One of the finest ladies I know is retiring from the Department of Communications at Wake Forest University -- Beth Hutchens. As many of you know, her husband was a Winston Salem Policeman who was killed in the line of duty last Fall. It has been tough on Beth and her two daughters and she feels she has to devote time the the Foundation she set up in Mickey's name. So we are losing her. Melissa Painter is putting together a book of letters for Beth from friends, former and current students. Melissa writes:
__________
Melissa Painter March 29 at 4:19pm Reply
Beth Hutchens is retiring as the administrative coordinator from the Department of Communication at Wake Forest University. I'm sure many of you remember Beth and how she helped you squeeze into a class or gave you a recommedation on a professor. For some, she became a good friend. I'd like to put together a book of letters to share with Beth to let her know how much she has meant to students over the years. I need your help to do it. You can write a quick paragraph about the first time you met Beth, how she helped you as a student, share a funny story-- anything you'd like. You may e-mail the letter to me or mail it to me at
HP-8
High Point, NC
27261
I need these notes by next week, April 5.
Thanks for your help. It will mean a lot to Beth!
Best,
Melissa Painter
WFU Class of 2000
melissa.painter@wghp.com
_____
Please if you know Beth or have been touched by Beth please send a message to Melissa. I also ask that you send it out to anyone else you might know of who would like to contribute a letter. We are trying to keep this a secret from Beth.
Thank you.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Back from Oklahoma City
Just returned from the NFRW BOD meeting which was held in Oklahoma City this time instead of in Washington DC. The new Executive Committee was installed and you could feel the energy and passion in the room. I was appointed to be Co-Chair of the Public Relations Committee and we are busy working on three major projects: getting all the 1600+ NFRW clubs in the nation wired one way or another by the Fall meeting in Charleston. A template has been developed which allows all clubs without a website to fill out an information form, send it to us and it will be posted on the www.republicanwomensclub.com website. Anyone that then goggles republican women club will go to this site and be able to find a club close to them. This website will function as a type of "yellow pages". Second we are working on a green grocery tote bag to be sold as a way to raise money for a pr campaign. And lastly, we are working on a video which will discuss why we are proud to be an American.
I listened to all the standing committee and their proposed projects for the next two years and if only half of what was proposed gets done it will have been an awesome two years.
It is always great to reconnect with women across the U.S. that share my values and thoughts. Many of them I have gotten to know over the years and have so much respect for. Others I have just met and immediately became a friend to. Thee were 28 new state presidents at this meeting. Young energetic young women who have a passion to "take our country" back and to move it forward.
In addition to the women, we had great speakers. J.C. Watts is one of my all time favorites and he did not disappoint. Angela Sailor, Coalitions Director for the RNC was extremely informative and I enjoyed getting to know her. She is someone that will remain a friend for years. She talked about how the RNC, under Michael Steele, has become much more pro-active instead of reactive. Good stuff. I attended the workshop put on my Vince Harris on new Social Media and learned alot, some of which I incorporated in the seminar/workshop Lisa Roper and I did the next day on pr.
Except for the traveling which gets worse all the time, It was a great 4 days. I look forward to working with these wonderful, smart, intelligent, energetic, passionate women over the next several years.
I listened to all the standing committee and their proposed projects for the next two years and if only half of what was proposed gets done it will have been an awesome two years.
It is always great to reconnect with women across the U.S. that share my values and thoughts. Many of them I have gotten to know over the years and have so much respect for. Others I have just met and immediately became a friend to. Thee were 28 new state presidents at this meeting. Young energetic young women who have a passion to "take our country" back and to move it forward.
In addition to the women, we had great speakers. J.C. Watts is one of my all time favorites and he did not disappoint. Angela Sailor, Coalitions Director for the RNC was extremely informative and I enjoyed getting to know her. She is someone that will remain a friend for years. She talked about how the RNC, under Michael Steele, has become much more pro-active instead of reactive. Good stuff. I attended the workshop put on my Vince Harris on new Social Media and learned alot, some of which I incorporated in the seminar/workshop Lisa Roper and I did the next day on pr.
Except for the traveling which gets worse all the time, It was a great 4 days. I look forward to working with these wonderful, smart, intelligent, energetic, passionate women over the next several years.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Receipt for pumpkin and black bean soup
I modified this receipt by taking out the olive oil and using olive oil spray to cook the garlic, onions and seasonings. It has 5 servings and each serving is 3 Weight Watcher points.
Pumpkin Black Bean Soup
Ingredients
2 cup(s) canned black beans
14 1/2 oz Contadina Diced Tomatoes
16 oz Tree of Life Organic pumpkin puree
1/2 cup(s) red onion(s)
2 clove(s) garlic clove(s)
4 cup(s) vegetable broth
1 Tbsp McCormick Ground cumin
1 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground allspice
1/2 tsp black pepper
3 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 spray(s) olive oil cooking spray
Instructions
Spray pan, place red onion, garlic, and seasonings into a large pot; cook on low-medium heat until red onion and garlic brown. Puree the beans and tomatoes with 1/2 of the vegetable broth. Add pureed ingredients, pumpkin and rest of broth to your pot. Simmer uncovered until thick, about 40-45 minutes. Before serving stir in balsamic vinegar. Can garnish with baked pumpkin se
Pumpkin Black Bean Soup
Ingredients
2 cup(s) canned black beans
14 1/2 oz Contadina Diced Tomatoes
16 oz Tree of Life Organic pumpkin puree
1/2 cup(s) red onion(s)
2 clove(s) garlic clove(s)
4 cup(s) vegetable broth
1 Tbsp McCormick Ground cumin
1 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground allspice
1/2 tsp black pepper
3 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 spray(s) olive oil cooking spray
Instructions
Spray pan, place red onion, garlic, and seasonings into a large pot; cook on low-medium heat until red onion and garlic brown. Puree the beans and tomatoes with 1/2 of the vegetable broth. Add pureed ingredients, pumpkin and rest of broth to your pot. Simmer uncovered until thick, about 40-45 minutes. Before serving stir in balsamic vinegar. Can garnish with baked pumpkin se
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Wednesday in Blagoevgard
A bus load of students came in and we got them registered and the party started. We hired a DJ who played records (I guess they are cds these days) for several hours with the music blaring. After a few hours the music ended and we had wonderful peace. The fellows have dispersed to go to clubs, to bed, and to other nooks and crannies to talk and do who knows what.
We are waiting for the last bus load of students to come in and they all should be here. Tomorrow we are starting the day out by going to the Rila Monastery for the morning and then when we return will start the program.
It is going to be a wonderful but fast week. All the screams and yells we heard today will turn into sobs and sobs and sobs. It has been great getting to know these young people from the
We are waiting for the last bus load of students to come in and they all should be here. Tomorrow we are starting the day out by going to the Rila Monastery for the morning and then when we return will start the program.
It is going to be a wonderful but fast week. All the screams and yells we heard today will turn into sobs and sobs and sobs. It has been great getting to know these young people from the
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday
Sunday in Athens was wonderful but very hot -- temperature of 104. To visit the Acropols you have to walk up a steep hill and once there there is very little shade. We met up with one of our fellows/mentors, Lendyll and he joined us on our journey. It is an amazing site. Thousands of years old and still standing. We were smart and hired a guide to explain to us what we were seeing. By the time we got back to the hotel it was late afternoon and we all took a nap. Had a great dinner sitting outside across the street from ruins. Everywhere you look in Athens there are ancient ruins.
Went to bed about 2am and at 2:45 am the phone rang it was Beth from the office telling me to get to Allan to see how he was because a great friend of his, Ross Smith, debate coach at Wake, died that evening. Beth had called Allan and wanted me to make sure he was ok. Needless to say neither of us got any sleep that evening. It was horrible news and we are still trying to absorb it and deal with it.
We had to leave for the airport at 6:30am so there were no sleeping that evening. Got to the airport, got checked in for our flight to Sofia on Bulgaria Air. 5 minues after the flight closed they came and told us Mia's ticket had been cancelled. So we spent 20 minutes running around the airport getting a new ticket for her, which we did and made the flight. Finally got to Sophia and was met by Iva. Thank god for her as few in the airport and almost no one in the bus station spoke English. Got the bus to the University and it was a 90 minute plus ride.
Once here we met up with Nadia, the summer coordinator and we had dinner with her. Then tried to collapse and sleep. But the phone rang at 2:30, people seem to forget that there is a 7 hour time difference between Bulgaria and North Carolina. Met with Nadia Wednesday morning and took a tour of the facilities. We will be holding our meetings in the Library and it is a great facility that is airconditioned. The dorm is not. When I first moved into the room and saw a wool blanket I was surprised. But during the night I woke up freezing and was glad for the blanket. It is not humid here but hot and the nights are wonderful.
Our biggest frustration on Tuesday was that we could not get the internet working, either in the labs or using wireless. As a result we were up working until about 2:15 trying to get things done. Again the phone rang in the middle of the night and woke me up just as I had gotten to sleep.
More later a bus full of students have just arrived.
Went to bed about 2am and at 2:45 am the phone rang it was Beth from the office telling me to get to Allan to see how he was because a great friend of his, Ross Smith, debate coach at Wake, died that evening. Beth had called Allan and wanted me to make sure he was ok. Needless to say neither of us got any sleep that evening. It was horrible news and we are still trying to absorb it and deal with it.
We had to leave for the airport at 6:30am so there were no sleeping that evening. Got to the airport, got checked in for our flight to Sofia on Bulgaria Air. 5 minues after the flight closed they came and told us Mia's ticket had been cancelled. So we spent 20 minutes running around the airport getting a new ticket for her, which we did and made the flight. Finally got to Sophia and was met by Iva. Thank god for her as few in the airport and almost no one in the bus station spoke English. Got the bus to the University and it was a 90 minute plus ride.
Once here we met up with Nadia, the summer coordinator and we had dinner with her. Then tried to collapse and sleep. But the phone rang at 2:30, people seem to forget that there is a 7 hour time difference between Bulgaria and North Carolina. Met with Nadia Wednesday morning and took a tour of the facilities. We will be holding our meetings in the Library and it is a great facility that is airconditioned. The dorm is not. When I first moved into the room and saw a wool blanket I was surprised. But during the night I woke up freezing and was glad for the blanket. It is not humid here but hot and the nights are wonderful.
Our biggest frustration on Tuesday was that we could not get the internet working, either in the labs or using wireless. As a result we were up working until about 2:15 trying to get things done. Again the phone rang in the middle of the night and woke me up just as I had gotten to sleep.
More later a bus full of students have just arrived.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Day 3 and 4
I was so tired by the time I got back to the hotel last night that I did not have the energy to do anything but go to bed. We got up early yesterday morning and saw a little more of Tirane before heading out to the airport to fly to Athens. It was a short flight on Olympic Airlines but we crossed another time zone. So now we are 7 hours ahead of home.
Our hotel here in Athens is lovely. It is on a side street right off of Ermou St. which is the main shopping area. We got in about 6pm, got to the hotel, took a short nap and then headed out to get oriented. We looked up at one point and here was the Acropolis all lit up. It is magnificent. We found a small restaurant and ate good Greek food and had a wonderful evening. We walked around the Plaka district for a time and then headed back to the hotel.
This morning we got up early and met up with Lendyll, one of the BFTFers. The four of us headed up to the Acropolis. We started out walking but decided to take one of the small buses that run up there and I am glad that we did. We walked all over the grounds in 104 degree weather. Very little shade up there --- and it is up there!! We did do one very smart thing and that was to hire a guide who gave us a wonder historical tour. By the time we got down from that hill we went to the New Museum, had a bite to eat and then went back to the hotel in the late afternoon after doing some shopping. Just got up from a short nap and we all we meet up again at 8:30 to go for dinner.
Observations: I really like Albania, the people and the area. It is amazing how far that county has come in the last 18 years given where they were at when communism ended. They are just about equal to the other EE countries. We met up with a friend who has been an activist and who has recently formed a political party and stood for election. It was quite revealing to listen to him talk about the politics of the country. This is a country that I would like to go back to again.
The Greeks are very friendly and nice folks. And I must say it sure is nice to be in a place where the people pronounce my name correctly!!!! One day I would like to come back and explore the outer islands.
Tomorrow we head out early in the morning to fly to Bulgaria. We are going to have to go to work to finish all the last minute details on the conference before the BFTFers arrive on Wednesday. I will post more pictures later.
Our hotel here in Athens is lovely. It is on a side street right off of Ermou St. which is the main shopping area. We got in about 6pm, got to the hotel, took a short nap and then headed out to get oriented. We looked up at one point and here was the Acropolis all lit up. It is magnificent. We found a small restaurant and ate good Greek food and had a wonderful evening. We walked around the Plaka district for a time and then headed back to the hotel.
This morning we got up early and met up with Lendyll, one of the BFTFers. The four of us headed up to the Acropolis. We started out walking but decided to take one of the small buses that run up there and I am glad that we did. We walked all over the grounds in 104 degree weather. Very little shade up there --- and it is up there!! We did do one very smart thing and that was to hire a guide who gave us a wonder historical tour. By the time we got down from that hill we went to the New Museum, had a bite to eat and then went back to the hotel in the late afternoon after doing some shopping. Just got up from a short nap and we all we meet up again at 8:30 to go for dinner.
Observations: I really like Albania, the people and the area. It is amazing how far that county has come in the last 18 years given where they were at when communism ended. They are just about equal to the other EE countries. We met up with a friend who has been an activist and who has recently formed a political party and stood for election. It was quite revealing to listen to him talk about the politics of the country. This is a country that I would like to go back to again.
The Greeks are very friendly and nice folks. And I must say it sure is nice to be in a place where the people pronounce my name correctly!!!! One day I would like to come back and explore the outer islands.
Tomorrow we head out early in the morning to fly to Bulgaria. We are going to have to go to work to finish all the last minute details on the conference before the BFTFers arrive on Wednesday. I will post more pictures later.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
