Minneapolis AMATYC convention

Here I am

with all my ribbons for the convention.

Closer inspection shows more ribbons than I have ever had.  I am now the state president for NDMATYC, hence the "Affiliate President" ribbon.  I was a presenter with my "Three Pound Universe" workshop, a delegate for the North Dakota delegation, and I presided over another workshop as well.

My workshop is the "Three Pound Universe" where I give teachers a working knowledge of brain science, and give them a framework to apply brain research to the classroom.  It is a fun thing to do, and I usually have great discussions with some great teachers.  It was a great experience for me, and I had a number of excited participants anxious to talk to me when I finished, so it was a good experience for some participants too.

The convention is a good place to renew old friendships.  On the left is Linda Tonolli, on the right is Don Bigwood, and in the middle is Jim Ham from Delta College in Michigan.  Don Bigwood is an inspiration to us all.  Officially retired for several years, he can't stop teaching math!  He still is active as an adjunct instructor, and still attends AMATYC and enjoys the new ideas and strategies.  Don will probably still be an adjunct should I ever live to see retirement. 

These two ladies should probably be a little crazy.  This is Linda Tonolli (L) and Kathy Swetich, the two ladies who teach many of the same classes I do, so they end up working with me regularly.  They have survived so far.

This is our friend Dan Johnson from Devils Lake.  Dan is usually the picture taker, (these are his pictures) usually jolly.  So why is he so serious when he is in the picture?

This is ND delegation that went to eat at the Icheban Japanese restaurant.  It's nice to have such good people to work with.  Larry Merbach from Wahpeton is the new face on the far left. 

Dan took this picture in the bathroom, he called it the two Budhas.

Kathy told her class she was going to a convention with other Math Teachers, and one of her students responded, "OH THAT WILL BE FUN!"  Actually, it really is.  This is a concerned bunch that enjoys learning techniques that will help their students, and enjoys sharing ideas with each other.  (the new face is Larry Merbach's wife, Renelle Bertsch)

On a personal note, there were a couple of big highlights.

One was seeing this guy,

Dan Gjelten.  I first met this guy in the summer of 1971, my first year on camp staff at Camp Metigoshe.  Dan was one of those special people you can never forget.  Dan with his friend John Ydstie were major influences on me, and gave me a real love of acoustical guitar.  I last saw him the summer of 1972, which was 35 years ago!  I thought he looked great, especially when I found out he had been in a very serious car accident almost 2 years ago.  I was wondering if I would recognize him, and he looked just as I remembered him!  Strangely, I had gotten older.

Another great highlight was seeing my old camp counselor buddy Ken Holmen.  We went with our wives to the Vikings Game where Adrian Peterson set the all-time rushing record, and where the longest scoring play in NFL history happened.  Minnesota destroyed San Diego that day as well, and two all time NFL records were set, so it was a great day to be there.  Ken and I always had great fun as counselors, usually having a tremendous competition at camp Olympics each week.  I'm looking forward to, and working on a reunion of Ronning Era staff members for Camp Metigoshe, July 4 weekend, 2008.

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