Star Searcher's  Express
Brought to you by Be the Star You Are!™
P. O. Box 376, Moraga, CA 94556, 877-944-STAR, www.bethestaryouare.org 

   It is not now, and has never been, our intention to send this free newsletter to anyone who does not want it. If you received this in error, please respond with "REMOVE" on the subject line. Forward this to anyone who you think may be interested in its contents. If this was forwarded to you, and you want to receive it monthly, reply with "SUBSCRIBE" in the subject line.  FEEL FREE TO FORWARD THIS NEWSLETTER TO YOUR FRIENDS WHO MAY ENJOY IT. Visit our web site at http://www.bethestaryouare.org.  Please note, by responding to this email, you do not reach the charity.  To reach Cynthia Brian directly, email her at cynthia@bethestaryouare.org.  Thank you.

February 2010

MIRACLE MOMENT®:
"Be glad of life because it gives you the chance to love and to work and to play and to look up at the stars.”  
Henry Van Dyke

• Link Swap

• Spotlight

• Winners Announced

• We Get Mail

• Stellar Happenings

• Gifts for Your Loved Ones

• Important Websites for Be the Star You Are!

• Creative Ways to Give

• About Be the Star You Are!™ charity

• Support the charity -- buy books

• Your feedback

• Subscription information

• Newsletter archive

• Forward this newsletter to a friend

• Contact Cynthia Brian

• Ways to Help

• More Ways to Help

Celebrating 10 years of increasing literacy and providing positive media to our communities.  DONATE $10 for 10 years at 
bethestaryouare.org/donate.htm 

Heart Healthy Month
(c) by Cynthia Brian

February is Heart Healthy month and the heartening truth is that heart disease, the #1 killer of women, is almost entirely preventable. It’s called the silent killer for a reason because by the time you have chest pains or shortness of breath, the process is incredibly advanced. Unless you have a congenital or genetic predisposition to cardiovascular disease, for the most part, you are in control of your heart health.  You can dramatically lower your risk by 80% or more through diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes. Reduce your risk today and here are concrete ways you can do it.

• Check in with a check-up. Go to your doctor to have your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar tests completed. Forewarned is forearmed.

• Eat like a rabbit by increasing leafy greens in your diet. If you grow them yourself, there are even more nutrients.

• Have fun with friends. Socializing lowers blood pressure and reduces stress.

• Get your z’s. Everyone needs seven to eight hours of sleep. The less sleep you get, the more weight you gain, and the harder your heart has to work.

• Exercise daily. Gardening, vacuuming, and chasing the kids through the house all count.

• Volunteer at a charity. People who feel they are making a difference in the life feel good about themselves.

• Increase your omega 3’s by consuming salmon, sardines, and other fish.

• Stimulate your brain through reading, writing, classes, music, and other challenging activities.

• Be positive. You can add seven years to your life by seeing your glass as half full.

• Love unconditionally. Save your heart by having a heart.

Studies have shown that small steps dramatically help your heart. Implement of few of these reduction techniques because the life you save will be your own. Have a happy healthy heart month.

SPOTLIGHT

Recently Be the Star You Are!® charity was charged extra fees for our credit card merchant services. After searching for help, Ben Dwyer of CardFellow® (www.CardFellow.com) helped Be the Star You Are!® understand the issues and find a processor with better rates. What we learned is that credit card processers entice customers with rates that seem lower than they actually are. So when you see mid or non-qualified surcharges on your business’s monthly statement, you’re probably overpaying for processing services. Ben helped us and the representatives at CardFellow® can help you understand credit card processing fees, and then they’ll show you the solution that’s best for your business. Go to www. CardFellow.com to get flat rate and interchange plus credit card processing quotes and save. It’s free to sign up. THANKS, BEN.

WINNERS ANNOUNCED

The excitement mounted as the days for the 6^th annual Be the Star You Are!® national essay contest drew to an end. Sponsored by Bill Gladstone and his book, The Twelve (www.12thebook.com), the contest this year focused on role models.

The entries were excellent and the judges were challenged to find a winner. In the finale, two writers tied for first prize and four writers were saluted with Honorable Mention.  The winners received a cash prize plus received autographed copies of The Twelve, Be the Star You Are!® and another book selection. They also were featured on our radio program, Starstyle-Be the Star You Are! on February 4. You may listen to their interviews at Be the Star You Are! Radio.

http://www.starstyleradio.com/RADIO_SHOWS/Radio_Shows
/Entries/2010/2/4_Heart_Healthy%2C_Backyard_Deer_Hunting%2
C_Be_the_Star_You_Are!_Essay_Winner.html 

The first prize winners are Margaret Montet, a writer and librarian from Hamilton, NJ and Pamela A. Lewis, a French teacher in a Manhattan high school who lives in Queens.

Congratulations to everyone! Next essay contest begins in October, 2010!   

FIRST PRIZE TIE:

Pamela Lewis: Read Essay 

Margaret Montet: Read Essay

Honorable Mention:

• Kiely Wilcox

• Vivien Lee

• Mary Sue Wickman

• Susan Engel

WE GET MAIL  

“Thank you and your teens so much for coming last night to speak about Be the Star You Are!® for TEENS. It was really fun and informative. I've sent your information along to all our Teen Services group about how great you are.” Ruth Boyer, Librarian, Martinez Library 

“I recently received another issue of your StarStyle Spin Newsletter.  Great to read all the good things you are doing!” Amy and Christian, Biz4Kids 

“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you for your generous donation to our organization. We will give the books to area families to read, enjoy and learn from. We donate books to Headstart parents, SWAK (South West Advocate for Kids), WIC (Women, Infants, Children), El Refugio (a domestic violence shelter), and other area programs. Thank you for your generous donation.” Linda Ferrara, Board of Directors – Literacy Link – Leamos, New Mexico 

“My name is Laura and I have had your book “ Be the Star you are” for years. I adore it! It is a cherished gift from my Grandma; the corners are dog-eared and the pages are wrinkled (your book is one of my favorite “bathtub books”)! It has been read and reread many times. I have many favorite stories but “The gift of Love” is by far my favorite, with the “recipe for a healthy body, mind and spirit” a close second.  I had my first child at the end of December and I intend to raise him with the same optimism, love and peace that is present in your book. I have included an image of a recent drawing, inspired by The Gift of Love. Thank you for your passion in inspiring others to be their best.” Laura Feduk, Nanaimo, BC, Canada 

Art: The Gift of Love by Laura Feduk 

STELLAR HAPPENINGS

1. There are several new volunteers working with Be the Star You Are!® these days. Volunteers are blogging, social networking, making movies, writing letters for literacy, and speaking at events.  Rachel, one of our new volunteers signed us up to win $$$ in the Ideas for Change competition. Please take a minute to vote for us: 

"Please vote for Be the Star You Are!® ideas for change to help us make a difference and win money to implement programs. Vote here and share the link: http://www.change.org/ideas/view/empowering_
women_families_and_youth_through_improved_literacy_and_positive_media. Thanks for helping us empower women, families, and youth."

Ideas for Change: http://tinyurl.change.org/NLKWg or http://www.change.org/ideas/view/empowering_women_
families_and_youth_through_improved_literacy_and_positive_media 

2. March 2 at 5pm young contributors to Be the Star You Are! for Teens will present Write on! Write Now! at the Walnut Creek Library at 2661 Oak Grove Rd in Walnut Creek. More information at www.bethestaryouare.com.  Come meet the teens and learn about the writing and publishing process. Books will be autographed and sold. 

3. Are you an aspiring writer? You too can be a best selling author. Attend Author 101 University March 5-6 in Los Angeles where you'll hear top publishing and marketing experts reveal tools and techniques to get your book published and double or triple your income as an author or publisher. Early bird specials available here:  http://www.webmarketingmagic.com/app/?Clk=3491901 

GIFTS FOR YOUR LOVED ONES 

Lots of great gifts all for a tax-deductible donation. Take a peek, then order at http://www.star-style.com/store/index.htm; click on PAYPAL, or send your order to Be the Star You Are!®, PO Box 376, Moraga, Ca. 94556. We can also take Visa, Mastercard, Discover. Email info@bethestaryouare.org and we’ll call you to get your number. 

1.In time for the month of love, we want to offer you the ebook, The Blessings of Love and Relationships for only 49 cents. Let Cupid point his arrow in your direction. Buy it today!

2. Bundling the books. You can now buy the first edition of Be the Star You Are!® 99 Gifts for Living, Loving, Laughing, and Learning to Make a Difference plus the new book, Be the Star You Are!® for TEENS, Simple Gifts for Living, Loving, Laughing, Learning, and Leading for the discounted bundled price of only $35 for both books…and we’ll pay the shipping and AUTOGRAPH them! That’s a savings of $13.00 and it’s a tax deductible donation. 

3. Are you feeling out of balance? A new CD and MP3 with handouts by Cynthia Brian will help you get back on track. A Juggling Act-How to Balance Your Life without Dropping the Balls only $29 plus $3 shipping.

4. T-shirts (white) and Tank Tops (black) with Be the Star You Are!® “read, lead, succeed”. Order at http://www.bethestaryouare.com/Store.html

5. Don’t forget, you can shop ‘til you drop, save money, and do good by shopping on line at either of these places: http://www.goodsearch.com/goodshop.aspx  (choose Be the Star You Are! to support) http://www.amazon.com/shops/be_the_star_you_are_charity 

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT! HAVE A STELLAR MONTH OF LOVE!

IMPORTANT WEB SITE FOR BE THE STAR YOU ARE!®  

CREATIVE WAYS TO GIVE:

BE THE STAR YOU ARE!® believes that information infused with inspiration has the power to transform and change lives. BE THE STAR YOU ARE!® is a library of books and other media that empower women, families, and youth at risk to improve their daily lives. BE THE STAR YOU ARE!® is committed to providing positive role models to help them grow into valued citizens. Through its newsletters, web site, radio, TV, and Star Teen Book Review Team literacy outreach programs, BE THE STAR YOU ARE!® promotes and distributes its ever-growing list of informative positive videos, tapes and books to audiences who would otherwise never obtain these materials. Recipients of BE THE STAR YOU ARE!® products and services include other non profit youth at risk groups, juvenile hall facilities, youth camps and disaster relief.

In an era when violence and skepticism dominate the airwaves, BE THE STAR YOU ARE!® 501 (c)(3) charity offers a refreshing, welcome alternative helping beat the odds encouraging the American Dream

Here are a few ways you can contribute:

Send a tax deductible contribution or offer a monetary tribute or memoriam to a loved one

Buy quantities of the three books which donate sales proceeds to our charity: Chicken Soup for the Gardener’s Soul (HCI), The Business of Show Business and Be the Star You Are! 99 Gifts for Living, Loving, Laughing and Learning to Make a Difference (Ten Speed Press) (Available through our office, on-line, or in stores)

• Donate air miles

• Sponsor our syndicated radio program

• Donate goods that can be auctioned off at an event

• Make BE THE STAR YOU ARE!® the beneficiary of your UNITED WAY donation

• Shop at your favorite stores on-line by visiting our on-line shops at  http://www.bethestaryouare.org/Shop.html

• Sponsor an event making BE THE STAR YOU ARE!® the charitable beneficiary

• Donate through Ebay/Missionfish at http://donations.ebay.com/charity/charity.jsp?NP_ID=1504

• Ask your company to match your donation or make a contribution

• Volunteer time

• Become a Benefactor

• Establish A Charitable Giving Account with an Investment Firm in the name of BE THE STAR YOU ARE!.®

Please join our galaxy of Stars and support BE THE STAR YOU ARE!® with your contributions and/or ask your company to be on our team. Visit the web site at www.bethestaryouare.org for more information. Please send your checks to:

BE THE STAR YOU ARE!® PO Box 376, Moraga, California 94556.

We can be reached at 877-944-STAR. You will receive a receipt for your tax deductible donation. Credit card contributions and purchases are accepted.

Thank you for your support.

Be the Star You Are!®
PO Box 376
Moraga, Ca. 94556
www.bethestaryouare.org
925-376-7126