Catching Up With LBCC President Hamann

Greg Hamann began serving as the seventh president of Linn Benton Community College in February 2010 and has recently been elected Chair-elect of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC).

Hamann is grateful for the opportunity to serve and feels this is also a great opportunity to “draw national attention to some of the great, innovative things that people at LBCC are doing.”

The AACC is the leading proponent and the national “voice for community colleges,” supporting and promoting its member colleges through “policy initiatives, innovative programs, research and information and strategic outreach to business and industry and the national news media.”

We got a chance to catch up with Hamann and find out more about his new role and how it might affect Linn Benton students in the future.

WHO IS THE AACC?

The AACC is the National Association of about 1600 community colleges in the country. This is our professional association with about 1300 of them being members of the AACC. Then there is a specific group within the AACC, which is the collective membership of the presidents themselves of the institutions. They work together to develop professional development opportunities and talk about where we need to be moving strategically. 

So it’s a place in which we’re able to collectively think about the role of community colleges and then to develop programming that helps us as a group to think in specific directions and move in specific ways.

WHAT IS THE FOCUS OF AACC AT THIS TIME?

At the national level, the discussions are around two things. The presidents aren’t leading this discussion but we’re trying to get our head around it to understand what it means for us. The prominent national discussion is how to get more people who try college to be successful at college because the vast majority isn’t.

If you look at this community, in our district alone, if you take the population 25 years and older, (according to the 2010 census), 26% of the population has done some college and never completed a degree. So what does that do to our capacity to support innovative, growing businesses that would produce employment and economic vitality for this community? It limits us. We need to fix that. 

That’s our local picture, but it’s a part of a national picture and that is: we need to help students complete. We need to help them to achieve the educational outcomes that they said they came here for. Way too many of them get sidetracked, give up, meet what they obviously feel are insurmountable obstacles, and most often I think they just feel sort of lost or alone in that. So we need to think about how to come along side students and lead them… to make it possible for them.

WHAT OBSTACLES ARE STUDENTS FACING?

Frequently, we’re the problem. The way in which we deliver education makes it structurally difficult for them. Maybe they need to be doing their coursework in the evening. Maybe they need to be doing it all online. Maybe they need to be doing it on weekends. Why do you need to quit your job to go to school? Or maybe you’re trying to balance a family life with a partner who works so you have to be home with your kids. So how do we make that work? Our educational model is designed around 19 year-old's that have nothing else to do. 

The other thing that is being discussed at the national level is the business model for higher education. How does it work financially? It appears the cost of education keeps going up. It goes up faster than the inflation index. There are a lot of great explanations for that but that doesn’t solve the challenge that students face in terms of availing themselves to the opportunities that a higher education might provide them. So we’re going to need to fix that. If we don’t fix it, somebody will fix it for us. Education is going to cost less in the future. So we need to ask ourselves, how do we do that?

There’s a whole movement around what we call open-source educational resources, which means that the textbooks, the course design, and the assessment of a huge number of contact areas that we teach could be available to anyone and everyone… for free. 

It’s already true in a lot of areas. You can go online and you can take MIT’s basic biology class right now, for free. You can’t put that together and form a degree, but those resources are out there now. So what does that mean for us? What is our role?

What we’re doing, both nationally and also here at the college, is thinking about and actually starting to plan what that is going to look like and how we’re going to have to be different. I think we’ve done some pretty good work in thinking about what that may be. Probably some of it’s a bit controversial too.

A NEW COURSE CALLED “DESTINATION GRADUATION” WILL BE OFFERED BEGINNING FALL TERM. IS THIS A REQUIRED COURSE DESIGNED TO GUIDE STUDENTS TO COMPLETION?

This is a class for all new students who are degree seeking. What we have learned is that what a student does and decides within a really short period of time after starting college tells you a whole lot about whether or not they will actually succeed. 

So if we can connect with students in ways that encourage and force them to actually develop an academic plan, it’s incredible how much of a higher probability there is that they will actually achieve an educational outcome. So we’re going do that. And that’s really what Destination Graduation is about. 

It’s about saying you come to us, you say that you’re degree seeking; that means you want to graduate. We’re going to talk about a plan to get there. We’re not just going to say, “Oh yeah, it’s going to be great to graduate.” We’re going to sit down and we’re going to make that plan so you know what step 1, step 2, and step 3 is.

WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR LBCC?

I think it is best captured in what we are discussing as our new mission statement. “To engage in an education that enables all of us to participate in, contribute to, and benefit from the cultural richness and economic vitalities of our communities.” I would say that’s my vision for us. 

There are some key components there that distinguish us from other institutions. One, we care about how our education impacts this community. We’re not a private institution that is located somewhere and cares about how they impact New York. We care about impacting Linn and Benton counties. This is OUR community. 

Another thing it says is that your benefit and your community’s benefit are inextricably tied to each other. At some point, I would love every student to be able to say not only what they’re going to do with their life, but how their life is going to make their community better. 

The third thing that it says is that for this to work, it has to be for everyone. It can’t be just for those that can afford it or those that have the right background, because anyone who can’t contribute to this community extracts something from it. I think everyone has the potential to contribute. We just need to feed that potential. 

This is a conversation that’s starting to happen everywhere and I hope we turn this into reality. I don’t want to live in a world where 10 percent of the population has something and the rest of us are all trying to have it. I think public education, especially community college education, is the best chance we have for all of us to succeed and thrive.

ARE THERE ANY NEW COURSES/PROGRAMS YOU FORSEE FOR FUTURE LBCC STUDENTS?

I do think, in general terms, there’s certainly areas in which we look to grow and expand. There will be an ever increasing need for people to work in a variety of health occupations and areas. Nursing is the one we sort of fixate on but there’s dozens of other ones and some that we don’t even know the names of yet. With coordinated care, under health care reform, there are going to be a whole plethora of people who are specialists in coordinating care. Nobody has a training program for that person yet. My guess is we’re going to have one someday, someday real soon. 

I also think that we’re going to see a need for people to work, not just sort of ideally but very practically, in the area of alternative fuels and alternative energies. So I anticipate in the very near future that we’ll see a significant transformation of programs, like our automotive technology program and our mechatronics program, that will move us into thinking a whole lot more broadly than diesel and gasoline. I think that that’s an exciting proposition. I would love to be a leader in supporting that economic cluster in this area. 

There are some programs that are growing at this institution that would appear to have nothing to do with jobs. Our theater program, our music program, some of our language programs, poetry, writing… 

One of the things that are in our mission statement, as proposed, is that it isn’t just about economic vitality; it’s about cultural richness. Our quality of life is not determined solely by our paycheck, and we want to make sure that that is tangibly represented in the work that we do. 

So I think that what you’ll find is that we’ll be more explicit in why we do those things… why we do theater, why we do choral, why we do baseball; you know, the things in life that remind us that life is supposed to be fun. And maybe that’s why they were first invented but sometimes we forget why.

I think we’re going to see ourselves being way more intentional in talking about why we do these things and why they matter. I think that will help students too. It will help all of us, not just students, to be more intentional about how we choose to participate. 

If we really think theater enriches our lives, maybe students will go to the theater. Or journalism… maybe we’ll read the paper, maybe we’ll try our hand at writing. 

So much of our problems as a culture right now are related to our inability to constructively communicate with each other. Our music and writing is all about communicating, and we need to rediscover that.

WHAT ACCOMPLISHMENTS ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF ACHIEVING SINCE YOU STARTED HERE IN 2010?

I don’t think much in terms of personal accomplishments. It’s been an interesting time with such significant challenges.

I think I’m proud of having helped us to be in a pretty positive place, in pretty challenging times. And that is the collective capacity of all the people who are a part of this, not just me.

Our physical environment has changed so drastically since I came here. I’m proud that we’ve gone through some really challenging times pretty unified.

I don’t think we, as a community, feel defeated. I think we feel like there’s hope. I think we have a stronger sense that we have the capacity to design our future, which is really the definition of hope.

Advertising Blog - Do The Dew

If you're any kind of bad-ass, then you definitely "Do The Dew." Mountain Dew's ad campaign called Do The Dew has a series of commercials featuring great martial artists like Steven Seagal and Chuck Norris, hot, new actors like Channing Tatum, and many unknown, everyday "bad-asses" like you and me.

A great example to start with is Steven Seagal's commercial.
http://youtu.be/sgAL9_AMUpI
Steven Seagal strolls into a market for a soda in the middle of a robbery. The bad guys try to take him out but trip, fall, and crumble around him. (He's just that cool.) When he goes to pay for his soda, (Mountain Dew of course), he leans down to give the clerk an autograph, accidentally headbutts him, and he's out for the count as well. He then manages to knock the cops out when he opens the door to leave. The message? Steven Seagal is the ultimate tough guy and HE drinks Mountain Dew.

And who could forget the one with the ram?
http://youtu.be/Tt6C6P3bJq8
An ordinary, average looking gentlemen (Joe Dirt's brother perhaps) finds himself out in the woods with a big ram coming between him and his Mountain Dew. He has "no choice" but to ram the ram and take him out. It's hilarious. The message? There's nothing a man won't do for his Mountain Dew. It's just that good.

Another entertaining and comical commercial was Mountain Dew Master.
http://youtu.be/3yAHg7GdjAs
A man travels to a monastery to train with Buddhist monks. It starts off serious and profound, until you quickly realize he has begun training to be a hand-slapping master. This one really cracked me up. In the end, after all the pain and strenuous practice, he cracks open a Mountain Dew. The message? Wherever you are, whatever you do, nothing quenches like a Mountain Dew.

There are many more of these commercials that get the same message across. I really can't think of another soda company that's come up with a gimmick as entertaining and effective as this one. In my opinion, it appeals to a younger crowd, which appears to be their target audience. If I had to pick a weakness about this campaign, it would be that older generations may be left out or may not be quite as entertained by the wild, bad-ass angle that these commercials portray.

I think one factor that leads to a successful commercial is whether or not they are memorable. I feel that these most certainly are. They are so comical that you cannot help but watch, which I think is probably the most important aspect of all. The whole point is to get people's attention and keep them from turning away. For me, they succeed every time.

The "Do The Dew" campaign started in 1993 and continued for 19 years. In April of this year, a new "How We DEW" tagline and multi-million dollar advertising campaign was launched with the help of rapper Lil Wayne. Check it out at www.mountaindew.com

O Wow! Oprah Magazine and Oprah Online

Oprah Winfrey seems to have the whole world in her hands, especially when it comes to media. She's an actress, producer, philanthropist, co-author of five books, and  the host of a multi-award-winning talk show.

She also publishes a magazine, titled O, The Oprah Magazine, as well as providing a website, www.oprah.com, with resources and interactive content relating to her shows, magazines, book club, and public charity. You have to wonder if there's anything this amazing woman can't do.

As one of her millions of female fans, I have a great deal of respect for and trust in Oprah. When I'm at the store trying to find a magazine to later read, I tend to pass over what I consider to be sleazy tabloids and other trashy publications, and pick up the one I can always count on to be entertaining, honest, and beneficial, O.

The Oprah Magazine touches on issues that appeal to mature women of any age. The August issue includes articles such as: 6 Things to Eat Today for a Smarter Brain Tomorrow, The Breakthrough That Will Change the Way You Age, The Key to Creating a Clutter-Free Zone, The Breakfast of Weight Loss Champions, and 10 Revealing (and Fun!) Tests Every Woman Should Take.

In a nutshell, how to eat better, age slower, become smarter, be more organized, and for fun, take a few quizzes to see "how well you know yourself." Personally, I find every one of those articles appealing.

I like the way the magazine is laid out, right from the beginning. There are lots of ads, sure, but they are classy and appeal to everyday women like myself. They are ads that I can relate to; ads featuring gorgeous kitchen designs by Ikea, makeup ads with well-known (and well-liked) actresses like Ellen DeGeneres and Andie McDowell, ads for Oroweat bread and Pita chips, the 2013 Toyota Camry, and the latest Breyers Ice-Cream flavors. Already, it feels like my kind of magazine.

The stories are relevant. The photographs are innovative and bold. Each page is colorful and attractive. It's the kind of magazine I could spend a whole day in the park with.

I think the content is what sets this magazine far apart from its competition. It's sophisticated and classy; a magazine I could share with my mother, grandmother, or daughter and at the very least will entertain me with stories suitable for sharing at the dinner table.

Cosmopolitan is another publication that's made for the mature woman, and I've noticed that they can't even show the cover in the grocery store anymore; it's shielded from plain view up at the registers. This months issue features articles such as: Turn Him on From Across the Room, 52 Sex Tips, 4 Talks You Should Have Had With Him by Now, and When Your Vagina Acts Weird After Sex.

Personally, that's a magazine I wouldn't leave lying around the house. I think it's important that women have outlets and resources to discuss and explore their sexuality, but there also comes a time when a woman likes and deserves to put the focus on her own needs, times where we want something just for "us."

At the end up the day when I want to unwind in a bubble bath with some 'food for the soul', I'd much rather read a funny article written by actor Steve Carrell (page 44) or how to make over "weird spaces" in my house (page 64) in O, versus "Dirty Talk He'll Love" in Cosmo.

After picking up the latest issue of The Oprah Magazine for close to five dollars, I began wondering if all the same information was available on her website for free, or if each one had different things to offer. I decided to compare the two to decide how I could best enjoy all that Oprah had to offer.

The first thing I notice when I begin to browse the content of Oprah online, is that I find myself ignoring the advertisements, although there doesn't seem to be anywhere near the same amount as in the magazine. As I mentioned before, the ads that are scattered (quite frequently) in the magazine, are very relevant to me and aren't a nuisance at all. I can't believe I am going to say this, but I think they are actually an enjoyable part of my reading experience. That aspect is actually missed while browsing online.

The content in O magazine, as well as online is more on the conservative side, so I don't think it could be considered offensive in the slightest. As for stereotypes, I think it does a great job in identifying with everyday women. Sure, there are gorgeous supermodels in there, like every other magazine, but the pages are also graced with those who look like 'you' and 'me';  business women, college students, mothers, grandmothers, etc.

Another big appeal to this magazine is that it focuses on several different areas in your life. It's not all about weight loss or home decorating or your sex life; it's got a little something for everyone. One of the biggest appeals to the online version is how easy it is to navigate between those different areas. Instead of searching for Oprah's latest book recommendations, you can simply click on the tab for books.

Overall, I feel that the website has a lot more articles and resources available to the reader, and like I said before, it's free, That may be enough right there to make anyone's mind up on which is better. But for me, it's much more fun to flip through a magazine and be able to try the Donna Karan "Cashmere Mist" perfume sample, and be able to entertain myself with a quiz when I'm away from home, waiting for my clothes to dry at the laundromat.

I truly feel that the magazine and the online version serve their audience equally. It's all a matter of which is more convenient or enjoyable for you to read. What I learned while writing this article is that my interests in life seem to have changed. I remember in my teens and early twenties when I always reached for Cosmo at the supermarket. I can't help but giggle at the thought. It feels good to realize I've branched out and have a lot more interests than I used to.

I hope that my readers will take this article as a little nudge and a reminder to make time for yourselves, and enjoy some "me" time, with a good book or magazine... even if it is Cosmo.

Learning How to Rock

King For A Queen - Photo By: Michelle Strachan

King for a Queen rocked the house Friday night with songs by Red Hot Chili Peppers, Van Halen, Franz Ferdinand, Ozzy, and more.

With the energy coming from the stage and the cheers from the audience, you'd think you were at a sold-out Aerosmith concert, but tonight it was King for a Queen playing the eighth-grade "Black Tie Dance" at Memorial Middle School in Albany.

The crowd went wild when they played Bob Seger's "Old Time Rock and Roll" and a tender moment was shared by all when the drummer grabbed her sparkly, red guitar and joined the band center stage for an acoustic version of "The Only Exception" by Paramore.

 

So what's so special about this kick-ass cover band? For one, their ages are 14, 15, and 16. And two, they're one of the "touring bands" from Musicafe' Rock School.

Musicafe' Rock School is a unique and colorful music school that teaches music lovers of all ages to develop and grow performance skills while learning how to play their favorite musical instruments.They have several instructors who are experienced, professional musicians, as well as exceptional mentors, to give students the tools necessary to excel in rock band classes, as well as individual artists.

Conner Farrell, 15, who plays guitar and sings, belted out "Smells like Teen Spirit" with a confidence and charisma that would make even Kurt Cobain proud. Kyler Crocker, 14, was on bass; with shaggy hair and shades on, he looked and sounded like a natural born rock star, dancing around while he rocked his instrument. Sophie Welch, 16, who played keyboard and tambourine, wowed the crowd with her angelic voice when she sang "99 Luftballoons" and Jayden Landucci-Arellano, 14, with an up-do and a strapless party dress on, sang with the greatest of ease as she banged her drums like she was Keith Moon of The Who. They've got stage presence, talent, professionalism, and a lung capacity that might just leave your ears ringing in the morning.  

If you're starting to fantasize about how cool it would be to play an instrument, sing, or rock a crowd like that, you might be surprised to learn that your rock star fantasy could become a reality a lot easier than you think.

Musicafe' Rock School offers private one-on-one lessons for many instruments, as well as
Rock School sessions, called "Rockmesters" which are classes dedicated to practicing and performing as a band. Rockmesters run from September-December and February-May, with private lessons available all year. Kids, adults, experienced musicians, and beginners are all welcome.

So what if you prefer country music over rock and roll? No problem. Lisa Landucci, owner and program director says, "Any genre we choose to play, we just rock it." Landucci, who calls herself a "band matchmaker" not only forms the bands and teaches them to be great performers, she is the lead singer of a rock school country band called Friends of the Family. 

Groups are formed according to musical ability and stage experience, and usually  get together one night a week for a two-hour rehearsal. Each Rockmester culminates in a live, public performance with full production lighting, sound, and special effects. As bands become more advanced and "gig ready," they may be booked at special events and shows around the community.

Musicafe' Rock School, Corvallis Studio - Photo By: Michelle Strachan

Students learn to play the music that most inspires them and are often amazed  at what they can accomplish as a group that individually they couldn't imagine doing in such a short time. "It's a good way to break out of your shell." says Landucci-Arellano, who's been going to Rock School for seven years and plays multiple instruments.

Some of the instruments taught at Rock School include keyboard, bass, guitar, brass and wind instruments, and school instruments. Musical instruments can be purchased through Rock School if needed, and a rent-to-own program is also in the works.

A lot of students, like Katie and Ray, take private lessons to focus on learning their instrument, and also schedule band lessons directly after that. They are members of a rock band called "The Rock Mechanics," and both are 10 years old. Some days, while Katie practices her bass in one of the "jam rooms," Ray, who plays guitar and sings, reads a book and waits for the other band members to arrive for the band lesson. They enjoy playing gigs or even just practicing at Rock School. "It's fun because you get to rock with someone else," says Katie.

Every summer, kids ages 7-17 also have the opportunity to go to Rock School's Summer Camp. Several one-week sessions are offered from June 18 through August 24. Camp bands meet for half a day, every day for a week, and end with a live concert where family, friends, and neighbors are encouraged to come and cheer for their young rockers.

There's always something exciting going on at Musicafe' Rock School, whether it's cool studio renovations, new music instructors and camp counselors, or upcoming programs. Rock School is currently planning programs for flash mob choir, recording/engineering class, digital arts squad, and a DJ/spinning class to be offered this fall.

When it comes to rock, you're never too old or too cool for school.

MUSICAFE' ROCK SCHOOL

For more information on lessons, summer camp, 

booking, and upcoming events, call LISA:

Phone: 541-738-ROCK (7625) 

www.rockschoolstar.com

Corvallis Studio:

2521 NW Ninth Street

Corvallis, Or. 97330

Albany Studio:

126 East 1st Avenue

Albany, Or.  97321 

Also on Facebook, search: Musicafe RockSchool

Upcoming Events: June

Are you ready to start your summer off with a bang? Check out the local events happening in the month of June. There's plenty to see, do, eat, and explore. So get out there and enjoy yourself. Be safe and let the good times roll!

 

 

MAY 31-JUNE 3: Lebanon Strawberry Festival
Parades, fireworks, entertainment, food, and the "World's Largest Strawberry Shortcake."
 www.lebanonstrawberryfestival.info
Cheadle Lake Regional Park - Hwy 20 & Werich Dr, Lebanon  541-258-7164

JUNE 1: An Evening of Food, Stories, and Auction
Middle Eastern food, live and silent auction, and artwork from Oregon and Gaza school children. 6:00pm, Price: $10 to $15 sliding scale. www.gazaexchange.org
Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship - 2945 NW Circle Blvd, Corvallis  541-908-2279

JUNE 1: Spring Sing! The OSU Women's and Men's Choirs
Bella Voce & The OSU Meistersingers. 7:30pm, Price: $10; Students free with ID. www.tickettomato.com First United Methodist Church - 1165 NW Monroe Street, Corvallis
541-619-9063

JUNE 1: OSU Battle of the Bands

Local Bands perform and compete for the winning title. All Day, Free. 112 Memorial Union, Corvallis  541-737-6872

JUNE 2: Girls on the Run 5k and Beaver Fun Run
Includes a 50 yard dash (age 3-4), 500 yard race (age 5-7), 1k (age 8-12), and 5k Community Event. 9:00am, See website for prices and race times. www.gotrwillamette.org

JUNE 2-3: Pine Meadow Village Garage Sale
Largest garage sale in Albany with 75+ homes all in one location. 10:00am-4:00pm
1210 Pine Meadow Dr., Albany  541-928-5112

JUNE 2-NOV 17: Albany Farmers' Market 

Baked goods, fruit, vegetables, and flowers. 9:00am-1:00pm (Every Saturday), Free
www.locallygrown.org  4th & Ellsworth (City Hall parking lot), Albany  541-740-1542

JUNE 2-OCT 13: Brownsville Farmers' Market 

Fresh produce, flowers, and more locally produced items. 9:00am-1:00pm (Every Saturday), Free www.brownsville-farmersmarket.com Downtown Brownsville, Corner of Park Ave. and North Main St. SNAP and WIC are welcome at the market.  541-868-4822

JUNE 2-NOV 23: Corvallis Farmers' Market 

Baked goods, fruit, vegetables, and flowers. 9:00am-1:00pm (Every Sat. and Wed.), Free
www.locallygrown.org  1st & Jackson, Corvallis  541-740-1542

JUNE 7: Lebanon Farmers' Market
Fresh fruits & vegetables, crafts, homemade products, & music.
3:00pm-7:00pm, (Thursdays) Free  www.lebanondowntown.org/farmers
Grant & Main St., Lebanon  541-928-1914

JUNE 8: Grapes & Grains
Enjoy an evening of local brews, wine, food, and music. 4:00pm-11:00pm 

Tickets are $10 (Age 21 and over)  www.albanygrapesandgrains.com

Linn County Fair & Expo Center - 3700 Knox Butte Rd. NE, Albany  541-754-9511


JUNE 9: World's Ultimate "Elvis" Tribute Artist Concert
7:00-10:00pm, General admission $20, Preferred seating $25
Eagles Club - 127 Broadalbin SW, Albany  541-926-6622

Photo courtesy of: www.elvis.com

JUNE 10: Nihon e Ikimasho! Let's Go to Japan! The OSU Wind Ensemble 

The inaugural OSU Alumni Concert Band joins the Wind Ensemble for this "send off" concert featuring guest conductors. 3:00 pm, Price: $10, Students, Staff, & Faculty: Free with ID
www.oregonstate.edu/cla/music  LaSells Stewart Center - 875 SW 26th St, Corvallis
541-619-9063



JUNE 12: An Evening with PRIMUS
7:30pm, $45 general admission. www.thecuthbert.com
Cuthbert Amphitheater - 2300 Leo Harris Parkway, Eugene  541-762-8099

JUNE 15-17: Linn County Pioneer Picnic
Games, food booths, logger jamboree, equestrian events, talent shows, and entertainment. Free.
www.historicbrownsville.com  Downtown and Pioneer Park, Brownsville  541-928-0831

JUNE 16: An Evening with COLLECTIVE SOUL
8:00pm, $28-$40  www.roselandpdx.com
Roseland Theatre - 8 NW 6th Ave, Portland

JUNE 19: Concerts in the Park - Corvallis Community Band
Concert Theme: Summer Begins! 8:00pm, Free
www.c-cband.org  Central Park Gazebo - Central Park, Corvallis  541-766-6918

JUNE 20: Talking Water Gardens Opening Ceremony 

Constructed wetland with roaring waterfalls, meandering streams, trails, birds, and other wildlife. 4:00-6:00pm  www.cityofalbany.net
Talking Water Gardens - 577 Waverly Dr NE, Albany  541-497-6224

JUNE 23: Redneck Soldier Presents: DMX
8:00pm, $25  www.roselandpdx.com
Roseland Theatre - 8 NW 6th Ave, Portland

JUNE 26: Concerts in the Park - Corvallis Community Band
Concert Theme: Music from Ireland and Scotland. 8:00pm, Free
www.c-cband.org  Central Park Gazebo - Central Park, Corvallis  541-766-6918

JUNE 30: Oregon Jet Sprint Boat Races
Participants race 13 foot aluminum hulled V8 powered boats through a dug track at speeds up to 80 miles per hour. 10:00am-5:00pm.  www.oregonsprintboat.com  33131 Witt Dr, Tangent  541-967-8998

Photo courtesy of: www.albanyvisitors.com

For more info on parks, recreation, and upcoming summer events, visit:

www.albanyvisitors.com

www.co.linn.or.us/parks

www.visitcorvallis.com

www.sweet-home.or.us

www.eventful.com 

www.lebanon-chamber.org
www.travelsalem.com
www.all-oregon.com
www.eugenecascadescoast.org 

Brittney Humphrey

As if being a college instructor isn’t impressive enough, Brittany Humphrey is also a full-time student and the proud mother of a six-year-old boy.

Humphrey teaches Math 20 and Math 60 at two different campuses, four days a week and is enrolled in the Master of Arts & Teaching program at Western Oregon University, with only four terms remaining before she earns her master’s degree in teaching.

Sitting in her classroom, she doesn’t give the impression of being overloaded, overwhelmed, or even preoccupied. She has a smile on her face from start to finish, and really takes the time to make sure everyone understands and participates. “I really appreciate that she’ll stay after class and help us when we need it,” says Corina Cummings, a student enrolled in her Math 60 class at the Benton Center. “She’s nice and very patient.”

Wayne Bricco, a fellow math instructor at LBCC, refers to Humphrey as a "happy camper" and says he enjoys working with her. Math isn't the only thing they have in common; they also share the belief that prioritizing is of the utmost importance when it comes to juggling school with family, friends, and work. "Before you start anything, you want to set priorities like when this comes up, this is first. If this comes up, this is second and so on," says Bricco. "like when she has a son's birthday but she has a paper due; her son's birthday gets first choice, then you do the best you can on the rest of it."

Commuter: You have a lot on your plate being a teacher, a tutor, a mother, and a student. How do you keep up on homework with such a busy schedule?
Brittney Humphrey: Some times are harder than others. A lot of times I have to take my homework with me to my son’s T-Ball practice. I take my reading and read my textbook while he practices. I also work at the help desks at Albany and at Benton Center so I get some reading done and some of my homework done there, so that helps.

C: Have you always wanted to teach math?

BH: Originally, I was an elementary education major. I started tutoring math and actually taught math for my elementary ed. class. I was even tutoring some of my mom’s co-worker’s kids. At that point, I decided to start taking more math and see if that’s where I wanted to go. I decided it was and then switched majors. So it took me a little longer to get my bachelor's than I had planned.

C: Where do you see yourself in 5 years, professionally?

BH: Hopefully done with two master's. Right now I can only teach Math 20-95 and I’m part time. If I have my master's, I can get hired as a full-time faculty and I can teach up through calculus. And I want to teach at a community college. I’ll teach high school if I can’t but I would prefer to be at a community college. 

C: What’s your idea of a perfect day off, or do you even get days off?

BH: (Laughs) Well, you know… just being able to spend it with my son. If I can spend the majority of the day without doing homework or grading and just spend time with my son, then that to me, is a good day off.

C: Do you have any advice for students trying to find balance with going to school and working while also raising children?

BH: Prioritize. I've had to sacrifice a grade level on an assignment just because I couldn’t get there that day. You have to understand that those things will happen. And sometimes full-time isn’t the way to go. I spent some time going part-time just because I had other responsibilities. It may take you a little longer but you can still do it. Even if I was part-time, I just kept going. I made sure I always had some time for my son, and if it meant doing my homework at ten o’clock at night, then that’s what I did. But to me, my son is my highest priority.

So what’s next for Humphrey? The fall term after earning her master's degree at Western, she plans to enroll in the Masters in Math program at Oregon State. They say, "Nothing good comes easy," and I'm sure Humphrey would agree.

CONTACT INFO
Phone: 541-757-8944 ext 5113
Office Hours:
Mon. 10 – 11am WOH 103 (Albany)
Wed. 3 – 4pm BC 101 (Benton Center)
Email: brittney.humphrey@linnbenton.edu

Hot Dogs

Photo by: Michelle Strachan

Now that the weather is getting warmer, everyone is wanting to get outside, soak up the sun, and "play." Our canine friends are no exception.

These days, with people and places becoming more animal friendly, it's a lot easier to bring your dog along while you run your daily errands. But for many, it's become a habit to leave their pets in the car when running in to pay a bill, picking up a couple of things at the market, or even attending class here at LB.

While sunny days are perfect for joy-rides and trips to the park, trips that involve leaving your dog in the car, even for a short time, are just not worth the risk. It's a practice that has proven to be fatal.

"Every year, countless dogs die after being locked in cars while their owners work, visit, shop, or run other errands. These tragic deaths are entirely preventable." www.mydogiscool.com

You may think it's okay to leave your dog in the car for a short time because you've cracked the windows and parked in the shade, but in reality, even on cooler days, temperatures can reach dangerous levels, putting your dog at risk for heatstroke or even death.

"It takes only minutes for a pet left in a vehicle on a warm day to succumb to heatstroke and suffocation. Most people don't realize how hot it can get in a parked car on a balmy day. However, on a 78 degree day, temperatures in a car parked in the shade can exceed 90 degrees and hit a scorching 160 degrees if parked in the sun," according to www.paw-rescue.org

"Animals are not able to sweat like humans do. Dogs cool themselves by panting and by sweating through their paws. If they have only overheated air to breathe, animals can collapse, suffer brain damage and possibly die of heatstroke. Just 15 minutes can be enough for an animal's body temperature to climb from a normal 102.5 to deadly levels that will damage the nervous and cardiovascular systems, often leaving the animal comatose, dehydrated and at risk of permanent impairment or death."

On days that you're able to safely take your pet for a car ride, don't forget to bring a bowl and plenty of fresh drinking water. And on warm days when you have a few stops to make, remember: Leaving your dog at home could save its life.


SIGNS OF HEAT EXHAUSTION INCLUDE:
Restlessness, excessive thirst, heavy panting, lethargy, dark tongue, rapid pulse, fever, vomiting, glazed eyes, dizziness, or lack of coordination.

If you are concerned your pet is suffering from one or more of these symptoms, immediately get your dog or other pet to a cool, shaded area (an air conditioned area if possible), or to the vet if you feel the symptoms might be better handled by someone with more expertise than yourself.


TO LOWER BODY TEMPERATURE GRADUALLY:
Give the animal water to drink, place a cold towel or ice pack on the head, neck and chest, and/or immerse the dog in cool (not cold) water. Call your veterinarian.


WHAT TO DO IF YOU SEE A DOG LEFT IN A CAR:
If you feel a dog's life is in danger, do something! It doesn't have a voice, but you do.

Take down the car make, model, color, and license # of the car. Go to the nearest stores and ask the managers to page the owner.

Call the police. They can usually respond much quicker than animal control departments. They also have the capability to enter the vehicle and rescue the pet.

Spread the word!

www.mydogiscool.com has several fliers and posters available to print and keep in the car.
RedRover's fliers and posters can save animals' lives by reminding people that it is dangerous and deadly to leave a dog in a hot car — even for "just a minute."