Mountain Views News          Saturday, July 14, 2012

5

AROUND SAN GABRIEL VALLEY

Mountain Views News Saturday July 14, 2012

“What’s Going On?” 

News and Views from Joan Schmidt

28TH ANNUAL PATRIOTIC CONCERT IN ARCADIA

 
Recently, the Arcadia 
Stake of the Church of 
Jesus Christ of Latter-
day Saints held it 
28th Annual Patriotic 
Concert performed by 
the Southern California 
Mormon Choir. What 
a spectacular evening 
it was, and everyone 
left feeling proud to 
be an American and 
with an even deeper 
appreciation of our wonderful country, its heritage 
and all the men and women who have made 
sacrifices to keep our country so great.

 The evening began with a special VIP reception. 
President Walter Steimie and Duarte Council 
Member Margaret Finlay warmly welcomed 
all guests. Distinguished guests included 
Congresswoman Judy Chu, Mayors Bob and wife 
Patsy Harbicht of Arcadia, Joe and wife Linda 
Rocha of Azusa, John and wife Chris of Duarte, 
and Mary Ann Lutz and husband Corey of 
Monrovia. Duarte School Board President Reyna 
Diaz and husband Ruben, past Duarte Mayor Lois 
Gaston, Ulisses Gutierrez of the “Y-Life” Project, 
writer Charlotte Schamadan, Margaret’s parents, 
Helen and Ed Fergusson, and her sister and 
brother-in-law, the Crumps also attended.

 After the reception, we walked to the beautiful 
chapel and enjoyed the Program. President 
Walter Steimie welcomed everyone, recognized 
the distinguished guests in the audience and the 
show began. The Presentation of Colors was by 
the Junior ROTC Color Guard, from Gladstone 
High School on Azusa, followed by the Pledge of 
Allegiance, National Anthem, and Invocation by 
Bishop Carl Kao. 

 The opening selection was most appropriate-
“This is My Country”. Part I included “Ching-A-
Ring Chaw”, “Shenandoah” and “Down by the 
Riverside”. 

 For Part 2, we were entertained by the Combe 
Family, including piano solo, “I’ve Got Rhythm”, 
and vocal renditions of , “Route 66”, “Lady’s Maid”, 
and “The Brotherhood of Man”.

 An American Celebration encompassed 
Part 3, including patriotic trilogy, “America the 
Beautiful”, “Golden Dream” and “Battle Hymn of 
the Republic”.

 After the three musical presentations, it was 
time for guest speaker, Congresswoman Judy Chu, 
the first Chinese-American woman to be elected 
to Congress. Dr. Chu has taught, been on a city 
council, served in the California Assembly, and 
after Hilda Solis left her position in Congress to 
become Secretary of Labor, Judy stepped up and 
was elected to Congress.. Judy is a champion of 
all workers, immigrants, and veterans. She feels no 
veterans should be homeless. Judy also reminded 
us that her father fought in World War II and was 
very proud to be an American veteran. 

 After Congresswoman Chu’s address, Part 4 
included “Heal Our Land”, followed by a “Salute to 
Armed Forces”, all five branches: 
Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine, 
and Coast Guard. During each 
selection, a member of that 
branch from the Church came 
back on stage, in full uniform. 
Representing the Coast Guard, 
was Lieutenant Jeanie Crump, 
Margaret’s niece, who had 
flown down from the Bay 
area where she is assigned. 
The program concluded with 
everyone singing together, Lee 
Greenwood’s, “God Bless the 
USA”.

 Congresswoman Chu 
presented a beautiful 
Certificate to the Arcadia 
Stake of the Mormon Church 
for this wonderful celebration. 
Margaret Finlay came on 
stage, joined Walter Stemie 
and thanked Congresswoman 
Chu for attending and her inspirational address. 
Then Mrs. Finlay spoke of the role of the 
Church in ancestral research. She presented 
the Congresswoman with a special album that 
explained the Chu’s genealogy and had a picture 
of the ship that Chu’s parents had come to 
America on! The Congresswoman was just blown 
away and so grateful! The final Benediction was by 
Lucy Young, and a wonderful evening ended with 
refreshments and camaraderie among all.


WHY SURVIVAL SKILLS? by Christopher Nyerges

[Nyerges is the author of “How To Survive Anywhere,” and other books, and 
has taught survival skills since 1974]

 I’ve had several conversations recently with friends and associates 
about the current thinking on “survival” and self-reliance issues. Some 
folks are interested in surviving in the woods with next to nothing. Some 
are just interested in taking care of themselves in an emergency.

 I had to think back to my earliest interests, where I wanted to go 
backpacking and carry as little weight as possible. I found an answer 
by studying the ethnobotany of the local indigenous people, and have 
studied this fascinating field ever since. I was also studying the methods of 
modern agriculture, post-green revolution, and its effects on the soil and 
nutrition. I also studied how food is stored, processed, and transported 
in our economic system. The complexity was somewhat alarming to my 
teenage mind, and I oft wondered how food ever gets to anyone’s table! 
I could see many scenarios where our accepted normal way of life could 
be easily disrupted. 

 In a nutshell, that is what put me on the path I’m on today.

 I recently had a short meeting with the founder of an organization devoted exclusively to the study 
and education of survival in all aspects. Richard White, with his military background, was so intent 
on this focus that he began regular study groups in the 1960s called the Noah Seminars, where the 
intent was to share the facts of our world situation and to work to find solutions that could actually 
be put into practice. 

 When reading some of the minutes of those early meetings, they concerned themselves with 
wilderness survival and physical survival, but their concern was much broader than that. They focused 
on verifying the geologic and ecological changes in the world, both those man-made and natural. 
They looked at the economic issue that were even then threatening to undermine our security in the 
U.S. They examined the health of the individual, the cities, and our poor methods of communication. 
And perhaps most importantly, they examined how our moral, ethical, and spiritual weaknesses were 
threats to our survival.

 Each of these areas has since been the subject of many books – perhaps hundreds in some cases. 

 My meetings with members of the Noah Seminars, and the non-profit that grew out of it [WTI, go 
to www.wtinc.info], had an increasingly greater influence on the way that I perceived the world, and 
the solutions that were both practical and right to pursue.

 In fact, to this day, I feel that many of the so-called “survival schools” and survival ideologies are 
sorely lacking because they focus very narrowly on one very limited aspect of that vast spectrum of 
what is meant by “survival.”

 During my recent brief meeting with founder White, he shared that part of his original stimulus 
was the fact that the U.S.S.R. had plans to bomb those parts of Los Angeles County where we lived. 
Local targets included the nearby aerospace facilities, the communication towers on Mount Wilson, 
and other strategic targets. Since he felt then that there was a significant possibility of such a bombing 
actually occurring, he explained to his students that such an event would mean that you simply 
couldn’t go to the local store or fast food place for lunch. The study of wild foods became mandatory, 
as well as some of the skills of hunting and food procurement. Today, it has become somewhat “hip 
and cool” to grow only foods in one’s yard, rather than lawns and ornamentals. This is a good sign.

 Physical fitness was also stressed, since in the event of a bombing scenario, one might have no 
choice but to evacuate. That would mean a few days, or longer, of evacuating on foot, carrying all of 
your needed gear, and folks who were excessively overweight or out of shape simply wouldn’t be able 
to do this.

 Another part of the thinking was that, assuming such a scenario actually happened, “law and 
order” would be non-existent, and various gangs would exert control and authority. It would be 
essential to be able to defend oneself and one’s family. Firearms and martial arts were essential.

 These are just a few of the many ways in which we approached survival-thinking and preparedness. 
Through non-sectarian spiritual studies, we also explored how our honesty and dishonesty can affect 
the situation we find ourselves in. In fact, we studied many of the precepts of all major religions as a 
way to find those higher “survival tools” of right living that could only serve us well. These continue 
to be included in many of my writings and the classes I conduct, as well as in all the classes WTI 
conducts.

 Of course, we are not living in the same world situation as we were in the 1960s. Some things are 
better, some are worse. Things always change, and part of a good survival-strategy is to stay abreast 
of the news, understanding how the political situation can affect us locally and personally.

 It is still my belief that the Golden Rule is the best policy, and that the world would be transformed 
if we all practiced that. Unfortunately, we must recognize that most folks do NOT practice that simple 
precept, which is why the world is the way it is. Still, by awareness of the full scope of survival, and 
by attempting to develop in all these areas, we become fuller human beings. We become part of the 
solution. Our thinking on survival should not be simply about my own personal well-being, but 
should include our concern and compassion for everyone.

 As always, I invite your comments and questions, and welcome you to attend any of the classes we 
conduct. 

 See our Schedule at www.ChristopherNyerges.com, or write to School of Self-reliance, Box 41834, 
Eagle Rock, CA 90041.


Reduced!