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Show Volume IX Issue II THE OGDEN VALLEY NEWS Page 3 November 1, 2003 U.S. Congressman Rob Bishop Delivers Keynote Address at the 19th CSIET Annual Meeting Utah Congressman Rob Bishop recently addressed the 19th CSIET* Annual Meeting in Miami Beach, Florida. Congressman Bishop received the CSIET Award of Recognition for his strong support of international youth exchanges in his home state of Utah. Congressman Bishop is a newly elected member of Congress from Utah’s First Congressional District. “He is a common man with uncommon leadership,” states his official bio. Prior to coming to Washington, he taught high school History, U.S. Government, and in Terri Boyce of Huntsville with Utah Congressman Rob Bishop. German language. Congressman Bishop was also a devoted public servant by representing his local community in the Utah State legislature and later served as Speaker of the House. Recently, Congressman Bishop energized a group of local exchange program representatives in his home district during efforts to pro- mote foreign exchange student programs. The Utah state legislature passed legislation last year that caused the total number of foreign exchange students in Utah high schools to drastically drop during the 2003 – 2004 school year. By placing financial restrictions on the placement process, the legislation unintentionally unwelcomed hundreds of potential exchange students for the current fall semester in Utah schools. Congressman Bishop and his family have had personal experience with youth exchange programs. He has expressed his support for these powerful programs to local educational authorities in his home district by stating, “I have hosted foreign exchange students in our home. I have also had many foreign exchange students in my classes. It is a positive experience for the exchange student and his/her American classmates. . Over 125 leaders from the international youth exchange community and state high school associations, who share a commitment to quality services and standards for high school exchange students, attend the CSIET Annual Meeting. These exchange community leaders in attendance collectively sponsor close to 30,000 high school exchange students each year. *The Council of Standards for International Educational Travel (CSIET) sets the standards for nationwide exchange programs. Community Group Plans Meeting on Eden Incorporation A public meeting to discuss the petition for a feasibility of incorporation study for a proposed Eden City will be held November 6 at 7:00 p.m., at Snowcrest Junior High. A community group, independent of the formal feasibility study committee has organized the meeting. A panel consisting of Weber County Commissioner Glen Burton, Roger Brunker, and Sheriff Brad Slater will be available to answer questions from the audience. Plan on attending this informative meeting. Ogden Valley Pathways Seeks Community Volunteers Do you like to walk, bike, horseback ride, hike, or jog in Ogden Valley? Interested in safer, more pleasant pathways to do it on? If so, come out and help Ogden Valley Pathways (OVP) at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 8. For a few hours that morning, we will begin work on a new pathway. Volunteers will meet at the north end of the Maverick We love the rural lifestyle of this beautiful valley and believe that pathways can help enhance and preserve it. After two years of work to develop a master plan of trails for Ogden Valley and to get that plan approved by the County, OVP is now working to develop new, and maintain existing, pathways. Throughout October, a small group of OVP volunteers completed trail maintenance on the three mile Pineview West Trail. They picked up trash, cut and cleared overgrowth, and thoroughly widened the entire length of the trail from the North Arm Trail Head to Windsurfer Beach. Please come out and lend a hand, or let us know if you have ideas about work on other trails in the Valley. You can contact Brandon Fuller at 645-6060 or at bfuller@relia.net. Your help and ideas are welcome! Congressman Bishop Supports Exchange Student Program The following letter by Utah Congressional Representative Rob Bishop was sent to the Utah Superintendent of Schools Dear Superintendent: I know the Utah legislature recently reduced compensation districts receive for foreign exchange students, and recent federal requirements have not solved the problem but have made the financial situation worse. School district reaction to charge full out-ofstate tuition to foreign exchange students is justifiable and certainly understandable. It is also sad. Most foreign kids can not afford to pay additional tuition costs above what is already an expensive proposition for their families. The elimination of foreign exchange students in your high schools does not restore lost funds. It is also clear that allowing entrance of one or two foreign kids will not impact your cost base. Whether exchange students are present or not, your fixed M&O costs and salary base will be the same. I have no financial solution for you, but I do wish to raise awareness of potential longterm impacts of your decision. The absence of exchange students could have a significant impact on future American foreign policy. Let me illustrate. Last month I represented the United States in a CongressionalBundestag exchange program in Berlin. As you are aware, the current German government has not been a supporter of U.S. foreign policy. The ruling party’s tone could have been more acrimonious were it not for a senior SPD member of the Bundestag, Hans-Ulrich Klose from Hamburg. He put his considerable reputation on the line with a vigorous defense of the U.S. His comments continually reference his experiences as a foreign exchanged student in Iowa in the mid 1950’s. His experience in a real American family gave him the insight one CLEARANCE 50% to 70% OFF HURRY FOR BEST SELECTION Suits Parkas Sorels Powder Pants Gloves Bibs Sweaters Skis Cross Country Hats Ski Boots Etc. Used Rental & Demo Boots 1000 - 1500 - 3000 - 5000 never finds of American life on TV sitcoms or in Hollywood movies. I recently met with our ambassador to Germany who is undertaking a prolonged and expensive initiative to increase the amount of contact between Americans and Germans—especially Germans of school age. Such contact, he believes, is the only way to improve America’s image abroad and mitigate anti-American attitudes that may grow in the future. By waving the tuition costs of a couple of students per school we could create a building ground for future relations with foreign countries. I have hosted foreign exchange students in our home. I have also had many foreign exchange students in my classes. It is a positive experience for the exchange student and his/her American classmates. Your support of foreign exchange students could be planting seeds of future U.S. cooperation and international harmony. The costs to the school are not lessened if these kids are not there. The school can help foreign students just because it is a good thing to do. I hope you will consider the issue closely. One never knows how many Hans-Ulrich Kloses are waiting to come to America this fall. Sincerely, parking lot (on the side next to the Post Office) at 9:00 a.m. Bring along work gloves and any tools that you have, such as shovels, pick axes, weed whackers (heavy duty), and rakes. We plan to work just a few hours, but you’ll be amazed at how much we can get done and how much fun we can have! The more help the better. The Ogden Valley Chapter of Weber Pathways is a group of volunteers devoted specifically to the creation of a network of non-motorized pathways in Ogden Valley. Rob Bishop Member of Congress Bring your goblins and join us for a free Community Spook Alley from 4 - 7 p.m. GRAND OPENING OCTOBER 31ST Special November Rates starting at $59 801-745-MOOSE (Formerly Valley Junction Inn) Mon. thru Fri. 3 p.m. - 6 p.m. 2547 N. Valley Junction Drive, Eden CHECK US OUT BEFORE YOU CHECK IN! |