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Family Values Promotions, along with M&S Public Relations will be planning some exciting changes for 2010 and beyond.
We would like to help bolster a couple of programs that we feel need the help of everyone, therefore in the year 2010, when
we collect our fee from clients, both the $100.00 sign-up fee plus our percentage of any fees collected from GIG's supplied
through our efforts or any other money's collected for services rendered, a portion of those fees will be donated to two organizations
designed to help people lead a more full filling life. Aside from these two organizations we will allow free advertising on
our web site for any other worthwhile cause. Plus, a portion of all sales from our novelty shop will go directly towards these
two causes as well. Our PayPal account does not seem to be working properly, therefore we will accept checks or money-orders
made out to either Michael J. Caron or Shirley R. Caron. Let us know what products you would like to see in our Novelty shop.
Thank you.
The first organization is protect our Children. Our children are our future, but many don't seem to have a future at all.
We must let every child know that we care and that we are there for them.
When a child is brought into the world it is a joyous occasion. This child is happy. Will he have a happy life?, or is this
happiness just temporary?
Again we see a child that has not a care in the world. Is there any way that we can safeguard this scene?
This is a beautiful picture of love. Is there any way that we can freeze this picture? If family situations change can this
young child depend on this love to still be there?, or will moods change for the worse?
If you passed this child would you shake your head in disgust and walk on by?, or would you stop to see if the child needed
help or comfort? The sad truth is, most of us would not want to get involved with someone else's problems. How than would
you feel if shortly after seeing this child you learned that the child had died of starvation? You didn't help, and neither
did others that passed her by.
"Would you help me please?" is what this young girl seems to be asking. Would you? Perhaps not. You don't even
know her.
Why doesn't anyone care? I did nothing wrong so why is this happening to me? Children do not need to open their mouth or
express their feelings. These pictures tell their stories but we are just too busy to help.
There are many times that a hug can wipe away a lot of tears. Try it some time with your children. It may just feel good.
Does this boy look like he has had a lot of love? He is up against a wall. Perhaps he has been bad but is there no compassion?
Over and over and over we see pictures like this. When will we ever say this is enough? Physical abuse on a child is a crime.
This was probably done by the child's parents. Will they be punished? Often, they are not until the abuse kills the child.
Here is a picture of a boy that has obviously learned not to trust anyone. His crime? He was born. Too many abuse victims,
whether physical, mental, or sexual, only crime has been that they were born. The children are not the reason that the adult
has a problem, but the children seem to be the solution.
Blessed are the Peace Makers. How about we all make peace and put the ones that do not want peace behind bars where they
belong.
This is such a pretty girl with such a sad look on her face. Would you be able to recognize her on the street?, or are you
too much in a hurry to notice?
Would you help this girl wipe away her tears? Would you even bother to ask her why she is crying? She could be your neighbor.
Perhaps you have heard her parents yelling, heard a spanking or two, and what have you done? Turn your T.V. up to drown out
the noise? Child abuse is a terrible crime, however those that know that it is happening and do nothing to stop it are just
as guilty. Many victims grow up thinking that they caused the problems. They did not and need to realize that they are not
guilty, the adults (using the term very loosely)are the guilty ones.
Some children take all they can, realize that there is no love in their home, pack up and walk away. If you saw this child
walking down the highway, would you stop and pick him up? If you did, what next? Nine out of ten concerned adults would take
the child right back to the parents. When are we going to smarten up? Just because you and I might be good parents it does
not mean that every parent is like us. There are monsters out there. They have to be stopped. What happens to a child will
be with that child for the rest of his or her life. Child abuse is not going away, in fact with the present financial climate
around the world the situation will get worse before it gets better. If we suspect child abuse in any way it is our obligation
to notify the authorities.
Sadly speaking, these are not pictures from a foreign country. These are children in our own neighborhoods. Many clients
in the past have asked, "What can you do for me?" It's no longer about me or you, but rather what can WE do for
the thousands of children in our country that don't stand a chance without love? When you go to SAVE OUR CHILDREN note two
things. This has been in operation since 2006. It is still operated by one person, Shirley Ruth Caron, because no one has
the time to help. Also notice the amount of visits the site has had. To date, there has not been one single dollar donated
to the cause. People will join organizations to help children in other countries, but won't help one single child in our country.
I want these children to have the chance to sing, and I want those songs to be songs of praise. If you don't need our support
in your career that is find, but at least support one sad child.
I did not leave a link to Save Our Children for a reason. There is an organization called Save The Children that contacted
Shirley and said that she could not use the name. Shirley was devastated because she worked long, hard hours developing her
program to help these children. However, we do have a new affiliate now that we will introduce to you shortly. Our goal is
still to help child abuse victims and survivors and the money that we make will go towards that goal. We especially want
to reach as many people, male and female, that have been in abusive situations and who have written and sing songs to make
people aware that this is still happening every day of the week.
GOD BLESS YOU
Please watch this video
If the video does not come up, please go to the search bar and put in Child Abuse Why
Thank you
We are very proud to introduce our new affiliates Robin and Richard Smith. Together, they have built an organization to support
the victims and survivors of Child Abuse. We will be working closely with them in an effort to support their cause as well
as to get deserving artists their chance to shine in Nashville and beyond.
Robin is the author of the book "Journey of a Lost Child" To learn more about this book and how you can help, please
go to the link provided below.
Please go to this site and see how you can help.
For the remainder of 2010, we plan to remain very busy. Together with our new partners, Robin and Richard, we plan to conduct
a very aggressive mail in Talent Showcase Event. This will be an ongoing Showcase, meaning that once we have enough contestants
for the first event, we will start the second event. Each participant will be informed of which event he or she is in. This
will be open to all, men,women, girls, boys from the U.S., Canada, Europe, Africa, Australia, where ever. All fees will be
paid in U.S. currency.
Each participant must mail in a video of at least four songs, both fast and slow.Plus two CDs of your performance as well.
One CD will remain in the files of M&S Public Relations for promotional purposes, while the second CD will be forwarded
to the Nashville executives for possible radio airtime. You must testify that you are the person singing the song and have
permission to do so. Along with the video you must submit $75.00 entry fee. This money will be used for processing fees
plus donation for awayout4all. Once we review your material we will forward it to Nashville where it will be reviewed by a
panel of experts. If your material has been approved, you will receive a nomination letter from Nashville, not from M&S
Public Relations. Once you receive that nomination letter, we need you to contact us so we know that you made it to that
level. We are not looking for a female to fill in for a band, or a drummer to replace an old one, or a better Male vocalist
to make our band better, in other words, we don't need gimmicks. Who could qualify to receive a nomination letter? As long
as you are genuine, have the right voice or style to your music, and have marketable quality, everyone that enters could qualify.
Neither A Way Out 4 All or M&S Public Relations can say who is or is not qualified. The experts in Nashville have the
final say. Each person that receives a nomination letter will be invited to attend an EIA Awards show that is taped in Nashville.
The nomination letter also means that you have secured a second place win in your category and that entitles you to $750.00
credit towards a $1,500.00 Emerald Records Recording contract. Therefore, if you are a Karaoke singer you may be one step
closer to a Recording Contract. $75.00 is a very small investment to make when you have so much to gain. Send your video
in now;
M&S Public Relations interest in this is quite simple. We promote artists. Therefore, if you do receive a letter
from Nashville, and do decide to pursue your career, we would like to be your promoter. Each person that is qualified will
receive an Agreement form in the mail from us. Remember, you have already qualified, so you are under no obligation, However,
by being qualified, we will list up to four of your pictures plus a biography on our website free of charge.
Instructions for submitting your videos and entry fee;
send an email to......
info@awayout4all
You must include all pertinent information especially age. They, in turn, will send you an Artists Profile sheet that
must be filled out in it's entirety and mailed along with the videos. At this time you will make arrangements with A Way
Out 4 All on method of payment.
Thank you
M&S Public Relations
Michael James Caron (President)
On most, (but not all), Music Talent Contests, the
promotions directors are looking for one or two individuals for a band. Therefore the contest is an Audition for their particular
need. As an example, their contest is open for bands and vocalists of all ages, however their main Goal is to find one male
or female. Everyone else that performs is merely fill-in material. Criteria; Each contestant has a set amount of tickets
to sell for the show. Usually, it is 20 tickets at $7.00 per ticket. Any tickets not sold must be paid for by the contestant.
At the end of the contest, they choose a third, second, and first place winners. All others are thanked for their time and
sent on their way. Those three winners are each given an opportunity to practice with the band. One is chosen
and the others are sent on their way. The difference between them and us is this. We represent Emerald Records
in Nashville, Tennessee. Every contestant that performs is video-taped. The video-tape is sent to Emerald Records
in Nashville, Tennessee. Four years ago, we had a similar Showcase at a Nightclub that served alcohol. We had
ten contestant. All ten contestants were invited to the E.I.A. (Entertainer Indi-Association) Award Show in Nashville,
Tennessee. Each of these contestants were given $750.00 credit towards a $1,500.00 Recording contract with Emerald Records.
We have no hidden agenda. We are not looking for one or two people to fill in open spaces in a band. We don't
require our contestants to sell tickets to perform. Last, but not least, we do not throw out material from contestants
that we don't believe performed up to our standards. It is not for us to Judge, but for the Record Label. Therefore,
if there is going to be a complaint from people not wanting to pay $5.00 to watch their son perform, we will gladly change
our policy and require each contestant to sell 20 tickets at $7.00 each before they can perform. It's up to you.
Sincerely Yours
Michael James Caron
M&S Public Relations
aka
Family Values Promotions
Nashville Palace, situated right across the street from the Opryland Hotel, is still the place to be when you are in Nashville.
You never know who is going to show up. Performers from the Grand Ole Opry often stop by and mingle with guests. As an
added bonus for those that sign up for our mail in Talent Showcases as well as those that attend our physical Talent Showcases
that we are working on right now, we will choose between eight to ten singer/songwriters that perform their own material to
join us for A Night at the Nashville Palace that should be taking place in early Fall of 2010. All who sign up for the Talent
Showcases are urged to email us with pictures of you performing on stage. These pictures will be displayed on our website.
Those most eligible to appear on stage at the Nashville Palace will be those that sign with M&S Public Relations as when
we do set up this special evening it will be for Promotions purposes, therefore you have to have someone promoting your talent.
Here is the Nashville Palace and what it is all about.
Singer/writer night at Nashville Palace
We invite you to check out the other videos while you are there. In this way, you will get the full impact of what the Nashville
Palace is all about.
We are also planning to have a Music Talent Showcase in the Greenwood, Indiana area sometime in July of 2010. We are negotiating
with a local church at this time to use their gymnasium for this event. We are also looking for volunteers to help us on
this. M&S Public Relations will be sponsoring A Way Out 4 All on this event, to raise much needed money for their organization.
The requirements for this event will be as follows;
Each person that signs up for this event will be required to sell twenty-five tickets at $10.00 per ticket. Once these
tickets have been sold, the contestant will turn the money over to M&S Public Relations. We will allow up to fifteen
contestants for this event. When a contestant turns in their money, they will be included on the list, therefore, the first
contestant that turns in their money will be the first contestant on stage. On bands, this means that a five piece band,
each member is required to sell five tickets each. The event will be video-taped, however, if you have a CD of your music,
we would like at least two copies. We have made arrangements for our clients to have their music heard on radio stations
around the world. Therefore, regardless how you do at the Showcase, your voice will be heard on radio. Very few unknown
artists have ever gotten beyond local radio stations. Those interested in this event must contact us ASAP so that we know
who will be there. Most genres of music will be accepted, however the lyrics must be clean and the body gestures cannot be
lewd. The tickets sold will be given to the buyer (both tickets). The buyer will than present their tickets at the door.
Once all tickets have been sold, the general public may purchase tickets as well. $10.00 in advance or $12.00 at the door.
We have already had inquiries from people outside the Indiana area for this event, and they will be included once they meet
the requirements, therefore if you are an Indiana residence you must contact us quickly.
michael_caron2942@hotmail.com or (317) 887-2819. If you get the answering machine say that you are calling about the
Showcase. These will be the calls that we will respond to first.
Thank you
~Mike~
M&S Public Relations
The second organization that we will be promoting is "Shirley's Epilepsy Awareness Program" Shirley has suffered
with Epilepsy since she was fourteen. She is now sixty-two. In the past when she has needed help there were not enough people
around that knew enough about Epilepsy to give her proper treatment.
This child has had Epilepsy since birth. Never knowing when or how the next seizure will occur.
These teens all suffer with Epilepsy. They band together for comfort and support.
Please help us show these children that there are people in this country that really do care. Everyone in this world deserves
to be treated with respect and dignity.
Shirley is shown here at the EIA (Entertainer Indi-Association) Awards show with her band "Shirley's Bound for Glory
Band. As Shirley does suffer with Epilepsy the band did not last. She is looking for other band members plus a Male and
Female Vocalist that can take over when she is not able to. Living with Epilepsy means making constant adjustments. The
band members would have to live in and around the Greenwood, Indiana area.
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Sherri Lynn is from Olive Hill, Kentucky. She is pictured here with Cliff Ayres at the Gene Breeden Studios in Nashville,
Tennessee. see her story in Special Entertainers. Sherri Lynn was nominated for EIA Platinum Female Artist/Writer 2009
She also picked up a couple of extra surprises as well. Mister Cliff Ayres invited her to be his co-host for October's taping
as well as all other tapings of the show. Plus, Sherri Lynn was offered a very Lucrative position with the newly formed American
Big Band Hall of Fame.
Cliff Ayres began building his Music Empire over fifty years ago in his hometown of Fort Wayne, Indiana. He has accumulated
a lot over the years to where his Empire expands almost by itself. M&S Public Relations is based in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Mister Ayres has been looking for Hoosier talent to explore. We have gotten talented people recognized from other states
but can't seem to find a suitable place for a Showcase in our own state where we need it the most.
Our next project will be a Talent Show Case which we hope to have once a month. This will be open to all ages for Individual
vocalists, Duets or bands. We will tape each show. The Individual performers will have a Karaoke set-up with one twist.
The T.V. Screen will be blocked. If you don't know when to come in, Sorry. Prices and location will be announced as soon
as we know. We want to get as many talented individuals recognized as possible.
If you join M&S Public Relations, we cannot promise that you will go on tour in Europe, we cannot promise that you will
be given a lucrative position in a large organization, and we cannot promise that you will even get a Recording Contract.
We can promise, however, that you will have the chance at all this and more. It is up to you, not us, how far you can actually
go in this business. There are two things to think about seriously. DRESS TO IMPRESS and A T T I T U D E ! ! !
If you do not have the right attitude it does not matter how good you are, period!!
The Youth Soccer organization was gaining in popularity in the late seventies and more and more parents were signing their
children up to play. It was a volunteer program and there was not a lot of money in the funds to take care of sports equipment
for all the teams. Bake sales and other fund-raisers were being held to raise money, but this did not take care of everything.
Many of the teams did not have sponsors and the team coaches were not able to get uniforms for their teams.
Maria's Linguica (which I believe is located in Swansea, Massachusetts) donated 80 pounds of Linguicia and Bulky Rolls. For
those who have never tasted Portuguese Linguica it is a mouth watering treat. This is somewhat like Polish Sausage with a
Bite!! I am not sure of Maria's address, however the biggest distributor of Portuguese Linguica in Massachusetts is Gasper's,
shown in this picture. They ship.
Sheridan Silver, also located on Weir Street, donated several Silver items as well.
We decided to have our own booth at the Outdoor Flea Market. Each member donated items to see, plus I was active doing flea
markets at the time and donated quite a bit of my sales items as well. As each Flea Market dealer donated an item, we broke
it down like this. If it was a new item of high value (we did not get that many) it would go on the Raffle table. If it
was of interest, Like a used but nice guitar, it became a door prize, and if it was a Flea Market item (flower pot, ect.)
we put it in our booth for sale. Everyone that entered the grounds received a ticket and a program. We were not sure how
many door prizes we would have, so did not advertise other than saying "Door Prizes.") Although everyone was busy
making phone calls,I made a couple that I brushed off as soon as I made them. It was getting closer, and we had no idea how
we were going to manage it all.
The night before the event, most of the volunteers arrived to set up tables, put the donated food in the refrigerator, and
set up what donations had been donated for the event. One person showed up with either two or three boxes of Hot Dogs (100
count each) plus condiments that had been donated by a friend of hers who wanted to help. Someone else brought cases of soda.
I immediatley knew what we were going to do and chose a spot in the corner of the room, setting up ten foot and 8 foot tables
in a square. The club had a fifty cup coffee maker and warming cradles, so we were all set. As I was a cook in the Air Force
for four years, a cook in the Army Reserve for four years, and presently (at that time) a cook in the Army Reserve, I knew
exactly what we were going to do. We finished setting up the hall around Midnight.
As we had a lot of door prizes, we were calling numbers every fifteen minutes. We had bands inside and outside to keep everyone
entertained. Once we closed the breakfast event we moved half of the tables and prepared the corner tables for hotdogs, Linguica,
and soda for sale. We had people selling tickets for the Raffle items as well. Our Flea Market booth closed around 6:00p.m.
and our last Raffle item went off around 9:00p.m. We decided to return the following day to clean up. Only half of our volunteers
showed up.
This is a sign outside a BP Gas Station. While our government tries to find ways to help the people in the Gulf Coast recovery
from the biggest spill in history, certain school programs have to be cut. Sports is at the top of the list. It is not our
governments fault. The full blame lies with British Petroleum. However, we know that they will not honor their commitment
to pay it all back. Our children will be left to suffer.
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Michael Deese Hails from Mountain View Arkansas. He delighted the crowd at the EIA with his version of "I like Bluegrass."
When the taping was finished he was invited to the Gene Breeden Studios where he and his dad LeRoy Deese recorded five original
songs. Michael has been performing in and around Mountain View Arkansas for years, but now he has the chance to have his
vocals heard World Wide. Michael has also been featured in The Entertainer News on page 3.
Nothing is more important than children's welfare. In order to raise the money needed and to put this contest back on track,
we would like to propose at least one, if not more Bake Sale in the Greenwood area. Perhaps a band looking for recognition
could perform during the sale as well. Once again, contact us if you have space or if you would like to help in some way.
We would like to award the winners in all three categories for their performances. Once again this was promised, however
it was an empty promise.
SPONSORS
A successful fundraiser depends a lot on sponsors. We hope to have a raffle and door prizes. If a business sponsors us with
free coupons they will receive a spot on our website to place their logo. If someone donates a Hall they will receive a much
bigger spot on our website. We may even donate a whole page to one sponsor. We want to help the children and will appreciate
any and all donations and will reciprocate in kind.
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We appreciate any and all help. Even answering the telephone.
A special meeting was held at a club on Baker Road to discuss plans to have a fund raider to help raise the needed money to
help the Youth Soccer Organization so that no children would have to be turned away. Among the suggestions for charitable
events that could be held were to have a Flea Market, Hold a Pancake Breakfast, or have a raffle. When each person was asked
which event would sound good to them, they would choose either the Pancake Breakfast or the Flea Market, or the Raffle. When
I was asked, I said, "It sounds good to me." The committee chairman asked, "Which one?", to which I replied,
"All of them." I also volunteered to make phone calls for donations. I don't know why, but I did. I was doing Flea
Markets at the time and got a hold of several people that I knew of that did Flea Markets. They all agreed to buy a space
to set up. Each dealer also donated one item from their booth for Raffle prizes.
Reed & Barton is one of the oldest Silver Smiths in the country and located in Taunton. Together with Eureka Manufacturing
Company, custom box manufacturers located in Norton Massachusetts, donated a set of their finest Silverware complete with
a Silverware box. Along with the Silverware, Reed & Barton also donated several other items including a Full Silver Tea
set.
I had worked for Rand McNally for seven years. While there, I got to be good friends with the Assistant plant manager Bob
Clift. Just before I left Rand McNally, Bob took on a new job for Princess House. Princess House quickly became the Premiere
Crystal Manufacturer in the country. I took the chance to call and ask for a donation, letting him know that we were raising
the money so that we would not have to turn any kid away that wanted to play Soccer. He asked if we could pick up the donated
items. I of course said yes. We received ten donations, each larger than the other. Princess House now sells products through
home parties, so if you would like to get involved, let us know.
About four days before the event, we had a meeting to compare notes. One of the people on the committee said that he had
received a phone call from a local band that wanted to perform. He turned them down. Two other members said that they had
similar calls and they said yes. The one member did not understand why we needed a band. I explained to him that the more
entertainment we provided, the longer the people would stay and spend their money. I asked if there was anything for the
kids. The committee members looked confused and asked what I meant. I explained that we were doing this for the kids and
if we did not have anything for them to do, they would get bored. Someone mentioned a Moon walk and others chimed in with
other activities. When we got to the food part someone asked how we were going to do it where it was advertised as a Pancake
Breakfast and we had eggs and bacon coming as well. I said that we could set up an assembly line. Each person would let
you know what they wanted. Three pancakes and bacon, Bacon and eggs and pancakes, whatever.
As we arrived, there were a line of cars at the entrance. I didn't notice it, because my eyes did not want to stay open.
The Club owner asked who they were and I looked back and said, "Oh, those are our Flea Market Dealers." The woman
in charge of the Flea Market would not be arriving for at least another hour, so I went over to straighten things out. I
noticed the woman in the first car as a friend of mine who set up at a lot of the Flea Markets that I did. I explained the
situation, pointed out the spot that we had reserved for our booth, and asked if she could guide the other dealers to their
spot, telling her to take the spot next to ours. She gladly accepted the task and went to each car explaining what she would
be doing. I than joined my friend in the hall. The first thing that I did was put on a Pot of Coffee.
Although this event took place almost thirty years ago, the most important thing of all is this. A hand full of people gathered
together to put on this event so that no child would be left out. When I and the others approached a merchant or manufactured
and told them that we were doing it so that the children would have some place to go and something to do, they did not hesitate.
Thirty years later, children are still being turned away 'Because there isn't enough money'
All three of my children are now grown and have children of their own. However, a week after the event back than I came home
and announced that enough money had been raised that no teams would be cut for the following year, plus any team coach that
could not afford to buy uniforms for his team would have the money allocated. My son Tim said, "WOW!!! Adults really
do care." My wife and I have had some small fund raisers over the years and each time Tim has come to help us.
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Why Should I Bother??
Chuck Kesilman is from Shreveport, Louisiana. He has been performing for over thirty years and just barely getting by. He
signed with us, crossing his fingers that everything would turn out okay. Read his story on Special Entertainers. We helped
him to get nominated for the EIA Summer-fest Awards show in Nashville, Tennessee. He performed brilliantly and had the chance
to get some one on one with mister Cliff Ayres, a very busy man. For his nomination he was awarded EIA's Most Promising GOLDEN/Writer/Musician
2009. During his private conversation with Mister Ayres he was asked if he would like to go on tour. He of course said yes.
The taping of the show was June 26th and 27th. At that time, Chuck had already signed a contract with Emerald Records to
have his original song "Hey, Rah! He's the Guitar Man' included on a twenty one song compilation Album that is distributed
to over 50,000 people World Wide, all pertaining to the music industry. The cost for insertion is $750.00 which is very minimal
when you consider the exposure that you receive. I recently heard from Chuck who has informed me that Cliff Ayres called
him and told him to get his Passport. He is going on tour to Germany. Plus, Chuck sent him two new songs that he had just
recorded which will also be included on the compilation. His story and picture were also included in the Entertainer News
that is distributed World Wide as well. There is a $400.00 charge for this, however Chuck was not charged a penny. You can
view this at http://www.entertainernet.net and scroll down to The Entertainer News. An update on Chuck. He is now in Torono,
Canada getting ready to perform at the Beatles Festival being held there.
Anyone that can help us to get trophys for this event or sponsors that would like to help, we urgently ask that you contact
us. Although these two organizations have been in business for going on three years, I like many others, have not had the
time to fully explore the extend of damage that has been done to these children. Both children that are afflicted with Epilepsy
and those that have been physically abused need desperately to know that someone cares.
In the late seventies-early eighties, while still living in Massachusetts, my three children were on a Youth Soccer team.
After the first season, their coach quit, so at the beginning of the second season, I was asked if I would like to coach
the team. This was giving not only my kids, but other kids as well the chance to be active after school and keep them out
of trouble, so I accepted the challenge.
IHOP
donated several gallons of pancake batter and syrup for the event. They were located in Raynham at the time.
Bloom's Meats located on Broadway in Raynham donated Eggs, Bacon, bread for toast and bulky rolls. I had contacted Bloom's
meats because when my father was alive he was a butcher for Swift & Company and also delivered. He respected the people
at Bloom's Meats because they would not sell anything to their customers that were not Top Quality.
Coppercraft Guild, located on Weir Street in Taunton, donated several top of the line items.
It was quickly becoming evident that this event was getting bigger than we expected. We had a committee of about 12 active
members. One of our members worked at the local newspaper and another member owned his own print shop. We received free
newspaper advertising including a half page display ad. The Print Shop owner printed programs free of charge. Of the twelve
of us, we managed to recruit a few more as we knew that this was going to be an all day event.
Several of us had our phone numbers listed in the newspaper articles for anyone wanting to make donations. Many restaurants
in the area were offering free meals, Auto shops, free oil changes, Department stores free gift cards.
The person that was to pick me up the following morning to get the Pancake Batter showed up a little earlier than I had expected.
He had not been at the club the night before and had not known that we agreed to arrive at the club around 6:00a.m. to open
the doors at 7:00a.m. I had gotten to bed around 2:00a.m He showed up at 3:30a.m. Crawling into his car I mumbled something
about the importance of everyone knowing what is going on. When we arrived at IHOP I told him to load the car while I had
my morning coffee. When we arrived at the club, the owner of the club was just unlocking the door.
Fortunetley, my friend was as familiar with a kitchen as I was, so he filled the steam table and turned it on. In the meantime
I got the grills going. On one, I began to make pancakes, on the other one, I lined up the bacon. Once I had my first batch
going I cut some Linguica and cooked them alongside. By then the rest of the kitchen help arrived. A few early people came
in to eat, and my friend and I grabbed a cup of coffee. Just than, one of the girls that was seating people came in the kitchen
yelling, "Mike!! Come quick. Oh My God!!! There is someone that is asking for you." My hair was a mess, I was half
asleep, and I didn't want to move. Reluctently, I got up and followed her. When I got into the dining area I saw the reason
that she was so nervous. With a big smile on my face I extended my hand and said, "Well, as I live and breathe. You did
not let me down. How have you and your beautiful wife been?" When I mentioned making some phone calls earlier, one of
the phone calls was to a very good friend of my father. Senator John Parker, who at the time was Speaker of the House. I asked
if he would mind making a small speech. He laughed and said that he would be delighted. Along with he and his wife, there
were at least three other politicians, News celebrities, and radio announcers. Each gave a speech commending us for all that
we were doing for the kids.
Many of us are having financial problems right now. In fact, my wife and I have not owned a vehicle for at least four years.
However, it hurts deeply when the children of this generation have to give up their music and sports because our schools can't
afford it. Abused children need to be loved. If we don't show them love, someone else will. When we turn our back on the
children, we cause more harm than a dozen BP Oilspills. Like the sign at the BP Gas stations. We are responsible for our
spills. Do all angels have to die before they become angels?, or are there some that are living?
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