[blindkid] {Disarmed} Fwd: The Family That Serves Together...

Fri May 16 16:55:09 UTC 2014

I saw this in my mailbox and thought this might be a good  resource of encouragement and inspiration  for those who might want  to involve  their families in community service.  Part of what will really get our youth in the mindset to contribute to addressing community issues later on is to do it now.  What better way to serve than with the family?

 Finally a quick shameless blug:  I look forward to seeing as many of you that can make it at our community service seminar at  National Convention on July 3. registration starts at 6:15 and though the official agenda starts at 7, we’ll have a pre-seminar service forum  that starts at about 6:25.

 in the meantime  enjoy the below!
   Warmly,
  Darian Smith  

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> May 15, 2014
> Volume 21, No. 19
> Circulation: 30,700
> FAMILIES & SERVICE:
> A PERFECT COMBINATION
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> Today is the annual International Day of Families, and to celebrate, we're calling on families everywhere to serve together! After all, we know that a child who has a parent who volunteers is nearly three times more likely to volunteer on a regular basis... why not make it a sure thing and volunteer as a family?
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> To help, YSA offers "Volunteering Tips for Parents of Young Children" with plenty of ideas to help you raise children that care about others and their community. 
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> We also share the first in a four-part "Families and Volunteering" series of blog posts filled with advice and stories from parents across the country.
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> For even more family volunteering information, check out Search Institute's ParentFurther website, especially their page on "Serving Others" with your family. They summarize the importance of serving as a family: "Volunteer work teaches family members the value of caring and giving back. Many families notice how much closer they become when they start serving together - and how much more they appreciate what they have. Research has also shown that when kids volunteer, they are building up their Developmental Assets, the 'building blocks' they need in order to grow up to be caring, successful, resilient adults." 
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> Plan to spend some time serving with your kids soon. 
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> NEWS FROM THE FIELD
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> National Lemonade Days: Fighting Childhood Cancer One Cup at a Time
> June 6-8
> Ten years ago, 8-year-old ALSF founder Alex Scott issued her lemonade stand challenge to the nation encouraging people everywhere to hold lemonade stands during one weekend in June to help fight childhood cancer - one cup at a time. Now, National Lemonade Days is an annual June tradition that raises over $1 million for childhood cancer research through thousands of stands and events held across the country. Be a part of the tradition and hold an Alex's Lemonade Stand with your friends, family or colleagues during the weekend of June 6-8! When you sign up, you can choose to receive a free kit of materials including posters, balloons, coupons from our sponsors and more! http://bit.ly/1n2fgq6 
> Thank You, Loyal Readers!
> This week marks my 300th National Service Briefing.
> Over the last 6+ years, I've had the pleasure of spending time each week selecting content that I think will provide ideas for projects, funding you can apply for, inspiring stories, or high-quality resources you can put to use in your programs. 
> Each week, I hit send, and hope that when it lands in your inbox, you'll find something useful.  
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> My favorite moments are when I receive a message or hear from someone at a conference saying something like, "I applied for a grant I found in the NSB and got it" or "That resource you featured was so helpful in planning our service project" or "I play the Song of the Week for my students to spark service-themed discussions" or "I copy and paste stories from the NSB into our organization's newsletter... hope that's OK!" It's truly an honor to produce this resource for the field.
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> National Prevention Week 2014 
> May 18-24
> National Prevention Week is an annual health observance dedicated to increasing public awareness of, and action around, substance abuse and mental health issues. Daily themes focus on tobacco use, underage drinking, prescription drug abuse, alcohol abuse, suicide, and mental health issues. There are many ways to make a difference. Explore the National Prevention Week website to learn more about how you can get involved, from planning a community event to participating in the "I Choose" Project. http://1.usa.gov/1iZrbWf 
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> If you regularly read the NSB, and find it useful, please consider making a donation to YSA.  
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> Will you contribute $30 to YSA today to help us continue to publish the NSB each week? 
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> YES! I want to make a gift to YSA to support the National Service Briefing.
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> Thanks again for your loyal readership, and I look forward to sharing another 300 NSBs with you! 
> - Michael Minks, YSA   
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> GRANTS & AWARDS
> Find more Grants & Awards in the most recent Grants Alert edition of the NSB. 
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> State Farm Student Achievement Program
> Deadline: June 6
> K-12 public school teachers in the United States and select Canadian provinces are invited to apply for YSA's State Farm Student Achievement Program to implement an extended service and learning program in their classroom, school, or school district. Funding of $1,000 for one-classroom, or up to $4,000 for school districts or groups of teachers is provided, as well as training and ongoing consulting from YSA's education experts. Learn more at: www.YSA.org/studentachievement     
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> A program introduction webinar for all interested applicants will be held on May 19 at 5:00 PM Eastern. Register at http://bit.ly/1hrqhks    
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> National Child Awareness Month Youth Ambassador Program  
> Deadline: June 19
> The National Child Awareness Month Youth Ambassador Program is for young leaders who want to take their campaigns, causes, and service activities to the next level. The year-long program funds and trains youth (ages 16-22) to lead community change. Ambassadors receive a $1,000 project grant and a trip to Washington D.C. for an amazing training program. Fifty-one NCAM Youth Ambassadors will be selected - one per state and the District of Columbia - creating a powerful national network of young people who raise their collective voice in service to other youth. "Early decision" is deadline May 19, regular deadline is June 19. Apply at www.YSA.org/ncam          
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> Captain Planet Foundation EcoTech Grants
> Deadline: May 31
> The Captain Planet Foundation (CPF) is pleased to announce a competitive grant program in partnership with the Ray C. Anderson Foundation. Sixteen (16) $2500 grants will be awarded to schools or non-profits organizations for the purpose of engaging children in inquiry-based projects in STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) that use innovation, biomimicry / nature-based design, or new uses for technology to address environmental problems in their communities.  http://bit.ly/1sxBGB1   
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> Teens Drive Smart Video Contest
> Deadline: June 19
> The Teens Drive Smart Video Contest is now accepting entries until June 19. If you're 16-21, and have a compelling, creative idea of how to show teens to be safer drivers, make a short video (25 or 55 seconds) about it, then register and enter it for a chance to be a 2014 Teens Drive Smart Video Contest winner! The top filmmaker will receive a $20,000 college scholarship; and your video could be broadcast by Bridgestone Americas as a public service announcement on TV stations around the country. Ten finalists will win a new set of tires. http://bit.ly/1sxCeXH 
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> EVERYDAY YOUNG HEROES
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> Nina Manuel 
> Rome, GA
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> YSA honors Nina Manuel, 16, of Rome, Georgia for raising money for hospitalized children through the creation of handmade stuffed teddy bears. Nina founded Share-A-Bear in the spring of 2013 and creates teddy bears to benefit hospitalized children. Nina, who started her project to raise money for her Relay for Life team, sells her handmade bears and donates the money to charity.  
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> Read more about Nina's service - including how her entire family is involved - at: www.YSA.org/nina_manuel  
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> Read about all the recent Everyday Young Heroes at www.ysa.org/tags/everyday_young_hero   
> To nominate a young person who has improved their community through service to be recognized as an Everyday Young Hero, please visit www.ysa.org/eyh_nomination  
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> RESOURCES & TRAININGS
> Free Service Learning for Kids Book Downloads from CBK Associates
> They are all yours: four service learning titles that make up the Service Learning for Kids series. The books cover four themes that can inspire and engage students all over the world: Hunger and Homelessness, Literacy, Animals, and Climate Change. In every book, students learn about the service learning process, have a range of experiences to gain knowledge, read about what other youth are doing, and construct their own plans for action. http://bit.ly/1hAKdSZ 
> Newseum "Speaking of Change" Institute for Teachers
> July 16-18 in Washington, DC 
> In partnership with Annenberg Learner, the Newseum is excited to offer a FREE three-day institute for teachers using new media. This unique professional development opportunity will focus on learning from successful movements of social change throughout history and will include hands-on activities, exploration of artifacts at the Newseum with an archivist, and time to explore the museum independently.  The Institute itself is free, but travel and lodging are not provided. http://bit.ly/1iZn8ZS 
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> First in the Family: Advice About College from First-Gen Students
> WKCD's newly updated First in the Family website contains essential student-to-student advice, videos, planning checklists, a complete and annotated list of resources, and more for with students who seek to put and keep college in their sights. Also available are free e-book versions of First in the Family: Your High School Years, which helps high school students along the college path, and First in the Family: Your College Years, which speaks to those just entering college. http://bit.ly/1qGLpt5 
> Teen Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention PEERx Educators Guide
> The PEERx Educators Guide provides a central listing of NIDA's teen prescription drug abuse resources. The guide includes descriptions and links to drug abuse facts, activity guide, blogs, videos, lesson plans, and infographics. Additionally, it includes examples of how state and local organizations have utilized these resources in their communities. http://1.usa.gov/1iQFpnP  
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> SERVICE CALENDARS
> CONFERENCES & EVENTS
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> Conference on Volunteering and Service 
> June 16-18, 2014 - Atlanta, GA
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> Summer Service Learning Institute 
> July 14-16, 2014 - Rensselaerville, NY  
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> More Powerful Together: The 26th Annual 
> National Service-Learning Conference 
> April 8-11, 2015 - Washington, DC
> SEASONS OF SERVICE
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> May 2014
> Global Youth Traffic Safety Month - May
> National Foster Care Month - May
> Asian Pacific American Heritage Month - May
> National Preservation Month - May
> National Family Month - May 11-June 15 (Mother's Day-Father's Day)
> World Day of Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development - May 21
> National Missing Children's Day - May 25
> World No Tobacco Day - May 31   
> SONG OF THE WEEK
> American Authors - "Best Day Of My Life" (Acoustic)
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> "I had a dream so big and loud 
> I jumped so high I touched the clouds
> ...
> But all the possibilities
> No limits, just epiphanies
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> I'm never gonna look back, woah
> I'm never gonna give it up, no
> just don't wake me now
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> I hear it calling outside my window
> I feel it in my soul."
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> YSA FUNDING PARTNERS
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> THE EDITOR
> 
> Mike Minks
> Director of Development & Innovation
> Editor-in-Chief, National Service Briefing
> mminks at ysa.org  
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Darian Smith
Chairperson, Community Service Group -National Federation  of The Blind.
(415)215-9809
dsmithnfb at gmail.com
The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the
expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles
between blind people and our dreams. You can have the life you want;
blindness is not what holds you back.

“
 "I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve”
 - Albert Schweitzer.

 Your  unwanted vehicle can be  just what the blind need to make possibilities reality.    
> Donate your car to the National Federation of the Blind today!
> For more information, please visit: www.carshelpingtheblind.org or call 1-855-659-9314