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Health & Fitness

Where I Was and Where I Wasn't...

Funny.  I had just said that you all should just assume that my week will start with a Garden Call and then this past week there wasn’t one!  I don’t usually tell you things that I don’t do or I am not at or that didn’t happen but this week will be a little different.  So…there was no Garden Call and this week will be the last one for the season.  It is tomorrow (Sunday) at 11AM and you can bet I WILL be there! 

There wasn’t anything I needed to be at until Tuesday.  In the afternoon the Middle School held their first Youth Leadership Forum for the year and they started off with a packed house.  This year is the first year that 6th graders are also able to participate so there were a lot more kids.  Although they have a similar format as the High School YLF kids, it is so much different working with them.  Truthfully, their minds seem to work much differently and I was amazed by our conversations and discussions.  I am sad that I won’t be able to make all of these this year…I already went through my calendar and I have some scheduling conflicts…but I will certainly go to the ones I can!

As I said, I don’t usually tell you about where I am not but I have to tell you…I missed a Special Meeting to approve the resolution for the Hurricane Sandy Assessment Relief Act and then a meeting with the Board, Administration, and Central Council PTA Tuesday evening.  Now there is a reason I am telling you this.  I have said before that I don’t want this blog to make any aspiring Board Members nervous.  Yes…this takes dedication and commitment but as I have also said before, we can’t all always be at everything…even a Special Meeting.  Now, I still have to say…I was twitching that night when I was elsewhere…but I had a choice to make and I made it.  And the Resolution passed and the District didn’t crumble and I believe we all survived…mostly…I haven’t quite stopped twitching yet but that could be a whole other story…but I do feel much better now having confessed my absence here to all of you.

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Wednesday I watched/listened to a New York State School Board Association webinar titled “Engaging Your Community in the Budget Process”.  Once again, it made my wheels in my brain turn but it was also good to hear that some of the things they mentioned are things we are already doing.  One specific thing they mentioned is to start the process early which is certainly what we have done by having the Budget Meetings monthly now.   I implore you…please come and be part of the process…watch us discuss and handle the decisions that have to be made for our students and our community…come up to the microphone and comment…or just come to see what it is all about so when the Budget Vote comes up in May you understand what it is you are pressing the lever for…the next one is 6:30 PM on December 18th before the Board Regular Meeting.  I will be there!

On Friday we were invited to attend the 7th grade Consumer Olympics at the Middle School.  For those of you that think Board Members are paid a salary…just so you know…we absolutely are not.  But there are definite perks and benefits…not in the standard way.  You see, I no longer have a student in Middle School and the Consumer Olympics is not something that is done in the High School.  So I consider it a perk that we get to attend because so much can be learned.  For example, just in the hour or so that I was there I learned that I need to change my laundry detergent and towel paper.  I found out which glue to use, which lipstick to use and also that “Wite Out” is a brand name and there are other “correction fluids” on the shelves of stores. Who knew?   I learned so much more…I definitely benefited…just sayin.

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The week ended with the Annual  SADD Fashion Show.  I have to admit.  I have never been to this event before.  I don’t remember why I missed it last year but I am certainly going to do my best not to miss it next year.  What great fun and great energy.  The message the SADD Club imparts is invaluable.   Before the actual Fashion Show began, they showed a PSA video that the club had made and entered in a contest.  It was awesome and not shocking that it was the winner.

I had said that this week would be mellow and maybe it is because of some of the things I missed that it made it seem that way but next week is going to be a busy one with all kinds of committee meetings and also the Work Meeting on Wednesday night at 7:30.  I will be there.  Even though it is my husband’s birthday.  Have I mentioned lately how the support of my family and especially that man is key to my personal activities as a Board Member?  I couldn’t do it without them and the Birthday boy.  After I post this I am going to sit down to read this week’s packet.  I will tell you more about it next week but it would be great if you came to the meeting to hear it all for yourself!  And if you have to miss it and are not there…maybe take my husband out to dinner for his birthday!




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