Changes Come

It is already the tenth month of the year. Boy have things changed in the last four months. In July 2010 I made that BIG leap, I committed to being a Rotarian.
  My sponsor a former student invited and encourage me to give through Rotary instead of just giving. I agreed.  As soon as I was in the door, I was challenged to become the Chair for International Services/Rotary Foundation. I raised to the challenge.
  First challenge get a young lady through to an Ambassadorial Scholarship.  How do you work with a name without a face? You communicate.  And that is just what we did Communicate. A few weeks later she made it in and is now awaiting her final answer to study law.
  Second order of business get to a two day Leadership workshop in another city [Saturday/Sunday] . So, it was rush on Friday after five PM packed and do some house hold chores, and get to be early for a 7AM flight the next morning. Airport to Workshop until 4PM and the back the next day. At 5AM Monday morning back to the airport and from there drive 22 miles to work...That is what is calls for "Service above Self".
 This is only the beginning..Now it is learn, learn, learn and apply to make life better for those nationally and internationally and I am have a 'blast' as I do so.
  To serve is truly what brings 'JOY'.

Scenes to enjoy

                                  The Waters of Eleuthera - The Isle of Freedom ...

                                        A view of the Ocean from Millionaire's Heights, Eleuthera.

                                          
                                           The Gulls of Summer...

                                                  Enjoy a Sunrise, you'll never forget it.

A PICTURE PAINTS MORE THAN A THOUSAND WORDS, YOU NEVER SEE THE SAME THING TWICE.

Summer School

With school out for the Summer and children having so much free time on their hands, it is an excellent idea to enroll them in Summer School.
The advantages include enhancing what they learned during the year; exposing them to fun ways to learn; meeting and interacting with new children; visiting places they may not otherwise visit; and learning to stand up for themselves.
  It is believed that when students stay at home during the entire summer break they lose up to 60% of what they learned during the school year.
  At home there are many things to keep the children occupy, but most of them revolve around the television.  They are either to watch cartoons, or to play some electronic game be it WII or any other game.
  If children attend summer school for at least 4 -5 weeks they would benefit more than watching the television.
  The older children may work at summer jobs, but they too should be jobs where they learn a skill not just sit around and do nothing or very little.
  It is my hope that parents would ensure that their children use that long summer break wisely.

It's Your Life.

On this first day of June 2010, thousands of young people are completing high school and college and seeking employment.  What is there for them?  They bought into the 'story' get a good education and you would get a good job.  Applications forms have been dispersed with resumes.
  These young people are beating the pavements, knocking on doors and speaking with 'who you know' but that is not producing any jobs.
  Parents are frustrated as they now have at home young people who have completed high school and/or college and there is no jobs in sight.
  Yet all is not lost... there is something called MLM and worldwide this movement is producing financial independence for people.  How can I start may be the question asked?  There are many company advertising on the Internet, but one must be careful.  There are reputable MLM companies out there, to get more information you can search carefully... If you can persuade your fellow graduates to embark on this MLM adventure with you, it can take you far...You only have to ask the right questions.
  It it no over night fix or a quick fix as you decide how much you would like to make and then work towards that.
  I did and I am working to improve my status. It works...

What would your child be doing in Summer 2010?

In just a few weeks schools will be closed for the Summer Break.  The longest break in the school year.
Would you child be doing any of the following:
                                         Sports Camp
                                         Summer Job Programme
                                         Reading Camp
                                         Travelling to another city, state or country
                                         Mathematics Camp
                                         Science Camp or
                                         Just staying at home.
If he/she is what do you as a parent plan for your child to do at home?
Would you be at work?
How about letting your child create a garden in the back yard?  Or create an area to read quietly. Maybe learn how to mend his/her clothes.
There are so many things that children can do to occupy their time and learn something new in the process.
Don't let your child be idle for those 9 weeks, ensure that he/she is busy in a positive way.

These students are!

Isle of Freedom

Have you ever visited the Isle of Freedom in the Bahamas?  If you haven't you should.

This is a typical evening overlooking the water.

Have your own 'boat'? It is even better you can anchor off the shore and enjoy true tranquility.

And, the people are friendly.

Should Students Be Punished for Fighting at School?

Why do students fight?  Why do they feel it is OK to attack each other in groups?  Why are they comfortable with bringing a weapon to school, be it a knife or some other edge tool?

A few days ago some students felt it was right to fight during school.  The fighting was so severe that the police had to be called in...what kind of reflection does this have on parents?  Should parents be held responsible for the child's behavior when he is at school? Should the school?  What negotiation tactic should be used to enable the student[s] to defend his action? It is obvious that beating the child does not work.  In fact it seem to be encouraging the student[s] to counter use violence.

High school students can be tried as adults, but do we want more prisoners living off the state?  Are prisons  remodeling inmates for the benefit of society or are they producing better criminals?  Why is it that some people after spending a term in prison decide to make a career of being a prisoner and do the most trivial thing to return to prison?

Question after question can be raised, but we need answers.

More police officers does not stop people from committing crimes.  Some people feel that they are smarter than the officers.  When they are apprehended they quickly lawyer up. What is the solution?
Please share.

School Year Ends with Drama

As the 2010 school year ends around the world we wonder what this group of young graduates would contribute to the world.

Yet, as we reflect on this some students are grappling with abuse of one kind or another. This abuse has led to abusive behavior by students against each other.

Teachers are being charged with sexual abuse against minors, male and female. There are many charges against male teachers whom we expect to 'look after' our children are preying on them. Not only are they preying on the young females but in some cases they are preying and being charged with abuse of young males also.

The question arises should all future teachers be investigated by the police before they are hired?

While the preyer sits in prison or is out on bail, what happens to the young person who has been abused?

What kind of help is given to enable that young person to go on? To acquire a college education, to lead a production life without shame and blame feeling as if it was their fault?

What will the end results be when young people are abused?

Do you have an opinion, please share.

New Commissioner of Police in the BAHAMAS

I watched history in the making today. The Bahamas received its sixth Commissioner of Police. A young man under 50 and who has over thirty years in the policing field. A young man who has trained in The United States, Canada, United Kingdom and The Bahamas.

Crime in the Bahamas at this time seem to be out of control. In 2009 this small country with less than 500,000 inhabitants had 87 murders! That number is unacceptable.

Most of those murders were committed by young men.

This weekend, one of those young men who though violence was the way will be buried, on the same day a young lady who was killed in a car accident would also be buried. Two young lives who did not live out half of the 70 years promised.

As we reflect on the History made today it is my wish that parents would communicate more with their children especially the young men. That more adults would become mentors to the youth. That the churches will spend more time talking to instead of talking at young people. That adults on the whole become a true example for the youth to follow, instead of portraying double standards, that is saying one thing and practicing the other.

We will see.

What Will 2010 Hold For You?

It's January 1,2010. We made it. Have you made resolutions again? Will you keep them through the year or will you drop them within the month,week?

Let's try another tactic, the things you wan to do write it on your wall [use a sheet of chart paper]. Make sure that wherever they are written you can see them daily. Concentrate on doing one thing at a time, finish it, do it well and then move on. Or consider choosing the one thing that you feel is 'pressing'. Do that, then go down your list in order of priority.

Think of the things you wish to do seriously, is it to lose those nagging 10 pounds? or clean out your closet and pass on those shoes and clothes you have not worn in six months to the Red Cross, The Salvation Army or Good Will; what about that vegetable garden you keep telling yourself you are going to start? and what about that mentoring program you promised to join? There is no time like the present to do yourself that favour and 'do it'.

Have you promised yourself that next year I am going to take a vacation; or go see my grand children in another state or country, this is the year to keep that promise. What about the course you promised to take? What are you going to do about it? Are you going to register on the Net or are you going to do those classes in the evening at the campus?

WE must live in the NOW... we only have this moment in time. If you start now you will finish. If you don't start who know how long it would take to do so?

This 2010 should be the year you go for it and do so in a BIG way. Take the bull by the horns and ride it. No more excuses. No more procrastination. Just go with your gut instinct. You are what you think so think BIG.