A Return

I've been away, there are many ways to describe how it is that I came to be away and just as many to illustrate what brought about my return. In the end though I think 'happily ever after' is all that need be said. I am continually amazed at the energy and optimism that is walked away with after attending meetings of the PTSA, SCC, and others attended. The work being done by those who attend, Parents, Teachers, Staff, Community Leaders, and others I may have missed, realized or not is so very important and the impacts that all have are felt in day to day ways sometimes ever so subtly and other times very boldly or in an obvious way.
I know in this day and age most everyone is on a busy schedule and time is limited to the point alot of people don't feel they even have the time to think. As a parent knows time is extremely valuable as we see our children growing, growing, growing, and then woooop's they have moved out started their adult lives on their own and become part of the busy schedule, limited time, wish I could have been their I was just so tied up world we live in. It was said in around or about tonight's meeting "In the blink of an eye" in reference to how quickly it seems our children have grown. We as parents and family members each and every one know how this phrase describes our memories of family ties our youth and our childrens youth, seemingly such a short time which once it has passed cannot be returned too. In looking back I'm sure most wonder what if and did I make the right choices in respect to the amount of time spent with family throughout days that have past. What we value today is not necessarily what we valued yesterday and that will likely always be the case. Making choices as to how we spend our time will always be difficult such is life as we know it.
I hope you will know that the choices you make today are the best choices today, tomorrow is another day and it's choices will be difficult too, to reflect on those choices of yesterday with knowledge in hand that you made decisions based on the best knowledge and understanding available is very important. No regrets! Only the knowledge that today you have more to base your decisions upon and tomorrow will come like it or not.
The future is tomorrow and our children are the future look to them for inspiration and be assured the joys of life and the possibilities for dreams to be brought to fruition will be there for you to see.

Many thanks for all you, do.

Conflict Resolution

VOSP -- Conflict Resolution Skills for Preteens

"VOSP is a method of solving arguments used by Girl Ventures, a local program for girls in middle school. During VOSP you use four steps: Voice, Ownership, Shoes and Plan. Using these four steps, you can solve arguments and try to prevent them from happening. Below are guidelines for VOSP. It doesn’t matter what order you go in, but it might help if you tell the other person involved that you are using VOSP."

After being apprised of concern over conflicts arrising between students most notably girls, during a meeting of the SCC, I made statement of intent to research the issue. In doing so I came across the website linked to and quoted from. In an ensuing meeting I mentioned that I'd come across a resource that might very well be suited to address the concerns, including the possibility that information might be presented in a flyer or incorporated into other informative mediums. Upon doing so I was told a focus group has been created to address the issue and was invited to participate. The excerpt from the website consists of the title, being the link, followed by an introduction, to what hopefully becomes a usefull tool for our schools students and parents.

Forum Notice

COMMUNITY ISSUES FORUM

Is being re-scheduled due to unforeseen events and will be re-posted when the new date,time,place is confirmed.

PGCC Meeting

After attending my first ever Popular Grove Community Council meeting last night I was very much impressed by the community leaders and members who were present. Arriving a little after the meeting convened I caught the tail end of, I believe Michael Stott community liaison for the Mayor's Office and his report, which was followed by a City Council Update,


I voiced concern over the Jordan River Parkway being able to be extended under the freeway between 200 south and 300 south, as you can see in the picture the freeway will very likely need to be raised to allow the path to go under it.



Another concern raised over the remaining concrete and rebar under the bridge on 700 south which I described as "ugly" was in response also described as "dangerous" by councilman Turner which I agree is an apt description. I was pleased with D2 Rep Van Turner as he seemed genuinely concerned and lent to me what seemed a promising view that something will be done in a timely manner to correct the situation.

After that School Reports were given and all but one school listed in the agenda was represented and in my opinion represented very well. With that I want to say thankyou to all who put forth the effort and made the time to allow them being there, to me it appeared to have been a resounding success.

"Hope for the homeless"

I was once nicknamed 'the homeless' although I was never quite sure why, the memory remains, and 'the homeless' whenever heard or read has ever since struck within me an added stitch of meaning. So when I came across this speaking engagement announced for Governor Jon Huntsman on the Utah Department of Community and Culture website, that is contained in the 'local links' list along the right side of the page, well I felt compelled to bring it up and post it here. The following is a fair portion of what is on the website.

Governor Jon Huntsman will speak Friday at the annual launch of the Pamela Atkinson Homeless Trust Fund tax campaign, urging Utahns to contribute to the statewide cause of ending chronic homeless by 2014.

• WHAT: “Hope for the homeless” tax campaign launch
• WHO: Utah Governor Jon Huntsman
  Pamela Atkinson, advocate for the homeless
  Kerry Bate, director,
  Salt Lake County Housing Authority
  Future tenant of a new permanent housing facility
  for the homeless, Grace Mary Manor
• WHEN: Friday, January 25 at 1:30 p.m.
  
• WHERE: Grace Mary Manor apartments
  19 West Gregson Ave., South Salt Lake
  (about 3100 South between Main Street and West Temple)

I believe I may very well attend, maybe you will too.

Online Mtg.

Today's online meeting, will I hope center around the possibilities that are inherent in utilization of the web and it's resources. Garner interest in providing some collaberation between multiple groups and individuals. Whose sharing of knowledge gained from their own experience as it is related in the common cause of a stronger, healthier, more vibrant, and involved, community can be realized.

I consider this an open ended meeting without formal open or close and in that spirit I will include this link as it is where I was first led after drafting this post. I have also been informed that there has been difficulty accessing the 'blog' for some so I needed a diversion of thought to keep me from stresssin.

PHAEDRUS by Plato, Part 01

Know how I was led to Plato? Nope
*wink*

Change is Welcome

As re-arranging, additions, and modification to the 'Blog' has gone on. I'd simply like to say, I embrace 'change' that occurs on its own, is inspired, or is directed, by myself or anyone else who visits, or choose's to contribute, in around or about this, 'Blog'.
You are encouraged to voice your opinions, suggestions, or critiques in the comments.

Note: If you attended a scheduled meeting listed, or plan to attend one, please 'share' what you, became aware of, or hope to, in the comments.

Update: In anticipation of tomorrow's 10am meeting here at ICR those of you who will attend are encouraged to read through the comments of this post, as there are examples for how to use, a description of features, and other tidbit's listed amongst them.

Open Discussion

Looking forward to upcoming meetings, and gratefull for the thanks I've recieved. If anyone has local links that I can place in the list, please share them here in the comments. Any other idea's are also very welcome.
I appreciate that there is always room to learn, and recognise I have alot of room to do so. Following links to information about topics that are relevant to the community and the issues that are before it through this medium strikes me as something that goes beyond the presentation of those issues in meetings where ones notes might be less than effective in providing one with the knowledge being shared.
Being informed is a task that hopefully this blog can make *slightly* less difficult.

GMS reading program

At the last meeting of the SCC there were many comments made after the school's collective reading level's were reported upon. Reports that for many in attendance came as a disturbing shock myself included. I believe it came up as it related to contracts entered into with students with the greatest room for improvement. Considering the strength of interest on this topic I looked into the reading program that it was said is currently in place and found it to be from my limited knowledge of such things, atleast very heartening. The following highlighted text is a link to 'Success for All Foundation' the reading program mentioned's website. I look forward to reports of greatly improved reading levels in the future.

Getting Started

In seeking to create a venu for concerns, interests, and the sharing of events within the community that we belong too. This blog will hopefully spur interest in and help to develope community participation in worthwhile efforts aimed at bettering understanding and creating a better community for all who are a part of it.

I humbly welcome your participation.