Roughing it-NB

Well not really. Unless you call sleeping in a real bed (not the kind you roll up and "hike in" with) in a room, in a house on the beach roughing it. We had a company retreat, sort of a state of the union on a much smaller scale than they do it in the big white house on the East coast.

Two days of some very focused, very detailed meetings. With a break for walking on the beach, collecting magic rocks, and sand crafted old glass (aka mermaids beads). We got a lot done, but I needed to sit with my back to the windows, because crashing waves and elegant blue Herons are just too too distracting.

Safe Ride News is cooking along, working hard, and we are very excited at the new products we have and are going to have out this year. (stay tuned, or visit the web site: www.saferidenews.com).

The Handbook for buses has been well received, the feed back is always great to hear. After all the work and research that went into it, it is always nice to know our work is appreciated.

I took a very early morning walk Saturday, while everyone else slept. Fog lay heavy on the beach, making the beach seem mystical, magical (which of course it is). Seals splashed less than 20 feet way, lovely rocks lay waiting to be put in my pocket, and a Heron was dining early before the rush.

Selling like hot cakes on a cold day-NB

The response for the new School Bus Safety Handbook has been amazing. The handbook was back from the printer on Aug 14. And in less than 3 weeks, we have sold over 200 books. Everyone but Molly is working at max capacity. I do not consider sleeping on the papers on my desk and walking across my keyboard working.

The feedback has been totally positive (thank you!). We all agreed, that even with an entire chapter devoted to school buses, in the 2009 LATCH manual (CH 7), more in-depth information was needed.

Like the LATCH manual, this publication does not take the place of training, but it enhances classroom information, and of course is a essential reference tool. (should be one on every school bus)

Purchase does not include syrup, butter or cute checkered tablecloth.

The LATCH Update People Have Been Asking for

I've been too busy to blog! Mary Anderson (a CPST-I from Ohio) and I have been burning up the wireless lines with messages flying between Portland and Ohio for weeks, as we put the finishing touches on a new LATCH Update CD that will offer pre-authorized CEUs. We are very excited about this new CD, which has two separate PowerPoint presentations on LATCH for use at state and other CPST update sessions.

The first presentation, Hooked on LATCH, is a general presentation that expands on the LATCH material in the certification curriculum and includes how to use the LATCH Manual to its fullest. The second, LATCH and Beyond, focuses specifically on new information and products related to LATCH that have come along in the last year or two. Each has complete presenter notes and can be given by CPST Instructors or seasoned CPSTs. They include the very latest changes in CR technology.

All will be ready very soon. Stay tuned ...

—Deborah