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'Virtual

Volunteering'

Editor: Advances in technology have made possible some important changes in the ways in which we volunteer. One of the most interesting of these is virtual volunteering, performed online.

A potential volunteer might be able to translate forms written in English into Spanish. Another might be willing to design a web page for a hospital clinic or youth agency. Still another might be able to perform data entry for a developing agency on another continent.

A teacher might be able to design lesson plans for a school in a remote area. Someone else might be willing to proofread or edit documents.

Virtual volunteering can open up opportunities to those who may have physical limitations or be unable to travel. It can also make a much larger pool of volunteer skills and expertise available to agencies needing assistance.

Virtual volunteering arrangements need the same strong organizational support, training and coordination that figure so importantly in traditional volunteering.

Interested in learning more about virtual volunteering or volunteer issues in general? ServiceLeader.org offers a wealth of information. Agencies interested in examining virtual volunteering more closely may also contact Penn State Cooperative Extension in Clinton County, 570-726- 0022.

Laurie Phillips

Cooperative Extension

Cameron County

Great Pa. Cleanup

Editor:

Please volunteer to pick up litter for a couple of hours during this year's Great Pennsylvania Cleanup on Saturday, April 19.

But if you can't participate that day, a person, group, or family may choose any day through "Pick It Up Pennsylvania Days," April 19 to May 3. You can get some exercise, enjoy the fresh air, and help clean up unsightly litter all at the same time.

These events receive tremendous support from thousands of energetic, civicminded Pennsylvanians who want to make a difference in the war against litter.

The Great Pennsylvania Cleanup for 2007 was fueled by 139,480 participants, who cleaned 13,565 miles of roadway, and collected 372,096 bags of litter. That amounts to 3,124 tons.

A total of 5,113 projects were completed by these hard-working Pennsylvanians, with 3,238 acres of parkland cleaned, and 12,934 trees, flowers, and bulbs planted.

Since 2004, 660,000 bags of litter have been collected by 454,000 participants, covering 33,000 miles. This year's pickup will easily push the number of litter bags collected over the 1,000,000 mark. Consider what the Commonwealth would look like without the efforts of these thousands of caring Pennsylvanians.

Numerous Adopt-A-Highway individuals and group members participate in the Great Pennsylvania Cleanup. In the Adopt-A-Highway Program, litter pick-ups are performed only on state roads, up to four times a year. A two-mile minimum is required, and two or more groups may adopt a state road. In this effort, Pennsylvania is the leading state in the country, both in miles adopted and litter collected.

For either program, volunteers are provided gloves, vests, and litter bags. PennDOT employees pick up the full litter bags once the collection effort is over. There is also a name sign erected at each end of the adopted section of road for participants in the Adopt-AHighway Program.

Website for the Great Pennsylvania Cleanup is GreatPACleanup.org. For further information, contact your local PennDOT highway beautification coordinator. In Cameron and Potter counties, that is Marie Hamilton at mhamilton@state. pa.us or 274-9181.

Marla Fannin

PennDOT

Clearfield

Unfair To Pa.

Voters

To the editor:

I have voted in every Presidential election since 1976, when I turned 18 years old. I've never been able to understand why the voters of Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, etc., should have more relevance to the election than Pennsylvania or any other state.

But every four years, candidates begin dropping out of the race like flies, due to a poor showing in the first two or three primaries.

In 2008, nearly 20 GOP candidates filed with the Federal Elections Commission. In similar fashion, nine Democrats filed to run for our country's highest office. By the time Pennsylvania's primary rolls around, we'll have one choice for Republican and two Democratic candidates with which to choose.

That's akin to rushing to the Big Sale at Payless to find out the sale consists of brown wing-tips, size 10 only!

I recommend there be a National Primary Day, just like there is a National Election Day.

All 50 states would be voting on the same day for their choice from the full complement of candidates. This would eliminate that "late to the dance" feeling that pervades a Pennsylvania primary.

It is unfortunate that we as Pennsylvanians are considered inconsequential to national politics. As one of the 13 original states of our great nation, we should be afforded more respect.

Another benefit of a National Primary Day would be to curtail the millions of dollars wasted jetting back and forth across the country to speak to special interest groups, with a quick stop on Letterman or Saturday Night Live. It would also put about 10,000 media experts and prognosticators out of a job and who wouldn't be in favor of that?

Maybe this could be a challenge for the future congressman of our district, to introduce a resolution establishing a National Primary Day so all Americans have an equal voice in the future of our country.

Sean P. O'Day

Smethport

Being

Shortchanged

To the editor:

On July 30, 2001, a monumental injustice was engineered by then Governor Ridge and the legislative leadership.

Pennsylvania School Employees Retirement System (PSERS) was under pressure from the federal government for being nearly 120 percent funded. Act 9 was enacted and increased pensions 25 percent for current school employees and 50 percent for legislators.

We now have a two-tier, have and have-not retirement system based on an arbitrary date. The people who contributed to build the fund before Act 9 were left out in the cold.

In case you are wondering, I'm a post-Act 9 retiree, having paid an additional 1.25 percent mandated by Act 9 for only 3.5 years, but reaping a 25 percent windfall.

To make matters worse, Pennsylvania ranks last of the 50 states in Cost of Living Adjustments (COLAs), rendering long-time retiree pensions pitiful.

Please urge enactment of HB 2084, which will provide parity for pre-Act 9 retirees, by contacting your state legislators, State Government Committee Chairperson Babette Josephs, Majority Leader William DeWeese and Governor Edward Rendell.

Tom Black New Bedford