Rain... Rain... Rain

I hope that each of you are enjoying your time away on Spring Break. Here at home, we are experiencing the worst rain storms in many years. Reports have us approaching a record rainfall for the month of March. There is much flooding and destruction across southern Missouri and northern Arkansas. Keep us in your prayers and thoughts and if you are driving back, please be careful!

Winning a Championship!

Wow! What a game! The Bolivar Lady Liberator Basketball team came out rolling in the first quarter only to fall apart in the second and third quarter of the 4-A Missouri State High School Championship game. But a determined effort in the fourth quarter, a stingy press defense, a dramatic last second shot, and a lot of overtime anxiety yielded a well earned victory giving the local high school team its first championship since 1982. I wonder if the championship game had been easy would it mean the same? Here these young ladies who had a tremendous season, had to fight and claw their way back into contention in a game they were supposed to win, and then work hard together as a team to seal the deal. I bet to them this victory meant more than a simple cake walk. Life is like that. The things worth having. The things worth holding on to. The things that are special are the ones that you have to work hard for. They don't come easy. They don't come cheap. It is the journey that makes the trip memorable, not the final destination. Indeed, lessons in life are where you find them. Congratulations to the Bolivar Lady Liberators for their win and for teaching us a lesson.

Culture of Cheating!

Well Physical Therapy Bloggers, I am on the road again! This time to Columbia, MO where I am attending the MSHSAA Show-Me Showdown Basketball Championships. The Bolivar Lady Liberators have made it to the championship game and I will post a blog after I witness the results on Saturday.

I saw something on the Internet today, of which I have talked to you about before: A Culture of Cheating! Here is a read that you need to do, and reflect upon. The once great Marion Jones turned herself in today to start her prison sentence. She is not doing time for the illegal steroids that she took, but rather the fact that she lied under oath about it. Jones is part of the culture of cheating. Part of the society that says it is OK to lie. Part of the society that says it is OK to cheat. Part of the society that says it is OK to misrepresent yourself. I must admit I marveled at Jones as she won her many medals and accolades on the track. I was proud to say I was an American and proud that she represented our country. Now, what do we have? Some medals that have been reclaimed by the Olympic Committee. Official records that have been banished from the books. A once proud athlete spending time behind bars. A small child who will be separated from her mother for six months. In the end is it all worth it?

slesh

Taking the Plunge

I have been asked now for the second year in a row by a member or two of the SBU DPT contingent taking the plunge to pledge in support of the Special Olympics. I am both honored and happy to give to this wonderful cause. I think sometimes it is difficult for us as individuals to ask others to give money, but we must remember if we don't ask, then people certainly won't give. Giving of ourselves is a professional trait I hope pray that you will all aspire to! And we also must remember that the Good Lord works in many ways. People can give in many ways. They can give of their time. They can support in prayer. And many like to give money to support others doing good works. So, I am honored to give and I am proud that SBU was once again represented at the Lake taking the Polar Bear Plunge in support of the Missouri Special Olympics. It seems that the "bowling pin" theme was well received and earned the team from SBU a third place finish! If you are not aware of this cause, please look at Mandy's website.

Lobbying in Jefferson City

Entering the chartered coach behind the Wheeler building on SBU campus, sixty DPT students joined the world of political activism for the physical therapy profession. Students running for name tags and coffee and iPods at the last minute was the norm as the bus readied to leave. Once we arrived on the Capitol grounds, a quick unloading was immediately followed by visits to legislator's offices. Representative Mike Parsons (R-133) from Bolvar, MO introduced the SBU delegation from the floor of the house chambers. Pizza was eaten at lunch on the steps under the rotunda and the history and splendor of the Missouri Capitol was taken in by all. While the stairs were a challenge and many students discussed the growing fatigue, a meeting in Committee Hearing Room #4 led by Rep. Mike Parsons, Rep. Shane Schoeller (R-139), and Senator Delbert Scott (R-28) found a well deserved respite and educational lesson. Topics were discussed from protecting the physical therapy practice act, to participating in the political process, to the role of lobbyists in the political information chain, and ending with how quality staffers support the legislators. After a quick picture with Thomas Jefferson, as promised, the bus squeezed into a nook besides the Highland Dairy permitting access to tasty refreshments of the chocolate, vanilla, and cookie-dough variety. One student brought back a sugar cone topped with three scoops of a colored ice cream that matched her shirt.

I am most proud of how the SBU delegation represented the University, the Department, and the profession. I am looking forward to the bus arriving behind the Wheeler building once more in the Spring of 2009.

Together with you in His service,

slesh

Wheelchair User Rights

Hey PT Community,

As a professional physical therapist, I couldn't help but get upset when I saw this news story on NBC yesterday. Turns out the story is now posted online as is the video that is so disturbing. It seems that the police did not believe that this gentleman, who was under arrest, was really disabled and in a wheelchair for a reason. Please read the story and watch the video if you have a chance.

Together with you in His service,

slesh

The Long Ride Home...

Well SBU DPT community, I made it home safely from Nashville. I enjoyed the ride through TN, KY, IL and MO. Along the way I listened to CDs of C. S. Lewis The Chronicles of Narnia including Prince Caspian, The Voyages of the Dawn Treader, and parts of The Magician's Nephew. I found a great chapter that I want to play for my research class next year out of the first book in the series where Digory's uncle talks about the importance and ethics of his research to find the lost world of Atlantis. If you have never read (or heard) the series, it is a wonderful read. Disney will be releasing Prince Caspian this coming spring.

Now it is time to go back to work and for you the students to return to the classroom. Of course, the ice is falling from the sky, Bolivar schools are closed, and many parts of my body ache from the combination of lots of walking at CSM and long rides in the truck. Keep working hard in class and as always, please let me know if there is anything I can do for you.

Together with you in His service,

slesh

BTW... saw this story this a.m. online related to our current culture of lying, cheating and stealing. Seems that Kevin Hart wanted so bad to play college football that he lied to everyone, including the police to achieve his end. It is great to know and remember that as PT professionals, the two things that we have that separate us from all the rest of the contemporary culture include our skillful and accurate documentation and our integrity.