 For Greenslate, being able to show support for positive activities
in the community is an important part of the D.A.R.E. program
because it goes back to his lesson model of promoting good choices.
"We do a lot of extra activities for kids, and what we want them
to realize is that they can have a good time with friends without
drinking, without doing drugs," he said. Greenslate also noted that
all the activities are offered to the kids free of charge.
Each year, the D.A.R.E. program hosts a pizza party for Lincoln
youth. The pizza party is a day of food and fun as kids enjoy pizza,
play games and have entertainment provided by a local DJ.
Once a year, kids are treated to a trip to Peoria for a Peoria
Chiefs baseball game.
The program takes part in a shared sponsorship with Wendy's and
the Alcohol, Tobacco & Other Drugs Task Force for an annual bowling
party at Logan Lanes.
There is also an annual fishing derby for area youth, which has
in the past been co-sponsored by the Lincoln Park District and
D.A.R.E.
Greenslate said that this year, the official title of the derby
has been changed to the Nathan Turner Memorial Fishing Derby, with
the Turner family being added as another co-sponsor of the event.
Nathan Daniel Turner died unexpectedly Feb. 7, 2010. He was just
29 years old, married and father of a newborn son, recently elected
member of the Lincoln City Council, and a member of what was then
Neighbors to Nations Church, now the iWorship Center.
He was a successful businessman, working for Caterpillar. His job
took him to places around the world as he represented his company.
He was also an outdoorsman whose favorite pastime was fishing.
At the church during the celebration of his life, many people
talked about Turner's loving and positive attitude toward life and
his love for fishing. One young man stood and talked about the times
he had been invited, though not a family member, to join Turner and
his father on fishing outings.
Greenslate said the Turner family had asked to get involved with
the annual derby as they felt it would be a fitting tribute to the
son, husband and father who loved the sport, loved young people and
loved participating in the annual fishing event.
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This year the Nathan Turner Memorial Fishing Derby will be on
June 11 at Hickory Lane Campground. There is no preregistration
required. Greenslate said the annual event is defined as being for
junior high and younger kids, but no kid who shows up wanting to
fish will be turned away.
The derby begins at 9 a.m. Kids will fish until around 11, then
wrap up their morning with a picnic lunch provided by D.A.R.E. and
its co-sponsors.
Even though the D.A.R.E. program has been around for over 25
years and has proven that it does have a positive influence on
youth, there is no state or federal support for the program.
All the activities that are provided for area youth are by and
large funded through public donations.
For the last 16 years, the Lincoln program has primarily relied
on those who donate to the program though the annual D.A.R.E. Golf
Outing.
This year the event is scheduled for June 17 at the Lincoln Elks
Golf Course, with registration beginning at 11:30 a.m. The day will
begin with a shotgun start at 12:30 and will end with a dinner in
the club dining room.
The funds raised pay for all the outings for youth, prizes and
gifts for various other youth events in Lincoln, and educational
materials used in the classroom.
Greenslate said there was also a telephone fundraiser this year,
a first for the program, but he was very happy with the result.
He said he wanted to be sure and take a moment in the interview
to express his appreciation to all those who made contributions
through the phone campaign.
In addition, Greenslate said he was very appreciative of the
co-sponsors who help with several of the outings.
"D.A.R.E. to be a better person." Throughout the program,
Greenslate's goal is to send this challenge to our youth. It is more
than drug and alcohol prevention; it is about teaching kids how to
make the choices in life that will give them the greatest
opportunities for happiness and success.
[By NILA SMITH]
Part 1, posted Wednesday |
