We left Athens mid-morning and headed toward Kennesaw. What is this? A town named Bogart? How could I resist a photo opportunity of a town named Bogart with a welcome sign? We arrived on the campus of KSU; Land of the Owl. What a friendly place. I was helped by a couple of students to find the student center near the campus green. The moment we set up the paparazzi appeared. We made the best of our late afternoon arrival. I talked to dozens of students in about an hour’s time. Students wanting to know what was going on flagged us down on two occasions. We made a quick pit stop at The Siegel Institute for Leadership Ethics & Character. We could not have made a better choice. Gail greeted us as we entered the building and Bogart was an instant hit. Wes, Instructor for University Studies, could not have been more welcoming as he toured the bus and all of its messages. Tomorrow will be a big day on this campus as the green space is usually full of students on good weather days.

With The Kindness Bus Tour picking up steam in many directions, especially the speaking arena, I decided that I should start putting together some outlines for speaking to various groups. I have been asked to speak to volunteers, church groups, businesses, schools of every category, seniors and children. Because of her professional background in caring for children, I posed a few questions regarding talking to very young children, to Karen Myers, Director of Child Care Services at The Little Saints Child Care Center in Virginia. She immediately got back to me with two words, which sounded like great fun, Puppet Show. I am beyond thrilled, to even think of incorporating this into my travels. What comes to mind are the smiling faces of children as a story is told with puppets, to get a wonderful message of being good and doing good for others. I can see it already, Bogart getting a curtain call that is. Stay tuned for great stories of puppet shows for children, in the not too distant future. This is becoming a blast.

I arrived at the plaza near the Tate Student Center, with big help from a student named Timothy from Staten Island. Timothy saw me struggling on my ten-minute walk down from Broad Street and he helped carry my duffle bag. Thank you‼ With the day off to a start like this, I was sure it was a great omen. How could it not be, I am at the University of Georgia. As big as this campus is, it is as friendly as can be. So many people knew Bob and Bogart this morning from the Red and Black newspaper article and the WNEG television interview. Leslie was one of the first students to approach me, with an offer of water for Bogart and fruit for me. Another big fan of One Million Acts of Kindness came by as was concerned for our well-being standing in the sun all day; she returned with two big bottles of water and a pack of cookies, she has a very big heart. It was such a blast, today on the plaza, with Indian music playing in the distance, as many volunteers were helping to raise money for various causes. One of the volunteers, Harry, was told by a few of his friends that the two of us needed to meet. They were right. It was a pleasure to meet such a caring individual as Harry. He is going to do very good things for this world. I looked over at Harry’s friends, as he and I were talking and most of them had already put their stickers to good use.

Bogart, dressed in his Christmas coat for the past few days, just happens to be wearing the colors of the school. He has had so many compliments and seems to be a great temporary, three-day mascot while we are here. A larger than usual amount of students have gone out of their way to come over to meet him. It was a very good visit; nearly two thousand students now have first-hand knowledge of this mission.

Today I set up shop at the University of Georgia’s Tate Student Center. It reminded me of performing in a theatre in the round, and I was in the middle of the stage. Students and faculty came at me from every direction. It was an awesome experience. Just when I was through talking to one group, another would approach from a different direction. The weather was a major co-operation, which helped to allow for longer conversations. WNEG, the on-campus television station, did a wonderful interview on the plaza. It is a great way to spread the kindness message on any campus. Soon after the interview, The Red & Black, the school newspaper called to do an interview. A service organization on campus, International Events Association, booked me to speak at one of their events this evening. Everyone, I am convinced, wants to embrace kindness and service in their lives. Boy, do the students at the University of Georgia make you feel at home. Even Bogart stretched out on his blanket I took for him as if he owned the place. He and I felt totally at home on this sprawling campus.

Melissa and Nick, who work for the International Events Association, are two students who are dedicated to others in this world. I was very impressed at how involved they are at such a young age. Tochuku, came by to express her gratitude, she says she has been seeing the bus all over town. She made Bogart feel as welcome as if he were Uga. Thank you, Tochuku. Erin, who lives in downtown Athens, was so amazed at seeing the bus in her town, so she took a stack of stickers for all of her friends. These are but a few of the almost seven-hundred students I talked with.

Today’s photo of Bogart and Uga at the campus of the University of Georgia, reminds me of the popular children’s (and adult’s) series of books called, Where’s Waldo? Bogart felt a little uneasy posing for this picture, now there’s a first. I guess I cannot blame him though, having another dog, even a statue of a dog of that size would probably intimidate a much larger breed as well.

This campus is huge. I found that out when I walked most of its length to donate blood late this morning, and had to walk back, realizing I had left my driver’s license in the bus. Bummer!  I was next to Brent, a student at this campus, as I donated a pint of AB- blood. Brent and his friends always donate and have a contest as to who can fill a pint quicker. Having fun while volunteering, I love it! I spent most of the remaining day, giving two telephone interviews, learning the lay of the land, and meeting and interacting with a few hundred students. Russell and Willis a young couple having lunch at an outdoor café loved the cool message of One Million Acts of Kindness, they even commented that the Kindness Bus blows away the Partridge Family bus. I am honored…I think.   Today, I was paid, what seemed like one hundred compliments. Southern hospitality at its finest.