Feb 222011
 
 


stop bullying
Originally uploaded by misscupcake1

Kindness, like a boomerang, always returns.  ~Author Unknown

Last weekend I attended both the Writer’s Workshops and the “Readers’ Day” at the Amelia Island Book Festival, treating myself to two full classroom days with remarkable and generous authors willing to show up and teach. Always anxious to become more literate in social media, I attended David-Matthew Barnes’ class on that topic.  After falling just a little bit in love with DM’s teaching style I decided to pick up one of his books for young adults.  I chose Mesmerized, a story about a young woman named Serena after her gay brother was murdered.

Interesting how and when people and their ideas show up in our lives…. Tomorrow is Pink Shirt Day — a growing anti-bullying awareness event that started with a single act of kindness.

As an advocate for kids and parents, I’m concerned about violence of any kind. Last year, as a result of contributing a few blog articles I connected with some wonderful family advocates, some of whom are becoming friends.

  • Annie Fox is an author and educator with a passionate yet common sense approach. One of the things I appreciate about her is a statement on her site that says “No one solution to bullying fits all; Anyone who says that is wrong.” I encourage you to take a look.
  • Marjie Knudsen is a Mom and the author of BRAVE: Be Ready and Victory’s Easy about Danny, who struggles with social anxiety. In addition, she’s wonderful connector. I’ve learned about a lot of great resources by following her on Twitter (@MarjieKnudsen).
  • Sam Horn, best known for her work helping others create the perfect pitch…. is also the author of Take the Bully by the Horns.

By its nature bullying isolates victims.  While it is an enormously complex social problem, it’s one that thrives in secrecy and feeds on silence.  I choose to believe that awareness is helps. Whether or not you know someone who is being bullied please reach out… share resources…. raise awareness. Feel free to add any resources you like in the comments.

Nobody can do everything…. but each of us can do something.

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Feb 012011
 

Confession:  I was more than a little surprised the other day when my assistant asked me about the “nature of my issue with Girl Scout cookies.”  I didn’t think I had one.  So she reminded me that in the past week or so I had:

  • been quick to add a comment to parent coach Keyuri Joshi’s blog post on the topic
  • sparked a minor controversy in my VolunteerSpot post on effective fundraising
  • and perhaps may have even forwarded said posts to some of the direct selling friends and clients in my life who just may have gotten just a hair carried away “helping” their daughters and granddaughters sell cookies.

Hmm.  Yep – I did all of that.  But my “issue” is not with Samoas, Trefoils or Thin Mints… or girls in scouting.

If my primary job as a parent is to prepare my child for adult life then I need to resist the temptation to make a habit of doing FOR them the things they need to do for themselves.  (I didn’t build my son’s Pinewood Derby car either – does that make me a Tiger Mom?)

That’s why I don’t like buying Girl Scout cookies from adults.  And, as I said in the fundraising post, I’m not a fan of stopping to chat outside the grocery store while the frozen food items are still frozen.

So, to be clear: I’m a big fan of Girl Scouts and of effective fundraisers – especially the kind that help kids to learn and grow in the process.  Have you read about Kirsten? I did.  And it was because of a remarkable achievement: last year she sold one thousand three hundred one (1,301) boxes of Girl Scout cookies.

To begin to put this in perspective, I’ve learned that the sale of 300 boxes is considered exceptional.  In addition, her parents work from home and didn’t provide that “order sheet in the break room shortcut” (ugh – don’t get me started again).

However the most impressive part of the story is that when Kirsten was diagnosed with autism at age four, it was so severe that she didn’t speak.  This is the girl who, at age 15, sold almost twice as many boxes of cookies as the next highest seller in her area – that vast majority through door-to-door face-to-face direct sales.

And that, my friends, is why I think selling Girl Scout cookies is important.

Jan 302011
 

I just discovered The Literacy Toolbox blog. She’s got lots of great resources and strategies for enhancing this most important skill. Leaders are readers. Enjoy!

Tool Time Rewind: A Month in Review at Literacy Toolbox December tends to be a month of giving.  So, I thought it appropriate to spotlight literacy organizations that are in the habit of giving. The Reading Tub The Reading Tub is a volunteer-driven, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting reading and literacy.  They provide book reviews, author showcases, and literacy links for families.  Read how The Reading Tub got started from the Executive Director, herself, Terry Doherty. Reading is Fundam … Read More

via Literacy Toolbox

  •  January 30, 2011
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