Bike To Work Day is May 9th!

When is Bike to Work Day?

The San Francisco Bay Area's 19th annual Bike to Work Day will take place on Thursday, May 9, 2013 with all nine Bay Area counties participating in the celebration. The event is part of National Bike Month.

 

What Happens on Bike to Work Day?

Energizer Stations are located along Bay Area county commute routes where bicyclists can stop for refreshments, giveaways, and bicycling information or simply to be 'cheered on' by fellow participants. Energizer Stations will be open during morning commute hours and some will even re-open during the evening commute. Stay tuned for updated information about Energizer Station locations, Bike to Work Week activities and Bike to Work Day "after parties."

Why Bike to Work?

More than one million Bay Area residents live within five miles of their workplace, an ideal distance for bicycling. The work commute only represents 23% of all trips, so consider how you also may be able to bike to shop, to school, for errands, and for social events. In a world concerned with climate change, pollution, congestion and wasted time, the question should really be: Why not bike to work?

How many people in the Bay Area commute to work by bike everyday?

According to the 2007 American Community Survey 43,000 Bay Area residents use a bicycle as their primary means of getting to work every day. On Bike to Work Day, we expect hundreds of thousands of people to bike to work in the Bay Area, with many being first time bike commuters.

Do I need to register for Bike to Work Day?

Registration is free, quick and easy. You don't need to register, but the only way to win awesome prizes is to pledge to ride. By registering you will be making a pledge to Bike to Work, allowing the Bay Area Bicycle Coalition to better calculate participation. When you register, you will automatically be entered into a drawing to win a grand prize. Only Bay Area Residents (residents of any of the Bay Area's 9 official government counties) will be qualified to win prizes.

Uno Mas Margarita?

History of Cinco de Mayo: Battle of Puebla

 

In 1861 the liberal Mexican Benito Juárez (1806-1872) became president of a country in financial ruin, and he was forced to default on his debts to European governments. In response, France, Britain and Spain sent naval forces to Veracruz to demand reimbursement. Britain and Spain negotiated with Mexico and withdrew, but France, ruled by Napoleon III (1808-1873), decided to use the opportunity to carve a dependent empire out of Mexican territory. Late in 1861, a well-armed French fleet stormed Veracruz, landing a large French force and driving President Juárez and his government into retreat.

Certain that success would come swiftly, 6,000 French troops under General Charles Latrille de Lorencez (1814-1892) set out to attack Puebla de Los Angeles, a small town in east-central Mexico. From his new headquarters in the north, Juárez rounded up a rag-tag force of 2,000 loyal men—many of them either indigenous Mexicans or of mixed ancestry—and sent them to Puebla. Led by Texas-born General Ignacio Zaragoza (1829-1862), the vastly outnumbered and poorly supplied Mexicans fortified the town and prepared for the French assault. On May 5, 1862, Lorencez drew his army, well provisioned and supported by heavy artillery, before the city of Puebla and led an assault from the north. The battle lasted from daybreak to early evening, and when the French finally retreated they had lost nearly 500 soldiers. Fewer than 100 Mexicans had been killed in the clash.

Although not a major strategic win in the overall war against the French, Zaragoza's success at Puebla represented a great symbolic victory for the Mexican government and bolstered the resistance movement. Six years later—thanks in part to military support and political pressure from the United States, which was finally in a position to aid its besieged neighbor after the end of the Civil War—France withdrew. The same year, Austrian Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian, who had been installed as emperor of Mexico by Napoleon in 1864, was captured and executed by Juárez's forces. Puebla de Los Angeles was renamed for General Zaragoza, who died of typhoid fever months after his historic triumph there.

Cinco de Mayo in Mexico

Within Mexico, Cinco de Mayo is primarily observed in the state of Puebla, where Zaragoza’s unlikely triumph occurred, although other parts of the country also take part in the celebration. Traditions include military parades, recreations of the Battle of Puebla and other festive events. For many Mexicans, however, May 5 is a day like any other: It is not a federal holiday, so offices, banks and stores remain open.

Cinco de Mayo in the United States

In the United States, Cinco de Mayo is widely interpreted as a celebration of Mexican culture and heritage, particularly in areas with substantial Mexican-American populations. Chicano activists raised awareness of the holiday in the 1960s, in part because they identified with the victory of indigenous Mexicans over European invaders during the Battle of Puebla. Today, revelers mark the occasion with parades, parties, mariachi music, Mexican folk dancing and traditional foods such as tacos and mole poblano. Some of the largest festivals are held in Los Angeles, Chicago and Houston.

Confusion with Mexican Independence Day

Many people outside Mexico mistakenly believe that Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of Mexican independence, which was declared more than 50 years before the Battle of Puebla. That event is commemorated on September 16, the anniversary of the revolutionary priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla’s famous “Grito de Dolores” (“Cry of Dolores”), a call to arms that amounted to a declaration of war against the Spanish colonial government in 1810.

Since 1956, May has been recognized as National Bike Month.  The third week in May is designated Bike to Work Week; and the third Friday of May is Bike to Work Day.

 

 

Overcoming Bike Commuting Excuses

 

12 reasons to start using a bicycle for transportation

Economic instability and ever-increasing climate change are just two of the many reasons riding a bike is an excellent alternative to driving.

 

We're continuing our look at smart ways to start saddling up and using bicycles for real transportation.

We've always taken the greenness of bike transport as a given. But if you're just getting started — or perhaps trying to convince an employer that bicycle commuting is a good thing — we've rounded up a dozen reasons to leave that car in the driveway and start covering pavement on two wheels. Let's ride!

1) It's easier to finance a new bicycle than a new car. Thanks to the recession, auto loans are hard to find these days — even if you have good credit. But for the price of a single car payment, you can buy a well-made bicycle that should outlast most cars. Add a few hundred dollars more for rain gear, lights and accessories, and you have all-weather, anytime transportation.

2) A bicycle has a tiny manufacturing footprint when compared to a car. All manufactured goods have environmental impact, but bicycles can be produced for a fraction of the materials, energy and shipping costs of a car.

3) Bicycles produce no meaningful pollution when in operation. Bikes don't have tailpipes belching poisonous fumes into the atmosphere. They also eliminate the oil, fuel and hydraulic fluids dripped by automobiles onto the road surface — which means less toxic runoff into local waterways.

4) Bikes save taxpayers money by reducing road wear. A 20-pound bicycle is a lot less rough on the pavement than a two-ton sedan. Every bicycle on the road amounts to money saved patching potholes and resurfacing city streets.

5) Bicycles are an effective alternative to a second car. Perhaps you're not in a position to adopt a bicycle as primary transportation. But bikes make great second vehicles. You can literally save thousands of dollars a year using a bicycle for workday commuting and weekend errands in households which might otherwise be forced to maintain two cars.

6) Using a bike for transportation can help you lose weight and improve your overall health. The health benefits of regular aerobic exercise are well-known. Depending on your riding style and local road conditions, you could easily burn 600 calories an hour through brisk cycling. Most bike commuters report losing 15 to 20 pounds during their first year in the saddle without changing their eating habits.

7) You can store a dozen bicycles in a single automobile-sized parking place. Parking lots have enormous environmental and financial impact, particularly in urbanized areas. The more bikes you can get on the road, the fewer parking spaces you need to build.

8) Bicycles don't burn gasoline. Fuel is cheap compared to last year, and the economic downturn is likely to keep a lid on petroleum demand for a while. But we're not producing any more oil today than we were when it was more than $100 a barrel. A healthy bike culture will help ease pressure on supply once demand returns.

9) Bicycling may be faster and more efficient than taking a car. We're not talking about the crazy — and illegal — antics of New York bicycle messengers. But bikes are often faster than cars in urban areas, especially when city designers have set aside proper bike lanes. There's nothing more satisfying as a bicycle commuter than breezing past a long line of gridlocked traffic.

10) Bikes cost much less to maintain and operate than automobiles. You'll never throw a rod on a bicycle, and dropping a transmission on a bike usually means replacing a bent derailleur hanger or worn-out chain. Bicycles do require service, but you can learn to perform most of it yourself. Even if you have a shop do things for you, costs will be trivial compared to a car.

11) Bicycles provide mobility for those who may not qualify or afford to drive. Not everyone can get a driver's license (or wants one), and the cost of purchasing, insuring and maintaining a car is out of reach for a lot of people. Almost everyone can afford some sort of bike. Other than walking, bicycles are the most cost-effective transportation on the planet.

12) Studies show that bicycle commuters are healthier, more productive, and require less time off at work. This is why most enlightened employers are eager to accommodate commuting cyclists. Healthy workers are better workers — and that's good for the bottom line. Bikes are smart business.

So there are 12 reasons to dust-off that bicycle in your garage in time for Bike to Work Day (the third Friday in May).

http://www.mnn.com/green-tech/transportation/stories/12-reasons-to-start-using-a-bicycle-for-transportation

Red Hat Society Day is April 25!

WHO WE ARE

 

The Red Hat Society has become the international society dedicated to reshaping the way women are viewed in today's culture. RHS supports and encourages women to pursue fun, friendship, freedom, fulfillment of lifelong dreams and fitness. It serves as the center point for all communications and opportunities for its members offering tools, tips, discounts, services and events specifically with Red Hatters in mind. The Red Hat Society has spent over a decade developing a strong online communication tool for Members assisting them in gaining new and exciting ways to enjoy life, sharing their unique and motivating stories and helping Members find local hatters and activities they can participate in. Women over age 50 are known as "Red Hatters," while those under 50 are lovingly referred to as "Pink Hatters."

"The Red Hat Society began as a result of a few women deciding to greet middle age with verve, humor and elan. We believe silliness is the comedy relief of life, and since we are all in it together, we might as well join red-gloved hands and go for the gusto together. Underneath the frivolity, we share a bond of affection, forged by common life experiences and a genuine enthusiasm for wherever life takes us next."

- Sue Ellen Cooper, Queen Mother

 

 

While visiting a friend in Tucson several years ago, Sue Ellen impulsively bought a bright red fedora at a thrift shop, for no other reason than that it was cheap and, she thought, quite dashing. A year or two later she read the poem "Warning" by Jenny Joseph, which depicts an older woman in purple clothing with a red hat. Sue Ellen felt an immediate kinship with Ms. Joseph. She decided that her birthday gift to her dear friend, Linda Murphy, would be a vintage red hat and a copy of the poem. She has always enjoyed whimsical decorating ideas, so she thought the hat would look nice hanging on a hook next to the framed poem. Linda got so much enjoyment out of the hat and the poem that Sue Ellen gave the same gift to another friend, then another, then another.

 

One day it occurred to these friends that they were becoming a sort of "Red Hat Society" and that perhaps they should go out to tea... in full regalia. They decided they would find purple dresses which didn't go with their red hats to complete the poem's image.

The tea was a smashing success.  Soon, each of them thought of another woman or two she wanted to include, and they bought more red hats. Their group swelled to 18, and they began to encourage other interested people to start their own chapters (18 women don't fit well around a tea table). One of their members passed along the idea to a friend of hers in Florida, and their first "sibling" group was born.

 

Sue Ellen's fondest hope was that these societies would proliferate far and wide. Happily, they did! "There's only one, join the fun!" rang out through the land and now Red Hat Society Members are seen in all 50 states and 30 countries. Just so you know, women who have gain the glorious age of 50 wear Red Hats and purple clothing and our lovely ladies 49 and under don Pink Hats and lavender togs. We hold a multitude of RHS sponsored events each year in fabulous locations, with thousands of women wearing our signature regalia! What a sight! Could world domination be far behind?

 

Wanna Join the Fun?  http://www.redhatsociety.com/membership/page1.html

Hug Your Admin Today!

Happy Administrative Professionals Day!

 

Administrative Professionals Week is always the last full week of April, with Wednesday of that week being designated Administrative Professionals Day.

Administrative Professionals Day recognizes and celebrates the work of secretaries, administrative assistants, and other office professionals for their growing and diverse contributions to the workplace. In the United States, it is customary to take administrative professionals out to lunch on this day, and/or to give flowers or other gifts of appreciation.

Administrative Professionals Week was originally organized as "National Secretaries Week" by the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) and a consortium of office product manufacturers in 1952. Mary Barrett, president of the National Secretaries Association (now called the International Association of Administrative Professionals) and C. King Woodbridge, president of Dictaphone Corporation, were serving on a council charged with addressing a national shortage of skilled office workers that existed at the time. Together with Harry Klemfuss, public relations account executive at Young & Rubicam, they originated the idea for a secretaries week campaign.

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Charles Sawyer proclaimed the first National Secretaries Week held June 1-7, 1952, with Wednesday, June 4th designated National Secretaries Day. Mary Barrett and C. King Woodbridge were invited to Washington, DC for the official announcement. The event received widespread publicity.

In 1955, the National Secretaries Association changed the date of National Secretaries Week to the last full week of April, with Wednesday of that week being designated National Secretaries Day. The name was changed to Professional Secretaries Week in 1981 when the National Secretaries Association became Professional Secretaries International (PSI).

In 1998, PSI changed its name to the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP), to further reflect the expanding role of office staff. In the year 2000, the IAAP – official sponsor of the event – announced that the name would change from "Professional Secretaries Day" to "Administrative Professionals Day." The name change was made to keep in step with the changing job titles and expanding responsibilities of today's administrative workforce.

Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, IAAP remains the sole sponsor of Administrative Professionals Week and Administrative Professionals Day. IAAP continues to believe in the importance of this event in calling business attention to the increasing value and contributions of administrative professionals in today's workplace.

 

http://www.calendar-updates.com/info/holidays/us/admin.aspx

Earth Day 2013 is Here!

Welcome To Earth Day SF 2013
Celebrate Earth Day in the Heart of San Francisco,
The "Greenest City in North America"Saturday, April 20, 2013 10am to 6pm at Civic Center Plaza
 

This unique celebration packs a powerful day of green sustainability discussions, activism, workshops and solutions into one full day of fun and excitement for the whole family. Designed to support the Bay Area Community and beyond, Earth Day San Francisco focuses on acknowledging the local and planetary environmental challenges we all face, and inviting the public to integrate sustainable practices into their everyday lives.

E.D.S.F. is a FREE daylong event featuring :

Our Earth Mother Stage comes alive with “Edutainment” throughout the day from Albino [ Heavy Afro Funk ], Earth Amplified [Eco Hip Hop], Poor Man’s Whiskey [Blue Grass/Jam Band], Haunted by Heroes [Youth Rock], DJ Dragonfly, Classical Revolution and many other amazing top-notch performers!!!

 

Internationally Recognized Speakers, Dolores Huerta [United Farm Work America], Stacy Malkan [Co-Founder of Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and G.M.O. labeling], Sophie Azouaou [Step Into My Green World], Star Hawk [green author] and many more will grace our stage and engage the public in stimulating and educational discussion. The public will experience hands on Green D.I.Y projects, Sustainable Chef Cooking Demos, and active E.V. Transportation Zone, Eco Fashion Shows, A Permaculture Village, Holistic Wellness Village, Amazing Eco Art, sustainable/solar powered Beer and Wine Gardens, over 80 earth friendly vendors, Eco Youth Zone, Two kiddie playground and lots more!!!

Thank you to our dedicated sponsors, who enable this amazing event to come to life: Chevy ‘Volt’, Opera Software, Sierra Nevada, K.O.F.Y TV20, Odwalla, Burning Man Project, Naked Juice, and over 20 progressive in-kind Green nonprofits.

Support with Families of Autistic Children in Northern California

Parent & Family Support

Parents Helping Parents
A comprehensive, not-for-profit family resource center run for and by parents of children with special needs. Their website Includes information on education, health, technical services, and the community.

FEAT
This is a non-profit organization of parents that advocate for early and intensive treatment for children with Autism. They have several chapters throughout the U.S.

Autism Society of America
The ASA is one of the oldest Autism non-profit organizations and may have chapters in areas that FEAT does not.

The ARC of the United States
Arc is an advocacy group that also my have resources to direct you to other parents and professionals in your area.

Association of Regional Center Agencies
Represents California’s regional centers in supporting and advancing the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act.

Department of Developmental Services
DDS is the agency through which the State of California provides services and supports to children and adults with developmental disabilities. These disabilities include mental retardation, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism and related conditions.

California Department of Rehabilitation
The mission of the Department of Rehabilitation is to assist Californians with disabilities in obtaining and retaining employment and maximizing their ability to live independently in their communities.

California Early Start Program
A child with or at risk of developmental delay or disability can receive an “Early Start” in the State of California. Teams of service coordinators, healthcare providers, early intervention specialists, therapists, and parent resource specialists can evaluate and assess an infant or toddler and provide appropriate early intervention services to eligible children.

National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities
A national information and referral center that provides information on disabilities and disability-related issues for families, educators, and other professionals. Our special focus is children and youth (birth to age 22).