Hi Folks,

Coming up on the end of the month, and thought I would say a big hello to everyone…it’s been a few weeks since my last major posting.

Good news first…I got a letter in the mail today. One I thought would take a lot longer to get here, and could have possible never come at all.

Public Service Video Recognized with Respected Award…

I won a TELLY AWARD, for one of my public service announcement videos I did for the local police department and high school several weeks ago, and sent a copy in with the required application fee and DVD. Wanna see it yourself? Here it is, in full.

http://www.survivalring.org/Think.mpg

Right click and SAVE AS to your computer, and it will play better (no pauses in playback if your streaming it).

Pretty darn good for a first timer, don’t you think? Blew my mind when I opened the letter up and saw it was a winner. Learn more about the Telly Awards at www.tellyawards.com .

Hi folks,

Well, it has finally happened….

After years of working my butt of in various jobs, working for others, doing hard and dangerous work, and not focusing my energy enough in the proper directions (at least in my mind sometimes), I have accomplished something that, at times, I never thought would really happen.

As of tonight, I am a college graduate. I received my Associate of Applied Science degree in Electronic Media Production and Operations (aka broadcasting), graduating with HIGH HONORS (3.89 GPA). I have never worked harder on something than I have on these classes and two degrees. Tonight is the first one. A year from now is the second Associates of Applied Science degree, in web design. Then, we’ll go for at least ONE more…a bachelors of science degree in emergency management, with a minor in public safety telecommunications.

Every few months, someone representing a media organization, a journalist, or a producer comes across my website, and asks for my participation, or assistance, or suggestions, or something similar…to help them along in THEIR project.

I always offer my help, and give details on how I can help them, based on the meager, or almost cryptic, way of how that *specifically* want me to help. Many times before the run-up to Y2k, and many times after September 11th, I gave phone interviews, multipage email response, and more…to all that came calling. Even started a webpage on SurvivalRing called “Y2k Media Help” back in 1999, and connected some of my friends with global media wonks wanting location specific contacts. I helped dozens and dozens of folks around the world make connections, and was mentioned by name ONCE that I know of, on the front page the Canada’s National Post, immediately after 9/11, and was “referred to indirectly” in Time and Newsweek.

Today, Yet Another Media Person has asked for my assistance in creating content for more “media” stuff. Yet Again, I have offered my time, talent, experience, and knowledge to *try* to spread the message of preparedness to an ever more hostile and threatening world.

…until I get my FIRST college degree…of three that I am working on.

This first degree is an Associates of Applie Science in Electronic Media Production ( broadcasting ). With massive amounts of hard work, some innovative ideas and projects, and much blood, sweat and tears, and gnashing of teeth at times, I’ve kept a 3.89 GPA and will be graduating with high honors. Check out the Central Wyoming College commencement announcement and look for my name about half way down.

My wife and youngest teen are also getting Certificates from the CWC ETSS program from last summer, and are listed in the last paragraph as well.

I still have another year here at CWC for an A.A.S in Web Design, and then we’ll be moving on to our next college at Jacksonville State for my next degree, a B. Sci. in Emergency Management with a minor in Public Safety Telecommunications. Gonna be busy for a while it seems.

Several of my friends are also graduating this next week. Fellow media student and Wyoming Public TV employee Jackie Dorothy, and my great friend Charlie Palmer are BOTH valedictorians….of a total of six this year. Fellow Student Senator and class president Robbalee Olsen is also a valedictorian!

Several more fellow media production students I’ve shared many classes with and more than a few projects include Jim McGilvary, Roy Killsontop, and Saiki Naoko.

It’s been a long time coming, but I am quite happy to have made it this far, and look forward to continuing my secondary education for the next few years.

Rich