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August 2009 That Reminds Me
Reaching out
 by Emily Schilling
Editor
Back in 1970, Diana Ross launched her career as a solo artist with an inspirational love song not for a man, but for mankind. “Reach Out and Touch (Somebody’s Hand),” implored everyone to help each other and “make this world a better place if you can.”
Everyone truly CAN make a difference in their corner of the world. That includes our school age children and grandchildren.
Electric Consumer is proud to sponsor an awards program specifically created for kids in grades 5-8 who are doing good things in their communities.
The call-out for the program, called the Youth Power and Hope Awards, is on the back cover of the printed August Electric Consumer and at this link. As you’ll note, the five winners will be invited to meet and have lunch with Miss America 2009 Katie Stam on Dec. 17. Stam will be speaking at the Indiana Statewide Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives, Inc. 75th anniversary annual meeting in Indianapolis that day.
The 23-year-old Seymour, Ind., native is a tireless advocate of making the world a better place. In fact, she was active in her personal platform, “Promoting Community Service and Involvement,” even before she was crowned Miss America in January.
When I spoke with Stam earlier this year, she stressed anyone can make his or her community better. “Think of those small things that are going to make a difference in somebody’s life,” she said. Small things — sometimes just offering a helping hand, she noted, can make the biggest difference.
That helping hand could be extended in many ways. Spearheading a food drive for a local mission is one example. Or volunteering at the community Relay for Life. Visiting and cheering up a housebound neighbor — something that many folks wouldn’t think twice about doing, because, well, it doesn’t seem like a big deal — is also a great way for those of all ages to make a difference.
If you know of young people actively serving their communities, encourage them to enter our Youth Power and Hope Awards Contest.
Here's a downloadable pdf entry form. To enter, students must tell us what community service means to them, and list and describe their community service activities. Each entry should include a letter of recommendation from an adult non-family member. The deadline to enter is Oct. 2.
Written By: eceditor
Date Posted: 7/27/2009
Number of Views: 274
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