ACUI
Region 7 Conference
University of Michigan, October 22-24, 2004

Annual (international) conferences
2007:  Atlanta
2006:  Kansas City
2004:  Washington, DC
2003:  Chicago
2002:  Albuquerque
2001:   Toronto
2000:   NYC

9-Ball Championships
2004:  University of Colorado
2005:  University of Michigan
2006:  University of Arizona
2007:  Minnesota State University Mankato

ACUI website (the organization)

ACUI main page (Betsy's index)

Betsy's home page

The Best Night of My Life!

On October 23, 2004 I was surprised by my colleagues at the Association of College Unions International (ACUI) Fall Conference.  The conference itself was not a surprise.  What was a surprise is that I was chosen as the recipient of the Gretchen Laatsch Outstanding Service Award for our whole region!  Only one person is chosen each year, of literally hundreds of regional college unions professionals who are involved with ACUI. 

Here is the speech that the Director of the Michigan Union, Audrey Schwimmer, delivered during dinner that night.  Remember, until she read this, only a handful of people knew that I'd be receiving this honor.  And picture, if you will, an elegant ballroom filled with about 200 staff and students from all over Michigan and Ohio.  Here's me, listening to Audrey's speech and figuring out that she was talking about me (click to enlarge):

(Pardon my vanity, but this is one of the greatest accomplishments of my career, and if there's anything for which I deserve to brag, this is it).

Tonight this award will be given to an individual who is described by one of her nominators as the “heart and soul” of ACUI Region 7.  She is known in the region and on her home campus as an exceptional planner with impeccable follow through regarding the smallest of details.  She is a self-proclaimed “dorkanizer”.  

She provides her expertise and support to ensure the success of all she’s involved in.  Even if she’s not “officially” in charge she’s there lending a hand to ensure all goes well.

Her ACUI roles have been significant.  They include:

• ACUI Region 7 Recreation Director

• ACUI Region 7 Recreation Host Director

• ACUI Region 7 Conference Planning Committee

• ACUI Region 7 Conference Presenter

• ACUI Recreation Research and Rediscovery Team (actually this should have been "Assessment & Redesign Team")

• ACUI National 9 Ball Tournament Director

Betsy has given of herself personally and professionally time and time again.

She’s pleasant and patient.  She demonstrates grace, style and a wonderful sense of humor.  She treats students with respect, gives them responsibility fitting their talents and backs them up all the way.  Betsy manages logistics of the recreation tournaments, such as registration, schedules, travel accommodations and communication like a pro. 

If I was a young professional and knew of Betsy’s skills and talents then she is whom I would ask to mentor me.  You’ve made a difference Betsy at the University of Michigan, in Region 7, and across the United States.  Your excellent work, your dedication, your passion for students, and your fun loving spirit are all things that set you apart.  You are an outstanding role model for all of us in this room. 

It is with great pleasure tonight that I present the Gretchen Laatsch Outstanding Service Award to Betsy Sundholm of the University of Michigan. 

Followed by tears and cheers and a shaky-voiced acceptance speech.  Click any photo to enlarge:

Letter to Mom

October 24, 2004

Dear Mom:

I don't remember if I told you, but I've branched out beyond pool and bowling tournaments in terms of my involvement with the ACUI organization (Association of College Unions International). This year, U of M hosted the annual fall conference of the Association, and I have been serving on the conference planning committee since February. The conference was this weekend. I've also been thinking about doing the regional website and newsletter, and maybe be the communications coordinator....but it is a volunteer organization so I can't take on too much. Anyway, back to the subject....

There is an award that they give out only once a year to someone in the region (Lower Michigan and Ohio), and sometimes not at all. It's the "Gretchen Laatsch Outstanding Service Award," established to honor Gretchen Laatsch, a lady from U of Akron (now retired) who was one of the most active and supportive members of ACUI throughout her career, and was for three years the president of the whole international association. The winner is recognized for their contributions to the Association and the field of College Unions professionals. Usually, at least by my observation, they give it only to people who are toward the end of their career, approaching retirement. But this year, I (yeah me, your daughter!!!) was chosen as the winner!!!!

It was a surprise, revealed at the Saturday night banquet in front of 200 people that were there for the conference. Derek was there too...he snuck in halfway through dinner and sat at the back of the room. Apparently dozens of people knew about it, and have known about it, for the last several weeks, and they managed to keep me in the dark. In fact, earlier in the night I went up onto the stage for something else, and apparently my plaque was sitting right there, and I didn't even notice it. (Several people said "Whew" to that).

I'm pretty sure I'm the youngest person ever to receive it, Mom!!!! There was a 10-minute, extremely flattering speech by my Director (Audrey)...one of those speeches where they talk about the recipient of an award and try to keep you in suspense until the end. But the minute Audrey would mention "recreation," everyone would know it was me. A couple months ago, when I was trying to get together all the staff for a party, I called myself a dorkanizer: the dork that organizes everything. About 4 sentences into her speech, Audrey said, "the recipient of this year's Laatsch award is a self-proclaimed "dorkanizer." That was the clincher. One of my student employees was there, and she yelled out, "That's my boss!" Everyone was looking at me by then, and I was fully consumed with tears at this point. Audrey continued her speech, and then finally I went up to the stage to receive the award and say a few words. I am not good with microphones, but I actually did OK and said some things that made people laugh. Things like "I'm not old enough for this yet!!!" I don't care if it's vain; I'm going to see if I can get a copy of Audrey's speech to send you, because most of the things she said are only said about people after they die! I actually said that in my speech too, which gave people a good laugh.

There was a *standing O* from the audience, a plaque with my name on it that I get to keep forever, and a traveling plaque that will be on our wall at the Union for a year, then move on to next year's winner. And after I got off the stage, there were about 200 hugs.

But here's my favorite part: my co-workers, who laugh because I always joke about being the "Queen of the Union," crowned me with a tiara and a scepter--made of a pool cue decorated with all kinds of feathers and glitter and an 8-ball glued to the end! They also gave me a spectacularly gorgeous bouquet of flowers and three cards with about 100 signatures total. It has been utterly AWESOME. I've been wearing the tiara around ever since last night (I'm thinking I can milk it for another day or two, even once the work week starts up again). You should see the looks I got at the grocery store! We had dinner with Derek's family tonight, and I wore it there too. 

I actually grew a little suspicious on Thursday night, when I got home and there was a message from Audrey, asking Derek to call her because she had a roofing question. As soon as I heard that, it struck me as odd. If Audrey had a roofing question, I believe she would just ask me at work, and if I didn't know the answer, she would just ask me to have Derek call her. So the thought that I might be getting an award of some kind did cross my mind, but then I thought about the four awards they give out every year. Two of them are student scholarships. Not eligible. One of them is for new professionals--those in the field less than 5 years. Not eligible. The only one left was the Laatsch, and I couldn't imagine I was in the running for that one. There are a LOT of people in the region who are very committed and work very hard as volunteers, and certainly a lot of people with more education and years of experience than I have. So I pushed it to the back of my mind, thinking, "Betz, your head is just getting too big." But I told Derek to call her back anyway (and not tell me what they talked about, because if there was some kind of award or special thing for me at the conference, I wanted to be a LITTLE surprised).

Then, there really weren't any other hints, and I worked so hard during the conference (30 hours between Friday at 12PM and Sunday at 1PM). Gretchen Laatsch, the namesake of the award, was there to present it. She's retired, but still comes to the conferences. I did notice that she was standing by me and chatting with me a lot more than usual, but I didn't really think about that until afterwards. Afterwards, a bunch of friends came up to me and told me about times that they thought they might've given it away; Audrey said she was getting desperate because she'd called our house a half dozen times but couldn't catch Derek. So she finally played the roofing card, and if that hadn't happened, I probably would have been completely surprised.

Anyway, a lot of people took pictures (my own camera was sitting at the bottom of my bag and didn't get much use during the weekend--too busy!), and I've asked them to send them to me so I can post them on my website. And you'll probably read a slightly different version of the story I just told you on the newsletter next month. But I wanted to let you know first--your daughter's famous!

October 25, 2004

Congrats Betz!!!

I am so proud of you!  Of course I know you are of the caliber to get this award.  It's great that they finally came across with it!  I know if I'd been there, I'd be crying too.  I'm glad Derek was there for the presentation.  I can't wait to see the pictures.  Does something like this ever make the paper?  Even a college paper?  

I love you, Betz the Star!

Mumma

I hardly had time to take pictures during the conference, but here are a few (click to enlarge):

Sunday brunch with my good friend and mentor, Bill Shepard	Putting together the goody bags on Thursday afternoon	Always-smiling Kay!	Registration at the Michigan League