It's a fuzzy, fuzzy world

Could you still do your job if you couldn't see?
I had to ask myself this question this morning when I decided to go back to work today after having PRK surgery last Thursday. Friday I was nearly blind, Saturday I could see enough to figure out which toothbrush was mine, and Sunday I could finally open the window blinds and let some sunlight in.
I took a cautious peek at the newspaper this morning- I could read again!!! The words had to be within 12 inches of my face, but it was progress! I went to work.
The first thing I did was turn on all the low vision accessibility options on my computer- high contract fonts, the Windows Magnifier, increased text sizes in browsers, and anything else I could think of. I then had to prioritize what absolutely had to get done and what could wait, since I knew I only had a few good hours of eyesight today before my eyes are exhausted. Apparently, posting to the STC Montana blog made the list. I know my eyes will get better, slowly, but in the meantime I am gaining a whole new appreciation for web usability guidelines.

Switching gears here…but I haven’t heard a peep from anyone about helping with elections. How about helping out your nearly blind president and volunteering to set up a simple Survey Monkey election?

Elections

It's that time of year again—time to elect your STC Montana officers for 2008-2009! I am looking for a volunteer to be the Elections co-Chair. Susan Ledford volunteered to coordinate the Nominations portion, but she's traveling for a month beginning in mid-April and cannot run the elections after the nominations.

Please consider volunteering for this low-risk and easy opportunity to help your chapter (and Susan!)

The time commitment is minimal. Each small task (instructions provided!) can be done right from your computer. It's really quite simple. As Susan's co-Chair, you will receive the confirmed nominations (with short biographical statements.) You’d then have the choice to either do an e-ballot via an email message or set up the election using Survey Monkey and send out the link in an email message.

If you choose the e-ballot via email route, we have sample emails drafted already. You’d tell me the results before our annual chapter dinner, Tuesday, May 20, in Butte.

Don't hesitate to take advantage of the opportunity to serve YOUR Chapter! Email me at hollik at greatharvest dot com


Last and Most Important
Considering our Chapter size and geographic challenges, we have had a GREAT year, so please be thinking of clever ways to say "YES!" to Susan when she calls on you to step up to run for a Chapter Officer position in April.

With the strong coordination and knowledge sharing among our officers this year, incoming 2008 - 2009 officers can count on an easy transition and lots of support to be successful.

Neck and neck!

Come on folks...we have the 3rd highest renewal rate of all the STC chapters! In our division, only Eastern Iowa is ahead of us by 1.47%.
I'll admit, since I am originally from Eastern Iowa, I've got a personal agenda on this one. However, we could win 4 free registrations to the STC annual conference in June!

Renew now!