OCTOBER 8-9, 2004  Helen Beattie and David Book will present a Community Video Workshop for teachers to provide them with the knowledge and skills to confidently implement "Lights, Camera...Leadership!" in their school. Taking place in Leominster, Massachusetts, there is no registration fee and lodging and light meals are provided. To learn more and register, contact Helen Beattie at 802-472-6846.

OCTOBER 13, 2004  National Make A Difference Day. More information is available at http://www.usaweekend.com/diffday/

OCTOBER 14, 2004  The Afterschool Alliance's Lights On Afterschool! nationwide celebration will take place in thousands of communities across the nation. Want your's to be one of them? Learn more at http://www.afterschoolalliance.org/loa_2004/index.cfm

OCTOBER 19-23, 2004  The National Rural Education Association will hold its 96th annual conference, themed "Rural Schools: Crossroads to Our Future - Charting a New Direction," taking place in Indianapolis, Indiana. Learn more at http://www.nrea.net/2004NreaConvention.htm

^NEW OCTOBER 21-23, 2004  KaBOOM! will have a crash course in community playground and skatepark planning in Kansas City, Missouri. In addition to gaining new skills to plan their play initiatives, attendees will be entered to win one of more than 30 $5,000 challenge grants for their iniatives. Get the details at http://www.kaboom.org/nooz.aspx?id=431

NOVEMBER 4-6, 2004  The Search Institute will sponsor the Healthy Communities, Healthy Youth Conference, "Assets in Action -- Making a Difference" in St. Paul, Minnesota "to work together to promote positive youth development through asset building." Learn about the gathering at http://www.search-institute.org/hchy

NOVEMBER 14-15, 2004  The Center for Rural Education and Small Schools and the College of Education at Kansas State University will have their 26th Annual Rural Education and Small Schools Conference in Manhatten, Kansas. Learn more at http://coe.ksu.edu/cress/

NOVEMBER 15-19, 2004  International Education Week, sponsored by the the U.S. Departments of State and Education, is an opportunity to celebrate the benefits of international education and student exchange worldwide. Learn more about this event and get suggested activities for schools and communities at http://exchanges.state.gov/iew/

FEBRUARY 16-19, 2004  Beyond School Hours VIII Conference: The Power of Partnerships will promote "the expansion of quality after-school programs that provide safe havens for children, improve academic achievement, and offer positive social interaction in a healthy environment" in Atlanta, Georgia. Register and learn more at http://www.foundationsinc.org/EventsFolder/beyond8/

MARCH 17-19, 2005  The 16th Annual National Service-Learning Conference will be in Long Beach, California. This international conference seeks to connect "participants with service-learning leaders through three days of plenary sessions, featured forums, and service projects." Learn more about the conference at http://www.nylc.org/happening_event.cfm?oid=3339&null=1088785453928

APRIL 15-17, 2005  National Youth Service Day "supports youth on a life-long path of service and civic engagement, and educates the public, the media and elected officials about the role of youth as community leaders." Learn more at http://www.ysa.org. Youth Service America is seeking lead agencies to lead city, regional, or state celebrations. Lead agencies will receive"a $2,000 grant, media exposure, outreach support, planning resources, and year-round service planning support." Learn more and apply online by September 17 at http://www.ysa.org/nysd/lead_agencies/la_faq_parent.cfm

JUNE 19-24, 2005  The 4^th Annual International Rural Network Conference, focusing on "The Power of Place" seeks to bring together practitioners from rural communities with rural policymakers and scholars. This years conference will be in the U.S. for the first time, taking place in Abingdon, Virginia (previous conferences were in Australia, Canada, and Scotland). Detailed information and a "Call for Proposals" is available at http://irn.rupriconvene.org