The poet, Trappist monk John Donne, artfully described something which is not only true, but describes a condition which we work to embody within our community outreach activities at CES.
“No man is an island, entire of it selfe; every man is a peece of the Continent, a part of the maine; if a clod bee washed away by the Sea, Europe is the lesse, as well as if a Promontorie were, as well as if a Mannor of thy friends or of thine owne were; any mans death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankinde; And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; It tolls for thee…”1
We are surely connected to one another in many ways.
Helping our community is something we feel is an integral part of being in a community. Educating and informing others of important matters which dearly affect their survival and the survival of those around them is the way we feel we can be most effective.
Sponsoring our Community Learning Center affords us the pleasure of helping our future citizens. Raising the literacy levels of children and ensuring that they have a place where help is available, no matter the ability to pay, makes us very happy and fulfilled indeed.
Reaching out to our fellows with effective drug education is another way that we are helping our community to live happier lives. Parents and teachers, business owners and teens all need to know the facts about drugs and what is happening in their areas concerning drugs.
We are part of a charity coalition which started one year ago. We attend monthly gatherings and workshops and we meet many other good-willed people and groups who are working toward helping their community.
By partnering with other groups, we affect much bigger spheres of influence and it is also very uplifting to be in the company of so many who are working daily for the good of their fellows!
The celebration of the coalition’s first year anniversary came off with a fantastic banquet and speakers from the Police Athletic League (PAL) in St. Petersburg, The Save Our Students Foundation of Tampa Bay and a Disaster Relief Volunteer Minister from Australia.
The gracious Fort Harrison Hotel hosts the charity coalition lunches each month and this amazing first annual banquet! Hundreds of individuals enjoyed this incredible benefit.
This month our CEO, Patrick J. Clouden, gave a very detailed look into the drug, marijuana. Today’s marijuana and high-potency THC* products are not well understood by the community. There is so much data that is misrepresented and confused that Patrick really wanted to clear the smoke!
Many folks gathered to hear Pat’s presentation and came away quite enlightened and aware of the powerful drug that today’s marijuana has become.
Since knowledge empowers others to be effective in their lives, many in the community left with a new level of awareness which they can impart to their children and others.
You see, No man is an island! He is connected to his fellows in every way possible, and we at CES are very happy to be an active part of our ever-expanding community.
If you would like our help with any drug-education presentations or programs for your group, please contact me and I’ll be happy to help. If you would like any of the effective Truth about Drugs materials, provided at no-charge from the Foundation for a Drug-Free World, I can also get these for you. LPosyton@CESstaff.com
1John Donne, from the 1624 Meditation 17, from Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions
