Marc Dann: Charter School Buster!

It's about time someone was bold enough to go after failing Ohio community schools!
Read about Marc Dann going after these failing schools.
The term "community school" is the official terminology for publicly-funded, privately operated schools in Ohio. Some people simply refer to these schools as charter schools. The reality is that government-run traditional public schools are chartered by the State of Ohio, as are parochial private schools.
Regardless of the name, community schools in Ohio have been experimenting with our children's education and have been doing so pretty much unchecked. Why in the world did Ohio start this mess, anyway? The word at the time was that these schools might be able to do a better job than traditional public schools if they could operate without all the strings and mandates that are imposed unto our traditional public schools in Ohio. Why did the Ohio General Assembly just not allow traditional public schools the same leeway?
When the legislation creating community charter schools in Ohio was first enacted, there was a provision that called for a study of review and assessment after the first five years. Guess what? That never happened. However, each start-up school was given thousands and thousands of taxpayer dollars just for planning the school.
Did any new traditional public school get any start-up planning money? No.
Why did the State Legislature not revamp the entire public education system in Ohio, rather than creating another bureaucratic level of schools in Ohio? The Ohio General Assembly has abrogated its State constitutionally-mandatedresponsibility for providing a thorough and efficient public eduction system. The Ohio General Assembly has even ignored the decisions and orders of the Ohio State Supreme Court. Not once; not twice; but, three times!
I say the entire Ohio General Assembly should be held in contempt of court with each state legislator fined as an individual on a daily basis until the state legislature complies with the Ohio Supreme Court ruling, and that the Ohio General Assembly be sequestered until it does enact legislation in compliance with the decision of the Court.
Get rid of the band-aid approach, and don't fix the broken system, either.
Get rid of the present system of public education in Ohio and reinvent it in its entirety!
Incidentally, as long as the community charter schools do exist in the State of Ohio, let's do all that we can to see that they succeed. Let's close those that are failing! And while we are at it, let's also close any government traditional public school that is failing! Let's do it for the kids!

Public Service: Laudable

All too often, I hear and read comments from people who blast the men in women who are in the public service, both elected and appointed public service. Many times, the critics make their negative commentary in a burning tirade painting all public service persons with one broad tar-coated brush based on limited personal information, limited personal experience, and limited personal interaction making generalized, far-sweeping condemnations of hard-working men and women who give of themselves to serve the public with scant rewards and with their lives as open as if they lived in a fishbowl for all to see. I wonder how many of the critics would or could tolerate the very same scrutiny they cast upon those who are in our civil service.

"Lest they forget"

I am aghast at the lack of blog postings yesterday commemorating the 44th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
There is one of which I am aware and that is the one I posted in yesterday's Roland's Ramblings entry entitled "November 22, 1963".
How in the world can America ever forget JFK and the tragedy in Dallas, Texas on November 22, 1963?

Ben Konop: Lucas County Commissioner also a Dragonslayer?

I am consistently being surprised at the consistency of public statements and actions of the junior member of the Board of Lucas County Commissioners, Ben Konop, here in Ohio. And, I have absolutely no problem in my admission of that surprising-even-to-me statement.
Take a look at this Glass City Jungle entry.

University of Toledo Alumni Association: A Force or A Farce?

You're familiar with alumni associations, right? If not, read this Roland's Ramblings entry.
As of late I have been having second thoughts about the University of Toledo Alumni Association. This makes the third episode in my life in which I have had some major less-than-satisfactory experiences with the UT Alumni Association.
The first time was many, many years ago when I was a young man in my twenties. I had bought a large life insurance policy and designated the University of Toledo as a beneficiary of a certain percentage.
Apparently, that wasn't enough for them because the Alumni Association continuously and constantly was soliciting me to make financial donations, something that has continued to this very day.
The second occurrence was some years ago after I had served on the University of Toledo Alumni Association Arts and Sciences Affiliate Committee. I had spent a lot of volunteer time on the committee planning and implementing a wide variety of activities. Besides committee meetings, I provided a large amount of volunteer time for many activities. For example, I remember serving juice, coffee, and donuts under a reception tent on more than one occasion at commencement ceremonies for Arts and Sciences graduates and their families. After a couple years, there was a sudden cessation of the Arts and Science Affiliate committee. There was No advance notice from UT Alumni Association paid staff and no explanation. It just stopped meeting. After some time had passed, I made an inquiry or two. I was met with the response that I should lobby UT administration to reactivate the affiliate.
Now comes my third less-than-satisfactory experience. For the past five years, I have had a winter home in Mesa Arizona. One of my brothers and his family are full-time residents there. My sister-in-law is President of the Phoenix Chapter of the University of Toledo Alumni Association. She recruited me to be part of that chapter. The staff of UT Alumni Association actually organize and promote all the activities. They have not been stellar in my opinion, but so-so. So, enough of that --- let me cut to the chase.
Error after error after error has been made by the Alumni Association staff in the communications of the very latest activity. Rather than telling you about it, I will just copy and paste some e-mail communication (most of it by me) that has been exchanged on this. Read it and judge for yourself about the competency of the University of Toledo Alumni Association staff.

Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2007 15:23:16 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Roland Hansen"
Subject: UT Phoenix Alumni events
To: xxxxxxxxxxxx@us.henkel.com
CC: utalumniemail@utoledo.edu

Hi Lorraine,
I am in receipt of your invitation to attend the UT Alumni Phoenix Chapter events being held November 13 (UT vs Ball State) and November 23 (UT vs BGSU) at the Teakwoods in Scottsdale.
I most certainly appreciate your invitation, but unfortunately I will be unable to attend either of these two events.
However, please keep me informed of future events.
Thank you very much.
Sincerely,
Roland Hansen

p.s. Incidentally, the invitation mistakenly referred to November 23 as Thursday.

p.p.s. Give my regards to your husband (my brother, Garry) and the rest of the family.

-------------------------

From: "UT Alumni"
To: rolhansen@yahoo.com
Subject: Phoenix Chapter Watch Parties on Nov. 13 & 23, 2007!
Date: Tue, 6 Nov 2007 20:00:12 -0500

Roland,

Join your Phoenix Chapter for two watch parties at Teakwoods to cheer on your University of Toledo Rockets as they battle the Ball State Cardinal on Nov. 13.

Gather with your chapter again on Nov. 23 to cheer your Rockets on as they battle arch-rivals, the BGSU Falcons.

Come out and show your Rocket pride and don't forget to wear your Midnight blue and gold!

Join your fellow Phoenix chapter at Teakwoods located at 8880 East Via Linda #108 in Scottsdale, AZ 85258 (PH 460.614.5452)for two nights of Rocket fun!

UT vs. Ball State on Tuesday, Nov. 13 at 5:30 p.m. and UT vs. BGSU on Friday, Nov. 23 at 12:30!

For more information contact chapter leader Lorraine Hansen at xxxxxxxxxxxx@us.heckel.com

-------------------------

From: Roland Hansen [mailto:rolhansen@yahoo.com]
Sent: Tuesday, November 06, 2007 10:43 PM
To: UT Alumni Email
Cc: xxxxxxxxxxxx; UT President
Subject: Re: Phoenix Chapter Watch Parties on Nov. 13 & 23, 2007!

Dear whomever sent this originating e-mail to me:
Upon receiving an invitation to these events via U.S.P.S. over a week ago, I sent both you (i.e. utalumniemail) and Lorraine an e-mail on October 29 that I would not be able to attend these events.
Did you not get that e-mail? Or do you not pay attention to the e-mail that is sent to you? Or is this just an all automated system? Or what?
Please respond in order that I may understand what is happening. If it turns out that this is all automated with no person with whom one may communicate, I shall just block e-mail from you and report it as spam.
Sincerely,
Roland Hansen

-------------------------

Date: Thu, 15 Nov 2007 08:38:56 -0500
From: "UT Alumni Email"
To: "Roland Hansen"

Ronald Hansen,
I do apologize for the incorrect email address. Lorraine recently changed e-mail addresses thus the mistake. I did not receive your e-mail as this is a bulk mailbox that you responded to used for bounce backs.
I do apologize.
Ansley Abrams
Director of Alumni Programming
The University of Toledo

-------------------------

Date: Thu, 15 Nov 2007 13:21:51 -0800 (PST)
From: "Roland Hansen"
Subject: RE: Phoenix Chapter Watch Parties on Nov. 13 & 23, 2007!
To: "UT Alumni Email" , ansley.abrams@utoledo.edu
CC: xxxxxxxxxxxx@us.henkel.com, utpresident@utoledo.edu, diane.hymore@utoledo.edu, penny.poplin.gosetti@utoledo.edu, lawrence.burns2@utoledo.edu

To Ansley Abrams:
Thank you for your response. However, another error
has now been made.
My name is Roland as I have written; it is not Ronald
as you have replied.
In regards to Lorraine's e-mail address, the error was
not in her address change but in the domain name; you
stated it was us.heckel.com rather than us.henkel.com.
With these types of ongoing errors, I have lost all
confidence in the competency UT Alumni office.
Roland Hansen


As you can see, the specific staff person finally provided her name, but not her e-mail address. I found that on my own by searching the University of Toledo website. Oh, and by the way, look at this particular web page from the involved staff person.
Did you notice, that her previous experience was with CitiFest.
CitiFest experience, hmmmmm. I guess that should not surprise me.
(January 22, 2009 UPDATE: The original web page that was in the preceding link is no longer in existence. Gee, I cannot help but wonder why University of Toledo had it removed? At any rate it was a biographical sketch about Ansley Abrams, now Ansley Abrams-Frederick, that mentioned her previous position with CitiFest.)
Remember this about CitiFest?

Hooda Thunkit's Therapy Blog: On Yesterday's Shameful Tax Levy Elections...

I thought Hooda Thunkit's comments regarding tax levy issues, voter turnout, etc. to be quite thought-provoking.
In my opinion, the overall issue is that a minority of registered voters are able to effectively make public policy decisions for the entire population. That's how it works and it is legal. Nonvoters made the conscious decision not to participate in the electoral process. Ergo, people who do not vote get what they deserve. They need not whine to me. Bellyachers and crybabies who do not vote should all go live in a dictatorship. Then they can cry, whine, bellyache, and kvetch all they want.
Take a look at Hooda Thunkit's Therapy Blog: On Yesterday's Shameful Tax Levy Elections...

CitiFest, Inc. of Toledo: In a Pile of Debt

Located in Toledo, Ohio is a nonprofit corporation that has received hundreds of thousands of dollars, if not millions of dollars, from taxpayer subsidies, community foundation grants, and from private industry.

The name of this nonprofit entity is CitiFest, Inc.

According to the Mission and History web page on the CitiFest website:

"CitiFest was formed in 1987. CitiFest is a private, non-profit 501(c) 3 organization and holds a charter with the City of Toledo to provide entertainment in the downtown Toledo area. Our mission is to plan, produce and promote a calendar of special events for the community. Until 1991, the City of Toledo funded CitiFest in large part. Today public and private sector sponsorship along with on-site revenues from events generate funding for CitiFest in parts.
......
CitiFest has produced and facilitated special events in downtown Toledo for over 19 years. We have always had the full support of the Mayor, City Council, County Commissioners numerous businesses and several non-profit organizations. Often times, events are coordinated with the Toledo Convention and Visitors Bureau, Toledo Mud Hens, Toledo Sports Arena and Universities. These relationships remain intact today."

Take a look at the entire CitiFest, Inc. website here.

But it appears that all is not well with Citifest, Inc. Not all is well in its finances and not all is well in its relationships with the City of Toledo, including the mayor and some of city council.

Read this article and then this other article from The Blade.

I realize that nonprofit organizations owe much of their existences to financial and in-kind donations and time contributions of volunteers. But, since when does nonprofit organization equate with not paying your debts? And, since when has nonprofit organization meant that it's perfectly permissible, allowable, and acceptable to stiff your employees and not pay them for employee services rendered?

Is this any way to run a business, even a nonprofit? How do the persons responsible for the management of CitiFest, Inc. keep their positions of responsibility? What would be the reactions of those same persons if they were not paid wages and debts owed them?

Whiners are Wienies not Winners

I often hear people whine about this, moan about that, complain about everything, and criticize everyone. More often than not, the crybabies do nothing, contribute nothing, sit at the sidelines, and remain uninvolved. They let others take an active role in the community, run for elective office, volunteer in charitable organizations, and serve in leadership positions. Then they cry, bemoan, grouse, and belittle anything and everything done by the civic-minded community activists and the elected officials. They call candidates for elective office and elected officials such names as dirty corrupt politicians. The do-nothing whining wienies want to know every little minor detail no matter how personal about those public servants who must basically live their lives in a fishbowl. On top of that, while the wienies want elected officials and other civic-minded, community-involved, citizen-activist leaders to live lives of perfect sainthood, they demand our leaders be common, every-day, Joe and Jill average people. Hypocrisy abounds! Ninety-five percent of the people leave the real work to the remaining five percent AND then have the unmitigated gall to say those five percent are crooked self-serving morons.
I say the whiners are wienies. I say the people who serve our community and our country, including those with whom I may disagree, are the heroes and that their public service results with the general public being the winners.
I thank all those who serve the public. I wish all people would take an active part in serving the community. I encourage everyone to vote.
.
.
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So, what do you readers of Roland Hansen Commentary have to say to this latest (and repetitive) diatribe of Roland Hansen?
For those who do not share your thoughts, I ask: are you one of the wienie whiners; are you too busy or too lazy to put forth your own thoughts; are you just too darn apathetic OR WHAT???? YOU whiners, you wienies, you chronic complainers, you lackluster sideliners ARE THE PROBLEM.