"Fall seven times, get up eight." - Japanese Proverb

been running, rushing, dashing through the life like race
then......crash. hault. cease. kibosh.
now i am gonna hang my head and saunter at a snail-like pace


why why why why why why why
do we have pain that makes us cry?
been used. been broken. but never destroyed
yet remains a trivial void. 


not going to transpose who i am because of this bind,
but how to get through this, faith i must find.
why right now must thee bad begin to proliferate 
and break my blissful gait?


maybe it won't. it's matter of choice. 
i need to find my strength, my voice.
living in stasis, isn't for me...
despite the size this curve ball may be. 

mountains to climb, this particular one seems unassailable

Yet...i won't fall, protected by the cable. 

that invisible line keeps me from falling too hard, so I won't perish,

after all the trials and tribulations give me even more to cherish.


this may seem to be very inopportune,
but tomorrow, we will still have the sun, as well as the moon.
as well as i have my loves, my life. 
so despite it all, it's just strife. it is JUST strife. 
copyrighted @Barb Hanson written 1/23/2011

keep on keeping on!

"The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials." - Chinese Proverb

"Great works are performed not by strength but by perseverance." - Samuel Johnson

"We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools." - MLK

I remembered it was MLK day when I went to check my mail, and there were no bills yesterday. Then it clicked...it was a holiday. I then had to reflect briefly on Martin Luther King, it's how my brain works. Perhaps it's my age or maybe it's just me, but the older I get, the more I appreciate such holidays (not because I don't have to work, I still did) but because I have such respect for the man. His drive, his passion, his activism MADE A DIFFERENCE. He was a leader not only in the civil rights movement, but pursued many areas of need (such as the "poor people's campaign" he helped orchestrate to address the financial inadequacies some faced.)

Today, in a huge part thanks to MLK, we are much closer to being a "color blind" society. I am grateful for all that he accomplished before his life was cut short, the transformation wasn't only his desire, it was completely necessary.

Again, because of how my brain works (mostly entirely random), I was reminded  of a story I shared with my Sunday School class this week, about a widow. The short version is that when it came time to give offering, this widow gave two coins (worth less than two pennies) but it was everything that she had. This lead to a discussion about giving - how to GIVE like the widow gave.

So often we don't live like MLK or the widow because we help others or give for validation, we give for recognition, or we give because we need some form of service on the resume. OR we don't give at all because it's not that important, or we don't have time.....everything else takes precedence. Yet the pureness, the greatness, the wonder that comes with this giving from the heart is worth so much more than we can even fathom. Not that we have to change the world as MLK did (if you can, that's fantabulous!) but it's the little things that make a difference too.

 One small step that I challenge all of you to do, is to eliminate your discriminatory behaviors. Perhaps you are clean from any stereotypes or misconceptions of others, but I think we all are guilty of this in some shape or form, I know I am. Fear and ignorance are the major factors when it comes to racism or discrimination. What if you see a gay couple.....or a young teenage mom......or a hispanic family talking in Spanish at the store? With any of these or other situations that are different than your "norm", what is your reaction????? Then look at what leads to these misunderstandings - what is it that you don't know about that person - where they are coming from? Whether it be sexual preference, personal appearance, income level, religious beliefs, ethnic background, or music diversity - everyone just wants to ultimately be accepted.

I realize we all have different ideas, but I am just asking you look at everyone as an individual, a person....different in culture, but not different in heart. We are all in this together, so we might as well "learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools." - MLK (I think the live together as brothers part is much better than the alternative! :)

Do you want to ride the roller coaster? :)

“" Life can be like a roller coaster...
And just when you think you've had enough,
and your ready to get off the ride and take the calm, easy merry-go round...
You change your mind, throw you hands in the air
and ride the roller coaster all over again.
That's exhilaration...that's living a bit on the edge...that's being ALIVE."

--- Copyright © 1999 Stacey Charter

  

One of the many responses...

As I mentioned in my post yesterday, major changes are being proposed RIGHT NOW in the House for the state of Iowa.  Within this first bill, many components would affect education (eliminating 4 year old preschool through the school, huge cuts to AEA, as well as the discontinuation of the newly instated Iowa Core Curriculum.) I sent out several emails last night and got a lot of responses. Below is one that reminds all of us what we need to do - send messages, letters, and phone calls. You can find contact information in my prior posts. If you live in the DM area, I encourage you to sign up to attend the meeting Tuesday evening to publicly voice your concerns! This may not affect you personally (just as it doesn't affect me directly) but it's critical for the youth and future of our state that we stand united and make sure education continues to be a priority!!!! 

Thank you, Barb. I totally concur with you. Governor-elect Branstad’s plan will mean only Iowa’s richest and poorest children would have access to quality preschools. Please convey your thoughts to the governor-elect and Republican legislators. Thanks. Daryl

Senator Daryl Beall

HELP!!!!

With the shift in government for the state of Iowa, they are wasting no time making drastic changes. As an employee of and an advocate for education, many of the proposals included in the first bill (the "taxpayers first act") are very concerning to me. This bill is currently be deliberated and could be voted on as early as next week.

You can find specifics on the bill at http://www.iowahouserepublicans.com/house-republicans-roll-out-first-bill-taxpayers-first-act but I will just point out what three areas are particularly alarming to me. They are below, in no particular order.

1. Completely eliminate state-funded 4-year-old preschool  

2. Eliminate the Iowa Core Curriculum, and create new standards 

this year.

3. Cut funding of AEAs by an additional $10 million, effective this semester

As a disclosure, I should insert this is purely my opinion and I am not knowledgeable on everything this entails. However, the state had just started a state-funded 4 year old preschool program. What this means is that at public schools, preschool is accessible at virtually no charge. This "head start" allows so many children the opportunity to learn the basics and to prepare them socially, as well as academically, for kindergarten. To me, it seems like a critical program that could potentially have a great impact on the long term success of our students if we continue to fund it. Without the "free" program, many low and middle income families may not have the access to that quality of education for their preschool children. 

Next - Iowa Core curriculum - again, another new movement. This is the one I probably know the least about but it is something that I think has potential. My understanding is that it is to help prepare students not only for college but also for REAL LIFE....to help them to be able to critically think and have skills necessary to be successful! When looking at a curriculum, how can we make it applicable to what students NEED to know to be independent and successful. It seems silly to spend this time and money training and implementing the program (which went effective July 2010 I believe) and then to turn around and change it.

Last is the cut to the AEA. As someone who has worked in special education, I have worked personally with AEA personnel. These are individuals that are trained and incredibly knowledgeable in specific fields. If we eliminate another huge part of what they do, then who will provide those services? You can google your local AEA agency to see all that they do from offer training/continuing education services to speech therapy to career planning. 

Like I said, I do not know a lot about these but when I heard about it this morning, I was very alarmed that such major cuts were coming at EDUCATION. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE voice your concerns and share with others asap so that our representatives know that education isn't an area we are willing to sacrifice. In the previous posting below, you can see how to contact the appropriate people.

(For those of you who are in Iowa but are in a different part of the state, here is contact info for the whole state)

Name	District	Party	County	Email
Bill Anderson	27	Republican	Woodbury	bill.anderson@legis.state.ia.us
Robert Bacon	5	Republican	Story	robert.bacon@legis.state.ia.us
Merlin Bartz	6	Republican	Worth	merlin.bartz@legis.state.ia.us
Daryl Beall	25	Democrat	Webster	daryl.beall@legis.state.ia.us
Jerry Behn	24	Republican	Boone	jerry.behn@legis.state.ia.us
Rick Bertrand	1	Republican	Woodbury	rick.bertrand@legis.state.ia.us
Dennis Black	21	Democrat	Jasper	dennis.black@legis.state.ia.us
Nancy J. Boettger	29	Republican	Shelby	nancy.boettger@legis.state.ia.us
Joe Bolkcom	39	Democrat	Johnson	joe.bolkcom@legis.state.ia.us
Tod Bowman	13	Democrat	Jackson	tod.bowman@legis.state.ia.us
Mark Chelgren	47	Republican	Wapello	mark.chelgren@legis.state.ia.us
Thomas G. Courtney	44	Democrat	Des Moines	thomas.courtney@legis.state.ia.us
Swati A. Dandekar	18	Democrat	Linn	swati.dandekar@legis.state.ia.us
Jeff Danielson	10	Democrat	Black Hawk	jeff.danielson@legis.state.ia.us
Dick L. Dearden	34	Democrat	Polk	dick.dearden@legis.state.ia.us
Bill Dix	9	Republican	Butler	bill.dix@legis.state.ia.us
William A. Dotzler, Jr.	11	Democrat	Black Hawk	bill.dotzler@legis.state.ia.us
Robert E. Dvorsky	15	Democrat	Johnson	robert.dvorsky@legis.state.ia.us
Joni Ernst	48	Republican	Montgomery	joni.ernst@legis.state.ia.us
Randy Feenstra	2	Republican	Sioux	randy.feenstra@legis.state.ia.us
Gene Fraise	46	Democrat	Lee	eugene.fraise@legis.state.ia.us
Sandra Greiner	45	Republican	Washington	sandra.greiner@legis.state.ia.us
Michael E. Gronstal	50	Democrat	Pottawattamie	mike.gronstal@legis.state.ia.us
James F. Hahn	40	Republican	Muscatine	james.hahn@legis.state.ia.us
Shawn Hamerlinck	42	Republican	Scott	shawn.hamerlinck@legis.state.ia.us
Tom Hancock	16	Democrat	Dubuque	tom.hancock@legis.state.ia.us
Jack Hatch	33	Democrat	Polk	jack.hatch@legis.state.ia.us
Robert M. Hogg	19	Democrat	Linn	rob.hogg@legis.state.ia.us
Wally E. Horn	17	Democrat	Linn	wally.horn@legis.state.ia.us
Hubert Houser	49	Republican	Pottawattamie	hubert.houser@legis.state.ia.us
Pam Jochum	14	Democrat	Dubuque	pam.jochum@legis.state.ia.us
David Johnson	3	Republican	Osceola	david.johnson@legis.state.ia.us
Tim L. Kapucian	20	Republican	Benton	tim.kapucian@legis.state.ia.us
Steve Kettering	26	Republican	Sac	steve.kettering@legis.state.ia.us
John P. (Jack) Kibbie	4	Democrat	Palo Alto	john.kibbie@legis.state.ia.us
Matthew McCoy	31	Democrat	Polk	matt.mccoy@legis.state.ia.us
Paul McKinley	36	Republican	Lucas	paul.mckinley@legis.state.ia.us
Herman C. Quirmbach	23	Democrat	Story	herman.quirmbach@legis.state.ia.us
Amanda Ragan	7	Democrat	Cerro Gordo	amanda.ragan@legis.state.ia.us
Tom Rielly	38	Democrat	Mahaska	tom.rielly@legis.state.ia.us
Brian Schoenjahn	12	Democrat	Fayette	brian.schoenjahn@legis.state.ia.us
Dr. Joe M. Seng	43	Democrat	Scott	joe.seng@legis.state.ia.us
James A. Seymour	28	Republican	Harrison	james.seymour@legis.state.ia.us
Roby Smith	41	Republican	Scott	roby.smith@legis.state.ia.us
Steven J. Sodders	22	Democrat	Marshall	steve.sodders@legis.state.ia.us
Kent Sorenson	37	Republican	Warren	kent.sorenson@legis.state.ia.us
Pat Ward	30	Republican	Polk	pat.ward@legis.state.ia.us
Mary Jo Wilhelm	8	Democrat	Howard	mary.jo.wilhelm@legis.state.ia.us
Brad Zaun	32	Republican	Polk	brad.zaun@legis.state.ia.us

"How to" Contact Iowa Legislators

General Guidelines:

·      State that you are a constituent.

·      Reference the bill or file you are concerned about.

·      Make your point up front and concisely.

·      Provide personal examples and anecdotes; tell a story that will plant a picture.

·      Ask persuasively if s/he will vote yes/no on the bill.

·      Thank him/her; follow up with another communication.

Professional do’s and don’ts:

·      We can use school email to communicate information, but not to tell you how to vote or what position you should take on an issue.

·      Do NOT use school email to write to a legislator.

·      Do NOT email them during the school day.

Forms of contact:

·      Handwritten mail: Research says this is the most influential.

·      Email: email is common, but can also be used by groups to generate great volumes of less credible information, so make it concise and give personal examples. In the subject line, include that it is from a constituent.

·      Calls: Plan your call, be persuasive, call more than once.

·      Personal visit/lobby effort: Call our Lobbyist, Brad Hudson, and request that he set up a meeting with a member(s) of the education committee. Dress nicely (jackets for men). Plan your talk, smile and give eye contact, follow up with a thank-you.

How to identify which legislator(s) to write, and contact information:

You can write your specific Senators and Representatives; here’s how to identify them:

Go to ISEA.org, and click on Legislative Action Center, then Legislative Directory.  Then put in your zip code. You may be prompted for your address also. From there, you can get all their contact information.

You may also write to any member of the Education Committees (House and Senate) and their Appropriations Committees.  For a complete list of names, go to www.legis.iowa.gov/Schedules/Standing.aspx and select “education.”

State Reps:

Name	District	Party	County	Email
Ako Abdul-Samad	66	Democrat	Polk	ako.abdul-samad@legis.state.ia.us
Dwayne Alons	4	Republican	Sioux	dwayne.alons@legis.state.ia.us
Richard Anderson	97	Republican	Page	richard.anderson@legis.state.ia.us
Richard D. Arnold	72	Republican	Lucas	richard.arnold@legis.state.ia.us
Chip Baltimore	48	Republican	Boone	Chip.Baltimore@legis.state.ia.us
Clel Baudler	58	Republican	Adair	clel.baudler@legis.state.ia.us
Deborah L. Berry	22	Democrat	Black Hawk	deborah.berry@legis.state.ia.us
Mark Brandenburg	100	Republican	Pottawattamie	Mark.Brandenburg@legis.state.ia.us
Josh Byrnes	14	Republican	Mitchell	Josh.Byrnes@legis.state.ia.us
Royd E. Chambers	5	Republican	O'Brien	royd.chambers@legis.state.ia.us
Dennis M. Cohoon	88	Democrat	Des Moines	dennis.cohoon@legis.state.ia.us
Peter Cownie	60	Republican	Polk	peter.cownie@legis.state.ia.us
Betty R. De Boef	76	Republican	Keokuk	betty.deboef@legis.state.ia.us
Dave Deyoe	10	Republican	Story	dave.deyoe@legis.state.ia.us
Cecil Dolecheck	96	Republican	Ringgold	cecil.dolecheck@legis.state.ia.us
Jack Drake	57	Republican	Cass	jack.drake@legis.state.ia.us
Greg Forristall	98	Republican	Pottawattamie	greg.forristall@legis.state.ia.us
Joel Fry	95	Republican	Clarke	Joel.Fry@legis.state.ia.us
Ruth Ann Gaines	65	Democrat	Polk	RuthAnn.Gaines@legis.state.ia.us
Julian Garrett	73	Republican	Warren	Julian.Garrett@legis.state.ia.us
Mary Gaskill	93	Democrat	Wapello	mary.gaskill@legis.state.ia.us
Pat Grassley	17	Republican	Butler	pat.grassley@legis.state.ia.us
Chris Hagenow	59	Republican	Polk	chris.hagenow@legis.state.ia.us
Bob Hager	16	Republican	Allamakee	Bob.Hager@legis.state.ia.us
Chris Hall	2	Democrat	Woodbury	Chris.Hall@legis.state.ia.us
Curt Hanson	90	Democrat	Jefferson	Curt.Hanson@legis.state.ia.us
Mary Ann Hanusa	99	Republican	Pottawattamie	MaryAnn.Hanusa@legis.state.ia.us
David E. Heaton	91	Republican	Henry	dave.heaton@legis.state.ia.us
Lisa Heddens	46	Democrat	Story	lisa.heddens@legis.state.ia.us
Lee Hein	31	Republican	Jones	Lee.Hein@legis.state.ia.us
Erik Helland	69	Republican	Polk	erik.helland@legis.state.ia.us
Lance J. Horbach	40	Republican	Tama	lance.horbach@legis.state.ia.us
Bruce L. Hunter	62	Democrat	Polk	bruce.hunter@legis.state.ia.us
Daniel A. Huseman	53	Republican	Cherokee	dan.huseman@legis.state.ia.us
Charles Isenhart	27	Democrat	Dubuque	charles.isenhart@legis.state.ia.us
Stewart Iverson	9	Republican	Wright	Stewart.Iverson@legis.state.ia.us
Dave Jacoby	30	Democrat	Johnson	david.jacoby@legis.state.ia.us
Ron Jorgensen	54	Republican	Woodbury	Ron.Jorgensen@legis.state.ia.us
Anesa Kajtazovic	21	Democrat	Black Hawk	Anesa.Kajtazovic@legis.state.ia.us
Jeff Kaufmann	79	Republican	Cedar	jeff.kaufmann@legis.state.ia.us
Jerry A. Kearns	92	Democrat	Lee	jerry.kearns@legis.state.ia.us
Dan Kelley	41	Democrat	Jasper	Dan.Kelley@legis.state.ia.us
Jarad Klein	89	Republican	Washington	Jarad.Klein@legis.state.ia.us
Kevin Koester	70	Republican	Polk	kevin.koester@legis.state.ia.us
Bob M. Kressig	19	Democrat	Black Hawk	bob.kressig@legis.state.ia.us
Vicki S. Lensing	78	Democrat	Johnson	vicki.lensing@legis.state.ia.us
Mark Lofgren	80	Republican	Muscatine	Mark.Lofgren@legis.state.ia.us
Steven F. Lukan	32	Republican	Dubuque	steven.lukan@legis.state.ia.us
Jim Lykam	85	Democrat	Scott	jim.lykam@legis.state.ia.us
Mary Mascher	77	Democrat	Johnson	mary.mascher@legis.state.ia.us
Glen Massie	74	Republican	Warren	Glen.Massie@legis.state.ia.us
Kevin M. McCarthy	67	Democrat	Polk	kevin.mccarthy@legis.state.ia.us
Helen Miller	49	Democrat	Webster	helen.miller@legis.state.ia.us
Linda J. Miller	82	Republican	Scott	linda.miller@legis.state.ia.us
Brian Moore	25	Republican	Jackson	Brian.Moore@legis.state.ia.us
Dan Muhlbauer	51	Democrat	Crawford	Dan.Muhlbauer@legis.state.ia.us
Patrick Murphy	28	Democrat	Dubuque	pat.murphy@legis.state.ia.us
Jo Oldson	61	Democrat	Polk	jo.oldson@legis.state.ia.us
Rick Olson	68	Democrat	Polk	rick.olson@legis.state.ia.us
Steven N. Olson	83	Republican	Clinton	steven.olson@legis.state.ia.us
Tyler Olson	38	Democrat	Linn	tyler.olson@legis.state.ia.us
Kraig Paulsen	35	Republican	Linn	kraig.paulsen@legis.state.ia.us
Ross Paustian	84	Republican	Scott	Ross.Paustian@legis.state.ia.us
Kim Pearson	42	Republican	Polk	Kim.Pearson@legis.state.ia.us
Janet Petersen	64	Democrat	Polk	janet.petersen@legis.state.ia.us
Dawn E. Pettengill	39	Republican	Benton	dawn.pettengill@legis.state.ia.us
Brian J. Quirk	15	Democrat	Chickasaw	brian.quirk@legis.state.ia.us
Scott Raecker	63	Republican	Polk	scott.raecker@legis.state.ia.us
Dan Rasmussen	23	Republican	Buchanan	Dan.Rasmussen@legis.state.ia.us
Henry V. Rayhons	11	Republican	Hancock	henry.rayhons@legis.state.ia.us
Walt Rogers	20	Republican	Black Hawk	Walt.Rogers@legis.state.ia.us
Kirsten Running-Marquardt	33	Democrat	Linn	kirsten.running-marquardt@legis.state.ia.us
Thomas R. Sands	87	Republican	Louisa	tom.sands@legis.state.ia.us
Renee Schulte	37	Republican	Linn	renee.schulte@legis.state.ia.us
Jason Schultz	55	Republican	Crawford	jason.schultz@legis.state.ia.us
Tom Shaw	8	Republican	Pocahontas	Tom.Shaw@legis.state.ia.us
Jeff Smith	6	Republican	Dickinson	Jeff.Smith@legis.state.ia.us
Mark D. Smith	43	Democrat	Marshall	mark.smith@legis.state.ia.us
Chuck Soderberg	3	Republican	Plymouth	chuck.soderberg@legis.state.ia.us
Sharon S. Steckman	13	Democrat	Cerro Gordo	sharon.steckman@legis.state.ia.us
Kurt Swaim	94	Democrat	Davis	kurt.swaim@legis.state.ia.us
Annette Sweeney	44	Republican	Hardin	annette.sweeney@legis.state.ia.us
Jeremy Taylor	1	Republican	Woodbury	Jeremy.Taylor@legis.state.ia.us
Todd E. Taylor	34	Democrat	Linn	todd.taylor@legis.state.ia.us
Phyllis Thede	81	Democrat	Scott	phyllis.thede@legis.state.ia.us
Roger Thomas	24	Democrat	Clayton	roger.thomas@legis.state.ia.us
David A. Tjepkes	50	Republican	Webster	david.tjepkes@legis.state.ia.us
Linda L. Upmeyer	12	Republican	Hancock	linda.upmeyer@legis.state.ia.us
James Van Engelenhoven	71	Republican	Marion	jim.van.engelenhoven@legis.state.ia.us
Guy Vander Linden	75	Republican	Mahaska	Guy.VanderLinden@legis.state.ia.us
Nick Wagner	36	Republican	Linn	nick.wagner@legis.state.ia.us
Ralph C. Watts	47	Republican	Dallas	ralph.watts@legis.state.ia.us
Andrew J. Wenthe	18	Democrat	Fayette	andrew.wenthe@legis.state.ia.us
Beth Wessel-Kroeschell	45	Democrat	Story	beth.wessel-kroeschell@legis.state.ia.us
Nathan Willems	29	Democrat	Linn	nate.willems@legis.state.ia.us
Cindy Winckler	86	Democrat	Scott	cindy.winckler@legis.state.ia.us
Matt W. Windschitl	56	Republican	Harrison	matt.windschitl@legis.state.ia.us
John Wittneben	7	Democrat	Emmet	John.Wittneben@legis.state.ia.us
Mary Wolfe	26	Democrat	Clinton	Mary.Wolfe@legis.state.ia.us
Gary Worthan	52	Republican	Buena Vista	gary.worthan@legis.state.ia.us

Here are the ranking members’ names:

Senate Education Committee: Herman C. Quirmbach, D, Chair Brian Schoenjahn, D, Vice Chair Shawn Hamerlinck, R. Ranking Member	House Education Committee: Greg Forristall, R, Chair Jeremy Taylor, R, Vice Chair Nathan Willems, D, Ranking Member
Senate Education Appropriations: Brian Schoenjahn, D, Chair Herman C. Quirmbach, D, Vice Chair Bill Dix, R, Ranking Member	House Education Appropriations: Cecil Dolecheck, R, Chair Ron Jorgenson, R, Vice Chair Cindy Winckler, D, Ranking Member