I’m Changing My Name

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Well, not really. But there does seem to be a lot of name changing going on recently. One of the biggest changes as of recent is that Philadelphia Biblical University, my collegiate alma mater, is changing its name to Cairn University. There’s a lot of haters out there about this name and they give a lot of reason for why changing the name is inexcusable.

I don’t really care what the school changes its name to. While I don’t really think that Cairn University is the most intuitive, it’s better than a lot of other names they could have chosen.

Here’s where my alumni colleagues will have a problem….I support the name change. *gasp* (They’ve all just clicked to another page and returned to the rated-R movie they’re watching on Netflix.)

OK, so I’m a Communications Director. I deal with messaging, marketing, names, branding, logos, written, verbal, subtle, and subliminal. So, I completely understand the many, many implications that go into a name change.

I ask the haters…
1. Did you/your wife change your/her name when you got married? – If you/she did then aren’t you leaving behind all your/her family history and namesake? Are you thumbing your nose to your past? Flipping the bird at your ancestors?

I hear each hater saying, “NO! Of course not!” But yet, we’re OK with changing our last name, the one we’ve had our entire life up and until that point. Much like your maiden name, a college’s name has significance. But does your name make you who you are? My last name is “Weir.” Does it make me “weir-d?” (My middle & high school friends are chuckling inside right now.) “Weir” means a small structure holds water, aka a dam. It doesn’t define me. I’m not holding water.

(If you or your wife did not change your name, you’ve already stopped reading. I’m sure of it.)

People should know us for who we are as people – faith believing or not. Do you recall the elementary school bully by his full name or by how he made you feel giving you that atomic wedgie on the playground? The torrent of pain he brought into your life every day. Every. Single. Day. If I want to be known as a generous person, I live generously. If I want to be known as a caring, compassionate person, I live my life that way and I teach others how live that way too.

Correlation Number 1 – PBU/CU will continue, in my mind, to train men and women to live out the gospel in their lives, reaching people all over the globe. But not because of its name. Instead, because of who it is and what it teaches.

2. They’re aren’t the first. Churches have been doing this for a long time. By long time, I mean the last 10 years. Unless you’re living in the south or under a rock (where there’s tiny little ant churches), churches are changing their names. Why? Is it because they’re forsaking their mission? Trading their Bibles in for Sports Illustrated? Started playing only country music in their worship services? (By the way, have you heard the Alan Jackson hymn CD? Makes me want to head to the ol’ church house right now.) No, these churches didn’t do any of those things. What did they do? They worked to become more relevant and remove barriers.

My grandmother used to say that when all Christians get to heaven, we’re not going to penned up like cattle according to our flavor of Christianity. “Baptists are over there, second pen to the right. Presbyterians, you’re here on the left. Methodists, front and center. Catholics first to right.” What matters is what each believes at their core.

Also, probably most people looking for a church, faithful or faithless, don’t care what the name is. They care about the culture of the church. They care about the church’s mission to live out its core values. They care about the life circumstances that brought them to the decision to start looking for a church. Or, they care about the people in their community where that church has established a soup kitchen. In fact, if they saw the original name of the church – denomination and all, they’d probably keep driving. (There was once a church mentioned in a Ray Stevens’ song called the “First Self-Righteous Church of Tuscalula.” That’s a church I’d like to visit just once - strictly for entertainment value.) It wasn’t the name that brought them there. It was who that church was and what good they were doing in the community.

Correlation Number 2 – Removing barriers so people can see who you really are, without getting caught up in names, is a good thing. Especially if doing so, means more people are educated, trained and sent out around the globe to do good for the sake of the gospel.

3. Timing is everything. Now, I may not know about the specific timing of PBU’s decision to change its name. I can only speculate. But, I can say that I’ve worked through name changes before (and will be again soon – no, not at work). The Association of Small Computers in Education (deep breath) also known as ASCUE has been around since Ancient Times (for me, that’s 1964). If I were to ask you, what’s a small computer (when compared to a microcomputer or a macro computer) what would you say? Is it made by Fisher-Price?

I’m have worked, am currently working and will continue to work on the name change for ASCUE. Sure the acronym will stay the same, but the organization will be more relevant to those we’re trying to reach – namely those who work in institutions of higher education and use technology in awesome and innovative ways. (We’ll even take those that don’t use technology in awesome ways, and inspire them to become awesome!) I have a lot of work to do between now and June – when the full membership will be voting on the proposed name change. All that to say, timing is everything.

Correlation Number 3 – I’m sure that TJ (we are SO not on a first name basis that I can call him TJ, but it sounds fun) isn’t working on a name change just because his workload was a little light. Or because he just got tired of saying, Philadelphia Biblical University. Maybe he was continually misspelling “Philadelphia” or kept abbrievating PBU as “PUB” – which would be really cool. I trust that TJ and his team are committed to doing this right, with discretion and a specific timeline in mind. If not, that’s just silly.

Big Idea (not the company that makes VeggieTales) – Change is good. Name changes are good. But I wonder if the haters are scared of change. Scared that the bible college they went to is no longer the school they remember. (My hometown is very different from what it was. Hopefully, for the better.)  Let’s have a little faith, and trust that PBU’s leadership has thought it through and is seeking wisdom through this process. I’m sure they never expected to receive hate mail or have people sign petitions because they wanted to change the name. (sarcasm applied.) Don’t be a hater. Be a pray-er for them.

My Sadness
My sadness lies with those who have to do all the leg work on the PBU-to-CU name change – namely the Communications & TS Depts. They are the ones who will need to redesign everything. Re-educate everyone on how to spell (and pronounce) the new name. They will be the ones having to convert 6,000+ email accounts to a new domain, change the website, verify IP addresses, and update every document template on the file server. As if the workload wasn’t enough, the Communications team must do so bearing the weight and grieving the loss of their leader. Timing is everything. If I were TJ, I’d probably have to take a step back and consider how bad my worklife might get if I try to do this without a Communications Director. I think of my current work situation and if a proposed name change were going to happen, heh, good luck. Not a easy task. Grieve. Mourn. Rest. Recruit and fill that role. Then buckle down and get to work.

TJ, PBU and the work-hounds having to pull this off, I don’t envy you. But I do pray for you.

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A Blast From the Past

Sunday, November 27, 2011

So, I was reviewing some old files on my computer and came across a document entitled, “The Techie Gospel.” I was quickly reminded of my days on the Stage Crew at Middle Township Performing Arts Center (MTPAC). My time spent at MTPAC were truly, life-changing. We hear those words, “Life Changing” more often than we probably actually mean. Is every life-changing situation, truly life-changing? I can say that based on my current career path, and my fourteen years of experience since then, my brief time at MTPAC was exactly that.

I’ll be forever grateful to GEMR (Grand Exalted Mystic Ruler) who selfless taught each of us the ways of the techie. I’ll remember remember the time I ripped the act curtain trying to bring the shell in. Or on another occasion, the winches were so botched, the pipe was at close to a 45 degree angle. But who could forget that on one of my first days, I mistakenly referred to one of the electrics as a “light pole.” While it may seems like a small mistake or merely semantics, be sure to never ever confused the two. Ever.

The last several weeks have been a trip down memory lane. In two days, I meet up with a friend from high school. Greg and I haven’t met or seen each other since high school, and here, he almost bought a house a mile from me a few years ago. Even looking back on the last fourteen years since high school, I have just this thought, “Am I really that old? Did I ever think I would actually reach the age of 31? As a slightly less mature, high school senior, where did I think I’d be by this time in my life?” Eh, who knows. Here’s the slightly modified Techie Gospel and a set of Proverbs for your enjoyment.

The Techie Gospel – revised.

We hold this truth to be self evident: all Techies are created superior.

In the beginning there was the Stage, and the Stage was without lights or sets, and darkness was on the faces of the actors. And the Technical Director (hereinafter referred to as the TD) said, “Let there be lights!” and the Techies worked and wired, and there were lights. Spotlights and specials, areas and backlighting – yea, lights of all shapes, sizes, and hues. And the TD saw the lights, that they were well aimed and focused, gelled according to the scene, and no more was there darkness on the faces of the actors. And it was good. And the evening and the morning were the First Day.

And the TD looked upon the actors and saw that although they walked in light, they did walk upon a bare stage, and had no place to be, and the TD was moved to pity. And the TD said, “Let there be a Set!” and the Techies scrambled and worked, and there was a set, with platforms, wagons, stairs, and furniture of various types and sizes, each according to the need. And the actors did walk within the set, and did have a place to be. And the TD saw the set, that it was good, and the evening and the morning were the Second Day.

And the TD saw the actors, that although they did have a place to be, they did look like fools, for the waved their hands, clutched at open air, and struck each other with nothing. And in his heart, the TD was moved to pity. And the TD said, “Let there be Props!” and the Techies worked feverishly and did buy and build, and there were props. And they were good, and the evening and the morning were the Third Day.

And the Costumer looked upon the actors, and saw that they did go forth in blue jeans and the Costumer knew that this would not due. And the Costumer said, “Let there be Costumes!” and the Techies did cut and sew and shape, and there were costumes, each sized to the actor, according to the play, and keeping in with the role. And no more did the actors go forth in blue jeans, and the Costumer saw the costumes, that they were good, and the evening and the morning were the Fourth Day.

And the TD watched the play, and saw that the actors did wait in silence, and was moved to pity. And the TD said, “Let there be Sound!” and the Techies worked and taped, and there were sounds, each according to its place and cue, all at the proper levels. And the TD heard the sounds, that they were good, and the evening and the morning were the Fifth Day.

And lo, all these works were completed in five days, thus allowing for many an hour of partying and relaxing before the appointed time of thy performance.

Proverbs

Behold, my son here is wisdom. Pay heed to these words, and in the days of thy play, in the hours of thy performing, thou shalt not be caught short. For truly, it is said, pay heed to the errors of others and you shall not make them yourself, and again, as we have been told from on old, to thine own self be true.

1. Give not unto the actor his props before his time, for as surely as the sun does rise in the East and set in the West, he will lose or break them.

2. When told the placement of props by the Director, write not these things in ink upon they script for as surely as the winds blow, so shall he change his mind.

3. Speak not in large words to actors, for they are slow of thought and are easily confused.

4. Speak not in the language of the Techie to actors, for they are uninitiated, and will not perceive they meaning.

5. Tap not the head of a nail to drive it, but strike it firmly with thy strength.

6. Keep holy the first performance, for afterwards you shall party.

7. Keep holy the last performance, for afterwards you shall party.

8. Remember always that the TD is never wrong. If appears that he is, then you obviously misunderstood him the first time.

9. Leave not the area of the stage during the play to go and talk with the actors, for as surely as you do, you will be in danger of missing your cue and being summarily executed or worse.

10. Beware of the actors during scenes, for they are not like unto you and are blind in the dark.

11. Beware of actors when flying in walls, for they will stand and watch and get crushed.

12. Take not thy cues before their time, but wait for the proper moment to do so.

13. Take pity on the actors, for in their roles they are as children, and must be led with gentle kindness. Thus, endeavor to speak softly and not in anger.

14. Listen carefully to the instructions of the Director as to how he wants things done – then do it the right way. In the days of thy work, he will see thy wisdom, give himself the credit, and rejoice.

15. And above all, get carried away not with the glow-tape, or thy stage will be like unto an airport.

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Almost Two Years in the Making

Sunday, September 25, 2011

In the next several weeks, I’ll have been in my current role for two years. As Director of Technology & Communications, I oversee and take care of a lot of stuff that I never thought I’d know jack about. Branding. Communication. Culture-making. Story-telling. Identity. I never really considered myself to be an artist. I never thought I’d strive to become a Photoshop champion. But, alas, all of the above I am, I’ve learned, and I, now, strive to be.

Below is actually the last blog entry I wrote. It’s dated Nov 30, 2009. It caused me to wonder, am I any better than I was two years ago? As a person? As an artist? As a technician? It remains to be seen and reflected upon.

–From Previous Blog Site. Dated November 30, 2009.

This has got to be at least my third attempt at keeping up with a personal blog. Every time I start one, I have a lot of motivation and excitement. My mind fills with the potential that a personal blog could have. But it doesn’t take long for my excitement and motivation to slump off and I am left with a blogsite that is neither up-to-date or interesting.

But, as I consider the journey of a Director of Technology and Communications, a blog seems rather appropriate. Being the first to start on this journey at Grace Point, I consider this opportunity to be both a blessing and a challenge. To be part of something new and uncharted (at least, at GP), it really exciting.

The challenging part is that I hold no degree in Communications, Marketing, or Advertising. My “professional” training is that of being an educator (at least that is what the piece paper on my wall says). My experience is that of Technical Theater. In the area of Communications and Marketing, I guess I have enrolled in the school of hard knocks. Here’s to studying hard, late nights, and many performance-based assessments!

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