usaservice.org

The Obama Administration has not only enhanced (quite dramatically….and wonderfully) the White House website, but has a website up where people can organize and/or find out about volunteer service opportunities: http://www.usaservice.org

Today, I used their “Find Service” opportunities feature (type in your zip code and then the distance from there [i.e. "radius"]) and already see two things listed:

community health access (Civic & Community)

Friday, February 6 at 12:00 PM

Concentra Urgent Care (Sparks, NV)

I intend to propose to my colleagues and our company leaders at Concentra Occupational Centers, to consider allowing our facilities nationwide to provide FREE urgent…

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Clean up (Environment)

Saturday, June 13 at 9:00 AM

Tahoe National Parks (Reno, NV)

No specific date set yet, but I want to find a few people willing to go up to area campgrounds in tahoe forest area. And…

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Also, I note that the Reno News and Review editor Brian Burghart has started a Facebook group (under the name of that weekly newspaper), and in reading the first posted discussion there (with mulitiple responses), I see he is trying to establish a directory of sorts that educate people on available volunteer service opportunities.

Most of us have noted that President Obama emphasized a call to service in his Inaugural Speech this past Tuesday.  If I remember correctly, he characterized such activity as something that’s enjoyable.  I’m on the same page with that feeling.  The only thing I would add is that the enjoyment is enhanced when such activity is engaged as a form of “karma yoga”, where the sense of a seperate “doer” evaporates.  (Yeah, I’m taking this straight out of the Bhagavad Gita!  And, quoting “Krishna”.)   So, I’m suggesting that we gather more energy and enjoyment from serving when we let fall away a sense of duty (or obligation) and instead adopt the realization that serving is in fact a form of Play.  (Clearly, the sentiments usually expressed at my other blog, “A Forest Wanderer’s Notes”, are leaking into this one right now!)  Find something to do, in the way of service, that already pretty much resonates—or is similiar to—with the types of things you already enjoy doing.

(Okay, sermon’s over now…..)

Third Eye housekeeping…….

A new link category was added today (with an initial posting of two links) for the Art/Music scene in Reno.  I will be trying to also expand the number of links in the other categories.  Especially links to photo galleries related to Reno.

Speaking of which, I got an email from someone apparently associated with http://www.schmap.com; they told me that one of my photos at Flickr (account name “eurekamoksha”) had been shortlisted for their 6th edition of the “Schmap Reno Guide” (to be published in mid-February).  Their website states that people can “explore [their] destination online with our unique integration of maps, photos and place reviews”.    It’s the photo above.

We now have a new President and he is calling everyone to serve in some way.  A website, http://www.usaservice.org , will enable people to find volunteer service opportunities in their communities.  As I learn of more specific vehicles for serving here in Reno, I will report on that.  (There’s a posting category already here for “volunteerism”  All posts related to volunteer activities, and opportunities, can be found by clicking on that category.)

Now,  an unusual number of people are finding this blog by searching for “reno, ufos”; they have been doing so before I even mentioned UFOs here.  So, I hope to gather more “intel” related to possible UFO sightings here, as well as anything else that could be said to be “strange” or “mysterious”.  There is already a link category at this blog called Reno x-Files, where relevant links take the curious to various resources involved in investigating such things in our area.

Finally, I will continue with a special focus on the Rebirth of Oxbox Nature Study Park.  There will be additional articles and photos documenting that.

Valuable training in “grassroots” lobbying

Very valuable training that will arm and empower participants with effective  tools to influence decisions in Carson City will be offered in early March as part of Grassroots Lobby Days.  I am reposting here, from http://www.nevadawomenslobby.org/index.html, information on that:

When: Sunday, March 8 through Tuesday March 10, 2009
Where: Carson City
How: 2009 Registration Form coming soon!

During each Nevada legislative session, the Nevada Women’s Lobby joins with other organizations for three days of training, inspiration and lobbying at the Nevada Legislature. Hundreds of individuals who care about the issues concerning Nevada’s women and families travel to Carson City for this event. NWL has sponsored Grassroots Lobby Days (GLD) since 1989.

As a GLD participant you can expect to:

• Learn the Nevada legislative process and how to influence it
• Meet your Nevada senators and assemblypersons
• Influence your legislators
• Meet other Nevadans with similar concerns
• Learn about current Nevada issues affecting Nevada’s women and families
• Attend legislative committee hearings and floor sessions

If you would like to be added to the mailing list for Grassroots Lobby Days or if you have questions, please write to us at NVWL@aol.com.

Special note:  I’ve learned of this effort a few years ago from Byllie Andrews, a member of the Nevada Womens Lobby steering committee and a candidate for the Assembly District 27 seat in 2010, when Sheila Leslie is “termed out”. 

Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada (PLAN) introduces “Forum Theater” to Reno.

 

Using theatre to change the world.

PRESENTING:

 

Forum Theatre

A GLIMPSE INTO THE PROJECT

WHAT: Forum Theatre was originally created by Augusto Boal on the streets of Rio de Janeiro in a method called “Theatre of the Oppressed”.

THE “REHEARSALS”: Participants, or “actors” , will pair theatre exercises with conversations that seek to analyze and identify specific issues affecting them and their community at large. Participants will then create scenes around the most pressing community conflicts.

THE “PERFORMANCES”:

The scenes will be performed to the larger public in multiple

venues. Because the scenes will pose serious questions about societal problems, we will

expect answers! Audience members will be asked to participate by either commenting out or

joining the stage to help “act out” solutions to each problem.

 

 

WHY:

Our community is in desperate need of effective dialogue revolving around social

issues and the voice of the young people must be heard! The goal is not only to empower

the opinions of young people, but to create a space where everyone can work together to

try to find solutions to dire problems.

 

 

WHO:

This project is open to participants who are under the age of 25. If you do not

fit this criteria and have experience with this type of Theatre and would like to help out,

please contact PLAN.

 

 

WANT TO BE INVOLVED?         CONTACT NYAP!

CONTACT: Mailynn Stormon-Trinh

NYAP at the PLAN Office:

821 Riverside Dr.

Reno, NV 89508

(775) 348-7557

 

The above notice was reposted from http://planevada.org/content/view/60/244/

In Third Eye’s field of vision: Blogs, News, Upcoming

Ryan Jerz revisits the matter of bicycles and the people who ride them in this blog article:

http://www.mrjerz.org/blog/bike-dudes-are-an-angry-bunch

In that article is a link to his first article on this issue (of bike riders’ behavior).  I was recently visiting with friends in Davis, California and as we walked downtown and through the farmers’ market on a recent Saturday, I learned a lot about the New Bike Religion from many  of their missionary friends encountered along our walk.  Let’s just say 5th Street in Davis isn’t too popular.  (Note: Davis has a Bike Church, for real!)

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Zeke is strongly encouraging someone(s) to start up some serious blogging from Elko:

http://zekesaysso.blogspot.com/2008/11/hey-elko-get-blogging-sucker.html

And, he means serious.  (i.e. Politics).   He doesn’t want to hear about the grandkids and the puppies.  Or, presumably about our garden or most favorite recipes.

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On another front (one which Zeke probablys hangs out on, I presume), the Washoe County Democratic Party is going to be hosting a Holiday Party at its next scheduled monthly meeting (and quarterly Central Committee meeting).  It’s a potluck and more (but, only briefly an actual “business” meeting).  There will be information presented regarding the upcoming 2010 races and about forms of ongoing participation (like with an affiliate group).

So, if you are a Democrat, living and registered in Washoe County, here’s the information you need to party that night, Tuesday, December 2, 2008.  It starts at 6:30 pm and will be on the fourth floor of the Joe Crowley UNR Student Union building in Ballroom A.

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At Sven’s My Silver State community blog of progressive Democrats, there is a promoted article written by a member of the volunteer service group called Democrats Work.  Information about an effort, and how people can help in their own areas with helping supply their local Food Banks, is given here:

http://mysilverstate.com/showDiary.do;jsessionid=8E617BAADDCFC871BE7A13F163A90518?diaryId=882

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The news of Democrats Work’s efforts to aid Nevada Food Banks brings to mind this note I got from Barack and Michelle Obama yesterday.  I’m reading it now, having taken it with me to do so while I dogsit up on the western slopes of Peavine Mountain.  I’m just here for the day, mainly because of a major doubleheader down at UNR today (where the dog’s owner will be till late tonight). 

The undated, but just received note gives a heads up, yet again, on what’s hoped for from all of us: Michael, this is your victory.  But even as we celebrate, we know the challenges are the greatest of our lifetime–two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century.  The road ahead will be long.  Our climb will be steep.  And we will be asking you to join in the work of remaking this nation the only way it’s been done in America for 221 years–block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.  What began 21 months ago in the depth of winter must not end on a night in autumn.  This victory alone is not the change we seek–it is only the chance for us to make that change.

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The steel skeletal structure of the new Triple A baseball stadium of the Reno Aces is now complete, over on W. 2nd and Evans Ave.  Construction is reportedly ahead of schedule.  The Aces are set to have their first game there a little less than a half of a year now!

All that is like a bit of a silver lining in the news, where today it’s reported that the unemployment rate in Nevada during the month of October was at 7.6%, 1.1% higher than the national rate.

On Channel 2 news last night, someone was saying that tickets would be a an accessible level of pricing: $7 for general admission.  This is something to look forward to, especially now.

Washoe Dem volunteers in action: The Keystone Trail Project

Washoe County Democratic volunteers work on enhancing the Keystone Trail on my Beloved Peavine Mountain.  (Inspiration for the upcoming Peavine Upanishad.  See http://atiasrama.wordpress.com for the notes on that.)

This video is produced and narrated by Assemblyman David Bobzien.

Here we have a concrete example of the type of volunteer work that is being encouraged by other groups, such as the RENObama!Works! group discussed here in a previous post.

Addendum: I just learned that Team Bobzien will be engaged in more actions during the “off-season” (which I presume means not during campaign seasons, lol).  I will keep readers here updated on that and other efforts.  Click on the Volunteerism in Reno category on the right for articles related to this subject.  If readers know of other similiar “teams” and efforts, please email me at atiasrama@gmail.com or just leave a comment here.  (Looks like wordpress makes me moderate comments….which is not my style….but, be patient if I don’t log on for a few days.)