MATC Matters

Dear Faculty and Staff,

The recent winter advisory across our area brought to mind the issue of school closing. I want to remind you about the process that takes place when we make the decision to close our campuses. The most important thing for you to know is that the underlying reason is always student safety. When I was president at Hawkeye Community College two students were killed in an icy automobile accident shortly after leaving campus. I always think of them when making a final decision.

The other underlying reason is that we try to make a decision as soon as possible—but as you can imagine—the weather is very unpredictable. Here is the current procedure: 

• Administrative staff will monitor the weather situation throughout the night and a final decision regarding the closure of any MATC building will be made before 5:30 a.m.
• Should the decision be made to close any of MATC’s buildings, staff will notify local TV and radio stations, update the MATC homepage with information on the closure, and update the MATC weather hotline (608-246-6606).
• Please check these resources prior to departing your home for work. As always we encourage students and staff to make their own decision based on their personal situation.

Smart Future Campaign
This is a friendly reminder to everyone to get your pledge cards in for the Smart Future Campaign before December 17 in order to be eligible for a week’s stay at a Marriott Villa—including $1,000 towards travel expenses. Congratulations to the Reedsburg Campus which has a 100 percent participation rate from its PSRP staff! The Truax campus is closing in on 42 percent participation, so don’t forget to return your pledge cards to the Foundation office. If you need another pledge card stop by Room 254 (Truax Campus) or call Ext. 6441.
 
Also, please don’t forget about Santa’s Wish List, Way to Go for Single Parents or our other ongoing Foundation funds. They really need your help during this uncertain economic time. 
 
Mid-Year Graduation
Only three more weeks until graduation! I’m looking forward to congratulating our December graduates at Commencement on December 18 in the Redsten Gym. With the holidays, graduation, and end-of-the-semester preparations, December is a busy month for all of us!

To show my thanks for all you do, I want to invite you to the President’s Holiday Breakfast, Brunch or Lunch to be held at your work location. I hope you will be able to attend one of these events and help us kick off the season!

Monday, December 15:
10:30 a.m.-Noon Fort Atkinson (Room 157)
12:30-2 p.m. Watertown (Room 121)

Wednesday, December 17:
11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Portage (Room 102)
1-2:30 p.m. Reedsburg (Room 113)

Thursday, December 18:
11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Downtown Education Center (D240)

Friday, December 19:
8-9:30 a.m. Truax (Cafeteria)

MATC Holiday Party
Don’t forget to mark Friday, December 19 on your calendar. That’s the date of MATC’s Holiday Party. It will be held from 5-9 p.m. at the Door Creek Golf Course, 4321 Vilas Road, Cottage Grove. This year’s celebration will feature golf simulators, door prizes, and appetizers. Watch your MATC mailbox for the formal invitation.

Winter Portfolio Show
Winter is starting to heat up—thanks to our Art and Design students. The Winter Portfolio Show is Wednesday, December 3, from 4-8 p.m. in the Downtown Education Center atrium. The theme is contemporary urban design. Students will transform the atrium with the help of a “graffiti” paper wall. Thanks to Turina Bakken, Deb Vogt, Penny Aguilera, Ingrid Slamer and John Andrews for inspiring their students to always put on a great show.

MATC Marvels
When I talk to students and hear about their favorite teachers, I ask them to tell me about someone at MATC who has especially helped them or been kind to them.  Here are the names mentioned to me most recently:
Dawn Delaney, psychology
Scott Ritter, counselor
David Heinzen, automotive
Jennifer Tracey, economics
John “Luke��? Matthews, anthropology
Rachel Rodgers, aquatic director
Juan-Antonio Palacios, automotive
Pamela Larsen, math
Marty Richards, English
Jeffrey Orr, executive chef

Other MATC Marvels
Graphic Design Instructor Pamela Cremer has created a stunning ornament for Governor and Mrs. Doyle’s Executive Residence. One of the governor’s holiday trees has been named “Deck the Halls��? and will highlight the contributions of Wisconsin’s outstanding schools of higher education. This Wisconsin tradition brings thousands of people to the Executive Residence for the December 2008 Executive Residence tour schedule.

Patrick Molzahn, wood technics instructor, was awarded the Woodworking machinery Industry Association’s “Educator of the Year��? award for outstanding achievement.

Please welcome new employees Thomas Collins, manager Cisco infrastructure, James Ensign, government contract specialist, Jeffrey Kuhn, assistant controller, and Claudette Zweifel, administrative coordinator.

The Truax Student Lounge and Cafeteria were transformed into a fashion runway last week thanks to the debut of the Book Smart Fashion Show. Kudos to the fashion marketing faculty and staff including Betty Hurd, fashion marketing lead instructor, LaVonne O’Malley, fashion marketing instructor, and Aimee Althof, bookstore clerk as well as Gretchen Arneson, Bill Bessette, Anna Marie Hoffmann, Rhoda McKinney, and Kathy Waters for being models in the show.

I recently received an inspiring e-mail from a bilingual teacher at a local elementary school. For the last few years, elementary students have taken part in “Day of the Dead��? and Earth Day activities at MATC. These field trips have had an incredible impact on these students and their parents and are helping these students think about their own college careers. This is especially gratifying for the students’ parents—many of whom have not finished high school. Thanks to Susana Valtierra, Doug Kirchberg, and the entire Student Life staff for inspiring these young students to dream big.

Highlights of my week:
• met with American Family Insurance (AFI) vice president for public relations Rick Featherston and MATC Foundation Board member and AFI education division vice president Mary Schmoeger;
• hosted a president’s table with guests Lea Culver of Culver Franchising System, Paul Kundert and Jaimes Johnson of UW Credit Union, Neil Heinen and George Nelson of WISC-TV, and Rich Lynch J.H. Findorff & Son;
• attended the annual Autumn Gathering to Celebrate Madison’s Diversity where MATC district board trustee Frances Huntley-Cooper was guest speaker;
• met with editor of The Clarion student Kim Ellingson, and  The Clarion’s advisor Doug Kirchberg; and
• dropped in at the Facilities Master Plan review sessions.

At this holiday season here’s a quote from a letter to the editor in today’s Wisconsin State Journal that we might all keep in mind:

“Let’s keep in mind that many have lost much more than a percentage of their net worth this season.  Our neighbors are experiencing joblessness, hunger and homelessness, some of them for the first time ever.��?

Bettsey