ScottShares.com

Kony 2012

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 10:28:55 -0500

If you haven’t heard about KONY 2012 yet, you are about to (and likely not just from me). I am sharing this with you for two reasons:

1) I think it is a fantastic example of communicating the importance of a message or cause, integrating it into social media and a strategic plan (reaching policy and culture makers), and empowering people to make big difference by taking a small action step (action kit and donation).

2) I am sharing because I thought it was so much of a compelling message that I wanted to pass it on. The video talks a lot about the impact of Facebook, and guess where I heard about it? A respected friend posted this: “Kony 2012 video is spreading like crazy. This is what FB & youtube should be all about- sharing useful information to make our world better.”

So, carve out 27 minutes, watch the video and think how we can incorporate this type of outreach in our work and in the world.

Here’s the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Y4MnpzG5Sqc

The video was posted on March 5 and is already at almost 33 million views (don’t bother with your calculator, it’s about 10 million views a day), and if the plan in the video works, you may be seeing it on CNN soon.

Foodie January: Italy Inspired by the variety and quantity of...

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 21:58:00 -0500

Picking out books at the library

Frittatas fresh out of the oven

Linguine Prosciutto Frittata & Risotto

Orzo Stuffed Peppers with Broiled Potato

Amelia enjoying a meal

Prosciutto Mozzarella Pinwheels

Salmon with Puff Pastry and Pesto

Outside Maggiano's in Chicago

Foodie January: Italy

Inspired by the variety and quantity of books on cooking at our local library, we set a unique kind of New Year’s Resolution this year. We have decided to pick a different ethnic genre of food each month for one year. This doesn’t mean every meal fits the theme (we aren’t that crazy), but we did attempt to have one or two meals a week with a special flavor.

January became a tour of Italy using the book Giada’s Kitchen by Giada de Laurentiis. We enjoyed a special excuse to have friends over or just to enjoy a different type of meal as a family.

My favorite was on a day when Ashley started cooking without me. Now, I know what most of you are thinking, “of course that would be his favorite”, but the food is what really set it apart, not just the lack of work on my part. By the time I walked in the door after work my daughter ran to give me a hug and Ashley had made the Prosciutto Mozzarella Pinwheels pictured above. They were great!

We ended the month with a trip to my all-time favorite restaurant, Maggiano’s on Clark and Grand in Chicago. The highlight there, besides going with great friends, is always the bruschetta with Frank Sinatra background music.

Next month, a trip to Thailand. Unfortunately just through the kitchen, not through the air.

What would the BCS look like in other sports? Read Frank Deford's latest to find out.

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 08:27:42 -0500

What would the BCS look like in other sports? Read Frank Deford's latest to find out.:

True to what seems to be a trend on this blog, I have been posting about a wide range of topics. From a local economic impact study, to the Middle East, and now college football, I won’t even try to write something that ties them together.

On my drive into work today I enjoyed, again, listening to Frank Deford share spot-on commentary about the NCAA. As a college football fan that stayed up way too late last night to watch yet another bowl game with no real implications, and as an employee at a NCAA school, I am still open-minded enough to see that Frank is right on the money when it comes to the ridiculous weaknesses of the BCS.

Here, comparing the BCS to the Holy Roman Empire, he again paints a picture of what happens when great traditions of yesterday are ruined by the pursuit of massive profits today.

Maybe some day I’ll make a post about how to fix it…wait…I think I have time to do that now.

Playoffs.

What will 2012 bring in the Middle East?

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 14:34:42 -0500

What will 2012 bring in the Middle East?:

One of the biggest stories of 2011 is the wave of unrest and uprisings in the middle east. I remember watching amazing YouTube videos last January of the events unfolding in Egypt and Tunisia.

The implications of this dramatic shift of power will be far reaching both geographically and chronologically over the next years and decades. This article from Businessweek is an interesting article about the impact this will have on the US. I thought that it was both a realistic and cautiously optimistic look into the future of our role in diplomacy there. It will be especially interesting to see how the United States works with democratically elected Islamic governments.

Stay tuned…2012 and the following years will have no shortage of interesting developments on a global scale.

Sneak Peek: December "News from Hope" Column on Hope's Economic Impact

Sat, 03 Dec 2011 21:42:14 -0500

Working in higher education is a unique experience for many reasons, but chief among them may be the opportunity to live in a community that includes a college or university. There is something special about living in a college town. Businesses, events, people and opportunities to learn exist in college towns that don’t exist in other places.

The value of living in a college town is personal opinion for some and researched fact for others. Blake Gumprecht, author and associate professor of geography at the University of New Hampshire, has found that college towns have higher median family incomes and lower unemployment while at the same time being comparatively cosmopolitan, drawing residents from other states at a rate twice as high as other places.

At Hope College, we are especially proud to call the greater Holland area home. Faculty, staff and students love to live here and alumni around the world fondly remember days and nights spent at the beach, downtown, or at a favorite coffee shop. In this issue you can read about the recent study that quantified the relationship between Hope and the local economy.

In talking with community leaders about the study, many were impressed by the annual $213 million impact, but not at all surprised. They have seen students, faculty and staff serve in the community, but now know that together they volunteer more than 127,000 hours each year. They have seen students frequent their stores and shops, but now know that the average student spends more than $1,300 a year at local businesses.

In the end, the study simply quantified what many Holland area residents experience first hand. In today’s economy it is helpful to measure the financial impact of a college town, but those that have lived in one know that the total impact is, in fact, priceless.

Read the full study.

Glad you're grown up or wishing you were back in school?

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 21:46:32 -0400

Glad you're grown up or wishing you were back in school?:

I heard this on NPR on the way home and thought I would share it. Parts of it speak to the frustration we sometimes feel from the amount of information we are bombarded with each day.

A good read on our energy future.

Fri, 15 Jul 2011 10:40:54 -0400

A good read on our energy future.:

I am sharing this because I was excited to read it today. Early in the article Bill Gates articulates what I think is an important argument about nuclear energy. People are too hard on nuclear energy because, as he says, “Coal and natural gas have much lower capital costs, and they tend to kill only a few at a time, which is highly preferred by politicians.”

In recent conversations with friends and co-workers, I have been comparing coal and natural gas to auto accidents and nuclear to airplanes. People are often more afraid when getting on an airplane, which is far less likely to kill them, then they are when they mindlessly use automobiles everyday. Perception and perspective are powerful things. Hopefully they will not stop us from developing a more sustainable energy future.

Sneak Peek: August "News from Hope" Column

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 16:55:00 -0400

History has an amazing ability to both humble and inspire. This year marks the 200th Anniversary of the birth of Albertus C. Van Raalte, founder of both Holland, Michigan and The Pioneer School that predates the existence of our alma mater.

In reading up on my 19th Century history I discovered that Van Raalte was only 25 years old when, in 1836, he became a leader in the newly formed Separatist Church and he was just over 35 when, in February of 1847, he founded what is now Hope’s hometown. As I am now past the age of his first church leadership and approaching the age when he founded Holland, this is humbling history indeed!

While reading more about this era, I also discovered that one of the disagreements the Separatists had with the status quo of the time was the idea of the gathered church. The concept of individuals gathering on their own freewill and in groups of their choosing was at odds with the territorial basis of parish assignments commonplace in Europe at the time.

Today, it is inspiring that we can gather in freedom to worship how we choose. It is also inspiring that the visionary leadership of a few 19th Century Separatists has led to a legacy that includes Hope College, where alumni from 50 states here in the US and 78 countries from around the world are free to gather together each fall at events like Homecoming.

This fall, as we look back at hundreds of years of history, we hope you choose to freely join others on campus as we also look forward to the next 200 years, envisioning a greater Hope for generations yet to come.

June Issue of News from Hope College

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 16:52:58 -0400

Time plays tricks on me this time of year. During Alumni Weekend, I have the privilege of celebrating with graduates 30 to 70 years into their lives as alumni. Then, just one week later, I attend Commencement and celebrate graduates whose lives of leadership and service are just beginning.

These two events, separated on the calendar by days, represent perspectives of the Hope experience that are years apart. It is a unique opportunity to see these different, yet similar, snapshots of the Hope experience take place in such proximity. This year was especially enjoyable. Perhaps blue skies and warm weather made Alumni Weekend and Commencement particularly sublime. A more likely explanation, however, is that the quality of the people honored contributed to the joyfulness of both occasions.

Connie Hinga ’49 Boersma, Jon Soderstrom ’76 and Bill Heydorn ’55 formed a fantastic trio of alumni perspectives at the annual Alumni Banquet. Upon receiving awards from the Alumni Association, they each shared a portion of their Hope story. President Bultman always wraps up the evening with remarks of his own. He often says, “I wish our students and all alumni could be at an event like this.” We agree and have posted a video of the award recipients’ speeches at www.youtube.com/hopecollege.

Then, on Sunday, May 8, Hope held Commencement exercises for the 146th time. This year approximately 745 graduates crossed the stage, the most in Hope’s history. Dr. Jesus Montaño and Rev. Dr. Blaine Newhouse ’86 shared their wisdom with the class at Commencement and Baccalaureate respectively. Photos of the day, as well as galleries from throughout the academic year, are available at www.hope.edu/pr/gallery.

While the perspectives shared at these college traditions are years apart, the educational foundations are the same. From the alumni celebrating their 50th reunion to new alumni at Commencement, Hope graduates are educated to think about life’s most important issues with clarity, wisdom, and a deep understanding of the Christian faith.

April NfHC Column: The Job Market

Mon, 09 May 2011 09:39:00 -0400

When it comes to the economy, everyone has an opinion. A quick glance at your local paper, a scan of online headlines and even thorough analysis from your favorite weekly will reveal discrepancies. No matter where you look, opinion varies concerning the scale, span and source of our fiscal state of affairs. Regardless of the latest numbers and the spin of your news source of choice, one thing is for certain: finding a job has never been an easy task.

In the midst of an economic recovery, this is certainly still the case. While organizations like the National Association of Colleges and Employers are predicting a better job market this year, with surveyed employers saying they will hire 13.5 percent more bachelor’s degree recipients this year than last, many recent college graduates are facing competition from experienced candidates who lost their jobs during the recession.

Whether it’s tackling big questions concerning vocation or landing the first job after graduation, we know that the role Hope plays in the lives of both our students and alumni is as important now as it has ever been. In fact, identifying job opportunities for graduates was one of the most important services acknowledged in the 2010 Alumni Attitude Survey. The survey also revealed that many of the services available to students and alumni are not adequately promoted.

With this in mind, here are some tips for taking advantage of the career resources available through the Hope College Alumni Association:

Get online and get involved. Check out the event listings at www. hope.edu/alumni for career related events.
Don’t underestimate your network. Search by class or city in the alumni directory or join Hope’s Career Resource Network.
Keep your resume relevant and ready. Hope has partnered with Optimal Resume to offer online resume management for all students and alumni.
Make JobStop a stop for you. From student jobs to internships and entry-level positions, Hope posts job leads at jobstop.hope.edu. Experienced positions are coming soon!
Embrace social media. Connect on our LinkedIn group, which now has more than 2,000 members sharing career advice, networking tips and job leads. You can learn more at www.hope.edu/alumni/career

This column was first published in News from Hope College this April. Download the entire publication in pdf format.

For me, this was the best ad during the Super Bowl. They did a...

Mon, 07 Feb 2011 09:44:00 -0500

For me, this was the best ad during the Super Bowl. They did a great job conveying a story in just two minutes. As a Michigan native, it made me feel proud of my state. Let’s see if it sells cars…

For more on the ad, including how it was made, check out these links:

Free Press
mlive.com

For those of you interested in education, this is a must view....

Wed, 19 Jan 2011 08:44:17 -0500

For those of you interested in education, this is a must view. Check that…everyone should watch this.

Paul Butler, an engineer at Facebook made this. It is a picture...

Tue, 14 Dec 2010 21:30:46 -0500

Paul Butler, an engineer at Facebook made this. It is a picture made of each connection in Facebook. Pretty amazing stuff. Read more here.

October News from Hope

Fri, 12 Nov 2010 17:00:38 -0500

In the recent News from Hope College issue I modified something I wrote on this blog and used it for the Alumni News column. You can see what appeared in print below or download the issue here.

As the sun first shines in through my Michigan window, it is shining the last rays of daylight over Australia. I wake up and have waffles made with mix from Seattle, butter from Boston, syrup from Grand Rapids, and a “Belgian” waffle maker whose maker is in China. The waffles sit on German plates which are resting on a table put together in Malaysia. Glancing at a painting my wife purchased at a market in Guayaquil, Ecuador, I head out the door. I pull out of the driveway in a truck partially manufactured in Venezuela by an American company. At the office, I check e-mail from an Alumni Board member living in Germany and another on a business trip in Brazil. I share campus with faculty and students from more than 40 countries around the world, many of them connected in real-time to half a billion people via online social networks. My mobile phone rings. It’s designed by a Canadian firm, manufactured in Mexico, powered by a Japanese battery and banned in the United Arab Emirates. It’s my wife. She’s calling from her Koreanmade device on a network owned by a British multinational. We truly live in a global society. No matter where you are or how you are connected to those around you, here are some tips for staying in touch with your alma mater and the 30,000 alumni that call Hope home:

• Log on to www.hope.edu/alumni to search the Alumni Directory, use the Career Center or access other services, including the quarterly Alumni E-newsletter.

• Write an email, letter or card to an old friend. If you are unsure of what address to use, let us help. In addition to the online directory, alumni can email alumni@hope.edu or call 800-238- 8220 for assistance.

• Follow the Hope College Alumni Association on Facebook at www. facebook.com/hopealumni.

• Get in touch with your favorite Hope professor or staff member at www.hope.edu/admin/peoplesearch.

• Connect in person at Hope events on campus and around the world. For a list of upcoming events visit www.hope.edu/alumni/ events.

My life. Thoughts on globalization.

Sun, 12 Sep 2010 16:26:00 -0400

As the sun first shines in through my Michigan window, it is shining its last of a hot day in Australia. I wake up and have breakfast: waffles made with mix from Seattle, butter from Boston, syrup from Grand Rapids, blueberries picked locally by Mexican laborers, and a “Belgian” waffle maker whose maker’s in China. The waffles sit on German plates resting on a table put together in Malaysia. Coffee from Costa Rica, sweetened by cream and sugar stored in Peruvian pottery, tops off the meal. Glancing at a painting my wife purchased at a market in Guayaquil, Ecuador, I head out the door.

I pull out of my driveway in a truck built in Venezuela by an American company. My wife’s car, manufactured in Tennessee by a Japanese firm, is still in the garage. I tune into a British Broadcasting Corporation report with news just in from Iran, via twitter. At the office, I check email from an alumni board member living in Germany and another on a business trip in Brazil. I share campus with faculty and students from over 30 countries around the world, many of them connected in real-time to over half a billion people via social networks like Facebook, with 70% of its users living outside the United States. My mobile phone rings. It’s designed by a Canadian firm, manufactured in Mexico, powered by a Japanese battery and banned in the United Arab Emirates. It’s my wife. She’s calling from her Korean made device on a network owned by a British multinational.

After work I feed my daughter a bottle made in the United Kingdom while she sits on a high-chair made in China. A north wind from Canada blows in the window and I relax by reading a magazine published by a company with offices in New York, Chicago, Miami, Madrid, Milan, Tokyo, London and Paris. My computer is streaming an Italian radio station as the sun sets over Michigan. Meanwhile, a new day dawns in India.

August News from Hope Column

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 22:55:57 -0400

Each summer, I read a book by David McCullough, one of my favorite authors. Working on this column has reminded me of a McCullough book I first read a few years ago.

In John Adams, the author includes excerpts from letters written by Abigail Adams to her husband. One written in 1774 includes the piece of Abigail’s wisdom that entered my mind as I thought about this column, written to accompany the alumni survey article on page 22. In her letter she wrote that, “we have too many high sounding words, and too few actions that correspond with them.”

While there have been many high sounding words in articles, presentations and conversations since the largest Hope alumni survey in two decades was completed, I would like to take this opportunity to communicate a few of the many actions taking place because of the valuable feedback Hope has received.

• The Career Center at www.hope.edu/alumni/career will be improved and promoted.

• At Commencement, all graduating seniors now receive information on the benefits and services of the Alumni Association.

• We have improved our international alumni database and will be working to make more connections between alumni abroad and Hope students and faculty.

• Beginning with students and continuing with recent graduates, we will explore new ways to serve and engage Hope’s young alumni.

• Homecoming (October 22-24) will include more student-alumni interaction.

• The Alumni Association is partnering with Admissions to develop improved ways to involve alumni as ambassadors for Hope.

• Alumni priorities and interests identified in the survey will help to shape future articles in this publication and fundraising solicitations.

In addition to the survey, there are other ways we collect alumni feedback, all of which are valuable as the college furthers its mission. Letters, phone calls, event surveys and Alumni Board meetings continually direct the Alumni Association. This cycle of alumni involvement does keep us busy. This, according to Abigail Adams, is just fine as she also wrote, “that a calm is not desirable in any situation in life. Man was made for action and for bustle too, I believe.”

You can read the full issue and the Alumni survey article this column refers to at: http://www.hope.edu/pr/nfhc/current/nfhc0810.pdf

What the World thinks about the US: The Listening Project

Tue, 11 May 2010 21:41:00 -0400

What the World thinks about the US: The Listening Project:

I just finished watching a really cool documentary called the Listening Project. The premise is simple, a group of Americans travel the world and listen to citizens from other countries talk about their views of our country. I found myself thinking about what difference there is between being a “global citizen” and a citizen of your own country, what most of us are used to. I certainly think it is important to be an active citizen of the United States and am proud of being one, but we must learn to balance that with being a global citizen.

How do you do it? Do you see your self primarily as a US citizen or a world citizen?

College President Embraces YouTube, with Great Results.

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 12:39:00 -0400

College President Embraces YouTube, with Great Results.

Just how close was Butler?

Thu, 08 Apr 2010 10:01:00 -0400

Just how close was Butler?:

In the sense that the teams are colleges, this post relates to higher education. For those that watched the basketball game on Monday night and were awed by how close Butler came, you will love the video at the link above.

Thanks AJ for sending it on.

Skyrocket Love

Wed, 07 Apr 2010 19:27:03 -0400

Skyrocket Love:

Listening to SkyRocket Love, a band I found using Grooveshark Radio while hammering away at a paper due tomorrow. Not sure why I always wait to the last minute to finish these things.

This band is promoting their album online in some interesting ways, check them out: www.skyrocketlove.com