TEWKSBURY – It’s hard to believe that someone would be cruel, greedy, or thoughtless enough to steal 15 laptops from a school that is already in a financial struggle to provide the best possible education for its students, but that is exactly what happened at Tewksbury Memorial High School this summer.
“It's hard to explain how disgusted and discouraged I am by this,” said School Committee Chairman Keith Rauseo who explained, “This is a theft not just from the students of Tewksbury, but from all the taxpayers of Tewksbury who agreed to a property tax increase to address issues with the high school facility and the technology available to our students.”
At the start of the summer there were two mobile labs that were inventoried, padlocked, and placed in a locked room off of the library inside the high school. The mobile labs are cabinets on wheels that store computer equipment and allow it to be moved easily from classroom to classroom or to locked storage as needed.
During the summer, the contents of the locked room were moved out into a hallway in order to empty the room while it was being painted. It is unknown how long the mobile labs were out in the hallway, but when High School Principal Patricia Lally found them there, she had them moved immediately to a locked room inside of her office.
After the start of this school year, Assistant Principal Eileen Osborne inventoried the contents of both cases and discovered that the bottom shelves of both units had been emptied for a combined total theft of 15 laptops and 14 power supplies.
At the time of Osborne’s inventory, it was discovered that the padlocks were missing from both units; however, Superintendent Christine McGrath said they do not know at what point the locks were removed.
McGrath notified the Tewksbury Police Department late last week and detectives are investigating. The camera system inside of the high school was replaced this summer and all available video is being diligently scrutinized for any evidence that may assist in the investigation.
This incident brings forth many questions about security procedures in the School District. Rauseo said that if putting things under lock and key isn't enough; “we might have to install second and third levels of security and higher-level and more consistent monitoring systems. Of course, security comes with a cost, and any new costs will take away from something educational we're trying to do, so we may have to do a balancing act to find money for this if necessary.”
Rauseo went on to propose that he “would like the town to find an independent security expert, someone who doesn't already work for the town, has no preconceived notions of how things are done, and can speak freely and frankly, to come in and do a security audit of all of the town's public buildings. There may be some glaring issues that we must address, and/or there may be issues we can address in a quick, easy, and cheap fashion that might have a great return in terms of increased security.”
Dr. McGrath said the laptops (valued at roughly $18,000) would be replaced if they are not found, because they are “an invaluable learning resource for our students.” The laptops are insured, according to Business Manager Jack Quinn, but there is a $2500 deductible.
Superintendent McGrath emphasized that she would be “most grateful for any information leading to the return of the laptops so that we can return them to the classes.” She asks that anyone with information please contact the Tewksbury Police Department as soon as possible.
Copyright 2007 CBLEGVOLD. All Rights Reserved.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
A Namibian Teaching Experience
NAMIBIA, AFRICA - Sixteen years after graduating from Wilmington Memorial High School, Kacy Soderquist found herself teaching for almost two months this summer in a classroom in a very rural part of Namibia, Africa. Armed with a BA in English from Regis College, a Masters in Education from UMass Boston, and 10 years of experience teaching high school English (7 years of that in her current position in Lynnfield), she found herself was still a bit emotionally unprepared for the realities of the educational system in Namibia.
Soderquist’s teaching placement was arranged by WorldTeach, an organization that works through Harvard’s Center for International Development to place volunteers all over the world depending upon the needs of each country. She was part of a program called Namibia Vision 2030, which is Namibia’s goal that it will be tech savvy by the year 2030. WorldTeach donated 30 TV /VCR decoders and a bouquet of educational programs. The Namibian government chose 30 villages to receive them. Soderquist was one of the 30 volunteers chosen to deliver and install the equipment and also to teach the teachers to use the equipment and educational programs.
The school in Talismanus is in the middle of a communal farming region. Since the kids live so far away, the school provided simple dormitory style housing for the students and the volunteers. Soderquist had her own small room with a toilet and a tub to boil water in. She knows she was fortunate, as many volunteer placements did not have accommodations like that. Still, there were plenty of bugs, no hot water, no grocery store and no regular transportation out of the village. There were no fruits, vegetables or bottled water in the village. As it was 4 ½ hours to the nearest city, it was a whole days journey to go grocery shopping.
So what were her expectations going into this experience? She replies, “I would say that going into this experience I hoped that I would be able to serve a population of people who have historically been minimized. As an educator, I firmly believe that life's greatest gift is education and that is the key to personal growth, economic freedom, and understanding who you are as a person in your family, your community, and your world. I wanted to share that gift…. I also hoped to make a connection with a group of students in another country with whom my own high school students could become pen pals and learn on a more personal level about a foreign culture.”
Soderquist shared her thoughts and experiences with the Crier through a series of four e-mail messages that she managed to send home on weekends when she took a 2-hour trip by taxi to the nearest town. Excerpts have been chosen to illustrate her experiences.
June 21, 2007
While I do love the kids at my school, the week in Talismanus has been a major adjustment. It's dirt roads and lots of dust as I'm in the desert (which is also--ironically--cattle country). I think that there are more cattle, goats, and sheep than there are people!
…there were definite culture shock moments that I experienced in the school itself. On my first day, there were 4 teachers absent, and the staff is only 7 large. There are no substitutes, so the "learners" are responsible for sitting quietly and doing their studies. While observing a class, I witnessed more shocking moments: the teacher telling the learner to "open your f***ing book man", pulling on the child's ear, throwing a book at a child, and pinching another one.
What's really sad is that there have been these generous donations of DStv, TV's, and VCR's, but there are no classroom sets of books! I've taken on teaching 4 English classes, and I am enjoying it very much!
The kids and the people in the village are very interested in the only white person for hundreds of miles. In fact, a 4 yr. old boy cried with utter fear when he saw me the other day--he had never seen a white person before. I do feel very safe and welcomed by everyone in school and in the community.
July 6th
Despite the seclusion, I can say that I am developing a growing affinity for my little village of Talismanus. I've made a friend with one of the teachers who has made it his mission to see that I am enjoying myself, which is great. He has shared some incredible stories of his culture, and it's all so different. People have babies here like they are candy, and marriage doesn't necessarily need to be part of the deal. In fact, it rarely is....
…Enjoy your summer and the warmth! It is really, really cold here....nothing near our winters, but it's not summer which my body is definitely upset about.
July 19, 2007
Hello all! I am happy to say that this report is much more positive and less filled with creepy crawlers. The time has flown by, but I feel like I have accomplished a lot and made really special connections with many of the kids. My mom sent over a box of old books that Litah [9 year old niece] no longer reads, so I have been using those to work with the grade 8 learners. They are only reading level 1 or 2, but they are books that they kids can actually understand and read, which is the point. You would be amazed at how excited these 15 year olds are over Franklin and Amelia Bedilia stories.
We read together every day, and some of them are becoming courageous enough to read aloud in English. So great. We also have spelling bees every week, and many of them are motivated to win because they want the prizes (candy or chips) for 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place. Two of the grade 8 girls came to my room at 6:30 this morning to wish me a happy birthday, which was so special. They are really, really sweet, and so much "younger" than the average American teenager.
Unfortunately, that innocence doesn't last long, and by the time they reach grade 10, they are a bit less innocent, which is frightening when you consider the percentage of the population infected with AIDS. (20%). That statistic is based on those who are brazen enough to actually be tested, and with the stigma attached to the disease; it is rare that people are so pro-active.
We have spent the last two weeks doing activities and having very important discussions about HIV/AIDS, and there is a tremendous fear of being ostracized by family/friends/community if one is to test positive. As a result, people just don't get tested, but this doesn't stop them from doing things that put them at risk.
Because of the dangers of the disease, the teachers are permitted to have really frank discussions with the learners, and it has been an eye-opening two weeks worth of talking. At any rate, after having many of them originally tell me that they would rather die/kill themselves than find out that they were HIV+, I have managed to convince many of them to go to the clinic and be tested. We have set up a schedule and will go in groups next week. I'm really thrilled and see this as an enormous stride.
In contrast to the success I have had with the learners, I was, unfortunately, feeling somewhat defeated by the teachers. Their approach to education is beyond arcane for an American educator, and there is not much 'teaching' that actually goes on. Ordinarily, the teacher may or may not write some notes on the board at the beginning of the day so that s/he can enjoy his/her tea while the students sit in class and copy from the information on the board. A few of them pop in and out of the classroom to reprimand those who are not doing their work, but that's about all that goes on.
Needless to say, the idea of using educational TV programs to enhance their lesson plans is a concept that they see as futile and unnecessary as it would require great effort and preparation on their parts… I can say with confidence that I believe 1 of the 7 teachers will use the equipment after I leave. I am told that this is progress, so I am trying to feel good about it….
My friend, Katuamba, took me to his cattle post last weekend where I saw him and others dehorn a calf and brand another. Quite an experience!
August 1st
I am back in Windhoek again having left my village for good… I'm having very mixed feelings about leaving as there are about 10 kids who have nestled their ways into my heart making it a real challenge to leave them. However, I was moved to tears of disappointment and frustration this weekend because so many of the girls who have never said as much as hello to me piled into my room demanding that "Miss, you must give me something". They actually had the audacity to rifle through my things! It was very difficult for me not to show my heartache.
I'm really angry at Oprah for setting such an unrealistic expectation of what "kids in Africa" want from Americans who are trying to help. At any rate, I am trying to focus on the positives and hope that there will be some continued good that comes from my time here. ] (End of e-mail journal entries)
Soderquist describes her conflicted feelings about her experiences with the educational system in Namibia: “I did come away with a feeling of gratitude for this amazing opportunity; however, there was equally as strong a feeling of frustration. I hesitate to even mention my disappointments as I fear it will only perpetuate people's deeply entrenched stereotypes about African culture, but I certainly did feel saddened for the realities of life in my village. I was sad to see that so many of the young girls are completely unaware of the growing opportunities that are available to them only 4 and 1/2 hours away in Windhoek.
On the other hand, I was really grateful that the one teacher in my school who will likely use the equipment effectively in his classroom was the principal of the school. My hope is that his enthusiasm for this donation and its benefits will spread to the remaining teachers of the 7 member staff so that the kids can see that education and learning can be fun, exciting, and useful. Change and progress are slow moving, and I can only cross my fingers and hope that my efforts made an impact and will be an impetus for change in the school where I worked.
I think it's so easy to get caught up in our day-to-day frustrations and disappointments, and it's really important to be able to take a step back from that and see how fortunate and blessed we truly are. What affected me most profoundly about all of the people I met was their genuine happiness. As much as they are suffering in poverty, they are truly at peace and possess a vibrant love of life that is infectious. In a country where more than 20% of the population is reported to be infected with AIDS or simply uninsured in the event that they need medical attention for some other illness, many people just "get sick and die". Confronted with death all around them, these kids have such strength and resilience.
I want people to know that Namibia is a beautiful country in its landscape and its people. Having gained its independence in 1991 after years of civil war, it is striving to make economic progress. Many hands are in the pot with the hope that the lofty goals of the country come to fruition by the year 2030, and I think there is great potential for strong growth. Africa is not a continent to be feared, and Namibia particularly is a country of warmth, beauty, and loving people. I want people to know that I was safe--in fact--I don't remember every feeling so safe in my life. As is the case with many of my students, I don't need to give money to make a difference in someone's life. My time, my hopes, my enthusiasm, and my belief in their success are equally as valuable. We all have a responsibility to be informed citizens and help to make positive contributions to the welfare of our world.”
Copyright 2007 CBLEGVOLD. All Rights Reserved.
Soderquist’s teaching placement was arranged by WorldTeach, an organization that works through Harvard’s Center for International Development to place volunteers all over the world depending upon the needs of each country. She was part of a program called Namibia Vision 2030, which is Namibia’s goal that it will be tech savvy by the year 2030. WorldTeach donated 30 TV /VCR decoders and a bouquet of educational programs. The Namibian government chose 30 villages to receive them. Soderquist was one of the 30 volunteers chosen to deliver and install the equipment and also to teach the teachers to use the equipment and educational programs.
The school in Talismanus is in the middle of a communal farming region. Since the kids live so far away, the school provided simple dormitory style housing for the students and the volunteers. Soderquist had her own small room with a toilet and a tub to boil water in. She knows she was fortunate, as many volunteer placements did not have accommodations like that. Still, there were plenty of bugs, no hot water, no grocery store and no regular transportation out of the village. There were no fruits, vegetables or bottled water in the village. As it was 4 ½ hours to the nearest city, it was a whole days journey to go grocery shopping.
So what were her expectations going into this experience? She replies, “I would say that going into this experience I hoped that I would be able to serve a population of people who have historically been minimized. As an educator, I firmly believe that life's greatest gift is education and that is the key to personal growth, economic freedom, and understanding who you are as a person in your family, your community, and your world. I wanted to share that gift…. I also hoped to make a connection with a group of students in another country with whom my own high school students could become pen pals and learn on a more personal level about a foreign culture.”
Soderquist shared her thoughts and experiences with the Crier through a series of four e-mail messages that she managed to send home on weekends when she took a 2-hour trip by taxi to the nearest town. Excerpts have been chosen to illustrate her experiences.
June 21, 2007
While I do love the kids at my school, the week in Talismanus has been a major adjustment. It's dirt roads and lots of dust as I'm in the desert (which is also--ironically--cattle country). I think that there are more cattle, goats, and sheep than there are people!
…there were definite culture shock moments that I experienced in the school itself. On my first day, there were 4 teachers absent, and the staff is only 7 large. There are no substitutes, so the "learners" are responsible for sitting quietly and doing their studies. While observing a class, I witnessed more shocking moments: the teacher telling the learner to "open your f***ing book man", pulling on the child's ear, throwing a book at a child, and pinching another one.
What's really sad is that there have been these generous donations of DStv, TV's, and VCR's, but there are no classroom sets of books! I've taken on teaching 4 English classes, and I am enjoying it very much!
The kids and the people in the village are very interested in the only white person for hundreds of miles. In fact, a 4 yr. old boy cried with utter fear when he saw me the other day--he had never seen a white person before. I do feel very safe and welcomed by everyone in school and in the community.
July 6th
Despite the seclusion, I can say that I am developing a growing affinity for my little village of Talismanus. I've made a friend with one of the teachers who has made it his mission to see that I am enjoying myself, which is great. He has shared some incredible stories of his culture, and it's all so different. People have babies here like they are candy, and marriage doesn't necessarily need to be part of the deal. In fact, it rarely is....
…Enjoy your summer and the warmth! It is really, really cold here....nothing near our winters, but it's not summer which my body is definitely upset about.
July 19, 2007
Hello all! I am happy to say that this report is much more positive and less filled with creepy crawlers. The time has flown by, but I feel like I have accomplished a lot and made really special connections with many of the kids. My mom sent over a box of old books that Litah [9 year old niece] no longer reads, so I have been using those to work with the grade 8 learners. They are only reading level 1 or 2, but they are books that they kids can actually understand and read, which is the point. You would be amazed at how excited these 15 year olds are over Franklin and Amelia Bedilia stories.
We read together every day, and some of them are becoming courageous enough to read aloud in English. So great. We also have spelling bees every week, and many of them are motivated to win because they want the prizes (candy or chips) for 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place. Two of the grade 8 girls came to my room at 6:30 this morning to wish me a happy birthday, which was so special. They are really, really sweet, and so much "younger" than the average American teenager.
Unfortunately, that innocence doesn't last long, and by the time they reach grade 10, they are a bit less innocent, which is frightening when you consider the percentage of the population infected with AIDS. (20%). That statistic is based on those who are brazen enough to actually be tested, and with the stigma attached to the disease; it is rare that people are so pro-active.
We have spent the last two weeks doing activities and having very important discussions about HIV/AIDS, and there is a tremendous fear of being ostracized by family/friends/community if one is to test positive. As a result, people just don't get tested, but this doesn't stop them from doing things that put them at risk.
Because of the dangers of the disease, the teachers are permitted to have really frank discussions with the learners, and it has been an eye-opening two weeks worth of talking. At any rate, after having many of them originally tell me that they would rather die/kill themselves than find out that they were HIV+, I have managed to convince many of them to go to the clinic and be tested. We have set up a schedule and will go in groups next week. I'm really thrilled and see this as an enormous stride.
In contrast to the success I have had with the learners, I was, unfortunately, feeling somewhat defeated by the teachers. Their approach to education is beyond arcane for an American educator, and there is not much 'teaching' that actually goes on. Ordinarily, the teacher may or may not write some notes on the board at the beginning of the day so that s/he can enjoy his/her tea while the students sit in class and copy from the information on the board. A few of them pop in and out of the classroom to reprimand those who are not doing their work, but that's about all that goes on.
Needless to say, the idea of using educational TV programs to enhance their lesson plans is a concept that they see as futile and unnecessary as it would require great effort and preparation on their parts… I can say with confidence that I believe 1 of the 7 teachers will use the equipment after I leave. I am told that this is progress, so I am trying to feel good about it….
My friend, Katuamba, took me to his cattle post last weekend where I saw him and others dehorn a calf and brand another. Quite an experience!
August 1st
I am back in Windhoek again having left my village for good… I'm having very mixed feelings about leaving as there are about 10 kids who have nestled their ways into my heart making it a real challenge to leave them. However, I was moved to tears of disappointment and frustration this weekend because so many of the girls who have never said as much as hello to me piled into my room demanding that "Miss, you must give me something". They actually had the audacity to rifle through my things! It was very difficult for me not to show my heartache.
I'm really angry at Oprah for setting such an unrealistic expectation of what "kids in Africa" want from Americans who are trying to help. At any rate, I am trying to focus on the positives and hope that there will be some continued good that comes from my time here. ] (End of e-mail journal entries)
Soderquist describes her conflicted feelings about her experiences with the educational system in Namibia: “I did come away with a feeling of gratitude for this amazing opportunity; however, there was equally as strong a feeling of frustration. I hesitate to even mention my disappointments as I fear it will only perpetuate people's deeply entrenched stereotypes about African culture, but I certainly did feel saddened for the realities of life in my village. I was sad to see that so many of the young girls are completely unaware of the growing opportunities that are available to them only 4 and 1/2 hours away in Windhoek.
On the other hand, I was really grateful that the one teacher in my school who will likely use the equipment effectively in his classroom was the principal of the school. My hope is that his enthusiasm for this donation and its benefits will spread to the remaining teachers of the 7 member staff so that the kids can see that education and learning can be fun, exciting, and useful. Change and progress are slow moving, and I can only cross my fingers and hope that my efforts made an impact and will be an impetus for change in the school where I worked.
I think it's so easy to get caught up in our day-to-day frustrations and disappointments, and it's really important to be able to take a step back from that and see how fortunate and blessed we truly are. What affected me most profoundly about all of the people I met was their genuine happiness. As much as they are suffering in poverty, they are truly at peace and possess a vibrant love of life that is infectious. In a country where more than 20% of the population is reported to be infected with AIDS or simply uninsured in the event that they need medical attention for some other illness, many people just "get sick and die". Confronted with death all around them, these kids have such strength and resilience.
I want people to know that Namibia is a beautiful country in its landscape and its people. Having gained its independence in 1991 after years of civil war, it is striving to make economic progress. Many hands are in the pot with the hope that the lofty goals of the country come to fruition by the year 2030, and I think there is great potential for strong growth. Africa is not a continent to be feared, and Namibia particularly is a country of warmth, beauty, and loving people. I want people to know that I was safe--in fact--I don't remember every feeling so safe in my life. As is the case with many of my students, I don't need to give money to make a difference in someone's life. My time, my hopes, my enthusiasm, and my belief in their success are equally as valuable. We all have a responsibility to be informed citizens and help to make positive contributions to the welfare of our world.”
Copyright 2007 CBLEGVOLD. All Rights Reserved.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
VFW Appoints Local Man New Sgt At Arms
WILMINGTON – When Wilmington resident Bryan O’Brien told the Crier about meeting President Bush, presidential contenders Clinton, Obama, McCain and Thompson, the Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders, newsman Tim Russert and an assortment of actors, musicians and politicians, it was not a boastful tale of ‘who’s who’; instead he was describing the fascinating duties of his newly appointed position as National Sergeant at Arms for the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).
O’Brien received notice of his appointment as National Sergeant at Arms of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States with its 2.3 million members and auxiliary early in April of 2007. He was appointed at the National Council of Administration meeting on April 23, 2007 and was sworn in during the August National Convention. He will serve under new Commander-in-Chief George Lisicki for 2007-2008.
O’Brien is no stranger to the National Sergeant at Arms position. Each National Sergeant at Arms has seven National Assistant Sergeant at Arms who serve under him. These Assistants represent conferences across the United States. O’Brien served as one of the National Assistant Sergeant at Arms, the only one from the East conference, for the last seven years. He has also served as State Sergeant at Arms (Massachusetts) for 11 of the last 12 years.
A Vietnam Era Sgt. in the Air Force from 1965 – 69, O’Brien’s eligibility for the VFW occurred when he was sent to Korea 3 days after the USS Pueblo was seized by the North Koreans and the crew held hostage. He describes it, “Korea, with it's demilitarized zone along the 32nd parallel is still an on going hot spot to this day. I was there for six and a half months from Feb. 68 to Sept. 68. I was an Intercept Control Technician that was trained to assist in intercepting un-friendly aircraft to either destroy them or turn them around out of un-authorized air space, via radar control and to help flight follow friendly aircraft by giving them radar vectors to their home base or an airbase for landing.”
In 1978 when O’Brien was the elected as Commander of Post no. 2394 in Melrose at age 31, he was the youngest Commander ever elected to the Post. In the 76-year history of the Post, O’Brien still holds that record. He is also a Past All-State Post Commander, Past Middlesex District 18 Commander and Past Middlesex County Council Commander. In 1982 he was named National Young Veteran of the Year.
As National Sergeant at Arms, O’Brien is the man of protocol for the convention. This year there were 10,272 people in attendance at the August convention. O’Brien said he and his team often say that their job entails being up to greet those people in the morning and ends after they put them to bed at night.
Everything between waking in the morning and bed at night is a carefully orchestrated series of events that O’Brien keeps moving like clockwork throughout each day of the conference. He and his team spend three days before each conference meeting with every possible committee to ensure that they know the logistics and security for every event. He keeps with him a schedule of the timing and seating/logistics for each day of the conference.
This year’s convention presented the unique challenge of appearances by current sitting President George Bush and four of the contenders for the next presidency. O’Brien said they consider the convention to be the “home” of the VFW and these politicians are guests in their home. It is the responsibility of the National Sergeant at Arms team to be first in line to address any disturbances in the hall.
VFW members were told up front that these political guests were there to be heard and respected and that if members did not want to hear a particular speaker that they should go sight seeing or shopping instead of ruining the experience for the other members who want to hear the speeches. As usual, the events this year went off without disturbances.
On Monday of the Convention, Clinton and McCain addressed the crowd with their differing views on Troop withdrawal in Iraq. On Tuesday, Obama presented his five- point counter-terrorism strategy and Thompson emphasized the need for unity and winning in Iraq. President Bush addressed the group on Wednesday.
It is important to note a disclaimer from the VFW website, “The appearance of these presidential candidates is not an endorsement, implied or otherwise. The VFW does not make a presidential endorsement because it is important that they be able to work effectively with that president and administration.”
The annual National Convention is but one of the many responsibilities of the National Sergeant at Arms. O’Brien already has out of state meetings scheduled in each of the next three months and has a master list of the big conferences for the next five years. Although his position has a one-year term, the Commander-in-Chief, which changes annually, decides upon each appointment. Therefore, future commanders (who are frequently identified 5 years ahead of their election) are often consulted in the appointment of a new National Sergeant at Arms because it is hope there will be continuity in the position.
O'Brien's position as National Sergeant at Arms gives him high visibility within the organization. He travels with the Commander, assists when the VFW addresses the House and Senate in Washington D.C. in March of each year, and greets and escorts guest speakers, performers and award winners. When President Bush was at the Conference, O’Brien escorted him to the green room, escorted him to the stage to speak, stood in front of him as he spoke (see photo), and flanked one side of him as he walked the line greeting members after the speech.
At other times, the position enables him to meet and greet people from many walks of life. The VFW presents gold medals to people who have performed outstanding service for veterans or current troops, such as the traveling shows put on by the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders or the work of Miss America and Miss Massachusetts. Musician Tony Orlando received the Gold Medal for a patriotic show that he performs every Memorial Day for Veterans. They also present news awards. One such recipient that O’Brien greeted was newsman Tim Russert. But then there are also awards presented to people who have done something extremely courageous, like the child that saved another from dying, and other local heroes.
O’Brien reminds us that the VFW is not just a group of veterans getting together to talk about war stories and old times. Actually, there is very little of that. They are an extremely civic-minded organization that works to take care of veterans, provide scholarships for students, and many other services to local communities.
According to the VFW website, “Its mission is to “honor the dead by helping the living” through veterans’ service, community service, national security and a strong national defense.” Annually, VFW members and its Auxiliary contribute more than 13 million hours of volunteerism.
Of his many years of service to the VFW, O’Brien says, “This is my chance to give back because I’m in a position to do so.”
“I’m so proud that I can take part in this community,” he added.
He has resided in the town of Wilmington, MA for the past 9 years and is a graduate of Somerville High School in 1965 and Newbury Jr. College for business management in Boston. O’Brien is presently employed by the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority as a Senior Controller where he has been employed for the past 20 years.
Copyright 2007 CBLEGVOLD. All Rights Reserved.
O’Brien received notice of his appointment as National Sergeant at Arms of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States with its 2.3 million members and auxiliary early in April of 2007. He was appointed at the National Council of Administration meeting on April 23, 2007 and was sworn in during the August National Convention. He will serve under new Commander-in-Chief George Lisicki for 2007-2008.
O’Brien is no stranger to the National Sergeant at Arms position. Each National Sergeant at Arms has seven National Assistant Sergeant at Arms who serve under him. These Assistants represent conferences across the United States. O’Brien served as one of the National Assistant Sergeant at Arms, the only one from the East conference, for the last seven years. He has also served as State Sergeant at Arms (Massachusetts) for 11 of the last 12 years.
A Vietnam Era Sgt. in the Air Force from 1965 – 69, O’Brien’s eligibility for the VFW occurred when he was sent to Korea 3 days after the USS Pueblo was seized by the North Koreans and the crew held hostage. He describes it, “Korea, with it's demilitarized zone along the 32nd parallel is still an on going hot spot to this day. I was there for six and a half months from Feb. 68 to Sept. 68. I was an Intercept Control Technician that was trained to assist in intercepting un-friendly aircraft to either destroy them or turn them around out of un-authorized air space, via radar control and to help flight follow friendly aircraft by giving them radar vectors to their home base or an airbase for landing.”
In 1978 when O’Brien was the elected as Commander of Post no. 2394 in Melrose at age 31, he was the youngest Commander ever elected to the Post. In the 76-year history of the Post, O’Brien still holds that record. He is also a Past All-State Post Commander, Past Middlesex District 18 Commander and Past Middlesex County Council Commander. In 1982 he was named National Young Veteran of the Year.
As National Sergeant at Arms, O’Brien is the man of protocol for the convention. This year there were 10,272 people in attendance at the August convention. O’Brien said he and his team often say that their job entails being up to greet those people in the morning and ends after they put them to bed at night.
Everything between waking in the morning and bed at night is a carefully orchestrated series of events that O’Brien keeps moving like clockwork throughout each day of the conference. He and his team spend three days before each conference meeting with every possible committee to ensure that they know the logistics and security for every event. He keeps with him a schedule of the timing and seating/logistics for each day of the conference.
This year’s convention presented the unique challenge of appearances by current sitting President George Bush and four of the contenders for the next presidency. O’Brien said they consider the convention to be the “home” of the VFW and these politicians are guests in their home. It is the responsibility of the National Sergeant at Arms team to be first in line to address any disturbances in the hall.
VFW members were told up front that these political guests were there to be heard and respected and that if members did not want to hear a particular speaker that they should go sight seeing or shopping instead of ruining the experience for the other members who want to hear the speeches. As usual, the events this year went off without disturbances.
On Monday of the Convention, Clinton and McCain addressed the crowd with their differing views on Troop withdrawal in Iraq. On Tuesday, Obama presented his five- point counter-terrorism strategy and Thompson emphasized the need for unity and winning in Iraq. President Bush addressed the group on Wednesday.
It is important to note a disclaimer from the VFW website, “The appearance of these presidential candidates is not an endorsement, implied or otherwise. The VFW does not make a presidential endorsement because it is important that they be able to work effectively with that president and administration.”
The annual National Convention is but one of the many responsibilities of the National Sergeant at Arms. O’Brien already has out of state meetings scheduled in each of the next three months and has a master list of the big conferences for the next five years. Although his position has a one-year term, the Commander-in-Chief, which changes annually, decides upon each appointment. Therefore, future commanders (who are frequently identified 5 years ahead of their election) are often consulted in the appointment of a new National Sergeant at Arms because it is hope there will be continuity in the position.
O'Brien's position as National Sergeant at Arms gives him high visibility within the organization. He travels with the Commander, assists when the VFW addresses the House and Senate in Washington D.C. in March of each year, and greets and escorts guest speakers, performers and award winners. When President Bush was at the Conference, O’Brien escorted him to the green room, escorted him to the stage to speak, stood in front of him as he spoke (see photo), and flanked one side of him as he walked the line greeting members after the speech.
At other times, the position enables him to meet and greet people from many walks of life. The VFW presents gold medals to people who have performed outstanding service for veterans or current troops, such as the traveling shows put on by the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders or the work of Miss America and Miss Massachusetts. Musician Tony Orlando received the Gold Medal for a patriotic show that he performs every Memorial Day for Veterans. They also present news awards. One such recipient that O’Brien greeted was newsman Tim Russert. But then there are also awards presented to people who have done something extremely courageous, like the child that saved another from dying, and other local heroes.
O’Brien reminds us that the VFW is not just a group of veterans getting together to talk about war stories and old times. Actually, there is very little of that. They are an extremely civic-minded organization that works to take care of veterans, provide scholarships for students, and many other services to local communities.
According to the VFW website, “Its mission is to “honor the dead by helping the living” through veterans’ service, community service, national security and a strong national defense.” Annually, VFW members and its Auxiliary contribute more than 13 million hours of volunteerism.
Of his many years of service to the VFW, O’Brien says, “This is my chance to give back because I’m in a position to do so.”
“I’m so proud that I can take part in this community,” he added.
He has resided in the town of Wilmington, MA for the past 9 years and is a graduate of Somerville High School in 1965 and Newbury Jr. College for business management in Boston. O’Brien is presently employed by the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority as a Senior Controller where he has been employed for the past 20 years.
Copyright 2007 CBLEGVOLD. All Rights Reserved.
Goodbye Chalkboards - Hello SMART Boards
TEWKSBURY - Why would Brenda Regan’s 6th grade math class be dissecting a frog at the beginning of class last Friday and how did they do it without metal dissecting tools, frog dissection kits, or any kind of mess?
The answer is an incredible technology being implemented into Tewksbury classrooms. Regan’s classroom is outfitted with a SMART Board System, from SMART Technologies. It is three-component system of an interactive whiteboard, a projector that is mounted to the ceiling, and the teacher’s computer, to which the projector and the whiteboard are linked. As the projector puts an image of the computer screen up onto the whiteboard, the teacher or students can touch the whiteboard with a finger and control the computer as if they were using a mouse.
But this Board does so much more. Pick up a stylus pen from the tray on the Board and use it or your finger to write on the Board. Change your handwriting to text and play with size, font, color, repetition – the possibilities are endless! And this is how Regan’s class came to perform a virtual dissection of a frog on their SMART Board system. The students were engaged and having fun with the dissection, while they were also learning to use the Board.
At any opportunity to use the Board, kids are excited and many hands go up when a volunteer is needed at the Board. Regan said that this excitement is not a novelty. She said the kids last year were just as enthralled by it at the end of the year. The excitement never ends because there is always something new to do on it. “It’s engaging, it’s different, and it’s interactive,” said Regan.
Regan explains that if she sent a notebook home and told kids to create math lessons to share with the class, there would be a lot of eye rolling and comments like “oh great, she gave me more work,” but with the SMART Board system, kids are eager to go home and install the software and create lessons from home. It reinforces the lessons for the student and at the same time they create lessons that their class and future classes can use to learn math.
Not only will the student-created lessons serve as a resource for future classes, but anything that is written on the Board can be saved in a file or printed out. Students can bring in thumb drives and take home files to continue to review or practice material and a student who is absent can catch up on the materials from missed lessons.
The Board changes the way teachers traditionally teach. “It revolutionizes teaching a little because I don’t have to be in front of the class in your way,” Regan told students as she moved to teach from the back of the room and used her Bluetooth enabled slate to control the board from a distance. Students no longer have to look at the back of a teacher who is trying to write on a chalkboard. Regan can see all of the students, and the students focus on the material presented in front of them. There is even a magnifier tool that can be used to enlarge parts of the screen so that text can be read from across the room. The slate can be passed around, so even students that are not physically able to get to the board can use it from their seats.
Describing the technology as “contagious,” Regan said that once a teacher in a subject area has piloted the SMART Board in their classroom for a year, others that see the excitement want one in their room too. Lessons that are created by teachers and students can be shared and there is free access to more lessons on the SMART Technologies website for the life of the Board.
Regan won a grant in 2006 from SMART Technologies that included a SMART Board System, training for her in Canada so that she could learn the system and learn to train other teachers, and a trip for 2 teachers and 8 students for 8 days to Canada for intensive training also. Now the district is building on that to train more teachers and students and to implement more systems throughout the schools.
Superintendent McGrath and the School Committee are fully supportive of efforts to bring in more SMART Boards for the classrooms. At their August 29th meeting they discussed the necessity of giving consideration to hiring individuals who have the skills to keep up with the technology we are bringing into the schools. They mentioned revisiting this issue as they get into the budget process for next year.
In e-mail to the Crier, School Committee Chairman Keith Rauseo provided the multi-faceted reasoning behind the district’s enthusiastic response to SMART Board technology, “SMART Boards are terrific tools because they bring a new level of hands-on interaction and student participation within instruction. They are new and different, so they generate a natural boost of excitement among students and teachers. Even more importantly, they allow teachers to save and share lessons. Bringing the lesson right up and working through it immediately, or bringing up a tried-and-true lesson developed by a colleague, saves teachers time from writing everything over and over on a standard board, and this allows teachers more time for instruction. Several teachers are strong advocates of the technology and are already using it everyday. The administration is excited about it and working on plans to acquire more boards over time. We all think they will have a great effect on the overall quality of instruction.”
The Schools Need Your Help
There are nearly 20 of these systems currently throughout the school district. PAC fundraising and private and corporate donations have provided most of these SMART Board systems. Regan said that a classroom could be fully set up with the SMART Board equipment for a cost of $2000 to $2500. Any business or resident interested in making a contribution toward the purchase of one of these systems is encouraged to contact a school or the Superintendent’s office and specify that the donation is for a SMART Board purchase.
Copyright 2007 CBLEGVOLD. All Rights Reserved.
The answer is an incredible technology being implemented into Tewksbury classrooms. Regan’s classroom is outfitted with a SMART Board System, from SMART Technologies. It is three-component system of an interactive whiteboard, a projector that is mounted to the ceiling, and the teacher’s computer, to which the projector and the whiteboard are linked. As the projector puts an image of the computer screen up onto the whiteboard, the teacher or students can touch the whiteboard with a finger and control the computer as if they were using a mouse.
But this Board does so much more. Pick up a stylus pen from the tray on the Board and use it or your finger to write on the Board. Change your handwriting to text and play with size, font, color, repetition – the possibilities are endless! And this is how Regan’s class came to perform a virtual dissection of a frog on their SMART Board system. The students were engaged and having fun with the dissection, while they were also learning to use the Board.
At any opportunity to use the Board, kids are excited and many hands go up when a volunteer is needed at the Board. Regan said that this excitement is not a novelty. She said the kids last year were just as enthralled by it at the end of the year. The excitement never ends because there is always something new to do on it. “It’s engaging, it’s different, and it’s interactive,” said Regan.
Regan explains that if she sent a notebook home and told kids to create math lessons to share with the class, there would be a lot of eye rolling and comments like “oh great, she gave me more work,” but with the SMART Board system, kids are eager to go home and install the software and create lessons from home. It reinforces the lessons for the student and at the same time they create lessons that their class and future classes can use to learn math.
Not only will the student-created lessons serve as a resource for future classes, but anything that is written on the Board can be saved in a file or printed out. Students can bring in thumb drives and take home files to continue to review or practice material and a student who is absent can catch up on the materials from missed lessons.
The Board changes the way teachers traditionally teach. “It revolutionizes teaching a little because I don’t have to be in front of the class in your way,” Regan told students as she moved to teach from the back of the room and used her Bluetooth enabled slate to control the board from a distance. Students no longer have to look at the back of a teacher who is trying to write on a chalkboard. Regan can see all of the students, and the students focus on the material presented in front of them. There is even a magnifier tool that can be used to enlarge parts of the screen so that text can be read from across the room. The slate can be passed around, so even students that are not physically able to get to the board can use it from their seats.
Describing the technology as “contagious,” Regan said that once a teacher in a subject area has piloted the SMART Board in their classroom for a year, others that see the excitement want one in their room too. Lessons that are created by teachers and students can be shared and there is free access to more lessons on the SMART Technologies website for the life of the Board.
Regan won a grant in 2006 from SMART Technologies that included a SMART Board System, training for her in Canada so that she could learn the system and learn to train other teachers, and a trip for 2 teachers and 8 students for 8 days to Canada for intensive training also. Now the district is building on that to train more teachers and students and to implement more systems throughout the schools.
Superintendent McGrath and the School Committee are fully supportive of efforts to bring in more SMART Boards for the classrooms. At their August 29th meeting they discussed the necessity of giving consideration to hiring individuals who have the skills to keep up with the technology we are bringing into the schools. They mentioned revisiting this issue as they get into the budget process for next year.
In e-mail to the Crier, School Committee Chairman Keith Rauseo provided the multi-faceted reasoning behind the district’s enthusiastic response to SMART Board technology, “SMART Boards are terrific tools because they bring a new level of hands-on interaction and student participation within instruction. They are new and different, so they generate a natural boost of excitement among students and teachers. Even more importantly, they allow teachers to save and share lessons. Bringing the lesson right up and working through it immediately, or bringing up a tried-and-true lesson developed by a colleague, saves teachers time from writing everything over and over on a standard board, and this allows teachers more time for instruction. Several teachers are strong advocates of the technology and are already using it everyday. The administration is excited about it and working on plans to acquire more boards over time. We all think they will have a great effect on the overall quality of instruction.”
The Schools Need Your Help
There are nearly 20 of these systems currently throughout the school district. PAC fundraising and private and corporate donations have provided most of these SMART Board systems. Regan said that a classroom could be fully set up with the SMART Board equipment for a cost of $2000 to $2500. Any business or resident interested in making a contribution toward the purchase of one of these systems is encouraged to contact a school or the Superintendent’s office and specify that the donation is for a SMART Board purchase.
Copyright 2007 CBLEGVOLD. All Rights Reserved.
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