Cafe Victoria

Something new: 2009
Something old: My laptop
Something worth reading: The Sonoma Sun, my local free paper that comes on Tuesdays and Friday mornings
Something exciting: The HGTV Dream home is in my town, Sonoma!
Something worth doing: Facebook
Something worth letting go: Old socks
Something worth watching: Past seasons of “How I Met Your Mother” and the current season of “Desperate Housewives”
Something worth listening to: Patty Griffin
Something worth exploring: Hiking trails
Something worth debating: The Israeli invasion into Gaza
Something worth loving: Yourself
Something surprising: The unknown

December- Essen, Germany for Christmas with Missy and Matthias and Matthias’ family.
November- Maui, for Wedding Anniversary/Mid-Semester vacation.
October- Town and County Resort in San Diego, Ca Ahh…advising my student government officers as they got falsely accused of stealing hotel future during the CCCSAA 2008 Fall Student Leadership Conference.
September-Weekend in Bodega Bay, Ca for the Annual ASB Fall Leadership retreat
August-Infineon Raceway, Sonoma CA, for the Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma.
July-New York City with Kristina and Marta.
June- Holiday Inn, downtown San Diego for the CCCSAA E-Board transitional meeting.
May- Azusa, CA where my family joined Matthias as they watched me graduate with my Master’s from Azusa Pacific University.
April-Staff Lounge, Napa Valley College, for my Graduate Portfolio Presentation, also known as my Capstone.
March- Garden Grove, CA for the CCCSAA Professional Conference.
February- San Luis Obispo, Ca President’s Day get away weekend road trip with Kristina to visit Marta and Missy who both moved within an hour of me later in the year.
January- North Shore Tahoe, CA for the end of 2007/2008 New Year’s Eve.

High today: Looking at old photos of my grandpa
Learned today: The history of Southern Louisianian food. I tasted the best corn bread I have ever had!
Enjoyed: Watching “How I Met Your Mother” after work.
Looking forward to: Driving through Matthias home town
Thankful for: Having people in my life to love and support

Going with the Saturday Night Live Theme this morning…

On Wednesday my students spent 1 hour lost in powers that be of Roberts Rules of Order, trying to appoint a new round of commissioners to their board. It resulted in three current commissioners let go (kind of like the current job market). One deserving student asked to stay, and one voted in who can’t make the meetings next semester. Thanks Roberts Rules.

On Thursday at the Inter-Club Council meeting Brandon, our college’s Cafeteria Manager did an awesome presentation updating the clubs on the status of the cafeteria, changes in menu to help with affordability and flavor, and now will offer Fundraising Fridays. The clubs loved the idea. If all goes well, the cafeteria can start moving towards the black, and clubs can make some real extra money while having fun cooking and bonding. Next task, creating a contract form that really makes this Fundraising Fridays happen. However, I can hear the students now “Not another form!”

On Friday, I learned that all the Christmas cards I sent on Monday, in the cutest red small envelope, will cost our friends an extra trip to the post office and .20 cents. Due to the fact that the card is smaller than normal and needed more postage…What?…ahh..kind of funny.

That’s weekend update, I am Victoria Worch… now off to hike Mount Tam

Matthias took an silent review idea from Charlie. Hmm, I started writing and realized I was doing mini reviews.

Gas Prices: Yahoo!! Today, I was able to buy 9 gallons for $20 bucks
CNN’s Presidential Transition coverage: that is enough..no more…move on. I cannot even name who Bush picked 8 years ago. Obama will do fine.
Madagascar Escape 2 Africa: Funny!! I could watch a whole Penguin movie. Damm, those guys are hilarious.

Last night I watched “The Visitor”, an independent film about the Post 9/11 Immigrant Experience and our deportation detention centers that exist in our country. It is a great film. After the film, it got me thinking about how Americans and the American government are housing illegal immigrants in detention centers. There is a line in the film where the character who is being detained, who is from Syria says something close to this; “I am not a terrorist. The terrorists are not in here. They have money. They are not in here. I just want to play my music”.

I told Matthias, I want to do something about this. I am not sure yet, but I feel really powerful about this issue. The film opens my eyes to the way this country is fighting terrorism. We are tearing families apart and creating more and more stereotypes and discrimination. There has to be a better way to fight terrorism and process illegal immigration then holding people in detention centers. There has to be…I encourage you to watch “The Visitor”.

Since finishing graduate school, I have been enjoying yoga, catching up on my television watching, hanging out with friends, and jumping in full speed into my role as the President-Elect of the CA Community College Student Affairs Association. The President-Elect position is similar to the vice president role. I am serving with a great group of fellow student affairs professionals. The best part is I’m forming friendships with all of them. It is so important for me to keep networking since I am a single person department which happens a lot on community college campuses. Since budgets are so small, many times, one person is managing student government and student activities. During our CCCSAA board bi-weekly conference calls, I share any challenges I might be facing with my students or the programs I am leading. Otherwise, I probably would not be calling out for help.

The one thing I am learning from this experience is I like being a mentor and helping new advisors become familiar with the field of Student Affairs and Student Life. This December will make it seven years in my role as the Coordinator of Student Life. As the President-Elect, I’ve taken on co-coordinating the professional conference in Napa next March, am in charge of the professional and student scholarships, and just finished with co-organizing the Advisor reception at the Student Senate Fall General Assembly. We had 60 advisors there! Adrienne, the President and Carlos, the Student Senate Liaison and I did an awesome job. We were able to create an experience for advisors to discuss hot topics, such as free speech and balancing work and life outside of work, and have fun networking at the same time.

I’ve also realized that for many years now, I have managed my office, advised student leaders and studied leadership. But this President-Elect experience will be my own personal leadership experience. So far, it’s a lot of fun!

Celebrating: 1 year wedding anniversary!! One of the many highs today was eating the top layer of our wedding cake, which has been frozen in our fridge since the wedding night.  You would be surprised but ours tastes really good!!

Reading: Nancy Pelosi’s “Know Your Power”

Working on: the Save the Date flyers regarding the CCCSAA Professional Conference next March, and Scholarship applications to be handed out this coming weekend at our annual Student Leadership Conference in San Diego.

Balancing: House hunting, relaxing, and working evening events such as the weekly Presidental Debates.

Looking forward to: Maui!!

Thankful for: Matthias, our families, friends and Rock Band.

This past week there was no full moon but it sure felt like it to me. I had some lows but I also had some highs that I am really thankful for.
•    Playing the Wii Tennis and Baseball with my sister
•    Looking at all the great Victorian Houses around the streets of Cole Valley, San Francisco while catching up with Marta
•    Be reminded of how amazing Emmylou Harris and Shawn Colvin sound live in concert.
•    Enjoying a great dinner and company with Matthias at the Boon Fly Café between Napa and Sonoma and then getting to sneak into the still new Carneros Resort.
•    Being able to reach out to my Mom.

We have just noticed that all images are broken. Stand by while we try to fix the links!