VSA e-Newsletter
March 2008
Dear VSA Member:
We are pleased to bring you the March VSA e-Newsletter, packed with information about our 2008 conference as well as new initiatives for VSA. This issue also provides more opportunities to hear from VSA members about the work you are doing and your thoughts on these endeavors. This publication grows more vital with your input, and we want to hear from you!
Please keep us informed about your current research projects (Research in the Field) as well as the questions that wake you up at night (What Do Other People Think about…) . We welcome your ideas for articles as well as your thoughts about how the newsletter can best serve your needs. Please contact us at info@visitorstudies.org.
Sincerely,
The e-Newsletter Team (Dorothy Chen-Courtin, Jenny Heim, Giuseppe “Pino” Monaco , Amy Niedbalski, Randy Roberts, and Melissa Wadman)
From Our VSA President, Kathleen McLean
Principal, Independent Exhibitions
Dear VSA Members,
I have just returned from our two-day VSA Winter Board Meeting in Chicago , and I'm very energized by the professionalism of the many committees, task forces, and individuals participating in VSA's ongoing work. As VSA members, you will be seeing the results of this work in all VSA core activities, as well as in a variety of new initiatives.
Some of this effort has focused on streamlining organizational planning and communications to ensure that the organization operates efficiently and soundly. This includes: the use of an online management tool; development of a master VSA Calendar; restructuring the budget for more transparency, comprehensibility, and better management oversight; and the development of a 2008 Strategic Initiatives Action Plan that captures the essential work of the committees. All of these activities will benefit members of the organization by creating a more efficient and streamlined infrastructure.
VSA Board Members Beverly Serrell and Rita Deedrick craft the VSA budget.
A number of the activities will benefit members more directly. The final report of the Professional Development Task Force, chaired by Julie Johnson, articulated a strategic approach to professional development for VSA. During the presentation by the task force, I realized that all of the activities of VSA are, in reality, about professional development. We now have a thoughtful plan for improving and expanding professional development activities across the organization.
An Institutional Review Board (IRB) Task Force, co-chaired by Carey Tisdal and Minda Borun, reported on its work in developing a recommendation to the Board for a mechanism that allows members to achieve IRB approval of their projects. While many members may not currently see a need for this service, it is clear from the research of the task force that requirements to use IRBs will be increasing in the future.
Barbara Butler and Larry Bell reported on the results of the NSF-funded Mid-Career Professional Development Planning Grant, and the Board is currently engaged in discussion about future actions and implications of this work. As a first step, VSA will publish the “Self-Study Guide” and “Paths to Competencies” that were developed as part of this project.
Barbara Butler reports on the Mid-Career Professional Development Planning Grant at the VSA Board meeting.
These short descriptions don't begin to convey the amount of time, level of professionalism, and depth of thinking that have gone into the work of the VSA committees and task forces. That an organization of this size can accomplish such significant work with primarily volunteer effort is a testament to the commitment of its members. I'm honored to be a part of this important organization.
In closing, I want to publicly thank Randy Roberts, VSA's Association Manager, who is leading the strategic planning efforts and providing the conceptual and organizational glue that keeps all the moving parts working in concert. Her expertise, energy, and attention to detail, provide the cohesion required for VSA to move forward with its vision and mission.
K
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Special Announcement: New Addition to VSA On-line Publications Archives
The VSA Publications Committee is pleased to announce that VSA has secured rights to digitize and publish on-line the entire set of issues of the journal ILVS Review: A Journal of Visitor Behavior . ILVS Review was a peer-reviewed journal focusing on informal learning and visitor studies, edited by Chandler Screven in the early 1990s. The journal contains many pioneering and significant articles with foundational insights that have continued currency in our field. The addition of ILVS Review will add significantly to the value and utility of the current VSA Publications Archives www.visitorstudiesarchives.org/index.php, which already contain full text PDFs of the journals Visitor Studies Today , Visitor Behavior , VSA Conference Abstracts , and the Screven Bibliography .
To begin the digitization project, VSA requests the non-returnable donation of an entire or partial set of ILVS Review . If you have hard copies of this journal, please contact David Anderson ( david.anderson@ubc.ca ).
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News You Can Use
By Randy Roberts, Association Manager, VSA
Workshop and session information for the 2008 VSA Annual Conference is available, on-line registration is open, and we're planning for an invigorating and thought-provoking experience in Houston this summer. But first … find out more about the CARE/VSA event in Denver this spring and think about joining a VSA Committee now to help move forward all of the activities planned for the coming year.
PLAN TO ATTEND THE 2008 ANNUAL VSA CONFERENCE!
Registration is now open for the 21st Annual Visitor Studies Association Conference to be held from July 15 – 19 in Houston , Texas . Register for the conference today and take advantage of special, low “first-call” rates, offered this year FOR MEMBERS-ONLY ! First-call deadline is April 1, 2008 . Don't be a fool – sign up today and save! You'll enjoy opportunities to explore cutting-edge research with some of the foremost professionals in the field and meet fellow members and prospective members. We'll be looking for you at the 2nd annual membership and new attendee's coffee talk on Thursday, July 17, from 8 – 9 a.m. VSA's Membership Committee hosts this gathering, which offers an opportunity to meet other members, network with colleagues, see what VSA membership is all about, and share your ideas about how VSA might better serve your needs. Reservations are not required.
At this year's conference -- Theory, Practice, & Conversations – expect the unexpected … and talk about it. There will be conversations, in the hallways, in the sessions, in the plenaries, in the socials -- all intentional and meant to inspire discussions about theory, practice, and the intersection of the two.
This year's keynote speakers include:
Ford W. Bell
July 18
As President & CEO of the American Association of Museums, Ford Bell brings an impressive record of scholarship, community engagement, proven leadership, and a passion for championing museums as places of lifelong learning and enjoyment. Bell 's career extends from the humanities to the nonprofit world. His many public service endeavors underscore his commitment to developing organizations and strengthening communities. Bell will share his perspectives on the future of museums and importance of visitor experience in shaping that future.
YOU
July 17 and 19
The opening and closing plenaries are not to be missed this year, as the speaker is … you! Structured methods for initiating meaningful dialogue are being planned with a modified open-space for Thursday morning and directed dialogue at the closing program and luncheon. These sessions are designed to bring the memorable hallway, cocktail, and dinner conversations directly into the conference.
For in-depth experiences you can sign up for pre-conference workshops that explore topics including “Finding & Funding Your Research Team”; “Using Wikis for Project Management”; “Working with School Groups”; “Quasi-Experimental Research Design”; “Quantitative Measurement – with a Focus on Attitude”; “Facilitating Logic Models with Staff”; “The Self as a Responsive Instrument”, and much more.
And don't miss this year's opening event on Wednesday evening, July 16 . Dinner, Dancing and Dialogue: A Progressive Dinner in the Houston Museum District features three of Houston 's finest museums. Sponsored by the Houston Museum District Association and the Greater Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau, this event will be free with full conference registration. The evening begins at the Children's Museum of Houston , one of the top children's museums in the country. After cocktails and hors d'oeuvres you'll be treated to an elegant dinner among the masterpieces at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston . During dinner take in a unique performance interpreting visitor experience through dance. Created especially for VSA by the Houston-based Hope Stone Dance Company, this performance promises to spark your thinking. The celebration wraps up with dessert and dancing under the dinosaurs at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, followed by a special after-hours flashlight tour of the museum.
ATTEND THE CARE/VSA EVENT AT AAM IN
DENVER!
Going to the American Association of Museums Annual Meeting in Denver ? Start the conference off tastefully at Cook Street: An Evening in the Heart of Denver with the AAM Committee on Audience Research and Evaluation (CARE) and Visitor Studies Association (VSA). On Sunday, April 29, from 6 – 10 pm , Cook Street , Denver 's premier culinary school, will treat you to an entertaining and enlightening introduction to the menu and wine selection as you relax and enjoy the beautiful surroundings of this European-inspired venue. You will indulge in a selection of dishes prepared by talented professional chefs, including superb wines specially chosen to enhance and complement the menu. For more information, contact AAM www.aam-us.org.
VOLUNTEER FOR VSA
VSA committees seek a few good folks interested in sharing ideas, energy, and expertise with fellow members across the visitor studies field. There's lots of work to be done – step up and join the fun! A list of committees is attached here with contact information for the chairs and vice-chairs. If you're interested in being more involved, call the chair of your choice and jump in.
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New Feature: What Do Other People Think about…?
By Melissa Wadman, Director, Impact Evaluation, Liberty Science Center
Do you have a question about evaluation that has been on your mind? An issue that prompts you to wonder, ‘what do other people in the field think about this?' Here is your chance to find out and share your opinions ! This section of the e-News is a place where we can explore questions and report on experiences of general interest to the field of informal learning and visitor experience, as informed by research and evaluation. In January, we asked to hear your success stories about evaluation findings being put to especially good use.
January's query:
Tell us about an experience you had in which evaluation was put to good use. We want to hear about how evaluation results for an exhibition or program were incorporated into the museum's work and improved the final product. We want to hear your success stories!
From our readers:
One of the best experiences I've had is a recent project with home schools. We are reviewing our approach to home schools by including a visitor studies approach. Working with a team of educational specialists, we started with a front-end evaluation and conducted focus groups. We contextualized the results within learning theories -HOORAY!- and matched them to the Generic Learning Outcomes (see Museums and Education , Chapter 4, by Eileen Hooper-Greenhill, or G. Koutsika, VSA 2007). Now, we are in the stage of developing pilot programs based on a partnership model. Homeschoolers will team with us for the following formative and summative evaluations...an "evaluator's paradise!"
Pino Monaco, Ohio Historical Society
Liberty Science Center has funding from the National Science Foundation to create learning opportunities that visitors can do with their mobile phones. Evaluation helped us to prove that over 80% of visitors have phones and they are interested in using them at the Science Center for a variety of activities. The data also showed that teenagers were overwhelmingly the most interested age group, so they are one of our target research populations and many activities are designed with them in mind. Their feedback will continue to shape the project. Since asking people to use their phones in public spaces goes against social norms in the US , evaluation continues to play a crucial role in ongoing signage revisions.
Denise Bressler, Liberty Science Center
In the spring of 2007, COSI's new Education Program Marketing Manager conducted a survey of educators around Ohio to gain insight into motivation and behavior in purchasing programming such as the type COSI has to offer. Though not evaluation, per se , this project illustrates successful inter-departmental collaboration on a survey that proved to be very useful. To develop the survey, the Education Programs Marketing Manager first sought the advice of the directors of the various education programs. Everyone was very excited about the survey – in fact a little too excited as individual program directors saw this as an opportunity to ask questions specific to their program. Eventually, a small project team formed that included COSI's Director for Research and Evaluation and the project team worked hard to design the survey to be useful, yet focused.
The survey, administered electronically, was sent via email to a long mail list of past program participants and other educators; recipients were encouraged to share the survey with other educators. COSI ended up with over 600 responses, providing answers that have since helped program directors and marketing to better communicate about COSI programs. For example, this survey resolved conflicting anecdotes on when Ohio teachers typically make their decisions about programming (answer: late summer to early fall); confirmed that print pieces still have value (mailed brochures is the most preferred method of receiving information about programs); and revealed that the field trips are still viewed as relevant. COSI is considering repeating the survey in spring 2009 (two years after the initial survey) to look for changes in motivation and behavior.
Rita Deedrick, COSI Columbus
Evaluation can change a product; or it can change our way of thinking. First, the product. I tested the design and labels for an interactive astrolabe at the National Air and Space Museum . Several prototypes later visitors successfully manipulated the astrolabe and recognized the relationship between astrolabes and ancient astronomy. Evaluation results may impact broad programming and design decisions such the collaborative work on family guides among Oberg Research, Winterthur Museum and Country Estate, and the Smithsonian Institution. In the end, however, I rarely know if a change in an exhibition or program is a direct result of a specific evaluative study. I hope, however, that the evaluations I conduct influence practitioners' way of thinking about their visitors. Success is then measured when evaluation is recognized as a process to enhance visitors' experiences; in which animosity of the process gives way to acceptance and; in which acceptance gives way to integration.
Caren S. Oberg, Oberg Research
March's query:
In many evaluation studies there's a delicate balance between meeting external requirements and an institution's internal needs and interests. For example, a granting agency may require that particular information be studied. Similarly, partnering institutions, such as schools, may be extremely interested in measuring outcomes such as scores on standardized tests. How have you negotiated these sometimes competing demands? In these situations, what do you believe is the museum's responsibility?
Please send your thoughts on this question to Melissa Wadman
(mwadman@lsc.org) by March 30; stay tuned for the responses in the May e-News! And, we want to hear about questions that are of interest to you; please send Melissa any questions that have been on your mind!
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Research in the Field
by Giuseppe “Pino” Monaco , Evaluation Analyst, Ohio Historical Society
Message Communication through Docent-Visitor Interactions at Zoos: Intentions, Perceptions, and Observations
In this issue, Dr. Preethi Mony, recent graduate of The Ohio State University and recipient of a 2007 VSA student scholarship, presents research on the impact of docents on visitor learning at zoos. (If you know of a current research project we should highlight, please send your ideas to: gmonaco@ohiohistory.org ).
Message Communication Through Docent-Visitor Interactions at Zoos: Intentions, Perceptions, and Observations
By Preethi Mony, PhD., The Ohio State University
Education about conservation at zoos, parks, and other free-choice conservation settings (CS) is geared towards building awareness of conservation and environmental issues, engendering positive attitudes towards sustainable living, and fostering appropriate behaviors. For this purpose CS use mission-related conservation messages, communicated through a variety of channels ranging from interpretive signage, to resource elements (e.g., animals, scenic vistas, etc.), and personnel (e.g., docents, interpreters). Current research reveals that visitors know what messages the zoo wants them to get from the visit, but there is little research on where visitors get these messages (Heimlich, Bronnenkant, Barlage & Falk, 2005).
While visitors recognize the importance of signage, they often prefer to learn through interactions with a person (Wolf & Tymitz, 1979). Studies show that the presence of a docent does increase visitor stay time at exhibits and overall satisfaction with the visit (Broad, 1996; Harris, 1995). However, few studies have focused on the impact of docents on visitor learning at zoos. This study examined perceptual factors that influence message-related learning from informal docent-visitor interactions.
This three-phase study used an emergent design with mixed methods. Docents and visitors were interviewed in Phase I. In Phase II, docent-visitor interactions were observed, and some of these observations were followed by interviews. A visitor exit survey was used in Phase III to assess perceived efficacy of docents as a message source.
The study found that though docents believed their role was to teach visitors about conservation, the actual message communication was limited. The nature of the message influenced docents' ability to teach the message. Docents were not very successful at teaching affective and higher order cognitive messages. Despite this, visitor perceptions of docents as a good source for messages led them to attribute messages to docents that were actually learned from other elements of the exhibition.
References
Broad, G. (1996). Visitor profile and evaluation of informal education at Jersey Zoo. The Dodo Journal of Wildlife Preservation Trusts, 32 , 166-192.
Harris, L. (1995). Recreation in a zoo environment: Applying animal behavior research techniques to understand how visitors allocate time. Legacy, 6 (2), 14-18.
Heimlich, J. E., Falk, J. H., Bronnenkant, K., & Barlage, J. (2005). Measuring the learning outcomes of adult visitors to zoos and aquariums: Phase I technical report . Annapolis , MD : Institute for Learning Innovation.
Wolf, R. L., & Tymitz, B. L. (1979). “Do giraffes ever sit?” A study of visitor perceptions at the National Zoological Park, Smithsonian Institution . Smithsonian Institution, Washington , DC (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED196769).
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VSA Committee Spotlight: Resource Development Committee
by Amy Niedbalski, Audience Research Coordinator, Saint Louis Zoo
In this issue Robert "Mac" West, chair of the VSA Resource Development Committee, is interviewed. Mac shares the various functions of this committee, discusses projects for the upcoming year, and suggests ways VSA members can get involved.
VSA's Resource Development Committee brings resources to VSA in support of its programs, primarily the annual conference. Currently, chair Mac West, vice-chair Caren Oberg, and committee members Karen Graham, Dana Hutchins, and Jeff Kennedy are completing the solicitation assignments for current and former Board members to begin approaching prospective donors for the Houston conference. This year, in an effort to save time and resources, much work has gone into streamlining the solicitation process. The Local Host Committee participates by identifying local prospects that may not currently be part of the VSA family, but have a vested interest in the institutions in their community, as well as a broader interest in museums. Local organizations participate by providing cash sponsorships and opening their doors for workshops and events, thus giving conference attendees opportunities to explore local museums.
A new endeavor for this very busy committee is the development of an annual giving program. The goal of this program is to involve members in supporting VSA beyond payment of the basic membership dues. Mac says that the program will be similar to what other organizations do in the way of annual giving. They hope to have it in place this calendar year by making a general solicitation to members and friends of VSA for annual gifts. The additional funding will not be designated for a particular project, like the annual conference, but as a way to increase the financial strength of VSA. This will give the organization more flexibility and opportunities to do things that will be valuable to members in the future.
In addition to his work with the Resource Development Committee, Mac chairs the new VSA Grants Task Force. Just beginning its work, this task force is developing guidelines and best practices for seeking outside grant funding. VSA has had grants in the past, such as the NSF grant for an on-line archive. However, VSA does not have documented policies to aid in the grant selection process or for the selection of principal investigators. Questions this group will help answer include; How do we make decisions about the projects for which we should seek funding? , Who will oversee and monitor awarded grants? , and What happens if a person assigned to a grant leaves the board, retires, or is no longer available ?. Other members of the task force include Kirsten Ellenbogen, Julie Johnson, and Beverly Serrell.
If there are VSA members who would like to help the Resource Development Committee, there are two ways to do so. If you are really willing to work, and Mac emphasizes the word ‘work', the committee would love to have new members. Or, if you have a good prospect for a contribution or sponsorship, please do not approach them, but contact Mac (ile@informallearning.org) or Caren Oberg (oberg@obergresearch.com) with the prospect's contact information.
On a personal note, Mac would like to sincerely thank Caren Oberg for all of her magnificent work over the past year. According to Mac, “Caren has truly gone beyond the call of duty.” Thank you, Caren!
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Interview of the Month: Giuseppe “Pino” Monaco , Evaluation Analyst, Ohio Historical Society
By Dorothy Chen-Courtin, President, Marketing & Management Associates for Nonprofits.
Abandoning a career in immunology, Pino embraced his passions for research and museums. He describes feeling “so at home in the museum environment, for the constant swing between ‘to be' and ‘to become'.” On the lighter side, laugh with Pino as he shares his challenges with American English.
Name: Giuseppe “Pino” Monaco
Current position: Evaluation Analyst, Ohio Historical Society
Education: MA, Liberal Studies/Museum Emphasis, University of Oklahoma . Formerly, a pediatrician with a PhD in Immunology.
Brief career track: I “grew up” in Houston , Texas , where I was exposed to different museums, different examples of leadership in museums, and different impacts that museums could have. I volunteered at the Houston Museum of Fine Art and then interned at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Since July 2005, I have worked at the Ohio Historical Society.
VSA: Pino, your name is known to our VSA e-Newsletter readers through the Research in the Field section of the e-Newsletter. However, we know little about you. Tell us about yourself and your background.
Pino: Recently, I went to Sedona , Arizona , for a short break from the snow. I loved the experience, the immensity of the space, of the sky, the warmth of the colors, the feeling of intimacy, of protection from the crowning mountains. So, even though I was not fully equipped, I started a hike and I reached a taller cliff from which I had a better view. I guess it summarized who I am. I value the ability to have a vision and I use stability to launch new experiences. This is one of the main reasons why I feel so at home in the museum environment, for the constant swing between “to be” and “to become.”
Research has always been my passion, but, after many years in research in the medical field I was unhappy with what I had become. Museums have always been my passion too, so I decided to dedicate my career to this field. It has not been easy to be accepted both by museum studies programs and eventually by the job market -- because of my previous educational background that was considered too different and intimidating. Finally, I was accepted at the University of Oklahoma and now here I am. VSA has been instrumental, especially Alan Friedman and Mary Ellen Munley who both encouraged me.
VSA: When did you come to the United States and what surprises did you encounter?
Pino: I came on August 23, 1992 . At first I lived in Buffalo, New York. At that time I was not speaking English at all (in Italy I studied French) and my roommate proceeded to explain in English how the alarm system worked. Well … I spent my very first day in the States locked in the house! When I finally could get out, my first surprise was the level of poverty; the image of the US abroad is very different.
Because of my position at the State University of New York, I was immediately exposed to multiculturalism, so the second big surprise came from encountering relativism. I had to explain and justify values and habits that I had never questioned. Many people feel uneasy or scared by this sort of experience. I loved it! When I moved to Houston , in 1994, I had the opportunity to immerse myself completely in other cultures, which really broadened my mind.
The third big surprise has been myself. I realized my strengths and my weaknesses; I moved, I changed, and I am happy. Also, I realized how much I love the South.
VSA: What influenced you to follow your current career path?
Pino: This is a long story! In summer 1996 I went on a vacation to the northern part of Mexico , Copper Canyon (start to see a pattern here?). Here I met the indigenous population, Tarahumara. In their eyes, I saw the serenity, the peace that I longed for. The second immediate thought was that I had to change, and museums were the third thought.
As I mentioned before, it took me two years to be accepted to a museum program. For one of the unsuccessful applications, I wrote an essay where I mentioned a painting by Max Ernst at the Menil Collection. I went back to the museum to check on the title of the painting, but it had been removed. A docent helped me locate the painting, which was in storage, and encouraged me to apply to the University of Oklahoma . That's how it started. By the way, the painting was “Eloge de la Liberte'!”
You have to know that for my family and for my culture what I was doing was almost unacceptable. My friends supported, helped, and encouraged me. I was particularly interested in museum education, my major. Eventually, I became very close friends with the late Doris Georgiou, a psychologist specializing in qualitative research. She introduced me to audience research and evaluation. In retrospect, it was kind of a natural choice, which allowed me to harmonize all my previous experiences.
VSA: Where do you see evaluation going for non-science museums such as historical societies? What are differences and similarities between evaluating science museums and art/humanities museums?
Pino: I see visitor studies as an approach to management, based on two main pillars: incorporating the voice of the audience and strategic planning. In this sense, the approach can be adapted to different settings. The method is not widely adopted by history museums, though. At the past American Association for State and Local History annual meeting, we created an affinity group “Visitor Voices” to help sensitize on the issue. The ground seems very fertile, especially because of the issue of accountability in an economically distressed society. One of the biggest challenges we face it is to make history personally relevant and enjoyable to our audience. In other words, we need to understand how to move from presenting facts to immersing in stories. A visitor studies approach can lead and contribute to this goal immensely.
History museums are places for affective learning. Little research is available on the aspects and role of affective learning, so again, the potential of contributing in this sector is immeasurable.
VSA: You are tuned in to informal learning research going on nationally and internationally, can you highlight some practical impact that these research efforts have made in the museum field?
Pino: I love to be exposed to and be part of different networks. The idea and the possibility to participate in a teleconference with colleagues all over the states or the world electrifies me and allows me to breathe.
In this respect, I have to thank VSA for giving me the opportunity. First steps were to be part of the membership committee and of this newsletter team, so thanks! Also, one of the most stimulating organizations I belong to is the ICOM and especially the Committee for Cultural Action and Education (CECA). Through them, I have developed the deepest respect for the research implemented in other countries. I am thinking about the Generic Learning Outcomes from the UK or about the research on ethnic minorities and museums, and museums and web-2 from Australia . I am also thinking about the research on museums and transformative learning from Brazil .
VSA: If you were given an unlimited budget, what research would you undertake?
Pino: Being Italian, and from Napoli , I am actually used to doing without funding or with a very limited budget, without compromising creativity and quality. As I said, I am particularly interested in affective learning and in the use of imagination as a path to an immersive experience. Helped by interns from The Ohio State University, we are carrying on a research project, which should be finished pretty soon with very interesting results.
VSA: What advice do you have for someone interested in your field of work?
Pino: I love museums and I have always been impressed by how astonished museum professionals looked when I told them I was trying to move from the medical field to this one. So, the first advice is to believe in the field and in the role that museums can play in society. I also value a solid educational background and passion. I treasure the flow of information and networking with others as indispensable tools for the job (and to get the job!).
VSA: As an Italian, la dolce vita is an important part of your cultural ethos. Can you share with our readers the less serious side of Pino?
Pino: Well, that has to do with my accent and knowledge of English. First, I'll share a story related to VSA. When I was organizing a session for VSA in ‘06, I contacted somebody in the field who I profoundly respect. I wrote how much this colleague's contribution had been “detrimental” to the field, and how much I would value the person's “detrimental” contribution to the session. Well…this person, very gently, made me realize that probably I wanted to say “instrumental” and not “detrimental.” And I thought to myself, “I like the sound of the word detrimental so much, I cannot believe that it does not have a positive meaning!”
Along the same line, this past October, I was going to the Galapagos. I had to meet my cruise mates at the airport in Quito , and I was the first to arrive. When the cruise mate arrived I introduced myself saying, “Hi, I am Pino.” She replied, “Oh, hi, I am Dyiiiin .” I thought that she was going to finish the sentence with “I am dying to go to the Galapagos” or “I am dying to see the wild life.” Instead she did not continue, so I thought, “Oh my God! She is dying and she is taking the last trip of her life!” I immediately hugged her (how Italian!) and said, “I am so sorry that you are dying , just tell me anything you want or need.” She started to laugh and replied,' “I am not dying, I am Dyanne! And I have an Australian accent!” From that moment on, we were best friends!
VSA: This interview had been enlightening, endearing, and so much fun. Thank you for sharing your personal and professional journey and making me laugh with your stories. I'm sure our readers enjoyed the interview as much as I have.
Pino : Thank you Dorothy, and especially thanks to VSA.