Meet and Greet Your Lehigh County Commissioner Candidates on October 15

Meet and Greet Your Lehigh County Commissioner Candidates!

Hosted by The Greater Northern Area Chamber of Commerce

The Greater Northern Area Chamber will host a meet and greet with local candidates Tom Creighton and Bill Leiner, running for Lehigh County’s Commissioner for District 1, on Tuesday, October 15 from 7 – 9 p.m. at Northern Valley EMS Building. District 1 represents the Boroughs of Slatington, and Coplay, and the townships of Washington, North Whitehall, Whitehall, Heidelberg, Lohill, Lynn, and Weisenberg. This event is free and open to the public.

Commissioners will have legislative responsibility for operating an approximate $360 million yearly budget. Attendees will be able to meet and interact with both candidates to get a first-hand view into both platforms. Feel free to submit questions for the candidates prior to the event. Questions can be sent to Casey Feinberg at Caseyf@lehighvalleychamber.org

WHEN: October 15^th 2013             

WHERE: Northern Valley EMS Building

    2375 Levans Road, Coplay, Pa. 18037

    

TIME: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

COST: FREE

Questions?  Contact: Casey Feinberg at Caseyf@lehighvalleychamber.org or via phone at 610.739.1642

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Chamber to Host U.S. Senator Toomey for LIVE One-On-One Business Matters

On Wednesday, September 4, the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce will host U.S. Senator Pat Toomey for an exclusive D.C. Update and One-on-One chat to be aired on an upcoming Business Matters episode.

You're invited to be part of the live audience for the show and enjoy a delicious buffet breakfast at Lehigh Country Club. Register here. For more information, please contact mikek@lehighvalleychamber.org.

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Tonight on Business Matters - What is the role of government in today's society?

Join us tonight with host Tony Iannelli on Business Matters to hear from our lively panelists on the government's role in today's society. Business Matters airs at 7:30 p.m. on WFMZ-69.

What is the role of government in today’s society? 
Is government involved in our lives too much or not enough? 
Is it time government steps up or steps back? 
What can we expect from government in five, ten, fifteen years both locally and nationally?

Guests:
Sam Bennett, Women’s Campaign Fund
Charles Mitchell, The Commonwealth Foundation
Mike Fleck, Fleck Consulting
Ana Puig, FreedomWorks

What are your thoughts?



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National Voter Registration Day

Today, September 25, is National Voter Registration Day. The need for a national awareness day followed the election year of 2008, when "6 million Americans didn't vote because they missed a registration deadline or didn't know how to register." The day is now held to create a greater public awareness of voter registration opportunities available to them.

There are volunteers all across the country helping citizens register to vote and also educating them on the importance of voting, not only in the presidential election but in your local elections as well.

If you're a Pennsylvania resident and you're not sure if you're registered to vote, or if you have a new address, visit VotesPA.com to search Pennsylvania's Voter Registration Database. If you're across the river in New Jersey, visit State.NJ.US to confirm or update your voter information.

No matter where you are in the country, make sure to register. Every vote counts!
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Failed PPSMI: What is the impact to our Economy?

Yes. Another U-turn from our government. This is called my beloved Malaysia. But, this time it involve our students (innocent future voters) who had to bear the uncertainties between studying Science and Maths in English and Bahasa Malaysia (BM). The new education policy was mooted by then Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir in 2003 in order to raise our competitiveness especially in Science matters.

However, everything can be changed and the government said that it had abolished the teaching of Science and Maths in English (PPSMI) citing poor command of English language deter students from excelling in these two subjects. And, the education ministries said that they already consulted all the schools nationwide, and concluded that majority of them doesn't want to continue with PPSMI for the benefits of students.

Why PPSMI failed in Malaysia?

I would said that the only reason is the lack of commitment from Government. If there is not enough qualified English educated teachers, train them or hire them. If the students are not capable, train them or even make the subject compulsory to pass. If we believes that the PPSMI is crucial for our nation to excel, we must not give up after merely few years of trying. Instead, we should find the solutions to the problems we faced. Every changes on policies will be difficult at the beginning, no need to mention education policies. I believe the 54 years old government should know this better.

What is the impact to our economy?

1. Credibility of the government had lost. How would foreign countries looking at us? At first, they're happy by the move, but settled with disappointment now.
2. Most of the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) that pouring into R&D and science related industries were westerners. Like it or not, their preferred language is English simply because it is the original language of innovation.
3. Poor commanding of English language is one of the main reason why Malaysia losing out to SIngapore in attracting multi-national companies. We can't deny this. Otherwise, we will continue to lose out.

To end this post, let's understand the following statements by Dr. M:

“You never know, the people who are calling for both subjects to be taught in Bahasa Malaysia may be sending their children to English schools”

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Migration of Immigration Department…

Recently, I went to Immigration Department pertaining my passport. Thinking that I am very smart, I did the following before heading there:-

• Log in to www.imi.gov.my
  
• Pay attention to latest announcement (1 Jam 1 Passport !!!)
  
• Pay attention to the operating hours
  
• Locate the destinations with maps also
  

Without any doubt, I started my Passport journey hoping to get my things done smoothly. First, I reached to Wangsa Maju branch on 7.40am. To my surprise, the security guard told me that the system was down for the whole-day. Yes, early morning they already know it was down whole-day!!!

Without arguing, I head to Putrajaya – headquarter of Immigration Department of Malaysia. According to the map provided on its website, I reached there. While on my way to get my queuing number, there was no "passport" button for me to press, the official there told me to go to another place. Reason being the passport operation was moved to Precint 15.

• Only Passport service moved there?
  
• Where is Precint 15?
  
• How am I going there?
  

After taking the direction from the helpdesk, I rushed to Precint 15. It took me 15mins to get there (without following the map given). The map was confusing, and luckily I know the main road and where Alamanda was. If not, I would get lost at Putrajaya, all thanks for having the 'lost' map.

Reaching Precint 15…

Finally, I get there, parked my car, and the car-park lift was not functioning. I saw bunch of people, even before I could see the counter. By that time (3.30pm), an unpleasant signboard showing "PERMOHONAN PASSPORT DITUTUP UNTUK HARI INI".

Advices to Immigration Department:

1. Please beef up your system. I know this is not the first time.
   
2. Please update latest announcements as soon as possible.
   
3. Please update the website accordingly.
   

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