Fwd: URGENT PERSONAL APPEAL YOUR HELP IS NEEDED

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "The Black Political Empowerment Project(B-PEP)" <mstanyalong@gmail.com>
Date: May 11, 2012 4:49 PM
Subject: URGENT PERSONAL APPEAL YOUR HELP IS NEEDED
To: <mark@rauterkus.com>

Having trouble viewing this email? Click here

Hello,  It is the eleventh hour before the clock strikes midnight !! Our goal is to get a minimum of 200 people out tomorrow to hear George Curry, Ron Daniels, Neill Franklin, and Nkechi Taifa all of whom are coming from out of town! I'm asking you to do 4 things; 1) talk or call 5 people to come to the Town Hall Meeting, 2) circulate this email to all of your family and friends, 3) invite people through your FaceBook page and finally 4) invite members, clients, customers of your organization to turnout for for this historic movement building event. If if you have already contacted people a day before reminder is urgently needed. You can highlight and delete this message from me, use the subject line below and FORWARD this email-please pass it on widely. Thank you and see you Friday.   Yours in the struggle, Rick Adams Press Release   For Immediate Release                                                                   The Institute of the Black World 21st Century Addresses the War on Drugs is a War on Us   The Institute of the Black World 21ST Century (IBW) will convene a Town Hall Meeting to increase public awareness about the devastating impact of the "War on Drugs" on the Black community. This very significant meeting will be held at Pittsburgh Obama (Formerly Reizenstein School) 129 Denniston Ave (Across from Bakery Square, Penn Ave, next to Mellon Park) , Pittsburgh, PA. 15206, Friday, May 11, 2012, 6:00 pm (doors open at 5:30 pm).   Dr. Ron Daniels, President of the New York based Institute of the Black World 21ST Century (IBW), states President Richard M. Nixon launched the War on Drugs 41 years ago to halt the trafficking of illegal drugs in the U.S.   Dr. Daniels states, "Black communities have been a primary target for selective policing practices that have resulted in the mass incarceration of millions of Black people. Families and communities have been disrupted and devastated by a racially biased policy, specifically, it has had a destructive impact on Black communities across the nation."   Working in conjunction with a local planning committee comprised of criminal justice and drug policy reform advocates, heads of community based organizations and faith leaders; IBW has assembled a stellar panel of speakers to address the disastrous effects of the War on Drugs on Black people.  George Curry, Executive Director of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), who writes a weekly syndicated column for the NNPA, a federation of more than 200 African-American newspapers will serve as the Keynote Presenter for the event.  Other speakers and panelists will include:  Deborah Small Esq., Executive Director, Break the Chains: Communities of Color and the War on Drugs; Neill Franklin, Executive Director, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition; Reginald Good V. P. Pittsburgh Association of Black Social Workers , Marcia Sturdivant, Deputy Director Allegheny County Department of Human Services, Office of Children, Youth and Families and Bernadette Turner, Executive Director Addison Behavioral Care.   Also, individuals affected by the War on Drugs will offer testimonials about their experiences.   Additionally, panelists will present alternatives including viewing drugs as a community health challenge rather than a criminal justice issue, and they will discuss whether drugs should be legalized to stop the violence and killing in Black communities.  Attorney Nkechi Taifa, Senior Policy Analyst, Open Society Foundations, will be the Moderator/Facilitator for the conversation which will include comments, questions and answers from the audience. Further, Dr. Daniels indicates that a major goal of the Town Hall Meeting is to encourage policy advocates and concerned citizens to work more closely together to end the War on Drugs and adopt more just and humane alternatives.   Finally, IBW will convene a debriefing and strategy meeting Saturday, May 12th, to explore the formation of a criminal justice /drug policy reform collaborative which would meet periodically to discuss ways of effectively advancing an agenda for positive change. Co-sponsoring the Town Hall Meeting is the National Council for Urban Peace and Justice, Addison Behavioral Care, Bethany House Academy, National Association of Black Social Workers Pittsburgh, Center for Family Excellence The Alleghenians, LTD, INC, and the Western Pennsylvania Black Political Assembly. For further information or to arrange interviews contact: Tuarone Thomas, Events & Project Manager 412-731-2353 x 124

Forward this email This email was sent to mark@rauterkus.com by mstanyalong@gmail.com |   Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy. The Black Political Empowerment Project(B-PEP) | C/O The Hill House Center | 1835 Centre Avenue | Pittsburgh | PA | 15219

Ice Cream. We all scream and run for ice cream.

Sit your ass down Pittsburgh

Folly of Bruce Kraus -- on the same day

Yesterday I went to Pittsburgh City Council to stand with nearly 100 other men in advance of the special day, Take a Father to School, on May 18, 2012.

While I was there, I got to see another activist friend, Jennifer E, also a PPS parent. She was there to speak about the pending 'Will of Council.'

I heard some of that conversation and took note how my member of council, Bruce Kraus, was ranting about how this generation is not going to understand home ownership as did the folks in the past. So, he is all in favor of home ownership, it seems. 

But then later the same day, at a South Side meeting, he is silent on the proposed NID. The NID is a Neighborhood Improvement District that authorizes a new tax collected from the residents and business owners on the South Side Flats. We can be paying another $500 or so in taxes a year if this passes. But, it is a tax that does NOT go to the city. It goes to this wonky group of NID folks who are fully outside the reach of GOVERNMENT, but within the reach of FORCE by TAXES. 

To me, it seems CRAZY that Bruce Kraus would be silent on the NID proposal as the NID is going to be a NEW, HUGE hardship against home ownership. Kraus seems willing to bitch at President Obama and rant so that the bankers can go to jail for the home finance ills of the past. But, Kraus is not willing to shut down the new tax on home owners. 

Once again, he is making folly and talking (or not talking) out of both ends at the same time.

PAT LTE in Trib from Nick

As a Port Authority of Allegheny County patron who doesn't own a car and is also a libertarian, I can summarize the situation with the Port Authority as follows: All eyes and hopes are on state government to take money from other people throughout Pennsylvania and give it to the Port Authority so that we won't be forced to pay the true costs of transit in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County.

It's a balled-up mess for the following reasons:

• The unions have forced the Port Authority to pay its employees salaries that the transit agency does not want to pay and that could not be had in a situation without politicians forcing the agency to accept union demands.

• The Port Authority is expected to serve sparsely populated suburban areas, which cannot be done economically.

• The suburban and rural areas in the state could not survive without state and federal subsidies for their infrastructure and amenities, those subsidies being tax dollars coming from densely populated areas.

The only sustainable solution is stop all subsidies to everyone. All subsidies (taking money from one person and giving it to another) are immoral and must stop in a free society. Then we will see where people live and how they spend their own money. I guarantee that we would see a migration of people from suburbs to cities.

Nick Kyriazi, Deutschtown

International Water Safety Day is May 15

May 15, 2012 is the Inaugural International Water Safety Day (IWSD). Please tell us how many people you will spread the message of water safety to by filling out the "What's you Reach?" portion of the IWSD website. Anthony Ervin, US Olympic Swimming Gold Medalist, former World Record Holder & World Champion has become an official spokesperson for International Water Safety Day (IWSD).

Visit the website

Fwd: Joanie is in Chile!

Joanie's blog while she is in Chile!

 
http://joanieguyerchileplus3.blogspot.com/


--
--
Ta.
 
 
Mark Rauterkus       Mark.Rauterkus@gmail.com    
PPS Summer Dreamers' Swim and Water Polo Camp Head Coach with Neighborhood Learning Alliance

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

Baseball. Brashear at Dice

Economic Liberty in Philly event with Public Banking push

Too long to post to the web here, but interesting economic moves and a movement forms.

Link to a google document.

The start of the document:

Economic Liberty From Philadelphia

By Scott Baker | OpEd News
May 4, 2012

The First Annual Meeting of the Public Banking Institute in Philadelphia provided a chance
for people to examine economic solutions, network, and just maybe, pave the way for a new
paradigm of economic justice and opportunity.

Public Banking Institute 2012 Conference by Public Banking Institute

The first annual Public Banking Institute meeting was held in Philadelphia (http://
www.publicbankinginamerica.org/home.htm) last weekend, April 26-28, 2012.

The pre-meeting get-together of about 22 State coordinators (like me – NY), was a chance to
see how far we’ve come – 17, soon to be 18, States now have some form of public banking
bills in active status, all introduced since 2010. This is testament not only to the depths of the
economic crisis, but also to the broad realization that the old solutions – taxing, borrowing, and
even Keynesian stimulus, simply don’t work anymore. It was clear from both the Coordinators’
meeting and from the larger conference that followed, that:

A. The debt-based money system is fundamentally unsound and unsustainable, and

B. That some form of Public Bank, state-wide, or even nationally, needs to be
established to return money to, as guest speaker and Libertarian presidential candidate
Bill Still put it, “We the People.”

..... it continues

Vote for Your Favorite Grow Your Own Business Challenge Idea

Vote for Your Favorite Grow Your Own Business Challenge Idea
Your friend Mark Rauterkus has voted for a great business idea and wants you to help the best idea win! Meet the 5 finalists and the 3 team finalists: Your friend's message: You all need to rush to this site and vote for Aria, 12, and her quest to win a NATIONAL Biz Contest with her idea, Shine So Bright. Biz idea is a develop a crafter's kit for light up LED elements for clothing N@.
What's Next? Keep track of the Grow Your Own Business Challenge @

Sponsored By

Educational Partner

Secret Millionaires Club Created By

Produced By

| Produced by BKFK | 1177 High Ridge Road | Stamford, CT 06905 | www.bkfk.com |

 

Ride of silence.

Who: Cyclists -- road, recreation, commuter, race, triathlon. All who legally share the road.

What: The Pittsburgh arm of the worldwide Ride Of Silence™ bike rally. See http://rideofsilence.org

Why:

• to honor those cyclists injured or killed on public roadways

• to raise awareness of cyclists on the road

• to demonstrate responsible road sharing

• to show that cyclists are not going away

When: Wednesday, May 16, 2011, 7:00 PM. Gather at 6:45 PM (evening)

RAIN DATE: Monday, May 28, 2011, 6:45 AM (morning).

Check the WPW website (www.wpwbikeclub.org) for clarification if weather seems iffy.

Pittsburgh start location: Southside - 26th & Sidney (behind REI).

Route is 10 miles, roughly http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/34042598/

THE RIDE OF SILENCE WILL NOT BE QUIET

• On the third Wednesday of May around the world, cyclists will take to the roads in a silent protest of the carnage taking place on the streets.

• Chris Phelan organized the first Ride Of Silence in Dallas in

· 2003 after endurance cyclist Larry Schwartz was killed by a passing bus mirror on an empty road.

• The Ride Of Silence is a free ride that asks its cyclists to ride at a slow pace and remain silent during the ride.

• The ride hopes to raise cycling awareness during bike safety month to motorists, police, traffic engineers, insurance companies, and city officials. The ride is also a chance to mourn, in funeral procession style, those who have already been killed.

• The ride requests black arm bands be worn, red only if you have had a bike/motor vehicle accident. Helmets are required; bright clothing and lights are highly recommended for the ride home. There are no fees charged anyone to participate.

How we will ride in Pittsburgh:

• Double file, side by side, keeping to a single lane, and to the right of the yellow line where it exists. (Most of the roads we will use do not have lanes wide enough to safely share) Stop and wait at all red lights - we're a big group and will undoubtedly be breaking up and regrouping as we go along. If there is slower traffic in the lane, we'll just wait for it.

• Please bring bikes in good repair, as there will be no official mechanical support or transportation.

• Helmets are required. Ipods and the like are frowned upon.

• Children aged 12 and under should be in trailers, trail-a-bikes, tandems or the like, not riding independently.

• This ride takes place on city streets, with potholes, surface hazards, motor vehicles and other cyclists riding in close proximity.

• Participants must use their own judgment and be responsible for their own safety. If at any time, you feel that you can no longer participate safely, please pull off the route and wait until the rest of the ride has passed.

Pittsburgh Ride of Silence Contact for 2012: Jim Logan (jimlogan@verizon.net)

The Pittsburgh Ride of Silence is endorsed by Western Pennsylvania Wheelmen, Bike Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Major Taylor Cycling Club, and Flock of Cyclists.

The endorsers and organizer are bearing NO responsibility (financial or otherwise) for the ride. By endorsing it, we are simply stating we believe in the stated goals.

Best Attendance

This winter, I've been going to Westinghouse High School on Wednesdays to work with some of the kids who were interested in playing waterpolo. A dozen or so kids swam with me in the summer at PPS Summer Dreamers, and I wanted to keep them in the pool, even if only on a very limited basis.

They also had a chance to practice another three days a week with Coach Hosea for part of the winter. 

One of the swimmers, D.C., came to the pool more than the others. 

Here he is doing a bit of freestyle and breastroke. This summer, he was going across the pool. Now he is looking strong in the water with nice strokes.

Ribbon cutting for a new YMCA in Pittsburgh's Hill District

I am keen on the new YMCA on Centre Ave as I'll be taking our Summer Dreamers there. We'll use the swim pool for our Swim and Water Polo Camp in July and August 2012.

I had the pleasure of meeting Thelma a few time back in the day. She was a person who shared her thoughts at public comments in public meetings, as I've done as well. She is now living in Arizona and looked great at the ribbon cutting for the new facility.

New NCAA Term: Academic Red Shirt

Those who are now sophomores and freshmen, and younger, you need to bump up your studies and performances in high school so you can play NCAA Division I sports in college. Take a good course load. Get good grades. The 2.0 GPA is NOT going to cut it. 

Where is this? Leave a reply in the comments if you know or want to guess.

Fw: Junior Golf Weekend

From: "Marc Field" <tftpittsburgh@clubmailer.memfirst.net>

Dear TFTP Families, Volunteers & Friends,

This is a reminder that Saturday, May 5th is our First Tee Junior Golf Weekend at The Bob O'Connor Golf Course in Schenley Park.  It is an ideal opportunity for you to see our participants in action firsthand or to introduce our program to a friend, family member or potential donor.  The schedule is:

10 AM - Noon    Bob Ford, head pro at Oakmont Country Club will lead a youth clinic with members of the Tri-State PGA.  This is free and open to all kids ages 7 - 18 years old.

Noon - 1 PM     Members of the Greater Pittsburgh Golf Course Superintendents Association will lead a care of the course workshop highlighting our theme of Responsibility.  They will showing our juniors the proper way to RAKE their bunker, REPLACE their divot, and REPAIR their ball mark (YES!  We will have the debut of sand at The Bob!!).

Please forward and share this email with your friends and we hope to see you here on Saturday.

-- 
Marc Field
The First Tee of Pittsburgh
5370 Schenley Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15217
mfield@thefirstteepittsburgh.org
www.thefirstteepittsburgh.org
412-682-2403
412-682-2405 (fax)

The mission of TFTP is To impact the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values and promote healthy choices through the game of golf.

The First Tee of Pittsburgh is a United Way Donor Choice Agency.  You may direct your United Way contribution to #1436656.  Please consider the environment before printing this email. 

Four students from Obama Academy who made the CONA list

Worry time begins again!

Take a Father to School Day is coming

Mark Brently, Senior, Pgh Public Schools Board Member, has earned a
big award for the Take a Father To School event. It is coming soon.

Fwd: No Hulu for You

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Josh Levy, FreePress.net <info@freepress.net>

This is how we watch TV in the 21st century: We fire up our laptops, our Roku boxes or our mobile devices. We open Hulu. We search for Parks and Recreation. Done. But Hulu's owners — Disney, News Corp. and Comcast, which respectively own ABC, Fox and NBC — are trying to ruin this experience.1 If they have their way, you'll need a cable subscription to watch any TV show on the Internet. Tell the Three Top Executives of the Companies Behind Hulu: You Can't Stop the Future of TV Back in the days before cable, people paid nothing to access network TV over the air. But cable programmers introduced a new model: You pay a lot of money to subscribe to a bundle of channels and then you get all the TV shows you want — and many more that you don't want. It turns out people don't want to pay exorbitant fees for hundreds of channels they'll never watch (Bruce Springsteen wrote "57 Channels and Nothin' On" even before the advent of DogTV). Enter Hulu. The Internet TV site makes it easy for you to watch the shows you want to watch, when you want to watch them, for free. If you want to view them on your mobile device or with an Internet-connected TV, you pay a small monthly fee. That fee, along with traditional commercials, generates revenue. Hulu now boasts 31 million subscribers who like it that way. It's how many of us watch TV, and an innovative model for the future of online entertainment. But Hulu's owners, including Brian Roberts, Bob Iger and Rupert Murdoch, are chucking all of that out the window. These gatekeepers at Comcast, Disney and News Corp are moving to an "authentication" system that would allow only cable TV subscribers to access Hulu. Tell Hulu's Owners: Don't Destroy the Future of TV. These guys are trying to put the Internet genie back in the bottle while destroying the concept of free television that dates back to the earliest days of the medium. It's up to us to tell them to stop. Thanks, Josh, Tim, Candace and the rest of the Free Press team  1. "TV in Real Dime," the New York Post, April 30, 2012: http://act2.freepress.net/go/10025?akid=3486.8833392.17z-pO&t=6 P.S. Like our work? The Free Press Action Fund is powered by donations from people like you. We don't take a single cent from business, government or political parties. Please keep us going strong with a gift of $10 — or more — today. Thank you!

Free Press is a national, nonpartisan organization working to reform the media. Learn more at www.freepress.net. Join us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Fwd: You're Invited: EPLC Education Policy Forum - May 17 - Pittsburgh

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: The Education Policy and Leadership Center

The Education Policy and Leadership Center is pleased to invite you to attend the

PENNSYLVANIA EDUCATION POLICY FORUM
"Western Pennsylvania Breakfast Series"
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Continental Breakfast - 8:00 a.m.
Program - 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.


Holiday Inn Pittsburgh University Center
(100 Lytton Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213)


SUBJECT:
College Completion Agenda


SPEAKERS:


Gregg Fleisher

National AP Training and Incentives Program Director,
National Math+Science Initiative



Marcus S. Lingenfelter
Director, State Government Relations, The College Board

Dr. James Moran
Vice Chancellor for Academic & Student Affairs,
Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and
Acting President, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania



* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The Lumina Foundation, The College Board, and Complete College America are among just a few of the nation's leading organizations calling for a dramatic increase in the percentage of young adults with a 2-year college degree or more to at least 55%. In the recently released College Completion Agenda 2011 Progress Report, Pennsylvania (43.4%) ranks just above the national average of 41.3%, while it trails far behind neighboring states New York (49.2%), New Jersey (46.2%), and Maryland (46.1%). With educated citizens as the basis for innovative, productive, and healthy economies, Pennsylvania currently stands at a disadvantage.

This session will discuss the degree attainment/completion agenda landscape nationally and locally. It will include discussion of best practice policies and programs being utilized around the country seeking to "fix the leaky P-16 pipeline." Also included are a host of resources, data, and policy initiatives from the College Board's Advocacy and Policy Center (http://advocacy.collegeboard.org/).

The College Board's College Completion Agenda Report is available at http://completionagenda.collegeboard.org/sites/default/files/reports_pdf/Progress_Report_2011.pdf

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Please RSVP Today!

Registration is free, but everyone must RSVP at http://www.eplc.org/events-calendar/western-pennsylvania-breakfast-series/.  Please share this invitation with your friends and colleagues.

Thanks to our Sponsors:
AFT Pennsylvania
Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties
College of Education - The Pennsylvania State University
Center for Educational Leadership - University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education
Educational Testing Service (ETS)
OnHand Schools
Pennsylvania Association of Elementary and Secondary School Principals
Pennsylvania Association of Intermediate Units
Pennsylvania Association of Rural and Small Schools
Pennsylvania Association of Pupil Services Administrators
Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators
Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials
Pennsylvania Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
Pennsylvania Council on the Arts
Pennsylvania School Boards Association
Pennsylvania State Education Association
The College Board

Fw: Olympic Football tickets on sale 30 April

Dear Mark, Olympic Football tickets on sale tomorrow Tickets for the London 2012 Olympic Football Tournament, will go on sale at 11am tomorrow, Monday 30 April until 11pm on Sunday 6 May 2012. The Tournament will take place at six iconic venues in cities across the UK including Cardiff, Coventry, Glasgow, Newcastle, Manchester and London. View or download the full Olympic Football Tournament schedule and prices Full price tickets start at just £20 with special prices for young people aged 16 and under and seniors aged 60 and over. Tickets can be purchased at www.tickets.london2012.com and will be sold on a first come, first served basis. Please note: tickets will not be available for all sessions and in all price categories. Purchasing Olympic Football tickets in this phase will not affect your eligibility for future Olympic Games and Paralympic Games ticket sales. Don't be fooled by bogus websites and organisations claiming to sell tickets to the Games. To check whether a website is an official sales channel please use our website checker As a proud sponsor of London 2012, Visa (debit, credit, prepaid) is the only card accepted for online ticket sales. London2012.com     Recommend to a friend     Privacy policy Twitter     Facebook     Youtube This communication originated from The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Limited, a company registered in England and Wales with its registered office at One Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5LN and registered number 05267819. The official ticketing website of the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games is www.tickets.london2012.com. Nothing in this message or its attachments entitles you to purchase tickets to London 2012. Remaining tickets for the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Game will go on sale in April 2012.

Fw: Pass the word

From: "Ed McManus" ed.mcmanus@pghtfc.org

Date: Sun, 29 Apr 2012 15:22:19 -0400

Subject: Pass the word

TLC Supporters,

In my 33 years teaching in the Pittsburgh School District I recall funding problems and anti-public school governors.  Before Governor Corbett we had Tom Ridge before Ridge we had Dick Thornburgh.  I’ve learned to accept criticism from some in the public as part of the job.  What I don’t recall is a time when the Pittsburgh School Board and its administrators have been so emboldened to publicly criticize teachers and openly attacking negotiated rights.

In the last seven years many hard won contractual rights have eroded.  We now have an eleven step salary schedule, merit pay, and a different pay scale for new teachers.  This year an unprecedented number of teachers were rated unsatisfactory and over one hundred teachers were “exited” from the district.   

The district is now projecting over 300 furloughs and is mounting a very public assault on our seniority rights.  The district is advocating the RISE evaluation system, the collaborative program developed by the district and current union leadership and funded with Gates money, to determine teacher furloughs.

A colleague was commenting the other day on whether the district would have had the nerve to even jokingly broach the seniority subject with Al Fondy.  Not a chance.

We need a strong voice representing a strong united union.  I think Mark will be that voice.

Thanks,

Ed McManus

Secretary Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers 

Get the word out

I have again attached a link to an interview Nina gave on KDAK radio and Mark’s e-mail to Mangino after the interview.

http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2012/04/27/pittsburgh-schools-cuts-teachers/#respond

Robert,

I just finished listening to the last 30 min of your show tonight and was disappointed that I was unable to call in (Although you did give the number while Nina Esposito-Visgitis was on I did not make note of it). 

I am a teacher in the Pittsburgh public School where I have taught math for the past 22 years.  I wanted to suggest to the inherent flaw in your reasoning about which teachers should be furloughed is the thought that all teachers are equal.  You supported that notion by pointing out that since it is difficult to fairly evaluate teachers then we can conclude that all teachers are doing the same job hence we should get rid of the “expensive” ones i.e. the older more experienced teachers.  I would grant you that if all teachers were equal that there would be some financial sense to your logic.  However all teachers are not equally effective.  Evaluating teachers presents a similar challenge as evaluating police officers, doctors, dentists, and others who work with the public.  We cannot evaluate the effectiveness of our police officers based upon their crime rate.  We cannot evaluate doctors based upon their patient’s survival rate.  If a doctor tells a patient to take their meds, exercise, eat right, quit smoking, etc… and the patient does not do these things and dies is it fair to blame the doctor?

Even with the difficulties of evaluating teachers, there is an undeniable connection between experience and effectiveness in all professions.  Particularly in education where approximately 50% of all new teachers leave the profession with in the first 5 years.  This simple fact underscores the value of experience.  It means that teachers with more experience have adapted to the infinite challenges that students and society present, challenges that a college cannot sufficiently prepare you for.  The more experienced teachers have a wealth of actual interactions with students from which to draw upon when interacting with their current students.  They have had the time to explore various education techniques and determine, from experience, which were best suited to meet the needs of their students.  To down play the value of experience is simply shortsighted.

Returning to your point of getting rid of teachers based solely upon their pay, it is exactly those types of arbitrary actions by management that gave birth to the union movement in this country.  Employees should have rights and be protected from decision by management that are based solely upon the almighty dollar.

As we look at the financial struggles the Pittsburgh Public Schools are experiencing there are many factors that have conspired to create the situation we are currently in.  One is the Governor’s budget and disproportional cuts to the education budgets of all PA schools districts but there are also other factors involved.  The Pittsburgh Public School has had a long history of employing more administrators, proportionally speaking, than the majority of other school districts. 

We spend approximately $21,000 per student.  Compare that to the vast majority of other local school districts who are spending between

$12,000 and $14,000 per student, it makes one wonder where the money is going.  The Pittsburgh teachers do not make as high salaries as many of our suburban counterparts.  I honestly do not know where the money is going but it is something I would like to look into.

All of these challenges combined with a general public who seems to have declared open season on educators have left my profession in a terrible place.  What incentive do college students have for pursuing a career in the education field?

My colleagues and I have dedicated our lives to the betterment of our students.  The fact that about 50% of us quit in the first 5 years proves that those of us who last are committed to our profession and our students in spite of the general backlash we endure from the public.  We all need to be careful of judging someone until we have walked a mile in his or her shoes.

Sincerely,

Mark Sammartino

PFT Presidential Candidate Spring 2012

Pitt graduation

RIP, former UCLA swim coach, Ron "Sticks" Ballatore

My modest tribute is on my blog. I only knew of coach from across the nation.

http://rauterkus.blogspot.com/2012/04/rip-former-ucla-swim-coach-ron-sticks.html

Coach once told a story at the podium at a swim coaches clinic (ASCA). Since then, I've embraced that message throughout my life. Coach said that he always planned, even planning with the assistant coaches, to give the team the one thing that the guys would bitch, moan and complain about. It was by design. He'd pull something out of the blue and zing the team with this odd-ball task of little importance to him. But, it kept all the other things sacred and done without complaints, because there was that one focal point.


Ron "Sticks" Ballatore, UCLA Swimming Tribute Video from Dan on Vimeo.

I even use that method on my mother-in-law. We were going to name our first child "Dirt." That kept her off our backs for months.

He started coaching in Toledo.

Sadly, UCLA cut its men's swim team. UCLA still has crap for karma if you ask me. John Wooden is in a special place, but since then and with the cutting of the men's swim program -- ugh. UCLA broke our hearts and was the start of a long line of heartbreak for men's swimming that includes, for me, Ohio University, Bradley Unviersity, Baylor University -- and locally, Duquesne University. There is a place in hell for sports administrators and college big shots that think that you can win by subtraction.

He then went to coach at Brown and then to Gainsville, Florida.

I had a grand time watching UCLA's squad swim in 1982 as a journalist. Later I covered Tom Jager too as he swam at NCAAs at Cleveland. Tom was from St. Louis and such a superstar. In the morning he swam the fly leg in the medley relay. Then at night in finals, he'd swim the backstroke leg. He'd go where Coach told him to go, where needed. Meanwhile, Tom was a freestyler, but his stroke splits were as fast as any others. He was in the zone for every race. I think that was the deal with the medley that year, but it was a long time ago. Jager and those Bruin swimmers knew how to race and be mentally tough like few others.

Let me think again about some of my past Stix inspired twists I pulled as a coach: Once, I insisted that the Plum High School Team go to the library when we went to the PIAA Meet at Penn State. Yep, I held a mandatory study hall at states. Another time, I picked the movie, Amadeus. No other options were available. The kids were pissed. But, they were angry at the one thing I really wanted them to fume about. Those Plum years are on my mind now as Katie is swimming in Masters Nationals this weekend and she got first in the women's 100 fly today!

Other news: http://www.collegeswimming.com/news/2012/apr/28/stix-ballatore-passes-away/

Campus Crime poster

Presented By: Online Colleges Blog

Blast from the past: Neat idea wrote the P-G

Once upon a time, the Post-Gazette reported:

City campaign finance reform

Speaking of meetings and speeches, council's public hearing on member William Peduto's campaign finance reform legislation is set for 2 p.m. next Tuesday.

For those of you who can't wait for an earnest discussion of campaign donation caps and pre-campaign contribution limits, here's a neat idea former council candidate Mark Rauterkus dropped on Early Returns today:

Why not convince a bank to set up special political campaign accounts that anyone with an Internet browser can check in on whenever they want? The city could then compel all candidates for its offices to use such accounts for all of their campaign activity, making all contributions and expenses public instantly, rather than disclosing them only a few times a year in paper records filed on the sixth floor of the County Office Building.

Mr. Rauterkus said he presented the idea to a citizens committee on campaign finance that Mr. Peduto convened, and you can bet he'll be back at the public hearing.

This blog was written by Post-Gazette Staff Writers Rich Lord and Ed Blazina.

Idea is still valid.

Consider the saga that comes with John Edwards and his political mess with a lover and donations. If he had an OPEN PAC that everyone could witness as money flowed into and out of it, then he would not be in trouble today.

I don't know all the details of the case, but it seems to me there are two points in time when money can be diverted: Income to the candidate and expenses from the candidate. The money is either coming or going and one or two of those actions can lead to serious trouble.

Edwards must have taken money that wasn't document and reported. Did he get money as a personal loan? Then that money would be hidden from the PAC. But, those who give the money would know it wasn't posted in his OPEN PAC. They'd see it was cashed and posted to some other account, not his OPEN PAC, where all can see the deposits and payments. The other time when sins can occur with the money is when it is spent. As he spent money on expenses that were not ethical, in an OPEN PAC, all could see it and then raise red flags.

"Candidate Edwards, what about yesterdays payment to your mistress? Was she really worth that amount?"

Wow, another park opens. Some interaction expected.

Parks are great, of course. But, I'm longing for parks where coaches can interact with kids so we can learn to better play with others. The music is great. The trails are great. Hope to see you there.

Perhaps we can do some open water swimming there?

Thursday, May 3, 2012 * 6-8 PM *

27th & Water Streets in the SouthSide Works

The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), WYEP, the City of Pittsburgh and Riverlife have teamed up to bring you "Rhythm 'n' Flow" - a special event to celebrate the Grand Opening of South Shore Riverfront Park and Amphitheater.

Join us for an exciting evening on the riverfront in this spectacular park. Hosted by Cindy Howes, WYEP Morning Mix host and producer, this family-friendly, FREE event will feature the fun indie pop sounds of Delicious Pastries and the high-gain electric/punk/indie rock of White Wives . Kids can enjoy arts and crafts courtesy of the Citiparks Roving Art Cart. Light snacks and beverages provided by Hofbräuhaus Pittsburgh. Bike Valet provided by BikePGH.

Walk there, bike there, drive there - just get there!

This world class urban park project has transformed the industrial riverscape at the Monongahela River shoreline into a key link within Pittsburgh’s beautiful trail system. The new park will eventually provide access to the river for recreation, entertainment, a private marina, water taxi service and public docking for recreational boating.

Fwd: Swim Coach Terry Laughlin comes to Pittsburgh, and Other Spring Events

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Spring Clinics presented by Steel City Endurance Terry Laughlin Clinics, Bike Racing; Skills Clinics this Spring! Steel City Endurance and Cycling Club Velo Femme have three exciting upcoming events this spring for triathletes, bike racers and women interested in learning racing skills.  Read below for details and register for Participation...or just show up to spectate! Terry Laughlin, Founder of Total Immersion Coming to Pittsburgh by Coach Suzanne 4/23/12  Don't miss this rare opportunity to be coached directly by Terry Laughlin, founder of Total Immersion. Terry will be teaching two Freestyle clinics on Saturday May19th, and Sunday May 20th.  Registered members of the Pittsburgh Triathlon receive 10% off this clinic. Email coach@steelcityendurance.com to receive your code.   (to be verified on day of clinic). Read More details here: http://www.facebook.com/events/343619952369041/ Or Register Here for Saturday's Workshop http://www.totalimmersion.net/workshops/details/830-freestyle-clinic-effortless-endurance-featuring-terry-laughlin-pittsburgh-pa Register Here for Sunday's Workshop http://www.totalimmersion.net/workshops/details/831-freestyle-clinic-easy-speed-featuring-terry-laughlin-pittsburgh-pa And register here for the FREE Swimming Lecture on Saturday afternoon at REI Settler's Ridge  http://www.rei.com/settlersridge Steel City Showdown, April 29th by Coach Suzanne 4/23/12  Pittsburgh's most amazing bicycle criterium race takes place this Sunday April 29th.  Racers will experience "The City of Bridges" first-hand as they race a closed 0.8 mile loop over the Allegheny River. Located on Federal Street next to PNC Park, the start/finish line will be backed by the waterfront and downtown skyline. The roads are wide and smooth, and bridge sidewalks provide numerous vantage points for spectators to cheer. If you're not a racer, Criterium Style bike racing is great for spectators as well. With many beautiful vantage points from around the course, come check out what is proving to be one of the best spring bike events in the region. For More information, visit the Steel City Showdown webpage here: http://www.steelcityshowdown.com/ Or Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/steelcityshowdown Women's Bike Racing Skills Clinic by Coach Suzanne 4/23/12 Steel City Endurance Women's team and Velo Femme Women's Racing present our annual spring bike racing clinic, tentatively scheduled for May 12th, 2012 at the Bud Harris Cycling Oval. Stay tuned for more details, or keep an eye on the Steel City Endurance and Velo Femme Facebook pages for more details! http://www.facebook.com/steel.city.endurance.racing Velo Femme: http://www.facebook.com/groups/213827665324170/ Author Bio Coach Suzanne Atkinson, MD is the owner & head coach of Steel City Endurance Coaching in Pittsburgh, PA.   Suzanne has conducted clinics for swimming, triathlons & cycling in not just Pittsburgh, PA, but also the Hawaiian Islands of Maui, the Big Island,  Cabo Rojo in Puerto Rico and St. John in the US Virgin Islands. Steel City Endurance 1130 East End Avenue Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15218

The envelope please. Governor Foxx announces her succussor

First 1:44 has poor audio. Sorry.

Around 4 minutes the suspense builds!

Bethany Foxx, YAG Governor, said, "... It is both my honor and pleasure to announce the 66th Youth Governor for the Pennsylvania YMCA Youth and Government program. Your new Governor, congratulations to Erik Rauterkus. (Timeline 4:40)

Mark Rauterkus, Bethany Foxx, Erik Rauterkus

Photo of Mark Rauterkus, PA YMCA and PPS Obama Academy volunteer, Bethany Foxx, former PA Youth Governor from Hershey, and Erik Rauterkus, South Side resident and PA's Youth Governor as of April 2012.

Harrisburg & Pittsburgh Crashes with Youth Elections in Pennsylvania

by Angela Perfetti, senior at Pittsburgh's Obama Academy

(Sunday, April 22, 2012)

Twenty five high school students from Obama Academy of International Studies, an I.B. school within Pittsburgh Public Schools, were in a charter bus that was hit on the PA Turnpike while on travels home from Harrisburg after the conclusion of the YMCA Youth and Government model convention in the state capital today. None of the students nor the teacher nor two other adult volunteers were injured in the Sunday evening accident, westbound around Murrysville, mile marker 65. The bus driver as well as the driver of the semi-truck were both unhurt.

The bus and the semi truck carrying new Mercedes sedans bumped sides and scraped together while heading in the same direction. All of the exterior windows along the right side of the bus were broken and shattered, but the glass never reached the interior by the passengers.

“Wind seemed to push the truck into the bus through a turn and the driver did a great job to avert a more catastrophic accident,” said Tobias Rather, a junior within the school club. “State police were called and no arrest nor citations were made to our knowledge.”

Traveling on the bus were the Governor, Lieutenant Governor and the Editor in Chief of Pennsylvania's Youth Government. All had been just been voted upon and sworn into office just hours prior in the PA State House Chambers. The student delegation had been to a four-day, model-government convention directed by the Pennsylvania YMCA (YAG). YAG brought together more than 400 students from across the state to participate in government events.

Students at YAG run their own government, electing a student Governor, presently Erik Rauterkus (junior from Pittsburgh's South Side); Lieutenant Governor, Ben Junker (junior from Bloomfield); and Editor in Chief, Anna Vitti (junior from Highland Park). Two other elected officials come from elsewhere in the state: The Speaker of the House is from Hershey and the Chief Justice is from East Shore Y in Harrisburg.

These leaders facilitate YAG members in a year-long quest to write, debate, amend and vote for bills with committee and floor sessions. Bills are signed or vetoed by the Governor. Others win or lose court cases, report on top stories, and lobby for new PA laws. Some YAG legislation has been introduced and passed into real law within Pennsylvania.

“YAG has been a well-respected state program for many decades,” said Erik Rauterkus, now the 66th Youth Governor in PA.

“The YAG program clearly demonstrated various perceptions among citizens from suburban and rural delegations who have notoriously dominated the events in Harrisburg,” said Matt Lampl, Obama junior, Squirrel Hill.

“Only two out of 24 delegations come from within Philadelphia or Pittsburgh city limits. Naturally, the leadership tended to sway toward delegates from rural, rather than urban, areas, as they represented the majority. But the Obama delegation of 2012 made unprecedented impact this year.”

“Ours was an amazing feat, sweeping three out of the five main leadership positions,” said Annie Widom, junor, Squirrel Hill. Widom held a lobby position this week at YAG.

Rauterkus claimed the top spot in the election for Governor by besting a veteran YAG member, Erin Agnew, from Springfield, which is also the largest delegation.

The bus crash was the second major crash for Rauterkus this week. Just two days prior to the trip to Harrisburg, Rauterkus, one of the areas top junior competitive cyclists and captain of the school's swim team, was rushed to Presbyterian Hospital after experiencing a major tumble within a sprint in a race at the Bud Harris Cycling Oval. Suffering from plenty of road rash and soreness, he persevered and still attended the youth leadership event.

Ben Junker, a swimming and waterpolo teammate of Rauterkus, pulled off a similar victory, narrowly beating five other peer members for the role of Lieutenant Governor. One of his duties is to preside over the Senate. Junker also was awarded the Outstanding Senate Committee Chair in the final joint session.

The new Editor-in-chief for YAG, Anna Vitti, was elected to that position by her peers and moved from her role as reporter.

Obama freshman, Rohun Joseph, was the fourth member of the squad who got put onto the YMCA invite list to attend CONA, the USA version for Youth Government. Adult advisers evaluate the students throughout the year and select an all-star cadre of youth leaders to meet for a week in North Carolina in July. Only 26 students in Pennsylvania get that opportunity.

This was the first year of the Obama delegation, as it replaced the recently closed Schenley High School. “The students made a great impression with their skills and leadership abilities, said YMCA Program Director, Adoree DeLuca-Johnson. “They brought the Obama Academy and Pittsburgh names to the state.”

The YAG members were reminded in an opening speech by Governor Tom Corbett, “Youth are the future of this world.” In the closing session, the Lieutenant Governor, Jim Cawley spoke about voting and duties as citizens.

“The key role we play in the YAG program may indicate the beginning of better relationship among the urban, suburban and rural areas of our Commonwealth in both policy and politics” said Demetri Lardas, Obama junior, from the Oakland area of Pittsburgh.

James Hill, 2011 Schenley graduate, from Stanton Heights and a former YAG participant said, “I'm thankful that no one was hurt in the bus crash. It must have been in exciting end to an exciting weekend. I'm immensely proud of Erik, Ben, and Anna for making a smash this year. Working with them in the past, I know that they are great kids and that they are going to work hard to make YAG even better next year. I'm very proud that they're making there own legacy and proving inner city schools have what it takes."

###

For more information:

Angela Perfetti, Senior, Pgh Obama, Reporter at YAG

Mark Rauterkus, PA YAG volunteer, Mark@Rauterkus.com, 412-298-3432


Photos available.


Also see:



The PA YMCA site: http://www.ymcapa.org/index.html


PA YAG blog: http://payagpress.tumblr.com/


PA YAG YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/PaYouthandGov