Team West Retreat Successful!

Jeromey Balderrama

Last weekend was a very exhausting and jam-packed, but also was one of the most amazing weekends I’ve had.  Last weekend we had our fall NCSC Team West retreat, bringing our regional team over to Fort Collins for the weekend.  Unfortunately our California members weren’t able to come out due to the distance, so our team was a big smaller this time, but we made up for our numbers through our accomplishments! 

With all of the chaos leading up to the retreat, I was getting nervous about what to expect.  In all of the difficulty of locking in a place, I wasn’t able to do all of the busy-work until Thursday night.  But through the grace of God I managed to get everything done, with time to spare.  I took Friday afternoon off from work to grocery shop and to get everything gathered.  Leanne came up early and was a big help as well.  We actually got done early enough to watch Batman Begins while we were waiting for everyone to drive in – not bad!

Everyone from New Mexico arrived about 7:30, and we got everyone settled and took them down to everyone’s favorite Fort Collins watering hold – Old Chicago’s!  It’s kinda funny because Old C’s was the first place the National Team went when everyone was in town.  We had a good team dinner and then we went to Walrus for ice cream.  We tried to keep Friday low-key considering we had to be up early the next day for the retreat.

Saturday we got up early (7:30ish) to eat breakfast and head over to the Scotch Pines Clubhouse for our retreat.  The clubhouse turned out to be pretty decent.  In some ways it was nicer than the space we would of had at Heatheridge – the view was a bit nicer and the rooms were broken out giving people more privacy if they wanted it.  They had this ugly red and green carpet, which basically looked like someone laid wrapping paper all over the floor. 

There was also this weird sculpture that was hung above the fireplace:

But during one of our breaks team members decided to decorate it (they called it "decorating the Christmas tree") with all of the random stuff that we brought for the retreat – mainly snack food.  Here is their work of art:

Ummmm Yeah….

The retreat was fantastic.  We ended up covering everything that we had in the schedule (wow!), and our discussions were engaging and thought-provoking.  I am really excited about our plans for our Regional Time at Conference.  I think we’ve put together the magic formula to keep students interested, to make them stakeholders in our regional success, and also to make discernment a worthwhile and life-giving process for everyone.

We also got our shirt design and banner figured out, began planning for LA Congress, and actually did our own leadership discernment process.  One of my favorite parts was at the end of the day, when one of the members of the Spirit Fire student leadership team at John XXIII joined us.  First he asked us some questions about our Conference experiences, and it was really neat to hear the diversity and wealth of experiences that everyone on the regional team has experienced.  Afterwards we had a good conversation about Evangelization, FOCUS and what are some things we can recommend to the future National & Regional leadership teams.  By the end we were all really tired, but we accomplished so much.  I am really happy about this weekend.

That night we went out on the town to celebrate our accomplishments, eating dinner at Hu-Hot Mongolian Grill, then went over to the Drunken Monkey, the new bar down the street.  They opened up a few weeks back, and they’ve really cleaned the place up.  The bar stools are actually swings hanging from the ceiling, and there’s actually a cage by the door, that I guess you need to dance in order to get out.  We had a lot of fun, as you can see below:

Again, we tried not to stay out too late, because we had an even earlier morning on Sunday.  We woke up at 6am (ugh) and drove down to Lafayette to go to Mass with Fr. Bob.  It was such a nice experience and a very enjoyable Mass, we then went out for our team breakfast (where I had to break out of early) and the team went home.  The rest of my Sunday was awesome as well.  I planned on going to to Sophia’s (my Goddaughter’s) dedication, which also happened to be in Lafayette.  But because of my inability to follow directions (arggh), I ended up being a 1/2 hour late and missing her dedication.  I was so bummed out and frustrated with myself.  I got to hang out with Sam and Sophie for the rest of the service, and we went back to their house afterwards for a nice lunch and some good times with their family – an awesome Sunday morning!

Needless to say I was tired when I got home, and ended up dosing off watching the Broncos game later on…  I was so blessed to have this weekend go so well.  In the last few days I got some really nice emails from my regional team members, which really affirmed me in my decision to stay back from DC and do the meeting.  I’m thankful that everyone was able to be there, and we had such a productive and fun time.

However I’m still recuperating from this weekend, and I feel sickness knocking on my door.  I need a little more rest to fully recuperate, but so far so good

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p align=”left”>See all of my Team West Retreat Pictures

Meeting Location Resolution

Jeromey Balderrama

Sorry for the few days delay…  This was a really good, but busy weekend, which I’m anxious to share, but I wanted to give an update on the clubhouse situation…

Well the good news: I got a space for our retreat, getting a clubhouse.

The bad news: I have lost virtually all amount of confidence in our property management’s ability to resolve situations.

On Wednesday I stayed up until 1am writing this letter, delivering it in the drop box first thing Thursday morning.  Their office hours are 1-5pm, so I knew they wouldn’t get the letter until 1pm, but I was hopeful that they were busy working on my issue all afternoon.   I drop by the office at 4pm to talk about my issue, there was a different lady in there (3rd person in 3 days) and she didn’t even check the mail yet!  She opens it while I’m there and is reading it.  The first thing she says is "What do you want me to do?  I didn’t make the reservation or took the call."  – Great customer service!  Then she tells that I need to get this letter to Pam, because she’s our HOA coordinator.  So I get in my car and go to the office (which is half-way across town), go into the Property Management building, and ask the receptionist to go get Pam.  I wait in the lobby, and Pam comes out…

…and turns out to be the lady that (didn’t) help me Wednesday!  "Great", I thought, this is going to solve my problem.".  I then begin to talk to her about my issue (still in the middle of the lobby), and she basically says there’s nothing she can do.  Then she proceeds into this dog and pony show, strutting out the gal who originally took my call.  In the beginning they were hesitant to even accept responsibility.  The blamed me for not having my name & unit #, but I reminded them that they didn’t ask for it, and because I identified myself at the beginning of the call I wasn’t concerned when I hung up the phone.

Then Pam disappeared.  I thought she went off to go talk to her boss about what she could do help, but now I think she left to go hide under her desk, because she didn’t come back out while I was there.  When she left, it was the receptionist that helped me, asking if I was willing to go to another clubhouse.  When I told her I’d be open to it, she was the one that booked the space for me, set me up with the deposit and took care of everything.  Ultimately the girl who took the phone call apologized, and I left there satisfied that things would go well.  However, I’ve lost a lot of confidence in our HOA coordinator.  This is the person who we’re supposed to be escalating our issues with our complex, and she can’t even deal with a scheduling screw-up on their end…  Give me a break!

“It’s just one of those days, When ya don’t wanna wake up…”

Jeromey Balderrama

Right now I feel like the Limp Bizkit song..   My stress level is maxed out…   I would expect that Thursday of this week things would be crazy, but I never thought things would be this crazy.

Right now my single biggest worry is about my NCSC Regional Team retreat this weekend.  At the beginning of the week, things were going great!  I had the schedule all put together, I have a list of everything I needed to do, and most importantly, I had a really awesome space lined up in the Student Commons at J23. 

That all changed on Tuesday, when things began spiralling down…  I got an email from the University Minister, who informed me that he had mistakenly reserved the space for me, not realizing that there is a FOCUS fund-raiser that was taking place.  He didn’t realize it until he invited people to part of our gathering and someone from FOCUS responded about the conflict…  So I got booted from the space…

I was pissed, of course this is an accident and I don’t blame anyone personally, but at the same time, if someone had a CALENDAR OF EVENTS that could be used to know if someone has reserved the room they wouldn’t have to double-back.  At the same time, I was worried, but confident that I could find another space.

Emily and I both came up with the idea of reserving the clubhouse in our apartment complex.  It’s got a TON of space, comfortable couches, a big table, a full kitchen, and it’s right by our pretty lake.  I made the call Tuesday into the office, and sure enough it was available, so I asked them to pencil me in and I would come by and pay the deposit/sign the agreement Wednesday.  I was golden…

Well yesterday set off another series of events where I got royally screwed by the complex’s office staff.  The situation, and how I’m hoping to deal with it, would be best explain in this letter I delivered to them this morning:

To Whom It May Concern:

I wish to express my grave disappointment and frustration in my attempt to reserve the clubhouse for Saturday, November 12, where a clerical error made by your staff has prohibited me from rightfully receiving my reservation.  After reviewing the circumstances, I believe that I am entitled to a reservation for Saturday November 12, and I request that Heatheridge Lakes Condominiums management rectify this situation immediately.

In the 3’o’clock hour of Tuesday, November 8, I placed a telephone call to the Heatheridge Lakes office, inquiring on the availability of the clubhouse for Saturday, November 12 and the possibility of making a reservation.  At that time the person whom I was speaking to informed me that the clubhouse was in fact available for the 12th.  After requesting to make a reservation I was informed of the registration policies (a signed agreement as well as the required $350 deposit).  In our conversation I asked if I could come in Wednesday to sign the agreement and pay the deposit, and if she could reserve that day for me using the words “pencil me in”.  I was assured that she would hold my reservation and that I could come in Wednesday, November 9 to complete the reservation.

When I came in the following day at 2:00pm, it was to find that the November 12th reservation was granted to someone else who had come to the office earlier that afternoon of Wednesday, November 9th.  I was shocked, disappointed, and appalled that my phone call reservation was totally ignored.  The office attendant (a different person to whom I spoke with on Tuesday) informed me that my requested date was not “penciled in”, and the calendar showed November 12th as available when she made the other person’s reservation.  She additionally informed me that no note was left from my phone reservation to indicate the date was unavailable.

The office attendant was apologetic and courteous, but she only offered me the alternative of hosting my event at a different time or date.  Frankly, I was so surprised that all I could do was to ask her to contact me if the space became available again.

Upon reviewing the sequence of events, and comparing it with the Clubhouse reservation policy at Heatheridge, I have concluded that I followed the process of “first-come, first-serve” basis, and I am therefore entitled to my requested reservation as it was made prior to the second reservation.  The mistake made by your staff was not my fault; and therefore I should not be made to suffer the consequences for the clerical error.

I formally request and sincerely implore that your staff take whatever action is necessary to rectify this situation.   I need a space for my event where I have guests from out-of-town attending on Saturday, November 12th from 9am-6pm.  I followed the correct and required procedure in requesting the clubhouse.  I recognize that the person who has the reserved time also has a valid reason, but I am the one who contacted the office first. I am the one who was told I could have the clubhouse for the 12th, and I am the one who should have the reservation.

I will plan on making a follow-up visit in your office at 4pm Thursday, at which time I need an update and hopefully a resolution regarding this situation.  If the current office-staff on hand cannot rectify this situation, I request that the property manager be contacted and will provide me with an update by my appointed visit.  You are welcome to contact me prior to 4pm by phone at (###) ###-####. 

Thank you for your consideration in this matter.

Regards,
Jeromey Gaudreau

So now it’s 3:15, and in a little while I’m going to go in for my 4pm visit.  I was hoping that they would have called me by now and made this easier on me, but something tells me that it’s not going to be this easy…

So while I’m putting out this fire, the rest of my task list is burning up.  The clock is counting down, and it hasn’t helped that I’ve had something going on every night this week (tonight is no exception).  The only saving grace is that my apartment is spotless at this point, and that feels pretty good – my mom was a big help with that though…  I really want to see Bethany, I haven’t seen her since last Saturday…  I just need these next few days to pass so I can have my life back…

I’ll update on the "reservation" situation this evening….

“TO” news

Jeromey Balderrama

I wanted to post the following in a seperate post, simply because these topics are completely unrelated and didn’t have anything to do with my last post:

–TO or "two" is gonzo!  The Eagles announced today that he is suspended for 4 games, and wont’ be asked to come back for the rest of this season.  Good riddance!  As a big Donovan McNabb fan, I was sick of this guy stabbing knives into McNabb’s already hurt back…  Two’s antics make Barry Bonds look like a good guy!  That’s how bad he is…  Ultimately I think the Eagles will do better as well, getting rid of this big headache.

–COLDPLAY IS COMING TO DENVER!  Mark your calendars for February 19th!  They’ll be at the Pepsi Center   Now it’s not Red Rocks, but I’m just excited to see them..  Time to save some $$ for tickets!

News, Commercialism and Entertainment…

Jeromey Balderrama

At what point does the line between news/media and the entertainment industry become so blurred that you can no longer distinguish a difference between the two?

Last night in my TV watching experience there were two events that really disturbed and really brings this into question.

Case #1 – 60 Minutes: First, watching 60 Minutes last night, in one segment they had an interview with Legendary Apollo 11 Astronaut Neil Armstrong, the first time he’s been interviewed in a very long time.  The interview itself is was very interesting, and I really appreciated the chance to learn more about a living part of our nation’s history.  However, the interview itself was prefaced with the statement that the interview was basically commemorating a recently-released (Oct 25) authorized biography written about Armstrong.  Later, when the book was quoted in the interview, 60 minutes added the disclaimer that the book was published by Simon & Schuster.  However, if memory serves, they failed to note that Simon & Schuster’s parent company is Viacom, the company that actually owns CBS.

And with that, this marks the third time in the last month a large-scale interview was done in conjunction with a book release: Neil Armstrong, Michael Jordon & Bill Romanowski.  Two of the three books are published by Simon & Schuster (Michael Jordan’s book was published by Atria, which is owned by Simon & Schuster).

The point I’m trying to make is that it seems that recently 60 minutes has become Viacom’s kick-off event for their latest book tour.  Even with controversial stories like the Richard Clarke interview (who blamed Bush for a lot of intelligence/War on Terror issues) was done in congruence with his book release – published by – "Free Press", an imprint company of Simon & Schuster.

Events like that make me wonder which 60 Minutes interviews/stories are legitimate, in which ones are being driven by the marketing department at Viacom…

Case #2 – the West Wing: After 60 Minutes I turned the channel over to the West Wing, one of my favorite TV shows.  Last night they had their major big event for November sweeps – the "Live Debate Episode".  In case you’re not a WingNut, President Bartlet’s (Martin Sheen) second term is up, and now the election is under way between Santos (Jimmy Smits) and Vinick (Alan Alda).  The campaign is in full swing now, and with it comes time for a debate.  This "Live" format is a follow-up to the Live ER that they had during Sweeps month a few years ago.

Overall I really liked the episode, I thought it was well done.  What I really had a problem with was the fact they all throughout the episode, right on the screen they plastered the "NBC News" logo for all to see.  This isn’t the normal NBC logo (which all networks do today), but it actually said "NBC News" right on the bottom – as if this was a real Presidential Debate.  Additionally, they had their own commentator/anchor Forrest Sawyer moderating this fictitious debate.

On one hand I can appreciate the show’s producers & NBC attempting to make this realistic, but there’s a point where you need to draw the line to maintain your credibility and respect.  I’m not sure if by putting their "stamp of approval" on this staged event has crossed that line…  I’d be anxious to hear what people think…