NO BOARD MEETING TONIGHT

The Middletown Board of Education will not meet tonight.  It looks like the next opportunity to address the board will be at the regular meeting scheduled Thursday, 7 April.

For all you cadets:  The WOD for 31 March and 1 April is transient.  Transient is an adverb meaning momentary; temporary; staying for only a short time.  Example:  Located near the airport, this hotel caters to a largely transient trade. 

Congrats to Jogre Esquivel who correctly answered the John Paul Jones challenge.  Jones was a rear admiral ("contre amiral') in the Imperial Russian Navy and commanded their Black Sea Fleet.  That challenge is now closed.  The question concerning the probability of having a second girl offspirng is still open (no guessing).   The question regarding stars of the movie An Affair to Remember is closed.  The correct answer, provided by an annonymous cadet, is Deborah Kerr and Gary Grant. 

BILLET SELECTION UPDATE

As you know--or should--the deadline for submission of billet applications was 25 March.  In fairness to others, I will not accept nor consider any late submissions.  The applications received will be reviewed, but the fact that you did not submit one will not necessarily prevent you from being selected for a billet--it will mean, however, that I will not know what billets you would prefer or why you think would be a good choice. 

What's the life lesson?  When some one gives you a deadline about something that matters to you, meet it!  Colleges, bosses, and others in the real world reward work that is produced on time and in good order.  "Good order" means that getting your work in on time isn't enough, it must meet expectations.  A sloppy, poorly worded, and un-proofread submission will do more harm than good.

The billet selections themselves will be announced at some future date.  Stay tuned! 

SAVE MHS NJROTC--FILM AT ELEVEN (OR SIX)

Just to let everyone know, Hudson Valley News 12 stopped by this afternoon--after school hours and off school property--to interview some of our cadets.  They were not in uniform since we had fairly short notice, so I must say we looked a little shabby, but they were well-spoken and respectful.  I'm not sure where you'll find the interview on your particular channel line-up, but supposedly it will be on during the 6 P.M. newscast. 

MILITARY BALL NOW SCHEDULED FOR FRIDAY, 6 MAY

The military ball has been rescheduled for Friday, 6 May.  Tickets are still $38.00--a bargain at twice the price!  There's been a lot going on the past few days, but don't let it all get you down.  The military ball will either be a heck of a celebration or a real good farewell; either way you'll want to be there.  Future postings will address the rules of the mess in excruciating detail.

WOD:  Stagnant.  Stagnant is an adjective meaning motionless; stale; dull.  Example:  Mosquitoes commonly breed in ponds of stagnant water. 

Challenge:  Since my last challenge has yet to be beat, here's an easy one:  John Paul Jones is rightfully known as the Father of the Navy, despite this he never attained the rank of admiral in the American Navy.  In what navy did he attain the rank of admiral?  This challenge is open to any cadet whose last name does not begin with Ferguso.  The winner will enjoy a prize of two small rectangular pastries filled with a fruit paste of my choosing.

SAVE MIDDLETOWN NJROTC

I now have an input from the Navy showing that they reimburse $88,000 per year, a much higher amount than the $66,000 that the District has claimed.  On the cost side of the equation, I have been unable to substantiate the District's claim that they spend $249,000 per year.  While I don't have their figures, I think a more accurate figure would be about $225,000 per year.  $225,000 minus the $88,000 reimbursement means that the annual cost is much closer to $137,000--in other words, about the cost of a new dump truck.

I will be sending this data on to the school board. 

Stand by for word on the next board meeting.  In the meantime, please keep the pressure up.  We have over 300 signatures on our petition and Cadet Ferguson had his letter to the editor published on Saturday. 

THE LATEST ON SAVING THE PROGRAM, + WOD, + CHALLENGE

First the info:  We held our "Save the NJROTC" meeting last night at the American Legion.  There was a great turn out; it's always nice to see former cadets and it was really gratifying to hear from them and all our other supporters.  I know that our efforts are starting to have an effect; please keep the pressure up.  Next week we'll be at the board meeting.

WOD:  Substantiate.  Substantiate is a verb meaning to establish by evidence; to verify; to support.  Example:  The District could not substantiate their claim. 

Challenges.

For cadets:    A couple has two children, one of whom is a girl. What is the probability that the other is also a girl? (You may safely assume that the genetic probability of having a baby of either sex is 50%.)  [No guessing--be prepared to explain your answer.  Hint:  The correct answer is not 50%]


For everyone:  Our electronic petition has about 260 signatures.  Many people have left very moving comments.  Spread the word and let's see if we can get to 750 signatures by next Thursday.  I'd like to get an even 1,000 before the 7 April Board meeting.  If we hit 1,000, we'll just keep going!  Our petition can be found at http://www.gopetition.com/.  Search on Middletown NJROTC.

SAVE MHS NJROTC MEETING TONIGHT!

The Save the ROTC meeting that was originally scheduled for last night will be held tonight, Thursday, 24 March, at 7 P.M., at the Middletown American Legion Post on Waywayanda Avenue.  Please attend!  There is also a Board of Education "working meeting" scheduled tonight at 6 P.M. at Middletown High School.  While my understanding is that there will be no public comment or particiaption, the meeting wil be open to the public.  We'd like a presence there to show the flag and keep an eye on things.  We're hoping to have a group attend the opening and then leave one or two on watch when the rest depart to attend our 7 P.M. meeting across town. 

Please scan our previous articles below for more information.  A "Fact Sheet" summarizing our program's backgound, the costs, benefits, and our many accomplishments can be found by visiting the following link: https://sites.google.com/site/middletownnynjrotc/Resources. 

While you're on your computer anyway, please visit and sign our electronic petition at www.gopetition.com/44066.html.

Hope to see you tonight!

SAVE ROTC MEETING POSTPONED UNTIL TOMORROW

The Save ROTC meeting that was scheduled for tonight has been postponed due to snow.  The meeting will now be 7 P.M. tomorrow night, Thursday, 24 March at the American Legion.  Please join us.

Today's NJROTC "Fun Facts":

• We have over 125 cadets active in the program.
• The program costs Middletown less than $200,000 per year.
• ROTC has been at Middletown since 1987.
• Navy JROTC has been around since 1964.  Army JROTC has been around for almost 100 years.
• There is no cost or obligation--we are not a recruiting tool.
• Thousands of cadets have passed through our program.

SAVE OUR NJROTC MEETING AND PETITION

You've heard the rumor, and it's true:  our NJROTC unit has been has been proposed for elimination. 

Please join us at the Middletown American Legion at 7 P.M. on Wednesday, 23 March to plan our action. 

In the meantime:

• Sign our electronic petition.  Go to http://www.gopetition.com/petition/44066.html.
• Contact members of the board of education and let them know you strongly oppose the elimination of NJROTC at Middletown High School.
• Tell your neighbors and ask for their support.  Ask them to sign the petition.
• Do whatever else you can to highlight the cause.
• Plan on attending the next public board meeting.  Sign up to address the board to voice your concern on the record.

SAVE NJROTC AT MIDDLETOWN

I never really thought that I would have to write these words, but we need to fight to save our NJROTC program here at Middletown High School.  If you care about our program and want it to continue, please help us take prompt and effective action to stop the proposed elimination.  There are many things that we can all do, but probably the most important thing is to start with a clear understanding of the situation, so please read the following carefully:

• The elimination of ROTC is just a proposal.  The proposed elimination is obviously something that should be taken very seriously, but it is, at this stage, just a proposal that is part of a large cost saving measure that, in turn, is driven reduced revenue coming into the district.  Cost are going up and less money coming in from various sources.  Something must be done, but that something need not include the elimination as a program as valuable as NJROTC!
• Because the proposal is still being studied, we may be able to change minds, but we must act now.  A budget decision will be made on 7 April and, if we are lucky, by that time NJROTC will no longer be on the list of programs programs to be eliminated. 
• The cuts proposed amount to $10 million.  Our ROTC program costs the district less than about $200,000 per year--a small fraction of the $10 million that must be trimmed from the budget.  Surely an alternative to cutting the program can be found.
• For the $200,000 the program costs the district annually--a small expenditure compared to many others--the school gets the benefit of a widely respected leadership and citizenship program that has been developed over the last 50 years and that is currently used in over 600 schools nation-wide.  The JROTC program is widely regarded as a real success story and the opportunity to host the program is prized by most participating communities.  
• The Navy contributes to the program by reimbursing a significant portion of the costs, by certifying instructors, by providing an accredited curriculum, and by providing all the textbooks and uniforms free of cost.  There is no cost to the student and absolutely no military obligation.
• What's the real benefit?  For over twenty years at Middletown High School, the NJROTC program has touched the lives of literally hundreds of students.  It is easy to point out many superstars: we have had former cadets go on to be White House Fellows, to study at some of the best universities in the world, to attend the United States Naval Academy, and to serve in positions leadership in many fields of endeavor.  Equally as important are the many more students who are now rock solid citizens here in the Middletown community.  In each of this cases, our JROTC program played a significant part; in more than a few we made a critical difference.  Many former students will tell you quite frankly that they are where they are now because of the JROTC program.  Why be penny-wise and pound foolish by eliminating such a valuable program?
• What can you do?  
• Contact the Board of Education by email or letter and express your support.  Ask that they not approve the proposed elimination of JROTC.
• Tell your neighbors and friends and ask for their support.
• Show you support around the school and around town.
• Attend our action meeting (time and place to be determined, but we anticipate the meeting will be held the evening of Thursday, 24 March).
• Attend the next board of education meeting and be prepared to stand up and request that they do not eliminate JROTC at Middletown High School. 

We hope that we can count on your support.  If you have any questions, please contact us by email or phone.

More to follow!

NEW CHALLENGE AND A REMINDER

First, the reminder:  Tickets are on sale for the Military Ball, which will be held at Brookside Manor on Friday, 25 March.  The tickets are $38 each and the evening will most definitely be "an affair to remember." (For a candy bar, name who starred in that movie!).  RSVP by Friday, 18 March.

Now here's the challenge, and it's a tough one:  You are at the airport ready to leave a most peculiar island and fly home. Before being allowed on the plane, you must pass a final test. You are introduced to two residents, Charles and Earl. Charles says, "Earl is a Knight." Earl says, "Charles is not a Knight." One is telling the truth, but is not a Knight. Who is it?


Fact list:

Knights always tell the truth.

Knaves always lie.

Normals sometimes lie, and sometimes tell the truth.

Either Charles or Earl is a truth-telling Normal.

Charles says, "Earl is a Knight."

Earl says, "Charles is not a Knight."

WEEKLY READER

Don't forget:
- The Military Ball, 25 March @ Brookside Manor.  Tickets are now on sale.
- Billet applications.  Due 25 March.  Details on our unit website.  Be at the meeting, attendance will be taken.  NO LATE APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED.
- Orientation trip.  Looks like 14-17 April to Newport/Boston. 

The WOD for 2 and 3 March is servile.  Servile is an adjective meaning slavish or cringing.  Example:  Constantly fawning on his employer, Fedorka was a servile individual. 

Challenge:  How do you get down from a camel?  Congratulations to Cadet CPO Robert Ferguson who concluded (with a little help fron Google) that you don't get down from a camel, you get down from a goose.