Gone a Lot

After returning home from New Orleans on Good Friday, I left on Wednesday night for San Francisco. I just got back today. I was there for a Lutherans Concerned/North America board meeting. It was our final meeting before Hearts on Fire (the one that you should all register for and attend, by the way). As I mentioned, I'm the conference administrator for Hearts on Fire. I am feeling the pressure of having to pull together a lot of details in only three months. The board is very supportive, and they like my work. I just feel like things are not falling into place as easily as they were before.

We have figured out our location for 2010. The local chapter felt better knowing that I might work on it (I'm not contracted to do so, but I would like to do another one). Where is it? You'll have to come to Hearts on Fire to find out (can you tell I'm pushing registrations right now?).

I'm really short today. Sorry, but I'm to tired to do more.

Promoting a Virgin Blogger

I don't often give a shout-out to a new blogger, but I think that you should all see the thoughts and photos of my "Other Half" Richard.

He's been looking for a way to display his photos, as well as thoughts on computers and politics. How do you put together a blog about computers, math, and photography with just a touch of fabulousness? Apparently, you create a blog entitled:

Fibonacci's Sequins

Go check him out. Tell him I sent you.

I Don't Think I Like Jazz

Does that make me a bad person?

Value

"Value" is a word that has been cropping up around me more and more. The more I hear it, the harder time I have defining what value is.

I'm not talking about "values". Those tend to be talking points. I mean value, what increases the worth of something.

It's been coming up in my MBA class. We are talking a lot about what adds value to a product or service. I'm having a hard time imagining what creates value. Of course, there are things that make something more valuable. But now we are supposed to be deciding what processes add value and what don't. I've never thought in those terms before.

It also came up in our Campus Ministry staff meeting yesterday. I was describing some work that we have done. I had compiled a list of activities. Someone said that I should re-organize the list by telling what is adding value to what we are doing.

So this same concept has arisen in two different contexts. Apparently, I need to start thinking about value more often, and not just listing what already happens.

If any of you have thoughts on value, please share.

Update

I was alerted that my faithful readers were getting concerned for me (thanks, Grandma!), so I had better give you a brief update.

I'm still working my way through the March Madness. On Monday and Tuesday, I hosted and facilitated an Inter-Religious Dialog between three theologians of the Abrahamic faiths. It was a good event. Much could be improved upon, but it was a good start.

Currently, I'm at work, getting ready to take students on a retreat. Some might complain that they have to work on a Saturday. However, this retreat involves getting a professional massage, so it won't be so bad!

In a week, we leave for New Orleans to do some recovery work. This is a Spring Break trip for my college. There are 26 of us total, students and staff. Last year was a great experience, so I look forward to more of the same.

After that, I'm off to a board meeting for Lutherans Concerned...

And then March ends. It's a very full month, but I've been able to make it through so far.

I'll report more later.