I'm Going to College

I may be President, but there are times when I’m just not in charge. In preparation for my Introduction to Soroptimist for our Horizonte Young Parents Program, I reviewed the slides this morning and found to my horror that text was missing on nearly every slide! While cursing Bill Gates under my breath I fixed every slide and saved the presentation to my laptop. Whew – my public speaking security blanket was intact.

I leave my house in plenty of time to reach Horizonte – except for the fact that there is a lane closure at 2700 South on I-15. So instead of taking 20 minutes, it took 50 minutes. Ouch. I went to the Young Parents’ classroom. It is empty. Ouch. Life: 2; Cheri: 0.
I do finally find the classroom, and learn that my laptop can’t be hooked to the projector. A problem I can solve – break out the thumb drive. Transfer the presentation to the thumb drive. Plug in the thumb drive. Open the presentation. It won’t read. Ouch. Try again. Presentation still won’t read. Ouch. Thumb Drive: 2; Cheri: 0.

So with whiteboard at back and marker in hand, I proceed to tell these beautiful young women who Soroptimists are and what we do. And I proceed to tell them what we hope to accomplish with them this year. And I tell them to start planning to go to college – for themselves and for their children. And I ask them to say out loud “I’m going to college.” And I hear them say it, loud and clear, not once but twice: I’M GOING TO COLLEGE!

And all is right with the world.

The Power of One – Just One Time This Year

The First Commandment of volunteering is (or, if it isn’t, it should be) “Thou shalt not sign up for everything. Be selective with your volunteer time lest ye become burned out.” And while this is sound advice, we may be missing out on some wonderful experiences by not working on some of this year’s projects. This isn’t my idea (the Eighth Commandment is “Thou shalt not take credit for the ideas of others), but I would like to make it my challenge to our members this year. Just one time this year, participate in a project you haven’t worked on yet. Visit Horizonte or JO&A. Work on a membership event. Chair a new service project. Try it – just one time this year. You could be amazed at the possibilities.