Donna+E.

Phase I: Who Am I? What's My Place?


 * == What __really__ makes up your identity? ==

== My true identity has evolved over the last nine years. I wear many hats that influence my identity, (micro and mesosystems): Wife, mother, teacher, and student. I have collected many "trait tools" over the years, but the foundation of my identity lies in my morals and values which are represented by my family, community, and society. I have always been a rule follower and appreciate structure, professionalism, and a love for learning. I enjoy helping others and doing volunteer work. ==


 * == What __really__ makes up your sense of place? ==

== The place I am comfortable in is in a role where I can teach and share information. I believe I have had many valuable "life" experiences, especially in the field of education, from which others can learn if they are interested. But I am also fulfilled when I am the learner. Learning in the various multiple intelligences should take place throughout life. I believe this learning helps me grow cognitively and emotionally and allows me to make connections with others in more ways. ==
 * == What roles do your identity and sense of place play when you work with others in a group project? ==

===When working with others on a group project I support working as a team and sharing ideas. I understand that our experiences we bring to the table affect our perspectives and will influence our decisions. I hope that we will all view the experience of working in a group setting as a valuable tool to meeting our objectives.===


 * == What are the qualities that you bring to the GLIP conversation that will help you make a contribution to your global group? ==

===I am looking forward to increasing my global awareness. I am excited about sharing ideas that will solve problems and help others. I am also looking forward to working with a diverse group and seeing what information we each bring to the table.===


 * == What is one local problem (where you live) that you believe needs to be addressed? Suggest some steps could you take to try to solve it? ==

===I believe there is a need for students who struggle in school to acquire tutoring assistance outside of school. This would be in a small group setting or one-on-one. The tutoring would take place in a community facility such as a church and utilize senior citizens as volunteer tutors. Each volunteer would be given instruction to assist them with their tutoring skills. This tutoring program would target students from diverse, low socioeconomic backgrounds.===


 * == Finally, some problems have been around for a long time. What qualities do you think a person must have to step up and try to solve them? ==

===A person that is recruited to help solve a local problem should have the following qualities: desire to problem solve, creativity, respect for others, amicable, and honesty. They should also have the intelligence to acquire background knowledge that concerns the history of the problem and the attempts made by others to solve it.===

Phase II: Sense of Place

Upload image (s) here:

This is a picture of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. It represents my sense of place because I spent so much of my childhood vacationing on Hatteras Island. Though I am a native of Virginia Beach, Virginia I feel like Hatteras was my second home. I have such fond childhood memories of visiting the lighthouse, playing on the beach, exploring the dunes, combing the beach for shells and drift wood, fishing, and building bonfires. Because of this experience I did not feel foreign to Raleigh, North Carolina when I moved here. It was also because of Hatteras Island that I developed love and appreciation for the coast and all it has to offer. I believe NC has a beautiful coastline with many wonderful, warm towns in which to vacation or live.

Some facts about the island...Hatteras Island (historically, Croatoan Island) is a barrier island located off the North Carolina coast. Dividing the Atlantic Ocean and the Pamlico Sound, it runs parallel to the coast, forming a bend at Cape Hatteras. It is part of North Carolina's Outer Banks and includes the towns of Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, Buxton, Frisco, and Hatteras. It contains the largest part of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. The island is one of the longest in the contiguous United States, measuring 42 miles (68 km) along a straight line from end to end, or roughly 50 miles (80 km) along the curve of the land. Hatteras Island is known for sport fishing, surfing, windsurfing and kiteboarding, and is known as "The blue marlin capital of the world." **en.wikipedia.org**/wiki/Croatoan_**Island**

The **Kiwanis Club of Hatteras Island** is a community organization that serves island communities through school-based organizations that support and enhance education and communication with initiatives that are intended to improve the quality of life for children on Hatteras Island. Kiwanis Club of Hatteras Island organizes fundraisers to facilitate several scholarships awarded annually to qualifying recipients in the Hatteras Island communities. At present Kiwanis is sponsoring a Priority One program that will assist in funding a child applying for pre-school. Kiwanis Club of Hatteras Island is financed through membership dues, fundraisers, and donations. Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative, JULY 2009, Vol. 41, No. 7, [|www.chec.coop]

Use these questions to help you determine which picture shows someone else why your “place” is so special to you.
 * Does a scenic picture represent the beauty you believe that your town has?
 * Does a picture of a group of people represent and show a warmth and friendliness that your town has?
 * Does a statue or building convey the feeling of history that makes your place important and unique?
 * Is there a cultural event that represents the values of your home location?

What are your initial thoughts about how your image addresses the questions above? Later, you will be working with the members of your group to create a travel package that includes visits to each group member's home location (see Phase II)

Phase III: Identify Local Issue:

What is your local issue? The rising cost of gas is a problem. Gas prices are too high and causing people to take a second look at their lifestyle. Some people can change lifestyle habits to curb the effect of high gas prices, but many families can't. Parents still need to run various errands that are associated with the care of their children.

What can you do to address the issue? Carpooling is a good idea, but it can be inconvenient. More people should drive electric cars. I also think we should work harder to find an alternative energy source to power our cars.

What is the global impact of your local issue? If gas prices get too high individuals will be forced to stop spending money on other things. Retail markets will suffer and US products and foreign imports will be less desired. The smaller demand for such items will effect US and foreign workers by making them less valued. The rise in gas prices will cause a snowball effect and impact others globally.

Add these thoughts to your Group's Discussion Forum on Local Issues