MATC Matters

Dear Faculty and Staff,

Welcome to July! It’s amazing how fast the time flies. I see a lot of people taking advantage of the sunshine at Truax by eating on the patio outside the cafeteria. I hope some of you also had the opportunity to take in some sun while listening to great music at the first Concerts on the Square performance of the season. Thanks to the Foundation for setting up a kickoff for the first concert June 25 with the pre-event party at DTEC under the arch.

We have another opportunity to soak up the rays and have fun with coworkers during the “MATC at the Mallards” game on July 17. Come out to the Duck Pond, meet Maynard G. Mallard and cheer on the home team!

Flood relief fund update
Thanks to all who’ve contributed to the MATC Flood Fund through the Foundation. The money will be used to help our own students and staff dealing with the aftermath of the recent flooding. We’ve doubled the amount of the fund in the past two weeks! Still, more is needed, so if you haven’t already, please consider donating to help our colleagues and students.

Girl Tech a great success
Thanks to all who organized the recent Girl Tech event at MATC. Girls in sixth through ninth grade were invited to a “camp” at MATC to learn about and explore technology and tech-related careers. This was the second year for the camp, the brainchild of IT instructors Nina Milbauer and Lori Kelley. Congratulations to all involved! Check out the great coverage of the event in The Capital Times.

MATC commended for First Semester efforts
We’ve received a letter of commendation from the Policy Center on the First Year of College, an organization devoted to “improvement of the beginning college experience through enhanced learning, success, and retention of new students.” We were awarded the commendation based on our work on the First Semester Experience, led by Janice Mettauer. Join me in congratulating Janice and the first-semester team.

More Fort construction news
Check out the Fort Atkinson onsite construction camera to watch the progress being made at the campus. The camera is looking at the southwest corner of the new Health Complex addition and remodeling project. On the Facilities web page, click on Fort Atkinson Health Complex Addition Camera.

MATC Marvels
If you have an opportunity to stop by the Watertown campus, now is a great time to take a little walk around and see the grounds in full bloom. Thanks to the care and work of Watertown groundskeepers over the years, the campus is a real showplace. The lovely landscaping has evolved from the collective efforts of past and present facilities employees.

The large perennial garden in the center island of the front walkway was started by Sandy Nimm, a former custodian at the campus. Today, Jerry Heidner, Watertown maintenance mechanic, and Richard Wackett, lead custodial technician at the campus, maintain the many flower beds.

Political science instructor Maurice Sheppard’s book, The Federal Election Commission: Policy, Politics, and Administration, has been selected by Choice magazine, a publication of the Association of College Research Libraries, as an “Outstanding Academic Title” for 2007.

The book, published by the University Press of America, has been praised as “a ‘must-read’ on many levels. Sheppard comprehensively and clearly describes and explains the Federal Election Commission, a government agency that most have heard of but few appreciate…HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.”

Congratulations, Maurice, and thank you for your contributions to our Liberal Arts program and the field of political science.

Once again, our students have made a solid showing at the national Skills USA competition in Kansas City. They ranked high in their competitions and brought home one second-place and two third-place medals. Thanks and congratulations to the advisors and students for another great year! Thanks to Harley Arzt, Melissa Brainerd, Robert Brown, Alden Colvin, Aaron Dix, Aaron Halverson, Daniel Hein, Jeffrey Hein, David Heinzen, Jason Herheim, Timothy Hoege, Rodney Kohlhep, Craig Lathrop, Lonnie Lingard, Jeffery Molzahn, Patrick Molzahn, Paul Morschauser, John Stephany, Anton Stute, Harlan Vangen and Thomas Wozniak.

Terry Webb has received the Eagle Management Leadership Award 2008 on behalf of the Wisconsin Technical College System Instructional Services Administrators Association. The award recognizes outstanding leadership in producing significant positive results on behalf of the Wisconsin Technical College System.

Highlights of my last two weeks:

• interviewed two final candidates for the position of Senior Development Officer/Assistant Director of the MATC Foundation;
• traveled to Baraboo with Jerry McGowan for a board-to-board visit;
• participated in a United Way board meeting;
• attended an intense three-day Council for Resource Development Presidents Fundraising Workshop;
• celebrated Rhythm and Booms with Donna Katen-Bahensky, the president of UW Hospital and Clinics, and her family and other hospital staff along with tri- and vice-chairs of the MATC Faculty and Staff Capital Campaign;
• met with a donor on the performing arts at MATC; and
• enjoyed time with family friends over the holiday.

In closing, here is a quote that I heard at the Council for Resource Development President’s Fundraising Workshop in Cambridge, Mass.:

“The highest destiny of an institution can be realized only by its total effort to analyze its philosophy and activities; crystallize its objectives and project them into the future; then take necessary steps to realize them.” -Gonser, Gerber, Tinker, Struhr

Bettsey