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Tall Tales
From Wiki
Article in Juvenile Fiction, Folklore,Big Read, and Diversity categories.
Merriam Webster's Encyclopedia of Literature defines a tall tale as a story that depicts an extravagantly exaggerated wild adventure. Typical tall tales explain the origins of natural areas, like lakes, mountains, and canyons or recount superhuman exploits. The following titles are meant to be helpful guides in the telling of your own tall tale for the 2009 Big Read.
Have fun!
Traditional Tall Tales
- Lies and Other Tall Tales collected by Zora Neale Hurston ; adapted and illustrated by Christopher Myers.
- Paul Bunyan and his Great Blue Ox retold by Wallace Wadsworth
- Pecos Bill, Texas Cowpuncher by Harold W. Felton
- Big Men, Big Country : A Collection of American Tall Tales written by Paul Robert Walker
- Mike Fink : A Tall Tale retold and illustrated by Steven Kellogg.
- Admirers of the *Pinkerton stories will see that *Kellogg is an inspired illustrator/narrator for any tall tale.
- American Tall Tales by Mary Pope Osborne
- Calamity Jane : Her Life and Her Legend by Doris Faber
- Some of the Adventures of Rhode Island Red by Stephen Manes
Folk Tales From Around the World
- The Adventures of Aku: Or, How it Came About That We Shall Always See Okra the Cat Lying on a Velvet Cushion, while Okraman the Dog Sleeps Among the Ashes retold and illustrated by Ashley Bryan
- The Ox of the Wonderful Horns, and Other African folktales retold and illustrated by Ashley Bryan
- The Sycamore Tree and Other African Tales retold by Lee Po
- The River That Went to the Sky : Twelve Tales by African Storytellers / selected and edited by Mary Medlicott
- A Ring of Tricksters : Animal Tales from America, the West Indies, and Africa by Virginia Hamilton
Middle East
- The Arabian Nights: a Companion / Robert Irwin.
- Fabled Cities, Princes, & Jinn from Arabic Myths and Legends by Khairat Al-Saleh.
- Genies, Meanies, and Magic Rings: Three Tales from The Arabian Nights / retold by Stephen Mitchell
- Pebbles From a Broken Jar; Fables and Hero Stories from Old China retold by Frances Alexander.
- Heaven's Reward: Fairy Tales from China retold by Catherine Edwards Sadler
- Sweet and Sour : Tales from China retold by Carol Kendall and Yao-wen Li
- The Girl Who Drew a Phoenix by Demi
- Three Strong Women: A Tall Tale from Japan by Claus Stamm
- Tales from the Bamboo Grove by Yoko Kawashima Watkins
- The Wise Old Woman retold by Yoshiko Uchida
- The Badger and the Magic Fan: A Japanese Folktale adapted by Tony Johnston
Native Americans
- Why the North Star Stands Still and Other Indian Legends by William R. Palmer
- Between Earth & Sky: Legends of Native American Sacred Places written by Joseph Bruchac
- The Boy Who Lived with the Bears, and Other Iroquois Stories told by Joseph Bruchac
- The Boy Who Found the Light: Eskimo Folktales retold and illustrated with wood engravings by Dale DeArmond.
- Favorite Fairy Tales Told in France retold from Charles Perrault and other French storytellers
- The Devil's Bridge : A Legend retold by Charles Scribner, Jr.
- The Devil's Tail: Based on an Old French Legend by Nanine Valen
- The Little Juggler; adapted from an old French legend and illustrated by Barbara Cooney
- The Adventures of Robin Hood retold and illustrated by Marcia Williams
- The Hobyahs by Robert D. San Souci
- Cinderella, and Other Tales by the Brothers Grimm by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm
- The Bremen Town Musicians and Other Animal Tales from Grimm retold by Doris Orgel
- The Hero of Bremen retold by Margaret Hodges


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Very good information. Did you ever eat uncooked or undercooked fish in Vietnam?
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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Dec. 9, 2019) - A $1.25 million donation by Sport Clips Haircuts to the Veterans of Foreign Wars Foundation will boost the impact of the Help A Hero Scholarship program that supports education for civilian careers. Sport Clips Founder and CEO Gordon Logan, who is a veteran and VFW Life member, presented the million-dollar-plus check to VFW National Commander William "Doc" Schmitz today at the VFW National Headquarters.
"There's a common misconception that GI Bill benefits and military training are enough to secure education or training for civilian occupations, but that's often not the case. For many service members, additional degrees and certifications are needed to secure sought-after post-military work. There are 165 student veterans attending colleges and certification programs right now with the aid of Help A Hero Scholarships and more than 1,450 student veterans have benefited from these scholarships since 2014. This ye...
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - To the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Monday, November 11 means, and always will mean, more to the more than 1.6 million members of the VFW and its Auxiliary.
Veterans Day is a day of deep significance and it provides every American with the unique opportunity to not only keep alive the memories and accomplishments of every man and woman who has answered when their nation called, but to truly appreciate and understand the service and sacrifices our veterans and their families have made, and continue to make every day.
Originally established in 1919 to honor our nation's fallen World War I veterans, today Veterans Day now means honoring all who have bravely fought to preserve the freedoms and way of life we frequently take for granted.
Our nation is like no other in history, founded not on tribalism or classism, but on the rare and unique opportunity to disagree, and to worship, express oneself and live without fear of reprisal of unjust incarceration or execution. However, this fr...
WASHINGTON - Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) stood in solidarity with fellow members of the Veterans Service Organization (VSO) community as President Donald Trump signed the National POW/MIA Flag Act into law today.
"This is a historic victory for every man and woman who courageously defended this nation and remain unaccounted for," said VFW National Commander William "Doc" Schmitz. "Today's presidential signing and the daily display of the POW/MIA flag at all prominent federal properties now serves as a daily reminder that these heroes, and their families, are forever etched in our DNA."
Law now requires the POW/MIA flag to be displayed whenever the American flag is displayed on prominent federal properties, including the White House, U.S. Capitol, World War II Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, every national cemetery, the buildings containing the official offices of the Secretaries of State, Defense, and Veterans Affairs, office of the Director of the Selective Service Syste...
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Veterans of Foreign Wars National Commander William "Doc" Schmitz presented a $70,000 donation to Park University President Dr. Greg Gunderson today in support of the university's research initiative into the awarding or denying of World War I military service medals based on racial bias.
More than 367,000 African Americans fought during World War I, yet during that time not one was awarded the Medal of Honor, the highest possible military decoration awarded by the U.S. government to those distinguished by an act of conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. Historians, scholars and researchers believe systematic racism may be to blame, thus prompting the Valor Medal Review project.
The project is being conducted by Park University's George S. Robb Centre for the Study of the Great War, the Valor Medals Review Task Force, and in conjunction with the Foundation for the Commemoration of the World Wars on behalf of the U.S. World Wa...
WASHINGTON - Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Service Officers recovered more than $9 billion in benefits for veterans for the first time this past fiscal year.
VFW service officers were responsible for the recovery of a total of $9,059,726,902 for veterans, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
"This is a true testament to the dedication and service our VFW service officers have for every veteran he or she comes in contact with," said VFW National Commander William "Doc" Schmitz. "Our veterans deserve nothing but the absolute-best customer service experience that our organization has proven to deliver day-in and day-out."
This year, as part of the VFW's Century of Service, leaders issued a challenge to its Department service officers nationwide to assist as many veterans possible who required help in filing benefits and compensation claims with the VA.
"The VFW's global network of professiona...
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Veterans of Foreign Wars is pleased to announce nearly 800 participating BURGER KING� restaurants will be raising funds throughout the month of November in support of the VFW's Unmet Needs program. BURGER KING� customers are encouraged to donate $1 or more to the program with their purchase.
"Military and veteran families can count on the VFW when their military service causes unexpected financial hardship," said VFW National Commander William "Doc" Schmitz. "But it's because of the loyal and continued support from thousands of BURGER KING� franchisees and patrons that we're able to provide those families with the vital support they need to get through the tough and trying times."
The VFW Unmet Needs program provides grants of up to $1,500 to service members and military families who experience times of financial hardship due to military service. The grants help with basic life necessi...
WASHINGTON - The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States provided six artifacts and personal effects to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency today as part of its promise to help advance the noble POW/MIA missions.
"Our VFW members, and their families, continue to answer the call in this very important effort to bring closure to those who lost loved ones during the Vietnam War," said B.J. Lawrence, executive director, VFW Washington Offi...
WASHINGTON - Military Times today reported that White House officials, including Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney, are responsible for the delayed decision on additional Agent Orange diseases.
"In light of today's news regarding the continued delay to add four presumptive diseases to the Agent Orange list, the VFW is extremely upset and dissatisfied with the backdoor political games that are being played in Washington as the lives of our veterans are at stake," said VFW National Commander William "Doc" Schmitz. "The health and welfare of our nation's veterans should, and must, be our number one priority."
According to the story, White House officials challenged the authority of former Secretary of Veterans Affairs David Shulkin and impeded enactment of three additional health conditions to the list of diseases eligible for Agent Orange benefits. The VFW, Gratitude Initiative Collaborate to Support Military Families
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Veterans of Foreign Wars is proud to announce it is teaming up with Gratitude Initiative to provide vital support for the children of service members and veterans.
Co-founded by former Army Captain and Operations Desert Shield/Storm veteran, Lee Sechrist, Gratitude Initiative's College Success Academy program utilizes degreed counselors and an online environment to provide full-service college and career preparatory support for veteran and military children all over the world at no cost to the family.
America's military families face unique educational challenges, as children of active-duty service members are often required to relocate between six and twelve times before graduating high school. With more than 2 million military children having a parent on active duty, 66 percent struggle with academic and school-related issues.
"The VFW's more than 1.16 million members understand better than most the strains and hardship military life can put on not only service members,...
Andover, Mass. and Kansas City, Mo. (October 16, 2019) - For the first time ever, U.S. veterans will be able to receive U.S. Department of Veteran's Affairs (VA) health services at their local Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) or American Legion (Legion) Posts through a multi-site pilot program dubbed ATLAS (Accessing Telehealth through Local Area Stations).
This first-of-its-kind telehealth initiative is the product of an alliance between the VFW, VA, global health care leader Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) and The American Legion, which allows veterans to conduct virtual appointments with their VA providers without having to travel to a distant VA regional medical facility or outpatient clinic.
"Our goal is to make sure every veteran has access to health care," said VA Secretary, Robert Wilkie. "ATLAS eliminates another health care hurdle for Veterans living in rural areas or with limited Internet access, and it's a great example of how public and private organizations can work together to solve the challenges of healt...
GEORGETOWN, Texas - Getting a haircut now through Veterans Day will support service member and veteran scholarships as a part of Sport Clips Haircuts annual "Help A Hero" campaign that kicks off in stores today. The Help A Hero Scholarship program is designed to reduce the burden of college, graduate and technical school tuition often needed to pursue post-military careers and is administered by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. (VFW). The goal this year is to raise $1.5 million toward scholarships in the more than 1,800 Sport Clips Haircuts stores across the country.
In just six years, 1,450 military and student veterans have been awarded Sport Clips Help A Hero Scholarships with the nearly $6.5 million donated to date by Sport Clips Haircuts, its clients and product partners. These sc...
KANSAS CITY, Mo.- The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. is proud to team up with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on Friday, Oct. 11, to bring our Facebook followers an opportunity to get their questions answered regarding the latest VA is offering to address barriers to care for rural veterans.
During the event, experts will discuss how tools and technologies, including My HealtheVet, Telehealth and Mobile technologies help deliver care to veterans. VA experts Dr. Leonie Heyworth, VA Director of Synchronous Telehealth and Dr. Thomas Klobucar, Executive Director Office of Rural Health will speak with Ryan Gallucci, VFW Director, National Veterans Service. Our experts will discuss how these technologies improve access to care and share information about future enhancements of these tools and technologies.
Participating in the event is e...
KANSAS CITY, Mo.- The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. is still accepting applications for its popular Voice of Democracy and Patriot's Pen youth scholarship competitions, as well as its Teacher of the Year award.
Inspiring patriotism within our nation's youth has long been a top priority for the VFW, but with the Oct. 31 deadline fast approaching, time is running out to participate in this year's annual Voice of Democracy and Patriot's Pen student scholarship award competitions, and the Teacher of the Year award.
As one of the top student patriotic essay competitions in the nation, each year nearly 40,000 high school students compete in the VFW's Voice of Democracy...
WASHINGTON - The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States this week released the results of its latest nationwide survey on the Department of Veterans Affairs health care system from the veterans' point-of-view. Now in its seventh edition, the VFW created "Our Care" in the aftermath of the nationwide crisis in access to care and confidence that enveloped the VA in 2014, and the ensuing legislative corrective actions that followed. More than 6,900 veterans participated in the latest edition, bringing the total number of "Our Care" respondents to more than 33,000 veterans from every state, territory, and the District of Columbia.
"The VFW prides itself on having the ability to take the pulse of veterans, especially in evaluating what works at the VA and what doesn't," said VFW National Commander William J. "Doc" Schmitz, of Corning, N.Y. "Veterans turn to VA for high-quality, individualized care, but there is always room for improvement, especially in the areas of access to quali...
KANSAS CITY, MO. - On Sept. 29, the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. is celebrating its 120th year as our nation's largest and most accomplished combat veterans service organization.
In 1899, in a small tailor shop in the heart of Columbus, Ohio, 13 Spanish-American War veterans allied together with a determined resolve to fight for the justly earned care and benefits our nation's warriors deserved. With no way of knowing if their mission would survive beyond their lifetimes, their perseverance ultimately paved the way for the multifaceted organization the VFW has become today.
For the past 120 years, the VFW has remained the voice for veterans on Capitol Hill where it has played a key role in nearly every piece of veterans' legislation passed since the start of the 20th century. It was the driving force behind the restoration of benefits to 100,000 Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange through the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019. It worked to expand college education benefits thro...
WASHINGTON - The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. is proud to announce that Wounded Warrior Project� has renewed a service officer grant in the amount of $410,000 that will continue to help more transitioning military to receive their earned disability compensation benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs. WWP has now provided grants totaling more than $2.2 million to support VFW's Pre-Discharge Claims Program, an effort that last year enabled the VFW to file thousands of claims on behalf of transitioning military servicemen and women on two dozen of America's largest military installations. Collectively, VFW's nationwide cadre of 2,100 VA-accredited service officers helped more than 525,000 veterans to secure $8.3 billion in earned disability benefits in fiscal year 2018. Membership in the VFW is not required to receive its free, professional claim...
WASHINGTON - The Department of Defense announced plans last week to divert $3.6 billion in military construction funds to build or replace 175 miles of southern border fencing. The reprogramming of funds will significantly delay the start or completion of 127 military construction projects, half of which are overseas. The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States is monitoring the issue closely, as its senior leaders are well attuned to the housing and associated quality of life construction project needs of the military community, to include the impact that the decision may have on some 3,000 active-duty military personnel and 2,000 National Guardsmen currently deployed to the southern border in support of Department of Homeland Security officials.
While the VFW understands and supports the need to...
WASHINGTON - The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States is applauding the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, who in a 2-1 decision Monday, correctly ruled for the plaintiffs in Wolfe v. Wilkie. The class action lawsuit was the result of the Department of Veterans Affairs failing to fully reimburse veterans for the emergency room care they received from non-VA facilities, an issue the VFW had thought solved in 2016 when the same court ruled in favor of Staab v. Shulkin. But a report released last month by the VA Office of Inspector General found that the non-VA emergency room claims of some 17,400 veterans were denied or rejected primarily due to a VA work culture tha...
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. is mourning the loss of Past Commander-in-Chief John A. Biedrzycki, who passed away yesterday, August 29, 2019.
John A. Biedrzycki was elected national commander of the VFW on July 22, 2015, at the organization's 116th national convention, held in Pittsburgh, Pa.
John served in the U. S. Army from 1967 to 1970. He served in Korea as a Pay Distribution Specialist with the 7th Infantry Division. His decorations include the National Defense Service Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and Korean Defense Medal.
He joined the VFW in 1969 at Post 418 in McKees Rocks, Pa., where he was a Legacy Life member. He served in elected and appointed positions at the Post, County, District and Department (state) levels culminating with his election as Department Commander 2002-2003 in which he achieved All-American status. On the national level, John served on many committees, including Chairman of the National VFW Programs Com...
WASHINGTON - The Veterans of Foreign Wars is very concerned that the dependent children of U.S. service members and government employees stationed overseas, and who are also legal permanent residents of the U.S., may face difficulty returning to the United States.
The concern arose from an update published Wednesday by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) that rescinds a previous policy. The main concern to VFW National Commander William "Doc" Schmitz is that the new USCIS policy specifically targets dependent children of U.S. military personnel and U.S. government employees.
"The big question is why target dependent children?" asks Schmitz. "This has a huge negative impact on the morale of those in the fight, supporting the fight, or who are projecting America's presence around the world," he said. "To intentionally target these children who are born to legal permane...
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Together with longtime supporter Sport Clips Haircuts, the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. is proud to announce its "Sport Clips Help A Hero Scholarship" program has surpassed awarding $6.4 million in scholarships to more than 1,450 military and student veterans. The latest fall semester award of nearly $762,000 will help to ensure 165 student veterans attending colleges across the country are one step closer to achieving their educational goals.
"Veterans transitioning from military to civilian life face a host of challenges, but together with our friends at Sport Clips we're able to ensure that struggling to finance their last semesters of college isn't one," said VFW National Commander Doc Schmitz.
Established in 2014, the Help A Hero Scholarship program awards service members and veterans with post...
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. is proud to announce it is working to restore the sounds of life for VFW members and their families with significant savings on hearing care through its new relationship with Amplifon Hearing Health Care. This newest member benefit is one of several the VFW has recently rolled out, to help ensure its members have the best access to meaningful savings and benefits.
Currently, one in nine Americans suffer from hearing loss, and veterans are even more likely to experience hearing loss due to their military experience and exposure to situations where noise levels easily exceed the threshold where damage starts.
Amplifon is the nation's largest independent provider of hearing health care solutions with a network of over 5,700 credentialed provider locations nationwide, enabling people to obtain hearing care solutions averaging 62% off retail pricing.
"Hearing plays such a vital role in a person's daily life, and too often veterans suffer in...
WASHINGTON - The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States and Student Veterans of America (SVA) are now accepting applications from student veterans who are interested in participating in the upcoming 2020 VFW-SVA Legislative Fellowship program. The fellowship, now in its sixth year, will bring up to 10 student veterans - who must be VFW members - to Washington early next March to meet face-to-face with their members of Congress and senior policy makers.
Student veterans interested in applying for the 2020 VFW-SVA Legislative Fellowship must complete an application package that includes a 1,500-word or less essay that proposes legislative improvements to one of the following four specific veterans' issues:
The essay proposal should include a discussion of w...
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - William J. "Doc" Schmitz, of Corning, N.Y., has been elected the new leader of the 1.2 million-member Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, a congressionally-chartered veterans service organization comprised of eligible veterans and military service members from all five branches of the armed forces.
Schmitz's election to VFW Commander-in-Chief occurred at the conclusion of the organization's 120th national convention in Orlando, Fla., which drew approximately 10,000 veterans, and military family members.
Each year, VFW members from around the globe representing a myriad of conflicts converge at the event. Their mission during the weeklong convention is to approve new national priorities to guide the organization in its advocacy and business efforts throughout the ensuing year.
Schmitz takes office during a time of great momentum for the organization which recently announced its first increase in membership numbers in 27 years, reached a milestone achievement of more...
KANSAS CITY, Mo.- Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie will be joining more than 10,000 members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States and its Auxiliary at the 120th VFW National Convention as it convenes this Saturday through July 24 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. The business sessions are closed to the public, but a free, two-day weekend veterans walk-in claims clinic and four-day health fair are accessible to all veterans, service members and their families in West Hall C-WD1.
"It's been 11 years since our last national convention was held in Orlando, so it is great to be back!" exclaimed VFW National Commander B.J. Lawrence, of Alamogordo, N.M., "and we are honored to have two cabinet secretaries join us next week, as well as recognize some very deserving individuals with the VFW's highest national awards," he said.
"We hope to hear Secretary Pompeo address issues, challenges and successes as it pertains t...
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The 120-year-young Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States just added almost 25,000 members to snap a 27-year decline in membership.
America's largest and oldest war veterans' organization began its new membership year earlier this month with almost 1.165 million members, a million less than its peak in 1992, yet significant nonetheless, according to VFW National Commander B.J. Lawrence, who attributes the growth to the organization being more visible on the national scene as well as in more than 6,000 communities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, four U.S. territories, and 11 foreign countries.
"The VFW is making a difference in the lives of countless others every day, and thanks to the power of social media and the internet, more people are taking notice and wanting to be part of our team," said Lawrence.
"The internet allows us to share our story of service to others, and social media allows us to engage not only with our members but with potential members,...
WASHINGTON - In advance of this weekend's start of the 120th National Convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States in Orlando, Fla., the VFW national commander is asking all Vietnam veterans to search through their closets and footlockers for documents that might help Vietnam to determine the fate of an estimated 300,000 missing Vietnamese, and personal effects that might help bring comfort to their families.
"It is important for the Vietnam generation to recognize that the personal connection they have with their memorabilia will not transfer to their descendants, which means such items will either be donated or simply trashed," said VFW National Commander B.J. Lawrence. "And even though it's been over a half-century for most Vietnam veterans, now is still a great time to help solidify our government's relationship with Vietnam, and to help make a difference in the lives of other families half a world away."
Lawrence said VFW senior leaders have traveled back to Vietnam every year ...
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. is proud to announce the selection of the top three winners of its 2018 - 2019 Scout of the Year scholarship competition.
Enacted in 2001, the Scout of the Year competition was designed to reward eligible members of the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Venturing Crew or Sea Scouts who have risen above their peers in exemplifying standout citizenship, patriotism and love of country with college scholarships of up to $5,000.
This year's first-place winner, Elizabeth Bock, was sponsored by VFW Post 3208 in Sierra Madre, Calif. She was selected for her activism with local youth and government programs, dedication to serving others and her work advocating for women's issues and gender equality. As the first-place recipient, Elizabeth will receive a $5,000 college scholarship.
Owen Sumter, sponsored by VFW Post 9675 in Bellevue, Neb., was selected as the second-place winner for his notable community service work, his work supporting the homeless com...
WASHINGTON - The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. is proud to announce the selection of Terry "Mike" Eshenbaugh as the VFW Accredited Service Representative of the Year.
Eshenbaugh, who is employed by the Texas Veterans Commission as the VFW Department of Texas service officer, is an integral part of the VFW's worldwide network of more than 2,100 accredited service officers who last year helped more than 526,000 veterans to recoup $8.3 billion in earned disability benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Accredited means VA accreditation, which allows VFW Service Officers to assist and file VA claims on behalf of veterans and transitioning service members, as well as to provide representation before the Board of Veterans Appeals if needed. The support is free to all honorably discharged veterans and is a continuation of the VFW's "service to others" mission that the organization began one century ago after returning World War I veterans faced the same government neglect as the VFW's foref...
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. (VFW) is pleased to announce participating BURGER KING� franchisees are set to kick off their summer fundraiser to benefit the VFW's Unmet Needs program.
Starting on July 1, patrons are encouraged to visit any of the nearly 850 participating BURGER KING� restaurants located throughout 31 states and donate $1 or more to the VFW's Unmet Needs program upon checkout. Donations will be accepted until the end of the month.
Established in 2004, the Unmet Needs program assists service members and military families experiencing financial hardship by providing financial assistance grants toward basic life necessities like rent, mortgage and utility payments.
Since 2007, BURGER KING� franchisees and their customers have contributed more than $6 million to Unme...
WASHINGTON - The national commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States is saluting the president for signing the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019 into law last night.
"Tens of thousands of Blue Water Navy veterans of the Vietnam War and dependent children born with spina bifida due to a parent's toxic exposure will now benefit from this new law," exclaimed VFW National Commander B.J. Lawrence, "and the VFW is proud to have helped lead the charge to return these benefits to these deserving veterans and to expand existing benefits to dependent children. We look forward to the Department of Veterans Affairs publishing implementation guidance on their website very soon."
The VFW-championed Blue Water Navy Vietnam ...
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Today, the U.S. Supreme Court announced its decision that the World War I memorial in the shape of a 40-foot-tall cross can continue to stand on public land in Maryland. The high court's 7-2 decision in favor of allowing the cross to stand, clarifies the fact that the mere shape of a monument does not create an "Establishment" of religion. Therefore, the nearly 100-year-old memorial will be allowed to stay on public land. The Veterans of Foreign Wars' amicus brief is cited in the opinion.
"The Supreme Court made the right call," said VFW National Commander B.J. Lawrence. "Today's decision not only protects this memorial outright, but helps to establish a precedent to protect thousands of other veterans' memorials that currently reside on federal, state or municipal land.
"My hat's off to all of the organizations that joined the VFW in filing amicus briefs concerning this case."...
WASHINGTON - The national commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States is urging President Trump to quickly sign into law H.R. 299, the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019, which the Senate passed this evening by unanimous consent. The U.S. House of Representatives passed the VFW-supported legislation on May 14 by a vote of 410-0.
"We salute the entire 116th Congress for ensuring that taking care of veterans remains the most bipartisan and bicameral issue in Washington," said VFW National Commander B.J. Lawrence. "We now urge the president to quickly sign the bill into law so that tens of thousands of Vietnam veterans can have their disability benefits restored, and well as an expansion of benefits to military dependents, veterans of the Korean DMZ, and those exposed to toxic hazards in Southwest Asia."
Once signed into law, H.R. 299 will restore VA benefits to thousands of so-called Blue Water Navy Vietnam veterans who had their disability eligibility taken away in 2002 aft...
NEW YORK - UNTUCKit, one of the fastest-growing retail brands in the United States, announced today the launch of the Chase Elliott Limited-Edition Made in America Shirt to support military service members and veterans. Crafted in North Carolina, the shirt features Chase's No. 9 car mark stitched into the sail of a signature UNTUCKit button-down and will be available beginning today for $109 at UNTUCKit.com/ChaseElliott.
The launch of UNTUCKit's Chase Elliott Limited-Edition Made in America Shirt coincides with the industry-wide launch of the NASCAR Salutes campaign from Memorial Day through Independence Day that honors the fallen, first responders, members of the military, and their families.
In honor of the shirt's launch, UNTUCKit is making a donation to the VFW's "Sport Clips Help A Hero Scholarship" which The Chase Elliott Foundation will match. The Foundation is also making a separate donation to the In...
WASHINGTON - The national commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States is saluting the U.S. House of Representatives for unanimously passing H.R. 299, the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019.
"The VFW salutes the united support of the entire House," said VFW National Commander B.J. Lawrence. "Your vote this evening will positively impact thousands of lives, and it once again proves that taking care of veterans and their families is a nonpartisan issue."
The VFW-supported bill now heads to the Senate. Once signed into law, H.R. 299 will restore VA benefits to thousands of so-called Blue Water Navy Vietnam veterans who had their disability eligibility taken away in 2002 after regulatory changes. It will also require the VA to contact those veterans who had filed claims that were later denied. Those veterans could be eligible for retroactive benefits.
The legislation will also mark a victory for other veterans and their families who suffer from conditions related to toxi...
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. is proud to announce it is again expanding its member benefit offerings by teaming up with Eyemart Express to offer members and their families a 20 percent discount on prescription eyewear including glasses and sunglasses.
For nearly 30 years, Eyemart Express has been offering unique styles and quality frames with its focus on providing affordable, quality prescription eyewear without compromise. As one of the nation's leading optical retailers, it provides shoppers with the fastest production of glasses in the industry with more than 199 stores nationwide, each equipped with in-store labs for the convenience of same-day glasses.
The VFW and Eyemart Express have made it easy for veterans to enhance their vision and their look. VFW members and their families can visi...
WASHINGTON - The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States is saluting the House Veterans Affairs Committee for unanimously passing H.R. 299, the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019. The VFW-supported bill, which must still be approved by the full House and Senate before going to the president, would restore VA benefits to thousands of Vietnam veterans, expand inclusive dates to those who served along the Korean DMZ, and benefit children born with spina bifida due to a parent's exposure to Agent Orange-related herbicides in Thailand.
"The VFW salutes the bipartisan leadership of House VA Committee Chairman Mark Takano and Ranking Member Phil Roe for leading this bill through committee," said VFW National Commander B.J. Lawrence, "and for following through on their commitment to get this bill passed in the new 116th Congress."
Once passed into law, H.R. 299 will restore VA benefits to tens of thousands of so-called Blue Water Navy veterans who had their disability eligi...
OAK BROOK, Ill. - In the true spirit of Memorial Day, Ace Hardware is once again collaborating with the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. (VFW) to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Ace Hardware is pledging to give out 1 million American flags nationwide on Saturday, May 25. Consumers are encouraged to visit participating Ace stores to receive a free 8" x 12" American flag* on May 25, while a second flag is donated to a local VFW Post to be used for marking and honoring veteran graves this Memorial Day.
"We are proud to again affirm our long-standing commitment to honoring veterans by supporting VFW Posts and local communities," said John Surane, Executive Vice President and Chief Merchandising Officer for Ace Hardware. "This Memorial Day, Ace stands with the VFW in honoring the courage of the brave men and women who have sacrificed everything for their country. We applaud the VFW for the incredible support...
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. and its Auxiliary will be out in force during the week leading up to Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 18, 2019, in effort to show their support and appreciation for BURGER KING� franchisees as part of the VFW's third annual #ThankBK Appreciation event.
Since 2007, BURGER KING� franchisees and their customers have contributed more than $6 million to the VFW Unmet Needs program, providing vital financial assistance to military families who have fallen on hard times as a result of their service. Since the program's inception in 2004, Unmet Needs has provided more than $11 million in financial grants to nearly 10,000 service members, veterans and their families.
VFW members, and their families and friends are encouraged to stop in, purchase a meal and say "thank you" to the franchise owners, managers and BURGER KING� team members for their continued support of the veteran community.
The VFW is als...
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The VFW has announced the winners of the 2019 National Publications Contest. Three years ago, the contest changed significantly to encourage more participation. This created two new categories: Best Magazine and Best Feature Article. This year's competition retained those changes.
Two non-VFW-affiliated journalism professionals served as judges for the competition. This is designed to guarantee impartiality and objectivity in the judging. To reiterate, VFW staffers play no part in judging the entries.
The winning publications in each category are:
Best Magazine
Grand Award:
Texas VFW News
Dan West, Editor
Silver Award:
NC VFW The Leader Magazine
Russ Chambers, Editor
Best Feature Article
Grand Award:
"VFW Salutes Service of ...
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - On Tuesday, May 7, nearly 200 veterans' service officers from the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. will converge on Valley Forge, Pa., to receive required continuing education in order to provide the best possible service to America's wounded, ill and injured veterans. They will also recognize the VFW's 100th year of support to service-connected disabled veterans.
"When World War I veterans began returning home in 1919, they encountered the same government neglect as VFW's founders did two decades earlier," explained VFW National Commander B.J. Lawrence. "At the VFW's national convention in Providence, R.I., that year, this veterans service directorate, as well as a legislative advocacy directorate, were created so that our nation never again forces the families of wounded, ill or injured veterans to pay for their loved one's rehabilitation," he said. "One century later, VFW's worldwide cadre of 2,100 accredited service officers helped more than 526,000 veterans to recoup $8.3 billion ...
WASHINGTON - The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States is saluting Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert Wilkie for saying during congressional testimony yesterday that he would recommend the Justice Department not contest a recent federal court ruling that will benefit some 90,000 so-called Blue Water Navy veterans. His support to move forward potentially paves the way for the return of earned disability benefits that regulatory changes arbitrarily stripped away in 2002.
In Procopio v. Wilkie, Secretary Wilkie was sued by Navy veteran Alfred Procopio Jr., who was denied service connection for prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus because he never stepped foot on dry land or served within Vietnam's inland waterways. Procopio, a life me...
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. is proud to announce the top three teachers selected in its 2019 Smart/Maher VFW National Citizenship Education Teacher Award contest.
Each year, the VFW names one teacher from the elementary (K-5), middle (6-8) and high school (9-12) levels to receive the Smart/Maher VFW National Citizenship Education Teacher Award. Established in 1999, the award recognizes our nation's top teachers for their exceptional commitment to teaching Americanism and patriotism to their students by promoting civic responsibility, flag etiquette and patriotism in the classroom. The award is named after former VFW National Commander John Smart and retired VFW Quartermaster General Larry Maher.
Bobbie Schamens, a fourth-grade teacher at Meadowview Intermediate School in Sparta, Wisc., was named the elementary school winner for her efforts in recognizing the service and sacrifice of her hometown's military families. Schamens' personal experience as a military spouse has...
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. is now accepting entries for its 2019-20 Voice of Democracy and Patriot's Pen youth scholarship competitions. The announcement comes just two weeks after the VFW's 2019 Legislative Conference concluded in Washington, D.C., where the top national winners were recognized.
Dedicated to encouraging a better understanding and appreciation of America, the VFW's Voice of Democracy and Patriot's Pen essay competitions help foster patriotism among today's youth. The programs also promote friendly competition and rewards success in the form of some $3 million in scholarships.
This year's theme for both programs challenges students to answer the question, "What Makes America Great?" The Voice of Democracy audio-essay competition is ope...
WASHINGTON - The president's federal spending plan for fiscal year 2020 adds 30,000 more troops and proposes a 3.1-percent military pay raise. It would also increase the Department of Veterans Affairs overall budget by 9.6 percent to $220.2 billion, which would enable the VA to implement the MISSION Act, strengthen mental health access and treatment programs, increase women's health services, boost electronic health record interoperability with the Defense Department, and support a host of legislative initiatives being championed by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.
"More money isn't always the solution to every problem, but the lack of it weakens every congressional initiative to improve the VA," said VFW National Commander B.J. Lawrence, who called the president's budget submission a very good start. "What the VFW now expects from Co...
WASHINGTON - This morning, during testimony before a joint hearing of the Senate and House Veterans' Affairs Committees, the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. called for full congressional oversight over the implementation of the VA MISSION Act of 2018.
The organization made clear its dissatisfaction with the Department of Veterans Affairs' implementation thus far, citing arbitrary and misguided decision-making.
With more than 80 percent of VFW members relying on VA health care, and dedicating more than 10 million volunteer hours annually to supporting their fellow veterans at VA medical facilities, the VFW's views were actively solicited while drafting the legislation, but the organization has not been engaged to ensure its efficient implementation.
"Unlike appeals modernization, VA has elected to largely ignore the views of the nation's largest war veterans' organization when drafting rules to implement the VA MISSION Act," said VFW National Commander B.J. Lawrence, who leads the more than...
WASHINGTON - Last night the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. proudly presented $209,000 in scholarships and awards as it named the national winners of its annual Voice of Democracy and Patriot's Pen youth scholarship competitions. The winners were announced during the Parade of Winners ceremony at the 2019 VFW Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C.
Together, the VFW's Voice of Democracy and Patriot's Pen scholarship competitions have helped foster patriotism by challenging middle and high school students to examine our nation's history, its democratic processes, and their roll in America's future based on an annual theme.
More than 40,000 high school students addressed this year's "Why My Vote Matters" theme, and last night Christine Troll was named the Voice of Democracy first-place national winner where she received the $30,000 T.C. Selman Memorial Scholarship award and delivered ...
WASHINGTON - More than 500 members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. and its Auxiliary are arriving in the nation's capital this weekend to urge their respective members of Congress to continue improving the programs and services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Highlighting the annual legislative conference will be the VFW national commander's testimony before a joint hearing of the House and Senate Committees on Veterans' Affairs, and the presentation of two VFW national awards: the VFW Congressional Award to Senate VA Committee Chairman Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), and the VFW News Media Award to Military Times Deputy Editor Leo Shane.
Elected in July 2018 to lead America's largest and oldest major war veterans' organization, VFW National Commander B.J. Lawrence is set to pres...
High school students across the country recorded audio-essays on this year's Voice of Democracy theme: "Why My Vote Matters." We've selected one winner from each state to qualify for the grand prize, a $30,000 scholarship to the college or technical school of their choice. Listen to your state winning essay!...
After two tours overseas with the Navy - one in Iraq and one in Afghanistan - former Lt. Vincent Grasso returned to his Long Island suburb, ripped up his front lawn and crafted a self-sustaining,
agricultural ecosystem on his tiny 45-foot-by-100-foot lot. Grasso, the deputy mayor of Valley Stream, N.Y., jokes that his neighbors initially thought he was performing some sort of ritualistic pet burial.
A member of VFW Post 1790 in Valley Stream, Grasso served in Iraq in 2006 as a petty officer 1st class working as an intelligence specialist with SEAL Team 5. In 2013, he deployed to Afghanistan as an intelligence officer with the Special Operations Joint Task Force. Grasso is 5-feet-10-inches of pure, distilled sarcasm. He only revealed his true height after repeatedly insisting he was 6-feet-4, explaining, "I loom large."
It's unclear whether his sense of humor was learned in or was merely strengthened by the Navy. Perhaps it came from his mother, who once joked that she would move to Canada during wartime if she ...

subset: commoncrawl


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Ideas based on my personal experiences in learning how to manage type 2 diabetes. I stress that I am a diabetic, not a doctor nor a dietician. I have no medical qualifications beyond my own experience. Nothing written here is intended as medical advice, and any ideas you may decide to use should be discussed first with your doctor.
About Me
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
I make up my own from basics. I only learnt this last year; it's so simple I don't know why I never did it before. Maybe because I didn't eat the stuff until I learned to like it since diagnosis. I started eating yoghurt shortly before I started on metformin, following a tip by somebody who said it helped reduce the usual GI problems. Whether it did, I can't say, but I had none of those problems and developed a liking for the stuff.
My method may not be perfect – it's just what I developed for myself.
I make up about three litres (a little less than a gallon) of milk using powder. I mix full-cream powder with skim in equal parts to get a 2% fat result. I use a slightly richer mix than the packet directions. I heat that until it is significantly warmer than body temperature, but not so hot I can't sip it. I think it's supposed to be about 55C(130F) but that's my way of testing:-)
I use a plastic container which allows me to use the microwave for heating the milk. I take a cup of the hot milk and stir in about a ¼ cup of commercial yoghurt. Then I add that back to the milk and stir it in. I buy a local greek yoghurt as the starter – but any live yoghurt will do. The starter can have subtle effects on the flavour. The quantity doesn't really matter as it will spread throughout the milk. The only difference a larger quantity seems to make is the speed of "setting".
Then I cover the mix and store it overnight in an insulated pack. In the morning, like magic – yoghurt. Some people like it as it is; I prefer to strain about half of it through cloth and mix the strained portion with the unstrained for a rich, creamy yoghurt. Then I transfer it to jars and keep it in the fridge.
I use some plain in various ways: cooking, a base for spice marinades, mixed with mayo etc; or I add berries (blueberry, strawberry, fresh or frozen) or fruits (chopped – mango, apple – a little goes a long way) or flavourings (vanilla, instant coffee etc) and splenda to eat direct from the jar.
I reserve ¼ cup of that yoghurt to be the starter for the next one; about every three or four times I buy a new starter to refresh the process.
Bon Appetit, Alan
Everything in Moderation - Except Laughter.
3 comments:
I am going to have to try this.
What about extracts of flavor, I did
not see any nutritional info on them.
Would you use them?
- 8/16/2007 10:25 am
- Alan said...
Hi April
The only "extract" I occasionally use is a little Vanilla extract with some Splenda. Other flavourings I use are chopped fruits or berries (a little goes a long way) or sometimes a teaspoon of instant coffee with a teaspoon of Splenda in a half-cup of Yoghurt.
I don't count the carbs in advance on those portion sizes; my meter has shown an hour after eating that a half-cup before noon or a full cup after noon is OK for me. You'd have to test to find out what is OK for you.
Cheers, Alan
- 8/16/2007 5:07 pm
the other thing you can do with home made yoghurt like this - and i know this from thrift sites, rather than diabetic ones, as i'm a newly diagnosed T2 soaking everything up at the moment! - is to put your yoghurt into a cheesecloth and drain some of the liquid out of it. it solidifies a little more into a softish "cheese" which you can then flavour with things like chives, makes a great dip or you can spread onto crackers, whatever works. What i don't know is what that does to the diabetic. but i throw that out, for what its worth.
- 12/29/2009 5:44 am


text: Unique is a beautiful mare that stands 16 hands and 2 inches high. It has a unique way in which it moves. Unique and Saskia compete at the PSG level. Unique is a forward going and has a very strong use of hindquarters. A positively sensitive horse, eager-to-work and eager-to-please. A Horse that requires a sensitive rider. she knows the changes till two, pirouette ,pasage and piaffe.


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This month's open thread for climate science discussions. Remember discussion about climate solutions can be found here.
This month's open thread for climate science discussions. Remember discussion about climate solutions can be found here.
A bimonthly open thread on climate solutions and policies. If you want to discuss climate science, please use the Unforced Variations thread instead.
This month's open thread about climate science topics. For discussions about solutions and policy, please use the Forced Responses open thread.
Perhaps unsurprisingly given the exceptional (relative) warmth in Alaska last month and in February, the record for the Nenana Ice Classic was shattered this year.
The previous official record was associated with the exceptional conditions in El Ni?o-affected winter of 1939-1940, when the ice went out on April 20th 1940. Though since 1940 was a leap year, that was actually a little later (relative to the vernal equinox) than the ice out date in 1998 (which wasn't a leap year).?
Other records are also tumbling in the region, for instance the ice out data at Bethel, Alaska:
The Kuskokwim River at Bethel has gone out. This is, by far, the earliest breakup in the 90+ years of breakup data. This follows the warmest February and warmest March on record. @kuskoiceclassic @Climatologist49 @AlaskaWx pic.twitter.com/auEfe0YQ7J— IARC Fairbanks (@IARC_Alaska) April 13, 2019
While the trend at Nenana since 1908 has been towards earlier ice-out dates (by about 7 days a century on average), the interannual variability is high. This is consistent with the winter warming in this region over that period of about 2.5oC.? Recent winters have got close (2012/14/15/16) (3 to 4 days past the record),? but this year's April 14th date is an impressive jump (and with no leap year to help calendrically).
As usual, I plot both the raw date data and the version adjusted to relative to the vernal equinox (the official time of breakup was ~12:21am).
? [As usual, I predict that there will be no interest from the our favorite contrarians in this]
Guest post by Matteo Willeit, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research
A new study published in Science Advances shows that the main features of natural climate variability over the last 3 million years can be reproduced with an efficient model of the Earth system.
The Quaternary is the most recent geological Period, covering the past ~2.6 million years. It is defined by the presence of glacial-interglacial cycles associated with the cyclic growth and decay of continental ice sheets in the Northern Hemisphere. Climate variations during the Quaternary are best seen in oxygen isotopes measured in deep-sea sediment cores, which represent variations in global ice volume and ocean temperature. These data show clearly that there has been a general trend towards larger ice sheets and cooler temperatures over the last 3 million years, accompanied by an increase in the amplitude of glacial-interglacial variations and a transition from mostly symmetry cycles with a periodicity of 40,000 years to strongly asymmetric 100,000-year cycles at around 1 million years ago. However, the ultimate causes of these transitions in glacial cycle dynamics remain debated.More »
This month's open thread on climate science issues. Remember that discussions about climate solutions go here.
Guest Commentary by Mauri Pelto (Nichols College)
Preliminary data reported from the reference glaciers of the World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS) in 2018 from Argentina, Austria, China, France, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Norway, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland and United States indicate that 2018 will be the 30th consecutive year of significant negative annual balance (> -200mm); with a mean balance of -1247 mm for the 25 reporting reference glaciers, with only one glacier reporting a positive mass balance (WGMS, 2018).More »
This is a thread for collecting the oddball theories, tinfoil hat level conspiracies and other climate-related nonsense in the comments that would otherwise derail substantive discussion. Keeping them all in one spot might be of interest to future researchers.
This month's open thread on climate science topics.
The "end of the world" or "good for you" are the two least likely among the spectrum of potential outcomes.
Stephen Schneider
Scientists have been looking at best, middling and worst case scenarios for anthropogenic climate change for decades. For instance, Stephen Schneider himself took a turn back in 2009. And others have postulated both far more rosy and far more catastrophic possibilities as well (with somewhat variable evidentiary bases).More »


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Freedom in the World
You are here
2008 Scores
Freedom Rating (1 = best, 7 = worst)
Civil Liberties (1 = best, 7 = worst)
Political Rights (1 = best, 7 = worst)
In April 2007, the government protested Palau's inclusion on a U.S. State Department international narcotics watch-list. The legislature passed a bill to tighten controls on official corruption and abuses in May. In December, the president named the chief negotiator for talks with the United States on the future of the compact agreement and signed into law new anti-money laundering measures and a new class of elite investment-based visas to bolster government revenue.
The United States administered Palau, consisting of eight main islands and more than 250 smaller islands, as a UN Trust Territory from 1947 until 1981, when it became a self-governing territory. Palau gained full independence in 1994 under a Compact of Free Association with the United States. The compact stipulates that the United States will grant Palau a total of $442 million in economic aid for 15 years between 1994 and 2009; allow Palauan citizens to reside, work, and study in the United States and its territories as well as have access to a variety of federal government programs; and defend Palau in exchange for U.S. military access to the archipelago until 2044.
Tommy Esang Remengesau was first elected president in 2000 and won a second term in the 2004 general election.
In a referendum held concurrently with the 2004 polls, voters endorsed the initiation of a constitutional convention in 2005 to consider amendments to the constitution. Proposals included restricting parliamentary terms to three years, making legislative posts part-time positions and switching to a unicameral legislature to save money, and allowing presidential and vice presidential candidates to run as a team. Another proposed amendment would allow Palauans living in the United States (about 25 percent of all Palauan citizens) and elsewhere to acquire citizenship in their countries of residence without losing their right to vote and own land in Palau. The review, completed in 2005, approved 25 proposed amendments for citizens to vote in the next general election in 2008.
In April, the U.S. State Department listed Palau as a country of concern in its International Narcotics Control Strategy Report for 2007. The report advised Palau to criminalize the financing of terrorism and to begin implementation of legal reforms that were already in place. The Palauan government rejected the report's designation of the country.
For this island state, maintaining U.S. economic assistance and access to the U.S. for its citizens is central to its economic survival. Thus, in December, President Remengesau said that, in the national interest, he will not select politicians or would-be candidates in the 2008 elections as members of a negotiation panel regarding extension of the compact with the United States. Further, the president signed into law new anti-money laundering measures in anticipation of reviews by the International Monetary Fund and other organizations in 2008. This would improve Palau's credit rating and give its overseas banking industry a second chance. The government also created a new special 10-year visa for those who will invest in a second residence and businesses in Palau to raise revenue for the government.
Palau is an electoral democracy. The bicameral legislature, the Olbiil Era Kelulau, consists of the nine-member Senate and the 16-member House of Delegates. Legislators are elected to four-year terms by popular vote, as are the president and vice president. The president may serve only two terms consecutively. The country is organized into 16 states, each of which is headed by a governor. The capital, previously located in Koror, was moved to a new complex in Melekeok in 2006.
There are no political parties, but there are no laws against their formation. The prevalent system of loose political alliances, quickly formed and dismantled, have had a destabilizing effect on governance in recent years.
Official corruption and abuses are serious problems. Three state governors were convicted of bribery, theft, and misconduct, and removed from office in 2005, and the House speaker was charged with misuse of public funds in 2007. To further improve accountability and curb corruption, the legislature in 2007 removed the six-year statute of limitations on filing charges against public officials to allow more time to investigate and prosecute suspects. Palau was not rated in Transparency International's 2007 Corruption Perceptions Index.
Freedom of speech and the press is respected. There are three major print publications: Tia Belau and Palau Horizon are English-language weeklies, and Roureur Belau is a Palauan weekly. There are five privately owned radio stations and one privately owned television station. Most households receive cable television, which rebroadcasts U.S. and other foreign programs. The internet is accessible without government interference, but diffusion is limited by cost and a lack of access outside the main islands.
Citizens of Palau enjoy freedom of religion. Although the government requires religious organizations to register with the Office of the Attorney General, no application has ever been denied. There have been no reports of restrictions on academic freedom, and the government provides well-funded basic education for all.
Freedom of assembly and association are respected. Many nongovernmental groups focus on youth, health, and women's issues. No laws or policies bar formation of trade unions. The economy, based largely on subsistence agriculture, is heavily dependent on U.S. aid and rent payments, as well as remittances from citizens working overseas. The government and the tourist industry are the main employers.
The judiciary is independent, and trials are generally fair. A 300-member police and first-response force maintains internal order. Palau has no military. There have been no reports of prisoner abuse or extreme hardship for inmates.
Foreign workers account for about one-third of the population and 73 percent of the workforce. There have been reports of discrimination against and abuse of foreign workers, and the law bars them from changing employers once inside Palau. Foreigners are said to use fake marriages to exploit privileges regarding access to the United States under the compact. There have been reports of human trafficking from China, the Philippines, and Taiwan into Palau as a conduit to the United States. In May 2007, two Chinese nationals and one Philippine national were convicted of multiple counts of human trafficking, which carries a maximum 25-year prison sentence.
There is high regard for women in this matrilineal society, in which land rights and familial descent are traced through women. This has allowed many women to be active in both traditional and modern sectors of the economy, as well as in politics. A small number of domestic violence cases, many linked to alcohol and drug abuse, have been reported. Prostitution and sexual harassment are illegal; the law prohibits rape, including spousal rape.


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Project Watershed Works Identified For Whakamaru Zone
More than 100 kilometres of stream bank could be fenced for soil conservation purposes in the Whakamaru area under Environment Waikato's Project Watershed.
More than 100 kilometres of stream bank could be fenced for soil conservation purposes in the Whakamaru area under Environment Waikato's Project Watershed.
Magpies are threatening native bird populations, according to research being done in the Waikato and several other parts of the country.
Environment Waikato has granted a resource consent for dairy by products to be discharged onto land near Cambridge.
Environment Waikato has almost completed a new stopbank to protect the Parry St area of Huntly which was inundated during the 1998 winter flood.
Environment Waikato has treated 115 rook nests in the north Waikato and Taupo districts as part of a new, aggressive approach to eliminating the pests.
Environment Waikato is working to control alligator weed in the lower Waikato River before it becomes a serious threat to the Region's wetlands and waterways.
Environment Waikato's Biosecurity Committee wants urgent action taken to clear pockets of invasive egeria weed from parts of Lake Taupo.
Environment Waikato needed to issue fewer urban pest control programmes in the last year as people took more responsibility for pest control, this week's Biosecurity Committee heard.
Environment Waikato has awarded the $4000 Roger Harris scholarship to former Putaruru High School student Joanne Steeghs for her university studies in environmental engineering.
Property valued at $525 million is at high risk from coastal erosion and flooding on the eastern Coromandel, according to a report from Environment Waikato.
Recent heavy rain has eased the drought in the Waihou River area – but more problems are likely before the summer is over.
The Waikato River won't become the country's first glow-in-the-dark river any time soon, according to Environment Waikato's water sampling.
Waikato people reported 1151 environmental incidents to Environment Waikato in the past year – 157 more than the previous year.
More than 50 people in the septic tank business from throughout the North Island are attending New Zealand's first training course on managing on-site wastewater systems.
Environment Waikato's Passenger Transport Subcommittee has recommended ending the Villager bus service which took pensioners to city sights and shopping areas.
One hundred people can expect to die on Waikato roads this year, according to predictions from the Land Transport Safety Authority.
Environment Waikato has granted resource consents for construction of a land-based jetsprint course in the Mercer Reserve.
Environment Waikato has lifted the ban all non-essential water use in the Waihou River area after yesterday's rain – but the weather will be watched closely for the next few weeks.
Environment Waikato is proposing to extend total property clearance of ragwort and nodding and plumeless thistle into the dairying parts of Rotorua district.
Environment Waikato has made a Special Order to make a separate rate to deal with possums in the Whitehall – Te Tapui area.


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Quilceda Creek, Washington's twelfth bonded winery, was founded in 1978 by Alex and Jeanette Golitzin. The winery, located in Snohomish and named after a nearby creek, is the standard bearer for Washington wine. It is a banner the winery has carried high, receiving three 100-point scores and two 99-point scores from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate in the last five vintages. Scores from Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast have been nothing to sniff at either ranging from 93 to 98 points.
With Quilceda Creek only open once a year due to zoning regulations, the annual release of the winery's flagship Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon should be cause for celebration. Unfortunately for the last two years, circumstances leading up to the event have been, how shall I say, a wee bit stressful?
Last year I was driving on Interstate 5 en route to the Quilceda Creek release party when I came upon stopped traffic at the ship canal bridge in Seattle (surprise). Fifty minutes and several miles later I was in a near panic that I wouldn't make it to the winery in time. I looked longingly toward the express lanes - wide open - wishing for the first time that I had a four wheel drive vehicle to jump the divide and launch myself to freedom. And then I saw it. One of those handy police vehicle crossovers. Surely if anything qualified as 'Official Use,' this did I thought.
I cut across, pausing to look left for any on-coming traffic. All clear, I pulled out and looked in the rearview mirror. As fate would have it, what I saw was a police car in my lane about twenty feet directly behind me. 'What are the chances?' I thought. Resigned to my fate, I pulled over. As I waited for the policeman to approach the window, I wondered whether offering a bottle of Quilceda Creek wine to either get out of the ticket or at least expedite the process would be a smart move or would only result in further trouble. Clearly sensing my desperation – and appreciating the fact that I pulled over before he turned on his lights – the officer sent me on my way with a warning. As he walked away, I thought briefly about calling back to him to ask for a police escort to the winery but thought better of it. Even without it, I was able to make it to the release event with time to spare.
For this reason, I looked forward to a more peaceful experience traveling to Quilceda Creek this year. I was therefore aghast to realize that Taste Washington – the annual weekend celebrating Washington wine – was on the same weekend as Quilceda's release event. Both Quilceda Creek and the Washington Wine Commission have typically held their annual events during the month of April, each several weeks apart. This year, both decided to move their usual dates to March and happened to pick the same weekend. While many have speculated that this was some sort of snub from one of the state's top wineries, it was, rather, a simple scheduling snafu. Let's just say, I am sure it will not happen again.
This presented an interesting dilemma for the Washington wine lover. Skip the seminars Saturday to attend the release event? Go to the release event in the morning Sunday prior to the Grand Tasting Sunday afternoon? Nay, I decided, ambitiously, to both attend the Saturday seminars and try and make it to the Quilceda release event immediately after. With the seminars ending at 3pm and Quilceda Creek open until 5pm and forty minutes away on a good day, this seemed feasible if somewhat ill advised.
During the Saturday afternoon Malbec seminar, as the discussion about this emerging grape's place in Washington State continued and three o'clock approached, moderator Jake Kosseff said the seminar would continue for as long as people had questions. I started to shift somewhat uncomfortably in my seat. I feared the George H.W. Bush debate moment of looking at my watch while on camera, clearly wishing to be somewhere else. As the seminar ended shortly after 3:15, I questioned the wisdom of driving somewhat in excess of the speed limit to Quilceda Creek given my experience the previous year. Mercifully, I made it to the winery, again with plenty of time to spare.
Thankfully, in both cases, once at the winery, the first sniff of Quilceda Creek's Red Wine made all other concerns recede as I was transported to a magical wine kingdom. The grapes for Quilceda Creek's wines come from some of the state's finest vineyards, including Champoux, Klipsun, and Taptiel. Aged in new French oak for extended periods, the results are powerful, aromatic wines of exceptional quality, packed tight with fruit and tannins. Even the Red Wine – made from declassified barrels – takes time to open up properly. The Cabernet Sauvignon can take as much as a decade of ageing or days of decanting to fully express itself, as many a sorry person who has opened a bottle early or decanted it insufficiently can attest.
The 2007 vintage has been heralded as one of Washington's best. This spring, as many of the state's top wineries such as Quilceda Creek have begun releasing their wines from this vintage, it seems impossible to imagine that these wines would be able to meet or exceed these high expectations. Yet here we are.
The 2007 Quilceda Creek Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is quite simply the winery's finest release since the beginning of its most heralded vintages in 2002. This wine brings everything one would expect from a powerhouse Cabernet – fascinating aromatics, outrageously opulent fruit, and a firm backbone of tannins. It brings both power and finesse. As Nigel from Spinal Tap would say, this one goes to eleven. The Red Wine, while clearly not the Cabernet's equal, remains outrageously good.
While the 2007 vintage seems sure to be considered among Quilceda Creek's best, winemaker Paul Golitzin is equally bullish about the 2008 vintage currently ageing in the barrel. Golitizin says that the 2009 vintage also shows promise, although production looks to be reduced due to the frost in October that adversely affected Cabernet Sauvignon grapes in a number of locations throughout the state, including areas Quilceda Creek sources its fruit from.
So the question on many a Washington wine lover's mind is, will Quilceda Creek add another perfect Wine Advocate score to its collection? That is for others to decide. Suffice to say that with the 2007 vintage, as with every vintage, Quilceda Creek keeps reaching for the stars. Here, they wind up some place far beyond them.
Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley 2007 $125
Rating: ** (Exceptional) Dark and brooding on a nose that is quite closed up at present with blackberries and black cherry dominating initially followed by light floral aromas, earth, and kisses of chocolate. On the palate, boom! A compact ball of black fruit wound up incredibly tightly at present. Shows great intensity while still being deft on its feet. Big and bold but with tremendous layering and refinement. The finish lingers for as long as you want to keep counting. 15.2% alcohol.
Quilceda Creek Red Wine Columbia Valley 2007 $TBD
Rating: ** (Exceptional) Dark to the point of being opaque. A pretty nose with licorice, oak spices, blackberry, red fruit, and light floral notes. On the taste, an opulent, rich, outrageously textured wine with gobs of black fruit, chocolate, and spice. Very tightly compact on the palate at present. Shows a little heat at times. Give two to three years. 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 2% Malbec. 15.2% alcohol. To be released in Fall 2010.
Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley 2007 (or how to spice up a Quilceda Creek release event)
Quilceda Creek, Washington's twelfth bonded winery, was founded in 1978 by Alex and Jeanette Golitzin. The winery, located in Snohomish and named after a nearby creek, is the standard bearer for Washington wine. It is a banner the winery has carried high, receiving three 100-point scores and two 99-point scores from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate in the last five vintages. Scores from Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast have been nothing to sniff at either ranging from 93 to 98 points.
9 comments
Isn't the setting of the winery one of the great treasures/tragedies of the local wine scene? Did the scenery perhaps even mildly add to the beauty of the wine? The tragedy is that more people have not experienced what we just did. One of the rare times where, as for wine enjoyment, there was not a better place to be in the world. As I gazed out at the neighboring nature preserve while sipping on the red wine, I repeatedly asked myself, "So this is wine heaven?" Then, it became clear why we do what we do--for moments like that. ~Wawineman
WWM, indeed, I frequently find myself wondering if I have died and gone to wine heaven when visiting the winery. A beautiful location, and the wines do not disappoint. Thanks for the comment.
Melinda Says:
Funny post. I visited QC for the first time last Saturday & it is a beautiful location. However, I thought it a bit strange it seemed like it was in a residential development? Also, we were probably there at the same time. I got there about 3:45 and then ran into some friends of ours and ended up not leaving until almost 5:00.
Completely agree with your assessments. The Cab packs some layered intensity. I can't wait to watch it unfold in later years. (If I can keep from opening it!)
Melinda, sorry we missed each other! I was the one sitting in the corner with my nose buried in the glass. Indeed, Quilceda is located in a residential neighborhood. Part of the reason the winery is only open one time a year. Always worth the visit, despite the occasional anxiety en route! Thanks for the comment.
It was my first visit and hopefully not my last. Emailed the winery prior to our visit to ask if kids were ok. Got the ok with the advice come early. So, early Sat morning we sipped two marvelous wines while the kids ate cheese, fruit, and lamb. Plenty of other families arrived with kids in tow which made it a very relaxed and fun event for everyone. Hopefully we can go deep on the 07 RTW...delish!
Darren, glad you got to check the wines out. Thanks for the comment.
Ah, I was wondering where the kids came from...
The Red Wine this year was probably the best I've tasted. I can't wait for that go on sale. In fact, I'm now very curious about the Galitzine and Palengat wines.
The flagship was so closed that I don't think I'm going to have a problem keeping it in storage for awhile. Unlike the 2006, which was very open on release...and more tempting to open.
Also, the catering was really nice this year. Loved both the beef and lamb dishes. It really enhanced the whole experience.
I thought the Red Wine was divine- it was far more open and accessible than the 'sleeping giant' 2007 QC Cab. I enjoyed the touch of Malbec in the Red Wine, which I thought I tasted. Can't wait for it go on sale. Its a pleasure to visit the QC winery each year. Frankly, I'm glad access is limited to one weekend per year. The facility is beautiful, but the surrounding area is less than idyllic.
Rorschach Says:
Jeez, folks - I love, LOVE, QC wines, but do you all seriously rate the '07 "Red" this highly? I've had several bottles now, and (a) there has been substantial (and not good) bottle variation, and (b) it is just not a very good wine, particularly in light of the vintage (maybe vintage so good that it all went to flagship and Red was left w/ real dregs?). I've discussed this at more length here...


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Because the Mind is a Muscle, too.
A tribe of barbarians appear wearing necklaces of bear claws and great cloaks of brown fur. They are physically much larger than normal humans, much stronger, and shrug of the most vicious of wounds. They call themselves the Aklak after their totem spirit.
- From the Inuit word for Grizzly Bear


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Original Trinity Hymnal, #359
'Twas on that night when doomed to know
The eager rage of ev'ry foe,
That night in which he was betrayed,
The Saviour of the world took bread;
And, after thanks and glory giv'n
To him that rules in earth and heav'n,
That symbol of his flesh he broke,
And thus to all his foll'wers spoke:
"My broken body thus I give
For you, for all. Take, eat, and live.
And oft the sacred rite renew
That brings my saving love to view."
Then in his hands the cup he raised,
And God anew he thanked and praised,
While kindness in his bosom glowed,
And from his lips salvation flowed.
"My blood I thus pour forth," he cries,
"To cleanse the soul in sin that lies;
In this the covenant is sealed,
And heav'n's eternal grace revealed."
Page number: Blue 359, Right-Click Here to Download MIDI File
|© 2019 The Orthodox Presbyterian Church
Chaplains and Military Personnel


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Microsoft Says Free Anti-Malware Shipping Today
Microsoft has announced that their free anti-malware product, Security Essentials, will be available today, September 29.
Microsoft bailed out of the consumer security business some time ago and committed at the time to provide a free product. This will be, of course, only one of several free anti-malware products available for Windows users, the others including Panda's, AVG's, Avast's, and Antivir's.
Our own review of the beta product called Security Essentials good, not great. It's got some problems, but it's free and does a decent job.
Clearly Microsoft is not in this to make money and they don't really have any interest in hurting the other relative small fries offering free products. The point is to get a larger percentage of the Windows "ecosystem" protected by some security software, any security software. Microsoft continues to offer their Forefront Client Security, but this is only appropriate for managed networks, an environment for which Security Essentials is utterly inappropriate. I really think that if users try Security Essentials and end up switching to some other product that will be fine with Microsoft, as long as those users have some protection.


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Sunday, July 12
Ji Wins U.S. Women's Open with Climactic Birdie
Final round highlights.
I MISSED IT. On the road all day, I didn't see a single shot of the final round of the U.S. Women's Open at Saucon Valley. So here's a quick snapshot.
Eun-Hee Ji recovered from a double-bogey on the 10th hole and went on to play the last six holes in three-under par to snatch the title. The late charge included a dramatic 20-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole.
"I didn't even dream about winning this tournament, but, well, I did it, and I think this is going to be one of the most memorable moments in my life," Ji said.
Third-round leader Cristie Kerr struggled to a 75 and tied for third with In-Kyung Kim. Candie Kung finished alone in second.
−The Armchair Golfer
3 comments:
- Heather said...
I saw the birdie, but missed most of the rest on Sunday. I really enjoyed watching Cristie Kerr's run on Saturday. I wish they had showed more of Paula Creamer's comeback on Sunday too.
I watched both Saturday and Sunday because the golf being played there was much more exciting than any competing tournament. Creamer showed just how much class she has by the way she handled the adversity on Saturday. I agree with Heather's comments regarding them showing her comeback on Sunday. It was good stuff, nevertheless.
- Phil said...
I watched the final nine. Ji deserved to win because she was by far the best in the clutch. And, though the media keeps harping on how important it is for US players to win majors, the fans at greenside, almost to a one, didn't seem to mind that a foreign player won as they raised their arms in jubilation when Ji's winning putt fell in.


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Keep Reading : Our New Living Room >>
The mantel features some botanical prints that used to hang in our dining room. I made them from vintage prints I printed off of the internet onto textured paper. The frames were spray painted a creamy white. The pewter platter was a wedding gift from my Mom and the pewter candlesticks were from my Granny.
I still love our comfy, giant sofa. I ordered it (and the coordinating chair) from Club Furniture.com. I sent the fabric (COM) that I special ordered from the manufacturer of the Restoration Hardware Belgium Linen. It is a chunky, natural oatmeal linen that has worn beautifully. Club Furniture.com is one of my favorite furniture resources. The work with manufacturers of that produce Restoration Hardware, and Lee Industries furniture. I selected the down fill upgrade for our pieces. The quality is superb and they were great to work with. I feel like you can always tell the quality of furniture by its weight. This sofa is so HEAVY.
I love that we have a staircase and banister in this house - something we didn't have in our old home. I spray painted these frames (that were once black) a soft warm grey. It is my current favorite paint... I'm spraying everything that will stand still!


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Tax Management Strategies
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"JR" Kelley is best known for founding the successful motorcycle parts and accessories company, KK Motorcycle Supply, headquartered in Dayton, Ohio. But Kelley was also a top national racer, a motorcycle dealer, sponsor of several nationally ranked racers, race promoter and tireless fundraiser for Dayton-area charities over the years. Kelley was elected president of the AMA in 1971 and helped guide the association out of financial difficulties.
Born in Chicago on June 29, 1926, Kelley's father, Harry Sr., was a top AMA Class A racer of the 1920s and '30s. Kelley's father became an Indian dealer in Hammond, Indiana, in 1931, so Kelley grew up around motorcycling. His father retired from full-time racing but stayed heavily involved in the sport by sponsoring racers and races, as his son would do years later. It was at a race near Hammond in the mid 1930s when Kelley got his first taste of riding.
"I must have been about 8 or 9 years old," says Kelley of his fateful first ride. "We were at a dirt track race and dad had a new Indian Junior Scout. He put me on the bike. It had a foot clutch and I remember having trouble with that. I took off and caught a crash bar on a fence post and went down in a heap after riding just a few feet. Dad made me get back on the thing. I was terrified, but I got back on it and made a lap around the track."
Kelley soon got over his fear of motorcycles and during his teen years became an accomplished motorcyclist. When World War II came, Kelley's father decided the family would contribute to the war effort by raising cattle. The Kelleys moved to family-owned land in Kansas and became cattle ranchers. Just before the war put an end to racing, a 15-year-old Kelley traveled the Midwest as bike owner and mechanic for novice racer Eli Marovich. He certainly would have been one of the youngest race team owners in the country.
Kelley enlisted with the Marine Corps. During his tour of duty, he was wounded at the famous battle of Iwo Jima. After the war, his family took an offer to open an Indian dealership in Dayton, Ohio. Kelley became much more involved in the business and at the same time got his racing career underway. In 1947, Kelley was a top-ranked novice and by 1949 he had earned his expert license.
Early on as an expert, Kelley rode Indians, but that company was in its final days so Kelley began racing Triumphs on a recommendation from Ed Kretz. Racing the British brand proved to be a mixed blessing for Kelley. While he became a top-notch road racer and TT rider, he found the Triumph largely uncompetitive on the dirt tracks he loved so much.
One of Kelley's best racing performances came towards the end of his career at Laconia, New Hampshire, in 1953. In that race Kelley hooked up with fellow Ohio rider Dick Klamfoth after being run off the track on the third lap and the duo began tearing through the field. In the closing laps, leader Joe Leonard dropped out with bike problems, as did Klamfoth. On the final lap Kelley saw his pit crew going crazy – he was leading the race.
"I was thinking to myself, 'God, I'm finally going to win a national,' " said Kelley. "Chet Dykgraaf nearly crashed in front of me and I almost came to a stop trying to miss him. When I got back underway my bike was sputtering. Roger Soderstrom came by me, and thinking he might have taken the lead away, I panicked. I ran way too hot into the final turn and had the choice of flying into the crowd lining the track to try to make the turn to the finish line or running off an escape road. I took the escape road and by the time I got the bike turned around I'd lost the race."
Besides his near win at Laconia, Kelley also put in a close-to-winning performance at Dodge City in 1952 before hitting a hole in the track and flying into the air, breaking off his foot pegs when he landed. The time he lost in the pits cost him a chance at the win. Kelley wound down his racing career after 1953, only making the occasional big event such as Daytona for the next few seasons.
After retiring from racing, Kelley focused on the family business. For a time, the dealership business also included being a motorcycle distributor for Berliner. Then, in 1959, KK Motorcycle Supply was started. Under Kelley's guidance, the company grew quickly. A hiccup in the growth came in the mid 1960s when Kelley's father retired. Poor accounting advice left the company with great tax debt, due to Kelley's father handing over his stock to Kelley. The business suffered a major financial hit, but Kelley gradually brought KK back to its former strength and beyond. By 1970, Kelley sold the motorcycle dealership to concentrate on the rapidly growing KK.
With the business again on stable footing, Kelley began sponsoring racers. One of his proudest memories as a sponsor was in 1967 when Gary Nixon called and told Kelley that he needed some help to make it to Daytona. Kelley purchased a 250 GP bike for Nixon to race in the lightweight event and gave him enough money to pay for expenses.
"Gary asked me to come down and be part of his pit crew," Kelley recalled. "I told him I had to stay in Ohio and work to pay for his racing bike. When he called and told me that he'd won both the 250 race and the Daytona 200, that was one of my happiest moments as a sponsor."
Through KK, Kelley went on to sponsor many other racers, including Gary Scott and Steve Morehead. Kelley often financed Scott's sometimes controversial claiming of some of the top Harley-Davidson factory dirt track racers during the mid 1970s.
Kelley faced one of his biggest challenges in 1971 when he was elected as president of the AMA. Kelley found that the association was in deep financial difficulties. He worked tirelessly for three years to put the right people in place to help bring stability to the AMA.
Even after he resigned as president, Kelley saw the need for the AMA to get more involved in the preservation of the history of the sport. In the late 1970s, Kelley donated money to the association to start a study group to see what it would take to get a museum project off the ground.
To fight the bad image that much of the general public had of motorcyclists, Kelley started a charity dirt-track race in the early 1970s that contributed to Dayton-area organizations. The race and its associated activities raised over two-million dollars for area charities and when Kelley was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999 the event was still going strong.
An outgrowth of the charity race was a local motorcycle television show on the Dayton ABC television affiliate. At first, the show was started simply to promote the charity race, but it was received so well that it expanded to a half-hour program that ran for seven years.
"I think one of Dave Despain's first television appearances was on that show," said Kelley. "He was the AMA communications director and we just sat down and talked with him about what the AMA was doing to promote the sport."
After a series of heart attacks in the early 1990s, Kelley was forced to retire from his business. He moved to Florida and became an avid golfer.
Harry "JR" Kelley was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999. He passed away in December 2012 at the age of 86.