MATC Matters

Dear Faculty and Staff,

A big “thank you” to everyone who attended, presented and supported last Friday’s Convocation. The message about campus safety was very important and well received. Patrick Barlow tells me the individual sessions were well attended, and the extras (live piano music, silent auction, chair massages and flu shots) were very much appreciated.  We really appreciate your hard work.

Outstanding Employee and Team Awards
Congratulations to this year’s recipients of the outstanding employee and team awards. Nominated by their peers, these employees have “surpassed expectations as they relate to excellence, respect, and integrity.â€? We salute Wendy Sauve (Enrollment Center), Dan Martin (Tech Services), Holly Mercier (Marketing Instructor), Wes Marquardt (Engineering Services Manager), and Karen Johnson Kretschmann (Business and Training Liaison). This year’s team award goes to the MATC Child and Family Center. The nomination forms were filled with words such as “trust,” “quality,” and “commitment” when describing the outstanding work being done at the center.

Ellen Foley Joins MATC
Speaking of outstanding people, when we opened the director of development position for the MATC Foundation, we were thrilled Ellen Foley, former editor of the Wisconsin State Journal, applied. Ellen has been hired to work with MATC Foundation executive director Bob Dinndorf to enhance the Foundation’s effectiveness especially during our Smart Future Campaign.  She will be an important asset to the Foundation and we’re lucky to have her join the MATC family.

Smart Future Campaign
As MATC closes in on its 100th anniversary, it’s an excellent time to reflect on the positive impact we’ve had on our community. However, we face many serious challenges at MATC. The need for scholarships and loan funds during these troubled economic times continue to grow. Technology and equipment upgrades are needed to keep our programs and services on the cutting edge. To help address these needs, our MATC Foundation has developed the Smart Future Campaign as a major effort to provide new sources of funding. The goal is 100 percent employee participation. With your help, we can continue providing accessible, high quality learning experiences at MATC. If you have any questions, please contact campaign tri-chairs, Turina Bakken, Shawna Carter or David Dean.

MATC Marvels
Here are “favorite teachers� as mentioned to me by students:
James Powell II, philosophy
Daniel Hein, small engine
Kathryn Grovergrys, Spanish
William Huntsman, chemistry

Other MATC Marvels
On Friday, the second group of Wisconsin Army National Guard enlistees completed our “Learning for Lifeâ€? program, a boot camp that prepares them for GED testing and planning for their career goals. (Photo of students featured in The Capital Times at right). I congratulated them at their celebratory luncheon. Kudos to Business, Industry and Community Services (BICS) Coordinating Instructor Lisa Lomasney, Education Assistant Linda Ryan, Advisor John Kinsler and Project Lead Jane Griswold for another amazing success. We just received the test results, and of the 25 students who took the five GED tests last week, 24 passed all of their tests. The remaining student passed all but one test (writing). So that’s a 99 percent pass rate. 

Thanks to John Alt, Juanita Comeau, Deryl Davis Fulmer, Marla Gamoran and Terry Webb for representing us so well at the Sauk County Workforce Education Summit.

Highlights of my week:

•met new employees at their orientation, Deryl Davis Fulmer-Associate Vice President, Learner Success, Nancy Woodward-PT Faculty Coordinator, Sandra Docter-PT Faculty Coordinator, Jeffrey Orr-Executive Chef, Heidi Cavill-Child Care Technician, Lindsay Decarlo-Child Care Technician, and Curtis LaHaise-Security Officer;
• attended Leadership Brown Bag where we learned more about the Cisco telecommunications systems;
• visited the Lakeside Lutheran High School Board with MATC District Board trustee Carolyn Stoner to talk about enhancing our services and partnerships with the District (this is one of a series of board-to-board outreach visits we are making to every one of our 40 school districts);
• met with women community leaders;
• met with the President’s Cultural Diversity Council;
• attended Rotary Club of Madison;
• met with the President’s Advisory Team;
• received my flu shot (hope all of you did, too, or plan to!);
• hosted a president’s table with guests MATC Foundation board member Mary Lang Sollinger, Steve Goldberg from CUNA, and Fred Mohs from Mohs, MacDonald, Widder & Paradise;
• attended the community welcome for UW-Madison Chancellor Carolyn “Biddy� Martin;
• welcomed faculty and staff at mid-semester convocation;
• congratulated the Wisconsin Army National Guard “Learning for Life� students at their celebratory luncheon;
• attended the Technology Services Convocation afternoon session where David Zach addressed the group; and
• attended brunch at UW President Kevin and Kate Reilly’s UW-Madison Badgers vs. the Fighting Illini pre-game celebration.

I will be joining five of our district board trustees for the Association of Community College Trustees Leadership Summit this week. Biotechnology instructor Dr. Lisa Seidman will be recognized as a regional faculty award winner and MATC will be recognized as a regional equity award winner. We are finalists for national honors in both categories, and hope to be taking the stage when national winners are announced Friday evening. After the summit I will be taking off a week and Terry Webb will be in charge. Terry will write this letter next week so look for a new face and message style.

In closing, here’s a quote from Henry David Thoreau that marketing instructor Kristin Uttech, included in her doctorate program Statement of Purpose:

“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.�

Bettsey