text:
Phoenix roster breakdown
Jonathan Willis
December 21 2008 12:20PM
Tomorrow the Oilers play host to Wayne Gretzky and the Phoenix Coytoes. The Coyotes are currently 7th in the West, with 36 points, five ahead of the 13th place Oilers. A combination of shrewd management (Don Maloney has been a revelation since coming over from the Rangers) and improving coaching (Wayne Gretzky is now in his fourth season with the team) has the Coyotes trending up on the ice for the first time in years.
Unfortunately, the improving on-ice product has been overshadowed by poor attendance and the questionable financial situation of its owner. Take this Globe & Mail story, which is full of doom and gloom -– the only item missing was a suggestion that Jim Balsillie would be happy to move the team to Hamilton.
In any case, I thought it might be helpful to take a look at exactly what the Oilers will be facing on the ice tomorrow night, and how Wayne Gretzky has deployed his lines the past few games. Here are the line combinations from last night against Phoenix, along with the role they played (lines are organized by even-strength ice-time):
Shane Doan – Steven Reinprecht – Peter Mueller: Played against everybody up front, with the exception of Rick Nash's line. Ken Hitchcock was content to allow Doan to play against his second and fourth lines, although he matched his top defense pairing (Hejda/Commodore) against them all night.
Viktor Tikhonov – Olli Jokinen – Daniel Carcillo: This line played very similar minutes to Doan's line – lots of time against everybody but Rick Nash. Hitchcock again got Heda and Commodore out against them a lot, but aside from that there wasn't a hard match-up.
Todd Fedoruk – Martin Hanzal – Mikkel Boedker: I was a little shocked to see an 18-year old rookie (Boedker) and a sophomore player (Hanzal) out against Rick Nash's line, but that's what happened. 88% of the time Rick Nash was on the ice, this line was too.
Joakim Lindstrom – Kyle Turris – Enver Lisin: No firm matches here, Gretzky seemed content to play them against anyone.
Kurt Sauer – Zybnek Michalek: This pairing saw the top line of Rick Nash, R.J. Umberger and Fredrik Modin/Jakub Voracek. Seventy-five per cent of their even-strength ice-time came against Rick Nash, and Kurt Sauer played this same role with Colorado last season – shutting down top offensive talents. Did I mention that Sauer signed a four-year, $1.75M/season contract this off-season?
Ed Jovanovski – Derek Morris: Jovanovski and Morris saw the second tier of the Blue Jacket's offense – Jiri Novotny, Kritian Huselius and Fredrik Modin/Jakub Voracek, with about half their ice-time coming against that line. They also saw some time in offensive situations against the Blue Jacket's third line, which featured Mike Peca, Mike York, and a rotating winger (mostly Jared Boll).
Keith Yandle - Ken Klee : Played a fairly typical third-pairing game; scraps of ice-time against scraps of the roster.
Now that we've looked at Phoenix's last game, let's also take a look at their last road game, against Dallas:
Shane Doan – Olli Jokinen – Peter Mueller: Saw a ton of Brad Richard's line – this line clearly takes the heavy checkers when it's together. They also saw a lot of the Stars' two defense pairings. As an aside, they got outplayed badly; Shane Doan was on the ice for both goals against, both of them scored by Richards' linemate Loui Eriksson.
Todd Fedoruk – Martin Hanzal – Mikkel Boedker: Played fully half of the game against Mike Ribeiro's line. Just as in the game against Columbus, this line was deployed in a largely checking role, and it still seems a curious choice.
Tikhonov – Reinprecht – Carcillo: Played against everybody. Clearly this line was Gretzky's second choice in both the offensive and defensive departments.
Lindstrom – Turris – Porter: In a rather odd alignment, Kyle Turris' line saw Mike Modano all night. In fairness, Modano was lugging around Toby Petersen and Mark Parrish, so it wasn't a great line. That's about as sheltered as it gets against Dallas – you can hide form Ribeiro and Richards, but then you have to play Mike Modano.
Kurt Sauer – Zybnek Michalek: Again used for the top defensive assignments, Sauer and Michalek split time against Ribeiro and Richards.
Ed Jovanovski – Ken Klee: Second choice for defensive assignments. Used largely in an offensive role in support of the Doan-Jokinen line.
Keith Yandle – Derek Morris: Yandle played strictly sheltered minutes, although Derek Morris spent some time in place of Ken Klee on the second pairing.
I would imagine that Wayne Gretzky uses lines similar to the road game against Dallas tomorrow night -– which will mean Martin Hanzal's line in a checking role and Shane Doan and Olli Jokinen on the same line. I imagine that MacTavish will have the Horcoff – Penner – Hemsky line together again, as he used the min the third period against Anaheim, and if that's the case he'll likely try to play power-vs.-power while Gretzky tries to get Hanzal out against the Oilers top line. If, on the other hand, MacTavish puts Hemsky and Horcoff on seperate lines, things are greatly simplified – Doan and Jokinen would play against Horcoff, while Hemsky would draw Hanzal.
It's also worth noting that the Oilers should be dominant in the faceoff circle – the Coyotes' best face-off man is Martin Hanzal, and he's only won 47.4 per cent of his draws this season. Reinprecht is a shade worse at 46.0 per cent, while Olli Jokinen is downright bad, with a 39.2 face-off percentage.
Random Notes
I'm as critical of The Hockey News as anyone, but they have some great online content right now. The staff writers are fairly vanilla (although Ken Campbell occasionally has some good stuff), but a pair of "Insiders" have been well worth reading. Mark Seidel is the chief scout for North American Central scouting, and his blog is a must-read for anyone interested in the 2009 Draft. The other blog I wanted to point out is Sean Pronger's – he had a terrific entry just under a week ago about being a frequent healthy scratch. For example, aside from the whole not playing thing, there's some additional downside to being a healthy scratch:
The pre-game skate is where you get the 'tap' from the coach at the end of practice. Who me? Really? I thought I was practicing on the sixth line to throw off the other team. For the select few who won't be playing, the morning skate turns into an early-afternoon bag skate. Let me make sure I'm hearing this right. I don't get to play and I have to skate until I nearly puke? Beautiful, where do I sign up?
It's good writing, and Sean Pronger can't help it that he has a brother named Chris.
It's probably also worth noting that Jussi Jokinen went unclaimed after being put on waivers by the Lightning.
December 21 2008, 12:52PM
Finally a team that the Oilers can win a few faceoffs against. I bet out PK and powerplay are better because of it.
I wonder how much that extra face off in the d-zone when you get a penalty is messing with our PK?
Oh and Mr. Willis, Scott Cullen had an interesting article about some odd stats that go unnoticed. Some Oilers make the lists, like Souray is in the top five in the league for missed shots at 55. So there you go some numbers for the numbers guy.
December 21 2008, 02:42PM
@ Fiveandagame:
I wish TSN would pay me to go to NHL.com and look at all the RTSS statistical leaders.
Keith Yandle was drafted by Phoenix in 2005. Are the Oilers the only team in the NHL who didn't draft even one of their top seven defencemen?
Actually don't answer that. I don't have seven hours to try to explain why I think Oiler drafting and development is another weakness in this organization. I know I'm the only person in Oil Country who feels this way.
December 21 2008, 03:08PM
@ Chris:
Well, Theo Peckham should be on the list shortly. It's probably also worth noting that Tom Gilbert, Denis Grebeshkov and Ladislav Smid were all acquired as prospects.
Plus, Lubomir Visnovsky was acquired by trading away draft pick Matt Greene.
Visnovsky was drafted by L.A. in the fourth round. Became a top pair defencemen and commanded two quality roster players in a trade. That is a home run by a scouting dept. L.A also drafted Grebeshkov.
December 21 2008, 04:08PM
Chris wrote:
Visnovsky was drafted by L.A. in the fourth round. Became a top pair defencemen and commanded two quality roster players in a trade. That is a home run by a scouting dept. L.A also drafted Grebeshkov.
Absolutely. Also shows the value of drafting overage European hockey players - Visnovsky was a 24-year old when he was finally drafted, and it's probably a black mark against hockey people in general that a guy averaging nearly a point/game in Europe lasted until the 4th round.
Seriously - how come this guy can go as a midround pick and immediately be a dominant offensive defenseman? Did he change much over the summer, or did the hockey establishment in general just not give him his due?
The Oilers dynasty was built on the draft. Fuhr, Coffee, and Lowe were all first round draft picks... But Messier was a third round pick. Kurri and Anderson were both fourth round picks...(all in the hall of fame) I don't think the Oilers have hit a late round home run pick since the early 80s.
Since Lowe became GM I will give full credit for picking Hemskey. Hemmer was the best possible pick in 2001. Props to Prendergast. Unfortunately, I don't think we have made the best possible pick given our draft position since. (Jury is still out on Gagner)
Let's look at Visnovsky's draft year. In 2000 we selected Miknov ahead of LA's pick Frolov. Then Winchester ahead of LA's pick Andreas Lilja. We both wasted the third round and LA picked Visnovsky in the fourth. (We took Lou Dickenson).The following year Edmonton wasted our first pick on Ninimaki...but had it's best second round ever picking both Stoll and Green... the exact price we paid to land Visnovski. Most teams land good prospects in the first round. It is the late picks that give your organization an edge. Hell, LA picked Huet in the seventh round that year 50 or 60 players after we took Markkanaen. And despite all this LA still sucks! Go Figure.
Chris wrote:
The following year Edmonton wasted our first pick on Ninimaki
Sorry I ment to say the year after picking Hemskey we wasted our pick on Ninimaki. 2002. My Bad. We need an edit key.
December 21 2008, 09:26PM
on paper this team almost looks better than the oilers... at the very least they are an even match.
December 21 2008, 11:06PM
@ Jonathan Willis:
Thats funny:)
December 22 2008, 09:35AM
Note - Coyotes can't be moved - they have a sweetheart land deal lease tied to the city of Glendale - penalty is more than their combined losses - payout penatly would be around $190 million and decreases over time. I am hoping that the oil tank over Christmas - this goodship lollipop of acceptance of management and coaching that have painted themselves into more than one corner....with more than two days off - this again brings some concern about the oil showing up on time - so failure means reward - but the oil will reach 9th place and miss out on a franchise player.. any one thinking Lowe will come down to coach is narrow minded... ask Doug MacLean - Lowe only coached on year and has no track record before falling into EIG's arms fof a lifetime contract - it is now 18 years since the last cup - which leads to on the job training is taking the long way...... are we the Toronto Maple Leafs of the West - and by the way can the Oil Kings telemarketers stop calling my business, cell phone, and home - the OIL KINGS organization has taken the Xentel approach to marketing OLD TIMERS hockey games - seen it - been there done that - bought the T SHIRT - they finally fell on their sword and gave up the $12 parking that Northlands was extorting - kiling the goodwill of a family outing when the tickets were in the smilar price range...... remember the OILERS can do no wrong - the seats are full so why worry..... if someone dumps their season tickets - their are 3600 more suckers waiting in line...... I dumped my seats this year and am taking my $9k on vacation to the Dominican and Phoenix where I can golf, swim and enjoy my leisure time rather than support MACT with his monotone syllabic rhetoric of underachievement.
@ Deep Oil: You're gonna regret dropping those tickets when the Oil start to win again...around 2027.
Deep Oil wrote:
It is now 18 years since the last cup - (we) are we the Toronto Maple Leafs of the West
Canucks - Haven't won a cup ever Flames - Last won in 1988
Explain that again to me deepoil?
You would think that a person like yourself who has apparently EVERY single answer would simply apply that gigantic brain to generating enough cash for Oiler tickets AND a vacation. But where's the preachy-ness in that I guess?
December 22 2008, 10:37AM
Deep Oil: Under normal circumstances, the Coyotes couldn't be moved, but Chapter 11 in the United States gives the bankrupt party the ability to shred their contracts.
The Coyotes have been losing money for years, and if the current ownership is in as much financial trouble as the Toronto Star and Globe & Mail believe/hope, it's certainly within the realm of possibility that the franchise could file for Chapter 11. Whether the league would permit that or not is something else entirely.
@ Chris: You are correct: most great teams are built on the draft, just ask Detroit and Pittsburg.
Pointing out players who played better than expectation and so they were the steal of the draft will always make us say "oh, they shoulda" but if they get two players out of each draft that play in the NHL then they are above average. That would make thirty players in a fifteen year span which is bigger than an NHL team.
If the Oilers accomplish this and get a gem or two every few years (Hemsky, maybe Gagner), then I have no complaints.
I just remember the days of Fraser and am quite happy with where we are today. Fraser was a dolt.
December 22 2008, 10:41AM
When you are the only game in town - you can run the funny farm with no accountability - this neoptism of old oil needs a change - the odometer has been rapped - bottom line is alleged billionaire Katz has a loan on this team for $100mm - when does the interest crunch come into play with no playoff revenue and a weak loonie - also - if he was going to borrow $100 million for the arena - who is going to lend him the coin in this market - banks are not lending today - no brainer.
December 22 2008, 10:43AM
Deep Oil wrote:
Note - Coyotes can't be moved - they have a sweetheart land deal lease tied to the city of Glendale - penalty is more than their combined losses - payout penatly would be around $190 million and decreases over time.
Placing the team in bankruptcy would void that contract deepoil.
r59 wrote:
Deep Oil wrote: It is now 18 years since the last cup - (we) are we the Toronto Maple Leafs of the West Canucks - Haven't won a cup ever Flames - Last won in 1988 Explain that again to me deepoil? You would think that a person like yourself who has apparently EVERY single answer would simply apply that gigantic brain to generating enough cash for Oiler tickets AND a vacation. But where's the preachy-ness in that I guess?
League average is one cup every 30 years and one SCF every fifteen years. The Leafs have been forty one years without so they are below average. The Oilers have been 18 years without a cup and 2 years since a SCF, so the Oilers are above average.
Deep Oil - don't get too worked up.
December 22 2008, 11:10AM
Wanye Gretz wrote:
Placing the team in bankruptcy would void that contract deepoil.
Haha, beat you to it.
December 22 2008, 12:57PM
Jonathan Willis wrote:
Wanye Gretz wrote: Placing the team in bankruptcy would void that contract deepoil. Haha, beat you to it.
December 22 2008, 03:38PM
@ Wanye Gretz: The creditors would have first dibs on this team - just like Nashville, Buffalo and so on - you may think you start a newco....but you can't run from your mistakes or liabilities - PHX is losing $30 mm per year and MOYES trucking company is in trouble located in the death zone called PHX - Bettman has proven that moving a team to Canada is not in the best interest of his objectives - noting Pitt and Nash - in the same motion Bettman has devalued the amount that Jim B was willing to pay prior to his $8Billion writedown in stock value of RIM - JIM B is a client of mine - with 3B in present day stock holdings he is still working the same as when he had $14Billion - same approach. Minnesota sold for $160 million - Katz paid less than $200 million if you do the share count.... team values are going down and no one is buying.... the pyramid scheme is over and Bettmans neck will be on the chopping block - greedy little bastard stopping one season with a FIXED salary cap of $45mm .... I would request that Gregor or Robin address the $100million question where alleged billionaire Daryl is going to get his cake - is McKesson (Rexall Partner) going to bail him out again - Edmonton is not ready for $200 tickets, $12 beers and $15 Parking - note no matter how much it is made possible - Riverbend and Terwillegar folk will not take the Southgate LRT - beneath them.... not having oil tickets this year means more time for family, and watching the games on tv is more consoling when the score in the third period is 9 - 1...... I do not have billions but a few million in assets - Oilers are not worth my time to commit and I have joined the DARK SIDE - THE ANTI OILER - plain and simple - I will be on the beach in Puerto Plata in January, PHX in February and Maui in March - economical holidays with Westjet and conservative villa rentals.... I am just waiting for the shoe to drop when Katz has to borrow the money for the arena and the government finally adds a car rental tax, hotel tax, restaurant tax and increases the user fee tax on ALL tickets - while the province giving MILLIONS for the Museum and Art Gallery to which very few Edmontonians will visit. Bottom line I see a PERSONAL SEAT LICENSE to which the common folk will wake up in 2011 and say what the FLIP - we have a new owner with old overpaid contracts instituted by the boys on the bus and have to overpay to keep or attract RFA and FA's (not successful) - failure, and the old boys club seems to get paid every two weeks - if Chicago can fire Savard and Tallon is on the hot seat - why is dumb and dumber still standing - with a puppet called Tambellini waiting to mop the floor and be the bad guy....... I am hoping for two losses over the Christmas (NOT FLIPPING HAPPY HOLIDAY - political correctness sucks) season - and watch the fans become savages on the TEAM 1260 because you are not allowed to voice negative comments on CHED. Then when the team has lowered the performance and season tickets drop off for next year - the thinking that a 19 000 buliding will come into play - Death to the Oil - a 4 year cancer based on the contracts of Horcoff, Pisani, and Penner - Katz cant afford to buy these passengers out.....Cole sit as an RFA - look in the mirror as another GM - would you really want anyone except for Souray or Hemsky (who is scared to shoot the puck and teases us for no end).... cheering for the oil is like torture as OILER NATION could manage this by internet vote committee in better fashion - not joking. The END IS NEAR - let's hope.
@ Deep Oil: Rant much?
BTW, Hemsky is leading all Oilers in shots.
^all Oiler FORWARDS in shots^
Wanye, where is that damn edit button??? ;)
Cam wrote:
I just remember the days of Fraser and am quite happy with where we are today. Fraser was a dolt
I still have nightmares of Kelly ahead of Doan, Iginla, Sykora etc. But I still say the new regime is mediocre to the core. The GM is mediocre (Lowe). The Coach is mediocre. Draft performance is mediocre.(No Big Time Homerun Since Hemskey. Yet Colorado, for example, has had at least two in that time frame)
I don't expect the team to win the cup every year... but in the "Heartland of Hockey" I expect a competative team. We are behind TORONTO in the standings. TORONTO!


text:
By GARY ARRINGTONSports Writer
Coach Steven Gordon took his team to Montrose, Colo. last Friday and Saturday and came home with three victories in the two day affair. Emery opened the tournament against Berthoud on Friday and won the game 11-0 behind the pitching of Gatlan Huntington. Emery then won a pair of 6-5 games on Saturday. First the Spartans defeated Delta, Colo. and then they defeated Grand Junction Central in the afternoon.
Against Berthoud, Emery scored a run in the first inning. Colby Snow doubled after the first batters got out and Derrick Allred singled him home. Snow scored Emery's second run in the third inning after he singled and came home on a ground out.
Emery added three runs in the fourth inning, four more in the fifth inning and two more runs in the sixth inning to end the game early.
In the fourth inning, Nevin Jensen singled to open the inning and Addison Collard and Brett Mecham each then also singled. All three batters eventually scored. An error on a ball hit by Huntington and a ground out by Jason Giles allowed the runs to score.
In the fifth inning, Allred led off the inning and got hit by a pitch. Jensen and Collard singled, Mecham walked and all four scored by the time Huntington flew out. Stolen bases and wild pitches were the culprits that doomed Berthoud.
The last two runs came on a Snow walk and an Allred homerun.
Against Delta, Brett Mecham pitched most of the game to get the win. Delta scored two runs in the first inning and then one each in the third, fifth and seventh innings. Emery scored three runs in the second inning, two more in the fourth inning and a final run in the fifth inning.
In the second inning, Jensen doubled but got picked off base for the first out. Collard, Kash Jewkes and Mecham followed with singles to all score. Giles got the last single of the inning for the last RBI. Mecham and Huntington each walked in the fourth inning and both scored on a triple to right field by Giles. Emery's last run came by Tayler Tanner. Tanner got on by an error, Jensen single and Tanner scored on a ground out by Collard to the third baseman. Emery scored six runs on 10 base hits including Giles going three for four. Delta scored five runs on six base hits.
Addison Collard picked up the victory in the third game and having pitched to the last two batters in the second game to get the save. Collard held Grand Junction scoreless until the sixth inning when they scored four times. After the first six batters for Central got on base by four hits, one walk and an error, Collard struck out the next batter, induced a shallow fly ball and got the third out on a grounder hit to the third baseman. They scored one more run in the seventh inning.
Huntington started the game for Emery with a double to right center field. Giles then doubled to left field and scored Huntington. Allred singled and all scored on a Tanner homerun. Collard also doubled later in the inning but did not score. Emery led 4-0 after one inning.
In the second inning, Kashe Potter singled and scored on a single by Giles. Emery's last run came in the bottom of the seventh inning. With the score tied 5-5, Colby Snow tripled to left center field and scored on an Allred single to right center field and the game was over.
Emery now has a season record of 6-1. Besides the three games in Colorado last week, Emery defeated Grand 10-0 at home and lost on the road to Uintah 15-1 when nothing went right. Against Uintah, Emery hit the ball well but right at people and on defense, Uintah scored 11 runs in the third inning when Emery had a whole bunch of errors.
Emery plays at Union on Tuesday and then hosts Uintah, Beaver and Manti on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The first two games start at 3 p.m. and the Saturday game is at noon.
Coach Gordon on his team, "We really hit the ball well against good teams in Colorado. Our pitching was solid and our defense was good. Against Uintah, things just didn't go our way. We hit the ball at people and then we gave up those runs in the third inning. The good thing is that we are getting better."

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Skip to comments.George W Bush: was he really that bad?
Posted on 04/15/2013 10:49:04 AM PDT by Sub-Driver
George W Bush: was he really that bad?
More than four years after George W Bush left the White House, his record is being reassessed and throws up similarities with Barack Obama, writes Alex Spillius
By Alex Spillius
1:10PM BST 15 Apr 2013
It is George W Bushs particular achievement to be disliked by both sides in American politics.
Democrats of course excoriate the damage done to the budget by waging two wars while cutting taxes, his conduct after Hurricane Katrina and his shoot from the hip style, not to mention that fact that he presided over the worst economic collapse since the Great Depression.
His own Republican party utterly rejected him during the 2012 campaign. Tea Party types saw him as a big-spender guilty of extending federal government, while few who once stood with him were prepared to defend his military achievements.
But presidents tend to look better, or at least different, from a distance, and with the opening of his presidential centre in Texas, there are suggestions that Bush the younger may be more fondly remembered than was thought possible when he left the White House in January 2009 as the most unpopular president in living memory.
He was certainly more socially liberal than his critics give him credit for. No Child Left Behind, whatever its faults and funding, was a centralised attempt to raise educational standards across the board.
A new prescription drug benefit scheme may have been expensive (though Bush himself argues its cost has been exaggerated) but its aim was to make medicines more affordable for the elderly.
Bush failed in his most ambitious social reform of immigration law, but he was defeated primarily by the Right of his party, not the Democrats.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
"Totally POd with Roberts.....TOTALLY.....disgusted. But I had no problem with most of his rulings when GWB was in office."
If GW had his way, Harriet Myers would be on the Supreme Court today, not Alito. Likely the Obamacare decision would have been 6-3 if Myers was on the Court.
People forget that when we first went into Iraq a large segment of the American people, including congressional Rats, were for it. It only took a few months for those same Democrats that voted to go into Iraq to turn around and reject what they voted for-in fact many Democrats in congress secretly (and some not so secretly) hoped we would lose in Iraq so Bush would get a bloody nose.
Consider that the man spent eight years being literally hated by the media who gleefully played pocket-pool with their ethics and lied constantly about Bush and our troops exactly like their traitorous butt-buddys in the Democrat party.
That pretty much sums it up. I don't see anything changing for the time-being.
I didn't agree with EVERYTHING GWB did. I don't expect 100% perfection from politicians. But......compared to what we're saddled with now.....GWB is a SAINT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Foisting McCain on us was an even bigger mistake than Romney, at least Romney was a successful business man.
Because people (including those on the right) now feel secure today most have forgotten the peril we were in.
In addition, Bush brought prosperity to a country which was in real danger of losing it. He had the deficit down to $200B at one point until Pelosi and her liars began to attack him on all fronts.
We were blessed to have Dubya at a time of peril. Mightily blessed.
How the Presidents Stack Up-Approval ratingd from Truman tthrough Obama
Of course not.
The problem is that disgruntled conservatives needed a whipping boy. Any politico that is not Christlike conservatively pure is subject to catching hell .
I would GLADLY take Bill Clionton over Obam or for that matter W.
At least clinton got us to a balanced budget and actual welfare reform (to a degree) - Although it was only thanks to Newt.
The Media learned from that- if they had pushed and pushed harder those evil republicans would not have had to make poor clinton balance that budget.
Prersiddent Bush WAS that bad. He did not even try to control the run-away spending of the congress. Not one veto. Then we went bust!!
Cannot blame Obama for that. Face it. Bush did it.
Obama made it much worse by his ignorance of government and ignorance of economics. He still believes taxes can improve the economy. Fifth graders know better. Real Americans know better.
But we don't need another Bush, either. Get it?
Yes, it was because of the House so why on earth would you take Clinton over W.?
The only reason Clinton juiced the economy was because he was in trouble and was impeached. Clinton was largely responsible for the sexually messed up generation we have now as well as largely responsible for lax security which led to 9/11. He and his wife are both scum and do not come near to Bush in quality.
Ignorance, don't think so. Obama is set to destroy the free market system. Bush didn't cause it all, we have a congress that did Not do nothing to control spending. Everyone was caught up in political correctness governance..same thing now so no fighting back..until they fight, same occurs.
Perot I begat Clinton.
GWB was, in the opinion of this liberty-loving Republican, a disaster.The prescription drug benefit established the principle that someone is entitled to the income of another merely because they've reached a certain age. No Child Left Behind increased the federal role in the education of our kids, which should be infuriating for anyone who believes in local (and parent!) control of education. He seized on the War on Terror as the means to amp up surveillance and wiretapping of US citizens and instigated a slow degradation of our freedom via the Patriot Act and other laws and reg's. Not a "W" fan. Voted for him in 2000 when he ran as a freedom-loving Republican. Like me. Bait and Switch. Ouch.
If Bush hadn't reneged on "Read my lips", there would have been no Perot.
Bush made one really bad mistake.
He conducted the WoT in an exemplary manner to our foreign enemy in other countries. This was good.
However, he could not discern between foreign enemy in other countries, and peaceful American citizens here. He equated the two with his actions.
In retrospect, the Patriot Act I and II could have been a fraction of the size they were. In consolidating federal agencies and creating the TSA, he could have asked congress to waiver the constitutional arguments against profiling.
Yeah, it would have been annoying to be a Muslim traveling around the US, or to or from the US by air. Tough. But everyone else should not be annoyed to create the nonsense illusion that security needs to be "fair". It doesn't have to be, and shouldn't be.
When we were at war in WWII, we did not trust people of German, Japanese, or Italian origins. During the Cold War, we were distrustful of Russians. All legitimate concerns.
The same rule should apply to Muslims. It is not racist, because Islam is not a race. However, for all its sects, there is enough agreement in Islam that threatens the US, *as a religion*, that the US has a right to single out Muslims for scrutiny, *for their religion*.
This is what Bush should have done.
This being said, Bush's big error turned American all ahead full in the direction of a police state. It will take decades to fully reverse the damage done by this, if it can be done short of the near collapse of the nation forcing it to happen.
Likewise, Bush had an amazing opportunity to fix America's financial problem, and should have taken that opportunity, but he did not. And this damages us immensely as a nation.
Ideally, our next Republican president is going to have his work cut out for him. Ideally, he would put the US on a path to eliminate half the federal government; significantly reduce the power of the office of the POTUS; and restore so much of what has been forfeited in the past, such as massive federal land takings from the states; the corrosive effects of years of economic pumping; and the insane prohibitions against energy and economic development.
There are many things that Bush did that I did not agree with, but every day I thank God that we had President Bush instead of President Algore or President John F'ing Kerry.
Just the thought of President Algore in control during the aftermath of 9/11 makes my blood run cold.
So who did you vote for in 2004?
But there was one silver lining to those disastrous 8 years that paved the way for Barry Soetoro*. When the GOP held all three branches of the federal government and did nothing but expand the scope and cost of said federal government they proved once and for all that the GOP is just the right wing of the same Globalist/Marxist bird of prey that the Democrats are the left wing of.
Thanks, Bush!
*Bush was still the President, the lead law enforcement official in the country, when that illegal alien Commie thug and petty criminal from Chicago fraudulently ran for office and again Bush deliberately did nothing. Can you imagine what the FBI,CIA,NSA,IRS could have dug up on that on-the-down-low witless, talentless nobody. He would be in a jail cell were he belongs, not in the Oval Office destroying the Republic.
I wouldn't say he was our WORST president (any field that includes Jimmy Carter takes care of that distinction), but he was certainly in the bottom five. Expensive prescription drug "benefits", Harriet Myers, an unjustified and unjustifiable war in Iraq, "nation building" in Afganistan which has been a graveyard for every country that has gone in there, no child left behind, Chief Justice Roberts, failure to protect border agents, what more can I say? Whoever thinks he (or his father) was in the same class as Reagan has been drinking some Kool-Aid which I will never have in my refrigerator.
~ Larry Elder, "The Ten Things You Can't Say In America"
How can you say this? Bush was the ultimate Bad guy! He started two wars on his own word —there was no Weapons of Mass Destruction, he used a Credit Card to pay for them, placing the USA in massive debt! Children starved under Bush! And he hated black folks and blew up the dyke in New Orleans so as to destroy the escape buses and the 9th Ward! He also strapped his dog to the roof of his car and drove it around just to show what he could do. He, gave guns to Drug Lords and gave every penny to his rich friends—and would be doing so today if he was in power. He wanted us to fight a 100 year war in Iraq—Why if Bush was in office (or one of his minions) there would be Car bombs blowing up in Irag now! We would not be in a prospering, recovering, Progressive state—on its way toward the perfect Worker's Utopia! Give Obama another 8 years and we will get there Comrade!
I never understood the hatered of him. I'd take him a hundred times over for what we've got now.
There's a mental image I can live without!
don't get me wrong- I thought Clinton was a low-life scumbag and still do.
I am speaking ONLY of those wonderful days of a balanced budget, $12Trillion dollars ago...
I agree with you whole-heartedly July4.
George Bush had the deficit down to $200B but you won't hear a word about that from either left or right.
Ridiculous statement.
They have shown over and over that they could care less about a socialist muslim infiltrator into the White House with a fraudulent elegibility.
One minor correction: It was Romney who strapped his dog to the roof of his car.
So who did you vote for in 2004?
Whomever the Libertarian candidate was. Was it Russel Means? Haven't voted for a DemmyKrat since 1980 when as a young lad I voted for my Boll Weevil Congressman Kent Hance who two years later switched to the GOP.
Did the same thing in Bush 1's re-election run in 1992. Those Bushes have been something else. Something other than freedom-loving Republicans for sure.
the President needs to revere and respect the Constitution as much they do the country.
On that count Bush failed.
Bush and his dad turned away for the limited government path that Reagan moved the Republic towards.
Their failure to view government as a necessary evildirectly lead to the increase in the scope and power over government over our lives.
Balanced budget was actually due more to the House, and the Speaker at the time, then either Bush 41 or Clinton......
See post 20 in this thread....speaking your language...
That anyone on this thread is giving Clinton credit for anything is ridiculous.
Because the GOP was A: in control of the establishment at the time and B: The Senate did not have functional control. The DeMint wing of the Party did not have control sadly. Having said that, it was not nearly as bad as 2009-2011 when the Dems had all three branches. Generalization can make one seem smart....but only "seem."
Well as you know, people tend to blame/credit Presidents for everything that happens during their term - the "happened on so and so's watch" is the most mis-used, mis-understod and mis-applied term in all of American politics I think. Sometimes it applies, sometimes it does not, but people use it universally the same.
"Whomever the Libertarian candidate was. Was it Russel Means?"
No, it wasn't Russell Means. What a kook! LOL!
Since the late 1970s, Means often supported libertarian political causes, in contrast with several of the other leaders of AIM. In 1983 he agreed to become running mate to Larry Flynt in his unsuccessful run for U.S. President.[12] In 1987, Means ran for nomination of President of the United States under the Libertarian Party, and attracted considerable support within the party, finishing 2nd (31.41%) at the 1987 Libertarian National Convention.[18] He lost the nomination to Congressman Ron Paul.[19]
In 2001, Means began an independent candidacy for Governor of New Mexico. His campaign failed to satisfy procedural requirements and he was not selected for the ballot. In the 2004 and 2008 Presidential Elections, Means supported independent Ralph Nader.
Funny how they never mention that the economy was doing great until Demoncrats took power in Congress.
So Bush named Obama to office? Or was it the idiotic voters (or those that refused to vote because they didn't get the nominee they wanted) that put Obama in office?
Obviously, the latter.
Congress should always get the lions share of credit and blame.
Actually, I disagree about his possible failures in foreign policy.
To start with, Saddam was just going nuts. Iraq was descending into chaos, with Iraqi oil money flowing to corrupt politicians everywhere to violate the embargo. Even Saddam himself thought that he was still developing WMDs, which Iraq was still capable to do, but nobody else in Iraq wanted to do.
And Iran was poised to exploit the situation terribly, to get a monopoly over much of the world's oil, possibly to invade and conquer Iraq, and then Saudi Arabia.
Worse and worse, the Khan nuclear proliferation ring in Pakistan was providing technology for decentralized development of "Muslim bombs", a deal involving both Libya and Egypt, and probably Saudi. Pakistan wanted to attack India with them, and India was more than willing to respond.
And, of course, all the gang wanted to annihilate Israel, possibly with nukes, despite Israel having over 200 of them, which would cause a medium sized nuclear war that would most certainly affect the US, because of the isotopic jet stream dump over middle America (we discovered during atmospheric testing, that dropped copious amounts of strontium-90 contamination over the Midwest region.)
The big failure was that W. Bush failed to conduct nation building in Afghanistan, like he did in Iraq. Had he done so, we could have exited them long ago, and they would be far more stable. This is because we would have cut off the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, keeping the Pakis bottled up to savage each other.
Bush worked very hard to support Perv in Pak, because he wanted to unite his fractured country under a central government. An essential thing to stop them from being terrorist training central. However, at the start his power was just a tad greater than all the other factions, so it was a very long row to hoe.
All told, his plate was full with foreign policy, so he needed somebody with common sense and conservative values to run his domestic policy. And he didn't.
I think Bush gave up when the Republicans in Congress didn't back him on Social Security reform, he probably figured, "What's the point?"
I voted Constitution Party, myself.
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I've been working heavily on the Big Board lately, and now I'm finally basically done with it. As a result, I've modified, updated, and upgraded buster considerably since the first release, and it is now a pretty mature, high performance, and powerful engine for application orchestration. There are a few things about it that bug me; mainly that there tends to be a lot more IO code than I usually like to see, but on the other hand, this tends to be in the behaviour part and the actual orchestration in terms of events and behaviour relations are purely functional and their semantics are well exposed. One thing I am thinking of changing is the way that events are named, to an EventName type rather than relying on group, source, and name, since some of these seem to be irrelevant in certain cases.
One thing I am particularly satisfied with is that behaviours seem to be self-segmenting and I've not had to wedge anything into the form of a behaviour or worry about having to wedge something non-behaviour like into the framework because of poor forethought. The metaphor seems to work well. I have found that since I use strings to name events rather than enumerations, it's helpful to have a module in the code somewhere that ties constants to the names to encourage consistency and type-safety.
Anyway, in a nutshell, here's how application orchestration via Buster works by example:
iwidth = 1024 iheight = 1024 programBehaviour = mouseSelectionBehaviour >~> selectionBehaviour >~> zoomAndPanBehaviour >~> (uiResponses |~| translateVisibles |~| mouseCoordinateAdjustmentBehaviour) >~> dialogueRaisingBehaviour >~> dialogueResponseBehaviour >~> annotationCreationBehaviour >~> annotationFinishingBehaviour >~> annotationsTouchedBehaviour >~> loadMapMetadataBehaviour >~> (loadTilesBehaviour |~| loadAnnotationsBehaviour) >~> renderBehaviour widgets = [ initializeBus "The Big Board, by the Renaissance Computing Institute. v3.0a" iwidth iheight , configFileWidget "thebigboard.ini" , paletteGeometryWidget] main = boilerplateGLMain widgets programBehaviour
Yes. That plus the imports is the entire main module of The Big Board. In point of fact the entirey of the Big Board, despite its complexity, is just a little under 800 lines of application-specific Haskell code. I've highlighted in blue all the behaviours and widgets that are part of Hieroglyph and in green the ones that are part of buster. Here we declare the dependency structure of the component program behaviours in the function programBehaviour. The >~> operator designates that the right operand depends on the left operand. The |~| operator declares that the two operands are independent and are thus functionally concurrent. So we perform mouse-based selection, select items, and go through the normal chain of UI behaviours and then finally hit the render behaviour, which detects if anything's changed in the scene and tells Hieroglyph to rerender if it has. Main is a single line that calls the boilerplate Hieroglyph main, which initializes the Gtk and OpenGL, creates a window (which can be accessed later and modified for those who want more than a single main window in their application), and starts the bus a'-running.
Now let's delve into the anatomy of a behaviour…
mouseCoordinateAdjustmentBehaviour b = pollFullyQualifiedEventWith b "Mouse" "Hieroglyph.KeyboardMouseWidget" "Position" $ \evt -> do let [x,y] = fromEDoubleL . fromJust . lookup "coords" . fromEAssocL . head . eventdata $ evt [ox,oy] = fromEDoubleL . fromJust . lookup "origin" metaL scale = fromEDouble . fromJust . lookup "scale" metaDataL metaL = maybe ([("origin",EDoubleL [0,0]),("scale",EDouble 1)]) (fromEAssocL . head . eventdata) (eventForQName "Environment" "Map" "Metadata" b) glcoords <- reverseMouseCoords b x y let Point x' y' = reprojectPoint (Point ox oy) scale glcoords rerender <- produce "Hieroglyph" "Hieroglyph" "Rerender" Persistent [] coords <- produce "Visible" "Hieroglyph" "coords text" Persistent [EOther (Geometry (coordsText x' y')] return [rerender, coords]
Again, the buster and Hieroglyph highlighting rules apply. Here, we poll events named (Mouse,Hieroglyph.KeyboardMouseWidget,Position) that sit on the bus and apply the associated behavioural thunk to them. Polling means that the event will stay on the bus even after the behaviour is applied. We then reverse the mouse coords to fit GL coordinates and offset it from the origin by the proper amount. The coordinates are then displayed in a box (the coordsText function maps the x and y values to a visible representation and this visible representation is put on the bus as an event in the group "Visible", which indicates to Hieroglyph that it should be rendered.
There are times where the poll/consume event helper functions aren't appropriate. In this case, instead of returning a list of bus differences, we have to return a "future" of a list of bus differences. This is done by replacing the last line of the behaviour with:
future bus . return $ [list of Insertion evt | Deletion evt]
From there, most everything else about buster can be figured out based on this and the previous posts on the buster model and the Haddock documentation.


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Harold Bloom
Bloom, Harold, 1930–, American literary critic and scholar, b. New York City. The son of Orthodox Jewish immigrants from Russia, educated at Cornell (B.A., 1951) and Yale (Ph.D., 1955), the distinguished critic, author, and academic is Sterling Professor of Humanities at Yale and Berg Professor of English at New York Univ. He has written nearly 40 books and edited or written the introductions for hundreds of other volumes. One of his best-known works, The Anxiety of Influence (1973), postulates a titanic Oedipal struggle in which great writers interpret and revolt against their literary fathers, a theme developed in A Map of Misreading (1974), Poetry and Repression (1976), and Agon (1982).
Bloom has also written studies of many individual authors, e.g., Shelley (1959), Blake (1963), Yeats (1970), Wallace Stevens (1977), and Shakespeare (1998). His wide-ranging literary concerns are represented in The Western Canon (1994), in which Bloom analyzes the works of 26 great masters; in How to Read and Why (2000), in which he presents a manual for literary enjoyment and enlightenment; in Genius (2002), in which he explores the accomplishments of 100 great writers; and in Till I End My Song (2010), in which he gathers and briefly analyzes 100 poems about the end of life. His interest in religious and scriptural questions is apparent in such works as Ruin the Sacred Truths (1988), The Book of J (1990), in which he posits that a woman wrote part of the biblical Pentateuch, The American Religion (1992), and Jesus and Yahweh (2005). The Anatomy of Influence (2011) sums up his ideas and reworks the theories of literary influence he first posited in The Anxiety of Influence.
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2012, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
See more Encyclopedia articles on: American Literature: Biographies


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Crestwood Children's Center last week opened a mental health clinic at the Anthony L. Jordan Health Center.
An affiliate of Hillside Family of Agencies, the Crestwood Center is one of five Western New York outpatient providers to win startup funds under a state Office of Mental Health initiative to embed mental health clinics in primary care offices.
The OMH initiative stems from research showing that a relatively small number of patients with undertreated chronic ills accounts for a disproportionately high percentage of medical costs and that a high number of such patients also have behavioral health issues that can complicate treatment of their medical conditions.
The Crestwood facility is staffed for some 15 hours a week with a part-time clinician and a psychiatric nurse practitioner. Crestwood officials hope to expand staff to one or two full-time clinicians.
<i>(c) 2012 Rochester Business Journal. To obtain permission to reprint this article, call 585-546-8303 or e-mail email@example.com.
Crestwood opens mental health clinic
Crestwood Children's Center last week opened a mental health clinic at the Anthony L. Jordan Health Center.
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Whether you're a Bourbon enthusiast or looking for something exciting to do in the city, come for a taste of Bourbon's rich history. You'll step back in time to 1783 and experience life and distilling as it was in the early days of the Republic.
The guided tour features an operating Artisanal Distillery where you will not only learn the process for making Bourbon, but you will see it being made right before your eyes. The tour also includes premium Bourbon tastings and concludes in our Retail Shop where you can take home an array of signature items, including a personalized bottle of Evan Williams.
See the Bourbon making process first-hand through our operating Copper Pot Stills.
Taste a premium selection of Bourbon in our old-style saloon.
Journey back to 1783 and experience the rich history of Bourbon making through the life of Evan Williams.
528 West Main St
Louisville, KY 40202
Phone: (502) 584-2114
Adult Admission (21+) $12.00
Kids (11 – 20) $9.00
Kids (10 and under) FREE
Active Military Discount Price $9.00
Groups of 20 or more, please call ahead for availability
Mon - Thurs, 11 am - 5:30 pm
Fri - Sat, 10 am - 6 pm
Sun, 1 pm - 5:30 pm
*Last tour each day is one hour prior to close.
There are three main parking areas nearby, which include two sets of parking garages and a nearby surface lot. See map above for parking designations.
Covering a diverse array of culinary styles and all types of budgets, the Urban Bourbon Trail brings you an unforgettable dining experience featuring Evan Williams.See Local Dining
Both the visitor's experience and gift shop are open as follows:
Monday – Thursday
11:00 am – 5:30 pm ET
Friday – Saturday
10:00 am – 6:00 pm ET
1:00 pm – 5:30 pm ET
*Last tour each day is one hour prior to close.
Closed on: Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, Christmas Eve, New Year's Day
Louisville is on Eastern Time. Daylight Savings Time is observed April through October. Please note that the current tour schedule is subject to change. For schedule updates and the latest information regarding hours call (502) 584-2114.
Tours last approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour and includes a historical tour, viewing of the artisanal still and a guided tasting. It is recommended that you arrive approximately 30 minutes before the last tour time at 4:00.
All ages are welcome to tour the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience. However, you must be 21 years of age or older to enter the tasting rooms at the end of the tour. If you are accompanying someone under the age of 21, an adult will need to supervise them while the tasting is underway and would, therefore, not be able to participate in the tasting.
Yes, the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience and Gift Shop are both ADA accessible. An elevator is available to help navigate between floors and service animals are allowed. Please let the front desk know upon arrival if you have a wheelchair, scooter or other special need so that you can be easily accommodated on the tour.
Yes, strollers are allowed in the building and, depending on the tour size, throughout the tour. You will be able to navigate between floors using the elevator. Given this, we do recommend use of a baby carrier for smaller infants/babies. Please note that no stroller parking is available.
Yes, for most of the tour photography is welcomed. There will be certain sections of the tour where no photography will be allowed and your tour guide will notify you in advance of that section.
We do ask that you refrain from eating or drinking (other than what is offered in the tasting room) while on the tour. We also ask that no pets, other than service animals, enter the building.
Yes, the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience is a smoke free zone. There is no smoking inside the building or on the sidewalk outside.
Parking is available in nearby parking garages, surface area parking lots and street parking surrounding the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience and operated by the city.
Visitors may be dropped off in front of the building or you can pull into the surface area parking lot located at the corner of 6th and Main Street to drop off there.
If your time is limited, we recommend that you visit the gift shop, which is open at all times to anyone and is located on the second floor of the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience.
The tasting experience includes a selection of products from our award-winning American Whiskey & Bourbon portfolio.
October 26, 2015 •
Come to the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience for a night of laughter, suspense and, of course, murder. For the last 20 years, actor and comedian Kevin O'Brien has been performing his murder mysteries all over the world. As you arrive for Read more »
June 16, 2015 •
The Evan Williams Bourbon Experience is providing half price Traditional Tours for all Dads this Father's Day weekend. The visitor's center celebrates the life and contributions of Evan Williams, Kentucky's first commercial distiller, and features an operating artisanal distillery, in addition Read more »
May 05, 2015 •
Having a well-rounded, palette-pleasing Bourbon experience doesn't have to take an entire day. Bourbon lovers can now sign up for Heaven & Evan, a unique exclusive tour and tasting experience organized by Mint Julep Tours. The experience transports you from downtown Read more »
April 22, 2015 •
As an official sponsor of the Kentucky Derby Festival, the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience will release a special edition bottle of 2006 Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage Bourbon to commemorate the 60th celebration of the Kentucky Derby Festival.
The Bourbon bottle has Read more »
March 23, 2015 •
The Evan Williams Bourbon Experience®, located on Louisville's historic "Whiskey Row," is celebrating the arrival of spring by hosting a Bourbon, BBQ & Bottle Signings event in conjunction with the First Friday Hop on Fri., April 3. The festivities will take Read more »
March 06, 2015 •
Heaven Hill Distilleries is proud to participate in the second annual Kentucky Bourbon Affair, organized by the Kentucky Distillers' Association. We invite you to join our Master Distillers this June for an afternoon of single barrel sampling in a historic Bardstown Read more »
February 03, 2015 •
With Valentine's Day quickly approaching, the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience® invites you to celebrate the spirit of love. The visitor's center, located on Louisville's historic "Whiskey Row," is offering a 20% discount on all Bourbon chocolates this Friday, February 6, 2015 Read more »
November 25, 2014 •
The Evan Williams Bourbon Experience® invites you to travel back in time to 1933 to celebrate the end of Prohibition in Louisville. The visitor's center, located on Louisville's historic "Whiskey Row," is hosting a Repeal Day Celebration on Friday, December 5, Read more »
November 10, 2014 •
The Evan Williams Bourbon Experience® kicked off its first anniversary celebration today with the unveiling of an official Evan Williams historical marker.
Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, Heaven Hill President Max L. Shapira, and Heaven Hill Read more »
October 29, 2014 •
The Evan Williams Bourbon Experience® is celebrating its one-year anniversary Nov. 15 with a week of celebratory events and the release of a commemorative Evan Williams Single Barrel Bourbon.
The Evan Williams Bourbon Experience is a multi-million dollar artisanal distillery, immersive tourism Read more »


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Sign in for member information and resources.
NJEA Executive Director Vincent E. Giordano today hailed the months-long deliberation over tenure reform as a step toward ensuring "that every teacher in every classroom has the skills and the effectiveness to bring out the very best in their students."
"Almost two years ago, NJEA shared its vision of tenure reform with legislators and the public. We knew that in the past, in too many instances, it took too long and cost too much to dismiss an ineffective teacher."
In addressing the often lengthy and costly dismissal appeal process embodied in the current tenure law, Giordano said the NJEA proposal to have appeals heard by arbitrators would satisfy public concerns about dismissals taking too long and costing too much.
Addressing the Assembly Budget Committee on A-3060, the Assembly version of S-1455, sponsored by Sen. Teresa Ruiz (D-Essex), Giordano said that the collaboration among all stakeholders in the debate exemplified "the very best that a representative government can produce when it engages in thoughtful, respectful, and open-minded discussion with people seeking a common goal."
The committee unanimously approved the bill, an earlier version of which was approved by a 40-0 vote of the entire Senate on June 21. It now heads for the Assembly floor on June 25, where it faces certain enactment. Once the Senate votes concurrence, it will go to Gov. Chris Christie for his signature.
"A significant part of this legislation is its elimination of judges and courts from the appeal process," Giordano said. At a Dec. 7, 2010 news conference, NJEA originally proposed the idea of putting all dismissal appeals before highly qualified arbitrators.
"We learned from the experience of Massachusetts – which went to arbitration almost 20 years ago – that it was a far more expeditious and far less costly route to take," Giordano said.
The bill guarantees teachers facing dismissal with their right to a hearing, "which is the fair and just thing to do," he added. Under an earlier version of the bill, teachers could actually "lose tenure," which meant they would have lost their right to due process. That provision was struck from the bill at NJEA's urging.
"The journey to reaching agreement on this legislation wasn't always an easy one, but in the end, respectful attention to our mutual objectives and to one another prevailed," Giordano told the committee. "We cannot overstate the importance of doing the right thing here. The careers of more than 120,000 educators are impacted by this legislation, as are the future hopes and aspirations of the children who attend our public schools."
"But we also knew that the public believes in the fundamental right of due process in the American system of justice – the right of individuals facing serious charges to have their cases heard by a neutral third party," he added. "In a word, we are talking about fairness. If a teacher cannot or will not improve his or her performance, districts should be able to seek that teacher's dismissal – as long as that dismissal provides fundamental fair due process rights."
NJEA also proposed adding a fourth year to the current three-year period leading up to the granting of tenure. "Not because four is greater than three," Giordano said, "but because every new teacher should receive the quality mentoring and guidance that this legislation provides."
He then shared a little-known fact, taken directly from data provided by the state Department of Education.
"What if I told you that 40 percent of graduates of medical school or law school never earned the right to practice medicine or law?" he asked. "You would probably conclude that those professions do a remarkable job of ensuring only the best and the brightest were allowed to practice.
"Yet it is a fact that four out of ten newly hired teachers never receive tenure in New Jersey. Somehow, public education gets no credit for setting the bar so high," Giordano said. "Now, we have set the bar even higher for new teachers. Under this legislation, tenure is now even harder to earn."
He reminded the committee that "the vast majority of our public school teachers are dedicated, talented, hard-working people. They chose teaching to make a meaningful contribution to the growth of our children. It's what drives them, and what sustains them."
"That is why we have another important piece of work to do," he said. "The foundation upon which this legislation rests is a well-conceived, comprehensive, and research-based evaluation system that will fairly measure a teacher's abilities and performance. Providing anything less would place this new house on a foundation of sand."
New Jersey must adopt "the very best evaluation system possible," Giordano insisted. He noted that NJEA members across the state are involved in piloting a variety of systems, as the state moves to adopt regulations covering all districts.
As a final note, Giordano issued a warning to legislators:
"We must be sure to avoid the path of using standardized test scores as the determining factor in high-stakes personnel decisions," he said. "Research overwhelmingly tells us that far too many factors beyond the control of teachers affect student learning and student test scores."
NJEA was successful in getting language into the bill that stipulates that student test scores cannot be the "predominant" factor in a teacher's evaluation.
Test scores, Giordano said, "should be part of a broader menu of student achievement indicators contributing to the evaluation, but by no means the deciding factor in the total evaluation of a teacher."
The goal, he concluded, is to have an excellent evaluation system that matches up with the new tenure dismissal process.
"When you have an evaluation system which prevents any employment decisions based on faulty data, petty politics or personal whim, and you combine it with the fair dismissal process that this legislation creates, you have exceptional public policy," he said.
"New Jersey's teachers, parents, and students deserve nothing less."


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Did you know that 2.3 million couples get married in the United States every year? That breaks down to nearly 6,200 weddings a day. The average age of a bride is 25 and the average age of a groom is about 27. An average of 178 guests are invited to each wedding where an average of $20,000 is spent per wedding—nearly $72 billion per year. Oh, and by the way, nearly one-third of those getting married are retreads, having been previously married.
A wedding is that wonderful ceremony in which two people are blissfully united in marriage or a civil union, pledging their lives together. Wedding traditions and customs vary greatly between cultures, religions, nationalities and social classes.
Wedding ceremonies involve an exchange of vows by the couple along with the exchange of a gift—often wedding rings—and a proclamation of marriage by an authority figure. We normally celebrate after the ceremony with a wedding reception which almost always includes a beautiful multi-layered wedding cake. And, more often than not, chocolate is as commonplace as music, great food and champagne.
Scrumptious, incredible, edible chocolate wedding favors are now as popular with guests as they are with brides! After all, who doesn't love chocolate? These chocolate wedding favors accomplish so much. They add a touch of sculptural art to all of the guests' tables. They are unique and sure to make every guest—young and old—smile when they arrive at their assigned seat. Finally, they are absolutely the most delicious way to say thank you to all who attend the wedding.
New traditions for nuptials are always being added. Many brides are now opting for different ways to show their sweet savvy, choosing a "wedding cake" made of multiple tiers of cupcakes, his and hers wedding cake and a "chocolate table" filled with a beautiful array of miniature chocolate truffles.
Recently, Choclatique was invited to compete in the 2010 International Bridal Salon for the coveted chocolate awards. We joined a group of esteemed fellow chocolatiers and confectioners in this historic juried competition for the Bridal market. The 20 or so judges for this competition were from national and regional Bridal publications and they were there to decide our fate.
Choclatique submitted 3 entries: our mini, 3-layer wedding cakes—these stand only about 2-inches tall yet are completely decorated, filled with strawberry white chocolate angel food ganache and brushed with either 24 karat gold or silver; 4-piece Gemstone truffles (each one has been designed to represent a different birthstone) and our gold leafed Commitment Hearts. What bride wouldn't love to include any of these at her wedding?
The judges' decisions were rendered and Choclatique was recognized as the Top Artisan Chocolatier and the Most Gifted Chocolatier / Chocolate Maker. We were also recognized for the Most Artistic Designs, Best Traditional Chocolates and the Best for Wedding Receptions. It's always great to be recognized as the best of the best, especially in chocolate.
Weddings are not just in the month of June any more… and love and marriage along with engagements and anniversaries—can and should—be celebrated every day… with Choclatique chocolate, of course!


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Lisa Behling, a first grade teacher at Ferron Elementary, has been selected as the Teacher of the Year for the Emery School District.
At the regularly scheduled school board meeting on June 17, Mrs. Behling was recognized by school board president, Laural Johansen, Superintendent Kirk Sitterud and the other members of the school board. With her selection, she may choose to participate in the Utah State Teacher of the Year recognition program.
Mrs. Behling began teaching at Ferron Elementary since1985 as a first and second grade teacher. With the retirement of former first grade teacher, Barbara Behling, Lisa became known as the "other Mrs. Behling". She has been teaching first grade at Ferron Elementary for the past 18 years.
"Next to my family, teaching first grade is my first love," Lisa confessed. She has taught nieces and nephews, and children of friends as well as her own three children. She is now beginning to teach the children of students she taught in first grade and hopes their parents remember her as fondly as she does them.
"With the exception of my four years away at college, I have lived in Ferron all my life. I started school at Ferron Elementary when I was five. I learned, played, and grew up in the halls of this familiar building," she recounted.
Throughout the past 18 years Lisa has pursued her own professional growth by attending classes in quality instructional practices, reading instruction, classroom management, mentor teaching and the Collaborative Literacy Intervention Project.
"These classes have improved my skills and helped me understand the academic and emotional development of children," she said. "When I began teaching, most of my children came from traditional families who, although not wealthy by worldly standards, were stable and secure. Today many of my children come from single parent families and have moved sometimes three or four times by first grade. These children need more than academic instruction. They need support and skills to deal with problems that once existed only for adults."
Jed Jensen, principal of Ferron Elementary, said, "Lisa is an outstanding educator with a strong commitment to personal growth as well as growth of students. Her upbeat personality and willingness to take extra assignments help make Ferron Elementary a great place to learn and work."
Lisa uses strong instructional skills obtained through continual in-service and commitment to preparation and personal growth to make material meaningful and motivational for children.
She has learned and applied much of the instructional information provided by the state and district to explore and incorporate research based instructional methods in her classroom.
Lisa is known as a nurturing teacher with a high degree of instructional ability. She has a unique talent for recognizing and encouraging children as well as adults.
Lisa works exceptionally well with coworkers, parents and children.
Lisa is married to Loran Behling. They have three children, Chase, Whitney and Taylor.


text:
Safety Around Radiation Sources
Managing Radiation Emergencies
Too much radiation exposure is harmful. The degree of radiation injury depends on the amount of radiation received and the time involved. In general, the higher the amount, the greater the severity of early effects (occurring within a few weeks) and the greater the possibility of late effects such as cancer.
The BEIR V (Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation) Committee of the National Research Council estimates that among 100,000 people exposed to a one-time dose of 10 rem (10,000 mrem) and followed over their life span, about 790 more would die of cancer than the estimated 20,000 cancer deaths that would be expected among a non-exposed group of the same size. NOTE: 10 rem = 100 millisieverts (100 mSv).
Radiation from Various Sources:
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text:
the enchanted homeNovember 29, 2012
Tina of The Enchanted Home is truly a
most beloved blogger in the galaxy
(including planet Michele),
and if you have not read of her
chronicles of dreamhouse-building,
legendary love of blue and white,
delicious cooking,
or her beautiful online shop,
then you must delve into her archives.
I contributed gift ideas*
to her post today
right here.
*Tina forced me to self-promote my shop...
violently B-slapped me with one of her monogrammed
linen napkins until I begged for mercy, then clocked me
repeatedly in the noggin with a Bavarian bread board
til I acquiesced. There were witnesses.
None of that was true.
Wanna peek inside Tina's glorious new construction?
A dreamy guest room I would be more
than delighted to test out.
Speaking of dreamy...
Artist Jeanne of I Dream Of has created
enchanting new watercolors for Tina which
capture the spirit of this fine home and business.
Aren't Jeanne's paintings classy and lovely?
Tina often quickly snaps random shots like this one
around her home (no styling required) with a
phone, and still there is no denying the enchantment!
I would curl up with her assistant Teddy on that gorgeous floor if allowed.
In other news, I am in Arizona at the moment,
to help care for my mom after another surgery.
Thank you for all your positive thoughts.
The image above is is my folks' gorgeous bedroom,
and their entire home is magazine worthy!
See you over at my friend Tina's, kittycats.
Peace to you right where you are.
Hello Lovely at times partners
with companies I love and think may interest you.


text:
Contact Us
Administrative Office
Administrative Operations and Membership Services
Washington, D.C. Office
Education Policy, Communications, and State Partnerships
Staff Bios
Gary Beckner
Chairman and President
Gary Beckner oversees both AAE and its supporting foundation, AAE Foundation. He is based out of AAE's membership office in Mission Viejo, California.
Mr. Beckner is a successful business executive with a vision for America's educational future. His heart for education comes from his love for children and his desire to see America's young people develop with academic and moral excellence.
Mr. Beckner knows first hand the important role a teacher has in the development of America's citizens. His background includes being a lifetime credentialed instructor with California's community colleges, authoring a college textbook, teaching courses in business ethics, and conducting seminars throughout the state.
Immediately after graduating from Florida State University with a B.S. degree in marketing in 1967, he began a career in business that led to management and part ownership of several insurance industry companies. In 1988, Mr. Beckner began consulting work in insurance and marketing, while holding seats on the board of directors of several organizations.
In 1993, he contracted as a consultant for a Washington, D.C.-based association management company. Over the next year, while working on an education project, and after surveying teachers across the nation, he became convinced there was a need for the Association of American Educators.
In 1994, Mr. Beckner helped found AAE as an alternative for teachers who were disenchanted with the nation's teacher unions. He and a group of nationally recognized and respected educators came together to form this new organization because they thought the two unions were leading our public schools in the wrong direction.
He has also served as the executive director of the Coalition of Independent Education Associations (CIEA). The coalition represents over 300,000 teachers in 23 separate independent, nonunion associations across the nation. They are united in their belief that educators should be free from compulsory membership, and should not be forced to join or otherwise pay dues to a labor union in order to teach.
Mr. Beckner is a frequent lecturer on the nonunion independent teachers association movement and has been featured or quoted in articles published in USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Times, and Investors' Business Daily among others.
Mr. Beckner resides in Southern California with his wife. The father of three sons, Gary is active in several civic and religious organizations.
Mr. Beckner recalls his favorite teacher fondly: "Miss Barber made me strive to be my best by always expecting me to do my best. When I disappointed her she would always exhort me by saying, 'I expected better from you, Gary.'"
Colin Sharkey
Executive Vice President
Colin Sharkey is executive vice president for the Association of American Educators. In this capacity, Colin oversees day-to-day operations of AAE, AAE Foundation, and its growing network of state chapters. Colin's responsibilities include setting and meeting membership and revenue goals, hiring and supervising managers and staff, controlling expenses, and developing and directing operating procedures to support AAE's objectives and policies. Colin previously served as senior director of national projects for AAE, spearheading numerous innovative technology, membership, expansion, and development initiatives.
Prior to joining AAE, Colin served the project coordinator for the coalition relations department at The Heritage Foundation, where he supported numerous projects, including the annual Resource Bank Meeting, Policy Experts, and the Leadership for America campaign. Before that Colin worked at the Collegiate Network as a program officer providing financial and technical assistance to nearly one hundred independent college newspapers. While he was at the Collegiate Network, a program of the Intercollegiate Studies Institute, Colin served as Managing Editor of CAMPUS Magazine Online, created and directed the National Security Online Resource Center, and blogged for National Review Online.
In addition to his work with AAE, Colin sits on the board of a non-profit media organization and serves as National Director of National Employee Freedom Week. Colin has been interviewed on Fox News Channel, Fox Business Network, and numerous local and syndicated radio programs.
Born and raised in Abington, Pennsylvania, Colin is a proud product of the award-winning Abington public school district. Colin completed a two-year honors program at Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania, and he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Political Science at the University of Notre Dame. Colin and his wife, Jennifer, have one son and reside in Pennsylvania.
If absolutely forced to choose only one, Colin's favorite teacher is his 10th grade English teacher, Mr. Ted Weiner, who is a passionate and knowledgeable teacher with high expectations.
Angela Ashton
Finance Support Staff
Angela is the bookkeeper for Association of American Educators and state chapters. A native of Louisiana, she was the bookkeeper for A+PEL, Associated Professional Educators of Louisiana, a state partner of AAE. As a graduate of LSU, she has enjoyed a varied employment history including paralegal work and extensive real estate and building contract work.
Angela credits the Sisters of St. Joseph's Academy for instilling academic excellence and the joy of continual learning in her life.
Carolee Baird
Regional Membership Director
Carolee Baird serves as regional membership director for the Association of American Educators in Utah. A veteran educator, Carolee has been a proud AAE professional member for five years.
Prior to her work in education, Carolee served as a department head and training coordinator for a major home improvement corporation. As part of her position, Carolee trained new and existing associates in sales, profitability, benefits, and company ethics. It is in those roles that Carolee decided to pursue teaching as a career.
Carolee completed her Bachelor of Science degree at Weber State University where she majored in social studies education. Immediately upon graduation she joined Utah Virtual Academy, a virtual public charter school serving students across the state. Carolee is a passionate advocate for educators, public charter schools, and virtual education in Utah. Carolee and husband, Bart, have two children and reside in northern Utah where they enjoy a number of outdoor activities as a family.
Carolee's favorite teacher is Mrs. Wilson who exuded professionalism and worked tirelessly to make reading a fun and engaging activity.
Piete Beckner
Director of Membership Services
Piete Beckner is director of membership services. She has senior management responsibilities for the Association of American Educators California office which is the central location for membership processing. A native of Florida, she attended Florida State University where she met her husband, Gary Beckner, the founder of AAE. Together they have watched the Association of American Educators grow into a viable professional non-union organization for educators and a voice for those who are passionate about education reform. Previous to that, she worked for AT&T for ten years and in between raised three sons.
Piete's favorite teacher was her fourth grade teacher, Miss Geverts. She instilled in her a love for reading by providing quiet cozy areas around the classroom where students could curl up with a good book.
Debbie Brown
Member Services Specialist
Debbie Brown works as the member services specialist for the Association of American Educators where her duties range from customer service to data processing to inventory management. She also serves as editorial assistant for AAE's various publications. Her past work experience includes varied office positions with churches, schools, engineering and legal firms. She and her husband are both natives of Orange County, California, are very active in their church and choir, and have two grown children and two grandsons.
Debbie's favorite teacher was her 10th grade English teacher, Mr. Fox, who instilled in her a love for the English language and for reading.
Julie Evans
Legal Services Liaison
Julie Evans serves as the Association of American Educators legal liaison. Prior to joining AAE, Julie worked for the Saddleback Valley Unified School District where she was on the management team for the before and after school day care program. As much as she loves working with children, she thoroughly enjoys providing services and support to teachers in her role with AAE.
Julie is a native Californian and she enjoys spending time with friends and family, volunteering at church, taking trips to Big Bear and going to Disneyland.
Julie's favorite teacher is her 3rd grade teacher, Mrs. Relf, who took a genuine interest in each of her students and was always willing to go the extra mile to see her students succeed.
Kisa Fields
Regional Membership Director
Kisa Fields serves as regional membership director for the Association of American Educators in Wisconsin. She has been involved in education for over fifteen years.
Prior to joining AAE, Kisa worked as a business development manager at an educational management organization and oversaw the opening of public charter schools in Georgia, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. Kisa also has a background in sales and marketing and has served as vice president of a non-profit organization that offered scholarships to K-12 students.
Kisa is passionate about volunteering and spent 7 years as a project coordinator improving the aesthetics of several elementary schools.
Kisa completed her Bachelor of Business Administration Degree at Georgia State University where she majored in finance and is currently completing her Masters of Education at Alverno College. Kisa and her husband, Jarett, have two children and reside in the Milwaukee area where the family can take advantage of many seasonal activities.
Kisa's favorite teacher was high school educator, Mrs. Blount. She introduced Kisa to scholarship opportunities and it was Mrs. Blount's persistence that encouraged Kisa to apply and receive that scholarship.
Alexandra Freeze
Senior Director of Communications and Advocacy
Alexandra "Alix" Freeze is the senior director of communications and advocacy for the Association of American Educators, the largest national non-union educators' organization. Alix directs AAE's internal and external communications, focusing on education policy, media relations, and outreach to like-minded groups and educators. She also manages state and national teacher advocacy programs.
Alix has worked in a communications capacity for another Washington, D.C.-based trade association and on Capitol Hill for the ranking member of the House Education and Workforce Committee where she developed her passion for education reform.
A champion of educator rights and professionalism, Alix is a frequent guest on talk radio programs and has spoken on the non-union teacher movement across the country.
Alix is a native of the Washington, D.C. area and public school graduate. She holds degrees in political science and sociology from Frostburg State University in Western Maryland and resides in Alexandria, Virginia with her husband, Andrew, and their son.
Alix's favorite teacher is her 2nd grade teacher, Mrs. Amy Jo Johnston, who inspired her drive to succeed, compete, and make a difference.
Alicia Huntsman
Executive Assistant/Office Manager
Alicia Huntsman is the office manager for the membership office in California and also assists AAE's executive director in operations and development projects. Alicia has previous management experience working with both large and small companies. She has a background in human resources, accounting, payroll, and administrative duties.
Alicia is a native of Orange County, California, where she resides with her son.
Her favorite teacher was her 8th grade teacher, Mr. Vick, who made each one of his students feel important. His passion for teaching made attending class exciting.
Iris Lacey
Membership Payment Processor
Iris Lacey is the Membership payment processor for monthly payments in the AAE California office. Her past work experience has been with various industries including chemical, computer, and copier-printing companies. She grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and now resides in Southern California with her husband. She has two grown daughters and her grandson is the new love in her life.
Iris' third grade teacher, Mr. Williams, made a difference by spending extra time with a "lefty".
Cecile Middleton
Regional Membership Director
Cecile Middleton is a regional membership director for the Association of American Educators in New Jersey. A native of New Jersey she attended Rutgers University and earned a bachelor's degree in economics. She has worked as a classroom teacher, university admission counselor and educational sales representative for a major publishing company.
She brings a wealth of experience from various educational careers that will allow her to add value to the AAE team.
She is the proud mother of three sons who are all motivated and goal-oriented. She is passionate about teachers and believes that educators are looking for choices that support their educational vision of success.
Cecile's most memorable teacher was her 8th grade teacher Ms. Walker, who taught her to believe in the power that she has to control her own destiny.
Shanna Morgason
Membership Team Director
Shanna Morgason is the national membership team director for the Association of American Educators. In this role, Shanna enjoys training, motivating, collaborating with, and recruiting alongside AAE regional directors. She supports AAE member leaders through the LeadersMatter monthly newsletter. Shanna attributes her successful membership growth to having a true passion for serving members and knowledge of what today's educator needs—a professional association restoring the focus to what matters to us: the kids!
Shanna has extensive experience in membership recruiting and educational sales as well as classroom experience as a secondary literacy teacher and K-4 library media specialist. Prior to joining AAE's Arkansas state chapter as a regional director, Shanna was an educational sales consultant and trainer for Kids College, a K-8 literacy and math test preparation software combining academics with online sports video games.
Shanna resides in Arkansas with her husband, Scott, and their four children.
Shanna credits her love of the teaching profession to her parents, both retired teachers with 35 and 40 years experience. Her favorite teacher is Mrs. Henson. She made 3rd grade an experience to remember and was enthusiastic each and every day!
Sharon Nelson
Director of Legal Services
Sharon Nelson is the director of legal services for the Association of American Educators. In this capacity, Ms. Nelson oversees AAE's extensive legal teams across the country and works daily with members and panel counsel to address member legal concerns.
A passionate advocate for educators, Ms. Nelson has been a lawyer focusing on employee rights issues for nearly 20 years. Ms. Nelson spent the initial part of her legal career in private practice advocating for employee rights before working at several large law firms working on behalf of companies. In 2003, Ms. Nelson opened her own practice to again focus on employee rights.
As a litigator, Ms. Nelson has conducted numerous jury trials, arbitrations and administrative hearings. Licensed in Nevada and California, Ms. Nelson has practiced extensively in all state and federal courts in those jurisdictions.
Ms. Nelson's favorite teacher is Mr. VonBergon who taught her that life was for living and learning and that there was nothing she could not achieve.
Melissa Pratt
Professional Programs Manager
Melissa Pratt is the professional programs manager in AAE's Washington D.C. office. In this role, Melissa assists with a wide variety of projects, including office management, specialty recruiting programs, and research. Melissa also spearheads professional development initiatives and oversees the AAE Foundation National Teacher Scholarship & Classroom Grant program.
Melissa graduated from Grove City College majoring in both History and Education. She spent ten years teaching middle school in private and public settings in North Carolina, Washington D.C., and Virginia. Melissa's passion is Social Studies education. Her teaching techniques in these subjects focused on implementing methods that stressed authentic learning and critical thinking skills, with heavy emphasis on primary documents, simulations, research, and the integration of technology.
Having taught in rural, urban, public, and private settings, Melissa has observed that teachers in all situations face similar difficulties. She is passionate about helping teachers, no matter their teaching circumstance, and providing a professional option for all teachers.
Melissa was raised in Liverpool, New York, a suburb of Syracuse, where she developed an appreciation for snow. She currently resides in Alexandria, Virginia.
Melissa's favorite teachers are found in the history department at GCC, who taught her how to look at things unconventionally, instead of falling into predefined boxes.
Garry Sigle
Regional Membership Director
Garry Sigle serves as a regional director of the Association of American Educators, as well as the executive director of AAE's state chapter in Kansas. Garry served for 33 years as a teacher and coach at Riley County High School, Riley, Kansas.
He is a 1978 graduate of Fort Hays State University with a B.S. in Industrial Arts and a 1982 graduate of Kansas State University with a M.S. in Physical Education. While at Fort Hays, Garry was a five time NAIA All-American in cross-country and track and field. In 2010, Garry was inducted into the Fort Hays State University Tiger Sports Hall of Fame.
At Riley County High School, Garry taught Woodworking and Drafting and was awarded the 1998 Wal-Mart Area Teacher of the Year. In addition to his teaching duties, Garry was the Head Girls' and Boys' Cross Country and Track and Field Coach. His teams won a total of 12 state championships, 7 in girls cross country, 3 in boys cross country and one each in girls and boys track and field. He coached 17 individual state champions in cross country and 56 individual state champions in track and field. Garry finished his track and field coaching career with a streak of 17 consecutive years with at least one individual state champion. The track at Riley County High School was recently renamed the Garry Sigle Track.
Garry earned Kansas Coaches Association Coach of the Year 3 times, twice in Girls Cross Country (1992 and 2009) and once in Girls Track and Field (1998). He was also the Midwest Region Girls Track and Field Coach of the Year in 1999 and the Girls Cross Country Coach of the Year in 2010. Garry was active at the state level in the Kansas Coaches Association serving as the Chairman for Cross Country for 10 years. In addition, he served as the president of the Kansas Cross Country and Track and Field Coaches Association from 1996 to 2004. Garry was inducted to the Kansas Fellowship of Christian Athletes Coaches Hall of Fame, the Kansas State High School Activities Association Hall of Fame, and the Osborn County Hall of Fame.
Garry has been a member of the Association of American Educators for 15 years. In 2008, Garry was the chairperson of the Riley County Educators, a local teacher organization, which successfully voted to decertify from the Kansas NEA. The Riley County Educators then became the recognized bargaining unit for the Riley County teachers. He previously served on KANAAE's board of directors before becoming Executive Director of KANAAE in 2011.
Garry and his wife, Linda, have three sons.
Garry's favorite teacher is Coach Kent Litton because he had high expectations and made Garry realize he was capable of achieving great things through hard work and perseverance.
Cari Vedder
Membership Services Specialist
Cari Vedder is a membership services specialist for the AAE membership office in California. A native of Colorado, she attended Colorado State University and earned a bachelor's degree in business administration and marketing. Cari's past work experience includes sales, account management, and staffing management. After taking some time to raise her family she is thrilled to be a part of the AAE team.
While attending CSU she met her husband Joshua and they have two children. Cari volunteers her time at her children's school and is the Chair for the annual Jog-A-Thon fundraiser. She also is the team manager for her son's club soccer team and in her free time enjoys running, reading and spending time with her family.
Cari's most memorable and influential teacher is her 6th grade teacher, Mr. Paul Stanko, who taught her to always be who you are and to take pride in the work you do.
Ruth Anne Vigil
Membership Support Staff
Ruth Anne provides a support role to the Association of American Educators membership staff. She has an AA degree in business and previously worked as an executive secretary for DiscoVision (the first manufacturer of laser discs), and for 16 years as an administrative assistant in marketing and communications for an engineering company.
Ruth Anne and her husband are both from Colorado and met in their senior year of high school. They have two sons, four grandsons, and one granddaughter.
Ruth Anne attended school both in Washington, D.C., and in Colorado. She remembers Mr. Zolly as a great 7th grade teacher who loved life and laughter and instilled the importance of respect for others. In college she was privileged to have a history teacher that truly brought history to life with his knowledge and enthusiasm, thereby making the class incredibly interesting and impossible to miss.
Alana Welch
Communications Coordinator
Alana assists in AAE marketing, communications, and public relations by updating our blogs, managing social media, and assembling our monthly publication Education Matters.
Her professional career has centered on writing, marketing, and digital media and her experience spans a wide variety of worthwhile causes from large-scale membership organizations with five million members, to small but passionate nonprofits, to swing-state congressional and senatorial candidates across the nation. She's even had the pleasure of writing pieces for a few presidential hopefuls.
Alana obtained a Bachelor's in Corporate Communication & Public Relations, a Bachelor's in Professional Writing & Document Design, and a Master's in Public Administration at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia.
She resides in Vienna, Virginia, with her dog, Gromit.
Her favorite teacher is her middle school history teacher Mr. Smith, who taught her that school is about more than textbooks and regurgitating facts, it's about gaining a deeper understanding of the world around you.
Dana Williams
Regional Membership Director
Dana Williams serves as regional membership director for the Association of American Educators in Georgia.
Dana has worked as an assistant principal, special education leader, and special education teacher for a public charter school in Georgia serving K – 8th grade students. Prior to Dana's work in education, she worked as an analyst for a consumer products company and as a sales representative. Dana holds a bachelor's in business administration and marketing, masters in early childhood education, and a specialist degree in educational leadership.
Dana has been a proud AAE professional member for four years. She is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband Jeff, and their three daughters.
Dana's most memorable teacher is her 5th grade teacher, Mr. Thomas, who continuously told her that she could accomplish anything she set her mind to do. He also held Dana to very high expectations.
Rena Youngblood
Director of Charter School Services
Rena Youngblood is director of charter school services for the Association of American Educators. In this role, Rena develops and oversees AAE partnerships with charter schools and charter school advocates. She believes strongly in the power of quality public charter schools in this country and has witnessed firsthand the positive impact they can have on teachers, students, and communities.
Prior to her work with AAE, Rena served as the director of membership and member business services for the Georgia Charter Schools Association. She strategically developed member partnerships that strengthened the relationship between GCSA and member schools.
Born and raised in the beautiful state of Tennessee, Rena decided to trade the mountains for the coast and attended the University of Florida where she met her husband, Steve. A job opportunity sent them to North Carolina where she graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and minor in Communications.
Rena and her husband have two sons, live in the Atlanta, Georgia area, and have recently attempted to learn the frustrating game of golf.
Rena's favorite teacher brought the world of Shakespeare to life. For that, Ms. Dean, her 10th grade English teacher, will forever be remembered as her favorite teacher.


text: "Move the meal. Changing the setting is a wonderful way to elevate an ordinary meal. Add a few sparkling lights and move your meal under the stars. Or set up an impromptu table in front of the fireplace. You don't have to have a lot of space to make the setting interesting. Sometimes just turning down the lights and lighting a few candles can set the perfect tone."