Finn World Masters in Wales Opening Day

Finn World Masters opens in tropical Pwllheli How lucky can you get? After a month of terrible weather across the UK, the Finn World Masters in Pwllheli North Wales has opened amid soaring temperatures and brilliant blue skies. The 131 Masters from 23 countries who are gathered in Pwllheli just cannot believe their good fortune. The championship was opened, Sunday, by the President of the Masters fleet, Fons van Gent (NED), to the sounds of the 40 strong Caernarfon Male Voice Choir and in the presence of a host of local dignitaries including Lord Elis-Thomas, Presiding Officer of the National Assembly for Wales until 2011 and Lord Wigley, former Member of the Welsh Assembly for Caernarfon. The opening ceremony was opened by Gareth Hughes Jones, President of the Clwb Hwylio Pwllheli Sailing Club, who thanked all the many sponsors, in particular the Welsh Government, and the Gwyedd Council, as well Firmhelm which supplied the supplied the event shirts. Before declaring the championship open, Fon van Gent said, “I would like to thank the Pwllheli Sailing Club for hosting our Finn World Masters 2012. We really like the venue. About the weather, we were told that in Pwllheli that it's cold and rainy so I brought all the warm clothing that I own. But I remembered the song 'Wherever you go always take the weather with you.' So I did.” Then Fons van Gent handed the Finn Masters flag over to Gareth Hughes Jones and the championship was officially declared open. The Caernarfon Male Voice Choir entertained the 300 sailors families and guest to a selection of various songs before everyone enjoyed the wonderful array of food available and the free beer courtesy of the Purple Moose Brewery. Practice The practice race was sailed earlier on Sunday. Despite the great weather, the price the sailors paid was a fitful wind as the forecast force 3-4 disappeared soon after the scheduled start, with two failed attempts to get the fleet away. After an hour's postponement, a sea breeze filled in and the fleet sailed two laps of a windward leeward course before being sent in. Laurent Hay (FRA) was the early leader, but opted for an early shower. Greg Wilcox (NZL) soon took the lead, but as the new breeze distorted the course the boats were sent home. The first two races are scheduled for 12.00 on Monday. The Olympic Torch Relay also visits the club on Monday, the second time it has coincided with a major Finn Championship in two weeks. The championship consists of eight races including a medal race for the top 10 on Friday. The welcome from the club has been tremendous and all the sailors are looking forward to a great championship. A full gallery of photos can be found at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Finn-Class/110408332633 ( http://www.facebook.com/pages/Finn-Class/110408332633 ) Follow the event on the club website at: http://www.pwllhelisailingclub.co.uk/finn2012/en/home/ ( http://www.pwllhelisailingclub.co.uk/finn2012/en/home/ )

Academic freedom and college governance

The Academic Senate of San Jose City College Graduation week update---- May 24, 2012 One of the most important projects your senate needs to complete before June  30 is to write minutes of all the senate meetings during last fall semester. We have tape recordings of the meetings. We have to listen to the meetings ( each is about 2-3 hours long) and then write "action style minutes" of what was decided and reported during the meetings. Lisa Brillon, our Program Assistant ( until June 30), will download the meeting voice recording  to your USB drive and then you can listen to the meeting on your computer and take notes on what you hear. Then work with Ms. Brillon to produce the typed text. These minutes will then be posted on the academic senate website to be used by accreditation report writers as evidence of our college meeting accreditation standards. I would like faculty to help with this. I will make it worth your while with small tokens of appreciation. Please let me know when Charles Heimler (1996) Reading and English __________________________________ I have been asked by Human Resources and President Kavalier to recruit four faculty members to serve on the hiring committee for the Vice President of Academic Affairs position. On President Kavalier's recommendation, the Board of Trustees did not renew the current VPAA's contract for next year. As you know, the practice for appointing faculty to hiring committees is that an open call is made by email to faculty who indicate their interest by email.  These volunteers are then approved by a vote of the Academic Senate at a regular meeting. Because the senate has held its last meeting of the year, we will not be able to follow that practice in this case. At its last meeting, the senate voted to grant decision making powers until its next regular meeting to the Academic Senate President  and the Senate Executive Committee, which consists of the senate officers and two other senators elected to that committee. According to the Senate Bylaws (Article III, section C) “During summer and winter breaks, the Academic Senate President may, after soliciting all eligible instructors by email one week in advance, make appointments to hiring/screening committees.” And according to the Senate Bylaws (Article III, section E), the senate executive committee shall assist in “making decisions with the senate president when the senate is not in regular session outside the academic calendar.”  According to the Senate Bylaws (Article III, section E), “the executive committee shall meet as necessary in open meetings between regular senate meetings and/or as needed outside the regular academic calendar.” Since the past practice has been to allow seven days for faculty to self-nominate themselves before a vote is taken, the nominating process will have to extend beyond the last official day of the semester.  The Senate Executive Committee will review nominations for this committee at their executive committee meeting on June 18, 2012, at a time and place to be determined, and  consult with the Academic Senate President regarding hiring committee member selection. If you wish to serve on the VPAA hiring committee, please reply to this email by June 17, 2012.  Candidates must be available to serve on the committee from June 18 through July 31, 2012. Thank you for your interest, " Charles Heimler, Academic Senate President Fabio Gonzalez, Academic Senate Vice-President Joseph King, Academic Senate Treasurer Dan McElroy, Academic Senator Executive Committee Member Jose Cabrera, Academic Senator Executive Committee Member