ClearCause Foundation Receives 2012 Best of Business Nomination

ClearCause is honored to be nominated for SBCA's Best of Business 2012.

The Small Business Community Association (SBCA) promotes a vibrant and growing small business community, supports education that will preserve and extend the future of small business and uses our gifts within the small business community to serve others for the betterment of our world.

The SBCA Community vision is to enthusiastically advance small businesses in three key areas:

• Growth– To assure a vibrant and growing small business community, our goal is to introduce, engage and mature the next generation of small business owners.
• Advocacy–We feel it is fundamental to support education and action outside the small business community that will preserve and extend the future of small businesses.
• Compassion–We believe it is essential that we use our gifts within the small business community to serve others for the betterment of our communities and world.

We are honored to be part of the elite SBCA Best of Business within our first year of operation!  Thank you!  Using our gifts to keep America's youth safe abroad.

Three Boston University Students Killed in New Zealand Crash

Three Boston University students, Daniela Lekho, Roch Jauberty and Austin Brashears, lost their lives Saturday, May 12, 2012 near Taupo, New Zealand when the minivan they were traveling in rolled over.

Road fatalities in New Zealand are among the highest in the world, particularly for young inexperienced students.  On a per capita basis New Zealand is alongside Cambodia, Malaysia, Lithuania and Slovenia.

Unfortunately, despite the high road fatalities in New Zealand, their national government permits any foreigner to drive with the permit they were issued ‘back home’ for up to twelve months.

Road-fatality figures from 33 countries released by the International Transport Forum (ITF) reveal that New Zealand has the seventh-highest ratio of deaths per billion vehicle kilometers traveled and is the ninth highest in the world in per capita deaths.

ClearCause Chief Security Advisor, Ed Lee, has lived and worked in left-hand-drive nations the majority of his life. He said, "Converting to left-hand-drive from right-hand-drive is no easy task, particularly given the condition and challenging terrain found in New Zealand."

"I swerved to avoid a wild pig some years ago.  My minivan flipped over the edge of the road after the gravel edge collapsed. I had to climb out through broken glass in the rear window as I was trapped inside the car with petrol spilling out. I am happy to have made it out alive and able to celebrate Mother's Day today." Said Elizabeth.  She gave Ed Lee a New Zealander's perspective on road hazards:

• New Zealand roads are not like those in North America or Europe; they are narrow, curvy and mostly two lanes.
• They are designed poorly, not accounting for sun glare, which is severe.
• Few of them have shoulders, just crumbly gravel edges, easy to plunge over, no guard rails.
• Kiwis are impatient and aggressive drivers passing in places they should not.
• There is a lot of rain and wind.  Autos sitting high on their axles like SUVs and minivans are more unstable in these conditions.
• Kiwis have high rates of drunken driving and cannabis use per capita. School bus drivers, lorry drivers and adventure tourism operators should be drug tested and are not.
• Cyclists also use the roads with no shoulder.
• Many roads are elevated with few guard rails increasing risks.

ASIRT: The Association for Safe International Road Travel has valuable road safety information for more than 100 countries.

YOU NEED TO KNOW - Minnesota Deputy Secretary Jim Gelbmann

There is a statute in Minnesota that gives the Minnesota Secretary of State, Mark Ritchie, the power to sanction programs who place foreign exchange students in harms way: MN Statute 5A.01-07

Deputy Secretary Jim Gelbmann, is one of the champions behind the law.  Minnesota Representative Phyliss Kahn sponsored the bill. Mr. Gelbmann's interview with WCCO's Don Shelby explains why and how the law came about.  The law gives Minnesota the power to investigate and terminate registrations of organizations that don't meet standards set by the state of Minnesota. Similar law to protect Minnesota students going abroad are non-existent.

When ClearCause director, Sheryl Hill, asked Secretary of State Deputy Director, Jim Gelbmann, to expand the law to include Minnesota Students going abroad he said, "It makes sense."

It may be too late for the law to enact this year.  Look for Minnesota - a national leader in child protection to step up.  Please write to Minnesota's Secretary of State and thank him, and Jim Gelbmann, for stepping up. Ask your state's representative to enact similar law - Secretary of State.

Safe Global Youth Travel - let them see the world, safely.