WASHINGTON, D.C. -- As Republican leaders in Washington lean on Democrats to approve the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement (USMCTA), a review of recent Gallup data on trade provides insights into the public opinion backdrop.

Five key points emerge from Gallup polling on trade since President Donald Trump took office in 2017.

Here are more details on these essential points.

Gallup has not asked Americans explicitly whether they agree with an "America First" approach to trade, but less than a month into Trump's presidency, in February 2017, 71% of Americans rated "promoting favorable trade policies for the U.S. in foreign markets" as a "very important" U.S. foreign policy goal.

In that survey, promoting favorable trade policies ranked fourth in importance to Americans out of eight possible foreign policy goals. It was slightly behind securing U.S. energy supplies (80% very important) and preventing either the spread of nuclear weapons (84%) or future acts of terrorism (85%). It ranked ahead of defending U.S. allies' security (66%), working with the U.N. to achieve world cooperation (63%), and promoting human rights (53%) or building democracy (29%) in other countries.

In other words, Americans value favorable trade deals on par with preserving national security, and prioritize it over international rights and cooperation.

Underscoring this finding, a January 2017 Gallup poll conducted shortly before Trump took office found the president-elect holding something of a mandate to renegotiate U.S. trade deals. In the poll, Gallup tested a number of promises Trump made during the 2016 campaign, asking respondents how important it was that he keep each as president.

Most Americans thought it was "very" or "somewhat" important that Trump keep each of his three major promises on trade, with an outright majority saying one of them was very important:

Americans' broad view of trade is the most positive it has been in more than a quarter-century. As of February 2019, nearly three in four U.S. adults (74%) believe trade represents "an opportunity for economic growth through increased U.S. exports." Barely one in five (21%) see trade as more of "a threat to the economy from foreign imports."

Changes in Americans' sentiment on trade have largely followed U.S. economic conditions. In 1992, more Americans saw trade as a threat than an opportunity, as consumers were still recovering from the 1990-1991 recession. By 1994, the economy was doing well, and the majority saw trade as an opportunity. Perceptions shifted again in 2005 as the economy slowed and entered an 18-month recession in late 2007, but they have since grown increasingly positive.

The relationship between Americans' perceptions of trade and U.S. economic conditions has been particularly strong since 2011. As the unemployment rate declined from over 9% in January 2011 to 4.0% in January 2019, the percentage of Americans perceiving trade as a threat from imports dropped by more than half, from 45% to 21%.

Both Republicans and Democrats have become more positive about trade over this period of improving economic conditions. However, support for trade among both groups jumped sharply after Trump took office in 2017.

Most Americans today believe trade is beneficial to several key aspects of the economy -- particularly innovation and economic growth. Americans are the least positive about the effect trade has on the availability of jobs for U.S. workers. Still, the slight majority say U.S. trade with other countries has a mostly positive effect on jobs for U.S. workers.

Effect That Trade With Other Countries Has on Each Aspect

Do you think U.S. trade with other countries has a mostly positive effect or a mostly negative effect on -- [RANDOM ORDER]?

Republicans and Democrats largely agree about the impact that trade has in all six areas.

In Gallup polling from 1997 to 2004, Republicans and Democrats were in close agreement on NAFTA, with less than half of either group viewing it as good policy for the U.S. In Gallup's next measurement in 2017, however, Democratic support had soared to 67% while Republican support had sunk to 22%.

The long interlude between Gallup's 2004 and 2017 readings makes it impossible to pinpoint when the shift occurred or why; however, today's partisan gap makes sense in the context of Trump's harsh criticism of NAFTA.

Whatever the reason, the broad support of Democrats nationally for NAFTA could be affecting Democratic leaders' current willingness to approve the USMCTA, the Trump administration's replacement for NAFTA.

On the one hand, twice as many Americans in June 2018 said that China engages in unfair rather than fair trade with the U.S. -- 62% vs. 30% -- by far the worst rating given to any U.S. trading partner.

On the other hand, Americans haven't embraced Trump's tough stance on trade. More Americans in July 2018 thought the tariffs imposed by the U.S. and China on each other after stalled trade talks would be more harmful than helpful to the U.S. economy in the long term, with 45% saying this. However, respondents' expectations for the impact on their own finances and those of their employer were less negative, with close to half saying the tariffs would have no effect.

Perceived Effect of 2018 U.S.-China Tariffs

As you may know, the U.S. has imposed new tariffs on many products and materials made in China and sold in the U.S., and in return China has imposed new tariffs on products and materials from the U.S. sold in China. In the long run, do you think these new tariffs will make things better, not make much difference or make things worse for each of the following?

Republicans and Democrats did see the U.S.-China tariffs somewhat differently. Nearly three-quarters of Democrats (72%) thought the tariffs would negatively affect the economy in the long term, and 56% said they would be detrimental to their own finances. By contrast, a majority of Republicans (62%) said the tariffs would help the U.S. economy, and thought the tariffs would have no effect on their personal finances (44%) or would improve them (39%).

Trump may be in sync with Americans when he expresses the strong desire to renegotiate trade deals so they are more favorable to U.S. interests, but with the USCMTA hung up in Congress, he lacks a major legislative success in this arena. His criticism of China's trade practices may meet with approval from the majority of Americans who consider China an unfair trading partner, but his strategy of raising tariffs on Chinese imports -- which has prompted China to issue countertariffs on U.S. products -- was not particularly reassuring to Americans.

The net effect of Trump's pluses and minuses on trade is that his approval rating for how he is handling foreign trade tracks closely with his overall job rating. For instance, when last measured in February, Trump earned 43% job approval on trade, vs. 45% overall. That contrasts with the 56% he earned on the economy generally.

Trump's overall job approval rating is even lower today, at 39%, most likely meaning his rating on trade is also down and only reducing what political leverage he might have with reluctant Democrats on Capitol Hill over the USCMTA.

Lydia Saad is a Senior Editor at Gallup.

See original here:
Americans' Views on Trade in the Trump Era - Gallup

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump on Wednesday ordered an end to economic sanctions against Turkey, declaring success for his policy despite a widespread belief among lawmakers of his own party and foreign policy experts that the U.S. withdrawal from the region has been a victory for Turkey and Russia.

The sanctions will be lifted unless something happens that were not happy with, Trump said, adding that this was a situation created by us.

Let someone else fight over this long-bloodstained sand, Trump added, although he also said a small number of troops would remain in Syria to secure oil reserves, a goal he often voices when discussing the region.

Trumps abrupt decision earlier this month to pull a small group of American troops out of northern Syria cleared the way for Turkey to invade the area, driving the United States former allies, the Kurds, to flee territories they had spent years securing. The Kurds did the bulk of the fighting in recent years against the Islamic State militias, also known as ISIS, helping the U.S. achieve a major goal of driving the Islamic State out of territories they controlled in Syria and Iraq.

The Kurdish withdrawal has allowed at least some people associated with Islamic State to escape from prisons where they were being guarded by Kurdish forces. Trump ignored a question about the detainees as he left the White House Diplomatic Room where he made his announcement.

The sanctions Trump lifted had been imposed by his administration just over a week ago to punish Turkey for the incursion into Syria. The administration acted after bipartisan outrage over Trumps failure to protect the Kurdish population in northern Syria.

Last week, Vice President Mike Pence traveled to Turkey, where he negotiated a cease-fire with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan under which Turkey agreed to a five-day pause in its invasion. The pause allowed Kurdish fighters to flee the region, although it left behind tens of thousands of Kurdish civilians who now face an uncertain fate. The pause also allowed Turkey to secure its gains in northern Syria and Russia to move into the vacuum left behind by the U.S. withdrawal.

Under the agreement, the administration said it would lift sanctions once the cease-fire became permanent. Trump said that had now been achieved, though he quickly added that hes skeptical of any claims of permanence in the Middle East.

Trump said the time had come for the U.S. to wash its hands of involvement in the region, despite past assurances to the Kurds that the U.S. would defend them in return for their service against Islamic State.

Turkey, Syria and all forms of the Kurds have been fighting for centuries, he said. We have done them a great service. Weve done a great job for all of them, and now were getting out.

Trump stood with top officials including Pence and Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo. His remarks were heavily focused on blaming others, including former President Barack Obama, for instability in the region.

This was an outcome created by us, the United States and nobody else, no other nation, very simple. Were willing to take blame and were also willing to take credit, Trump said as he thanked Erdogan and suggested the two might meet soon. Trump has denied giving Erdogan a green light for his Syria invasion, although the U.S. troop withdrawal effectively did so.

Our troops are safe. And the pain and suffering of the three-day fight that occurred was directly responsible for our ability to make an agreement with Turkey and the Kurds that could never have been made without this short-term outburst, Trump asserted.

Should Turkey fail to honor its obligations, including the protection of religious and ethnic minorities, which I truly believe they will do, we reserve the right to reimpose crippling sanctions, including substantially increased tariffs on steel and all other products coming out of Turkey, he said.

Noah BiermanLos Angeles Times

(Los Angeles Times staff writer Alexa Daz contributed to this report.)

2019 Los Angeles Times, Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Read more here:
Trump lifts Turkey sanctions, declaring success in Syria as Turkey and Russia fill void - Personal Liberty Digest

Harris is the advocacy director of Generation Citizen, an education nonprofit that works to ensure young people are prepared to participate in civic life.

As we watch young people around the country stand up for climate change, it is impossible not to consider the power of young people to change our world.

People have been listening to Greta Thurnburg as she speaks on the world's most prominent platforms while droves of young people have been rolling up their sleeves to drive change. Many have been largely overlooked by the media including Mari Copeny, the African-American middle schooler who brought attention to the water crisis in Flint, Mich., and Vic Barrett, one of 22 young plaintiffs suing the government for its contributions to the climate crisis.

A look through history similarly reminds us that young people have pioneered some of our most important societal advances: From college students in North Carolina who led a sit-in at the lunch counter during the civil rights movement, to the young people on the frontlines in Ferguson, Mo., to the leaders of Black Lives Matter, to the survivors of the high school shooting in Parkland, Fla., who founded March for Our Lives.

The passion young people have for their communities, their futures and the world is palpable. The energy that ran through the streets in September, as millions of students walked out of classrooms to participate in the Global Climate Strike, was universal. Yet the opportunity skills, resources, platforms for young people to stand up and lead is not.

Across the country, the opportunity to learn social and political activism is not created and implemented equally. Instead, there is great discrepancy in civic education opportunities so young people can engage constructively with political systems and inform policy decisions, derailing our democracy's promise of equal representation.

Young people from white, wealthy and otherwise privileged communities generally receive more and better civics education than young people from communities of color, low income communities, rural communities and other historically underserved places. And when civics is taught, it is typically tailored to the experiences of white, middle-class students without acknowledging experiences of those traditionally excluded from the political process. As a result, too many students experience a detrimental disconnect between what they learn in the classroom about American government and its ideals and the systemic discrimination they experience in their everyday lives. This ultimately discourages their embrace of, and belief in, the power of their political potential.

One way to address this inequity is to pass state laws mandating high-quality civics education and allocating funds to prepare teachers to teach it.

Massachusetts, for instance, recently passed an innovative civics education law requiring schools to create student-led civics projects in which they take action to address real problems in their communities. Furthering its commitment to equitable civic learning, the state allocated $1.5 million to implement the law.

But civics courses alone do not assure youth civic development. This is particularly true in communities where civic activity is often rooted in settings outside schools, including community centers and religious institutions. As such, it is critical that all individuals, institutions and organizations that work with youth from underserved communities and not just in schools understand they are civic educators and prepare themselves to support young people cultivating their own civic identities.

Our organization works to give all students an Action Civics education, partnering with schools to teach a semester-long curriculum and advocating for statewide policies like the one in Massachusetts. We prioritize reaching youth in historically underserved communities. To this end, we spoke with over two dozen young people, from low-income and rural communities in five states, to understand their needs, aspirations and experiences so we could identify patterns to make our engagement efforts most effective.

To some, the insights we collected were surprising. For others, they reaffirmed an existing understanding. These insights are worthy of consideration by all who work with young people from underserved communities.

We learned that while young people champion social issues they care about, they don't necessarily consider themselves to be "political" while engaging in that cause. They have strong core values that they strive to live by, and simultaneously don't always feel they have the tools to apply these values to social and political priorities outside their personal lives.

They have strong opinions and beliefs and want them to be heard. Yet they have a hard time finding comfortable spaces to share their ideas and not be drowned out by competing adults. They have strong visions of their future, while still developing an understanding of how the world works and how to achieve that vision.

And, driven by a sense of purpose and the desire to have a positive impact, they often feel ineffectual in a vast political system not designed to facilitate their participation.

Considering these findings as we shape our programs, services and policies will help us more meaningfully support young people from communities with a dearth of civic learning opportunities. Every young person should have the opportunity to be the next Greta Thurnburg, Mari Copeny or Vic Barrett. We need to provide more and better civics education to our nation's students.

In doing so we must meet students where they are, and honor their experiences, in order to initiate a path towards unlocking their true civic power.

From Your Site Articles

Related Articles Around the Web

Go here to see the original:
Designing youth civic education for representative civic participation - The Fulcrum

News Latest > Pepperell finds motivation in Portugal! Oct 26th, 2019 Words: GolfPunk Photography: Getty Images

Eddie Pepperell must have mixed memories of Portugal Masters after missing the cut and losing his card in 2016. However, this year he appears to have found an innovativeway to motivate himself, wagering Martin Kaymer about appearingon the Television Show First Dates.

I wonder what Kaymer will wear for his date?

Pepperells record at Dom Pedro Victoria Golf Course is actually more up than down. Admittedly, losing your card after missing the cut by double bogeying the 36th hole must hurt but he regained his playing privileges at the first time of asking, has claimed two European victories and finished third here in 2017 before coming second last season.

After a bogey free 66 on Friday, he is right in the mix again. "I felt a little more comfortable with my swing so it's a solid round, to be honest, and I'm continuing a nice run of form at this place," he said.

Why, oh why, did I get Pepperell?

Pepperell who is tied for 5th on 9 under and ever the joker in the pack, came up with an innovative way to keep himself motivated. Playing alongside Martin Kaymer the Englishman offered his Major winning playing partner a wager, if Pepperell went lower than Kaymer, he would apply for the German to go on the television show First Dates. Pepperell went four shots better than Kaymer, who is tied in 19th on 5 under. And Eddie took no time holding the former World Number One to the bet.

For those who are not familiar, First Dates and its sister show First Dates Hotel pair up a couple on a blind date, over dinner, and then viewers voyeuristically watch the impending cringefest, particularly when it comes to choosing who pays the bill!

One of the team at GolfPunk Towers offered up this as anexample of the participants. Enjoy!

And another thing...

GolfPorn: Coeur DAlene Golf Resort, Idaho

More:
Pepperell finds motivation in Portugal! - Golf Punk

Last month, we asked our readers what issues they wanted to hear the candidates running for local office address ahead of this falls local elections primary. Based on the input we received, we developed a three-item questionnaire for candidates running for WaterOne board address.

Today we publish the candidates responses to item one:

What relevant experience would you bring to the position, and what is your primary motivation for seeking a seat on the water district board?

Every candidate running for the WaterOne Board wants to provide clean water to our customers. Having served on the Board for many years, I know what it takes to provide safe clean reliable high-quality water to our customers. My experience on the Board and participation in the American Water Works Association including their Public Officials sessions over the years have allowed me to stay updated on advances in water treatment processes and technology to provide safe drinking water to our customers. As a Certified Public Accountant, I have used my business background to work with our qualified and dedicated staff at WaterOne to produce high-quality water, maintain and replace the older water infrastructure, manage growth, provide the customer service you expect and operate in a sustainable manner while also having the lowest water cost in the metro area.

My past and current leadership and service experiences include the Prairie Village City Council, unit and district leader in Boy Scouts, providing service to those in need though the Lions Club and my church, and serving the community on the Theatre in the Park Advisory Board and the Kansas City Chapter Board of the KU Alumni Association. I also participated in the Leadership Kansas and Leadership Northeast programs to learn more about statewide and local issues. I have held leadership positions in several national business organizations in the tax field.

After moving to Johnson County in 5th grade with my family, I have lived here continuously other than my time in college at the University of Kansas. Johnson County is an incredible place to live and raise a family. It continues to win national rankings as a great place to live. One of the reasons people want to live here are the services available to our residents. One of these services is water. A safe clean reliable high-quality water supply is very important to our community. You drink it and cook with it. You shower or bathe in it. You use it for cleaning and laundry. You use it outside at the pool or in the yard. Water is a small, but important part of what makes our community a great place to live.

I would appreciate your vote on November 5th so I can continue to serve our community and ensure that WaterOne will meet your water needs now and in the future. Thank you for your support and vote! Terry

After completing my undergraduate degrees in Biology and Psychology from Washington University in St. Louis, I worked for two years in a Biochemistry laboratory using the same equipment that WaterOne uses to test for contaminants. No other board member has this training and experience in biochemistry or biochemical testing. I completed my Medical School training at University of Texas Medical School in Houston, TX at the Texas Medical Center , the largest medical complete in the world, where MD Anderson is located. I completed my family medicine residency program in Kansas City, MO at Trinity Lutheran Family Medicine Residency Program.

After 27 years of practicing medicine as a family physician, I know that there is nothing more important than clean air and clean water to your healthcare. As a family physician, I have spent my entire career teaching and educating patients about their health and healthcare. I have experience and training in diseases, bacteria, algae, fungal and viral infections, and biochemistry that no one else on the board has. I want to use that training and experience to enhance your knowledge about ensuring your water supply system because clean, safe water is a building block to good health. On the WaterOne corporate board, I can help educate large numbers of our population, instead of serving patients one by one as I have for 27 years as a family physician.

I obtained my MBA from Rockhurst University in Kansas City in 2007 because I wanted to know more about the administrative side of healthcare. Furthermore, I have also incorporated Occupational Medicine in my medical practice by obtaining additional training as a Medical Review Officer for DOT (the U.S. Department of Transportation) drug testing,

FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, which deals with truck drivers, bus drivers, railroad workers, etc.) DOT Medical Examiner, and FAA Aviation Medical Examiner.

I have been an Overland Park resident for 25 years and my unique training and experience would enhance the WaterOne Board in ways in which I hope will ensure clean and safe water for you, your children and your grandchildren. I will use my skills that I used to succeed in medicine to now focus on water education and conservation of our natural resources.

Educationally, I hold a Bachelor degree in Computer Information Systems from Colorado State University, a Master degree in Health Services Administration from the University of Kansas Medical Center; and a Master degree of Business Administration/Operations Management from the University of Missouri Kansas City.

Professionally, I have spent the last 25 years working in health care serving several different capacities within finance and operations. I bring a wealth of experience managing CAPEX (Capital Expenditures) and OPEX (Operational Expenditures) within some of the most highly complex healthcare organizations in our region. I have developed and analyzed business plans and I know the pitfalls of forecasting and projections.

The most important thing I bring to the table is a combination of business acumen, understanding of scientific concepts and a lack of historical bias. There is something to be said for tenure, but the board has too many members who have served twenty plus years. And while I find that level of service and years of dedication laudable, I also understand that there is an inherent bias which lead people to vest too much in the status quo.

My motivation for seeking a seat on the water board is that I am interested in serving and I am interested in good governance. Additionally, I do not believe that a seat on the water board should be a life-long appointment. The incumbent (for position 2) has served the board for 24 years with little or no competition. I think it is time to add a fresh perspective to the board. Additionally, I am concerned about the phenomena in Johnson county whereby individuals hold municipal and legislative seats simultaneously. My opponent for WaterOne board is also my current State Senator. There is no reason for service to be consolidated into the hands of a few people. I know that Johnson County has many individuals who are qualified to serve; I am one of those people.

I have lived in Kansas City for nearly 25 years but I grew up and spent the early part of my life in Denver. When you come from a place that averages 17 of rain per year, you appreciate that water is scarce and precious. To me, water has a similar level of awareness as public schools. For someone with my background who is interested in serving, running for the water board is as natural as running for the school board.

Based on my skills I have developed being a part of many boards and elected positions, I am confident that I can continue to provide value to the WaterOne board and the customers we serve. In the past 8900 days, I have been a part of serving on the WaterOne board. I have served as a two time Chairman, Vice chairman of the board, and chairman of many other committees. I have been a part of the AWWA board and taken many seminars on learning the finances, treatment process, water loss, and much more.

I also served in the Kansas State House for 6 years and was a two time Majority Whip. I have served 9 years in the Kansas State Senate where I served as Utilities Committee Chair, Legislative Post Audit Chair, Financial Institutions and Insurance, and various other committees that have helped with my experience.

In my person life I have been a board member at Bank of the Prairie for the past 11 years. I also own a real estate company that develops multi-family housing. I have been a lifelong resident of Kansas and raised my family in Johnson County.

I choose to continue to run for the WaterOne board because I enjoy serving the people of my community and working with them on the issues. My top priorities are to supply the people with the safest water that meets and exceeds all federal and state regulations. I want our water to be available at the lowest cost with the best customer service now and in the future. It is my mission everyday that we continue to provide these services, our employees do a good job for the community, and that we provide a safe work environment for each employee working at WaterOne.

I have spent over thirty years working as a commercial banking executive. Prior to entering banking I spent over ten years on active duty as a member of the United States Air Force. I earned a B.S. in Business/Finance from Utica College of Syracuse University. I believe success is measured by what an individual has actually accomplished in the past and presently, not simply by a degree one possess or from a certification received after attending a twelve hour seminar. I have been attending monthly WaterOne board meetings, finance committee meetings and administrative meetings since February and have gotten to know the WaterOne management team so that when elected I can hit the ground running.

During my time in the Air Force I served in an operational role with the Tactical Air Command. I was responsible for managing individuals and assets in a high stress air defense environment both nationally and internationally. Achieving success meant that I had to effectively interact with both my peers serving in other U.S. military branches and those from other countries, in order to accomplish the mission.

My current role is President, Chief Commercial Officer, and Board Member, of Freedom Bank in Overland Park, KS. Freedom Bank opened its doors on June 19, 2006 and is locally owned and managed. The bank has supported locally owned, privately held businesses by providing over $250 million in commercial loans since opening the doors. My role requires that I possess the skills to actively engage in the following: business development/portfolio management; asset/liability management; annual business planning, which includes developing the budget and then achieving it; business continuity planning; personnel management; enterprise risk management; project planning, launch and success; vendor management; and conflict resolution.

Based on the skill set I have developed, I am confident I will provide value to the team at WaterOne and to the customers. Clearly, everyone wants a sustainable source of clean and safe drinking water. Prior to deciding to run for this seat, I mentioned to friends that I was searching for a way to give back to the community and it was suggested that given my skill set, serving on the WaterOne board would be great way to do this. My wife and I moved our family to the area in 1992 and it is our home.

Relevant Experience: I am the only certified Public Water Official by the American Water Works Association running in the WaterOne race. Certified Public Water Official training provides policy and budget education to professionals on water and sewer operating environments, source water, system components, operations, maintenance, and asset management. Public Water Officials also have an understanding of the regulatory environment and system metrics to reduce risk and improve decision making.

As a Population Health Executive at Cerner, I work with Healthcare Clients who are focused on keeping the communities they interact with healthy. Public health themes and working with Clients through complex budget considerations are integral to my daily work. The majority of healthcare costs stem from personal behaviors, socio-economic conditions, and changes to the environmental. Thus, clean air and clean water are prerequisites for a healthy community.

Also, I have community board experience serving on the board of The Hispanic Chamber of Greater Kansas City and ReDiscover Mental Health Foundation. I received my Executive M.B.A. from Washington University in St. Louis and completed my undergraduate degree in International Affairs and Spanish from Marquette University.

Primary Motivation: I have two motivations for running for the WaterOne board.

First, the rapidly changing climate requires active leadership to protect our water supply and ensure our water is clean for our community to drink. Water is a scarce commodity that will become increasingly so. Additional sustainability measures will need to be applied.

Second, since the 1980s Americans have dealt with a sharp decline in water infrastructure improvements. Decaying infrastructure and poor planning triggered lead poisoning and legionnaires disease in Flint, Michigan. All of this was 100% preventable. At least 500,000 children across the country have elevated levels of lead in their system today. This outcome is unacceptable for our families.

On October 10th, the EPA was ordered to roll back requirements on lead testing and infrastructure resolution that will endanger our populations health. We need to continue testing for traditional contaminants, and we also need to do strategic testing for other factors that have reached water supplies. Heavy metals, farm chemical runoff, endocrine disruptors, HABs, PFAS, micro-plastics, etc. do not belong in any water supply. As your WaterOne board member, I will work to exceed the national standards and abide by the training I received by the AWWA.

I am a graduate of Langston University with a Bachelors of Science degree in Agriculture Economics. My past work experiences provided great training, and developed skill sets for serving as Board Member at Water District 1. While employed as an Oklahoma State University County Extension Agent, I served on a committee studying the water table of the Ogallala Aquifer located beneath the Great Plains in the United States. Also as a Senior Sales Representative for BASF Corporation in the state of Kansas I promoted conservation practices that reduced chemical runoff into the streams and waterways. As a former US Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works employee we received training that included water resource development, flood risk management, recreation, infrastructure and environmental stewardship. More recently as a Supplier Diversity Specialist at Sprint, I worked to ensure Small and Diverse Vendors were certified, and any Sprint spend could then be counted as Diverse Spend.

Having clean safe drinking water, and being a good Steward is all our responsibility. Let us not forget Flint, Michigan, and now Newark, New Jersey. Clean drinking water is important to everyones health, and that is why I am a candidate for Board Member Position #6 at Water District 1 of Johnson County, Kan.

I am an engineer by degree and have spent my entire career in the water industry. I have interacted with Owners (such as WaterOne, BPU, Topeka and Omaha, etc.), Engineers (such as Black & Veatch, Burns & McDonnell, GBA, etc.), contractors and water works distributors. Additionally, I worked in the water treatment chemical industry and have personal knowledge about additives that go into public water systems. My expertise spans the Plains States and my knowledge about municipal water systems in the region is extensive. Simply said, I know water and water systems.

My motivation as a Board Member at WaterOne is to serve the public. My parents were involved in public service as leaders in developing one of the largest YMCAs in the northeast. They set an example of public service that I know I can carry forward in my service to WaterOne as a Board member. I do not pursue this position to seek other office. I am a water expert with opinions and experience in behalf of the ratepayers, for the benefit of WaterOne.

As an adult resident in Johnson County for more than 37 years, I have made my home and career in this area. I know how important a role WaterOne has played in the growth and progress of Johnson County. Safe, plentiful and economical water is accepted as a given. That would not be the case without good guidance, leadership and just plain hard work from the Board and all the employees of WaterOne. I intend to build on that foundation with long range planning that will continue our success and nationally recognized sustainability.

I have a mechanical engineering degree from Iowa State University. I have experience evaluating processes or equipment to meet performance requirements and cost effectiveness. I believe my technical training along with an almost compulsive curiosity would be well suited to act on a board charged with overseeing such a critical component of public health and safety.

See original here:
Water One board candidates on the issues: Qualifications and motivation for running - Shawnee Mission Post

Now that fall is finally here and winter is quickly approaching, it's getting dark earlier and temperatures are dropping. With the rush of Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas ahead, it's easy to lose focus, drive and motivation. Throw in a busy travel schedule, and the ups and downs of everyday life, and it can be a miracle making it into a gym for a workout.

When the weather gets cold, sometimes I just want to stay in, watch reruns of The Golden Girls and eat ketchup chips on my couch in my pyjamas with my cats. I've been there many times when it comes to needing a purpose to hit the gym and set new goals in my life. It's easy to get stuck in a rut, but that's okay as long as you don't get stuck too long.

Some little tricks I've been using to keep myself motivated are easily attainable for anyone. Something that helps me find my focus is trying something new and finding a partner to do it with. For example, I can get really bored in the gym as I work out quite often and there are days where it's hard to push myself. I can't stay down long because I need to stay fit to perform in the ring. We only get one body, so we have to take care of it. When I try new things, the excitement of it being "new" brings me so much joy. I recently joined two fitness classes in my area. One was a rowing class and the other was a cardio kickboxing class. I'd never done either but I had my sister join me and we dove in. Suddenly, working out is fun and fresh again and I looked forward to the classes as well as seeing results in my body. My sister Jenni, who is often my workout partner, helps keep me accountable. It's a great way to not only get results but also for my sister and I to spend time together.

Whenever I feel tired, one of the first questions I ask myself is "am I drinking enough water?" Hydration is often easily overlooked. Headaches, fatigue, muscle cramps, and lethargy are all key signs that you may not be hydrated. Dehydration can really affect your mood.

My husband TJ, who was a professional athlete for 20 years has a simple trick that keeps his water needs on track every day. Each morning TJ starts off his day with a gallon of water that he carries with him and tries to drinks throughout his workout. TJ makes it a goal to finish his gallon of water every day before 5 p.m. TJ said "it's amazing how much energy water gives me for my workouts, but lots of water also helps to curb my appetite throughout the day. I try to make it a contest with myself to always finish my gallon of water. When I do, it's a small but satisfying accomplishment." He also pointed out that The Rock drinks four gallons of water a day, so suddenly drinking water is even cooler!

Drink more water (as seen here with Charlotte Flair)! (Supplied Photo)

Lastly, something that can help keep you on track is to focus on what's in front of you right now and not to dwell on what you did wrong yesterday. Don't focus too much on how much work you've got ahead of you. Sometimes looking too deep into the future can be daunting and distracting. The other day, I looked at my travel schedule and saw how many weeks in front of me were packed with a heavy workload. The feeling of the next few weeks took me right out of the work I had to do that day because my focus was on days that hadn't even happened yet and things that were out of my control. I shifted my focus back on the day that was I was living in and thought to myself, "I can't always control the past or present but I can focus on what's in front of me right now."

Your attitude in life is everything. It's one day at a time for us all. Center yourself, because you are in charge and you have what it takes to be your best self. You've got this!

NATALYA NEIDHART LINKS

Natalya Neidhart is a Calgary Sun columnist when not competing for WWE. Her column appears on Thursdays. Tweet your questions to @NatbyNature.

Go here to see the original:
CANOE -- SLAM! Sports - Wrestling - Natalya: Find your focus, drive and motivation - Canoe

The head coach of a youth football team has insisted beating players is normal practice in football after footage of him slapping boys went viral.

Coach Halit Kurt, of Turkish youth team Kayseri Meysuspor has claimed his tough love encourages them to win matches, amid furious backlash.

The clip shows Kurt walking into the dressing room before slapping each player around their face.

As he strikes them, the sound of the slap echoes as the player's faces move to the side.

I will kill you! What a disgrace! the hot-tempered coach is heard shouting at the players in the footage.

The incident reportedly took place during the 2016-2017 season, when Kayseri Meysuspor took part in a local football event and were trailing 1-3 at the end of the first half.

However, Kurt has insisted beating players is normal practice in football, explaining such an approach gives them extra motivation to win matches.

After the video was widely shared on social media, Kurt commented on his extraordinary behaviour, claiming his method of bringing up champions had been widely used not only in Turkey but all over the world.

Not only do I use this method the coach said: It was widely used by the previous generation."

The coach underlined the teams internal affairs should not be in the public domain, even comparing them with the sacred privacy of a married couple.

I love my players," Kurt added.

"We have a parent-child relationship.

"As for the video that was shared I should say that the events in a locker room should not become the property of the public, as with a married couples actions in a bedroom."

Video Unavailable

Click to playTap to play

Play now

The clip which was uploaded to Instagram yesterday has generated thousands of views.

Many have called for the man to be removed from the sport.

It remains unknown what, if any, sanctions will be imposed on the coach after Kayseri Amateur Sports Clubs Federation opened a disciplinary proceeding against him.

It's believed Kurt continues to coach children in Kayseri Meysuspor.

Originally posted here:
Footie coach slaps 'under-performing child players' round the face as motivation - Daily Star

NORMAN, Okla. Oklahoma defensive coordinator Alex Grinchs mind works in fascinating ways. He is practical and analytical, yet also gimmicky and metaphysical. Sometimes those contrasting qualities appear all at once.

Twenty-four takeaways in a season equals nine wins, he famously discovered through intense research, and if his defense doesnt get at least two in a game, he considers it a massive failure. But in the same breath, he can spout off something like this statement, made at his introductory news conference in January.

And, oh, by the way, the ball doesnt have any working knowledge of who its supposed to be thrown to. It doesnt know the quarterback is supposed to throw to a receiver. It doesnt know its supposed to stay in the running backs arm. So if the ball doesnt know, how on earth do we know?

Oklahomas defense was historically bad in 2018, ranking near the bottom of the nation in virtually every important...

More:
How Alex Grinchs motivational tactics have helped turn around Oklahomas defense - The Athletic

The 1987 Wimbledon champion Pat Cash believes that it's the motivation that really makes a difference when it comes to explain the dominance of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. The Australian said: "We were happy to win one.

Now, if you win one, youre a loser. Its absolutely mind-boggling to see the standard of tennis that these guys are playing at this age. And motivation. Thats the thing: motivation. Once I won a Grand Slam, I was (thinking): Thats enough.

Ill go hang out with my family. Theyre motivated to keep going." Feliciano Lopez is impressed by his and Federer's longevity. The Spaniard won at Queen's in June during the same week as the Basel native did.

"It's true that people speak about the younger guys not being good enough. I did not have injuries and I took care of myself a lot for a while in order to have the longest possible career. Federer did not get injured either and he was very smart with the calendar.

But it's clear that the thing that at our age two players win in the same weeks two 500s is not normal." Federer spoke of what he loves the most about the FC Barcelona player Lionel Messi: "I havent spoken about Messi nearly enough.

What I love about Messi probably most is when he gets the ball and is able to turn the body towards a goal, and then he has full vision. Then hes going to pass, or dribble, or shoot. There are always three options for him. Hes one of the few whos got that."

View original post here:
Cash impressed by the motivation of Roger Federer, Nadal and Djokovic - Tennis World USA

We examine where malevolence lives in Coloradoand what it looks like.

Hate crimes are especially hurtful because they are message crimes aimed at particular communities, says Jeremy Shaver, senior associate regional director for the Anti-Defamation Leagues Mountain States region. They tear at the cohesion of our social fabric. Colorado has been feeling a lot of that tension lately: According to Colorado Bureau of Investigation data, Colorado has averaged 126 hate crimes over the past five years; in 2018, we recorded 139. (Denver, Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Larimer, and El Paso counties regularly contribute the most to the state tally.) Equally concerning? The growth of hate groups and ugly rhetoric. We break down where the malevolence livesand what it looks like.

Flag FlyingRadical right propaganda made a noticeable jump from the digital world to the real world in 2018. In Colorado, the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) tracked 67 reports of posted flyers or banners espousing bigoted rhetoric. Most of the episodes occurred in the Front Ranges largest citieshomes to colleges and universities, which are recruiting targets for white nationalist and white supremacy groups. (The numbers of incidents in these towns in 2018 are represented in the map below.) Keep in mind: Many of these incidents are legal. Generally speaking, posting a flyer on public property, like publicly funded college campuses or in city parks, is legal, even if it contains hate speech, whichbe it on a flyer or at a rallyis protected by the First Amendment. The Supreme Court reaffirmed this as recently as 2017 in a lawsuit brought by a California man when his application for a racially insensitive trademark was denied. Speech that demeans on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, age, disability, or any other similar ground is hateful, Justice Samuel Alito wrote in the unanimous decision. But the proudest boast of our free speech jurisprudence is that we protect the freedom to express the thought that we hate.

Group ThinkAt last count in 2018, Colorado hosted 22 hate groups, defined by the SPLC as organizations that have beliefs or practices that attack or malign an entire class of people, typically for their immutable characteristics. While thats fewer than 17 other states have (California and Texas lead the way), its still the largest number of hate groups to reside in Colorado since the SPLC started keeping records in the 90s. The SPLC (and, thus, 5280) has named them because its goal is to educate the publiceven if that education is sometimes uglyand because some of these groups generic names belie their true missions. (See map above)

Denver

Statewide Groups

Colorado Springs

Lakewood

Advertisement

Boulder

Pueblo

Wheat Ridge

Elizabeth

LaPorte

Advertisement

*Headquarters are located here

Key WordsIn our connected world, the first move toward extremism can begin with a few keystrokes. This past winter, London-based Moonshot CVE analyzed keyword search data throughout the United States and found Colorado to be a hotbed of violent, far-right internet inquiries. Among Colorados most common search terms: Sieg, Heil, 1488, 14 words, and Valknut tattoo (all terms associated with white supremacists or neo-Nazi groups). Most (78 percent) of these queries were carried out by men, and two-thirds of the searchers were younger than 45. Among the counties researching far-right concepts the most? Denver, Grand, Gilpin, Archuleta, Dolores, and Summit.

Kasey Cordell is 5280's features editor.

Excerpt from:
The Animus Atlas: Tracking Bias Motivated Behavior Across the State - 5280 | The Denver Magazine