~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The
ARKGROUP (Adults Relating to Kids)
Publishing from Lone Star
College University Park, SH 249, Houston, Texas ARK 'N ACTION
February 2011
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In this
issue:
-- 10 Key Components of a Strong Family
-- We Continue to Appreciate your Help
-- Great Leaders Allow Their People To Be Heard
-- Musings From Bill: Bill Gates on Nine Things Kids will Not Learn
in School
Dear Kristine, Welcome to ARK's
February Newsletter. Glenn, Jan, Omega, Quintina, and I thank you for your
commitment to the children in your lives, in your homes, in your
neighborhoods, in your schools, in your churches and within your larger
communities. How Common Is Bullying? | |
10 Key Components of a Strong Family ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  According to Dr. Joyce Brothers, there are 10 key
components of a strong family. The first is, "Our family comes first,"
which consists of loyalty between the parents or the single mom or dad who
have the attitude that the family comes first. Then the support among
family members completes this component.
The second key is, "We should be together -- and separate". This conveys the message that family ties continue to be strong while family members are free to go their own way. The third component is, "We are a democracy," with the parents having the role of leadership while everyone learns to compromise for the good of the whole. The fourth key component is, "We treat others with respect," and the family expresses gratitude to each other and speaks with positive words. "We deal with difficulties and criticism" is the fifth key, and the family members treat problems as "challenges" and not "setbacks." They learn to confront all situations. The sixth key is, "Pay attention," and family members agree to be good listeners by "listening with the heart," and everyone asks questions in order to avoid misunderstandings. "We value time with the family" is the seventh key which means that the members of the family "insist" on time with the family and establish limits on work time and give priority to family fun. Key componenent number eight is, "We branch out" which includes incorporating the extended family, especially the grandparents, in the circle of love and care. The ninth component is, "We want to improve the world," which means that the family gets involved and serves in local organizatons and thus serves the community. The tenth key component states,"We have faith," which is a reflection of a spiritual component of the family based on religious beliefs or a connection with the universe. Family members serve others as well as themselves. | |
We Continue to Appreciate your Help ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We are amazed
at the new opportunities God has provided us where ARK for Parents and ARK
for Teachers can be utilized to serve the needs of poor children and their
families. Equally exciting are some incredible opportunities for us to
place ARK in additional venues in 2011. Your help, however, is
needed!In both Houston and Dallas, the expansion of our ARK programming depends upon our finding the funding to accommodate these wonderful opportunities. For example, we need to print additional copies of our ARK for Parents Manuals ($20,000 per printing) and ARK for Teens Manuals ($15,000 per printing). We have 23 elementary schools that want to install ARK for Parents on their campuses ($5,000 apiece). Additionally, the Alliance of Community Ministries (ACAM) in Houston, which is composed of fourteen assistance ministries across Houston, is very interested in providing ARK for Parents to their clients. One of them, the Houston Northwest Assistance Ministry (NAM) has been employing the ARK for Parents Program for the past four years with great success. The other thirteen assistance ministries would like to follow suit. The cost is $3,800 per site. These endeavors will enable us to reach countless children and their families and teachers across those two metropolitan areas. Financial gifts--large and small--will enable us to actualize these opportunities. WE ARE IN NEED OF YOUR HELP! For those who are able to make these ministry opportunities possible through your contributions, THANK YOU! And to ALL of you, thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers. Since the ARKGroup is a 501(c)(3), non-profit organization, all
gifts are tax-deductible. Be sure that your checks have are dated December
31 or earlier in order for you to receive 2010 tax credit. "Educating the mind without meeting educating the heart is no education at all." Aristotle | |
Great Leaders Allow Their People To Be Heard ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  My thanks to Dr. Robert Brooks, who continually
expands my understanding of resilience, self-esteem, motivation, and
family relationships.In a recent newsletter, Dr. Brooks writes: "Self-determination and autonomy are basic needs that exist throughout our lives, from our toddler and preschool years through our senior years. Intrinsic motivation and democratic ideas flourish when environments encourage and support one's voice being heard. In all of our institutions, whether schools or in various organizations or businesses, those in leadership positions must ask if all members truly believe their opinion is respected and that they are afforded a certain level of autonomy and choice. This kind of respect does not imply a loss of authority on the part of leadership, but rather the cultivation of a climate in which leadership will be honored for validating the input and voices of others." To read more on this subject and Dr Brooks works, go to this link to his web site | |
Musings From Bill: Bill Gates on Nine Things Kids will Not Learn in School ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  Bill Gates recently gave a speech to high school
kids about eight things they did not learn in school. He talked about
feel-good, politically correct teachings creating a generation of kids
with no concept of reality and how this concept could set them up for
failure in the real world.
Gates adds, "Be nice to nerds. Chances are you will end up working for one." It seems to me, real people have a lot to say. We have to weigh their words in context. We have a lot to thank our teachers for and others who teach us by the way they live. Just musing... Take a look at the ARK website for full details on programs at www.thearkgroup.org | |
Contact Information ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
email: wduffyark@sbcglobal.net
phone: 281-537-1301 (Houston) and 817-692-1929 (Dallas/Fort Worth)
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