Lifeguard shortage and more

Citiparks needs 50 additional lifeguards and the summer season is here.

Guards needed at The Pittsburgh Project and elsewhere too. 

This lifeguard shortage stinks. I want to step up and help to shift the tide. 

#1. I can help as a catalyst so we can have LIFEGUARDS (and junior lifeguards / friends) march in the Pittsburgh LABOR DAY PARADE. This should be a joint effort. It can be an event we promote all summer and be a capstone celebration for the end of a SAFE SUMMER and a reminder for the kids to get certified in the winter for working in future summers. 

Our presence in the parade should be early in the lineup so that our people can depart downtown in time to get back to their work sites at the region's various swim pools. Monday of Labor Day weekend is a workday for most who work at outdoor pools. 

How do we get onto the agenda for the parade marshalls? 

Can Citiparks be the "sponsor?" 

#2. I am doing other PR efforts on my end too. Email blast. Website. Social networking. They are also behind the curve for hiring at The Pittsburgh Project. But there, with the guest house, we can supply room and board for those interested in working here. We may need to import some workers for TPP, local pools and Citiparks. With our opportunities to play in a college water polo match and coach kids water polo in the summer, we can make efforts to recruit potential employees to college swim and water polo teams. 

#3. A digital badge to bestow to kids (and adults) who pass the Pre Lifeguard Swim Test is also available and being made ready for much wider deployments. Mindshare. Planting the seed of the idea to do the Nobel work as a guard in due time. 

#4. More can happen in 2019 as I get a focus upon a bigger role at The Pittsburgh Project. How about a Nipper Camp and Lifeguard Games? 

#5. I am going to Seattle to speak on Tuesday with Kevin at the Washington Recreation and Parks Association conference. Title of talk: For Water Safety, the name of the game is SKWIM. 

#6. Let's also make a local water safety booster group, among friends. A few have been BCCed. Perhaps I can host a monthly conference call that turns into a podcast resource. 

Thanks for all you do. 

Vote for Catherine for AAA President

 https://rauterkus.com/election-for-ame…iology-president/

Voting has started.

Act 47 recommends -- Throwback to June 30, 2004 and the Trib

Pittsburgh has a new acting director of Citiparks in early 2018, and I'm excited to meet with him about some fun summer plans.

This is a snip from the Tribune, June 30, 2004 when a divided council passes the Act 47 plan. The headline in this part read: Key recommendations of the Act 47 recovery plan:

Playing well with others, in the city, took a beating in those times and never fully recovered.

Newspaper coverage: National Fatherhood with Evelyn Hines, Erik Vecere and Mark Rauterkus

Photo in December of January as the Christmas tree was still up.

Erik was 8 and Grant was 5.

Tribune Review article.

Thread of Paul of KDKA on FB

Mark Rauterkus posted: I do not remember the KDKA hosted debate among ALL the candidates on the ballot for the recent election for US Congress. Remember when the corporate media in town did the freeze out of the Libertarian who was not spending millions in advertisements for a 6 month job. That's pay to play folly that KDKA was a big part of promoting. Yet the margin of difference between Coke and Pepsi was twice as great with the third choice. Woops. 

Corporate bean counters at KDKA have a hard time counting to three when it comes to choices to offer the voters in terms of debates. Or, just don't do any at all.

Paul Martino Kdka: The standard in most of these debates is...if a candidate is polling less than ten percent, he or she is a fringe candidate with virtually no chance of winning. Therefore it makes sense to focus on the legitimate candidates who will be the eventual winner.

Mark Rauterkus That is a top-down standard that is shameful. It is a corporate policy that is undemocratic and not what we urge you to do. The standard is also that the super-majority of the voters do not even go to the polls because of BS standards such as that.

The real standard is set when the election department puts who is ONTO the ballot. If the person is on the ballot, the standard is achieved. 

We don't need some newsroom, corporate, suit wearing person with power telling citizens who is fit to be on the stage because they didn't pay the advertisement dollars for air-time nor hire the polling corporate buddies to tell you what to do. 

If you really feel strongly in what you post, you should retire. There is no hope for being a journalist then. 

In the real world, the third party person had twice the difference as to who won. In the real world, the third party person is the one who moves the policy for the future. In the real world, a bulk of the Ds and a bulk of the Rs are not going to change their minds and vote a different way because of the debate. Meanwhile, the third party person who is a voter -- a THIRD of the voters these days are INDIE, L, G, S, C, and Unaffiliated, are going to decide who wins. 

People vote with their feet. The region and the city is in decline, still, due to the bias against the individual, perfectly illustrated with this corporate policy. 

You've made Sinclair speak sound like the the song of angels.

Mark Roberts: Mark Rauterkus Sorry. Not everyone can play.

Paul Martino Kdka: Mark Rauterkus the League of Women Voters uses a standard similar to this. Has there ever been a libertarian candidate in the state to receive ten percent of the vote or more?

Mark Rauterkus: Paul Martino Kdka I did.

Mark Rauterkus The League of Women Voters are part of the problem too. The non-voters are crushing them too.

Judy Haluka" This has been true forever. It is called efficient use of resources. Why would you spend vakuable resources on a candidate that has no hope at all?

Mark Rauterkus: Because it is STUPID to think with only HALF A BRAIN. 

BECAUSE it is not efficient to to discount / ignore / prison / embargo / freeze-out / and frustrate a rather large segment of the citizenship. 

The third party candidate represents the 1% or 2% of that minor party as well as the greater majority, 40-60% of the citizens who choose to NOT VOTE AT ALL. 

And most of all, how EFFICIENT are the USE OF RESOURCES so as to SPEND more than $5-million for a job that lasts 6 months (as the term is going to end in 2018) and pays less than $200K annually? The entire efficient use of resources is a total joke because these other candidates in this case BURNED MONEY. They are the definition of INEFFICIENT resource squandering. Did it cost them $200 per vote received? The Libertarian in this case got people to vote for his campaign at $.50 each. Who is efficient, really? Why are the big-spenders the one we want to go to congress and have influence over treasury, taxes, and constitutional matters?

Job recruitment handout from 3 years ago still rings true.

This is not an April Fools Joke, but it is extremely dangerous to our democracy

Job descriptions for summer helpers

Two Facebook Flashbacks

In 2010, from my Blackberry phone I posted. Maryland Terps Hoops graduate 8 percent. Duke more than 90. Money after graduation and debt after degree unknown.

Four years ago I was posting for a few weeks from a hospital in Dallas, while enduring two surgeries -- ruptured appendix. One of my tips then was, "Don't eat rotisserie chicken the meal before flying south."

Election brochure and CD Cover for Elect.Rauterkus.com

Some old materials, blast from the past. 

From the Pittsburgh Airport to Oakland, keep an eye out for this guy's visit. Hear he might be in town to interview and negotiate for a new job.

Let me know if anyone, perhaps an Uber driver, sees this guy around town. Pitt is on the prowl for a men's basketball coach.

Email blast: Crisis

Reaching out via email.

https://pairlist6.pair.net/pipermail/412-public-news/2018-March/000052.html

PPS Teachers are voting on their contract offer

I offered some input in a discussion on Facebook in a thread of a PFT teacher.

I posted.

Brava! You make a good case.

One tiny counter-point: There are public hearings when the board and the administration (you called them "they") get to listen to suggestions and concerns. Of course, the time to do that was months ago -- not when sparks were flying. Furthermore, written remarks are always able to be submitted. I trust that they are read, but who knows. To me, that is the focus group and meeting of consequence. Wants and needs for city taxpayers, students, families, government, employees, and all the other interest groups and stakeholders should be able to have a viable input forum. It happens monthly.

I do wish for a bit more transparency.
Plus, I hope that a strike is avoided.
Finally, I wonder about the details of sports coaching within the contract. But, I guess I can wait a bit longer to see what's what.

Organizational tools

Nice article:

https://www.process.st/organizational-tools/

Speaker outline for Rotary in Kittanning

Outline: Rotary in Kittanning
- Introduction
    - Mark Rauterkus
- Swim cap
    - Mind's that have been expanded do not return to their original size and shape
    - Eagles
        - Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Broward County Public School District, Parkland, Florida
        - #MSDStrong
    - School sports are in a terrible place today
    - Interactive discussion points, test questions.
- Pittsburgh
    - Our authentic touchstone  include
        - Ideas?
        - A standard or criteria by which something is judged or recognized.
        - A fundamental or quintessential part or feature
        - Historic importance
    - Mine
        - Sports town
        - River town
        - Parenting Mecca
    - Favorite sports?
    - Favorite team(s)?
    - Concept maps of sports
        - Concept map advantages
            - Examples:
                - Review ecology of San Francisco Bay
                - Map all the members
                - Map all the guests and topics
                - Map all the interests and energy
    - Sports ... Definition?
        - Games of time, space and relationship.
            - Games
                - Rules
                - Leagues
                - Records
                - Standards
                - Play, fitness, recreation, sports, athletics.
                - Games of chance
                - Gambling
            - Time
                - Races timed
                - Basketball, buzzer beater
                - Baseball
            - Space
                - Strike zone
                - End zone
                - Course boundaries
            - Relationships
                - Self
                - Rules
                - Team
                - Officials
                - Fan
                - Coach
                - School
                - Sponsors
                - Opponents
                - Equipment
                -
            - Athletes, masters of managing their time, space and relationships
                - Wellness matters
                - Being responsible
                - Being an adult
                - Make better decisions
                - Grip on sportsmanship, teamwork
                - Goal setting
                    - Next time*
        - Life.
            - MMA
            - Boxing
        - Entertainment
            - Movie of Rocky
            - Super Bowl replay
            - America Ninja Warrior tv show
            - Emotion, time shifts.
    - Bad sports
        - Hurtful?
        - Football concussions
    - My sport, swimming
        - Aquatics
        - Concept map
- Coach Mark's Mission
    - Lesson helpers
        - 1 word, T
        - 2 words, TA
        - 3 words, CYL
        - 4 words, FLAB
            - Much of sports coaching is body position.
                - Planks
                - Core
                - Court awareness
                - Footwork
    - You miss a foul shot, no big deal.
        - Death. Lots of paperwork.
        - Drowning stats.
    - Listening
        - Communication nightmare.
        - Learning lab for the discovery of personal and group excellence.
    - Jobs
        - Lifeguard
    - Whole community
        - Boy / girl
    - Whole body
        - Steve Lunquist
    - Fins
        - Prize
- Literate
    - Course, Get Your Feet Wet
    - Quizzes, SKWIM Levels 1, 2, 3, 4
- Swimming has a downfall
    - 33% of adults can swim.
    - We might be able to change the world if we teach everyone to swim. But I am not going to hold my breath waiting for that to happen.
    - We will change the world, playing SKWIM.
        - Water Polo
        - SKWIM
- Rotary challenge, invite
    - Visit Saturday Swim School, on your own
    - Clinic at Saturday Swim School with a group trip
    - Sponsor a SKWIM SYSTEM at a local pool
        - Buy disks for members / rotary promotions
        - Buy 3-10 disks for lifeguards
        - Hold a one day clinic and learn the game
        - Play pick up all summer long
        - Upgrade with some pool fins
        - Upgrade to a sport and play another team. Come to or host a squad from Pittsburgh
    - Get a couple of existing swim teams to extend their summer programs with August SKWIM
- Wish, we need more keels.

draft of a new slide deck on issues with PPS

Issues from Coach Mark Rauterkus concerning Pittsburgh Public Schools from Mark Rauterkus

Slide show updated

More Bike Lanes -- as I've got some experience with them in Chengdu, China

More bike lanes! Because, some day, I'm going to be the one in the back seat! Plus, the brakes on that sucker didn't work so much. The brake on the bar for the front tire flew off the first time I applied pressure, flipping forward. The only real stopping power came from the sick break, in the middle of the frame. To stop, push downward. The question was always, use both hands to turn away from the crash, and be with less grip in the pending collision. Or, put a hand on the brake while reaching downward getting out of balance, but protecting some other vulnerable body positions.

I am born in the year of the rooster -- as per the story at The Moth.

See and listen to more insights from my wife, Catherine, at https://themoth.org/storytellers/catherine-palmer

Students want to swim in the mornings

Incline covers today's ballot question

City employees as coaches

source: https://theincline.com/2017/11/03/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-yes-or-no-questions-on-tuesdays-ballot/

Pittsburgh city employees currently cannot coach a sports team for Pittsburgh Public Schools and get paid for it. But the ballot question before city voters asks if that should change. Here’s what you’ll see on the ballot:

Shall Section 707 Multiple Employment Prohibited, of the Pittsburgh Home Rule Charter be amended to permit a compensated City employee to hold a compensated position as a part-time athletic coach in a public school system or a compensated part-time educational position at a public institution of higher learning, as more fully described in Pittsburgh Ordinance 36?

City employees can have one paid job with the city. They can’t have a second paid job with other public entities, including schools or public universities. According to the city’s Home Rule Charter, exceptions include:

• Member of the Pennsylvania National Guard or federal reserve
• The city controller and deputy controller can have the same roles for Pittsburgh Public Schools.
• A city treasurer can also be a treasurer for PPS.
• Member or employee of a sinking fund commission or pension board
• PPS employee from May to September

If approved, more exceptions would be added to the list — like the ones on Tuesday’s ballot.

Since this is part of the Home Rule Charter, changing it required a ballot question. Legislation authorizing the ballot question was first introduced to city council in May and signed by Mayor Bill Peduto in July. The legislation specifies: “For each exception, the Department of Personnel shall develop a strict multiple employment policy and enforcement procedure to ensure employee integrity and compliance.”

Council Member Corey O’Connor, who sponsored the legislation with Natalia Rudiak and Bruce Kraus, stressed that when it comes to coaches, school employees are always given first preference. But if there’s an opening after that, this change would allow a city employee to apply, he said. City workers could also apply to teach a class at a public university or community college.

Rudiak said she heard from constituents that there was a need for coaches in the public schools, so the legislation started as a way to make city employees eligible for those part-time jobs. City employees can already teach or coach at private schools, Rudiak pointed out.

City employees also showed interest in being able to teach in higher education, she said.

The rule prohibiting multiple employers was likely designed to prevent city employees from collecting full-time paychecks and other benefits from two entities funded with public dollars, O’Connor said. But coaches don’t make much money, he said.

“You’re not getting paid thousands of dollars here,” O’Connor said.