Wednesday, April 20, 2016
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
Re: Message from Camp Ak-O-Mak
On Wednesday February 10th I was lucky enough to see Diana Nyad speak about her book, her life and her drive.
Diana spent a summer swimming at Ak-O-Mak in preparation for her swim across Lake Ontario in 1970. Buck Dawson is credited with introducing Diana to marathon swimming. In her autobiography, Find a Way, she talks about a quote that she comes across and posts on her wall for years, "A diamond is a lump of coal that stuck with it."
Diana swam around Manhattan Island setting records in 1975. She then made two attempts to reach the Keys from Cuba in 1978 and 1979 and the latter was to be her last swim on her 30th birthday. Both were amazing swims from the standpoint of accomplishment but neither completed her mission. Life brought her back to Cuba and in 2013 at the age of 65. She successfully reached the Keys from Cuba after 53 hours of swimming, on her 5th attempt.
Diana's talk was amazing. She spoke of the playlist in her brain as she swam. The years and hours of training that resulted in timing and cadence so precise that albums playing in her head, lists of counting in various languages consistently corresponded to mileage and hours in the water. Time after time a complete album represented a certain number of miles, a certain number of minutes. I suspect that Diana is a metronome.
Her primary speech topic was...
"What will you do with your one precious life?"
She didn't interpret this in the traditional, athletic career time frame. She didn't speak to "what will you do with your college athletic career" or "what you will do when you fail to accomplish your life's goal the first few times."
Diana clearly emphasized a key to her success, her team...the scientist and doctors who helped to treat and eventually avoid the deadly box jelly fish that almost killed her during an attempt, her handlers and dear friends...the ones who made her eat when her mouth was raw from saltwater ulcers and when she was seasick. Those who navigated her seas, helped her to create a mask to protect her skin from the jelly venom. Diana is clearly an amazing athlete, a testament to the power of a stubborn, driven brain. But Diana's words and humility were that of a true leader, a gracious athlete who knew that her success did not belong just to herself and she communicated this so clearly to her audience.
After the speech, I was able to briefly speak to Diana. Her ability to pause and share our small overlap in the universe without making me feel rushed struck me. I showed her a picture of her name on the main house wall. Thank goodness it was in black marker and NOT in toothpaste! (I had taken the photo when visiting Ak-O-Mak after dropping my boys at Chikopi). We talked about Buck...(big smiles)... "he was my first open water coach." She had spoken of being an atheist during her talk in response to an audience question but she told me that "if there was a God, then swimming on Ahmic Lake was the closest (she) had ever been to God". She showed true smiles of fondness.
I walked back to my car with a new excitement about swimming and a refreshed attitude and outlook for a dreary cold February day. I have always held that Buck Dawson should have emphasized camp's role in the mission of athletics for life. Matt Mann's quote "a diamond is a lump of coal that stuck with it" isn't a metaphor for campers only. It is for counselors and owners, parents and alumni. To become that diamond takes longer that it takes to get a 5 year ring or 10 year watch at Ak-O-Mak or Chikopi. It occurs while doing what you plan with your one precious life. What an amazing night! I am so thankful to have been affected by her journey. I highly recommend her book, her speaking tour and her TED talk.
Libby Ernharth
Ak-O-Mak Alumni
Saturday, April 16, 2016
Neoliberalism in two articles
Email with links sent from John H.
Finally an excellent article on neoliberalism has been published in a mainstream newspaper. Unfortunately it had to be by a British journalist in a British newspaper. This sort of journalism is simply not permitted in this country unless the person writing it has his/her own blog or knows someone who does – and there are some very good ones out there but they simply don’t have the reach of mainstream media which primarily serves to entertain and anesthetize the American public with mindless drivel while intoxicating us with fear. As long as we’re afraid, we won’t bother to ask tough questions of our leaders nor, in most cases, tolerate those who do. It is so important for people to come to understand the kind of quasi-totalitarian system the U.S. has evolved into since 1980, but it is also important to understand that the U.S. has almost never been a humble and virtuous “knight” in the freedom, justice and the “American Way”. This nation has been a serial exploiter of third-world nations since at least the Spanish-American War, and little has changed since beyond the scope and frequency of our imperialist wars and plots. It is long past time for the American taxpayers (and you know who you are and who is not) paying for these atrocities and the profits for those who impose them to rise up and demand that it stop and stop now.
Friday, April 15, 2016
Sunday, April 10, 2016
Fwd: Major Event: Free Screening of Josh Fox's new Film - Pittsburgh, PA WED 4/13/16
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Douglas Shields <douglas.shields20@gmail.com>
Date: Sunday, April 10, 2016
Subject: Major Event: Free Screening of Josh Fox's new Film - Pittsburgh, PA WED 4/13/16
To: Douglas Shields <douglasshields20@gmail.com>
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: APRIL 10, 2010
CONTACT: Lee Ziesche
954 415 6228
ACADEMEY AWARD NOMINEE & EMMY AWARD WINNING DIRECTOR JOSH FOX
TO PRESENT HIS NEW FILM
HOW TO LET GO OF THE WORLD AND LOVE ALL THE THINGS CLIMATE CAN'T CHANGE
PITTSBURGH, PA
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2016, 7:00 PM
CARNEGIE LECTURE HALL
IN OAKLAND
FREE TO THE PUBLIC!
(Pittsburgh, PA) Josh Fox, director of the 2011 Academy Awardnominated and Emmywinning documentary "Gasland," will present a free screening of his upcoming film, How To Let Go Of The World And Love All The Things Climate Can't Change, Wednesday, April 13, at the Carnegie Museum's Lecture Hall in the Oakland section of the city. Nationally known anti-fracking activist, Tim DeChristopher will join Josh Fox for the presentation.
Josh Fox continues, in his deeply personal style, investigating climate change – the greatest threat our world has ever known. Traveling to 12 countries on 6 continents, the film acknowledges that it may be too late to stop some of the worst consequences and asks, "What is it that climate change can't destroy? What is so deep within us that no calamity can take it away?"
"Touring with the Gasland films for almost 8 years now, I've seen the power organized communities have," said Fox. "That's why we're bringing this film to communities like Pittsburgh. This is the front lines of climate change. We know if we're going to keep global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius, we can't frack for oil and gas, we can't build pipelines and power plants that will keep us burning fossil fuels for 50 more years. That change is going to happen at the community level."
"Having both Josh Fox and Tim DeChristopher here in Pittsburgh will be inspirational and energizing," said Briget Shields, a volunteer Outreach Coordinator at Marcellous Protest, for the Pittsburgh screening. "We're grateful to have their powerful voices bring their message on Climate Change to Pittsburgh."
This event is being sponsored by: 350.org, Allegheny County Clean Air Now, Clean Rivers Campaign, Clean Water Action, Divest Pittsburgh, Fight For $15, Fossil Free Pitt Coalition, GASP, Marcellus Outreach Butler, Marcellus Protest, Mom's Clean Air Force, PennEnvironment, Sierra ClubAllegheny Group, Three Rivers Rising Tide, Thomas Merton Center, Friends of the Harmed.
Local Contact: Briget Shields, 412 7993 236 brigetshields@gmail.com
Film Clip: http://www.howtoletgomovie.com
"Potent -The Movie Takes Heart In Communities That Have Found Small-Scale Solutions" –Variety
"Unshakeable Images! This Film Will Make You Want To Be The Change
Daily Journal
Directions to Carnegie Lecture Hall, Carnegie Museum & Library, Oakland, Pittsburgh PA 15233
The entrance to the Lecture Hall is on Schenley Drive, just before the bridge leading to Schenley Park. The Carnegie Lecture Hall is in the Carnegie Institute, home to the Carnegie Museum and main branch of Carnegie Library in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh.
Handicapped access to the Lecture Hall is through the Portal Entrance at the museum Use the parking lot entry at Forbes and Craig Streets. Please stop by the security office on the left side of the Portal Entrance to be escorted to the Lecture Hall.
Media: Please contact Lee Zieche to schedule interviews with Josh Fox.
954 415 6228 leeziesche@gmail.com
Backgrounder on Josh Fox: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josh_Fox
Backgrounder on Tim DeChristopher (Tim is a graduate of Shady Side Academy and for a time, resided in Aspinwal, PA with his family.) http://www.timdechristopher.org/about
####
--
Varsity Boys Swim Coach, Pittsburgh Obama Academy
Recent Head Water Polo Coach, Carnegie Mellon University Women's Club Team
Pittsburgh Combined Water Polo Team
http://CLOH.org
412 298 3432 = cell
Pittsburgh Combined Water Polo Team
http://CLOH.org
412 298 3432 = cell
Saturday, April 09, 2016
Thursday, April 07, 2016
For the ages! The water does not know how old you are.
Swimming, What a Wonderful Sport to Learn - SwimEasy Ltd. UKTosd@s, tod@s amamos nadar... Discover more here: www.swimeasy.co.uk
Posted by Natación on Wednesday, April 6, 2016
Wednesday, April 06, 2016
Fwd: Violence Prevention Specialist-Job Opportunity PLEASE SHARE
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Jose Garth <jgarth@ppwp.org>
Date: Wed, Apr 6, 2016 at 11:19 AM
Subject: Violence Prevention Specialist-Job Opportunity PLEASE SHARE
To:
From: Jose Garth <jgarth@ppwp.org>
Date: Wed, Apr 6, 2016 at 11:19 AM
Subject: Violence Prevention Specialist-Job Opportunity PLEASE SHARE
To:
https://jobs.nonprofittalent.com/job/violence-prevention-specialist/
Planned Parenthood of Western PA
Position Title: Violence Prevention Specialist
Reports To: Vice President for Education
Send resume and cover letter to: edjobs@ppwp.org
Planned Parenthood of Western PA is seeking a compassionate individual to fulfill the full-time position of Violence Prevention Specialist. The position is a two-year grant funded position. This person will be committed to delivering relationship and sexual violence prevention curricula and programming in schools and community organizations, with youth 14-22, particularly young men, as well as with youth-serving professionals in Allegheny County. The Specialist's daily schedule will be flexible, as it caters to after-school and weekend activities. In Year 1, the position will be dedicated 90% to violence prevention activities and 10% to staffing IOTAS (It's Okay to Ask Someone), Planned Parenthood's textline.
Responsibilities:
(Gender Violence Prevention Tasks - Year 1: 90%, Year 2: 100%)
•Creates and coordinates youth and parent programs on sexual and relationship violence prevention curricula, including sexual health education sessions where requested.
•Collaborates with community partners.
•Provides support and training to youth-serving professionals involved in PPWP's Violence Prevention Initiative.
•Works with VP for Education and the Violence Prevention Team to schedule speakers, times, and dates for program requests and ensure that community needs are met.
•Provides networking and outreach to schools and community organizations to promote the program and secure speaking/program engagements.
•Attends agency and community meetings as required.
•Produces a bi-monthly newsletter to inform Violence Prevention partners about our activities and to give updates.
(IOTAS Textline Tasks - Year 1: 10%)
•Assists the VP for Education with tasks related to the IOTAS sexual health textline, including but not limited to staffing the textline, management of social media properties, digital content creation with youth, and outreach to youth-serving organizations.
(General Responsibilities - Years 1 and 2)
•Responsible for representing Planned Parenthood at health fairs and community exhibits that take place in the community.
•Reads and stays current on all information concerning reproductive health care, gender violence, and sexuality education.
•Assists VP for Education in completing annual department work plan by carrying out other duties as requested.
•Knowledge of and participation in the PPWP Quality and Risk Management Program.
Qualifications:
•Bachelor's degree (B.A. or B.S.) or a minimum of five years related experience and/or training, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
•Minimum of two years' experience and/or training working with youth and/or risk-reduction programs.
•Comfortable speaking in front of groups of people (both teenagers and adults) and able to adapt to the needs of audiences.
•Ability to act as a role model for youth, especially young men, from communities across Allegheny County.
•Competence in addressing issues of relationship and sexual violence.
•Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends.
•Ability to communicate effectively with teens, parents and school/community leaders from diverse communities.
•Possesses strong organizational and time management skills.
•Ability to self-motivate and motivate others.
•Possess strong writing skills.
•Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
•Knowledge of, and comfort with, issues relating to human sexuality, violence prevention, family planning, and a commitment to reproductive and social justice.
•Commitment to the goals, mission, standards and objectives of Planned Parenthood.
Essential Functions:
•Ability to use telecommunications.
•Ability to type and be computer literate.
•Ability to verbally communicate publicly in a professional, effective manner.
•Ability to establish rapport and communicate effectively with adults and young people from a variety of backgrounds.
•Must work collaboratively with diverse staff.
•Actively demonstrate commitment to diversity goals.
Certificates, Licenses, Registrations, Clearances:
•Must have access to a car and maintain a valid Pennsylvania license and insurance.
•Must maintain current Pennsylvania Act 33/34 clearance.
•Must pass pre-hire drug screening.
•Must be willing to sign and consistently adhere to PPWP confidentially, security and HIPAA policy statements.
Performance Criteria:
•Accurate and timely completion of tasks.
•Cooperative effort to assist in accomplishing education goals.
•Satisfactory completion of programming based on education goals.
•Adherence to education department and agency policies.
•Ability to work both independently and cooperatively in an effective, timely manner.
•Understands and is comfortable with diversity--racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, sexual orientation, etc.
Position Title: Violence Prevention Specialist
Reports To: Vice President for Education
Send resume and cover letter to: edjobs@ppwp.org
Planned Parenthood of Western PA is seeking a compassionate individual to fulfill the full-time position of Violence Prevention Specialist. The position is a two-year grant funded position. This person will be committed to delivering relationship and sexual violence prevention curricula and programming in schools and community organizations, with youth 14-22, particularly young men, as well as with youth-serving professionals in Allegheny County. The Specialist's daily schedule will be flexible, as it caters to after-school and weekend activities. In Year 1, the position will be dedicated 90% to violence prevention activities and 10% to staffing IOTAS (It's Okay to Ask Someone), Planned Parenthood's textline.
Responsibilities:
(Gender Violence Prevention Tasks - Year 1: 90%, Year 2: 100%)
•Creates and coordinates youth and parent programs on sexual and relationship violence prevention curricula, including sexual health education sessions where requested.
•Collaborates with community partners.
•Provides support and training to youth-serving professionals involved in PPWP's Violence Prevention Initiative.
•Works with VP for Education and the Violence Prevention Team to schedule speakers, times, and dates for program requests and ensure that community needs are met.
•Provides networking and outreach to schools and community organizations to promote the program and secure speaking/program engagements.
•Attends agency and community meetings as required.
•Produces a bi-monthly newsletter to inform Violence Prevention partners about our activities and to give updates.
(IOTAS Textline Tasks - Year 1: 10%)
•Assists the VP for Education with tasks related to the IOTAS sexual health textline, including but not limited to staffing the textline, management of social media properties, digital content creation with youth, and outreach to youth-serving organizations.
(General Responsibilities - Years 1 and 2)
•Responsible for representing Planned Parenthood at health fairs and community exhibits that take place in the community.
•Reads and stays current on all information concerning reproductive health care, gender violence, and sexuality education.
•Assists VP for Education in completing annual department work plan by carrying out other duties as requested.
•Knowledge of and participation in the PPWP Quality and Risk Management Program.
Qualifications:
•Bachelor's degree (B.A. or B.S.) or a minimum of five years related experience and/or training, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
•Minimum of two years' experience and/or training working with youth and/or risk-reduction programs.
•Comfortable speaking in front of groups of people (both teenagers and adults) and able to adapt to the needs of audiences.
•Ability to act as a role model for youth, especially young men, from communities across Allegheny County.
•Competence in addressing issues of relationship and sexual violence.
•Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends.
•Ability to communicate effectively with teens, parents and school/community leaders from diverse communities.
•Possesses strong organizational and time management skills.
•Ability to self-motivate and motivate others.
•Possess strong writing skills.
•Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
•Knowledge of, and comfort with, issues relating to human sexuality, violence prevention, family planning, and a commitment to reproductive and social justice.
•Commitment to the goals, mission, standards and objectives of Planned Parenthood.
Essential Functions:
•Ability to use telecommunications.
•Ability to type and be computer literate.
•Ability to verbally communicate publicly in a professional, effective manner.
•Ability to establish rapport and communicate effectively with adults and young people from a variety of backgrounds.
•Must work collaboratively with diverse staff.
•Actively demonstrate commitment to diversity goals.
Certificates, Licenses, Registrations, Clearances:
•Must have access to a car and maintain a valid Pennsylvania license and insurance.
•Must maintain current Pennsylvania Act 33/34 clearance.
•Must pass pre-hire drug screening.
•Must be willing to sign and consistently adhere to PPWP confidentially, security and HIPAA policy statements.
Performance Criteria:
•Accurate and timely completion of tasks.
•Cooperative effort to assist in accomplishing education goals.
•Satisfactory completion of programming based on education goals.
•Adherence to education department and agency policies.
•Ability to work both independently and cooperatively in an effective, timely manner.
•Understands and is comfortable with diversity--racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, sexual orientation, etc.
José Garth
Peer Education Coordinator
Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania
933 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
412.258.9740
Fwd: Crocodile summer swimming
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <michael.schneiderlochner@comcast.net>
The Crafton Crocodiles will also offer night practices during the week
From: <michael.schneiderlochner@comcast.net>
Hello Crafton Crocodile Swimmers
Some of you are receiving this email because we are still looking for
another assistant swim coach for the Crafton Crocodiles this summer.
Some of you are receiving this to invite you to come and swim with us
this summer.
Most of you are receiving this to tell you of the most exciting news in a
long time. In addition to the regular morning practices at Crafton which
are 10-Under, 9-10 AM and 11-Up, 10-11:30 AM Monday Thru Friday
as well as selected saturdays.
The Crafton Crocodiles will also offer night practices during the week
on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6-7:30. These will
start Tuesday May 31st and run thru Thursday July 28th. These practices
will be indoors at the Carlynton High School.
In addition we will also offer the morning August Monday thru Thursday
swimming practice that we did last year for crocodile swimmers.
This evening practice is designed to bring back our swimmers who could
not practice in the morning because their parents work. As well as recruit
new swimmers whose parents also have a hard time making AM practices.
These evening practices are free to everyone living in the Carlynton school
district as well as anyone attending Bishop Canevin High School who is going
to swim on the Carlynton High School swim team. All you need to do is join
the crocodiles. If you are from outside the district, we will maintain an %85
ratio of in district swimmers to meet the district policy.
I hope you are all as excited about this news as I am. Please feel free to share
this information with your friends.
Questions?
This is my email and cell phone.
Coach Mike Schneiderlochner
Crafton Crocodiles Head Swim Team Coach
Tuesday, April 05, 2016
Thursday, March 31, 2016
This is the type of support some in PPS give to PPS Summer Dreamers
In spring 2016, I put in a pool permit to get ready for Summer Dreamers so that our summer staff can work with the existing kids at Obama at the pool -- and work with a renewal of swim skills with the kids I coached in past years as part of PPS Summer Dreamers.
The permit was denied. The denial says, "NO SUMMER DREAMER STUFF."
I wanted to have ONE practice on Wednesdays from April to June.
Go figure.
Futhermore, in future years this permit would be considered a blessing -- because there is an ANSWER. MOST of the time, interactions with PPS administrators have no replies. Silence.
Steel City Codefest Jr.
Codefest Jr. - For youth who want to learn about Coding!
View this email in your browser
You're Invited!
Codefest Jr. is the youth portion of the Steel City Codefest, the City's annual civic hackathon.
It's a free one-day event that introduces youth grades K - 12 to coding and other STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) fields. It doesn't end at Codefest.
Parents, find more information about on-going Citywide STEAM programs for your kids at: www.steelcitycodefest.com/codefestjr
Kids are also welcome to stay for Final Presentations and Awards from 12:30 - 2 p.m. in the Library auditorium.
View the Codefest Jr. promotional video.
Copyright © 2016 City of Pittsburgh, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you opted in to receive our My Brother's Keeper Pittsburgh - Allegheny County monthly newsletter.
Our mailing address is:
City of Pittsburgh
City County Building, 414 Grant StreetPittsburgh, PA 15219
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
Monday, March 28, 2016
Friday, March 25, 2016
Fwd: NBC to Televise USA Women's Olympic Qualification Game - Saturday 3/26
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <TeamUSA@usawaterpolo.org>
Date: Mar 25, 2016 6:01 PM
Subject: NBC to Televise USA Women's Olympic Qualification Game - Saturday 3/26
To: <mark@rauterkus.com>
Cc:
To view this email as a web page click here.
From: <TeamUSA@usawaterpolo.org>
Date: Mar 25, 2016 6:01 PM
Subject: NBC to Televise USA Women's Olympic Qualification Game - Saturday 3/26
To: <mark@rauterkus.com>
Cc:
 GO TEAM USA!Follow us on Social Media - @USAWP This email was sent to USAWP member Grant Rauterkus - Member ID#: 512489 
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| This USAWP Updates was sent to: mark@Rauterkus.com This email was sent by: USA Water Polo |
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Wednesday, March 23, 2016
Tuesday, March 22, 2016
Fwd: The government schools' biggest failure: it's not what you think
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Tom Woods <woods@mises.org>
From: Tom Woods <woods@mises.org>
|
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