Our anniversary celebration brought out recollection of times passed! So we have been working on a time line. We thought you might like to see a history of important world events displayed next to the highlights in the world of volunteerism, since 1983. The world events and the history of volunteerism are all there, but we have added important dates in the life of Macduff/Bunt Associates and its publishing arm, MBA Publishing.

And we are inviting your participation. We want our readers to write remembrances of their life in volunteerism. We will post them on the time line, which will become a permanent part of Volunteer Today. So, take a few moments to look at the time line and add your special contributions by emailing us at: editor@volunteertoday.com.

In mid July the Bush Administration launched an initiative in the fight against youth drug abuse – the Parent Corps. The Parent Corps will be administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service, which provided a three-year, $4.2 million grant to the Atlanta-based nonprofit group National Families in Action to establish Parent Corps programs in nine states.

The Parent Corps relies on a cadre of trained and knowledgeable parents – known as Parent Leaders – to educate other parents in their children's schools about the dangers of alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drug use and to support those parents in their efforts to keep their children drug-free.

Thus far, Parent Leaders have been selected and trained in seven cities in four states: Denver, Colorado; Stamford and Weston, Connecticut; Wilson and Wilmington, North Carolina; and Appleton and Kimberly, Wisconsin. Those Parent Leaders have begun recruiting Parent Volunteers and training them about preventing drug use in children in anticipation of the new school year. By early 2005, the Parent Corps will expand operations to five other states – California, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, and South Carolina.

A pilot Parent Corps program, financed by the state of North Carolina, has been in operation since 2002. Sixteen Parent Leaders currently are working in communities throughout the state, and another seven are serving as volunteer Parent Leaders. Through a balanced strategy of prevention, treatment, and supply reduction, youth drug use has declined by 11 percent over the last two years, exceeding President Bush’s goal of a 10 percent reduction by 2004.

More information about the Parent Corps is available at http://www.parentcorps.org.

Plan an EDU-VACATION - April 26-29, 2005 Training for managers of volunteers, leading to a certificate, is being held April 26-29, 2005. Sponsored by Washington State University, the Volunteer Management Certificate Program will be held in Port Hadlock, Washington, in the shadow of the Olympic Mountains. Topics include: Recruitment Evaluation Training Management and Supervision Recognition Risk Management Diversifying the Volunteer Pool The Internet as the Manager's Next Best Friend Interactive Case Models based on student process is the focus of Learning Activities. For more information, visit the website at: http://www.emmps.wsu.edu/volunteer.

CSV, a volunteer services organization in the United Kingdom (UK), announced research by ICM, reporting that volunteering fights obesity and improves health and fitness, particularly amongst young people. The research, published on July 21st, comes in the wake of national concerns in Britain over growing waistlines.

Initial findings from the survey involving more than 600 volunteers throughout the UK show that volunteering improves fitness levels and reduces weight. The research also highlights trends in smoking, drinking and sex in relation to volunteering.

Later findings will show the impact of volunteering on mental health, including depression and stress levels. Find out more about CSV at: http://www.csv.org.uk/difference.

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See our online bookstore for Sue Vineyard's book: How to Take Care of You...So You Can Take Care of Others.

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