T.C. Knutson Wins Serve Montana Award!

T.C. (second from left) with First Lady Nancy Schweitzer (left), Commision Vice Chair  Karin Olsen Billings, &  Lt. Governor John Bohlinger

Congratulations to MSU-Great Falls Campus Corps leader T.C. Knutson, who was a recipient of one of this year's highly esteemed Serve Montana Awards!  T.C. was recognized for his outstanding commitment to serving his community and for the attitude with which he executes all of the work that he does. Attendees of the Serve Montana Symposium, which took place in Helena, MT last week, had the chance to celebrate T.C.'s achievement during Thursday's Awards luncheon. It was truly an inspiring event, as we had the opportunity to recognize and learn about all of the recipients and the valuable services that they have provided to communities throughout the state. Campus Corps is proud to have T.C. represent our program in group of truly remarkable people that have all demonstrated a tremendous commitment to serving their communities.

Campus Corps Leaders Take A Half-time Break at Winter Retreat

Halfway through our terms of service, our team of 13 Campus Corps leaders convened in Townsend, MT for a mid-year winter retreat.  While the schedule for the short-but-sweet get together was pretty jam packed with training sessions, the gathering still managed to provide leaders with some much needed informal "hang out" time. We enjoyed the chance to relax and take in the beauty of the Canyon Ferry Lake region in which we were staying.  Furthermore, we took full of the accommodations provided by Canyon Ferry Mansion which hosted our group for the event. Sharing stories amidst a group of peers going through an experience similar to our own always proves to be an enriching and refreshing experience.

The training provided leaders with new skills and knowledge aimed to enable them to better serve their campuses for the remaining six months of their terms of service. Additionally, it allowed for an opportunity for leaders to learn from each other, providing a venue for all to bounce ideas off of each other and to share the wisdom they have gained from the first half of their year. As a group, we came away with valuable insights gained from hearing about both the successes leaders have had and also from the challenges and struggles that they have encountered along the way. Most importantly, this year's winter leader retreat allowed us to foster a stronger sense of community within our group and to build upon the relationships we have made with the exceptional members of our 2012 team.

When it Comes to Reflection, There is Always Room for Improvement

This past weekend, Krissy and I had the opportunity to attend a training hosted by the Project on Civic Reflection which took place in Chicago, IL. The Project on Civic Reflection is a Chicago based organization whose mission is to actively assist civic groups in building capacity, commitment, and community through reading and discussion Despite our somehow picking the most wintery weekend of the year so far, the trip was a great experience and an overall enriching experience. The two day training provided us with  many new techniques to further develop our facilitation skills and provided us with an opportunity to learn by putting our skills into action amongst a group of peers.

The training brought together a diverse group of people from all over the country, whose wide range of experiences and knowledge certainly enhanced the quality of our group discussions, providing them with many unique perspectives and insights. We returned to Missoula both re-inspired about the work that we do and eager to share the skills and knowledge gained from the training with our colleagues throughout the state!

Learn more about the Project on Civic Reflection at civicreflection.org