Communis Scientia, Virtutes, et Prudentia
Common Knowledge, Common Virtues, Common Sense
2015-2016
ÆDIFICANS FVTVRVM
Constructing the Future

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Contact Us
Liberty Common High School
2745 Minnesota Drive
Fort Collins, CO 80525

Phone: 970-672-5500
Fax: 970-672-5499
Attendance Line: Please call in by 8:30AM 
672-5500 option 2.
Office Hours:  7:15 - 3:45
IN THIS ISSUE
Board of Directors
Next Board of Directors Meeting:  May 12th, 6:00 - 10:00 p.m. at LCS.

You may contact all members of our Board of Directors at
BOD@libertycommon.org 

Paulette Hansen 282-8455
Patrick Albright 232-8257
Joel Goeltl:  593-8556  
Jeff Webb: 545-9636 
Denise Benz: 420-4184
John Rohrbaugh:  225-2259
Aislinn Kottwitz: 217-5925
Mark Your Calendar
 Final Dates 
School Calendar 
2016-2017

Aug. 29th- Classes Begin
Sep 24-Oct 8-  Student Count 
Sep 5th- Labor Day, No School
Oct. 28- Parent/Teacher Conferences
Nov. 23-25- Thanksgiving
Dec. 26-Jan 6- Winter Break
Jan 16-  Martin Luther King Day, No School
Feb. 17- Professional Development Day
Feb. 20- President's Day
Mar 13-17- Spring Break
April 14- Good Friday
May 26- Last Day of Classes 1/2 day 
MAY 
2-6 - Teacher Appreciation Week
3 - Free Dress Day 
2-13 - NWEA Testing
6 - Free Dress Day 
5 - Onward & Upward (incoming 9th graders)
9-10 - Block Days 
19 - Awards Ceremony
20 - Eagle Games 
12 - BOD Meeting, LCS
24-26 - Finals Schedule
27 - Last Day of School-- 1/2 Day, 11:00 Release
27 - Graduation, 6:00PM, Timberline Church  
CLICK HERE for the 2015-16 school calendar
Classical Manners for the Modern Youth
From the 1934 high-school textbook Good Manners used in "Household Science" class of that day:

"Rule No. 184.  Courtesy.  Be courteous to your classmates and teachers.  If a teacher or classmate is talking, give your undivided attention.  Take time to say, 'Please'; 'Pardon me'; 'Thank you'; 'May I?'; (not 'Can I?') Do not laugh at the mistakes of others.  If you criticize a recitation, do it in a kindly manner.  You, too, will make mistakes.
 
"Do not interrupt or wave your hand.  Some teachers will ask a pupil to stand to wait for recognition.  Most teachers expect you to raise your hand.  Never break into a conversation or recitation of another.  Make no undue noise, or in any way disturb the class. 
 
"If you do not understand an assignment or a correction, ask your teacher about this after class.  Ask your teacher for help and explanations, rather than trust to the help of another student.  You will find that your teacher is always anxious to help you."
 
Academic Resources
AST Tip Of The Week:
Finals are Coming 
With finals being just over 3 weeks away, we encourage you to start preparing for these exams. You should be completing all of your current homework on time, working to turn in any missing assignments, and reviewing your notes from class. This is also a great time to go see your teacher during 9th hour and start asking questions about homework problems or in class examples you didn't understand. 
 (Visit our 
Liberty 101 webpage CLICK HERE.)  
 
9th-Hour Clubs 
The primary purpose of our 9th-hour clubs is to provide students with the opportunity to receive extra help from teachers.  Parents are encouraged to assist their students in creating a 9th-hour plan by reviewing the 9th-Hour Club Schedule. 
 
LCHS Academic Support Resource Website  
(CLICK HERE)

The LCHS Academic
Support Team
created this website to assist all LCHS students with helpful tips and resources for academic success.
  Be sure to check it out.

  Volume 19, Issue 33/ May 2, 2016 

   Newsworthy Notices
 
Brandt Bachelet, Brady Lane, Ben Miller remind everyone of the brick-campaign deadline of May 15th.

Leave your mark:  LCHS senior Ben Kuppinger urges everyone to buy a brick before the May 15th order deadline.

Brick Buying Frenzy. A tide of sales surged last week when Chair of the paver-fundraising campaign Mrs. Tiffany Green announced a purchase deadline of Saturday, May 15th.  An equally huge tidal wave of anxiety is sweeping through the Liberty student body as a few are realizing their parents may not meet the deadline.  Every student wants his/her name engraved into a special brick and placed permanently into the walkway and glorious garden leading to our new gym.  The finished brick-pavement/"Legacy Garden" project will be unveiled at the August 26th back-to-school Torch Trek.  Buying a brick and etching your student's name into it is fully tax deductible. It's also a great way to permanently honor graduates, past Liberty
Computer scholar Corinne Rogers hopes no student's name is omitted from the brick-pavement project by the May 15th ordering deadline.
students, future Liberty students, grandparents, special moments, anniversaries - anyone and anything worthy of honoring.  Buying multiple bricks is totally in style right now.  All proceeds help complete and furnish the gym.  To purchase a Legacy Brick simply 
CLICK HERE.  Questions?  Email Mrs. Tiffany Green parent/volunteer extraordinaire who stepped up to manage this awesome campaign. 


 Last Monday, U.S. Senate candidate Mr. Robert Blaha discussed his campaign goals and answered questions posed by students of the Principles of Liberty class.
Senate Candidate On Deck.  U.S. Senate candidate Mr. Robert Blaha toured LCHS last Monday and spoke to students in the Principles of Liberty class.  Students peppered the candidate with questions about the 17th Amendment, the 10th Amendment, immigration policy, taxes, budgeting, campaign management, and a few other impressive topics.  It was an excellent win-win for both students and candidate.  Liberty's open invitation for any state or federal candidate to visit the school and speak with students stands.  Also attending with Mr. Blaha were his daughter Lydia, and KCOL's big-time, radio morning-show host Mr. Jimmy Lakey.  
 


Free Dress Day.  Tomorrow, Tuesday May 3rd is a Free-Dress Day for all LCHS students.  As their first order of business, LCHS's new School Captains Annie Williamson and James Conrady requested an all-school free dress day in recognition of the outstanding accomplishments of the LCHS Ocean Bowl team and the First Tech Challenge robotics team.  "Our Ocean Bowl team, as you may know, placed 4th in the nation in its competition with more than 300 advanced teams," said Captain Williams. "In addition to this phenomenal accomplishment, the LCHS First Tech Challenge robotics team, 6 Bits and a Byte, competed at the World Robotics Championship in St. Louis this past weekend, and represented our outstanding robotics program on a global stage."  So, congratulations to both teams.  In celebration, tomorrow is a free-dress day.

 
LCHS Houses grew and improved last Wednesday as incoming LCHS students got inducted into their Houses.  Click on the image above to admire the mayhem.
Wild Induction Ceremony.  Incoming LCHS students were officially inducted into their Houses last Wednesday.  The scene was wild and tribal.   CLICK HERE or on the nearby video link to watch this year's elaborate induction rituals - which seem to get more extravagant every year.  Next year, this event will be held in the new gymnasium.  With all the extra room, it will likely turn out to be wilder still.


Fowler Joins Team.  Principal Schaffer is pleased to announce that Ms. Leslie Fowler will join the LCHS faculty as a fulltime Latin and history instructor starting in August.  She has been volunteering in LCHS classrooms throughout the current school year and is already familiar to many students.  She is a graduate of the University of Colorado's classics program, and before that graduated from Ridgeview Classical Schools. Salvē.  Grātulātiō et fēlicitās!
 
 
 
"No soup for you!"  The PSD Board of Education, last week, denied equitable funding for charter schools in its $375 million tax/bond plan.  This video is provided as an apt metaphor for the unfortunate situation. 
PSD Denies Charter Funding.  At last Tuesday's meeting of the Poudre School District Board of Education, the Board voted to advance a $375 million school funding package but denied requests by PSD's charter schools, led by Liberty Common School, for equitable funding.   CLICK HERE to read The Coloradoan newspaper's coverage of the Board's vote.  CLICK HERE or on the nearby video link to see a tidy metaphorical summary of the Board's treatment of its charter schools. The PSD spending plan must clear one more (perfunctory) hurdle before going to voters for approval on the November ballot. 
   
Register To Vote.  If you are eligible to vote but not registered, be sure to drop by the voter-registration center in the LCHS Front Office.  Mrs. Megan Salazar and Principal Bob Schaffer are both Deputy Registrars for Larimer County and the State of Colorado, and either are happy to get you set up to participate in the upcoming election season.  
 
 
CPR/AED class. Congrats to this group of 6-12th graders (pictured) who now have certifications through the American Heart Association in CPR/AED, ready for their summer jobs and saving lives. Due to high interest and attendance, we are going to offer one more of these classes at the beginning of the summer. We must have a minimum of 10 students in the class and will be capped at twenty. Class takes place Monday, June 13th, 9AM-noon at the elementary school. American Heart Association certification is good for two years. Heart Saver CPR/AED (adult, child, infant, to include measures for choking) $35/student (this exact class runs in the Fort Collins Recreator for $70/person). Register here https://cprclass2.cheddarup.com by Monday, June 6. Questions, contact our school nurse at ndybzinski@libertycommon.org.

The Spring Awards Concert.  The Spring Awards Concert will be held on Tuesday, May 10th at Timberline Church. This concert will feature all of the LCHS bands, orchestra and choir. The concert will start at 6:30 PM. Mr. Lunn and Ms. Ogg will also give out their music awards at this performance. Come hear our exceptional Liberty musicians.  
 
 
Battle Of The Bard Poetry Contest. The Poudre River Library held its 4th annual poetry contest. Regan Thomas, Boston Lee, Alexa Coester and Elizabeth Urynowicz were all finalists in the Battle of the Bards poetry contest Friday night and Regan won 1st-place for her poem "Dandelion Eyes." 
  
Midtown Arts Center. Olivia Wagner, Amaya Perkins, and Ashley Salehi, LCHS students will be performing in the Musical, School of Rock. Midtown is excited to be one of the first arts organizations in the country to have the rights to this amazing show. The entire cast is ages 8-18 and they are tickets will sell out. Get yours online at www.midtownartscenter.com or call the box office at 970-225-2555 . Performance dates May 7,8,11, 14 and 15. 
 
 
News from Board of Directors
 
Liberty Founder Dr. Randy Everett offered a passionate and in-depth review of Liberty's Founders' educational philosophy at an informational lecture Monday, April 4th, hosted by Liberty BOD member Denise Benz.  Dr. Everett covered a fascinating range of topics which included the history of educational philosophy throughout the world and the United States over the past 100 years and how those philosophies impacted Liberty's founding.  BOD members and all Liberty parents with a vested interest in Liberty's continued success need to appreciate why Liberty is successful.  Liberty's founding philosophy must be continuously reviewed and understood so its history and purpose can be appreciated and maintained.  The event was attended by several Liberty Founders, current and newly elected BOD members, as well as key members of Liberty's administrative staff.  Everyone went home with a deeper understanding of the philosophy of Liberty's founding and a greater appreciation of the tenacity with which we must adhere to the principles on which Liberty was founded.  In addition to the educational philosophy books recommended on Liberty's website, Dr. Everett also referenced and suggested the following:

The Mystery of Capital: Why Capitalism Triumphs in the West and Fails Everywhere Else by Hernando De Soto

A Conflict of Visions: Ideological Origins of Political Struggles by Thomas Sowell

The Vision of the Anointed: Self-Congratulation as a Basis for Social Policy by Thomas Sowell
 
Two bills beneficial to charter schools are making their way through the Colorado Legislature. Senate Bill 187 streamlines charter school requirements for accountability reporting, auditing, accounting, and continuity of funding. Senate Bill 188 levels the playing field for charter schools when it comes to school district mill levy overrides, land acquisition, and access to BEST state funding. Click here to read more about SB187, and click here to read more about SB188.  Please contact your state legislators and share your opinion about these bills. 

News from the Assistant-Principal, Mr. Lovely
8th-Grade Only Dance.  This Friday, May 6th, is the last junior-high dance for 8th-grade students, and is shaping up to be an incredible evening of fun, friends, and food.  The dance will begin at 6:30PM and end at 9:00PM.  The entrance fee is $7 and will include a full ice-cream bar.  Guests are not permitted, and Free Dress Day rules apply (see below for details).  Direct questions to Lauren Gamlin or Riley Green (LCHS Class of 2020).

Free-Dress-Day Dress Code.  Clothing must be in good condition, not tattered, threadbare, frayed, or see-through. Tops must have sleeves and must cover the shoulders, midriff, undergarments, and cleavage. Bottoms must be no shorter than three inches above the knee and not excessively tight. Leggings may not be worn as pants.  No yoga pants. No clothing depicting violence or glorifying death or violence.

 7th-Grade Movie Night.  This Friday, May 6th, all 7th-grade students are invited to a movie night with pizza, drinks, and other goodies.  The cost is $5 per person and Free-Dress-Day Dress Code applies (see above for details).  The event starts at 7pm and it ends at 9pm.  No guests are allowed.  Order points will be awarded for attendance.  Don't forget to bring your blankets and pillows.  Direct questions to Corinne Hansen or Parker Stern (LCHS Class of 2021).


Student Talent Show.  The Student Talent Show is this Saturday, May 8th starting at 6:30PM.  Come see great performances and support your friends for free.  Direct questions to Laura Bradley or Sarah Earl (LCHS Class of 2016, Domus Gratitudinis House Captains).

Kiss A Senior Goodbye. Make your favorite senior's last quarter a little sweeter through this Key Club project. Buy your seniors a card and a bag of 16 kisses (for the class of 2016). Each bag of kisses will be $2, and will be sold during the first week of May at lunch. Parents, if you would like to buy your senior a bag of kisses, stop by the front office and fill out your information there. The money will go towards the LCHS Key Club, our international service club. 

One Eagle.  Many Games. The day is now upon us. The event has finally arrived.  The competitions are shaping up to be fierce.  Valuable House and Order points are at stake in the competition for the 16-17 Neenan Cup (high school) and Soaring Eagle (next year's 8th-grade Orders).  This is one event you will not want to miss.  A great way to take it all in will be to volunteer to help us run the event. The event is right around the corner (Friday, May 20th) and is shaping up to be an incredible day of fun for students with a wide variety of competitions planned.  We are in need of several parent volunteers to help make the day run smoothly.  If you are interested, please send an e-mail to Domus Temperantiae House Captain James Conrady or sign up on the websites below: 

Click below to be a volunteer worker during the day:
Click below to donate needed supplies/items/food for the event:

FCA Meeting.  FCA at LCHS is having its next meeting on Wed 4 May at lunch in Washington Hall.  See Ben Kuppinger (LCHS Class of 2016) with questions.

Upcoming Events (can also be found on the LCHS Website):
  - Teacher Appreciation Week | Mon 2 May - Fri 6 May
  - Incoming 9th Grade Onward & Upward | Thu 5 May | 6:30PM
  - 8th Grade Dance | Fri 6 May | 6:30-9PM | Great Hall
  - 7th Grade Movie Night | Fri 6 May | 7-9PM | Washington Hall
  - Student Talent Show | Sat 7 May | 6:30-9PM | Great Hall
  - LCHS Awards Concert | Tue 10 May | 6:30-9PM | Timberline Church
  - Favorite Poem Night | Thu 12 May | 6:30-9PM | Great Hall
  - JH Summit Party | Fri 13 May | 3:30-6:30PM | The Summit
  - Game Night | Fri 13 May | 8PM-7:30AM | Great Hall & Computer Labs
  - Academic Awards Night | Thu 19 May | JH & HS 5-8PM | LCS Gym
  - Eagle Games | Fri 20 May | 7:45AM-3:15PM | LCHS Campus
  - Final Exams | Tue 24 May - Thu 26 May | CLICK HERE for schedule
  - Extracurricular Awards Ceremony | Thu 26 May | 1:00-3:15PM | Great Hall
News from the Academic Dean, Sandy Stoltzfus

It's AP Exam Time!
 
AP Exams will run from May 2nd - May 13th. 
CLICK HERE for the LCHS College-Planning Website.


National College Decision Day. May 1st was National College Decision Day, the deadline by which seniors across the nation must decide whether to accept or reject an offer of college admission. LCHS seniors are celebrating their college commitments by wearing their college gear today.  Congratulations Class 2016, we are so proud of you! Members of the Class of 2016 have committed to the following college and universities.  (not all seniors have reported their decisions)



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Class Of 2016 Graduation. 
Friday, May 27th, 6:00PM,  Timberline Community Church, Main Auditorium.

All LCHS Students 8th - 12th Are Expected To Attend Graduation.  Current 8th-11th grade students will participate in the House processional.  Students should arrive at Timberline Church no later than 5:30 p.m., to form up in their Houses.  Seventh graders are encouraged to attend, too.
 
News from the Athletic Director, Dan Knab
If you know of a Liberty student making athletic news and would like them showcased for the Liberty Common community, let Mr. Knab know.

GO EAGLES - CLICK HERE to access our webpage.
 
To get up-to-date results, see photo highlights, and stay abreast of all things athletic at LCHS, visit and 'LIKE' the Liberty Common Schools Athletic Booster Club Facebook Page. Our goal is 1000 'likes.' 
This Week In Junior-High Sports:
The junior-high track season was stupendous.  Click on this image to see lots of inspiring images from the 2016 season.
Track Season In Pictures.  Want to see what a fantastic junior-high track season looks like?  CLICK HERE or on the nearby video link to see a spectacular photo montage produced by Mrs. Tiffany Green.  Even if you don't have a kid on the track team, you'll want to watch this.  

Jr.-High Sports
        Girls Soccer
Monday, 5/2, 4pm, Away @ Ft. Lupton
Wednesday, 5/4, 3:30pm, Home vs Weld Central
  
Track
Monday, 5/2, 4pm, Home - NCIL Championship Track Meet
Volunteers still needed - Meet Mr. Knab at the tent in the infield at 3:30pm if you are able to assist.
  
This Week In High-School Sports:
 
 High School Sports
Baseball
Monday, 5/2, 4pm, Home vs Dayspring Christian
Saturday, 5/7, 11am, Home vs Brush
Home baseball games are played at Fossil Creek Park.
  
Track
Tuesday, 5/3, 4pm, Away, Highland Twilight Track Meet
Friday/Saturday, 5/6,7, Away, MHL Championship Track Meet (Longmont High School)
Soccer
Tuesday, 5/3, 4pm, Away vs Longmont Christian (Sandstone Ranch Park - Way in the back of the park)
Wednesday, 5/4, 5:30pm, Home vs Valley High School
Thursday, 5/5, 4pm, Home vs Frontier Academy
Friday, 5/6, 4pm, Away @ Estes Park
  
Information updates can be found on the Booster Club Facebook Page.  ('Like' us now!)
     
Future High-School Baseball Players.  Parents of current 6th - 8th graders interested in learning more about the LCHS baseball program, please come to a meeting on Wednesday May 4th  at 6:00 PM at the high school to meet LCHS head baseball coach Nathan Thurlow and his coaching staff to discuss the summer baseball program, and plans for this summer and next summer. For parents of current 3rd - 5th graders playing baseball this summer, please e-mail your information to Coach Thurlow at nthurlow@fca.org.   Especially, if you are involved in coaching a team with Liberty Common students, Coach would like to make himself available to meet with the various Liberty Common teams during the summer as he develops the high-school program and the program for future players on the high-school team.
  
Jaden Wolfe sprints to first base after a hit.
  
HIGH-SCHOOL MEN'S BASKETBALL.
Interested high-school 8 - 11 grade boys, next year's high-school basketball players - there is an interest meeting on Wednesday at 11am in the Acropolis. Come to this meeting if you are even the slightest bit interested in playing high-school basketball next year.  In addition, we are starting drop-in basketball again on Wednesday mornings at the elementary gym at 5:30am, starting this Wednesday.
  
HIGH-SCHOOL MEN'S SOCCER
Interested high-school 8 - 11 grade boys, next year's high-school soccer players - There is pre-summer workout and scrimmage meeting this Wednesday at 2:45pm in the Acropolis.  Come to this meeting if you are even the slightest bit interested in playing high- school soccer next year.
  
Stay tuned to the Liberty Common Athletic Booster Page for rescheduled dates.
  

    CLICK HERE if interested. 
Alumni Update 


Unfortunately, we are out of Alumni Updates.  If you know of any alumni you might prompt to drop us a paragraph or two, please let them know how appreciated their remarks are to the entire Liberty community.  Alumni should SEND UPDATES HERE.
 


   News Worth Repeating


Host A Foreign-Exchange Student.  One of Liberty's foreign-exchange coordinators is looking for host families for the fall of 2016 for wonderful students that would love to attend LCHS for the next school year.  
Students arriving through this exchange program (EF) cover all personal expenses, are fully insured and speak excellent English.  Host families provide a loving home, meals and a bed to sleep in. There are tax deductions for hosting exchange students.  To learn more, please contact program coordinator Melissa Gardner by email, or by phone at 303-847-8165  as soon as possible.

Host another great LCHS exchange student like Louise from Sweden who attended LCHS last year.
Exchange Students Want Homes.  More foreign-exchange students want to attend LCHS in the next school year.  All they need are local families to take them in. The Council for Educational Travel USA (CETUSA) works with LCHS placing students with families who can provide a warm, welcoming environment. This includes a comfortable bed, three meals a day and transportation to school and some activities. Each student speaks English and arrives with a passport, J-1 cultural exchange visa, $250 a month spending money, health insurance and a dream of life with an American family. Exchange students at LCHS stay for the whole school year. To learn more about hosting, please contact Coordinator Laura Guice by email  or call her at 970-988-6142. 
    
Summer Personal Finance. For the first time, the required personal- finance class will be offered during the summer.  This is perfect for those who would like to free up a semester of time for other classes during the school year.  If you are considering taking this class, please decide soon and register so we can know whether the class will be viable. Register online. See below for course details:  Fee:  $200, Email Dr. Robinson if interested. June 7 - June 30, 8:30 a.m. - 11:50 a.m., Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. 

Summer Programs.  If you haven't decided how to spend your summer, you may want to think about the possibility of participating in a summer program.  CLICK HERE for the list of summer programs compiled by LCHS. The list includes fee-based programs, volunteer opportunities, paid internships and highly selective programs.  If you do not see a program that interests you, there's no need to worry. There are hundreds of summer programs offered each year at colleges all over the country. No matter what your interests are, chances are there's a program offered at a nearby college.
 
While summer experiences are an important part of the college admission process, it is important to pursue programs in which you are genuinely interested. Summer is the perfect time to challenge yourself, master new skills, gain a broader global perspective, volunteer, earn money, and prepare for college and the workplace. 

Summer English Program.  This summer's four-week English "booster" is the perfect, economical opportunity for students needing a grammar, vocabulary, or writing-skills boost.  For more information  CLICK HERE. The cost is much less than typical tutoring, the tutor-to-student ratio is small, and the instructor is Mr. Dybzinski, head of Liberty's English department.  Regardless of whether your student is ahead or behind, he will set your child up to engage our rich English curriculum at LCHS.  Furthermore, he plans to have much fun in the process. CLICK HERE to sign up. 

Pay Athletic Fees Online - Click HERE to access our website. Drag your cursor over 'Athletics' and pick the drop-down sport you are paying for and click on it.  You will then see a link to pay online.  Click & Pay.  Please let Mr. Knab know about any issues you may have with paying.  Your payment will eventually be confirmed on your PowerSchool account.  We will still accept checks and cash.  However, our preference is the online payment.  More information on how to do this will be explained at the parent meeting. 
  
High-school sport - $200.
Jr.-high sport - $80.
* If student played in two previous sports for Liberty Common, then the third sport is free.
* There is a $600 family cap per academic school year for athletics participated in at Liberty Common. 
* Participation in athletics at outside schools do not apply to either of the two discounts.
* Students may participate in more then one sport in a season.  However, they must declare a 'primary' sport to commit. 
 
Order your yearbook today. 
LIMITED SUPPLIES OF LCHS YEARBOOKS LEFT! Cost,  $60
Go to jostensyearbooks.com. Contact Mrs. Salazar with any yearbook related questions at yearbook@libertycommon.org.
 
Upcoming Trips
Costa Rica 2017.  Mrs. Deitrick will be leading a trip to Costa Rica Spring Break 2017. Email Mrs. Deitrick for more information.    

Dominican Republic 2017. Mrs. Deitrick will be leading a trip to Dominican Republic next summer (2017.) 
Italy, Greece Trip, June 2017. See all the best sites in Italy and Greece and learn directly on ancient lands with Mr. Kem. The tour ends with a multi-day cruise of the Greek islands. Enrollment has started. Enroll here. View or download the itinerary here. E-mail Mr. Kem if interested. 

CLICK HERE.