The Dart Maker Blog

Choosing a good car seat for your child’s protection is a prime consideration for any new parent. To give your child the best chance of escaping injury in the event of a collision, you’ll need to a car seat suited to your child’s age and weight.

To choose a proper car seat, you’ll need to understand that there are three main types of car seats for children. These are: infant car seats, infant / toddler (convertible) car seats, and booster seats.

Infant Car Seats

If you have a newborn baby, or your child is under a year old, he needs to ride in a rear-facing car seat. You’ll need to decide on buy a rear-facing infant car seat, or you can buy an infant / toddler car seat (also called a convertible car seat). The difference between the two is that the infant car seat is designed for babies around 20 pounds and under, while the convertible car seat be used facing the rear until your child is a year old and at least 20 pounds, before turning it to face forward. If you purchase an infant car seat, rest assured that the new models have a five-point harness to keep your baby strapped in securely. The disadvantage, of course, is that you’ll need to buy a convertible car seat later when your child grows older.

Infant / toddler (convertible)

Car Seats These car seats are larger than infant-only car seats and more expensive. However, they can be used for your child from the newborn stage (when he is less than a year old and under 20 pounds) right up to the toddler stage (when he is at least a year old and at least 20 pounds). It depends on your choice. Some parents choose to use convertible car seats as their primary car seat from day one. Others only switch to an infant/toddler convertible seat when their baby outgrows the infant car seat.

Booster Car Seats

Booster car seats are meant for children age 3 and older who weigh at least 40 pounds. What’s the function of these seats? What they do is to boost your child into a position that makes it safe to use the car’s existing seat belt system. Booster seats will cost of (they’re pretty expensive) but they’ll give your grown toddler a sense of ‘adulthood’ since most of the models are ergonomic, plush and cool.

About The Author

Gary Hendricks is the editor of www.baby-product-guide.com, a hobby website offering articles on parenting, baby care and baby products.

gary_hendricks@baby-product-guide.com

In the early nineteen-hundreds Formula One Racing started with primitive vehicles and elder gentleman drivers, nevertheless the genuine Formula One Racing title did not start until the 1950s. Whilst the several years passed & the contest fan base enlarged it soon became obvious that F1 was the peak championship for motor sport. The racing vehicles were the fastest, the technology was the most sophisticated & the racing drivers were at the finest of their fitness coming from nations all around the planet.

With the allowance of sponsorship, F1 Racing took on its more business configuration & can these days be taken seriously as very big business ? with costs reaching millions and even billions with tremendous ease. With very big success comes political opinions & every now & then it is the contacts you are acquainted to & how much riches you hold that acquires you what you are after. Formula 1 is knotted with conspiracy theorists ? I will acknowledge to being one of them ? but depending on how wrapped up you want to get in the F1 Motor Racing world, that area of things is painlessly overlooked. What actually matters is what turns out on the grand prix race track.

Travelling from country to country all over the land for nearly eight months of the year, Formula One Motor Racing sets up in many different countries large and small, prosperous and disadvantaged, with fantastic environments, charming locals & lots of local knowledge to be soaked up. Covering Friday, Saturday & Sunday, a Formula 1 weekend is a demanding journey, from early testing, to the concluding laps of the F1 motor race.

The essential structure contains a race every two-weeks. Now & again the Formula One calendar is altered with a little bit & there are Formula 1 races on one after another weekends, or ever so often you have to go a number of weeks before even seeing the familiar Formula 1 racing drivers again. When it is time for the next motor race, you can examine the news for your beloved Formula One constructor as they arrive at the destination. Friday involves practice periods, Saturday is for qualifying and Sunday is for the main event. For all the latest Formula 1 Results go to F1Tribute.com today.

1. Persuade visitors to link to your web site. Give
them a freebie in exchange for them linking to your
web site. It could be content, software, etc.

2. Link to web sites that provide useful information
or services for your visitors. If you have many useful
links on your site, they may make it their start page.

3. Spice-up your web site’s wording using plenty of
adjectives. It gives your visitors a clearer vision of
what your explaining or describing to them.

4. Don’t make your banner ads look like ads. Most
people ignore banner ads. Design them to look like
content and have them click to read the rest.

5. Join affiliate programs that go with the theme of
your web site. You’ll just be wasting valuable space
and time if your visitors aren’t interested in them.

6. Market your web site as a free club instead of
a web site. This’ll increase your repeat visitors and
sales because people enjoy belonging to groups.

7. Interact with your online customers on a regular
basis. This’ll show them you care about them. You
could use a chat room, forum or message system.

8. Check your web site links regularly. After people
click on one link, and it doesn’t work, they usually
won’t risk wasting their time clicking on another one.

9. Give visitors a positive experience when they’re
at your web site. Provide them with original content
and free stuff. They’ll tell all of their friends about it.

10. Share customers with other businesses that have
the same target audience. Offer their product to your
customers if, in exchange they do the same for you.

About the author:

Rojo Sunsen is a specialized bounty hunter who prefers to work quietly/confidentially for the benefit of her clients.

Intel Delivers Next-Generation Processors Specifically Designed For Cell Phones And Wireless PDAs
New Devices Equipped to Handle Multiple Forms of Wireless Broadband Access
INTEL DEVELOPER FORUM, TAIPEI, Taiwan, April 12, 2004 - Intel Corporation today announced a new family of processors based on Intel XScale® technology that can handle multiple forms of wireless broadband access with enough computing power to provide cell phones with full motion video conferencing capabilities and PDAs with DVD-quality video playback.

The processors include a set of new technologies designed to meet the multimedia, low power and security requirements of advanced cell phones and wireless PDAs. Intel is also providing key technologies in addition to processing power including the next-generation of stacked packaging for added flash memory, a new multimedia accelerator for 3D rendering, optimized software and reference concept designs that allow cell phone and PDA makers to bring Intel-based mobile devices to market faster.

“Advances in wireless broadband demand a new kind of wireless device,” said Sean Maloney, Intel executive vice president and general manager, Intel Communications Group. “As various forms of wireless broadband access become increasingly available -3G, Wi-Fi or WiMAX - mobile devices must have plenty of performance balanced with low power capabilities to be able to handle all that the Internet has to offer.”

Designed for Cell Phones, Wireless PDAs
The Intel® PXA27x family of processors, formerly code-named “Bulverde,” adds a number of new technologies to address the needs of cell phone and PDA users. It is the first product to integrate the Intel Wireless MMX technology, providing additional performance for 3-D games and advanced video while improving battery-life. The new chip also utilizes Wireless Intel SpeedStep® technology, enabling significant power savings by intelligently managing voltage and frequency changes similar to the technology used in the company’s notebook processors.

Also for the first time, Intel has integrated important security features through its Intel Wireless Trusted Platform to provide services such as trusted boot, secure storage of private information and cryptographic keys, and support for common security protocols. To help increase camera phone capabilities and quality, Intel has also incorporated Intel Quick Capture technology to support cameras delivering up to four or more megapixels of image quality.

The Intel PXA27x processor family will be offered in multiple configurations of clock speeds running from 312 up to 624 MHz, and with as much as 64 megabytes of stacked Intel StrataFlash® memory.

Multimedia Accelerator Delivers Added Mobile Multimedia Performance
Optimized to complement the Intel PXA27x processor family, the new Intel 2700G multimedia accelerator delivers advanced video and graphic capabilities to enable full screen video at full frame rates without sacrificing battery life. The Intel 2700G multimedia accelerator delivers DVD-quality video playback on VGA displays and supports a wide range of video formats such as MPEG-2, MPEG-4 and Microsoft* Windows Media Video9.

The Intel 2700G enables crisp graphics and the high resolution (up to SXVGA) dual display features enable business users to view two independent images simultaneously. This allows for a variety of business activities, such as video conferencing or running presentations directly from a PDA or other wireless device. For entertainment purposes, the Intel 2700G delivers an outstanding mobile gaming experience, giving users exciting, 3D content on their mobile device.

Solutions Beyond Silicon
To help device makers develop and deliver next-generation communication and computing devices, Intel is also providing a number of the key technologies and platforms in addition to processing power.

The Intel cell phone concept design provides customers and developers with an example of how to utilize many of the application and communications technologies needed to build an advanced smart phone with multi-operating system (OS) support. The platform is the first design from Intel to support a number of wireless networks, or “modes” including cellular GSM/GPRS, Wi-Fi (802.11b) and Bluetooth technologies. The phone platform supports full-featured operating systems from companies like Microsoft*, PalmSource*, Symbian* as well as MontaVista* Linux and Java* environments.

Developed in conjunction with system integrator Intrinsyc*, the handheld concept design utilizes Intel’s new processor along with the Intel 2700G multimedia accelerator and 64MB of Wireless Intel StrataFlash memory to bring new levels of performance and capabilities to PDAs.

Intel also developed the Intel Mobile Scaleable Link, a high-speed interface that helps speed the data delivery process from wireless networks to the processor. By moving data at speeds of up to 416 megabits per second, the technology results in more responsive applications and overall performance improvements. Intel is extending its leading flash and processor stacking technology to the next generation of stacked packaging to enable more memory and higher performance in less than half the space of typical memory packaging.

To provide system and application engineers the ability to fully utilize the features of the Intel PXA27x processor family, Intel is providing the Intel® Compiler and Intel® Integrated Performance Primitives, as well as optimized board support packages with drivers and power management software. Key OS vendors and ISVs like Sony Music Entertainment* have utilized these tools to create a comprehensive library of applications optimized for the new processors.

Pricing and Availability
The Intel PXA27x processor family is available today in sample quantities, with volume production this quarter. The Intel PXA270 processor at 312 MHz has a suggested list price of $32 (USD) in 10,000 unit quantities. The Intel 2700G Multimedia Accelerator has a suggested list price of $17 (USD) in 10,000 unit quantities.

About IDF
The Intel Developer Forum is the technology industry’s premier event for hardware and software developers. Held worldwide throughout the year, IDF brings together key industry players to discuss cutting-edge technology and products for PCs, servers, communications equipment, and handheld clients. For more information on IDF and Intel technology, visit http://developer.intel.com.

Intel, the world’s largest chip maker, is also a leading manufacturer of computer, networking and communications products. Additional information about Intel is available at www.intel.com/pressroom.

Intel, XScale, MMX technology, Wireless MMX Technology, Wireless Intel SpeedSteep and Intel SpeedStep are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries

About the author:

Press Release

I think this is a good time for a checkup, or physical as it is termed in the healthcare industry. I mean this is a good time to check the health of your site or setting. As healthcare providers, we are dedicated to curing our patients of their ills and keeping them healthy. My question is, “Do you have the same attitude about the place you work?” Is your site meeting its highest goals? If not, then it is time for a change.

I think that as a group healthcare sites are a lot like our patients. Some patients
don’t work hard at keeping healthy. In fact, many engage in behavior that is very
detrimental to their well-being. You probably can easily image such a person.
Maybe they are very overweight. Well, there are many healthcare facilities that are
like that. They have many processes in which there are steps which add no value,
that are a complete waste of time and effort. Then, there are patients who do a lot
of the right things. They eat correctly, get a good amount of exercise, and generally
have a positive outlook. There are a few healthcare facilities that are fit too.

What does a healthcare site in not so good shape look like? These sites, I believe,
have as their goals just to meet their compliance standards, those set by the state,
JHACO, or the FDA or some other body. As long as they are being accredited, they
are satisfied. Their attitude may be, “If it isn’t broken, don’t change it.” They are
like patients who are content to just sit on the couch, watch TV, and eat whatever
they like as long as they don’t feel poorly.

What does a healthcare site in good shape look like? I believe that such sites are
continually looking for ways to better themselves. They engage in “continuous
quality improvement” activities. They are really concerned about the health and
attitudes of their patients and clients. They use surveys and they question and
listen. Some even use a tool called quality function deployment when designing
new facilities or programs.

Besides listening to patients, they pay close attention to their employees. They
actively seek ideas from the employees on how things could be done better. They
want to have their employees enjoy working at their site and support its mission.
The leaders of such sites actively reflect this attitude.

Further, such sites seek ways to improve the processes at their site. They cut waste
and save time and improve the bottom line. Many tools for doing this can be found
in quality disciplines such as Lean Healthcare and Six Sigma. You can find a very
good white paper on Lean Healthcare at the www.IHI.org website.

What are the results of these positive and active approaches? Our patients are
happier, fitter, and find time to do the things they want. They generally live longer
with fewer health problems. Healthcare sites which are actively engaged in
continuous quality improvement programs generally find that they have the time to
accomplish their objectives and don’t feel rushed, they have an improved bottom
line, and they rarely experience adverse events. The doctors don’t have to work
impossible hours to accomplish all they want. They work as a team.

Let me encourage you at this time to sit down with your colleagues and leaders and
assess the health of your site. If you find that you fall short of what you should be, I
hope that you put in the effort to reach the best goals. After all, we expect the
same from our patients, don’t we?

Donald Bryant helps healthcare providers meet their challenges and writes
“Making Good Healthcare Better” a free monthly ezine for healthcare
providers who want to dramatically improve patient health, improve the
bottom line, and make work more rewarding, guaranteed. More free articles
are at his web site. Be sure to visit.

As you prospect, do you long for a real live person to answer your phone calls?

Are the phrases, “I’m not able to answer your call in person right now …” “I’m in a meeting right now or talking with another client …” and “If you want help with this, please press #2, #1, …” starting to wear on your last nerve … like nails on a chalkboard?

Are you feeling trapped by the very technology that was supposed to serve you?

Well, you’re in good company.

Our informal survey shows the overwhelming majority of sales professionals share your frustration. One of the most frequently asked questions asked by our clients is, “I leave a lot of voice mail messages without getting any personal contact–ever. Do you have any tips for me?”

Yes, I do!

There are simple, yet effective steps to take that will get you around voice mail so you can make contact with a human!

Whether the recording indicates it or not, many systems will reroute your calls to a human being if you press the “0″ Operator button on your phone.

Then when your prospect’s operator/receptionist answers, you can honestly say, “I was connected to the executive’s voice mail and I’m looking for a real, live, breathing, speaking human to talk to directly. Is the executive or the executive assistant in today?”

Chances are that you’ll get an empathetic chuckle from the receptionist. Those folks understand how annoying pre-recorded messages can be.

If your prospect isn’t readily available in person, the operator often knows that and will be glad to offer to reroute your call to another human being within the company, such as the executive’s assistant, who can tell you the whereabouts of your prospect.

Equally as import as circumventing voice mail jail is knowing what to say when you succeed and make contact with your prospects operator/receptionist!

In many companies, the operator is authorized to page the prospect for you or to connect you to direct lineif you do one thing in particular …

What’s the key to “authorizing” the operator to search for your prospect on your behalf?

You must ask for your prospect by first and last name and pronounce both correctly.

Here’s an Insider’s secret peek into the mechanics of the executive suites that will equip you to understand what’s going on in their world. Really good executive assistants, with the approval of their executives, talk with receptionists and give them specific guidelines for handling inbound callers who ask for the President’s office.

There are so many calls each day that they must come up with a system of handling them. Or never get any work done! Executive assistants direct receptionists to divert inbound callers who say, “I’d like to be connected to the President’s office please.” The preferred method of handling such callers is to politely reroute them to voice mail jail.

With your new knowledge of this Insider’s secret you’ll want to call and say, “I’m calling to speak to Jack Doe or his assistant, Mary.” You’ll find you receive a different kind of treatment when you use these words. Because of their “in-house” system for handling inbound calls, the operator/receptionist will be more likely to give you the inside scoop as to their whereabouts.

Then, because your words indicate that you “know the rules” the receptionist is far more likely to be forthcoming with information that will help you, information such as whether or not the executive is in the office and the best time to call back to reach them in person.

Those executives and their assistants are early risers!

They frequently slip into the office between 7:00 and 7:30 AM. Executives take advantage of the still of the morning to work through the ever-present to-do list without interruption.

Knowing this about the habits of executives, many a successful sales professional will make prospecting calls during those times and connect with their high-level prospects on the first ring.

Use these tips to circumvent voice mail, be relentless in your pursuit for a human, and get ready to smile as you make personal contact with a real, live, person who wants to do business with you!

Forward this article to friendsthey’ll thank you for it!

For your FREE mini-course “Jealously Guarded Secrets to Cold Calling Company Presidents” visit http://www.ColdCallingExecutives.com! Or call Your Sales Coach for Extreme Profitability, author/speaker Leslie Buterin (like butterin’ bread) at (816) 554-3674 9-3 CST (that’s Kansas City/Chicago Time).

The easiest way to get your kids out the door is to turn off any device that plugs into your kid’s brain. Therefore, the number 1 way to get our kids to exercise is:

1. Turn off the TV, the computer and the X- Box.
“Over the past two decades, the percentage of overweight children has doubled and sedentary behaviors such as watching television and playing video games have become a part of everyday life.” (Family Community Health 2002; 25:10.) To make matters worse, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition states that a significant portion of children’s daily caloric intake is consumed while watching television. I can guarantee you that the majority of calories consumed during unsupervised television viewing come from pure junk food.

2. Set a Good Example:
Instead of sending your kids outside to play go with them! Set a good example. Initiate family bike rides or walks in the park as often as schedules will allow. The best opportunity to get your family to exercise is right after dinner! Try it and you will all have fun!

3. Little Kids Need Exercise Too:
According to the National Association for sport and physical activity, simple but targeted activities are recommended for babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers. Each day, toddlers should have at least 30 minutes of structured physical activity and pre-schoolers should have at least an hour. Examples for toddlers include follow-along songs or chasing a ball; and for older children, balancing games or tumbling. (Child Health Alert2002:2) “Exercise should be a routine part of daily life and parents should join in, not just sit on the sidelines and watch their children romp.”

4. Get Your Kids Involved in Sports:
One of the best things my dad ever did for me was to sign me up for football. It is amazing to me that by the age of 10, I had already decided that I was too small and not good enough to play football. Dad thought otherwise and he was right. I just loved to play that game and I played until I was 18 years old. Being involved in sports is a great way for your children to get in shape, build confidence, make new friends and have fun. I recently had the privilege of getting a gleeful phone call from my girlfriend’s 11 year old son, Taylor. He was so excited and happy to hear that he had been chosen to be on our district’s “rep” soccer team. Becoming involved in your kids’ activities has just as many benefits for the parents! The key is to encourage but not force your child’s participation in sports. Try exposing them to a number of different sports and activities and then allow them to choose the one that interests them the most.

5. Girls Should Play as Much as Boys:
By the age of six, girls already exercise less than boys. There is absolutely no physiological reason for this to happen according to Neil Armstrong of the Children’s Health and Exercise Research Center at the University of Exeter, Great Britain. He feels parents should encourage girls to enjoy the same level of physical activity and sports as the boys. If we are truly living in an age of equality and equal opportunity, let’s start with the children. It is important not to distinguish between girl games and boy games especially when it comes to exercise. Girls should be allowed and encouraged to learn how to throw a baseball, play hockey and perform traditional male household duties such as washing the car and cleaning out the garage.

6. The Family that Plays Together Stays Together:
Many of my most cherished moments in life have been physical activities involving the whole family. I am not talking about the big competitive sports match either. My mom, dad, sister and I still laugh hysterically when we talk about the Smith family dart game at Uncle Dick’s cabana. I feel that many strong and enduring emotional bonds come through the joy of playing together as a family. I have had many great teachers throughout my life including those much older and much younger than me. When I was in elementary school I was in tears one night because I could not do a simple forward somersault that they taught us in school. Let me tell you that my dad changed my world of crying and tears into laughter and joy by teaching me how to do a somersault in five minutes. Another special moment for me was watching Taylor sink his first ball in the basketball hoop at age eight. He must have taken a hundred shots before he finally got it in the hoop.

I sincerely believe that the family that plays together stays together!

Dr. Larry Smith Chiropractor and co-author of
Inside the Minds: The Art and Science of Sports Medicine

FREE DVD (Value $97)! Click below for Instant Access to the popular, innovative and enlightening Fitness Prescription DVD.
Take charge of your own health and develop remarkable, energy, stamina and zest for life!
http://chiropracticfamilyfitness.com/

Finding the right swimsuit can be a tall order for some of us.
Not because we are tall, because we don’t fit the
run-of-the-mill swimsuits. But, atlas, with a little patience
you can find the perfect suit to flatter your body.

Here are a few tips.

How about a one-piece or a two-piece? There are plenty of sexy
one-piece suits being worn on the beach. They do not reveal it
all, just enough to keep things interesting. The trick is to
find one that fits your body type.

Are you swimming or sunbathing? If you are into swimming, a
one-piece definitely is for you. Find one that doesn’t cut into
the shoulders, comfortable with stretchy fabric. Don’t get
anything that ties. You don’t want anything to come undone while
doing laps!

If you are small on top, you may want a little swimsuit from
Brazil. Their swimsuits are cut for the smaller bust line. Also
look for one with some padding, underwire or demi-bra style.
These help to enhance the bust line. Avoid tops with too much
fabric or poor fit. Opt for separates where you can choose your
top and bottom separately.

If you are well endowed, you may need some extra support.
Underwire tops work well and look great. Also, halter-tops are a
good choice by offering support. One piece swimsuits with some
structure in the bust work well. Avoid strapless tops and those
with tiny tops that offer minimal coverage. And again, make sure
you choose your top and bottoms separately.

Those with short legs can flatter their figures with suits cut
high on the thigh. This will make your leg look much longer. One
trick is to wear a solid bottom bikini with a printed top. This
will draw the eye upward and give you a longer look. Avoid boy
shorts and skirted bikinis as they draw the eye downward and
make you look shorter.

Clothes look good on the long body shape but you need to make
sure you don’t look like a bean pole! Bright colors and
horizontal strips work well with this body type. Boys short are
perfect for slimming your hips. Avoid horizontal stripes, high
necklines and solid dark colors.

More or less a decade ago the belief of a wall-hung TV may have looked like a fantasy. It was out of the reach of most avid consumers, with especially fees that requested taking out a second mortgage to these especially stylistic televisions. Nevertheless, over time, these brilliant TV sets reached the level of attainability. Nonetheless, still not something you could just go out and buy, it has in recent time little by little become much more of a chance. Costs for these flat panel High-Definition Television sets are at the present decreasing more rapidly than new residential house values, & have made the fantasy a certainty. Digital Direct - Great offers on Digital TV’s.

These Days there are 2 contending flat-panel equipment; plasma & LCD. Despite the fact that each model offers a good picture & these TV sets may appear alike from the front, the equipment on the inside is quite different. And although LCD televisions have been limited to 37-inches & below, TV sets with the liquid crystal display technology are at this instance in sizes as large as plasma.

Yet, regardless of that, several consumers consider plasma to supply more than a few essential improvements over LCD TVs. The largest benefit is that plasma television sets usually feature deeper black levels-denoting that the blacks are really black and not merely a dark type of gray. This in turn means that the colours are much more vivid and authentic. The most recent models from Sharp & Wharfedale have in truth taken the black levels to incredible depths, and in consequence have given the best images we have viewed to date.

Despite the rumours that plasma television sets “needs to be recharged” after ten thousand hours, nothing can be far more from the fact. Today’s flat panel plasma TVs would often work for sixty-thousand hours or more, giving years of immense viewing. Despite the fact that there has been an apprehension over problems like that of burn-in (fittingly so, as this may well ruin that expensive plasma TV). the current TV’s include technology to manage picture retention, offering pixel shift techniques that slowly move the whole display, and more decisively, remove any ghosting should static pictures in fact “stick” the picture. This includes a white wash mode besides an inverse mode to remove all the burn-in.

If it wasn’t a big enough perk to grow up next door to the Magic Kingdom, Orange County high school students are also being sought out by nonprofit organizations in their area. As part of Disneyland’s 50th anniversary celebrations, high school students from Orange County Schools have the chance to participate in community outreach projects with local nonprofits.

Show Your Character

The “Show Your Character” competition encourages local nonprofits to design projects that get high school students involved. Beginning in 2004 and continuing through 2006, Orange County nonprofits submit project proposals designed to help local teenagers give back to their community. If selected, the nonprofits are paired with Orange County high school students and given the resources they needed to complete a community service project in their neighborhoods.

Projects for the competition must meet the California curriculum standards for Service Learning Projects. In this way, students earn academic credit while learning valuable skills from nonprofit groups.

A Service Learning Project must meet four basic goals (provided by the Volunteer Center of Orange County, www.volunteercenter.org ):

Meet a Real Community Need

In partnership with your organization, students should gain an understanding of how the needs of the community you serve are identified. After developing an understanding of these needs, students will actively participate in a service-learning project designed to effectively meet those needs.

Gain an Understanding of the Connection Between School and Community

Students should develop an understanding of the relationship between the school and the community and the value of school-community partnerships. This will be gained through direct interactions with your organization, staff and/or clients to develop and implement meaningful service activities that meet the needs of both the students and the community you serve.

Develop a Sense of Civic Responsibility

Students should be able to demonstrate an understanding of civic responsibility through their participation in this service-learning activity. The project must meet a real community need and improves the quality of life in the community.

Strengthen their Understanding of Core Character Traits and Values

Trustworthiness - Respect - Fairness - Caring - Citizenship

Benefits for Students

In addition to the school credit, participation in the competition also benefits students and their schools in other key ways. Students will gain from an increased awareness of the nonprofits operating in the community. In working with a nonprofit organization, the student will learn about how nonprofit groups help at risk members of the community and see for themselves how they and others can contribute to building their community in a positive way in the future. Participation also qualifies the student to apply for a Disneyland Resort Legacy Scholarship Award. The Disneyland Resort Scholarship Program, called Making Magic Through Community Service, plans to grant $50,000 in scholarships, with a minimum scholarship of $5000 each.

Benefits for Teachers and Schools

Teachers and schools can get in on the action too. In assisting their students to participate in the competition, teachers and schools meet the standards in character education and have the opportunity to build character and civic responsibility in their students. Teachers and students will have the advice of a Disney VoluntEAR Project Leader who is knowledgeable about their nonprofit organization partner as well as the character education curriculum education standards to be met. In addition, teachers and schools will have the expert assistance of the Volunteer Center of Orange County, the California State Regional Lead for Service Learning. There are financial benefits for teachers too, such as earning a Golden Performance Award worth $1000 to further improve the learning environment for their students.

Disney’s community outreach programs for Orange County high school students combine learning with public service and specifically address the character education curriculum standards for the state of California. Students in the area have been given the opportunity to learn from Walt Disney that, “the greatest moments in life are not concerned with selfish achievement but rather with the things we do for the people in need.”

Stacy Andell is a staff writer for www.schoolsk-12.com, providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and private K-12 schools. Stacy has a nose for research and writes stimulating news and views on school issues. For more on Orange County schools visit www.schoolsk-12.com/California/Orange-County/index.html