Education – Sunshine for the Next Generation
This week’s Sunshine Report is dedicated to Positivity. Our inspiration for this thought is due to our great good fortune in spending time with Newport, NH, Superintendent of Schools – Dr. Brendan Minnihan earlier this week. As you will see in the above 4-minute video (especially, if you watch to near the end), Brendan has declared that in March, the Newport School System will be focusing entirely and exclusively on the Positive. What a great idea. With this in mind, we are incorporating this philosophy into all our Sunshine activities this month. March, therefore, is hereby declared ‘Positivity Month – 2020!’
Education - the foundation and core of our future. Every day we are learning – it’s important that we put opportunities for educational excellence in front of our children every day. So, let’s do so with gusto – and let’s totally emphasize the positive – especially, in this great month of March!
Children of Fallen Patriots – Spreading the Word!
We are blessed and deeply thankful for our amazing friends who are stepping up to help Karen and me advance the cause of Children of Fallen Patriots. This week we were excited to be hosted by Col. Wil Zemp who organized an amazing event of community leaders and members of higher education to help support this great cause.
We had the opportunity to speak at Southern New Hampshire University. And, what a terrific event it was - a packed meeting, spreading the word to so many people who are committed to supporting our military community – but who were totally unfamiliar with this great organization prior to our meeting.
Moreover, heartfelt thanks to Will and the SNHU community. For those of you who may not know, SNHU has become a major force in higher education throughout our country – with a student population in excess of 132,000. And, very importantly, the university has made a major commitment to our military and serving our veterans. Not only providing a great education – but also committed to helping our veterans make the important transition from the military to a successful career thereafter. Hats off to a great educational institution!
Meanwhile - if you would be interested in hosting an event, please reach out to Dan Passen at Dan@jaylucas.us. We would be thrilled to have the opportunity to spend time with your organization and spread the word about the terrific work of Fallen Patriots.
Young Leaders Inspiring Their Peers - Getting into the Game!
One of the many things that makes New Hampshire great is that our political system gives unprecedented opportunity for young people to serve in public office. We do this by being a small state with small districts that emphasize local control. As you know from reading this report, one of my strongest passions is getting more young people involved in our political system and elected to office especially here at home in the Granite State but also across the country.
That’s why I have helped form Tomorrow’s Leaders Now (TLN). TLN is committed to advancing these efforts on behalf of young people, and while the group is just starting out, we have already seen a strong interest and even some early positive results. In fact, while hosting one of our first social gatherings a few weeks back, we had to our surprise, a young candidate by the name of Dan Gray declared right then and there – his candidacy for the NH State Senate! How awesome!
We will soon start town election season in New Hampshire, and we will be encouraging many young people to run for Selectman, Schoolboard, and other various municipal local offices.
TLN is led by our son Rep. Gates Lucas along with fellow Rep. Joe Alexander. Both Gates and Joe are energized, excited and thoroughly committed to getting ’40 Candidates Under the Age of 40’ on the ballot this fall. Knowing these two young leaders, I am fully confident that they will be successful in their efforts. Moreover, if you would like to find out more about this terrific effort, please visit: https://www.tomorrowsleadersnh.com
Positive Profile of the Week: Colonel Wil Zemp
It is my honor to recognize SNHU SVP, Colonel Wil Zemp as this week's Profile. Wil is a wonderful friend and an outstanding individual – thoroughly committed to the values that have made our country great. Currently, Wil is the Senior Vice-President and Chief Innovation Officer at Southern New Hampshire University. His work at SNHU has been recognized internationally, as SNHU continues to lead the way with its creativity, innovation and commitment to excellence.
In addition, what is truly remarkable is Wil's admirable and brave military service. A Colonel in the United States Army, Wil served our nation with pride for 25 years. He served in Africa, the Caribbean, the Balkans, Russia, and Vietnam. Wil also did three combat tours in Africa, Afghanistan, and Iraq. A recipient of the Purple Heart, Wil has exemplified what it means to be a true patriot. In fact, on September 11, 2001, Wil was stationed at the Pentagon. He was there that heart-breaking morning as the plane plummeted into the building and took so many lives.
Wil has taken patriotism, honor, dignity, and respect to a new level. His friendship, activism, leadership, humility, and willingness to build a stronger, brighter future for America is exactly why I am so honored to know this wonderful, caring and giving man.
Heartfelt thanks to Wil for all that he has done and is continuing to do for our military, our veterans and our larger community.
Quotes of the Week: March - A Great Month
“It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade.”
Charles Dickens
“Springtime is the land awakening. The March winds are the morning yawn.”
Lewis Grizzard
“March, when days are getting long, Let thy growing hours be strong to set right some wintry wrong.”
Caroline May
“In March winter is holding back and spring is pulling forward. Something holds and something pulls inside of us too.”
Jean Hersey
“A light exists in Spring
Not present in the year
at any other period
When March is scarcely here.”
Emily Dickinson