Out of the Fire...

So is it just me or did this years GOP line up give the DEMs what they wanted?

• Romney - If chosen, said would strike down the DREAM act, Build a Border Wall, Said it was not right to hire illegals. Hmmm. Anti-immigrant much?
• Santorum - Gays are anti-God. Well So is Divorce & Coveting but that didn’t stop Newt.
• Ron Paul - He has such clout with the young vote that this is President Obama’s only Kryptonite. But the GOP hates him and his 3rd party run is the only thing that could sting.
• Newton L. Gingrich - Divorced, Comeback Kid, Adulterer, and sleeper candidate who is the Anti-Romney. Catholic, Not Mormon.

Let’s see what the GOP decides!

This is just a piece that Gives Some Semblance of “Here is your answer” to those who are Asking those Questions.

I hear those people talk and say: “Why now, why not 20 years ago when it could have been stopped?”

Well here is the problem: From My earlier post, “Many of the people say that we have been fighting this for 20 years, many have said that were once for it before we were opposed. Well, we can go back and remember. It all started with 1991 when a U. S. company called Dos Republicas Resources Co. Inc. (DRRC) came to Eagle Pass with the intentions to mine coal.” Many Community leaders were for it as they are now for benefits of community economy. There is a group, if you look at the pros and cons it would be good. However look at the owners at the time of this company: “This private company’s President was Alejandro Salgodo Ardonez and Vice-President was Kenny Huebner.” This was a San Antonio based and Eagle Pass run organization that would sell the coal to Mexico. The whole deal was scrapped and fizzled.

It will bring 250 Jobs, You all don’t want jobs?

Interesting premise. Well according to the Live Tweet and the Transcript from the proceedings here is a record of what Mr. Nielsen said, “You don’t even need a High School diploma to work in the mine.” I am sorry but, if we are wanting to achieve a greater level of success, let alone safety I want my workers to have a HS diploma or a GED! Also from the Presentation was the actual Jobs impact from the community. It is not the proposed 250 Jobs, as promised.. If you read the Actual jobs impact from Eagle Pass is 160. The rest of the 90 jobs will be transplants that will be Supervisory and High Paying jobs. These are BS and MS jobs. Those that actually have a Batchelor’s or a Master’s Degree in a Specialized field. The shine a quick job and quick money is bad thing compared to a good education. Do we want that for our children?

You all are making fools of yourselves!

Very well, I appreciate that. That is your opinion and I respect that. But in the end, We stood up for something and we exercised our rights as citizens. Which is more than many people can say.

Thank you for listening to my rant.

The Second Protest of the Coal Mines: Ms. Queta Diaz, The Green Team, and various Non-Profit orgainizations will hold their second protest of the coal mines. If you can make it come by. It will be held at the Maverick County Lake this Saturday, September, 24, 2011 @ 9:00 am. This protest will go on to go through Downtown Eagle Pass. Please let us know if you can make it!

We need assistance getting the Hearings for the Railroad Commission Permits to be held in Eagle Pass. If you could help by writing the Elected officials Which serve us in the area Please help out!

Rep. Pete Gallego - Future Rep. of Maverick County

Rep. Tracy King - Current Rep. of Maverick County

Sen. Carlos Uresti - Senator for Maverick County

Rep. Quico Canseco - Represents Dist. 23

Rep. Henry Cuellar - Future Representative of District 28

Thank you for all of your Help!!!

A protest against the Proposed Dos Republicas Coal Mines is scheduled to take place from the Maverick Conty Lake to the Eagle Pass City Hall on Tuesday, September 6, 2011 @ 5:30 p.m.  Please come out to support the efforts of the community against these coal mines. These proposed Coal Mines will irrevocably harm our health and well being for generations to come. Let’s Stop them Now before it is too late!

Spanish Version -
1 de septiembre 2011. En los siguientes días se van a realizar varias manifestaciones en contra de la empresa Dos Republicas y su proyecto de Minas de Carbon al norte del condado. Las protestas serán realizadas por grupos de  personas de Eagle Pass, encabezadas por la Ex Juez del Condado de Maverick, Enriqueta Diaz, y se realizarán en calles importantes de esta ciudad.

Enriqueta Diaz envió una carta este jueves a la ciudad de Eagle Pass para dar a conocer que va a realizar manifestaciones con cartelones y letreros en las banquetas de City Hall, la Casa de Corte, la Camara de Comercio, el crucero de las calles Main y Bibb y tambien en el exterior de las oficinas de la empresa Dos Republicas que se localizan en la calle Madison, y piden a la población unirse a estos actos.

Enriqueta Diaz dijo que no le teme a nada y que va con todo en contra del Proyecto de las Minas de Carbon que pueden afectar el medio ambiente y la salud de la población.

Dijo que solicitará el apoyo de los Congresistas Henry Cuellar y Kiko Canseco, y del representante Tracy O. King.

Tambien tiene planeado hacer una marcha de protesta desde el Lago del Condado de Maverick hasta City Hall.

Comentó que en octubre podría decidirse si la Comisión del Ferrocarril le renueva el permiso a Dos Republicas para extraer el carbon en el sector Thompson Road, pero Enriqueta Diaz busca que toda la comunidad se una a las protestas y puedan detener el proyecto.

English Version -

September 1, 2011. In the following days several demonstrations will be performed  against Dos Republicas and its proposed coal mine project north of the county.

Protests will be performed by groups of people in Eagle Pass, headed by former Maverick County Judge, Enriqueta Diaz, and take place in the major streets of this city.
 

Enriqueta Diaz sent a letter Thursday to the city of Eagle Pass to publicize that it will hold demonstrations with placards and signs on the sidewalks of City Hall, Court House, Chamber of Commerce, the intersection of Main Streets and Bibb and also outside the Dos Republicas company offices which are located on Madison Street, and ask people to join these events.

Enriqueta Diaz said she was was not fearful of retaliation and would be ready to fight against the coal mines that affect the environment and health of the population.

She said she requested the support of State Congressmen Henry Cuellar and Congressman Quico Canseco, and the State Representative Tracy O. King.

Also is planning a protest march from the Maverick County Lake  to the City Hall.

She said that in October the Railroad Commission could decide whether it renews the Dos Republicas permit to extract coal in the Thompson Road area. However, Enriqueta Diaz  ask the entire community for their assistance to join the protests to stop the project.

Source: http://eaglepasschronicles.com/

Could Rick Perry be haunted by Coal Dust, Hispanics and Border Ghosts?

Eagle Pass, Maverick County, Texas, had a vibrant coal mining operation in the late 1800’s through the mid 1900’s.  As the professional communities learned more about mining, it was determined that the coal produced in the Maverick County mines was of low fuel-producing quality and high in hazardous contaminants.  Therefore, the mines were shut down in the 1950’s.

          In early 1990’s these same mines caught the attention of Dos Republicas.  Who Dos Republicas is actually requires a serious in-depth study, but for clarity now, I have seriously compressed it.  Presently, several local City and County officials are backing the voice of around 2,000 residents who have signed petitions against the opening of the coal mines.  Texas Secretary of State Hope Andrade chastised a delegation of our Eagle Pass officials who visited the Capitol, as she is in agreement that the coal mines should open in Maverick County, Texas.

A Look at the Owner

1994           Dos Republicas Resources Co., Inc. (“DRRC”), U.S. Company with American shareholders, living and doing businesses in the U.S., filed for an application to mine the coal in Maverick County.  As Owners and operators, DRRC intended to sell the mined coal to the Mexican companies doing businesses with and as MICARE.  DRRC went nowhere. It found no buyers for the coal and as of now, it is presumed to be extinct.

1996           The name Dos Republicas is now used by another group and comes to Maverick County as Dos Republicas Coal Partnership (“DRCP”), a partnership, not even a company, made up of MICARE and AHMSA. Mexican companies became the new “business” seeking to begin open pit mine operations in Maverick County, Texas.  The companies / individuals who hold an interest in DRCP are of 100% Mexican concern and 0% U.S. concern.  It is common knowledge that DRCP has an agreement with North American Coal Corporation (“NACCO”) to operate the Maverick County mine on behalf of DRCP.     

A Look at the Operator  

About the only credible entity in this application has been North American Coal.  Not only was North American Coal part owner but was also the proposed operator of the coal mine. North American is the company that visits various businesses and people around the community & touts its record in operating coal mines not to mention the awards it has won.  Alas, now Camino Real Fuels, LLC has requested to be the “company” that will become the operator.  This is a newly formed company with absolutely no history. However, in order to allay the fears of the community, the representatives of North American are saying, “We are the same people.  We are just creating another company. One that can be local, but we are the same.” 

To sum it up,

·        A partnership made up of Mexican companies with no assets in the United States and a brand new company with no record or assets plan to mine highly damaging coal from Maverick County.

·        The coal will be transported to Mexico just across the river from Maverick County for processing under Mexican regulations.

·        About 2,000 signatures have been collected against these coal mines which can be seen online.

·        City Officials, County Officials and the Kickapoo Tribe have stated their position against the opening of the coal mines in Maverick County.

Why it is important to the community to know who the owner is

Eagle Pass and Maverick County residents have lived here, some for generations.  This is home to us.  When a company comes to our community, we have expectations of how that company should work under our laws. 

In this application, we have a partnership made up of Mexican companies.  A partnership that does not even have to abide by the laws of COMPANIES.  A partnership that wants to conduct a business that has the potential and all probabilities of causing health and environmental injuries.  A partnership that can close operations, pick up and leave the country anytime and cannot be held accountable because none of its partners lives in the U.S., none of its assets are in the U.S.  A partnership made up of Mexican companies who have a history of causing serious health and environmental injuries in Mexico.  To this day, the hazy cloud that the MICARE/AHMSA group emanates goes all the way to the Texas Big Bend Region.

This is a brief look at the owners of the business and operator but these are not the only reasons for my opposition to the opening of the mines.  Knowing what we know now, as people who live within the fallout of this potential environmental disaster, it is our duty to oppose these operations. Only by opposing these mines can we consider ourselves responsible stewards of what has been given to us by this precious earth.

I urge every citizen who wishes to sign on to the petition against the coal mines to go to www.savetheriogranderiver.org and sign the petition found there.

On this July 4th I will take a moment from Coal mines to give you a story. We sat at a table. As many Hispanic families do during many of their gatherings… but this one was Historic, For me that is. I heard the History as maybe many of you have of WHY we as Hispanics survive. My 97 year old grandmother regaled us with the many tales of grunt work in the fields of Idaho, Oregon, Wyoming, and Utah. They were Migrants. They left in March, worked to harvest the beets, cherries, onions, corn, spinach, cotton, whatever work was available until October. They (My Aunts, Dad, and Grandparents) spoke of the Dances, labor, fun they had. It was a family affair. Then came when someone found out the kids were not in school. Well they were off to school. Freshly pressed, Lunch in hand and Shocked out of their mind. Their whole life all they’ve known is work. Now to be thrown into the education system. What to do! They survive! They use their skill of bartering, trade, and people skills. They saw an opportunity and seized it. They did not like the lunches (lunches at that time were to be completed before leaving the table.) How to get their lunches completed? Trade their lunches for services. These children, never seen a Hispanic child, Let alone a TACO, trading lunches…PB&J sandwiches for a Bean & Chorizo Taco. It slowly turned into a ritual. As did the ritual of Fajitas, Menudo and more. We don’t know where the first of anything happend it just did. We make a lasting impression on whoever we touch. We have made an impact on the culture of all those persons in Idaho, Oregon, Wyoming, and Utah…All over the world now. It is not a matter of where it started it is a matter of HOW GREAT out IMPACT HAS BECOME! HAPPY 4th of JULY!!! ALL AMERICANS!!!

As more people join the ranks of dissent of the proposed coal mines, and that is what they are, proposed. I hear a select few individuals bludgeon the dissent with battle cries of “it will happen,” “It’s a done deal.”  Well, citizens of Eagle Pass and Maverick County, all I ask is for you to read through the information and files and the truth should be clear: IT IS UP TO THE PEOPLE. For the first time, SOME of our elected officials have chosen to side with their constituency: the people of Eagle Pass and Maverick County; there are those, still, who refuse to represent us well in this opposition to the open pit coal mines.  It is no longer up to the out-of-town owners of businesses in our community, who are only too eager to sell our well-being in the name pro-economic development, and (dirty) jobs.

 Many of the people say that we have been fighting this for 20 years, many have said that were once for it before we were opposed. Well, we can go back and remember.  It all started with 1991 when a U. S. company called Dos Republicas Resources Co. Inc. (DRRC) came to Eagle Pass with the intentions to mine coal. This private company’s President was Alejandro Salgodo Ardonez and Vice-President was Kenny Huebner.[1][2] The part that I find most fascinating is that in 1996 Dos Republicas Coal Partnership was created.[3]  The Dos Republicas Coal Partnership (“DRCP”) supposedly had nothing to do with the original company. It was a new company althogether that was created in order to buy out the U.S. owned company. The DRRC were an American Company that were going to sell Coal to Mexico. The DRCP are a Mexican Company that are going to sell American Coal to themselves, a Mexican Company operating in Mexico.  That is the problem that people had with it then and now, at least in my uneducated opinion. Another problem may be that NACCO (North American Coal Corporation) sold its rights to DRCP, and let them (the owners have free reign) “Eagle Pass Mine — Camino Real Fuels, LLC: The Eagle Pass Mine, to be operated by Camino Real, is in the development stage and will be developed near Eagle Pass, Maverick County, Texas. Access to the Eagle Pass Mine is by means of a gravel road. Dos Republicas had a permit since 1994 and have NEVER begun operations.  They file papers telling the regulatory agencies that they are in operation so they can get a permit extension; it is common knowledge that mining operations have never begun but some authorities have played their lying game to continue to be a threat to our community.  Camino Real will have no title, claim, lease or option to acquire any of the reserves at the Eagle Pass Mine. Dos Republicas Coal Partnership will control all of the reserves within the Eagle Pass Mine.” [4] Of course this means nothing until you see NACCO sold their control of DRCP to Unknown Acquirers in 2007.[5] I guess that NACCO is pulling the wool over our eyes! They pride themselves as a LIGNITE coal business, but why use the coal in the Eagle Pass Mine which is Sub-Bituminous? [6] So my only question is what has changed since 1991? Well let me see? Only the owners have changed, the people who will profit, the mood of the people and the possible fallout. Not much huh! In Twenty short years they have changed owners 3 times and renewed a certificate twice! This coming year, 2012 is when their mining contract expires[7], water rights are needed, and if the people say no then NO!  There are environmental factors, there are economic factors, but to lie to the citizens as to who will benefit is not the answer. We have and expect clarity from our business leaders, elected officials, and our media. That is all we ask. That is what we deserve. What and who are the persons that we are going to do business with, accountability as one of the prominent members of this community said. For if we as a community do not ask these vital and important questions, who will? This community rose up, on that day to voice its opinions! It is time for the “leaders” to question their “morals” and understand you are there to question, to opine when it is too good to be true. It is now too good to be true. What will your decisions be for it is easy to say, “It is for the good of the community?” Let’s not forget we are in a tremendous drought! Is it really necessary to put an even greater strain on the natural resources of this county? We cannot even put a price on the preciousness of the water once is it gone; yet for a couple more Million dollars in our pockets we would sell that precious resource to the highest bidder? Just a thought! I leave you with this: Your decisions are being watched by not only Eagle Pass. The eyes of Texas and the World are upon you! What will your choice be?

[1] http://investing.businessweek.com/businessweek/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=35924412

[2] http://www.corporationwiki.com/Texas/San-Antonio/dos-republicas-resources-co-inc/33323945.aspx

[3] http://investing.businessweek.com/businessweek/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=35924455

[4] http://www.faqs.org/sec-filings/100302/NACCO-INDUSTRIES-INC_10-K/

[5] http://www.alacrastore.com/storecontent/Thomson_M&A/Undisclosed_Acquiror_acquires_Dos_Republicas_Coal_from_NACCO_Industries_Inc-1895165020

[6] http://www.nacoal.com/

[7] http://www.faqs.org/sec-filings/100302/NACCO-INDUSTRIES-INC_10-K/

Dos Republicas, say that name and it sends a chill up the spine of the people of Quemado, Eagle Pass, El Indio, and All of Maverick County. Why you may ask, well it is simple, Money! Particularly money from the conglomeration of the Mexican Coal Company of MICARE and North American Coal Company. We here in Eagle Pass take this seriously as it is not only a local issue this mine will also impact Laredo, McAllen, Brownsville and the entire Rio Grande Valley.  On June 14, 2011, the brave citizens of Maverick County will rally together to Support the community of Las Minas where the mine is proposed to be opened, to make their case to the Railroad Commission of Texas. To begin their battle they formed an organization to help inform the Community about the detrimental effects of the Coal Mine; they went on to inform about the meetings and create public awareness. It was not long until this caught attention of the Dos Republicas Company and they sent a representative to disrupt a meeting. Several weeks later  it came to the attention of various trusted lawyers that this company was also sending threating letters that if this organization got the word out, invited persons to the meetings, sent out invites, left leaflets at homes or other ways of communication with people they would sue for slander. The people are resolute, they are ready to put their foot down and whether thy have the support of their public officials, who at one point did, or are waffling on this issue; it is time to make a stand. Whether FOR or AGAINST, decide but go and decide which side of this issue you are on, Short-term economic boom for some or Long-Term environmental disaster for all.

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

RIO GRANDE RIVER TO BE CONTAMINATED BY COAL MINE

The Railroad Commission of Texas (RCT) will hold a public hearing for public comments and to request party status on Tuesday, June 14, 2011 at 1 P.M. to 9 P.M. at the City of Eagle Pass International Center for Trade, 3295 Bob Rogers Drive, Eagle Pass, Texas regarding Dos Republicas Coal Partnership application to renew revise, and expand Eagle Pass Mine, Permit 42A, to operate, develop, and manage an open strip coal mine three miles north of the City of Eagle Pass in a densely populated area of Maverick County, Texas along FM 1588 , Thompson Road in Eagle Pass, Texas. The future contamination of the Rio Grande River and Texas’ border communities’ public water supply from Eagle Pass, Texas downstream to Brownsville, Texas by the renewing of Dos Republicas Coal Partnership, Eagle Pass Mine, Permit 42A, is a stark possibility if the Railroad Commission of Texas grants the Mexican—owned coal mining company its request to renew, revise, and expand their permit. The Dos Republicas Coal Partnership Eagle Pass Mine will discharge industrial and coal waste from the strip coal mine into Elm Creek, a direct tributary of the Rio Grande River, such as selenium, cadmium, beryllium, chromium, barium, aluminum, ammonia, antimony, copper, cyanide, manganese, iron, lead, arsenic, mercury, fecal coliform, fluoride, grease, and many other carcinogenic-causing chemicals. The City of Eagle Pass Water Works System, which provides 95% of the public water supply to Eagle Pass and Maverick County residents (54,000 population), has its public water supply pump on the Rio Grande River less than a mile downstream from where Elm Creek discharges into the Rio Grande River. The City of Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico (150,000 + population) also has its public water supply pump on the Rio Grande River downstream from where Elm Creek discharges into the Rio Grande River. The Citizens of Eagle Pass and Maverick County vehemently oppose the Eagle Pass Mine of Dos Republicas Coal Partnership, because the strip coal mine will unquestionably contaminate and pollute their public water supply, Elm Creek, the Rio Grande River, the underground aquifers and streams, as well as pollute the air with coal dust, dirt, dynamite blasting, heavy mining equipment, and much more. All the Texas-Mexico border communities’ public water supplies from Eagle Pass to Brownsville, Texas are threatened to be contaminated and polluted by the Eagle Pass Mine of Dos Republicas Coal Partnership. All Texas-Mexico border communities are invited, urged, and encouraged to join the valiant citizens of Eagle Pass and Maverick County, Texas in opposing the Dos Republicas Coal Partnership Eagle Pass Mine by attending the Tuesday, June 14, 2011 Railroad Commission of Texas public hearing for public comments and to request party status. Every city and county governmental entity on the Texas-Mexico Border should definitely attend and defend their citizens’ public water supply and public health from Dos Republicas Coal Partnership’s Eagle Pass Mine by requesting party status to the Railroad Commission of Texas case. In addition to the Railroad Commission of Texas permit, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has an open case by Dos Republicas Coal Partnership to renew their TPDES Permit No. 0003511000 to discharge industrial coal waste and chemicals into Elm Creek and ultimately in the Rio Grande River. For more information, please call the Maverick County Environmental and Public Health Association in Eagle Pass, Texas:

Jose Luis Rosales, President

(830) 352-2383

Jose Reyna, Vice-President

(830) 488-5970

Diana Sanchez, Secretary

(830)

Juanita Martinez, Treasurer

(830) 352-5636

Or you may see more information on this case as it develops on http://www.epbusinessjournal.com/  or to the Association web site at: http://www.savetheriogranderiver.org/  You may also see the impact of mining on other communities around the United States at http://thelastmountainmovie.com/

Well I stand here, Beginning a campaign for City Council. I Know how this works, I know that I shall be true to myself, I hear the advice and I still know one thing in my head: “Why did you do this?” Simple! I enjoy the experience of helping and the ability of interaction. People see me as aloof, stand offish or quiet but I am a thinker! I try to assess situations analyze and then try to tacticallygo at a situation. Never be afraid. It causes too much stress. I will do my best and then enjoy the outcome no matter what it is! I will have fun doing what I do! I love everything I do and there is nothing that can change that. Gracias a todos por su apollo y mi mas sinceras gratitudes por su tiempo. What more is there to say. Live the Adventure, Love the journey and Laugh along the Way!

I was surfing the web viewing a local news web site and behold! The Story of the Century! I can’t wait!

Subieron a Youtube 2 Peleas Entre Mujeres Estudiantes de High School

03 marzo 2011. El Distrito Escolar de Eagle Pass castigará a las mujeres estudientes que participaron en dos pleitos que fueron grabados con celular y luego fueron subidos a Youtube.

El Jefe de Policía, Johnny Ruiz, informó que un pleito fue el 11 de febrero a fuera de la escuela Eagle Pass High School, entre dos estudiantes, y el otro fue en un Camion Escolar (Bus) el 1 de marzo, donde estaban presentes mas estudiantes.

Estudiantes grabaron las peleas y las subieron a la red mundial del Youtube, lo cual da mala imagen del Distrito Escolar de Eagle Pass.

Johnny Ruiz dijo que a las estudiantes que se pelearon se les harán cargos y se deberán presentar a la Corte de la Ciudad, y a los que grabaron los videos serán suspendidos.

El jefe de policía Escolar, Johnny Ruiz, pidió a los padres de familia vigilar la conducta de sus hijos, y que vigilen tambien que los estudiantes no pueden llevar celulares a la escuela. Sin embargo los llevan escondidos.

Now from here we have a problem! If the student uploaded the video off the bus then the school is exercising their rights outside of their jurisdiction, Yes they did catch a fight on video and on school property but it was the child’s right to upload the video. I believe the 1st Amendment protects that. And the School District has also added that the Teachers have no right to privacy. On or offline.  So if we are are casually contacted by a fellow teacher, we will post that. If we are intimidated by a Principal we will post that. If we are harassed by a student or parent we will post that ALL online, BLOG it, Facebook it! e-Mail it! What ever because WE have NO right to privacy! What do you think? Where are those first amendment remedies now?

Strangely I see the people united, at least the workers. I hear the hate speech: “teachers are overpaid babysitters, they deserve to be fired.” I also hear it from my colleagues, my supervisors, my students. It makes me feel dejected tired and extremely weak…Like a shepherd without a flock. I go to the other campus where I teach, the atmosphere is much more inviting. I feel at home! I am allowed to be a teacher; the students are hungry for knowledge! They accept the information I am willing to give, they ask questions! They make me think and LEARN! It is what education is about! I earn my money! I would call it a tale of two cities but it is a tale of TWO campuses…and two styles. Lives are different. The parents are parents. I am a teacher, confidante, counselor, and nurse. If I do not deserve my money ALL I ask is for money to pay my bills! I do this because I love it. If I deserve money for what I love then I challenge all those complaining: do what I would do! GIVE UP YOUR CHECK! For 1 year, if you so love what you do, reject your check.

In my short stint as an educator (12 years) I have:

• Tutored Young Adults who knew nothing of math to pass High Stakes test
• Taught Students to understand something in a new light
• Deal with the death of 12 of my students
• Watch my students graduate
• See my students become parents
• Been kicked in the shin, with boots
• Been bitten on the arm
• Clean up vomit, with my bare hands!
• Clean up snot!
• Gotten Blood on my hands, that was not mine, and NOT griped!
• Had students interested in Science because I performed the Mentos & Coke trick, then explained the reaction
• Explained the history of the internet, which NO ONE knew!
• Taught students to try proper internet etiquette (many tried, few succeeded)
• Traveled in a van full of 15-18 y/o for 3 hours to go to a competition and whether or not we won we always have a great time, just because you got a chance to let them compete and get out of class a day or two and you got to know them probably better than their parents do.

So I ask…you can take my money, take my car, take my computer, take my mp3, take my phone, take my meds, take my TV, take my life away just DO NOT take away my 12 years worth of experiences…if you do, you will rob me everything that was my LIFE! This is why we fight for our money it is the only recompense that seems fair for the above and after getting a Bachelor’s Degree and Certification you only pay us $35,000 - $40,000 dollars? It really doesn’t seem fair! I wonder what the CEO’s of companies would do if they were paid this much for something they loved?