Discovery Weekend at Univ of Pittsburgh

I got to mingle with the big donors. My wife led a hands-on course. This was for the kick-off for the big capital / endowment campaign.

Pirates vs. St. Louis Cardinas at Three Rivers Stadium

The B.I.G. League program got a bunch of tickets to the Pirate game. All the kids and coaches went onto the field. It was fun.

We walked onto the field from the opening in the wall in Center Field. This was just prior to the start of the game. On the field there was a little award time where the winners of the Mayor's Cup for baseball and softball got trophies.

Then came the singing of the National Anthem. Then we scooted up to the stands.

As the group of players and adults from the city walked onto the field, it made for quite a sight. I imagine that there were about 300 or so of us there. And, it felt like there were more of us than there were fans in all of the stands. Hardly anyone was at the game.

We stayed for most of the game and then left before it was over as it was a school night.

This was a treat.

DU swimming coaches and changes

Snip from news by Jason Wawrzeniak

Addressing Duquesne's women's swimming program, Athletics Director Brian Colleary named Jamie Cona the new Duquesne University women's swimming coach.

Cona, a four-year swimming letterwinner for Duquesne from 1996 to 1999, helped lead the Dukes to a 32-18 record during her four seasons that included a program-best 8-3 mark as a sophomore.

The 23-year-old Cona has coached in her hometown of Cherry Hill, N.J., and served as a graduate assistant last season for both the men's and women's programs.

With the addition of Cona, the 2000-2001 season marks the first time that the men's and women's programs have had separate coaches.

---

Jamie Cona lasted for one year at the helm of the DU Womens Swim Team. Dave Sheets was hired as the next womens coach.

Zoo Camp

Announcing:

Swimmers' Zoo Camp

Monday, July 3, to Friday, July 7, 2000

Hosted and organized by the Pittsburgh Zoo and Three Rivers Aquatics

Swimmers from Western Pennsylvania are invited to reserve a spot for a new experience slated for the summer of 2000. This week-long day camp combines two popular summer-time activities: competitive swimming and zoo camp.

Splendid Neighbors

Pittsburghers are fortunate with access to two wonderful facilities right next to one another. The Pittsburgh Zoo is within a short walking distance to the Highland Park's, 10-lane, 50-meter pool. Each day the athletes and coaches start on the grounds of the park near to the pool and then spend the afternoons in the educational buildings of the zoo facility.

Zoo Camps at the Pittsburgh Zoo

Zoo Camps are wonderful, educational experiences, and have been so for many years. With professional staff, trained volunteers, and an educational building designed for camps, expect lots of hands-on activities and learning in a fun, controlled setting. Zoo Camps are stimulating times for children of all ages, but be warned, this is a special week at Zoo Camp. The afternoons at Zoo Camp are being geared to the older-age groups. Expect serious discussions, problem solving, learning and grown-up activities, suited for high-schoolers and competitive swimmers. The facilities include five different classrooms. See yourself mingling, learning and making friends among this diverse group of people who call themselves swimmers.

Hardly Alone It is not like you are not going to know anyone. Pass the word. Get a couple of your teammates involved. Carpool! The 9:00 am start time allows for commuters to get to the pool a decent hour, without much traffic. Office workers in town and Oakland might be able to drop-off and pick-up campers as part of the drive time that week.

Scheduled for the week of July 4th The camp's date fits into most summer schedules. Those with out-of-town camps in June can return home for this day-camp in July. Early July is a often a time for hard, challenging training in a long-course pool, even weeks away from tapers and championship. Area swimmers without access to long-course pools for their swim practices are going to love the benefits and the switch in the environments. Even seasonal high school swimmers can use the camp for summer training and conditioning.

Year 2000 Excitement for Swimmers and Sharks In June 2000, the Pittsburgh Zoo is expected to have the grand opening a new exhibit -- a massive, aquarium. The new shark tank will have just opened, just in time for our swimmers' zoo camp.

Swimmers in the morning practices that find themselves walking on the bottom of the pool might find themselves in the afternoon sessions at the zoo feeding the sharks. Learn about the new $15.9M Aquarium at the Pittsburgh Zoo Site

Reserve Your Space Now, without making a payment! Being a first-time offering, do submit your name and contact information as soon as possible. Put yourself on the notice list to get additional information as soon as it is available. Help to gage projected registration levels, and keep your space reserved, even at an early date.

Zoo Camps are very popular. Weeks and months in advance, zoo camps often fill to capacity with the maximum numbers of children registered. Don't delay. This special zoo-camp for swimmers has an enrollment ceiling. In the year 2000, the Swimmers' Zoo Camp will be offered for only one week. If you don't get into the Swimmers' Zoo

Camp, other half-day and full-day camps might still be available.

To find out additional information about regular zoo camps, contact the Pittsburgh Zoo directly. This site is only geared to the promotion of the special, one-week swimmers' zoo camp.

Early and Often: The Swimmers' Zoo Camp has a limited number of participants, so sign-up early. The Swimmers' Zoo Camp has a limited engagement that needs to hit certain enrollment number with participants by certain dates throughout the year, so please express your interest .

Daily Schedule:

Registration: 8:30 - 9:00 am

On the first day of camp, please arrive thirty minutes early.

Day Begins: 9:00 - 10 am

Stretching, team meeting, dry-land exercises.

Swimming Practice: 10 - noon

Warm-up, drills, conditioning sets, stroke perfection, starts-turns-finishes, water-exercises.

Lunch, Recovery: noon - 1:00 pm

Warm-down, shower, change, eat and stroll down the hill to the back-entry of the Pittsburgh Zoo.

Zoo Class/Camp: 1:00 - 4:00 pm

The educational classrooms within the zoo campus are going to be filled with swimmers in the afternoons. Air-conditioned, modern, instructional and interactive programs with a solid lesson plan for a great experience.

Dismissal: 4:05 and beyond

The formal instructional day concludes at 4:00. The participants can exit the zoo at that time, or choose to take further advantage of the facilities until the zoo closes.

Cost:

The charge for the one-week camp, Monday to Friday, including 4th of July, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, is pending. The expected price range is $115.00 to $100.00 per person. A final price is expected to be set by October, 1999.

Get on the List of Potential Campers:

Those interested in getting additional information and being put on a notice list for registration, please email, wetzoocamp@sportsurf.net, or call 412-481-2497, extension #7. Please leave a voice message in the zoo-camp department, #7.

AMS Registration Cards As of this moment, the swim-zoo day-camp is NOT a sanctioned event of the AMS. However, a proposal to the AMS to recognize the camp and help with its promotions is expected to be delivered from the camp organizers at TRA and the Pittsburgh Zoo to the executive board of the AMS in the weeks ahead. Perhaps this camp experience be an official AMS activity, perhaps not. All the participants at the camp are required to be athlete or coach members of USA Swimming, or an athlete member of US Masters Swimming. Those who are not current members of these organizations will need to pay a different rate for registration into those governing bodies. The swimmers need to provide proof of registration before entry into the camp.

Guest Coaches Welcome Swim instructors, aquatics directors, and coaches from area high school, Y, country club, USA clubs, colleges and summer teams are welcome to attend one or multiple days of the camp. Coaches can choose to observe or else engage in the camp experience with assigned/shared coaching-duties. Please email wetzoocamp@sportsurf.net, or call 412-481-2497, extension #7. For food, uniform, admission and supervision reasons, coaches are asked to register for the camp in advance, just as the swimmers must advance register. An on-line coach registration form will be provided.

Renewal for Following Years Participants who are successfully engaged with the camp community are given notice and advanced permission to reserve a spot at next year's camp, as well as other activities to be organized for the future.

Public Domain Status -- Copyrights, servicemarks and trademarks are being avoided as much as possible so that items can be put into the public domain. Statement that advocate and explain our public domain status is at http://www.FreeTeam.Org/publicdomain

Hostelling International's memo from Mark Rauterkus

Dear Fellow Pittsburghers,

I'm interested in talking, either in person or on-line, to anyone with interests in vision, mission, activities and facility of the Hostelling organization and associated politics.

I'm interested as I'm a South Side, part-time activist who has many recreational leadership experiences in other parts of the country.

Furthermore, I feel that there might be some unique solutions and program opportunities available to please various membership interests. I'd love to talk with you and begin to uncover some of these ideas in shared discussions.

Thanks for the consideration.

Please contact me if and when you so desire.

Mark Rauterkus

---

A collection of the documents delivered to the AYH Board, Marketing Committee and Jesicca, the AYH manager, are available for review.

---

These plans were talked about, sent to them, and the outcome was nothing. The board drove the organization into the ground and out of business. The board and others knew that the organization would not survive -- yet they choose to do nothing but keep the status quo.

---

Presently, (as of December 2005) the AYH building is sitting idle, sadly. It is owned, by the URA.

Swimmers' Zoo Camp

Announcing:

Swimmers' Zoo Camp

Monday, July 3, to Friday, July 7, 2000

Hosted and organized by the Pittsburgh Zoo and Three Rivers Aquatics

Swimmers from Western Pennsylvania are invited to reserve a spot for a new experience slated for the summer of 2000. This week-long day camp combines two popular summer-time activities: competitive swimming and zoo camp.

Splendid Neighbors

Pittsburghers are fortunate with access to two wonderful facilities right next to one another. The Pittsburgh Zoo is within a short walking distance to the Highland Park's, 10-lane, 50-meter pool. Each day the athletes and coaches start on the grounds of the park near to the pool and then spend the afternoons in the educational buildings of the zoo facility.

Zoo Camps at the Pittsburgh Zoo

Zoo Camps are wonderful, educational experiences, and have been so for many years. With professional staff, trained volunteers, and an educational building designed for camps, expect lots of hands-on activities and learning in a fun, controlled setting. Zoo Camps are stimulating times for children of all ages, but be warned, this is a special week at Zoo Camp. The afternoons at Zoo Camp are being geared to the older-age groups. Expect serious discussions, problem solving, learning and grown-up activities, suited for high-schoolers and competitive swimmers. The facilities include five different classrooms. See yourself mingling, learning and making friends among this diverse group of people who call themselves swimmers.

Hardly Alone It is not like you are not going to know anyone. Pass the word. Get a couple of your teammates involved. Carpool! The 9:00 am start time allows for commuters to get to the pool a decent hour, without much traffic. Office workers in town and Oakland might be able to drop-off and pick-up campers as part of the drive time that week.

Scheduled for the week of July 4th The camp's date fits into most summer schedules. Those with out-of-town camps in June can return home for this day-camp in July. Early July is a often a time for hard, challenging training in a long-course pool, even weeks away from tapers and championship. Area swimmers without access to long-course pools for their swim practices are going to love the benefits and the switch in the environments. Even seasonal high school swimmers can use the camp for summer training and conditioning.

Year 2000 Excitement for Swimmers and Sharks In June 2000, the Pittsburgh Zoo is expected to have the grand opening a new exhibit -- a massive, aquarium. The new shark tank will have just opened, just in time for our swimmers' zoo camp.

Swimmers in the morning practices that find themselves walking on the bottom of the pool might find themselves in the afternoon sessions at the zoo feeding the sharks. Learn about the new $15.9M Aquarium at the Pittsburgh Zoo Site

Reserve Your Space Now, without making a payment! Being a first-time offering, do submit your name and contact information as soon as possible. Put yourself on the notice list to get additional information as soon as it is available. Help to gage projected registration levels, and keep your space reserved, even at an early date.

Zoo Camps are very popular. Weeks and months in advance, zoo camps often fill to capacity with the maximum numbers of children registered. Don't delay. This special zoo-camp for swimmers has an enrollment ceiling. In the year 2000, the Swimmers' Zoo Camp will be offered for only one week. If you don't get into the Swimmers' Zoo

Camp, other half-day and full-day camps might still be available.

To find out additional information about regular zoo camps, contact the Pittsburgh Zoo directly. This site is only geared to the promotion of the special, one-week swimmers' zoo camp.

Early and Often: The Swimmers' Zoo Camp has a limited number of participants, so sign-up early. The Swimmers' Zoo Camp has a limited engagement that needs to hit certain enrollment number with participants by certain dates throughout the year, so please express your interest .

Daily Schedule:

Registration: 8:30 - 9:00 am

On the first day of camp, please arrive thirty minutes early.

Day Begins: 9:00 - 10 am

Stretching, team meeting, dry-land exercises.

Swimming Practice: 10 - noon

Warm-up, drills, conditioning sets, stroke perfection, starts-turns-finishes, water-exercises.

Lunch, Recovery: noon - 1:00 pm

Warm-down, shower, change, eat and stroll down the hill to the back-entry of the Pittsburgh Zoo.

Zoo Class/Camp: 1:00 - 4:00 pm

The educational classrooms within the zoo campus are going to be filled with swimmers in the afternoons. Air-conditioned, modern, instructional and interactive programs with a solid lesson plan for a great experience.

Dismissal: 4:05 and beyond

The formal instructional day concludes at 4:00. The participants can exit the zoo at that time, or choose to take further advantage of the facilities until the zoo closes.

Cost:

The charge for the one-week camp, Monday to Friday, including 4th of July, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, is pending. The expected price range is $115.00 to $100.00 per person. A final price is expected to be set by October, 1999.

Get on the List of Potential Campers:

Those interested in getting additional information and being put on a notice list for registration, please email, wetzoocamp@sportsurf.net, or call 412-481-2497, extension #7. Please leave a voice message in the zoo-camp department, #7.

AMS Registration Cards As of this moment, the swim-zoo day-camp is NOT a sanctioned event of the AMS. However, a proposal to the AMS to recognize the camp and help with its promotions is expected to be delivered from the camp organizers at TRA and the Pittsburgh Zoo to the executive board of the AMS in the weeks ahead. Perhaps this camp experience be an official AMS activity, perhaps not. All the participants at the camp are required to be athlete or coach members of USA Swimming, or an athlete member of US Masters Swimming. Those who are not current members of these organizations will need to pay a different rate for registration into those governing bodies. The swimmers need to provide proof of registration before entry into the camp.

Guest Coaches Welcome Swim instructors, aquatics directors, and coaches from area high school, Y, country club, USA clubs, colleges and summer teams are welcome to attend one or multiple days of the camp. Coaches can choose to observe or else engage in the camp experience with assigned/shared coaching-duties. Please email wetzoocamp@sportsurf.net, or call 412-481-2497, extension #7. For food, uniform, admission and supervision reasons, coaches are asked to register for the camp in advance, just as the swimmers must advance register. An on-line coach registration form will be provided.

Renewal for Following Years Participants who are successfully engaged with the camp community are given notice and advanced permission to reserve a spot at next year's camp, as well as other activities to be organized for the future.

Public Domain Status -- Copyrights, servicemarks and trademarks are being avoided as much as possible so that items can be put into the public domain. Statement that advocate and explain our public domain status is at http://www.FreeTeam.Org/publicdomain

Efforts to Save City Pools, propaganda, handout

Date, uncertain.

Handout from a friend. We passed these around the city as we could.

Bio for running for church board

Sunnyhill board bio. Didn't get picked. 

Obit for Joseph A. Rauterkus, Jr.

Printed in the newspaper. Age 77, in Allegheny General Hospital; beloved husband of Elizabeth (Scopel-Amity) and the late Claire (Erny); very proud father of David, Joeseph III, Leo, Jackie Kirby, Rock, Daniel and the late Vincent; brother of Leo, Margaretmary Zoffel and the late David; also survived by nine grandchildren; three step-children and six step-grandchildren. Joe attend St. Fidelis for six years where he was an all around athlete in baseball, basketball and tennis. While serving in WWII, he studied pre-med at Tulane and also attended the University of Nebraska. He received his Bachelor's and Master's Degree at the University of Pittsburgh. He began his teaching career at Central Catholic where he taught Science and was coach of the swimming and tennis teams. He then went on to teach in the Pittsburgh Public School System for 35 years. After retiring, he served as a substitute teacher for both the Pittsburgh and the Parochial School Systems. Joe could also be seen and heard in the stands of Three Rivers Stadium vending, and was well known by his many catchy phrases selling his product from 1979 to the present. He also enjoyed the notoriety of being the one and only vendor at Mt. Lebanon High School stadium. Many Pittsburgh's may also have learned their driving skills from Joe, as he was a Driver's Ed Instructor. Friends received 2-4 & 7-9 Sat & Sun at Anthony G. Staab Funeral Home, 900 Chartiers Ave., W.E. Pgh. Mass and Christian Burial in Guardian Angels Parish, St. Martin Church on Mon at 10 am.

Uncle Joe - words from my dad (Leo M. Rauterkus) about his big brother, Joe

Joseph A. Rauterkus, Jr. Born: June 21, 1922 Died: Feb. 3, 2000 

For Big Bro

I'm here because the one we are paying tribute to my Big Brother. But he was more. He was my mentor, my friend. 

He love me, and was great to be around. He has always been something special. Joe was a great loving father who encouraged every one at every turn. He was non-judgmental - and even though he was given much reason to -- he never raised his voice. 

Joe lived life to the fullest.

He had extreme faith in God which spread to all around him. He was a fine teacher who managed to teach even if you weren't in his classroom. I venture to say that most of you were never in his classroom but if you knew Joe very well, he taught you many of the important things about life. 

Joe loved to be involved with people, no matter what they were doing. He thoroughly enjoyed vending at the ball park. That's where the action was. And it was another opportunity to serve ... to teach ... to be on stage as when pushing ice cream as with 'The Ice Man Cometh.' Oh, sure, you could get a bag of peanuts for $.35 at the Giant Eagle, but these are "older, more mature Ball Park Peanuts -- $2.25, please. Here, enjoy this gum - on the house." 

Joe was very competitive. He loved the thrill of the game and encouraged his children to enjoy the same. Joe was a fine tennis and baseball player. He enjoyed the game for what it was. he never rubbed it in. I can remember of time Joe was in a tennis tournament down in New Orleans while he was in the Army. The top seeded player was quoted as saying, "If I had to lose, I'm glad it was to Joe." He was a worthy opponent and a true gentleman. 

Joe's life was divided into several parts. Some were constant like raising and caring for his kids. He cared and encouraged to the very end. He took care and nursed Claire though cancer. There wasn't anything that she wanted that he couldn't get for her. He said if he had know the outcome that her last breath would have been tinged with nicotine. 

Then a new chapter in his life -- Betty entered the picture. In Joe's own well organized, point-driven way of determining another suitable spouse, Betty won -- hands down. Betty told me that God gave Joe to her as a special gift, and I know that Joe thought of Betty as his special gift. And that's the way the past 5-and-a-half years went, after Father Kevin here tied the Nuptial Knot. Joe and Betty treated each other as special gifts from God. And rightly so -- they deserved each other. 

I feel in my heart that Joe wanted to teach us to treat each other as Special Gifts.

I am going to stop now. Good-bye my dear Big Brother. You'll be sorely missed by us all. 

 We love you.

A day at UCDC -- a GREAT experience, as always

Grant's update.

Steelers vs. Titans, Section 447, Row F, Seat 3

Went to the game, 3RS, #10 on the schedule. Ticket price was $44.76 and city tax was $2.24 = total $47.00.

The Pittsburgh planning process is not fair. UPMC and South Side -- go figure

Exact date unsure.

The Process of Planning Is NOT Fair, NOT Democratic and NOT Understood by Most

The South Side Forum, a facist organization, fails in the following test of political fairness.

This opinion is based upon first person observations by someone who has attended all the meetings since November.

Furthermore, the proposed plans for UPMC to build a sports performance compound is not fair, not democratic, nor understood.

Three Tests of Political Fairness

from Lani Guinier
1. Does the system mobilize or discourage participation?
2. Does the system encourage genuine debate or foster polarization?
3. Does the system promise real inclusion or only token representation?

Vibrant Democracy Action Makes Us Great!

Vibrant democracy action does not occur at the South Side Planning Forum. Other pages can discussion the merits and faults of that charter and their conscious districting, but for now, think of fascism in all mentions of seeing either the South Side Planning Forum and the LTV Steering Committee.

Fascism

A system of government characterized by rigid one-party dictaorship, forcible suppression of opposition, private economic enterprise under centralized governmental control, belligerent nationalism....

We need all voices to have a reasonable influence throughout the extended political process. There are many systems and schemes to choose among to insure that this occurs, and a strict consensus operation isn't among the suitable alternatives.

The planning process should reward and champion the highest and best use, rather than be a series of binary decisions that cause a regression to the mean or lowest-common denominator effect. With a consensus operation at the helm, our future is flat.

As is the present case, the South Side Planning Forum does not offer even a modest level of checked and balanced to the planning process. Rather, the URA, as a part of the executive structure (Mayor's Office), advances plans to the South Side Planning Forum, much like the President of the U.S. might advance plans to the Cabinet. The Cabinet is hand chosen. So too is the URA and in turn the South Side Planning Forum.

Cabinet

A body of official advisers to a president, king, governor, etc. In the U.S. comprised of the heads of the various governmental departments.

Cabinet members should agree with the executives and should work as a sounding board for fine-tuning ideas and policy decisions. Renegade cabinet members might hurt the administration, as there are times for agreement and times for democracy.

URA Official, but, but, but, but....

A URA official, Jermoe Detore, was at the table with City Council on March 17 at a discussion session that was on the city cable network. He was present for a short discussion as City Council had just given a preliminary vote for the sale of the IBEW site.

The reading of the petitions that was a call from the citizens of Pittsburgh to hold a public hearing on this matter was made. Rightly so, the members of council quickly approved the matter. And, Mr. Detore said, "I'm not sure what this is all about."

He said, "But, we've been working with the South Side community."

"You want to have a public hearing?

"There will be a public hearing before the Planning Commission."

Dan Cohen (city council) said that this was a request of the citizens and City Council did not have any choice.

Meanwhile Jim Ferlo (city council) said that there will be plenty of Public Hearings on this matter.

Yes, the URA has been working with the South Side Planning Forum. Yes, the South Side Planning Forum has a LTV Steering Committee that has held a number of special meetings on this topic. Those meetings are important to the URA and help to uncover some additional information. But do not equate an approval by the South Side Planning Forum as any type of grass-roots approval by the citizens of the South Side. Their approval comes under a cloud of facist control.

Ignorance: The Most Dangerous Assumption

City Council can not assume that the plans that advance out of the U.R.A. and are filtered by the South Side Planning Forum have any inkling of community-wide support. The Planning Forum's model of resentation is invalid and the Planning Forum's operational dignity confirms this bias.

The plans that advance out of the U.R.A. are bounced to a selected few in the neighborhood. The plans might get tweeked about, sorta like window dressings. Furthermore, the delivery of the plans to the selected few in the neighborhood gives the U.R.A., its developers and its partners ample opportunities to refine presentations and rehetoric.

The salesmanship is finly tuned, but the wolf is still under the nicly pressed sheep's clothing.

City Council can't shrug its duty to represent the people by bestowing false credtabilty on the flawed process.

The only governmental body to serve as a check to the planning process as instigated by the URA is City Council. This is a grave responsibility that needs to be realized. Do not think that the citizens of an area are in strong support or even of marginal support of what is being done by the URA because the local groups say its okay.

The local planning groups are really cabinet level supporters of the U.R.A. Nothing more.

It seems that the South Side Planning Forum can please only one entity per meeting each month. Citizens, this month is not yours. Next month isn't looking good either.

Needing a Planning Forum and a Steering Committee is like needing a parachute. If the outfit isn't there the first time its called upon, chances are people won't be needing those avenues again.

Smoothing the Harshness

To be sure, the South Side Planning Forum does serve a purpose. The purpose is to be a sounding board to the URA. The purpose of the South Side Planning Forum is not to speak for the people. The purpose is not to prop up the creditability of the URA's plans in the mind's eye of City Council, the School Board, nor the County officials.

The South Side Planning Forum should go about its ways and should not be terminated. These good people do good work. Do not be fooled into thinking that this good work is anything close to good work based upon a democratic process.

Wrongly Named Organizations

The LTV Steering Committee might want to change its name, so as to not confuse additional people, to the LTV Back-seat Committee. The steering has ended.

More Input to Come

As things progress, the sale of the properties to the respective developers from the URA is going to occur. At that time, there is ample opportunity to make sure that the design forum folks insure that colors of the curtins don't clash. That authority for after-sale conditions is questionable.

Haste Makes Waste --- Rushing!

The urgency of the sale of properties on the South Side Works looms very large for a number of reasons. Urgent deadlines seem to be self-imposed places in time that are managed by strange forces in nature.

When it comes to hiring employees, the City of Pittsburgh lets its deadlines slip. The Mayor can't seem to hire a Fire Chief, week after week goes by and nothing happens. The hiring delays are unmatched only by the seemingly strong love for deadlines on development projects.

Ya gotta love the deadline mentality, especially the whooshing sound deadlines make as they go flying by.

In early Feb 99, UPMC started to move earth with the graders, on behalf of the URA, without closing the benefit of a signed deal.

Rushing Ahead While Looking Backwards

Community members need to get smart with our presentations about the South Side Sports Performance compound. Let's get smart and tell the world, the School Board, the City Council members, and the County officials as such. The Pitt leadership won't know otherwise. To explain Pitt's disregard to urban planning and its neighbors is epic. We could tell you everthing that has happened in Oakland, but your brain would explode.

There are very few personal problems that cannot be solved through a suitable application of high incentives for community access program facilities.

To champion community access goes way beyond program decisions. Facility requirements and constraints are important issues that need to be fully explored before the foundation gets laid in steel, brick and concrete.

The line-up of community facilities in Pittsburgh has a number of serious shortcommings. Our needs are grave in some areas. The specific areas of need are covered by other sections of this paper and are subect to some additional speculation.

Realize that 90% of all of C.M.U. graduates depart the Pittsburgh area upon graduation. That type of human-resource retention is unacceptable. Needs exist, undoubtably.

So, we're working among ourselves to prioritize and express various needs and concerns. We'll tell Pitt what is needed, and Pitt will tell us how to get along without it. Pitt has done this over and over again when it comes to employee fitness, recreation opportunities and other quality of life issues with structured community play -- things that need facilities.

Nursing School Fitness Center

A new fitness certer was built in the ground floor of the Pitt Nursing School. The clamor to get that facility built lasted for years before the space was found. The need still exists for 10 additional sites, just for students on campus. The need for 10 or more additional sites is also exploding with the faculty, staff and employess.

Pitt wants the community to accept that some days we're the pigeons, and some days we're the pigeon droppings.

I don't have an attitude problem. You have a perception problem.

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

In the fall of 1999, we'll take a walk along the river banks and looking up to the stars in the sky and think to ourselves, "Where in the heck are the stars?!" The flood of lights will wash-out the night sky.

In the fall of 2000, we'll be working out in the weight room, and looking up to push out some of the reps on the bench press and think to ourselves, "Where the heck is the ceiling?!"

UPMC officials boasted by saying, "Pitt turns off its lights at night. We don't run the lights in the parking lots." That comment was to sound sensative and very neighbor-friendly. Well, it might be in other places, like in Cannonsburg. Downtown goes to sleep at night too. The South Side isn't elsewhere. If UPMC comes to the South Side, there is a great chance that we'll want you to keep the lights of the parking lot ON at night. We use our spaces beyond the 9-5 business hours, as we live, play and work here. That is balance. --- My Reality Check bounced. --- On the keyboard of life, as we plan with UPMC, let's always keep one finger on the escape key. --- People in Pittsburgh don't suffer from stress, obesity, back aches, and other wellness issues. We're carriers. Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level then beat you with experience.

Dear Friends and Folks with connections to the 'burgh!

Advance Notice. Call for LOCAL (Pgh. PA) Political Action, No $ Solicitation

Seeking Sports and Fitness Advocates for a newly forming Coalition

Those with brain-power to spare with political, grass-roots, and community access interests are most welcome to join the South Side's Markethouse Athletic Association as we convene a coalition to champion ideas and issues central to sports participation opportunities.

Present: The URA (Pittsburgh, PA's Urban Renewal Authority, http://www.ura.org, and UPMC (Univ. of Pittsburgh Medical Center, http://www.upmc.edu, have begun a 90-day OPEN DISCUSSION period. A $25-30M sports-medicine / sports-performance compound is on the drawing board for a large section of the LTV site on the South Side.

Past: At the Washington's Landing development, the URA invested $3M in tennis courts and park space. Furthermore a .9 acre site is leased at nominal charge to the non-profit Three Rivers Rowing Association, http://www.threeriversrowing.org, for its boathouse, fitness center and offices. Gems like these found in other development projects are uncertain -- quote: community access issues are nebulous at best -- when it comes to the LTV site.

Future: Ideas and voices needs to be organized and shared.

Please send email to: NUKED...

Get further information and a kit geared to getting yourself, community agencies and regional businesses into this extended planning process.


Mark Rauterkus

Thanks for listening. This advance notice was posted by Mark Rauterkus, convener's chair, NUKED. The message went to a number of contacts such as yourself via BCC. Your address is part of Mark's personal email address listings. News agencies, thanks for NOT publishing, rather wait for the pending OFFICIAL Press Release. Feel free to forward this message others you know who might be keenly interested. Please do NOT post as spam or broadcast to USENET Newsgroups.

Exiting Cannon Mac

Letter to the coaches that I hired, when CM couldn't find anyone to coach. 

Letter from a student who was new to the sport. Thanks Shannon!

so much dysfunction in their own words

Assistant girls basketball coach -- ha, ha, ha.

RIP, good friend to many, Jerry A. O'Neil, Jr.

Funeral was heart breaking. 

Christmas Letter -- 1999

Happy Holidays 1999 from the Palmer/Rauterkus family
108 South 12th Street Pittsburgh, PA 15203
Mark@SportSurf.Net cvp@vms.cis.pitt.edu

This year has been full of family fun and adventure.

Catherine continued to hold two positions at the University of Pittsburgh. One as a faculty member in the Communication Science and Disorders Department -- teaching and running a research laboratory. The other as the Director of Audiology and Hearing Aids at the University Medical Center. A year into this new combination still shows a love of the challenge and the new responsibilities. Being recognized with the Dean's Distinguished Teaching Award was an honor this year.

Mark continued in his commitment to be home for Erik and Grant. They are happy, confident, and self-assured boys because of it. As if this isn't enough, Mark took on several social action projects throughout the year and became a regular on TV while addressing Pittsubrgh's City Council. Although not all of the causes went our way (it looks like they will be taking down Pitt Stadium), it made the whole family proud to know that Daddy was helping with his input into the future of the city. Mark's grumble, "Feudal Pittsburgh."

Mark started to venture back into swim coaching as Grant started pre-school three days per week in the fall. Our schedules don't always quite work, but coaching is clearly Mark's calling and the swimmers are lucky to have him back. Of course, his coaching never really stopped with Erik swimming width-wise across the pool and Grant jumping in and swimming to a waiting parent. Grant can now be heard calling from the side of the pool, "move back, move back" as he propels himself into the water. Mark went to San Diego for a coaching conference, renewing a lot of old friendships.

Erik is a bright, sensitive five-year old attending pre-school three days a week. Erik and Catherine just began Suzuki Violin and are having a wonderful time with it. A block away from our house is the Market House, a wonderful athletic programs for tykes. Erik has enjoyed baseball, soccer, and hockey as well as ice and in-line skating. Grant is a rough and ready two-year old attending the same pre-school and loving it that brother is only a classroom away. Grant has a wonderful sense of humor and keeps us in stitches most of the time. Judging from his sense of adventure and lack of fear, he also may be in stitches! Grant is part thud, part butterflyer. The boys spent many joyful summer hours in Grandma's back yard (across from our house) playing in the wading pool, discovering bugs, writing with chalk and playing with balls.

Last year was a home year -- and this year we traveled. We worked and visited coast-to-coast in 99.

In March, Catherine ventured to Vermont to lead a workshop. That was the first return there since Uncle Sam and Aunt Barbara got married. It went so well that another group asked for a return visit/lecture. So, the whole family went back to Vermont in the fall. It was a three state adventure that allowed a wonderful celebration of Erik's 5th birthday along with visits to Grandpa (Maine), Aunt Pat, Uncle Charlie, and cousin Sandy (Wellsley, MA), a close UMASS friend (P in Southborough, MA), and then finally Burlington, Vermont. Catherine spoke and the family got to catch up with cousin Susan.

Catherine had a great visit with Aunt Debbi in Florida and Aunt Debbi made it to Pittsburgh to see the rest of the family later in the summer. She is a special Aunt, Great Aunt, and Godmother to Grant.

Erik, Grant, and Mommy decided to take Daddy to Chicago for his 40th birthday in May. We traveled with a babysitter and had a wonderful celebration of Mark's birthday and our good friend's 10th wedding anniversary. We were able to catch up with Northwestern friends during the trip. After years of combining work and vacation, the family went to a week long camp: the Southern Unitarian Universalist Summer Institute (SUUSI). What a magical week for everybody - music, fun, spiritual enrichment. Best of all, cousin Cameron from Connecticut agreed to make the trip with us. Now we expect this to be an annual event.

October saw us back at Mark's sisters annual Hootenanny (eastern PA) and we all slept in a tent -- the boys loved it!

Another conference took Catherine to San Francisco in November and Ed, Lori (Erik's godparents) and Margaret and Gerrit Bratt were wonderful hosts during meeting breaks.

There were several nice visits with Uncle Bob who has a standing monthly call with Erik where they discuss the pros and cons of "The Force" and depending on droids. Both are big Star Wars fans!.

The coming year will see a family trip to Arizona for a little work and lots of play with friends who moved out there from Pittsburgh. The family also will wave bye to Catherine for another solo trip, to Chicago were she is in charge of the research portion of the national Audiology conference. In June 2000, Mark and Catherine are going without the boys to Prague and Vienna for a little work and play.

We hope you will let us know if you are coming near or by Pittsburgh - we'd love to see you.

The extended family was made larger by cousin Katie's birth. We are soon to add a baby from the Majewski family and one from the McLaughlin family. Erik and Grant will boast 11 cousins in all and every one of them fun to play with!

We will be bringing in the New Year with Grandma and Cousin Cameron who will come in from Connecticut. Have a happy, healthy, and safe Y2K.

Team Communication and Clarity

 On our first day of practice, Nov. 15, 2001, I passed out a 3 page listing of various activities and such for the team's knowledge.

The HS AD and both Principals got copies of this by Nov. 16. 

Here is one such change to that handout I've made -- so as to be "PERFECTLY CLEAR." 

Reactions and feedback welcomed. 

snip #1 --- A Lesson's Time and Space

There are no optional and no mandatory practices. Those terms hold us back. "Don't let the chains hold us back." Every event is a date. Always act with personal integrity. end snip #1 --- 

Please understand this: Nothing within my program has the designation of "MANDATORY." 

I tell the swimmers and their families that I try as best as possible to look at both the big picture and the small picture. If someone has out of town guest or even travels out of town on Thanksgiving -- fine -- I understand that. That is a look at the big picture of life. Visiting grandma in New York with a family trip is more important than being at a holiday practice. That is my approach. 

Furthermore, I want to know in advance in writing that the athlete is going to be away then -- however. I treat each practice/session/lesson like a "date." I don't like to be "stood up" on a date without advance notice. I want the athlete to tell me and leave me a note -- not the parent. 

This advance notice calls for personal integrity and being curious, I feel. There are fewer rules in my program -- but there are higher expectations as I'm going to hold the kids to higher behaviors from themselves by my expectations and my interactions with them. 

I don't have built in penalties for missed practices and such. I feel that in life, very little in life is "MANDATORY" and most of things are "optional." So too is the lifestyle of being an athlete and striving for personal excellence. 

People get to make choices in the real world. I want my program to be a spring-board to life -- and we want to develop skills for the athletes that are smoothly transferable to other life challenges. On the other hand, my swim program is NOT like an academic program or the operation of the H.S.

Many things in academics are MANDATORY. Rambling off. 

snip #2.

Sun. Nov 21 Join wrestlers at HS for gym and plyometrics at 1:00-2:00. Mark will be there. end snip #2

---- Notice, this event, has been changed on the "official" schedule. It now reads: 

snip #3 --- Sun. Nov 21 Opportunity to join wrestlers at HS for open gym at 1:00-2:00. Mark will be there. end snip #3 --- 

From my perspective, an open gym opportunity for the swim team and divers (as well as other in the greater HS community) -- when we are NOT going to the pool, when we are playing with another squad, when we are there for 1-hour, when it is on a SUNDAY, and when everything in my program is optional --- is NOT a practice. 

The remark from a page in the handbook said the following: 

3. No team representing a P.I.A.A. member school may practice or participate in any interscholastic athletic contest on more than six days in any calendar week during the regular season. Furthermore, this rule is easily side-stepped on many weeks of the season at many different schools when a swim teams compete in weekend meets within their "CLUB" setting. The HS coach has practices Monday through Friday and then the team swims a CLUB meet on Saturday and Sunday. Often the same coach is with the kids on the team(s) day-in-and-day-out months on end, yet alone never for 7 consecutive days. The reasoning -- and it is legit justifications -- is the fact that the HS team is not this CLUB team. Hence, everything is okay. 

Here, at CM, the kids are at a disadvantage because there is such a floundering club that has a counter-effect with the overall program. The kids at USC, BP, Mt. Lebo all have it much better than those at CM. All of those coaches are seeing all of their kids 7-days per week for weeks on end. 

At another time and place in my career, I recall years when I had two days off. One was Christmas, the other day off was Easter. On all other days I was working with the kids in some capacity. 

I am sure that Julie Rocks, a former coach, went to 2-day meets with some of the kids after a week of practices. I think we all agree that we want to be competitive and we want to be within the framework of the rules as well. Both are going to occur without doubt. And, we also need to keep a clear perspective on how we want to build the program for the future as I feel some of the program's infrastructure is in dire need of attention for long-term considerations. 

Hence, the serious attention to the passed memo with the highlighted area that came to me from the AD. 

I hope this makes sense. Thanks for listening.

Big Mac Swimming

Coaching Staff Bios for the Big Mac Winter Sports Program Book

The 99-00 season marks the start of a new era for Canon-McMillian Swimming and Diving program. Mark Rauterkus was hired as the varsity coach, and he assembled and recruited a new staff, including a new diving coach, Danielle, and two assistants, Shannon and Katie. Warm appreciation from the present staff goes to both, former coach, Julie Rocks, as her efforts helped to re-craft the positions, and the new AD, Dan Pallante.

Head Coach: Mark Rauterkus

Mark is ending a second mini-retirement from day-to-day swim coaching to lead this year's Big Mac team. Mark said, "I'm excited to be here -- and now I'm looking for long-term opportunities in coaching."

Mark began coaching in 1976, starting a NEW summer team in east-suburban Pittsburgh. He and fell in love with the sport as an assistant at Greater Pittsburgh Swim Club. He moved to become the head coach for the Athens (Ohio) Swim Club (3-years), assist the Ohio Univ. Men's team (4-years), and get a BS in Journalism (82). Mark went to Baylor Univ. (Texas) for grad studies in HPER as a teaching assistant/coach. Mark took the Peoria, Illinois team to #2 state finishes in both Age Group, and Senior Championships getting a couple of "spirit awards." Mark coached with Bradley Univ., Bernal's Gators in Mass. (then at Harvard), Evanston (IL), New Trier (IL), and Plum High School. In both seasons at Plum (early 90s), the girls team finished #2 in WPIAL Championships, each year winning 3 events with many All-America honors. Mark's swimmers have set state records in 4 states.

When not coaching, Mark has been a stay-at-home dad (recently), sports advocate and a publisher of cutting-edge sports participation titles, working on more than 100 various titles, including 12 swimming-specific books.

Mark hopes to build a program of excellence that includes activities beyond the pool, including a sports lecture series and many high-tech enrichment experiences for our team and community.

Mark and his family reside in Pittsburgh's South Side. Catherine V. Palmer, Ph.D., is the Director of the Eye and Ear Institute and a teacher/researcher at Pitt. Sons are Erik, 5, and Grant, 2 in Dec. 99.

Diving Coach: Danielle Waters

Danielle grew up in the North Hills, graduated from Hampton High School (92) and was a Hampton diver for four years. Danielle received a BS degree in Hearing and Speech Sciences from Ohio University. While at O.U. she was a member of the Division I diving team for four years, was a Mid American Conference meet qualifier three times, a NCAA qualifier, and a team captain.

Danielle attended grad school at the University of Pittsburgh from 1996-1998. While getting her Masters degree she coached the Hampton High School Diving Team (1997-1998).

Danielle got married in August, 1999, and lives in Bridgeville. She is currently a clinical audiologist for Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.

Assistant Coach: Shannon Pickett

Shannon, 22, is presently a graduate student at the University of Pittsburgh. She has a B.S. degree in Communication Disorders from Central Michigan University. She swam for fourteen years on a YMCA team where she was named MVP for four years and held many team records in various events. She also swam at the college level at Grand Valley State University for two years.

Shannon's coaching experience ranges from beginning swimmers to high school and was a private swim instructor for adults and children. She also coached for the Special Olympics and swam with the Deaf Olympic swim team. Shannon is very excited about the opportunities to work with swimmers this season.

Assistant Coach: Katie Moore

Katie, 22, is a graduate student at the University of Pittsburgh, pursuing a masters in Audiology. She has a B.S.ED. from the University of Georgia in Communication Sciences and Disorders. She is a former high school and intramural college swimmer, having swam competitively for a total of twelve years.

Katie has experience coaching beginning and intermediate swimmers on club teams and in private lessons. Her coaching emphasis is in technique, stroke work, and conditioning. She is looking forward to an exciting and productive swimming season this year.