Good News

My journey to Richardson Springs resort, near Chico, California began at 2:30 Thursday morning. I drove from my apartment to the Jackson airport and got on a plane at 5:45 AM. I had a small layover in Dallas and then flew another 3.5 hours across the West to California. I listened to Harry Potter on my Ipod and watched the desert become mountains. It was amazing. I've never really left the eastern side of the country so the vista was fascinating to watch. I found it so amusing that in the middle of miles and miles of desert there would be a lone mountain with snow on it's peak. I think I have it in my head that all mountains should roll together like the Appalachians do.

I landed in Sacramento and Wesley picked me up soon thereafter. We drove up a country road to Chico, passing cherry and pecan farms. The cherry blossoms were in bloom and looking very serene. Once we got to Chico we stopped at the Sierra Nevada Brewing Company. We toured a very small portion of the factory and then had beer and lunch in the restaurant. I had the Blonde and Wesley had the IPA. The food was top-notch, just what I needed after all my traveling. After meeting up with two more Vocatis, we went to the conference center.

Tucked away in a valley that conjures ideas of Ireland, Richardson Springs was a classic resort that had been converted to a conference center. The grounds were awe-inspiring and the hotel was creepy as hell. I knew that at each turn there was going to be a little boy riding his Big Wheel down the hall, or a set of twins asking me to come play with them. The elevator was at least 60 years old, the type that had a metal gate that slammed shut and a real door leading to each floor. After someone made faces and loud noises as Wesley and I passed the second floor, I starting taking the stairs.

The business meetings went very smoothly, lacking the drama that sometimes plagues anything Vocare. The community was strong and there was an all around good vibe the whole weekend (if you discount the creepiness of the hotel). My big news is that I got elected to the steering committee for Vocare International as an At-Large Representative for the next two years. I know that I will be involved with decision making for Vocare, but I am still feeling out exactly what my role is. I'm really excited to really get my hand in the pot and be involved with something so important. I am also so excited that this group of people had enough confidence in me to give me this position.

I have contacted the people involved with the Vocare in Mississippi and expressed interest in re-entering the community here. I went through Vocare here several years ago and have since lost touch with the local Vocatis. I am going to Jackson this weekend for a Cornerstone event (which is a sort of Vocare reunion) where we will do a philanthropy project of some sort.

I am also being confirmed on Sunday at my local church. I have been a practicing Episcopalian for years now, but my letter is still officially with the Methodist church. All of these new doors opening have really lifted my spirits. That combined with the amazing support I've been getting from Wesley has been the just the thing I need right now.

My photos from the weekend can be found here.