A card of thanks

June 30, 2008

Dear Sir,

We would be grateful if you would print this letter to express our gratitude to all the volunteers, members and non-members of Amnesty International Bermuda, who helped in our recent Tag Day on Saturday June 21. We recognise that without the help of the volunteers, our fundraising event would not have been successful, so our sincere thanks to all who volunteered for our Tag Day.

Also, our sincere thanks to the Market Place Shelley Bay, Heron Bay, and Church Street Stores, Lindo's Devonshire and Warwick, White's, Harrington Hundred's, the Phoenix Store, the Supermart, Miles, and the Bank of Butterfield for allowing our volunteers to sell tags at their premises. And finally, to the people of Bermuda, who are always so generous and supportive. We raised over $4,300.00. We rely on funds raised to carry on our human rights awareness and educational programmes, therefore, we are indeed very grateful to all who made it possible.

LUCY ATTRIDE-STIRLING

Executive Director

Amnesty international

Learn about inclusiveness

June 30, 2008

Dear Sir,

I believe that Just Wondering has missed the point I was trying to make regarding the clenched fist salute. Everything I see and read about Barack Obama is about his inclusiveness. I cannot say that about Dr. Ewart Brown. As can be seen by recent events in Bermuda, Dr. Brown has the ability to alienate many people, including his own supporters.

Wikipedia has an interesting article about Black Power.

One sentence in the article states: "Some, though not all, Black Power adherents believed in racial separation, black nationalism, and the necessity to use violence as a means of achieving their aims." This sentence was in the section with regard to how the Black Power salute had its beginnings, the most famous example of which was the one given by two US athletes at the 1968 Olympic Games.

As a 20-something white person who saw this and saw some of the violent means that some Black Power proponents used, I still feel that the use of this salute will offend white people. Barack Obama has not used any image which will alienate the broad spectrum of people he has been successfully attracting to his rallies. The point I was trying to make is that by Dr. Brown using the clenched fist salute which could alienate one section of the community, it will not attract members of that section to him or his party. Dr. Brown should arrange another trip to the US and spend time with Senator Obama for a few lessons on inclusiveness.

JOHN BARNETT

Warwick

She hopes you read this

June 30, 2008

Dear Sir,

Last weekend I decided to take my children for an early morning walk along South Shore and we ended up at Church Bay. At first I thought of only the physical benefits of getting the children out of the house and getting some exercise, little did I know that our walk would allow me to reinforce to my children lessons that all of us should know but obviously many don't. We discovered that a group of people had decided to have a party on the beach the night before. I am all for having a good time, we live on a beautiful island and should make the most of it. What I don't approve of is when people leave behind their trash.

The scene which we came across was heart-breaking to me. Beer bottles, soda bottles, red plastic cups strewn everywhere. The remains of a fire where they had smashed glass bottles in and burned wood that left in the sand nails, screws and bolts, among other items. My children aged five and eight asked me why people had left the beach like that. I wondered the same thing myself.

We could have left it at that and walked away but I decided that my children might soon forget this scene, so I asked them 'do you think we should leave this mess here for tourists to see when they visit our 'beautiful' beaches today, or for the sea or wind to carry it out where it could hurt an animal?'

They quickly answered 'no' and agreed that they would help me to clean it up. The most ironic thing was the group that had left this mess had also left a trash bag, they left it empty but I guess it made our job easier! By the end we picked up over half a bag of trash. It only took us about fifteen minutes to pick it all up and we dropped it off in the trash can at the top of the stairs, washed our hands and continued on our walk.

I do hope that at least one of the people at that party reads this and feels guilty, I also want to thank them for helping me teach my children why they should always dispose of their trash properly and how important it is to keep our island clean. I would like to think that just maybe they (the party-goers) might think about what they did and get together all their friends who enjoyed that evening and fill up a bag of trash that others have left around our island and see how it feels. I have enclosed a picture that shows the kids picking up just some of the trash that morning. I can't tell you how proud I was of them for making the right decision and wanted to finish by thanking them… so thank you Nathan and Megan and I love you.

JENNIFER TITTERTON

Hamilton

Big things at CedarBridge

July 1, 2008

Dear Sir,

My Name is Mrs. Dee Sewell and I am a Bermudian residing in Delaware. On June 30, 2008, I attended the CedarBridge Academy's graduation ceremony. I was there to present ten certificates to ten girls on behalf of the Delaware Department of Education and Delaware's House of Representatives. It was indeed a pleasure to be among Bermuda's finest and best young people who showed much enthusiasm, commitment and futuristic goals.

For the past four years WOW! the Nike Club of Delaware and the Girls Club at CedarBridge Academy have been in a partnership that has shown great success. This year was the first group of girls under the partnership's committed leadership, who completed their four years of schooling and became high school graduates. In Delaware one girl from WOW! completed her college dream with a bachelors in Social Work from North Carolina A&T. This indeed made Ms Alicia Zuill and myself very proud to be the community leaders of these young ladies.

CedarBridge Academy reminds me of when I attend high school in Bermuda back in the early seventies and was elated to see students who still use their manners, respect of their principal, teachers and parents. All too often we hear about the bad things that young people do in school, well contrary to those bad reports and or remarks, students at the CedarBridge Academy made their entire communities proud of their success. Scholarships, honours and academic merits were received by more than half of the 117 students who graduated, and more than half had been accepted into college and or the workforce. Great things are happening big time at CedarBridge and more people in Bermuda need to hear the good things that are going on there, because there lies a place where kids are being taught to seek their goals and dreams for a better tomorrow.

Principal Richards has supported the girls groups with their partnership since May 2004, and because of this support, the Girls Club will host the first Teen Girls Forum at CedarBridge Academy next April, 2009. Ms Richards is truly a gem in her own rights, and should be recognised and given the Principal of the Year Award. I know personally, that she gives above and goes beyond the duties of being a Principal, and I would like to say Bermuda, you have a gem of a principal. Thank you once again to the Girls Club of CedarBridge Academy, Ms Alicia Zuill and Mrs. Kalmar Richards for all you have done for WOW! the Nike Club of Delaware.

DEE SEWELL

Family Services Coordinator

DECC/ECAP

Delaware

Bull's Head bother

July 1, 2008

Dear Sir,

During the first ten years of car-ownership in Bermuda I had one puncture. During the past twelve months I have had three, caused by two nails and a screw and all suffered while parking at Bull's Head. Are other Bull's Head users similarly jinxed? Yours living in deflationary times,

ANDREW R. DOBLE

Hamilton Parish

Thank you to Longriders

The attached letter, dated June 16, 2008, was sent to Mrs. Olney Bean, Treasurer of the Bermuda Long Riders Motorcycle Club and Association (BLRMC) by Mr. Steve Wallach, President of the ETA (Entertainment and Travel Alternatives, Inc.) as a big thank you to all members and friends of the BLRMC and to the people of this beautiful Island of Bermuda for their love and hospitality during the latest Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Cruise which took place on Saturday, 7 June, 2008.

June 30, 2008

Dear Sir,

Having arrived home yesterday and enjoying Father's Day with Nathan, I reflected on our cruise and found myself with a large smile on my face.

On behalf of myself, Nathan, Ted, Ann, Rick & Tami (Ops Dir/ETA), I would like to say a big thank you to all of you for making this past stop to Bermuda an incredible ride and adventure. All of our guests said they had a fantastic time and I thank each of you for your direct assistance and cooperation. So many memories will be had and many of our guests have said that they will be rebooking to do it again!

As this cruise was the last for the season, I would also like to extend my personal thanks to each of you. It was truly a pleasure being able to have great people to work with in acquiring all of the necessary approvals needed. Your assistance will always be appreciated. I would also like to extend a big thank you to the Bermuda Longrider's Motorcycle Club! You all continue to extend your personal time in joining us on our rides and it is so much appreciated. A big thank you to Kevin Watson and the executive team of BLR! Your direct participation is what made it the success that it was! Continue success and safe rides to you all! We look forward to seeing you all again next season! You never know... I might just have to come and visit during the summer months! Regards and Safe Rides!

STEVE WALLACH

President / ETA