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Fairfax County Five-Year Consolidated Plan for Fiscal Year 2011-2015 Public Input Forum Helping Persons with Special Needs
Notes From
Fairfax County Five-Year Consolidated Plan
for Fiscal Year 2011-2015 Public Input Forum
Helping Persons with Special Needs
November 6, 2009, 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
FAIRFAX COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER (Rooms 2/3 and 4/5)
Group B
Housing, Services and Facility Needs for Other Special Populations
From your perspective, what are the current needs in our community for housing, services, or other facilities for special needs populations?
- Group homes in Fairfax County, especially for individuals who fall outside Community Services Board (CSB) services; for example, those with developmental disabilities waivers (DD Waivers).
- Housing with in-house support services such as counseling for individuals with mental health disabilities and brain injuries.
- Housing for seniors with mental health disabilities.
- Homes with a level of affordability and accessibility that allows residents to remain in them for the long term.
- Public transportation (accessible); for example, signage for the visually impaired, sheltered and covered bus stops, the addition and improvement of sidewalks, etc., as well as transportation accessibility to other counties such as Loudoun and Prince William.
Are there particular special needs for those leaving an institution or at risk of being placed in an institution?
- Nursing homes (affordable and accessible) with both personal assistance and independent living support services in Fairfax County.
- Conduct public hearings (or focus groups) at institutions such as shelters to ensure communication with the "people that matter" and use www.disabilitynavigator.org, a gathering place online, as another way to get people connected to services.
- Rehabilitative group homes for people with mental health and substance abuse issues who do not have a place to go after being released from adult detection centers.
- Transitional housing (supervised) for individuals leaving institutions.
- Accommodate non-English speakers.
- Timely information and access to the stock of affordable and accessible housing; some states require landlords to advertise such units in advance (e.g. information clearinghouse).
- Evaluate compliance regarding accessibility codes to ensure that we are creating a fuller stock of accessible housing rather than just meeting the minimum 5% standard.
- Support services for individuals moving into their homes. (People are not able to exercise their rights to leave institutions.)
Looking ahead, what do you think will be the important needs for special needs populations in the next five-to-ten years? (Consider trends occurring in the county. How do you anticipate the future?)
- New units should be built to be accessible.
- Peer-to-peer positions rather than new mental health staff positions.
- Caregivers who can speak English well.
- Students with disabilities graduating from the LIFE program in public schools should have an opportunity to obtain degrees rather than non-competitive certificates.
- In-house assistance for seniors who are now living longer.
- Better wages and benefits for personal support assistants (PSAs) or direct care workers.
- Support services for people with autism who are graduating from programs and schools and being placed in the community.
- Creative housing along with minimum or total support services, so that people with disabilities can live as whole citizens.
- Back-up support services at short notice; for example, when personal assistant is not available.
- Integrated housing and clusters of support housing for people with cognitive, individual or multiple disabilities.
- Focus on community building in mixed income areas; for example, libraries and schools.
- Partnerships with faith-based and nonprofit organizations; for example, donate land, especially in areas with little available land or services.
- Hyperthermia services needed.
- Integrate individuals with a spectrum of disabilities, so that they can help each other.
- Communication plan; for example, best practices in housing, partnership opportunities, and leveraging of housing and support services.
For the next five year period, what factors do you think the county should use in deciding which needs to address with limited resources?
- First priority to individuals with disabilities not institutionalized to ensure full and enhanced housing accessibility and support services, especially those at risk for homelessness and hitting rock bottom without support, a home, and/or job.
- People at risk for falling ill should be first to receive, for example, H1N1 vaccine.
- People in group homes who are costing more than if they remain at home.
- Change "the have and have-nots perspective" and use non-monetary resources such as energy and time; for example, volunteer groups.
- Priority should be given to those with the most physical needs, specifically institutional and respite care and support and emergency services.
- Look at existing systems, for example, CSB mental services waivers.
- Look at people within the population who are a risk to themselves and others because of needs and behaviors that cannot be met at home. Also, benchmark and see what is out there in Fairfax County and nationwide.
- Look at the gaps preventing people from living in communities independently. (There is a housing waiting list for people with disabilities, but none for people with disabilities who are stuck in nursing homes.)
- Priority should be given to using community development funds to build infrastructure, so that people can stay in their homes.
- Look at people with disabilities who are living at home with their parents, but will eventually be forced into nursing homes.
- Housing and support services for children with disabilities who have been abandoned, as well as individuals with traumatic brain injuries.
Group B
Resources, Opportunities and Strategies for Other Special Needs
Comments from the audience on what is working:
- Getting Food – getting good food has enabled me to come and talk today. Meals on Wheels is working. Proper food and proper housing give a person strength (meeting basic needs). There are still hurdles; it can be difficult to locate meal services. Housing is in undesirable and unsafe areas.
- Metro Access works well. It does need to expand how far out it will go. Do not raise fees. There is fear that the price will go up and then people cannot afford it.
- SPARC Program. The SPARC program is wonderful but it needs to extend to five days a week. It is a fantastic program and has saved many lives and it can save more lives. It keeps families together and allows young adults to be out in the community.
- Disabilities Services Board: thank you for doing community outreach, continue to facilitate and participate with meetings like this.
- Grateful for programs that help us get jobs (through Mason).
- Case Management through CSB exists but there are waiting lists. Not all of the information reaches all of the case workers resulting in not all receiving the same information on services. Case Management works well but not all of the needs are being met.
- Real estate tax exemption for persons who are disabled works well.
- Create a program where persons with disabilities can own homes, expand those homes to rent to another person with disabilities (expand capacity), allow people to realize appreciation and do upgrades on homes. Allow people to pool assets together to have a home together (e.g. allow this through Housing Choice Voucher homeownership initiatives)
Comments from the audience on what works but needs to be strengthened:
- Medicare waiver program that provides money that follows the person as they transition to different services is working. Needs improvement: find a way to provide access to housing when the person needs to transition (not a waiting list). There should be a 6 month window to actively work with someone to transition; have transitional living program then on to permanent housing. Increase access to rental subsidies or vouchers.
- Housing developments like Coppermine are working. To improve there needs to be 24 hour coverage for personal assistance. Need the ability to pull or have on call emergency services. Need support service personal to help live in the community. There are not enough SSP, not enough volunteers, not enough funding (pay is too low).
- Housing – Individuals who meet all of the requirements to live in housing can't have someone live with them. There needs to be an allowance for live-in help or a family member who can help. Need to keep people closer to their family.
- Coppermine/Wesley Housing. Loves the opportunity even if not all of the needs are being met. This housing is great, 2 bedrooms and an aide, but it isn't appropriate for all disabilities and doesn't have all the aid one needs.
- Creative Partnerships, Interfaith partnerships. Wesley Housing can look for other partners to provide services. Lessen bureaucratic obstacles to make partnerships work.
- Coppermine – it lacks support services. DC has 24 hour on call services if someone doesn't show. Need a pooling service to cover emergencies. For full independence need service support 24 hours a day. This is a critical component. Full service support can keep people out of nursing homes.
- We live in a multicultural community. Mental health services need to be available in multiple languages. This will reduce domestic violence and dependency on local shelters.
- Languages. Need staff who can speak the person's language. Need continuity of services and not change due to language barriers. More multilingual support with continuity is needed. Multilingual staff must also provide good service to English speakers.
- Deaf/Hard of Hearing and Vision-impaired services – some very good resources in Fairfax County. Not only need the knowledge of services but need to make sure it is being enforced.
- Not all business, emergency services, etc., are fully accessible. An able bodied person may be in an accessible room at a shelter so there isn't a place for the person with disabilities.
Over the next five years what do you see as the greatest opportunity to make changes and improvements:
- In home services – open the door and see how they are living. People often have too much pride to ask for help. Too many people are on the phones, they lack understanding. Either volunteers or Coordinated Services need to get out.
- Money follows the person – this doesn't work with mental health services. If this is the policy then it isn't functioning.
- Make information available in different media; recording of this session would be helpful to the visually impaired. Improve audio and written information (not just PDF format on websites).
- Share information across state and county lines – Arlington has support to keep people in the community and out of the hospital (PACT services).
- Medicaid Waiver for Mental Health – other states such as Colorado use this; VA needs to do more. Need a county advocate with the state.
- PACT teams in CSB. There are currently two PACT teams and there need to be more; plan for more vouchers to get another team.
- People should not judge other people's disabilities.
- Need more partnership with the community.
- Mental Health needs to train more bilingual companions at the community (volunteer?) level.
- Stimulus fund opportunities. Lobby to use stimulus funds for programs and services that keep people in their homes. Things like this often get overlooked. It costs more to institutionalize a person; use funds for preventative housing issues.
- Stimulus fund opportunities. Over the next five years increase the stock of affordable housing. Offer incentives to builders; if they increase the number of accessible units they will get extra "points" towards winning the bid. Offer incentives to contractors to provide more accessible housing in general.
- Stimulus fund opportunities. After 12/31/10 stimulus funds go away. The Commonwealth is talking about cutting Medicaid Waiver services. We should be building those areas up now with stimulus fund money.
- Look for other opportunities to use stimulus funds and other ways of working with CCFAC.
- Improve emergency shelter availability. Increase mixed use development, increase programs like SPARC.
- Communicate information across all lines, look at best practices from other jurisdictions. Social Workers are over worked. Improve networking and communications. Social Workers help those most in need; improve their support and training.
Was there a need that was not covered?
- What can be done to make disabled members feel safer at home? Make housing in safe neighborhoods.
- Provide alternative services/housing while individuals are on a waiting list. Look at supporting individuals more in a way that allows them to stay with their families. Underscore family support.
- Find better ways for consumer and family to take more responsibility for their own treatment rather than just provide services to them. Change the dynamic of mental health to allow/encourage more individual responsibility for care.
- Peer support models work but are underfunded.
- Fully accessible housing works but is not fully integrated into the community.
- Transportation – not enough accessible housing has adequate public transportation. Housing is too isolated; improve access on all areas – bus stops don't have covered areas to wait, no sidewalks at bus stops, etc.
Group Summary of Solutions:
- Identification and compilation of resources available to all
- Build a better integrated system.
- Recognize complex and multiple needs
- Implementation of prevention as a solution, more activities that lead to keeping housing.
- Increase housing stock/capacity
- Expand and better align the resources we have.
Additional Testimony Provided
Oral testimony was received from an individual with physical disabilities who is now receiving housing assistance from the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). She indicated that, due to her physical condition gradually deteriorating, she now needs more accessible housing. She indicated that she is not being helped by HCD to obtain appropriate housing even though she has made several inquiries and requests to HCD.
Closing Session Suggestions
Put Forum notes in HTML or another form of Word when publishing on web
- Blog site for other comments
- Social networking site for requests for assistance.


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Beetle warrior brings an incredible panoply of weapons and equipment...
Bandai's S.I.C. Vol. 52 Kamen Rider Kabuto can be purchased at select import retailers, such as BigBadToyStore.com and HobbyLinkJapan.com.
Kamen Rider is a long-running Japanese franchise featuring superheroes with insectoid features and motorcycles who fight against monstrous enemies of Earth and mankind. The first Kamen Rider television show aired way back in 1971, with dozens of follow ups and sequels in Japan and around the world. 2006 brought one of the coolest Kamen Rider series to Japanese television, Kamen Rider Kabuto. In it Souji Tendou uses the Kabuto Zecter device to transform into the eponymous hero. Kabuto is Japanese for helmet and makes up part of the word for the rhinoceros beetle, Kabutomushi. Thus, the Kabuto hero has a decidedly beetloid motif that carries over across its different forms. A very unique and cool looking character, Tendou was perfect for an elite line of figures, and so today we take a close look at Bandais S.I.C. Vol. 52 Kamen Rider Kabuto!
The S.I.C. line (Super Imaginative Chogokin) is an ultra-detailed series of medium-scale figures from Bandai that bring to life many Japanese favorites including quite a few Kamen Rider heroes and villains. With dozens of releases, called Volumes, the S.I.C. is world renowned among collectors and its easy to see why. Even if youre not an expert on the figures back stories or television shows (and Im by no means an expert on Kamen Rider), its easy to fall in love with these guys.
Kamen Rider Kabuto is dynamic even in its box, a great metallic red beast of a thing. The front window shows off just one layer of the packages contents including the base figure and the large Kabuto Zecter shell. The J-hook panel on top has the S.I.C. logo along with the figures full name. Decorated in the heros colors (red, silver, and black) and a repeating hexagonal pattern, the box has even more windows on its sides.
The back panel has no fewer than a dozen photographs to give you a taste of all of its forms and accessories! Thankfully theres a huge double-sided pictorial instruction sheet inside so you can get the most out of the figure.
Out of the box Kamen Rider Kabuto appears in his basic form, that of an armored humanoid. Standing about 8 inches tall, the figure is visually striking in both sculpt and coloration. He wears what looks like a striated under suit covered with armor plating that still allows for flexibility. Thats the easy description, but the level of detail here is quite extreme. Kabutos limbs are the least armored, meaning they have the most under suit showing with its multitude of what look like leather strips. Armor on the limbs consists of both plates and rings, all of which are sculpted with mechanical designs. The Riders chest is encased in a heavy breastplate that has incredible workmanship, while his belt has more tiny components and a hinged device at its forefront. Of course, the Kamen Rider Kabuto wears an awesome insectoid helmet complete with massive rhinoceros beetle-like crest!
Remember the main colors from the Riders box? Those are in full effect on the figure from the black suit subtly lined in purple to the bright metallic reds and silvers of the armored components. Many of those hues are re-used in detail work as well as vivid yellow on the breastplate and belt. Especially striking for its single use is the powerful blue of Kabutos huge beetle eyes.
As if the Kamen Rider Kabuto wasnt cool enough for its appearance (and I havent even gotten to the accessories!), it also has a tremendous amount of articulation. Starting from the top, it has a ball-jointed upper neck, lower neck, ball-jointed shoulders with floating armor, biceps, double-jointed elbows, ball-jointed wrists, ball-jointed torso, waist, ball-jointed hips, thighs, double-jointed knees, and ball-jointed ankles. The figures basic form also has the moveable belt part and rhinoceros horn. Basically, theres no end to the cool poses you can put this guy through, and it only gets better with the inclusion of its accessories.
Without delving too far into the Kamen Rider mythology, each hero has various forms and specific equipment for each. Its just so with Kabuto, whose basic form wields a dagger and a gun that transforms into an axe. Swapping out a couple of parts turns him into his Decade version that also has its own weapon: a sword/gun/book. This forms belt is much smoother with a large silver buckle decorated with red spheres. The alternate head (thats used in most of the other forms as well) is an upgrade with green eyes and larger horn, which is easy to replace on the neck ball joint.
When the going gets tough its time for the Hyper Form, and that means quite a lot of parts swapping. It uses the larger head, a new bulky torso armor piece, replaced armor plates on the arms and legs, new hands, and a new right foot! Thankfully, all of these are easily removed and attached. The Hyper Form is noticeably more heavily armored, and this is quite possibly the best looking of the figures modes.
It also has additional belt accoutrements and a massive gold sword! After Kabuto fights for a while in Hyper Form, theres still one more finishing upgrade, Hyper Clock Up! Adding to the beetle theme, Kabuto unveils its wings along with opening armor plates on its chest and back as well as translucent plastic devices on its arms and legs. All of these accessories and alternate parts are just as detailed and well done as the base body, if not better!
And then theres the big guy. Nestled in the plastic tray along with the figure is a massive Kabuto rhinoceros beetle carapace. This thing has an absolutely incredible sculpt thats completely covered in bio-organic details. Its also resplendent in metallic red, orange, and gray with additional details in yellow, blue, and various translucent colors. Unfortunately the Zecter Kabuto is not a complete toy on its own, but actually requires the base figure to assemble it. Doing so entails removing just about all of the external parts from the figure and separating him at the waist. The upper body gets folded into the beetle shell while the creatures legs attach to the figures legs and then plug back into the main body. While not the most structurally sound, the end result looks pretty darn cool. Stubby wings unfold from the Zecters rear end, and then you can attach the Clock Up wings to them as well.
Whew, I think thats everything. Im sure the descriptions dont do this thing justice, so check out the pictures. This really should be called a set, as it has so many options and the figure can be put together in so many different ways. Kabuto is bound to be a star in your Kamen Rider or Japanese figure collection, and even at import prices its a great deal for the quality of the figure and the staggering amount of accessories!
Bandai's S.I.C. Vol. 52 Kamen Rider Kabuto can be purchased at select import retailers, such as BigBadToyStore.com and HobbyLinkJapan.com.
Review and Photos by Scott Rubin
Review Sample Courtesy of Bluefin

subset: commoncrawl


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POMPANO BEACH, Fla. - Carlos Infante has lived with diabetes for more than 15 years. The condition slowly began robbing him of his eyesight.
"Glasses weren't helping," said Infante.
A condition called diabetic retinopathy was destroying his vision.
"What happens is the blood vessels start leaking some fluid and sometimes actually little dots of blood appear on the macula on the retina," said Dr. Carl Danzig with the Rand Eye Institute. "Occasionally, new blood vessels can grow in areas they shouldn't be, and these are fragile blood vessels, and they may cause scar tissue or bleed into the eye."
Infante lost his vision in his right eye and then his left eye began deteriorating.
"Carlos came in with no balance, no depth perception, the inability to actually walk straight," said Dr. William Rand with the Rand Eye Institute. "He was tremendously visually impaired."
Up to 45 percent of Americans diagnosed with diabetes have some form of diabetic retinopathy. Fortunately, there are surgical techniques that can repair the damage.
Infante went through two surgeries at the Rand Eye Institute. In the first, a cataract that formed as a result of his diabetes was removed.
"When I first saw Carlos before his surgery, he could not even see the big E. He could only see fingers in front of his face," said Danzig.
"I couldn't do anything. I was pretty much disabled," said Infante.
Two months after the cataract surgery, Infante went through another procedure to repair bleeding vessels in his eye.
"His prognosis right now is actually pretty good. It's probable that Carlos will have a lifetime of good vision if he controls his blood sugar," said Rand.
"It's just a big 100 percent percent difference and maybe taking care of my diabetes would have prevented it, but that's in the past. What can I do?" said Infante.
Often there are no symptoms in the early stage of diabetic retinopathy.
Copyright 2012 by Post Newsweek. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


text: Black Watch excursion quilted vest Item F8384 Color: GREEN BLACK VIOLET Size: X-SMALL All sizes are US sizes. X-SMALL Size Charts Quantity: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Prices do not include taxes. Add to Bag Wishlist Add to Bag Add To Wishlist share: size & fit Cut for a boxy fit. Body length: 24 1/2". Hits at hip. Product Details Our customer-favorite down vest that's slim and lightweight, but still warm enough to keep chilly weather at bay—now in holiday-ready Black Watch tartan with double-entry pockets. Down-filled poly. Standing collar. Zip closure. Pockets. Lined. Machine wash. Import. Item F8384.


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text: PRESENTED BY PASADENA POLICE DEPARTMENTThursday, March 14, 20135:00pm - 9:00pmHAMBURGER HAMLET214 S. Lake Ave., Pasadena, CA 91101On Thursday, March 14th, the Pasadena Police Department will work Hamlet's as hosts and waiters! Come support your local Law Enforcement Officers and enjoy fine food and fun. These officers will be accepting tips from dinner patrons to benefit local Pasadena Special Olympics athletes. Please visit us on the web! www.sosc.orgFor more information, contact:Officer Anthony Riley - 626-744-7656


text:
Lilla Crawford Suffers Minor Injury in ANNIE; Out Until Next Week
A production spokesperson tells us Lilla Crawford "suffered a minor injury to her foot while on stage at the December 12 matinee performance of Annie."
She is expected to return to the production next week. Understudy Taylor Richardson will take over the role in her absence.
Crawford made her Broadway debut in 2011, playing Debbie in the closing cast of Billy Elliot on Broadway. She was featured in a workshop production of Craig Wright's Melissa Arctic. She has also performed in 14 shows with YADA (Youth Academy of Dramatic Arts) in her native Los Angeles.
Annie features a book by Thomas Meehan, music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Martin Charnin, with all three authors receiving 1977 Tony Awards for their work. Annie is directed by Pulitzer Prize and three-time Tony Award-winner James Lapine and choreographed by Tony Award-winner Andy Blankenbuehler.
Annie stars two-time Tony Award winner Katie Finneran as Miss Hannigan, Australian star Anthony Warlow making his Broadway debut as Daddy Warbucks and 11-year-old Lilla Crawford as Annie, with Brynn O'Malley as Grace Farrell, Clarke Thorell as Rooster Hannigan and J. Elaine Marcos as Lily St. Regis. The Orphans are Madi Rae DiPietro as July,Georgi James as Pepper, Junah Jang as Tessie, Tyrah Skye Odoms as Kate,Taylor Richardson as Duffy, Emily Rosenfeld as Molly and Jaidyn Young as standby for the roles of Annie, Pepper, Duffy and July.


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DENNIS Smith is hoping he will have the luck of the Irish on his side as he makes one last attempt at qualifying for a European Tour event this evening.
The Swindon thrower has failed to make it to the finals of any of the four European Tour events so far this year, but is in Dublin tonight looking to put his unwanted record to bed and qualify for the tournament in Holland at the end of the month. Smith has always enjoyed his visits to Ireland, and is hoping he can continue his good recent form in the Emerald Isle and qualify tonight.
"I have always enjoyed the Dublin tournaments and have enjoyed some good runs in Ireland over the years, and last time I was there I made the last 16 and the quarter finals in the Players Championship," he said.
"I am more determined than ever to qualify for one, because it would be terrible to go through a whole year without getting to one.
"I don't know what it is that makes me struggle in them, it could be a mental block I don't know, but I am determined to overcome it.
"There is a big field at the event and some quality players, so I will need to play well and get some luck in the draw.
"Getting to Holland would give me the chance to get some good prize money, so it is important I make it."
Smith will be joined in Ireland by fellow Swindon throwers Johnny Haines and Chris Aubrey, and the trio will also compete in the latest rounds of the Players Championship tomorrow and Sunday.
"The Players Championship events are always important, and I need some good results," Smith said.
"All that is on my mind at the moment is making it the World Championship at the end of the year, and anything else I can do between now and then is a bonus.
"It is important for me to be there, and it would be great if I could get there."


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Fr. Andrew Dana Dalton LC.
What happens to people in college?
One restless night
during my Senior year in high school, I finally tore
off the covers and got down on my knees.
I had been mulling over one of life's big
questions: Who will I become when I go off
to live on my own? Earlier that day a friend
from church had shared some horror stories about some
good guys who went off the deep end after
just one year at Notre Dame… and what about
me? Would I lose my faith or throw away
my soul one day? "God,
come what may, but never let me be parted from
you," I cried out from the bottom of my
heart. I promised him that I would do my
best to remain in his friendship no matter what.
In the fall of 1999, my
good friend, Josh Teague, and I were moving in to
our freshman dorm. In this defining moment, everyone
on the hall was busy building a name for himself.
We knew immediately where to find the leaders, the
rebels, the jocks, etc. "Josh, what do you say
we post John 3:16 on our front door?" Everyone would
know who we were from the start.
Josh agreed, and so it was.
We noticed that our Bible verse didn't impede the
flow of friendly visitors. On the contrary, our place became
a favorite hang-out. We soon befriended "Supafly," our
one-of-a-kind Resident Assistant (RA), who was always sporting wild pants,
earrings and yellow shades. You might have met
him on MTV's "Real World" as Matt Smith, where he
went by his real name. Besides his eccentric flare,
we actually had a lot in common. Most of
all, we were both passionate about our Catholic faith.
Matt invited me to join him in youth work as
a Life Teen Core Member at Christ the King
A Spiritual Dud
At the Cathedral I met Nicholas Azar,
a humble, holy man, and a Core Member too.
(Years later, he'd enter the seminary, and he is
now a priest.) Nicholas invited me to a half-day
young men's retreat, guided by Fr. Scott Reilly, LC.
His meditation on the "manliness" of Christ, as seen
through the Passion, left a lasting impression. "This priest
knows Christ like a living friend. I wish I
could talk to him one-on-one and learn his secret,"
I thought. Then I saw the sign-up list for Spiritual
Direction. "What's that?"
I wondered, taking a pen. "I'll ask him when
it's my turn." I couldn't
believe that this young priest was making himself available to
talk to me face-to-face. I had never seen a
Finding my Family within the
He laughed but wasted no time presenting the
Regnum Christi (RC) Movement to me. The RC principle
of striving for the "most effective" apostolate, in breadth
and depth, resonated deeply with my longings to make
a difference on society. Regnum Christi would help me
grow spiritually, if I nourished myself with a steady
sacramental diet and a committed prayer life. The Movement wasn't
doing apostolate or seeking holiness haphazardly. This Catholic
family had structure and substance to it—just what I wanted!
As we concluded, Fr.
Scott asked, "Why don't you come see me every two
weeks, and we'll check up on how you're doing?"
I jumped at the opportunity, thinking "Wow, my own
personal priest!" The other lay
members of the Movement astounded me with their spiritual maturity
and generous service to the Church. One young
man, for example, drove over an hour from his college
in north Georgia to take part in our biweekly
Eucharistic Hour and Bible study. On the Feast
of Christ the King, 2000, Fr. Scott incorporated me into
the Movement, giving me a Bible, crucifix, and RC
Commitment Card, and I took my promise to be
a faithful follower of Christ very seriously. In the first
moment of solitude after the ceremony, I drummed ecstatically
on my steering wheel, overjoyed by my blessing and
call. Back on campus, I proudly posted my new
Commitment Card on my refrigerator.
A Technicolor Dream Comes True
summer day, a fraternity brother of mine suggested that I
try out for a part in Andrew Lloyd Webber's
musical, "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," being put
on by a semi-professional theatre out of Greater Atlanta Christian
School. I took the bait, and my amateur
skills landed me the all-important role of Isaachar, one of
Joseph's brothers. Over several weeks of rehearsal, I befriended
many Protestants, including the star of the show. Joseph's real
name was Jared Thomas. One night after rehearsal, Jared invited
me to Burger King, where he hit me with
a real whopper: "I want to become Catholic and
I want you to be my sponsor!"
Surprised and delighted, I accepted, and for the
next year, Jared would commute from UGA in Athens,
and I would drive from Georgia Tech in Atlanta and
we'd meet at the Cathedral for RCIA (Rite for
Christian Initiation of Adults), putting aside our college rivalry
for an evening of faith and fellowship. He would come
into the Catholic Church the following Easter.
When relating Jared's conversion story to my
mother, she exclaimed, "There's some crown waiting in heaven
for you, boy!" But to be honest, I had
done nothing at all. It wasn't my apologetical skills or
exemplary virtue that wooed Jared to Catholicism; that was
the Lord's work. Nevertheless, God wanted me to taste the
joy of being a "fisher of men" (Mt 4:19).
Up to the Priesthood
Half-way through RCIA (Fall 2000),
Jared invited me on an 11-day pilgrimage to Rome with
the Legionaries of Christ for young men discerning the
priesthood. Neither of us was remotely interested in becoming
a priest, but the $250 price-tag was a godsend to
bachelors like us. Besides, as an Industrial Design major with
a two semesters of Art History under my belt,
Rome's artistic treasures tugged irresistibly on my romantic heart. Though I came to Rome
as a tourist, God was silently sowing seeds in my
heart. Needless to say, I was enamored with the city's
charm and captivated by its splendid basilicas, but the
human and spiritual qualities of our Legionary guide, Br.
John Bartunek, impressed me above all … and yet
not so much that I would willingly sacrifice our one
free day to participate in the optional retreat.
Only with the serious arm-twisting from
my Protestant friend did I make that step. I
was ultimately grateful to Jared, though, and asked him
afterwards, "Do you think God might be calling you to
the priesthood?" He immediately replied, "No way, he
wants me to be married." His eyes conveyed that
this was his sincere conviction. "How about you?" he asked
me. I answered: "I wish I had your same confidence!" Soon after my sojourn abroad,
I found myself in French class back at Georgia Tech.
When my professor learned how I had gone to
Rome with 120 young men considering the priesthood, she asked,
"Oh, are you…?" The eyes of the (predominantly
female) classroom converged on me as I said, "Je suis
ouvert à ça." The real shocker came later though, when
I reflected upon my own words. "Wow, I
guess I really am open to becoming a priest!"
on the Shoes
Openness didn't mean I was taking any
concrete steps, but one day I felt the urge to
ask my spiritual director, "Fr. Scott, how do you
know if you have a call to the priesthood?" We talked it out, and
he gave me a book on discernment, Peter on the
Shore by Fr. Anthony Bannon, LC, but evidently the
enemy wasn't eager for me to read Fr. Anthony's
book. Right when I got home, Jared called and
got me excited about another book about another kind of
discernment: Boy Meets Girl by Joshua Harris. Peter was
destined to collect dust for the next few months,
as I purified my worldly vision of dating with a
more Christian idea of courtship. I eventually came
back to Fr. Scott with my vocational itch, however. He
said, "Didn't I give you a book?"
Oh yeah. This
time I read it cover to cover. It was
divided into two parts. First, God speaks: vocation as
presented by God's Word. Then, man objects to the
call: I'm too young; I'm in debt; I want to
get married; I don't have the support of my
family, etc. This book helped my general understanding, but
I still didn't know if God was calling me in
particular. "Obviously!" Fr. Scott exclaimed.
"You don't buy a pair of shoes without trying
them on first. If you want to know if
this is for you, Andrew, you need to visit the
seminary." That was just the sort of practical
wisdom I needed to hear. I decided to visit
the Legionary seminary in Cheshire, CT, … eventually.
God Sets
His Sight on Two Fraternity Boys
Who could
I talk to about these ideas, at once exciting and
confusing? My good friend and fraternity brother, JJ Hernandez,
became the perfect listener. But he wasn't much of
a talker at first. He didn't tell me that
he had begun to think about the priesthood too.
Finally, he spilled the beans. What a consolation to have
a friend who understood and experienced the same sentiments!
We decided we'd visit
Cheshire together. The enemy must have been tapping our
conversations and thought, "Such noble aspirations mustn't go unchallenged."
I fell prey to his wiles and soon put
off my visit until "some time next year." For four
years I had been longing for a certain summer
job, and I was finally old enough to qualify. After
applications and interviews, my dream came true, and I
wasn't about to let it slip by.
When I was 16, I had participated
in the Governor's Honors Program (GHP), a six-week summer
program at Valdosta State University for about 300 talented
high-schoolers who love to learn and excel. Palm trees,
good friends, the best toys (all on Uncle Sam's tab,
mind you), and no parents – what more could
a teenager want? Having loved
my summer as a French major and Art minor, I
relished the idea of returning to Valdosta as an
RA once I turned 20. The RAs were in charge
of imbuing campus with mystique. Since I thrived off
of environments like this one, I couldn't believe they
actually wanted to pay me to do what I
thoroughly enjoyed. But GHP and the summer discernment program
in Cheshire were two mutually exclusive options. God would
have to wait.
In Cahoots
Savvy to my plan to procrastinate
my discernment retreat for the sake of GHP, JJ
leaked my stingy intentions to the Legionaries. That's when
I got a phone call. Since I was unaware
of the JJ's surreptitious scheming, I was awed that,
with just a few questions, Fr. Scott was able to
place his finger squarely on the issue: if I
take my dream job, I bump God's plan off
my list of priorities. "Wouldn't it be better to
give God the first shot?" "Boy,
these Legionaries are sharp," I thought! Fr. Scott
had me. If God wanted me at the summer
discernment program, I had to visit Cheshire ASAP. If, on
the other hand, I discovered there that I didn't
have a priestly calling—all the better—, then I could do
as I liked. The very idea of turning down
the GHP offer killed me, but in good conscience,
I couldn't destroy my chance to know God's will.
When JJ then nonchalantly suggested that we go together
to Cheshire for the Test Your Call (TYC) Retreat
during Holy Week, I never imagined that I was playing
into his master plot.
A Climactic Easter
would pull a similar number on JJ soon enough.
Since he was from out of state and always struggling
to cover tuition, I arranged for my father to
give him a Delta Buddy Pass to Cheshire. What I
had severely miscalculated, however, was that the TYC Retreat
coincided with Jared's big day. Even my spiritual director agreed
that, as Jared's sponsor, I needed to be in
Atlanta for the Easter Vigil. Afraid
JJ might bail out if he knew I was
no longer going, I simply didn't tell him – at
least, not until the last minute. As I
drove him to the airport, I lamented that he was
"beating me to the punch" but urged him nonetheless
to take plenty of pictures and to give me the
full report upon his return. If favorable, I'd visit
later on in May. Just
hours before his sacramental incorporation into the Catholic Church,
Jared unwrapped my gift in the corridor of the
parish hall. I knew Peter was his favorite saint, but
I never imagined he would have erupted with such
joy to see the gold necklace with a medal
of St. Peter. What a spiritual satisfaction to witness
my friend become a member of God's covenant family.
Inklings of what I was made for perhaps?
Steak and
A few weeks later, my fraternity was celebrating Steak
and Beans at a tavern in Midtown. As Scholarship
Chair, it was my responsibility at the close of
a semester to reward the academic achievers with a
steak dinner and to motivate the underachievers with beans. Shortly
before midnight, JJ took the microphone.
"I want to let everyone know that as
of tomorrow, all of my belongings are for sale: my
car, my computer, my ties (JJ had some very
stylish ties!), everything. I'll be joining the seminary next
fall." I was floored! JJ
had only 21 credit hours till graduation and a
serious girlfriend, and here he was jumping ship to
follow Christ. His prompt generosity and conviction challenged me
deeply, but this was no time for nerves to get
in the way of my event. I took the
microphone to close the evening's festivities. Intuiting the
thoughts of my fraternity brothers, I boldly announced, "I won't
be joining the seminary, but just so everyone knows,
JJ's ties are mine!" Sure
enough, I ended up inheriting half of JJ's garage sale:
the office chair, desk lamp, Palm Pilot, and of
course quite the array of neckties. Little did I
know I'd soon be the peddling the same merchandise for
the same reasons for which they were now on
sale. Late one night, JJ
and I sat on the front steps of Delta Upsilon
fraternity house, flipping through the pictures from his retreat
in Cheshire. I was moved by the fire in his
eyes as he passionately recalled the graces. "Everyone
is like you there. You've got to go, Andrew.
You'll love it!"
Visiting Cheshire
A British seminarian, Br. James
Shekelton picked me up from the airport, and I
liked him from the start. He was witty, natural
and spiritually mature for his age. As we zoomed
down the highway, I thought I'd break the ice with
a profoundly religious question… "So, do you like Oasis
(a British band I was in to)?"
"I used to," Br James replied
without missing a beat. It didn't take long to figure
out he had acquired a loftier set of ideals
in life. As soon as I set foot on
the property of the novitiate, it dawned on me
that I was in a completely unique place. Dozens
of talented young men who could easily be laying hold
of the American dream were consecrating their lives to
the Lord instead, and they were contagiously happy about
it! I purposefully arrived five
days early for the TYC retreat because I wanted to
get a taste of unseasoned life in the seminary.
I accompanied the seminarians not only for Mass and
spiritual talks but also in P. E., choir practice,
and Latin class. Like the seminarians I had my
own cubicle, and the austerity left abundant space in
our hearts for Christ to be our sole banquet; never
had I feasted so sumptuously! The week flew
by, and I was thoroughly impressed.
"But I still don't know if God is calling
me to this life. I haven't received any thunder bolts,"
I told the retreat master in a one-on-one dialogue
just minutes before heading off to the airport.
He laughed. "I honestly don't know
if you have a Legionary vocation, Andrew, but I
do know this. There are natural desires and supernatural
desires. To pursue a successful career, to marry, to
raise a family: these are natural desires that every
man feels. To feed souls with the Eucharist, to
preach the Gospel of salvation, to reconcile sinners with
God, to be another Christ in a world that's dying
for lack of him: these are supernatural desires.
If God has placed these on your heart, then
perhaps you should consider if God is inviting you to
take the next step." He
didn't get half-way through that sentence before hot tears
came welling up in my eyes. In this moment
of grace, God made it clear that he was
indeed extending such an invitation. How could I say no? I resolved there and then
to participate in the summer discernment program. Of course, that
meant I would have to forego GHP. So be
it! I determined to resign my services just days
before they were to begin.
Hurdles at Home
Meanwhile, certain voices
began to rise in opposition. My father was especially
convincing when he appealed to my sense of justice.
"You have given your word to this summer job.
You can't quit now." I
felt utterly trapped. God wanted me in Cheshire, but
it wouldn't be virtuous to wiggle out of my commitment.
Confused and anxious, I called the priest I most
trusted. My spiritual director saw
clearly what I couldn't. "Why don't you contact the
director and let him know your situation? You don't
have to say, 'I'm out. Too bad for you.'
If it really is God's will that you go to
the seminary, God will present a solution." I
obediently drafted an email explaining my bind, but as
I sent it off, I felt no hope that
a positive response was possible at this late juncture. I
was foolishly putting limits on God. Less than three hours
later, the phone rang. It was the director. "I
just wanted to let you know that I completely
understand your circumstances. My own brother went off to
seminary. Andrew, we were able to find a substitute.
Feel free to go, and may God bless you in
your discernment!" As soon
as I hung up, my feet were in the air.
Thankfully, my parents weren't home because I did a
flip on their king-size bed. God had spoken! I
was going to the seminary!
It Was I Who Chose
The rest of my vocation story is virtually a
foregone conclusion. By the grace of God, I whole-heartedly
embraced my calling from the start and have always believed
in it. Over time, the steady nourishment of God's
blessings and my own abiding sense of homecoming have given
me the assurance that I have found my place
within the Church, so that even when my vocation was
challenged, one deep-seated conviction helped me persevere: "It was
not you who chose me, but I who chose
you" (Jn 15:16). And those
challenges would come. My best friend, Josh, was so
troubled that I was going to consecrate myself to God
in celibacy, that he consulted his Protestant minister. "Why
would someone do such a thing?"
"Maybe he feels guilty!" was the reply.
So late one night, just days before
leaving home for good, I sat on the back stoop
of Alpha Xi Delta sorority house, trying to convince
Josh that my real motives lay elsewhere. We looked
at 1 Corinthians 7 together, where St. Paul expresses
his wish that all men were like him, referring
to his celibate state. We looked at Matthew 19,
where Christ declares that some people are called to
give up marriage for the sake of the Kingdom. Finally,
we considered the fact that Jesus himself chose not
to marry. With that came Josh's verdict: "I knew
you were a good Christian!" Later he'd defend me
before those friends who tended to criticize.
But the most heart-wrenching experience came while
packing my bags the night before leaving for Cheshire.
My father walked in to my room silently and
sat down Indian style against the wall. Then he began
to reminisce out loud about all our good times
together: wrestling in the living room, hiking in Yosemite,
skiing on the lake, cheering me on at my
tennis matches or cross-country races. "And I just don't
see why…why it has to come to an end!" His
voice cracked and then he burst into loud sobs.
I had never
seen my dad like this before.
Through the tears, I forced out the
conviction of my heart: "This isn't the end, Dad. This
is only a new beginning. God will bless it, you'll
see." He stood up and hugged me so hard; I
knew it was an agony for him to let
me go (and I won't even begin to tell what
my mother offered up at the altar of sacrifice).
I respect my parents so much for their faith-filled
support, despite the pain involved. I would never have
been drawn to the priesthood, if they had not
laid down their lives for me.
I'll never forget the flight to Connecticut.
As I looked out the window, a blanket of clouds,
set on fire by the setting sun, blocked all
view of the earth below, as if Nature itself concurred
that the life I had been constructing up until
that point lay definitively in the past. As I
gazed upon this breath-taking skyscape, I thought, "Lord, you
are making all things new!"
Andrew was born in Honolulu, HI, in 1981,
the third and youngest child of Mary and Dan
Dalton. He grew up in a Catholic home with
his two older sisters, Cara and Jessica. In 1999,
he graduated from Lassiter High School in Marietta, GA, as
Valedictorian, National Honor Society President, Robert C. Byrd Scholar,
Mr. LHS, and Marietta's top Scholar Athlete. He
discovered his Legionary vocation as a Sophomore at Georgia Tech,
where he proudly represented his school as Buzz, the
college mascot. Andrew entered
the novitiate in Cheshire in 2001, where he spent two
years building foundations for the spiritual life before professing
vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. He remained in
Connecticut for humanistic studies until 2004. After two
years in Rome, he obtained a degree in Philosophy. From
2006 to 2009, he worked apostolically with the youth
in Washington, DC, Bordeaux and Paris. Having completed his first
degree in Theology (2012), he will remain in Rome
as a priest to specialize in Biblical Theology.


text:
"The Dance.Draw system will enable dancers' motions, tracked via small RF transmitters worn in satin cuffs, to act as input streams that can be flexibly applied as control parameters for interactive visualizations. The system will log dancers' motions and will be able to composite video of the dancers with different visualizations, enabling post-hoc analysis of the choreography and exploration of prospective mappings between the motion and the projected media."
And people say we don't have a spending problem?


text:
Beware! There be Ewoks!
For a great selection of film, comic and TV action figures and collectibles, check out BigBadToyStore.com, BriansToys.com, ToyWiz.com, PastGenerationToys.com, Urban-Collector.com, MonkeyDepot.com, HobbyLinkJapan.com, and Sekaido.com.
To insure your action figure collection, get in touch with our sponsor Collectibles Insurance.
Animation and Star Wars go hand in hand and have been for quite a long time. We've seen Boba Fett's first appearance in animated form prior to Empire Strikes Back. Not too long after, the kids of the '80s were exposed to DROIDS and EWOKS cartoons while kids of the now can enjoy the CLONE WARS series, which took the popular prequel characters and animated them. Lucasfilm and Gentle Giant Studios embraced this animated realm of Clone Wars and extended it into the Original Trilogy. Obviously, it's a good idea as the older collectors (who have the dough) are much fonder of Luke and the gang. Me personally, I collect Ewoks. I'm weird that way.
These limited edition maquettes are in scale with each other (I apologize for not having other maquettes for comparison shots), hand painted, and numbered. The Wicket maquette is limited to an edition size of 850 pieces. You can find the hand written number beneath the base and on the bottom of the box.
Speaking of box, it is of what you'd expect as most of the high-end Star Wars collectible packaging is stuck in this design. It's a classy look that keeps things uniformed. But perhaps I'm just getting a bit bored of it is all. It's still a great looking box and protects our furry friend with Styrofoam.
Wicket is sculpted in animated fashion and because we've never actually seen Wicket in this style before, some folks may like or dislike it more than others. I happen to enjoy the different take on the character. Wicket stands firmly holding his spear with both hands and is 4-inches tall (including the base). No doubt he is ready to tussle with any Biker Scout that comes in his way. Paint is clean, bright, and flat (that's a good thing since he's animated).
Included is a certificate of authenticity with the edition number, mine is 8/850! These can be found at many online retailers and will probably be around the $60 range. The price IS a bit steep for a collectible this small so if you can get it for less, I'd recommend it. Despite its price, this is a high quality collectible that is expected from the fine folks at Gentle Giant Studios.
Review and Photography by David Yeh


text:
Ryu playing catch, no timetable for return
LOS ANGELES -- Left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu played catch before Tuesday's series opener with the Padres, testing out his strained right gluteus on the day he was originally scheduled to start.
The Dodgers placed Ryu on the disabled list Friday. Newly acquired right-hander Kevin Correia started in Ryu's place Tuesday night, making his second start with the Dodgers.
"[Ryu's] doing better, feeling better," manager Don Mattingly said. "He's basically playing catch, keeping his arm moving. He'll be doing more things underneath, working out. He's doing good right now. Timetable-wise, I don't know if we're going to have that. ... Right now, I feel pretty good about that."
Ryu is 13-6 on the year for the Dodgers with a 3.28 ERA. This the second-year starter's second stint on the disabled list this season. He missed 20 games earlier in the year with left shoulder inflammation.
Mattingly said Ryu hasn't yet worked on his lower body.
"I don't think he's doing any running yet," he said. "But I see him in there working on his arm and doing different band exercises and things like that."
Michael Lananna is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


text:
The Salinas Valley, Calif., fertilizer maker who admitted to selling $6.5 million worth of adulterated fertilizer and claimed it was organic during a six-year period was sentenced last week to nearly a year in federal prison.
Peter Townsley, a Canadian resident, operated California Liquid Fertilizer in Gonzales, Calif., between 2000 and 2006. His company sold one-third of its products as organic. However, government prosecutors charged Townsley with adulterating his Biolizer XN fertilizer, which contained fish, fish by-products, feathermeal and water. He adulterated the fertilizer by adding ammonium chloride and ammonium sulfate, which are ingredients that are banned in organic fertilizer.
The U.S. District Court in San Francisco sentenced him to 364 days in prison, fined him $125,000 and ordered him to perform 1,000 hours of community service related to organic farming production. Once he released, the court has ordered that Townsley will be ordered to three years of supervised release with the first six months to be spent in a halfway house.
"By cheating and deceiving his organic farming customers, Mr. Townsley took advantage of their trust and undermined the integrity of an entire industry," said Northern California U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag in a prepared statement.
"His actions are particularly troubling given the fact that consumers rely on the representations of all participants in the process when they pay a premium price for certified organic products," Haag said.
California's Department of Food and Agriculture learned of the problem in 2004 and ordered the fertilizer off the market in January 2007. Townsley was indicted in June 2010.


text:
An incredible four-minute spell from the visitors sealed victory over a disappointing home side and booked their place in the last four for the first time in the club's history
Three goals in a mad four first-half minutes from Maynor Figueroa, Callum McManaman and Jordi Gomez left the hosts stunned at the break.
Everton were unable to orchestrate an unlikely comeback and Wigan's half-time lead proved enough to seal an excellent victory for Roberto Martinez's men and put them into the last four.
David Moyes decided not to risk goalkeeper Tim Howard, who was struggling with a back injury, meaning Jan Mucha took his place in goal. Meanwhile John Heitinga deputised for Phil Jagielka, who is awaiting surgery on an ankle injury.
Wigan made four changes from last weekend's defeat against Liverpool, as Martinez threw cup shot-stopper Joel Robles in goal, while Gomez and McManaman also gained a place in the XI alongside Antolin Alcaraz, who made his first start since August.
It was a tight opening few minutes, but when Shaun Maloney managed to find space on the left he was inches away from putting Wigan in front, as he cut inside and curled a beautiful 20-yard effort around Mucha which came back out off the post.
Goal-shy Nikica Jelavic then forced a fine save from Robles, as he let the ball roll across him and fired a low effort from the edge of the box, only to be denied by the Wigan goalkeeper.
After James McCarthy tested Mucha with a rasping 25-yard volley, the Latics took the lead from the resulting corner as Figueroa rose highest at the far post to nod the ball low into the net.
Seconds later the lead was doubled when McManaman latched on to Phil Neville's wayward pass and broke free before slotting a superb finish past the onrushing Mucha.
The madness continued just moments later as Arouna Kone squared the ball to Gomez on the edge of the box, and the midfielder stroked a delightful finish into the corner with Mucha watching helplessly, leaving the hosts in utter disarray at the break.
Moyes threw on Victor Anichebe for the disappointing Neville in the second half as Everton tried to inspire a comeback, and Fellaini almost got the hosts back in it as he volleyed an effort wide from 20 yards out.
The Toffees seemed to run out of steam midway through the second half, and even the ever-reliable Baines struggled, firing a low cross straight into the arms of Robles with several team-mates available in the box.
Substitute Ross Barkley fired a late effort just wide of the post and Osman was denied by Robles from close range, but the Latics did a good job of stifling Everton's rhythm as they cruised to a superb victory.


text:
65 VIZIO HDTV OOS,$478 51"Samsung Slim Plasma 720p HDTV, Dyson DC40 $249 Sams online/B&M, free shippingGet Deal
posted 48 years ago by
Mmm beer!
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text:
MrsRetro wrote:Howdy
I'm Stephanie, Paul's wife
Just thought I'd say hello
Steph XXOO
Fede wrote:Tilt, our dear friends form down under are notoriously good at affection and hospitality.
if she'd wanted to get down and serious with you, I'm sure you'd know it by now... and Retro's a mod... I hardly think he'd permit hanky-panky in his yard, somehow....
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text: Well, this is first dye job that i've done thats required some masking. it turned out pretty well. i knew i should have masked off the entire rest of the disc because i knew i would get some that would run off, but i didn't so you can see that. other than that it went very well.


text:
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Mountain Offroad bring you the most affordable and versatile retractable step on the market for your Super Duty. This step installs in minutes and lowers your step-up to the cab 11 inches. Included are two quick disconnect pins so you can easily remove the Hide-a-Step for off-roading activities. For durability the step has Class IV zinc plating under the black powder coating. Now it's easy to get into your Ford with those large tires!Proudly made in the USA.
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text:
You only get one chance to make a good first impression. Employee orientation is the employer's opportunity to make good first impressions on the new employee that set the tone for the employment relationship. Unfortunately, some dairy producers neglect this vital step.
Orientation and training is of particular importance on the dairy farm. While training is an ongoing process that continues throughout employment, the orientation phase begins with the first day on the job and is generally completed within the first week or so of employment. That first day on the job will fly by quickly. The smart employer will have a plan in place for orientation and training.
Purposes of farm employee orientation
Employee orientation helps employees become socialized to the dairy farm. This process of socialization reduces a new employee's natural anxiety that comes with starting any new job. A new employee who becomes comfortable in the workplace is more likely to develop and maintain a positive attitude toward the job and the employer. That positive attitude translates into earlier and higher productivity.
When the new worker is assisted in becoming quickly familiar with the work environment, the stress level decreases and the individual is better able to learn new job duties, skills and expectations. This socialization aspect of employee orientation prepares a new worker for job training. If a new employee is relieved of general stress and worry, that individual is able to concentrate and absorb substantive information about new job assignments and tasks.
Planning and content of orientation program
If your dairy farm has not previously conducted an employee orientation program, planning may seem overwhelming. One way to think about orientation is to sit down with current employees and ask for input. Ask what they wish they had been told when they first started working in a dairy operation. Find out what they view as important information for newcomers. Every dairy farm is different, but some possible content areas to consider include the following:
- Background and overview of your farm -- Provide new employees with your farm's story – the history and development of the dairy business. This includes information about key people in your dairy's history as well as present-day leadership. Share your farm's mission statement, goals and objectives. While a dairy farm tour may have been part of the pre-employment process, this should be repeated, perhaps over a series of days as the new employee is introduced to the layout of facilities and operations. Throughout the process, emphasize the vital role of employees in the dairy's success.
- Employee policies -- Even the smallest farm should consider development of an employee handbook or policy document. All key policies, compensation and benefits information should be reviewed with the new worker. Do not just present the new employee stacks of documents to read. Orientation is the employer's opportunity to review policies, explain rationale and provide opportunities for questions or clarification.
- Introductions -- While the new employee may have been introduced to some individuals during the pre-employment process, introductions should be repeated. Name badges (or embroidered shirts/apparel) can be very helpful on the dairy. Provide the new employee with an organizational chart or list of names. Include names of people who visit the farm on a regular basis such as drivers, veterinarians, suppliers, service personnel, neighbors or relatives.
- Job duty information -- While a position description was most likely discussed during the employment process, this is a key part of the new employee orientation phase. Provide the written position description, and use it as a guide to discuss specific tasks including training that will be provided to the new employee. Emphasize basic safety and indicate the importance of ongoing safety training and awareness. Help a new employee to understand the relationship and importance of the position to other jobs and functions on the dairy
Dairy farm job mentors
On the dairy farm, a number of positions are frequently considered as entry level—such as milkers, pushers, feeders and calf-care employees. Frequently, such employees are new to the dairy industry. Your orientation plans should include the assignment of a mentor with special responsibility to guide the new worker in the early days and weeks. New dairy employees need particular guidance in the concepts of sanitation, biosecurity and routine in milking and handling procedures. For example, a new employee working as a pusher may not understand the importance of moving cows in a calm, quiet manner so that they are not agitated, impacting production and cow health.
Who should conduct new employee orientation?
To assure a consistent message to new employees, it is useful to have the same person conduct orientation. However, identifying supervisors or more experienced co-workers to participate in the process – perhaps as a key mentor – will assist in the socialization aspect of orientation. All members of the orientation team should be those who will share a positive attitude with the new employee. The new worker needs to hear constructive, upbeat messages geared toward making those good, early impressions. A well-planned orientation program takes an investment of time and effort on the part of the dairy producer. Providing a positive orientation experience during the early days of employment sets the stage for a satisfying, long-term employment relationship on your farm.
For more information on dairy farm employee management, contact: Melissa O'Rourke – ISU Extension Farm & Agribusiness Management Specialist, firstname.lastname@example.com, 712-737-4230


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Mary-Kate Olsen seems to be in a fashion time warp — first the Eighties and now the Nineties. The petite star emerged yesterday in an outfit reminiscent of the Grunge look popularized by bands like Nirvana — oversize flannel shirt and all. But like some other starlets we know, she seems to have left her pants at home, opting for thin leggings and ultra-clunky Balenciaga boots (and bag) to complete the look. We think leggings are great as a layering tool under long (read mid-thigh) tunics or sweaters, but with just a buttondown, Mary-Kate looks a tad overexposed. Tell us: What do you think of Mary-Kate's look? Love it or hate it?
To see more of Mary-Kate's style, click here to read other Off The Rack stories about her.
Photo: RAMEY


text:
Paul George is really showing signs of elevating from all-star to superstar. And that's freaking awesome. He looks as confident as he's ever been, attacking and finishing better than ever, and he walked away shooting 50% from the floor, just like he wants to do all year. He looks physically stronger, and his off the dribble shooting looks better than ever. Could make the ultimate difference between contending and winning it all.
Roy was terrific on D and the boards. Amazing work with those blocks; I actually thought he had at least one more block than he got credit for.
Lance was great with both 1st and 2nd units tonight.
Orlando looked good. As did Ian.
Scola wasn't great, but just seeing him nail those long 2s was refreshing after years of Tyler bricks.
Despite looking bad in the first half, it was nice to see the bench come through in the second half to break the game open.
Solomon looked like a rookie.
Hill was mostly pretty forgetful.
West didn't do a lot offensively, but he was making his presence felt overall.
It didn't feel like it, but we actually out rebounded Orlando tonight. Hopefully we aren't too much worse at rebounding compared to last year.
Overall, I still don't have a very good feel for this year's squad, but I'm cautiously optimistic. Even if Danny never plays.


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I am trying to get into selling Disc Golf Disc and run a business.
But with limited funds I can only invest so much and have to sell what I have first.
So I have to the beginning of March The Prodigy Proto D1 and D4 on Sale for $16.00 each.
After that I will have a different disc on sale Monthly.
Come help a new business grow.
Also I have a EBAY account AngryChains-DG


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FRESNO, Calif. — Like Westside melon growers and other California growing operations, table grape producers are feeling the pinch of cutbacks in water allocations.
It's not expected to hurt volumes this year — another record crop is possible since vineyards plan to make up the difference by pumping more groundwater.
But it's a temporary fix.
In California, water has long been an issue that divides north and south, even within the agricultural industry. Tree fruit and nut growers in the Sacramento River delta have not exactly embraced the idea of sending water south.
Even so, Barry Bedwell, president of the California Grape & Tree Fruit League, hopes to find common ground as talks on the Bay Delta Conservation Plan proceed.
The plan proposes three new intakes on the river to aid fish species whose decline was a factor in reduced allocations, and to send water to aqueducts and federal water projects.
"We're going to be sitting down with the (Gov. Jerry) Brown administration and listening to their proposal," Bedwell said June 3.
"It's a conveyance plan to move water through the delta for Central Valley agriculture as well as Southern California residents. It's very controversial."
"We're going to try to address the concerns of our members in the north so that they can feel that at least they are going to have their property and water rights preserved, and that productive farmland won't be turned back into estuary," Bedwell said.
"That's a tall order right now," he said. "Our members in the northern valley and the delta just don't see this as a good fix. But they have always said they are not against sending excess water south."
The definition of excess water varies by grower and region.
One thing they seem to agree on is the need for more storage.
Support for the Brown administration would likely be linked to the building of dams — another bone of contention.
"We have to get around this concept that dams are somehow taboo to the environmental community and thus they'll never happen," Bedwell said.
"Even environmentalists have to understand that the whole concept of global warming means you'll have less snowpack for less time. You'll need better ways to store that runoff or we're all going to suffer," he said.
Even if the Bay Delta plan or something like it gains acceptance, implementation could take 20 years or more. What happens to grape growers in the meantime?
They'll hope for wet winters. Or bank on the aquifer.
"Most people will supplement the water supplies they get through irrigation districts by pumping groundwater," Bedwell said. "It's more expensive because you're spending money on electricity, plus you're drawing down the aquifer.
"It's a double whammy that you don't want to see happen. But the cutbacks will not result in any immediate impact on production."


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Pwingles wrote:Will kept some to take to worlds, so if you wanna hit him up there, he'll have some. Unless youre too annoyed .
Not that im comparing the two but, people dont complain much about the price of KC TBs... They either buy them or they dont. Why would this be any different? Kid is 20, top 5 in the world at his craft, travels the world on next to nothing money wise, and u want to hate on him personally for trying to make extra money. Do you also go into peoples sale threads and deter buyers from buying their plastic? It is what it is, i understand that it is pricey and thats cool. But the attitudes towards it make me laugh.
Pretty sure when lil wiggins was selling his $35 kc rocs nobody had anything to say to him, welcome to the internet i guess.
Only 15 or so left, so if you want them get them now or hit up Will at worlds.


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|Born-Again Hero
| A 70-year-old veteran comes out of retirement to help in the World Trade Center disaster.
By Roy Attaway — February 2002
From the deck of the John J. Harvey, southern Manhattan looked oddly gap-toothed. Gone were the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, replaced by a pall of dense smoke. The Harvey is a fireboat, and she was about to participate in one of the greatest fire and rescue operations in American history. The difference was that the Harvey was officially retired, her crew entirely amateur.
The waters on that bright, warm September morning were a maelstrom churned by heavy traffic, requiring absolute concentration on the part of her pilot, Huntley Gill. Beside him stood Chase Welles and Tomas Cavallero. Below decks, in the engine room, were Tim Ivory and Andrew Furber. As they approached the Battery at the southern tip of Manhattan, they saw thousands crowding the verge as watercraft ranging from heavily bearded tugs to party boats butted the seawall and took on evacuees. It was a modern-day Dunkirk.
To firemen who had survived the terrorist attacks, the Harvey must have seemed an apparition, an old warrior coming out of the mists of memory to do battle one more time. That she was there at all is a credit to devotion, luck, and determination.
Based on the naval architecture of Henry J. Gielow, the John J. Harvey was launched on October 6, 1931, at the Todd Shipbuilding and Drydock Corporation in Brooklyn. She had been commissioned by the City of New York and was named for the pilot of the fireboat Thomas Willett, killed when the liner Muenchen exploded at North River Pier 42 on February 11, 1930. She is 130 feet overall with a beam of 28 feet and a draft of 9'0". Able to exceed 18 knots, she weighs 268 gross tons and cost $594,000 to build.
Her design is classic: a plumb-bowed steamboat-like steel hull with graceful sheer sweeping back to an elliptical stern, surmounted by an upright pilothouse. She carries eight deck pipes ("monitors" or water cannons): one at the bow, two above the pilothouse, two on a platform abaft the boat deck, and three on a platform aft. The largest deck pipes have a capacity of 3,000 gpm. Together all eight can discharge 18,000 gpm, equal to 24 fire engines. The pressure is sufficient to send water over the roadway of the George Washington Bridge.
Next page > Part 2: A hero on the waterfront for decades > Page 1, 2, 3
This article originally appeared in the January 2003 issue of Power & Motoryacht magazine.


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Classic South / Warrenton
Fountain Campground
Cadley Community
Warrenton, GA 30828
Warrenton, GA 30828
In the early 1900's, land was donated in Warren County for the building of a campground for religious purposes. Services have been held at the campground every year since 1932. The third Sunday in August has always been the regular camp meeting date, and families from far and near have a homecoming and bring covered dishes.
Info & Amenities
General Information
Setting & Style
Rustic & Natural


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A: The Aspreva CellCept study was a good example of how things work in the market of rare diseases. Company will not try to find new drugs unless there is at least 1 billion dollars a year in sales. For our diseases, it is very tough to do that. Other parts of the world may help because trials are more likely to take place where there is universal healthcare.
Q: Is there a registry?
A: The Definitions study sponsored by the IPPF and the Centric/IPPF HMP are the seedlings of a methodical record of disease symptoms, treatment protocols, cross-medicine experiments and legitimate clinical trials. It all starts here.
Q: Are there organizations that have been successful in setting up a registry on their own?
A: Yes, XP Foundation has its own registry.


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The Denny Hamlin vs. NASCAR debate is now on the back burner, thanks in part to Hamlin dropping his appeal and his rift with Joey Logano at Bristol.
But one thing Hamlin said last week when talking about dropping the appeal of his $25,000 should concern everyone.
It was this little tidbit:
"Ninety percent of what you hear on a weekly basis is just guys that are trying to stay on NASCAR's good side," Hamlin said.
MORE: Hamlin-Logano feud | Stewart-Haas struggles | Danica struggles | California picks
Are 90 percent of NASCAR's drivers really just trying not to rock the boat? Has the sport really come to that? C'mon, can't we get pure honest opinions at least 20 percent of the time?
Maybe in all walks of life, there is only 10 percent pure honesty and 90 percent of toeing the company line and just trying to stay out of trouble, making NASCAR no different than any other job out there. Maybe this is what everybody already knows and has accepted as fact.
Or maybe Hamlin was exaggerating and fans get true, honest opinions from drivers more than 10 percent of the time. It would be nice to just shrug off Hamlin's statement since it is so disheartening. If fans are only getting 10 percent honest opinions— and PR spin the rest of the time — that is not good for the sport as a whole.
There's nothing wrong with trying to stay in the good graces of the people who run the sport where a driver makes his living. These are the people that can make a team's life miserable in the inspection bay, make split-second decisions on penalties on pit road and make the final decisions on any rules changes. It's in a driver's best interest to keep NASCAR officials happy.
As far as the sport is concerned, a driver doing and saying what NASCAR wants can help in many ways.
There is a theory that if the drivers are positive, then the sport enjoys a positive vibe. Talladega track president Grant Lynch and his boss, International Speedway Corp. President John Saunders, are adamant that drivers' foul-mouthing the racing at Talladega has hurt the track.
"You don't see it in other industries as much as you see it in our industry where driver quotes can be damaging to the fans' interest in certain races. … Negative storylines in our industry have been out there and they've had their impacts," Saunders told financial analysts earlier this year.
"And when we get into talking about the bright side, the good things of our sport, we see things turn around."
The theory goes that if drivers say it was a great race, fans will either believe it or at least question their own view of it.
The drivers are walking a fine line. They don't want to hurt the sport, but there also are times when a comment to the media has a bigger impact than just talking privately with officials inside the NASCAR hauler.
Fans obviously know that when it comes to touchy subjects, drivers might deliver some PR spin. But Hamlin's fine for offering an honest assessment of NASCAR's new Sprint Cup car will make fans more and more skeptical.
Or maybe they already assumed that what Hamlin said was true and that NASCAR officials just didn't want to hear it. They have come to expect drivers to think before they speak and if they have a choice between delivering a thoughtful yet controversial response that might get them in trouble and one that won't cause any waves, that 90 percent of the time drivers won't make waves.
NASCAR fans already are jaded, especially after victory lane interviews where a driver just rattles off a list of sponsors that he must thank. It seems so scripted, so rehearsed, so unreal.
As Hamlin said, one of the reasons he dropped the appeal is so that NASCAR can get its credibility back.
But it will take a long time. Because if 90 percent of what we hear is what NASCAR wants us to hear, then who can blame anyone if they lean toward thinking that a driver is only being honest and true 10 percent of the time.