A golden opportunity to express thanks

What better way to honor our seniors in their golden years than to provide them with  a better quality of life. This Friday evening, July 27, 2012, residents of Greater Lansing have a golden opportunity to give back for all they have done for us by contributing and participating in the 7th Annual Ingham County TRIAD Senior Prom.

A $25 donation allows you to partake in some of the finest dining in Mid-Michigan at the East Lansing Marriott, as well as hors d’oeuvres from Lou & Harry’s and yummy dessert items from Grand Traverse Pie Company.

The mission of the Ingham County TRIAD is:

 “A partnership among Law Enforcement Agencies, Fire Personnel, Senior Citizens (60+) and Community Members which promotes elder quality of life through advocacy, assistance, education and training.”

Furthermore, Ingham County TRIAD:

“Recognizes the dignity and worth of all senior citizens while addressing the unique needs and concerns of our aging population in a creative, sensitive and effective manner. Ingham County TRIAD pledges to maintain the trust and confidence of our elders by:

• Promoting senior safety through education and training
• Enhancing the delivery of law enforcement services to senior citizens
• Continuing collaborative efforts to meet the needs of our senior community
• Reducing criminal victimization to elder individuals
• Improving the overall quality of life for seniors.”

Sounds like a great, fun, and tasty way to assist senior citizens in the Greater Lansing community. Please consider attending the Senior Prom on July 27th or making a donation to the organization. Either way, it’s a golden opportunity to say thank you.

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Scenes from Michigan’s vagina support rally

Here are some of my photos taken last night at the Michigan rally in support of vaginas held at the steps of the State Capitol in downtown Lansing. At least 5,000 people attended in support of Women’s Rights.

Sheroes of the day – Rep. Barbara Byrum and Rep. Lisa Brown

“Vagina Monologues” being presented

Under a beautiful June evening sky.

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“In Between: Memoir of an Integration Baby” by Rev. Dr. Mark Morrison-Reed

NOTE: This post was first published on my other blog – Panethos.wordpress.com. The topic is so important, I felt it should also be posted here. 

Source: uugcb.org

I first met Rev. Dr. Mark Morrison-Reed several weeks ago when he spoke at my church and gave the sermon on Sunday morning. Upon hearing about his life story which led him to becoming an Unitarian Universalist minister, I decided to purchase and read one of his books - In Between: Memoir of an Integration Baby. The book is both a memoir and a valuable and poignant history lesson about what it was like growing up as an Afro-American during the Civil Rights movement.

Throughout the book there are thoughtfully vivid and endearing reflections about his family and childhood, important facts, and above all, crucial discussions about race relations in the United States and elsewhere. Having personally grown up in a fairly privileged, white family just a few years after Dr. Morrison-Reed, I could relate in part to his general perceptions about those tumultuous times, but not to the direct, day-to-day impacts he and his family faced. As a result, I found his perspective enlightening. At the same time, I found my poor understanding of the differences between our experiences to be troubling, which caused me to reconsider my “semi-Pollyanna” memories of youth.

Right from the get go, the book noted an important historical fact that I had either forgotten, overlooked, or was never taught – all three of which are pitifully shameful excuses – the United States Capitol building had been built with slave labor (page 4). I have no idea why that historical detail escaped my attention all these years when it makes perfect sense, given the time frame of the building’s construction. If I didn’t even know that factoid, then how in the world could I ever considered myself to be an enlightened and open-minded person regarding the topic of race?

To this day, I can recall being on spring break with my family at Longboat Key, Florida when Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated. I can remember my parents discussing whether they should try to bypass Atlanta and Nashville on our way home back to Indianapolis – neither city had a completed beltway at the time. In the end, we took the traditional route through the two cities.

I can also clearly remember the debate, both in the media and around the dinner table about school busing and desegregation in my hometown of Indianapolis. I was opposed to the idea of transferring to a private school after eighth grade, but not because I was taking a righteous, ethical, or moral stand in favor of integrated schools, but because the majority of my friends were staying in the public school system. Wow…does that memory ever sound selfish, ignorant, and hypocritical in hindsight.

The reason I am potentially boring everyone about certain segments of my youth is that is what is so great about Dr. Morrison-Reed’s book — it causes one to look back and reflect. Not just on one’s own life, but at our society as a whole. When two people as well-educated and esteemed as Mark Morrison-Reed’s parents can still face the ugly  blots of racism, one must rethink our precepts about the United States. Even today, Afro-Americans, Muslim-Americans, women, and immigrants continue to face similar treatment by so-called freedom-loving Americans who think our country is some sort of massive, private, white males-only, flag-waving membership club.

One only need to turn to the recent tragedy in Sanford, Florida to see exactly what the Mark Morrison-Reed is talking about in his book when he cites the differences in growing up as an Afro-American in our nation. Here is an example that eerily sound like it could have come from today’s headlines:

“Many white folks find this impossible to believe, but being a black man in America is risky business — you never know when something bad is going to happen for no other reason than that you’re black and you’re there.

Several years earlier, it had happened to my brother, Philip. After he had moved to Denver he’d been riding his bicycle home from work when he found himself pinned spread-eagle against a squad car, and all he could do was pray that the cops didn’t do anything even more idiotic. His crime was riding through Lakeview, a white neighborhood, just after a drugstore had been robbed, and he happened to be the first black man the police encountered. Philip was carrying his security clearance for the United States Geological Survey, but they just wanted to know how he got his hands on it. They kept him sitting on the curb until their supervisor arrived; the, opening his backpack, they found a geology textbook and a research paper. They eventually released him, but offered not a word of apology, and it took the threat of legal action by the director of the Geological Survey to force them to expunge Philip’s arrest record.” (page 178)

In Between is a superb and thought-provoking book that I highly recommend reading. I also believe it would be a particularly useful textbook in high school and collegiate history classes which focus on the 20th century, Civil Rights, or Afro-American history. Dr. Morrison-Reed’s book will make you smile, laugh, shake your head, and cry. Above all, it will cause you to reflect — and that in itself is an important step towards healing a nation so fractured  by race relations for far, far too long.

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Peace is the word, is the word, is the word

Last night I had the privilege of attending the annual meeting of the Peace Education Center in East Lansing. The energy level among the approximately 50 attendees was inspiring as the membership socialized, shared a potluck supper, celebrated volunteer efforts, heard business reports, listened to informative presentations, and voted on officers. During the meeting, there was a quote stated that I thought was particularly poignant and useful to pass along:

“Sustainable peace is grounded in inner peace.”

As part of the business reports, three were given by task forces that the Peace Education Center is championing. These are:

• Women’s Right’s Task Force
• Cost of Militarism Education Team (or COMET)
• Youth Outreach Team

The Youth Outreach Program conducted an intriguing study in six area high schools. They asked students if they had $1.3 trillion dollars to spend elsewhere than the for the Pentagon, where would they spend it? Below is a chart showing a summary of the answers that came from more than 400 students.

Source: Peace Education Center

If you live within earshot of Greater Lansing, please consider joining the Peace Education Center. Their continuing efforts towards a more just and equitable society are commendable and should be supported. If you live elsewhere, consider joining a similar group in your community. If no such organization currently exists there, think about starting a new one. I think you will find the effort an uplifting experience for you and your community.

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2012 Ride of Silence – taking place on May 16, 2012

In 2012, the tenth anniversary of a solemn event will take place worldwide on Wednesday, May 16th at 7:00 pm local time. The Ride of Silence began in Dallas, Texas and honors those who have lost their lives or been injured by motor vehicles while riding their bicycles. Aside from honoring the fallen, the ride is meant to be a peaceful way of protesting the disdain much too often shown towards bicyclists by drivers. The mission of the Ride of Silence is:

“The mission of the world-wide Ride of Silence is to honor bicyclists killed by motorists, promote sharing the road, and provide awareness of bicycling safety.”

Here in Greater Lansing, the Ride of Silence begins on the Michigan State University Campus and concludes at the State Capital. Similar rides will occur throughout the United States and in countries across the globe on May 16th.

Here’s just a brief summary of the scope of the event in 2011 from the RoS website:

• “322 locations around the planet
• All states and the District of Columbia: 2nd straight year, 3rd year for all 50 states
• 24 countries: down from a high of 26 in 2010 but 4 new countries listed
• 28 Canadian locations: twice as many as 2011!
• All seven continents: 2nd straight year, 3rd year total. (how…. in Antarctica?? Thanks to the Palmer Station for having a Ride (Spin) for Silence, taking turns on an indoor stationary bike)
• 47%: number of locations that posted a follow-up ride report (down from 2009 & 2010)
• Zero words are spoken, but a million powerful memories.”

Many of us have friends and/or family members who have been killed or injured by motor vehicles while riding their bikes, but that is not a prerequisite for participation. Please consider participating in this important and sobering event on Wednesday, May 16th. In our unified silence, let the impact of our combined resolve be a deafening statement to all. Below are links to the Greater Lansing Ride of Silence and a page that lists all the Ride of Silence events around the world. Please consider participating.

• Here’s a link to the event details for the Greater Lansing Ride of Silence: http://www.bikes.msu.edu/index.cfm/news-and-events/ros/
• Also, check out this page to locate events around the USA and world: http://www.rideofsilence.org/locations-domestic.php

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True love in the face of melanoma

The following blog post was written by my niece, Emily and was originally published on the Miles Against Melanoma website. Emily has kindly agreed for it to be re-posted here. Both Emily and her deceased husband Eric have endured more pain and heartache in their young lives than most of us will have to deal with in our entire lifetime.  At the same time, the two of them are one of the finest examples I have ever known of what true love is really all about. In addition, the outpouring of love in Slippery Rock for both of them has been palpable.

If you would like to help in the fight again melanoma, please consider a donation to Miles Against Melanoma, the American Cancer Society, or other similar charities.

_____

Eric K.

“Eric and I met on the school bus when we began 7th grade. We quickly became friends and were often found picking on each other. By our junior year of high school we were an “official” couple. When high school graduation came, we both knew we wanted to marry each other, we both just had to get a college degree.

Eric was officially diagnosed with cancer October 2008. The melanoma was found in his neck.  He was beginning his second year of college and working. While continuing both of these things, he had two surgeries and chemo treatments.  In the summer of 2009, right after our 21st birthdays, we were told he was cancer free. We continued on with our studies and put this in the back of our minds. By November 2010, Eric began feeling and seeing the symptoms he had a little over a year before. Within six weeks, the cancer was back and diagnosed as stage four. We tried many different types of chemo and had a few additional surgeries. On June 16, 2011, Eric celebrated his 23rd birthday and we were married on June 17, 2011. We couldn’t be happier that we were officially married. On June 21, 2011, Eric lost his battle with cancer.

Yes, cancer took my husband, but I know his love is with me everyday. He was a son, son-in-law, brother, brother-in-law, grandson, cousin, but most importantly a friend to anyone who met him. His smile could light up the room and he could make you laugh at the drop of a hat. A month after he passed away, we received a phone call that Eric had graduated from Slippery Rock University! Everyday I miss him (we all do) but I do everything that I can that will carry on his life. In the words of my father-in-law, Scott, “To love Eric, was to know Eric.”

Eric was born in 1988 and passed away at the age of 23 on June 21, 2011.”

Emily K.

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Friday night at the food bank – a sobering reminder

Source: wtaq.com

It was 4:15 p.m. yesterday afternoon. Snowflakes were drifting down and there was already a line of 50 people waiting outside the North Lansing Police Precinct gymnasium in the February cold for food. Some of them had already been there more than an hour and the distribution was not set to start for another 90 minutes or so.  On this Friday night, we were not celebrating the bright lights of the gridiron, but instead trying to fulfill the basic needs of the less fortunate.

I had the distinct honor of unloading and distributing food items from the Greater Lansing Food Bank (link to annual report) to some of our neediest fellow citizens through their Food Movers program. For four hours, nine of us from my Unitarian Universalist Church covenant group unloaded trucks, set up tables, distributed food, and helped carry the selected items to the customer’s cars. We were among 25+/- volunteers, of all ages, assisting with a number of tasks from registration, to sorting, to distribution. The experience was both uplifting and quite sobering.

Last month, 73 recipients lined up for food on the third Friday evening of January amidst a snowstorm. Last night, more than 120 were lining the walls of the gymnasium to obtain their permitted allotment of food for the month.  At least 120 kind, hardy, and proud souls, each with their own story of why they were there. Foodstuffs were plentiful, but it would not be enough to supply everyone equally. Sorely lacking, were fresh fruits and vegetables. Meanwhile there was enough bread to open a chain of bakeries and more sweets and soft drinks than a nutritionist would likely recommend.

The first recipients whom I assisted were two neighbors who had arrived outside in line at 3:30 p.m. (distributions began at 6:00 pm). They were about fifth in line. A very sweet pair who enjoyed each other’s friendship and company. They were an absolute delight.

The third person I assisted stood in line for over two hours only to be told at the registration station that she did not qualify for receiving food because she had not registered at least 24 hours in advance. Needless to say, she was unhappy  but resigned to the fact that she would have to wait until the March distribution.

If I were to have just one suggestion for improving this program, it would be to never, ever let someone leave empty-handed. Have individual bags of basic necessities held off to the side for such situations. Even though it was not my decision, I still felt heartsick, particularly since she had recently lost her home and had been living in a homeless shelter.

The fourth person I assisted was a very kind and proud older man with a big Russian-style winter hat on his head. He reminded me of the quintessential Norman Rockwell image of a caring and loving grandfather. Quiet, reserved, and resolute, he carefully chose each item for placement in his bags and baskets. He too had a arrived with a neighbor – a young man with special needs.

Next was an older woman and  her daughter. As I carried her basket she daintily gathered up the specific items she wanted. While you had the choice of numerous breads, she only took as many as she needed, leaving the balance of her allowed allotment for others with large families, who might need it more.

Lastly, I assisted a tall gentleman who had brought a plastic laundry basket to carry his food items. As he gathered up his goods, particularly canned vegetables and soups, the basket became so heavy that it took both of us to carry it out to his car in the parking lot.

All the people I assisted throughout the evening were grateful for the food, were extremely pleasant and enjoyable to talk with, and were thankful for our assistance and for the bounty of food that had been donated. Those of us who weekly cruise in and out of out neighborhood grocery store with carts full of goodies would do well to be more thankful for and cognizant of our bountiful blessings too.

I would highly recommend anyone with the time to consider volunteering to help distribute food for your local food bank. You will never take grocery shopping, and the bounty that is available to you, for granted ever again.

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A heartfelt relay of love

Yesterday (Jan. 14th), one of my sons and I drove several hours in and our of snow showers to Benton Harbor, Michigan to meet another car that was coming there from Munster, Indiana. The purpose of our trip to Benton Harbor was to pick up the beautiful American Eskimo dog (Eskie) that I was adopting from a family in Wisconsin. It was the culmination of a month or more of paperwork, scheduling, and travel preparation on the part of an amazing set of volunteers.

I had absolutely no idea how much hard work, time, and effort is put into animal (in this case dog) adoptions and rescues around the country. The volunteers (in this case from Eskie Rescuers United) are simply amazing. They will drive  hundreds of miles to save one dog, foster care them in their home for weeks and sometimes months or years, and then transport them hundred of miles again to their new “fur-ever” home. That does not begin to include the paperwork, the interviews, the phone calls, the travel arrangements, the meet and greets, the weather forecasts, and a plethora of other details that must be worked out along the way.

Jokingly, I referred to the yesterday’s event as a car relay (four drivers and four states), but in reality the whole process is a heartfelt relay of love – the car relay was only the last step in a much larger process. Now, I have a handsome, fun, and loving four-year old Eskie living with me, who I have aptly named “Relay.” He is one of the sweetest dogs I have ever met and full of energy and love.

I would like to thank Karon of Eskie Rescuers United for shepherding me through the process, answering all of my questions, and for finding me a wonderful Eskie. I also want to thank Tiffany who came to interview me at my apartment and brought along her beautiful Eskie. Lastly, I want to thank Relay’s Wisconsin family for trusting and believing that I was the right person to adopt their dog. I know how hard of a decision it was for them and that they love him dearly and miss him greatly. He is a wonderful dog and you would be very, very proud of him.

Pet adoption and rescue organizations are located throughout the country. They can be found online, through your veterinarian, and/or through the humane society. Petfinder.com and adoptapet.com are both good locations to start your research.

If you adore pets, especially dogs and/or cats, you might consider becoming a volunteer as part of a pet adoption and rescue program. I have told Karon that I would like to do that for Eskie Rescuers United here in Michigan.

If driving as part of a relay team is not possible, consider a donation of your time or money to one of the many animal adoption and/or rescue organizations across the country. There are so many beautiful animals out there in need of a new “fur-ever” home and so many people who want to share their love. It’s all a matter of matching the right animal with the right home and then bringing them together. 

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