Relay for Hope!

Image by DieselDemon via Flickr

April is National Child Abuse Awareness month and Walla Walla's not-for-profit organization, The Children's Home Society, is hosting a walk against child abuse this weekend called Relay For HOPE. Beginner's Mind Dojo will be showing support with an informational booth and impromptu kids classes! Come down to Borleski stadium Saturday any time between 9am and 5pm to show your care and support this fantastic cause!

Family Education Booths, Food and FREE Kid Olympics!

Registration fee: $10, Family Registration fee: $20

Registration fee Includes T-shirt, water bottle and Raffle ticket for GREAT PRIZES!
Registration opens and walk starts at 9am. Kid Olympics 11-4pm. Raffle 4:30pm

Proceeds will benefit: HomeTeam Parent Aide Program,
"A Partnership of Walla Walla Exchange Club and Children's Home Society of Washington"

Address: Borleske Stadium, Walla Walla, WA 99362, USA
Date and time: Apr 10 2010 9:00am - 5:00pm

For more information or to register call: Children's Home Society of Washington, Stephanie Biegel or Debi Allessio (509) 529-2130

Child Abuse Prevention

Walla Walla's "A Mile In Their Shoes" event was a beautiful success and many people from all around the area came to spend a day in the park with their fellow neighbors and enjoy some great live music provided by the band Grey Wolf as well as partake in two different mile-long walks around the very lush Pioneer Park.

Some of the public discussion came from three different speakers from three different sides of the child abuse issue, including the fourth generation Walla Wallan, retired LAPD officer, Lawyer, counter-terrorism investigator and candidate for Walla Walla Sheriff, mister John Turner.

Among the organizations that were present and assisting were the Children's Home Society, Phi Beta Lambda, and the Linus Project. Everyone from the Beginner's Mind School was more than willing to assist as safety crew for this phenomenal event and all was handled expertly!

Our thanks go out to all of those involved as well as the coordinators of this important event! We were proud and honored to be a part of this community event!

ATTENTION PARENTS - Local Kidnapping Issue

The Beginner's Mind School just received a mass phone call from the Walla Walla police department that explains a predator in a white car is trying to pick up children walking home. If you have children in the WW area (including surrounding towns) BE AWARE of this situation! He is trying to lure them into his car with candy and gifts and has also tried to convince them that a parent requested he pick the children up.

This has caused mixed feelings of concern and anger.
I feel like I am pretty good at seeing the world through the eyes of others, but no matter how many times I try stepping into the shoes of someone like this to understand why they do it, I just don't get it. I can't even come close to getting it.

Whatever the thoughts are behind this deranged person, let's all work together to keep our children protected and informed! The first way to be certain your children learn is to explain the situation to them. Additionally, reassure them that they will NEVER get into trouble for NOT getting into a car with someone that claims mommy or daddy sent them!

Beyond that, here are some websites for you parents to visit in order to help you understand how to protect the one's you love the most!

Website #1

Website #2

Website #3
This site has additional links to organizations that deal in child abduction prevention.

Martial arts is a great defense for a child but it SHOULD NOT BE THE FIRST DEFENSE!

If you have any information on this problem, contact the local police department.

Walla Walla Police Department
15 N 3rd Ave
Walla Walla, WA 99362
(509) 527-4434

College Place Police Department
625 S College Ave
College Place, WA 99324
(800) 433-3243

To any parents out there concerned about your children and martial arts

Through online study and internet research, Mr. Conley came across this fantastic youtube video composed by Tom Callos from www.ultimateblackbelttest.com and would like to share it with you.



These are things within the Beginner's Mind Dojo that we strongly resonate with, not just as instructors, but as parents.

Thank you Mr. Callos for your insight and wisdom.

Walk Against Child Abuse

Walk A Mile In Their Shoes
This event is happening THIS Sunday and the The Beginner's Mind Dojo is showing our support and assistance by providing students, instructors, family, and friends as crossing guards for this event. If you would like to assist and be a volunteer crossing guard, please contact Mr. Conley at mrconley@beginnersmindschool.com so we can get some prepatory work gathered up.e.

THE INFO:
Walk a Mile in Their Shoes, walk against child abuse.
Sunday, April 26th, 1-4 pm.
Meeting at the courthouse.
The walk itself begins at 1:10 and will cover a single mile (in a circular route, beginning and ending at the courthouse).
Walk A Mile In Their Shoes

VOLUNTEERING:
Meet at 12:45 pm near front steps of the courthouse for coordination.
As crossing guards, your time required at the event will only be as long as people are walking. Mr. Conley plans on staying afterward in order to enjoy the day and perhaps help with cleanup.