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Elks Drug Awareness Program

The Benevolent and Protective Of Elks would like to welcome you to the resource center for the Elks National Drug Awareness Program. The Elks National Drug Awareness Program is the largest volunteer drug awareness program in the United States. We are very proud of the fact that 1.1 million families are committed to this program and freely give of their time and talents. The Elks are committed to eliminating the use and abuse of illegal drugs by all members of our society and believe the future of our country our children have to be raised in a drug free environment.

The Elks National Drug Awareness Program is totally funded by a grant from the Elks National Foundation. The Elks National Foundation sponsors and funds several National Youth Programs and the foundation is totally funded by generous donations of our loyal Elk members.

Cottonwood (Murray)Elks # 2344 is participating in National RED RIBBON week.

Which will be distributed to grade school children during this years campaign.

Additionally, Cottonwood (Murray) donated quite a few brochures containing drug awareness information. To Murray Schools, Midvale Museum, Midvale City Hall, for 2007/2008

Calling All Superheroes!
Hard Choices features the Elks Drug Awareness Program Heroes Essay Contest for kids in fourth- through eighth-grade. The contest runs from October 15, 2007, through January 31, 2008. For all the super details, click here.

There are all sorts of fun Marvel prizes. You have to enter to win, so be sure to spread the word. The Grand Prize winner will appear in a Marvel comic book with his or her favorite Marvel Superhero!

Read last year's Grand Prize winner Vincent Buccigrossi's essay. And, look for Vincent in the December 2007 Marvel comic book featuring Spider-man, available where ever comics are sold!

Drug Awarness Coordinator
Vincent Schulte

Parenting Nurturing the Full Potential of Our Children

A Healthy Family . . .

Communicates and listens
Affirms and supports one another
Teaches respect for others
Develops trusts
Has a sense of play and humor
Shares responsibility
Teaches right and wrong
Has strong family traditions
Respects the privacy of one another
Values service to others
Fosters family conversation
Shares leisure time
Admits to and seeks help for problems


Creating Better Parent/Child Relationships

Be Available – You can't communicate if you're not there.

Listen and Hear – Pay attention to what your child is saying and feeling.

Be Open – Be honest about your feelings and expectations.

Stay Calm – Get hold of your emotions before talking.

Deal with Today – What happened in the past is not always pertinent to the problem today.

Encourage and Accept – Accept the person if not always the action.

No Attacking – Sarcasm and hostility have no place in mature communication.

No Mixed Messages – There is a time to correct and a time to praise.

No Nagging – It takes one to nag but two to communicate.

No Preaching or Moralizing – It won't get you anywhere. Building Self Confidence in Your Child

Build your child's confidence and feelings of worth
By focusing on their strengths.

Accept your children as they are. Don't make your love and acceptance dependent on their behavior.

Have faith in your children so they can believe in themselves.

Recognize improvement and effort.

Respect your children.

Make positive statements to your children as often as possible.

When disagreements occur, argue only about inaccurate facts or statements. Remember, everyone has
opinions. Sometimes we must agree that we disagree.

Avoid making children feel guilty about the tasks of growth--especially the need to move away from you;
avoid sarcasm and teasing about their changing shapes, feelings, and dates.

Reach out and touch. A touch will communicate much more than just words.

Make your home available to friends.

Actively support groups they enjoy and encourage your children to join constructive groups of their age.

Allow children to develop responsibility.

Be honest with your children. Honesty shows children you trust them.

Deal with here-and-now issues. The past may serve to further block communication within the family.

Work on your positive self-esteem. Smile! Be happy around your children. Happy, well-adjusted
human beings who genuinely care for others make excellent parents.
Helping Your Child Say "NO"

Talk with you child about alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. You can help change ideas your child may
have that "everybody drinks, smokes, or uses other drugs."

Learn to really listen to your child. Your child is more likely to talk with you when you give verbal and
nonverbal cues that show you are listening.

Help your child feel good about himself or herself. Your child will feel good when you praise efforts, as
well as accomplishments, and when you correct by criticizing the action rather than the child.

Help your child develop strong values. A strong value system can give your child the courage to say
"NO" rather than listen to friends.

Be a good role model or example. Your habits and attitudes may strongly influence your child's ideas
about alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs.

Help your child deal with peer pressure. A child who has been taught to be gentle and loving may need
your "permission" to say "NO" to negative peer pressure.

Make family rules. Make specific family rules about your child not using alcohol or other drugs or
smoking cigarettes. And tell your child the punishment for using them.

Encourage healthy, creative activities. Hobbies, school events, and other activities may prevent your
child from using alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs out of boredom.

Team up with other parents. You can join other parents in support groups that will reinforce the
guidance your provide at home.

Know what to do if you suspect a problem. You can learn to recognize the telltale signs of alcohol,
tobacco, and other drug use and get help.e