Dont' Touch That Dial

This Saturday, May 15, at 9:00 A.M. three Example members will be on a live radio show, Our World His View.  Tune in to 1500 AM from 9:00 - 10:00 A.M.  as they discuss the benefits of Example and the challenges of promoting a drug and alcohol free life in high school. 

Pastor Brad Smith of St. John Fraser hosts a Lutheran radio show and has various guests each week.  This Saturday Example will share its message to the world, or at least Our World His View's listening audience.

You can be a part of the show.
CALL IN!  The last half hour of the radio show is your chance to call in.  Share your thoughts about the important role Example has in the lives of young men and women and their parents. 
866-423-9578

Graduation Party Drinking Dangers for teenagers AND Parents

Graduation parties are just around the corner.  Here is a great article from the May 6 issue of the Romeo Observer that warns parents and students about the dangers of underage drinking at these gala events.

Police to crack down on grad party drinking

by CHRIS GRAY

Observer Staff Writer

 

If you're a parent living in Romeo who plans on letting your kids and their friends drink during prom or graduation, consider yourself warned.

With milestone events like graduation and prom on the horizon, the Romeo Police Department is cracking down on parents who allow underage drinking to occur. The department is also advising parents to talk with their kids about the dangers of drinking on prom night.
Police Chief Greg Paduch said he has grown concerned because the department has been hearing more and more stories about parents who allow their teenagers to drink at parties, especially those celebrating high school graduation.

"They think they're doing their kids a favor by not allowing them to go out and drive while drinking, but on the other hand allowing them to drink in their own homes is a liability," he said.

He said if the department catches word of a party where underage drinking is taking place and investigates it, they will cite the homeowners and teenagers and will contact the parents of those teens.
"It is not going to be tolerated, I strongly discourage parents from doing it," he said. "It is not a parent's decision to allow other kids to use alcohol."
He said parents may think it is all right because the kids are under their roof, or even if they take their keys, but this doesn't make it okay.
"You could have 30 or 40 kids at your house, you can't keep track of all of 'em," he said. "You don't know if a couple kids have snuck away or somehow gained control of a vehicle."
According to the National Highway Safety Administration, the number one cause of death among youths age 15 to 20 are motor vehicle accidents. In 2005, 28 percent of teens who were killed in motor vehicle accidents had been drinking.
Figures from monitoringthefuture.org show that around 90 percent of 12th-graders surveyed in 2009 said it was "fairly easy" or "very easy" to obtain alcohol.
The penalty for serving alcohol to minors is a misdemeanor offense regardless of circumstances.
Romeo High School's prom is scheduled for May 21. The following are a few tips from the Romeo Police Department about preparing for a safe prom night:

• Know all the "hot spot" destinations that groups may plan to meet at before or after prom.
• Discuss the school's prom rules with your teen and the consequences for violating them.
• Do not rent hotel rooms for prom goers.
• Stay up for a prom-goer's return home and let them know you'll be waiting.

 Residents who have tips regarding parties that may include underage drinking are also encouraged to call the undercover party patrol unit of the Macomb County Sheriff's Office at (586) 307-9375.

Example Kickball Tournament

The LAST Example event of the year is Saturday, May 15.

Get your chums, cronies and a chingu or two or three or more to form your kickball team for the Example Kickball Tournament.

· Each team must consist of only 10 players.
· Each team must have at least four girls.
· Register your team with Mr. Brandt. Registration for each team is $20.00. If you do the math, and it's so simple that even an English teacher can do the math, that averages out to $2.00 per person. Be sure to pick a great name for your team. The team with the best name is spotted 2 runs before the game even begins.  :)
· The first round begins at 5:30 on either the baseball or softball fields.

Not a kickball aficionado? Go anyway to enjoy a hot dog and pop and relax as the year winds down.

The tournament bracket will be posted as soon as all teams have registered.

Pre Prom Activities

There are so many fun and exciting activities that go on before Prom to make sure it's a great event: spirit week, hair appointments, nail appointments, picking up the tux, ordering flowers, assembling the perfect Prom play list, getting the right people at the right table, making sure the batteries in the camera are fully charged and many others.

This week, it has been the same for Example. 

There have been various activities that Example has sponsored to make sure students enjoy Prom, remember Prom, live through Prom and make God-pleasing decisions before, during and after Prom.

On Monday students pulled into the parking lot and saw a crashed car on display.  It's a visual reminder of what to avoid.  On the cars, were statistics that revealed the realistic dangers of drinking:  Each year 5,000 people under 21 die as a result of underage drinking.

There were also scripture passages that reminded students of God's plan for their lives and the source of real strength found in our Creator and Savior: 
"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given him..." -James 1:5

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." - I Corinthians 10:31

On Tuesday Frank M. Jones, III from Macomb Family Services, spoke to the health classes about the pressures, dangers, solutions and alternatives to alcohol and drug use.

...later that evening, Example hosted a town hall meeting discussing various issues of drug and alcohol use to nearly 200 parents and students.

Each day before chapel students explained why they were not drinking or using drugs at Prom.  It took a great deal of courage to stand in front of peers and explain why they care about making God-pleasing decisions, why they care about their bodies, and why they care about their friends.

On Thursday morning students blew up balloons and attached messages that reminded students to make God-pleasing decisions at Prom and every day of their lives.

 

...later that day the students attached the messages to every car in the parking lot.

 

All week students could read the explanations on the bulletin board that explained why people were choosing not to drink during Prom.

Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young,

but set an Example for the believers in speech, in life,

in love, in faith and in purity.

 - I Timothy 4:12

Example's Town Hall Meeting

On April 27 nearly 200 people gathered in the music room to discuss the issue of underage drinking and drug use. 


Nancy Donahue, prevention director for Macomb Family Services, facilitated the night's discussion.  The panel consisted of Reverend Scott Benjamin of Resurrection Lutheran Church in Detroit, an Emergency Medical Technician and five, recovering addicts who shared their stories, struggles, experiences and wisdom with students and parents.


Statistics reveal trends and information concerning this vital issue, but the questions from students and parents, the panel's experience and  the explanations from Nancy Donahue provided meaningful insights that help all in attendance understand and deal with underage drinking and drug use.

I love you, O Lord, my strength.  The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.  He is my shield...and my stronghold.  

                           -Psalm 18: 1,2

What do Example relays look like?

Never been to an Example activity? Why not. Here's what we did at our last event.

Example Relay Night

Saturday's Example event focused on various relay competitions.  Brooke's team didn't win the water relay but at least the ice water cooled her down a bit.   Once again forty-eight teenagers laughed, ate pizza and enjoyed knowing that alcohol does not have to be included to have fun. 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.  Proverbs 3:5-6

The shoe relay was a great idea until you had to pick up somebody else's warm, moist footwear.

If it's an Example night, there must be pizza!

Don't Miss It!

Spring Break Tragedy

"Matt James fell off a balcony. He died. He was 17, four years under the legal drinking age. Police say he was drunk. This would be a tragic story if it were an isolated story. 

It's more tragic because it is not...."

Mitch Albom recently wrote a column on the tragic death of Matt James.  If you think Spring Break and the debauchery that goes along with it is just a high school rite of passage, read this essay.
Click here to read Albom's column

Don't forget about Example's town hall meeting on Tuesday, April 27 at 7:00 where a panel of experts will facilitate a discussion on underage drinking.

Town Hall Meeting

You’re invited to Example’s town hall meeting…

Combating Underage Drinking

Tuesday, April 27 at 7:00 p.m.

in Lutheran North’s music room

· 58% of seniors report having been drunk at least once in their lives

· 20% of 8th graders report having been drunk at least once in their lives

· Young people who begin drinking at 15 are four times more likely to develop alcoholism than those who begin drinking at 21

· 28% of 15-20-year-old drivers who were killed in car crashes had been drinking

What can be done to battle these statistics? Plenty.

Start by attending this town hall meeting as a panel of experts facilitate a discussion on underage drinking, how it affects our community and ways we can combat the problem.

Who should attend?

Parents, teens, teachers, coaches, and ANYONE who cares about this critical issue.

For more information on this event or Example visit www.lhnexample.blogspot.com,

e-mail John Brandt JBrandt@lhsa.com or call him at school: 586-781-9151 ext. 118.