18 November 2011

Of a Book Exchange and the Movies

Last Saturday (12 November) was an odd one for me as a referee. Of the three matches I was scheduled to work at the Scott Gallagher Facility, the first one was called off because not enough players from one of the teams showed up around kick off time. I was informed this was a late change because the other team's original opponents had dropped out of the league. The players that did arrive played a kickabout while my crewmates and I stayed out of the windy weather. The second game came off and that was fine, but the third game was not played because neither team showed up. It's nearly the end of the fall outdoor season (it ends this weekend), so that had to be a factor in all this.

That night, I was in O'Fallon, Missouri for a St. Louis Singles Meetup event at Culpepper's. We were asked to bring a book or two that others in attendance could take home. Hardly any books that I saw really appealed to me, but I found one novel that I did take home. It was a neat idea, although it might have worked better with more people there. (The venue was changed earlier in the week from one in Crestwood, so that may explain the attendance.) The next morning (13 Nov.), I refereed boys soccer games at St. Louis U. High. No problems, apart from high winds that did affect balls played in the air.

I was at Forest Park Community College last Monday night for the annual futsal referee recertification clinic. Few changes in the Laws of the Game, which were gone over at the clinic. Since I had paid my recertification fee and passed the online written test, I got my 2012 badge that night. Season starts the beginning weekend in December.

Tuesday morning (15 Nov.), I was in downtown St. Louis attending my first meeting of the GO! Network, a local group helping professionals in job transition. After a new member orientation, I took in a panel discussion by human resource professionals on how jobseekers can work with these pros on finding work. Quite interesting. We'll see how the GO! Network can help me.

I ran the IPMS/Gateway meeting that night, in which we had the final contest for 2011 Modeler of the Year, along with starting to take nominations for next year's officers.

Wednesday night was movie night at Webster University's Winifred Moore Auditorium. I was there as a volunteer for the Stella Artois St. Louis International Film Festival (SLIFF). Along with three other volunteers and the volunteer captain, I welcomed the audience to the theater, handed out SLIFF programs, and distributed and collected audience surveys and film ballots. The first film showed that night was "The Welcome," a documentary about US war veterans at a retreat to work out their feelings. Very interesting and moving film, I think. Then, there was a screening of 16 short films by St. Louis area filmmakers. Some most interesting films on display. Tonight, I'll be at Washington University's Brown Hall to volunteer at the screenings of two movies there.

Looking forward to welcoming my brothers and their significant others to town next week, for Thanksgiving.

Later.

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