STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY TIES….ENGAGE A SENIOR MEMBER OF YOUR COMMUNITY

They are our storytellers – our elderly are meant to be those who share the secrets of wisdom and knowledge and life with our youth. – Cameron Diaz

The simple act of social interaction with an elder member of your community can improve their life and yours; and, as a result strengthen community ties.

Visit with a grandparent, aunt, uncle, elderly neighbor, or get to know someone new in your community by visiting a local assisted living home and participating in their volunteer activities.

There are so many ways that you can make a positive impact on the lives of the residents of an assisted living home. They include: visiting, pet visits, reading and letter writing, playing games such as bingo, cards, and chess, helping with crafts, gardening, and, yes, getting them to tell their stories by reminiscing about family photos.

We all benefit from building strong meaningful relationships with senior members of the community; especially young people. It is through social interaction with the elderly that our youth develop a deeper understanding of the aging process, which ultimately results in their compassion for aging loved ones and the senior community as a whole. In essence, they improve themselves and the world around them.

So, this weekend, take the initiative yourself, or encourage a young person you know, to engage someone who has a story to tell.

And, remember…Feed Your Good Dog, so your good dog always wins!

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YOUTH REVIVE GOOD OLD DAYS IN AMES, IOWA … STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY TIES

A group of young people, ages 10 – 17, took a page out of their local history book and treated their community to a good old fashion block party, with the help of the City of Ames, Iowa and AmeriCorps volunteers.

According to AmeriCorps’ Amanda Martin, the Tripp Street Block Party, was held this past Saturday, July 25 and was completely organized by about 12 young people. Over a month’s time they planned activities, went to businesses for donations, held a car wash to raise money and promoted the event. The City of Ames helped out and debuted its block party trailer called the Street ‘n Greet at the event. The trailer is equipped with everything you could ever wish for to put on a “mac daddy” party, including tables, chairs, a sound system, games, community information and more.

Amanda writes in her blog : The party went off without a hitch. Neighbors came out in full force and enjoyed a great feast, largely prepared by Brenda, the grandmother of one of the girls planning the event. Kids were hula hooping and jumping rope. The youth had a learning station for the younger kids, with books, coloring, educational games, and more. The snow cone machine was a hit with people of all ages. KeeKee led a great dance contest. The whole day was just so much fun.

Amanda concludes her blog with an inspiring observation, I was so impressed with all the work the youth put into organizing this event. If every group I worked with was so motivated and dedicated, I would be ecstatic. The group wants to continue to meet and do service projects, and I am excited to be a part of the creation of this new youth volunteer group in Ames.

Congratulations to everyone, especially the young people of Ames, Iowa, who worked on creating an event so successful that everyone wants to do it all over again! There’s no greater endorsement than that!

And, remember…Feed Your Good Dog, so your good dog always wins!

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In seeking truth you have to get both sides of a story. – Walter Cronkite

And, remember…Feed Your Good Dog, so your good dog always wins!

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It is predicted to be a beautiful day in Atlanta on Saturday!

The Queen of Hearts Foundation, co-founded by Katy Atterbery and Carmen Perez, brings its Cardio Kids program to the Green Market at Piedmont Park, and invites you and your kids to “a day for Awareness and Heart Health Education dedicated to Children. The Cardio Kids is all about an ECO Play Day to share fun outside. Games and activities to get their hearts pumping and to share information as to why it is so very important for them.”

The event takes place in a market setting at Piedmont Park in Atlanta. Cardio Kids’ tent is set up as a drop by where they will lead activities on the hour.

Destination: Atlanta, GA – Queen of Hearts Foundation’s Cardio Kids tent at the Green Market.
Date: Saturday, July 25, 2009
Time: 9:00am – 1:00pm
Location: Piedmont Park’s Green Market
Address: 1071 Piedmont Ave NE
Atlanta, GA 30309

And, remember…Feed Your Good Dog, so your good dog always wins!

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You’ve heard it said that two heads are better than one. Well, two hard working passioniate women show us that two hearts are better than one. Through their vision and hard work, and the creation of the Queen of Hearts Foundation, their combined passion will help make countless hearts stronger.

Most women over the age of 50 don’t live to talk about their heart attack. As a matter of fact, most women don’t talk about heart attacks at all.

Katy Atterbery and Carmen Perez know this all too well through their personal experiences with family and friends. So they took their shared passion and mission and created the Queen of Hearts Foundation. Their goals are to make a difference and empower women regarding their heart health through awareness, education and information.

Katy and Carmen believe that the lives of women of all ages will be saved by raising awareness of heart disease in women and through heart health education, and dissemination of information regarding same. Women will live longer and stronger lives through early awareness and detection, understanding their heart history, impact of lifestyle choices and knowledge of overall heart health.

It is also Katy and Carmen’s vision for the Queen of Hearts Foundation to engage kids of all ages. Its Cardio Kids Club will facilitate programs that will educate today’s children and get them in tune with the beat of their hearts; understanding how peer pressure and the stresses of being a kid can impact their heart health.

Further, through community outreach and interactive initiatives, the Queen of Hearts Foundation will strive to educate the community and unite neighborhoods through its Healing the Heart Program – Informing the Community Campaign.

The Queen of Hearts Foundation helps make hearts stronger through heart health awareness, education and information. Now that’s something to smile about!

And, remember…Feed Your Good Dog, so your good dog always wins!

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The most important single influence in the life of a person is another person … who is worthy of emulation. – Paul D. Shafer

And, remember…Feed Your Good Dog, so your good dog always wins!

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Smile, Laugh, Play. Three small words with huge impact.
Do all three this weekend…lots!
Practice them. Rehearse them. All day Saturday. All day Sunday.
If you see a frown, right it with your smile.
Try a new joke out on a family member, neighbor or friend.
Be playful, start a line dance at a BBQ or other social outing.
Then when your week starts again, however it starts, you’ll be ready to lead with a smile, a joke, or a playful twist.
Smile, Laugh, Play. Lead and motivate others into a positive, energized and productive week.

And, remember…Feed Your Good Dog, so your good dog always wins!

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More and more businesses are feeling the effects of the continued changes in our economy, and they are adapting as a result. When a company must adapt so must its employees. Few people easily accept change. Some will respond positively and some won’t. Following illustrates what happens when positive action prevails:

Our company has been having some hard times and morale is starting to waiver. A group of employees wanted to put together an employee sponsored picnic at the premises and asked others for a few dollars in contributions.

The picnic was a huge success. The process created teamwork. It brought employees together who wouldn’t normally work together and created a bond that wouldn’t otherwise exist. A positive energy was created among employees from the get together that has carried forward into our daily routine with a resulting boost in morale, and thus productivity.

This company’s management team chose to take action and give power to those employees who brought positive solutions to the table and saw the picnic as a way to create fun and teamwork. These actions embody Vincent Lombardi’s immortal thoughts on team: The achievements of an organization are the results of the combined effort of each individual.

And, remember…Feed Your Good Dog, so your good dog always wins!

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The achievements of an organization are the results of the combined effort of each individual. – Vincent Lombardi

And, remember…Feed Your Good Dog, so your good dog always wins!

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This weekend…spend an hour giving a part of yourself to others. Give the gift of life with your blood donation.

According to the American Red Cross, the summer months are a tough time of year to collect enough blood for patients to help them battle an illness or injury. People are away on vacation. High school and college students are out of class for the summer. And, many businesses and industries that host blood drives have fewer staff available to give blood.

Yet the need for blood is constant, no matter what the time of year. Every two seconds, someone in America needs blood. There are countless reasons why someone may need a blood transfusion, including: surgery; serious injury; cancer or burns. Also people with blood disorders may require blood during their treatment.

The reason people give blood is just as varied. They may know someone who has needed blood. They are aware of the continual need for blood and want to make a difference. Or, they know that such a small percentage of those who can give actually do; and some see giving blood as a simple way to give back just because they can.

Please consider taking an hour this weekend and donate blood. You can find a location nearest you by going to the American Red Cross website.

For further information, or to schedule a donation time, you can also visit givelife.org, or call 1-800-GIVE LIFE.

And, remember…Feed Your Good Dog, so your good dog always wins!

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