Fwd: You Owe It to Yourself to Learn How to Win

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

I know you understand the power of ideas. But good ideas are not worth anything if they are not put into action. I know you believe this, or you would not be a member of Campaign for Liberty. In order to help their members put their ideas into action, Campaign for Liberty supports training activists to be effective spokespeople and leaders. A political insider observed that, “Political success is determined by the number and effectiveness of the political activists on either side.” Therefore, you really do owe it to your ideas and principles to learn how to become the most effective activist you can be. To help you become more effective, I want to let you know there will be a One-Day Political Leadership School held in your area soon. (The details are listed below.) I hope you will sacrifice a little of your weekend to be part of this exciting class. I understand it is intense and even fun. I know that if you put just a few of the ideas you will learn into practice, you will help advance the cause of liberty. I sincerely hope you can attend. In Liberty, Rand Paul U.S. Senator, Kentucky P.S. I know you care about principles, limiting the scope and power of government, and the power of liberty. Here is your chance to convert our shared passion into action. I hope you will attend the upcoming Political Leadership School in Maryland. Dear Mark, Do you know how to work the legislature, or are you going to be worked over by the legislature... again? I am confident you understand the power of ideas. But good ideas are not worth anything if they are not put into action. If you and I are going to spend our time and treasure trying to reclaim the Republic, then let’s do it to win. The Maryland Campaign for Liberty is hosting a One-Day Political Leadership School on Saturday, April 5, 2014. Over the last 3 years, this school has trained over 4,000 activists in more than 35 states. Every one of our instructors have years of experience running and winning campaigns and legislative projects in multiple state legislatures. They will share their stories of what works (and what doesn’t) during this information-packed school. Click here to purchase your ticket. At this school, you will learn how to create meaningful change and what you must do to be respected and feared by politicians. You must be at this school! This intense one-day training covers: • The Real Nature of Politics – why just “educating” people alone won’t result in change • The Biggest Lie in Politics – and how the political class uses your convictions against you • How to Work effectively at the Capitol – getting a bill sponsor and a roll call vote despite the leadership • How to Build a Group – putting pressure on legislators All this and much more! This class will teach you how to turn your passion into action. I sincerely hope you can attend. One-Day Political Leadership School Details: Saturday, April 5, 2014 9 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Country Inn & Suites 17612 Valley Mall Road Hagerstown, MD 21740 *Registration begins at 8:15 AM Click here to purchase your ticket today. You owe it to your ideas and principles to learn how to become the most effective activist you can be. In Liberty, Theodore Patterson Maryland Campaign for Liberty P.S. Don’t miss your chance to be a part of the solution! Click here to get your ticket today! P.P.S. Check out what others have said about this class: "I really enjoyed the school.  I found it simultaneously informative, exciting and revolting." Luke Priest, Iowa "The best activist training I have taken so far.  Political reality is laid out in an easy to comprehend manner.  They don’t just tell you what the problem is; they give you a road map to strike back.  Absolutely a must-do training event."  Talbert Black, South Carolina Campaign for Liberty "The slides and training were extremely informative and educational - your real-world experience and anecdotes really hit home and were relevant to the materials.  It was a pretty intense class - lots of information in a single day, but we got through it!"  Jeremy T. Goemaat, President, LogicBox, Inc.  "Your training is OUTSTANDING.  I'm not one to be able to sit for more than 1 hour at a lecture style presentation, but honest to God, that's the best political training I've ever seen." Jeff Greenspan, Arizona Campaign for Liberty         Because of Campaign For Liberty's tax-exempt status under IRC Sec. 501(C)(4) and its state and federal legislative activities, contributions are not tax deductible as charitable contributions (IRC § 170) or as business deductions (IRC § 162(e)(1)). www.CampaignForLiberty.org

Fwd: The Eagle covers the SAT changes

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "The Eagle" <schoolnewspapersonline@gmail.com>
Date: Mar 10, 2014 4:21 AM
Subject: The Eagle
To: <mark@rauterkus.com>
Cc:

The Eagle

---

College Board changes the SAT for 2016 causing controversy Posted: 09 Mar 2014 12:08 PM PDT College Board, the corporation in charge of several standardized tests including the SAT, recently announced that the SAT will be changed dramatically for the 2016 testing year. Changes to the SAT will include the following: The essay will be optional, and vocabulary will be more relevant to students’ futures. Reading questions will be short answer instead of multiple choice. Math will cover fewer topics, but in more depth, and some of the math will be no-calculator. A quarter-point will no longer be deducted for incorrect answers, scores will be out of 1600 again instead of 2400, and there will be digital as well as paper versions of the test available. Further, the College Board will partner with Khan Academy to provide test prep to all students for free. In explaining the reasoning behind the changes, David Coleman, president of the College Board, admits that standardized testing as it is currently formatted creates “unnecessary anxiety” for students. “It is time to admit that the SAT and ACT have become disconnected from the work of our high schools,” he says. “We do not want to slow students down. We want to propel them forward.” Relevance is one important theme to the changes. “No longer will the SAT only have disconnected problems or tricky situations students won’t likely see again,” claims Mr. Coleman. The new test will “focus on words students will use over and over again, that open up worlds to them.” Mr. Coleman recognizes that “a single brief timed essay has not historically proved predictive of college success.” He admits that it is may not be helpful to students that “Today, when we say that someone has used an SAT word, it often means a word you have not heard before and are not likely to soon hear again.” Mr. Coleman’s impressive rhetoric may be obscuring the real reason for the changes, however. Standardized testing is a multi-billion dollar industry. The SAT and ACT are widely recognized by colleges and students as the two most important tests for determining college acceptance. While colleges have historically preferred the SAT, the ACT’s market share has been increasing recently. This trend likely contributed to the College Board’s decision to remake their test. Whatever the motivation, College Board seems to have it right that changes are needed. According to an article in Time, “The blunt fact is that the SAT has never been a good predictor of academic achievement in college.” Further, students and teachers alike are frustrated by the stressful testing culture of high schools today. “I’ve actually taught SAT prep courses in the past. And it’s like they’re intentionally trying to trick you,” says Obama’s eleventh grade English teacher, Ms. Papale. “They should at least be giving people a shot.” “There are different types of genius,” says Olivia Perfetti of Obama Academy. She is referring to the theory of multiple intelligences, developed by a psychologist named Howard Gardner. “There’s artistic intelligence, and interpersonal, and other types. The SAT makes it seem like verbal and mathematical intelligence are the only kinds that are important. Life isn’t just math, reading, and writing, so students should have an opportunity to show talent in other areas.” Ms. Papale agrees. She says that the current SAT is “…way too limiting. They placed way too much importance on vocabulary and certain mathematical knowledge.” Sidony Ridge, also in eleventh grade, points out that the current American education system emphasizes standardized testing far more than that of Finland, which has the best education system in the world. Finland has very few standardized tests. The Finnish system gives freedom to the teachers to assess their students in a way that is relevant to the material being taught. Yet Finland has consistently been ranked first in the world for various international education evaluations. Students also need to keep in mind what is not changing. First, the SAT will still be standardized. As long as it is equally more or less difficult for all students, the relative scores will stay the same. Don’t expect your scores to be radically different on the new test. Second, the amount that colleges count the SAT for will not be changed by this announcement. While Mr. Coleman’s statement that high schooler students face too much stress is helpful, any change in the testing culture has to come from colleges and universities, teachers and school administrations, and the students themselves. Some colleges are starting to count SATs for less, but they are still crucial for getting into most colleges. Third, standardized testing has an inherent bias that is impossible to remove, despite the partnership with Khan Academy. “How can you give the same test to urban, suburban, and rural students?” asks Ms. Papale. “They speak differently, have different backgrounds, and experience life differently.” Grammar may be one of the more biased components of the SAT. Ms. Papale explains that one of her students, who is a hard worker and excels with comprehension and insight into literature, struggles with grammar. This student, who is African American, lives in an environment where the English spoken has different grammar rules than those used by the SAT, yet is being graded against other students whose parents and peers always speak so-called “proper” English. This student’s situation is not, of course, unique. Because the problem is, the tests are trying to use three hours of filling in bubbles to line up every eleventh grader in America in order of how well they will do in college. And that is impossible to do accurately. On the other hand, the changes that College Board is making seem like a step in the right direction. Ninth grader Lainey Newman likes the idea of free test prep on Khan Academy. “I think that will be a valuable tool because all students, regardless of external factors, will be able to have support and preparation for the exams,” she says. The first class to be affected by the changes is the class of 2017, or the current ninth graders. A short-term problem caused by these changes could be the transition from the old format to the new one. Olivia, now in eleventh grade, explains that she was glad to have had help from her older sister in studying for the SATs. “I’m glad that at least we knew what to do and weren’t the first class to have to deal with a new test format,” she says. However, many Obama students are optimistic that the new system will be an improvement. Many like that the essay will be optional. Mr. Kocur, the tenth grade English teacher at Obama, feels that this change makes sense considering that few colleges currently consider the writing section anyways. Ninth graders are relieved that they will not have to spend hours memorizing esoteric vocabulary words. The changes to the SAT may mark the beginning of an important shift in the nature of testing in America. There is enough evidence against the current format of standardized tests that the top testing corporation is responding. We will have to wait until the College Board’s changes are implemented to see whether it is simply a marketing maneuver, or whether the change is really a radical break from the past that will lead to further changes in testing and education.

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Fwd: New flash... Swimming coverage in the Obama Eagle

From: Lucy Newman
Subject: New flash...

 Team and coach after WPIAL meet, 2014.

Last Thursday and Friday, Yoka Rooney competed in the PIAA state qualifying meet for swimming, qualifying in both the 50 free and the 100 breast.

This year he set two school records in individual races, and was in a relay that set another. He beat the previous best time for a 50 free with a 22.49. Also, he beat his own school record in the 100 breast with a 1:02.

“I feel really good,” he says. “I was surprised, actually. I feel really happy that I’ll get to go at least once in my high school career. And I’m really excited to see the competition that I get to meet at states.”

Yoka’s coach, Mr. Rauterkus, was proud of him, too. “Yoka has always been a valuable team contributor,” says Coach Rauterkus, “but this year, with the extra year of maturity, we got to see what I call, ‘senior speed.’ He is fast, strong and a gifted athlete. Besides swimming he was a starting defensive player on the soccer team, a lifeguard and ran the Great Race.”

Yoka's appearance at Bucknell University's pool marks the fifth consecutive appearance of an Obama or Schenley swimmer at the PIAA CHampionships, says swim coach Mark Rauterkus.

Describing his experience, Yoka says that “The first one, I knew I was going to destroy because the other swimmers in my heat had lower qualifying times than I did. So I just went all out and didn’t breathe the whole time. That was a 50 free. On the 100 breast, I was aiming for 1:03. I beat that, beating my best time by almost two seconds. I was really happy to place.”

Yoka competed in four events, getting ninth place in all four of them. He was somewhat disappointed not to get any medals, which are awarded to the top eight swimmers in each event, so goal is to get a medal at States.

Yoka says that he has not decided yet whether or not he’ll swim in college. Coach Rauterkus says that “Yoka went fast enough at the WPIAL meet to be strongly considered for college swim scholarships. College coaches are approaching me wanting Yoka to visit their schools.” Yoka sees swimming scholarships as a big draw. But he is also a talented and successful soccer player, so he’s trying to leave his options open at this point.

Looking back on his high school career, Yoka has positive memories of the swim team. Last year he was a part of two relays that set all-time PPS records, going faster than the old city league records and faster than any Pittsburgh team in any championship relays in any year ever. “It was a really fun team,” he says. ‘It wasn’t super competitive at first, but in the past two years it has become more competitive, and I really enjoyed that. It’s also just a really healthy sport to be able to do, and it teaches you important leadership skills. I definitely feel like I benefitted from these past four years.”

The PIAA state competition will take place on Friday, March 14 and Saturday, March 15. Best of wishes to Yoka.

More notes:

-- Given his performances, I think Yoka is the best athlete in the school.

-- Yoka beat Tait Williams time in the 50 free from STATES a few years ago when Obama was in the City League. 

-- Our boys 200 medley relay, 1:47.49, school record, had Yoka doing the Breastroke. It had three seniors and a sophomore: Ben Friedman, back; Yoka, breast; Grant Rauterkus, fly; and Tommy Brewton, free. We will miss those three gentlemen for next year's team.

-- Going to the state meet in two events is a huge accomplishment especially with the huge struggles we must navigate with aquatics in the school, with his other sports, activities and jobs. Yoka's appearance at Bucknell University's pool marks the fifth consecutive appearance of an Obama or Schenley swimmer at the PIAA Championships. 

Tommy, Ben, Grant, Yoka.

Fwd: Baran James Special Update: Russia and the Ukraine

--------- Forwarded message ----------
From: The Baran James Company
Date: Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Subject: Baran James Special Update: Russia and the Ukraine

20 things you probably don't know about the Russian incursion into the Ukraine   Our hearts and prayers go out to the people of Ukraine, as they undergo both an internal political crisis and what appears to be military intervention from Russia. For people of a certain age, the current events, with tanks rolling across the Russian border into a neighboring nation that wants to exercise its freedom, it feels a bit like the Cold War days all over again.  Whenever we see troop movements and fires raging in the streets of a capitol city the size of Chicago, we tend to get concerned. How will it play out and will it affect our economy and investments here in the United States? We will watch and monitor the situation closely. After yesterday's volatility, the markets rebounded today with strong returns.  Here are some facts that you might not know about what has, hitherto, been a relatively quiet new member of the world economic community.   1) The word "Ukraine" means "borderland" in proto-Slavic. It appears to have acquired this name simultaneously from Poland, Austria and Russia, referring to the territory that sits across the border of so many European nations and Russia. In fact, the Polish referred to their troops stationed in this area as Ukranians--that is, borderlanders. Since the country became independent from the Soviet Union, it is no longer referred to internationally as "The Ukraine."  2) Ukraine's currency is the hryvnia, adopted in 1996 after the country suffered the greatest one-year bout of hyperinflation in global economic history. (Zimbabwe has since broken the record.) Today, one dollar will buy 9.6 hryvnias. A euro will buy 13.3 of them.  3) After Russia, Ukraine has the largest military presence in Europe. Ukrainian troops have been deployed as part of international peacekeeping missions in Somalia, Kosovo, Lebanon and Sierra Leone, and has engaged in multinational military exercises with U.S. military forces. NATO has accepted Ukraine as a member pending a national referendum on the matter--which will obviously be delayed until the conflict with Russia has played itself out.  4) Ukraine has one of the world's most active space programs. The National Space Agency of Ukraine has launched six self-made satellites and a total of 101 launch vehicles. The country also manufactures the An-225 aircraft, the largest aircraft ever built. 5) Due to low birth rates, Ukraine's population is declining at the sixth fastest rate in the world, behind the Cook Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Northern Mariana Islands, Niue (an island nation in the South Pacific) and the Eastern European nation of Moldavia, which borders Ukraine.  6) Nevertheless, Ukraine's largest city, Kiev, has a higher population (2.8 million) than Chicago, America's third-largest city. The population of Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city (1.4 million), is greater than San Antonio, San Diego and Dallas, America's seventh, eighth and ninth most populous cities.  7) According to the World Bank, Ukraine's economy is the 51st largest in the world, ranking just behind Peru and the Czech Republic,a nd just ahead of Romania and New Zealand. But its $7,295 (US) per-capita income (a rough measure of a nation's wealth) ranks 106th in the world, behind Namibia and El Salvador and ahead of Algeria, Micronesia and Iraq.  8) Ukraine co-hosted the Euro 2012 football (soccer) tournament (with Poland), which is one of the major sporting events in Europe.  9) Even though the Chernobyl nuclear disaster occurred in Kiev, Ukraine operates the largest nuclear power plant in Europe.  10) Despite comments that Ukraine is divided between ethnic Ukrainians and Russia, 77.8% of the population is ethnic Ukraine, and only 17.3% is Russian.  11) Ukraine is known as the "breadbasket of Europe" for good reason. The country is the world's fourth largest producer of barley, 5th largest producer of rye, 11th largest producer of wheat, the 6th largest producer of oats and the 9th largest producer of soybeans. 12) Russia sells approximately 80% of its oil and gas exports to the European Union through pipelines that pass directly through Ukraine. The European Union receives 25% of its oil and gas from Russian sources through these conduits.  13) Ukraine also happens to be Russia's second-largest customer of petro-fuels.  14) Russia is drilling for oil in the shallow waters of the Black Sea near the Crimean Peninsula, which shows promise of having significant reserves.  15) Among others drilling in the same area: Chevron and Shell Oil. If they begin production under the Ukrainian flag, it would significantly undercut Russia's oil and gas market share and prices, simultaneously boosting Ukraine's economy.  16) When the Russians (as the Soviet Union) invaded Afghanistan in 1979, the U.S. and many Western nations boycotted the 1980 Olympic games, which were hosted in Russia. Is it interesting that Russia decided to move forces into Ukraine immediately AFTER the Sochi Olympics were finished?  17) Among the most likely responses to the Russian/Ukrainian crisis is the cancellation of the upcoming G8 summit in Sochi. Another possible response might remove Russia from the G8 club. This would embarrass Russian strongman Vladimir Putin at home and isolate him (and Russia's economy) abroad.  18) Russia's economy could be the big loser in the aftermath of the Ukrainian crisis. Share prices for companies based in Russia declined by 10 percent the day after mysterious soldiers took over the Crimean peninsula, also triggering an outflow of domestic currency that Russia desperately needs to invest in modernizing an economy largely (today) based on selling abroad what is pumped or mined out of the ground.  19) The threat of disruption of trade between Western nations and Russia (either due to sanctions or reluctance to deal with a country that doesn't seem to be focused on following international law) cost the Russian economy $60 billion in a matter of days--more than the total cost to stage the Sochi Olympics.  20) Let's assume that we are not headed toward a world war. Several commentators have unhelpfully pointed out that the Crimea became the flashpoint for World War I, but the world is somewhat different today. There could be some impact from higher energy prices in Europe if the Ukraine pipelines are disrupted temporarily, but Russia needs to sell its oil and gas as much as Europe needs to buy it. Unless someone is heavily invested in Russian stocks, the crisis will likely be seen as a portfolio non-event. Sources: http://www.cnbc.com/id/101458530  http://redmoneyupdate.com/tag/ukranian-crisis-and-how-it-may-impact-investments/ http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2013/12/10/growing-uncertaintly-in-the-ukraine-could-impact-l.aspx http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_largest_producing_countries_of_agricultural_commodities  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukraine This e-mail is for informational purposes only and does not necessarily constitute a complete description of our investment services or performance. Once again, this e-mail is in no way a solicitation or offer to sell securities or investment advisory services except, where applicable, in states where we are registered or where an exemption or exclusion from such registration exists. Information on this e-mail, whether stock quotes, charts, articles, or any other statement or statements regarding market or other financial information, is obtained from sources which we, and our suppliers believe reliable, but we do not warrant or guarantee the timeliness or accuracy of this information. Nothing in this e-mail should be interpreted to state or imply that past results are an indication of future performance. Neither our information providers nor we shall be liable for any errors or inaccuracies, regardless of cause, or the lack of timeliness of, or for any delay or interruption in the transmission thereof to the user. There are no warranties, expressed or implied, as to accuracy, completeness, or results obtained from any information posted in this e-mail or any "linked" website. ©2010 The Baran James Company. All rights reserved. Visit us at www.baranjames.com

The Baran James Company  •  Manor Oak One Suite 545 1910 Cochran Road  •  Pittsburgh, PA 15220

FisicaLab's funding campaign

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Germán Arias <germanandre@gmx.es>
Date: Monday, March 3, 2014
Subject: [school-discuss] FisicaLab's funding campaign
To: SchoolForge <schoolforge-discuss@seul.org>


Hi everyone. I started a campaign to support GNU FisicaLab, the educational
free software for physics. GNU FisicaLab is an educational application for
solving physics problems. This allows students focus in physics concepts when
solving problems, leaving aside the mathematical details. FisicaLab has an
extensive documentation, with a lot of examples, to help the student to
familiarize quickly with the application. See:

http://www.gnu.org/software/fisicalab/campaign.html

Free software is important for education, to not enchain the students in
using privative software packages. Using free software, schools and
universities save money. But, most important, free software gives users the
freedom to control their own computers. And encourages students to learn and
share. They can make copies of the software to take home and to share with
his friends. Read "Why Schools Should Exclusively Use Free Software":

http://www.gnu.org/education/edu-schools.en.html

With your support, you will help to expand the range of problems to solve in
FisicaLab, in adding new features, in the availability in other languages and
in many other things. So help FisicaLab to reach 7k at March 31, to give
students a chance of get an ethical education with free software.

Spread the word of FisicaLab’s campaign with your friends, blogs or social
networks. Lets education become free (as in freedom).

Regards.
Germán.

###
From the schoolforge-discuss mailing list.

Post WPIAL Meet

Summer Dreamers 2014, here we come!

Camp Site	Grade Level(s)	Number of Kids Served
Carmalt	4th Grade	30	Hope to go to Carrick, Brashear or PCA
	5th Grade	30
	6th Grade	5
	7th Grade	5
Faison	5th Grade	20	Team 1 - Hope to go to Westinghouse
	6th Grade	20	Team 2 - Hope to go to Highland Park Pool
	7th Grade	20	Team 3 - Hope to go to Obama
Langley	3rd Grade	40	Two teams of 20 each. All can swim in Langley's pool.
Total:		170

This is my puzzle and it is what I'm good at dealing with and love to do.

The best case is we get to use more PPS pools. Want to go to Carrick, Brashear and/or PCA, plus Westinghouse, Obama in addition to Langley. Kids would move to different sites with their coaches as per a schedule.

Fwd: The Eagle reports with Ivy and Lunch Issues

Swimmer takes on an issue and heads to DC. School lunches. Way to go Ivy.

The Eagle

---

Ivy Ryan fights for better school lunches in DC Posted: 26 Feb 2014 06:25 PM PST Ivy Ryan, a junior at our school had the amazing opportunity to go to Washington D.C where she met several different political figures and gave a presentation on the issue of school lunches and how they need to be improved. This all started this summer when Ivy, with about ten other students who participated in the Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild art programs, were chosen to go on a trip to Yellow Stone with an organization called Park Journeys. “During the trip we talked about having a voice because as teenagers we’re usually disregarded in the world,” says Ivy. At the end of her trip they each chose an issue that they felt was prominent in their community and presented it to the group. Ivy chose the issue of school lunches saying, “Providing students with healthier meal choices will result in them being physically and mentally healthier.” After the presentations, the trip leaders, Joanna and Michelle, chose three students to present their issue in front of representatives so that actions could be taken to resolve them. Ivy was one of the three chosen. “During the next few months we met up with Michelle multiple times to talk about our issue, gather evidence, and create a proposal,” Ivy says. Due to the weather we had however the trip was delayed and when rescheduled the other two girls were not able to attend. Ivy and her trip leaders Joanna and Michelle headed up to D.C. on February 12th. The day started off with breakfast with Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz’s Chief of Staff and those invested in her campaign. The chief of staff talked about her campaign and the prominent issues she was planning on tackling. “It was fascinating hearing about what she wanted to get done as governor and how she was going to try and get support from her constituents,” Ivy said. Later that day Ivy had meetings with Senator Casey’s staffer, Senator Toomey’s Staffer, and Congressman Doyle’s Staffer. In the meetings Michelle introduced Ivy, Parks Journeys, and the project; then Ivy would explain the issue of school lunches and make an appeal to them on how they needed to be changed at the federal level. “Every staffer was extremely polite to me, they understood where I was coming from and agreed that it was an important issue to fix, and that it affected education and America as a whole. It was amazing to be a part of the actual government for a day and to see how everything works. These people had to take time out of their extremely busy day to talk to me, and it makes you realize that they really do care about your opinions.”

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"Where have all the students gone?" Parody

Fwd: Olympians in Pittsburgh Water Polo Camp April 12/13th

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Nikola Malezanov <malezanov@gmail.com>
Date: Monday, February 24, 2014
Subject: Olympians in Pittsburgh Water Polo Camp April 12/13th
To: Nikola Malezanov <malezanov@gmail.com>

Dear Water Polo Friends,

I hope this email finds you well. 

We are hosting our annual "Train with America's Best" with the Olympians at the University of Pittsburgh April 12th/13th. 

Our hosts this year are:

Adam Kirkorian (USA Women's Head Coach, Gold Medalist in  London 2012)

Ryan Bailey (4 time Olympian, Silver in Beijing 2008)

Merrill Moses ( 2 time Olympian, Silver in Beijing 2008, University of Pepperdine Assistant Coach)

Jeff Powers ( 3 time Olympian , Silver in Beijing 2008)

12:00pm start on Saturday, April 12th. Program ends by 2:30pm on Sunday

Two training sessions each day

Program Fee of $250 includes:

- Water/snacks during training

- Saturday lunch for the athletes

- Meet/greet, photo and autograph session prior to Saturday’s first session (parents welcome!)

- Special parent meeting with Coach Krikorian

To register, please click here

This program is actually more than a regular water polo camp. It is one of the most unique water polo experiences available to young players – particularly in the Eastern and Midwestern United States. Train with America’s Best is a  hands-on approach to water polo instruction delivered by coaches and players who have reached the top levels of their sport.  Most importantly, much of the program’s training is done with the instructors in the water so that participants benefit from close-up, in-water demonstrations and interactions.  This type of instruction is a rewarding, beneficial and unique experience for players of all ages. Participants are sure to gain a better understanding of the positions they play and key skills, moves and techniques needed to elevate their overall game. On top of it all, everyone who participates truly gets to say that they have “Trained with America’s Best”. And who knows, maybe they’ll even get to say that they took a shot on Merrill Moses, or that they guarded Ryan Bailey, or that they watched - at water level – a Jeff Powers shot zip past them, not to mention that they worked with an Olympic Gold Medal winning coach in Adam Krikorian. How great is that. - See more at: 

http://tigerwp.aquanite.com/olympians-in-pittsburgh-april-1213th/#sthash.gKVUnmzS.dpuf

--

Nikola Malezanov

Tiger Water Polo

North Allegheny Water Polo

ODP East Regional Technical Director

443-955-2622

Like us on facebook!

http://www.facebook.com/tigerwaterpolo

Twitter

@waterpolotiger

www.tigerwaterpolo.com

Fwd: News Release - Ken Krawchuk Wins Libertarian Gubernatorial Nomination

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Ken Krawchuk, Libertarian for Pennsylvania Governor <KenK@kenk.org>
Date: Monday, February 24, 2014
Subject: News Release - Ken Krawchuk Wins Libertarian Gubernatorial Nomination
To: Recipient List Suppressed <KenK@kenk.org>

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 24, 2014

For more information, please contact:

Ken Krawchuk at Campaign@KenK.org or 224-Krawchuk (224-572-9248)

 

 

KEN KRAWCHUK WINS LIBERTARIAN GUBERNATORIAL NOMINATION

 

      In a unanimous vote, Ken Krawchuk was chosen as the Libertarian Party's 2014 gubernatorial candidate, and Henry Haller of Pittsburgh as lieutenant governor at the party’s annual convention on Saturday.  Krawchuk and Haller were also the Libertarian nominees for the same offices in the 1998 and 2002 gubernatorial races.

 

      “This is a great day for Pennsylvania taxpayers”, said Krawchuk, a 60-year-old entrepreneur who hails from Abington Township in Montgomery County.  “The two old parties want to continue to expand a government that’s already too large, too expensive, and too intrusive.  Libertarians are the only ones you can trust to defend the interests of the taxpayer.”

 

      In an acceptance speech to be broadcast statewide to three million homes by the Pennsylvania Cable Network, Krawchuk pledged to focus on those goals that the governor can achieve unilaterally, without assistance from either the Legislature or the courts.  This includes introducing budgets that eliminate the need for the personal income tax over four years, vetoing all tax increases and any unwarranted expansion of government, aggressively cutting waste and excessive spending via the line-item veto, eliminating parole for violent criminals, pardoning “victimless criminals”, and ending asset forfeiture, among many, many others unilateral powers granted to the Governor by the Pennsylvania Constitution.

 

      Among his top legislative priorities are cutting taxes and spending via the Separation of Society and State, eliminating the government monopoly on public education, defusing the abortion debate, and reforming unfair ballot access laws that have erected huge barriers for independent candidates and third parties.

 

      Lieutenant governor nominee Henry Haller, a 66-year-old small businessman from Pittsburgh, was a former Libertarian candidate for US Senate and state Senate before teaming with Krawchuk in 1998 and 2002.  "It is an honor to again be on the ticket with Ken Krawchuk,” Haller said after being unanimously nominated.  “I look forward to assisting him in spreading the message of liberty across Pennsylvania."

 

      Founded in 1971, the Libertarian Party is the third largest political party in the state and the nation, with over 150 elected and appointed officials currently serving in office nationwide, and 40 in Pennsylvania.  Like the Founding Fathers, Libertarians believe that you have the inalienable right to conduct your life as you see fit, without interference, so long as you respect the rights and property of others.  As a result, Libertarians favor a small, responsible government. 

 

      For more information about the Libertarian Party, the public is invited to contact the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania at www.LpPa.org or (800) R-RIGHTS, or the National Libertarian Party at Lp.org or (202) 333-0008.

 

      For more information about the Krawchuk campaign, please visit the campaign website at www.KenK.org.  The campaign can be contacted at Campaign@KenK.org, or 224-Krawchuk (224-572-9248).

 

      - End -

     

 

 

 

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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: Free Training for Afterschool Program Staff: Making Action Plans That Improve Student Behavior

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Shayna Willis <willis@wireless-neighborhoods.org>
Date: Monday, February 24, 2014
Subject: Free Training for Afterschool Program Staff: Making Action Plans That Improve Student Behavior
To: Shayna Willis <willis@wireless-neighborhoods.org>

Hello,

Please forward the following training opportunity to any interested staff.  ACT 48 hours are available.
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Best,

Shayna Willis, M.A.Ed.

Training Consultant | Neighborhood Learning Alliance

Free Training!

Friday, March 7th from 9:00am-11:00am at the BGC Activity Center (map)

 

Need some help to get you through the rest of the year?  Coaching and mentoring sessions focus on sharing best practices and brainstorming solutions to common problems.  This week's focus is on creating action plans for challenging students.

Come and learn about the root causes of challenging behaviors, how to address them when they crop up and practical ways to advocate for your students.  Participants in this session will learn from each other and from our expert trainers, Twila Simmons-Walker and Shayna Willis, about what works and what doesn't in working with at risk youth.  Bring us your most challenging cases and leave with an action plan ready for use.    

Twila Simmons-Walker is the Manager of Scholastic Outreach and Education for the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority (ALCOSAN), where she has worked as an informal educator for the past 12 years. Twila has worked with students as a mentor, environmental educator, and workplace supervisor.  She is a certified elementary and secondary school counselor, and in her free time enjoys working with families as a special education advocate, and on behalf of students with challenging behavior. Twila’s passion for inclusive education is complimented by her experiences as the parent of a child with a pervasive developmental disorder.  

Register here for this event.

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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

More Coverage about future sports issues in Pittsburgh Public Schools

The article below is about to appear in the school newspaper, Obama Eagle.

Headline: Sports are saved! (for now?) 

by Lucy Newman, high school junior, Obama Academy

Good news, Pittsburgh. You may remember the Eagle and the Post-Gazette reporting that Superintendent Linda Lane proposed in her State of the District to cut the sports program here at the Pittsburgh Public Schools. This could include middle school swimming, volleyball, and wrestling; high school tennis, swimming, and golf; and all intramural sports. Dr. Lane recently announced that the Administration and School Board do not plan to make any cuts to PPS sports for next year.“There will be no changes for the 2014-15 school year,” declares Ebony Pugh, the PPS Public Information Officer.

Okay, here’s the bad news, as you might have guessed: PPS sports are still on the chopping block for the 2015-2016 school year. So, sophomore swimmers, you may or may not have a team your senior year.

Yet if we students work together with teachers, the Board, and the Administration on this issue, it is possible to find a solution that solves the financial problems related to PPS athletics while keeping a strong sports program available to students.

The move to defer any decision surrounding sports cuts to a later date is not altogether surprising. As the Post-Gazette points out, Dr. Lane had never said when the cuts would come into effect. “We’re not planning to rush through a process to make a decision,” Dr. Lane says, as quoted in the Post-Gazette.

“The District needs to allow for more [time] to engage the Board and Community around any decisions related to athletics,” Ms. Pugh explains. “ Since we are required to make commitments to WPIAL related to next year’s season it was decided to delay any athletic related decisions. We will be engaging the Board and community over the coming months related to recommendations to the Whole Child, Whole Community plan.”

The plan to which Ms. Pugh is referring is called Whole Child, Whole Community: Building a Bridge to the Pittsburgh Promise. Many of the ideas in Whole Child, Whole Community are also discussed in Dr. Lane’s State of the District address. Both can be found on the PPS website. The plan addresses the District’s vision for the future of PPS. Due the district’s financial challenges, a large portion of the document is dedicated to “living within our means.” To do this, the district is considering both increasing revenue and decreasing expenditures.

Cutting the amount of money dedicated to sports is one of the many cost-cutting measures presented in Whole Child, Whole Community. The document presents two options as to how to do this. The first option would reduce the budgetary allocations to be more in line with actual spending, according to Ms. Pugh. The Whole Child, Whole Community document explains that “By reducing the athletics budget for purchased services, which includes funds used to pay sports officials, transport students to competitions and purchase uniforms and equipment, we could reduce spending by up to $400,000 per year. This change is not expected to have a significant impact on students, as the department has not been spending the full budgeted amount in this area.”

The second option would save more money, but would have a much more severe impact on services available. “Eliminating intramural sports; middle school volleyball, swimming and wrestling; and high school golf, swimming and tennis would reduce spending by an additional $600,000 per year,” according to Whole Child, Whole Community.

However, these are not the only two options. Mark Rauterkus, the Obama Boys swim coach, hopes that the district will be open to changes to its sports program. He writes in a detailed position paper several suggestions for ways in which PPS could possibly improve its sports program. Mr. Rauterkus advocates for expanding PPS sports offerings, by implementing a program called PPS H2O. This program could be financially self-sustaining, Mr. Rauterkus believes, because it could raise revenue through community lessons and events. With PPS H2O, the Pittsburgh Public Schools could have water polo, uderwater hockey, kayaking, triathalons, and more, as well as swimming. Further, components of the program would be available to people of all ages.

The delay in making a decision on sports cuts allows students and the community more time to participate in the decision-making process. Any changes will be voted on by the School Board, and there will be multiple opportunities for students and community members to have a say before they vote. Possibilities for community engagement are posted on the district’s website, Facebook, and Twitter. “We’ve got to keep asking a lot of questions,” says Mr. Rauterkus. Only by doing so can we influence the decision-making process to encompass our needs as students.

So, email your Board representative. Speak at a Board meeting. The district’s financial problems can be solved. We need to make sure that we don’t sacrifice too much of what makes our district great in the process.

Same article above but in a one page PDF.