In late June, I was invited to a photography seminar at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. The weeklong visit allowed the opportunity for professionals and "pro-amateurs" to perfect our sport photography technique by photographing some the USA's best athletes. This jarred my enthusiasm to attend the Olympics in person.Admittedly, my travel arrangements seemed last minute with the event less than 8 weeks away. However a fellow photographer I met at the seminar and I decided to give it a try. Turned out to be easier than we thought. Janice Bond at James Travel in Boulder found a flight with good connections for a 'reasonable' price of $1850. This is about the same as Europe in the summer. Hotels were a bit trickier. Mid level accommodations for Beijing generally go for about $50 per night. For the Olympics, rates were 3, 4 or even 5 times more than the normal daily rate. Working through some China hotel web sites, we landed a room for $150 per night that is 4 miles from the Olympic Park.Last but not least was obtaining a Chinese tourist visa. Rather than figure out the bureaucracy and logistics on my own, I used a passport service in Denver, International Passport Visa, Inc. The web site had very through instructions and proper downloadable applications forms. The only odd requirement was to show proof of a hotel and airline reservation. Naturally, the concern is what if you do not get you visa and you’re stuck with non-refundable reservations? Solution is ‘cancel for any reason’ travel insurance. Many travel insurance companies are now offer this., Of course, it is expensive as it cost me $200. for $3000. worth of coverage.So, $230. dollars later, I now have a Chinese visa in hand, and ready to go.I leave town on August 11. I will try to keep this blog rolling with my daily experiences and upload photographs as time and internet access allows. Please feel free to comment or ask questions as I venture into the new Beijing.
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Earlier this year, the Boulder Cuba Sister City Organization collaborated with Project C.U.R.E. to deliver three 40-foot containers of medical equipment and supplies to hospitals in Cuba’s Guantánamo Province. The last delivery arrived in May. The Sister City Organization would like to thank their community supporters for donations that made these shipments possible. These deliveries followed equipment sent in 2004 from Boulder Community Hospital. The items were donated when the hospital upgraded equipment. Denver-based Project C.U.R.E. is licensed by the U.S. Department of Treasury to deliver supplies to Cuba.The Boulder Cuba Sister City Organization is a non-profit, non-political, all-volunteer organization formed to promote cultural sharing, understanding and exchange between citizens of Boulder and the municipality of Yateras, Guantánamo, Cuba. Project C.U.R.E., a nonprofit organization, is one of the world’s largest providers of donated medical supplies and equipment. Its focus is on building sustainable healthcare infrastructures by providing the tools for medical personnel to deliver medical care.During 2006, members of the Boulder Cuba Sister City Organization and Douglas Jackson, president/CEO of Project C.U.R.E., traveled to Guantánamo Province, one of the poorest in Cuba, to jointly conduct a needs assessment with its Cuban partners. Based on the assessment, the Sister City Organization and Project C.U.R.E. developed a plan to ship three 40-foot containers of medical supplies and equipment: one for the hospital in Yateras, one for the regional hospital in Guantánamo City, and one for the second largest hospital in the province in Baracoa. The contents of each container were estimated to be worth approximately $400,000 wholesale.The Sister City Organization could not have completed this project without the support of the community and extends its thanks to the St. Julien Hotel & Spa for hosting the group’s Cuban Connection benefit, the Southern Sun for donating funds from the SOBO Summer Festival, Aji’s Restaurant for hosting a benefit dinner, community supporters who came to these events or made donation, students at Fairview High School who raised funds by recycling cell phones and printer ink cartridges, CU students for a donation from the Environmental Center’s recycling, the Boulder Rotary Club, the Rotary Club of Denver, and The Christopher Reynolds Foundation for a grant to fund one of the deliveries.During May 2008, members of the Sister City Organization and persons affiliated with Project C.U.R.E. traveled to Cuba to confirm the containers’ arrivals and conduct needs assessments for three additional deliveries. It was a rewarding trip for all involved. The rural hospital in Yateras now has a working X-ray machine. A mammography machine was delivered to the Guantánamo hospital, and two more will go to Baracoa soon. Even though the province has a population of over 500,000 persons, there were no working mammography machines in the area when the assessment was conducted in 2006. The defibrillators that arrived at the hospital in Baracoa in early May had already been used several times to revive patients.Project C.U.R.E. and the Sister City Organization are now planning for future deliveries. One will go to the Children’s Hospital in Guantánamo City; another is targeted for the hospital in Baracoa. The Baracoa container will include two mammography machines donated by Boulder Community Hospital as the hospital recently replaced them with digital imaging units. Although some funds for these shipments were raised at a Denver benefit last fall, more funds are required. The Sister City Organization will keep the Boulder Community updated on opportunities to contribute to this effort.Project C.U.R.E. obtained the required licenses from the U.S. Department of the Treasury and Department of Commerce to deliver the supplies and equipment, as well as to assess the status of the donated equipment and supplies once they arrived. Project C.U.R.E delivers annually over 100 oceangoing cargo containers to help meet the endless need medical and equipment. In its 20-year history, Project C.U.R.E. has worked in more than 120 countries, including Afghanistan, Brazil, Cuba, Guatemala, Nepal and Nigeria.For more information about the Boulder Cuba Sister City Organization, visit the website at www.bouldercuba.org or send an email to bocusco@yahoo.com.For more information about Project C.U.R.E., visit the organization’s website at www.projectcure.org.
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The Legacy Cheerleaders worked at the Legacy High School Farmers Market this weekend, and with their smiling faces and positive attitudes, they helped to make this weekend a huge success! Legacy Farmers Market is being held every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the High School parking lot. Come and join the many families that have already discovered the great prices and wonderful fresh fruits and vegetables that are being sold at this weekly event! There are also fresh flowers at the same great prices! All profits go to help the Booster Clubs at Legacy High School! Pictured above are; Chelsea Beamer, Erin Clark, Heidi Pierce, Kendell McNulty, Katie Anderson (Legacy Cheerleaders) and Paul Madigan who heads the All Boosters Club and puts together the Market every week!
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Come join us on August 16th at Foothills Community Park for a morning of exercise and fun! We're hosting our first annual 5K Fun Run in cooperation with KGNU Community Radio, meant to be a good time, an easy way to get some exercise, and an opportunity to build new friendships and strengthen old ones!Refreshments will be provided, but please leave dogs and bikes home. This is not an official qualifier race. T-shirts will also be available, but we can't guarantee their availability if you register the day of.Register online at regonline.com/frienship5k, on paper at the office at 4735 Walnut St. Suite B, or the day of the event. Entry fee is from $10 - $50. Give as much as you can - it's for a good cause! Please make all checks payable to Intercambio de Comunidades.Any questions? Please call (303) 996-0275 x6 or email jenna@intercambioweb.org.
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Congratulations to the following athletes for qualifying performances at the USATF Region X Junior Olympics in Phoenix, Arizona on July 12-13.These athletes now advance to the National Junior Olympics in Omaha, Nebraska July 23-27.Zane Jeffress (Midget Boys 11/12): 800m – 2:26.11, 3rdEldorado Middle SchoolAlex Paul (Intermediate Boys 15/16): 1500m – 4:18.12, 2nd;3000m – 9:36.09, 1stNiwot High SchoolDain Kahn (Young Men): 800m – 1:59.61, 3rdFairview High School
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ok, so I have started (or have I) an online parents group. I hope that people will join. I have invited quite a few. I want this area to be a safe space, without judgement, or anger. I don't know how well this will work out but hopefully it will go well.Just ate dinner...starting to feel sleepy. =)
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SmileLogic, Inc., an independent dental hygiene practice owned by Deb Spence, R.D.H, has expanded and moved into a new, larger office at 403 Summit Blvd., Suite 202, in Broomfield near the corner of Coalton Rd. and Summit Blvd. Dental hygiene services are provided in a shot-free, needle-free, and drill-free environment and include: teeth cleaning, periodontal therapy, preventive maintenance services, x-rays and fluoride if needed, teeth whitening at an affordable price, an oral evaluation and dental and dental specialist referrals as needed.Convenient early morning, lunchtime or early evening appointments are available, and children of all ages are welcome to this friendly, relaxed office. Stop by and visit us, or reach us by phone at 303-665-1281, email at smile.logic@comcast.net or our website at www.smile-logic.com.
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