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Service and Responsibility Become a Journey at CSI

“So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other.” –Barack Obama

This charge comes from President–Elect Obama in the speech he delivered on the occasion of his election to the presidency on November 4th. Though I appreciated much of his acceptance speech, these words in particular resonate with me because in many ways they reflect what we do here at CSI. Today, I would write about our CSI culture of “service and responsibility” not only in the context of our work but perhaps more importantly in the context of how we take care of each other.

When we hire faculty and staff at CSI, it is always with an important idea in mind. As a college we are committed to “growing” that person, and this commitment is for the long haul, perhaps a person’s entire professional career. Indeed, the long tenure of CSI employees amounts to what some, myself included, would call not “work” but rather a calling and service to the larger community.

If we look around at how CSI serves our students and the communities in the MagicValley, this idea becomes clearer. This list is far from complete, but it provides the scope of what I mean here. CSI serves refugees through the RefugeeCenter, high school students and underprepared students through dual credit, ESL, and ABE/GED programs. CSI provides childcare for not only faculty and staff and students but the larger community through the ChildCareCenter and the Early Childhood Program. We have active and effective charity campaigns through the college with United Way and Relay for Life. We offer community events that include education, entertainment, and training through the many fine arts productions, art exhibitions, athletic events, and concerts. CSI houses many community activities and classes ranging from summer camps for kids to community partnerships like Arts on Tour. The college is the very fabric of our community.

The programs mentioned above and so many more I didn’t mention only work because of the people involved, people of passion, courage, and energy. These are CSI employees for whom the “extra mile” is simply the journey. These are our colleagues and coworkers who believe in this place and believe in each other enough to make the choice to come to work every day with a positive attitude, a spirit of serving the common good, and the knowledge that at the end of the day, they have made a difference. Someone is better off because of the work that we do each and every day. President Beck mentions this often when he refers to CSI as more than a collection of brick and mortar; he emphasizes that staff and faculty are the lifeblood of this place.

Every day at CSI is an opportunity made by dynamic people, and we are the colleagues who believe in change, growth, and the maturity that bring a “new” employee to the campus every day. Together, we provide relief for a newly arrived refugee. We contribute to charity. We partner with our community. We create those moments of intellectual and emotional growth for a student that in so many ways makes life worth living. After all, we spend most of our waking lives at work, and in one way or another, CSI is for many of us the place we like to be. Our work hours are often exciting, challenging, stimulating, and rewarding. On some level, I think we know that the enthusiasm borne of who we are and how we conduct our work directly affects student performance and satisfaction, raises up our community, and thereby inspirits each of us as a reward.

I suppose the reason President-Elect Obama’s words hit me so squarely is that they describe what we have had here at CSI for a long time. It’s a good feeling.

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Picks from the Shelf

WOW! WOW! WOW! Annie Dillard has done it again with her new novel The Maytrees. If you are a Dillard fan you will love this book. Annie Dilliard has always been able to take the English language, make love to it and bring it to fulfillment. She has not failed with The Maytrees. This is a thoughtful look at the realities of what a love can be.– Ann Keane, ADC

Remember: If you have a favorite book, movie or CD from our very own CSI library you would like to recommend to your co-workers, let me know about it. You don’t need to be a professional critic. All you need is two to four sentences giving info on why you think it is something folks might want to spend their time on. – Ann Keane, PACE newsletter editor, ext. 6530,

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New Faces on Campus


Michelle Pospichal
Replacing Shannon Palmer Stowe
Match Grant Coordinator
RefugeeCenter, 736-2166

Dated Oct., 2008
My name is Michelle Pospichal. Oct 13th I began my dream job at the CSI Refugee Programs, as the new Match Grant case worker/coordinator. A little about myself:
  • Most people just call me “Popsicle” (it’s much easier and I promise I don’t mind)
  • I was born and raised in Filer
  • I received my Social Work degrees @ BSU (BSW, MSW, Dispute Resolution/Conflict Management Certificate)
  • I have many passions: my black lab and 3 cats; cooking/baking; photography; reading; being outdoors and spending time with my family
  • I LOVE to travel and experience new cultures…so far CzechRepublic (where my grandma lives); Mexico; India; Navajo Nation…and hoping to add more soon!

Next Edition Scheduled For Nov., 2008

(Subject to Change)