Iosco PRIDE

Introduction

We are often asked ?What does PRIDE do??  PRIDE Youth Programs is the oldest peer-to-peer youth drug and violence prevention organization in the world.  With programs for all ages, PRDE is well-known for its performing arts component, in addition to community service, drug-free activity planning and drug education.  The organization provides material, training, and support to teams in the field with a strong networking connection.  PRIDE also hosts an annual PRIDE World Drug Prevention Conference.  This event brings together thousands of youth, advisors, and adult professionals to learn more about many topics related to drug and violence prevention, the performing arts, and team building.

 

History of PRIDE

 

Iosco PRIDE is affiliated with PRIDE Youth Programs, an international drug and violence prevention program that began 36 years ago as a parent?s organization. 

 

In 1977, Thomas J. Gleaton, EdD and Marsha Keith Schuchard, PhD, two concerned parents of teenagers, banded together to form the Parents Resource Institute for Drug Education, better known as PRIDE.  Their love for kids led them to share good ideas for keeping youth safe and drug free in all corners of the world.  Now 36 years later PRIDE exists in many U.S. and international communities, with volunteer adult leaders giving of their hearts and time just as the founders began decades ago.    As the PRIDE organization grew, three levels of the youth program developed:  America?s PRIDE (high school), Club PRIDE (middle school), and PRIDE Pals (grades 4-5). 

 

The Tawas Area PRIDE team was founded in 1999 and earned recognition in 2004 as the International Team of the Year.  In a continuing effort to move PRIDE into the future Iosco PRIDE was formed in 2008 bringing together all four schools in the county on one unified team.  PRIDE works closely with the administrations of all four schools and has received their continued support to manage student absences but receives no money to support the program from any of the schools.  Iosco PRIDE is a non-profit organization.

 

In addition to working with the schools, Iosco PRIDE also collaborates with the Michigan State Police through advisor, Jen Pintar and in received approval in 2011 as a Michigan Department of Community Health Abstinence Program working under a grant from the District Health Department #2.

 

The PRIDE team presents assemblies to each of their home schools as well as other schools across the state using skits, songs and dances that deliver messages about making drug and violence free choices.   In addition the group provides drug-free activities, drug education, community service and community outreach in all four communities. 

 

PRIDE youth reaches out to youth from all backgrounds.  Youth who participate pledge to be drug-free and deliver a strong no-use message to their peers and community.  The programs they use focus on the four philosophies of PRIDE:  1) Youth should be drug-free; 2) Youth should develop and overall healthy lifestyle; 3) Programs carry a positive approach to prevention; and 4) Programs view youth as resources.

 

Four Pillars of PRIDE

 

1. Community Outreach
2. Community Service
3. Drug Education
4. Drug-Free Activities

 

1. Community Outreach - PRIDE teams often sing, dance, speak and perform out in schools and their communities.  The Iosco PRIDE Team performs for Tawas, Hale and Whittemore elementary schools  and all middle and high school in Iosco County each year and occasionally do performances out of the county.   They also make other special presentations.

 

2. Community Service ? By taking part in community service projects, PRIDE teams demonstrate that they are concerned and active in their communities and genuinely interested in making a difference.  PRIDE volunteers with food drives, runs children?s games at community festivals, and volunteers at nursing homes, vacation bible schools, and libraries.  PRIDE members are available for service jobs to our community members who call on us throughout the year.

 

3. Drug Education ? Knowledge of a problem encourages those affected to seek solutions.  Although just knowing about the harmful effects of drugs is not enough, a solid understanding of the impact of drugs on our health, our communities and societies is essential to the solution.  Presenting skits at teen mentoring programs, youth groups, community service group meetings, parades, handing out flyers on the harmful effects of smoking during the Great American Smoke out and sharing bulletin boards in our home schools are examples of activities the PRIDE team does in the area of drug education.

 

4. Drug-Free Activities ?Drug-free activities are fun things we do as a safe and positive alternative to drinking or doing drugs.  Whether they are team activities or activities we sponsor for the community, this is an important step in letting people know that you don?t need drugs to have a good time.  Many times our drug-free activities are coordinated with fund raising events which help raise money to send members to conference or pay for team expenses.

 

We promote, encourage and support healthy, drug-free youth who care for their families, communities and country.

 

 

 

 

Advisors

 

There are two advisors that founded the Tawas PRIDE organization in 1999 and will continue to be your lead advisors for Iosco PRIDE.  Here is a little biographical information about them:

 

Jen Pintar

• Joined the PRIDE organization as a high school student in 1989
• Trooper Michigan State Police East Tawas Post 16 years
• Founded Tawas PRIDE in 1999
• Husband is also a Michigan State Trooper 17 years
• Two daughters 11 and 10 years old.

 

Jeanne Hamilton

• Joined the PRIDE organization and founded Tawas PRIDE in 1999
• Retired high school teacher, 32 years teaching health, career education, college bound living, and home economics for Hale Area Schools and Tawas Area Schools
• Husband is a retired Family Court Judge
• Two daughters who grew up in the PRIDE program.  The oldest was a founding member in 1999 and is now married with three children.  The youngest is also married and employed as an occupational therapist.

 

Two other advisors are:

 

Michael Miszak

• Joined the PRIDE organization in January, 2010
• His wife Andrea is a teacher a Richardson Middle School and advisor for Oscoda Club PRIDE.
• 2003 Graduate of Central Michigan University in criminal justice and sociology
• Employed by Iosco County Family Court 
• They have a new daughter, Amelia

 

Lyle Groff

• Joined the PRIDE organization and founded Tawas PRIDE in 1999
• Retired from National Gypsum
• Parent with two daughters who grew up in the organization.  The oldest is married with a daughter.  She is a radiology tech for Tawas St. Joseph Hospital.  The youngest is serving in the navy.

 

 

 

 

 

Membership requirements

 

Be in grades 9-12

Attend one of the high schools in Iosco County or live in Iosco County and be enrolled in a home school program.

Maintain passing grades

Have a good attendance record at school

Have a positive behavior report from school staff

Not use tobacco or alcohol products (exception:  communion)

Not use prescription drugs other than under a doctor?s care

Not use any illegal drugs

Not be involved in any criminal activity

 

PRIDE Team Expenses

 

Membership Fee

 

Iosco PRIDE is affiliated nationally with PRIDE Youth Programs and pays membership fees for each member.  The $20 annual fee is earned through fundraisers and is paid by the team.   It is deducted from each PRIDE members account in October.

 

Uniforms

 

pants and jacket                                          $80.00

long sleeve performance shirt                     $20.00

short sleeve performance shirt                    $12.00

black dance shoes                                        $30.00

black socks

 

The costs of these are just estimates as prices do vary from season to season.  We make every attempt to obtain as many used uniforms and shoes possible and sell these at reduced rates.   Money to pay for uniforms may come from funds that have been earned in fundraisers.

 

Care of the uniform is the PRIDE member?s responsibility. The pants, jacket, and shoes will be used for the next four years.   In the event that any part of the uniform is lost or damaged it will need to be replaced at the current replacement cost.  Performance t-shirts change each year due to wear and tear and will be a yearly cost to the member.   Names are monogrammed on the uniform jacket and pants but members should put names on everything.  Members must bring everything to ALL performances and ALWAYS HAVE THEIR SHOES at practice.   We recommend that everyone have a duffel bag that is used for PRIDE performances because you will have several changes of clothes to perform in.

 

 

Annual Training Camp

 

Each year in June, as soon as school is out, we hold our annual PRIDE Training Camp.  This is an important ?bonding? time for team members since we add new members to the team each spring.  In addition this is the time when we create, hold try outs and learn new material for next year?s show.  It is important that ALL PRIDE members make it a goal to be at camp.  Members that do not attend camp do so with an understanding that they many not receive acting parts in the fall show and must learn dances on their own because of their absence.

 

The camp fee is $65.00.   The camp fee covers camp and a DVD of the show music for practicing at home.

 

Camp is held in Oscoda at Camp Nissokone.  We sleep in cabins and eat meals prepared by the Camp Staff.  

 

Annual National Conference

 

The highlight of each PRIDE year is the PRIDE Youth Program International Drug Conference where thousands of youth from all over the world gather together to learn, share, and celebrate their healthy lifestyle choices and be drug and violence free.  This is something every PRIDE member looks forward to and works hard to raise money for all year long.  We believe EVERY member should to go to conference and will work hard to make that happen by providing as many opportunities for members to earn the money.  (This will be discussed in fundraising later in this booklet.)

 

Conference trips have taken us to Ohio, Kentucky, Missouri, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Washington D.C. and the amount for these week long trips has varied from $500-$750.   Although the conference trip may seem like a lot of money it is important to note that when it is planned and set up it covers EVERYTHING from conference fees, travel, lodging, food, special activities and even snacks from the time they leave home until the time they return.  Any extra money they may say they ?need? to take with them on the trip is entirely for their own ?spending money?. 

 

Practices

 

During the regular school year practices are held every Sunday afternoon.  Everyone will be there for every practice since we only have one per week.  Being late is DISRESPECTFUL to your teammates and advisors who did get their ON TIME.  Not only is practice important to the team in getting prepared for shows and activities but it is important for the kids to stay connected by getting together once a week.  A successful key element to our organization and an important part of being in the PRIDE family is seeing, talking and being with each other making sure that everything is going alright with everyone.

 

Practice is ONLY one day per week and members should make scheduling plans to be there.  Members will NOT be disrespectful to advisors and team mates by skipping out on PRIDE practice when you would NEVER do it if it were one of their sports teams.  The question you should ask yourself is:  Would your coach allow you  to miss your sports practice for this reason?

 

Every effort is made to work with members to allow them to participate in all of their other activities.  Conflicts can be worked out but we expect members to realize that they may periodically have to contact advisors, coaches, and bosses to arrange compromises on scheduling conflicts.

 

Practices will be held in Tawas since the advisors and most of the members of the team live in Tawas.   Members will be notified of the location.  We have transportation assistance from Oscoda (Misak, Advisor), Whittemore-Prescottt, and Hale.    A monetary compensation agreement with parents interested in working with us on transportation can be arranged.  Anyone interested should speak with Jeanne Hamilton.

 

If a student is going to be absent from practice, they must tell us beforehand:

 

ü  call 305-5109 and leave a message that you will not be there along with the reason why

ü  text 305-5109 and say you will not be there and why

ü  email jlhamilton.pride@gmail.com and tell us you will not be there and why

 

Consequences of missing a practice:

 

If you do not phone, text, or email in the reason for an absence from practice BEFORE the practice is held it is an UNEXCUSED absence. 

 

When you get an unexcused absence you will receive a letter reminding you of the policy about calling in.   After a member gets two unexcused absences and has had two letters sent home if they get another unexcused absence they will meet with advisors and discuss whether or not they should remain on the team.

 

During the summer months practice will be in the morning on a designated weekday TBD to allow for work schedules.  

 

During the summer months we understand that many kids will have places they will have to go so we will provide a calendar for them to sign up letting us know when they will be gone.  Failure to contact us about a missed practice will result in an UNEXCUSED absence.  Excessive absences could result in dismissal from the team.

 

 

 

 

PRIDE Team Performances

 

The PRIDE Team performs about once per month during the school year.  If possible we try to schedule these performances on non-school days for Iosco County students but in most cases our team members will miss school for performances.  Prior to performances a team list will be sent to all four schools and the tech center excusing PRIDE students for the performance day.  It is up to the PRIDE member to contact their teacher, get assignments, and make up the work missed. 

 

Team members that are not turning in assignments, failing classes, or have poor attendance may not be allowed to attend performances.  We will not allow a team member to miss school if they are not performing well while in school.

 

We depend on parents to notify us if they feel their child is having school issues and we can discuss a plan of action to help that may include keeping them home from performances. 

 

Service Hours

 

One of the four pillars of PRIDE is community service.  The community has been supporting YOU when you have asked them for money?now it is your turn to help them.  Our team members give back to the community by providing community service.  Therefore, every PRIDE member must do 20 service hours on behalf of their PRIDE organization.  Throughout the year your advisors will be asking for members to help with a variety of community activities that will fill this requirement.

 

Community Service is:

• volunteer work

• work for which you do not get paid
• work that YOU do, not your parents
• work that helps (service) someone else
• work that is done out in the community or a community activity taking place in the school

 

We will not accept

·      work in your home or school sponsored (athletics, band, choir, etc.)

·      hours for working with the younger school athletic teams?the activity MUST be community based.  If the activity IS NOT offered through the school we may accept it.

·      over 10 hours of work at a location out of our county

 

If you have something that you think would work to fulfill the hours you may ask your advisor for permission to use it and wear your PRIDE shirt.  We do require that you wear your Iosco PRIDE shirt when doing community service activity.   If you cannot wear your PRIDE Community Service shirt when you do community service it does not count.

 

If you do not fulfill your commitment to community service you may not be eligible to reapply for the team the following year.

PRIDE Accounts

 

It is important to your advisors that fundraising on the team is a fair opportunity for all team members.  Therefore we have established PRIDE accounts to ensure that if you put in hard work you will get the results.  If you don?t fulfill your responsibility for that fundraising event then you don?t get money put into your account.  Fundraising is a team effort and over the years we have established events in the community that have not only provided a service to our community but have been a great experience for our team members.

 

Member monies are credited in the PRIDE account similar to a savings account.  Members can make payments to their account, earn money from fundraisers, or receive a donation from someone into these accounts.  Likewise, money can be debited from these accounts for uniforms, shirts, shoes, camp, or conference.

 

It should be understood that, with the exception of payment members make, the money in the PRIDE accounts was earned in the community representing PRIDE and therefore belongs to the PRIDE organization.   Members cannot withdraw money from these accounts.  If a member leaves the PRIDE team the account balance goes to the PRIDE general fund.   If the member has a sibling on the team the money that they have will be transferred to the sibling.  PRIDE members cannot give their money to someone else.  (However, if a team member would like to help another member in financial trouble it can be a decision of the advisors and the team to allow a member to give them money.)

 

Communication with advisors

 

Communication with advisors is crucial for a successful year on the PRIDE team. 

This includes:

 

Ø  Calling in if you are going to be late or miss a practice.

Ø  Advise us of any school issues that may be going on especially as it relates to grades.  It is hard for us to have members miss school if their grades are not meeting eligibility standards.  We have many resources for members to take advantage of within the team to assist with grades.  Normally member?s grades get better when they are on the PRIDE team.

Ø  Parents - please keep us informed of family issues that may be affecting your son or daughter.  One of the great things about having your child in PRIDE is because they have an additional support system available to them.  We care about the members on our team as if they were our own children. 

We keep the team informed of PRIDE information by email, Facebook, discussions at practice, and the Iosco PRIDE Team Website www.ioscopride.com.   

 

Please make sure that we have the following information for you and your PRIDE Team member:

 

ü  PRIDE Team member and parent?s email address

ü  Indication of whether or not you would like Facebook contact

ü  Please go to www.ioscopride.com and register as a member.  Refer to this website for any news and information about Iosco PRIDE. 

 

Iosco PRIDE Team Website:  www.ioscopride.com and Facebook Page

 

Iosco PRIDE was awarded first place in the website competition at the PRIDE Worldwide Drug Prevention Conference in 2009 and 2011.  The PRIDE team strives to keep people informed about Iosco PRIDE with the information on this site.  When you view the site you will find tabs for the following subjects:

 

What is PRIDE?-The history of the PRIDE organization

Meet the members-current team member information

Advisors-information on team advisors

Calendar-practices, performances, and fundraiser dates

Team Information * - practice/performance information, team memos, team news

Parent Information *- stuff parent need to be aware of that kids don?t tell them

Membership ? new applications, medical forms, team membership handbook/contract

National Conference ? all the news about conference

Drug Information

Community Sponsors

Photographs

Videos

Guestbook

Contact

Web Store ? team shirts for sale

     *may only be viewed by a person with ?member? website status

 

There are also two Iosco PRIDE Facebook Pages.  One Facebook Page is open to everyone and allows for people to make comments about our performances.  The other Iosco PRIDE Facebook page is a closed page limited to our team and families.  This is where our team members can feel free to talk to one another about team issues in a closed group.  We can assure you that this page is closely monitored by advisors.  As parents, if you have Facebook, we would encourage you to do the same.

 

 

 

Parent Volunteers

 

It ?takes a village to raise a child? and the PRIDE team is part of that ?village?.   The resources or talents of our parents are necessary to making the team run efficiently.  When we get a chance to talk with parents we find that there are some of you that would really like to help but you don?t know what we need or when you ask your teenager they tell you we don?t need any help.  We can tell you that is not the case.  We have a lot of great young people that are a part of this organization and you will be rewarded with the ?PRIDE magic? if you are able to volunteer.

 

Some things that we need parents to do are:  helping make costumes or build props, transportation, taking kids around to sell tickets for fundraisers, hosting a PRIDE gathering (does not have to be at your house and you can recruit others to help), help at fundraising events, food preparations, chaperoning special events, and much, much more.

 

Fundraising

 

We have many fundraising activities going on all year and carefully choose what we do for our fundraising activities.  We consider:

 

·      How much money will we make in relationship to work put in?

·      Do we have enough people to do it?

·      How much advance work is required?

·      Can it be an annual event or tied to a holiday?

·      Will the team enjoy doing it?

·      Will the event promote positive PR for our team?

·      Does the event fit into one of our 4 pillars of PRIDE?

 

We always welcome new ideas for fundraising.

 

We establish our fundraising calendar a year in advance.  The fundraising calendar for 2013-14 is as follows:

 

June 22, 2013 Annual Chicken BBQ at the Tawas Masonic Lodge

We sell 800 BBQ chicken dinners.  We set up dinner distribution sites in each of the other three communities so the dinners can be sold county wide.  This event usually nets our group a $5000 profit and members get a percentage of the profits. 

 

July 1-July 30 ? Annual Community Membership Drive

PRIDE members go out in the community to get community memberships from businesses.  Each member is required to get 1 membership for the team which is used for general operations of team.  (For example: travel, team recreational events, props, set construction, and sound system maintenance.)  After turning in one membership a percentage of the money goes into their PRIDE account. (top sales person  2012-Kali Skodack)

 

July 20 - Annual MSP/PRIDE Golf Outing

Held at Lakewood Shores Golf Club, this golf event raises money from fees, golf tee signs, and raffles.  Funds from this event are used to fund sound and technical equipment and team operational expenses.

  

December 8, 2012 ? Annual Santa Breakfast

Pancake and sausage breakfast with Santa.  Many activities for children.  This event has the potential of netting $2000 profit.   Team members get a percentage of the profits.  (Top earner $124 in 2011-Tiffany Tyson)