Posted: 2 years ago

I have started to learn to play steel drums. Although I have played piano, trombone and guitar in the past , and currently sing with a local choir, this is the first time I've tried percussion.

I play bass, which means I have 4 55-gallon drums (painted bright red!), each drum having 3 notes on it (and a couple octaves). I am playing with Pandemonium, an eight-year-old steel band in Prescott, AZ, USA. It's fun!! Perhaps this will be a future program, we'll see.

What are YOU doing??

 Larry Levenson / Prescott Valley, Arizona USA

Posted: 2 years ago

In the middle of 2009, I started to put together journals of events and ideas around the thought: To Know Is To Grow. I just wanted to explore things that I had not in the past, was interested in now in the present, and wanted to examine by myself or others for the future. The first journal was about where I was born and my early training (which carried into the second one); the next two were on Why I Teach?; many after that were about art, my own and that of those who were my heroes through time plus those who interest me while contributing to ideas about what I am doing. The latest two, #29 and #30, come from something that my theatre friend in Canada sent me the other day: "Life is not how you survive the storm; it is how you dance in the rain." Therefore, I call them both: "A Dance In The Rain."

Therefore, to help me with this impossible task (which may take some time even if I can get others from around the world to send me stories about 'a dance in the rain), I am asking YOU to send me stories from legend, myth, personal experience, stories that are passed down and around, etc. They can be one or two pages in English. If about Rotary, I will pass them on as a possible program or two for our eClub. If they are from your culture or stories about daily life (and how one transcends the adversity of it), I will put them in my journals and make disks from the journals which are placed in the library so that anyone can download them for their own use. Your name would be on each entry, each story. Send them to: joe_kagle@hotmail.com.

I am doing this for no financial gain, just knowledge that I will use in the future, or others can use in the future. It does not hurt, either, that it helps me with my writing. I have written many things before but never to this degree or extent. The visuals are easy for me; finding the thread in ideas for the writing is hard. But it does show that 'To Know Is To Grow.'

I just had my ... birthday yesterday (today is May 3) and know that learning to play steel drums or picking up judo again (going to Japan's kodokan to study) or making thousands of cranes again (while learning origami) is outside what I want to do with the time away from my painting and teaching. But improving my writing and reliving the past is a key to my future, I feel. Some of my friends say that "Writing all those journals now, at your age, is crazy and time-consuming." They probably are right but 'in a crazy world, the only way to grow is be a little crazy.' I find it fun!! They also ask, "Are you planning on dying soon?" I answer, "Aren't we all?" Larry asked the right question, What are YOU doing? It is important that we share our crazy joys as well as our 'so-called' sane ones!

Posted: 2 years ago

Sang for a funeral, during which I considered several Rotary ideas. Back to my office and Rotary work.

Tomorrow will be totally different: I'm going to do Rotary work.

Jack M. B. Selway, RGHF Founder & CEO

Posted: 2 years ago

Hi from Tokyo

Last week and this week, I've haad the pleasure to spend time with sumo-wrestlers, privately as well as during their training in their stables, and during tournaments. I've shot tons of photographs, but, although I shared their massive breakfast ('chanko-nabe') have not gained any weight.  Probably my camera is too  heavy. SUMO is the traditional Japanese wrestling, and more of an art form than anything else. It is strongly connected to SHINTO, the traditional Japanese nature religion. Sumo-wrestlers are such friendly people, and I appreciate the opportunity that I am given, as this is a 'closed' society. Yesterday we had BBQ together, and tomorrow I will be shooting pictures again, documenting their Charity Bazaar (and then donating these pictures). I thankfully notice: Life is interesting!

Posted: 2 years ago

Ryofu, hard to visual a happy, short , slim guy sitting down to breakfast with these BIG guys!  That, in itself, would be a great picture!!

Here's to life. ... with all it's surprises! :)

 Larry Levenson / Prescott Valley, Arizona USA

Posted: 2 years ago

hahaha, Larry, yes, it sure is. We actually took a picture - hohoho!

cheers to life, too!

Posted: 2 years ago

I AM WORKING ON TWO ANNUAL YOUTH PROJECTS

PROJECT ONE - JUNIOR TENNIS SUMMER CAMP

During the week of August 9-13 th, I will be teaming up with the St. Lucia Tiawanese Embassy and the Coconut Bay Beach Resort and Spa to co-ordinate a Junior Tennis Camp in the south of St. Lucia for 60 young tennis enthusiasts between the ages of 6 and 14.

PROJECT TWO - YOUTH FEST 2010

I am working with a group of youngsters to organize the sixth annual YOUTH FEST for SUNDAY DECEMBER 19th.

THE ANNUAL CARIBBEAN YOUTH FEST PROVIDES A FORUM  TO SHOWCASE, PROMOTE, AND DEVELOP  THE MUSICAL AND RELATED TALENTS OF ASPIRING CARIBBEAN YOUTH WHILE UTILIZING THEIR TALENTS AND INFLUENCES TO SPREAD POSITIVE VALUES AND HEALTHY LIFESTYLES. THE YOUTH FEST FEATURES PERFORMANCES IN THE AREAS OF GOSPEL, DANCE HALL, REGGAE, KAISO, SOCA, COUNTRY, HIP HOP, R & B, AND DANCING

The annual CARIBBEAN YOUTH FEST attracts large attendance of youth, the not so young, parents and guardians and also provides an opportunity for artists, community stakeholders, and the business sector to develop viable linkages while reaching out to the society with positive messages. The activity is also a fundraiser for the development of Sports and Culture.

OUR MISSION

To provide exposure for the musical and related talents of our Caribbean Youth while spreading positive messages, advocating healthy lifestyles, and generating sustainable resources for the development of sports and culture.

OUR VISION

• Reaching out to the Caribbean Youth, positively influence their values and behavior through the music and lyrics of their peers.
• Assisting in the development and showcasing of our evolving musical and related talents.
• Partnering with Governments, NGO’s, Developmental Agencies, the Business Sector and others in the fight against HIV/AIDS, DRUGS, VIOLENCE, and CRIME.

OUR VALUES

Integrity in our actions, relationships, programs and efforts

Respect for human rights, inclusion, and the cultural and social diversity of our people.

Commitment to contribute our resources and profits to the development of the Caribbean Youth, especially those in challenging environments

Posted: 2 years ago

Omar this sounds like it would be an interesting program for our club. Do you have photos from past Youth Fests that you could share along with a Word document descibing how fun the event was and what a difference it made in people's lives?

Would any of these youth be old enough (18 years old or more) and interested in joining the world's only global eRotaract Club? We will be re-launching our eRotaract Club in August this year.

Thanks for sharing about these two events with us!!

Larry

 Larry Levenson / Prescott Valley, Arizona USA

Posted: 2 years ago

I am playing around on Face Book

What do you think about  having a page for us ?

Posted: 2 years ago

Hi Arnold! Wow, all kinds of interesting people are showing up here! :)

If you want to buold it, maybe we will come! I have no problem with a presence on FB. . . but I have no time or interest in maintaining it myself. Go for it!

Larry

 Larry Levenson / Prescott Valley, Arizona USA

Posted: 2 years ago

OK

let me see what I can do

I will keep you posted

Posted: 2 years ago

You may find that a Facebook page will be more useful than the eClub forum. The RGHF forum www.rghfforum.org is based on the first eClub forum, and while it serves as a place of record for postings and decisions, it is rarely used by members to leave comments. Our Facebook activity, conversely, has been very busy.

Over half of our members are on line, and many good things have come of this. The interaction and "fellowship" have been rewarding. We also have a fan page with nearly 3,000 fans. That helps us get the word out on our activities, but we also use several Rotary sites to do the same.

I believe that you/we will find a private Facebook page most useful. I would recommend that it be by invitation, or else you'll have lots of strangers leaving irrelevant or unwanted comments. A fan page can serve the purpose of attracting new members. www.historyfan.org is our fan page on Facebook.

It really requires several moderators to patrol and safeguard.

My thoughts after spending much of the last 11 months relating to our RGHF members on Facebook.

Jack

Jack M. B. Selway, RGHF Founder & CEO

Posted: 2 years ago

Jack

I agree

Would you work with me to get it set up and running ?

Posted: 2 years ago

I you can get a few to monitor and be "officers" on the site, I can set it up. Do you want a closed members group and also a fan's page?

Jack M. B. Selway, RGHF Founder & CEO

Posted: 2 years ago

You should have received an invitation. When you join, I'll make you an administrator and "off you go."

You might then add board members are administrators, and list officers of the club when they join.

Have fun.

Jack M. B. Selway, RGHF Founder & CEO