My Week That Was - Nov 23

Sesame Street promotional image

I had my first coaching sessions this week as my introduction to voice overs.

The first session was all about the studio and how to use it effectively.  There is a long way to go, but it is nice to have the journey underway.

You may have noticed some familiar characters on TV the last few months.  Characters from Sesame Street are showing up in car commercials and commercials for insurance - their appearances a part of expanding the brand and corporations proud to display their support for the long-running children's (and their parents) show.

Sunday night we watched the Public Television 50th anniversary special and saw a lot of old friends.

My first memory of Sesame Street was in third grade.  At the time, our class ate the lunch brought from home at their desk.  The teacher turned on public television - it's where I saw the characters on the famous street and a show aimed at slightly older kids called The Electric Company.

Just a little less than 20 years down the road, our kids watched Sesame Street and Mr. Rodgers Neighborhood with their lunch.

When the kids were little, Susan and Bob came to Janesville for a public appearance.  The boys and their mom were in line to see them.  It's been a ground-breaking show for years on a big stage while on the small stage inside each home it helps children and parents learn their 1,2,3s; A,B,Cs; and about the people in their neighborhood and classrooms.

Happy birthday to Big Bird, Kermit, Ernie, Bert, Oscar & company.

While we are still several days from Thanksgiving - our office was all about end of year activities the last few weeks.  There was writing and preparing the letters; pulling a mailing list; and proofing the jobs from the printer with a goal of getting them in the hands of donors before Thanksgiving.

A fun task this week was asking donors to give employees their holiday bonus check at the campus appreciation parties.  It's a tradition in its third year, one embraced by employees and donors.  It is the most fun thing we do all year.

Thursday I had a virtual meeting with my voice over "counselor."  It's a position designed to help me navigate through the coaching and training and come out on the other side.  The "counselor" lives in New Jersey.  Last week's online meeting about my home studio was with an instructor in Cocoa Beach, Florida.  Saturday, I take an actual class in a room with other people in Schaumburg, Illinois.

Friday, I had a couple of things off campus.  The morning get-together was a regular board meeting.  There was a lot of ground to cover - a budget to approve and issues with the 2020 calendar to resolve.  It wasn't fun, but it was necessary.

The second one was a bit of an introduction and orientation for a board I'll join in the new year.  The group includes professionals of different fields that help people plan how  to distribute their assets to their families and favorite charities.  It's a group I joined four years ago, the Wisconsin Association of Charitable Gift Planners... WACGP.  The problem is no one knows how to pronounce the acronym, "Wah - sijip," anyone?

Have a great week ahead.