From Cass Tech HS Alumni Association

Cass Tech Alumni

Association

THE GREEN SCENE May 2007

In This Issue

Atlas Cass

Travel Coordinator Needed

Entechpreneurs

Advice

Article Headline

End your promotion with a kick -- consider a postscript to reinforce one of the key product or service benefits.

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Greetings!

Welcome to the May 2007 issue of the Green Scene. A publication dedicated to informing and re-informing past, present and current Technicians.

ADD-A-TECH

With every publication of the Green Scene, CTAA receives several requests to add Technicians to their mailing list. The mailing list is growing. And CTAA thanks you.

However, in order to save you time, as well as CTAA, you can automatically add yourself to our mailing list by clicking the button below:

Thank you. CTAA looks forward to sending you the Green Scene.

ATLAS THE OLD BUILDING HAS SUPPORT

Cass Tech Development and Preservation Society (CTDAPS), a 501C(3) organization, in cooperation with Detroit Public Schools, announces the April 30th publication of the Request for Proposal for the redevelopment of the historic Cass Technical High School. With its origin going back to 1861, Cass Tech evolved into the originator of the rigorous curriculum model, becoming Detroit's widely emulated "Cathedral of Learning." This landmark, at 2421 Second Avenue, stands on the path of the ongoing redevelopment of the area from the Detroit River to north of the New Center area.

The development is expected to have a mix of commercial, residential, educational and community facility aspects. Anticipated features include restaurants, stores, black box and larger theaters (possibly using the existing auditorium that was the recording venue for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra), performance spaces, offices for arts organizations, galleries, artist studios, community dance, athletic and other recreational facilities, market-rate housing, subsidized housing, indoor-connected parking. And may include educational programs developed in cooperation with Detroit Public Schools and additional programs for the adjacent high school.

The RFP process will be in two phases. The first phase solicits the expression of interest and preliminary design and concept. In the second phase, selected developers will submit full redevelopment proposals.

The effort for the redevelopment of Cass Tech has been driven by the Cass Tech Alumni Association through the efforts of the PROACT Committee. Outstanding creative assistance and site survey were provided by Professor Constance Budrow of the the University of Detroit-Mercy School of Architecture and her 2005 studio class.

The project has attracted the attention of important developers and has the potential to add hundreds of jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars to the local economy over the course of redevelopment.

For more information or a copy of the RFP contact Francis Grunow at 313-577-7601 or Marshall Weingarden at 248-357-0050 ext. 624.

TRAVEL ON US

USE CTAA TRAVEL TO BOOK YOUR FAMILY REUNIONS

DISCOUNTS AND FANTASTIC RATES

A PORTION OF COMMISSIONS GO TO CTAA

Just think; you could be outstretched on a sunny beach, tropical breeze blowing into your face, in hand, you have your favorite drink with a small umbrella, while at the same time helping needy Cass students.

Besides saving money, the best thing about the CTAA travel agency is you don't have to be a Technician or an alumni member to use it.

Anyone can book on CTAA Travel.

So the more people you tell about CTAA travel, the more we can help needy students, provide scholarships and support various curriculums at Cass Tech.

A special thank you goes out to Irozenell Pruitt. She has volunteered to be the CTAA travel coordinator.

CLICK HERE to go to CTAA Travel.

WHEN IT'S ON THE LINE

We are pleased to announce CTAA merchandise is available online!

To make way for spring inventory all current merchandise is priced at 25% off. Be sure to visit our Web site and order your CTAA gear. Have your products delivered directly to your doorstep! Limited quantities available, these items will NOT be restocked!

Limited items are also available in the CTAA office. Again, these items will NOT be restocked!

SUPPORT YOUR ALUMNI ASSOCIATION -- SHOP TODAY

CLICK HERE to visit the store

ENTECHPRENEURS

Talent is all in the family for this young Detroit native. Singer/Songwriter Ashley Joi, was introduced to the entertainment industry at an early age as the daughter of R&B singer Donna D from the singing group Brandye. Her mother, who found fame in the late 70's, sang background on over 4,000 records earning 16 gold and platinum albums as a result of her skills. Her mother's achievements served as a source of inspiration for young Ashley, but it was her father's guidance as the group manager of Brandye that shaped her ambitions the most. Ashley originally intended to follow her father's footsteps and pursue a career behind the scenes as an entertainment lawyer, but after her father's death in 2000, she immersed herself into song writing and producing.

She honed her skills at Cass Technical High School (class of 2000) singing and performing in school talent shows at every opportunity. In addition she performed with the prestigious Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit. Post high school, she attended Florida A&M University and Howard University majoring in marketing before leaving to actively pursue her first love -- music. According to Ashley, "I know that my purpose is to create enjoyment for the masses through the creation of music. My focus and motivation stems from appreciation that I have for the talents GOD has blessed me with."

Her efforts recently paid off with the selection of FREE, a song she co-wrote with Ja Rule as the comeback single for his up-coming album, The Mirror. In addition, Ashley was chosen by mega producers 7 Aurelius & Irv Gotti to form an all girl singing group under Gotti's label, The Inc. For Ashley, "My future goals are to be recognized as an incredible writer and to write for other artists, and every day I feel like I'm one step closer to the dream."

To learn more about Ashley Joi please visit www.myspace.com/msashleyjoi.

Article Headline

ENTECHPRENEURIAL ADVICE

Have you ever read the fine print of your credit-card agreement?

How about the receipt for the TV you purchased? Your apartment lease? If you have, you may find the fine print requires you to give up your right to sue if you have a complaint about the transaction and, instead, to participate in arbitration. Arbitration is similar to a private court, where, instead of presenting your complaints to a judge, you present them to an arbitrator.

Arbitration has been around for years and has long been used by large companies to resolve business disputes. Arbitration is also not all bad; it allows parties to resolve their disputes privately; it allows sophisticated businesses to agree in advance on the ground rules for resolving disputes; and it is sometimes a faster means to resolution. However in the past decade or so, the number of businesses requiring that all disputes against them be

arbitrated has exploded.

Although arbitration works well in some contexts, it is usually a bad deal for consumers, for several reasons. First, it is expensive. Unlike in a court (where you do not need to pay the judge for the time he spends hearing your suit), in arbitration you not only pay for your lawyer but you also pay for the arbitrator, who is usually a lawyer and whose services cost hundreds of dollars per hour. Second, the deck can be stacked against the consumer. Arbitration clauses frequently require the arbitration to occur in a distant city or to be conducted by an arbitrator who is a member of a group seen as being "business friendly."

Finally, since companies are the ones to set the ground rules for arbitration, the rules themselves are often unfair to consumers, requiring them to give notice of their dispute within an unreasonably short period of time or precluding their lawyers from taking any depositions to learn about the facts of the case.

Unfortunately, arbitration agreements are usually enforced by the courts. Be sure to read carefully the fine print of business agreements to determine if you will be bound by arbitration.

Jermaine A. Wyrick

Law Offices of Jermaine A. Wyrick P.L.L.C.

615 Griswold, Suite 1610

Detroit, MI 48226

(313) 964-8950

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