Best Principled Solutions LLC

Speakers for this year's event include:
•    Jack Welch, Former Chairman and CEO of General Electric
•    Andy Stanley, Best-selling leadership author and communicator
•    Mike Krzyzewski, Head men's basketball coach, Duke University and Team USA
•    John Maxwell, Best-selling author and leadership expert
•    Dr. Henry Cloud, Best-selling author and leadership consultant
•    LCDR Rorke Denver, Navy SEAL and star of the 2012 movie Act of Valor
•    Sanya Richards-Ross, 2012 London Olympic gold medalist, track & field
•    David Allen, Best-selling author of Getting Things Done and productivity expert
•    Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of State (2005-2009), via exclusive Simply Lead video interview

Finally, for ticket information, go to www.glvlc.com/Services.html  Contact me directly for a discount code good through April 25 at info@glvlc.com.

Mary was so excited about receiving your messages during this evenings activities.  I was not aware that she is also the current Chair of Women Diver's Hall of Fame and barely had the chance to sit down and eat her dinner.  Mary Gonzalez was there with her fiancé, who also dives; Mary was surrounded by friends and royalty.  Of course, she looked glorious.

Her navy sheath had a long slit up her left thigh – ala Angelina Jolie.  She had a full shouldered right neck with a spaghetti strap on her left.  The left side also had sparkles on it as did the rest of the dress – but they were all strategically placed ever so carefully.

Her glow was magnificent.

And she deserved it.  There were many, many, many honors given out on this evening.  Divers in the Arts; Divers who had down magnificent things to make scuba accessible to those with disabilities. 

 Matthew Johnston is the world’s first ventilator dependent, quadriplegic diver.  He had overcome fighting a lifelong battle with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy – a progressive degenerative muscular disorder.  He teamed up with Ocean Opportunity Inc. to create his “Diving a Dream” project.  Authoring the Manual for Ventilator Dependent Quadriplegic Diving, he was certified as Scuba Diving International’s very first “Scubility’ diver. 

Eventually, Matthew made what has proven to be one of the most dramatic dives in recent years – an open water dive while dependent on a ventilator to breathe.  He serves as an inspiration to many because of his heroic work and determination and his willingness to share it with others.  

He shared that his Mother was really the Captain of the Calypso, being on board longer that Jacques, Jean-Michel and his brother combined.  Oftentimes, she served as chief cook and bottle washer, diver, first aid attendant, first guinea pig to try new equipment and more.  Up to 40 men accompanied Simone Melchior-Costeau and her husband as they explored one site or another.  Part-time psychiatrist for this sea-bound explorers was paramount among her responsibilities.

 Here’s the complete list of the recipients from the Women Diver’s Hall of Fame:

• Simone Melchior-Cousteau (deceased): Pioneer, Aquanaut
•  Mary Connelly: Educational Non-Profit Leader, Conservationist, Diving and Ocean Advocate
•  Lynn Costenaro: Environmentalist, Dive Travel Operator
• Tova Harel-Bornovski: Shark Researcher, Environmentalist
•  Lynn Rodriguez: Underwater Construction Technician, Military Diver
•  Becky Kagan Schott: Filmmaker, Photographer, Technical Diver
•  Georgann S. Wachter: Wreck Diver, Historian, Writer

Here’s a video about the Women Diver’s Hall of Fame.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rF3QHAi0FOU

This morning, the Cecelia Connelly Scholarship for Underwater Archeology will be given to :  Laura White, PhD candidate in her fourth year of study and currently working on an underwater  project in Sri Lanka, ( first ever excavation of a 2000 year old ship Godavaya at 110 ft) http://inadiscover.com/blogs/sri-lanka/ , extensive previous experience in underwater archaeology and diving, attending the Texas A &M University Nautical Archaeology Program. She want to use the money to continue her studies at Texas A& M. Her interest is ancient shipwrecks and the analysis of the oils, painting and decorations on them.

The Scholarship was created upon the death of my mother.  Mom was inducted in the second class of Hall of Famers for being the eldest woman diving instructor at that time.  She began diving between the births of the 10 and 11 children.  She travelled all over the world: sometimes on the fleets of the Costeau's - charting formerly uncharted canyons in the Pacific; discovering artifacts in the Dead Sea, on the Andrea Doria, and testifying before the Supreme Court as to the benefits of opening up historic Civil War wrecks for recreational purposes off the coast of the Carolina's.

My Mother died in 2003.  This scholarship is a vibrant way for us to celebrate her remarkable life.  With the recent passing of my Father, our charge is to continue their legacy of leadership, face life fearlessly, and do good as we are able in our communities with great earnestness.

She had her first College No-Hitter today!!  She looked fast and strong, had around 6 strike-outs.  It might have been a perfect game too. But there was an error on the short stop, a girl got on base, and I'm not sure how that is scored.  The game ended 16-0 in the 5th inning.  It was fantastic, a little brutal, but fantastic.

 She got the game ball and had the biggest smile on her face...that was worth it all.

I can't think of what I look forward to more, her next game or John singing the Temple alma mater.  Hmmmmmmm.

March Madness:  My brother John, (number 7) is an alumnus of NC State, as are some of my nieces and nephews.  My niece Alyssa, dtgr. of sister Jeanne, (number 6), is a graduate of Temple, where she just completed her term as coach for the Diamond Gems, after dancing with them for four years.

The terms of the bet were such that whoever lost, would have to sing the alma mater of the other school.  With much fanfare, emails were exchanged, the game held and in case you don't know, Temple won.

James Connelly, age 6, is the youngest son of my brother Neil (number 10).  Here's a note he sent to my brother John yesterday:

Dear Uncle John,

I feel the same way you do about the game.  I wanted the wolfs to win too 'cause all owls do overnight is just sit there and stare for food (sometimes they swoop down for it)

Love,

Dear James,

I agree, I like wolfes better than owls too.  Owls are loners, sleep all day, and really don't  socialize that much.  Wolfes are the very definition of family, staying close to their parents all their lives, helping each other get food, and yes, singing together.  I hope I can count on you to help me sing the disgusting  Temple alma mater this summer.

Uncle John

An Acrostic

Owen Connelly is the eldest son of my youngest brother Neil.  He reported that Owen got pulled out of class recently by the principal, who asked if he would open this week's school board meeting with the pledge of allegiance and answer a few questions from the superintendent.  The principal assured Beth on the phone that she'll prep Owen so he'll know the answers and have something to say.  

During his interview, Owen was asked by the superintendent what he wanted to be when he grow up, he exclaimed "A Marine Biologist."  When the superintendent pushed further, "...and if you couldn't be a marine biologist, what would you want to be?" Owen followed with "a superintendent."  Yes, that boy is bright.

Below is a copy of the poem Owen submitted for a city wide junior league contest.  For three grades, he won first prize, and he's very pleased.  Sorry if I seem boastful, but these are the things I'd inclined to share.

Screaming down the scary slope,                                                          Laying on the sturdy snow board.                                                     Extremely                                                                                       Dangerous.                                                                                             Down the slippery hill                                                                                    In Seibert Park.                                                                                      Nearly collided with a tree!                                                                      Going home, hoping for hot cocoa.