Thursday, September 9, 2010
Today at the Space Center.
Today at the Space Center is brought to you by "The Imaginarium" located in beautiful downtown Wonderland, right next door to the Department of Culinary Inspiration, where the world's greatest chefs access the inspiration to create tomorrow's Michelin Star winning dishes.
Warren Nuila's Last Day!
Supervisor and all around good guy, Warren Nuila, spent his last day in Space Center Blues last Saturday. Warren leaves for Germany on Wednesday to serve an LDS mission. Warren worked at the Space Center for the past 7 years as a volunteer, supervisor and flight director. If you've ever flown on a Magellan Camp you probably worked with Warren.
This is a picture of Warren and his band of cut throat Orion Space Pirates as they prepare to blast their way into the Magellan's Bridge. Unsuspecting younglings, working on the Bridge, were caught off guard and quickly lost all sense of organization as Warren and the gang burst through shouting "Get them humans!" and "Shiver me Timbers" and "Aaarrgggg!"
"You're Down and You're Down and You're down. Yes you. Yes you're down and don't argue," shouted the Bridge Supervisor.
In a matter of minutes, Warren had successfully taken the last Bridge of his Space Center career. It was a moment to be remember for all that participated. I'm sure Warren basked in the joy of knowing he was once again successful, because of his cunning - not to mention overwhelming fire power.
In fact, here is a shot of Warren basking. Bless his heart. A Legend at the Space Center and the source of many a child's nightmares over the last seven years :)
Good luck Warren and Keep in Touch.
Awards Given For Excellence Above and Beyond the Mundane!
Yet once again, awards for our awesome volunteers were given at the end of a recent Overnight Camp. In the picture above you see Julie receiving her Odyssey Pin for demonstrating outstanding talent in pushing play and pause. In fact you see Julie showing us the exact thumb she uses when pushing play and pause - mirrored by Emily, Odyssey Set Director, who also uses her thumb to push play and pause.
Granted, most people use their forefinger to accomplish the same task more efficiently but that isn't the Odyssey way, according to Emily.
"You'd be surprised at what the thumb can actually do," Emily said during a recent Odyssey training meeting where the Odyssey staff had all their fingers taped together, leaving only their thumbs to control equipment and computers.
Mr. Daymont is seen here congratulating Eric and Jordan for earning their Magellan Pins. We were limited on time for the award ceremony (due to the consumption of mass quantities of Lorraine's delicious Snickers Chocolate Cake) which is why you'll see Mr. Daymont shaking both boy's hands at once, thus saving approx. 3 seconds.
"A second wasted is a second lost," Mr. Daymont is fond of saying.
Stacy, feeling the pressure of time, followed Mr. Daymont's lead and shook both Jordan and Erin's hands at the same time thus congratulating them on earning their Galileo pin. I should point out that Jordan earned his Galileo pin over a month ago but because he was already standing at the front of the room, and seeing an opportunity to be congratulated a second time for an achievement he was already congratulated for, chose to stay and receive the applause and adulation of the assembled staff. Stacy was willing to go along with the deception remembering what happened the last time Jordan was called out for getting a second congratulation. It was unpleasant, to say the least.
Space Center Staff Assist with Central Elementary School Literacy
Alex Anderson, Stacy Carrell, and Jon Parker spent part of the this afternoon unboxing and stamping reading books for Central Elementary School's literacy program.
In this picture you see Alex and Stacy unwrapping and stamping the books with Central School's address.
Jon Parker did the same from another desk. Jon worked separately because he was working at a slower pace.
"Them books is the coolest," Jon said as he carefully leafed through each book, taking time to appreciate the artwork. "Whoda thought readen could be fun?".
"OK Jon, what's your favorite?" I asked.
"This un right here," he replied opening a book about Boats. "I never figured there was so much learning about bats. Bats are cool the way they can't see worth a darn and shout when they fly so everyone in their way has enough time to clear out!"
"Jon, that book is about Boats," I said quietly, not wanting to embarrass him in front of Alex and Stacy.
He looked over his left shoulder, hoping neither one was aware of his reading blunder.
"You're right. It's about Boats and Bats!" he exclaimed.
"You gotta get up early in the morning to pull a fast one on you," I said.
Mrs. Houston Changes Bulletin Board Paper!
This just in, Mrs. Lorraine Houston was seen in the Discovery Room this afternoon changing the paper on the left bulletin board! This was done secretly. The old paper had been on the board so long most of the staff were fond of it. There was no telling what kind of retaliation Mrs. Houston would suffer if the staff found out it was her that changed the old, yellowed, stained, ripped paper. She was right to do it secretly.
The new black paper is very nice and black.
Those of us still at the Center when school got out went in and admired the new paper.
"It'll do," Stacy said. "It'll do. No reason to get worked up over it."
Everyone agreed.
Again, just another day at the Space Center.
Mr. Williamson
Scott Warner Awarded the Presidential Service Award
Shad West
Utah Division of Housing and Community Development
SALT LAKE CITY – Lt. Governor Greg Bell and the Utah Commission on Volunteers honored three Presidential Volunteer Service Award winners with a private luncheon. A press conference to hand-out awards was held at the State Capitol on September 8th.These outstanding Utahns contributed the most hours of volunteer service in each age category between June 1 and August 31 as part of the Utah Summer of Service. This year more than 600 volunteers participated in the program and served more than 7900 hours.
Scott Warner age 14, Jacque Baumer age 23, and Dale Greenland age 52, recorded the most service hours in their age categories over the past three months, earning both a Presidential Service Award and lunch with Lt. Governor Bell.
“It is a matter of great personal pride for me to be part of a community where there is such a value placed on volunteering and community service,” said Lt. Gov. Greg Bell. “Recognizing the best of the best is extremely important to me.”
Scott Warner, from Draper, volunteered 236 hours with the Christa McAuliffe Space Center in Pleasant Grove. He helped direct the summer Edventure program training campers how to use the equipment in the simulators, direct simulations, develop “Away Missions”, and help chaperone overnight campers. Campers at the Space Center learn history, science, and how to problem solve.
“I absolutely love volunteering,” Warner said. “I would live at the Space Center if they would let me.”
Jacque Baumer, from Orem, volunteered 315 hours with Child Rescue. She took on the enormous task of putting on the first Candlelight Serenade Acoustic Festival.
This fundraiser brought together public and non-profits all in the name of protecting children from exploitation. Baumer did everything from organize the concert, plan a community awareness campaign, and organize space for non-profits to have booths.
“I volunteer to make sure every child is safe from exploitation,” Baumer said. “We have children who suffer abuse right here in Utah, and I am passionate about putting an end to it.”
Dale Greenland, from Magna, volunteered 424 hours of his time with the Veterans Administration Hospital. Since being laid off as a regional sales manager, Greenland has devoted his extra time to the patients at the VA. He hosts the craft room, where Vets can keep their hands and minds busy while in recovery. Greenland also drives one of the onsite carts that transports immobile patients to where they need to be in the facility.
“I give my time to these Vets because they have given so much to us,” Greenland said. “The award is great, but I win everyday because of my association with these great service men and women.”
In addition to the three top volunteers, all volunteers ages 5 to 14 who logged more than 50 hours of service, and those ages 15 and older who served more than 100 hours will also be honored with a Presidential Service Award and Recognition Pin.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Bracken Funk's Commentary
A thank you to Bracken for writing this take on my post concerning the criticism I received from a camper about my absent smiles. Bracken is a student a Fresno State in California and a Flight Director at the Space Center (when in Utah of course). He also plays a mean game of Basketball.
Mr. W.
To Whom it May Concern:
The creatorium's psychology division would like to announce test results of the Bossman.
Our analysts have been studying all pertinent information coming to and from Victor Alan Williamson, and would like to make the findings available to all who are interested in the facts. We assert that we are not making this up.
Evidence #C043526
We note here that this is Master Williamson in his most prime state of mind, you can see behind the smile that there is some form of brain function still occurring. The smile is real, unpretended. He is clearly happy, as you can denote from the relaxed shoulder position. May we contrast that with something only sent to us a short time ago by our spies.
Please note the heightened position of the shoulders, and the strain in the upper right, and lower left facial muscles. Also note the difference in the eyes. In the first picture, his eyes are relaxed. Controlled. We're not quite sure what to make of these...
This is a photograph of our leader as a child. Besides the fact that he is wearing pink clothes (which is his favorite color... Quite disturbing really), you'll notice the brainwashing that is under occurrence... We are fairly sure that this contributes to this:
Evidence #C043529
Several months ago, 2 staff members disappeared. Galo, and Kenzie.... Nobody knew what had happened to them. While listening to a sleep talking from the boss the other night, it is clear that they are within this cake. DNA testing confirmed... We are quite positive that it was on accident- however, we believe that these staff birthday celebrations are some form of ritual. The adult staff are all in on it (those older than Emily, and I, I mean). Aleta is ensuring the sacred sacrificial cap is near his head. The fire. Kyle's yelling of "Happy Barfday" (magical words). This is cause for extreme concern. When he came to sacrifice the head of our department... Here is what was captured by several of the center's CCTV cameras.
Notice how the heart is clutched... The face contorted in pain... It would be quite a scare... Honestly. But, this isn't the only captured instance in which a staff member had feared their life. Here is the other caught on camera.
The fear is apparent in the eyes of Chelsey is clear. The awkward seperation, and the evil smile from the boss....