My master mind group is reading and discussing Steven Covey`s book, The Habits of Highly Effective People. While running in River Park recently, I was listening to the audio book on my ipod, and really enjoyed Covey`s piece on Love. (My mother always said, ``Love is a decision``.  She was saying the same thing as Convey, with fewer words.)

Covey tells the story of a friend who claims to have fallen out of love with his wife.

``My friend, love is a verb. Love-the feeling-is a fruit of love, the verb. So love her. Serve her. Sacrifice. Listen to her. Empathize. Appreciate. Affirm her.

- - -

Proactive people make love a verb. Love is something you do: the sacrifices you make, the giving of self, like a mother bringing a newborn into the world. If you want to study love, study those who sacrifice for others. even for people who offend or do not love in return. If you are a parent, look at the love you have for the children you sacrificed for. Love is a value that is actualized through loving actions. Proactive people subordinate feelings to values. Love, the feeling, can be recaptured.``

Here is a great opportunity to help increase the urban forest in our community: the City of Calgary’s Neighbourwoods program. The City digs the holes; volunteers are needed to distribute the trees and the tree-gator watering bag. Here’s the lowdown:

Sunday September 27 is Neighbourwoods Tree Planting Day in South Calgary / Altadore / Garrison Woods

Even if you did not request a tree, consider signing up to volunteer. This is a great volunteer opportunity for families and teens. Volunteers are needed for the following:

·         Signing in people at the Community Hall

·         Distributing the tree-gator bags at the Community Hall

·         Tree delivery for participants without vehicles (they are small trees – small truck or mini van or car with big trunk)

·         Planting trees in holes dug by the City and attaching the tree-gator bag – help out your neighbours who are unable to undertake planting

If you ordered a tree, here is the schedule for Planting Day:

·         9:30-10:00 AM - Arrive at South Calgary/ Altadore Community Centre – 3130 16^th Street SW, please have your $30 tree-gator fee ready to present to your community association lead with checks being made out to the community association, not the city.

·         10:00 AM - A mandatory planting demonstration will follow

·         10:20 AM onward - Following the planting demo, trees with bags will be picked up (tagged by species and address), distributed, and planted by homeowners and volunteers.

Important Note for Neighbourwoods participants:

You should have been contacted by the City during the month of August to determine the number of trees and the tree species that you prefer. During the first three weeks of September, the City will be digging the holes for the trees. If you have not been contacted by the City, please contact Peter Broda via 3-1-1.

If you are able to volunteer, please contact Shauna at smernest@shaw.ca

Find out here

Calgary Real Estate Update: In the past 7 days there has been 544 NEW Listings, 493 SOLD listings, 550 Pending. http://tinyurl.com/opymj8

Have you been to our most awesome outdoor pool yet this year?  If not … why not?  (It is at 3130 16 Street SW).

At a recent South Calgary Board Meeting someone had the audacity to raise the question:

“Should we close the pool? We lost $20,000 last year.”

Like many of you, I very much value our pool … but almost never use it!  So I committed to using it and brought some of my triathlon training buddies to the facility.  I loved our early morning swim.  However, I noted some of my buddies were laughing and ‘complaining’ about the pool deck and scratching their fingers on the bottom of the pool.  I took no notice – as they are just girly and wimpy.

Later in the day I suggested to my 12 year old we go swimming. He immediately said … ‘maybe’.  I incredulously asked why he would not want to go to the pool.  He spoke without hesitation about the facility … and all the things he did not like about it.  My wife then spoke up about the things she did not like about it.

I was simply amazed … until I thought about it.  Why is this wonderful facility so neglected?  Why does the building have such poor curb appeal? Why did we have a wonderful facility built in the 1970’s (I presume), and why is it not currently a ‘world class’ facility? How come most of the city’s outdoor pools … seem shabby?

Like many of you … I probably will not take the time to find out the answers to these questions … and get involved in trying to make the facility world class. I know I probably should.  Perhaps you are interested in stepping up and helping me find out the answers. Could we … make a difference?

The Pool Schedule: http://www.southcalgarycommunity.ca/pool/schedule.html

Pool Address: 3130 16 Street SW

Sunday, August 9, 2009 marks the 25th Anniversary of the Marda Loop BRZ and to celebrate this year’s Marda Gras Street Festival will bring about 30,000 people to the area to enjoy the culture and cuisine of New Orleans throughout our ten city blocks.  This year's event promises another fun-filled and family-friendly day from 10 am – 5 pm with:

Entertainment featuring Zydeco Jazz, Rhythm and Blues

Kids Quarter

Outdoor street cafes and patios

About 200 vendors

Marda Gras Dog Contest

Beer Gardens & Volleyball at Original Joe’s

NEW - *Eco Centre

*This 2009 Festival launches our Going Green for Sustainability "Eco Centre", including information, education and activities for business and households on how to create a more sustainable community.  Join Us!

Whether you can sponsor, volunteer or participate join the Masquerade! www.mardaloopbrz.ca