This is what double-talk looks like. Or, it is a lesson on how NOT to compete, kids of PPS

Hi Dr. Lane,

It is Saturday morning at 8 am and I posted this to the PPS Facebook wall. About 3 hours ago I had already sent out the alerts to my team at Obama Academy that the swim practice slated today at Westinghouse was called off by PPS because of snow.

Posted to Pittsburgh Public Schools thread, as ALL ACTIVITIES except DANCES, SAT TESTING and DRAMA at CAPA are called off for Saturday.

Today there are about 150 kids from all over the Northeast including prep schools such as Andover who will assemble to practice water polo at Pitt. They will show up, train 8 hours in the pool over 2 days, be coached, stay out of trouble, grow as friends for life, problem solve, and model excellent TEAMWORK and PROCESSES replicated around the world with Olympic Development Program Athletes. One kid from the city will be in their company, BTW. Meanwhile, no kid from Homewood nor East Liberty nor Bloomfield can swim a Saturday practice at Westinghouse. Funny thing, some will show up anyway. I bet they all don't get the message that their school district has already canceled their life opportunities for them so as to make it impossible for them to compete with the rest of the world. PS... The roads are not bad at all. ... What about "Showing UP" and attendance?, If you are nor too busy being LAZY for other people come by Trees Swim Pool , Linda Lane, any time today or Sunday, yep even Sunday to witness what you are robbing PPS kids from doing.

• 

  Mark Rauterkus Saturday Pool A Pool B
  11:30am-1:30pm 8th Grade Girls 8th Grade Boys
  1:00pm-3:00pm 10th Grade Girls 10th Grade Boys
  2:30pm-4:30pm 12th Grade Girls 12th Grade Boys
  4:00pm-6:00pm 8th Grade Girls 8th Grade Boys
  5:30pm-7:30pm 10th Grade Girls 10th Grade Boys
  7:00pm-9:00pm 12th Grade Girls 12th Grade Boys
  
  Sunday Pool A Pool B
  7:45am-9:30am 8th Grade Girls 8th Grade Boys
  9:00am-11:00am 10th Grade Girls 10th Grade Boys
  10:30am-12:30am 12th Grade Girls 12th Grade Boys
  12:00pm-2:00pm 8th Grade Girls 8th Grade Boys
  1:30pm-3:30pm 10th Grade Girls 10th Grade Boys
  3:00pm-5:00pm 12th Grade Girls 12th Grade Boys

  3 minutes ago · Like
• 

  Mark Rauterkus That, above, is the practice schedule so people can come on in and check it out.

  2 minutes ago · Like
• 

  Mark Rauterkus Sending this to LLane1@pghboe.net now.

  a few seconds ago · Like
• 

  Mark Rauterkus Sorry Carl Goldman

  a few seconds ago · Like
• 

  Mark Rauterkus Or, you can just watch my FB page for updates this weekend.

--

You and the United Way got a lot of buzz with the message about showing up and how attendance was important. 

Do you realize that in the first two weeks of our swim season at Obama we had three practices called off by school officials. There was the snow night before Thanksgiving and the 2 hour delay (2) and the first day of practice we could not have sports at the school because there was a CABARET dress rehearsal in the school gym. Go figure.

At the end of the 2nd week, we had a practice swim meet with Shaler and Deer Lakes. Shaler had already conducted 100 practices this season and our PPS kids had 6. 

Our team was slated to hold its practice at Westinghouse HS because we are NEVER allowed to hold practices on SATURDAYS at our school because the custodians say the pool needs to be cleaned that day. 

When you spoke at the State of the District talk and said an A/B cleaning schedule would be possible, I giggled. The custodians are lucky to ever go and clean the pool -- unless they do a "retaliation cleaning" by squirting the locker room floor down while our kids are in the water at 6:30 am practice some morning. And yes, our kids clothing is all around the locker room at that time. Go figure. 

On Saturday, I'll be in the stands at Pitt's Trees Hall, ready to talk about what we can do together in terms of cooperation so we are a district of first choice from:

1-3 pm on Saturday, 

5:30 to 7:30 on Saturday

and 

9-11 am on Sunday,

1:30 to 3:30 on Sunday, too.

If you get this email on Monday, I'll be at the pool at Obama every day next week from 6 am to 7:15 AM. 

We need to talk without emails and without mine time limited to 3 minutes at public comment. I asked to meet with you since November 2012. My patience is about to evaporate as goes another 1,000 kids in an outward migration from PPS with the talk of "fewer sports."

With crisis comes opportunity. 

Finally, this is NOT about money. Three years ago I told Dr. Walters, my school principal, that I'd be able to give Obama $50,000 per year. That would more than sustain the swim and water polo programs at our school and have lots of money left over for other sports, PTO or whatever he wanted. So, money is not the issue. 

It is a slam dunk for me to make $50,000 a year for PPS. Golly, I did way more than that in the 80s.

Have a good weekend. Go Steelers.

Ta.
 
 
Mark Rauterkus       Mark.Rauterkus@gmail.com    
PPS Summer Dreamers' Swim and Water Polo Camp Head Coach
Pittsburgh Combined Water Polo Team

http://Rauterkus.blogspot.com
http://FixPA.wikia.com
http://CLOH.wikia.com
412 298 3432 = cell

Question about Eligibility with transfer students

Today's email to the Executive Director of the WPIAL:

Dear Mr. O'Malley,

If a student athlete at Robert Morris Univ is part of a team that gets cut, say women's golf, she can transfer to another NCAA program / school and not sit out a year. She can be eligible right away.

Does the same hold for high school students?

I read in today's paper that the sport of golf is getting cut, or is being proposed as a cut, at all Pittsburgh Public Schools. Let's say a kid is in the WPIAL and on the school's golf squad and wants to get a golf scholarship to college. Then the golf squad gets cut. Do the WPIAL athletes have the same ability to play sports as those provided to NCAA athletes in the wake of closed programs?

Can the golfer in high school move with his or her family and sell their home in the city and find a new permanent address in another district and go to school there -- away from his existing friends, etc. -- and play golf without needing to sit out a year?

Would a transfer student be eligible the next year even if sports are proven to be a motivator for the move from one district to another given that the former school CUT his or her sport? 

Can we make that outcome and rules clarification a POLICY of the WPIAL as soon as possible, if it is not already one at this time.

Thanks for your reply.

---

A reply came right away:

By current PIAA rule if a school discontinues a program for financial reasons the student is eligible if he / she transfers. There are a number of kids going from Sto-Rox to Montour for softball because Sto Rox discontinued softball and by rule are eligible.

Mike Gavlik

Let the games begin. There, they said it. The crazy talk train just left the station.

Pittsburgh schools chief pushes cuts, revisions
December 4, 2013 11:53 PM


By Eleanor Chute / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

While the city has lost nearly a third of its school-age population since 2000 and the school district faces bankruptcy in 2016 unless it changes course, Pittsburgh Public Schools Superintendent Linda Lane believes doom-and-gloom isn't a great motivator.

Her recommendations to address financial and academic challenges -- made Wednesday at Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12 in a state-of-the-district address -- highlighted both cost-cutting and new initiatives.

The cost-cutting includes closing, consolidating or reconfiguring five to 10 schools in fall 2015 as well as decreases in transportation, larger class sizes in 6-12 and 9-12 schools, reduced custodial services, return of some special education students from regional classrooms to feeder schools, and other reductions.

The new initiatives include turning an existing elementary school into an arts magnet, universal preschool for 4-year-olds, early literacy strategy, middle school blended learning pilots, early college high school, and expansion of an Advanced Placement training and incentive program.

The proposed changes, many of which require board approval, are part of a report called "Whole Child, Whole Community: Building a Bridge to the Pittsburgh Promise," which is a reference to the Promise postsecondary scholarship program.


The report is available on the district's website at www.pps.k12.pa.us/wholechild.

Using grants from the Fund for Excellence and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the district is paying $2.4 million for envisioning help from consultants FSG and Bellwether Education Partners.

Wednesday's upbeat presentation to school and community leaders included music from CAPA students and a video of a wide array of community leaders expressing support for the city schools.

The plan calls for the district to work with "cross-sector community partners" to "determine a common agenda for a multi-year, branded collective impact effort" by July 2014.

Ms. Lane emphasized the report is a first step, with more board and community discussion to follow.

The report suggests cuts that could yield savings of $17 million to $44 million a year by 2016, depending on which options the board chooses.

The new initiatives combined could have a one-time cost of $3.8 million to $8.7 million and annual recurring costs of $4 million to $9.9 million.

Some of the choices will spark lively discussion, including the $3 million to $5 million a year that could be saved on school closings, consolidations and reconfigurations.

Only Pittsburgh Woolslair K-5 on the Bloomfield-Lawrenceville border -- which, at 110 students, has the smallest enrollment in the district -- has been proposed for closing next fall. The board is expected to vote on that in March.

No other schools have been named. A process of community and board discussion is expected to begin in March or mid-August and be completed by November.

The district's enrollment has been declining and reached 24,525 in K-12 this fall. The city's population ages 4-17 was 37,000 in 2010, compared to 52,000 in 2000.

After the presentation, Ms. Lane said she recognizes the pain school closings cause but "it's going to take so much from every single section of this district" to solve the problem of a deficit that is expected to grow to $49.6 million in 2016. The 2013 budget is $522 million.

"We're going to have to do some other things that are going to be highly unpopular," she said.

Now some of those choices have price tags, such as these:

* About $3 million could be saved if custodians cleaned classrooms every other day instead of daily, with another $4 million possible if desks, showers and locker rooms were disinfected once a week.

* About $1 million could be saved if all high school students except those at Brashear took Port Authority buses. Another $2 million to $2.5 million could be saved if middle-level school schedules were changed so the same bus could do three runs: elementary, middle and high school.

* About $600,000 a year could be saved by eliminating intramural sports; middle school volleyball, swimming and wrestling; and high school golf, swimming and tennis. Another $400,000 in athletics could be saved by shaving the budget for uniforms, transportation and other purchased services.


* About $600,000 a year could be saved by closing 13 vacant positions in school safety and another $500,000 if 10 additional security positions are eliminated.

The proposal calls for reducing the number of full-time equivalent employees in central office by 10 to 12 percent -- which would be about 15 to 20 of the current 164 employees -- to save $2 million annually. An additional cut of 8 to 10 percent in central office would save another $1 million.

It is likely some of the other proposals would have the ultimate effect of reducing staff, including teachers.

Fewer teachers are needed if there are fewer periods in high schools, class sizes grow in 6-12 and 9-12 schools and some elementary at the elementary level teach two grade levels together.

Education writer Eleanor Chute: echute@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1955. First Published December 4, 2013 9:45 AM



Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2013/12/04/Pittsburgh-Public-Schools-plan-includes-central-office-cuts-school-closings/stories/201312040136#ixzz2maxF3KFA

---

Mark RauterkusLess than a minute ago
Oh my God....

* About $600,000 a year could be saved by eliminating intramural sports; middle school volleyball, swimming and wrestling; and high school golf, swimming and tennis. Another $400,000 in athletics could be saved by shaving the budget for uniforms, transportation and other purchased services.

Before I was so baffled by their cluelessness. Now I am speechless, ...... for a few hours.

Hold onto your hats, as I am tossing mine into the ring.

Knock, knock.... Mr. Peduto. Mr. Acklin. Call me, urgently.

Folks, if you see either of them before I do, please tell them to call me right away.

PR memo to swimmers at PPS Elementary Swim Meet

MEMO:

FROM:

Mark Rauterkus, Executive Head Coach for

Swim & Water Polo Camps at

PPS Summer Dreamers

412-298-3432

Mark@Bloomfield-Garfield.org

TO:
Swimmers, Parents, Guardians, Coaches

PPS Elementary Swim Meet

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Way to go in the swim meet today! It is not easy to invest time and energy into swimming or supporting swimmers. But, swimming has its own set of rich rewards. Swimming as an activity and a sport is well worth the efforts for all growing young people.

Everyone should be a strong swimmer as that skill and fitness may some day save your life of the lives of others.

Swimming and Water Polo Camps have been a wonderful experience for lots of PPS students as part of the annual Summer Dreamers Academy. Last year nearly 200 students became aquatic athletes. We were at every Summer Dreamers site and kids got to improve swimming skills, run for fitness and races including the Liberty Mile, and play inspiring water polo.

To help further your swimming opportunities, do these three things:

1. Consider getting yourself, and your siblings, cousins and friends to sign up for Swim & Water Polo Camp as part of Summer Dreamers 2014.

2. Check out the new swim team about to start at the recently opened Thelma Lovette YMCA at 2114 Centre Avenue in the Hill District, just up 8 blocks from the Consol Energy Center. An organizational meeting for parents and guardians is slated for 6 pm on Wednesday, December 18, 2013, in the conference room of the YMCA.

3. Send an email, text or phone call to Coach Mark Rauterkus, 412-298-3432,Mark@Bloomfield-Garfield.org, for updates and news about opportunities in Pittsburgh for extra swimming and water polo fun.

Our varsity boys swim team at Obama Academy is the defending champions of WPIAL Class AA Section 6. Two of our recent graduates are using their Pittsburgh Promise scholarships and also swimming on their college swim teams. Two others are playing water polo at colleges outside of Pennsylvania. (Lock Haven, Swarthmore, American Univ. and Univ. of Minnesota) The students in today's swim meet should plan on being high school swimmers in a few years.

Two week update with the Swim Team at PPS Obama Academy

Just a little update on the progress of the Obama Eagle Swim Teams after 2 weeks of the season.

Best news: Jacob Boyce is the girls coach. He is great. Excellent peace of mind for me. Backups are great.

Un-Magic Number = 33.

There were 33 kids on the team last year who, by the end of week 1, were not on the team this year. We lost 14 seniors. 

In 2012 we played in 2 different water polo tournaments in Ohio in the fall.

In 2013, we played ZERO fall water polo.

That's a HUGE part of the difference. If we are to swim, we need year-round opportunities. 

Week one schedule;

Day:            M    Tue   Wed   Thur   Fri    Sat   Sun

6 AM           yes   yes  yes    yes    yes  NO    x

3 pm           yes   yes   yes    yes    x  

6:30 pm       NO   x       0       x        x

Week two schedule;

Day:            M     Tue    Wed    Thur    Fri     Sat   Sun

6 AM           yes   yes    snow     x      *3*     NO    x

3 pm           *2*   snow   MEET   x      NO    

6:30 pm       yes    x       

After 2 weeks, 7 times we could not have swim practice due to snow and no building access for the athletes.

The practice meet at Shaler on Wednesday had us with 6 boys and 6 girls. That was bad. Only 1 girl in the meet for Obama was on the team last year. Four of the six boys are returning team members.

Shaler had 30 kids in the meet. Plus, Shaler had about 100 practices so far this school year. They have been holding practices since September. Plus, there is a Shaler summer team, Sea Dogs. Plus, the meet ended at 5:30 pm so that the Shaler age group swim team could begin its practice. 

For practice, we walked the steps of the Cathedral of Learning on Friday at 9 am and had 2 boys and 1 girl was present. 

Week 3 and typical schedule looks like this:

Day:            M     Tue    Wed    Thur    Fri     Sat      Sun

6 AM           yes   yes    yes      yes    yes    WHS    x

3 pm           yes   yes     yes      yes    x    

6:30 pm       yes    x       yes      x 

This week we should be able to practice at Westinghouse High School. Carl Goldman, the MS coach there, wants us to help with the testing and set up of the timing system there. 

We should get access to Arsenal for Saturday practices.

Meets with Allderdice, Carrick and Brashear are still not scheduled, sadly. 

Our next meet is Dec 17, Tuesday, Home, with Ringgold.

There are 23 boys (but 2 are out with concussions) and 13 girls on the team list so far. A new girl swimmer, home schooled, was at AM practice today. Merse (a senior who has not swum since middle school) may be on the team too, yet to join. 

The Middle School team will NOT have any AM practices this year. That is another huge impact for the HIGH SCHOOL TEAM, beyond water polo. Coach Pitch and Coach Borza always gave the high school dedicated swimmers by the dozen. The MS team is about a quarter of what it used to be in terms of numbers of kids and less than a quarter of what it was in the past in terms of practices and prep.  

Ms. Simmons, this update could be sent to Mr. Gavlik and Dr. Walters too. I did not send it to them.... yet. Just posted to my blog on December 7, 2013.

Candidate History

Public Elections with Mark Rauterkus

Pittsburgh voters have seen Mark Rauterkus, candidate, six times.
* 2001, mayor
* 2005, state senate
* 2006, city council
* 2006, state senate withdrawal
* 2007, city controller and city council

First race, spring 2001, Republican primary, candidate for mayor, City of Pittsburgh
* Announced in August, 2000, party would not be D.
* Invited to R's County Committee in September 2000.
* Moved to R party registration later.
* Recruited opposition candidates for a contested primary.
* Consulted with high school student, Josh Pollock, D, who then became a candidate for mayor on January 1, 2001.
* County Executive, Jim Roddey, R, city resident, declined to sign nomination petition.
* Leader by a significant margin throughout a five-day WTAE TV poll, topping Murphy (incumbent mayor), O'Connor (city council president) and Carmine (R opponent). WTAE's news director removed the poll and never reported upon it.
* Rauterkus.com web page had highest single-day unique-page-views exceed 10,000.
* In May, 2001, primary for mayor, Tom Murphy, D, (incumbent) beat Bob O'Connor, D, by 699 votes. A 270 vote arithmetic and tabulation error unfolded on election night in a race of 32k vs. 31k.
* In the R primary, Carmine had 2,227 votes. Rauterkus had 1,950 votes with 98% counted. With 100% of the vote counted, the Rauterkus total became 1,597.
* Became the webmaster for Carmine2001.com.
* After the tragic events of 9-11-01, candidate Carmine turned his campaign to silence.
* Tom Murphy won the 2001 general election with 74%. That win would be his last campaign.
* In 2003, the mayor closed every city recreation center and swim pool in the city.
* In 2004, “Save Our Summer” efforts got some city pools to re-open.

* In 2001, the total percent of Non D and Non R voters in the city election was 2.6 percent. In 2005 the total percent of Non D and Non R voters was 5.7 percent.

Second race, May 17, 2005, special election (on the same day as the D and R primary) for PA senate, district 42, to fill the seat held formerly by Jack Wagner, D.
* Results: Mark Rauterkus got 2,542 votes, 7 percent, in a 3 way race that included Wayne Fontana, D, recently of county council, and Michael Diven, a D turned R, then in the PA house and formerly of city council.

Third race, March 14, 2006, special election for Pittsburgh city council, district 3, to fill a seat held by Gene Ricciardi, D.
* Shaped many of the issues on the campaign trails including talk of the RFP for the city owned ice rink in a city park.
* Working with a majority of the candidates in the crowded field, helped to sway the outcome away from one and toward the eventual winner, Jeff Koch, D.
* Results: Mark Rauterkus, Libertarian, 61 votes of 3,349, finished 7th out of 9. The R party candidate had 185 votes.

Fourth race, jumping off of the ballot for PA senate in August 2006.
* Helped lead a regional PA Clean Sweep ticket in the wake of citizen outrage concerning an illegal pay raise by members of the PA house and senate.
* As an Independent candidate, attempted to get onto the 2006 ballot for the general election for PA Senate, district 42, along with a candidate for Governor.
* In August, pulled self off of the ballot, (slated for November 7, 2006) by choice, before a Harrisburg judge after putting into the public record evidence of ethical wrongdoing by incumbent, PA senator, Wayne Fontana, D.
* This saga would grow into the Harrisburg scandal, Bonusgate. Elected officials used public resources against citizens for political gain.

Fifth and sixth races, general election, November 6, 2007: candidate for both city controller and city council, district 3.
* Results: Mark Rauterkus, Libertarian, got 6,476 votes, more than 10 percent against Michael Lamb, D, 89.5 percent and 55,930 votes. For city council, Rauterkus, Libertarian, got 690 votes, 13 percent. Bruce Kraus, D., got 4,530, 86 percent.
* Same day vote totals among various races: Mark Rauterkus = 7,169 votes. Meanwhile, Darlene Harris won re-election with less than 5,000 votes, and Rev. Burges won an election with 5,435 votes.

Future political ambitions
The goal is to be a member of the Peduto Administration and be devoted and loyal to those efforts. Once hired, sights on any other races for public office would vanish, and they have greatly diminished in the past decade.

I said, "Be nice." They kept ranting

Some guys on my Facebook wall went sideways with a conversation about putting more conversations from citizens onto TV. How ironic.

AJ posted: @ Mr. Hurst...Send me a friend request and we will talk more! Everything is not meant for everyone....So I must season my words a certain way in forums like this. So it doesn't compromise the movement in any way, shape, fashion, or form! Please feel free to contact me and let's build! Peace
4 hours ago via mobile · Unlike · 1

Dan Sullivan: Some people attack others but lack the fortitude to propose anything. They also tend to be clueless about the people they are attacking, whether it be council members or other activists. Certainly there are some things I say privately, but if I couldn't articulate a basic proposal in public, it implies that I either don't have one or don't have the courage of my convictions.
45 minutes ago · Like

A.j. Richardson: @Dan... If you have such issues with A.J. Richardson and wants to throw cheats shots across the computer at me......Why dont you be MAN and let's meet face to face and discuss it!!! I'm always willing to meet face to face with...ANYBODY! That's if you man enough little buddy!
a few seconds ago via mobile · Edited · Like

Dan Sullivan: Sure, but, in meantime, get over yourself! Your very first post was nothing but cheap shots at city council members, so don't think it was anyone other than yourself who brought down the level of conversation.
22 minutes ago · Like

A.j. Richardson: @Dan....First stop being a pathetic little man who views the city through the backside of city council! I've been fighting wars in various communites for over 15 years...going head on with different drug lords in different states for a drug free America. You know nothing about A.J. Richardson!!! Two things its always been about with me and one of those are "The People". You are not built and Never will be built the way i am for you to challenge me!!!!

Now you can talk as you wish on the blog with comments.

The above was nuked from a thread on my wall.

Fwd: NEWS ALERT: County Councilman Matt Drozd will call upon Council to subpoena the records of Visit Pittsburgh to make them accountable for the expenditure of hard-earned tax dollars

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Matthew Drozd" <mdrozd@verizon.net>
Date: Nov 19, 2013 3:19 PM
Subject: NEWS ALERT: County Councilman Matt Drozd will call upon Council to subpoena the records of Visit Pittsburgh to make them accountable for the expenditure of hard-earned tax dollars
To: <mattdrozd@verizon.net>
Cc:

MATT DROZD DISTRICT 1       COMMITTEES   Appointment Review Budget & Finance Economic Dev.& Housing Parks Public Safety     Office of the County Council 119 Courthouse ∙ 436 Grant Street Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Phone (412) 350-6525 ∙ Home Phone (412) 364-1600 Matt.Drozd@AlleghenyCounty.us Http://www.AlleghenyCounty..us/council           MEDIA ADVISORY, November 19, 2013 County Councilman Matt Drozd will ask his fellow council members to subpoena the records of Visit Pittsburgh.  Numerous times County Councilman Drozd has sent formal written inquiries to Visit Pittsburgh asking them to send their records to County Council.  The news media has also made inquiries as to their expenditures of tax dollars.  To date, they have never fully complied with his or the news media’s request.   When doing so, the Councilman notes that Visit Pittsburgh currently receives 40% of the 5% of the revenue generated by the Hotel-Motel tax which has amounted to more than $8,000,000 in the previous year and a large sum of the tax payer’s money is being spent on salaries for Viisit Pittsburgh employees which vastly exceed the median income level of this region.  Visit Pittsburgh employs approx. 8 employees making over $100,000 annually and according to its website, Visit Pittsburgh received over $7 million in 2011 from hotel tax revenues of which approx. $4 million was spent on salaries and bonuses, amounting to about half of the tax revenues they received.  In addition to very high salary and benefit packages in relation to expenditures, Visit Pittsburgh retained two directors for over 6 months with a salary package of approx. $400,000 and $370,000 was spent on office space.   When asking County Council to subpoena the records of Visit Pittsburgh, County Councilman is quoted as saying that “any agency whether they be for non-profit or governmental in nature must be accountable to the taxpayers when spending their hard-earned tax dollars.  All who receive tax dollars must provide an accounting for these hard-earned tax dollars and must open their books to the public as well.   Visit Pittsburgh is no exception to this rule and they must be made to comply”   When:  Tonight at Legislative session of County Council, November 19th at 5:00 PM Where:  Gold room of the Courthouse                                                                                  # # # #               To

 

---

This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active.

Fwd: Important WPAHS/HIGHMARK meeting-- Please FORWARD out to your peers

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <RFlanag@aol.com>
Date: Nov 19, 2013 4:22 PM
Subject: Important WPAHS/HIGHMARK meeting-- Please FORWARD out to your peers
To: <rflanag@aol.com>
Cc:

Senator Ferlo to Host Highmark & West Penn Hospital Town Hall Meeting

Download official flyer here: http://www.senatorferlo.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/West_Penn_Town_Meeting_rev51.pdf

Please join Senator Jim Ferlo, Senator Jay Costa, and Senator Wayne Fontana for a Town Hall meeting regarding the future of West Penn Hospital on November 21st from 6:oo to 8:00 at Teamsters Temple in Lawrenceville. Officials from both Highmark and West Penn Hospital will be in attendance to engage the community in meaningful dialogue on this very important local issue.

Panelists will discuss their progress in promoting health, sustaining vital medical services, and ensuring the success of West Penn Hospital. The changing health care industry in our region, and the evolving implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, brings new challenges as well as opportunities.

Let's continue to work together in partnership with our local hospital and explore opportunities to enhance their services to reflect the needs of our families and loved ones.

DETAILS:

WHO: Senator Jim Ferlo, Senator Jay Costa, Senator Wayne Fontana, Highmark Officials, and Medical Staff of West Penn Hospital
WHAT: Town Hall Forum
WHERE: Teamsters Temple, 4701 Butler Street Lawrenceville
WHEN: Thursday, November 21st, 6:00 to 8:00 PM

Obama Golf 2013

Obama Golf 2013, a set on Flickr.

Some images from fall 2013 and the Obama Golf Team.

Cool Libertarian video with tune

Video from New York.

http://youtu.be/GJ7XVJqkQgw

Fwd: HS Boy's Clinic with Dejan Udovicic

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From:
Date: Thursday, November 14, 2013
Subject: HS Boy's Clinic with Dejan Udovicic
To: mark@rauterkus.com


To view this email as a web page click here.

Dear Grant, Please join Dejan Udovicic and host Greenwich Aquatics for high school boy's athlete clinic. There is no cost to participate in this clinic. Registration is mandatory - click here to register Tuesday, November 19 5:00 pm – Introductions by Chris Ramsey, USAWP CEO 5:15 pm – Key note address - Dejan, USAWP MNT Head Coach* 6:00 pm - Water instruction**  *Key note address is open to parents and athletes of all a ges and gender. **Open to high school male athletes only Contact Us: www.usawaterpolo.org Phone - 714-500-5445

This USAWP Alerts was sent to: mark@Rauterkus.com This email was sent by: USA Water Polo 2124 Main Street, Huntington Beach, CA  92648 We respect your right to privacy - view our Privacy Policy

Powered By

--
--
Ta.
 
 
Mark Rauterkus       Mark.Rauterkus@gmail.com    
PPS Summer Dreamers' Swim and Water Polo Camp Head Coach
Pittsburgh Combined Water Polo Team

http://Rauterkus.blogspot.com
http://FixPA.wikia.com
http://CLOH.wikia.com
412 298 3432 = cell

Fwd: WOW--NLA event--Presenters--Superintendent Lane and Executive Director Dowd

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <RFlanag@aol.com>
Date: Nov 7, 2013 10:12 AM
Subject: WOW--NLA event--Presenters--Superintendent Lane and Executive Director Dowd
To: <rflanag@aol.com>
Cc:

Update-- Presenters are going to be Superintendent Linda Lane and Executive Director Patrick Dowd (Allies for Children)   

__________________________________

PLEASE RSVP TODAY---Please call (717)902-9652 or email luncheon@wireless-neighborhoods.org

 

An invitation to the 2nd Annual Awards Luncheon.

2nd Annual Awards Luncheon Details: What? Our Awards Luncheon celebrates those whose work with the Neighborhood Learning Alliance has contributed to the success of our mission and the launch of an exciting program: Everybody Graduates. This new campaign is designed to help increase graduation rates among Pittsburgh's low-income students by providing academic support through a range of programming.  When? Friday, November 15th, 2013 from 11:30am - 1:30pm Where? Wyndham Pittsburgh University Center 100 Lytton Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15213 Cost? 25 Dollars payable to:                  Neighborhood Learning Alliance                  5429 Penn Avenue                  Pittsburgh, PA 15206 How to RSVP: Please call (717)902-9652 or email luncheon@wireless-neighborhoods.org

Fwd: Pittsburgh Regional Conference Update

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Zachary Slayback
Date: Thursday, November 7, 2013
Subject: Pittsburgh Regional Conference Update
To: Zachary Slayback <zslayback@studentsforliberty.org>

Hi,

Thanks again for registering for the 2013 Students For Liberty Pittsburgh Regional Conference at Duquesne University. As we get closer to the conference, I would like to share some more info with you, as well as reiterate the info in the last email.

When: The conference will start at 9 AM on Saturday, with registration being open from 9 AM - 9:45 AM. You are encouraged to arrive at 9 so that we can begin promptly at 9:45 with opening remarks and our first speaker. During this 45 minute window, we will be serving a breakfast, along with coffee which will be set up for use throughout the day. You can also meet with a number partner organizations during this time.

Where: We will be in Mellon Hall at 1001 Bluff St at Duquesne University. I've attached a photograph of the building to make recognition easier. We will be spending the entire day in this building, and it is also where our meals will be served. You can find a Google map of Duquesne University as well as directions via Google Maps, here.

Parking: Parking will be available in the Locust and Forbes garages on campus at $6.00 for the day. Simply tell the attendant that you are there for the Students For Liberty Conference.

I've attached a map of the Duquesne University campus with both the garages and Mellon Hall labeled. 

Meals: Breakfast will be available during registration. Lunch will be served at 1 PM, and dinner will be served at 5:45 PM.

Social: After the conference ends, we will be hosting a social at TGI Fridays (1027 Fifth Avenue). All are encouraged to attend. It is within walking distance of the conference location.

If you have any questions at all, please do not hesitate to email or call me.

And remember, it's not too late to bring a friend or two! Register them here!

Sincerely & For Liberty,

Zachary Slayback

North American Executive Board

Students For Liberty

University of Pennsylvania

814-289-3948

Connect with me on Facebook 

--
--
Ta.
 
 
Mark Rauterkus       Mark.Rauterkus@gmail.com    
PPS Summer Dreamers' Swim and Water Polo Camp Head Coach
Pittsburgh Combined Water Polo Team

http://Rauterkus.blogspot.com
http://FixPA.wikia.com
http://CLOH.wikia.com
412 298 3432 = cell

Re: Mark, unlimited safe water webinar tonight at 7pm...

On Nov 7, 2013 4:26 PM, "Gary Franchi" <gary@rtr.org> wrote:

Hey Mark,    Tonight(Thurs.) at 7pm Ron Mathis is presenting a free webinar on  how to properly purify water in the event of a water crisis or  collapse!    http://nnn.is/Water_System_Webinar    In this exclusive presentation, you'll learn about:  -Waterborne Diseases & Illnesses  -Supplemental On/Off Grid Water Resources  -Why Water is Important & How to Protect Your Family  -How to Build Your Survival Water Plan    Without clean drinkable water, you will die in as little as 3 days!    Ron has over 20 years experience in the water industry and has  traveled to over 70 countries helping people make clean ans SAFE  water.    This is such an important presentation that you can't afford to  miss it. The webinar starts at 7pm your local time tonight!    http://nnn.is/Water_System_Webinar    Be sure to bookmark this link and set a reminder. I'll try to make  the replay available to you tomorrow(Fri.) after the event, just in  case you can't make it tonight.    See ya at 7pm!  Gary    P.S. This webinar presentation will only be available until this  Saturday at midnight, so be sure not to miss it...    http://nnn.is/Water_System_Webinar               

Fwd: November 13 - EPLC "Focus on Education" on Special Education

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Ron Cowell" <robinson@eplc.org>
Date: Nov 7, 2013 10:19 AM
Subject: November 13 - EPLC "Focus on Education" on Special Education
To: <rauterkus@rauterkus.com>
Cc:

Special Education: Student Rights and Services -  EPLC "Focus on Education" TV Program on PCN   Next Wednesday, November 13, tune in to the next episode of EPLC's "Focus on Education" series, which will discuss Special Education: Student Rights and Services and air at 9:00 p.m. on PCN television.  The panel will include:   Ron Cowell, President, The Education Policy and Leadership Center;    Maureen Cronin, Executive Director, The Arc of Pennsylvania; Kay Lipsitz, Director, Parent Education Network; and Linda O. Rhen, Ed.D., Assistant Professor of Special Education, Behavioral Sciences, and Education at Penn State Harrisburg and Former Director of Special Education, Pennsylvania Department of Education  EPLC and Pennsylvania Cable Network (PCN) have partnered for a monthly program focusing on education issues in Pennsylvania.  Past episodes have covered school safety issues, student testing, the work of school boards, how public education is funded in Pennsylvania, school dropout crisis, parents as education advocates, and arts education.   The episode next Wednesday, November 13 will be broadcast on PCN at 9:00 p.m., and "Focus on Education".  Tapings of previous episodes are available on the PCN web site.   To learn more, visit PCN's "Focus on Education" web page. Thanks.

Forward email This email was sent to rauterkus@rauterkus.com by robinson@eplc.org |   Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy. The Education Policy and Leadership Center | 800 N. 3rd St. | Suite 408 | Harrisburg | PA | 17102

Red Cross Lifeguard Certificate / Certification for Mark Rauterkus

Thank you for attending the American Red Cross Lifeguarding course on 10/27/13.

Please click on the link below to verify your information and access your digital certificate.

https://classes.redcross.org/Saba/Web/Main/goto/MyCertificate?certId=GPI7EW

This is why we need more than 2 candidates in our local elections

I'm going to repost a blog comment from Bram's blog. Bram didn't pen the original posting nor this remark. http://www.Pghcomet.blogspot.com.

The insights come from an independent candidate in the race, James Wudarczyk. He lances some of the high flying claims from the D endorsed candidate, Deb Gross.

People have got to read this latest press release from James Wudarczyk about Deb Gross. Love or hate the guy, you have to admit he sure does his homework.

Can the City of Pittsburgh afford Deb Gross? After an extensive review of her failed projects by James Wudarczyk, he strongly believes the answer is NO!

At the Highland Park Community Council forum on October 17, 2013, Wudarczyk revealed startling evidence about the projects that Ms. Gross considers her major accomplishments. In response to his allegations, Ms. Gross repeatedly stuttered in frustration and finger pointed at Mr. Wudarczyk while stammering that he did not understand that there had been a “hiccup” in the budget.

In Wudarczyk’s opinion, projects that succeed in only bleeding the taxpayers of money hardly constitute resourceful leadership. Furthermore, Wudarczyk feels taxpayers money has been thrown into the Allegheny River by projects that Gross believes are misunderstood “hiccups.”

Let’s take a look at these projects.

First, the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Alliance is touted by the Democratic nominee and former executive director, Deb Gross, as a wonderful program and a great achievement. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) records for the ruling year of 2001 showed total revenues of $80,532, while total expenses for the same period were $119,904 (1). The Greater Pittsburgh Arts Alliance merged with another arts group because of financial difficulties. In spite of this evidence, the former executive director never mentions that the project was a financial failure.

Second, the Democratic nominee claims that she knows how to creatively match resources with need. Repeatedly, voters have been told by this candidate that she turned $2 million into $6 million dollars when fundraising for the Community Loan Fund of Southwestern Pennsylvania. When Mr. Wudarczyk initially heard this, he wondered if this candidate held spaghetti dinners, went door-to-door, or had donut sales. An article appearing in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, December 6, 2001, stated that this candidate was an employee at the time of this “fundraising” (2). What the candidate failed to mention was that the money was actually “raised” by the issuing of bonds that paid between 3 and 4.5% (3). It should also be noted that the Community Loan Fund also received $352,186 in direct public support and $370,900 in government grants for a total of $723,086 (4). This is not an example of creative fundraising. This is an example of borrowing money and covering operational expenses via grants from the taxpayers.

The candidate also boasts of a public transportation initiative called the Ultraviolet Loop that ran from 2001 – 2004 (5). Missing from the boast is the fact that this project was funded by a grant. Once the grant expired, so did the program. How can one talk about sustainability if programs are run strictly on grants from the state or federal taxpayers?

Lastly, another of her business claims were related to a company called Percolater. Ask anyone on the street if they ever heard of this company, and they will think you are talking about some kind of coffee pot.

It is apparent here that the voters are paying for programs that they neither need nor wanted. Mr. Wudarczyk believes that it time that we stop funding these types of projects and focus on re-allocating funds to fixing our decaying infrastructure and pothole-ridden streets. Can we afford a progressive Democrat who believes borrowing money is raising funds and a $40,000 loss is a “hiccup” in the budget? Mr. Wudarczyk believes the answer is no and voters have a right to know what the IRS records have to say in regard to these matters.

I remember the Ultra Violet Loop. It was a funky bus thing that cost money and could have been twisted a bit to make it sustainable, perhaps. But, they were not so interested in making changes. I blogged about what I would have done with it back in the day. Made some calls. Oh well. It wasn't anything to hang a hat upon.

But most of all, it is great that there are a few different people in the race. Good research from James too. I imagine it is too close to election day to find a reply. But, the comment box works here too.

http://pghcomet.blogspot.com/2013/11/city-council-district-7-what-district-7.html?showComment=1383409282291#c7466600646146572705

Dave Powell, Libertarian, got the endorsement from the Trib in his race for Pittsburgh City Council

Way to go Dave Powell.

http://triblive.com/opinion/editorials/4948280-74/council-powell-treblow#axzz2jRqf4FDL

Nice to see the Trib jump into the fray and offer endorsements to the challenger candidates.

Dave is a long time political friend of mine. He is well reasoned and principled. He'd offer plenty of different ideas in the discussions.

The nation, at the time of spy issues, NSA troubles, wiki leaks, Homeland Security creep, and more police state actions at every turn, putting a Libertarian on city council would be fantastic.

Samuel Hurst, Republican, also a candidate for city council, has been working his tail off too by going to meetings and staying active on social media. He is worthy of all the protest votes he can muster as well.

Thanks gentlemen for all you have done and are doing for the political landscape of Pittsburgh. My tip: Don't burn out. Keep plugging.