The parks department is holding a job fair Tuesday, June 10, from 4 - 8 pm at the Aquatics office near Deep Eddy Pool. New guards will need 40 hours of training to become certified.
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
Life guards still needed in Austin: good pay, good experience, good work!
According to an article in today's Austin American-Statesman, about 300 life guards are still needed in order to open the rest of Austin's city pools for the summer.
The parks department is holding a job fair Tuesday, June 10, from 4 - 8 pm at the Aquatics office near Deep Eddy Pool. New guards will need 40 hours of training to become certified.
The parks department is holding a job fair Tuesday, June 10, from 4 - 8 pm at the Aquatics office near Deep Eddy Pool. New guards will need 40 hours of training to become certified.
Sunday, June 8, 2014
IVAW Hurry Up and Wait action in Dallas, TX
Last weekend, a regional gathering of IVAW members held an action called "Hurry Up and Wait" in a public park in Dallas, TX. Here are some photos and description of the event by Robin Guthrie from her Facebook page:
Iraq Veterans Against the War and Civilian Soldier Alliance volunteer organizer team members from across the country planned and organized a theater style action in Klyde Warren Park over the course of one afternoon. Current issues with the VA were highlighted along with giving exposure to the Ft Hood Report that was released on Memorial Day, 05/26/14. #forthoodtestimonies — at Klyde Warren Park.
Former commander of Navy's Blue Angels fostered hostile, sexist command climate
This news was posted on the website of Military.com.
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The investigation found that McWherter allowed his officers and senior enlisted personnel to engage in inappropriate and sexually harassing behavior that resulted in an unprofessional command climate during his second tour as the Blue Angels commanding officer from May 2011 to November 2012, according to the release.
Navy Captain Ignored Lewd Conduct in Blue Angels
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The U.S. Navy has found the former commander of the Blue Angels guilty on charges such as conduct unbecoming an officer by condoning a climate of sexual harassment, and lewd behavior in the prestigious flight demonstration squadron, according to a U.S. Pacific Fleet investigation.
The investigation concluded that Capt. Gregory McWherter "witnessed, condoned, and encouraged behavior that, while juvenile and sophomoric in the beginning, ultimately and in the aggregate, became destructive, toxic, and hostile," a June 3 Navy press release stated.
McWherter was given non-judicial punishment in the form of a punitive letter of reprimand for failure to obey an order or regulation and conduct unbecoming of an officer "by fostering a hostile command climate, failing to stop obvious and repeated instances of sexual harassment, condoning widespread lewd practices within the squadron, and engaging in inappropriate and unprofessional discussions with his junior officers."
The punishment will likely lead to the end of McWherter's once promising career.
The decision of the June 2 Admirals Mast proceeding comes as all the services are struggling to shed an image that commanders tolerate sexual assault in the ranks.
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
Recruiter Abuse: if you see something, say something
Sexual abuse has been a serious problem not only within every branch of the US military, but also by some military recruiters who recruit in high schools. Students, teachers and school administrators: please note that, by military regulation, male recruiters are never supposed to be alone with female potential recruits. Students: If a recruiter is making any kind of sexual advances or suggestions, whether in person or via text or phone messages, please tell a trusted adult and call the police.
In Austin, sexual assault of underage females by military recruiters has occurred in recent years. These are serious crimes that hurt both victims and perpetrators. Please help prevent future crimes by saying something if you see something.
Here is a message from the GI Rights Hotline:
What is recruiter abuse?
In Austin, sexual assault of underage females by military recruiters has occurred in recent years. These are serious crimes that hurt both victims and perpetrators. Please help prevent future crimes by saying something if you see something.
Here is a message from the GI Rights Hotline:
What is recruiter abuse?
Recruiter abuse has become such a problem that a congressional committee has suggested installing surveillance equipment in recruiting stations (which does little to protect young people solicited in schools).
Examples of recruiter abuse include:
· Making misleading or false statements;
· Repeated contact after a request to refrain from contact;
· Physical coercion;
· Sexual solicitation;
· Encouraging recruits to lie or falsify information;
· Offering drugs or alcohol;
· Attempting to intimidate or scare recruits or their parents;
· And refusal to accurately document recruits' medical or legal situations.
· Repeated contact after a request to refrain from contact;
· Physical coercion;
· Sexual solicitation;
· Encouraging recruits to lie or falsify information;
· Offering drugs or alcohol;
· Attempting to intimidate or scare recruits or their parents;
· And refusal to accurately document recruits' medical or legal situations.
What can be done about recruiter abuse?
If you feel that you are being misled or pressured by a recruiter, call the GI Rights Hotline at 877-447-4487. If your recruiter is abusing you physically or sexually, or breaking the law in any way, call the police.
Saturday, May 31, 2014
Local Americorps program looking for bilingual tutors
This is a great Americorps program in Austin:
ACE is looking for bilingual tutors next year! If you're a native speaker or you're interested in practicing your Spanish, this is an awesome opportunity for you! Apply now!
Friday, May 30, 2014
More Lifeguards needed for Austin pools
We mentioned on an earlier post that the City of Austin needs more lifeguards for its summer pool hours. More guards are still needed, according to this article in today's Austin American-Statesman. It's good work and pays well. Check out today's job fair!
Austin throws job fair with free pizza to lure more lifeguards
By Julie Chang - American-Statesman Staff
As Austin city workers prepare for expanded public pool hours this summer, an odd sort of shortage has emerged: They just can’t find enough teenagers who want to wear a bathing suit to work.
This year, the parks department needs more summer lifeguards than ever — up to 750 — after the city extended hours and days that city pools will open. It has filled half of those spots.
Friday, city officials are hosting a job fair with free pizza, drinks and dessert in the hopes they can find some more.
“The number of lifeguards that we hire is a large number. It’s a very difficult thing to do every year, but this year with the extended hours and more lifeguards, it’s even more challenging,” said aquatic program manager Jodi Jay.
Most pools will open on June 6, which is earlier than usual and just a day after the last day of school for the Austin district. The department, which heavily relies on students for lifeguards, blames that time crunch for the shortage.
Jay said she is optimistic that they will fill the spots, and said she doesn’t anticipate hours or days of operations to be affected. Instead, the department could close a diving area or a baby wading pool until properly trained lifeguards are available.
Those amenities are essential for Extend-a-Care during its summer program. About 700 children in Extend-a-Care aged three to 12 go to city pools twice a week, and the agency’s state license requires it to go to only city-run pools.
“By taking that away, we’re taking away access to outdoor water time for our preschoolers. Secondly, with diving … our oldest kids, that’s definitely what they enjoy doing,” operations director Jaime Garcia said. “Being physically active and making sure that they’re engaged during the summer is critical.”
She added that lifeguards provide an extra set of eyes from an elevated viewpoint.
City Council approved adding $851, 000 to this year’s parks department budget to expand hours at some city pools, hire two maintenance workers to keep up with repairs (the average age of Austin’s 50 aquatics facilities is 44 years old) and bump up lifeguard pay to $10.75 for those ages 17 and up to be competitive with privately run pools.
Pools are opening from four to 11 days earlier than last year. Most of them close on Aug. 24. Most pools will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on the weekdays and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on the weekends.
“If you don’t have enough lifeguards, you wind up with kids who can’t take part in a fun part of summer,” said Charles Mead with the Capitol Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America.
New city lifeguards must undergo 40 hours of training to become American Red Cross certified. Returning lifeguards must undergo 18 hours of training to be re-certified. They are not required to work full-time, but the department offers incentives with hopes to recruit and retain them throughout the summer.
A lifeguard qualifies for a chance to win $500 if he or she commits to working an average of 15 hours a week until the pool season ends.
Friday’s job fair will run from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the aquatic office, 400 Deep Eddy Ave.
If You Go
Friday’s lifeguard job fair, hosted by the City of Austin, will run from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the aquatic office, 400 Deep Eddy Ave. For more information, visit www.austintexas.gov/department/lifeguarding-austin.
Thursday, May 29, 2014
Operation Recovery: Fort Hood Testimonies
This website just launched over the Memorial Day weekend. Over a 3-year period, over a thousand interviews were conducted with soldiers and family members stationed at Ft. Hood, Texas by Under the Hood GI Coffee House, Iraq Veterans Against the War and Citizen/Soldier Alliance. On the website, 31 of these testimonies have been compiled. These first-hand accounts show the kinds of military realities that are linked to the lack of veteran care recently in the news. These reports deserve to be widely read.
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