Some exciting things have happened since my last blog post. So, I thought I’d take some time today and update all my dedicated blog readers.

Last week I was at the Datatel Users Group (DUG) Conference in Washington D.C.  Datatel is the company we bought our ERP system from about 3 years ago.  I was sent to learn more about a module we recently purchased called Active Campus.  Active Campus is a package of SharePoint web parts that connect to our ERP system.  Currently, we don’t have a SharePoint Portal so there are lots and lots of stuff for me to learn about.  We plan to be live with faculty and staff in January 2008.  After the faculty and staff are live, the students will be next.  I’m really excited about the single sign-on capabilities and the collaboration opportunities SharePoint has to offer.  I’m also excited about all the stuff I’m going to learn while we go through this process. 

At the conference, I went to several sessions that discussed the Active Campus module.  I learned more about the product at a high level.  I’m kind of techie so, sometimes I get bored with the high level descriptions.  What I really like to know is how does it work and when can I start playing with it.  Even though I learned more about the product in the sessions, the networking I did helped me more than I could have ever imagined.  I talked to all the beta schools that have the Active Campus module up and running. I meant Randy, Joseph and Joey from a school in Michigan.  They are interested in the customizations I made to the Datatel’s security screens and they are in the process of purchasing Active Campus.  Randy even talked to me about presenting my customizations at next year’s DUG.  I also talked with partner companies about some of the problems we are having and different ways their products could help us.   I came back to Iowa with a large stack of business cards from people all over the United States and Canada.  So even though the sessions weren’t techie enough for me, I did get into real detailed conversations with several DUG attendees and I had a blast doing it. 

Saturday was my last regular MBA class.  I can’t believe I’m almost done.  My last class is a weeklong capstone in Florida.  I have a 12 page paper and two books to read before I go. 

Two of my MBA classmate’s scuba dive. We are chartering a boat while we are in Florida.  I can’t wait to scuba dive down there.  I’m working towards my Advanced Open Water Certificate.  While I’m in Florida, I’ll complete my deep dive, boat dive and my night dive.  The deep dive is a wreck dive about 80-90 feet deep.  At that level some divers start to feel drunk it’s called nitrogen narcosis.  It’s a feeling divers get from the absorption of nitrogen at a deep depth.  Sometimes divers feel like they are superhuman and its very dangerous.  There is an easy way to fix it just ascend until it goes away.   It is similar in drinking because just like you don’t realize your drunk, narcosis can sneak up on you. 

After scuba diving and a weeklong class in Florida, I am staying with my Aunt and Uncle for a few days in Kissimmee, FL.  My dad and my older sister are flying in on Saturday after my class to meet me in Florida.  When I go pick them up at the airport it will be time to celebrate because I’ll be all done with my MBA.  Yippee!!!

So there is my update…. I’ll write again in another six months. Ha-ha!