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SPRING 2001 NEWSLETTER

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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Happy Springtime!  How terrific it finally is to see the sunshine again, smell the fresh cut grass, hear the birds chirping, and enjoy longer days.  May this spring be prosperous and abundant and may the stars shine in your heart.

MIRACLE MOMENT™ OF THE MONTH:

Life is what you make it!  Enjoy the moment!

Taking Care of our Kids!
By Cynthia Brian, Founder

In today’s atmosphere of violence and self destruction, we must take a closer look at our sense of community and family.  Alienated youth who consider themselves marginalized are acting out their angry behavior in frightening numbers.  The highly publicized school shootings are just the tip of the iceberg of isolation.  Drug and alcohol abuse, dropping out of school and social activities and suicide are becoming more prevalent with our young people.    

What can we as caretakers of our youth do to help mitigate these problems?  It is essential that as adults we model appropriate loving behaviors to our children.  If we are filled with rage, bigotry, and a sense of defeat, our children will mimic our words and actions.  It is important to treat others the way we wish to be treated, to follow the Gold Rule, and do random acts of kindness daily.     

After reading about what teens seem to need to be understood, I conducted my own poll of students and young clients.  I asked what can parents do to help their teenagers find pleasure and satisfaction without drugs, alcohol, sex, and violence?  

The responses were simple but telling:

1.      Have more conversations with us, but remember to listen to our answers

2.      Respect us and treat with with dignity around our peers

3.      Monitor our activities…even though we say we want more freedom, we really need parameters

4.      Tell us “no” more often when it really is for our safety.  Say “yes” when it’s appropriate, not just to be a cool parent

5.      Communicate standards and expectations AHEAD of time.  Don’t spring new rules on us at the last moment as we are running out the door. This makes us very angry.

6.      Let us make our own mistakes.  We know you were a teenager once, but that was SOOOO long ago.

7.      Rescue us from a dangerous situation (alcohol or drugs) with a no-questions asked policy

8.      Praise us for the good things we do.  All of us do something right once in a while.

9.      Say “I love you” more often.  It feels so good and makes a difference in how we perceive ourselves.

 We have the responsibility and the ability to shape the lives of our youth.  When we listen to what they really want, it is obvious we are not so far apart in our thinking, we just have to enroll our kids in positive actions and outcomes by being the best person we can be even in very difficult situations.  After a terribly grueling week of being mistreated by people who should know better, I was in church when our priest read a passage attributed to Mother Teresa.  These words are the message we need to pass on to our children in order to  care for them.

  “Be kind....there will be people who take advantage of you and try to hurt you, but be kind anyway.

Be fair...there will be people who will cheat and rob you, but be fair anyway.

Be loving...there will be people who will hate and despise you, but be loving anyway.

And remember, it was never about you and them.  It is always about you and your relationship to God."

 Beneficiaries of Be the Star You Are™!

 Our spring resource distribution is under way by our dedicated coordinator, Pat Hallberg.  Thousands of dollars in books, tapes, videos, CD’s, art, and magazines will be donated to several agencies including:

Born Free for Teenage, Unwed Mothers and their Babies,

Boys and Girls Club,

A Safe Place for Teenage runaways,

Children’s Literacy Program,

Children’s Hospital,

Community Substance Abuse Center, 

Safe Haven for Little People (Homeless and Abused children)

Northern Calif. Family Center SAFE PLACE (runaway teens and crisis center)

Community Substance Abuse Center (alcohol and substance abuse)

LITA (Love is the Answer) for people in Nursing Homes

Children’s Hospital (children and teens)

Reach Out and Read (childrens’ literacy)

Juvenile  Hall Auxiliary (kids-at-risk)

Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF)

Chris Adams Girls Center (troubled girls)

The Orin Allen Youth Rehabilitation Facility

The Edgar Transition Center (Teens)

The Summit Center (forgotten young people)

 We want to expand our base and welcome your suggestions for other charities.  At this time all donations are delivered by our volunteers, however, if we can get monetary donations for shipping, we are delighted to ship to charities in other areas.  If you can support us in donating dollars so that we can serve more people, please contact our office toll free at 877-944-STAR or send contributions to PO Box 376, Moraga, Ca. 94556

 Reading Spells Success—an outreach literacy program:

 The Be the Star You Are!™ "Reach-Out Reading" Program has been changed to Reading Spells Success-an outreach literacy program.  This program has seen such positive results that we felt that the new name reflects what the program is really about.  Volunteers continue to read books to children in hospitals  and make sure the child goes home with a book of his/her own.  Doctors are also given new books to give to their patients. Reading Spells Success will be expanding to facilities for at-risk children and teens. If you would like to volunteer your time for an hour a week or an hour a month, contact our office at 877-944-STAR. Volunteers take books from our library into assisted living residences, hospitals, senior housing, shelters, and children's groups  to read appropriate stories for about one hour.  We believe that positive stories can change lives and we want to do our part in improving literacy in our country.  For more information, contact us at info@bethestaryouare.org.

 On the Best Seller List!

 Be the Star You Are!™ charity is a beneficiary of the best selling book, Chicken Soup for the Gardener’s Soul.  The book has been on the New York Times Best Seller list for 11 weeks now!  Support this charity and enjoy the bounty of a fantastic book by buying copies of Chicken Soup for the Gardener’s Soul.  Calendars will be available in June, so you can stock up for 2002.  Cynthia Brian is a co-author on this book and is currently speaking at many events and signing books.  She can be seen on the TV program “Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus” on May 23 on a station in your area.  For a schedule of appearances,  go to our website at http://www.bethestaryouare.org where you can also purchase the book directly.

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

 In order to make a difference in communities, our country, and our world, we need your support.  Financial contributions assist Be the Star You Are™! in its mission to provide, promote, and distribute positive message programming to groups in need of hope, inspiration, and tools for daily living. 

Our number one need at this time is DOLLARS.  It costs an enormous amount of money to keep our offices open and operating and to facilitate the free services we offer.  Please take a moment to write us a check.  ANY AMOUNT IS APPRECIATED AND IT IS 100% TAX DEDUCTIBLE.  Buy Chicken Soup for the Gardener’s Soul books for all your friends and employees from our offices and get autographed copies.

Our second most important need at this moment is a person or company to donate printing services of our color brochure which was lavishly designed by our talented volunteer, Kim Carlson.  It is a three fold brochure which can easily put put into an envelope.  We would like to get 1000 or more copies off set printed and donated.  Are you the chosen donor???

Here are some other specific ways you can sponsor or financially support Be the Star You Are™!:

*Send a tax deductible contribution (every dollar is appreciated)

*Advertise on our radio program, Be the Star You Are!™

*Donate air miles

*Donate a portion of your sales to our charity

*Donate goods that can be auctioned off at an event

*Sponsor an event making Be the Star You Are!™ the charitable beneficiary

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

*Purchase books, tapes, and video through the non-profit

*Make Be the Star You Are!™ a beneficiary of your estate or Charitable Trust Fund

*Volunteer time

Sharing Your Wealth...it’s a time for giving

Here is a convenient tax-effective strategy for supporting Be the Star You Are!™.  Use a Charitable Gift account through a brokerage firm such as Charles Schwab, or Fidelity.  Here's how it works:

Contact the brokerage firm of your choice and ask about their Charitable Giving Account.  Each firm has a special name for their charity account but they are basically set up the same as an independent, nonprofit charity, earning the donor immediate tax deductions.  Choose the investment pool you are interested in such as growth index, balanced index or gift preservation where the assets appreciate tax free. 

Advise the fund that you want to nominate Be the Star You Are!™ as the beneficiary of your contribution.  The fund then ensures that the charity is registered as an IRS-qualified non profit organization (which we are).  Once that process is complete, the fund sends the charity a check.  Donors can remain anonymous, or the fund will provide their names to us.  Donors can also ask the fund to direct their grant towards a particular project or division of our charity.  For example, if you wanted to fund our radio program, you could direct your dollars to go to that endeavor, or if you wanted to fund the distribution of books. Fund donors benefit by the ability to give more with contributions growing tax-free, so you have more money to grand.  If you are in the 39.6% tax bracket, a $10,0000 contribution costs you only $6,040 after taxes.  In the 36% and 31% brackets, a donor would pay $6,400 and $6,900 respectively for that same post-tax donation.  Your contributions to the charitable gift account is tax deductible in the year you make them. You also pay no capital-gains tax on appreciated securities that you donate to a charitable gift account and you also reduce the amount of holdings in your estate as money in a gift account are not part of your estate, therefore your heirs won't have to pay tax on them.   For more information about charitable gift accounts, call our office at 877-944-STAR or your favorite broker.  Charles Schwab is 800-746-216 and Fidelity is 800-544-7272.

            Be the Star You Are™! 501(c)(3) is a volunteer self help media library

Thank you to all our dedicated volunteers and to you, our outstanding supporters around the world.  We value you and couldn't do what we do without you.  Please tell a friend about us and have them tell a friend.  Send this newsletter to everyone you know!  If you would like to volunteer or get involved with our charity please contact us at volunteer@bethestaryouare.org.  (PLEASE NOTE, BY REPLYING TO THIS EMAIL YOU DO NOT GET TO THE CHARITY).  If you wish to reach Cynthia Brian, send to cynthia@bethestaryouare.org.

All donations are 100% tax deductible according to law.  It's the end of the year so what better time to make a tax deductible donation.  We appreciate all contributions.  We care.

Until we visit again, remember, you are a wonder of creation.  Just Be the Star You Are!

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

Be the Star You Are!™ a 501(c)(3) non profit organization



YOUR FEEDBACK
If you have comments, questions or suggestions for this newsletter, please write to Kim Carlson, your Be the Star You Are!™ newsletter coordinator at: bethestaryouare@hotmail.com

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION
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. 

If this was forwarded to you, and you want to receive it monthly, reply with "SUBSCRIBE" in the subject line. 

To subscribe to the text-only version of this newsletter, reply with "TEXT-ONLY" in the subject line.

NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE
To request previous issues of our newsletter, contact our newsletter coordinator at bethestaryouare@hotmail.com.

FORWARD TO A FRIEND
Forward this to anyone who you think may be interested in its contents.  Keep the special people in your life informed as to what is happening in the world of positive programming!

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.

Be The Star You Are!™
PO Box 376, Moraga, CA 94556
Tel: 877.944.STAR or 925.376.7126
Fax: 925.376.7142

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