Hello Future Nurses

More than 110 nursing students met with 20 potential employers at the Nursing Career Fair Nov. 15 in the School of Nursing building.

Successful Servant Leadership Author Gerald Baldner to Hold Book Signing Dec. 11

A book signing will be held Tuesday, Dec. 11 from 5:30–7:30 p.m. in the Reinhart Center Board Room for the new book Successful Servant Leadership: Insights from Servant Leaders in Education, Business, Healthcare, Politics, Athletics and Religion. The author is Gerald Baldner, long-time local businessman and entrepreneur. 

Successful Servant Leadership is published by the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University. The book features interviews of 13 people from diverse fields who share their leadership experiences and insights. Among those interviewed for the book are Don Weber, founder and CEO of Logistics Health, Roger Harring, former football coach at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, and Janet Stansfield Hess, President of Stansfield Vending.

The book fills a niche in the burgeoning literature on servant leadership by highlighting common themes among leaders from very different areas of practice. The result is a testimony to the importance of active listening, attending to people’s needs, and developing trusting relationships. 

Baldner is the retired CEO of Kitchen Solvers and is a member of the Viterbo University Board of Trustees. He and his wife Betty reside in La Crescent.

Successful Servant Leadership is available for purchase at the Viterbo bookstore. Refreshments will be provided at the book signing.

Day of Service Scheduled for Martin Luther King Jr. Day Jan. 21

Save the Date—to help celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day Monday, Jan. 21, campus activities and community engagement will host a day of service. Everyone at Viterbo is encouraged to be involved. As King Jr. said, “Everybody can be great...because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”

Plan to give back and be involved on Jan. 21. Service opportunities will be posted on VolunteerSpot.com. It is simple to get involved; go to the website, sign up, and then go serve. Service opportunities will vary throughout the day. As the event gets closer, this information will be posted on MyVU. Volunteer sites are still getting secured. If you have an idea for a volunteer site or if would you like more information regarding this activity or any other activities occurring to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, contact Kari Reyburn, campus activities, or Denise Lorenz, community engagement.

Many other activities will occur Jan. 21 to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day including a prayer service, a special lunch, and at 7 p.m. Rev. Andre Johnson of the Memphis Theological Seminary will speak in the Fine Arts Center Main Theatre. Along with his presentation, there will be music by Viterbo’s 9th Street Singers and the Coulee Region Gospel Choir.

Thank You Partners

The Dahl School of Business recently designated a wall to acknowledge the support received from community organizations and companies.

President's Column

Annual Trustees Opportunity Fund 

Over the past six years, the members of the Board of Trustees have contributed more than $1.3 million to the Annual Trustees Opportunity Fund—so named to align with the university’s strategic plan, The University of Opportunity: Hope and Help. The fund provides grants for pilot projects, innovative ideas, and programs designated by trustees (e.g., undergraduate research, guardian angel scholarships). Again this year, the trustees have committed to 100 percent giving by the board and have set a goal of $200,000. Though some gifts are restricted by the trustees, a substantial portion is made available for distribution to innovative projects that are aligned with our four institutional priorities: Academic Distinction, Catholic, Franciscan Identity, Access, Affordability, and Student Success, and Enrollment Growth. For information about these grants and the process for application, visit www.viterbo.edu/atof/. Applicants should obtain the support of the appropriate dean and vice president before submission. I review each application and make decisions as applications are received.

Athletic Success 

The community has applauded on numerous occasions the success of the women’s soccer team and the volleyball team and deservedly so. I also want to commend the entire athletics department for their other accomplishments, which are noted in the 2011–2012 Annual Report of the athletics department. This report was recently distributed to employees. Additional copies are available from the athletics department.

The report confirms the contribution of our additional athletics programs to the university’s four institutional priorities. The grade point average, retention rates, and graduation rates of student-athletes exceed those of the student body. A total of 320 student-athletes participate in 17 intercollegiate sports. Our athletes participated in 42 community service projects, accumulating 3,332 hours of service and serving more than 3,000 youth sport participants.

Viterbo’s commitment to the NAIA Champions of Character program is evident in achieving again this year a Five Star rating. The department’s annual report is a salute to the administrators, coaches, trainers, staff, student assistants, chaplains, the faculty athletics representative, registrar, and so many others who support our student-athletes. I am especially grateful to the faculty who are flexible enough to accommodate the travel and the competitive schedule of our teams while establishing and maintaining rigorous expectations for classroom performance.

Rick Artman

President

Campus Ministry

By Fr. Conrad Targonski

The Season of Advent 

Traditionally, the four Sundays before Christmas are called Advent. Following the cues from nature, this is a time for harvest and thanksgiving—and a time for bracing from darkening days and colder temperatures. Past generations braced against starvation and sickness by storing supplies and staying warm. There was virtual isolation in years past because of snowed-in roads, icy conditions or blustery winds.

Today or at least for most of us this battle is won. We have light, heat, transportation, and antibiotics. But we’re not in the clear. As someone said, “Advent is the Church linking arms to get it safely to eternity.”

Advent is a rite of passage, a passover. We celebrate the Winter Solstice when the rate of lessening day light decreases and suddenly, stands still. (That’s what “solstice” means). All creation stands in sympathy with the sun, almost breathless and wondering would the days grow longer again. (Didn’t you ever wonder if the sun would ever rise, like those last moments before dawn?)

Campus Ministry invites you to the schedule of Advent-ure preparing us to celebrate the Christ Festival, the Celebration of the triumph of Light over darkness. Learn more about ancient traditions, celebrate the Viterbo, Franciscan approach to the season and feel the comfort and solitude of a time of holiness and wholeness. It is our hope that Advent may enable you to wish your loved ones a blessed Christmas with the words “because of you I wait with more excitement for the One whose coming is certain.”

Holiday Mass Schedule for San Damiano Chapel 

Communal Penance
Tuesday, Dec. 4 at 5:15 p.m.

Vigil Mass for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception (Holy Day of Obligation)
Friday, Dec. 7 at 5:15 p.m.

Our Lady of Guadalupe
Wednesday, Dec. 12 at noon

Christmas Eve Prayer Reflection, Midnight Mass
Monday, Dec. 24 at 11:30 p.m., followed by Midnight Mass

Christmas Day Mass (Holy Day of Obligation)
Tuesday, Dec. 25 at 11 a.m.

New Year’s Day Mass – Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God (Holy Day of Obligation)
Tuesday, Jan. 1 at 11 a.m.

Service in Our Community 

The Warming Shelter is looking for volunteers. Campus Ministry will be in charge of coordinating volunteer efforts for Sunday Nights. The Warming Shelter is organized by Catholic Charities and works with several groups and organizations to provide up to 15 people a night a free meal and a warm place to stay. If you are interested in learning more, contact Emilio Alvarez. 

From the Library

Art in the Library 

The library is pleased to announce the Graphic Design Senior Show for Samantha Gobler and Amy Wedlund. The show will be exhibited until Friday, Dec. 16 and will feature graphic design, illustrations, package design, and web design in the art gallery in the back of the library. Come and enjoy the creativity of these Viterbo students.

Pre-finals Week Hours 

The library’s hours will be extended from Sunday, Dec. 2­–Sunday, Dec. 9 during pre-finals week. Hours will be:

Sunday: 1 p.m.–2 a.m.

Monday–Thursday: 7:30 a.m.–2 a.m.

Friday: 7:30 a.m.–8 p.m.

Saturday: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.

Sunday: 1 p.m.–2 a.m.

Regular hours will resume Monday, Dec. 10. Best of luck to all students during finals week.

New Books are Waiting for You 

We have a wide variety of new books just waiting to be checked out. Here is a brief sampling of our newest titles:

• The Reformation of the Subject: Spenser, Milton, and the English Protestant Epic, by Linda Gregerson
• Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust, by Immaculée Ilibagiza
• The Sound of Poetry, the Poetry of Sound, by Marjorie Perloff
• Literature and the Environment: A Reader on Nature and Culture, by Lorraine Anderson
• Inside Hitler’s Germany: Life Under the Third Reich, by Matthew Hughes
• From Girl to Woman: American Women’s Coming-of-age Narratives, by Christy Rishoi

Employee Christmas Social Dec. 14

You are invited to join President Rick Artman and the Hospitality Committee for an employee Christmas Social Friday, Dec. 14 in the Fine Arts Center Lobby. Attend as your schedule permits from 3–4:30 p.m. and enjoy an assortment of hors d’oeuvres, holiday refreshments, and door prizes.

Viterbo Winter Commencement Dec. 15

One hundred eighteen undergraduate students and 25 graduate students will be candidates for graduation at Viterbo’s winter commencement ceremony at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 15 in the Fine Arts Center Main Theatre.

Barbara Gayle, vice president for academic affairs, will serve as master of ceremonies and Nathanael Potaracke, an elementary education major from La Crosse will give the student address. Kathy Duerwachter, director of alumni relations, will give the alumni welcome.

President Rick Artman will confer the degrees and Keith Knutson, chair of the faculty council, will present the candidates. Diplomas will be awarded by President Artman and Kent Handel, chair of the Board of Trustees. Handel will also provide congratulatory remarks and Father Conrad Targonski, OFM, will give the benediction. In a special presentation, Grant Smith will be granted the title of Professor Emeritus.

The day will begin with a Master Degree Hooding Ceremony at 8:30 a.m. in the Fine Arts Center Recital Hall. A Baccalaureate Mass will be held at 9:30 a.m. in Mary of the Angels Chapel at St. Rose Convent. Fr. Targonski will preside at the liturgy. A BSN Completion Program Pinning Ceremony will be held at noon in San Damiano Chapel.

Leadership at Noon

Rod Leis, international human resources manager for ExxonMobil, spoke as part of the Leadership at Noon series Nov. 20.

Tree Trimming Competition Underway

Visit the Fine Arts Center atrium to see the beautiful Christmas trees and to vote by monetary donation for your favorite. The annual Fine Arts Center Tree Trimming Competition runs until Dec. 14. All proceeds will be donated to each designated charity.

Kudos to...

Rick Kyte and Tom Thibodeau, who were named Paul Harris Fellows at Downtown Rotary Nov. 29. The prestigious awards, named after the founder of Rotary, Paul Harris, are awarded to individuals who meet high professional and personal standards set forth by Harris.