ALVIN LAW TO SPEAK IN TABER

Those who take in speeches at the Hooked on Hope conference being held
in Taber tomorrow and Friday to create awareness of drug issues, will
not leave disappointed. They will likely be wanting to hear more.

Alvin Law, a speaker at the event, who was born without arms after his
mother took a prescription drug to treat morning sickness, speaks to
youth and tells them to realize it doesn't matter if they have a year
with a bad complexion or a bad hair day because it could always be
worse.

He tells groups to get over their problems and start living, since his
optimistic nature and positive viewpoints his parents exhibited when
he was growing up have made all the difference in his life.

"When people see what I have been able to do -- not only with my feet
but with my life, they want to know the secret. The funny thing is
there is no secret to it. It is common sense," says Law, who leads a
normal life with his family and drives a car using his feet. "I get
paid to tell people it is better to think positively than it is to
think negatively."

The 45-year-old has been a professional motivational speaker since
1988 and has given lectures since 1981.

He was given Certified Speaking Profession recognition, which less
than seven per cent of motivational speakers receive.

During his presentation, he will tell how his parents taught him life
can be tough by putting regular expectations on him like having him do
chores.

Part of his speech at the parent session will get audience members to
reflect on the role of a parent. He stresses how choices youth make
are often linked with decisions they see adults making. Adults in
society commonly want the newest car, the new clothes, and he says
society has shown youth being cool is crucial.

"My parents made me realize that being born without arms is not fair,
but it is real, so they taught me to expect to get stared at, to
expect to get made fun of and picked on," he says.

Instead of making the most with what he was given like he has, he says
he could have becoming dependent on other people or taking illegal
drugs and/or alcohol to rid the pain.

"They (youth) are afraid to ask for help. There is a lot of troubled
youth and instead of getting help because that would show weakness, it
is much easier to go and get stoned," says Law.

Law also said since kids have more options in today's world than they
did in the olden days, they have more stress. He added there are a lot
less traditional families now-a-days.

"It is not like it used to be, but that doesn't mean we don't need to
try and insert some of the traditional values or ways of functioning
in a home -- frankly, I think kids are craving it," he says, adding
parents need to live what they preach and stick to the rules.

Steve Walton, a retired detective who worked with the Calgary Police
Service for 24 years and on a drug unit for nine of those years, will
also be speaking at the conference.