Sunday, July 30, 2017

Random Thoughts: As July 2017 Winds Down & August 2017 is Before Us.....



I begin this final "Random Thought" for the Month with this I picked up  courtesy of the Boy Scouts of America: 



Watch Video

Did you know that Scouts performed 15.4 million hours of community service in 2016?  That's a staggering $363.5 million value! And it's impossible to measure the long-term effects, especially as each Scout learns how good it feels to help others.  

As a proud Scouter, I could not be more proud to feature this because I won't mind as I note that in many ways Scouting saved me.    I have done what I can to give back despite the profound constraints I have had to deal with including serving on two Eagle Boards of Review later on today and to serve as Scouting For Food Co-Chair for my local Scout District For This Year-in spite of what President Trump did at the 2017 Jamboree which prompted an unprecedented apology from the Chief of the Boy Scouts.     There has been enough about the politics of it--including President Trump replacing his Chief of Staff.    I won't dwell on it further as there has been enough said on it.as I only hope that reason prevails for the sake of all.   I will note this that the need for American Leadership is ever so critical with the implosion in Venezuela, the continued challenge in North Korea and the flare up in the Middle East.   The idea that a Government threatens people with taking away their house is just beyond horrific.   

This month in my hometown of Laguna Niguel was a challenging one.   It was also quite unfortunate as I was witness to a special meeting of the Laguna Niguel City Council that ordered 4-1 to launch an investigation against the Mayor.   The outsider counsel is due to report back on August 7.    This is also as local politics is heating up with County Supervisor Todd Spitzer launching his campaign for District Attorney and the Sheriff Retiring--with one of our own in South County, Dave Harrington, vying to be sheriff.   It is bound to be quite a year in 2018!!!

July, though, for me was a month of hope despite periodic challenges.    I was witness to the selfless souls who continue to make a difference for the less fortunate.    Earlier in the year,  I was part of the team that helped with the 2017 Point in Time Count that helped to get a sense of the number of homeless in Orange County:  4,792.    Out of that, an estimated 2584 people were estimated to be un sheltered--and this number also included 131 Families who were homeless.   We were given a tour of what was being done to mitigate such circumstances including the FamilyCare Center launched by HomeAid Orange County--a non profit I have had the pleasure to serve and support over the past number of years. The insights I gained was remarkable as I joined the Continuum of Care Tour  sponsored by the  Association of California Cities-Orange County was quite remarkable.   Although it might be a drop in the bucket, it is a start--and it is great to be witness to it all.    I also had the pleasure to join my fellow Commissioners on the Traffic Commission as we deliberated a number of key initiatives and received a fabulous briefing on Vision Zero courtesy of the City of Santa Ana.

On a personal note, one highlight of my month was the pleasure to finally see the Freedom Sculpture during a day of reflection I had in Los Angeles:



As August is at hand, I will be "kind of" taking it easy in August with Random Thoughts to work away on some pressing initiatives and in turn gear up for the final four months of 2017.    As the team at Daily Outsider will also be "Dark" for the month, I look forward to continuing to support it as the properties continue to evolve.   It was also gratifying as I understand a few of the properties have achieved some milestones of their own.    

I wish all a fantastic August!!!




Tuesday, July 25, 2017

Random Thoughts While "On the Road" 4 the day....

I joined the Association of California Cities-Orange County Chapter continuum of care tour earlier today as part of my work in support of Our Fathers' Table.   It was overwhelming and insightful in that it underscored the challenge of homelessness in Orange County.    I was blown away by the price tag of almost $ 300,000,000 being spent!!!  

As I also helped facilitate the Daily Twitter Curation for Daily Outsider, I picked this up from Pete Souza, President Obama's Official White House Photographer which I released earlier on my personal Facebook wall--in the aftermath of President's Trump shameful rant at the 2017 Jamboree yesterday.   I made it a point of saying sorry over Twitter for thanking him yesterday after I saw excerpts of the nonsense he said-that does not even include the stuff he said today about investigating Hillary Clinton and throwing Jeff Sessions (the ultimate epitome of Trumpism).   I noted my frustruation yesterday and as I listened to it again, it was just awful.

As I worked to get caught up,  I was not too surprised when I saw reports that the Secretary of State was taking a leave.  I hope Secretary Tillerson resigns and hope Jeff Sessions forces the President's hand to be fired.   Why would anyone want to work for this man is beyond me.

 When I said "Enough Said" when I saw this on Pete Souza's Instagram: 

Random Thoughts: On The Prowl 4 the Day re @POTUS #2017Jamboree & Other Thoughts.....

Image result for Scout Law

Donald Trump speaks at the Boy Scouts of America national jamboree.

President Trump went to the 19th National Jamboree yesterday in West Virginia and spoke in front of an Estimated 40,000 Scouts and Scouters.    I made it a point of thanking him over Twitter as I noted that if he does something right--I will note this.   However, when I heard his speech as he made political statements and went after the Fake News Media, it was extremely bothersome--I frankly regretted thanking him over Twitter as I did.  As the Chief Scout of the United States, he needs to lead by Example as many of us Scouters do our utmost to do.   I could not help but wonder in the aftermath of the lies and the example he set.    I appreciate Mashable underscoring the mockery of it--and it was frankly sickening that Rick Perry and Ryan Zinke were smiling as Donald Trump Mocked it. It is unfortunate that Ryan Zinke and Rick Perry forgot it!!
   

As I was making the early rounds and facilitating support for Daily Outsider properties, I could not help but wonder about he has treated his most loyal guy, Jeff Sessions.   If he treats someone like Jeff Sessions this way, what about the rest of them.    I was glad to see I was not alone--the noted conservative Commentator Erik Erickson agreed with me!!! All of us should be concerned--including all who dismissed the President's antics as being a 'Rookie"--including his current enablers the Speaker of the House and the US Senate Majority Leader.   As I write this, a vote on the repeal of Obamacare is looming in the US Senate as John McCain is on his way back after his brain surgery.   I made it a point of tagging him over Twitter telling him not to forget all the ordinary faces who would suffer if healthcare was taken away--as he received World Class Treatment for his brain tumor at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona.   I wonder if he is thinking about his legacy now.     


Challenging Times...


Monday, July 24, 2017

Random Thoughts While On the Prowl w/10 ‘Harmless’ Habits to Drop If You Want to Be Successful



10 ‘Harmless’ Habits to Drop If You Want to Be Successful
It has been an interesting day and it is only Monday especially with a very explosive development in my hometown of Laguna Niguel coming up later on tonight.   I have been trying to get a lot of pressing inbox items done to clear my current inbox to get three major projects done-and I found these to be quite helpful for a profound sanity check I hope all enjoy--at times admittedly I have been there that this image depicted in Success Magazine!!


Onward to the new week as I look forward to publishing my weekly "Random Thoughts" later on this week:


Saturday, July 22, 2017

Random Thoughts On This Working Week-End....

It was an interesting Saturday as I spent Saturday on the road in Southern California visiting Los Angeles to meet with a non-profit.  As someone who prides himself on being a cautious driver, I had to really be even more careful--more on it soon.

As I look forward to releasing my weekly Random Thoughts I was blown away by how much building is continuing in Downtown and how Century City has truly transformed.   I was hoping to visit the Museum of Tolerance--but unfortunately forgot it was Saturday.   The highlight, though, was when I saw the Freedom Sculpture:





It will be a rather interesting week ahead as I took comfort in these series of thoughts as I salute Jonathan Lockwood Huie for all that he does for all:

The time to relax is when you don't have time for it.
- Sydney Harris

If your home is not a place where you can truly
kick-back and be yourself - both physically and emotionally -
consider making some changes in your way-of-life.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie


The greatest weapon against stress is our ability
to choose one thought over another.
- William James 

Thursday, July 20, 2017

Random Thoughts: On @Twitter, @POTUS & Other Thoughts......

It has been quite a journey as I achieved an interesting milestone on Twitter-32,000 Tweets: 




I guess it is abut leaving a legacy of purpose and awarness which I hope I can sustain through my forays here and beyond.    It has also been quite a week on the political front in the United States that has left me numb as I see a President wanting to pardon himself, a President's Son-In-Law that seems to be above the law and the ensuing double standards.     The team at Mashable had quite a take on the legacy of President Trump as he finished off his first Six Months--and now he's threatening to Fire the Special Counsel after having thrown his Attorney General under the bus.   This is as I saw this morning about how Florida continues to be threatened by Climate Change which I made a point of tagging the EPA Administrator  over Twitter--whether he pays attention is another matter.

 What I find gratifying, though, is the vibrancy of our Community, Laguna Niguel.  It continues to invest in the future at a feverish pace as underscored by resurfacing of one of the major roadways in our Community, Crown Valley Parkway:  



 Beyond what I see locally, I also see some potential hope for a transformation at the National Level as exemplified by the trend represented by the Governor of Montana and Rhode Island--as Corey Robin laid out his views on the transformation that is forthcoming: 




There is also this I noticed at the City of Anaheim about electric recharging stations while there earlier this week: 


I was also blown away as a Facebook Friend produced this on Iran which I am proud to share:  



As I reflected upon the week that was tending to commitments at the Daily Outsider, one thing I was reminded of was why, in the end, we are here.   The compilation  of thoughts courtesy of @Jonanthan Lockwood Huie I consult daily affirmed it all: 




When faith and hope fail, as they do sometimes,
we must try charity, which is love in action.
We must speculate no more on our duty,
but simply do it.
When we have done it, however blindly,
perhaps Heaven will show us why.
- Dinah Maria Mulock

Let us touch the dying, the poor,
the lonely and the unwanted
according to the graces we have received
and let us not be ashamed
or slow to do the humble work.
- Mother Teresa




Onward to the W-End!!!


 










Wednesday, July 19, 2017

Random Thoughts: On a Mid-Week Prowl w/Coldplay's A Head Full Of Dreams (Official Video)

It has been an interesting week already on a number of fronts. The need to remain optimistic and upbeat is ever so critical. In that spirit, I thought these "Thoughts" I picked up during my "Virtual walk-about" on the grid throughout the week was timely:



The team @ The Daily Outsider was gracious enough to adopt the first one for the Social Media Profile which is beautiful to be witness to.   I also thought that nothing is more uplifting that another selection from Cold Play (my second one this week)!!!

Monday, July 17, 2017

Random Thoughts (a Special "Musical" Interlude): Coldplay & Big Sean - Miracles (Someone Special) - Official Lyric Video





I had the pleasure to buy the Album that Cold Play has dedicated to Help the Organization MOAS.   Please enjoy as I just was told by the team they released a Musical Interlude Special to the #Outsider Main Property!! 

Onward!!

Random Thoughts: On #IranDeal; #Trumpcare & #MondayMotivation




It has been quite a ride!!   I can't believe it has been two years since the Iran Deal.    It was a time that brought together a diverse set of players in trying to some vie for Peace. I was proud to have done my part to contribute to the dialogue despite my profound opposition to the Islamic Republic.   

Now, though, storms are brewing yet again.    The Republicans have been busy dismantling the Obama legacy brick by brick.   It has included an initiative to roll back national monuments, cutbacks at the State Department and of course, healthcare.   I just saw reporting that the latest rendition of "Trumpcare" is now dead.   What I find striking is when Trump loses Jerry Moran, The US Senator from Kansas, then Trump has a major problem--I am just seeing reporting on Jerry Moran on how he heard his constituents about their opposition to the current plan.   What I also saw was Senator Graham  annoncing  his replacement plan in close collaboration with Senator Cassidy of Louisiana.  MItch McConnell , though, has come out to say that they are going to repeal Obamacare now with a 2-year delay:





 The idea of having 32 Million People losing basic healthcare is daunting.

Beyond Healthcare, though, is the so-called commission on Voter Integrity is even more worrisome in many ways as well--As someone who has served in 10 elections here in California as an Elections Coordinator, I really don't get what they are trying to do--fixing a problem that does not exist.   I was so happy to see the State of Mississippi noting that those who want the data can jump in the Gulf of Mexico.   All of these are emblematic of an Administration that is stuck as Mr. Trump's approval rating continues to sink to new lows.   I am also seeing reporting of a multitude of reporting on potential public corruption in the Trump orbit.   

As I was working away, I saw some very disturbing rhetoric about the Iran Agreement as the Iranian Foreign Minister--In New York when he spoke at the Council of Foreign Relations--underscored that Iran had the right to withdraw from the JCPOA as Republicans  As the United States continues to make declarative statements about the nuclear agreement--including a statement by Ed Royce stating that Iran is continuing to march towards the path of nuclear weapons without anything to back it up.   The domestic political challenges inside Iran, though, is also quite problematic especially as the President's Brother was arrested and was subsequently hospitalized and as he gears up to present his Cabinet.   The largest University in the Middle East, Azad, had its Chair of Board of Trustees replaced with the Former Foreign Minister.  The new President of the University is the former Chief Economic Adviser to the defeated Presidential Candidate and head of the Quds Razavi, Ebrahim Raissi.   What  I hope at least the Oil Minister, the Foreign Minister and the First Vice President retain their posts.    The composition of the Cabinet will be harbinger of things to come.   

As I was assessing the week before being "off the Grid", I helped with finishing off a number of curation updates on Social Media as the automatic feeds will continue along with updated edits   I had the opportunity to be supportive of the work of the Daily Outsider as I hope all will enjoy the Notations throughout the Weekend.    

What I find hopeful all the time is what I see continuing in the Community.    One of the highlights of July was the 39th Annual Laguna Niguel Run in the Park and this notation from the YMCA of Orange County showcased the best of community in action:  

RITP Volunteers,


On behalf of all of the YMCA staff we want to say thank you to all of the great volunteers that we had. This is our largest event for the year and the largest in the City of Laguna Niguel. We are still tallying all the numbers but it was another great success in terms of fundraising for our scholarship program and community outreach.  We had 1,385 runners this year which was slightly up from last year (1,304). With volunteers, staff, runners, sponsors and spectators we had around 3,000 people there to celebrate  that morning.

Below are links to some pictures from the event on OC register and our own website. Check them out!





Image may contain: 1 person, standing and text


I saw a tweet from the Tehran Municipality that they were considering honoring the memory and accomplkishments of Maryam Mirzakhani by naming a street or a building in Tehran after her.   Although this is a nice gesture, I could not agree with my friend Mike Kazemi as he wrote on his Facebook wall that we have to remember all as the World and mourn this genius that accomplished so much in her young life.   I  caught a program on the BBC Persian Service that interviewed a 16-year Iranian Girl that attended the same high school Mirzakhani attended--and she noted how her teachers rememembered her and how Professor Mirzakhani was an inspiration.   What was troubling was how this 16-year old is already thinking about leaving Iran--and I have a newsflash for the Government in Tehran:  Many will accept her with open arms for her to achieve her dreams.

As I go "dark" for the week, I took comfort in thoughts to remain optimistic and upbeat:







Onward to the New Week.....

Saturday, July 15, 2017

Maryam Mirzakhani: Iran's Genius is No More.....



A Genius is No more-

Maryam Mirzakhani, the winner of the Nobel Equivalent of Math, the Field Prize, has passed away as she lost her battle with Breast Cancer.     One of the leading Iranian Americans of our time, Firouz Naderi, echoed what many of us feel, "....a  light was turned off today .... far too soon. Breaks my heart...".    He's not alone today as I join all in saluting her on this sad day:  


   

(Update:  Right after I finished my notes, I picked this up from Dr. Nader's Facebook Wall he just released this to his Facebook wall as he noted "A beautiful Mind"....Couldn't agree more:..."  

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Stanford's President paid tribute to her earlier:

Friday, July 14, 2017

Random Thoughts: Briefly On the Eve of the W-End While on the Prowl....

This blew me as the French Army Band played "DAFT FUNK"--and apparently President Trump was irritated.  They blew me away!!


I had a chance to catch the Bastille Day Parade and glad to have caught the President as he did, though, salute the Troops--I made it a point of thanking him on Twitter as he spoke for the United States on this grim 1-year of the horrific attack in Nice featuring the Troops marching in Paris despite my profound and deep disagreements with his programs and policies:  



Wednesday, July 12, 2017

Random Thoughts: On a "Mid-Week" Prowl w/Reflections....





I can't help but be sorry for Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Sean Spicer and all the Cabinet Secretaries who seem to be constantly undermined by The President.    I guess that's why we're seeing "off camera" White House Press briefings--Our team used to feature the Daily Briefings over our @POTUS watch briefings but decided not to do as we felt it was useless. This is as the US Senate will continue to be in Washington to work through the maze of priorities that seem to be stalled.
  
This week has also been a week that the World celebrated World Population Day and as today was a day of action with a Battle for the Net led by what Farhad Mahjoo has called Some of the Frightful Eight--including Amazon and Facebook--to fight for Net Neutrality.   The team at the Daily Outsider joined it as we've featured it on our properties throughout the day.   The need to keep Internet Free and to preserve the First Amendment of the Digital Age is ever so critical than ever.

As I finish off these thoughts before "running off" , I can't help but underscore the need to be positive and engaging is ever so critical especially with the work I help with at all properties of the Daily Outsider every day.  The team underscored this with what we've worked on curating throughout the week as the on-going review is on-going.    I was so happy to see this from the Clinton Foundation that underscores that our lives are not about us in the final analysis:







.  

Enough said....

Onward....



Monday, July 10, 2017

Random Thoughts: Briefly On Mistakes, Hope, Good Turns & Challenges.....

Late Sunday  as I finished off some final work for The Daily Outsider and other projects, I picked up this from my Facebook timeline 2 years ago as I began my contributions to @DonateAPhoto and it was quite poignant for all--It is so interesting to see how it has all evolved as it has--I am grateful beyond words by this small yet profound gesture to live up to the Scouting Motto to do a God Turn Daily: 

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This is as I also picked up another Hindi "oldie but goodie" as I rush onward to tend to some challenges this week:

Saturday, July 8, 2017

Random Thoughts: On the Eve of a New Week......

I

I was going through some of the old @MomentoApp archives as I picked this up.  The words are ever so powerful especially as the profound challenges we're witness to in our World are before us as exemplified by the image of the Palestinian Girl at the Rafah Crossing in Gaza which continues to be closed by Egypt: 






Onward to the New Week with all its' possiblities....


Friday, July 7, 2017

Random Thoughts: On the Eve of the W-End :) :)

G20 summit flags World map showing the member countries of the G20

It has been quite a week already as July has begun.    The G20 in Germany was also quite a site to see as the World converged on Germany and as our team continued to curate updates throughout the day over the Twitter Channel fr the Daily Outsider  (and yours truly as well!!).   As I saw Saudi Arabia's Flag (as it is in the midst of bullying Qatar with Egypt, Bahrain and the UAE), I wonder how many suitcases King Salman has taken this time!!!    As I write this, all the leaders have gone to a concert in Hamburg after dinner.  The protests were quite a site to be witness to as Police had running battles with the protesters.    I saw one hopeful development as apparently President Trump and President Putin agreed on a ceasefire in Syria--if it holds is another matter.   This is as differing accounts of the meeting also emerged (not surprised).   But, one larger question was raised by the ever perceptive Marwan Bishara which is quite a read.  

As I finished off my morning Virtual Rounds, I picked this up from my Facebook Timelines which I hope all enjoy as I wish all a great restful weekend: 




Tuesday, July 4, 2017

Random Thoughts: On This 4th of July 2017 :) :)


I took a half-dayaction of sorts to join the 39th Annual Laguna Niguel Run in the Park and so happy to once again seen the Scouts of my home Troop, Troop 772, out there serving:



It was also fabulous to be witness to the Community coming together as they have.   I had a chance to chat with one of the many businesses that have been supportive of this noble cause and how she noted that over the last 9 years she's been in the City how it has grown at it has.      It is also a moment to be ever so appreciative of all that we cherish here in America as captured by this email from the US House Speaker, Paul Ryan:

Click to play the 46-second video
This Fourth of July, let's remember the blessings that we've been given in this amazing country. It doesn't matter who you are or where you come from. In America, because of freedom of choice, you can do what you want to do, worship who you want to worship, and achieve whatever you set your mind to achieve.

There is no limit to what you can do with your life; it's not predetermined or government-ordained. That is what is so unique about America, and so often, we can all take it for granted. 

So let's take this day together to remember and be grateful for the people who put their lives on the line each and every day to protect this privilege we have of being Americans.


What is unfortunate is that President Trump seems not to embrace some of the very points with policy moves including healthcare, the travel ban and the resulting backlash by the so-called nationalists.      What is also unfortunate, though, is the latest provocation out of North Korea as the North Koreans fired off another ballistic missile.   On this point I am with President Trump:  Doesn't the North Korean Leader have better things to do?   There is a response to that:  He wants his so-called Dynasty to continue ruling North Korea.   Where it all goes is anyone's guess especially as the President is off to Europe for the G20 and a meeting with Russian President Putin.   What Human Rights Watch noted is also of profound concern. 

What I also saw, though, was courage in action over the past 24 hours as I was reflecting and gearing up for a challenging 3rd Quarter as the Silent March in Turkey was taking place in direction opposition to Edrogan autocratic tendencies and as the Chief Prosecutor in Venezuela has emerged as one of the strongest voices of opposition to the rule of Maduro.  The need to stay hopeful and do one's part to make a difference is ever so critical as I join our friends at Google to say:

Happy 4th to all..and le'ts make sure to stay safe!!
Onward to July.....


Happy Fourth of July!

Sunday, July 2, 2017

Random Thoughts: As a New Quarter Dawns...

A new quarter has begun.  It has been an interesting, challenging and at times worrisome six months as The Daily Outsider continued to evolve and as we were witness to changes that may be detrimental for the long-term.

As I am writing this, I was glad to see that the Daily Outsider going Dark for the next two weeks as we see the roadmap and await the challenges of the new quarter.   It is a challenging world as I am writing this first edition of my "Random Thoughts" for the Quarter--which I will be doing monthly here.   I am listening to AL Jazeera about the tragedy in Lebanon as a Syrian Refugee Camp was burnt down and thousand of Syrian Refugees lost everything they had.   I was seeing the continued tragedy in Venezuela as Maduro, the President, promoted a General who was summoned by the Attorney General to be charged with human rights abuses.   I have also been seeing reports out of Iran--a focus of us at the Daily Outsider--about the profound conflict between the newly re-elected President and leader.  The latest comments by President Rouhani on the abusses by the Judiciary was quite evident as he spoke at a Judiciary Conference against aribrtary arrests in his continued call to adhere to the Constitution.     This is also as President Trump tweeted a video of himself beating up CNN--and garnered 178,000 likes and being defended by his staff.  Healthcare, in the meantime, hangs by a "thread" and earlier in the month I shared some thoughts on Facebook on it: 



  
What continued to give me hope, though was the continued community engagement and committment I was witness to.    Last month, for instance, I joined the 8th Annual Fish for Life Cruise for Special Needs Children and their families.  One volunteer who joined this day of service made over 15,000 wooden sharks for Camp Pendelton Children and one person collected over 80,000 golf balls for Camp Pendelton Marines who was named San Clemente Citizen of the year.   The Founder for Fish For Life shared this guidance that I felt was so critical to be part of this retrospective:


Ahoy Mates!

We are going to have a “REEL” fun time this Saturday!!! 
You are receiving this email because YOU will be among the “Fishing Team Leaders” on the trip.
THANK YOU for volunteering your time to make this experience a memorable one for everyone involved!
The weather looks great and the fishing is excellent!!
Check-in time at the Dana Wharf is by 7:30 am
So what is a Fishing Team Leader?

You will be teamed up with one or two special needs kids and their chaperones to care for them throughout the voyage.
Before we return to the dock each of you will say a few words about the kid (‘s) you spent time with and present them with a gold medallion they will wear around their necks.
There will be a mix of special needs conditions such as Autism, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Pasly, one child with Williams Syndrome, and one with Fragile X.
Most of them will start off fishing to the best of their ability and after a while some like to explore, or play around in the bait tank.

Assist where needed and most of all they just want your Love!
Don’t worry if you are not an avid angler! We will be bottom fishing or fly lining (no sinker) on the service if Barracuda or Mackerel show up and it’s a breeze.

The boat crew is also at your beckon call for any help getting fish off, tying hooks, gaffing if we get a jumbo, etc.
During the opening ceremonies when we roll out the red carpet for introductions, all the volunteers will line the deck at the base of the gangway to greet our honored guests and chaperones.
Be mindful that some of the Autistic kids will not want a high five or to be touched, just clap and waive them on.

Our “Calvary Team” (mini horses) will be at the check-in area around 8:00 to entertain the kids.
This will be the agenda for the day:
Our guests will start checking in by 8:00.am.
Parking passes will be issued at the check-in table, MAKE SURE TO GET A PARKING PASS TO AVOID A TICKET!
The check-in table will be in front of the Dana Wharf.
Get a Fish for Life Tshirt at the check-in table to switch into for the trip.
At 9:00 we will have speakers say a few words.
After the speakers, a volunteer will say a prayer.
After the prayer, a young lady volunteer will sing the National Anthem.
THEN we roll a Red Carpet down the gangplank and each child will be introduced individually.
Once aboard, a “Fishing Team Leaders” will be assigned to each child and their chaperons.
When we depart we will first go to the bait barge just across the harbor to load up on bait, the kids enjoy seeing this!
Then as we are leaving the harbor, the Sheriffs Department will have a Fire Boat put on a water show and escort us out of the harbor……cool huh!
We will then leave the harbor to go FISHING!!!
We will go north just south of Laguna and about a mile or two offshore .
Lunch, Beverages and Appetizers will be provided.

The boat will return to dock by 3:00.

This is as I was witness to selfless souls giving up their vacations to be at the Scout Valley Scout Reservation to staff and train the next generation of Scout Leaders:        
    

As the new quarter is beginning, I thought two key thoughts as I begin anew:

“We must always remember 
that it is the things of the spirit 
that in the end prevail. 
That caring counts.
That where there is no vision,
people perish. 
That hope and faith count, 
and that without charity 
there can be nothing good. 
That by daring to live dangerously, 
we are learning to live generously.
And that by believing
in the inherent goodness of man, 

we may stride forward 
into the unknown 
with growing confidence.”
~ John Gilbert Winant



Onward!!