State Senator Dan Lederman, sponsor of the bill for the last three years stated that, “We have achieved our goal of implementing a law that will start the process of protecting countless numbers of students that are bullied in South Dakota schools each year.”

After several rounds of legislative maneuvering and persuasive advocacy, State Senators passed three amendments to the bill to toughen language and protect personal liberties. The first amendment to the bill ensures that all students who are victims of bullying would be equally protected while the second and third amendments to the bill ensure that schools take appropriate measures to implement the law and would also protect schools from frivolous lawsuits.

Lederman had brought legislation in each of the last three legislative sessions. This latest effort targeted the school districts that have not responded to repeated calls by the legislature to adopt policies to protect our children.

Lederman stated “Every child has a right to a safe and supportive learning environment to realize their full potential. Bullying is not an acceptable behavior and will not be tolerated in South Dakota schools. The changes made today ensure that we implement a fair and commonsense policy statewide.”

State Senators passed three amendments to the bill to toughen language and protect personal liberties. The first amendment to the bill ensures that all students who are victims of bullying would be equally protected while the second and third amendments to the bill ensure that schools take appropriate measures to implement the law and would also protect schools from frivolous lawsuits.

State Senator Dan Lederman had brought legislation in each of the last three legislative sessions. This latest effort targets the school districts that have not responded to repeated calls by the legislature. If passed by the House, the bill would go to the Governor for his signature.

Lederman stated “Every child has a right to a safe and supportive learning environment to realize their full potential. Bullying is not an acceptable behavior and will not be tolerated in South Dakota schools. The changes made today ensure that we implement a fair and commonsense policy statewide.”

Full story>> http://ow.ly/1HtPED

SIOUX CITY JOURNAL EDITORIAL: Posted: Saturday, February 25, 2012

South Dakota may be poised this year to join every other state in the nation and adopt anti-bullying legislation for its schools.

Earlier this month, the South Dakota Senate approved an anti-bullying bill on a 27-7 vote. Such legislation stalled in each of the last three legislative sessions. We urge the House to join the Senate in passing the bill, which requires all school districts to adopt a bullying policy, and send the measure on to Gov. Dennis Daugaard for his signature.

We commend Attorney General Marty Jackley and State Sen. Dan Lederman, R-Dakota Dunes, for demonstrating leadership in moving this bill forward. Lederman is a longtime advocate for anti-bullying legislation in the state.

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Guest bartending for charity, Sen. Lederman hopes to raise money for this Siouxland charity at Eldon’s restaurant on Thursday January 5th from 6 to 8 p.m. Proceeds from the sales will be matched by establishment owners Eldon and Regina Roth. Tips will also be accepted to help the organization.

Mid-Step Services has provided vocational and residential services since 1977. Mid-step currently directs 20 programs that help people with mental disabilities join the workforce and gain individual housing.

Click here to register for the event on Facebook>>

The family Lederman refers to sharing Chanukkah with is not limited to those who share his last name. “We are all family, and we should all share the festive spirit together.” Putting his ideas to action, Senator Lederman is inviting the entire Sioux Falls community to come join in a public Menorah lighting event at the Washington Pavillion on the evening of Tuesday Dec 27th – the final night of Chanukkah, at 5:30 PM.

The spreading of light is the message that the Menorah shares with all people, and it is something that is universally positive and is above the divisions of race and faith. The Menorah, a traditional eight Branched Candelabra is lighted in the evening on each of the eight nights of Chanukkah, which this year, spans from the evening of Dec 20th to the afternoon of Dec 28th.

A pair of Chabad Roving Rabbis will be conducting the service.. Rabbi Yisroel Glick who travelled through North and South Dakota in the summer, was witness to widespread flooding throughout the Midwest, from Sioux City all the way up to Minot. “With what this region has had to deal with this past year” said Rabbi Glick “I believe that we can all benefit from sharing the warmth and light that the Menorah generates”.

He is joined on this trip by Rabbi Shmuel Graj who addresses the six foot tall Menorah they will be lighting next week “It is rather large, but travelling in from the east coast and lighting the Menorah across three different states in the Midwest, it also has to be transportable.” The Menorah travels in pieces in a duffel bag, and will be assembled at the Pavilion where it will be lit in a traditional event that Lederman hopes the entire community will come and share in together.

Rabbi Graj explained that Chanukkah is a festival that with its spreading of light, celebrates religious freedom. “This freedom is protected by the constitution of this countryand allows us to take it for granted” said Graj, “and Chanukkah is a time when for a brief moment, we take a break from taking it for granted, remembering the freedom that once was not, and celebrating the freedom that is.”

“The story behind the festival and the light of Menorah and its message are warming and relevant to everyone,” Glick says “and following the leadership and inspiration of The Lubavitcher Rebbe – Rabbi M.M. Schneerson, we spend Chanukkah on the road travelling and sharing it with various communities.” Over the course of the past week, the Rabbis have performed ceremonies at the South Dakota State Capitol in Pierre, Woodbury County Courthouse in Sioux City IA, the ND State Capitol in Bismark, and Grand Forks ND.

The Rabbis who visited Senator Lederman in his temporary home when his family was evacuated during the floods, look forwarding to sharing participating in an event together with the Sioux Falls community.

“And of Course, Chanukkah just wouldn’t be Chanukkah without Potato Latkes” adds Lederman. The Roving Rabbis will be preparing and serving the kosher fried potato pancakes whose warm aromatic presence has been a staple part of Chanukkah celebrations for generations.

The lighting will be held at the Washington Pavilion at 5:30 pm on Tuesday December 27th.

Read more from the Pierre Capitol Journal

Joined by the Speaker of the Alberta Legislature, Ken Kowolski, the group learned about the legislative process and received briefings from the energy department. Legislators were given a power point presentation on the Alberta Oil Sands and the unique trade relationship between the United States and Canada. Click here to see the slideshow.

Senator Lederman spoke about the trip, “It was a great opportunity to see the energy development in Canada and to see where the United States imports most of its oil.” Senator Maher said, “the companies operating in Alberta are producing an increasing amount of crude oil while practicing best available methods to reclaim the land to its original condition.”

The group traveled to a mining project in northern Alberta near Fort McMurray. The mine was operated by Syncrude and used a process of extracting oil from tar sands. The mining process strips the upper layers of soil to reveal the vast oil deposits. After extracting the petroleum, the leftover sand and clay is replaced. Syncrude has reclaimed thousands of acres of land to its original habitat and planted over five million trees since it began operations. Click here to see photos from the Syncrude site.

The next stop on the tour was a Steam Assisted Gravity Drilling site operated by Devon Energy near Conklin, Alberta. The process of using steam to melt bitumen uses a very small footprint. The SAGD process is used to access petroleum deposits that are deeper in the ground. The Devon site produces approximately 20,000 barrels a day. Estimates show that Canada has a potential of recovering 1.7 trillion barrels of oil from the oil sands area using this process. Click here to see photos.

Sen. Lederman at Syncrude Mine in Alberta

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Please give remembrance to those who stood to preserve our nation and the freedom of the next generation. Also remember the brave men and women who have given the ultimate sacrifice. Freedom isn’t free.

As a veteran I am proud of my service and want to thank all the service men and women that currently work hard to protect our country.

2010 National Winner Anisha Gururaj

The North Sioux City American Legion Post #319 will be holding an oratorical contest on December 1^st at 7 p.m. at  the North Sioux City Seniors Center. Top selection will win $250 and advance to the district level.  Students are encouraged to compete by writing an 8 to 10 minute speech regarding the United States Constitution.

The American Legion High School Oratorical Scholarship Program is an opportunity for students seeking funding sources for continuing education and an academic challenge. Students learn about our country’s Constitution in a contest that has been held by The American Legion for more than 70 years.

The main purpose of The American Legion High School Oratorical Scholarship Program is to develop a deeper knowledge and appreciation of the Constitution of the United States on the part of high school students. Other objectives of the contest include the development of leadership qualities, the ability to think and speak clearly and intelligently, and the preparation for acceptance of the duties and responsibilities, the rights and privileges of American citizenship.

For more information visit http://www.legion.org/oratorical or contact American Legion Officer Dan Lederman at dan@danlederman.org