam has been working on making our website more accessible since, well, since we started. We’ve made some recent big pushes and have a good plan in place to keep those efforts moving forward and engage the rest of the campus community.
But, since this is a big issue, the Powers That Be also decided we needed a committee to create a policy. And I got volunteered to be on the committee.
Sigh.
And because I’m me, I had an overview prepared with notes and a timeline – in case I was called on to contribute.
Good thing too since I was called on right at the start. I gave my overview with appropriate levels of detail in a well organized and comprehensive manner.
Which was a huge mistake.
Since this is an official Ad-Hoc committee, it needed a Chair, a Vice-Chair, and a Secretary. When it came time to elect those, the room went deathly silent. You could have heard a pin drop onto the carpet.
Finally, someone spoke up and nominated me.
Shit.
I managed to hedge enough to get someone to volunteer to be a co-chair with me. And of the people in the room, I guess I was the best to lead up the effort. And I’m also hoping I get a policy drafted quick and then shut things down.
But, still, the fact that no one – at all – wanted anything to do with leading the group suggests that committees are frequently dread-generators.
After the meeting, my nominator apologized – but said I was always so helpful. That, along with being prepared, were likely my downfalls. So, I made a listserv, sent out some links, and will be talking with the co-chair on Operation: Shut This Puppy Down.
Dang it. Still competent.
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In better volunteer news, I got asked to participate in a summer camp project. A few weeks ago, I met with a staff member in the graduate school about a website they wanted to do. We talked about other things as well and she remarked about the origami I have in my office.
Earlier this week, she contacted me again about a very small STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) summer camp they are starting – and would I be available to teach the kids some origami?
Absolutely.
It’s a small group – 5-6 sixth graders – and only for a ½ hour. But, could be something that grows over time. (and way easier than a steady stream of very little kids for 5 hours like the Maker Faire)
I’m planning on teaching them the crane – with flapping wings – and talk about scale. Then a demo of the wreath and how the angles relate to the number of modules. Then we’ll build a cube or two and if there’s time, a shape that starts like the crane and then goes in another direction.
Topography, geometry, spatial perceptions. Yep, I think I’ve got the STEM covered.
So, that’s coming up in a couple of weeks and I’ll get my materials and demos ready. Might even do a lesson plan. AND I’ll get included in their National Science Foundation (NSF) write up.
SCIENCE, bitches!