NEWSWIRE PLUS: LETTERS OF PRESIDENTS TO CHILDREN
A new book, "Dear Young Friend: The Letters of American Presidents to Children," traces the evolution of the U.S. presidency from aristocratic to mass media through the letters of children to the White House. "Much of the presidential mail to children illuminates little-known aspects of our chief executives, even those whose personalities as well as presidencies seem almost to have faded from history," say authors Rodelle and Stanley Weintraub. "Even popular presidents unveiled a side not always seen by the public. The letters provide a striking lens that allows us to examine the development of an increasingly more public presidency," says Stanley Weintraub, the Evan Pugh Professor Emeritus of Arts and Humanities. The book is published by Stackpole. Go to http://www.psu.edu/ur/stories/DearYoungFriend/index.html for NewswirePlus.
RESEARCHERS DESIGN TEST FOR VISIONING ABILITY
Two Penn State researchers have fine-tuned a test measuring one of the key components of leadership: the ability to shape a long-range vision for one's company, church or local school district. The scale is currently being shared with a Fortune 500 insurance company, which will be doing the training as part of leadership development and incorporating the researchers’ entire visioning approach into their strategic planning process. The company also will use the visioning ability scale, testing its validity as a selection tool for future company leaders. "Leadership experts define vision as an individual's ability to summon a vivid mental image of his or her organization's future, not only in brick-and-mortar terms, but ultimate strategic direction and long-term success," say Dr. Peg Thoms, associate professor of management, and Dr. Dawn G. Blasko, associate professor of psychology. Both are at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College.For the complete story by Paul Blaum, go to: http://www.psu.edu/ur/2000/leadershipvisioning.html
CENTRE COUNTY VISITOR CENTER DEDICATED YESTERDAY
Unofficially, the Visitor Center opened in time for the National Governors’ Association meeting in July and has been busy ever since with between 15,000 and 20,000 visitors since then -- including thousands these past two football weekends. The $3.5 million, 15,000-square-foot center is a joint venture of the Centre County Convention and Visitors Bureau and Penn State. The Bureau has a membership of more than 300 businesses from several departments at Penn State to local media, hotels, restaurants and bed and breakfast establishments, retail shops, banks and many types of services. The Visitor Center is a complete, one-stop source for information on things to do and see. It offers recreational suggestions, directions to and reservations for lodgings and restaurants, Penn State University information and parking permits, area and Penn State souvenirs, maps, ATM machines, and an interactive touchscreen kiosk. Professionally mounted displays on the history, culture, industry and points of interest in the county and a cyber café where you can check your email are of special interest. For more, http://www.psu.edu/ur/2000/ctrcovstrctr.html
GIFTS TO PENN STATE MEMORIALIZE PENNY GARBAN
The family and friends of Penny A. Garban have made gifts totaling $200,000 in her memory to support several initiatives at the University. Penny A. Garban died in an accidental drowning in 1997. She was married to longtime Penn State administrator Steve A. Garban, who retired in 1993 as the University’s senior vice president of finance and operations/treasurer emeritus after 33 years of service. The family directed $150,000 to help build the Hintz Family Alumni Center, now under construction. The center’s library will be named in memory of Penny A. Garban, who worked as a coordinator in the Alumni Association. The family has also created two endowments in memory of Penny Garban: one in cardiology at the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center to provide research support in the areas of artrial fibrillation and congestive heart failure, and the other for an undergraduate golf scholarship for women. For the full story, go to http://www.psu.edu/ur/2000/00garbangift.html
MORE THAN 13,000 STUDENTS GET CONNECTED
Student residence hall Internet connections reached an all-time high this semester with requests for Penn State backbone connections totaling 13,104 - a figure that represents a 32 percent increase in residence hall connections in comparison the same time last year. To date, 75 percent of all of Penn State's residence hall students have active connections through the University’s backbone to the Internet. These connections are free to residence hall students and are significantly faster than the fastest dial-in modem. To learn more, go to http://www.otc.psu.edu/services/student/data/sibc/sibc.html
STUDENT'S PERFORMANCE DAZZLES EDINBURGH FESTIVAL
A one-woman tour-de-force performance by Joy Hooper at Scotland's Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August was hailed by critics as "brilliant," "compelling," "top-quality entertainment." Push, a play adapted by Hooper, originated as a requirement for graduation. The play premiered in a small studio in the Arts Building at Penn State. Within a few months, the play had its European premiere at one of the largest theatre festivals in the world. Sponsored by Pennsylvania Centre Stage, in cooperation with Penn State's School of Theatre, Hooper adapted Push for the stage from the novel by American author and poetess Sapphire. The author gave Hooper and Centre Stage one-time only exclusive rights to perform the play in Scotland. Hooper now lives in New York and has accepted one of her "dream roles." She will play Cleopatra in Anthony and Cleopatra for Expanded Arts on the Lower East Side in New York. Hooper hopes to secure the rights from Sapphire to perform Push in New York. For information on the School of Theatre, go to http://www.theatre.psu.edu/
SMALL TALK: TO TATTOO OR NOT TO TATTOO?
Once upon a time, only sailors sported them, but these days, tattoos are hot for both sexes and your teen may soon want one too. Bad idea. Permanent tattooing is a medical procedure in which dye is injected into the skin. It can be a painful, messy process that may cause infection, hepatitis or AIDS. Our advice: Discuss these risks and irreversibility of tattoos with your kids so they understand that if they get one, it'll be there forever. A safe, fun alternative: temporary tattoos. --"Small Talk" is a weekly column of safety and health information for parents and other caregivers for children. It is a community service of the Penn State Children’s Hospital, located at The Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, Pa. Please direct any comments or questions to Patricia Millner, director of nursing at the Penn State Children’s Hospital, at mailto:
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TURF RENEWAL MEANS YOU MUST GO TO THE ROOTS
If your lawn looks like something out of "Revenge of the Swamp Thing," "Tumbleweeds" or even "Lawrence of Arabia," don't give up and start over. A turfgrass expert in the College of Agricultural Sciences says almost any lawn can be renovated. Peter Landschoot, associate professor of turfgrass science, says " before you pour time and money into lawn renovation, make sure you have addressed underlying problems that caused the turfgrass to deteriorate in the first place. Turfgrass can deteriorate for a variety of reasons, but most problems can be corrected by renovation, better lawn maintenance and selecting the proper turfgrass species and variety. Some common problems include:. Shade, Poor Drainage, Soil Fertility and Acidity, Mowing Thatch Pests, Planting the Right Species. For information about how to correct these problems, go to http://www.aginfo.psu.edu/news/september00/turf.html
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION AWAY-GAME PEP RALLY SCHEDULE
The Alumni Association has announced its fall away-game pep rally schedule. Festivities begin two hours prior to kickoff time with the pep band, cheerleading squad, and the mascot Lion to rally spirit before the games. Admission is free, no reservations are necessary, and snacks are provided.
September 16-Pittsburrgh -- CANCELLED
September 23-Ohio State -- Outside Drake Union
October 7-Minnesota -- East side of Metrodome
October 28-Indiana — 5.p.m., West side of RCA Dome, Victory Field
November 11-Michigan -- 18th green & Stadium Blvd, Mich. Golf Course,
DIXIE CHICKS AND WILLIE NELSON AT BJC, OCT. 13.
DIXIE CHICKS, with special guest Willie Nelson at the Bryce Jordan Center will be at the Bryce Jordan Center on Friday, Oct. 13, at 8 p.m. Tickets go on Sale Date: Saturday, Sept. 16, at 8 a.m. Wristbands will be available Friday, Sept. 15, from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 16, from 6 a.m. until 7 a.m. Tickets can be purchased At: Bryce Jordan Center, Eisenhower Auditorium, selected Uni-Mart ticket outlets, Commonwealth Campus ticket outlets, or charge by phone at (800) 863-3336, locally at (814) 865-5555, or on-line at http://www.bjc.psu.edu.
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