What Is The Authentic Call?

The focus of The Berkana Institute is the community.

Start out with the word "birkana"; it's an old Norse word for birch tree. The Book of Runes by Ralph Blum adds that birkana "denotes a form of fertility that fosters growth both symbolically and actually. It is the rune that leads to blossoming and ripening. Birkana is concerned with the flow of beings into their new forms. Its action is gentle, penetrating and pervasive."

From this word origin comes comes the name of an institute founded in 1991, THE BIRKANA INSTITUTE. It lies on the foundation of people, people being together, in caring and generosity. And those people coming together can make it through anything, even the very worst possibility, as long as they're together. Thus, this institute seeks to create communities of people that together can provide support and foster a spirit of inquiry that works to create a promising future for the benefit of all.



The institute builds on four key activities in its work and the work of its partners. They look for trailblazing leaders and communities; connect them to each other; provide nourishment in the form of relationships, resources, learning, and support; and focus on their stories as examples of the future that is happening in the present.

Something to consider in regard to Berkana's work is the authentic call: what is it that signals that true call, that need for something general or specific. Frequently, it shows up as a disturbance, an itch, a longing, in one person, although it may seem to come from a group. Generally it is that one person who says it first, although it can be taken up so quickly by a group, that you can't distinguish that one person.

Voicing that call brings that longing to a level of consciousness in others, so that they then become aware of its relevance. It then becomes the voice of the group, bringing a collective longing, a realization that there is a call, and then this core group helps to make it come true.

Meg Wheatley leads a series of conversations around the US.

The thing to remember is that the original voice, the person who first puts words to the longing, plays this critical role in making possibilities real. But that same originator has to be able to let go of that longing into the collective group, so that it can become something larger. In a sense there is a critical moment to let go; if you hold on too long and too tight, that longing dies out, along with the chance of making something bigger; but if you let go too soon, it's not strong enough to sustain, and thus gets extinguished. In a sense, the original person/voice needs to think about the longing as both my longing and never my longing, in order to let go at the right time bring it to larger realization.

Leading communities into the future now.

Thanks for information from this write-up on The Berkana Institute: http://berkana.org/about/; this post by Phil Cass on The Berkana Institute blog: http://berkana.org/an-authentic-call/; and the above link.

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Rescuing Animals On The Island Of Patmos

Lucky Luke a donkey missing part of his leg, is taken in at the shelter.

The country of Greece surely has had its ups and downs over the past few years. But despite its economic woes, Greece is the home of ancient ruins and beautiful scenery. Part mainland and part islands, this nation offers a variety of experiences to its residents.

The island of Patmos combines both the beautiful and the exotic. But beyond its natural beauty lies a problem, the problem of animal abandonment and cruelty. Anna Florentis, a veterinary technician, spent her growing years and received her education in the US. She has also had extensive experience in various international settings, including Greece, where she had established her home on the island of Patmos.



So, when it came to solving some of the issues with animals, her experience and that of her international team members, became the basis of founding the only shelter for abandoned and stray animals on the island of Patmos, MONDO CANE ANIMAL WELFARE SOCIETY. At the time this organization was formed, Anna said, "I am starting this project because I am well known in the community for being an animal lover. I joined a few others who were also in the same position and we decided to create a space where people can come with their animal needs, get guidance to resolve the issues of abandonment, care for the animals until they are re-homed." Just a year and a half after the organization began, homes had been found for 70 dogs.

Besides providing temporary shelter for animals in need, plans include a low-cost spay-neuter clinic, community education on humane treatment of animals and other pet issues, and comprehensive information center for animal welfare issues.

Like any other pet shelter, this one has its share of animals, with their stories of how they came to be in the shelter. Tiger was only a few days old when he was found, a tiny tabby with striped markings, apparently dumped. When he first came to the shelter, he wasn't eating, so a search for a suitable substitute, who also had babies, was launched, but none was available. Fortunately, the tiny kitten started feeding and a couple who was vacationing on the island, helped to foster him.

Lettie is a pure-bred cocker spaniel, who came to the island with her new owner and was allowed to get pregnant. Suddenly, the owner was no longer interested and left Lettie and her pups tied up at a local beach. Fortunately, they were spotted by a team member and volunteer, and brought to the shelter. Two summer residents adopted the momma, Lettie, two black puppies were adopted by tourists, and a team member adopted the third.

One of Lettie's puppies (left) all grown up.

The shelter was called into service when a bird, an Elnora's falcon, was spotted by a seasonal visitor who was out on her boat. She noticed that bird was injured and the crew went out of their way to rescue the creature. Founder, Anna Florentis, was able to pick up the injured bird and then made arrangements with a wildlife rescue group to take the bird. The bird was then examined and treated for a broken wing, and then was taken into rehabilitation on Paros Island.

The injured Elnora falcon.

Thanks for information from this article on Pollination Project: https://thepollinationproject.org/grants-awarded/anna-florentis-mondo-cane-animal-welfare-society/; this page from Mondo Cane: http://www.mondo-cane.org/adoptable-cats-details; this page from Mondo Cane: http://www.mondo-cane.org/happy-endings-cym4; and the above link.

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Tracing American Dance Through Art

The exterior of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.

Bentonville, Arkansas, located in the middle of the US, is home to the CRYSTAL BRIDGES MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART. This museum explores the history of America through through its collection of outstanding works of art. Through its exhibits, the museum is enhancing visitors' understanding and appreciation of this country and themselves.

Besides the art works within, the museum is surrounded by the beauty of the nature around it. The building is set in 120 acres of Ozark forests, which enable visitors to enjoy their natural surroundings as an augmentation of their artistic experience. Three miles of nature trails allow leisurely exploration of surrounding flora and fauna.



Like most museums, Crystal Bridges hosts temporary, and traveling, exhibitions. One current traveling exhibition is the Art of American Dance, now open through Jan. 16, an exploration of the interaction between dance and art. The museum already had some works contained in some examples of its rare book collection.

Dance has historically been an important aspect of the lives of Native American tribal members, utilized in ritual and spirituality. For European-Americans, their relationship with dance has been highly influenced by the Christian beliefs that were brought with them. Many of these newer additions to the American land mass viewed dances performed by Native Americans less as spirituality and more as deriving from evil spirits or demons.

John G. Bourke, noted in The Moquis of Arizona, in 1884, "The Cochino Dance never was openly revived so long as the Spaniards could prevent it; yet it is possible that the Dance of the Tablet may have afforded a satisfactory substitute. And, further, may not these exercises have been a compromise between the prejudices of those who tenaciously clung to the old heathen rites and the inclinations of others whom fear, venality, superior intelligence, or hidden sympathy attracted to the doctrines of the conquerors."

In the early to mid-twentieth century, gender roles changed and became reflected in performance arts, such as dance, theatre, and literary themes. Burlesque was a reflection of some of these changes. The women performers engaged in this type of dancing did not only show their dancing skills but also their artistic talents, when they performed in comedy sketches and drama.

Bernard Sobel noted this in his section on "Burlesque in Pigments" in The Theatre in Art, "Where is the canvass and the etching that embodies this nefarious search for the joy of living - this passage to paradise by way of the runway? All these matters are assuredly authentic Americana, to be snatched up eagerly before it is too late."

Etching by Troy Kinney from his book, Etchings of Troy Kinney, 1929.

The emotionality of dance, along with the personification of nature, was part of what was conveyed in dance in the nineteenth century. This is reflected in a poem, "The Dancing Lesson" published in Union's Magazine,
"A nod and a smile, and away she flew
To the woods she loved and the waters blue;
But the mother sighed, with a thought between
A hope and a fear, for that cheek's soft sheen
Told her heart that too soon the world would
The joy, now her sweetest of joys to name."

The color catalog of the exhibition, Art of American Dance.

Thanks for information from this article on Charter For Compassion: http://www.charterforcompassion.org/crystal-bridges-museum-of-american-art; this article by Jon Sexton on Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art blog: http://crystalbridges.org/blog/dance-in-crystal-bridges-rare-books/; and the above link.

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A Neighborhood Boost Into The Future

Seasons and vegetables are on the learning menu for third through fifth grade students.

Situated on the outer edge of Reservoir Hill in Baltimore City is ST. FRANCIS NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER. Since it first started in 1963, the center has served the residents of this neighborhood, approximately 300 adults, youth, and families every month. The center provides programs that improve the lives of those who live in the area, while also making a better Baltimore. Some of its programs include personal finance courses, job readiness courses for adults and youth, youth development programs, computer lab mentoring and classes, green projects and neighborhood clean-ups, Reservoir Hill Resource Fair & Festival, yoga classes, space for community meetings, etc.

Let's take a look at the Power Project an afterschool youth educational program. The Power Project is a free youth development program for those ages 5 to 15. It combines education, mentoring, and the arts and can accommodate fifty children at one time. It runs from 3:00 PM to 6:15 PM Monday through Thursday during the school year; all participants receive dinner and snacks. Children have the opportunity to receive one-to-one tutoring; academic enrichment; attend seminars and workshops; engage in the center's art, dance, and music groups; and establish relationships with positive adult role models.



This program was designed to improve students' grades and school behavior, while offering parents workshops and family engagement nights. Approximately 90% of parents attend their portion of the program. In assessments conducted by an outside organization, the program has led to a 10% improvement of scores in language and math skills.

Partnerships with various stakeholders are enriching the lives of the youth participants, through attractive activities. Crazy 8s is a math club that utilizes fun activities incorporating math skills, such as making glow-in-the-dark structures, cracking spy codes, and playing games. Readers & Leaders is the tutoring program. Using the same techniques as private tutors in more affluent communities, reading specialists and volunteers meet with students in small groups and their progress is tracked in individual binders. Holistic Life provides yoga and meditation once each month to reduce stress and improve health. Code in the Schools is provided twice each week. Students get the chance to program robots, write computer code, and use the 3-D printer, in this STEM-friendly activity.

University of Maryland brings in their Nutrition--Food Supplement Nutrition Education Program once each week. Students can learn to cook, try new foods and ingredients, and incorporate a wider variety of foods into their regular diets. In Art with Randi Reiss-McCormick children have weekly sessions in the art of printmaking. Baltimore City Health Department created the Making A Difference curriculum, which teaches sexual health and wellness to those age 9 to 11. The Flight Program brings Group 3 boys together with Mr. Dan once each week for counseling and mentoring. The Butterfly Garden Service Learning Project focuses on butterflies. Students learn about their migration habits, growth and development, while building and maintaining the center's butterfly garden.

Building glow-in-the-dark structures makes math a bit easier.

It's definitely a wonderful contribution to the community and children's lives to offer such a rich way for these young people to spend their free time, while under competent adult supervision. Certainly, this afterschool program is providing additional learning experiences in a fun environment and helping these youth in need make positive steps in their future direction.

Group 3 students made a poster imagining what their future selves would look like.

Thanks for information from this Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pg/stfrancisbmore/about/?ref=page_internal; this Fall Newsletter: http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Happy-Thanksgiving-and-Fall-Newsletter--all-in-ONE-.html?soid=1111404532859&aid=QGZOyt4MaDc; and the above link.

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Inspirational Blueberry Soup

Lawrence Lessig was the first professor to screen Blueberry Soup.

Can you take a relatively unknown event, make a movie about it, and change the world? That actually happened when Eileen Jerrett founded Wilma's Wish Productions. On her 80th birthday, grandmother Wilma stood up and wished all of her guests to participate fully in the fullness of life and continue her vision of lifetime as wonderment. And that's what led to the name of her production company.

In 2008, like most other countries, Iceland had experienced a financial crisis. That led to the formation of a grassroots movement of people from various backgrounds, who re-envisioned their form of democracy and rewrote their nation's constitution. Wilma's Wish Productions went to work on a documentary of this little-known story, utilizing a unique approach to documentary filmmaking.



The end result, BLUEBERRY SOUP, tells the story of this movement through the personal stories of those who participated, in a manner that lets the viewer get closer to the humanity of the individuals, almost as close as you would get with a dear friend. By bringing viewers that close to some of the participants, viewers can envision themselves taking an active role in the direction of their own nations.

Certainly, Blueberry Soup has been seen in various locations throughout the world, and still continues to be an inspiration for those who view it. Wilma's Wish Productions continues to book public viewings of the film through their website, as well as providing online viewing access.

Another full-length documentary made by the same company is Sex on Wheels, the story of a young woman who is seeking love in the big city, along with the importance of cycling in her life. The company has also made several shorter clips on various subjects, including a Habitat for Humanity project in a twelve minute clip, Alternative Spring Break.

A comment from the film showing in New Zealand. 

This fall, Blueberry Soup has gone on the road in a campus tour to various US universities, beginning at Harvard, in partnership with Lawrence Lessig. The film is usually screened on one day, followed the next day by a class discussion. At tour departure, five other universities had contacted the production company for a screening at their schools.

Vigdis Finnbogadottir (left), first woman in the world elected head of state in national election, with Delia Popescu, LeMoyne College professor.

Thanks for information from this article on Pollination Project: https://thepollinationproject.org/grants-awarded/eileen-jerrett-blueberry-soup/; this article from Wilma's Wish Productions: http://www.wilmaswishes.com/about.html; this article on Wilma's Wish Productions: http://www.wilmaswishes.com/films.html; this Sept. 23 blog post: http://wilmaswish.blogspot.com/; and the above link.

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Teddy Bears Of Hope

Both Nicole and Cubs For Coping have come a long way since that hospitalization.

At the age of 14, Nicole Javorsky found herself hospitalized due to anorexia. It was a tough and lonely experience, but her friends and family found a way to boost her spirit - with stuffed animals. Once she was discharged, she realized how helpful these tokens of support were, so she went on to found CUBS FOR COPING, an organization in which people come together to make stuffed animals for those in a hospital, or other institution, in need of a stuffed friend to hold.

Here's Nicole inspiration, "I am passionate about Cubs For Coping because not everyone has friends and family who bring them stuffed animals when they are going through a tough time." The organization is responsible for organizing the stuffed animal making sessions, which allow the participants to personalize their own designs, making each teddy bear unique.



Some of the places where this organization has donated their stuffed creations include Bowery Mission Homeless Shelter, Cohen Children's Medical Center, Winthrop University Hospital, Women in Need Inc. Homeless Shelter, The Renfrew Center, and AIDS Service Center NYC. Many of their clients have really looked forward to receiving these gifts, which are seen as a sign that those in the community care about them.

Currently, Cubs For Coping is engaged in a FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN through Generosity by Indiegogo. The objective is to raise $500 for two different purposes. The first is to provide funds to hold onsite events at homeless shelters. Cubs For Coping would provide all the supplies, while volunteers help and assist clients from the shelter to design and make their own stuffed bears. The second is to help fulfill the many requests by those who have eating disorders for a handmade bear. Many have identified with Nicole's experiences and are wanting the support of their own stuffed bears.

Students at Barnard College make stuffed teddy bears. 

There are perks for donors listed on Cubs For Coping's Generosity page. For a $10 donation, you can receive a black and white drawn coloring page designed by Nicole; the $20 donor can receive a Happiness t-shirt with the coloring page; at the $50 level, the donor receives the previous two gifts plus a  piece of art customized to your specifications; a $75 donor can receive all of the previous plus a small handmade teddy bear; and the $100 donor can receive all of the previous plus a large handmade teddy bear.

Custom teddy bears are all wrapped and ready to provide support for those who need it.

Thanks for information from this article on Pollination Project: https://thepollinationproject.org/grants-awarded/nicole-javorsky-cubs-for-coping/; this page on Cubs For Coping: http://www.cubsforcoping.org/about/; this Generosity page: https://www.generosity.com/community-fundraising/spread-hope-with-handmade-bears; and the above links.

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High Quality Legal Practice At Pessin Katz Law

From Pessin Katz Law's 8th Annual Food Box Program for breakfast, lunch, dinner food items to be distributed to families in need.

One of the larger law firms in the Baltimore area is PESSIN KATZ LAW, with more than 60 lawyers, paralegals, and law clerks. With three different offices in various parts of the metro area, this agency covers the spectrum of legal services.

Like many law firms, Pessin Katz stays up to date on legal rulings that could affect their clients. Many employers and employees were following the status of the new and expanded overtime regulations which were to go into effect yesterday. These new regulations would have at least doubled the salary limit for those designated as exempt from requiring overtime pay, meaning many more workers requiring eligibility.



However on November 22, a federal judge in Texas issued an injunction against the implementation of the new limits. The court ruled that the original statute did not allow this change, since it did not specify a salary-only test in order to be qualified. However, it left intact the duties test (e.g., executive, administrative, etc.).

Many of us are familiar with U.S. News & World Reports' rankings in various sectors, such as hospitals and universities. The magazine also does the same with law firms. On November 11, this publication announced the Best Law Firms for 2017 with over ten tiered rankings. Pessin Katz fell into an elite group of Baltimore law firms with more than ten tiered rankings. This law firm rankings are:

National Second-Tier Ranking: Land Use & Zoning Law, Sports Law.

First Tier Ranking Baltimore Area: Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants, Professional Malpractice Law - Defendants, Sports Law.

Second Tier Ranking Baltimore Area: Commercial Litigation, Criminal Defense: General Practice, Entertainment Law, Insurance Law, Land Use & Zoning Law.

Third Tier Ranking Baltimore Area: Criminal Defense: White Collar, Education Law, Entertainment Law.

With Brightstar Care Pessin Katz Law presented seminar on Elder Law and Estate Planning Basics.

What these rankings mean is that the best law firms are given recognition for demonstrating professional excellence, as affirmed by client and peer ratings. So when a law firm has a tiered ranking, it is because of high quality legal practice and scope of legal expertise. Firms are ranked both nationally and by metropolitan area.

Pessin Katz Law's booth at 2016 Senior Expo.

Thanks for information from this article by Edmund O'Meally, Esquire, on PK Law: http://pklaw.com/news/injunction-issued-new-salary-thresholds-flsa-exemptions/; this article on PK Law: http://pklaw.com/news/pk-law-receives-11-tiered-rankings-u-s-newsbest-law-firms/; and the above link.

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