Although the AmericaTakingAction.com National Network has just recently begun to take form on the internet, the network has actually been in the planning and research stages of development for over four years.

As a young mother I was always very interested in education and strong families. I spent many days at museums, parks, zoos, and "anywhere" I could share new experiences and adventures with my children. I spent many hours reading books, building with blocks and sitting at the piano with a baby in my lap and tiny hands on top of mine. I ran mini- preschools for them and their friends and had numerous "theme parties" designed to teach and entertain. (Ask me about the "Teddy's Bear Picnic Party!" I still have the body puppets!) Anything that would stimulate their minds and create an atmosphere of learning. I like to think that is why both of my boys who have been tested have been officially labeled as "gifted" performing an average of 5 grades above their age level, and in one instance a full 12 grades above. I only mention this to show the "Passion" I have for kids and education--- not just book learned education, but hands on-- real-life education.

As my oldest son entered Kindergarten I immediately became an active member of the PTA and every other "group" that would help me stay in touch with what was happening. At about the same time I was asked to use my then "rusty" computer skills to help a friends father get his new computer training franchise going in the area. I started teaching computer classes one night a week. My skills and love for computers quickly resurfaced... and the natural process was to combine them with my new passion... kids and education. Therefore, I began to actively look for ways to combine the three in helping to make a difference in my community. I quickly learned several things:

1. The schools, even those that were considered to be among the best, were in desperate shape as far as technology was concerned. They were ill equipped to provide our children with the education they would need to survive in this technology filled world they were born into.

2. Teachers, in most cases, had not grown up with computers and were scared to death by them. Many figured they had been teaching without the technology for 15-20 years and got along just fine... so another 15-20 wouldn't hurt anybody.

3. Parents, bless their hearts, in most cases were scared to death of technology and therefore actively, although seldom consciously, held their children back for fear of not knowing how to support them, or even worse.... for fear that the children would 'break' something. (I do that with books... but not computers!! :-) No torn pages at my house!!)

4. Businesses to help correct the problem were popping up all over... but were missing one BIG corner of the picture. Being businesses they were focusing on the money-making aspects of what needed to be done rather than on the need itself. They set out to provide the school's with technology and to make as much money as the market would bear. They each provided their little piece of what was needed.. but seldom was it a complete package or solution. Schools ended up with the equipment, but no one that knew how to use it.... or with teachers trained to use the equipment, but no curriculum.... or equipment but no software...software but no curriculum, etc. You get the idea.

Many, many schools 'got burned' in the very beginning of the technology revolution... and hold that fear and resistance to this day. The only thing that remembers a bad experience longer than a school district would have to be an elephant!!

Also... the businesses that provided the training to individuals and families were so expensive that computer skills became a real "elitest" commodity, only available to those with money... and lots of it. I have had a great rapport with all of my students through the years... regardless of economic circumstances... but it soon became my goal to make the training and opportunity available to EVERY CHILD and EVERY FAMILY regardless of personal income and availability in the classroom.

I won't make you revisit the entire journey with me... it has been long, hard, rewarding, frustrating, devastating, captivating, and educational!! I have had days when I was walking on cloud 9 and many nights when I've soaked my pillow with my tears. It has led me to district offices, Company Board Rooms, classrooms, fancy hotels, conventions, antiquated computer labs, and up and down I-15 more times than I care to think about!

However, I have learned many... many things in the process. Each little piece of information has been stored away to be used in accomplishing the original goal... which to this day has NEVER changed!!! My goal is, and has always been, to bring technology to the masses and teach them to use it to promote education and strong families and to give our children... ALL CHILDREN... the best that society has to offer!!

Over the past several months a variety of events have taken place that have started the ball rolling in a direction I could not have even conceived 6 months ago. Everything from Futurenet and NetAdvisor going down to little things like the PTA Convention and my own personal family happenings. It all worked together in such a way that, with the training and concepts I was learning in the chat room trainings I was participating in I realized it was time to return to my dreams and put my heart and soul into turning them into a reality. That is happening in a bigger way than even I had imagined. I want to thank all of you for that. Your participation in this project has been the fulfillment of my dream.... a dream that has either driven me or haunted me for the past 5 years.

The AmericaTakingAction.com NATIONAL NETWORK was setup with very definite goals in mind. They revolve around kids, families, education and communities. It is my belief that each of these affect the others, and the strengthening of one will improve all others accordingly. The purpose and goals of the project are pretty much spelled out in the benefits listed on the main page at www.AmericaTakingAction.com.

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The goals and benefits of
www.AmericaTakingAction.com
are numerous:


It is the belief of this network that parents, teachers, administrators, AND businesses each have a vital role in the education of our children and must be able to communicate their individual and collective viewpoints and needs effectively to those making decisions at various levels and organizations, and those developing the laws that govern this nation.


As the NEW Parent Organization of the 21st Century it is our goal to help families, schools, businesses and communities utilize the technology available, especially the internet, to communicate, to disseminate and obtain useful information, and to help make things happen more efficiently and more effectively without the tradition of red-tape and bureacracy.


It provides parents, teachers, and business and community leaders a "VOICE" in the education of their children, as well as in helping to determine rules and regulations regarding technology and the internet.


Through the Parent Perks Program it provides added benefits to AmericaTakingAction.com membership for becoming involved in these important issues.


It provides businesses a way to support the schools and become involved in putting resources into the education of our children.


It provides Parents, Teachers, and Students a vast resource of information under one roof to aid in the education of children and the building of homes and communities across the nation.


It provides all schools everywhere an effective way to communicate with patrons and to receive feedback from them.


It provides parents and students interested in learning more about the Internet and webpage design an opportunity to become involved as local webmasters and receive, at no cost, training, tools and support as they develop their skills.


Obviously in order to create and maintain a project of this magnitude it requires numerous resources of time and money. It is only fair that those who help with the project should be fairly compensated for their time and resources. Therefore, from the beginning, a program has been in place for those participating to receive remuneration.


This will be done through corporate sponsorships, links to the webpages, and other resources that become available. However, my promise to you, the patrons of the AmericaTakingAction.com National Network, is that the focus of the Network currently is and will always remain one of benefitting the schools and the children first and foremost as long as I am at the helm.


My thanks goes to everyone who has so generously participated in the creation of the Network and continues to work with the maintenance and publicity of this tremendous resource. I also want to thank our loyal patrons.....without you there would be no need for the Network.


EVERYONE ENJOY!!






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