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NEWSLETTER - Spring 2004

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:

"Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead."

Louisa May Alcott 
1832-1888, Author

SPRING CLEAN UP:
By Cynthia Brian (c) 2004

Everyone loves springtime.  Nature is awakening from its long slumber, the trees perfume the air with their colorful blossoms, the birds begin building cozy nests, and people start cleaning out their closets to get organized.  At our house we are constructing a new fence, painting the patio furniture, cleaning the clutter accumulated over the winter months in the garage.  What I have realized is that in order to make room for something new, I must delete something old. 

Spring cleaning is not just a cliché’, it is a necessity.  Our slovenly lockers are like our lives.  They get jumbled with negative people and destructive habits.  Why is it we hold onto relationships long after they have expired?  Clients often ask me how they can get more pleasure every day.  My response, “Get rid of the things that are not bringing you joy and you’ll make room for things that do.”  Think about it. Perhaps it is time to take a deep look into the crevices of our lives to remove what isn’t working.  If you are looking for love, stop hanging out with losers.  If you want a good friend, be a good friend. To organize your closets and your life, think spring cleaning.  Out with the old, in with the new. Spring is the time for a renaissance or re-birth.  Do this on a regular basis and you’ll find yourself happier, healthier, organized and productive.

Thanks to encouragernewsletter@thomascorp.com for submitting this info to us.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

DINE and DONATE:

China Moon Restaurant in Moraga has graciously offered to donate proceeds from our patrons dining bills on the following days: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of May 10, 11, 12, 13 and 17, 18, 19 20. Here’s how it works:

Have lunch or dinner on any of the above days and mention to your server that you are there to support Be the Star You Are!™  15% of the total bill will be donated to the charity when you pay by cash or check, 10% will be donated when you pay be credit card.  This offer excludes lunch specials and package dinners.  It may not be used with coupons or other offers. Valid for Dine In or Take Out!

China Moon Restaurant
380 Park Street (Rheem Shopping Center between Nations  and the Rheem Theater)
Moraga
925-376-8558

Come out and enjoy fine Asian dining while contributing to this charity.

LAUGH and DONATE at our first ever COMEDY NIGHT!

Join us at  "Be the Star You Are!™ at 50 Mason" A Charity Benefit on Saturday, June 26 from 7pm –10pm with family fun and laughs.  50 Mason aka SF Comedy Club is the newest San Francisco venue to host comedy showcases on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 8-10:30. Performers include some of the finest Bay Area comedians.

What’s Included:

Your advanced purchase ticket donation includes: the Comedy Showcase, munchies, one drink, book sale and signing with best selling author, Cynthia Brian, exciting raffles and silent auction including original works from Armand Cabrera an award-winning oil painter.

Ticket Prices:

Regular Seating: $25 per person if purchased before May 1st, at the door (space available only) $35 per person.

Front Row Seating at a table, 3 people per table: $30 and up.

Back Booth Seating, 4-5 persons per booth (only 2 booths available): $130 per booth, or $33 per person sold separately.

VIP Front Booth: SOLD OUT  

Book your ticket at our web site through PAYPAL (www.bethestaryouare.org) or send a check to Be the Star You Are!™, PO Box 376, Moraga, Ca. 94556.

Seating at tables is limited, so book your tickets early as we expect this event to be a sell out. Names will be held at the door.

Doors open at 7pm.

Who's Invited

The comedy is rated PG 13 so bring the family, your friends, teachers, and anyone who wants to enjoy a good time laughing!

Program:

7-8pm:  Finger foods, drinks (one drink ticket given at entrance, cash bar available), music, book sale and signing, raffles and silent auction.  Raffle tickets are $5.00 for one, $10.00 for three, and $20.00 for seven.  When you buy $20 worth of raffle tickets you are an AUTOMATIC WINNER of your choice of raffle prizes.

8pm-9:45pm- Comedy Show Case

9:45-10pm – Final raffle and prizes

Getting There & Parking

Address: SF Comedy Club, 50 Mason, San Francisco, 94102-2806

Parking lot across street for $9 or take BART to the Powell Street station and walk two streets West to Mason

Printing of flyers donated by Genesis Printing out of San Francisco

Sponsorships available:  If you’d like to sponsor this event, email info@bethestaryouare.org.  Sponsors will get the front row tables!!!!

For more info please visit www.50masonlounge.com or www.bethestaryouare.org.

WHAT'S NEW AT BE THE STAR YOU ARE!™:

The last couple of months our charity has been working in high gear.

*We have new business, marketing, and sponsorship plans thanks to our STAR team at St. Mary’s College with Professor John Thompson.  The plan was unveiled to us in March by Chris Guglielmetti, Phil Manning, Olivia Leong, Anis Salah, Jack Walker, Joey Fong, Seth Vega, Justin Wollman, and Jose Flores.  They also organized a fundraiser at Baja Fresh which was a great success also because of the involvement of our many volunteers, including our junior high, high school, and college students.

*Our new computer program which will revolutionize the way Be the Star You Are!™ distributes its donated resources to deserving beneficiaries is almost complete.  Dan Esbensen of Touch Technologies and his energetic engineers are working on the final details.  Cynthia was given a demonstration at the Touch Technology facilities in San Diego recently.  We are so excited to begin implementing it soon.

*Our Teen Book Review Team headed up by Neeku Mahdavian is busy reviewing upcoming books for publication and release to determine the benefit to children and youth.  Their reviews can be read at www.thereadingtub.com, whose motto is “turning a page…opening the world.”

*Tara Paterson, publisher of Moms in Print, donated $50 using PAYPAL to our charity. Moms in Print is also hosting PR seminars taught by our Founder, Cynthia Brian.  To register, go to http://www.momsinprint.com/cynthia.html

OUR RADIO PROGRAM IS GROWING:

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 are thrilled to be part of the WPMD family , where people make a difference in bringing you quality edutainment.

Beginning May 5^th, 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. 
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 the station from www.worldtalkradio.com . You will hear interviews with authors and experts on exciting new topics. A brand new segment is called T4 2 - A Mother-Daughter Brew, which will focus on relationships between teens and their parents.  If you miss the live broadcast, don’t worry, all shows are archived. As our official radio sponsor, World Talk Radio Network is 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. 

SPECIAL BOOK OFFER:

We are currently offering deep discounts on full case purchases of our signature book, Be the Star You Are!™.  Please contact us at info@bethestaryoaure.org for more information.  These can be autographed and make fabulous inspirational gifts for friends, family  business associates, employees, teachers, and more.  Mother’s Day, Graduations, Father’s Day are all around the corner-give the gift that lasts a lifetime….a book that inspires. 

MICROSOFT SETTLEMENT OFFERS DONATION POSSIBILITY:

Every Californian who purchased Microsoft® software between 1995 and 2001 is eligible for a rebate. Claims of up to $100 require no documentation. And, individuals can donate their claims to Be the Star You Are!™ Our goal is to ask as many people as possible to claim their refunds and donate them to Be the Star You Are!™  We are working with a company called Settlement Recovery Center (SRC), whose program, Donate Direct, allows individuals to claim their money and donate it to a non-profit organization by filling out two forms.  SRC takes care of all the administration, verification and tax-deductible donation receipts for a fee. 

Donating your claim to Be the Star You Are!™ is simple!

Click on this link to get started:

http://www.settlementrecovery.com/srCRM/dd.do?m=a&ci=60

This online process takes only a few minutes and will take you through three steps:

·        Completing and signing a Claim Form

·        Signing a letter that authorizes Donate Direct to donate your claim to Be the Star You Are!™

·        Faxing or mailing the completed forms to Donate Direct for them to process

Questions?  Please call Donate Direct at 877-633-6227 ext. 26

Donate Direct is sent a voucher in the name of Be the Star You Are!™ These vouchers are then changed into dollars when Be the Star You Are!™ collects receipts from PC computer or software purchases made since July 16, 2003 and sends them to Donate Direct for redemption.  If you do have receipts from any PC computer or software purchases made since July 16, 2003, please make a copy and send them to us.  We will then use the receipts to turn the Microsoft vouchers into a donation for the charity.

That's it!  Please do it now!

DO YOU HAVE A VEHICLE YOU NO LONGER WANT?  DONATE IT TO BE THE STAR YOU ARE!™

Pat Hallberg, our coordinator of vehicle donations, wants to remind you that Be the Star You Are!™ is happy to accept all vehicles, boats, trailers, etc., running or not, that you would like to donate for a full blue book tax deduction.  It's a great way to get rid of a vehicle, help our charity and save money on your taxes. Pat will deal with all the paperwork and arrange for pick up at your convenience.  Call our office at 925-376-7126  or 925-935-0669 or email: info@bethestaryouare.org.  Thank you, Pat, for keeping our car program running.  

OUR ON-LINE AUCTION:

Generous donors have made it possible for us to create an on-going auction site.  Here’s how it works:

Items or services are donated.  A minimum bid and a buy-out bid are listed.  Email us with your bid .  We’ll get back to you within 3 days. (You’ll automatically win if you bid the buy-out!)  If you’d like to donate an item or service to our on-line auction, send us the item or   gift certificate for services to PO Box 376, Moraga, California 94556.  If it is a very large item, please do not send, call us first 925-376-7126.  TAX DEDUCTIBLE AND FUN!

New this month: One week on the beach in Mexico, (air not included).  Click here to buy it NOW! 

DONATE ON–LINE AND GET A FREE GIFT:

Now when you go to our web site at http://www.bethestaryouare.org you can choose to donate on-line by clicking on the PAYPAL or the ACTEVA icons.  All monetary contributions are sent directly to the charity bank account.  As our gift to you, on any donation of $50 or more, choose to receive a free e-book.  At this time, we have two, but more are sure to follow:

Choose from Amy Chavez’s book: Goldilocks Goes to Japan

Or Cynthia Brian’s book: The Business of Show Business

Thank you for donating on-line!  It’s fast, easy, and you get a good book!

A MESSAGE FROM OUR FOUNDER: Time out for kids!

It’s only spring, yet our children are gearing up for summer.  Share their excitement in the planning of their lazy days of the hot season.  Kids are naturally adventuresome, curious, and active . They need time to just play, use their imaginations, and hang out with their friends.  Refrain from over-scheduling them.  Statistics have shown that in this harried scary world, children are more stressed out than in any other time period.  A big part of their stress is performing up to the expectations of their parents and peers.  Although summer camps, swim teams and enrichment classes are great, make sure to leave room for picnics, lounging on the lawn, staring up at the stars, volunteer charity activities, and family meal times. Don’t be afraid to assign chores, such as garden, house work or animal care.  Teach your kids responsibility and accountability and they’ll prosper by learning life lessons.  Most of all, have fun, laugh a lot, and spend time together.  You are making memories which will last long after summer has faded into fall. You are creating an autobiography of your  lifetime.

For those of you with teenagers, you might get a chuckle from this tidbit that was sent to us recently.

Political Correctness for Teenagers:

    * You don't have detention anymore, you're just one of the 'exit delayed.'

    * Your bedroom isn't cluttered.  It's just 'passage restrictive.'

    * These days, a student isn't lazy.  He/she's 'energetically declined.'

    * Your locker isn't overflowing with junk, it's just 'closure prohibitive.'

    * Your homework isn't missing, it's just having an 'out-of-notebook experience.'

    * You're not sleeping in class, you're 'rationing consciousness.'

    * You're not late, you just have a 'rescheduled arrival time.'

    * You're not having a bad hair day, you're suffering from 'rebellious follicle syndrome.'

    * No one's short/tall anymore. He/she's just 'vertically challenged/enhanced.'

    * You weren't passing notes in class. You were 'participating in the discreet exchange of penned editations.'

    * It's not called gossip anymore. It's 'the speedy transmission of near-factual information.'

* The food at the school isn't awful. It's 'digestively challenging.'

This spring, take time to smell the roses.  Grab your children and come to our events. We plan activities that the entire family can enjoy together.  The Comedy Showcase on June 26 in San Francisco will be a laughing matter.  Don’t miss out-buy your tickets today.  Keep smiling, it increases your face value.

It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood.

Blessings to you and your loved ones,

Cynthia Brian
Founder

P.S.:  If you are interested in catching a seminar, here are a couple of upcoming engagements:

April 28, 2004 1-2pm EST (10-11am PST) FREE Teleconference "How to get booked as an EXTRA for TV and films and other show business tips" with Annie Jennings. Go to http://www.anniejenningspr.com to register.

May 3-5, 2004 Carlsbad Inn and Resort in Carlsbad, California.  Check our web site for schedule of events.

May 4, 2004 12:30-1:30pm  “Trigger-nometry - Finding out what makes you tick” with Action Jack McClendon at Encouragemint Seminars. Heritage Hall, 2650 Garfield St., Carlsbad, CA. 92008 ( That's at Magee Park.) Cost: $ 5.00. Limited seating.  RSVP Encourage Mint Radio 1-760-754-1954.

May 15- 9 am-6pm- The Writes of Spring Book Festival- a literary feast featuring more than 25 best selling authors, including Cynthia Brian, and thousands of books for sale. Foundation for Global Community, 222 High Street, Palo Alto, California 94301. Benefit for Paul F. Byrd Mathematics Scholarship Program at San Jose State University.  For more information call 650-328-7756.

May- TBA- Publicity and marketing tele-seminars sponsored by Moms in Print http://www.momsinprint.com/cynthia.html

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  

Cynthia Brian will autograph the following items as gifts for your 2004 giving.