Two teenagers – the driver of the truck that crashed into the back of a tractor truck and a teen on a school bus involved into the pileup were killed; 38 other indivudals were injured in the crash in August 2010. It was a tragic day.
A father with a a growing family and a penchant for technology has developed a way to protect them in today’s increasing dangerous and increasingly technological world.
“My wife and I have five wonderful children. They are, of course, the most delightful, intelligent, and creative kids any parent has ever seen, obviously the top of their class and destined to be great at whatever they do,” said Adam Kotter, president and CEO of Kotter Group. “Not that we are biased in any way, but I do think our kids are pretty special, which presents me with a dilemma as a parent.”
Kotter said he wants his kids to use social media and to function in today’s world. But at the same time, as a father, he wanted to protect them from the dangers.
So, Kotter developed is a new app – Teen Check-In. Teen Check-In enables you to keep an eye on your child's activities. It's not a secret app, or a hidden app, but a very clear reminder that you, as a parent, care enough to know what's going on.
Teen Check-In is not a secret or hidden app – it is a very clear reminder that parents should care enough to know what’s going on. Teen Check-In enables a parents the keep an eye on a child’s activities.
Do you want to know –
- If your teen is texting while driving?
- If your teen is in a speeding vehicle?
- Which websites your teen surfs?
- If your teen texts during school hours?
- Where your teen is and has been?
Parents are encouraged to check out Teen Check-In at www.teencheckin.com
Photo Above: Adam Kotter and his family. (provided photo)
An SMT Report
After nearly two dozen meetings and an almost year-long national outreach, the University of Missouri Board of Curators today announced the appointment of Timothy M. Wolfe, 53, as the 23rd system president. The MU business school alumnus will assume responsibilities presently held by Interim President Stephen J. Owens, effective Feb. 15, 2012.
Board of Curators Chair Warren K. Erdman said Wolfe “matches the qualities” that university employees and citizens across the state said they wanted from the next president during seven statewide forums and dozens of curator visits conducted earlier this year.
“Tim Wolfe comes back to us as a successful graduate with a 30-year career in business,” Erdman said. “He comes back to us now with national and international experience, but with a heart that has always stayed in Missouri.”
Wolfe, formerly Novell’s president of the Americas and a 20-year IBM executive, went to Rock Bridge High School in Columbia, where he led the football team to a state championship as its quarterback. He is the son of two university professors—a father who taught communications and a mother who is a law professor.
“During the months of interviews and conversations, we have learned that our next president cares deeply about Missouri and about our university,” Erdman added. “He is highly motivated to protect its great traditions and reputation and see it to even higher levels….He listens and respects the opinions of others (and) values their knowledge. He respects the unique role of each of our campuses and understands the nature of our strong campus system….He has passion, vision, experience and humility. He can sell to others the vital importance of our university.”
Those familiar with Wolfe’s career in information technology, infrastructure software, consulting and sales acknowledge his ability to recruit, build and lead successful teams through creating innovative strategies and clear execution plans.
“He’s a good communicator,” Erdman added, noting that Wolfe’s career path has required cultivating important relationships with governors and legislators, chief executives and valued employees, customers and other important stakeholders.
Wolfe said he considers his appointment as system president “an honor and a privilege. Serving this great university and our state is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me, and I commit my full attention and energy to this endeavor,” he added. “It is obvious to me, and it will be one of my goals to make it obvious to our fellow Missourians, that the University of Missouri System is the greatest asset in this state.”
Wolfe underscored his belief that if the university is to keep up this momentum, which he believes it will, the university will have to continue to find ways to creatively deliver high-quality education to more people at lower cost while finding new sources of revenue to invest in the university’s vital mission. He suggested that more extensive use of technology for e-learning delivery is essential.
During his remarks, Wolfe introduced his family, including his wife, Molly, twin son and daughter, Madison and Tyler, and his mother and father, Judith and Joe Wolfe. Joe Wolfe is a retired, tenured faculty member of MU’s College of Arts and Sciences, and his mother earned four degrees at MU, including her law degree. She is a law professor at the Massachusetts School of Law in Andover, MA.
The announcement was made at the Reynolds Alumni Center on the University of Missouri-Columbia campus. The new president, the system's 23rd, will travel to the other three campuses for visits today and Wednesday.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill is calling for a six-month delay in U.S. Postal Service facility closures to allow time to implement cost-saving reforms.
McCaskill has joined a request to Senate leaders to approve legislative language preventing the Postal Service from closing any post offices or area mail processing facilities for at least six months, allowing more time for Congress to “enact reforms necessary” to potentially save those facilities.
“While we may have very different views on how to financially improve the postal service, we all believe that democratically elected members of the Senate and the House have the responsibility to make significant changes to the postal service,” McCaskill and her colleagues wrote. “Unfortunately, we are concerned that the postal service may preempt Congress on this matter by closing or consolidating nearly 3,700 mostly rural post offices, over 250 mail processing facilities, and eliminating overnight delivery for first class mail before postal reform legislation is enacted. While some of these changes may be needed, we believe that it is very important to give Congress the opportunity to reform the postal service in a way that protects universal service while ensuring its financial viability for decades to come.”
McCaskill is a member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, which has jurisdiction over the Postal Service. Postal reforms supported by McCaskill, and approved by a Senate panel last month, would require the Postal Service to strengthen the public’s ability to appeal a closure and would prevent the Postal Service from closing rural post offices until it establishes clear criteria for determining whether a post office should be closed.
By Annabeth Miller, SMT Editor
BLOOMFIELD - For Robyn Chism, Beta Club is an active verb.
Chism, a senior at Bloomfield High School, has been an active member of Beta Club since her days in junior high school. She started in Junior Beta, and as a senior she is now president of the BHS Beta Club. Along the way she has been involved in the many Beta Club community service projects, been to multiple conventions and meetings, been an officer and carried her responsibilities with enthusiasm and dedication.
In short, Robyn Chism is a leader. A dedicated, enthusiastic, responsible leader.
And Robyn Chism is the recipient of the John W. Harris Leadership Award, the highest award presented by the National Beta Club.
According to Bloomfield Beta Club Advisor Ann Bye, the John W. Harris Leadership award is given to just 25 Beta Club members nationwide each year, and the recipients are those Beta members who exemplify the very best of Beta.
Beta has five basic components – character, achievement, service, leadership and social involvement. The motto of the National Beta Club is “DUCAMUS ALIIS SERVIENDO” – Let Us Lead By Serving Others.
Chism exemplifies the goals of Beta and the motto – and much more. Bye has high praise for the Bloomfield senior.
“She leads, she supports, she encourages,” Bye said. “It is rare to find someone of Robyn’s caliber – even in Beta Club!”
Robyn is the daughter of Rob and Michelle. The senior is thinking of working toward a college degree in physical therapy and a career of helping others. She played Wildcat Volleyball, and
But for now, there is Beta. There’s helping with the Bloomfield Christmas celebration this weekend, Beta Club service projects and leading the club as they prepare for Beta convention in the spring. She’ll be there – leading, supporting, encouraging.
The John W. Harris Leadership Award is given to 25 Senior Betas and 25 Junior Betas in the nation each year. This prestigious award is the highest award presented by The National Beta Club. Only one student may be nominated from each school. Criteria include initiative, dependability, faithfulness, helpfulness, leadership, resourcefulness, self direction, honest, justice, industriousness, humility and reliability.
The award is named for founder of National Beta, John W. Harris from Spartanburg, South Carolina.
Robyn will receive the award this March at the Missouri Beta Convention in Branson.
