Friday, September 26, 2008

Srsly, what's with the t-shirt slogans?

Here's a break-down of the SRSLY shirts you saw at the game tonight...

"Good Times!" Pretty straightforward... SRSLY is all about having fun in safe and healthy ways - that means no drugs, and no underage drinking! We will plan and host and promote fun substance-free events all year long, so keep an eye on the calendar at www.srslychelsea.org/calendar if you want to join in the fun.

"Thank You For Noticing Me." You saw these on banners as well as t-shirts. Did you know that when kids think that adults in their community notice them, they are less likely to drink or do drugs? How simple is that?!?!? We (adults) know that we all notice and appreciate the young people in Chelsea, but that's not good enough! We (adults) need to make sure that youth know that we notice them! So notice a young person, and make sure they know you did!

"My Neighbor Likes Me." Same idea, a little deeper. Beyond being noticed, young people need to know that they matter to their family, and their community. The more kids feel like their neighbors and other adults in the community like and appreciate them, the less likely they are to engage in destructive behaviors (like drinking and doing drugs). So if you know a cool kid in your neighborhood, you need to go out of your way to tell them how cool they are! And if you are a cool kid in your neighborhood - YOU ROCK! YOUR NEIGHBORS LIKE YOU, A LOT!

"Words On A Shirt (a good place to start)" We all need to talk openly and honestly about drugs and alcohol, and the effects they have on our lives and bodies. Kids need to talk to trusted adults, and parents need to talk to their kids (and each other), about how to stay safe and healthy. No one has all the answers, but we can all learn from each other, as long as we TALK! So parents, talk to your kids. And kids, ask a parent or other trusted adult. Everyone has questions, so let's get them out in the open, and find some answers. Shirts are just the beginning...


You want a cool shirt? Earn it! (or buy it). Check out the website to find out how. Updates coming soon.

Reiley

Thank You!





Dear SRSLY Volunteers,


Thank you for being, by far, the coolest volunteers on the planet. Tonight was so much fun, it was ridiculous, all thanks to YOU! It was so great to see everyone excited about SRSLY, and preventing destructive behavior in Chelsea youth. And it was so fun seeing everyone covered in SRSLY tattoos, glow bracelets, and t-shirts!

Speaking of... if you're wondering what the t-shirts are all about, check out the t-shirt post. If you want to see more pics, check out the Facebook page (SRSLY Chelsea).

If you want to volunteer for future SRSLY stuff, go to http://www.srslychelsea.org/ and click on the volunteer! link. Cool stuff coming up in October. Check it out! Some of the dates may chance (like for Project Sticker Shock), but if you want to sign up, click the link and let me know. We'd love to have you! SRSLY is super-good times!

Thanks again. U guys srsly rock!

- Reiley

Monday, September 15, 2008

Getting Good Info

I spend a lot of time on-line. When I have a question, a work-related project, or a need to waste time or entertain myself, I usually turn to the internet.

Everyone has their favorite websites for passing the time, but where do you go when you need an answer? How do you know you've found the right source? I struggled with this question last week, as I spent hours following a trail of websites with information about the minimum legal drinking age. Because of the Amethyst Initiative (www.amethystinitiative.org), the debate over whether or not to keep the drinking age at 21 has been in the news. I decided to review the evidence on both sides of the case, so I could make an informed decision about my position on the issue.

Easier said than done. I ended the day more confused than I started! Mothers Against Drunk Driving says alcohol has a negative impact on brain development. ChooseResponsibility.org says it doesn't. Argh! So where do you go when you have a question about drugs and alchol, and you just want a straight answer, without a hidden agenda?

I have found the information at two websites to be reliable, straight forward, and easy to understand: The Anti-Drug (www.theantidrug.com) is aimed at parents, while Above the Influence (www.abovetheinfluence.com) is geared towards youth. Both have tons of information on any substance you could think of, tips on how to deal with youth who are using, and interactive feautres like quizzes to test your knowledge and skills. Check them out, and let me know what you think.

Also, if you find a website that is super awesome, or super lame, tell me about it! That way we can give everyone else a heads up to either check it out, or avoid it.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

NEW BLOG


COME TO THE CHS VARSITY FOOTBALL GAME!
Learn what SRSLY is and how you can become involved.