 |
Director's NoteJenny Hackel |
Let the Good Times Roll
December is one of my favorite months of the year. Before you decide to pelt me with snowballs or wads of soggy leaves, please let me explain. It’s a sensory smorgasbord. The days are shorter but the nights are decorated with twinkling lights and sounds of seasonal music. The air is crisp and chilly. The ground is occasionally blanketed with sparkling snow. What better time is there to curl up next to a crackling fireplace or snuggle in a cozy blanket, sip a steamy beverage and truly take a moment to relax? Shopping becomes a sport and sometimes even a chore, but often you get to experience someone else’s surprise, appreciation, and/or joy for your efforts which more than makes up for the hassles.
Within SSEC, December also brings one of the most fun times of year to get to know your co-workers and learn about the incredible work happenings around here. Hank will deliver his annual State of the Center (SOC) address to recap and laud 2013 SSEC accomplishments, as well as to provide insight on the future. The event will take place from 1 to 3 pm on Thursday, December 19, in the Marquis Theater at Union South. Vice Chancellor for Research and Dean of the Graduate School Martin Cadwallader is also scheduled to provide a short summary of research accomplishments for both the campus and Graduate School. All are invited to attend and learn!
On the heels of Hank’s speech will be the annual SSEC Holiday Party. The event is located on 3rd floor of SSEC at a cost of $5/person plus a small dish to share. This year’s menu features a variety of hot sandwiches including a seasoned beef/pork blend, meatballs, and ham & cheese. Beer, soda, water, and hot apple cider will be provided courtesy of the SSEC directors. Santa’s elf will be paying a visit to deliver goodies for the kids and the world renowned SSEC Choir will perform around 3:45 pm in the library. New this year, we are pleased to announce the first ever Paper Snowflake contest (details will be emailed soon if they have not been already).
Still not having any fun during December? Do you enjoy a good laugh? It’s not too late to join the SSEC Choir or contribute to the Holiday Party organizing committee and meet some coworkers you may not otherwise get to encounter. Speaking from personal experience, the SSEC Choir is one of the most fun ways I’ve learned about the people and projects within SSEC. To merely describe the weekly practices as HILARIOUS is an understatement (most practices involve laughter to the point of tears). Practice involves a fair amount of song writing right up until the day of performance. While we do need more singers, participating in the choir does not mean that you need to sing. If you’re particularly gifted at vocabulary or play an instrument, we could use your expertise. If you’re even marginally interested at giving it a try, contact Dave Santek to arrange to attend one practice. If you try it and don’t like it, then you don’t have to continue. Additionally, the Holiday Party organizing committee needs volunteers to help clean up after the event (around 5 pm). If you’re at all interested in giving us a hand, drop me a line!
Lastly, as you leave the building, be sure to gaze up to the roof to enjoy the view of the AOSS satellite dishes decorated with holiday lights. Don’t forget to put your snow scraper in your trunk if you haven’t done so already.
Stay warm and safe!
Administrative Fine Print
If you don’t love December for its sensory experience, then at least try to embrace the fact that there are 3 legal holidays during the month. The upcoming holidays make this a prime time during the year to take vacation. If you plan to take vacation around the holidays, please remember to contact your supervisor if you haven’t done so already. Also, please be aware that there will be reduced overall administrative staffing (proposals, purchasing, travel, technical support, etc.) from December 23 through January 3rd. If you know you have a deadline for something during that time, could you please communicate that as soon as possible so we can try to ensure there is assistance for you? Thanks!
