Prepare for Red Ribbon Week: Step It Up!

Hi Teen Leaders,

By now you are all into the swing of things in school. I hope this year is proving to be a successful and meaningful one for you. At the beginning of October, many of you met with Lawrence to discuss Red Ribbon Week, which is next week. This is a time for us to remember one man, Kiki Camarena, who gave up his very life to fight illegal drugs because he believed that one person could truly make a difference. This year’s theme is…

Next week will be an exciting time for you to share this message with your school and family. Now more than ever we need to be united in our messages. Prescription drug abuse is on the rise and locally, the number of prescription drug deaths has now surpassed the number of alcohol related traffic accidents in a year. The most frightening part of all this…kids think it is safe to take prescription drugs because they came from a doctor…but everyone’s body responds differently to medication and dosages. We must push on in our education of the community; our young people’s lives depend on it.

Please make sure you are connecting with Lawrence, the youth advisor, and asking questions. We want to make a huge impact next week. Please make sure you take pictures and video. We will post your activities online! So send them in to us right away!

Good luck and thank you for making a difference!

For more information check out this link: http://www.redribboncoalition.com/

Kick Butts T Shirt Run Off!

Lung Shirt

Front:

Inspired By Purposefulness – Officer Buerger

“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.”

John C. Maxwell

(Who is Maxwell?)

Officer Julie Buerger is a role model and a leader. She does not just “talk the talk”. It is her purpose to know, go and show the way. Our good friend Officer Julie Buerger needs our thoughts and prayers.

On June 26, her husband, who is also a police officer, was critically injured in a car accident. Although he is doing better, it will be a long road for him, and for his wife, Julie. Here is why I am writing this blog to you all…she is always there for us. She is at every meeting, every speaking event, and every teen leadership institute. She cares so deeply about our community and especially about all of you.

As the police liaison for East and West Junior Highs, I have personally watched her work to keep our kids safer, healthier and stronger. Being an officer is not a “job” to Julie, it is a purposeful mission…a commitment…a calling. We are fortunate to benefit from this purposefulness. So now it is our turn. She is ALWAYS there for us when we need her, giving us encouragement. Let’s do the same for Julie and her husband. Moved by the situation, my five year old son, Jakey, is making Tom a “big people Packer blankie.”

Here is my challenge to all of you…
1. Post a word of encouragement to Officer Buerger and we will send it on to her.
2. Post ideas of kind acts we can do for them.
3. Encourage others outside of our group who know Officer Buerger to also write on our blog for her.

Thank You Teen Leaders…

The first question which the priest and the Levite asked was: "If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?" But... the good Samaritan reversed the question: "If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?" ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

Let’s stop and help…together.

Live…Inspired!

Hilary