Fwd: Training Camp Sign-Ups are open now!

This looks like a great weekend event. I wish I was 15 again. 

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: JCCS Communications <info@jccsailfish.org>

JCC Sailfish

Training Camp Sign-Ups are open now!

It's time to Sign-up for the JCCS Training Camp! This is a team travel meet. Location: Emma Kaufmann Camp, Morgantown, West Virginia  (along Cheat Lake) Google Map Who Can Attend:  Any JCCS swimmer, from any group, who is at least 13 years old. Departure Date:   Saturday, September 7th.  The bus will depart from the Forbes Ave. entrance of the JCC at 7:00 am.   Swimmers should have already eaten breakfast before getting on the bus. Return Date:  Sunday, September 8th by 6:30 pm Fee for weekend: $100.00 to cover bus, meals, room, workouts, and fun activities.  Fees are due by August 29th.  Checks should be made out to JCC Sailfish and mailed to: JCC Sailfish 305 Sharon Dr. Pittsburgh, PA 15221 Besides swimming workouts, there will be fun AND time to do homework, if needed! Lake Activities: canoeing, kayaking, paddle boats, trampoline blob Pool Extras: diving board, slide Field Games:  rope courses, basketball, volleyball   What to Bring:  Pillow; sleeping bag or linens for a twin size bed Towels, swim suits, & wet bag with fins.   Water bottle Appropriate clothes and athletic shoes for rope course/basketball. Water shoes for boating activities. Warm clothing and jackets for cooler nights. Schedule: Saturday AM: Swimming workout as soon as the bus gets to camp Lunch after practice Free time for fun after lunch 4:00-6:00pm: Swimming workout 6:30pm: Dinner and talk on strokes, mental training, and season plan 8:00-10:00pm:  Free time   Sunday AM: Swimming workout Breakfast after practice Rest of the day: Fun, Lunch. Fun Depart for home at 5:00 pm   There is only room for 20 girls and 20 boys (13 years and up).   You should sign up on the team website by August 8th. Because this is a team travel event, you must be signed into the website to see this event. Questions can be directed to Al by email or phone (412) 906-2583.

Visit Us Online at: http://www.jccsailfish.org/

Fwd: Youth Organizers for Educational Change - Apply Now!

------- Forwarded message ----------

From: Hill District Consensus Group <hdcg@wildapricot.org>
Date: Fri, Jul 26, 2013 at 1:17 PM
Subject: Youth Organizers for Educational Change - Apply Now!
To: Mark Rauterkus <mark@rauterkus.com>

MEMBERSHIP + PARTICIPATION = POWER TO CHANGE, TO RENEW, TO BUILD UPON THE LEGACY OF OUR COMMUNITY Youth Organizers for Educational Change Program Dear Community, I am pleased to announce the Hill District Consensus Group Youth Organizers for Educational Change Program for high school students. Recognizing the need to closely understand how community issues affect youth in the community. We have developed a youth organizing program for local high school students to work alongside community organizing staff in the community. This is a yearlong paid endeavor. The youth organizing program will provide participants with an opportunity to promote youth empowerment, organizing and action to improve Hill District schools and the broader community. If you know youth that could become strong organizers, please share the info below with them. Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis. For general information about the Consensus Group and a link to the electronic copy of the application, please refer applicants to our website at www.hdcg.org. You (or potential applicants) can contact me at (412) 697- 4692 or via e-mail at brown@hdcg.org with any questions or concerns. Sincerely, Brian Brown Community Organizer & Youth Organizer Coordinator This project is funded by The Heinz Endowments. Our Mission The mission of the Hill District Consensus Group is to work together through the differences and with the commonalities, to establish and enforce standards and processes in all aspects of community life: economic, political, spiritual, and social, for the ongoing health and prosperity of the community. Copyright © 2013 Hill District Consensus Group. All rights reserved. Contact email: info@hdcg.org

Rand Paul to Veterans of Foreign Wars

Fwd: STOP THE FRACKING OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY REGIONAL PARKS

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Douglas Shields
Date: Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Subject: STOP THE FRACKING OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY REGIONAL PARKS

Dear Friends,

I just created the petition "Stop The Fracking of Our Allegheny County Regional Parks" and wanted to ask if you could add your name too.

This campaign means a lot to me and the more support we can get behind it, the better chance we have of succeeding. You can read more and sign the petition here:

http://org.credoaction.com/petitions/stop-the-fracking-of-our-allegheny-county-regional-parks

Thank you!

Douglas

P.S. Can you also take a moment to share the petition with others? It's really easy – all you need to do is forward this email or share this link on Facebook or Twitter:

http://org.credoaction.com/petitions/stop-the-fracking-of-our-allegheny-county-regional-parks

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

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

Fwd: 3rd ANNUAL JAKIM DONALDSON BASKETBALL CAMP 2013

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: City Council District 6 - DISTRICT 6 NEWS
Date: Friday, July 19, 2013
Subject: 3rd ANNUAL JAKIM DONALDSON BASKETBALL CAMP 2013

	3rd ANNUAL JAKIM DONALDSON BASKETBALL CAMP 2013 Sent 07/19/2013 @ 3:50 pm Greetings-   As part of my "Fit in Six" initiative, it is a goal for me and my office to promote a healthier community by encouraging a better maintenance of self and families in an active and healthy lifestyle throughout the district. Thus it is my pleasure to announce that the 3rd annual Jakim Donaldson's P.R.O.M.I.S.E basketball camp will take place from Wednesday, August 14th to Friday, August 16th.    This camp provides open enrollment for boys and girls ages 8-18. This is a FREE camp that has 100 slots available to participate. Please register at the Pittsburgh Allegheny Middle School located at 810 Arch Street in the Northside in order to join.    Volunteers are needed for the basketball camp. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please call 412-258-0506. For more general information on Jakim Donaldson P.R.O.M.I.S.E. basketball camp, please call 412-321-1019.   Regards,   R. Daniel Lavelle
	© 2013 City of Pittsburgh | City Council District 6 | | Having trouble seeing this message? Click here to view it in your browser.

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

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

Guest Running Motivation from one of the best in the world headed to our Summer Dreamers Campers

   810 River Avenue—Suite 120—Pittsburgh, PA 15212 Ph (412) 586‐7785

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Kelsey Jackson, 417‐425‐9400

Sub-4:00 minute Miler Jordan McNamara Uses Social Media to Inspire Kids to Run GNC Live Well Liberty Mile McNamara Serves as Honorary Coach of Youth Summer Running Program

As Jordan McNamara sets new personal records and impresses fans in European races this summer, he shares his excitement through Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. He will use the same social media channels to inspire young runners in Pittsburgh, Pa. who are training for the upcoming GNC Live Well Liberty Mile.  

McNamara will serve as an honorary coach for a youth summer running program that provides coaching, training plans and running gear to 180 elementary and middle school students of Pittsburgh Public Schools. As McNamara travels throughout Europe, he will send instructional and motivational videos to the students who will complete a 5-week training program, as part of the Summer Dreamers Academy.

After the kids complete their training, they will run in the GNC Live Well Liberty Mile on Friday, Aug. 9. Then the students will cheer on McNamara, a top contender in the professional heat, and other top American milers.

Last year, McNamara met the kids in the program a few days before the race to share his excitement for the event. The kids challenged him to buy them pizza if he won.  McNamara again will meet with the kids and celebrate their final training run during race week.

“I’m excited to work with the kids this summer and inspire them to get involved with the sport I love,” McNamara said. “It’s important for me to give back to the running community. The GNC Live Well Liberty Mile is an awesome event to introduce new runners to the sport. I had such a great time meeting the kids in Pittsburgh last year, and I’m excited to come back.”

Event sponsor Elite Runners and Walkers and the Pittsburgh Three Rivers Marathon, Inc. will provide the students with new running shoes, socks and a training t-shirt.

“As a rising star in the mile distance, Jordan is a perfect ambassador for the GNC Live Well Liberty Mile,” said Patrice Matamoros, executive director of Pittsburgh Three Rivers Marathon, Inc., the organizers of the GNC Live Well Liberty Mile. “Jordan has a great social media presence and knows how to inspire runners and non-runners alike with his photos and videos. We hope this partnership inspires a new generation of athletes.”

In 2012, McNamara finished second at the inaugural GNC Live Well Liberty Mile with a time of 3:59.1.  McNamara has had a successful summer and has set a new personal record of the 3:34.00 in the 1500 meter in Heusden-Zolde, Belgium.

Follow Jordan’s tips at @LibertyMile and see his videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/LibertyMile.

About the GNC Live Well Liberty Mile
Organized by Pittsburgh Three Rivers Marathon, Inc., the GNC Live Well Liberty Mile is Pittsburgh’s premier street race for all ages and abilities. The 2013 event is an official stop on the inaugural Bring Back the Mile Tour. It’s also hosting the 2013 USA Masters 1 Mile Championships.

###

Fwd: [New post] The Education Gap Starts in the Summer

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Hive Learning Network Pittsburgh
Date: Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Subject: [New post] The Education Gap Starts in the Summer

Sarah Jackson posted: "Summer—that idyllic time of pick-up games of baseball and ice cream cones on the front porch. Ha! Summer these days is jam-packed for most kids, with sports schedules, Maker weekends, museum visits, and constructive, guided learning. This exposure is a de" New post on Hive Learning Network Pittsburgh The Education Gap Starts in the Summer by Sarah Jackson Summer—that idyllic time of pick-up games of baseball and ice cream cones on the front porch. Ha! Summer these days is jam-packed for most kids, with sports schedules, Maker weekends, museum visits, and constructive, guided learning. This exposure is a deliberate strategy on the part of parents to keep their kids busy and stem the dreaded "summer slide"—the learning backslide that happens in the summer months. Yet not all children are heading to museums and camp. Many families simply can't afford to send their kids to these events, or their schedules don't coincide with work, or there is no transportation to get to and fro. In fact, the famous "summer brain drain" is not universal. Low-income and disadvantaged children are more likely to suffer from the summer slide. And it is that loss that might in fact be responsible for the growing "performance gap" among higher and lower income children. Researchers in Baltimore found that, during the first five years of schooling, low-income children actually saw greater gains in reading than high-income children. But lower-income students fell behind each summer during the study while the more affluent children continued to gain ground in school. As a result, over time the performance gap widened. Pittsburgh-based researcher Catherine Augustine, who works with the RAND Corporation, agrees. "The main problem," she told WESA, Pittsburgh's NPR affiliate, "is that low income students lose ground, on average, on reading and literacy-related skills over the summer whereas, on average, middle and higher income students maintain where they were in the spring or even gain ground over the summer. University of Pittsburgh child psychologist Elizabeth Votruba-Drzal also finds that students from higher-income areas are having more enriching summer experiences than youth from lower-income areas. But there are other factors at play as well. "High exposure to traffic, to noise, to violence, to things in their everyday environment— lead exposure—it's that stuff," said Votruba-Drzal. "But it's also access to stimulating and engaging conversations with other kids and with adults that are important, especially in the early years, for things like language skill development." Ironically, the impulse in many school districts is to keep kids in school longer rather than focus on summer and out-of-school opportunities to bolster the learning. "Rather than increasing school time," write John Falk and Lynn Dierking in Scientific American, "perhaps we should be investing in expanding quality, out-of-school experiences for disadvantaged children." Creating richer out-of-school experiences was one of the goals for Pittsburgh's Summer Dreamers Academy, a no-cost summer learning camp and one of five school district-run programs in the US that was selected for an ambitious RAND study. The program combines elements of traditional classroom instruction with outdoor activities and other opportunities for "relatively unstructured engagement" with teachers and peers. They're building social and emotional skills through team work, options to choose activities and set personal goals—skills that are important to a strong foundation for learning. Votruba-Drzal said that programs like Pittsburgh's are ideal because they limit the risk of burnout. "If you just continue through the summer [in school], …you end up killing engagement and motivation," said Votruba-Drzal. "So you may be improving test scores, but down the road you may be really shooting yourself in the foot with respect to keeping kids loving school and loving learning." She also explained that the media hype around the "brain drain" concept has been blown a bit out of proportion. Ironically, the parents who tend to be most distressed about, say, enforcing daily flash card drills, are likely to have the least to worry about. "From that standpoint, the extent to which it engenders anxiety in these parents is kind of ridiculous," Votruba-Drzal said. While, hopefully more programs like Pittsburgh's Summer Dreamers Academy will soon pop up in other cities across the country, Votruba-Drzal said parents and educators should keep the bigger picture in mind. "I think it's important with summer setback to have the broader context of what's happening in our country right now with respect to socioeconomic disparities and kids' development and their long term life chances," she said. "It really should be alarming to people." Sarah Jackson | July 17, 2013 at 8:00 am | Tags: Out of School / Informal Learning, Research, summer | Categories: Blog Post | URL: http://remakelearning.org/?p=12031 Trouble clicking? Copy and paste this URL into your browser: http://remakelearning.org/blog/2013/07/17/the-education-gap-starts-in-the-summer/

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

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

Fwd: CALL THE CITY-CLERK at 412-255-2142 TO REGISTER TO SPEAK

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: The Black Political Empowerment Project(B-PEP) <mstanyalong@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Jul 16, 2013 at 4:50 PM
Subject: CALL THE CITY-CLERK at 412-255-2142 TO REGISTER TO SPEAK

SHOULD PITTSBURGH POLICE BE ALLOWED TO LIVE OUTSIDE OF PITTSBURGH? SHOULD CITY OF PITTSBURGH EMPLOYEES BE ALLOWED TO MOVE OUTSIDE OF THE CITY? Councilman Rev. Ricky Burgess' proposed legislation would place the question before The qualified voters of the City of Pittsburgh a referendum question at the 2013 November General Election. VOICE YOUR CONCERNS DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING POLICE COMMUNITY RELATIONS COULD BE IN THE BALANCE!! THURSDAY, JULY 18, 2013 at 1:00 PM 501 CITY-COUNTY BUILDING 414 GRANT STREET PITTSBURGH, PA 15219 ******VERY IMPORTANT****** CALL THE CITY-CLERK  at 412-255-2142  TO REGISTER TO SPEAK CALL TODAY THE COMMUNITY'S VOICE MUST BE HEARD! click on link for full flyer Police Public Hearing on Referendum 7-18-13

Forward this email The Black Political Empowerment Project(B-PEP) | C/O The Hill House Center | 1835 Centre Avenue | Pittsburgh | PA | 15219

Thunderbirds hosted Swim & Water Polo at Cupples Stadium

Save the date. Saturday evening. Our athletes are getting to take the field at 5:30 pm with the professional team, the Pittsburgh Thunderbirds. Show up after 5 pm and before 5:30 to visit with the coach and volunteers.

Handout to Campers:

Our swimmers, water polo players, SKWIM athletes, staff and lifeguards -- plus family and friends -- are invited to join together for a special event this Saturday evening, tomorrow, July 15, 2017, at South Side's PPS Cupples Stadium for interactions on the field with Pittsburgh Thunderbirds, a city's professional ULTIMATE team.

Arrive after 5 pm to check in with Coach Mark, and be ready to hit the field from 5:30 to 6 pm with the players. Then we'll stay to watch and cheer for the team at its 7 pm game.

Meet up at the gates of the stadium AFTER 5pm and before 5:30 pm. Youngsters should be accompanied by an adult. This is an optional event. Everyone has to get there on their own.

Tickets (generally $10 each) to the game between the Pittsburgh Thunderbirds vs. Detroit have be obtained by Coach Mark for our group. Everyone who can attend the game needs to reserve their family's tickets by doing ONE of the following:

• EMAIL Mark@Rauterkus.com with the names of the people who are attending.
• TEXT Coach Mark at (412) 298-3432 with the names of the people attending. OR,
• Go to the site, https://Read.SwimISCA.org/ (you are here) and do "web join" and then leave a comment with the names and number of tickets of those who are attending.

At the game, Coach Mark hopes to visit with guardians and players and share some other insights into additional activities to come in our normal sessions slated for this summer -- plus some other optional activities too.

Thank you Pittsburgh Thunderbirds. The game of ULTIMATE is a disk-game much like our aquatic game of SKWIM. Seeing these players and their teamwork, passing, defense, hustle and sportsmanship can inspire our play and help us become better athletes.

In other news:

We're going to be playing SKWIM and water polo from 6 to 7:45 pm every TUESDAY and THURSDAY evenings for the weeks to come at the outdoor Citiparks AMMON Swim Pool, Bedford Ave & Memory Lane, Hill District. -- Weather permitting.

Mark Rauterkus     Mark@Rauterkus.com
 PPS Summer Dreamers' Swim & Water Polo Camp Executive Coach
 Swimming Coach with The Pittsburgh Project
 Varsity Boys Swim Coach, Pittsburgh Obama Academy
 Pittsburgh Combined Water Polo Team
 https://SwimISCA.org
 (412) 298-3432 = cell

https://youtu.be/Uc9RkIP06hU

 

Fwd: Wikispaces - Announcing Wikispaces Campus

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Wikispaces" <help@wikispaces.com>
Date: Jul 12, 2013 8:43 PM
Subject: Wikispaces - Announcing Wikispaces Campus
To: <Mark@rauterkus.com>
Cc:

You're receiving this email as a member of Wikispaces.com. Having trouble reading this email? View it in your browser. Don't want to receive this newsletter anymore? Unsubscribe instantly. JUNE 2013 Announcing Wikispaces Campus Wikispaces Campus is now available for your school, district, or university. Wikispaces Campus combines all the benefits of Wikispaces Classroom - collaboration, group work, classroom management, and formative assessment - with our enterprise-level services. Check it out. Take a look Still getting started? Take one of our video tours and get to know Wikispaces. Wikispaces Campus and Private Label An integrated collaborative wiki environment for your school, district, or organization. Give Wikispaces Campus or Wikispaces Private Label a try. What's happening? Get all the latest news on features, events, and more on our blog, or follow us on Twitter. Stay in touch Have any questions? Drop us a line at help@wikispaces.com. Martin Burnett and His Wiki Journey Martin Burnett, a Year 5/6 teacher in the UK, has been using Wikispaces for many years now and has done some wonderful things with his wiki. This month, Martin shared his wiki journey with us on our blog. If you're just getting started with wikis and are looking for some direction, or are a long-time user that loves to reminisce about the good ol' days, we encourage you to check out his adventure on our blog. Join us for Upcoming Webinars This month, we're running several webinars on our two new education services. Join us for a Wikispaces Classroom webinar and see how to make the most of your classroom's News Feed, Formative Assessment, and Projects. Or attend an upcoming Wikispaces Campus webinar and learn about our powerful collaboration platform for your school, district, or university. Register today. Featured Wiki: Ramsay's Class Innovation Day Julie Ramsay started the Ramsay's Class Innovation Day wiki in January of 2012. 1. Briefly describe your group, your wiki, and what you use it to do: This Wikispace was created by my class of fifth grade students at Fultondale Elementary School in Fultondale, Alabama. My students celebrate an Innovation Day each year. This is a day where students are 100% in control of their learning. Each student gets to pick a topic of interest to explore on this designated day. When that day arrives, they explore the topic in the manner that they learn best, become an expert, and then synthesize their newfound knowledge into a project that they use to teach their peers about their topic. This day is completely in their control. On the photos page of the Wikispaces, you can see their progress throughout the day. You can also find all their digital projects on our wiki. 2. Besides the Edit button, which wiki feature is your favorite? In addition to the easily used "edit" button, my students and I really like the ability to embed projects from other sites such a Voki, Prezi, ProProfs, and Animoto. In addition to embedding their projects, we also enjoy being able to easily upload audio, video, URLs, images, and PowerPoints. The flexibility that Wikispaces offers makes it one of our favorite tools to communicate and collaborate with the students' global audience. Keep reading. A message from James A study from the NSSEA says that public school teachers pay an average of $485 per year out of their own pocket for school materials. Setting aside the question of how we as a society are failing teachers such that they are in this position, what does this tell us as educational technology vendors? For us, it's very simple. We don't rely on charging teachers for our revenue. Our paid services are designed for schools, districts, and universities. The more we learn about educators the better we feel about giving them services for free, and helping the institutions they work for pay for services that make teachers more productive. What will you do with your next wiki? Good Idea: Write a choose your own adventure story with a few of your friends. Bad Idea: Write a choose your own adventure story with a few of your cats. Sent by Wikispaces.com - 165 10th St. Suite 50, San Francisco CA 94103 help@wikispaces.com If you no longer wish to receive this email you can unsubscribe instantly.

Your are INVITED: 2 pm swim and fun at Ammon Rec Center Pool on Saturday and Sunday

Meet Coach Mark at the pool this weekend!

Come out for a show-off swim and water-disk games at 2 pm, this Saturday and Sunday at Ammon Rec Center Pool, Bedford Ave, Hill District.

We are looking for more game time. 

We are looking for more skill development.

We are looking for more engagement with the parents, guardians, siblings and community.

We are looking for some cross-over visits so those at the various camps sites can interact with each other.

We are looking to get cool in the summer heat.

We are looking to get stronger in the water.

We are looking for more photos, more field trips, more fun. 

We are looking to use the great, outdoor, Citiparks swim pool at Ammon and help to increase its attendance.

After Summer Dreamers ends, we'll have a giant game day at Ammon on Thursday, August 8. Then on August 9 we'll run the Liberty Mile after another all camp swim at Sue Murray. So, we're looking to have some extra events, such as this weekend. If you can come to the pool, we'll see you there. Bring your pool tag or else a few bucks for entry. 

This is "on your own. " Weather permitting, of course. Dont' go if it is raining or storming. 

Mark@Bloomfield-Garfield.org, 412-298-3432. 

Civic Data Challenge 2013

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Steven Clift
Date: Monday, July 8, 2013
Subject: [DW] Civic Data Challenge 2013



I asked Alice to send along some info I could share on the Newswire about:
http://civicdatachallenge.org

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: *Alice Murphy*
Date: Wednesday, July 3, 2013

ABOUT THE CHALLENGE:
The Civic Data Challenge ( www.CivicDataChallenge.org) turns the raw data
of civic health into useful applications and visualizations that have
direct impact on public decision-making.

Through the Challenge, participants will bring new minds and skill sets to
the field of civic health, with the purpose of making data-driven community
insights more valuable and accessible. All entries must be thoughtfully
informed by Civic Health data (
http://www.civicdatachallenge.com/data/civic-health-data).

In order to achieve an exceptional level of real-world usefulness,
designers, data scientists, researchers, and application developers will
collaborate with local leaders and respond to the needs of specific
communities or social issues.

Entries are due *July 28, 2013*. Participants are competing for exciting
prizes including speaking engagements, conference passes, gadgets, and
cash. You can read the latest prize announcement here:
http://www.civicdatachallenge.com/blog/post/one-month-left-to-join-the-civic-data-challenge

Visit www.CivicDataChallenge.org to join the Challenge!

PROMOTIONAL LANGUAGE:
*Tweet:*
Submit your entry to @CivicData Challenge by 7/28: win cool prizes and have
an impact in your #community http://ow.ly/mnEYh
*
*
*Facebook Post:*
You have until July 28 to submit your Civic Data Challenge entry and
compete for  exciting prizes including: speaking engagements, promotion,
gadgets, cash and more! http://www.**civicdatachallenge.com/blog/**
post/one-month-left-to-join-**the-civic-data-challenge<http://www.civicdatachallenge.com/blog/post/one-month-left-to-join-the-civic-data-challenge>



On Wed, Jun 26, 2013 at 1:21 PM, Steven Clift <clift@e-democracy.org> wrote:

If you recall last year I shared it widely when I found out about it. But
that was late and contributed to you extending the deadline.

I'd be glad to give it some attention, but I need a simple text only
description with some "what's it about" bullets to share with exposed links.
On Jun 26, 2013 12:11 PM, "Alice Murphy" <amurphy@ncoc.net> wrote:

Hi Steven,

The Civic Data Challenge has three phases:
-Ideation (a collective brainstorm)
-Creation (time for participants to get to work creating their entries.
Submissions are due July 28 and will be judged. Finalists move on to our
next phase and final phase, Implementation)
-Implementation (finalists pilot their products in communities. A second
round of judging determines grand prize winners)

For more information on the Challenge, including the scoring rubric, please
visit the Rules and Criteria page:
http://www.civicdatachallenge.org/rules-and-criteria

Thanks!

Best,
Alice


On Tue, Jun 25, 2013 at 10:27 PM, Steven Clift <clift@e-democracy.org>wrote:

Is there another round?
On Jun 25, 2013 9:43 PM, "Alice Murphy" <amurphy@ncoc.net> wrote:

Hi Steven,

I'm just checking in to see if you could use any help as you develop your
entry for the Civic Data Challenge.

If you're looking for additional team members, we have a Team Builder
Survey that will help us match you with other participants. You can
complete it here:
http://www.civicdatachallenge.**org/team-builder-survey<http://www.civicdatachallenge.org/team-builder-survey>
.

I also wanted to make sure you know of our new lifeline opportunity to
receive feedback on your entry from our team of advisors. I encourage you
to take advantage of this great resource here:
http://www.civicdatachallenge.**com/lifeline<http://www.civicdatachallenge.com/lifeline>
.

You can also find other tools, tips, and free service credits on our
Resources page:
http://www.civicdatachallenge.**org/resources<http://www.civicdatachallenge.org/resources>.
Please let me know if you need any further assistance.

Best,
Alice & the Civic Data Challenge Team

P.S. Keep an eye out for a Civic Data Challenge prize announcement later
this week!
--
*Alice Murphy**
*Program Manager, Civic Health Initiatives | NCoC
*We've Moved*: 1201 15th St. NW, Suite 420 | Washington, DC 20005
*New Phone*: 202.303.2435 | **




--
Steven Clift - http://stevenclift.com
  Executive Director - http://E-Democracy.org
  Twitter: http://twitter.com/democracy
  Tel/Text: +1.612.234.7072

-----------------------------------------
Group home for Newswire - Steven Clift's Democracies Online Newswire:
http://groups.dowire.org/groups/newswire

Replies go to members of Newswire - Steven Clift's Democracies Online Newswire with all posts on this topic here:
http://groups.dowire.org/r/topic/4t3KAlHjLCOaWoAyFHb43d

For digest version or to leave Newswire - Steven Clift's Democracies Online Newswire,
email newswire@groups.dowire.org
with "digest on" or "unsubscribe" in the *subject*.

Newswire - Steven Clift's Democracies Online Newswire is hosted by Democracies Online - http://dowire.org.



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

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

Swim & Water Polo Camp Squad Name Choices

Our Swim & Water Polo Camp with Summer Dreamers and PPS is going to start. One of the first tasks is to get into 'squads.' Then each squad gets to pick its own squad name. This year, squad names are from the list of national parks, plus a few extra parks beyond the United States.

The campers vote. Use elimination voting at the outset.

If your top pick is already selected from another camp site, you'll have to go to the 2nd choice. So, pick early to get what you wish.

Acadia
American Samoa
Arches
Badlands
Big Bend
Biscayne
Black Canyon of the Gunnison
Bryce Canyon
Canyonlands
Capitol Reef
Carlsbad Caverns
Channel Islands
Congaree
Crater Lake
Cuyahoga Valley
Death Valley
Denali
Dry Tortugas
Everglades
Gates of the Arctic
Glacier
Glacier Bay
Grand Canyon
Grand Teton
Great Basin
Great Sand Dunes
Great Smoky Mountains
Guadalupe Mountains
Haleakalā
Hawaii Volcanoes
Hot Springs
Isle Royale
Joshua Tree
Katmai
Kenai Fjords
Kings Canyon
Kobuk Valley
Lake Clark
Lassen Volcanic
Mammoth Cave
Mount Rainier
North Cascades
Olympic
Petrified Forest
Pinnacles
Rocky Mountain
Saguaro
Sequoia
Shenandoah
Theodore Roosevelt
Virgin Islands
Voyageurs
Wind Cave
Wrangell - St. Elias
Yellowstone
Yosemite
Zion

International parks okay to pick:

Kakadu, in Northern Australia. Largest National Park in Australia (also known as AUS) and a World Heritage Site. Billabong
http://www.gorp.com/parks-guide/kakadu-national-park-outdoor-pp2-guide-cid361775.html

Fiordland, home to Millford's Tramp, in New Zealand (also known as NZL) . http://www.gorp.com/parks-guide/milford-track-outdoor-pp2-guide-cid350488.html

Kruger National Park in South Africa (also known as RSA) . http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kruger_National_Park

Banff in Canada north of Calgary. http://www.gorp.com/parks-guide/banff-national-park-outdoor-pp2-guide-cid361921.html

Galapagos Archipelago http://www.gorp.com/weekend-guide/travel-ta-galapagos-birdwatching-ecotourism-sidwcmdev_054328.html

See the one page ballot that can be used with the campers.

In education: It is one thing to cut budgets. It is another to cut opportunities.

The good news about this 2014 PA budget that is nearing passage is that the cutting of funding for education and education-related items has stopped. Lawmakers are getting the message that Pennsylvania voters are very dissatisfied with the way state lawmakers have treated education funding in recent years. But actions by the Governor and state legislators to date do not begin to restore the massive cuts made during the past several years, and the subsequent harm to learning opportunities for students of all ages in the Commonwealth.

School cuts are a top concern for Pennsylvania voters, especially women voters. The Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center (PBPC) and Public Citizens for Children and Youth (PCCY) released on June 24 the results of a poll of Pennsylvania voters conducted mid-June. Of those polled, 28 percent ranked education funding for public schools as their top priority for the Governor and Legislature to take action on. Economic development and jobs ranked second with 27 percent, and other issues such as healthcare, taxes, and roads and bridges were identified as priorities by 15 percent or less of voters. There are more voters who favor restoring funding to public education than voters who favor maintaining no tax increase. Fifty-five percent of voters would support a proposal that would include a small sales tax increase of .25 percent and delay a planned corporate tax cut; voters are more supportive of increasing their own taxes to restore public school funding when corporations share in the investment.

To see the PBPC and PCCY's joint press release, click here.

 

What worries me is that we can still swim, even with the tiny bit of funding that remains, or without funding in some areas, but we are not allowed to swim because administrators don't get it done.

In Pittsburgh it is way too hard to get the signed pool permit for a facility that is already built, already functional, already staffed, already filled with water, already with its pumps running and filtration in progress. The costs are next to nothing. The upside is amazing.

We need to do more with less. When we do, we want everyone locally to be pulling for the kids. We want wellness to win. We want action for the sake of our kids. We want them to have fun and thrive on learning. We want hands on activities. In the summer, we want to go swimming as the weather permits. Red tape that gets in the way of those that want to dream big needs to be evaluated.

Most of all, I knew it. I told folks months ago and weeks ago that their system had some flaws. This is why we built http:Guard.CLOH.org.

Are you ready for the 100th annual Tour de France? See a Slightly Different Style of Tour Preview

---------- Forwarded message ----------

From: Chris Carmichael <chris.carmichael@trainright.com>
Date: Sat, Jun 29, 2013 at 4:35 AM
Subject: Weekend Reading, Tour de France Edition: A Slightly Different Style of Tour Preview


Having trouble viewing this email?
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As the Centennial Tour de France gets underway this week, I'm happy to say that I'll be contributing weekly articles to http://www.roadbikeaction.com. To give you a sense for what you can expect, I'm not going to be regurgitating news and stage results. There are plenty of places to get that. What's more interesting to me these days is providing insights into how or why those results turned out the way they did. Sometimes it'll be about tactics and strategy, other times about nutrition or hydration, and certainly I'll be relating what you're seeing to training and recovery. Whenever possible, I'll also try to relate what's going on at the Tour to usable and actionable ways you can improve your performance. Because one of the most powerful aspects of the Tour de France is its ability to inspire us to get out there and stomp on the pedals!

To kick off things off, Zapata Espinoza sent me a few questions. So let's get to it:

RBA: If there are upwards of 600 World Tour team riders and 198 in the Tour, why is it that each year the discussion on potential winners always comes down to just 5-6 guys? What is it that makes so few guys potential contenders?

Let's back up and first realize why there are 600 World Tour team riders. There's a huge variety of races in pro cycling, and a range of roles that riders play on those teams. It's only through building the best team that you give a Grand Tour contender the support necessary to actually win one. But getting back to your original question, the reason the discussion on potential winners always comes down to a handful of guys is because the combination of skill, intelligence, leadership, and versatility required to win the Tour de France is pretty rare. Making it onto a World Tour team doesn't mean you have all of those qualities, nor does making it onto your team's Tour de France squad.

Notice I didn't mention power output, drag coefficient, or power-to-weight ratio. A huge engine and a slippery aero position are certainly necessary, but based on physical characteristics there are more athletes who would qualify as Tour contenders than there are athletes who actually have a realistic chance of wearing the yellow jersey in Paris. The 5-6 guys who earn that "contender" role do so by proving the ability to win big races, over and over again. It's a progression that starts with short stage races featuring both climbs and time trials. Some athletes can win those but falter when facing the duration or pressure of longer and higher-pressure races. The great ones have the physical tools to win the Tour, the intelligence and champion's instinct to know when to take the race into their own hands and go for the kill, and the resilience to shoulder the pressure of leading a team and enduring the attention of fans and the media. And there aren't very many of those guys.

FEATURED LINKS
>> RoadBikeAction.com Tour Coverage: The news you want, great features, my old teammate Bob Roll, and me! http://www.roadbikeaction.com

>> Power to the People: You want coaching and a power meter but can't buy both. Problem solved! Sign up for 12 months of coaching and I'll send you the power meter. http://trainright.com/coaching/power-to-the-people/

>> Hincapie Gran Fondo Recon Camp: Sept 26-29. Be one of the first to stay at Hotel Domestique and ride the beautiful and challenging climbs around Travelers Rest, South Carolina. http://trainright.com/events/79/gran-fondo-hincapie-recon-camp/

>> La Ruta de los Conquistadores: Oct 23-26 in Costa Rica. Experience this epic mountain bike stage with the professional support of CTS. Packages from $3500. http://trainright.com/la-ruta-2013/

>> USA Pro Challenge Race Experience: If you're not going to the TDF, come and ride the USAPCC with me! http://trainright.com/usapcc

RBA: What sort of calories do the riders burn in a day on the bike and can they get them all back with their small portions of food? By race end have they been running a deficit in caloric intake?

In short, on the bike Tour riders virtually always burn more calories per hour than they ingest (and so do most amateur riders). During the stage riders typically burn between 4000-6000 calories. At some points in the stage riders are working harder than at others, meaning there are hours where their caloric burn might be 750 and other hours where they burn well over 1000 calories. And keep in mind that the stage is usually only 4-7 hours of the day, and that they still have their normal metabolism to account for during the rest of the day. To put the numbers in perspective, a moderately fit amateur cyclist riding at an endurance pace will typically burn about 500-600 calories per hour, and a hard interval workout will get that cyclist to 750-800 calories in one hour. But a Tour rider might burn 750-800 calories per hour for another three hours, with a 1000+ calorie hour thrown in there somewhere.

RBA: How would you describe your first TdF - as much as you knew about, did any of it still come as a shock?

We might have thought we knew about the Tour, but we didn't. The intensity and the attention and the energy at the Tour de France were what shocked us. We'd been in a lot of big races in Europe prior to the Tour, and people kept saying, "The Tour is different." They were right. It's the sport's biggest stage and the spotlight is never brighter than it is at the Tour de France.

RBA: How do you rate the Americans?

There are some very talented young American riders at the Tour this year. Tejay Van Garderen is obviously a huge talent and he's been making good and consistent progress in terms of the races he's won and leadership roles he's taken. Andrew Talansky is another young guy with a lot of talent and some impressive results going into the Tour. Brent Bookwalter showed great form at US National Championships not long ago and he's proven the ability to be a key player for his teammates as well as in time trials. And it's great to see Ted King riding his first Tour de France for Cannondale. Of the Americans, I'd say Van Garderen will likely be the top GC finisher. Talansky might do reasonably well in the GC, but it's also a big learning experience for him and there's no reason to put any pressure on him for a big result. Bookwalter could make a difference in the race, in that his performance could impact the GC standings for Cadel Evans or Van Garderen. Everyone on a team contributes, but it's important to have guys who can make a big impact, too. Tom Danielson and Christian Vande Velde are also in the race for Garmin and they've both finished top 10 at the Tour before. Garmin's always been a team that seizes opportunities, so I think Danielson and Vande Velde will be active players in the hunt for stage wins and throw their support to the team's best GC hope.

RBA: Who do you see atop the podium in Paris and why?

It seems most people have Chris Froome picked as the most likely winner, and his recent performances certainly seem to back that up, but I don't think he's unbeatable. I think the race for yellow is pretty open. Both Cadel Evans and Alberto Contador have won before; they know how to get the job done. Evans won by being methodical and taking small bits of time whenever possible. Contador won with bigger, riskier moves in the mountains. Neither have looked as dominating as Froome this year, but you can't underestimate the danger they pose. Ryder Hesjdahl won the Giro last year, and we didn't see his best at the Giro this year because he got sick. He's another guy that is willing to take big risks if it means an opportunity to win. Joaquim Rodriguez is maybe the biggest wildcard. This is his first year targeting the Tour de France, he's finished third at the Vuelta and finished second at the Giro. And he loves to attack. I think it's going to be a difficult race for Froome and Sky to control, and I think the other teams have to leverage that as much as possible in order to beat him.

Have a Great Weekend!
Chris Carmichael
CEO/Head Coach
Carmichael Training Systems



This email was sent by chris.carmichael@trainright.com.

Carmichael Training Systems | 600 South 21st Street | Suite 100 | Colorado Springs | CO | 80904

Fwd: [wplug] Soggy Saturday fun

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Dave Sevick" <sevick@computereach.com>
Date: Jun 28, 2013 7:08 PM
Subject: [wplug] Soggy Saturday fun
To: "General user list" <wplug@wplug.org>
Cc:

Dear computer folks,

http://bit.ly/129rAJO

Pittsburgh weather forecast:  rain all weekend.

Why not join us at ITT Tech in Tarentum to work on over 100 Intel computers.  We start at 8AM - finish at 4PM.  All work will be indoors with air conditioning.

We will be :

Adding RAM
Adding Hard Drives
Imaging software using Clonezilla in a PXE Server environment
Entering data into a Salesforce.com database.
Cleaning and packing the computers for humanitarian outreach somewhere in Pittsburgh or around the world.

Donuts, coffee, and water, iced tea in the morning.  Lunch served to all volunteers.

Plenty of work for everyone !

Click here for more info:

http://
bit.ly/129rAJO

Dave

--------------------------------------------
Dave  Sevick
Executive Director
Computer Reach
Humanitarian Computer Outreach
Mobile:  724-779-0099
Email:  sevick@computereach.com
--------------------------------------------




_______________________________________________
wplug mailing list
wplug@wplug.org
http://www.wplug.org/mailman/listinfo/wplug

Wanted: a good HTML editor

Guard.CLOH.org is updated

http://Guard.CLOH.org

Code named, Guard_Input, this service helps Lifeguards, swim coaches, camp coordinators and others involved with the Swim & Water Polo activities to communicate about health insights of students in our programs.

This process puts information to the coaches within the programs and not in a file box deep within the school's office behind the nurse's desk.

This is not a secure process, but rather a practical one. Communicate only the information that you feel is important to the coaches and lifeguards, not pharmacy specifics, please.

Links:

• Dropbox for the various Guard applications. https://www.dropbox.com/sh/s9a4y2v64redtdj/MIRw81ooi0
1. Android download. This is the .apk file for Android smart phones and tablets. https://www.dropbox.com/sh/s9a4y2v64redtdj/o264gdf6Rn/Guard.CLOH.Org/Guard.CLOH.Org.apk
   
2. Windows application. This is the .exe file to get for Windows computers. https://www.dropbox.com/sh/s9a4y2v64redtdj/PuueZcJr0P/Guard.CLOH.Org1/Windows/Guard.CLOH.Org.exe
   
3. Macintosh application. This is the OSX for those running Mac computers. https://www.dropbox.com/sh/s9a4y2v64redtdj/RyEwEjRkNd/Guard.CLOH.Org1/MacOSX/Guard.CLOH.Org.app
   
4. The the LiveCode file for programmers running LiveCode Community is in the DropBox directory too.
• http://aforathlete.wikia.com/wiki/Guard.cloh.org Wiki page for Guard.CLOH.Org. This is where suggestions for the software applications can be posted.
• Articles within the South Pittsburgh Reporter's Summer 2013 supplement that tells the back story about Guard.CLOH.Org:
1. Technology is our friend at Swim & Water Polo Camp, article. Google Document.
2. How Are You? Health Information Communication, article. Google Document.
3. Safety. Some tips from Cassy, article. Google Document.
• http://Guard.CLOH.org This page!