Kony 2012 hits Small Town Shenandoah Iowa

In small town Shenandoah, Iowa we often don't expect a national craze to come here but it did just last night.  My son and I went to see a movie, Three Stooges, and when we got out we found windows and light poles throughout downtown plastered with Kony 2012 cheap posters of copy paper.

Now, I will not offer any opinions on Kony himself, but I will say that I vehemently oppose any individual or group who restrains the liberties of others.  I oppose anyone who rips families apart.  I oppose anyone who instigates military action against the weak or defenseless for personal and prideful reasons.  Now, having said that I, by no means, jump on any bandwagon to apprehend any particular individual.  In my position that would be irresponsible.  Also, we cannot judge soundly from one viral video.  There are still many things we don't know.  I write this in response to the flyers posted all over my town last night.

There are many ways to inform, motivate and convince the people to a certain view.  Using the Internet is among the most expanding and powerful means.  If you are a Kony activist or of some other organized group be creative in using the Internet.  Start a Facebook Page, get a website!  Hey, here's an oldy but goody: go door to door.  Heck, even a few church groups still proselyte by means of door-to-door.  Try it, you might like it!

Look, I admire one's freedom to bring awareness to a situation.  I even support the right to protest it.  However, I really don't appreciate defacing public property or littering our streets over it.  There are much cleaner and more efficient methods of activism than that.  Why go through all the effort and footwork of copying paper and covertly putting them on car windows and light poles?  Here's a thought:  if an action is the right thing to do then why are you compelled to do it in the dead of night when no one is watching?  Well, perhaps that action is not the right thing to do....

For my fellow residents of Shenandoah, Iowa I humbly support your privileges as American citizens.  Assemble how you may but do so with a little confidence and pride in your own community.  If you want Kony down then go for it but please keep your Shenandoah streets looking nice and presentable.  May your worthy efforts prove fruitful!

Child Abuse Prevention Proclamation by Mayor Hunt

By proclamation read at City Council Shenandoah Mayor Richard Hunt declared April 2012 as Shenandoah's Child Abuse Prevention month.  In a heartfelt decree it was noted the importance of abuse prevention for the sake of Shenandoah's youth.  The mayor offered an outreach that businesses, organizations and faiths band together in cooperation in the common cause of preventing child abuse.

Overwhelmingly, the most common reported form of abuse is child neglect.  Though deemed not as important, neglect is just as damaging as any other form of abuse.  Causes for this are many including household finances and employment.  It is unfortunate that an estimated at least half of all child abuse goes unreported.

For the city of Shenandoah may it be stressed to an unhindered degree that our youth are our future and lifeblood of this community.  As parents we bear the duty and responsibility to raise our children in a wholesome and productive manner.  With increased government dependence and moral decay comes the increased mindset of dulled ownership of the mind and will of our household offspring.  This is damaging to the family and a disgusting display of selfish knowledge of open neglect.

Henryville and Marysville Aftermath About Tornadoes

Dozens of lives have been lost in the recent severe storms that raked across the Midwestern and southern states of Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Alabama.  March 1st and 2nd of 2012 will be remembered for a long time for thousands of people in that area.  Especially for those who've lost loved ones or even found loved ones alive in the debris.

Key ingredients came together at this time to foster a hive of severe storms which produced tornadoes.  Warm moist air was streaming northward from the Gulf of Mexico.  Also present was a low pressure system that had just entered the affected area.  Couple those two with the fact that a strong high jet stream flowed southwest to northeast over the greater area.  This spelled disaster and the result is seen on our news reports in the form of death, destruction and recovery.

There are reports that many of these deadly tornadoes had mini-vortices with them.  These "small" tornadoes within tornadoes can arguably be much more damaging than the large tornado itself.  The damage and path of these recent storms are similar to that of the Joplin, Missouri tornado of 2011.  In technical terms these systems are called multi-vortex or wedge vortex because the center of the main funnel becomes unstable, wobbles and spins out up to six vortices that can sustain wickedly fast winds greater than that of the main funnel.  Of course all this is largely meaningless and pure academic to those who've lost everything.

What can you do?  Consider the many possibilities that you can take advantage of to help your fellow mankind in that affected area.  You can donate time and resources to help in the recovery effort.  If you are relatively local to that area your physical efforts would be much appreciated.  However, opportunities to help for the rest of us can take the best form as monetary donations.  The American Red Cross is well familiar with disasters and can always use donations.  The Marysville Fund goes to help the homeless victims in that area.  Funds are sent directly to the charitable and relief organizations who are on the ground assisting at this time.  NOW is the time to donate!

Even if it only takes digging a little deeper into our pockets to help those truly in need then the investment is well worth it.

What is Expense? What is Fundraising?

What is expense?  What is fundraiser?  Most of us want to engage in a worthy cause.  Either we want to physically aid or help in that cause or we want to donate monetary or tangible resources to that cause.  Most causes or donation efforts these days are extremely expensive and are out of reach for any one person to fund.  Yet, if your desire is sincere there are always ways to help.

A fundraiser is a way by which to raise monetary credit to continue in that cause and to make it's mission come to fruition.  What do you feel strongly about?  Fight cancer through a fundraising activity.  Advocate youth programs through awareness efforts.  Whatever the call there is power to be proactive.

Fundraising for the amateur can be intimidating especially if you don't consider yourself a "people" person.  Instead of waiting in the dark corner for the next guy to lead an effort learn to expand your horizons and potential.  Learn to gain a deep testimony of the importance of your cause.  Once you have that rooted in your soul you will then be able to extend that feeling to others.

All of us have life experience in which we become aware of ways we should improve the world around us.  Deaths in the family from various ailments can stir you to an emotional cause of action.  Being affected by drunk drivers can also lead people to want to help others.  Use the difficult times in your life as an opportunity to help the population at large who struggle with that same problem.

Donate to a Cause or Fundraiser

There are many causes out there and to pick and choose can be difficult. I'd recommend pondering what it is you feel passionate about. Whether it be Breast Cancer or Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation there are worthy causes out there.  Of course I'd like to stick in there my cause for funding the Tisovec, Slovakia Delegation Event.

Whichever direction you choose be aware that donating is easier than ever with the help of the Internet.  Most of us have a dollar to spare that would otherwise be spent unwisely.  Forego that purchase of a pop, candy bar or fries from McDonald's and support a person or organization in need.

I would urge all to stand up and make a difference in your home, community and the world.  Be an example of integrity and honor.  There are millions out there in extreme circumstances and we must learn to uplift and help one another.