Entries this day: _swuusi_evaluation _travel_

swuusi evaluation

10 August 2001

This is part of my evaluation of SWUUSI; if you want to use it anywhere, please do. And maybe let me know if it has helped you in some way.

Is there anything else that you would like to add
that will help district leaders to understand the
youth camp experience?

The awesomeness of SWUUSI youth camp cannot be
adequately described.  It must be experienced.

YRUU, including SWUUSI has literally saved the lives
of youth who felt they had *no where* to turn, no
friends who loved them.  I can think of 5 right now.  
 This is a place where youth can *play* safely.  True
play in its highest form, like kittens in a new world,
with no egos in the way.

Think of times when you feel truly safe, truly at
home.  That is SWUUSI youth camp.

Think about times when you laugh until tears are
pouring from your face, until your sides hurt from
laughing so hard.  That is SWUUSI youth camp.

When you work so hard and get so sweaty and look back
after a full day and see how much *good* you have
added to the world.  That is SWUUSI youth camp.

When the friendship connections are so great, so deep,
so magnificently entrenched in your soul, that no one
can *ever* take it away.. That is SWUUSI youth camp.

         - - - - -

I have heard a rumor that some people believe the
power shuffle is a negative thing and should be
removed or otherwise altered. SWUUSI youth camp is the
safest place in the world for power shuffle.  The
power shuffle worship brings to light insecurities,
old wounds that have been emotional sores for years.  
SWUUSI youth camp provides a safe place to reveal
those wounds, to find that there is no shame in the
confusing feelings that have been stuffed for so many
years.   The adult staff at SWUUSI youth camp includes
adults who *care* about the youth, and will support
the youth in their crisis.    Some adult staff at
SWUUSI youth camp are professional trained
social/psychological/spiritual workers in their
professional lives.  There could be no safer
environment for such issues to come up.  People pay
big money to have professionals counsel them. 
At SWUUSI, the counseling is immediate and it's free. 
And it's loving and supportive.

If the youth goes home and is now able to reveal some
of these issues to adults in their home lives - to
their ministers, to their parents, to their
counselors, then SWUUSI youth camp has helped save a
life.

travel

noon Friday 10 August 2001

From:	Rob Nugen
Sent:	Friday, August 10, 2001 11:43 AM
To:	Karla
Cc:	Rob

Subject: bigger can of worms

A real project manager type person could be super duper most excellent.
There's a part of me who just wants someone to handle/balance the incoming
stuff and prioritize it, and tell me what needs to be worked on.

However,

The big thing that I'm afraid to say/suggest is that I *really* want to
travel and ride my bike across the US and/or Europe and around the perimeter
of Australia.  (Ultimately, I want to shift my career to leading youth group
tours to Europe, Australia, etc.  Maybe just during the summer, when they
are out of school.)

G3 is not *quite* in a state where I can feel happy leaving it, but I think
it's close.  And I'm not suggesting that I actually leave bye-bye
permanently.

But I am open to the idea of taking time off without pay.  I'm considering a
month total off next year.   1 week in February (to learn Spanish
intensively in Mexico), 2 weeks in June for wedding etc, 1 week in July for
youth camp.

And, I am open to the idea of time off as part of my salary (so $$ stays
constant over the span of the year, but I get more vacation)..

Right now I'm only writing to you, Karla (but feel free to talk to Kevin if
you want); I have a great deal of fear about

1) reaction from others ("Why is Rob treated differently?")
2) fear that I won't be *able* to ride across Europe or the US
3) other random feelings that I can't pinpoint

I *love* the work environment here.  It's more than just not having to wear
shoes.  The energy is great.  The win-win solutions/attitudes are great.

I am pretty sure I could be making 20-30k more per year somewhere else, but
this place is great.

Big sigh.   Thank you.

    - Rob

Karla, being great, replied:

From: Karla
Sent: Friday, August 10, 2001 11:52 AM
To: Rob Nugen
Subject: RE: bigger can of worms


I think that the idea of you leaving for 4 weeks next year is not out of the
question as long as we plan it in advance.  Don't worry about people
thinking Rob is being treated differently.  We try to treat each person
differently and don't mind it at all.  You are becoming a big part of the
company.  You are taking on a load and it is wonderful to have you here.  I
agree that you could be making more elsewhere - I hope that it will pay off
for you in the future - as well as now - enjoying the 'energy'.  I think
that you are a wonderful person to have around - not just for your
programming, but also for your attitude towards feedback.  We should all be
using you as our role model on that characteristic.  Patrick and I have
been talking about planning a little company one day - timeout.  We might do
some fun things- but also, want to do some planning for our growth so that
things are not quite as spur of the moment as they are now.  I hope you grow
more into the role of seeing yourself as one of the builders of the company
and think of it as your company to build.

You also have tremendous integrity and can continue to help by being a truth
speaker.

Deep sigh!

K.