Mile High

On Wednesday, I flew into Denver for the annual PNACAC conference, this year held in conjunction with the Rocky Mountain Association for College Admission Counseling. I enjoyed my first class upgrade from Seattle to Denver and the trip both gave me Alaska Airlines MVP status for 2008 already and put me over the 500,000 miles threshhold in my frequent flyer account.

On Thursday, I chaired my final PNACAC board meeting and then took the board out for dinner at Palomino. Jeannette, don't freak out when you see the Visa bill . . . I promise that PNACAC will reimburse us. While Jeannette and the kids were in Klamath Falls enjoying some fine McDonald's dining, I had my old stand-by, seafood fettucine alfredo . . .


Dinner was followed by the "President's Reception" on the 38th floor of the Hyatt overlooking the city of Denver . . .

It was a dessert buffet. Here is the staff from Northwest Christian College in Eugene, with Kathy Sweetman, an OIT alum and former admissions counselor in my office, front and center . . .

Some people enjoy their chocolates a little too much . . .


This morning, I ran our annual PNACAC business meeting, which ended up going very smoothly. It's always good news when there's only one question related to the treasurer's report. It moved along so well that I even had time to tell my "2 points" basketball story. It's been a lot of fun serving as president of PNACAC and being so involved in the region and the profession over the last few years . . .


Tonight, the conference social was at the Lucky Strike, an upscale bowling alley near the hotel. I primarily occupied myself with going around collecting donations for the NACAC Imagine Fund, using a leftover box from Thursday's lunch. I'd go up to folks and say, "Hey, did you bring your wallet?" When they said yes, I'd slide open the box and say, "Good! I'm collecting for the Imagine Fund!" So long as they still had money left for beer, most were glad to throw in a few bucks . . .

Carl Thomas from Oregon State demonstrates his striking ability . . .
The food consisted primarily of pigs-in-a-blanket, fried mac-n-cheese and chicken on skewers. From left to right below, Christina Mackey (OIT, PNACAC newsletter editor), Ralph Burrelle (North Medford HS, new PNACAC president as of today), me, Jennifer Cardenas from Portland State, Teri Calcagno (Central Catholic HS and, also as of today, once again past-president of PNACAC), and Carie Schwede (Gonzaga U, conference co-chair) . . .