Ontario Catholic Student Council Federation

© Copyright 2000

OCTOBER 22 Hello again everyone! Another week has passed and so here's another newsletter! I'd lice to thank, and congratulate, April for a job really well done on the newsletter! Now to clear up a lot of confusion that seems to be going around. Metro Conference "Evolution" will be held December 3rd - 5th at Bishop Allen. If you wish to be a tribe leader at this conference send an e-mail addressed to both me and Laura Franks with your name, school and grade, include an answer to "Why do you want to be a tribe leader?" in 200 words or less. In the subject put "Tribal Leader Application" I will send you a response taht says "Application Recieved. If you do not recieve this response then I did not get it and you ahve to send it again or call me at 496-9247. As for Ottawa Conference "True Colours" it will be held November 26-28th. Check out their web-page at geocities.com/ocscf_ottawa Alright, on to the good stuff, of which I have a lot this week :-) Marek Przemineicki Writer / Editor *********************************************************************** This weeks quotes are from several sources, the first of which comes from a good freind of mine. Whoever said ignorance is bliss forgot about freindship. ~Stephanie Sher~ These next two I got from Nicole T. - Thanks a lot! "For those who dream, there is no such word as impossible" "There is a place in the heart where thoughts become wishes and wishes become dreams. A place where anything is possible if we only believe." And the rest are from the wide world of the internet! Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. ~ Leo Buscaglia ~ Great things are only possible with outrageous requests. ~ Thea Alexander ~ You don't just luck into things. You build them step by step, whether it's friendships or opportunities. ~ Barbara Bush ~ The art of acceptance is the art of making someone who has just done you a small favor wish that he might have done you a greater one. ~ Russell Lynes ~ Life demands from you the strength that you possess. Only one feat is possible—not to have run away. ~ Dag Hammarskjold ~ *********************************************************************** Here's a whole bunch of really cool peoms, thanks go once again to Nicole T - You rock! PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO YOURSELF: Believe in miracles. Leap before you look. Dive in. Dare to make mistakes. Listen to your own wise and gentle knowing voice. Love who you are. Dreams demand nothing less than everything. LIVE WITH KINDNESS live with kindness live with caring live with faith and generous sharing live with truth, for when you do, all good things return to you. Jean K. McManus BELIEVE IN MIRACLES when things have gone wrong as they sometimes will do of an obstacle suddenly pops into view you've got to believe this is merely a stop and eventually you're blind to come out on top- So whatever you do, JUST DON'T QUIT Emily Matthews WHAT IS COURAGE C onfronting the dragons O ver coming obstacles U nderstanding the risks R eally living! A lways believing G oing the distance E xpecting the best *********************************************************************** That's it for this week, so keep smiling and remember to send those tribal leader aplications in! I'd like to thank Nicole again as she practically wrote all of the stuff in theis newsletter! So have a good week guys and start getting ready for conference! Marek P. NOVEMBER 5 Hey everyone! it's that time of the week again! a couple of notes before we begin, somehow there is still some confusion as to the date of metro conference. It is december 3-5th at bishop allen, get it right! :-) To those that have signed up as tribe leaders - be patient, we will keep you posted about all meetings and such. And finally, if you have any problems downloading the registration forms feel free to message me. Marek Przemieniecki Writer / Editor *********************************************************************** Here are this weeks quotes! I look at victory as milestones on a very long highway. ~ Joan Benoit Samuelson ~ Respect the past in the full measure of its desserts, but do not make the mistake of confusing it with the present nor seek in it the ideals of the future. ~ Jose Incenerios ~ If I have been able to see farther than others, it was because I stood on the shoulders of giants. ~ Sir Isaac Newton ~ Are you worried about pressure? I look at it this way: Pressure is having to do something you are not totally prepared to do. ~ Harvey Mackay ~ You have to have a dream so you can get up in the morning. ~ Billy Wilder ~ A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles. ~ Christopher Reeve ~ *********************************************************************** Here's something to think about! If I wanted to become a tramp, I would seek information and advice from the most successful tramp I could find. If I wanted to become a failure, I would seek advice from people who have never succeeded. If I wanted to succeed in all things, I would look around me for those who are succeeding, and do as they have done. ~ Joseph Marshall Wade ~ *********************************************************************** Now this one is more sad then most, and not quite inspirational, but it does have a strong point. I hurried into the local department store to grab some last minute Christmas gifts. I looked at all the people and grumbled to myself. I would be in here forever and I just had so much to do. Christmas was beginning to become such a drag. I kinda wished that I could just sleep through Christmas. But I hurried the best I could through all the people to the toy department. Once again I kind of mumbled to myself at the prices of all these toys. And wondered if the grandkids would even play with them. I found myself in the doll aisle. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a little boy about 5 holding a lovely doll. He kept touching her hair and he held her so gently. I could not seem to help myself. I just kept looking over at the little boy and wondered who the doll was for. I watched him turn to a woman and he called his aunt by name and said, "Are you sure, I don't have enough money" She replied a bit impatiently, "You know that you don't have enough money for it. The aunt told the little boy not to go anywhere that she had to go get some other things and would be back in a few minutes. And then she left the aisle. The boy continued to hold the doll. After a bit I asked the boy who the doll was for. He said,"It is the doll my sister wanted so badly for Christmas. She just knew that Santa would bring it." I told him that maybe Santa was going to bring it. He said "No, Santa can't go where my sister is...I have to give the doll to my Mamma to take to her." I asked him where his sister was. He looked at me with the saddest eyes and said "She was gone to be with Jesus." My Daddy says that Mama is going to have to go be with her. My heart nearly stopped beating. Then the boy looked at me again and said, "I told my Daddy to tell Mama not to go yet. I told him to tell her to wait till I got back from the store." Then he asked me if I wanted to see his picture. I told him I would love to. He pulled out some pictures he'd had taken at the front of the store. He said "I want my Mamma to take this with her so she don't ever forget me." "I love my Mama so very much and I wish she did not have to leave me." "But Daddy says she will need to be with my sister." I saw that the little boy had lowered his head and had grown so very quiet. While he was not looking I reached into my purse and pulled out a handful of bills. I asked the little boy, "Shall we count that money one more time?" He grew excited and said "Yes, I just know it has to be enough". So I slipped my money in with his and we began to count it. Of course it was plenty for the doll. He softly said, "Thank you Jesus for giving me enough money." Then the boy said "I just asked Jesus to give me enough money to buy this doll so Mama can take it with her to give to my sister." "And he heard my prayer. "I wanted to ask him for enough to buy my Mama a white rose, but I didn't ask him, but he gave me enough to buy the doll and a rose for my Mama." "She loves white roses so very, very much." In a few minutes the aunt came back and I wheeled my cart away. I could not keep from thinking about the little boy as I finished my shopping in a totally different spirit than when I had started. And I kept remembering a story I had seen in the newspaper several days earlier about a drunk driver hitting a car and killing a little girl and the Mother was in serious condition. The family was deciding on whether to remove the life support. Now surely this little boy did not belong with that story. Two days later I read in the paper where the family had disconnected the life support and the young woman had died. I could not forget the little boy and just kept wondering if the two were somehow connected. Later that day, I could not help myself and I went out and bought some white roses and took them to the funeral home where the young woman was. And there she was holding a lovely white rose, the beautiful doll, and the picture of the little boy in the store. I left there in tears, my life changed forever. The love that little boy had for his little sister and his mother was overwhelming. And in a split second a drunk driver had ripped the life of that little boy to pieces. *********************************************************************** And now that none of you are ever going to drive drunk, have a good week! Marek P. November 17 DAMN! 30th newsletter, we should have a celebration or something :-) This week I have a few things to mention, so let's start with the good news first. The OCSCF has now entered the electronic age!, We are finally found on the web! The address is OCSCF.org, but sadly it is still under construction. What you can do though is send any ideas taht you have for it to suggestions@ocscf.org and they will be read through and applied to the new web-page that is under development! Also, if any of your friends ever ask you for information on the ocscf and you can't answer them, they can just e-mail info@ocscf.org. I love simplicity. Anyhow, as you all know (and had better come) the conference is coming up, tribal leaders are being trained and all work that could possible be done is gered for december 3-5th, you guys will be blown away by what we have in-store for you! Alright, enough news for one week, on to the good stuff! Marek Przemieniecki Writer / Editor *********************************************************************** Here are this week's quotes! Change is an easy panacea. It takes character to stay in one place and be happy there. ~ Elizabeth Clarke Dunn ~ Why not seize the pleasure at once? How often is happiness destroyed by preparation, foolish preparation? ~ Jane Austen ~ You really have to look inside and find your inner strength, and say, "I'm proud of what I am and who I am, and I'm just going to be myself." ~ Mariah Carey ~ A human being is happiest and most successful when dedicated to a cause outside his own individual, selfish satisfaction. ~ Benjamin Spock ~ There's often no way you can look into the game of life and determine whether or not you'll get that big break tomorrow or whether it will take another week, month, year or even longer. But it will come! ~ Zig Ziglar ~ *********************************************************************** Here's an interesting thought... IF If I wanted to become a tramp, I would seek information and advice from the most successful tramp I could find. If I wanted to become a failure, I would seek advice from people who have never succeeded. If I wanted to succeed in all things, I would look around me for those who are succeeding, and do as they have done. ~ Joseph Marshall Wade ~ *********************************************************************** Here's another interesting thought LIVE LIFE DANCE LIKE NO ONE IS WATCHING SING LIKE NO ONE IS LISTENING LOVE LIKE YOU'LL NEVER GET HURT AND LIVE LIKE IT'S HEAVEN ON EARTH ~Unknown~ *********************************************************************** Now this one is just here to make you think... The Paradox of Our Time The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings, but shorter tempers; wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less; we buy more, but enjoy it less. We have bigger houses and smaller families; more conveniences, but less time; we have more degrees, but less sense; more knowledge, but less judgment; more experts, but more problems; more medicine, but less wellness. We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry too quickly, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too seldom, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We've learned how to make a living, but not a life; we've added years to life, not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbor. We've conquered outer space, but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things. We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've split the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information to produce more copies than ever, but have less communication. These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion; tall men, and short character; steep profits, and shallow relationships. These are the times of world peace, but domestic warfare; more leisure, but less fun; more kinds of food, but less nutrition. These are days of two incomes, but more divorce; of fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throw-away morality, one-night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the show window and nothing in the stockroom; a time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete. ~Unknown~ *********************************************************************** That's it for this week, but tune in next week same ocscf time, different ocscf address! (it'll be april's turn :-) ) Marek P. December 1 HELLO EVERYONE! Another week has passes and once again I'm typing away, but realising that there are over forty new people on the list this week this job becomes a tad harder. So...Those of you that do not want to be on this mailing list I would ask to send a nice note saying so, and I will gladly remove you. No questions asked. If you have any quotes or stories that you would like to see published in this newsletter send them to me and I will gladly give you credit for them. Ok...that's the basics...now...First I'd like to congratulate everyone who was at the ottawa conference. I had a blast and it was really, really well run. *Standing 'O'* :-) Next I would like to remind you THAT THIS WEEK IS METRO'S!!! :-) speaking of which...if any of you have pictures from past conferences taht you would like to see on the new web page please bring them to conference, or send them to me (ottawa peaople if you are interested ask me for my mailing addy in a private message) Alright...enough rambling, on to the good stuff... Marek Przemieniecki Writer / Editor *********************************************************************** Here are this week's quotes: As we advanced in life it becomes more and more difficult, but in fighting the difficulties the inmost strength of the heart is developed. ~ Vincent van Gogh ~ At the end of your life, you will never regret not having passed one more test, not winning one more verdict, or not closing one more deal. You will regret time not spent with a husband, a friend, a child or a parent. ~ Barbara Bush ~ Birds sing after a storm; why shouldn't people feel as free to delight in whatever sunlight remains to them? ~ Rose F. Kennedy ~ Failures, repeated failures, are finger posts on the road to achievement. One fails forward toward success. ~ Charles F. Kettering ~ Each of us comes into life with fists closed, set for aggressiveness and acquisition. But when we abandon life our hands are open; there is nothing on earth that we need, nothing the soul can take with it. ~ Fulton J. Sheen ~ Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope. ~ Robert F. Kennedy ~ *********************************************************************** Here's a thought... Every cause needs people more than money, for when the people are with you and you are giving your cause their attention, interest, confidence, advocacy and service, financial support should just about take care of itself; whereas, without them in the right quality and quantity in the right places and the right states of mind and spirit, you might as well go and get lost. ~ Harold J. Seymour ~ *********************************************************************** This is funny, and not quite motivational, but sure to make you think! I'd like to thank Chris for sending it in ONLY IN AMERICA....... Only in America...can a pizza get to your house faster than an ambulance... Only in America...do we award someone $3,000,000 for spilling hot coffee in their own lap... Only in America...do we have labels on baby strollers to remind people to remove the baby before folding up the stroller... Only in America...do drugstores make the sick walk all the way to the back of the store to get their prescriptions. Only in America...do people order double cheese burgers, large fries, and a diet coke... Only in America...do banks leave all the doors open and then chain the pens to the counters... Only in America...do we leave cars worth thousands of dollars in the driveway and leave useless junk in the garage... Only in America...do we use answering machines to screen calls and then have call waiting so we won't miss a call from someone we didn't want to talk to in the first place... Only in America...do we buy hot dogs in packages of ten and buns in packages of eight... Only in America do they have drive-up ATM machines with Braille lettering! *********************************************************************** Alright...last one...I originally heard this one from Greg Rogers, a great leader, and just found it in the ottawa delegates manual...so thanks to the both of you... The Cold Within Six humans trapped by happenstance, in bleak and bitter cold, each one possessed a stick of wood, or so the story's told. Their dying fire in need of logs, the first man held his back, for of the faces round the fire, he noticed one was black. The next man looking cross the way say one not of his church, And couldn't bring himself to give the fire his stick of birch. The third one sat in tattered clothes, he gave his coat a hitch, why should his log be put to use, to warm the idle rich? The rich man just sat back and thought of the wealth he had in store, And how to keep what he had earned from the lazy, shiftless poor. The black man's face bespoke revenge as the fire passed from sight, for all he saw in his stick of wood was a chance to spite the white. The last man of this forlorn group did naught except to gain, giving only to those who gabe was how he played the game. Their logs held tight in death's still hand was proof of human sin, They didn't die from the cold without-They died from the cold within. James Patrick Kenny Indianapolis High School Student *********************************************************************** That's it for this week!, keep sending in thsoe submissions and keep smiling! Marek P. December 9 Hello Everyone! Now that all of you (hopefully) have recovered from conference here's something to keep you smiling. This newsletter is meant to inspire and motivate, and sometimes make you laug. It is also meant to get to you people all the information you need about the OCSCF and what the councils are doing. So, if you have no interest in any of this send me an e-mail saying you want to remove you and I will, no questions asked. To all those that came back from Metro conference, if you have any suggestions about what was done wrong/right at conference please send me all of your suggestions, I would kill to know what you guys thought should have been changed or done differently. If any of you have any cool stories or quotes you would like to see published in this newsletter please send them in, the more the better. You will be given credit for your submissions. Oh and if you want to talk to me about ocscf or anything else for that matter e-mail me at the above addy, or contact me throught ICQ at 2908280 (nickname is Helm - don't ask :-P ) alight...this intro is WAy too long, so on to the good stuff! Marek Przemineiekci Writer / Editor *********************************************************************** Here are this week's quotes... Thanks to Amy McCulloch for sending in the first one! "Last night i had a wonderful dream: I dreamed of giving birth to a child who said 'Mommy what was war?'" ~ unknown ~ Thanks to Lynn for this next one, a personal favorite of my own (and yes...I know it's been in here before but I like it! and I'm the editor! :-P [note: there is also another version that states "work like you don't need the money"] :-P "Dance like no one's watching, love like you'll never be hurt, sing like no one's listening, and live like it's heaven on earth." ~ William Pukey ~ "Every person is responsible for all the good within the scope of his abilities, and for no more, and none can tell whose sphere is the largest." ~ Gail Hamilton ~ "You can achieve anything you want in life if you have the courage to dream it, the intelligence to make a realistic plan, and the will to see that plan through to the end." ~ Sidney A. Friedman ~ "Friendship consists in forgetting what one gives and remembering what one receives." ~ Alexandre Dumas the Younger ~ Give thanks for sorrow that teaches you pity; for pain that teaches you courage - and give exceeding thanks for the mystery which remains a mystery still - the veil that hides you from the infinite, which makes it possible for you to believe in what you cannot see. ~ Robert Nathan ~ *********************************************************************** Here's a thought that applies nicely to the OCSCF... "Every cause needs people more than money, for when the people are with you and you are giving your cause their attention, interest, confidence, advocacy and service, financial support should just about take care of itself; whereas, without them in the right quality and quantity in the right places and the right states of mind and spirit, you might as well go and get lost." ~ Harold J. Seymour ~ *********************************************************************** Here's something interesting... To live by... We convince ourselves that life will be better after we get married, have a baby, then another. Then we are frustrated that the kids aren't old enough and we'll be more content when they are. After that we're frustrated that we have teenagers to deal with. We will certainly be happy when they are out of that stage. We tell ourselves that our life will be complete when our spouse gets his or ,her act together, when we get a nicer car, are able to go on a nice vacation,when we retire. The truth is, there's no better time to be happy than right now. If not now, when? Your life will always be filled with challenges. It's best to admit this to yourself and decide to be happy anyway. One of my favorite quotes comes from Alfred D Souza. He said, "For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin - real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business,time still to be served, a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life." This perspective has helped me to see that there is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way. So,treasure every moment that you have. And treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time...and remember that time waits for no one... So stop waiting until you finish school, until you go back to school, until you lose ten pounds, until you gain ten pounds, until you have kids, until your kids leave the house, until you start work, until you retire, until you get married, until you get divorced, until Friday night, until Sunday morning, until you get a new car or home,until your car or home is paid off, until spring,until summer, until fall, until winter, until you are off welfare, until the first or fifteenth,until your song comes on, until you've had a drink, until you've sobered up, until you die to decide that there is no better time than right now to be happy... Happiness is a journey, not a destination. *********************************************************************** Alright, hopefully that's long enough to satisfy all you people out there! keep smiling as always, Marek P. December 22 Hey Hey! so this weeks(or last weeks actually) issue is a little bit late...I had some problems w/ my server but I'm sure you'll all forgive me! Stuff to mention! now that I have all the e-mails down right (I hope) I'd like to give a big thanks to the metro coucil for a truly amazing conference, and a big thanks to all those people that came and helped make it that. If you have any feedback about it send it to our metro president Melissa T at metrotoronto@ocscf.org. (I love those hats!) News for this week - OSSSA is hosting their metro conference the 17 to 20 of february, look for applications (I don't have them in file form but if there is enough of a demand for them I'll get it somehow) CMWosssa is also hosting their conference in february but I forget the date...next week... actually, speaking of next week, that's aprils turn for the newsletter so if you don't get it by this friday send her an e-mail to add you at aliermo@hotmail.com OH!...and if you sent stuff in and you haven't seen it in any newsletters I'm sorry!...but my server for e-mail was acting up so I never got it...jsut send it in again! please! and keep em coming! :-P alright...on to the good stuff Marek Przemieniecki Writer / Editor *********************************************************************** Here are this week's quotes... He that does good to another, does good also to himself, not only in the consequences, but in the act; for the consciousness of well-doing is, in itself, ample reward. ~ Seneca ~ This one's from Mike... :-P Some say ducks went to Canada others say Toronto ~ Bart Simpson ~ He who receives a good turn should never forget it; he who does one should never remember it. ~ Pierre Charron ~ This one's from Liana... Hindsight is always 20/20 vision ~ unknown ~ I come to the office each morning and stay for long hours doing what has to be done to the best of my ability. And when you've done the best you can, you can't do any better. So when I go to sleep I turn everything over to the Lord and forget it. ~ Harry S. Truman ~ If I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain. ~ Emily Dickinson ~ In all people there are two sets of feelings: One is fear, the other is love. If there is fear, then we shrink as a person. But love, wow! That can move mountains! ~ Jorgen Roed ~ *********************************************************************** Here's a thought It is not the level of prosperity that makes for happiness but the kinship of heart to heart and the way we look at the world. Both attitudes are within the power, so that a man is happy so long as he chooses to be happy, and no one can stop him. ~ Aleksander Solzhenitsyn ~ *********************************************************************** This is a cool poem from Nathalie Di Lauro...she wrote it... "Releasing Friendship" Pull back Take a moment Breath Relax Look Around Watch and observe Take a moment Reminisce and remember Sleepless nights Kodac moments Ironic conversations Unforgettable hugs Needed words of wisdom Expected words of criticism Moments of joy Tears of sadness The beloved feeling of comfort So close Don't even talk Emotions, expressed No fear Wild parties 2:00 am morning Take a moment Don't talk just think Remember You've shared You've trusted You've learned Realize You've experienced Lost, loved Laughed and cried Friendship, precious Essential and priceless. ~ Nathalie Di lauro ~ *********************************************************************** I got this from Catherine...thanks! Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there...to serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson or help figure out who you are or who you want to become. You never know who these people may be but then you lock eyes with them, you know that very moment that they will affect your life in some profound way. and sometimes things happen to you at the time that may seem horrible, painful and unfair, but in reflection you realize that without overcoming those obstacles you would have never realized your potential, strength, willpower or heart. Everything happens for a reason. Nothing happens by chance or by means of good luck. Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness and sheer stupidity all occur to test the limits of your soul. Without these small tests, life would be like a smoothly paved, straight, flat road to nowhere. Safe and comfortable but dull and utterly pointless. The people you meet affect your life. The successes and downfalls that you experience can create who you are, and the bad experiences can be learned from. In fact, they are probably the most poignant and important ones. If someonehurts you, betrays you or breaks your heart, forgive them because they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious to whom you open your heart to. If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally, not only because they love you, but also because they are teaching you to love and to open your heart and eyes to little things. Make every day count. Appreciate every moment and take from it everything that you possibly can, for you may never be able to experience it again. Talk to people you have never talked to before, and actually listen. Let yourself fall in love, break free and set your sights high. Hold your head up because you have every right to. Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself, for if you don't believe in yourself, no one else will believe in you. Create your own life and then go out and live it. *********************************************************************** Wow that's a lot....keep the submissions coming! and I'll be writing again soon! Marek P. January 1 hiya everyone Ü hey, we're on newsletter thirty five...how cool is that???...oh, its verrry cool...its "aw-sim!" ;p... please...if anyone knows of free email access that can send over a hundred emails all at once, please email me at and let me know cause i really need it [its for this newsletter]... anyways, if you dont already know, by going to and clicking on the appropriate click-thing [you'll see it], a bunch of companies donate food to starving people around the world...and its for real too...so do it up and tell the world! Ü [thanks =)] ~april co-writer/co-editor [marek, i promoted my title Ü] [but im still your helper =)] ~ * * * * * ~ Great beauty, great strength, and great riches are really and truly of no great use; a right heart exceeds all. ~Benjamin Franklin I am responsible for my own wellbeing, my own happiness. The choices and decisions I make regarding my life directly influences the quality of my days. ~Kathleen Andrus One man gives freely, yet grows all the richer, another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. ~Proverbs 11:24 The next time you make an irritating mistake, try laughter. Wise people know how to laugh at themselves and in the laughter they learn to accept their mistakes while preserving a sense of self-worth and healthy self-love. ~ Kenneth E. Grabner [this ones just cute =)] There's just something about you that could keep me listening to you forever. I'll love you for always...I have no choice. ~anonymous ~ * * * * * ~ thank you giacomo grisanzio for sharin this one Ü... Three things...~Kenneth E. Grabner What a grand blueprint for human life. If you spend time with a friend today or help someone who needs you, you have fulfilled the first part of the blueprint. If you notice the beauty of something God has made, or appreciate the goodness of someone who touches your life today, then you will have fulfilled the second part. And if you acknowledge that the strength to live your life this day is a free gift that came to you from God, then you will have accomplised the third. Whoever does these things invites joy into his or her life and becomes a source of joy for others. ~ * * * * * ~ NEVER TOO MUCH...Love is the one ingredient of which our world never tires and of which there is never an abundance. It is needed in the marketplace and in the mansions. It is needed in the ghettos and in the governments. It is needed in homes, in hospitals, and in individual hearts. THE WORLD WILL NEVER OUTGROW ITS NEED FOR LOVE. ~C. Neil Strait [so love the world! Ü...or at least try your best too =)] ~ * * * * * ~ some of you may have heard this, but its been requested by some lovely people... untitled ~april and lianne aliermo people look ahead to wehre we're goin' the ruckus be growin' just killin' without knowin the cost peace is lost to this hellish chaos the little ones have bled, too young to be dead y'all even care? no instead, i look next to me kids droppin' ecstacy with the natural tendency to hate, destroy and not create just wait, you'll see your fate and to da lost ones can you explain the motives of your game? kindness outta vane your joy feeds off my pain when i cry, whats it you gain? realize you walk yourself through sorrow's lane declared war on your own terrain you have to go and start take your anger and have to spark yes, and if you were smart you would not embark, or take part in the sorrow thou art conceiling i shant need to be dealing with my tears that you be stealing and though i do mly best to heal the pains you choose to feel you refuse---still! ate, why is evil taught? problems sought wars fought souls bought cos they forgot? nah, cos they dont know to let love grow? yes, embrace your foe rid the self woe and only then, true peace and happiness can you bestow [so ate take the mike an tell em so] take a look into yourself you've got to gain spirtual wealth leave your woes and worries behind open up your heart and be kind when you let love inundate your soul you will find what it is that makes yah naturally high when you trippin' on illusions you're only losin' to toxins be like mah boy maxamillion and keep your sword sharp so like senor coelho you can start fightin' the good fight lift yourself to the highest height don't dwell in yesterday or work to see what'll be comin' your way but live the graces of today life is not to be brisk you've got to take risks that's the secret trick to ultimate happiness yes, there is suffering and pain but with toils its your gain you've got to play in this rain get stronger and when the sun comes out you'll see that no doubt, love and happiness are worth the drought when you let your soul dance you'll feel the heavenly trance takin' you, elatin' you, makin' you who you ought to be li, why they choosin' to be sad? fussin' over what they don't have cos they crazy mad? nah, cos they don't know to let love grow? yes, embrace your foe rid the self woe and only then, true peace and happiness can you bestow [so little sista take the mike an' tell 'em so!] [at this point, if this piece was verbally expressed, you'd be blessed with the sweet soundin vocals of my sister Ü] ~ * * * * * ~ there! im done! =) id like to wish everyone an awesome new year full of lovely happy days and sunshine... God bless y'all =) peace an love, april Ü April 30 HHHHEEEEELLLLLOOOOOO!!!!! :-) I know it's been a long time, a bit over a month actually, since I last sent out a newsletter. So first I appoligise. Second I bring good news! CONFERENCE IS MAY 26th to 28th! It's final! It will be held at Bishop Morrocco/Thomas Merton! ATTACHED ARE APPLICATION FORMS FOR BOTH DELEGATES AND TRIBE LEADERS! if you ahve already applied for a tribe leader position you do not need to re-apply. GET THOSE FORMS OUT! there are 30 days between now and then!, get them out to your friends, your friends friends and your parent's friends kids! We want 350 delegates at this conference and I will break my own nect to get that number (coincidentally setting a record for a conference... :-P ) DISTRIBUTE THE FORMS TO YOUR STUDENT COUNCILS AND GUIDANCE! make this the best start to a new millenium for the ocscf! If you ahve any trouble opening the files, or did not get them please e-mail me! ANY QUESTIONS that you, your parents or your teachers might have about the conference can be referred to me. You can contact me by e-mail at marek@ocscf.org, by phone at 416-496-9247 or my cell at 416-706-8760 or by fax at 416-496-1605. Alright!...enough of me sounding like a radio announcer! here are some cool (and late stories) if you have any to submit please do send them in! In Leadership, Marek Przemieniecki Writer / Editor *********************************************************************** Education, in the broadest of truest sense, will make an individual seek to help all people, regardless of race, regardless of color, regardless of condition. ~ George Washington Carver ~ Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings. ~ William Arthur Ward ~ Great beauty, great strength, and great riches are really and truly of no great use; a right heart exceeds all. ~ Benjamin Franklin ~ By working together, pooling our resources and building on our strengths, we can accomplish great things. ~ Ronald Reagan ~ He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things he has not, but rejoices for those which he has. ~ Epictetus ~ *********************************************************************** Here's a cool poem, thanks to Cristen for this one! If I knew it would be the last time That I'd see you fall asleep, I would tuck you in more tightly and pray the Lord, your soul to keep. If I knew it would be the last time that I see you walk out the door, I would give you a hug and kiss and call you back for one more. If I knew it would be the last time I'd hear your voice lifted up in praise, I would video tape each action and word, so I could play them back day after day. If I knew it would be the last time, I could spare an extra minute or two to stop and say "I love you," instead of assuming you would KNOW I do If I knew it would be the last time I would be there to share your day, well I'm sure you'll have so many more, so I can let just this one slip away. For surely there's always tomorrow to make up for an oversight, and we always get a second chance to make everything right. There will always be another day to say our "I love you's," And certainly there's another chance to say our "Anything I can do's?" But just in case I might be wrong, and today is all I get, I'd like to say how much I love you and I hope we never forget. Tomorrow is not promised to anyone, young or old alike, And today may be the last chance you get to hold your loved one tight. So if you're waiting for tomorrow, why not do it today? For if tomorrow never comes, you'll surely regret the day That you didn't take that extra time for a smile, a hug, or a kiss and you were too busy to grant someone, what turned out to be their one last wish. So hold your loved ones close today, and whisper in their ear, Tell them how much you love them and that you'll always hold them dear. Take time to say "I'm sorry," "Please forgive me," "Thank you," or "It's okay." And if tomorrow never comes, you'll have no regrets about today. *********************************************************************** Here's a thought; Life is raw material. We are artisans. We can sculpt our existence into something beautiful, or debase it into ugliness. It's in our hands. ~ Cathy Better ~ *********************************************************************** Alright, that's it for this week. Just remember to get those forms out and to keep those submissions coming! Till next we meet! Marek P.