Our Passion

Initiatives with Meaning

...a latticework of support.

Initiatives are for The John Ernest Foundation what for others are called projects. We Asked Google and like what we found.

• Goals are broad; initiatives are narrow.
• Goals are general intentions; initiatives are precise.
• Goals are intangible; initiatives are tangible.
• Goals are abstract; initiatives are concrete.
• Goals can't be validated as is; initiatives can be validated.

Artistic Practice and Theory in Modern Art (New)

Steward - Niels Kroner

Together with the Friends of the Goethe University in Frankfurt/Main, The John Ernest Foundation is underwriting a stunning Art History symposium at the Frankfurt campus in November, 2010, Friends Chairman Hilmar Kopper announced recently. A 5,000 euro grant to TJEF is being matched by the Friends of the Goethe University.

The Panel consists of a surprisingly international and high calibre roster of researchers (panelists and titles of their contribution):

Prof. Julia Gelshorn (Hochschule für Gestaltung, Karlsruhe):
Künstlerwissen. Theorie im Werk Zeitgenössischer Künstler
Prof. David Joselit (Yale University):
Marcel Duchamp
Prof. Branden Joseph (Columbia University):
Lee Lonzano
Dr. Sabine Kampmann (HBK Braunschweig)
Dr. David Little (Minneapolis Museum of Art):
Künstlerinterview im musealen Kontext
Prof. Regine Prange (Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt/Main):
Kommentar des Kommentars (Positionen im Anschluss an Arnold Gehlen)
Dr. Juliane Rebentisch (Johann Wolfgang Goethe Universität, Frankfurt/Main):
Kunsttheorie und Künstlertheorie
Prof. Peter Schneemann (Universität Bern)
Dr. Dieter Schwarz (Kunstmuseum Winterthur):
Lawrence Weiner
Prof. Kristine Stiles (Duke University):
Writing Artists and Writing about Artists
Prof. Felix Thürlemann (Universität Konstanz):
Wenn alles von Belang ist: Wolfgang Tillmans' künstlerisch-theoretischer Komplex
Prof. Gregor Wedekind (Universität Mainz):
Theorie nach Kunst – Kunst nach Theorie? Zur Praxis der Selbstreflexion bei Paul
Klee
Prof. Michael Zimmermann (Katholische Universität Eichstätt-Ingolstatt):
Umberto Boccioni

In a report to Mr. Kopper and TJEF, the organisers, Eva Ehninger and Magdalena Nieslony, describe how positive responses have been (no panel invitee declined, in the open competition applications far exceed available spaces) and that publishers are currently vying to publish the conference proceedings. At the close of the Symposium, TJEF will host a supper buffet at the University Library in Frankfurt on Saturday, November 20 with many of the TJEF European Board Members in attendance. Further details to follow.

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Charles Fellow

Steward: Jessie Chen

The Charles Fellow honors the memory of Charles Chen and is an honor program enabling a young person from Shanghai and a similar high school junior to spend some time in each other's setting. Fred Stahl, Jr., a junior from Bellarmine Prep. who visited Shanghai in the same year, summarized his experience here. These comments emphasize the significant cultural differences between the countries.

• "My Trip to China" by Fred Stahl comes from the diary of Fred Stahl, Jr.

As a gift from Fred & Karen Stahl, TJEF gave a laptop to Special Olympian Star, Wu Fang Miao, in Shanghai.

Colin Gavin is the 2010 American Charles Fellow. He practiced his Mandarin serving customers in a Shanghai tea house with the added bonus of 2010 being the year of the world exposition in Shanghai! Tommy Zhang, this year's Fellow, will return to Western Reserve Academy. During the summer Tommy interned in the Brunei Hall at the Exposition. Recent Fellows are now also studying at University of California San Diego and Stanford University.

As a gift from Fred & Karen Stahl, TJEF gave a laptop to Wu Fang Miao, a Special Olympian star athlete from Shanghai.

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European University at St. Petersburg

Steward: Neils Kroner

TJEF continues to support the development efforts of the European University at St Petersburg (EUSP), a leading Russian independent post-graduate institution with programs in economics, the humanities and social sciences. Since 1998, the EUSP has trained future leaders and academics with its commitment to excellence, open-mindedness, and active cooperation with top-tier foreign and local universities and cultural institutions.

Last year, TJEF Europe consulted in the formation of the school's alumni association, provided high-level networking among potential donors for the EUSP's newly created endowment and offered assistance to the EUSP Development Office's operation and outreach. TJEF remains interested in upgrading this program.

The on-site presence of TJEFE board member Niels Kroner as a visiting professor in economics for the 2009-10 academic year has allowed for close cooperation and results in working with Jonathan Gifford. TJEFE plans to continue sponsoring other visiting scholars, as part of the school's effort to offer income-generating instruction in addition to regular courses Juergen Doering has just given his lectures surrounding breakthroughs in solar technology and Andre Muennich will showcase the new international accounting standards in the fall.

TJEF's other major initiative is to support the EUSP Development Office's building of an endowment to ensure the University's financial independence and long-term growth. The current major capital campaigns are:

* to finance the construction of a multi-use student dormitory to house students, of which currently only half of which are housed.
* to endow priority department chair positions in political economy, energy studies, economics, rule of law, philanthropy, anthropology and history. $150,000 to $350,000 for up to 5 years, $1 million to endow and name.

A list of priority chairs can be found here

For questions related to the EUSP please contact Alexander Kurylev, Vice Rector for Development via email: kurylev @ eu.spb.ru or via phone: +44 7999 345 705

EUSP Website: http://www.eu.spb.ru/

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Global CDH (New)

Steward: Ken Kaufman

(CDH = congenital diaphragmatic hernia)

TJEF has built a College of Mentors for this new Initiative, including Patricia Bronstein, a development consultant.

Few TJEF Initiatives have moved along as quickly and successfully as our Global CDH. Since incorporation in May, 2008, milestones have been successfully met.

See www.globalcdh.org for more details.

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International Summer Science School, Heidelberg 2010 (New)

Steward: Ken Kaufman

TJEF has been given 3 scholarships for high school juniors at American schools to attend this summer's program. Oliver Curtiss (Western Reserve Academy, Hudson, Ohio); Kristyn Harpool (Moundridge High School, Kansas); Laurel Estes (University High School, San Francisco) are this year's scholars. TJEF will incubate their entry into the U.S.

Here are the latest photos from the last event:

Oliver will intern at Max-Planck-Institute for Astronomy, Kristyn at Max-Planck-Institute for Nuclear Physics, and Laurel at the German Cancer Research Center. You can read Oliver Curtiss's blog on his time in Heidelberg here.

Also review www.ish-heidelberg.de

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Institute for Social Emotional Education

Steward: Dr. Stanley Fischman

The Institute for Social Emotional Education in Durango, Colorado, will build on a tested curriculum, Discovery I, designed to teach anger management skills.

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Intellect

Steward: Kenneth Kaufman

On occasion, The John Ernest Foundation finds venues where members of the Treillage and their guests benefit from the shared experience and competence of visiting dignitaries by way of casual fireside chats. The widow of the former German Chancellor, Birgitta Seebacher Brandt, made two appearances at Stanford. Manfred Stolpe recently told of the transition from East to West Germany. The informality of the setting provides insights, questions and answers entre nous.

Andrew Hargadon is a long, long time friend of TJEF. We read and love his blog. Andy has invited us to share it with the TJEF Treillage:
http://andrewhargadon.typepad.com/my_weblog/

For more about Professor Hargadon:
http://www.conversations.net/forum/topics/andrew-hargadon-on-innovation
We once brought Andy to an internship at HP in Germany. We would love to repeat a visit of Professor Hargadon at a German university within the framework of our Intellect Initiative.

The Lord Mayor of Heidelberg benefitted from a visit with Stanford's energy gurus arranged by Jan Benjamin Pietzsch with Professor James Sweeney as his host. Nobel Prize winning Professor Burton Richter gave a lecture and hosted a reception.

Niels Kroner’s "Blueprint for Better Banking. Svenska Handelsbanken and a proven model for post-crash banking" (monograph) is a publication by the new Barclays Capital Professor of Applied Finance at the European University at St. Petersburg. We are grateful to Hilmar Kopper for his compelling introduction.

TJEF welcomes suggestions, either of speakers or of venues. Please send suggestions via the Contact Us page.

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Mumuni Singani

Steward: Kenneth Kaufman

Our solar power initiative, meaning "Light to the people of Singani" in local Tonga, seeks to harness the sun to improve education and economic development in rural Zambia.

The installation of a 300 Watt solar panel system at the Singani East School in southeastern Zambia will immediately benefit the school's 400 pupils and 8 teachers by enabling:

• lighting for evening classes
• access to computers and internet for e-learning (via www.ischool.zm) and connection with other children around the world
• wider distribution of learning materials via photocopying
• increased adult literacy and course offerings
• improved voter information through TV and internet

The system also provides the school with income opportunities through phone and battery charging as well as rents from local entrepreneurs who may lease the system during off-peak hours (such as barbers, tailors, and operators of water purification systems, TV theaters, or lantern rechargers.) Services at local health clinics would also be greatly improved.

A particular focus of the project are over 30 locally organized self-help groups (SHGs) of low-income women, who meet weekly to save money into a group fund, which in turn makes small loans to members to start small businesses, with the aim of generating profit for themselves and their families. Members are also trained in bookkeeping skills. The groups' knowledge and experience make them key project partners, who will develop and supervise the income-generating activities of the school and assure the defined monthly savings are met for covering the system's maintenance and insurance costs. Furthermore, the improved school infrastructure will allow the SHGs to multiply their knowledge and offer bookkeeping courses to members of the wider community.

Plans call to expand the project to other schools and hospitals in the Singani ward, including a proposed parallel installation in several sites, which would reduce overall installation and logistical costs. The access to health care facilities to solar power further enables limited minor surgical procedures at night; cold storage for vaccines, blood, and other medical supplies; use of basic lab equipment and support of VCT services.

TJEF is supporting the Mumuni Singani project through TJEF board member Jurgen Doering and his team sharing expertise in solar power technology and technical sourcing and through the coordination of Susann Stritzke, who offers advisory and support for local project managers.

TJEF is helping to raise funds, in addition the local community's significant contribution of some 3 million Zambian dollars, for key acquisitions to the project:

• Project Vehicle, $7500 - project area is very remote, needed to secure and control operation of the project by local project partner, YDO (Youth Development Organization)
• 300 W solar system, $3000
• Inverter and batteries for the solar power station, $XXXX
• Wimax monthly internet access, $285
• 20 x low-cost laptop PCs @ $300-600 each
• Printer, $XXX

Should you be able to help with any of the above items, please let us know!

mumuni-singani.com

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Principles of Development for Effective Results

Steward: Audrey Ryder

Members of the Foundation's Treillage have considerable experience with fundraising for educational institutions. The Foundation has built a curriculum and occasionally facilitates lectures on a global basis. A recent venue has been the European University at St. Petersburg and future events will be held in Shanghai and at the University of Duisburg/Essen.

On March 8th, Ken Kaufman addressed the conference co-sponsored by the Hochschulenrektorenkonference (HRK), Fund-Raising fuer Hochschulen, at the Evangelische Akademie in Bad Boll (Germany), Some Experiences and Lessons from the Stanford Club of Germany.

Using the experience TJEF has gained with the University of Duisburg-Essen, Ken Kaufman's keynote lecture at the German Organization of University Development Officers is bringing several other institutions onto TJEF's radar screen. Two University of Duisburg-Essen staffers are planning American study stays under TJEF's direction.

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Saint Martin de Porres

Steward: Frederica von Stade and Vance George

St. Martin de Porres is a small parochial school in North Oakland named for a 17th century Dominican brother from Peru, famous for establishing orphanages and children's hospitals. The majority of its students receive financial assistance. Until 2007 it had no music program.

Sister Barbara Dawson, Principal of the school, and celebrated opera singer, Frederica von Stade (known to all as "Flicka") had been greatly impressed by a program established in Venezuela called "El Sistema". Established in 1975 this trained thousands of poor children to learn to play music, thereby creating the opportunity for the children to better their own lives. Flicka and Sister Barbara took it upon themselves to establish a choir for inner-city children based upon the El Sistema model.

Through the initial involvement of Vance George, TJEF has recognized the need for the development of civic responsibility and to bring increased social and cultural awareness to the community. TJEF has helped to bring increased awareness of this program as well as providing some funding for the children's blazers, a gift of The Securitas Fund, and the salary of Rachel Velen, its conductor and project leader, and, through the generosity of members of the Treillage, even provided a piano for the program.

Now the choir is at a performing stage. In October the choir sung at the Arts Reach National Arts Marketing Conference at the Hotel Kabuki in San Francisco. Recently, the choir sang for the late great Senator Ted Kennedy's 77th birthday and also met with President Obama. With Flicka's support the older children have also attended operas and opera rehearsals.

TJEF will further enrich this Initiative by providing additional and larger blazers for the choir, and funding an additional teacher (probably a jazz pianist). TJEF has arranged for the fifth graders to watch the Stanford women win another basketball game, compliments of the Stanford Athletic Department. Frederica von Stade brought the students and spent the grant given by Laura and Robert Cory for hot dogs, fries, and other memorable "stuff"!

Sister Barbara has provided an update with the comment that our Initiative has flourished and our initial investment has definitely paid off in the lives of the children . She says, "This last year our 21st Century after school program has focussed on the performing arts and options for the children have increased from our original choir to a variety of options - piano, drums, 2 choirs, dance for middle school and 2-5th grade, and 2 classes of dance for K and 1st grade. Next year we hope to add violin for younger children, most likely beginning in kindergarten thanks to a donation to enable us to purchase violins. Flicka is looking for a voluntary teacher for this. Our biggest need is to find folks who are willing and good at teaching the children.

The idea of connecting with a conservatory or music school has not happened yet but bears much promise for the future. We have 5 musicians accepted in the Young Musicians Program at Cal - many more would love to be a part of that excellent program.

Website: http://www.sfcv.org/content/cloning-iel-sistemai-oakland

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sarahOBAMAbike (New)

Steward - Marius Klee

Together with support from Sarah Obama, the honorable and intuitive grandmother of our President, we are designing an industrial bike at lowest cost for uses primarily in Africa (Zambia and Kenya) and Cuba. Read more about the program here.

The bike will be Chinese-built parts and assembled on site in the same manner as IKEA products in order to maximize quality while minimizing total cost. We are seeking design partners and funding agencies. Once in production, with as little as a $100 donation, someone can change a life, a family, an entire community. Here is a drawing of the featured Cargo model:

www.movement-bikes.com

The official one page TJEF flyer can be seen here

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Solar Light (formerly Ignite)

Steward: Juergen Doering

This solar lamp Initiative is undergoing structural change under the guidance of Matt Scott, who initially introduced the concept to TJEF. TJEF is watching our engineers build a better mousetrap - one that is different with a modern casing and is now lighter, making it easier to deliver with upgraded battery and circuitry. Juergen Duering is also looking at opportunities in Zambia. Stay tuned!

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Sur Les Pas d'Anne Morgan

Steward: Patricia Colin

• Play video

The Sur Les Pas d'Anne Morgan (formerly American Friends of Blerancourt) are supporters of the Musee de Blerancourt (www.musee-cooperation-blerancourt.fr) founded by Anne Morgan and now part of the system. The Museum houses a unique collection covering the history of French-American relations and is housed in a lovely setting among the battlefields of the First World War north of Paris. TJEF supports Sur Les Pas d'Anne Morgan in three distinct ways:

First, we are organizing a series of events with a view to expanding Bay Area membership. These events which we are calling "Fetes" will be in a variety of formats designed to provide both an enjoyable time for the participants while fulfilling the goal of introducing us to potential supporters.

Second, we intend to generate financial support for Sur Les Pas d'Anne Morgan and particularly for its current initiative, the funding of the multi media component of the new gallery currently under construction. The multi media component is being developed by Alan Governor (www.docarts.com). The cost of the gallery itself is covered by the Reunion des Musees Nationaux.

Third, we are seeking creative connections to assist Sur Les Pas d'Anne Morgan renew and grow. This part of the initiative is presently the least defined; it will require both careful investigation and thoughtful planning in unexplored terrain.

May 2008 trip of the Blerancourt 5th graders coming to California:

www.istp.org/Blerancourt

October 2008 trip of California 5th graders going to Blerancourt:

gallery.istp.org/gallery/v/Year0809/5thBlerancourt/

A similar visit in 2009 was cancelled as the French Government would not permit a group of French children to travel to the U.S. due to the threat of a swine flu outbreak. The French children were devastated by this tragic decision as they were denied credit for a new flight. Following this bump in the road, the 5th graders from the International School of the Peninsula were in France in October.

The 5th graders from Blerancourt were guests of International School of the Peninsula in May. Miles Morgan and Chris Treble helped underwrite their stay. Jordan Sundheim at Stanford Football gave them a tour of Stanford's athletic fields after a tour of the Rodin Garden. Here is the link to their website depicting the stay. This life-changing Initiative - truly in the steps of Anne Morgan - will be featured at the TJEF Americas Awareness venue in Palo Alto in August.

See our new 2009 trip photos! (Then click on October)

Website: www.museefrancoamericain.fr

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TJEF Mentoring

Steward: Dr. Stanley Fischman

The TJEF Treillage mentors through coaching and guidance. Personal chemistry, ethical considerations and geography are factors, which TJEF's Committee on Objectives Under Consideration heeds before entering into a mentor-mentoring relationship. Learning is always a two-way street. Mentors provide resources, knowledge and advice to individuals and groups. Attaining specific goals and visions are the shared reward in a mentor-mentoring relationship. TJEF's Ken Kaufman honors one of his mentors in the following

Ode to a Fallen Mentor -

Long before the old word "mentor" again became fashionable, I well learned the best of definitions from several women and men who helped shape my life. Erwin was chief among them. What the concept came to mean so vividly to me, was a safe haven, where one could live without fear. Authority, while ever present, was overridden by a mutual respect, which the mentor duly earned.

• A good mentor listens honestly.
  
• A good mentor uses judgment with the utmost care.
• A good mentor is a master of the chemistry of friendship.
• A good mentor does not require hearing hints, as she or he wants them told, rather in naked language.
• A good mentor is a patient teacher, and learns when to employ instruction.
• A good mentor is clever, and understands how temporary disappointment can be.
• A good mentor is seldom bored by the pupil.
• And most important, a good mentor is also in a constant state of learning and often from the pupil.
  

Erwin was a model mentor to me. To the very end, he listened as I learned…agreeing at times with my thoughts and behavior, or critiquing my assumptions. I always felt important to him. I always felt I could translate what was to me a very complicated world, and that he truly
understood and enjoyed hearing its parameters. Never did I feel my world baffled him. We were always equals. Even when I was sixteen. What so commanded my respect for Erwin was his proper sense of good and evil.

• He understood duplicity.
• He understood false pride and vanity.
• And, he also taught me that the means to than end, if suspect, were unacceptable.
• Credibility is a scarce commodity, hard earned.
• It was, to Erwin, the best of traits.

Finally, Erwin taught me a lot about competence, which is born in the pursuit of truth.
For the competent, ignorance is the ever lurking enemy.
While one doesn't have to know, to be modern, and to experience.
At his house on New Year's Day, Erwin proudly handed us his present, the book, How We Die.
Even near his lucid end, he was modern. He was learning. He was experiencing.

I am but one small life Erwin touched.
He lives in the many who carry his flame!
He wrote, very creatively, on the slate of eternity.
And it is we, who must pass one these salient truths, which will honor his memory.

He understands what we are going through and has solid recommendations. He is the ultimate sounding board of reason and empathy.

Here are a few current pupil updates:

Moured Abuamona, an architectural student from Gaza in Mainz, continues to receive intermittent grants-in-aid on occasion.

Dora Liu and Tommy Zhang were facilitated by TJEF directly to American private schools - Dora at The Webb School in Southern California, Tommy at Western Reserve Academy in Hudson, Ohio. Jessie Chen has 2 more in the pipeline starting in 2010.

Viktor Kewenig is currently at Menlo Atherton High School, living with Chris Treble, a member of TJEF's Board of Governors. Vance George has mentored Viktor at the San Francisco Symphony.

Garrett Menghini, a sophomore at Harvey Mudd College, has finished his internship at the Kommunikationsfabrik at the University of Duisburg-Essen. Professor Peter Jung was his professor and Andreas Waadt his mentor.

Paul Delagnes, a senior at the University of Colorado (Mechanical Engineering) is scheduled to intern at a Bavarian automotive supplier.

Hannah Neumann, an entering student at the University of Munich, will intern with TJEF in July and August using Stanford libratries including the Hoover Institution. She will also shadow Dr. James Stephens, a long-time TJEF friend and dentist, as she decides whether she wants to follow in his career footsteps.

Tobias Kaufhold, a candidate for the Master of Science Degree (Mechanical Engineering) at the Technical University of Ilmenau, currently interning in logistics at EADS in Bremerhaven, is being mentored for his entry to an English language internship by Dr. Jan Benjamin Pietzsch at Sttanford.

Wu Fang Miao, from the Shanghai Special Olympics in 2007, and his father will be escorted by TJEF Cousin Dora Liu to this year's Shanghai Exposition. To keep in touch, Wu makes regular use of his laptop, a TJEF gift courtesy of Fred and Karen Stahl

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United Planet

Steward: Chris White

• Play video

United Planet (UP) is a leading international, educational, humanitarian, and peace-building, non-profit organization with members and volunteers in over 150 countries devoted to fostering cross-cultural understanding and friendship and supporting communities in need in order to bring the world together in a community beyond borders. United Planet utilizes a diverse and creative range of local, online, and international programs to achieve this essential mission.

The underlying principle of UP's programs is based on the concept of Relational Diplomacy, in which we recognize that the relationship between two people of diverse backgrounds is the vital thread — the basic building blocks for bringing the world together in a community beyond borders.

United Planet’s innovative programs are designed to expose our common human bonds and foster respect and appreciation for our cultural, racial, and religious diversity, while improving and enriching lives worldwide. All people of the world are invited to join United Planet's membership in a community beyond borders.

TJEF supports United Planet by assisting in the development of the United Planet Board of Directors and Board of Advisors through suggesting new board policies, setting board member definitions, and introducing potential board members. Once the board leadership is fully engaged according to these objectives, we intend to generate financial support for United Planet in order to further build core capacity and expand its key programs.

Website: www.unitedplanet.org

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Westfield Concert Scholar

Steward: Kenneth Kaufman

• Play video (coming soon)

Goals of the Scholar Program: To give young musicians specializing in historically oriented keyboard performance an opportunity to play a series of concerts arranged at various venues throughout the United States, including colleges, universities, churches, and recital halls. The program has a clear set process for selecting the concert scholar. Westfield members nominate either an undergraduate or graduate student to a current board member of Westfield. Board members will then nominate candidates at the spring board meeting and the board will select the Westfield Concert Scholar for the next year. The scholar will be chosen from among the following keyboard specialties: organ, harpsichord, forte piano, and clavichord. The John Ernest Foundation assists the Westfield Concert Scholar by sponsoring the travel. Last year's selected scholar is Emanuele Battisti, who currently holds the Marcella K. Brownson Fellowship for Organ Study at the University of Illinois. His interests are concentrated in Early Baroque, Contemporary music, performance, composition and music research.

Website: www.westfield.org

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Wiki Symposium

Steward: Dirk Riehle

The John Ernest Foundation provides fiscal sponsorship to the Wiki Symposium as well as guidance on growth, fiduciary and strategic matters.

WikiSym concluded successfully on Sept 10, 2008, after three intense days of discussions and presentations, formed around several major tracks, including invited talks, research papers, panels and demonstrations, workshops, practitioner reports, tutorials, and maybe most importantly, open space, where all participants as peers created their own wiki-related session as the demand arose. The three days were framed by further social events, most notably the WikiHouse and the WikiWalk before and after the conference, helping us keep forging a strong wiki community.

Participation was up to 145 registered participants. Research papers were up 25% to 49 paper submissions, of which we accepted 20. Conference chair Ademar Aguiar of University of Porto and program chair Mark Bernstein of Eastgate kept everything running smoothly and properly. The breadth of participation at WikiSym remained diverse and evenly split between academia, industry, and private enthusiasts. Events like the Doctoral Space are leading on the next generation of wiki researchers, and the overall breadth of events and the ensuing participation demonstrated the broad base that wikis and WikiSym have found.

Inspired by the highly successful BlogWalk meetings, WikiSym reached out to the local community by introducing the WikiWalk, a guided tour of Porto to places of interest to wiki enthusiasts. This led to casual and spontaneous discussion with Porto's vibrant intellectual and Web communities, exploring the city and its network of arts and media. Due to the popularity of wikis, WikiSym 2008 and its sponsors and supporters were mentioned in the press in more than 20 articles, including news on the TV (RTP1 channel), radio news and several articles in the most important national newspapers (Público, Jornal de Notícias, Correio da Manhã).

We are still pulling together different materials and intend to post them on the WikiSym blog at http://www.wikisym.org or on the WikiSym 2008 wiki at http://www.wikisym.org/ws2008.

We would like to thank you again for your support and we are hoping to see you again in Orlando Florida in 2009!

Website:  http://www.wikisym.org

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YES: Youth Environmental Scholarship

Steward: Judy & Dave DePuy

The YES Review committee is pleased to announce this year's Youth Environmental Scholarship award winners: Fred Stahl (Bellarmine College Preparatory, CA), Brent 'Ross' Bilger (Los Altos High School, CA), Rebecca Dorst (Menlo-Atherton High School, CA), Garrett Menghini
(Damonte Ranch High School, NV), Lisa Aguilar (Gunn High School, CA), and Yasmine Laraki (Casablanca American School).

The Youth Environmental Scholarship showcases high school juniors and seniors who have done something good to positively affect our environment. The diversity of the essays by the YES winners reflects unique approaches to solve some of the environmental issues that we face
today. This year's essay topics included: relevance and use of compost barrels, an on-line carbon footprint estimation tool, creation of Facebook eco-friends resource pages, and the eco-benefits of herd management.

In addition to the recognition and YES award certificate, the John Ernest Foundation will provide laptop computers to our bright and enthusiastic awardees. Click here to learn more about the award winners and their essays.

Our community is very proud of these students and their active involvement to do something to improve our environment.

The YES 2009 program:

In combination with the John Ernest Foundation of Palo Alto and the Ted Hannig Charitable Trust of Redwood City, we are pleased to announce the Youth Environmental Scholarship program for 2009.

The Youth Environmental Scholarship showcases what high school juniors or seniors have done to positively affect our environment. To participate, complete a summer project, write an essay about the environmental achievement that you accomplished in all things "green", and submit to YES@TJEF.org by September 15, 2009.

Besides the examples of projects that were completed this year, additional essay ideas might include how you helped to do something good for the environment in your community, how you changed 'bad' environmental habits in your home or community, or an environmental achievement that you have accomplished over the summer.

This program is open to high school juniors and seniors in the San Francisco Bay Area and will take place during the 2009-2010 school year. The award consists recognition on the TJEF website, the TJEF YES award (useable for college and job applications), and a laptop computer or $1000 scholarship. If you have any questions, please contact Judy or Dave DePuy at YES@TJEF.org.

Now is the time to help us go "green" and better our environment.

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TJEF Visiting Lectureship

Steward: Ken Kaufman

The seeds of this Initiative come from TJEF's work with the European University at St. Petersburg. The idea is that around the world a scholar will give of his or her time to provide a lecture, while the host institution will cover the ground costs and TJEF will fund the travel costs. In a sense this builds on the lectures Brigitte Seebacher Brandt gave at Stanford and the lectures underway this year at EUSP.

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WikiSym

Steward: Dirk Riehle

WikiSym is the International Symposium on Wiki's and Open Collaboration, an annual event that brings together researchers and practitioners of wiki's and related collaborative technologies and media. WikiSym is the leading event in its space and since its inception in 2005 it has been growing steadily and has had prestigious keynote speakers like Douglas Engelbart, inventor of Hypertext and the mouse, Jimmy Wales, co-founder of Wikipedia, as well as many well-known researchers. WikiSym is dedicated to global diversity and has taken place in many different cities and countries around the world: San Diego, USA (2005), Odense, Denmark (2006), Montreal, Canada (2007), Porto, Portugal (2008), Orlando, USA (2009), and Gdansk, Poland (2010).

WikiSym 2010 was a great success. TJEF once more sponsored this important event. It was held in conjunction with Wikimania in July in Gdansk, Poland with a total of 109 people in attendance. Keynote speakers were Cliff Lampe and Andrew Lih. The town of Gdansk was lovely in the summer with many outdoor cafes, street musicians, etc. and everything within walking distance. Photos of the event can be found here.

The current plan is to host the 2011 event in North America, possibly in Northern California. Check out the WikiSym website for more information nearer the time.

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Yes

Steward: In Postponement

Rebecca Dorst, now a graduating senior at Menlo-Atherton High School, just received her

Apple laptop, which completes the program. TJEF is looking for a Steward to reinvent the

Initiative. Rebecca will attend UCLA on a water polo scholarship. Fred Stahl, Jr. is at

the University of California San Diego on a volleyball scholarship. Garrett Menghini is at

Harvey Mudd. Lisa Aguilar is at the University of Colorado. And Ross Bilger is at

Dartmouth. All freshmen!

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Social Networking. TJEF is now on facebook (causes and groups) where ideas and solutions can be discussed live. Please visit today!

Donate. Give today to help us push the TJEF mission onward. Sign up for a special vacation trip and proceeds benefit charity!