Saturday, February 28, 2009

STIMULUS and more spending

Okay now the debate is raging.   Spend or not spend?  Invest in the present or invest in the future? Each day it seems that the only news we are getting is bad news or going the economy going from bad to worst.   SO what do we do.   I think the media has scared even those of us who could spend to hole up and buckle down.   This could be a very mixed message.  If those of us who can help propel the economy quit spending then who will fuel the economy back to life.

I guess all of us are asking what happened and how did it happen so fast?  We were assured that if we saved money, invested in retirement and did not outlive our wages that we would have a comfortable and secure life. But what happened?  Did the sins of few bring down the house?  It sure seems that way.  While there was no doubt greed and as my Daddy use to say far too many people trying to live like kings on a beer budget, what happened to those of us who did not live that way. Well it looks like many of "us" are going down the tubes along with the greedy, and personally irreponsible.  I know good hard working people who have lost their jobs because of this mess and then I know those who were living far beyond their means who are now in trouble...but how do we help the deserving and hold the irresponsible accountable?  I don't think we can so therefore we will bail everyone out...the good, the bad and the ugly.  Those of  us who are staying above water will pay as well or at least our grandkids will pay.

Maybe we have all lived in fantasy land for too long and this is a wake  up call for all of us but what a shock.  As I watch my 403 (B) turn in to a 203 (B) I just pray that I can retire by the time I am 75!!  Not my plan but Lord give me my health so I can work forever!  Good thing I love what I do!

Friday, February 20, 2009

From the Colorado Mountains

I am sitting here in Denver, Colorado listening to sessions about alternative schools. Very interesting group of folks who have worked hard to open new models that work for kids who are not making it in regular school.  The models while different in some ways all have the heart and soul of what is good for kids.  It is fun to hear people talk who REALLY care about the kids that others often write off.  My long time friend and colleague, Arlene, is with me so gives us time to debrief and think about different models that work for kids.  All of these are part of national network funded by the Gates Foundation to bring like minded folks together to change the face of education.  We do have some common elements about what is good for kids but the excitement of sharing what really works and what are the most common challenges transcends all of the models.  The burning question is how to do we go to scale so that more children can experience success.    How do we change the school cultur and get the kids to buy in to education?   How do we engage the unengaged?   How do we get the policy makers to embrace and support innovative and creative designs.   How do we get corporate America to embrace change and support change.  I can't help but think if business had created the same products for the last 100 years without changing that the economy would have been in a recession long before now.   We need a New School Stimulus bill that rewards entrepneurship based on results!   What a concept!

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

I heard a great presentation today on the digital age.  It was pretty exciting and yet scary to think about what kind of connected world we live in today.  The session was really about what adults need to know about the world our kids are living in today and how they are using technology for all aspects of their lives.  We can't stop it so we have to figure out how to join it and use what interest them.  I can see why they think school is boring an irrelevant...it is!   When they can instanly google and find out anything they want to know, when they can use their cell phones to figure out what size tip to make why would they think they need to memorize facts??   Be real...what purpose does it serve?   Knowledge is changing too fast and what you know today may be totally not relevant or even accurate in five years.   I was fascinated and quite shocked by the information share especially knowing that anything I put on this blog will be here FOREVER AND EVER!!!!!

Friday, February 13, 2009

Hidden Children in Mountains

I just watched the 20/20 special on ABC on the children in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky. Having grown up in Virginia and attending college in southwestern Virginia and then teaching in the moutnains, I have seen some of the poverty that was shown. I have also seen it in the moutains of NC too. I think while it highlighted the poverty that it did not tell enough about the independence and goodness that exist in the many of th people in the hollows of the moutains. I have never found kinder, more giving, more appreciative people than I have in some of the mountain counties. There is a rugged, pioneer spirit that still exist. They do not rely on government unless all else fails. The saddest part to me is the way that the drugs have seeped in to the moutains...meth labs have replaced the old stills and are much more dangerous. The story could just as easily have been told in Tennessee, Va, NC, Georgia, West Va or part of Pa...they all struggle with many of the same issues. If there is any good that comes out of this it is that poor children do not just live in our inner cities but the need for HOPE AND HELP exist all across America.
Hope and Help
I did a presentation earlier this week on what kids need today and titled it HOPE and HELP . I debated whether to reverse the order because sometimes it is hard to figure out what comes first...certainly when you are struggling to get food, clothing and shelter you need help and once you have that then you can focus on hope.  Hope for a better future, hope that you can provide a life for children, hope for security, hope for good health.  At the same time if you don't have hope you may not seek help because you simply give up.  Kids who have no hope for their future often don't ask for help.  Maybe they have never had anyone give them anything...even cncouragement so why ask for help since it has never been there before.  After speaking I was driving home and thinking what will the new stimulus package offer...hope or help or both...which one will come first?

Saturday, February 7, 2009

the BIG 60!!

This has been an amazing week. We had our 20th anniversary conference for CIS in Pinehurst this week. The staff does an incredible job and once again did an amazing job. Over 280 people braved the threat of snow, the shaky economy and the unknown to come and celebrate, rejuvenate and learn. We started with the African Dance Troupe our of Durham and they were truly fantastic. Using dance, song and inspirational words they go the entire crowd up on their feet chanting and dancing. On top of that they honored me as making the rite of passage ..celebrating my 60th birthday!! "Mama Linda" as I am now called was honored with celebratory dance. I had to dance too (some of my buds told me that I needed African dance lessons since I mixed up my dances) but it was great..then they brought out this giant birthday cake for all to share! Thinking that they had gone way beyond in celebrating my birthday we proceeded with the conference. Cynthia Marshall, from AT&T wowed the crowd with her very impassioned talk and our own Omega was awesome!!! Then came Wednesday night. It is always the tradition to have a dance (although mostly women) we love to line dance and just let go. I walked in to the dance hall totally unprepared for what awaited me....a country and western band was playing (kind of odd for Pinehurst). I looked down on the floor as they were singing happy birthday to me again and lo and behold there was my husband Scott!! Almost have the big one (heart attack) I ran to him, turned around and there was my sister Ginger who had driven in from Winston-Salem. If that was not enough I suddenly realized I had heard the band before and recognized it was our band from beach...the Charlie Brewer Trio (we are roadies of their band). You could have knocked me over with a feather. I have NEVER, EVER been this surprised about anything as I was this party! Since they had already celebrated my birthday the day before I was totally not expecting this!

My family at the CISNC office are way too clever! They pulled a big one over on me and I will forever be grateful to them for the love they show me everyday. They certainly made getting old not feel so badly. Of course we did close the place down and I was on the floor two stepping for the last dance. You can't get an old lady down!

Sunday, February 1, 2009

Super Bowl Sunday

The only professional football game I ever watch is the Super Bowl.  Usually I can figure out one team that I can root for but this year I simply don't care.  I think I will pull for the Cardinals just because most people at the beach are for the Steelers, except those die heart Eagles fans who would rather see Russia win.   At any rate, the commericals and the half time show should be good.  We are all preparing for our big annual training event in Pinehurst this week.  Believe it or not they give us the best deal in the state for our conference event ane partner in numerous ways throughout the year with our local program.  We have a board meeting on Wednesday so should be a great week..the only down side is that Tuesday is my 60th birthday!   Yep a new decade is dawning which means that I will be in my 7th decade...um.....I think I will reflect back this week in my blogs what I remember most about each decade of my life..figure I better do it while I can still remember!