Motivational speaker Jay Rifenbary will help kick off the 2007-2008 school year on a positive note at Meet the Coaches Night on Thursday, September 6, at 7 p.m. in the Garden City High School auditorium. All residents of the Garden City School District are invited to attend the presentation, which will be geared to adults. Mr. Rifenbary also will present a High School assembly program on Thursday afternoon.

Both presentations will focus on effective, positive strategies for achieving success and balance, whether in sports, academia, family life, or the corporate world. They will emphasize the importance of implementing a "no excuse action plan" based on honesty, integrity, and other key qualities.

Mr. Rifenbary also will discuss the importance of setting goals, taking responsibility for one's self, and harnessing "the power of purpose"-the very standards that the District emphasizes in its character education program.

Parents who attend the evening presentation will come away with positive, effective strategies for supporting the efforts their children make throughout the school year. Middle School and High School Coaches will be on hand for conversation immediately after the presentation.

Based in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Mr. Rifenbary is a nationally known public speaker dedicated to providing individuals and organizations with the resources and training they need to establish and accomplish their goals in a responsible, ethical manner. Mr. Rifenbary currently serves on the Saratoga Springs School Board and is the author of No Excuse! An Action Plan for Success. He holds a Bachelor of Science from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point with a concentration in Nuclear Physics. He was an All-American swimmer, is an avid sports enthusiast, and enjoys the challenges of biking, hiking, downhill skiing and rock climbing.

Mr. Rifenbary's presentation is sponsored jointly by the Garden City School District and PTA.