THOUSAND OAKS, CA - California Lutheran University will observe World AIDS Day 2014 with a panel discussion, vigil and screening of “Dallas Buyers Club” on Tuesday, Dec. 2.

This Ventura County commemoration of World AIDS Day will include “Positively Speaking,” a panel discussion featuring local residents living with HIV, from 2:15 to 3:55 p.m. in Room 101-102 of the Swenson Center for the Social and Behavioral Sciences. A candlelight vigil of prayer and solidarity will be held from 4 to 4:30 p.m. on the Swenson Center patio.

A Reel Justice Film Series presentation of “Dallas Buyers Club” will be shown at 7 p.m. at Carmike Thousand Oaks 14. The film, featuring Oscar-winning performances by Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto, was inspired by the true story of Ron Woodroof. Diagnosed with HIV, Woodroof forged alliances to establish a club where people living with HIV/AIDS paid to access the latest treatment options. Set in Texas during the 1980s, the film illustrates the collective struggle for dignity, education and acceptance.

The theme for this year’s World AIDS Day is “Focus, Partner, Achieve: An AIDS-free Generation.” World AIDS Day, which officially falls on Dec. 1, was first observed in 1988. It started with a call by health ministers from around the world for social tolerance and greater awareness of HIV/AIDS on an international scale.

The Swenson Center is located at 141 Faculty St. on the Thousand Oaks campus. Carmike Thousand Oaks 14 is located at 166 W. Hillcrest Drive. The theater opens at 6:30 p.m., and free tickets will be available until the theater reaches capacity.

Cal Lutheran’s Center for Equality and Justice (CEJ), Wellness Programs, Office of Campus Ministry and Alumni and Parent Relations and the HIV/AIDS Coalition of Ventura County are sponsoring the free public events. For more information, contact the CEJ at 805-493-3694 or cej@callutheran.edu.

THOUSAND OAKS, CA - California Lutheran University will highlight its international students and study abroad programs during International Education Week activities Nov. 17 through 21 on its Thousand Oaks campus.

Cal Lutheran’s observance of the week, which is a joint initiative of the U.S. Departments of State and Education, will include a World Fair and International Chapel Service.

The fair will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 19, in University Plaza. Held in conjunction with the ELS Educational Services English-language school on campus, the celebration will feature food, entertainment and displays from cultures represented at Cal Lutheran.

The worship service will be held at 11:25 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 20, in Samuelson Chapel. Students will carry flags for each of the countries represented at Cal Lutheran.

The number of foreign nationals taking classes this fall is 483. One in eight Cal Lutheran students today is a citizen of another country.

The university’s foreign students come from 47 countries, an increase from last year. The largest sending countries are China, Saudi Arabia, Norway, Taiwan, Austria, India, Thailand, Japan, Sweden and Russia. Other countries include Ethiopia, Israel, Kuwait, Mongolia, Pakistan and the Republic of Croatia.

The week also highlights study abroad experiences offered by Cal Lutheran. There are program options in more than 80 countries around the world. Each year, nearly 200 students participate in semester, summer and yearlong programs and faculty-led seminars. Twenty-six percent of the 2014 graduating class studied abroad or participated in a travel seminar during their time at Cal Lutheran. The university is working to increase that figure to 40 percent by 2020.

University Plaza is outside Gilbert Sports and Fitness Center, which is on the north side of Olsen Road between Campus Road and Mountclef Boulevard. Samuelson Chapel is located at 165 Chapel Lane.

All activities are free and open to the public. Cal Lutheran’s Office of Multicultural Programs and International Student Services are sponsoring the events. For more information, call Daniel Lawrence at lawrenc@callutheran.edu or 805-493-3489.

California State University Channel Islands

Camarillo, CA - The Institute for Global Economic Research (IGER) at CSU Channel Islands (CI) will present “Internet Export Marketing,” a free workshop offering expert advice to regional businesses on how to establish successful Internet strategies for export marketing. The workshop will be held Friday, Nov. 14, from 8:30 a.m. to noon in Malibu Hall 100 on the CI campus.

Offered by Trade Connect, a program of the Port of Los Angeles, in partnership with IGER and the Martin V. Smith School of Business & Economics, the event shares expertise on topics including how to establish effective online branding, develop high-impact advertising, and identify key Internet research tools. The workshop is geared to business executives and entrepreneurs starting and/or expanding exports in foreign markets. The keynote speaker is Mark Matsumoto, Managing Director of California Education and Training Export Consortium (ETEC), Inc.

Continental breakfast is included. Participants are encouraged to register by Friday, Nov. 7, at http://go.cusci.edu/IGERexport.

Parking for this event is complimentary and limited. Upon entering campus, follow signs to the designated lot. Once parked, guests may follow the walking signage to the event or use the free shuttle service.

Contact Jennifer Iden at jennifer.iden@csuci.edu or 805-437-3979 for more information.

About California State University Channel Islands
CSU Channel Islands (CI) is the only four-year, public university in Ventura County and is known for its interdisciplinary, multicultural and international perspectives, and its emphasis on experiential and service learning. CI’s strong academic programs focus on business, sciences, liberal studies, teaching credentials, and innovative master’s degrees. Students benefit from individual attention, up-to-date technology, and classroom instruction augmented by outstanding faculty research. CI has been designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and is committed to serving students of all backgrounds from the region and beyond. Connect with and learn more about CI by visiting CI’s Social Media.

The California State University (CSU) will reach a significant milestone of 3 million alumni during commencement in spring 2015 and has launched the world’s largest yearbook. The Class of 3 Million online yearbook is an interactive platform where alumni can create a profile and connect with the millions of other alumni from the 23 CSU campuses across the state. Alumni who sign up for the yearbook will also be entered into a special contest to win one of three $10,000 scholarships for a current or future student, sponsored by Herff Jones. For more information about the yearbook and the Class of 3 Million, visit https://classof3million.calstate.edu/

Rio Vista Elementary’s English Learners Advisory Committee, ELAC will be having a meeting on Thursday, November 20, 2014 at 7:45 A.M. in Room E7

Child Care will be provided with an advance notice. Coffee and pastry will be provided for all parents who join us. Raffle will be held!

It is very important to attend all ELAC meetings. The committee will discuss on themes that affect our English language students. Parents can help to make important decisions at Rio Vista. If you have any questions please contact our School at (805)524-4210.

La escuela Rio Vista tendrá una junta del Comité Consultivo de Estudiantes de Inglés (ELAC)) el jueves 20 de noviembre a las 7:45 A.M. en el salón E7.

Habrá cuidado de niños disponible si es necesario, favor de avisarnos en avance
Se proveerá bocados a todos los padres que asistan. Tendremos una Rifa!

Es muy importante asistir a la reunión ELAC. Se trataran temas que afectan los estudiantes de segundo idioma. Los padres pueden ayudar hacer decisiones importantes en nuestra escuela. Si hubiera alguna pregunta, comunicarse con la Escuela Rio Vista al número (805)524-4210. Por favor de llegar a tiempo.

Bill Watkins

Bill Watkins, executive director of the California Lutheran University Center for Economic Research and Forecasting, will present the 2015 Ventura County Forecast during a seminar from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 14, at the Serra Center in Camarillo.

In addition, a panel of experts including Sacramento Bee columnist Dan Walters will discuss how the drought will impact agribusiness and the greater Ventura County economy. The other panelists are CERF economist Matthew Fienup, United Water Conservation District General Manager Mike Solomon and environmental lawyer Tony Trembley.

Watkins has been providing unflinching forecasts since 2000. He has been widely published in academic journals and been featured in media throughout the country including the Wall Street Journal, CNN and Forbes. An associate professor of economics, Watkins helped start a graduate program in economics at Cal Lutheran.

Walters has written about California and its politics for more than 40 years. His work has appeared in media outlets throughout the country including The Wall Street Journal and Christian Science Monitor.

Fienup teaches courses in econometrics as an adjunct professor at Cal Lutheran. He is an expert on the economics of private land use and issues surrounding urban growth restriction and groundwater management policy in Ventura County.

Solomon first joined the United Water Conservation District in 1997 as its chief financial officer. He is a former member of the Association of California Water Agencies Board of Directors and Executive Committee.

Trembley is a partner in the Westlake Village office of Musick Peeler and a member of the company’s environmental and public law group. He has represented both public and private sector clients in wastewater and water quality matters.

Cal Lutheran CERF provides local, state and national forecasts for government, business and nonprofit leaders. The National Association for Business Economics, the Economist, CNN Money and Case-Shiller Macro Markets have included CERF forecasters in their surveys on economic policies and outlooks, home prices, jobs and the presidential election.

The Serra Center is located at 5205 Upland Road. To register, visit www.clucerf.org. Registration fees, which include lunch and access to the full forecast, are $175 in advance and $200 at the door. For more information, call Ashley Freas at freas@callutheran.edu or 805-493-3668.

Religion, history, political science and communication faculty members at California Lutheran University will discuss the “Islamic State” group and put current events in Iraq and Syria in context on Tuesday, Nov. 11.

“Teach-in on ISIS: Religion and Violence in Today’s Global Landscape” will begin at 4 p.m. in Richter Hall on the Thousand Oaks campus. The presentation and panel discussion will be followed by a question-and-answer session.

Julia Fogg, who chairs the Religion Department, will moderate the discussion. The panelists are Rose Aslan, assistant professor of religion; Paul Hanson, professor of history; Ryan Medders, a communication instructor; and S. Jovian Radheshwar, who teaches in the Political Science and Global Studies departments.

Fogg is an associate professor with expertise on immigration, religious practice, community identity and Islam. Aslan teaches courses on global religions and is a scholar of Islam and an interfaith activist who has conducted research in Iraq. Hanson is a two-time Fulbright Scholar whose research has focused on Islamic history, the politics of the Middle East and the relationship of religion and political legitimacy. Medders has researched the social and psychological effects of online media. Radheshwar specializes in political theory and international relations.

Refreshments will be served.

The departments of religion, political science and history are sponsoring the free event along with the Segerhammar Center for Faith and Culture, Center for Equality and Justice, and Residential Life at Cal Lutheran.

Richter Hall is located in the Ahmanson Science Center, which is south of Memorial Parkway near Pioneer Avenue.

For more information, contact the Center for Equality and Justice at cej@callutheran.edu or 805-493-3694.

The Fillmore Unified School District is pleased to announce that Piru Elementary School has been selected to receive an Apple grant as part of the ConnectED program. The award will enable Piru Elementary School to provide a comprehensive 1:1 technology solution for every student and teacher, including Apple hardware, software, and services.

By providing students, teachers, and administrators with Apple technology, Piru Elementary will be able to enrich its classroom experience and expand opportunities for its students.

Superintendent, Dr. Adrian Palazuelos shared, “Our Board of Trustees and the district community are overjoyed that Piru Elementary School was selected as one of the recipients of the Apple ConnectED program. The new hardware and companion professional learning on integrating technology into our classrooms will enhance teaching and learning in our school community. ”

Principal of Piru Elementary School, Diana Vides, expressed this grant will have a tremendous impact on our students and our greater community. Piru students will now have an opportunity to work with the latest technology to help bridge gaps that exist due to economic and language barriers. This will benefit our students and community allowing us to narrow the digital divide and provide much needed opportunities required to compete within our global society.

Piru Elementary School is located in Ventura County and is part of the Fillmore Unified School District.

Additional information about Apple and ConnectED is available at www.apple.com/education/connectED

The Fillmore High School band and colorguard, known as the Flashes Regiment, will compete in the Simi Valley High School Band Spectacular on Sat. Oct 25 at 4:30 PM. The band has been learning and rehearsing a competitive field show since mid August. Thirty one groups will participate in the competition in divisions based on the number of performing musicians in the band. Each ensemble will present their show to a panel of judges who score the group based on music performance, visual precision, and overall effect. There are also individual judges in colorguard and percussion performance. Modern field shows are based on thematic music and visuals. This year the FHS Regiment show is titled “Twisted” and features a wide variety of thematic music and movement. The event is open to the public. Tickets are sold at the gate at the Simi Valley High School football field. The FHS Regiment is supported by the Fillmore Band Boosters through fundraising efforts.

California State University Channel Islands

Camarillo, CA - Explore the exciting possibilities for unmanned vehicles in a half-day symposium featuring expert speakers and robotic displays on the CSU Channel Islands (CI) campus. On Friday, Nov. 7, from 2 to 6 p.m., in the Grand Salon, CI will host the Channel Islands Chapter of the Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) Micro-Symposium. The event is $25 for the public; free to CI students; and $20 for AUVSI members and CI faculty. Guests may register in advance at: channelislands.auvsi.org/home.

AUVSI is a nonprofit organization advocating the advancement, application and utilization of unmanned systems in the tri-counties. The event will include expert panel sessions on unmanned vehicle applications in environmental, agricultural and tri-county business opportunities. Keynote remarks by Assemblyman Jeff Gorell of Camarillo will highlight the success of his Gold Team California economic development initiative. Elementary, high school and college students will present robotic displays and air vehicle and ground vehicle demonstrations are planned. The event will conclude with a social hour.

Complimentary event parking is limited and only available in the designated parking lot. Once on campus, follow the directional signage to event parking; then follow the walking signage to the event location. Free parking is available at the Camarillo Metrolink Station/Lewis Road parking lot with bus service to and from the campus. The cash-only bus fare is $1.25 each way. Buses arrive and depart from the Camarillo Metrolink Station every 30 minutes from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Friday. For exact times, check the schedule at www.goventura.org.

If you are interested in being an AUVSI Channel Islands Chapter event sponsor, please check the CIC AUVSI website, email mruavs@hotmail.com or call 805-816-0778. For additional CI information, contact Merissa Stith, Assistant Manager of Conferences & Events, at 805-437-8548 or merissa.stith@csuci.edu.

About California State University Channel Islands
CSU Channel Islands (CI) is the only four-year, public university in Ventura County and is known for its interdisciplinary, multicultural and international perspectives, and its emphasis on experiential and service learning. CI’s strong academic programs focus on business, sciences, liberal studies, teaching credentials, and innovative master’s degrees. Students benefit from individual attention, up-to-date technology, and classroom instruction augmented by outstanding faculty research. CI has been designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and is committed to serving students of all backgrounds from the region and beyond. Connect with and learn more about CI by visiting CI’s Social Media.

VENTURA, CA - Members of a nonprofit group dedicated to helping North Koreans and educating others about the plight of refugees will give a talk at California Lutheran University on Tuesday, Nov. 4.

Three members of Liberty in North Korea (LiNK) will give a multimedia presentation featuring refugee interviews, answer audience questions, and provide the opportunity for participants to continue the discussion at 6:30 p.m. in Ullman Commons 100/101.

LiNK is an international organization that helps North Koreans who have fled to China reach safety. Recurring food crises and political persecution prompt thousands of North Koreans to escape each year. Estimates of the number of North Korean refugees in China in the early 21st century range from 10,000 to 300,000, according to Encyclopaedia Britannica.

If North Koreans are caught trying to escape or if they are caught in China and sent back, they can be subjected to beatings, internment in a political prisoner camp or other punishments. Those hiding in China are vulnerable to exploitation by employers, sex traffickers and brokers who promise to get them to safety.

LiNK staff members have helped more than 200 refugees through a 3,000-mile underground-railroad system through Southeast Asia. They offer programs to empower resettled refugees to reach their full potential including educational and career development opportunities. Members also work with refugees and experts to gain insight into changes in North Korean society.

The organization is currently raising funds to help another 200 North Korean refugees.

Throughout the United States, the group has made more than 4,000 educational presentations on high school and college campuses, at churches and in community gathering places.

Cal Lutheran’s Campus Diversity Initiative, Asian Studies Minor Program, Phi Alpha Theta History Honor Society, Center for Equality and Justice, and History Department are sponsoring the free event.

Ullman Commons is located north of Memorial Parkway between Pioneer and Regent avenues on the Thousand Oaks campus. For more information on the event, contact David Nelson at dnelson@callutheran.edu or 805-493-3318. For more information on LiNK, go to libertyinnorthkorea.org.

California State University Channel Islands

Camarillo, CA - CSU Channel Islands (CI) invites the public to an evening with retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, Thursday, Oct. 30, from 6 to 6:30 p.m. in the Grand Salon. Justice O’Connor will speak about civic engagement, democracy, and her life experiences in a presentation entitled “Democracy in the Digital Age.” This free event is presented by CI’s Political Science and History programs and is open to the public by prior registration. To register, visit go.csuci.edu/justiceoconnor.

O’Connor was the first woman appointed to the Supreme Court. She was appointed by President Ronald Reagan in 1981 and served until her retirement in 2006. During her 25-year tenure, she earned a reputation for a fair and impartial perspective and was involved in a number of landmark decisions involving issues ranging from abortion and affirmative action to property and voter rights.

Born in Texas in 1930, O’Connor graduated from Stanford University in 1950 with a B.A. in Economics and went on to earn her law degree from Stanford in 1952. Following her graduation from law school, at least 40 law firms refused to interview her for a position as an attorney because she was a woman. She found employment as a deputy county attorney after offering to work for no salary and without an office, sharing space with a secretary.

O'Connor became Assistant Attorney General of Arizona in 1965. She was appointed to fill a vacancy in the Arizona State Senate in 1969 and was re-elected to two terms, becoming the first woman to serve as Majority Leader. In 1975 she was elected Judge of the Maricopa County Superior Court and, in 1979, was elevated to the Arizona State Court of Appeals, where she served until her appointment to the nation’s highest court in 1981.

As the founder of iCivics, a nonprofit dedicated to re-invigorating civic education through interactive learning, O’Connor has brought national attention to the need for more and better civic education to ensure that the next generations of students become knowledgeable and engaged citizens.

“From her earliest career as a deputy county attorney, to her service in the Arizona legislature, to her 25 years on the Supreme Court, to her ongoing work promoting civic education for our young people, Justice O’Connor has been a trailblazer and public servant of the highest order,” said CI President Richard R. Rush. “It is an honor to have Justice O’Connor, whose influence we can still feel daily in our lives, share her story with the CI campus and community.”

“CI's History and Political Science programs are honored to host Justice O'Connor, whose service on the Supreme Court made a lasting imprint on the nation, and who continues to inspire us with her work promoting civic engagement through her organization iCivics,” said Scott Frisch, Professor and Chair of CI’s Political Science program. “We share her commitment to fostering an informed and enlightened electorate through understanding the past and through promoting civil dialogue that facilitates participatory democracy.”

Event parking is complimentary. Once on campus, follow signage to the designated lot. Shuttles will be available to escort guests from the parking lot to the Grand Salon. Free parking is also available at the Camarillo Metrolink Station/Lewis Road parking lot in Camarillo. In order to waive bus fares, riders should present their event registration confirmation when boarding the CI VISTA bus; otherwise, bus fares are $1.25 each way. Buses arrive and depart from the Camarillo Metrolink Station every 30 minutes from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday. For exact times, check the schedule at www.goventura.org.

To register and for more information, visit go.csuci.edu/justiceoconnor or contact Merissa Stith, Assistant Manager of Conferences & Events, at 805-437-8548 or merissa.stith@csuci.edu.

About California State University Channel Islands
CSU Channel Islands (CI) is the only four-year, public university in Ventura County and is known for its interdisciplinary, multicultural and international perspectives, and its emphasis on experiential and service learning. CI’s strong academic programs focus on business, sciences, liberal studies, teaching credentials, and innovative master’s degrees. Students benefit from individual attention, up-to-date technology, and classroom instruction augmented by outstanding faculty research. CI has been designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and is committed to serving students of all backgrounds from the region and beyond. Connect with and learn more about CI by visiting CI’s Social Media.