Category Archives: foreign relations

Nurturing Potential

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“It helps us to all work together, because its the parent and the teacher and the child – its that triangle..”

Michelle Rhee, Chancellor of D.C. Public Schools has stated that the potential is there for students to become super men and super women, if given the opportunity for a great education. Our children’s inability to progress is due to the educators ineffectiveness in fulfilling the needs of the children in the classroom. It is the adults who are failing the children. This is a blanket statement, however, we all know that there are as many good teachers as there are inadequate teachers.

Every child deserves and needs a great education. They are the future of our country and students need to be taught in a way that recognizes and builds upon their strengths and gifts,so they can become global leaders as adults.

David Guggenheim’s new film “Waiting for Superman” will be premiering in New York and L.A. on September 24. This documentary film provides an inside look at education in America, our need for equal opportunity, America’s teachers and some answers to saving schools.

As highlighted in the film, the opportunity to obtain an excellent education should not be dependent upon the chance of winning a lottery to be admitted into one of the new high performing charter public schools.

Obviously, educational institutions can not be entirely held responsible for the success of a child. Parents need to do their part, too. Expose your child to the arts, to museums, to athletics, to faith and to groups of empowering people. A child has the potential to achieve what is set before them – so set the bar high! That way, your child will know you have confidence in their abililities and that you know they can succeed! It is all about nuturing potential.

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Sharing the Word!

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“Do the right thing. It will gratify some people and astonish the rest.”                 ~Mark Twain 

How coincidental is that? Today, I had planned to write a blog on the man who is known as our first American novelist – Mark Twain. He is one of the most well-known essayists and moralists in our country’s history! This morning, I had a few minutes to spare before my dentist appointment, and took the opportunity to take a little drive into an area of Steamboat Springs, CO that I had not previously taken the time to explore before. There the name was, on a street sign, Mark Twain. Was it an Avenue or Road or Lane? ! I dont know! I was so thrown off guard by this odd coincidence of having just composed, on paper, last night a blog based on  Mr. Twain that I can not remember which!   

Seeing this sign has changed the content of my blog. I was going to go on and on about the man who was born in 1835 and died in 1915 AKA Samuel Langhorne Clemens. His speculative ventures included silver mining, business and publishing.  His writings had appeal to young and old, alike. Although in he is known for his humor and wit, many of the essays he wrote in his final years were filled with his “venting” against power, corruption and greed.

Why his name should appear on a street sign in a place like Steamboat Springs, CO, I wonder. Perhaps it is just a subtle reminder to all that as we travel down the road of life  “to do the right thing.”

 

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Saved by the Book

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“We need to be pro-children and pro-literacy of all kinds.” ~ David Booth

Saved! By former First Lady, Laura Bush! All was not lost when my wishes for a weekend full of literary enjoyment began with a bomb of a book that did nothing to fulfill my expectations. Determined to immerse myself in some good reading, I switched gears and delved into a wonderful  journey that was entitled “Spoken from the Heart.”

From the time Laura Bush was a little girl, literature has been an all encompassing part of her life. As an only child, she found a treasure trove of good times with characters and places to escape to all by herself.  Later on in her life, her positions as a mother, teacher, librarian and First Lady allowed her to share her passion of reading with her twin daughters, students and  others, around the globe. She made stories come alive for children in disadvantaged areas so they could also escape into worlds beyond their own environments,.  She taught students how to make handmade books and  former students became subjects of her own first published book “Read All About It.”

As first lady of the United States, she traveled to many countries, like Zanzabar to spread the good news that private and American funds would place 20,000 books in 16 schools for underserved children.

Laura Bush has always been at the top of my list for favorite First Ladies.  Her book “Spoken from the Heart” gave me even more insight into the wholesome Texas values she was raised with, the fact that she is deeply aware of how blessed we are to have children in our lives and our responsibility to do all that we can to spread the value of literacy around the world.

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Grassroots Spreading Globally

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“We are all functioning at a small fraction of our capacity to live life fully in it’s total meaning of loving, caring, creating and adventuring.                            ~ Herbert A. Otto  

It is inspiring when a simple message and concept begins to grow beyond wildest dreams. When Salley Gibney, founder of You Are Never Alone Foundation, a Vermont 501(3)C voluntary, non-profit began her efforts to foster caring, connection and hope through Caring Coins, I doubt she envisioned her efforts would spread so quickly, globally.  

The message of  You Are Never Alone is passed along from person to person through Caring Coins. These simple wooden coins inscribed with the words “You are Never Alone” were first given to troubled teens, to senior citizens, to hospice patients and to troops from Vermont headed to war in Afghanistan. Little by little, “the good news of hope” began to gather momentum. These coins are now available in Spanish, too and have traveled to places far beyond Vermont. They have traveled to children in Uganda, Guatemala and Ecuador!  

A few months ago word spread even further when the You Are Never Alone Foundation was invited to Bangladesh to spread the news and share caring coins with children in India! Please take a few minutes to watch this video and you will see the joy that this simple concept is now bringing to children on the other side of the world!  

This non-profit organization is a wonderful reminder of how one person’s vision and passion for changing the world can bring fulfillment to others. Salley is so fortunate to have the assistance of volunteers. There is much work to be done and funds are needed to continue to share this valuable message with others who are so in need of knowing, that despite life’s hard knocks, YOU ARE NEVER ALONE!

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Offer it Up

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“There is no such thing as a ‘self made’ man. We are made up of thousands of others. Everyone who has ever done a kind deed for us or spoken…”                                    ~ George Matthew Adams

How many times throughout your life have you heard the expression “you never know until you try” ? So many times throughout my life, when I have been pondering “I want to” or “ought to”, this little adage has popped up in my mind, forcing me to take action. As much as I dislike hearing it time and time again, I am glad it has been my constant companion! I try to always remember – all things serve their own purpose!  Without remembering this adage, often I would never have taken action and opportunities would have passed me by.

A few days ago, I blogged about the freedoms we enjoy in this country and about the importance of legal immigrants obeying the letter of the law. I received a comment to this blog, Striking Gold, from a faithful reader of this site. She shared that she and her Mom want to share their family’s story of immigration. Her relatives have built successful careers in their new lands and have tales to tell.

I would like to encourage my faithful blog reader to take advantage of one of the freedoms of our country, independent publishing, to share her family’s tales, not just for her own family’s sake but for the sake of others. There will be many others interested in learning of her family’s accomplishments, their strife, opportunity and their feelings as they arrived in this country and Australia, trying to start life anew.

And like every thing in life “you never know until….” So, go for it, Marie, go for it!  Your relatives did, and so can you!

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In All Things, Common Sense

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The only sense that is common in the long run, is the sense of change and we all instinctively avoid it” ~  E. B. White

Do you know who one of the earliest independent thinkers and writers in our country’s history is? Thomas Paine! On this Memorial Day weekend, I thought it would be a good time to remember the writings of Mr. Paine! His pamphlet Common Sense, which appeared in January 1776, pioneered a style of political writing which gathered momentum due to his complex ideas which were clear, concise and intelligible to all.

His pamphlet, Common Sense was often read aloud in taverns and other public settings, and although extremely popular, it is not known how many people joined the cause for separation from Britain, as a result of Mr. Paine’s publication. His writings however, had a definite influence by initiating a public debate about independence.

Is this not what every independent publisher hopes to accomplish- buzz about their ideas, book, film or music? His read aloud sessions of Common Sense in taverns and on public stages, was the forerunner of the book release appearances and parties that are so widely used today to launch a blast of publicity.

Happy Memorial Day and be grateful for the laws of our country that allow for freedom of speech and publishing! I am going to enjoy this Memorial Day too, so I will return on Tuesday!

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Stuffed Brain and Seafood

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“In the same way that music inspires us to certain feelings, space can do the same thing,” Sarah Susanka

I can well understand the attractiveness of the Delmarva region on the Eastern seaboard for artists and writers. The abundant shorebird habitat, marine life, the Chesapeake Bay and it’s tributaries, provides an outstanding array of subjects to paint, through words and pictures. A waterman’s way of life is all I need, for food for fodder, during my time here.

Yesterday was graduation day for Naval Academy cadets, and I sat aboard a boat on the Severn River watching the flyover of fighter jets indicating the end of the college training for the graduates and the beginning of a new troop of dedicated and honorable countrymen.

To a gal who has resided in the mountains for the past 30+ years, my visit to the Delmarva, allows me to gather all I can of experiences, sights, tastes until next time I arrive here on the shores. During my stay, I hope to wander the halls of the Baltimore Museum of Art or the Cone Collection at the Walters Art Gallery, then head down the road to Washington, DC and take in Rose Frantzen’s exhibit at the National Portrait Gallery. If I get there, I will report my findings along the way.

I hear a table full of Maryland blue crabs calling my name, so for now, I must go!

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Rewarding Regional Writing

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“I’d rather have an aggregator than a filter – 100 different viewpoints from all over the world”  ~ David Weinberger

My vantage point today comes from atop a lighthouse overlooking the Chesapeake Bay. This point of view has led me to consider how our experiences in life lead to the subjects we write about and how independent publishing provides the perfect opportunity to share our knowledge, experiences and subjects we know best, with others.

Last night, I read about writer Tom Horton, who for 35 years has been documenting the decline of the Chesapeake Bay’s wild places. His regional writing has earned him a reputation for eloquent environmental reporting. Tom attributes his love of words from  having witnessed the life a reporter, his mother, who spent her career as a Baltimore Sun news reporter and also from his love of Marvel and Disney comic books. Also the son of a poultryman, he has experienced life on the Eastern shore of the Chesapeake Bay first hand. These experiences have led to numerous books and copious articles filled with a rich and deep understanding of the subjects he knows best.

Whether you are from the Bayou of Louisiana writing about recent environmental issues concerning oil spills, a Western writer sharing stories about ranch life, an international traveler  documenting cultural differences, or an author writing about the California art scene, independent publishing is possible and can be rewarding both personally and financially.

Sharing thought, views and perspectives is what independent publishing is all about! Do you have a book in you?

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The Beat Goes On

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“Gratitude is a quality similar to electricity: it must be produced and discharged and used up in order to exist at all.” ~ William Faulkner

Being a blogger, I am always on the beat looking for inspiration around which to write the next story. Saturday night, I did not have to stray far! Just a quick drive to the United Methodist Church in downtown Steamboat Springs, CO. A beautiful example of cultural harmony through the Arts, was waiting to be found.

The Macedonian Mission for Humanity brought together two artists, one from an ancient civilization and one from a much newer world order, to provide a night of amazing musical entertainment. Keri Rusthoi, and soprano soloist living in Steamboat Springs, CO and award winning, international concert pianist from Macedonia, Kalina Mrmevska, could not have better displayed a great example of two countries working toward the good for the other through the Arts. The proceeds for this concert will go toward getting medical supplies to Macedonian Children’s Hospitals, where they are so badly needed.

If you missed this concert, the two artists will be repeating  the performance at the Colorado Community Church on Saturday, May 21st at 7pm. The church is located in Englewood, Colorado at 3651 So. Colorado Blvd.

As I sat and enjoyed this outstanding concert, I couldn’t help but think what it would be like to hear these two diverse artists perform in an ancient church, in an ancient city, in a place like Ohrid, Macedonia. The Macedonian Mission for Humanity (A Colorado based 501(3)C, non-profit organization) is so very grateful to the United Methodist Church in Steamboat Springs, CO for making this concert possible, right in our own backyard. Don’t count me as ungrateful – the acoustics there were certainly more than good enough, for my untrained musical ear!

 

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Volunteer & Vacation All at Once

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“Teach this triple truth to all: A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion as the things which renew humanity.” ~ Buddha

Schools will soon be letting out, and millions of Americans will be taking to the highways and byways for their annual summer vacation. One of the hottest trends in vacationing, voluntourism, is becoming a subject that many want to read about! Independent publishing is a great way to share, with others, unique experiences you have had through travel.

Voluntourism is becoming increasingly popular for those who are looking for a vacation experience unlike any they have had before. Volunteer vacations can be fulfilling, fun and sometimes, a less expensive way to travel. Retirees and senior citizens represent a large segment of people who have jumped on the bandwagon and are participating in this new travel trend.

Service vacations are often good values for seniors on a tight budget. They provide unique and active vacations rather than spending time on golf courses, on beaches or on a cruise ship. The travel living conditions may include shared accommodations or family style food arrangements, but, for those that ordinarily would not be able to travel, it is a great alternative to staying home and growing old. For more information on this growing trend of service vacations, please visit http://bit.ly/bQ4X9j.

Retirees, is becoming a published writer on your “bucket list” of things to do? Perhaps you have been part of this new trend in travel aimed at renewing humanity,  having fun and seeing the sights, all at once! Share with others, through independent publishing,  how a service vacation enriched your life. Anyone can become a published writer, thanks to the independent publishing industry! What are you waiting for?

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