OK, so the other day I am sitting here cleaning out the "Junk Folder" in my email box, when something catches my eye. It was not the usual "Save money on watches" or "Get your online degree" message that typically appears on the subject line. Instead, the subject line of this email read, "Demand Letter: Cease and Desist..." At first I thought, OK this must be spam and I almost erased it. I never open things in my junk folder unless I know the sender!
Something peaked my interest and I opened the email. As it turns out it was a legitimate email. There is a company in New York called, "Handle With Care Behavior Management System, Inc." Apparently they have a trademark on the phrase "handle with care.' Being that this is such a common phrase, I had no idea this could even have a trademark!
There is some degree of irony in this, in that this company, according to their email, happens to be "an educational and training services company specializing in the safe management including physical management, i.e. restraint and use of seclusion for children and adults with behavioral and psychiatric challenges."
Being a reasonable person, I emailed them back and advised them that I would gladly change the title of my blog to something similar, but distinctly different. I also offered to put a link to their company's website if they were willing to let me continue using this title, along with a statement that my blog is in no way affiliated with their company. Since I have not heard back from them, I have decided to go ahead and change the title of the blog to "Handle 'd' With Care." I would never want anyone to confuse my blog with their company's views on how best to handle with care our fragile autistic population.
OK, so now comes my incredibly reasonable side! I am still going to post a link to their company's website to allow readers to get a different perspective of physical restraint and seclusion. To learn more about this company, you may visit their website by clicking here.
I am not locked into the title "Handle'd' With Care." If you have a suggestion for a new title, that would not be violating any trademark rights, please feel free to share it!
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Notice The New Blog Title?
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16 comments:
Do you ever have an uneventful day? This is funny and I have a feeling your school district may have been behind this. Could they have contacted this company for restraint training and then realized the names were the same?
Your a great sport! I don't think I would have changed the name.
When I google your blog name I get links to
a song called Handle with Care by the Traveling Wilsburys
http://www.lyricsfreak.com/t/travelling+wilburys/handle+with+care_20140463.html
a book called Handle With Care,
http://www.jodipicoult.com/handle-with-care.html
a Golf World article titled, Handle With Care,
http://www.golfdigest.com/golfworld/columnists/2009/03/20090312sirak
Why are they picking you out when you are not even on Google that way. The anon above has a good point -- CHPS is probably behind this. Its another attempt to shut you down honey! Keep going strong!
Thanks for your thoughts! If somebody else has a legitimate claim to this and paid money to trademark it, I would not want to infringe on that right. So I will be a "good sport" and change the title.
I wonder if this means every time we use the phrase "handle with care" we have to pay them a quarter? oops, there's 25 cents wasted!
The thought that someone at the school district was behind this did cross my mind, especially since the district spoke with an attorney (on the taxpayer's dime) last year to do something about my blog at the Courier Post. I'm not kidding! A parent came across the records in some legal invoices requested through OPRA. They were unsuccessful with their censorship attempts.
It kind of makes me feel pretty good if they were behind this. If my blog is drawing attention to things or holding them more accountable for their actions -- then this is a good thing and I am serving a purpose!
Kathi Magee
The thought that someone at the school district was behind this did cross my mind, especially since the district spoke with an attorney (on the taxpayer's dime) last year to do something about my blog at the Courier Post. I'm not kidding! A parent came across the records in some legal invoices requested through OPRA. They were unsuccessful with their censorship attempts.
I know I saw it too! and yet they still cut back special education teachers!
Amazing.
Wait a second! There is a record that the Cherry Hill School Dist tried to shut down your blog at the Courier? How do you get these records? Is that why the Courier moved your blog here?
Well stories like this make me wonder. So a reminder to go vote with your conscience tomorrow.
Don't be fooled by what you know in your heart is true.
Send a message tomorrow.
Voting No - ensures that you send a message that late bus runs and an overly expensive environmental program is NOT more important than high school support teachers!
Voting No - ensures that administration does not have our support any more.
Voting N0 - attempts to keep our taxes somewhat inline. Did you see the new tax bill? The townships portion is up 20%
Please vote no. Mt. Misery has to go!
Kathy,
I am inclined to agree with the anon above. What are your thoughts?
They would rather put the education of a disabled child on the chopping block instead of trimming back the "wants" (as you put it) This shows everyone where they stand.
A "NO" vote would send a message and it cannot possibly hurt special ed more than they have already. The only thing they could do is cut things like Mt. Misery or late buses or Heaven forbid, an administrator's salary!
We need real leaders in our schools that have common sense. Do you happen to listen to NJ 101.5? They were talking about the terrible state of our public schools in NJ and blaming most of the problems on the administrators in our schools. I tried calling to tell them how bad CH is but I could not get through. This will probably be an ongoing topic this week so be sure to tune in.
I am not voting for the 3 boe members to send a message that the budget is what I have a problem with. I like one of the people running but they will get in with or without the votes. I may write in Nancy Muldowney's name just to send a message that special education is why I voted against the budget!
lol
I was more inclined to vote Yes for the budget thinking that a "no vote" would only cause more damage. However, you are right in that they would be forced to eliminate other non-essentials and I COMPLETELY AGREE that there are some top salaries that need to be trimmed back!
What bothers me more than anything is that we have key people making decisions that are not tied to the outcome. Dr. Campbell and Mrs. Franklin DO NOT reside in Cherry Hill, Camden County or even in the state of NJ! They have no problem making major cuts to special education services because it does not impact them in the least. They both live in PA, far from the children who will suffer the consequences of poor budgetary choices.
As far as the budget goes, I can't help but remember what one parent was told last year, "Special Ed doesn't matter because parents of SE children do not vote!" That is disturbing on many levels and perhaps a strong message is needed to show that we do vote!
You are correct, the 3 candidates running for the Board of Ed will be elected. I do not know much about them, so I will do what is in my nature and assume that they are good and reasonable people.
In terms of voting for a particular "write in" candidate -- I am thinking why not just write the words "Special Ed" -- it will make it very clear that parents of SE kids do in fact vote!
Kathi Magee
Kathi,
What an excellent idea! I vote for Special Education!
Hey that is a good idea. Make sure you email other parents and let them know about this. No matter how you vote for the budget, do a write in boe vote for Special Education.
Kath do you know for sure that the Superintendent and Director of Special Ed do not live in NJ? I thought there were state residency requirements.
They DO NOT live in NJ. They both reside in PA.
I am fairly certain that Mr. Moody lives out of state as well. He told me previously that he resided in the Mayfair area (NE Phila).
There is no residency requirement for school administrators. It is however, an issue that we should address as a community because it does make a difference. When tax increases are considered, or any other pertinent decisions are made that impact the education of our town's children, those making the choices need to be stakeholders in the town.
Kathi Magee
Since when does Moody make truthful comments? Telling you that he lives in NE Philly could mean that he lives in DE!
Is he considered an administrator?
I may write in the name....
Franklin Mustgo
A no vote means this - the budget then goes to town council. Town council makes a recommendation for the dollar amount to decrease by.
Then it goes back to administration and the board to make the cuts. Public comment allowed the entire process.
We as a community can not allow a select few to continue to dictate our community. OUR HOMES ARE NOT SELLING IN CHERRY HILL! CORPORATE BILLABLES ARE DOWN.
Campbell and many do not live in Cherry Hill. But they will receive NJ Pensions!
A NO Vote at this point ensures elimination of programs we can no longer continue to do business as.
Late Busses
Mt. Misery
Opens the door for real discussions about pay to play for sports, music and theater.
Elementary Spanish
A discussion about alternative delivery of high school electives - on line distant learning. Do you know we no longer offer any computer courses at the high school level?
Special ed services will not be cut by a budget but by the ones in charge.
Exactly how much money is the settlement line since our leader took charge!
Your vote of NO today reclaims what makes Cherry Hill great. Our residents!
NO ensures that our community stays strong. In this economy have you altered your budget? Have you found ways to alternatively fund what matters most to your family?
Think about it.
This budget maintains! With very few modifications. The most being our Educational Assistants. We could not control that it was a state directive.
Send a message.
VOTE NO
and write in SPECIAL ED
( a brilliant idea!)
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