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NEWSLETTER - January 2005

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. 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.

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OUR MISSION:

Be the Star You Are!™ is a library of books and other media donated to youth at risk to raise their skills and self esteem to improve their daily lives. This media ranges from education and advisement to inspiration and guidance which covers every aspect of life from abuse through money management. Be the Star You Are!™ has no religious or political agendas or affiliations as it caters to the literate and illiterate by providing audio tapes and videos as well as books to give these kids a head start in their lives so they can beat the odds.

MIRACLE MOMENT®:

"In every adversity there lies the seed of an equivalent advantage. In every defeat is a lesson showing you how to win the victory next time."

Robert Collier, Writer and Publisher

ESSAY WINNER!

It is with great pleasure that we announce the Be the Star You Are!™ essay contest GRAND PRIZE winner, Maggie DiGiovanni, with her entry “Mama and the Drugs”.

Mama and the Drugs 
By Maggie DiGiovanni

     Mama, though old-fashioned in many ways, thought raising her children in the proper manner could only be done with the use of drugs. She used them liberally and she used them well.
     Twice on Sunday and every Wednesday night she and Daddy drug us to church. The preacher taught us about God and all the heavenly virtues. Mama and Daddy taught us to respect the teachings and our God.
     If either of her three children received a note from the teacher, Mama drug us back to school to hear both sides of the story. Ninety-nine percent of the time she agreed with the teacher. If we had gotten too far out of the bounds of decency, we were drug to the barn for a serious 'discussion.'
     Believing that family was everything, Mama drug her children, and a sometimes reluctant husband, to family reunions so we had a chance to get to know as many of our kin as possible.
     No matter how much work faced her, Mama drug out hugs, kissed our bumps and bruises and helped build a playhouse or fort, according to which child made the request. Even if she was in her Sunday best and her child was covered in dirt, chocolate or other grime, she drug out the belief that hugs were more important than the pretty dress she wore.
     If any of her children did their chores in a halfway manner, she drug him or her back to the task, explained the proper way to do it and insisted the work be completed. When we became adults, we knew that no job was too small to be done right.
     As we grew, Mama drug each of us aside to tell us the facts of life and urge us to respect ourselves enough to say no to peer pressures. When we faced our biggest challenges, she was always there to listen and advise without judging.
     At our senior proms, Mama drug Daddy along to chaperone. Because of the other 'drugs' she had administered in our youth, none of us felt embarrassed to have our parents present. Instead, we felt honored.
     Mama drug us other places, such as the dentist, doctor and the hospital and comforted us with her presence. She taught us that if we broke the law when we got older, policemen would be enforcing the 'drug' rules and they would be right to do so.
     She drug us into respecting those around us and ourselves.
     Both Mama and Daddy drug us to realize that our good names were the only thing we had that couldn't be taken away. It could only be given away through careless actions.
     Mama drug us to visit those less fortunate than ourselves and taught us to offer comfort in any way we could.
     When cocaine, marijuana, and heroin became commonplace in the lives of those around us, she drug us to see the effects they had on people.
     Yes, Mama's 'drugs' were powerful and she made sure she gave them to us personally. The first time she used them on any of her children was when she drug us into her arms and welcomed us into a world made of a loving family.
     I raised my children using liberal doses of the same drugs Mama dispensed until her death.

Bio:
Maggie DiGiovanni, author, wife, and mother, has published a children's book, "Henley, The Frozen Hedgehog,"and has "Daddy's Tall Tales," appearing in Good Old Days magazine in May 2005." Her daughter, Jaimie, who has Down's syndrome, is the star of a novel in progress titled, "I’m Twenty-One and I Drink Wine!"

Besides winning the dollars, Maggie was interviewed on our radio program, Starstyle®Be the Star You Are! (hear her read her entry at http://www.worldtalkradio.com/archive.asp?aid=3098) and her entry will be published in the new book, The Power of Positive Parenting.  Congratulations, Maggie! Thank you to our sponsor, Michael Ball, Vice President of US Bank in Lafayette, California  925- 283-7200.

STAR SPOTLIGHT

Join Be the Star You Are!™ as we celebrate one of our youth founding volunteers, Heather Brittany, as she stars in a theatre performance on Sunday January 23 in San Diego. Tickets are $25 and Heather has arranged for a portion of the proceeds to benefit the charity. A party EXCLUSIVELY for Be the Star You Are!™ supporters and fans will be held immediately following on the stage at the theatre.

We hope you will join us-or if you can’t, consider making a donation anyway.

PERFORMANCE: The Amber Glass (adaptation of the melodrama, The Drunkard)
DIRECTOR: Rebecca Lee Means
STAR: Heather Brittany
THEATER: The Otto Wilhem Schmidt Theater
ADDRESS: 389 North Magnolia Ave.           
El Cajon, Ca 92020   
located in the East County Ministry and Arts Center   
TIME: 4pm show starts
PARTY: Immediately following
TICKET PRICE: $25 per person (TICKETS WILL BE HELD AT THE DOOR)

(A portion of the ticket price will be donated to the charity, Be the Star You Are!™ empowering youth at risk. Tickets may be purchased on-line through PAYPAL by going to the web site: http://www.bethestaryouare.org and clicking on PAYPAL.  You can also pay by credit card by calling 877-944-STAR or by emailing cynthia@star-style.com. Please leave your name, # of tickets desired, credit card (Mastercard or VISA only) expiration date and zip code. Or checks can be sent to PO Box 376, Moraga, Ca. 94556.)

Tickets are TAX DEDUCTIBLE according to law.

Heather has been a volunteer since 1999 helping in the charity office,  collecting and packing books, writing reviews, volunteering at events,  and numerous other tasks, many times performing those that no one else wants to do.  For the past year, she has volunteered her time to co-host and produce the segment, T42-A Mother/Daughter Brew on our popular radio show, broadcast out of San Diego. She brings to the airwaves a young person’s viewpoint on topics ranging from addressing youth stress, chivalry, relationships, to sex, love, and rock and roll. Always a positive polished professional, Heather is a shooting star in our galaxy.  We commend and support her efforts to make a difference by being a role model.

For those of you who can not make the January 23 Premier and Party, you can catch the show through February 27.  Performance times are Fridays at 8pm, Saturdays at 2pm and 8pm, and Sundays at 4pm.

Tune in to hear a live interview with the director, Rebecca Lee Means on World Talk Radio 6-7pm PST on Wednesday, January 26, 2005.  Call in toll free 888-514-2100 and find out how this accomplished woman became a director at such a young age.  She is amazing.  If you miss the interview, you will be able to hear it on the archives. www.worldtalkradio.com.

Cynthia Brian and Heather Brittany will be the featured speakers at Lake Austin Spa and Resort in Austin, Texas for Mother’s Day weekend, May 6-8, 2005.  To book your reservation now, call 1-800-847-5637 or visit www.lakeaustin.com.

TUNE IN TO OUR GROWING RADIO PROGRAM:

World Talk Radio is the official radio station of Be the Star You Are!™ charity. www.worldtalkradio.com. Every Wednesday from 6-7pm PST and 9-10pm EST, our radio program, Starstyle® Be the Star You Are! will be heard live on the World Talk Radio Network, where the world comes to talk. You will hear interviews with authors and experts on exciting new topics. 2005 will bring you the movers, shakers, and gurus of our world.  Our line-up is impressive as top publishers, best selling authors and elite publicists around the country acknowledge the quality interviews that we provide. Here’s a little praise:

“One of our best and brightest radio interviewers in the nation!”
 Lisa D. Marino, Radio Publicity Specialist

“Being a guest on Starstyle®Be the Star You Are with host Cynthia Brian and Heather Brittany is an absolutely delightful experience! They keep the pace upbeat and the tone positive all the way through. What an awesome radio program! What wonderful role models they are!!!”
Graciela Sholander, author of “Deam it, Do it!”

“You ARE the #1 host in the world! “
Jennifer Hessler, Krupp Communications, NYC

“It's such a privilege to be able to host your show. You make us sound great!”  
Harold Buehl, Founder, Leisure Talk Radio

“Your enthusiasm absolutely fills the air waves during your broadcast. You are the BEST cheerleader.”
C. Hope Clark, Editor, www.fundsforwriters.com, and author of “The Shy Writer”

“Such a great feeling to hear such positive feedback about your show and how you conduct it. You have such a quality show that carries so much depth and purpose.”
Michelle Drutman, World Talk Radio

“You have a special show! Thanks for everything, Cynthia. What a marvelous service.”
Marjorie Conte, Publicity Manager, New World Library

“Wow!!!   All I can say is, another stupendous programming pick.”
Vince Daniels, WPMD radio, 1700 am

“I have been interviewed by thousands of interviewers and Cynthia Brian is one of four of the top interviewers in the country today.  I feel like we are two bodies in one soul.” 
Jack Canfield, Co-Creator, Chicken Soup for the Soul Series and author, The Success Principles.

If you are interested in sponsoring our program, contact Michelle Drutman, phone 1-858-836-0169, atmdrutman@worldtalkradio.com. Rates are reasonable , you’ll be helping kids, and you will get incredible exposure, plus get a tax deduction!  WOW!!!!!  It doesn’t get any better than that!

Our other networks:

Starstyle® Be the Star You Are! is also heard on the fabulous network, Leisure Talk Radio. www.leisuretalk.net every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at numerous times. Leisure Talk is growing and glowing and we are proud to be part of its illustrious line-up of shows. 

Sundays at 7pm PST and 10PM EST, our radio program, Starstyle® Be the Star You Are! can be heard by tuning in to WPMD (Just click on the “click here to listen” button, at http://www.bethestaryouare.org/radio , www.wpmd.org or Http://www.cerritos.edu/wpmd/) or listen  at 1700am in the Los Angeles area.

We thank our syndicators as they are people who make a difference in bringing you quality edutainment.  Again,  click on the “click here to listen” button, at http://www.bethestaryouare.org/radio turn up your speakers, and join us!!  You can also link to all the stations from that site. If you miss the live broadcast, don’t worry, all shows are archived at http://www.worldtalkradio.com/show.asp?sid=118.

Thank you to our radio stations for partnering with Be the Star You Are!™ charity to bring positive messages to the globe.

For sponsorship information, please email us at radio@bethestaryouare.org or call our offices 925-376-7126. We’ll put you in touch with the right people.  Advertising is affordable and tax deductible! Get your message out to the world, support youth at risk AND get a tax deduction.  Everybody wins!

THANK YOU, THANK YOU! 

DO YOU WANT TO BE A VOLUNTEER??

Positions available:
Newsletter Editor
Office Assistant
Publicity Assistant
Researchers
Grant Writer
Library Program Coordinator
Fundraiser
Radio Sponsorship promoter
Special events coordinator

Requirements:

Some positions are virtual, meaning you can be anywhere on the globe as long as you can get us the information by email.  Other positions are physically in our offices in Moraga.

If you are volunteering in our office, we do require the following attributes:

Positive, happy attitude
Team player
Self Starter who strives for excellence
Willing to work, creative problem solver
Integrity and honesty

Hours: flexible, we’ll work with your schedule.  You must provide your own transportation.

How to respond:
E-mails only, with contact information to cynthia@star-style.com.

A MESSAGE FROM OUR FOUNDER:

“By working together, pooling our resources and building on our strengths, we can accomplish great things." Ronald Reagan

Welcome Power Partners to 2005!

Hard to believe that another year has ended, yet we all have the same 24 hours in a day every day regardless of who we are! In this new monthly column I will be addressing many of the issues that are posed to me from so many of you around the globe.  Although I do my best to respond to everything, I decided to write a short editorial each month to keep you posted on thoughts, ideas, events, and actions that I feel important to us all.

In December we all witnessed the horrendous devastation of Southeast Asia with the killer tsunami. As we send our resources and prayers to those in need I am reminded of the words of a great author and speaker, Leo Buscaglia: "There are two big forces at work, external and internal. We have very little control over external forces such as tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, disasters, illness and pain. What really matters is the internal force. How do I respond to those disasters? Over that I have complete control." At times like these we feel powerless against the forces of nature and fear fills our souls.  As an acting coach, one of the things I always teach is that acting is reacting.  Every action results in a reaction.  It is the law of cause and effect. Life will always throw us curve balls.  How we react to them is a choice.  We can see our glass as half full or we can see our glass as half empty.  I choose full and so can you. In times of sorrow and pain, reach out to others to make a positive difference.  Volunteer at a charity, (Be the Star You Are!™ always is in need) help someone with a challenge, perform a random act of kindness.  Ironically the person who benefits most will be you.

January is always a time of writing resolutions and goals.  Unfortunately within 15 days of writing resolutions, statistics indicate that most people have given up.  Let’s do something different this year.  Let’s follow through together. Make sure you know the difference between an objective and a goal.  An objective can be a statement of what you want to achieve, but a goal has accountability with a timeline.  A goal is very specific. (An example is: I will write 200 pages of my book by February 18 and will have it edited and ready for publishing by February 28.) Alan Cohen suggests that instead of noting all the stuff you want to create and achieve in the outer world, focus on who you want to BE and how you want to FEEL within you.  I agree with this notion as it fits my motto of BE the STAR you ARE!  Remember that life is not about “doing” but about “being”.  We are not called “human doings”, we are called “human beings”. Using the example above, how will you feel inside when you have accomplished your goal of writing, editing, and publishing your book?  I know for me, I feel humbled and joyful to empower others through the words I write.  If I can make a difference in some one else’s life, I have achieved my goals. You can have everything you want if you help enough other people get what they want.  Write a marketing plan for your life just as you would for your business.  Marketing expert, Robert Michael Fried encourages us to create a life of meaning by taking the same amount of time, energy, and focus in planning our personal lives as we do in planning our professional lives.  Work towards your strengths, not your weaknesses. The result will be more balance, more purpose, and most of all, more happiness. Make money while making meaning.

My recipe for personal and professional success involves the following steps which I offer you as a gift to implement into your life.  Follow these tips and your life will change for the better.

*Dream the Dream (make it larger than life…I call it God Dreams)
*Write the plan (yes that means get it out of your head and on to paper)
*Get the skills you need (that may mean going back to school, hiring a coach, reading more books)
*Go into action (non is going to knock on your door)
*Find a cheerleader (we all need at least one support person)
*Believe in yourself and all the possibilities (you are unique, you have a gift)

Take a look in the mirror and admire yourself.  You are a wonder of creation.  Turn your passions in profits and be the star of your own performance.  Until next month, celebrate the moment as that is all we ever have.

Blessings to you,

Cynthia Brian
Your personal growth coach
Founder/CEO
Be the Star You Are! 501(c)(3)

PS: Be the Star You Are!™ distributes books at no cost to families and youth-at-risk and also hosts the national radio show featuring authors and books to improve lives. To live and prosper in this society, we must be lifelong learners, with access to knowledge to sustain our lives at work, at home, and in our communities. To be a leader, you must be a reader.  Education funds have been cut across the country which means our children are getting less assistance.  Be the Star You Are!™ makes an ongoing difference. We need and appreciate your financial assistance to support our ongoing programs.

The cost of illiteracy to businesses and to YOU the taxpayer, is $20 billion per year. You can help increase literacy by sending a tax deductible contribution to Be the Star You Are!™ charity.  We make it easy for you to make a donation.  Go to our web site and pay on PAYPAL using a credit card.  Or buy our signature book, Be the Star You Are! where the proceeds benefit literacy programs.  Or bid on any of our auction items at our web site. Make a contribution today-it’s cheaper to help kids read now than paying more taxes and building more prisons. Visit www.bethestaryouare.org or send your donation to PO Box 376 Moraga, Ca. 94556.

If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.

Please donate today.

Thank you from all the kids.  Thank you from the volunteers at Be the Star You Are!™

Be the Star You Are!™
PO Box 376
Moraga, California 94556.  
877-944-STAR or 925-376-7126
http://www.bethestaryouare.org

Cynthia Brian is the Founder and President of Be the Star You Are!™ Please visit www.bethestaryouare.org for biographical information. Be the Star You Are!™  a 501(c)(3) non profit  

RESOURCES YOU CAN BUY TO SUPPORT THE CHARITY:
Order directly through Be the Star You Are!™ www.bethestaryouare.org .  Autographed copies are available.