Baby T’s Mystery Tour

Posted on June 23, 2014 by Linda

Baby T recently took a nice long sojourn with Joseph a few weeks ago and while I haven’t seen him since his return (I am hoping he is still resting comfortably with Joseph’s family, although Mama T is missing him), I know he must have had a good time as I have pictures to prove he was out having fun.  However, I don’t know WHERE he was having fun, and Joseph’s not sharing the locales!  So, it’s up to all of us on the ITS:Team to solve the mystery.

Take a look at the pictures below and try to determine what is featured in the picture (besides Baby T) and where the picture was taken.  Submit your answers via the comments section (make sure your name is included in your comment).  The person with the most correct answers wins a prize (what prize, I’m not sure, but definitely a prize!)!

Thanks, Joseph, for sharing your pictures…good luck everyone!

Picture 1 of Baby T's mystery tour

Picture 1 of Baby T’s mystery tour.

Picture 2 of Baby T's mystery tour.

Picture 2 of Baby T’s mystery tour.

Picture 3 of Baby T's mystery tour.

Picture 3 of Baby T’s mystery tour.

Picture 4 of Baby T's mystery tour.

Picture 4 of Baby T’s mystery tour.

 

Picture 5 of Baby T's mystery tour.

Picture 5 of Baby T’s mystery tour.

 

ITS:Always fun, never boring
Respectfully submitted,
Linda Petro

Categories: Tiger Tales | Tags: , , , , | 4 Comments

How to do a meeting request in Outlook

Posted on June 16, 2014 by Linda

Have you had to schedule a meeting lately and not been quite sure how to go about doing it so that you aren’t scheduling something when one or more of your attendees cannot make it?  Here are some simple instructions from David White on how to submit a meeting request:

–          Within the Mail view you can click on “New Items” under the “Home” Tab and select “Meeting” (you can also enter your calendar and click on “New Meeting” under the “Home” tab as well).

–          Once you’re in the Meeting window you’ll need to add the people you want to have in the meeting in the “To:” field. Add the subject (title) of the meeting and the location.  You should also add additional information into the message if additional information is helpful.  You can attach documents to the meeting request by clicking on the “Insert” command in the toolbar (then click on either “Attach File” to find something on the i:, h:, or c: drives or “Outlook Item” to attach an email.).  You can also set the date, begin time, and end time for the meeting here.

–          Next you’ll want to click on the “Scheduling Assistant”  – you’ll be able to see the free/busy information for all requested attendees – you can use this to help make sure that you schedule the meeting during a time that most or all are able to attend. This works great as long as everybody has accurate calendar items.  Be sure you have set the date, as well as start and end times, for the meeting (if you haven’t yet, you can do it within this window…you’ll see that information at the bottom of the meeting request screen in the “Scheduling Assistant” view) . You can also add or remove invited individuals within this window.

–          If you want to use the ITS: Conference Room, be sure to include it as one of the attendees so it, too, will receive the meeting request and be reserved for you.  The conference room is listed as “ITS Conference Room” (no colon after ITS:).

–         Once you’re all set you can just “send” the meeting request!

You can also find more detailed instructions here: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook-help/schedule-a-meeting-with-other-people-HP010354402.aspx.

If you have questions or get stuck in any of the steps, feel free to give the Help Desk, me, or David a call.  Thanks, David, for the information!

ITS:Always fun, never boring (and now a helpful resource, too!)
Respectfully submitted,
Linda Petro

Categories: Helpful Tips | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

Baby T in Scotland

Posted on June 12, 2014 by Linda

Baby T had an extraordinary opportunity earlier this year to travel with Tracey Tilton and her husband to Scotland!

Baby T takes in the Scottish country-side.

Baby T takes in the Scottish country-side.

I think Baby T spots some sheep in the hills...uh oh!

I think Baby T spots some sheep in the hills…uh oh!

Here’s what you’re seeing in the photos:

These are taken on the grounds of Stirling Castle, located in Stirling Old Town, Scotland. In the distance you can see a tower on top of a hill.  This is the Wallace Monument situated on top of Abbey Craig.  It was on this hilltop that William Wallace first spotted the English Army approaching Stirling Bridge.  The tower overlooks some of the most important battlefields of Scotland’s past including Stirling Bridge, the site of William Wallace’s victory over the English in 1297, and Bannockburn where Robert the Bruce defeated the same foe in the summer of 1314.  The monument is 220 feet high, 54 square feet at its base, with the tower 36 square feet.  The walls are 16-18 feet at their thickest, tapering to 5 feet thick at their thinnest.  It is estimated that over 30,000 tons of stone was used in the construction of the monument.

Baby T not only took in the sights, but also got a history lesson as well!

Where will Baby T be off to next?  Who knows?  Perhaps he’ll be traveling with you!

Thanks, Tracey, for the pictures and info, as well as for taking such good care of Baby T to return him in good shape!

ITS:Always fun, never boring
Respectfully submitted,
Linda Petro

Categories: Tiger Tales | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

An opening!

Posted on June 10, 2014 by Linda

ITS:’s own Dave Armstrong kicked off his one-man art show “What’s so funny?” on Friday, June 6 at the Bridge Gallery at 218 West Colorado Avenue.  Congratulations, Dave!

Several members of the ITS:Team dropped by to show their support and celebrate during the opening reception.

Dave welcomes Brian Young, Liz Scherkenbach, and Max Henry to the show.

Dave welcomes Brian Young, Liz Scherkenbach, and Max Henry to the show.

Dave not only greeted visitors as they came through, but also provided details about his inspirations for each piece on display which were all focused on a joke, pun, or something else that tickled his funny bone.

The artist with his piece titled "Bonjour."

The artist with his piece titled “Bonjour.”

A close-up of Dave's collage, "Sport Fishing, Pikes Peak National Seashore." Normally, it isn't okay to take pictures in a gallery; thankfully, I know the artist. :-)

A close-up of Dave’s collage, “Sport Fishing, Pikes Peak National Seashore.” Normally, it isn’t okay to take pictures in a gallery; thankfully, I know the artist. 

The show will be on display from now through June 29.  Hours at the gallery are Fridays and Saturdays 11:00 am to 5:00 pm or by appointment (Dave knows a guy who can open the gallery for you).  It’s well worth a look, so take a few minutes to stop by!

ITS:Always fun, never boring
Respectfully submitted,
Linda Petro

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It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s…

Posted on June 9, 2014 by Linda

…an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)!  The GIS project was successful this past week with its fine-tuning as it prepared to go to Wyoming to do aerial surveys of exposed dinosaur fossils.  Here are some photos of the preparations and test flights:

Noah Cutter and Hate Mankovich working on the computer and controls in preparation for the UAV's flight.

Day 1 – Students Noah Cutter and Nate Mankovich working on the computer and controls in preparation for the UAV’s flight.

Day 1 - The UAV patiently waits as Nate and Noah continue their preparations.

Day 1 – The UAV patiently waits as Nate and Noah continue their preparations.

Day 1 - More adjustments being made.

Day 1 – More adjustments being made.

Day 2 - Noah talks about the UAV with an interested passerby.

Day 2 – Noah talks about the UAV with an interested passerby.

Day 2 - On the ground...

Day 2 – On the ground…

Day 2 - Lift-off!

Day 2 – Lift-off!

 

In the air.

Day 2 – In the air.

Day 2 - Nate and Noah after a successful day's testing.

Day 2 – Nate and Noah after a successful day’s testing.

 

Day 3 - Matt Gottfried, Noah, and Nate prepare for another day's flight, this time letting the computer control the UAV to run a set pattern over the field.

Day 3 – Matt Gottfried, Noah, and Nate prepare for another day’s flight, this time letting the computer control the UAV to run a set pattern over the field.

 

Day 3 - Running the pattern.

Day 3 – Running the pattern.

Day 3 - Running the pattern high in the sky.

Day 3 – Running the pattern high in the sky.

Day 3 - The computer shows the pattern the UAV took (the dark lines back and forth). The squiggles in the lines indicate where the wind pushed the UAV a little off-course from the pattern.

Day 3 – The computer shows the pattern the UAV took (the dark lines back and forth). The squiggles in the lines indicate where the wind pushed the UAV a little off-course from the pattern.

Congratulations to Noah and Nate on their successful days of testing.  Good luck in Wyoming!

ITS:Always fun, never boring
Respectfully submitted,
Linda Petro

Categories: General Fun | Tags: , , , | Leave a comment

Quote for the day

Posted on June 4, 2014 by Linda

“When nothing goes right…go left.”

Here’s to not taking everything so seriously and having a little fun along the way!

ITS:Always fun, never boring
Respectfully submitted,
Linda Petro

Categories: Quotes and Thoughts for the Day | Tags: | Leave a comment

Introducing…ITS:Tiger Tales!

Posted on May 30, 2014 by Linda

What are small, orange and black, and want to travel with you?

They are ITS:’s own Mama Tiger and Baby Tiger (affectionately known as Mama T and Baby T), and they are serving as the new traveling mini-mascots for our team!

Mama T and Baby T in their natural habitat.

Mama T and Baby T in their natural habitat.

The idea is to have folks on the ITS:Team take the tiny tigers with them on their travels, briefly chronicling their adventures with a sentence or two and a photo or two to share with the entire team via the ITS:Blog (don’t worry, you don’t have to be a great writer OR great photographer to participate!).  Here’s how it works:

1)      Pick up one or both of the tigers from Linda.
2)      Take them with you on your trip.
3)      Take a photo or two featuring the tiger(s) somewhere fun.
4)      Write a sentence or two about where Mama T and/or Baby T have been.
5)      Return the photos and write-up electronically to Linda for posting on the blog.
6)      Return the tigers to Linda so they can be prepared for their next travel adventure (very important!).

It’s that simple!

So, when planning your next travel excursion, be sure to leave a space in your suitcase for Mama T and/or Baby T.  As we get this going, it will be great fun to see what adventures the tigers are having with their ITS: teammates!

Unsure about the idea and how it works?  Check out this article to get an idea of what’s possible: http://tinyurl.com/k2uuuke.

Susan Sontag said, “I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list.” Let’s have “everywhere” be on the list for Mama T and Baby T, too!

Mama T in her first professional photo shoot (Baby T is a little shy, so is waiting off to the side).

Mama T in her first professional photo shoot (Baby T is a little shy, so is waiting off to the side).

A big thanks to Vish for his great idea to start this project and to Melissa for her expertise in helping me make the pictures on the blog even better!

ITS:Always fun, never boring
Respectfully submitted,
Linda Petro

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Quote for the day

Posted on May 28, 2014 by Linda

From Maya Angelou:

I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

Here’s to having positive interactions with those we work and interact with, even in difficult or stressful situations…it does make a difference!

ITS:Always fun, never boring
Respectfully submitted,
Linda Petro

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Interview with: Jim Schulz, Application Programmer/Analyst

Posted on May 23, 2014 by Linda

Jim joined CC on April 14, 2014, and as the ITS:Team’s newest member, I thought it would be great if we could all get to know him a little better.

Jim Schulz

Jim Schulz

What brought you to CC?
I wasn’t looking for a job, as I was doing my own thing at the time.  Liz Scherkenbach emailed me about the opening, and it intrigued me to think about working for a college.  I was also excited to think about being in a team environment again.  As the position included a mobile component similar to the work I was currently doing, I thought I would apply.

How long have you worked here?
Since April 14.

Give a brief description of what it is you do here.
I do coding for Banner.  I am also working on a project with Lucie Holloway in Financial Aid regarding PowerFaids, which has to do with getting student worker information from the Financial Aid Office into Banner.  I am learning the ins and outs of Banner and researching vendors to use for upcoming mobile apps.  I’m very busy!

What’s your ITS: word (or words) and why?
My word is enthusiastic, and it’s my word because I am!  I am excited about what I do and think every day, “Go get ‘em!”

Who’s your hero and why?
My dad.  He came from Germany in the early 1950s because of his skills in building model ships.  He has model ships in the Smithsonian Institute and other museums across the country.  His hard work and attention to detail inspire me.

What sound or noise do you love?
I love crickets, rain on the roof, and the ocean surge.  Anything that is peaceful “white noise.”

What sound or noise do you hate?
Anything that makes me jump!  Car horns, metal hitting metal, a lightning bolt next door.

Name one or two of your hobbies.
While my dad built model ships, I build model trains and model train sets (Jim was recently published in The 2014 On30 Annual, the O-scale narrow gauge model railroading magazine, including the picture on the cover!).  I also love science, reading, and experiments…anything where I can learn about how things work, grow, and interact with each other.  I also like to read.

When others describe you, what do they say?
Hmm…well…perhaps that I am enthusiastic!  I’ve been told I am very observant and pay close attention to everything.  I am curious, too.

If you could have a super-power, what would it be?
Flying!  I love to have an overview of things and if I could fly, I would be able to have that.

How would you use that super-power in ITS:?
I would help people get their bearings by taking them up to see the overview of where they are.  That would be especially helpful for new people on campus.  It could help them navigate the campus much easier if they could see it from above.

Thank you, Jim, for your time and letting all of us get a little insight into who you are!  We are glad to have you here at the college!

ITS:Always fun, never boring
Respectfully submitted,
Linda Petro

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Quote for the day

Posted on May 21, 2014 by Linda

From Abraham Lincoln:

I am a slow walker, but I never walk backwards.

Here’s to always moving forward!

ITS:Always fun, never boring
Respectfully submitted,
Linda Petro

Categories: Quotes and Thoughts for the Day | Tags: , | Leave a comment