Inside Gustavus October 14, 2010 | Volume 43, Number 7

News & Announcements

Vacation Donations Being Accepted... Employees who would like to donate vacation hours for a Gustavus employee who will be on an approved FMLA leave and will run out of paid-time benefits should complete and sign a request for transfer of vacation hours available at the Office of Human Resources (x7304).

Dear Gustavus Employees... As a Gustavus Adolphus College employee, you play a vital role in the life of our college. Because of that role, we value your thoughts and opinions. Therefore, we hope you will take this opportunity to evaluate your work with and for the College by completing the employee survey. Our primary objectives are to learn how you feel about your work environment at Gustavus, what benefits you see as being very important to your present life and to your future, and how you regard the atmosphere here at Gustavus. All Gustavus employees are asked to complete the survey located at www.surveymonkey.com/s/29SZY2F. If you would prefer a hard copy, please contact David Menk at x6539 or via e-mail at dmenk@gustavus.edu. We would appreciate receiving your responses by Oct. 25. Please know that your responses to this survey are confidential and will be used strictly in aggregate form. Thank you in advance for taking time to complete this survey.

Service Award Goes to 'Hands for Harvest' Founders... Brothers Travis and Nathan Dahlke (alumni from '00 and '02, respectively) will receive the 2010 Gustavus Adolphus College Association of Congregations (GACAC) Service Award at 10 a.m. Monday, Oct. 18, during the morning service in Christ Chapel. The GACAC Service Award recognizes alumni and former students of Gustavus who have made distinctive commitments and contributions to the service of others. The College and the Association celebrate the efforts of members of the College community who participate in service activities through volunteer work, involvement in the church, and extraordinary professional accomplishments. The Dahlke brothers are being recognized for starting the non-profit organization "Hands for Harvest." On an acre of their parents' land, Travis and Nathan started a volunteer farm in 2009 that has since yielded thousands of pounds of potatoes and hundreds of pounds of onions and carrots, all of which are donated to several different food shelves around the state.

Campus Happenings

Chapel Schedule... All are invited to the worship services at 10 a.m. weekdays and 10:30 a.m. Sundays in Christ Chapel. The upcoming schedule is as follows.

• Friday, Oct. 15 - Justin Anderson (senior student)
• Sunday, Oct. 17 - Chaplain Brian Johnson, with the Lucia Singers
• Monday, Oct. 18 - Presentation of GACAC Service Award to Travis '00 and Nathan '02 Dahlke
• Tuesday, Oct. 19 - Healing Service: Chaplain Rachel Larson
• Wednesday, Oct. 20 - Morning Praise
• Thursday, Oct. 21 - "Take Back Your Time": Rachel Schmitt (senior student)
• Friday, Oct. 22 - Inter-Religious Observance: Carolyn O'Grady (CICE)

Speakers to Address Climate Change and Public Policy... "Faith, Science, and Public Policy: The Climate Change Challenge" is the title of a special event organized by the Johnson Center for Environmental Innovation and scheduled for today (Thursday, Oct. 14). Leading off the day's schedule is J. Drake Hamilton, science policy director at Fresh Energy, who will discuss current scientific updates on climate change at 4:30 p.m. this afternoon in Olin Room 103. As science policy director, Ms. Hamilton (who was on campus previously as a forum speaker at the 2007 Nobel Conference on energy) directs the Global Warming Solutions program and is responsible for scientific analysis, policy development, and advocacy of clean energy solutions to global warming that will maximize economic opportunities for the Midwest. At 7:30 p.m. tonight in Alumni Hall, she will be joined by Mark Peters, executive director of the Lutheran Coalition for Public Policy of Minnesota (who spoke in Chapel this morning), for a panel discussion of the climate change challenge. The pair represent two voices advocating for public policy responses to global climate change—one from a scienfific perspective and one from a faith perspective. For more information on either or both of these discussions, contact Director Jim Dontje (Johnson Center) at 507-933-7206 or jdontje@gustavus.edu.

Faculty Shop Talk Tomorrow... Baker Lawley (English) will present the next Faculty Shop Talk of the 2010-11 academic year. His talk, titled "A Fiction Reading: from The Curtain-Puller's Understudy," will be presented on Friday, Oct. 15, at 4:30 p.m. in the Interpretive Center. Feel free to arrive any time after 4:15 p.m. The abstract for this and future talks may be viewed at gustavus.edu/events/shoptalks/.

'Our Story' Conference Considers Words... The Pan Afrikan Student Organization (PASO) hosts its annual "Our Story" Conference on Saturday, Oct. 16, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in Alumni Hall. This year's theme is "The Color of Words," promoting awareness of how words about sex, religion, ethnicity, race, and sexual orientation can be misused and misunderstood. Guest speaker is Randall Eggert, Ph.D., lecturer in linguistics at the University of Utah, who will focus on "taboo words." The conference is open to the public without charge.

Off-Campus Events of Interest

Brian Wicklund to Perform at Arts Center... Fiddler Brian Wicklund, St. Peter native and 1987 Gustavus graduate, will perform with the Barley Jacks at the Arts Center of Saint Peter (315 Minnesota Ave.) on Saturday, Oct. 16, at 7 p.m. You will hear a fresh blend of mostly original folk, jazz, bluegrass, and roots music laced with warm humor. Wicklund has toured with Stony Lonesome and Lorie Line, and nationally and internationally with bands led by Judith Edelman, Kathy Kallick, and Chris Stuart. He has produced and performed fiddle and mandolin tracks on over a hundred projects, authored the best selling American Fiddle Method books (published by Mel Bay), and led workshops across the U.S., Sweden, and the UK. He's a current member of Brother Mule. Comments from the Twin Cities Reader: "Brilliant performance", "Your music makes me smile all day." Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for Arts Center members, and $8 for students. Call 931-3630 for reservations.

Births

• Tyson and Michelle Twait (library) are pleased to announce the arrival of their daughter, Natalie Lynn, who was born on Oct. 6.
  

Congregational Outreach

Partners in Education... Partners in Education presenters for this week include Darrell Jodock (religion), speaking on the topic "Understanding Christian Identity amid Religious Pluralism" at Trinity Lutheran Church in Watertown, Minn., at 9:30 a.m. on Oct. 17; Eric Dugdale (classics), speaking on the topic "Cultural Context of the Account of Acts and Roman and Hellenistic Culture" at Faith Lilac Way in Robbinsdale, Minn., at 9:15 a.m. on October 17. Partners in Education is a program coordinated by the Office of Church Relations in which participating faculty and staff members prepare topical presentations for adult forums, workshops, and seminars in congregations of the ELCA.

Partners in Music... Scott Moore (music) will be playing low brass at Zion Lutheran Church in Lake Crystal, Minn., at 8:30 & 10 a.m. services on Oct. 17.

Gustavus Youth Outreach... Upcoming GYO trips include a group going to Olivia, Minn., on Friday, Oct. 15. This program, coordinated by the Office of Church Relations, consists of student team members who develop relational youth ministry programs in congregations, including church services, family night programs, and leading lock-ins.

Retreats... The Office of Church Relations will be hosting a confirmation retreat for Peace Lutheran Church from Bloomington, Minn., from Friday, Oct. 15, through Sunday morning, Oct. 17.

Music in Worship... Any Gustavus music ensemble or soloist is welcome to perform in congregations. For more information, contact Marilyn Beyer (x7001).

Website Tips

People Scan, So Break Up Large Chunks of Text... People read the Web differently than a printed document—basically, they are less engaged and scan everything. In fact, eye tracking studies show that people scan Web pages in an F-shaped pattern. In 2006, the research showed that you have four seconds to communicate what you need to, and the GTS folks are guessing that number has only gotten smaller. Therefore, it is very important to use headings and lists to break up large chunks of text, and be concise.

Inside Gustavus is a newsletter for Gustavus Adolphus College employees produced by the Office of Marketing and Communication. It is published weekly during the academic year (except during the week of Thanksgiving, the Christmas break, Touring Week, and the Spring and Easter breaks). Anyone may submit items by filling out an online submission form. While online submissions are preferred, items may also be submitted typewritten on a letter-sized sheet of paper. Send "snail mail" items to: Inside Gustavus, Office of Marketing and Communication. Items must reach the office no later than 4:30 p.m. on the Tuesday before publication. The week of Nobel Conference the deadline is 4:30 p.m. Monday. For more information, contact Steve Waldhauser (waldo@gustavus.edu or x6413).

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