Turtle Boy Urban Gardners (Video)

Whenever I have an opportunity to get out of my world of footwear and do something different, I try to seize the moment.  So, when I heard about this year's "Turtle Boy Urban Gardners" clean-up day, I immediately knew that I wanted to lend a hand.


I've walked by the Turtle Boy statue countless times, and I've looked at it from various angles, and even laughed at it from time to time.  I've seen the statue adorned with the occasional scarf, hat, Mardi Gras beads, and, like on Sunday, a gold medal.

Here's a little video that'll show you the handy work of the "Turtle Boy Urban Gardners", and if you'd like to make a donation towards it's upkeep, head on over to Park Spirit (http://parkspirit.org/), which is a non-profit 501(C)3 organization.

The YMCA....Excuse me, I mean The Y (Congrats)

You may recall when I wrote about the YMCA's rebranding and changing it's signage to simply "The Y".


Well, The Y of Central Massachusetts held their annual Strong Kids Campaign and raised $536,000!

This is great news and I know firsthand the great programs that The Y offers and the GREAT people that work there! 

Thank you.

Salute!

WE DID IT!

$536,000

Dear Friend,

We are writing to personally thank everyone who participated in this year's Strong Kids Campaign. Because of your generosity, much needed financial assistance went directly to children, teens and families in our community who need us most.

Whether is was learning to swim at Camp Blanchard, touring colleges in D.C., being voted in as lieutenant governor at Youth and Government Day or just being a kid in our after school program, our Y's children and teens spent the past year doing great things - made possible with YOUR SUPPORT!

This year's Campaign officially ended on September 30^th. As an Association, we have raised $536,000 in pledges - that's an outstanding 101% of our goal and more money than we have ever raised before!

Please know that every gift counts in helping to ensure that thousands of children and teens in Central Massachusetts have an enriching, safe and fun place to go after school and on the weekends.

On behalf of the thousands of children who count on us, thank you for your support of our YMCA. Together we truly are making a difference.

Warm regards,

Bob Seega                                Kathy Hunter

2010 Strong Kids Chair              President/CEO

Changemakers Competition: RFP for New England States

"Revelation to Action: Your Place. Your Idea. Your Change"

The competition was kicked off on Friday, March 19, 2010, and the RFP is geared towards applicants in New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont.


The competition is looking for innovative solutions for motivating local citizens to build a better community.


Positive Innovators (PIs) and community organizations should apply!

Save Internet Radio

Dear SaveNetRadio supporter,

It has been a year since an increase in royalty fees for webcasters put the future of Internet radio at risk. Since then, more than 2 million people have called on Congress to save Internet radio, the Internet Radio Equality Act has been cosponsored by 150 Members of Congress, and a hearing was held in the House Small Business Committee. In spite of all this - nothing has changed. We need your help.

On Thursday May 15, Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas will introduce the Internet Radio Equality Act (IREA) as an amendment to the Orphan Works Bill (S. 2913) while it is being considered by the Senate Judiciary Committee . As you know, the IREA would level the playing field for Internet radio webcasters and promote greater parity within the radio industry, while doing away with the discrimination that now forces webcasters to pay fees more than twice as high as their closest competition, cable and satellite radio.

You can help. At least one of your Senators is a Member of the Judiciary Committee and we need their support. Call them today and ask them to support independent artists, small businesses, and the future of Internet radio. You can find their phone number and talking points here. Ask your Senator to support the Brownback Amendment to S. 2913.

We need your help to remind Congress that though Internet radio is still on the air and artists are still being paid for their work by webcasters, nothing has been resolved and we need them to act.

On behalf of webcasters, artists and fellow Internet radio listeners everywhere, thank you. Let's finish what we started a year ago.

Save Net Radio

Worcester World Cup

Worcester World Cup Schedule
Saturday, August 11th Schedule

9:00 am Game 1: Iraq x Senegal
10:10 am Game 2: Brazil x USA
11:20 pm Game 3: Togo x Ecuador
12:30 pm Game 4: Liberia x Jamaica
1:40 pm Game 5: Kosova x Ghana
2:50 pm Game W1: Guatemala x El Salvador (women)
4:00 pm Game 6: Albania x Iran
5:10 pm Game W2: Mexico x USA (women)
6:20 pm Game 7: Vietnam x Guatemala

Sunday, August 12th

9:30 am - 2:00 pm Men’s Round 2 (winners from Round 1 & Best Loser)
2:10 pm - 4:20 pm Men’s Round 3 (winners from Round 2)
4:30 pm Women’s Final Game
5:40 pm Men’s Final Game
6:50 pm Awards Ceremony Men’s (1st & 2nd) & Women’s (1st & 2nd)

Tournament organizers believe the Worcester World Cup is far more than a soccer tournament; it is a chance to recognize and celebrate Worcester’s past and present immigrant communities. This 2-day tournament will bring together 18 teams representing 16 countries and immigrant communities. Women’s teams from Guatemala, El Salvador, Mexico and the USA will be joined by Men’s teams from Togo, Albania, Iran, Jamaica, Ghana, Iraq, Guatemala, Brazil, Kosova, Vietnam, Liberia, USA, Ecuador, & Senegal.

The tournament is held at Elm Park Community School field, a focal point of the nascent immigrant soccer leagues and pick-up games in Worcester. Many of the players in the tournament live nearby and regularly practice and scrimmage on this field. Neighborhood community groups have asked the City Manager to prioritize this field for much needed renovation. City Councilor Gary Rosen has made the field’s renovation a personal project he wants to see succeed. The Worcester World Cup is a community celebration with entertainment along with games for children, national flags representing the teams, ethnic food vendors, and more! EHANA, the neighborhood association around the Elm Park Community School will be coordinating children’s activities and awarding prizes. There is no entrance fee for spectators.

Cultural Exchange Through Soccer (CETS) was born out of an effort to build relationships in an internationally diverse neighborhood and to support Elm Park Community School’s growth. It is a unique program that has proven its ability to bring neighbors together for recreation and for the neighborhood’s common good. CETS was started in the summer of 2003 and has grown substantially. What was an 8- week program with a dozen kids and one coach now boasts over 65 participants, including 14 coaches playing year round by using the EPCS gymnasium and the EPCS school field.

Join Cultural Exchange Through Soccer (CETS), the Pleasant Street Neighborhood Network Center, and Worcester Common Ground for the Second Annual Worcester World Cup!