New Maroon Camp-Week 5-Brad Ward

Activities

• ·      Made calls to campers to make sure that they have gotten their confirmation email for camp
• ·      Reminded campers of payment due on the 17^th of July
• ·      Looked at venues for the initial camp cookout
• ·      Met Dr. Hyatt when she visited the office
• ·      Started getting together a constitution for New Maroon so that they can become a student organization

      Application to Practice

This week was a very busy week at the New Maroon Camp office. We are a week away from the payment deadline and we are still under the numbers that we are expected to hit. We are at 140 campers who have paid, which is already 60 more than last year but way less than our expected number of 350 for this year. We are currently calling people left and right in order to track them down and make sure that they have paid. It is nice to know that we are at least above the number from last year so far and it will only get higher by this Friday. We were also having trouble with finding our shirt order. We had a fiasco where Adidas lost our order so I hope that that gets taken care of sooner before later.

One a positive note, when I briefly got to meet Dr. Hyatt today it was really great. I was impressed by how nice and down to earth that she is when you talk to her. I feel like she is a great fit for our division and will bring a lot of joy and hard work to student affairs.

Application to Readings

In chapter 3 for this week, I read about having an excessive workload. I feel that we have had a lot on our plate this summer because of heavily loading the month of July. As it turns out, that is a trend that happens in a lot of student affairs professional’s lives. We tend to take on more than we are accustomed to dealing with, but the great thing about it is we always seem to use our skills to problem solve and make it through the stressful periods. I know that I will be having a very stressful time when August comes around because I will be dealing with my Student Activities job, classes, SAGA, and New Maroon Camp. I am excited for the challenge and the long hours that I will still be spending with NMC. I am excited to see all of the hard work pay off and see the smile on all of the new students faces when they get to experience something as awesome as a new Mississippi State tradition.

Application to Theory

For my theory this week, I looked at the Human and Organizational Resources because we have been dealing with a lot a budgets and dealing with a lot of moral strategies for motivating others at camp. A lot of these strategies hit home because I know that what I am doing now with New Maroon Camp will translate into my next job. I am also working on professional development with out co-directors because I know that they will be great leaders someday so I have made it a purpose to help them develop along this whole process.

ACPA & NASPA. (2010). Professional Competency Areas for Student Affairs Practitioners

Amey, M. J., & Reesor, L. M. (2009). Beginning your journey: A guide for new professionals in student affairs. Washington, D.C.: NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education.