旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� � 켠� � � 爐� 靈� 靈� 켠� 靈� � � 爐� 靈� 爐� � 靈� � 爐� � � � 픔� 픔 � 픔� � � 픔� 픈� � � � � � � � 픔 � � � � � 懃� 聃� � � � 聃� � � � � 聃� � � � 聃� 聃� 懃� � 突袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� THE CAT CHRONICLE ----------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE * * September 22, 1995 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Children's Animated Television (CAT) is a 501-C-3 non-profit organization that produces educational videos for children and teens on contemporary social issues such as AIDS, diversity, violence and GLB teen self esteem. CAT also provides as a public service a BBS, a weekly full color newsletter and a Web site for the family of the future: http://www1.usa1.com/~furball/ * Please note a full color printed version of this newsletter is available upon request ($2 per week), as well as on the Web. --------------------------------------------------------------------- CAT People: ~~~~~~~~~~ The CAT person of the week is Senator Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts. Senator Kennedy and his wonderful staff continue to provide information and help to CAT when we need it most. Senator Kennedy continues to be a man of great courage and foresight, as illustrated by his support for CAT's video project for gay, lesbian and bisexual teens. Hats off to Senator Kennedy!!! CAT Currents: ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Below is a perfect example of Senator Kennedy's good timing on CAT's behalf, in a letter to Bessie Hadley, our Executive Director: United States Senate COMMITTEE ON LABOR AND HUMAN RESOURCES WASHINGTON, DC 20510-6300 September 5, 1995 Ms. Bessie Hadley Executive Director Children's Animated Television, Inc. 1492 Highland Ave., Suite 3 Needham, MA 02192 Dear Ms. Hadley: Thank you for sending me information about the Children's Animated Television project on Gay, Lesbian and Bi-sexual youth. I apologize for not contacting you sooner, but the Senate schedule has kept my staff and me extremely busy over the last few months. Programs addressing self-esteem, positive role-models and the challenges faced by gay and lesbian youth are certainly needed and I applaud your efforts. I hope that the project you are undertaking will help alleviate or reduce some of these challenges like attempted suicide, increased drug use and violence. We cannot afford to waste the talents of any one in our society. Everyone should be free to grow and develop in order to meet their full potential. The Children's Animated Television project on gay and lesbian youth will be successful if only one person who would otherwise feel scared and alone sees hope and promise in his or her future. Thank you again for contacting me. I look forward to hearing about the project. Keep up the good work. Sincerely, Edward M. Kennedy - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Want more information on this project and how you can help??? Please contact: Children's Animated Television, Inc. (CAT) 1492 Highland Ave., Suite 3 Needham, MA 02192 voice 617-449-9699 fax 617-449-2238 Internet: didom@usa1.com Web: http://www1.usa1.com/~furball/ You can also catch the latest CAT news in "The CAT Chronicle" Subscribe by E-mail: didom@usa1.com Web: http://www1.usa1.com/~furball/newslett/newslett.html/ For your convenience, here is the June press release Senator Kennedy is referring to: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE * * June 5, 1995 * * * * CONTACT: Bessie Hadley * * 617-449-9699 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * A Brighter Future for ALL Gay, Lesbian & Bisexual (GLB) Teens ------------------------------------------------------------- Children's Animated Television (known as CAT), a progressive non-profit organization is seeking volunteers and national support for a ground breaking video production. The focus of this significant project will be GLB teens, their self-esteem and positive role models, as well as the challenges they face: * Higher and unacceptable incidence of suicide than the general populous * Prevalent alcohol and substance abuse * Increased risk of HIV and sexually transmitted diseases (STD's) * Unsupportive and/or hostile family, school and social environments * Violence and hate crimes * Inadequate or no education because they fear attending school * Being thrown out of their homes or feeling compelled to run away * Involvement in prostitution for survival, if homeless CAT produces educational video programs for children & teens. Previous videos have included important contemporary issues such as diversity and a general information and prevention video on HIV/AIDS for pre-teens. To stay on the cutting-edge of today's social issues, CAT is developing a new video on sexual diversity and teen suicide prevention. The goal is to help GLB teens learn to understand sexual diversity and provide hope for a long, productive and healthy life. Confident GLB teen and adult role models will be interviewed to demonstrate how self esteem and a positive attitude is possible. CAT needs national support for sponsors, donations and for GLB people to come forward and volunteer for on-camera interviews. "The statistics on GLB teens who have tried to kill themselves is quite alarming", according to Bessie Hadley, Executive Director of CAT. "The numbers suggest 7-23% of all GLB teens in the U.S. have attempted suicide. Many of these were multiple attempts. Compare this to the 2-3% in heterosexual teens. Can you imagine being so afraid of your sexual identity that you feel your only choice is not to live at all?" There are multiple features that make this video project unique: * Promoting self esteem in GLB teens * Introducing positive GLB role models of all ages, races, religions and walks of life * Demonstrating the correlation between low self esteem _and_ GLB suicide, substance abuse, the resurgence of HIV and STD'S * Stimulating discussion for groups in schools, social clubs, community centers, religious organizations and families * Providing hope and a brighter future for troubled GLB teens Claude DiDomenica, the President and video producer for CAT tells why this project is critical to him: "We are in the beginning stages of this exciting new video project. We MUST address the alarming suicide rate in GLB teens. We would like to show positive teen and adult role models in an attempt to beef up their self esteem. I, for one, am ashamed to live on a planet that treats its fellow beings as many of us do." He also emphasizes, "As a side benefit, we wish to have an impact on the resurgence of HIV infection. We believe low self esteem contributes towards unsafe sex practices. I, for one, will no longer remain silent. These concerns have compelled me to produce this video. My primary motive is to help save these precious young lives." CAT will include a diverse group of GLB teens and adults in the video. GLB men and women of color, Asian Americans, Native Americans etc. are encouraged to contact CAT for on-camera interviews and appear in the video. Also, GLB people from all professions, trades, religious or non-religious groups as well as experts in the field of GLB psychology are welcome. "How can you help? We all are distressed about today's youth", continues Ms. Hadley. "We need YOUR help to become sponsors, to donate time and money and to volunteer to help promote and develop this timely video. Support and encouragement from other teens and adults will send a positive message that we want to help GLB teens to have long lives and contribute to our society..." Contact Person: Bessie Hadley, Executive Director Children's Animated Television, Inc. 1492 Highland Ave, Suite 3 Needham, MA 02192 Voice: 617-449-9699 FAX: 617-449-2238 Dr Furball's BBS: 617-455-8415 node 1 617-433-0026 node 2 Internet: hadley@usa1.com CAT is a 501-C-3 non-profit organization and all donations are tax-deductible. CAT will be publishing a free newsletter to keep concerned people informed of this project. Please contact CAT to be put on the mailing list. Please specify either E-Mail, printed version or FAX. Copyright 1995 Children's Animated Television All Rights Reserved This may be freely distributed, as long as it remains unaltered. # # # Parent's Corner... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tip of the Week: Crib Safety... Crib Safety Alert, from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, D.C. 20207 (301) 504-0580 An unsafe used crib could be very dangerous for your baby! Each year, about 50 babies suffocate or strangle when they become trapped between broken crib parts or in cribs with older, unsafe designs. A safe crib is the best place to put your baby to sleep. Look for a crib with a certification seal showing that it meets national safety standards. A safe crib has: * No missing, loose, broken, or improperly installed screws, brackets, or other hardware on the crib or the mattress support. * No more than 2 3/8 inches between crib slats so a baby's body cannot fit through the slats. * A firm, snug fitting mattress so a baby cannot get trapped between the mattress and the side of the crib. * No corner posts over 1/16 of an inch above the end panels (unless they are over 16 inches high for a canopy) so a baby cannot catch clothing and strangle. * No cutout areas on the headboard or foot board so a baby's head cannot get trapped. * A mattress support that does not easily pull apart from the corner posts so a baby cannot get trapped between mattress and crib. * No cracked or peeling paint to prevent lead poisoning. * No splinters or rough edges. If your crib does not meet these guidelines, destroy it and replace it with a safe crib. Jeff Sam Volunteer Child Safety & Parents Coordinator, Co-Sysop of Dr Furball's BBS and CAT's Co-Webmeister Internet Address: jsam@usa1.com Please visit Jeff's Sam's Parenting and Child Safety Web page: http://www1.usa1.com/~furball/jeffsam/jeffsam.html/ GLB Youth Advisor: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CAT's current video project is on GLB teen self esteem. Our goal is to help put a stop to the unacceptably high rate of GLB teen depression and suicide. We also believe there is a direct correlation between low self esteem and unsafe sex practices. To this aim, as a public service we present to you the GLB Youth Advisor... GLBT Youth Survey... ------------------- This week I'd like to share with you some information about a survey for GLBT youth, which was forwarded to CAT: Subjects Needed for Research on Lesbigay Youth PLEASE DISTRIBUTE AND CROSS-POST AS WIDELY AS POSSIBLE A national research project on issues faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered youth is being conducted by Dr. Tony D'Augelli, a psychologist at Penn State University who has published extensively on these issues. Dr. D'Augelli is seeking to obtain a large number of lgbt youth from different parts of the country who are at least 18 years old to complete a survey about their experiences. They survey should take about one hour and has questions about personal background, family relationships, and experiences with different kinds of victimization. We are seeking organized groups of lgbt youth interested in participating in the research. Only groups with an advisor, facilitator, counselor, or coordinator of some kind can help. The adult contact person will be sent a packet of surveys and will be asked to send them back to Penn State after they are completed. The requirement of having someone supervise the surveys is intended to protect the privacy of people taking the survey and to assure that they are fully informed about the project. Research on lgbt youth is extremely important so that we can develop programs that provide support in the most helpful ways. Your participation in the project will be of tremendous help in bringing the needs of lgbt youth to the attention of legislators, school administrators and policy-makers. If you are able to help, email Dr. Tony D'Augelli at ard@psuvm.psu.edu, sending the name and contact information about the person will be supervise the distribution of the surveys. Or, you can mail Dr. D'Augelli at Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802. Phone: 814-863-0241. Fax: 814-863-7963. This project has been approved by Penn State's office on research on human subjects. You may contact this office at 814-863-8699. Thank you for your help. Tony D'Augelli -------------------------------------------------------------------- Mike Reddin Volunteer GLB Youth Advisor for Children's Animated Television Internet Address: wxman@pcix.com Mike has an area on our Web site dedicated to GLB youth: http://www1.usa1.com/~furball/glb/glb.html/ What if??? ~~~~~~~~~~ A new feature to the popular CAT Chronicle is "What if???" Our President, Claude DiDomenica will be writing a weekly column to stimulate the minds of our youth and adults who haven't lost their "youthful imaginations..." What if our spiritual development was at the same pace as our technological development??? Things would certainly be a lot better for all of us! We live in a time when technology has outpaced our wisdom to use it for the betterment of humanity and our planet. The same Biotechnology that promises a cure for cancer is used to produce biological weapons. For the first time in history, an individual person or a small group can reach the world through the Internet and World Wide Web. A small grassroots non-profit organization such as CAT can literally reach millions of potential supporters. This same technology is being used to spread hate and misinformation on many fronts... Something to think about... Claude DiDomenica didom@usa1.com The CAT Credo... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Children's Animated Television (CAT) believes in a positive future for all children... CAT's philosophy is to help solve today's complex social problems through honest and open dialogue, education, information and compromise... CAT will produce video programs for pre-teens and teens to stimulate their minds, harness their creativity and imaginations to cultivate long-lasting answers to problems in their world... As a public service, CAT will also provide educational information using all available technology including a computer bulletin board, World Wide Web site and other electronic media. CAT will supply this knowledge for children, parents and educators to enable our society to develop ideas and solutions for a better tomorrow... Claude DiDomenica & Bessie Hadley Founders of Children's Animated Television July 15, 1995 --------------------------------------------------------------------- To subscribe to "The CAT Chronicle" via E-Mail: E-Mail to didom@usa1.com Subject: Subscribe CAT Chronicle CAT is a 501-C-3 non-profit organization and all donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law. Contact Information: Bessie Hadley, Executive Director Children's Animated Television, Inc. 1492 Highland Ave, Suite 3 Needham, MA 02192 USA Voice: 617-449-9699 FAX: 617-449-2238 Dr Furball's BBS: 617-455-8415 node 1 617-433-0026 node 2 Internet: hadley@usa1.com Claude DiDomenica, President of CAT and Sysop of Dr Furball's BBS Internet: didom@usa1.com CAT's WEB Home Page!!! http://www1.usa1.com/~furball/ --------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright 1995 Children's Animated Television, Inc. All Rights Reserved This newsletter may be freely distributed as long as it remains intact and this notice is not removed. Please do not post on USENET, FIDONET, WILDNET etc. without permission of the conference moderator. # # #