First time with a Christmas Tree... and no Ice

Hey Everyone!

I am so sorry for the lack of updating this blog but I have had some INTERESTING things happen to me in the past month.

It started out with finals and I got through all four of them... unharmed... but if CKI has taught me ANYTHING it is the ability to take one thing at a time and still multi-task. I feel that as CKI members we really stretch ourselves thin with some of the things that we do, but I also feel that CKI teaches you to take one project and one meeting at a time and know when to move on to the next project. A clear example of this was when I was studying. I would study and study and study, and yet feel like I was going nowhere, but if I used my CKI multi-tasking ability and studied a little bit of this subject and another of this one and then work on my Sub-region C Newsletter I retained/memorized it better.

CONCLUSION: Don't work on something at a long length of time. The quality might not be as good as if you would leave and come back to it and redo some of your mistakes (i.e., proofreading!)

But I came out of the semester with a 3.93 (I got an A-...). WOO HOO overall!

Then I am currently in the Florida Everglades. I came done this past summer to do research on endangered epiphytic orchids (look up Epidendrum amphistomum, Epidendrum nocturnum, Dendrophylax lindenii, Prosthecea cochleata for examples) and got some REALLY good journal material, but I saw a need: they didn't have anyone to finish the greenhouse or the orchid lab here at the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge... so I asked if I could come back during December. With an open trailer, I was flown down here to help with those two projects. Now, I think this can go back to my Key Club days and has florished into my CKI days but I see where service can be done. I am not getting paid down here... actually I am paying for everything... so I consider this service to my BIOLOGICAL community. I am trying to preserve the population of all those orchids I had listed.

TWO THINGS TO LOOK FOR WHEN LOOKING FOR PROJECTS:
People say that they are short-staffed.
People mention a project that was started but not finished.

These were the two main things that helped me realize that they needed help. So far, I am installing the watering system tomorrow for the greenhouse and I am checking the lab for sterility.

Hope everyone's Christmas was a good one... just remember those who can't eat, don't have family near them, or don't have a family to go to... it makes you feel proud about being a CKI member. ::Quick story::

Today my supervisor (who I at dinner with tonight) said that he didn't care about how the table was prepared because he is thinking more of the people who don't have anything to eat. (Joking of course as he fixes the plate and silverware arrangments). Then I said to him "Well that is what CKI members are here for." Then I thought to myself... did I just say that?? To my wildlife biologist of a boss?? Sure I did... because it is true. CKI does make a difference, we just don't know about all of the impacts.