Operation: PARENT Mid-November News

2010 is quickly coming to an end and believe it or not, it is with great enthusiasm that I ask this favor of you. Would you consider making a year-end donation to Operation: PARENT to keep us moving forward?

It has been an exciting year for us in terms of growth. We are reaching more parents in more places than ever before but our new classes, our new "soon to be released" Parent Handbook, new programs (Coffee Break and Parenting 201) and new facility have increased our expenses significantly. We believe our investment in program development, (grant writing, and publicity) this year will pay big dividends next year, but currently we must continue to meet monthly operating expenses, maintain our facility and pay our staff. As you can imagine, it has been a big stretch in a short period of time so we could sure use your help and invite you to consider Operation: PARENT as you make your year-end donations.

We are a 501(C)3 non-profit organization and with your financial support we will continue to stand up to today's toxic culture by educating, equipping, encouraging and engaging parents of teens and pre-teens. It is such a privilege to serve all of you and to make this request. I already know your generous hearts and to those of you who are able to respond, your gift will fuel our fire.

A heartfelt thank you from all of us here at Operation: PARENT!

Donate today!

	Donation Information
Donations Year-To-Date: $ 23,183.00 Expenses Year-To-Date: $ 70,750.00 __________________________________________________________ Individual Sponsorship Levels Founder ($5,000+) Benefactor ($2,500 - $4,999) Patron ($1000 - $2,499) Supporter ($250 - $999) Sponsor ($100 - $249) Partner (up to $99) Click here to donate on-line!

Fundraising Event - January 27, 2011

Tickets are starting to sell! Our North Oldham venue will accomodate over 400 guests so please join us for a memorable evening. Our kids are bombarded with negative, violent, inappropriate messages every day. Here's our chance, as a community of parents, to counter those messages! Come with your teen or pre-teen and hear Sarah's life-saving, positive message while you support a great cause in the process. Order now and save $10.00 per ticket! Please feel free to bring your basketball team, dance team, youth group, or scout troop!

Click here to order tickets

As we prepare for this spectacular event we are in need of volunteers. Jill Howard is our Committee Chairperson and can be contacted at 502/558-9478 or bubbud@msn.com. Any help you can offer is appreciated. Jill is organizing a silent auction, refreshments and ticket sales. Please give her a call!

Recapping our 1st "Coffee Break"

Coffee Break

We hosted our first "Coffee Break" on Tuesday, November 9th. Everyone was eager to learn more about Facebook, which we did using Mary Beth Uberti's actual Facebook page (projected on our large screen so everyone could see every mouse click and keystroke as we moved around the site). Parents learned how to set up a new account, utilize the Help Center, access chat history, tag (and un-tag) photos. access Facebook on cell phones, learned some of the dangers related to Facebook's newest feature called "Places", and reviewed issues related to Privacy settings. The lively group discussion was fueled by both our facilitator's expertise and our parent's personal experience making this first Coffee Break a huge interactive success.

Our next Coffee Break is

Tuesday, December 14th

Internet Filtering Software

There are many products on the market (Spector Pro, Mymobilewatchdog, etc) designed to help parents monitor, block and record web entries. But with so many out there which one is best? If you have an internet filtering program on your computer, please share your experience with other parents by bringing your laptop to "Coffee Break" and sharing your likes and dislikes about the product. (Please email us at info@operationparent.org if you can bring your laptop.)

Ever feel like your family has far more in common with the Osbourne's than the Cleaver's?

You're not alone!

Osbornes June & Wards Picture

Parenting Tip

Here's a simple one. Tuck your teen (or pre-teen) in bed tonight! When's the last time you sat on your son or daughter's bed and gave them a kiss good night? I know what you're thinking...you can't stay up that late! With the Thanksgiving Holiday coming up, maybe you'll have a day or two off from work and can sleep in longer than usual. So go ahead...watch a movie together and before you head off for bed, walk in their room, start tickling them like you used to and kiss 'em on the forehead. Let me know how it goes!

Thank you for the privilege to educate, equip, encourage and engage you as you raise your incredible pre-teens & teens!

Happy Thanksgiving and keep parenting,

Jean Schumm & Staff
Operation: PARENT

(502) 245-7154