09 Jun XLR8 Ends. Now Comes a Time of Transition
Bishop Ron Ramsey (right) leads in prayer during the installation service for Phil and Sandy Whipple.
The US National Conference held its concluding service on Sunday morning, June 7.
- A drama group from Union Chapel (Fort Wayne, Ind.) opened the service with a powerful skit.
- A worship team from Hillsdale UB (Hillsdale, Mich.) led the congregational singing.
- Pat Jones led a communion service.
- Bishop Ron Ramsey spoke, switching form the car-racing metaphor to a running-the-race metaphor.
- Bishop Ramsey led the installation service for Bishop-Elect Phil Whipple.
Phil Whipple will take office August 15. But the Executive Leadership Team took action last fall to allow for a two-week overlap with Bishop Ramsey, prior to August 15. In the past, the changeover happened rather abruptly–one bishop one day, a different bishop the next.
Pray for Phil and Sandy Whipple as they busy themselves with all the arrangements for moving from one state to another. They don’t have a home to sell in Michigan, so that’s a plus. But they will need to find a place to live in the Huntington/Fort Wayne area, and soon.
05 Jun National Conference Business Update 2
Additional updates from the US National Conference business session.
- 9:45. Dr. G. Blair Dowden announced a partnership with radio station Star 88.3. It’s being announced publicly today by the college.
- HU had 163 UB students during the 2008-2009 school year.
- HU is launchnig the Institute for TESOL Studies (Teacher of English Speaking Other Language). A partnership between HU and Global Ministries.
- The college endowment dropped from $22 million to $16 million, a result of the economic downturn.
- Bishop Ron Ramsey asked the HU trustees present–himself, Pat Jones, Dalton Jenkins, Mike Caley–to gather around Dr. Dowden for a time of prayer. He asked Dalton Jenkins, pastor of the UB church in Yonkers, NY, to pray.
05 Jun National Conference Business Update
The US National Conference business session started at 8:00. Here is what has happened so far:
- Tom Blaylock and Gordon Kettel gave a devotional and presentation on church planting.
- The conference rules and procedures were adopted.
- The delegates voted to elect 8 members to the Executive Leadership Team. The results should be announced before lunch.
- Mike Caley, chairman of the Nominating committee, explained the procedure they went through in developing the ballot for bishop.
- Bishop Ron Ramsey made it very clear that, in putting just one name on the ballot for bishop, this is not a “railroad job,” and if he hears anyone say that that’s what happened, “You and I will have a come to Jesus moment.”
- The delegates voted on bishop, with one name on the ballot: Phil Whipple, pastor of Colwood UB in Caro, Mich.
- G. Blair Dowden is giving his report as President of Huntington University.
04 Jun Conquering the Easels
Clockwise from top left: Steve Dennie, Paul Hammel, Steve and Phil Whipple.
In 2007, we needed lots of easels for the many signs posted around Saw Mill Creek. Unfortunately, we only had a few. So this time, I decided to be prepared. A basic easel costs 30-50 bucks, but I found a place in California that was offering a dozen easels for $120. I decided that, no matter how cheaply made, they would be a good investment for many national conferences to come.
They arrived in a big box, which I didn’t open until yesterday. Inside the big box were 12 smaller boxes. I envisioned opening a box, pulling out the easel, and simply unfolding it and letting it expand to its final glory.
Not so easy. Instead, I found myself sitting on the floor of the Saw Mill Creek lobby amidst eight sticks, a few bolts, a chain, and absolutely no directions. Now, I had to figure out how to assemble these random sticks. We’re talking ME, the guy who is baffled by Tinker Toys. Who can’t grasp the concept behind Leggos. I’m sure somebody in China, while stuffing these sticks into the boxes, was laughing thinking, “Those Americans will never figure it out.”
But never underestimate the ingenuity of the American farmer. Along came Paul Hammel, father of Finance Director Marci Hammel (who’s also an accountant, though I can’t imagine that part being any help). He played around with the pieces, and figured it out. Or close, There was some screwing and unscrewing of bolts, but we got it eventually. Or he did, while I mostly watched. We assembled the first easel together, then tackled the others on our own. Yes, even I could do it. We also pulled in Phil Whipple, who gets credit for four of the twelve.
03 Jun XLR8, the Prequel
Bishop Ron Ramsey in front of the entrance to the registration area, which, come tomorrow, will be swarming with over 800 people.
Several dozen people are at Saw Mill Creek (Huron, Ohio), getting everything set up for the XLR8 US National Conference, which starts Thursday afternoon. It’s a lot of work–decorating the hotel in a racing theme, setting up the main conference hall (lights, video, stage, screens, you-name-it), stuffing packets, hanging signs, and much more.
A number of photos have been posted here. You can also follow the UB Twitter feed for updates throughout the days of the conference.
03 Jun Setting Up for XLR8 is a Whole Lot of Work
The main hall is a busy place. By Thursday night, it will be set up with 900 chairs, ready to go. But right now, Chris Kuntz and his crew is setting up the stage, lighting, and lots of elaborate computer and video equipment.
Heather Umbaugh and her decorations crew are transforming the hotel with the racing theme. Pieces of actual Nascar vehicles are everywhere. Not to mention all the checkered flags.
Some of the ladies spent hours putting together the packets for all attendees–nearly 900 packets.
The sound table is filled with computer, monitors, and all kinds of gadgetry–not to mention a multitude of cords. And it all needs to work together.
02 Jun HU Nursing Department’s New Manikins
Huntington University‘s Department of Nursing has acquired 11 manikins for lab and clinical classes. Junior nursing majors, with an anticipated graduation date of May 2011, will be the first to use them in the fall of 2009.
Of the 11 manikins at the Nursing Department’s disposal, four are VitalSims, one is a SimMan, and the remaining six manikins serve more basic functions than the others.
The four VitalSims–one male, one female, one infant and one child–are equipped to be as lifelike as possible. Each one, when plugged in, resorts to the default setting and begins to make respiratory sounds and has a heartbeat and stomach gurgles. As the instructor changes the settings, different scenarios can happen. The manikin can have high blood pressure, the respiratory sounds of a person with pneumonia, stitches, and a myriad of other symptoms of various illnesses and diseases.
The VitalSims manikins are programmed so that students can give full head-to-toe assessments. They also have the capability to give students the experience of performing procedures including, but not limited to, catheters and intravenous therapy.
SimMan is similar to the VitalSims but more sophisticated. SimMan can do everything that the VitalSims can do and more. He will be hooked up to all the typical monitoring devices that one would see in a hospital setting, each monitoring an actual function of SimMan, including heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen level and more.
The purpose of SimMan is for students to work with him in simulated scenarios. SimMan has set scenarios and has the option of new scenarios being programmed into him. These scenarios simulate real-to-life timeframes and situations to which students will respond. For instance, during one scenario, a student may be performing a routine procedure when suddenly, SimMan’s blood pressure will spike. The students must make rapid decisions and perform the necessary procedures to stabilize the manikin, or he may simulate a stroke that the student will then have to respond to as well. SimMan is so advanced that his settings allow students to “save him” or “kill him.”
The remaining six manikins are less sophisticated but still useful for training. Each one allows students to become accustomed to performing sterile procedures, moving patients in beds, helping patients to the shower and restroom, as well as other basic nursing functions.
02 Jun Huntington Launching TESOL Program This Summer
Huntington University will launch a new initiative this summer designed to prepare educators for the Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). Curriculum development, staffing, and the acquisition of equipment and library resources will begin this month.
The Institute for TESOL Studies and related academic courses are an outgrowth of long-term relationships between Huntington University faculty and educators in China. 
Dr. Luke Fetters (right), who formerly worked 11 years in Macau, is under contract to provide teacher training in Zhuhai City, China. By the end of this summer, Fetters and his team of Huntington faculty, local teachers and volunteers will have trained nearly 400 Chinese educators in English-teaching skills.
The university’s new Institute for TESOL Studies will build upon this foundation and extend new learning opportunities to HU students. Fetters will serve as the director of the institute.
“We anticipate tremendous benefits for Huntington University students, especially those planning careers in education or other professional service in an intercultural setting,” said Fetters. “Future teachers will be better prepared to teach students for whom English is not their first language. Ministry students, social workers and others also may have interest in TESOL training as they prepare to serve various non-English-speaking populations.”
Dr. Terrell Peace (right), chair of HU’s Department of Education, agrees. “There is growing demand for teachers and other professionals who have the ability to bridge cultural and language barriers,” he said. “In our local school corporation, for example, the number of students for whom English is a second language has increased tenfold in the past eight years.”
Pending state approval, the Institute for TESOL Studies will offer English as a New Language (ENL) certification for HU education students and area teachers. Huntington University also will offer a TESOL minor to HU students pursuing a degree in any discipline. Additional formal training and informal consulting in ENL and TESOL methodologies will be available to local, regional and international schools, agencies and social service organizations.
02 Jun All Packed. Next Stop: Huron, Ohio
Bishop Ron Ramsey (right) and Pat Jones, Director of Healthy Church Ministries, in front of the loaded trailer. Among all the supplies, printed materials, etc., are many pieces from actual Nascar vehicles. They’ll be used in set decoration by Heather Umbaugh, who is heading up that part of the conference.
The trailer will head to Huron, Ohio, Wednesday morning, and we’ll spend the day–along with many other volunteers–getting everything set up. Then, Thursday noon, registration starts.
02 Jun A Few Thoughts Before XLR8 Begins
It is now 8:17 a.m. (EDT) in Huntington, Ind. The staff in the office has been in a “full court press” for some time now to get everything done for National Conference. Sometime this morning we will begin packing the trailer to bring all the necessary forms, reports, supplies, packets, name badges, agendas, sermon notes, computers, printers, posters, pens and probably a whole lot more I can’t think of right at this moment.
We are checking and double-checking to be sure we have everything we need. I have checked with the main speaker, Tim Brown and he is set to be with us. We have had an excellent registration of over 850 individuals.
The point is: we are almost ready to make the trip to Sawmill Creek Resort, Huron, Ohio, for National Conference 2009. I am excited. Thanks to all who have been planning and praying for this National Conference 2009.
Just some thoughts….
- I am surprised how fast these past four years have flown by!
- I am thankful for travel safety for all who have traveled these past four years!
- I am so grateful for the staff that God has placed in this building!
- I am blessed to think of all the new friends who have come into my life in these years!
- I am burdened for far too many of our churches that don’t “get it”!
- I am flabbergasted at those who don’t know what “IT” is!
- I have realized just how dependent on God I really am to do anything of worth!
- I have been amazed to find myself in this position!
- I am so thankful for the planning team that helped plan every detail of this National Conference 2009.
- I am really looking forward to worshipping with all of you this week!
- I am blessed to be trusting in The One who has my future in His hands!
Well, that’s it for this time. Hope to see you on Thursday. Drive careful ‘ya hear!