Just 10 years ago…
On the morning of 1 October 2001 – it happened to be a Monday – I wandered on to the then Cape Technikon campus heading towards the Design & Infomatics Faculty Office. There I met Mel Hagen, Dean of the Faculty (now retired), and her PA, Juana Viljoen (still there), and a number of other Faculty staff who were to be my neighbours for at least the next year (turned out to be four).
After a cup of coffee – I’m sure it was the well-brewed kind – and probably a sneaked smoke on the balcony (both since given up) – Mel gave me a tour of my new office. It didn’t take long. It was one of those ‘cubby-hole’ type spaces: narrow and thin – probably 2x3m max (about the size of a stand at Design Indaba). Luckily it had a window –which didn’t open and faced onto an enclosed atrium. It had a desk and a chair (maybe two), a cupboard, computer and telephone.
“Make yourself at home”, she said. “Your email account is set-up. Call me if you need me. I’m off to a Faculty meeting…” And with that she left.1
I sat staring at the blank face of a computer screen for a good few minutes thinking: “Oh *%$^&. What now…?” Probably the last time that’s happened…
Ever practical, with ‘just do it’ playing in my head, I made a list which went something along the lines of:
1. Set-up Interviews for Communications & Administration Assistant
2. Prepare for Craft Sector meeting on Wednesday
3. Figure out process for Lead Projects
4. Make a list of people to meet
5. Prepare detailed budget
6. Re-read Founding Business Plan (for the 15th time probably)
7. Convene a Steering Committee Meeting
Eish… not even there for half an hour and already there’s a long to-do-list…! Oh wait, number 8. Switch on Computer and check email. Luckily there were none – last time that ever happened!
Two months later Marjorie joined me and I have a very vivid memory of us sitting in my office (a new one now, slightly bigger, but no window) in January 2002 with a Flip Chart planning our strategy for the year… Little did we know that ten years later we’d still be together. Still with a vision. Still with a passion…
Anyway, the point of this very long introduction and short trip down memory lane is that this year we are 10 years old. And we think we should celebrate. Not sure why 10 is more auspicious than 9. It’s probably got something to do with the double digits and that it’s a lovely intersection between the decimal and binary systems... [Oy! A quick Google search on the subject would keep me busy for days… ]
Majorie says I need to do some sexy calculations, like: how many hours in meetings, how many cups of coffee, how many air miles, how much lost sleep, how many people trained, how much Rands generated. So I’m working on that. In the meantime, recession and all, we think we need to have some fun and we’re planning a party for November. If you have any suggestions let me have them … and watch this space.
1Mel might have a different memory. Used some poetic license. Mel what’s your take? Be gentle… ;-)
