It is Monday and I started the day with an early morning conference call. In planning our upcoming trip to AIU, I discussed with Rick Klopp how we can make good use of our time on campus. Our top agenda items included (1) best and proper use of the Grant for the libary, (2) scheduling meetings with department heads, (3) meeting with the marketing and development department to determine resource sharing, (4) the AIU Capital campaign, and (5) meeting with CLA donors to acknowledge current financial gifts.
The library received a $100,000 grant from a donor that will create a media center and library publications and books to meet the growing needs of AIU in the area of PhD and undergraduate programs. I will be meeting with Ephraim Mudave, librarian to determine what their specific needs are. It is commom that their current needs exceeds the available funding resources. We are applying for a security grant to insure that important texts do not leave the library and not return.
Meeting with department heads will be instrumental in determining their needs for the coming years. We are planning to purchase a video camera so we can capture their stories and needs and post to UTUBE to create greater awareness. We also hope to capture stories of students to share the current needs.
One of CLA's top priorities is to come along side the marketing and development departments to help grow their constituency and create awareness on a global scale of their increased capacities and new undergraduate programs. By working closely with this department we can help them develop strategies to share their message to a larger audience.
Last fall, AIU kicked off their capital campaign with great success. Our goal is to come alongside them and promote this effort in the USA. In two weeks there is a group of climbers that will climb Mt. Kilimanjaro in order to create awareness and support of the Leah Nigini Community Center. This facility will become the centerpoint of the campus and provide students and faculty a common place to create community and experience the "family" atmosphere on campus. My former boss, Scott MacCloy and Michael White are two of the climbers that are giving of their time and resources to take on this challenge and create support and awareness for the Leah Nigini community center. I look forward to reconnecting with Scott when he arrives on campus towards the end of our trip.
After I return from AIU, I will be meeting with key donors around the USA to thank them for their past support and help them understand the current needs including the capital campaign. This outreach effort will allow me to share updates from the Governing Council meeting I will be attending and give them an opportunity to participate in the growth of AIU as it becomes a full fledged university.
Finally, the short term mission team will have an opportunity to debrief our experience as we attend the retirement celebration for Dr. Chet and Dolores Wood. Dr. Wood was responsible for many of the milestones at NEGST/AIU and launched the PhD program. Because of their dedication to this effort we want to honor them and continue the legacy they created as we add to the Chester Wood Endowment fund. This event will allow us to share our stories and process what we experienced on this upcoming trip.
It is very exciting knowing that we are only a few days away from departure. The anticipation is palpable. This is a time of reflection as we anticipate the upcoming journey and are anxious to see where God is leading us.
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