Opening Meeting

Marsha Willis
Planning Meeting at Hotel 31.48.024 N 106.22.42 W (airport) Elevation: 3937 ‘
Satellite Image

Content:
Welcome to our “Taking a Closer Look” Journal. The TRC staff is ready, able and willing to offer the best Professional Development Academy ever. We have worked very hard to prepare this field experience and now the day is here. We are anxiously waiting at the airport for our trip to El Paso. Once there, we will organize all the materials for distribution later in the evening. The participants that will be in El Paso this evening have been invited to join us for dinner. This will be a good time for all of us to get acquainted.

We have a preliminary meeting scheduled with our geologists, Keith and Diane Brownlee. They have made a pre-trip of our entire route and have selected the best features for us to observe at our many roadside stops.
(insert photo of Keith and Diane)

After dinner, the participants will visit the hotel room and receive many of their materials. Each participant will receive an agenda, notebook, field journal, fanny packs, geology books and a GPS unit. Keith Mitchell will explain how the technology for the journal will work and how each person will write and submit an article about a different activity/event.

Reflection:
It is hard to believe that this day is really here. I have been planning this PDA since last July. I am very anxious to get on the road and have these participants involved in a total submersion of geology, astronomy and botany. They will be tired as we will have long days and nights. Most days begin at 7 AM and we wont’ be finished until 11:30 PM. I am sure I will be called many names! I don’t mind though, because they will walk away with a great experience.

Friday, June 2, 2006