Cheese Day 2009!

The staff of SCPC and Tim and Don of SCL gathered for our 6th Annual Observance of National Cheese Day last Thursday, Jan. 22nd. On a cold day at the end of every January, we bring delicious cheese dishes to share, decorate our breakroom with cheese-y decorations, put on a cheese-y cd, play our cheese game, "The Big Cheese," and enjoy good conversation, all in the name of cameraderie and cheese. Take a look below at some of the day's highlights.

Here we are preparing for the festivities. Note the "Corpse of Milk" book of original cheese poetry (held by Kate), compiled by Kristi Castro, a former student and staff member; the "Big Cheese" game (held by Lori) crafted and created by Laura Koser, another former student and staffer; and lastly, the official Cheese Day sign, made by Craig Keeney, one of Cheese Day's founders, in 2004.

L-R: (standing) Lori, Debbie, Herb, Diane, Dorothy, Don, Kate; (crouching) Julie and Allison [Tim was taking the picture!]

Here's our spread of food. On the table was ham and cheese pasta, mac and cheese, cheese-y potatoes, cheese tasties (scone-like), cheese and pineapple pizza, cheese and crackers, mozzarella and ricotta fritters, chocolate chip cheese dip with graham cracker sticks, cherry cheese pudding, and cheesecake! mmm...mm.

The last element of the festivities is the playing of "The Big Cheese"...

Debbie (pictured here having just released her cheese playing piece) and Allison emerged as victorious. In a playoff, Debbie won and was crowned, "The Big Cheese."

As proof we take "The Big Cheese" seriously, Herb is pictured here measuring (with Lori as the second official) to determine which cheese is closest to "The Big Cheese" playing piece. The person whose cheese is closest gets 3 points so we have to be accurate!

Feel free to comment below.

Forming a New Government

Just in time for Inauguration Day, we have mounted a new exhibit titled "Forming a New Government."

One of the first and most important tasks facing a new president-elect is selecting nominees for Cabinet and ambassadorial positions. Four prominent presidential appointees, whose papers are held by SCPC, are represented in the exhibit:

John West, ambassador to Saudi Arabia under President Carter;

Jim Edwards, Secretary of Energy under President Reagan;

Dick Riley, Secretary of Education under President Clinton (shown above);

and David Wilkins, ambassador to Canada under President George W. Bush.

The exhibit will be on display in the East Gallery of Thomas Cooper Library until March 31.

Power in Government

Government is fascinating and few know it better than those elected officials who, through ability, ambition, and tenure, rise to occupy leadership positions in Congress. Butler Derrick was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1975 and eventually became the Chief Deputy Majority Whip. He was viewed as the leadership's key link to the moderate and conservative Democratic wing. One of my favorite quotes is from Derrick, in which he reflected -- "Power in a legislative body is not just conferred on you; it's years and years of building relationships, where people know you stand by your word." At the time of his retirement in 1995, Derrick was considered one of the ten most influential members of Congress.