I'm just back in town after a trip July 1-14 and leave tomorrow until August 11. Am trying to check my email from the previous trip today.

Re meeting before school starts: Vickie, I'll be available after August 18; out-of-town guests leave that evening. The 24th would work for me but almost any date would do at present.

Jenna, the speaker you suggested sounds great but can you give us an idea of cost and contact information?

Tom, have you and Julia ever agreed on your goals for this year at the State level? If so, can you send them to me? Thanks.

Let me urge anyone who can to go to the MIS project. I went several years ago and had a good time. You need a tent and sleeping bag -- it's a camping experience -- but there's good fellowship both in the concessions booth and around the campfire.

Re programs and the suggested Sept/Oct. resume/cover letter/interview workshop, I'm glad to help in any way. One caveat: I'll be out of town the first weekend in October.

Hope everyone's having a great summer -- Kay

ADVISING: Have swapped information once more with Lynne and see from other blogs/emails that she is beginning to help make connections with several of you in your positions for programs, etc.

TARGET GRANT: Have been emailing with Ella Arroyo of Target about a Target grant. She has submitted our group under my name to receive an application for a Target grant for 2009-2010. I'm waiting now to receive the application to fill out (via email); I'll fill in my part and forward it as needed for other input. Ella says that when the application arrives, it will have the deadline included. She also says (1) that she thinks the deadline is in mid-August but (2) that earlier application submissions usually have a better chance for granting. So I'll expedite the information when I receive it. FYI, I'll be out of town July 1-5 and then for 3 weeks July 18 - August 9 -- so let's get it done soonest.

STATE LEADERSHIP: I'm waiting for information about a State agenda from Tom and MSU State VP Julie. Am not sure whether they have already set a meeting with Shawna et al or whether they need anything from me in pursuing their plans/goals. We do need to be careful about the potential conflict between a "leadership conference" from State and the proposed Big Ten event, which is unfortunately (for us) set (tentatively?) the weekend of the UM/OSU game...but I can't believe that none of the other Big Ten football teams don't have rivalry games so late in November, so that may change.

Hope all's going well for everyone -- Kay

As Vickie said, I met with Lynne and am delighted she'll be working with us. Two key points I brought up with her were helping us connect with speakers from major firms who could draw like Target and StarCom and also helping us reach out more widely to LS&A students. The program and membership officers should reach out to her to discuss these areas this summer. She says that LS&A and Ross share many business contacts, so we should be able to draw speakers of mutual interest -- and we should try to keep up year-long the interest level that our mass meetings drew last fall. Also, while she says there are several business-oriented clubs in LS&A (as Future Business Leaders of America / FBLA), I think we have something special to offer both in terms of programming (perhaps some joint) and particularly our emphasis on "market yourself" and competition. So let's get started so we're more ready to roll in September.

Also, we need to get a bead on the Michigan DEX Leadership Conference intentions and on the proposed Indiana University Big-10 DEX competition. Last I heard, the latter was proposed for the date of the UM/OSU football game, which isn't going to be a huge draw for many of our members! -- Kay