Study Applaud or Study Afraud?

Elizabeth Redden, reporter for Inside Higher Ed, published a compelling article titled "I AM 911".
University of New Hampshire's interim dean of the College of Health and Human Services, Neil B. Vroman, cancelled the June program because of emergency medical procedures that placed students and the institute in unacceptable risk.
Professor Pamela Broido's appointment was subsequently not renewed.  She is quoted as saying, "I am 911 down there."  In Nicaragua, the destination of the program, emergency services are 118.
Despite the University of New Hampshire's sanction, Ms. Broido intends to chaperone University of New Hampshire students to Nicaragua without University support.  That's like running over a stop sign.  Without that support, students and parents should get involved, do in depth research to find out about all aspects of the program's implementation, safety of housing, trips, emergency assistance and response, emergency communication, transportation safety, special issues related to the area such as volcanic fumes and scorpion bites, and a history of all past health and safety issues to determine whether to continue to participate.
In the article, Ms. Broido said her concerns were heightened when a student was bitten by a scorpion and in another instance five students were having respiratory distress and shared an inhaler.  (The article actually says bitten but scorpions sting not bite.)
Ms. Broido sought the advice of Amy Coombs, a nurse practitioner who prescribed an EpiPen, Vistaril, Cipro for diarrhea, and an albuterol inhaler.  Ms. Coombs is credited with stating, "The Good Samaritan Law provides legal protections to people who administer emergency first aid."  Once feet leave American soil American law has no jurisdiciton.  Nicaragua is a guilty until proven innocent country.  Faculty and students warrant health insurance, medical evacuation and potentially 'ransom insurance' to protect them.
One student, Stephanie Hill, still intends to go.  She went last year and called it the opportunity of a lifetime. She is quoted as saying "It breaks our hearts, because after this semester other students won’t get this experience."  Tyler Hill, ClearCause founders 16 year old son, died a preventable death on a People to People trip to Japan.  Mt.Fuji is also a volcano.  These programs can be life changing in many ways.  Tyler Hill, his family, and those of many other students who died abroad will never get a second chance.  University of New Hampshire students will, once protective measures are carefully thought out and implemented.
ClearCause adviser Dr. Gary Rhodes is also quoted, "I deal on a semi-regular basis with the parents of students who have died on study abroad programs. I think they would suggest that the university is doing the right thing on erring on the side of the safety of the students."
Yes.  We agree.  Study Applauds!

GRAMMY'S - Two ClearCause Philanthropic Donors Turned Away

Too good to be true!

In 2012, ClearCause Foundation consigned a luxury trip for two to the 2013 Grammy's from WinspireMe for its inaugural benefit, Around the World Safely.

Premier nonprofit auctioneer, Karen Sorbo, sold the experience to a ClearCause director willing to invest $8,000 on the experience for our cause - Safe Global Youth Travel.

The 'no-risk' tickets were made available by WinspireMe, a subsidiary of Winspire. WinspireMe has been around for awhile, offering many risk-free auction items like golf excursions, sporting events, wine tours and  tickets to the Grammy's. According to Jeff Weber, Executive Vice President at WinspireMe, they have helped thousands of nonprofits raise more than $17,000,000.

So when CCF Executive Director, Sheryl Hill, spoke with a WinspireMe agent in California she was informed that if the tickets did not sell, ClearCause would not incur costs.  She agreed to offer Grammy tickets on consignment at $6,000.  ClearCause received a $2,000 donation, the donor received an opportunity of a lifetime.  Everyone was  happy.

Until the Grammy's . . .

ClearCause generous bid winners showed up dressed to the hilt for the experience of a lifetime, their tickets in hand.  They were pulled aside among the elite and told they could not get in.  All the anticipation, excitement and preparation halted in preventable embarrassment. A little less than half of WinspireMe's Grammy 'winners' did not get what they paid for.

To WinspireMe's credit they were quick to respond with sincere apologies, "We are so sorry." "We are sick to our stomachs about this."  "This has never happened to us before."  "We'll make this right."  They have agreed to refund money and offered the consolation of a spa day to ClearCause bid winners.

Apparently, an attorney who serves on the Grammy's board supplied the tickets to WinspireMe. The Grammy's obviously knew that they weren't going to let 'some' WinspireMe ticket holders in.  The Grammy's could have alerted WinspireMe to that fact to avoid embarrassment of philanthropic ticket holders at the door.  They didn't.

ClearCause was asked if they would use WinspireMe again in the future.  We will.  The greatest test of an organizations character is how they respond when things go bad.  WinspireMe - thus far, has taken the fiasco and offered remunerations to nonprofit supporters.  We don't have a pulse on what WinspireMe will offer nonprofits whose donors did not get what they paid for.

WinspireMe was wounded by Grammy Award deliberate actions.  Generous donors will be more hesitant to bid on auction items like these. Sadly, this hurts nonprofits.

Maury Glover, reporter with FOX 9 News, was Master of Ceremonies for ClearCause Foundation's inaugural event in 2012.  Chagrined that the Grammy's would turn away generous philanthropic people, he reported the story on February 11, Minnesota Philanthropists Turned Away at Grammy Awards.

5163-2 2013 GRAMMYS Music awards BRONZE+PARTY 3nt coach 03-23-12

GIVE TO THE MAX - NOVEMBER 15

Please Remember our ClearCause When You Give to the Max on November 15!

Give MN November 15, 2012! Thank you for supporting ClearCause

Your generous support means the world to America’s Youth and Students on programs abroad!

Join us on November 15, Minnesota’s Give to the Max Day, and help us win a $1,000 Golden Ticket. GiveMN—an online giving website for Minnesota nonprofits— offers ClearCause 25 chances to maximize your gift on Give to the Max Day, Thursday, November 15!  To donate, please visit:   http://givemn.razoo.com/story/Clearcause?referral_code=share" HsTracking="Razoo

By making a donation on Give to the Max Day, your $10 or more gift helps us win an extra $1,000 to keep America’s youth and students safe abroad.  Your donation advances:

AWARENESS - A2f Pictures awarded ClearCause three riveting Public Service Announcements (PSAs). $10,000 is needed to promote these on cable television and other media.

ADVOCACY - ClearCause has the support of US Senators Franken (MN-D) and Klobuchar (MN-D), US Congressman Paulsen (MN-R), MN Governor Dayton and MN Secretary of State Mark Ritchie.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PLANNING - Parents and emergency contacts often do not have passports, funding, permissions, legal counsel or a plan when their student's trip goes bad.

FAMILY CRISIS FUND - Help us support families whose children are abused, hurt or killed abroad.

Together, we hope to raise more than $10,000 on Give to the Max Day.  We’re counting on your help!

Four Mothers Will Never Spend the Holidays with Their Child Again

Executive director Sheryl Hill was recently quoted in a USA Today article, "Death Highlights Risks of Study Abroad Programs."

Casey Schulman (VA), Morgan Lide (GA), Joshua Shane (AZ) and Ravi Thackurdeen (NY) will not be 'home' for the holidays ever again.  All four died in water accidents.

Comments like, "Most of them come back safe" aren't helping.  Most is not good enough for ClearCause.  There are no federal laws, oversight, minimum qualifications or standards, nor mandated transparent reporting in the youth travel and study abroad industry.  Some of these students are sponsored by US Department of State study abroad grants using your tax dollars.

Parents seeking information about the tragic death of their children are often met with silence as Universities are warned by their attorneys to avoid lawsuits.  Sadly, many parents are left no alternatives but to file lawsuits to get information about their child's death.

Tragically, history repeats itself.  Students and other Americans have drowned on the same unmarked beaches.  American's be warned - a stroll along a hazardous beach where the sand can wash out from underneath you, and the undertow drag you out into treacherous waters - particularly during monsoon season in remote areas, can cost you your life.

Water safety is getting the attention of study abroad programs. Perhaps the lives of these aspiring young students will herald warnings to save others.  More needs to be done.

Our hearts go out to their family, friends and community. Safety means the world to youth and students abroad.

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.