Meetings, meetings, meetings

Friday and Saturday of this week were the 'official' reasons for me to come to North Carolina - despite the fact that everyone knows I really came here to see Jay, Dori and Riley.

On Friday and Saturday the DPE National Executive Board met at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NCAT). Two of our Board members, Lisa Gueldenzoph Snyder and Beryl McEwen are faculty members at NCAT. The other members of the Board are Glenn Bailey from Illinois State University and our executive Director Robert Mitchell from The University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

I belong to a number of professional organizations but I enjoy DPE the most. It seems to be small, accessible and focused on the ideas and issues I am concerned with in the Business Education arena. There isn't quite enough attention paid to Business Teacher Education but overall DPE is a good organization. The National Association for Business Teacher Education (NABTE) should be where I look for Business Teacher Education ideas but despite the best efforts of a number of good people, Wayne Moore for one, NABTE just hasn't gotten good traction over the years.

Our meetings over the last two days dealt with the basic business of the organization but throughout the meetings three issues kept surfacing. First as we transition into our relationship with NBEA we need to clearly and firmly identify what our organizational purpose, focus and mission. Research needs to be at the heart of our organization but it can't there as an intimidating or excluding notion.

Second we need to attract more members - no organization can survive without a critical mass of members. Our membership is fine now but we need to be careful that we don't lose members while we transition. We are taking steps to ensure that we stay in contact with all of our members.

The last but probably the most important issue that we face is attracting active members. In my opinion we need to encourage newer, younger members to take active leadership roles - first on committees and then on the national level. We need new energy, fresh ideas and stimulating and provocative ideas, programs and conferences.

Overall the people at the meetings are pleasant, we accomplished a lot and I feel like we have advanced the organization in positive ways.

Iphones, Planes and Pleasure

I woke up early yesterday morning with great anticipation. I was catching a plane to Greensboro, North Carolina. The official reason for the trip was to attend the DPE Summer Board meetings. It just so happens that I will be staying at my son's and daughter in law's place and sharing a room with my granddaughter.

I had finally gotten a decent flight to North Carolina. I usually arrive in Raleigh late in the evening and don't reach Winston-Salem until after Riley my has gone to bed. But this flight was to get me into Greensboro (only 20 minutes away from Winston) by 4:00 p.m.

Except my iphone failed me!!!!!!! I landed in Chicago, easily moved through customs and was at the gate in enough time (or so my iphone told me) to have lunch and hang out for a while. My flight left at 1:08 p.m. When I got to the gate after I had eaten and read for a while it was 12:10 - almost an hour until the flight took off.

Except in Chicago it was 1:10 - my iphone hadn't changed time zones - and I hadn't checked the local time anywhere.

I went on standby at 4 and landed in Greensboro by 7:00 p.m. Too late to spend any time with Riley - a disappointment - but in plenty of time to visit with Jay and Dori.

It is earning season so Dori was focused on that work which allowed Jay and me to go out for dinner. We walked over to the 4th Street Filling Station and sat on their deck/patio. It was hot (still over 85 degrees) and humid but the conversation was delightful. We ate and talked and talked some more.

When we were done we walked down to the Tate - a new restaurant/bar on 4th just past Cherry - the 'action' street in Winston-Salem. There we had some drinks and a cheese plate and talked even more.

The talking continued until we eventually made it home around 10 p.m.

I always look forward to spending time with my children. Riley is a very special little girl in my life but she isn't the only child in my life. Despite the fact that my children are all adults now the time spent with them - especially time spent where we actually engage in each other's lives - is precious and is savoured.

The next few days will be filled with pleasure - I am enjoying being on the DPE Board - and spending time playing with my granddaughter and being with my children can't be beat

DPE Young Scholars

I am on the Delta Pi Epsilon National Board as National Treasurer. As part of my duties I am responsible for the Research Projects Committeee and the Membership Committee.

I am very fortunate to have to great chairpersons to work with. Wanda Stitt-Gohdes is the chair of the Research Projects Committee and Julie Chadd is the Chair of the Membership Committee.

As part of the upcoming November DPE Research Conference we have established the DPE Young Scholars Program.

Although we have called it the "Young" Scholars Program we really mean new scholars in the area of Business Education.

Any faculty member that has a Ph.D. student that is interested in a Business Education topic can nominate their student for this Program.

Accepted Young Scholars will be a part of a special program at the DPE Research Conference. This program will enhance their skills as scholars and assist them in finding and constructing meaningful Business Education research projects.,

I am proud to be part of this initiative

Boarding, Baby and Boards

I went to North Carolina last week for the weekend. I'm on the board of Delta Pi Epsilon, the Business Education research organization and we had our meetings in Greensboro, North Carolina.

That was the official reason for the trip.

But everyone knows that there was another reason for that trip and her name is Riley. I stayed with my kids in Winston Salem (only a 30 minute drive to Greensboro) and had a few hours each day with Riley.

I was fascinated with my children when they were born. I loved holding them and interacting with them. Eye contact, silly peekaboo games and stupid noises were my stock in trade. Riley is a bit young for that yet but I'm practising. She was a joy to be with and I think that joy will only increase as she gets older.



The Board meetings were very interesting. We are in the midst of great change in our profession and for this organization and I feel privileged to be able to be a part of all of this change.

I had to fly through Toronto on this trip and the weirdest thing happened on the way to the meetings.

I made it through U.S. customs and was on my way to the gate when I encountered a roadblock. Yes, a roadblock in the middle of the concourse. Men were asked to line up on one side and women were to line up on the other. We were then called out, one by one, to be investigated, patted down, interrogated and generally looked over by Mounties! I hope the fellow who patted me down enjoyed it as much as I did - my goodness he was thorough.

Men to the left and women to the right was disturbing in and of itself but when they separated two elderly people it was more than disturbing. The man was clearly dependent on the woman and became distraught and confused when the men's line started moving faster than the women's line and he lost sight of her. A little reverse profiling here - or maybe just some common sense - would have been appropriate here. They did need to be 'investigated' but in this case they didn't need to be separated. Blind bureaucracy!

The New Year

Its not a resolution but I do have things to say so I'll try to remember to say them here.

This will be a catch up entry

Riley Hale Kesten entered this world 5 weeks early, lost a bit of weight, but within a few days was home with her Mom (Dori) and her Dad (Jay). Women have always been an important part of my life but this woman has taken over. She is beautiful, she is wonderful to hold and I'm her Zaida.

A few days after coming home from Winston-Salem Helene and I flew out to Vancouver, stayed a few days and then drove with Mark down to San Diego. The scenery going down the Pacific coast is incredible - when you can see it - we encountered a lot of fog in Washington and Oregon.

Arriving in San Diego we shopped and helped Mark settle into his new San Diego apartment. As of today he has attended some orientation session, has his apartment mostly in shape and is ready to accept this next challenge in his life.

Helene and I are finally home. Its been a tiring few months but there is still work to be done.

I am teaching ECS 100, EPS 200 and EBUS 350 this semester. I'm also on the DPE Executive Board, the editor of the Business Education Digest (with a soon to be new website) and committed to completing a few old projects and beginning a few new ones.

Helene and I went to Winston-Salem to spend a few days with Jay, Dori and Riley right after classes ended. Grandchildren are a delight.

Economic Education and Business Education

A few weeks ago I attended the National Council on Economic Education/National Association of Economic Educators/Global Association of Teachers of Economics annual conference in Denver.

The conference was well attended but I am sure that there were fewer than 10 people in attendance that viewed themselves as Business Educators. The focus was clearly on university level Economics professors and secondary school economics teachers - with a passing acknowledgment of social studies education.

I find this curious.

Business is built on economic concepts. Business teachers are much better prepared to teach economics. The application of economic concepts to business and consumer problems is that students understand and can use in many aspects of their lives.

I find it interesting that a major contributor to Business Education theory and practice is the Policies Commission for Business and Economic Education. The PCBEE is supported by three organizations; the Association for Career and Technical Education/Business Education Division, Delta Pi Epsilon, and the National Business Education Association.

Curious that the NCEE/NAEE/GATE aren't a part of this process - especially when Economic Education is a visible part of the name of the organization.

The conference was good as far as conferences go - many presentations - some good - some a waste of time - many exhibitors - some good resources - some not so good.

I do encourage anyone interested in quality resources to look at the material offered by NCEE.

And I do encourage membership in GATE - its free and the potential for this organization is very good