Welcome to ARK's March 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.

Spring is in the air in Texas and we are experiencing beautiful, bright, cool breezes as the plants bloom and children pass my home bouncing to elementary school. I have even seen brighter smiles at the bus stops for the middle school students and the early morning high school kids. Spring helps us all appreciate the renewal of life and the promise of new opportunities and options. Our children need you, and we need one another as we extend and receive the support and care that give meaning to life.

For the optimism and dedication of our ARK volunteers, we are thankful. Our research continues to show that just one caring adult in the lives of kids plays a tremendous role in their success in school and in living contributing, productive lives. Each and every adult are needed to be both a model and a mentor for imparting values, integrity, and compassion!
Bill

William R. Duffy
National Executive Director
Lone Star College University Park, Houston, Texas.

"The size of your heart is the size of your life, for out of your heart comes the kind of your life, the way you reach out to the world all around is the first in your heart to be found. So if in your heart there is plenty of room for love and compassion to come into bloom; their fragrance flows out through all that you do, healing the hurt and making new. The ones who this know have helped all of us grow, as those who spread light to God's great delight, dispelling the dark and then feeling the heart 'till each one becomes God's daughter, son."

"The Size of the Heart"
Eleanor Daley

Spring is real for sure.
Bill

David Brooks writes, "Over the past few decades we have tended to define human capital (worth) in a narrow way, emphasizing I.Q., degrees, and professional skills. These are measurements, but obviously, new research illustrates a range of deeper talents, which have a greater span than reason and emotion and provide greater understanding for us as parents and educators as we help others to grow each day with our care.

The talents in all us beyond I.Q., which forms us and helps to make us who we are include, but will probably be expanded in the future as we continue to understand the human condition:
Attunement: the ability to enter other minds and learn what they have to offer.
Euipoise: the ability to serenely monitor the movements of one's own mind and correct for biases and shortcomings.
Metis: the ability to see patterns in the world and derive a gist from complex situations.
Sympathy: the ability to fall into a rhythm with those around you and thrive in groups.
Limerence: This is not a talent as much as it is a motivation. The conscious mind hungers for money and success, but the unconscious minds hungers for those moments of transcendence when the brain falls away and we are lost in love for another, the challenge of a task or the love of God. Some people seem to experience this drive more powerfully than others.

In the ARKGroup family, we profess the power in all of us to share unconditional love and care to others, especially children, as our experience of what it means to be human. Our research and common sense continues to show us that a child grows to adulthood when we commit ourselves to be in their lives. When we separate the person from the behavior and care for the person as the adult in their lives, the future is changed.

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We love to hear from you. Check out our web site

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.

Checks can be made out to "The ARKGroup" and sent to our Houston office (20515 SH 249, LoneStar College University Park CB-122, Houston, Texas 77070) or our Dallas office (2215 Canada Dr., Dallas, TX 75212).

The ARKGroup has been especially thankful for it's Dallas Initiatives and for the wonderful partnerships working in West Dallas. Be sure to check out the link below for a video on ARK's progress and programs

check this exciting video about ARK enter the passwork ARK11 when requested

As discussed in the articles:" the percentage of the earth's population with a decent standard of living is higher than it has ever been. Inequality still abounds: Two percent of the population owns 50% of the wealth. But the gap between world's poorest and richest is now filled by a broad middle-income group that scarcely existed on a global scale 50 years ago. More children live to be adults, and fewer adults die of preventable diseases. The birthrate is falling". Yet before the era of population growth ends in 2050, Earth will hold more than nine billion people.

I believe that problems arising out of this enormous swell in population will be helped by the ARKGroup process of small networks helping to identify issues and define solutions to benefit our small communities of care and love. One of the primary challenges we will face is, "How to share and sustain the planet while lifting even more people into a better life."

I believe with all my mind and heart that you will be counted in the groups that will rise to the challenge and make a real difference.

Just musing...
Bill

As we close this newsletter for March, we reflect on our greater family in Japan and elsewhere throughout the world where lives and societies are in turmoil. May our hearts and prayers be with them.

Take a look at the ARK website for full details on programs at www.thearkgroup.org