I've Known This Man For Almost Three Years!

The following was originally written as an invitation to join Online with Russell--along with giving out other important information related to Invisible Youth Network--to be presented to newbies at Care2.

As it turns out, it wasn't the right format for the invitation--along with being too long.

However (with a certain amount of adaptation), it fits perfectly here, and I can share it with a number of people this way.

I can't think of a better way to grand-open My Helping Hand Journal!

Hello--And Welcome To Care2!!!

At this time, I'd like to introduce you to a friend of mine, Russell T. Hartsaw--along with five other very special friends!

It will be three years this coming January 15, 2010 since Russell and I first met at an online discussion site and became friends, and, to this day, he never ceases to amaze me!

This invitation is not only to invite you to check out his discussion group called Online with Russell but, also, to check out the organization he launched on March 26, 2007 called Invisible Youth Network which was set up to reach out to homeless and/or otherwise at-risk youth.

You can find out more about this organization by visiting our main website:

http://invisibleyouthnetwork.net

as well as checking out our group at Care2:

http://www.care2.com/c2c/group/IYN

Online with Russell is a wonderful group to belong to, if you're interested in serious discussions about current events and life in general. I hope you'll accept this invitation to become a part of this thought-provoking group.

Let me point out that what it ISN'T is a group for posting recipes, bragging about your grandkids, sharing cutesy graphics, and stuff like that. However, our Invisible Youth Members Club--hosted by Nancy Lou Roy--is one place where you can really express yourself in that way if you wish.

http://www.care2.com/c2c/group/iynmembersclub

She has also started a special friendly thread along those lines in our Care2 group, but keep in mind that this group (Helping Hands for IYN @ Care2) has as its main purpose discussing matters related to homeless and/or otherwise at-risk youth except for in this thread and those that have been especially set up for birthday greetings, etc. by our group hosts and Nan.

Russell is a very busy man these days, as a lot is happening to promote the growth of IYN, so he won't be spending as much time online. Therefore, he has been trying to do a lot of delegating to various people who are able and willing to fill in for him. Still, he can't, by his own admission, stay completely away from the Cyberspace scene.

We have someone very special who has been a real blessing to us, but, more and more, he wants to be anonymous, so I'm respecting this.

Yet, I can't completely go without telling about the wonderful things this young man of only 19 years has done to help street kids locally (in a large city close to his hometown several thousands of miles away from our San Diego headquarters); for the large population of young people who have come from all over the country to congregate in San Diego; and for any other place where he can meet a need. He uses his athletic talent to raise lots of money and other forms of funding (e.g. gift card donations).

Yvonne Ladd is one amazing woman who has been with IYN for a very long time. She doesn't even come close to being a wealthy person, but she gives what she can to our youth in the way of funds and wish list supplies. She also does a lot of fundraising in a number of creative ways. Although what I've just said about her still holds true, we're missing her cheerful messages online right now because she's computerless at the moment. You can read more about her story by going to the thread called The Princess & The Computer at our IYN group.

Finally--thanks to Terry "Tj" Harris and Kim Smith--we have a printable (two sided and made to be folded) pamphlet about IYN, and it looks really wonderful! Check it out by going here:

http://cid-d312f28c2be7bb2b.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/.Public/Pamphlet.pdf

Perhaps, if you have a printer, you might like to print out some of your own and distribute them.

Thank you for taking the time to read all of this! Please keep in mind that the second Saturday in October has been designated Youth Outreach Day. Please celebrate this in your own community by doing any, some, or all of the following (and then some):

Take one or more underprivileged kids on an outing.

Have a fundraiser (e.g. bake sale, yard sale, walk-a-thon, car wash, etc.) for Invisible Youth Network.

Encourage local merchants to give a percentage of their profits earned on that day to IYN.

Ask your local officials and/or governor to officially proclaim the second Saturday in October as Youth Outreach Day.

Write to President Obama to encourage him to proclaim the second Saturday in October as Youth Outreach Day--and to get involved with IYN.

In closing, I would like to encourage you to check out the profile pages of Russell, Nan, Yvonne, Tj, and Kim in order to get to know them better:

Russell: http://my.care2.com/russellonline

Nan: http://my.care2.com/nemetchek

Yvonne: http://my.care2.com/bonbon124

Tj: http://my.care2.com/kelfresh

Kim: http://www.care2.com/c2c/people/profile.html?pid=671798633

Thanks so much for taking the time to read this and, hopefully, join us!

Warmly,
Ainsley Jo Phillips :-)
http://my.care2.com/aj1952chats
Co-Founder of Invisible Youth Network