A DARE TO VOLUNTEER FOR PROGRAM

This letter is intended to get the attention of every parent who has a
child in Grade 6 in our city and appeal for help in running an awesome
program that seems to be forgotten.

The program I am talking about is DARE. For those of you who don't know
what that stands for, it is Drug Abuse Resistance Education. It is a
program taught in our local schools at the Grade 6 level.

This program is offered at no charge to students and offers extremely
valuable information. However, this program does not run itself. Usually it
is run with an executive of approximately five volunteers, the police
officers who teach the course in the schools and parent representatives
from each school. It also relies heavily on donations from the public.

I am on the executive and have been with the association since the year my
daughter went through it four years ago. Similarly, all the remaining
people on the executive have children who have previously gone through the
program and continue to volunteer their time.

Unfortunately, for some reason there is a huge problem getting any parent
helpers this year. A letter was sent out at the beginning of the school
year requesting parent help and since then we have had a total of five
parents over the course of six months show up. We only have one short
meeting each month. Surely that is not too much to ask from parents who
don't have to drop a penny to have their child educated about a real and
present danger in our city and society.

We desperately need your help! This program is not only a learning tool but
a great way to get involved in your child's life! The children who complete
this program are given a T-shirt and a graduation ceremony with cake,
refreshments and local dignitary participation.

Without parent help, there is a possibility these ceremonies will have to
be eliminated. If your child is in Grade 6 and is taking the program,
please make the effort and come to our next meeting which is scheduled for
April 5, 7 p.m. at the Medicine Hat police station.

For the sake of your child, get involved.

Jackie Steele DARE Executive