My Mom's Last Election

November is election month for the most part.  But local elections such as city councils can be in the spring. I found these from my mom's final election in 1992.  She first ran in 1984 and served from 1984-88 and ran and won re-election in 88.  She ran for the final time in 1992 which would have ended her term in 1996 when she was 79. She served a total of 12 years.  I hope I have her endurance.  She was a definite asset to the City of Douglas and I learned so much from her. 

Here are some of the ads from the newspaper in 1992:

I have thought that I would run one term and I definitely have been able to make some important things happen.  I will have to decide whether to run for a second term.  I HATE the financial piece and if I can find someone to help me raise money and to report it to the county,  then maybe I will. Election finance is very strict, as it should be. However, the county website is NOT user friendly and it was a nightmare every time we had to fill out the paperwork!

Article from Phoenix newspaper dated August 8, 1939

This article is from the Arizona Republic (I am assuming) as it says Phoenix, Arizona, Tuesday, August 8, 1939.

 

Phoenician In Douglas Wedding Party

(Phoenician is underlined in what looks like blue crayon with a big question mark after it.)

A Phoenician was in the bridal party yesterday when Miss Dorothea Kathleen Scott and Edwin Park, both of Douglas, Arizona, exchanged wedding vows at the Immaculate Conception church.  He was Matthew Scott who served as best man.  Miss Margaret scott of Douglas attended her sister as the maid of honor.

The bridegroom, faculty member of the Douglas High school, and his bride are on a honeymoon trip to Los Angeles and San Francisco.  Mrs. Park, popular young business woman, was educated in her native town.  She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. A. Scott.

Mr. Park graduated from the Arizona State Teachers college in Tempe (should have been Flagstaff) following his graduation from Douglas High school.

Before the couple left for coast cities, they were complimented with a luncheon at the Hotel Gadsden.

It was in the society section of the paper.  Right above it is a little section that says:

JOYCE BOOTH  PENFOLD

Society Editor

GLADYS M. BAGLEY

Assistant

Phone 3-1111

Miscellaneous Finds about Family Friends

I am still going through boxes of the "things" I brought back from Douglas.  I continue to find so many amazing articles and artifacts.   Friday night I found a couple of newspapers and newspaper clippings that I was able to share with friends on Facebook.

This is the first one that I found. Art Oros went to school with Judy and is married to Lorie who taught at Gilbert El for many years.  My mom thought the world of Art.  After he graduated from college, he moved back to Douglas and worked for Phelps Dodge and Lorie taught down there.  When PD moved to Phoenix, they moved up here.  Art worked there for a few years and then went to work at Salt River Project.  My mom always "hounded" me to hire Lorie and I finally did and it was a great move on my part!!  She was Cameron's kindergarten teacher and she loves him and he loves her.

I found this in a scrapbook of my mom' memories of being on the City Council.  This was before she ran.

 BEING SWORN IN--Mayor Ben Williams Jr., left, swears in Art Oros, Ward 6 alderman, at the City Council meeting Wednesday evening.  Oros was out of town on business when the other aldermen were sworn in on June 16. The City Council will hold a special session at 5:15 p.m. this afternoon for discussion on an ambulance service contract with Cochise County.

The next ones are  from a Douglas High School newspaper called the Border Bulldog.   The newspaper is not in good condition and I can't quite figure out why it was kept as there is not much about my uncle Bill.  It is dated May 22, 1942.

Here is the first article.  I posted it on Sandra Sanders' page and Barbara Weland's page.  Both are friends from Douglas.  Bob Poston was Barb's dad and Mr. and Mrs. Tom Sanders were Tom's (Sandra's husband) parents.

 Elks' Ball To Be Given Tonight

The eight annual Elk's Ball given in honor of all graduating seniors will be held this evening from nine to twelve in the Elks' hall. The seniors received their invitations Tuesday morning in their various classes. Each senior is allowed to bring one guest.

The Elks' hall will be decorated with the school colors and refreshments will be served during the evening. Music for the evening's entertainment will be furnished by Bob Posten's orchestra.

Chaperones for the evening's event will be the following: Mr. and Mrs. Charles Johnston, Mr. and Mrs. Jay Negri. and Mr. and Mrs. Tom Sanders.

This event closes the senior year activities and will follow the senior class supper earlier in the evening.

And the final one is about Keith Jackson.  He and Bill were very good friends.  I posted it on his daughter's page.  Leslie and her mom, Pinky, are dear friends.

The sophomore officers who were elected for the year were Leonard Kimble as president, with Keith Jackson vice president, Dorothy Shinn, treasurer, Melvin Fields yell leader, Ruby Mae Whatley and Charley Reynolds girl representatives for the two semesters,and Charles Jorgenson, boy representative.  The class had a baseball throw at the Hi-Jinx carnival.

 

Everyone was so appreciative and the comments that came from their relatives and friends was amazing. 

This has been so much fun!  I love the history of our family and friends!!!!

Essay from high school on Democracy

I found this essay that I wrote in high school. I am not sure of the date as it isn't written anywhere. Based on some of what I have written, I believe that this was done my senior year in high school, which would have been 1966-67.  I also didn't get a grade but received a "Very Good" on it.

I think it is fitting for Veteran's Day as that is what our veterans have and are protecting--our democracy. 

Democracy, as the dictionary defines it, is a government that is run by the people who live under it.  Abraham Lincoln once said that the United States is a country of the people, by the people, and for the people.  To me (in red--In my opinion), this is a very appropriate way of stating the meaning of democracy.

I feel that voting is one of the best ways of preserving our democracy, even though, as a teenager I am not yet able to vote. Yet, this does not mean that I do not have a personal role in preserving the democratic way of life.  I feel there are many things that I can do and that my fellow classmates all over America can do to help.  

I believe that the home, school, and community are good places in which to start.  Unless a person is able to get along with his family and friends, he will do nothing to aid in making this world safe for democracy.  Domestic tranquility is an important factor because it has been said, "United we stand; divided we fall."

If the teenagers of today would just stop for a moment and look around them, I think they would realize that there are many things to be done where they are (, in red) before going on to "greater things."

I believe that being a good citizen is by far the most important factor in safeguarding democracy.  There are many different ways in which we can be good citizens.  There are many laws that much be obeyed such as traffic laws.  All of us at one time or another are guilty of a misdemeanor while driving.  Teen-agers, it seems, are more guilty of this than adults.  Obeying these laws is one of the ways in which we can help.

Obeying laws is not the only important factor, though.  Civic drives such as the Heart Fund, Cancer, Polio, and the many others require people to go from house to house collecting funds.  We, as students, can help with these drives, and I fell that this is part of being a good citizen.

Today one of our country's biggest problems is the rioting and demonstrations that go on in our cities and our college campuses. Many of these riots and demonstrations are lead by the beatnik-type student, while the participants are average college students from average American homes. I feel that by participating in these riots and demonstrations, a student is at least showing an awareness of what is going on even though he is misdirected. If these students could be lead by realistic leaders, not the beatnik-type, thing of what good things could be done. I believe that it is up to the older generation to direct or generation so that we will be able to do what is right, I feel that these students could be reasoned with and made to realize that in order to insure the preservation of democracy in our own country, there must be democracies in other parts of the world. Many other countries admire our democratic government, and when a nation asks us for help in establishing her own democratic system, I believe it is our duty to assist.

As an individual, I feel that I am doing several things to keep our democracy alive and working.  I am a member of our American Field Service chapter and Y-Teens, which is part of the YWCA.  The purpose of the American Field Service is to bring the United States and other nations closer together through the exchange of teenage students.  "Walk together, talk together, all ye people of he earth and then ye shall have peace" is the motto of AFS.  If there is to be peace on earth, then people all over the world will be able to choose their own form of government without anyone tell them which one to have.

The YWCA promotes world fellowship.  The Y-Teens, as young members of the YWCA, have many opportunities to participate in civic activities in their own town, and learn about government and the problems it faces.  Two summers ago, I attended the National Y-Teen Conference in Washington, D.C.  I believe that this experience made me realize what truly fortunate people we are to live in this country.  Also being a three-year member of our school's student council, I feel that I have learned much about the workings of government. Even though student government problems are minute compared to the national government's, they are basically the same, and the council is run on the same principles as the national government.

If we are to keep our democracy in the United States, we must remember the words of our late president, John F. Kennedy, when he said, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for y our country."

  

It is very interesting to me to see what I thought 50 years ago when I was still in high school. I still feel this way about a lot of things, but not sure what I meant by the "beatnik-type" as this made me laugh just a tad!  This was in the middle of the Vietnam War and the beginnings of the many riots and bombings that took place.  My entire four years at ASU was when all of this was happening.  ASU wasn't a big demonstration school, but there were still things going on.  I remember after Kent State happened, it was really scary for a few days.

But the basic premise of what I said then, I still believe now.  I took a picture of the paper to show my handwriting.   One day my kids and/or Cameron might enjoy this.  



 

Putting Testing Into Perspective

One of my favorite stories from our family comes from something that Tony Gabaldon did when he was a state senator in Arizona.  It happened in about 1985.  I remember it distinctly because he did all of the background work to introduce the bill even though it was "tongue in cheek."   Tony was married to my cousin, Margaret.

That was about the time that testing started to become a big thing in education.  I was teaching then and I loved that he did this.  Of course, testing didn't have the importance or the impact that it does today. 

Tony was a state senator from Flagstaff for 20 years.  This was before term limits.   He was a great guy and had been a teacher and principal in Flagstaff for many years.  He was  an advocate of public education and was a very influential senator and was very well respected.

When the legislature was discussing standardized testing, he finally had enough and introduced a bill to put "IQ" scores of anyone running for the legislature on the ballot.   It made national news.

I have told this story through the  years.  Yesterday, my cousin, Maggie, sent me this article.  I hadn't seen an actual article on it before.  It is from a newspaper in Maryland dated 1985.

Tony was one of a kind!  We had so many great times during the years.  I remember helping him cook for big crowds for different political fundraisers. We cooked at Carolyn Warner's house and at Eddie Basha's house.  There were many different fundraisers through the years and I always enjoyed that part of the politics.  I got to meet a lot of people.

Tony died in 1998.  He was truly one of the good people in the world and such fun to be around. He always had a story to tell about something.  NAU named a dorm after him because of all of the work he had done in the legislature for them.  

I loved the times spent with Tony and Yaya and the other cousins. New Year's Eve has never been the same!

Veteran's Day 2017

This week there have been a lot of Veteran's Day assemblies at different schools. There were so many that there was no way I could get to all of them. 

At Gilbert El, we did a flag ceremony every month where the kids learned about different parts of the constitution and about the flag.  Jo Regan, one of the wonderful teachers, was in charge of this.  I always loved the table where the veteran was missing.

When I went to Douglas, the American Legion did an amazing assembly at Douglas High for Veteran's Day.  The Army Band from Fort Huachuca performed and they always were amazing.

On Wednesday, I attended the assembly at Quartz Hill Elementary.  When I got there, two young ladies were at the door to greet us.  One of them looked exactly like her mom who was in my last third grade class that I taught before I went on to become an administrator.  I knew her daughter goes to school there, but when I saw her, I knew she had to be JoLynne's daughter.  I asked her if her mom is JoLynne and she said yes, so I told her that I was her mom's teacher.  She gave me a big hug which meant a lot.  Her grandma, was Marti Farmer, who was an administrator (and friend) in GPS for a long time.  She was the founding principal of South Valley Jr. High and she died from cancer when I was in Douglas.  I posted this story to JoLynne's Facebook page and it was the highlight of my day.

The assembly was amazing.  There is a senior living center across from Quartz Hill and they do a lot with the people there which I think is so incredible for all of the kids and adults.  One of the residents was there and he was a WWII veteran.  It was very touching.

Today I went first to Playa del Rey for their Veteran's Day Celebration.  The teacher in charge of it took one of my NAU classes when I taught several years ago.  She had invited me to it.  She reminded me of something that she learned in my class and that was that if we want to make significant change, we, as educators, have to be willing to be part of that change.  It made me think that truly that is what I have been doing!  I hadn't thought about it in that context.

One of the highlights was the motorcycle group called Patriot Riders of America.  They do events for veterans.  They drove their motorcycles onto the school grounds.  It was impressive.

At both schools, the music was excellent and the children were so well behaved. Veterans were honored, as they should be.  It was so heartwarming.

After that, I went to the Town of Gilbert ceremony.  The students from Settler's Pointe Elementary entertained us at the beginning and the Campo Verde Advanced Vocal Ensemble sang the National Anthem.

All three ceremonies were PERFECT!       

November 8, 2016

It doesn't seem possible that it has been a whole year since the election of 2016. That was the day that I was elected to serve on the Gilbert Public Schools Governing Board. What a year it has been!

In December I was sworn in along with the Lori Wood and Reed Carr, who also won the election. There were three seats open for this election.   

So much has transpired in just a year. Teresa was living with us during the election time.  She was so sweet in always wanting to help me with different parts of the campaign.  She  went with me to take my petitions into the county, attended my kick-off rally, voted for me, and attended the celebration and thank you party that I had in December. By December, she was in the group home.  

In January, I was elected to be the Governing Board President. What a learning curve I had!  Fortunately for me, I had a strong enough background in policy and procedure to be able to learn the duties of a GPS board member and to run the meetings.   

It has been an extremely busy 11 months at so many levels. As I look back on these past several months it is with both sadness and joy. The sadness is losing Teresa in July and closing up the house in Douglas in October.  The joy is see our wonderful district begin a journey of healing with our new superintendent, Shane McCord.

I have made many new friends along the way and that also brings happiness. And the support from old and dear friends cannot be measured in any way.  I am so grateful for all of this.  I am blessed in so many ways and I hope that the next three plus years brings opportunities for me to continue to give back to the community and district that I love!

It has been an honor and a privilege for me to be a part of the GPS Board and to be the president.  I did not realize the amount of work it would be. Although it has slowed down quite a bit, there are days that are very busy.  And that is good for me!!

John F. Kennedy said, "Leadership and Learning are indispensable to each other."  I believe that this quote can be interpreted in two ways.....as a leader, I have truly learned a lot, not just in this leadership role but in the previous ones that I have held through the years.  All of the learning has contributed to helping me be a better leader.   My years in Douglas prepared me more than anything else for the role that I have had to serve as board president.  I am thankful for that.   However, the other interpretation that I take from this quote is that leadership is extremely important to learning and we are in the business of education and learning and our children and future depends on the leadership of today!