It's the end of the year and we have finally wrapped up the Intergenerational Project, unfortunately though without a publication.  The things we changed were removing the registration from the writing workshops and adding more places and times.  It seems like the registration made a big difference because last year they had four different locations and times and had better turn outs.  Also, people were scared off because the advertising poster said that we were going to publish their work.  I think that this intimidated many and they thought they had to be good writers to attend.  I went to Lincoln Jr high to give writing workshops.  While I think it was good to have them participate in the book club, I'm sure if it was beneficial to have them participate in writing workshops. 

The book club was a great success this year; we had 150+ partnerships which was amazing.  We've left some documents in the Intergenerational folder that will be the most useful to next year's interns...

1.  Things to Revise for 2007 - 2007 (in the general folder)

2.  Numerous documents in the book club folder that have tips for teachers to get their students involved in the book club; hard copy templates that can be sent to the jail or other classes/people who don't know or don't have access to submitting their comments online for the discussion; an analysis of the participants (numbers) from this year; and templates for participant materials for new interns to use as a starting point for next year

3. In the Writing Workshop folder under the workshops schedules and notes are a good place to start for detailed information after each workshop on things that were good or bad, contacts with community members made at certain workshops that should be looked into next year, the writing prompts, and ideas for improvements.  Basically it is a much more detailed list for improvement in the workshops than just the Revising Sheet for 2007-2008.   

4. In the general folder is the IGLP Partners info list.  It is the updated info for our contacts this year.  Aggie Village, the Mind Center, and the ELTC had almost no participants for the book club; and those sites should have had many.  So those partnerships need to be fostered more and the program needs to be sold more to them.  Up and coming partnerships with Laura Resau could be potentially very useful (more on her in the workshop notes).  By the way she has written a young adult novel and if the new interns can't come up with a theme for next year's book club I think Local writers (w/in Colorado) could be great, it would be easier to contact the writers, maybe try for donations of books or perhaps a free short appearance that our readers could attend...something to that effect.  Jan Rastall at the RAL here on campus suggested at the beginning a theme of books made into movies.  It was sparked from using the books Holes and An Unfinished Life.  Lastly, the document labeled Partnership map was a quick outline of places we wanted to work with potentially this year and following years, so look at it and give it some thought (for example, one we never moved on was the Senior Citizen's Home). 

I think that is all the main things I'd recommend doing to help acquaint yourselves with the program.  Generally there are copies of the same materials on the computer in the binder labeled Intergenerational ..... And in the filing cabinet.  However, things like the final advertising products are in the cabinet and this years and last years participant information is in the binder.  Also, I would consider doing the Barnes and Noble Bookfair again (materials for that are in the IGLP Promotional Materials folder), we made a lot of money and Tobi was really good at getting the flyers out during the actual bookfair and we made a lot of money at the Centarra B&N. 

We are in the midst or a book drive right now for Marilyn Thayer.  We would like to also see the relationship with her grow because they had a new facility, lots of money, access to computers, and are in an area of underserved populations (mainly focused on Hispanics).  We weren't able to hold a workshop there this year, but definitely next year you push for that.  We are hoping to help create a community room in their new facility and include a free lending library, hence the book drive. 

I hope you have a great year and enjoy working at the Center for Community Literacy!

We had our first workshop last week and though small I think it went well.  Here are the notes on it:

   Daniela Cigularova was the contact for setting it up.  If she is not there next year contact:  Hosam Ahmad (Director)  491-5521 

    Remind contact that Daniela had used their weekly community calendar to advertise the workshop and she allowed us to put up posters in the building.

    Daniela recommended putting up flyers and/or advertising our program at the International Student Housing main office (near University Village on W. Elizabeth)

We had three people (see excel spread sheet for contact info)

 All women; 2 gave us their "permission to publish" sheets; None gave us any material, but said they might email it; 1 of the women was a repeat from last year's workshops (Rahchayl Rain)

Next week I am in charge of the workshops at Lincoln Jr. High, and this weekend Jessi and I have another at the Old Town Library.  We added a lot more workshops this year in hopes to have more people and entries to include in the project.  Its hard to get people to come, I'll have to think on ways to improve...

Last week, Thursday, I went to FRCC here in Ft Collins to give a power point presentation on the IGLP website.  I went into a class that had chosen the book Holes.  While many had not begun, and others were not finished the class still seemed to appreciate the presentation (maybe that was because I took up class time!) There have been some new entries on the discussion pages, but not a ton.  We gave the Jail and FRCC Loveland physical sheets of paper that look like the webpage so that the readers could write responses and then we type them up.  This works out great, but maybe next year someone should consider thinking about computer literacy and how to get the people online.  Jessi's research project this year is about technology literacy (I believe Emily is also doing something related) so that may be a good place to start to get ideas on getting people on the discussion page. 

I really pushed our writing workshops when I visted the class at FRCC and they seemed interested and asked a lot of questions.  I think the advertising poster needs to be completly re-done, not using any of the word choices from this year or last.  People are confused, I had someone call asking if he had to attend all workshops, some think that each one will be the same and question whether they should come again (we have been telling them at the workshops that each one will be different, using different prompts and such).   Also, I don't know how to phrase it other that "all abilities welcome" but people are shy and question whether they should go because their writing skills are not that good.  Lastly, maybe the part about publication should be taken off the poster and brought up only at the actual workshops so it can be explained more and people can ask questions.  I've noticed, not just at FRCC, but also at University Village, Daniela pointed out that people were scared to come because they thought they had to submit something for publication, it was too much pressure. 

Thats all I got this week, I'll think more on the computer question and tell you how next week's workshops go next time I write!

We are just waiting on the last 1/2 Chiken books to come in and then all the books will be delivered.  The only sample books still out are at FRCC and thats where the 1/2 Chicken goes, so that works well. 

I've written Fabiola, the ESL cordinator her in the Englsih department, and I've yet to hear back from her.  I'll try again next week to find a time.  The problem is I have class when she has office hours.  Judy Doenges I also tried to contact and had the same problem, her office hours are during one of my classes.  So, I'll try to contact them both again.  We are trying to get updated information for Doenges for our website about any new publications she has written or things of that sort over the last year.  Fabiola we'd like to add to the website, which means a full interview with her.

I collected all the books and materials for the Jail yeasterday and hopefully Emily took them, I know she did because the stuff isn't her anymore.  We modified the way for people to comment for the prisoners because they don't have access to the internet.  We give them print offs to add new comments and print offs of those that have already been psted so they can still feel like they are a part of a community discussion.  We only sent the number of books for partners, but Skip, the man who is in charge over at the jail, said he would buy the other half because he wants everyone to have their own copy.  Oddly enough that happened a lot this year.  The teacher at FRCC Loveland didn't understand, even after we dropped the books off, that there is only one book per partnership, we straightened out.  She decided to buy the extra books for her class, I think, so everyone could have their own copy.  However doesn't that just defeat the point of our program in the idea that people are suppose to work together reading to get other's points of view and practice reading out loud if need be.  I guess with a class it is okay since it seems like the teacher would be engaging her students in the class to discuss the book.  We still are trying to set up dates to come in and have groupd discussions with sites that requested them.

We have started working out the writing workshops.  More to come on that next week....

We've recived all the registration orders and have begun passing out the books.  We are waiting for another order to come in, we had many more registrations this year, 135!!!  FRCC here in Fort Collins was the largest contributer, mostly from classes doing it together, then University Village.  The Univ. Village mostly did the children's book, which is okay. 

Unfortunatly we've had only one order for the Spanish book.  Frankly, I think the places we advertised the people are interested in learning English so it wouldn't do a lot of good to read in Spainsh.  Also, if we want to push the idea of just getting adults to join to have fun reading, then next year they will need to advertise in an actual Hispanic community, as in maybe a recreational center (versus an education center like CORE) where more Spanish speakers might go.  I'll speak with Marilyn about this and ask her opinion and getting a larger latino population into our program. 

I am starting my research project, focusing on Latino Adults and literacy.  Tobi suggested, a bibliography, a lesson plan on a workshop geared at hispanics, and  maybe interviews with community workers who focus on that population.  I am really excited about writing the lesson plan, but that will have to last after the research and interviews so that I can create a more effective workshop that will help the adults practise creative writing, either in English or Spanish. 

Until later.

We're back to work for the new year.   Registrations are slowly starting to accumulate.  

I spoke with Nan Larson from the Mind Center and am trying to make strong contact there as the mind center works with underserved populations, thus canidates for our programs.  She seems interested, but busy, making it hard to get a hold of her. 

Our other partners have said they are doing well and have had people interested in the program

Looking ahead we need to start printing materials for the participants.  All the prep work from last semester has paid off as things are running smoothly and we don't have to rush as much; at least not currently. 

Unfortunatly thats about all the new news.  Tomorrow at the weekly meeting we'll discus further the CLC report for the last year and the creation of an advisory board.

We had the bookfair last weekend, it will be a little while before we know how we did.  It went okay, we didn't get book donations, but we handed out a lot of vouchers.

We met with Tova at the library last night to talk about the website and other things about the book club.  We have decided we have to rethink slightly the bilingual on the web because it requires an entirly different computer thingy to be set up.  Sorry for my lack of tech language!  We also decided that after the registration dead line we might open it up again if we still have books to adult readers who are more traditionally interested in reading.  As in regular libary memebers.  Then we split up the To Do list about advertising.

We have to get started ASAP on the web pages for the lady to be able to make corrections and such to the library website where the people go for the discussion group.  Cuts outs and copies need to be made for the bulletin board advertisements.  Toby will drop off material if need be so long as Jessi and I get the materails together.  I still need to do my book descriptions.  

I've worked more on the brochure more, I finally got the CSU logo.  I had to e-mail the non-named e-mail address to logos my computer programs could open.

Talk Later! 

We hit a bump in the road with the conference.  Unfortunately we didn't have any parent/children partners come to our session.  A little of a bummer.  We did have two little boys from the day-care type thing at the conference.  They were cute, we had them dictate stories to us which we wrote then they illustrated.  I had a younger boy so he got distracted easily.  We ended up reading books so he could look at the pictures.  However, the conference was good for us because it jumpstarted us to make materials and choose books.  We have a decent brochure finished for IGLP, I think Toby wants to work on wording in some sections.  The vouchers were also completed.  They look good and help people understand what we are and why it is important to support us through the bookfair.

We finally decided on: Roadrunner's Dance, by Rudolfo Anaya,  Medio Pollito/Half Chicken, by Alma Flor Ada (bi-lingual),  Becoming Naomi León, by Pam Muñoz Ryan (también disponible en español),  Holes by Louis Sachar  An Unfinished Life, by Mark Spragg, and A Place to Stand by Jimmy Santiago Baca (non-fiction)

I'm excited about the choices; I think they are all interesting and very marketable to the public.  I can't wait to read the one by Baca, it looks very interesting and I don't normally gravitate towards non-fiction. 

I've spoken with Ginny Cross from Barnes and Noble.  Everything is on track for the bookfair.  Both the store in Loveland and in Fort Collins is going to allow us to have a table, give out vouchers, make announcements and order books for people to buy and donate to us.  I wrote a press release today to be sent for editing to Toby.  This will be mailed or e-mailed to newspapers, radio stations and some misc. places to help advertise the bookfair.  

Things are going smoothly and I'll write again after the vacation!  Yeah Thanksgiving, its time for a break!

PS - After break we need to get going on corrections on the library website, make colored copies and update/make new advertising posters.  Get people excited about registering!   

Sorry, I forgot to blog last week because I was so busy with the continued hunt!  So.. lets work backwards.

Today I went to the public library and got more bilingual books, both children's and adult.  They look pretty good, most of them are falling into the "folklore" category, but I don't think that is bad.  Actually, if we are appealing to the Hispanic community, they might appreciate their children reading some of their own hertitage, their own stories. 

I spoke with the Colorado Rockies representative because we are inquiring about funding.  They told us to write a letter of inquiry, but that funding varies.  I told her we wanted under $5000 and she said that was a common donation range that they support.  However, it is a rolling deadline and she said whether they send us a grant proposal has more to do with whether they have funds at that time. 

I finished my first draft of the Barnes and Noble flyer. Toby asked the Loveland B&N if we could have a joint bookfair on the same dates, and they said yes!  So hopefully it means more $$$.  

Last week we focused on the grant from CSU for funds to hire a grant writer.  Hopefully we get that.  I like have the experience of writing grants, but it takes a long time to write them when there are other things that begin to be more pressing.  Therefore, I hope we can hire someone, so that the center can grow, gain more support and help more people.  

The grant, Barnes and Noble bookfair and book selecting have really been the main activities of the last two weeks, so there haven't been any new contacts or much development in other areas.  This Saturday is the Nov. conference, so next week I'll be able to write all about that!  I e-mailed Jessi today asking her how we should facilitate it.  I'd like to do the reading section and work with the partners to respond to what they have read.  Jessi and I need to stay tomorrow and list out exactly what we need so we can be prepared!

Have a great week!

This last week we've been screeing books for use.  At the meeting yesterday we decided to cut "The Curious Incident of the Dog..."  because of the narrator, "My Sister's Keeper" because it was too long, "The Kite Runner" because of cultural problems, and the Jamie Lee Curtis book b/c we want to use something for older children, and find a book in between the kids and the chapter book that is completly bilingual, w/ English on one side and Spanish on the other.  I found a list on the internet today of children's books that are supposed to be bilingual, and most of them are at the public library, so I'll go and check those out this week. 

I've been putting together a volunteer sheet this last week.  I've talked to a lot of people who seem interested in our program and also in volunteers.  I didn't speak with Tonya Perry or Christi Stokely, but the director of the Larimer County Workforce Center was really nice and wanted to know about our project.  While we can offer him volunteers, but I wonder if we can't find a way to benefit from the partnership.  Maybe, since they have a varity of people who come through their offices we should advertise the IGLP there. 

I was dissapointed with the Mind Center.  I spoke with  the director, I can not remeber her name right now,  she wasn't able to give me much information about their program because they are just getting it running.  I hope we will be able to make a stronger bond there. 

Both Marilyn Thayer, CORE and Lori Johnson, ELTC, were helpful and talkative.  They each gave me detailed descriptions of what they needed from their volunteers. 

I've been in contact with Ginny Cross, the Public relations person at Barnes and Noble, trying to get the bookfair organized.  I think whether we get the grant or not, it is a great source for extra money with the vouchers.  I think the CLC should consider doing it again next year if it goes well.  We get to sit in the store to give customers info about our program, but can't give them vouchers. 

We've put the November conferenve on the back burner while we focus of choosing books.  I think that is fine for this week, but next week we should start preparing more for it.  We need to make the bookmarks, an itinerary, and decide how the two sections should be handled and coordinater and materials needed. 

I created an IGLP brochure this week, its more for when we advertise for participants.  I'll have to make a flyer for B&N bookfair that is a quick fact sheet that people can pick up to get a general idea of what we are, what we do, and why it is important.  I'll have to do it next week, this weekend I have a goal of getting a book read for screening. 

I analyzed the data from last year's participants and their book choices, I think we might want to reconsider our book selection criteria.  First we had a total of 40 Female and 30 Male.  The majority read Today I feel Silly, the picture book, 18 people read it.  Matilda was read only by females (not including numbers from the FRCC class that read it as a group). Speak and Color had the lowest amount of readers, meaning perhaps they were too hard for the populations we are gearing our program to.  Therefore, if we decided to, I think we should stick with An Unfinshed Life by Spragg, but choose two books at the reading level of lower high school students.  I think I many call tomorrow surrounding high schools to see if I can't speak with Literature teachers for Freshman and Sophmore, see what they recommend.  Hoensty, its hard for me to come up with books since I don't read at that level so I don't follow it.  I think I might also peruse B&N in their young adult section for new books.  

As far as children's books, I like that we will try to choose an older kids book, versus having two picture books.

As far as book selection and location, its really mixed.  Aggie and University Village had almost all children's books.  CORE, Adult Res and FRCC had 11 for the upper 3 titles, and 11 for the picture books, not many for Matilda.  So, I don't know its exactly 1/2 and 1/2... 

I know book wise this would be difficult, but what if we kept the partner thing, but if someone couldn't find a partner we could have singles sign up and match them together.  I don't know how we would do the books since each pair only gets one, maybe that won't work.  I was just thinking that some people might not have a partner, but are interested. 

Until next week...

 This last week I focused on finishing off a proposal for Barnes and Noble to give to Ginny.  I met with her last Tuesday and found out that she doesn't send our proposal on to corporate headquarters, but just a letter which she writes.  She also talked to me about doing a Bookfair with B&N, which we have agreed to do.  Hopefully it will happen at the end of November.  She was really nice and I hope that the face-to-face meeting will help us in the long run.  

I've been spending my hours at home reading books for the book club.  This weekend I finished Malinche but I don't think its right for us.  Jessi just received a bunch of recommendations for YA level reading so I am going to look into that tonight.   

This last week I looked into organizations that might need help from volunteers.  I still need to find out more from each and talk to them.  We're putting together a sheet for people interested in volunteering, we were originally aiming it at ESL students at CSU, but now we are making it broader.  

Last Thursday I went to... hmmm I'll have to find the name; I want to say IEP, something like that here on Campus for international students, ESL and such.  I invited them to join the Larimer Literacy Network.  They seemed interested, but we'll see.  If anything it was nice to meet them and see their office.  They send their students out to schools near by to give reports or presentations, or they work one on one with Elementary age students.  So, they are connected to the community through their students.   

I'll talk next week!  Have a great Monday and coming week! 

Replies to this Entry:

Re: Barnes and Noble Continued

Tobi Jacobi, tjacobi@colostate.edu
Reply Created: October 18, 2006

I think we move along more like a square (not in the sense that were old fashioned), but that our project ebbs and flows, so it's not quite the continuous smooth progress a ball makes.  

I went to the library this last week, and I have to say I never thought it would take that long to find picture books.  I had very specific criteria that I wanted for our children's books:  interesting and more "modern" illustrations, I wanted it to have been published w/in the last two (maybe three) years, fit the theme and then I had to find that for all three levels we use for reading.  The librarian was really nice, she said she had helped the CLC last year find books, I forgot to write down her name, but I'd like to so next year they can maybe go to her again, she has a good sense for what books work well w/ our themes and such.   

The whole CLC has been reading books and evaluating them, from our children's to the YA books.  Personally I'm partial to one book called...  well thats a problem I can' remember the title, but I liked it because it has real photos, its story about a hippo and a giant tortoise.  I'm an animal lover so I really like to see it versus an illustration.  Anyways, I started a Spanish book this weekend called Malinche  its about a woman who many Hispanics think betrayed the native people when Cortez came, they think she helped him manipulate and eventually destroy the people.  However, the book uses a different perspective, a historical one that people are beginning to think that she may have saved thousands of lives.  They think she may have tried to pacify her people b/c she knew the Spaniards would slaughter them...  We'll see how it goes, but at any rate it was originally published in Spanish, but has an English translation available.   

This may sound geeky, but I was on Microsoft.com last night and found these interesting programs to download for really cheap, like for a dollar.  Anyways, one has this whole program dedicated to publishing, books, brochures, pamphlets, business cards.  Its their latest version of it, I'm excited to play with it and come up with things for the IGLP since we decided we would be advertising earlier this year and try to move our whole time line up about a month and a half.  We want to have everything published by May, so we can work of reports and summaries at the end for next years interns.   

Wednesday Tobi, Jessi and I got together and had a long discussion on what we wanted to do with the IGLP, goals and plans and such.  We came up with a lot of good ideas and how to accomplish them.  However, this weekend I was thinking and became really bothered by the idea of accountability in the book club.  First, even if the people aren't afraid of computers, why would they bother to do the discussion online when they have a free book and a partner to discuss it with?  Second, are the people really reading them, especially those we might not see face to face after handing out the books?  So I have a few ideas to bounce off...   

Optional face to face meetings where people can discuss for 20 mins - 40 mins, then spend 10 mins and (somewhere w/ available computers) get online and post a comment.  Maybe an idea would be, to tell them at the beginning if they are able to make, say 2 of 3 meetings, and return once more for a very brief face to face review of the program we'll raffle for three people and they will each receive like $10 to Barnes and Noble (thats more if we get a grant from B&N), but somewhere along there.  I know the point is for this to be a virtual book club, but the populations we want so much to help; I think they need a little bit more hand holding to get them to actively participate on the online section...  Anyways, I will think more on this for next week/for the upcoming meeting.   

Hasta Luego

 Lately things have been picking up for the IGLP.  We have decided to participate in a conference for Non Traditional Students in November here on campus.  We have been preparing a workshop for the conference that is an activity that incorporates both parents and their children.  It is basically a mini IGLP, the parents and children can choose to either participate in the writing portion or the reading portion.  We are providing books for those who read, they will have bookmarks with info on our IGLP program coming up this spring.  The writers will be given material to create mini books of their own, we will provide prompts to get them going.  The idea is to show parents and children new ways to have fun when it comes to reading and writing. 

We contacted Barnes and Noble, we have begun a grant submission for them.  We are hoping to receive money from them that can be applied to the writing workshop.  So long as we receive the same book donations from the Friends of the Library, we should be set for the book club.  However, if both these fall through we will be running around searching for grants. 

We decided to use the Reads On book from the Fort Collins public library for this upcoming project...I am drawing a blank right now on the name of the book, but it has two major themes: reconnecting with family and over coming hardships.  Both of these will be easy to apply to other choices.  This afternoon I am headed to the library to find children's books or at least ideas for them.  Also, I'll be contacting people for bi lingual suggestions. 

Thats about it for this Blog.. Until Next Time

Things are beginning to fall into place, if not in reality, at least in my head.  I've come to understand my responsibilities as an intern...  The last two weeks we have been doing some general house cleaning; writing reports to past investors about last year's IGLP project; we helped orginize the office some what; updated web site with new information about the current interns...

All this was very useful because it gave me time to familiarise myself with the results and such of last years Intergenerational project.  It looked like it was a great success.  But I had some questions and ideas for this coming years...  I noticed that the interns originally had set a goal of 50 team, I believe they only hit in the thirties.  Why?  Not enough advertisement for the project, were people not very receiving of the book selections, where did they mainly look for participants...  Some of these question I was able to find in information in the IGLP book, my next place to look is at the specific blogs for those beginning months of leg work for the project.  Next, I am really excited about looking into the book selections for this year and also finding grants and help from the community, speaking of which I need to call Barns and Noble again...  Last year there was a theme to the books, I think this is a great way to approach with ads and it helps narrow the approach to finding books... I'll have to think about that.  With a lot of the bilingual books I see constant themes and such in the young adult poetry and fiction published of over coming difficulties in a new culture, so maybe use that as a stepping stone to somewhere

Went to the Americorps meeting, fascinating, we learned about the ins and outs to being part of their program. 

Since I last wrote I had a birthday, yeah 21!!!!  I had lots of fun and enjoyed being able to go out with my friends for the first time to clubs and such! 

Until next week...

          It's hard to believe that almost everyone I know has either a blog, is part of "My Space" or has some type of online journal.  I never have, simply because I find it slightly peculiar how obsessed our society has become in being so open.  Now, don't get me wrong I fully understand that in the atmosphere of the CLC this type of "communication" is not only revolutionary, but also very useful.  Blogging can be seen as an integral part of both the learning of the past and their work/ideas, but also for the future and seeing how others in the CLC are developing and where they see things going and where they themselves want to go.  (If you can't tell, I love run-on sentences, despite the fact that I'm an English Literature major!)  

            Ooops, sorry, I failed to mention my name, I'm Amanda (not Mandy).  Last year I was studying abroad in Spain, I was in an Internet Cafe when I received an e-mail about applying for an internship with the CLC.  After reading the description I was a little pessimistic whether it would be worth my time to apply because I'm not really a writer and I have little experience writing creatively.  However, I decided to apply because I was interested in working with people.  I want to become a professor someday; I love the idea of not only teaching others something new, but also inspiring them to enjoy what they are learning.  So often I've realized that the teacher makes the difference.  Also, after reading the descriptions of the current projects I was curious about the Incarcerated Women's project, Speak Out.  However, with a lot of thought contributed to the subject I realized that I'm more interested in the Intergenerational Project.  You see, I'm also a Spanish major, while constantly challenged by the language I love reading non-English literature.  I've also worked with elderly persons as well as people in their twenties with speaking and writing in English as well as reading to them in English.  What I am hoping is to integrate a bi-lingual book into the program (as suggested by Toby).  I really have jumped at this idea because I think it will help increase the amount of people we can appeal to, that being the Hispanic population in Fort Collins. 

            Overall I'm very nervous, but ready for the challenge and fun that I'm sure is to come with being an intern.  Mostly I'm nervous about just getting things rolling, for example working on a research idea, organizing the office, and grant writing.  I can't wait to jump into the programs and start working one on one with people.  I'm kind of playing with the idea of looking at literacy within the Hispanic community for my research, but I need to play with it more and find which avenue I want to follow within that expansive subject. 

            By the way I have a cat, his name is Simba (yep from Disney), "Meow".  He feels it is very important that people know he runs the show around my house, so occasionally there may be paw prints on my work!