President's Perspective: California, here I come

By the time you read this (which I have no idea when that is, because this is the Sex Issue, and you may be hoping I write about sex…sorry guys, but there is a dirty picture this week at least!) I will be in sunny California.


Over six days I am traveling to San Diego, CA in order to attend a conference on student leadership. It's being held at the Catamaran Resort, and luckily I was able to get a room there. And since the conference sections are being held there, I hardly have to move in order to get to the session, which as we all know, is sweet.

This is their 58th assembly, entitled Positive Choices=Positive Change. This is the first time Fanshawe Student Union has chosen to send a delegate, and I am going alone. If it turns out to be excellent, we may send more in the future.

I found out that they have an overflow hotel across the street….so there must be over 500 delegates at least! How am I going to survive with 500 crazy student leaders? (you will find out…when I return…and if I return….)

This year, they are teaching eight sessions over the course of three days. The ones I am choosing to do are: Organizational Ethics, How to deal with Difficult People, Leadership on the Big Screen, and Seeking Civility: Ethics, Attitude, and Etiquette.

The reason I am only choosing four, is because the FSU chose to opt into another program, called the Certified Student Leader program.

It consists of four workshops over the course of the conference, and at the end, you write an exam to receive your certification in Student Leadership.

Those sessions are entitled: Intentional and Inclusive Community Building: From Awareness to Collaboration, Communication and Conflict Resolution: Listen, Learn, and Speak Organizational Management: Time, Space, and the "Effective Meeting", and Publicity and Promotion: Shared Vision and Best Practices. And it looks great!

I am leaving on Friday (which is the day the paper comes out), until Wednesday October 25. On Friday, I leave London at 1am to arrive there at 11.13am their time. Over the next few days you may see me running around like a mad woman, and if so, my apologies. The retreat for the new SAC members is Friday October 27-Sunday October 29, and all of it needs to be prepared before I go. So unfortunately, if I am running down the hall, and I knock you out of the way, my apologies in advance.

I am prepared to learn a lot and to learn new skills that will help me in the future, but most importantly, in serving the student body as FSU President.

This is the first time I will be traveling to a conference alone this year, so think of me when you are all hanging out with your friends and I am sitting along in a hotel room studying. I know this will be a valuable conference for me, and for you, the students, to benefit from.