2011-04-18
BobCat Build
Today the temperature is hitting 90+ F degrees.
I can tell that I have my “brain dead engineer” hat on with information to the forefront.
BobCat Build came to our house on Saturday April 9 in the form of 35 ladies from Chi Omega. Best thing is, I didn’t get sick.
BOBCAT BUILD is a big event for the town. All the volunteers meet at the stadium just before disbursing to various sites. There are thousands of students, faculty, and family members all getting instruction and tools.
Overall the mission of BobCat Build is to
Build student appreciation for the community
Build meaningful relationships for all
Build leaders of tomorrow.
Volunteers work on public walking paths and parks. Each year, our garden and yard gets just that much ahead of Charles and I. Each year we ask BobCat Build to rake, but also to do things that are permanent. It is more than just raking and weeding.
We particularly like the Chi Omega Sorority as we meet some of them at the Coffee Shop. It could be any sorority or fraternity, because those groups come with leaders. They break into teams, have set goals, get started, and have fun. Our other typical campus student groups look like they are working, but are directionless.
We instruct them on how to fill bags with leaves and handle a wheel barrow. This year, we got lucky. One lady had a father in the landscaping business. The ladies who were allergic to plants went on a window washing spree.
A couple of years ago, we had the picture of one girl diving into a sack of leaves with just legs dangling in the breeze.
Over the years, we have had BobCat Build seed lawns, spread gravel, plant trees, paint what ever of the house they can reach without getting on ladders, and loop off tree limbs.
This year the Chi Omega’s focused on planting beds that had not been tended for about 3 years. The beds are now fully blooming with flowers. The Chi Omegas cleaned garden trails and bundled dead limbs- an aftereffect of our two weeks of below freezing weather.
One issue in Texas is “Will the state legislature vote to allow students to carry guns on campus?” Charles asked the girls about their opinion. None of them were in favor. None of our friends who are faculty members seem to be in favor, nor are the law officers that I know. In fact, I haven’t found anyone who thinks “Guns on Campus” is a good idea. I have to conclude that there is a strong gun lobby pushing this agenda.
Another thing we asked them about was “smoking.” Generally the response was “Ugh- smoking is not good.” I do not recall smelling any smoke on any of the girls.
Many of these ladies come from small Texas towns. They are very enthusiastic about their college experience. We really appreciate their participation. This is one of the best programs Texas State Campus Activities and Student Organizations do to integrate “town and gown.” “BobCat Build” signs are all over the town, on the major and minor streets and neighborhoods.