Bye Bye Blogger

Sorry, but I will no longer be updating this account :(
But, you may now find me here: http://brittanyguilfoyle.wordpress.com/
Come follow me!

Moving to WordPress

Hello followers & random readers!
     Sorry for the lack of updates since December, but I was busy finishing my last semester of school and I've recently been dealing w/ some medical issues that have kept me away from blogging. However, I've decided to upgrade my blog (yay!). I'm currently in the process of converting all of my blog posts over to my new WordPress account! So, as soon as I'm all done, I will post the address of my new blog & deactivate this one. Get ready!

Connections and Changes

Hello blog readers!

I'm trying to do more in the way of connecting all of my social networks to make it easier for others and myself. So...

I just wanted to inform everyone that you can access more articles/columns I've written on this website: http://www.mytjnow.com/.

Also, you can find out more about me and the things I've done (my credentials) here: http://www.linkedin.com/in/brittanyguilfoyle.

I'll be in the process of making great changes to my blog within the next month or so as well.

Until my next post, Happy Holidays! :)

Student Hero Newspaper Story

By: Brittany Guilfoyle

She takes a paintbrush to her canvas and finishes the last touches on the indifferent face of a young African boy. The powerful and motivational qualities of the painting characterize far more than just the boy, though, they represent the artist. Corinne Owens, daughter of Tim and Ruth Owens, hails from Summerville, S.C., and spends much of her time doing volunteer work in her hometown and in Rock Hill, S.C., where she is a senior at Winthrop University. At the age of 10, Owens volunteered for the first time when she helped build homes for Habitat for Humanity. Since then, a passion for helping others has only grown for the 21-year-old. Owens, an English literature major, works many hours throughout the week at The Limited in Pineville, N.C., but unlike many college students, she donates her free time to several good causes.

Establishing a legacy

As a student, she founded the Winthrop chapter of the African Awareness Coalition (AAC), part of the Progressive Student Network, and currently serves as the organization’s vice president. The AAC is a student-led organization that works to end social violence and conflict in Africa through political action, raising awareness and canvassing, according to Winthrop’s website. “In the past, we’ve (organization members) volunteered with and organized protests in Charlotte and we’ve lobbied in Washington, D.C.,” Owens said. “It’s really important for people to just know about what’s going on in Africa.” The AAC also uses the non-profit organizations Invisible Children and STAND to help inform others about the crisis in Africa; Owens said working for Invisible Children has been her best volunteer work experience so far. “I’m really passionate about their cause,” she said, “and anytime you really feel strongly about something, you’re going to enjoy it.” Last year, Owens became the 2009 campaign state director for STAND, based out of Georgetown, S.C.

Making a difference

She also works closely alongside Resolve Uganda, the organization More Than Me, which assists children in developing countries by getting them off the streets and into schools, and the Free People Free People organization, which rescues people from slavery and promotes freedom. For Owens, devoting her life to those in need is like a responsibility, she said. “I feel like we’re in this world for a certain amount of time,” she said. “If I’m a citizen of this community or of our world, being a part of it, I have to contribute.” And her achievements don’t stop there. Owens is a member of the Winthrop chapter’s Pre-Law Society and she works with Model United Nations. Her minor in peace, justice and conflict resolution studies also coincides with her membership in Amnesty International.

Enhancing lives near and far

At Winthrop, she serves as the community service chair for the sorority Sigma Sigma Sigma, where she contacts non-profit groups in Rock Hill and establishes partnerships with them. The sisters of the sorority then separate into teams and do volunteer work for these groups for a long-term, unspecified time period. Around the Rock Hill area, Owens volunteers at Safe Passage and has previously worked as a first-grade tutor at Oakland Avenue Presbyterian Church; she was a school youth adviser at Summerville Presbyterian Church in her hometown. Her love for working with people and for people drives her, she said, calling volunteering “one of the most rewarding experiences.” Owens is now in the process of helping to raise money for the Invisible Children Schools for Schools campaign that ends in December.

Looking ahead

As for her future plans, she said she wants to attend law school and work in public interest with the hope of advocating for children and eventually do legal work for a non-profit organization. “I want to volunteer the rest of my life; it’s what makes me happy, and I enjoy it,” she said. “So, it’s not really work; it’s a fun time.” Despite the fact some people may consider her a hero, Owens thinks otherwise. For her, volunteering comes naturally. “I don’t really think I’m a hero because I feel like I’m just doing what I should do and I feel like everyone else can do that as well,” she said.

Student Hero Slideshow: Corinne Owens

By: Brittany Guilfoyle

Student Corinne Owens devotes her life to helping others in need.

Owens, daughter of Tim and Ruth Owens, hails from Summerville, S.C., and spends much of her time doing volunteer work in her hometown and in Rock Hill, S.C., where she is a senior at Winthrop University.

This slideshow features pictures detailing the 21-year-old English literature major's work in a variety of the organizations and events she is involved with. These include:

• African Awareness Coalition (with the Progressive Student Network)
• Sigma Sigma Sigma
• Model UN
• Summerville Presbyterian Church middle school youth adviser

Additional organizations she volunteers for (not featured in the slideshow) include:

• Amnesty International
• Pre-Law Society
• STAND
• Resolve Uganda
• Invisible Children
• Safe Passage in Rock Hill
• Oakland Avenue Presbyterian Church first grade tutor
• Habitat for Humanity
• More Than Me
• Free People Free People

The slideshow mostly presents pictures from "I Am Abducted: Come to the Rescue," which Owens participated in on April 25, 2009. This activity, held in Charlotte, N.C., brought to light the issue of Joseph Kony's child soldiers in Africa.

Corinne Owens: Student Hero at Winthrop University

Corinne Owens

Winthrop Student Fights for Multiple Causes

By: Brittany Guilfoyle

Some people stop at nothing to help others, 21-year-old Corinne Owens is one of them.

Owens, a senior English literature major from Summerville, S.C., has spent the last 11 years of her life devoted to volunteering.

As a student at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., she founded the Winthrop chapter of the African Awareness Coalition (AAC) and now serves as the vice president.

Other clubs and organizations she is involved with include: Amnesty International, the Pre-Law Society, Sigma Sigma Sigma, Model UN, STAND, Resolve Uganda,

Invisible Children, More Than Me and Free People Free People.

Listen at: http://wugirl11.podbean.com/mf/web/w8q4cw/HeroPodcast.mp3 to learn more about Owens' life, what she does and what she plans to do in the future.

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South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

The South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) was established to allow ordinary citizens to have access to information concerning government actions at many levels. The law guarantees every person the right to attain official documents and records and to attend government meetings. The General Assembly updated the law in 1987, 1998, 2000 and, most recently, 2003.

“The General Assembly finds that it is vital in a democratic society that public business be performed in an open and public manner so that citizens shall be advised of the performance of public officials and of the decisions that are reached in public activity and public policy,” said Henry McMaster, South Carolina attorney general.

South Carolina’s FOIA is divided into sections that cover many different aspects of the law. First, it determines which government bodies are subject to the FOIA. If public funds support a body, or if a body expends public funds, then it is subject to scrutiny. However, health care affairs, medical disciplinary matters, case evaluations and peer reviews are “exempt” from the FOIA, according to www.scstatehouse.gov. Social Security numbers and student academic records follow under this category, too.

The FOIA applies to public records, which constitute books, papers, photographs, recordings, tapes and computer data that a public body has possessed, prepared or retained. But domestic security information and trade secrets are an exception. Any person may review a public item as long as it is not prohibited by other parts of the law. During business hours, certain basic records, such as meeting minutes, must be offered to the public on-the-spot wit

hout a written demand.

Citizens have the right to attend public meetings also. A public meeting is determined by if a quorum exists, which means there is enough people present to cast an official vote. This includes in-person meetings, social gatherings and conference telephone calls. If a quorum is present at a public business meeting, it should be op

en and announced to citizens and the media prior to its start, according to the official South Carolina FOIA code of laws.

Freedom of Information Laws exist that some people do not even realize:

• If a contract or property sale is being negotiated, these records may be protected from the public until after the deal is finished.
  
• The public may know the compensations of public bodies.
  
• If faculty members at state institutions of higher education file research records or collect data, they may be hidden from the public.
  
• Certain meetings regarding the investment of public employee retirement funds may be closed to the public.

“The best governments – state, county and community – offer the greatest access to their activities and records,” said John Shurr, chairman on the S.C. Press Association Freedom of Information Committee.

Sunshine Week, an annual nationwide campaign designed to encourage open government and freedom of information, recently ran from March 14-20. Numerous South Carolina media outlets and citizens participate in the event each year, which originally began in 2005. FOI laws are frequently called “Sunshine Laws” because they “let the light shine in on government meetings and records,” according to Shurr.

Check out this brief video for more information about Sunshine Week: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-t2XNb6Zvrw