Goals Update - June 27, 2010

Stage 1: Character


Spirituality Goal – Although I have significant physical limitations and muscle deterioration, I will work on practicing yoga for at least 10 minutes per day, working up to 4 days per week by the end of my pursuit. Due to the fact that I fractured my elbow and sprained my wrist and index finger of my right hand on April 28 of thi syear, I am restricted in my physical activities right now. As soon I am able to more fully use my arm without pain, I am eager to begin this goal.

Family Goal – It is very difficult for me to watch my great-grandmother and my grandparent’s age with difficulty. My great-grandmother and my grandparents all have health issues and I’d prefer to remember them in mind and spirit how they were before they became ill. I will put aside these misgivings and make sure to contact them once per month by telephone so I do not regret missing the opportunity should they pass away and I was too selfish to speak with them, as I still feel to this day when my Great Grandmother Curtis passed away in 1997. There have been numerous family incidents over the past few months which has incresed my contact with all of my grandparents. I have spoken with my Great-Grandmother Goodall several times, as well as visited her since the last entry, as she visited us up here in Michigan from her new home at a Memory Care facility in Tennessee just in the middle of June. My Grandpa Lintz had a seemingly simple double hernia operation on June 1 which the aftermath has been up and down. He is in constant pain, but also disregards the doctors' orders for healing. So I have spoken with him on the phone a few times as well. My Grandma Curtis was taken to the hospital in a coma for unknown reasons the day she was to have hip replacement surgery and was ina  coma for three says, coming in and out of it, but now knowing anyone around her. She finally awoke, it being attributed to extememly low potassium and has been on the mend since, but just as she was getting well, her husband, my Grandpa Curtis was rushed to the hospital with chest pain. After careful observation, since he's had several strokes, and a battery of testing, he was given a clean bill of health and told to slow down. Needless to say, I've been calling them frequently and have sent the all cards. Then comes the news late yesterday afternoon that my Aunt June was in a near fatal car accident in Tennessee after a deranged motorist sped away from police, shot himself with a pistol while driving struck a vehicle which caused him to hit my aunt straight on. She was pried out of her truck with the jaws of life, and managed to walk away with oly bumps, scrapes and bruises. Someone was watching over her, since she was supposed to have her four grandchildren with her, but her partner told her she would pick them up so my aunt could come straight home from work. Even more reason to take every opportunity I can to talk with them or see them.


Stage 2: Education and Scholarship


Occupation Goal – I will pursue workshops and conferences to supplement my marketability at work. I will also begin working on my Master of Arts in Genealogical Studies when the program receives accreditation. A double whammy here. I was offered the opportunity to attend the CGX emerge conference in April which allowed my to netwwork with dozens of other professionals in my career, as well as attend 10 berakout sessions on topics ranging from sustainability in the printing industry to new press and pre-press technology. In addition, I have recently begun my second course towards my Master Degree in genealogy and was asked to design and maintain the website for The American School of Genealogy for which they are seeking accreditation. This will allow me to earn additional money for enrollment in the newly accredited school when it opens in October. It will also grant me the honor of being the first student to enroll. Furthermore, I have been asked to be a graduate instructor of undergraduate students within the next year or two on developing and sustaining a thriving genealogy business.

Spirituality Goal – I will read The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey. I have completed reading The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and enjoyed doing most of the assignments. This book really made me take a deep look at homw much I was keeping inside and re-analyzing every situation repeatedly, sometimes, days, weeks and event months after the situation had happened, holding grudges. With Covey's tips, I've been able to slowly start letting go of these situatioons, since over 90% are beyond my control.

Family Goal – I will complete my Daughters of the American Revolution and General Society of Mayflower Descendants applications, with complete documentation. I have identified at least 4 American Revolution Patriots from which I descend and 2 Mayflower passengers. On June 7 I submitted my Daughters of the American Revolution application for Patriot Henry Kreglow. Once I get settled in at my new house, I will begin more diligent work on my Geeral Society of Mayflower Descendants appllication; however I already have a substantial amount of informatioin for this application.

Delta Gamma Goal – I will continue to pursue new Foundation volunteer and fundraising opportunities to offer to our alumnae and local collegian women to earn service hours over the summer. I will consult with other alumnae chapters and the Region 4 Regional Alumnae Specialists. Unfortunately I have moved from the Detroit North Suburban Alumnae Chapter area to the Grosse Pointe Alumnae Chapter as I have bought a new house, so after a difficult decision, I resigned my position as vp: Foundation at DNS. However, I still have tons of Foundation ideas that I can hopefully bring to GP, and well as pass along to the new vp: Foundation at DNS. I have contacted the President of GP to become active with their chatper as soon as possible, as they are seeking some help with some areas. 


Stage 3: Interests and Talents


Community Goal – As a particular focus within genealogy I find the preservation and historical originality of tombstones and grave markers particularly fascinating. As the Vice President and programming chair of the Oakland County Genealogical Society, I will be able to find an expert in the field to explain the relevance of this type of research and preservation, or take a course and present the topic myself to our group. As the Vice President and Programming Chari, I have completed the 2010-11 speakers' schedule within 10 days, and was even able to book a Certified Genealogist to speak to our group about cemetery research (my favorite topic), from carefully traipsing through graveyards, using cemetery records and how to repair and restore old and damaged stones.


Family Goal – My family does not live very close to me, and I am a single woman. However, I have best friends who live only 20 (now 45-60) minutes away who have two beautiful children whom I consider family. Oftentimes, my hobbies, school or heir family obligations get in the way. I will make a special effort to plan time with them two times a month for six months over the course of a year (allowing for family obligations and work schedules) to do activities that the children enjoy. At ages two and 12 years their curiosities vary significantly, but Detroit offers a great number of no- and low-cost events for developing minds. I have still made good on this. In May I took the younger one to the park and we played for 2 hours. It was mostly him running and playing with toys, due to my lack of arm use, but he still had a great time. Unfortunately, the 12-year old has been on punishment due to his failing grades, so we spent two hours working on his homework. In June, I took the younger one to his first ever gymnastics class with his mom. He was a little leary at first, but he LOVED the open gym time, running, jumping and just being free....like an inside playground. The 12-year-old is still on punishment. So we spent time again doing his summer workbooks. He failed all his classes, but, of course - with No Child Left Behind - he'll be in 7th grade next year, rather than in 6th again.


Delta Gamma Goal – I will contact the Region 4 Regional Collegiate Specialist and Regional Housing Director to volunteer as an Advisory Team Chairman and/or House Corp member at one or more of the Michigan collegiate chapters (Xi, Zeta or Beta Xi). COMPLETED. I am currently the ATC of Beta Xi - Michigan State. I will also be appointing two women sometime after July 1 to be part of the Advisory Team, so we will be able to better support the Chapter.

Stage 4: Activities and Honors


Occupation Goal – I particularly enjoy working with color, therefore I will pursue opportunities to educate myself on the properties and addition/subtraction qualities of color to better enhance my work performance.
While at the emerge conference, I was given the opportunity to take a seminar on color. Although I am still seeking out more. I was also honored with the "Extra Mile Award" for Spring 2010 by two of my colleagues, who wrote that I go above and beyond in helping them with our new SAP system, helping them far more frequently than they feel should be necessary. I was quite shocked, as I was just doing what was expected of me. WILL INSERT TEXT FROM NOMINATION WHEN I CAN ACCESS AT WORK

Community Goal – I will continue to donate time to those efforts I feel up uphold the standards upon which Delta Gamma was formed, and also my own passions and interests. These will be within the real, of graphic design, genealogy, international exchange and community togetherness. I have recently taken over the design of the Oakland County Genealogical Society Quarterly magazine. I will also be designing the website for them (including online orders and membership payments), as well as the website for the Advertising Production Club of Detroit, the American School of Genealogy, and helping to enhance the Beta Xi chapter's website so they can increase membership for recruitment and hopefully win some DG awards.

Delta Gamma Goal – I will form a Foundation for Fighting Blindness Vision Walk team and invite all Michigan alumnae and collegians to walk with me to raise funds for our Philanthropy for 2010, 2011 and 2012. I was the only DG on my team for 2010, however, I raised $487 with my best friend. Next year, with better planning, hopefully we can have a larger group and raise at least 10X that amount!

Stage 5: Personal Development


Occupation Goal – Learning and growing as an employee has immeasurable benefits in my personal development. No matter what field I chose to pursue, no one can take away the skills I have learned while in my position. I will continue to collaborate with others within my company to gain knowledge particular to business, not specifically my company, but any business. The more connections I make and the more information I gain, the more valuable I become, as a woman, a Delta Gamma and a potential new employee elsewhere. I was able to make connections all over the world at both the emerge conference and at Convention 2010. I am blessed to be able to make these connestions to get ideas from and offer ideas to. The ability to communicate via the Internet and email, Skype, texting, etc has made the lines of communication so much easier.

Community Goal – As a newly diagnosed Celiac, I will become more familiar with the auto-immune disease that has ailed me since birth and become involved in large community of others who have the same condition. Additionally I was recently troubled to learn that there are no gluten-free labeling rules in the United States, despite a 2004 Act of Congress compelling the FDA to do so. I will do my part by writing my Congressman and House Representative, and continuing to follow up until a law is implemented and Celiacs are no longer at risk of eating contaminated food. I have written my Congressman and House Representative, but will now need to do it again as I am in a different district. I continute to follow issues facing Celiacs by subscribing to Living Without, a magazine for sufferers, and a number of online forum groups.

Spirituality Goal – In order to become a more well-rounded individual and offer service within the visually-impaired community, I will seek an on-going volunteer position or a volunteer position that is short-term that requires a high-level of dedication that will help me better appreciate the intrinsic gifts I do have and can offer to others, Sight. Several options to review include Leader Dog. I have offered to volunteer at several places, but nothing so far. I was able to donate 10 pairs of glasses to Service for Sight at Convention.

Family Goal – I will be sure to be home every evening to spend quality time with my cats (they deserve attention too). In addition, not only will I recognize my immediate family members with a card for their birthday, I will call them and talk to them as well – even those with whom I feel I am estranged from (particularly my brother and his family). Boy, who knew how mnay birthday bards one needs to keep on hand for a family? This keeps going, and I don't even get upset when they don't send a thank  you or call to thank.

Delta Gamma Goal – I will help my alumnae chapter, as well as any collegiate chapters I may be assigned to as ATC or as House Corp member, to strive to do their best so that they may be the best women they can be and be recognized by Executive Office for the exceptional changes they have made. In addition, I will make a minimum of $20 monetary donation to newly installed collegiate chapters and alumnae groups/chapters over the next two years (through April 2012) so they may be able to have a solid beginning. I have had the greatest time helping Beta Xi get on track and am eager to see how well they blossom from the beginning of the year to the end of the year. There is a long road ahead of us. They are not used to following a lot of the bylaws and standing rules. Or maintaining proper attire or paying fines on time, etc. I am ready. I can and will make Beta Xi the best chapter on campus, in Region 4 and in Delta Gamma.