Gordon MacLelland is the CEO of ‘Working with Parents in Sport'.  A coach of 20 years, with experience at all age levels from Under 7 to adults.  He is a qualified teacher and has been Director of Sport at an independent prep school in the UK for the last 10 years. He has worked in schools in both the UK and New Zealand. Gordon set up ‘Working with Parents in Sport’ after 20 years as a teacher and as a coach to all age levels from 7 year olds to Adults. He has a BA/Hons degree in Sports Science from University College Chester and a PGCE from Lancaster University. He is a qualified teacher and has been Director of Sport at an independent prep school in the UK for the last 10 years. He has worked in schools in both the UK and New Zealand for the last 16 years.

He is the author of two books, ‘Great Sports Parenting’ – A pocket guide for parents of children in sport and ‘Engage’ – A coaches guide to building positive relationships with parents. In recent times he has become a parent to two children and the early sporting experiences of his own children prompted him to set up the company as well as write the two books above.

As a speaker he brings a wealth of experience to working with organizations, coaches and parents gathered through 20 years as a teacher and coach as well as a parent currently involved in children’s sport.

‘Working with Parents in Sport’ supports parents and coaches in working together to provide children with the best possible sporting experiences. We are a UK based company that works with sporting organizations globally, providing unbiased information that understands the difficulties that parents and coaches face in today’s world. Our partners currently include amongst others, England Rugby, UK Coaching, Cricket Scotland, Northern Ireland FA, Sport Northern Ireland and the Little Athletics franchise in Australia.

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, now in her fifteenth term as the Congresswoman for the District of Columbia, is the Chair of the House Subcommittee on Highways and Transit. She serves on two committees: the Committee on Oversight and Reform and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Before her congressional service, President Jimmy Carter appointed her to serve as the first woman to chair the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. She came to Congress as a national figure who had been a civil rights and feminist leader, tenured professor of law, and board member at three Fortune 500 companies. Congresswoman Norton has been named one of the 100 most important American women in one survey and one of the most powerful women in Washington in another. The Congresswoman's work for full congressional voting representation and for full democracy for the people of the District of Columbia continues her lifelong struggle for universal human and civil rights.

Congresswoman Norton's accomplishments in breaking barriers for her disempowered district are matched by her success in bringing home unique economic benefits to her constituents. Among them are senatorial courtesy to recommend federal judges, the U.S. Attorney, and other significant federal law enforcement positions for the District; up to $10,000 per year for all D.C. high school graduates to attend any public U.S. college or university and up to $2,500 per year to many private colleges and universities; a unique $5,000 D.C. homebuyer tax credit, which has sharply increased home ownership in the District and was a major factor in stabilizing the city's population; and D.C. business tax incentives, including a significant wage credit for employing D.C. residents, which has maintained businesses and residents in the District.

Congresswoman Norton also has brought significant economic development to the District of Columbia throughout her service in Congress, creating and preserving jobs in D.C. The most significant are her work in bringing to D.C. the U.S. Department of Homeland Security headquarters compound, now under construction, and is the largest federal construction project in the country; her bill that is developing the 55 acre-Southeast Federal Center, the first private development on federal land; her work that resulted in the relocation of 6,000 jobs to the Washington Navy Yard; and her successful efforts to bring to the District the new headquarters for the U.S. Department of Transportation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, along with an additional Metro station at New York Avenue, which has resulted in the development of the NOMA neighborhood.

Congresswoman Norton helped end the city's most serious financial crisis in a century, in the 1990's,by achieving a historic package that for the first time restructured the financial relationship between Congress and the District, by transferring $5 billion in unfunded pension liabilities and billions more in state costs to the federal government.

The Congresswoman, who taught law full time before being elected, is a tenured professor of law at Georgetown University, teaching an upper-class seminar there every year. After receiving her bachelor's degree from Antioch College in Ohio, she simultaneously earned her law degree and a master's degree in American Studies from Yale University. Yale Law School has awarded her the Citation of Merit for outstanding alumni, and Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences has awarded her the Wilbur Cross Medal for outstanding alumni, the highest awards conferred by each on alumni. She is the recipient of more than 50 honorary degrees.

Born a Metis’ child, and taken away at the age of three, she found herself in the foster care of a very religious cult, The Holdeman Mennonites from Roblin, Manitoba. At a young age she discovered something wasn’t right, and her questioning and honesty were not welcome.

After struggling for many years, then forced into an arranged, loveless marriage, and immediate motherhood, Shirleylee found her inner courage to leave. For several years she fought for her freedom and the custody of her four young children, removed from her by the Holdeman, Mennonite people.

She is the first woman in Canada and United States to have taken this huge religious society to court. In 1997, in Alberta: a victory: she won sole custody of her children, and then later her divorce.

With a unique voice of a woman who was given isolated schooling to Grade 8, she wrote her passionate autobiography, ‘A World Within A World’, and now speaks on the power of her journey to Self discovery, freedom and forgiveness. No longer the child she was, Shirleylee is a woman who has become the voice for those who cannot speak for themselves, the ones who live in fear and guilt; who know they must move on but have no idea how. She states her purpose is to help people recognize that they alone have the power to change their world, their lifestyle, and their beliefs and come out the other side feeling whole. Being a part of The Metis’ 60 Scoop also, Shirleylee speaks on The Loss of Identity and finding that Sense of Belonging.

Following this life’s purpose, shirleylee is a Life Skills Coach, working with ages 13 and up. She teaches them tools to find their Self Worth, Gratitude, and Communication and to bring joy into their lives. Recently she followed her own joy and married the man of her dreams, her life partner.

To hear Shirleylee speak is literally to see a glimpse through a window into a world that most of us never imagine. To watch audiences, focus on her every word, seeing recognition in their eyes about situations in their own life, then sparking hope that maybe they can change too, is inspiring.

To book Shirleylee for speaking engagements, please reach her through her email or private message on Facebook or Instagram.

~ Mark Francis Dodich

Mark Dodich has provided Astrology and Intuitive Consultations since 1980. Mark holds a C.A.P. (Certified Astrological Professional) from ISAR (International Society of Astrological Research). He is past president of the Oregon Astrological Association, publishes his own newsletter, and is regularly featured in the media.

Mark is a regular speaker on astrological topics at conferences, fairs, and metaphysical venues. He provides his work internationally from his base in Portland, Oregon. Mark has had a monthly column in New Connexions Journal since the mind-1990's. He is also seen in print regularly, having published hundreds of articles. Mark is heard on on radio programs numerous times each year, and is on "Let's Find Out" every quarter at the Equinox or Solstice.

Metaphysical subjects and techniques that empower spiritual growth are a continual source of interest for Mark. His interest in esoteric subjects started while attending Kent State University, near his birthplace in Canton, Ohio. Mark was fascinated with the study of so-called primitive African tribes that could do telepathy, healing, and even had specific knowledge of stars that were not visible to the naked eye before the telescope was invented. He also studied a local spiritualist church camp to understand intuitive abilities, which he later learned were active in the elders of his own family (Catholics, in those days, did not speak of such things!).

Further studies included a healer/counselor certificate, and then a ministry certificate from the Arizona Metaphysical Society, Frank Alper, and the Church of Tzaddi (I am no longer affiliated with the church, and Frank has since made transition). Mark was a board member of the Church of Alice, a spiritualist church, for over 8 years. Mark also took numerous Native America-style medicine wheel training's from Sun Bear and other shamanistic teachings He is a past president of the Oregon Astrological Assn. (two terms) and past treasurer.