On Assignment w/ CT

Last week my family and I went to New York City and one of the sights that rocked was the  Empire State Building. The Chrysler Building is actually my favorite but the ESB was decked out. The top 1/3 was lit up in red, white & blue.  It looked fantastic.

I hope you have a safe, happy and memorable July 4th.

I'll be with my family for a great 4th & then we'll go to Star Spangled Fourth in Garland. FOX 4 is a proud sponsor and I get a Holiday treat. I'll be on the stage to introduce Kool & The Gang after the fireworks!   Woooooooooooooooo  Whoooooooooooooooooooooo!!   

I was in the News Director's office with a group of colleagues for the 2pm editorial meeting. We were  discussing and reviewing the stories we'd cover for the afternoon and late news. The newsroom computers chirped with an incoming news alert...and then we heard a wave in the newsroom of  "oh no"...  "no way"..."oh no" and then the name; Tim Russert. 

 What? 

Then we all heard that Tim Russert has died of a heart attack in the Washington Bureau.

Such a sudden, sad and shocking loss for his family, friends, his NBC family and his Sunday morning viewers.  He loved politics, journalism. His working class Buffalo roots kept him real and focused while he interviewed politicians, lobbyists and mover sn shakers in D.C. He was the epitome of journalistic excellence.

Godspeed, Tim.     

Oscar-winning Director, Sydney Pollack who died at the age of 73 has a Dallas connection. In 1996 the USAFilm Festival honored Mr. Pollack with its Great Director Tribute.  This photo is of Sydney Pollack, Terri Garr( whose movie credits include TOOTSIE) and me at a USAFF after-party.

USAFF Managing Director Ann Alexander says she had a first-class ticket and a stay at The Mansion on Turtle Creek ready for him.  But he was a pilot and told her that he would fly his private jet into Dallas. She was suprised when he told her that he'd stay at The Mansion but he'd do that on his own dime...he didn't want the non-profit to have to spend money honoring him. Ann Alexander says Sydney was a "class act, a gifted artist and a precious, precious man".

My husband is a board member of the USAFF and we got to sit on either side of Sydney Pollack during the USAFF screening of TOOTSIE.  He got an Oscar nomination for TOOTSIE. During the movie Pollack would lean over and share a tidbit about this scene or that...or a funny behind-the-scenes moment during the making of the movie. Sydney Pollack was fun and gracious and a great story-teller; that was a thrill Stephen and I will always remember.    

Sydney Pollack's brother, Bernie is a noted costume designer. In fact he's the one who designed the costumes for the Mega-Hit INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL.  Their late sister, Sharon Pollack Griffith, lived in Dallas and she was a film producer. In 1997 she debuted REGGIE AND THE ROUST-ABOUTS at the USAFF's KIDFILM.        

Sydney Pollack won the Best Director Oscar and Best Producer Oscar for OUT OF AFRICA.  He leaves a prolific body of work as a director, producer and actor.  Godspeed!      

Have I got a deal for you! I'm holding a package of Komen Promise Rings. They're so cool and I'll give you a package for the cost of a 42 cent stamp. To "Wear It and Share It" read on... 

8

I'm Honorary Race Chair for the 2008 Susan G. Komen for the Cure Race Day. I'm thrilled to help Komen and I luv the Promise Ring.  I bought a case of them and I've been giving them away...and that really feels great.

I've heard the most amazing stories from the women and men who have these rings.  Stories of mothers, sisters, daughters, aunts, cousins, and girlfriends who are fighting  breast cancer or who defeated breast cancer. Sadly, I've heard stories of women who died because of this diease too.  Even people who don't have breast cancer in their lives are happy to get the ring and wear it and share it.  It's so gratifying. Men love to get the rings to give to their wives and girlfriends and Moms.  

So, here's where you come in...send me a stamped-self addressed envelope and I'll send you a package of 2 Komen Promise Rings.  You wear one ring and share the other with a friend AND you both Promise to do your monthly breast self-exam, see a doctor once a year and get regular mammograms.      

Here's my address: Clarice Tinsley, FOX 4 News, 400 N. Griffin, Dallas, Texas 75202

Remember, Early Detection Saves Lives

FOX 4 is a proud sponsor of Komen Dallas Race Day. 

Sheffield Intermediate Elementary School in the Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD has an AMAZING program. It's the Sheffield Intermediate Leadership Academy. 5th grade teacher Kevin Guillot wanted students to have vision...to be servant leaders...and to dream big. That's why he started the academt. The motto is Leader DO When Others Don't.

The students are involved in year-long activities that encourage Leadership, Character, Volunteer Service and Critical Thinking Skills. This year the students completed 9 community service projects; touching countless lives and in the process learing about the benefits of servant leadership.  

Every month Mr. Guillot has a speaker come to the school to discuss various aspects of Leadership.  I spoke to the students in 2006 and today I was the Guest Speaker during the "Luncheon for Leaders". The school library was transformed into a chic cafe...white tablecloths, red roses and lit candles!  We had a wonderful catered lunch and all of the pros who were speakers this year were saluted...along with the school staff and the district administration.

New this year...students raised almost $16,000.00 for the "Philly or Bust" road trip.  A group of 5th graders went to Philidelphia to learn about the leadership that helped create the United States. They were committed to raise the money and their dream came true.

What I luv about the Sheffield Intermediate Leadership Academy is that it plants seeds of leadership in each child that will protect and guide them.They know what the word Leadership means.  As they graduate and go to middle school and beyond they'll have additional skills to help them reject peer pressure and they'll be able to stand up for what's right for them and for their future.  This is fantastic reinforcement for what their parents are doing for them at home. They'll be tomorrow's leaders; truly a win/win.

This photo shows Principal Amy Miller, some of the students from the Sheffield Leadership Academy and Mr. Guillot...BRAVO!.  !        

The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest award in Girl Scouting.  As a new Board Member of Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas I had a treat. I attended the Girl Scout Gold Award Ceremony at the convention center in Mesquite.

The families of the Girl Scouts were so proud and rightfully so.  It takes dedication and focus. To win this award girls must display leadership resulting in 65 hours or more for a service project that leaves a lasting impact on the community. It also provides the girls with personal and spiritual growth, positive values and leadership skills. 

This year 74 Girl Scout Seniors of Northeast Texas earned this honor.  The families are a big part of the Gold Award because the Moms and Dads make the committment to support their daughters in Girl Scouts.     

6.3% of Senior Girl Scouts from Northeast Texas earned the Girl Scout Gold Award and that's 1% above the national average. Yaaaaaaaaaay!

I'm happy to tell you that I started my Girl Scout career as a Brownie and loved my Girl Scout years.  In 1996 I was named a "Lifetime Girl Scout"; an award of which I'm very proud.

I'm also extremely proud of today's Girl Scout Gold Award winners because they're Tomorrow's Leaders.

I LOVE  TEACHERS.  Always have...always will. For 17 years the Rotary Club of Dallas salutes DISD teachers with the "Service Above Self" award.  Teachers who go the extra mile are asked to submit an application detailing their classroom & community involvement. A panel of judges has a tough job coming up with 9 finalists in the catagories of elementary, middle school and high school.  The winner in each catagory gets a $2,500 check and a plaque. The 6 finalists each get a $500.00 check & a plaque.  

The Rotary Club of Dallas again asked me to be the M.C. for the awards portion of the program & I've gotta tell you that it's truly an honor.  The event's at the Fairmont Hotel; it's always a lovely lunch.  Each finalist brings their school principal & family members.

DISD Superintendent, Dr. Michael Hinojosa congratulated all of the teachers & invited  parents & the business community to get involved with Dallas public schools.

The Elementary School finalists are: Cecilia Jan Alexander, Art Teacher at Withers Elementary; Julie Blasingame, Art Teacher at Gonzalez Elementary; and Judy Cole, Pre-Kindergarten Teacher at Kiest Elementary.  Ms. Blasingame is the winner. She worked with  the Texas Dept. of Transportation to get a 4-mile cable barier installed along LBJ Freeway in Mesquite to prevent highway cross-over accidents. Her daughter was killed in that kind of accident in 2003. She's also raised more than $75,000 in scholarships for students to attend Abilene Christian University. The money comes from  a golf tournament held in her daughter's memory.

The Middle School finalists are: 7th & 8th grade Computer teacher and Newspaper Sponsor Janice Hemen of Rusk Middle School; 8th Grade Math Teacher Tim Hise at Greiner Middle School and Dawn McCullar, teacher for the Talented and Gifted grades 6-8 at Gaston Middle School. The winner is Mr. Hise. He tutors at-risk students before and after school nearly everyday; he writes articles promoting the positive aspects of his school and he builds trust, respect and a love for learning by attending students' sporting events, performances and confirmations.

The High School finalists are: Social Studies teacher for 11th-12th grades, Cathleen Cadigan at Thomas Jefferson, Mary White, Science teacher grades 9-12 at W.T. White and English IV AP English Lit. and Composition Teacher for grade 12 at Skyline; Margie Robinson.  The winner is Ms. Cadigan.  She created an on-campus group called FOCUS...For Our Children's Ultimate Success. The organization builds student self-worth and positive student-teacher relationships while increasing parental involvement. The goal is to improve the campus climate, reduce the drop-out rate and improve test scores. Of the juniors and seniors she teachers 100% take the S.A.T. and 100% of the seniors apply to a minimum of  3 colleges, universities or vocational schools.

There's so much to be proud of in our schools. I hope the last two weeks of school are great for all teachers & students. Finish Strong!    

I'm the daughter of a public school teacher. My Mom ended her 37 year teaching career teaching 5th graders. Her former students are now parents & they bring their children by my Mom's house to spend time with their beloved former teacher & friend.  Teachers Truly Touch The Future.           

nities 25 students who attend the Humanities and Communications Magnet at Lincoln High School in South Dallas have achieved an impressive goal.  They've been inducted into the prestigious Quill & Scroll International Honorary Society. Quill & Scrol has been around since 1926 and it's made up of high school journalists. There are more than one million alumni all over the world and many of them are journalists. The Lincoln chapter of Quill & Scroll is named in honor of Norma Wade Adamas;  who in 1974 was the first African-American full-time news reporter at the Dallas Morning News.  She attended the ceremony and it was a treat to have her there.   

I was asked to be the guest speaker for the induction ceremony.  It was a beautiful event and I'm so proud of all of these students!  It was especially meaningful to have the families of the students in the auditorium. Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins were BEAMING with pride  The reception after the ceremony was lovely.  

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO YOUR MOM!      What are you doing for Mother's Day? 

I'm looking forward to speNding quality time w/ my son. He's taking me out to brunch. When we're done we'll hook-up with my Mother-in-Law  and Stephen's sister and brothers and celebrate my Dallas Mom.  We got her a coolio gift but I can't tell ya in case she reads this blog ..lol.

I call my Mother everynight and Sunday we'll have our usual great conversation. I'm so thankful to have her...she's healthy, active and happy. My Mom is my ROCK. Stephen gave my Mother the ultimate compliment before. He said "Clarice, if you become half the woman your Mother is; then I'll be happy." I love him for saying that and I still aspire to reach her level. 

My sister's in New York and she and I'll work the phone as well. 

I'm also blessed to have women in my life who are mentors, beloved friends abd great pals.  I'm thankful for them and celebrate them on Sunday as well.

I'm thrilled to share this great news with you.  Roger Staubach, the Chariman of the Host Committee for Super Bowl XLV has asked me to be the Chair of the Media Committee. It's an honor to give back to North Texas in this manner and I know that everyone on the Host Committee feels the same way. As Media Chair I'll assemble a committee of talented, creative people and we'll develop a gameplan to let America and the world see how unique and dynamic North Texas and North Texans are. 

As a committee we'll also create loads of activities and venues so that all of North Texas can participate in and be proud of what's happenning here as we lead up to SUPER BOWL SUNDAY IN NORTH TEXAS! You, your family our neighbors will be able to celebrate and experience the fun of Super Bowl XLV in a variety of ways. Our committee also has several programs to give back to the community by investing in our young people.      

Today,  5.5.08, MYFOXDFW.COM live-streamed the news conference that introduced the Super Bowl XLV Host Committee at the new Cowboys Stadium. It's quite an experience getting up close to the construction site. Seeing the stadium shell from I-30  is impressive...standing in front of it...incredible.   

On February  6, 2011 FOX 4 will broadcast the first Super Bowl from North Texas...and FOX will carry this Super Bowl across America and around the world.    I've covered Dallas Cowboys fans at 4 Super Bowls and I've attended one Super Bowl as Stephen's guest...the experience rocks and as North Texans we'll taking it to a WHOLE NEW LEVEL.  How awesome would it be to have the Dallas Cowboys play AT HOME that Super Bowl Sunday?