We'd like to offer another way to help your children with our online communities. Don't forget to tell your children about BZ2 and Bratzone where they can meet other children also coping and enter fun giveaways and contests!

New Boardbook Version of 

"Daddy, You're My Hero!" 

preview available exclusively at Books for Brats site www.booksforbrats.net 

We are now accepting pre-orders for July 25 shipping!

www.otonomimedia.com/bz2

online community for teens

DVD & CD GIVEAWAYS!

ATTACK OF THE KILLER ROCK SOUND IS ALL ABOUT YOUR TOWN!

The first 7 people to submit listings to the 'BZ2 INSPECTION' directory will receive a FREE "Attack of the Killer Rock Sound" DVD!  Featuring: System of a Down, Good Charlotte, Chevelle, Vendetta Red, Audioslave, The Raveonettes, Mudvayne, Incubus and MORE! 19 KILLER music videos in one cool DVD.

Did you listen to the FREE download below? Did you like it? Want to win an AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF HIS NEW CD "POOR MAN'S SON"?

Well, ONE luck winner will! How? E-mail us your suggestion for the next BZ2 Poll question at bratzonecontact@aol.com

5^TH ANNUAL MILITARY CHILD EDUCATION COALITION CONFERENCE

“Staying the Course: A Commitment to Children"

            Gen. Tommy Franks, who commanded coalition forces that quickly defeated the opposition forces in Iraq, will be one of the keynote speakers at the 5^th Annual Military Child Education Coalition Conference July 23-25, 2003, in Mystic/Groton, Connecticut.

            The conference, expected to have a record attendance, will carry the theme of "Staying the Course: A Commitment to Children." It will be held at the Mystic Marriott Hotel in Mystic/Groton.

            Gen. Franks, the combatant commander for the United States Central Command, will be one of an impressive array of military leaders speaking at the event, including Admiral Walter F. Doran, commander of the United States Navy Pacific Fleet; Gen. James T. Hill, combatant commander for the United States Southern Command; Rear Admiral Robert C. Olsen Jr., superintendent, United States Coast Guard Academy.

Cokie Roberts, nationally known journalist and former co-host of ABC’s This Week television news program; and Frank Schaeffer, best-selling co-author of Keeping the Faith: A Father/Son Story of Love and the U.S. Marine Corps, will speak on the impact of transition on mobile families.

            A new addition to this year's conference program will be special topic seminars featuring Frances Hesselbein, chairman of the board of the Leader to Leader Institute, and Dr. Lauren Resnick, co-founder and co-director of the New Standards Project.

            Another special topics presenter will be Eugene Hickok, Undersecretary of Education, who heads the implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act for the US Dept. of Education.

The distinguished speakers list includes Lt. Gen. (Ret.) John Dubia, speaking on admission to a service academy; Evie Hiatt and Brad Richardson, the International Baccalaureate program; Dr. Marian Galbraith, Connecticut 2002 Teacher of the Year; Pat Lambe, DoDEA's senior public relations professional speaking on "Communications;" Dr. Beth Middlemiss, who will spotlight on DoDEA; and Julie Shields-Rutyna, speaking of college affordability.

            There also will be 32 breakout sessions, promising "something for everyone." These range in topics from "Where is Home?'' to "The Total Teacher."

            A two-day Transition Counselor Institute (TCI) will be held July 22 from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. and on July 23 from 8 a.m. until 11 a.m. All three phases of TCI will be offered concurrently.

Four special pre-conference workshops will be held from 8 a.m. until 11 a.m. on July 23. These include a Parent Workshop, Principals and Administrators Seminar, Special Program Leaders Seminar and Installation Family Support and School Liaison Officers Workshop.      

            A special showcase will be held on information and ideas about deployment with a cross-section of presenters: Administrator, Andrea Ackerman, Groton Public Schools, Effects of Deployment; Children's Literature, Michelle Ferguson, author of Daddy, You're My Hero and Mommy, You're My Hero; Family, Kathy Struble, Norfolk Navy Family Services, Outreach Ideas; and Schools, Mike Wilburn, Copperas Cove (Texas) Independent School District, The Student Mentor and Deployment.  This will be a two-hour "come and go" session.

            Conference registration and other information are available on the Military Child Education Coalition web site: www.MilitaryChild.org.

About the MILITARY CHILD EDUCATION COALITION

Begun in 1998, Military Child Education Coalition is a private, nonprofit 501c(3) organization that is focused on the academic and school-related needs of the military-connected child. Addressing transition and other educational challenges faces by the military child, MCEC serves as an incubator of innovative approaches, a conduit of promising practices, and an information source for organizations, educators, and parents. Toward this end, the Military Child Education Coalition does research, develops resources, sponsors institutes, conducts conferences, and publishes information for all constituencies.  MCEC is an active coalition whose members are: military installations, school systems, organizations, corporations, and individuals.