August and September Speeches

August 3, 2013 - Speaking to Biblical Community Church's youth located at 810 Lookout Dr., Richardson, TX 75080 at noon.

September 8, 2013 - Speaking to Christ United Methodist Church's youth located at 3101 Coit Rd., Plano, TX 75075 at 6:45pm.

September 18, 2013 - Speaking at MADD's Plano Teen VIP located at 900 E. 15th Street, Plano, TX 75074 at 6:15pm.

Thank an officer this Labor Day

"While we spend the Labor Day holiday and the end of summer celebrating with our loved ones, law enforcement officers across the country will take to the roads in an effort to stop impaired driving, prevent injuries and save lives during this year’s Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over high-visibility enforcement campaign."

"Holidays like Labor Day are particularly dangerous for encountering drunk drivers. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 138 people were killed in drunk driving crashes over the Labor Day weekend in 2011.  That’s why, through September 2nd, officers will be out in force to help stop these 100 percent preventable tragedies." 

"Research shows that high-visibility enforcement can reduce drunk driving fatalities by as much as 20 percent. Sobriety checkpoints play a key part in raising awareness about the problem, as well as deterring people from committing the violent crime of drunk driving, and that’s why it is a key component of MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving®."

"Join us in thanking law enforcement for the work they do to keep our loved ones safe during the crackdown, and all year long, by signing our online thank you card. And if you come across a sobriety checkpoint this Labor Day weekend, make sure to thank the officers for helping keep our roads safe."

Withers, Jan. "Thank an officer this Labor Day." Message to Tonya Winchester. 19 August 2013. E-mail.

Kidd Kraddick

Praying for the family and everyone hurting from this. Sometimes things happen that we don't understand but we must hold tight to the good times, recognize the blessing he was in so many lives, and let his legacy - how he brought inspiration & laughter - live on. May this remind us how precious life is and that it is meant to be lived with no regrets and with purpose. Here's to Kidd!

"Live Like That" by Sidewalk Prophets

I like to begin my day with praise music. Today, the song "Live Like That" by Sidewalk Prophets came on the radio. I've heard this song many times but this time, it spoke to me. I listened to the words and their meaning and was utterly inspired. This is what I want my life and my decisions to reflect. I hope the words inspire you as they have me.

Click here to check out the music video. It is powerful!!

K-LOVE. “K-LOVE - Sidewalk Prophets ‘Live Like That’ LIVE.” Youtube. 26 March 2012. Web. 27 July 2013.

"Live Like That" by Sidewalk Prophets:

Sometimes I think
What will people say of me
When I’m only just a memory
When I’m home where my soul belongs

Was I love
When no one else would show up
Was I Jesus to the least of us
Was my worship more than just a song

Chorus
I wanna live like that
And give it all I have
So that everything You say and do
Points to You
If love is who I am
Then this is where I’ll stand
Recklessly abandoned
Never holding back
I wanna live like that

Am I proof
That You are who You say you are
That grace can really change your heart
Do I live like Your love is true

People pass
And even if they don’t know my name
Is there evidence that I’ve been changed
When they me do they see You

I wanna show the world the love He gave for me
I’m longing for the world to know
The glory of the King

Sidewalk Prophets. "Live Like That." Sidewalkprophets.com. 2012. Web. 27 July 2013.

We Must Strive Harder to Be and Live as Great Examples

I was reminded yesterday that there is always someone watching and observing the people we are and the lives we lead and that is why it is so important to lead an exemplary life - one you are proud of and one that encourages and inspires greatness. Our behaviors, attitudes, words, and interests reveal who we are - our strengths, weaknesses, thoughts, feelings, beliefs, goals, and priorities in life.

The people who are in our lives are in our lives for a reason. We have been purposely placed at the locations we live, work, and frequent for a reason and these reasons are much greater than ourselves. May we recognize this fact and live as so. These people and places are our spheres of influence and you hold the power of the way they are influenced.

A friend once told me that there are three things we can do for a person - make them feel the same, worse, or better. The fantastic thing about this is, in most cases, we already know the potential consequences (good and bad) that a spoken word, behavior, or reaction can bring and make someone feel. That is the hard part and it is already done! We have been given the ability to recognize good and evil and right and wrong. May we take control of this ability and utilize it!

One of my speaking points is we only have one life, one body, and one chance to make the best decision in every situation. There is no going back. We cannot undo what we say, a decision we have made, or an impression we have given and we live in a society that is unforgiving and remembers every time you fall; every time you fail to meet perfection.

Your children, spouse, parents, co-workers, friends, neighbors, and community are your sphere of influence. It is time for us to stand up, rid ourselves of the things that hinder and corrupt us, and strive without ceasing to be and live as great examples and as the men and women God has created us to be because there are too many who are lost, who do not know God's love, and who are looking for "something" to fill and satisfy their void. These people in your sphere of influence - their lives, future, and very being - desperately depend on you and need to see God in you. So show them greatness. Show them love. Show how God has changed you. 

What is the point in all of this?

- Live a life that inspires.

- Live a life that encourages.

- Live a life that brings out the best in others.

- Live a life where God's love, fruit, and Spirit shines bright, radiates, and completely captivates others.

- Be an example.

As you do this, watch how you are strengthened and changed. This reward is as sweet as honey.

Take Care of Our Wildland Firefighting Heroes!

Wildland firefighters are some of the most skilled and dedicated firefighters around. They're tasked with battling intense wildfires that are spread over miles worth of terrain. They often put in a full year's work from just May to October — the prime time window in which wildfires are most common.


The work isn't easy. These firefighters, also known as hotshot teams, are exposed to extremely dangerous chemicals during a fire, including smoke and dust. They're often working in inhospitable environments where they are at risk of falling objects or contracting poison oak.

But hotshot firefighters don't have a health insurance option because they're considered temporary workers by the US government. These men and women are on the front lines battling dangerous wildfires, and in return, they have the right to comprehensive health coverage.

Ask President Obama to mandate health care for all of our nation's wildland firefighters.

Click here to sign this petition!

"Take Care of Our Wildland Firefighting Heroes!" The Hunger Site. Web. 17 July 2013.

Pastor Natalie Choate

What an awesome and uplifting memorial service for Pastor Natalie Choate last night! As we all stood and sang praises to God, I gazed across the sanctuary and saw the most beautiful sight - the congregation with hands raised and voices united worshiping God. What a victory your life has brought God and us!! Pastor Natalie, I did not have the pleasure of knowing you while you were here on earth but I feel that I know you now. As Pastor Kevin mentioned, your name means "a gift from God." I have been praying for about 2 months for everyone I know & everyone they know to be motivated in life and faith. Through your life and legacy, we have been inspired and motivated to fight the good fight, to not give up, and to fully lead the lives God has for us. God has answered my prayer through YOU! Just as Pastor Kevin said, I thought I was strong in my faith and I thought I trusted God fully but through you Pastor Natalie, God has opened my eyes to what that means and how much more trust and faith I must and can have. Through you, God has strengthened me, reminded me of my purpose, and given me a deeper courage to be the woman He has called me to be no matter the depths, pains, struggles, or outcomes I will face and have - to keep pressing on and knowing that God has my best interest at heart and He sees the big picture always. You have inspired me and blessed me Pastors Natalie & Kevin Choate! Love you both! We stand with you arm and arm, heart and heart! — Covenant Church

Obituary: http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=Natalie-Choate&lc=4270&pid=165802289&mid=5599271 

July Speeches

July 10, 2012 - MADD's Plano Teen VIP located at 900 E. 15th Street, Plano, Texas 75074 at 6:20 pm

July 16, 2012 - Speaking to Farmersville Rotary Club for MADD located at Carlisle Civic Center (201 Orange, Farmersville, Texas 75442) at 12:00 pm

Happy Independence Day!

In honor of Independence Day, I wanted to thank all of our military men and women who have fought and are still fighting for our country and for freedom. May God bless you!

The Hunger Site is a great website that is full of opportunities to stand up for your beliefs and for what is right regarding many economic, social, physical, and personal issues. The website has an area of prepared petitions and all that is needed is your signature.

A petition that caught my attention is titled "Tell the Pentagon It's No Crime to Share Your Faith" and it states:

Several recent events have caused a great deal of alarm among those who are concerned with religious liberty. The heart of this issue is one of conscience and freedom of religion: soldiers who "proselytize" their faith face reprimand or court-martial under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

In a statement, the Pentagon tried to assure the faithful that military personnel would not be court-martialed if they "evangelized." Unfortunately, "proselytizing" and "evangelizing" are virtually synonymous terms, leaving service members vulnerable to a subjective interpretation of the Uniform Code.

This is truly a First Amendment crisis. The First Amendment states, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech…". No matter what God one worships, as Americans we all have the sacred right to share our faiths.

Join us in asking Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel to remove any prohibitions against proselytizing from the Uniform Code of Military Justice and respect the First Amendment rights of service men and women.

Click here to view and sign this petition!   "Tell the Pentagon It's No Crime to Share Your Faith." The Veterans Site. Web. 4 July 2013.

Garage Sale Fundraiser JUNE 28-29!

We have set a date for our garage sale fundraiser and are kindly asking for garage sale donations, volunteers, and shoppers! We are most in need of big donation items and volunteers for Saturday, June 29th.

Please contact me if interested in helping at tonya.winchester@hotmail.com. Thank you!

June 28-29, 2013
805 Bluffview Dr., McKinney, TX 75071

Details: http://tonyawinchester.com/Garage_Sale_2013.htm

Fundraiser Flyer: http://tonyawinchester.com/Flyers/Garage%20Sale%202013.doc

Fight Hunger & Oppose Congress' SNAP Decision

"Don't let the government make any more cuts to hunger-fighting programs!" (The Hunger Site, 2013).

"More than two million people would be dropped from our food stamp program (SNAP) on September 30 if the current version of the Farm Bill passes. The time to act is NOW!" Visit the Hunger Site and learn more about this issue and sign a petition opposing the Farm Bill.

http://www.thehungersite.com/clickToGive/ths/petition/SNAPFunding

"Fight Hunger and Oppose Congress' SNAP Decision." The Hunger Site. Web. 21 June 2013.

June Speeches

June 2, 2013 - MADD Teen VIP at 7:00 pm located at Allen Municipal Court (301 Century Parkway, Allen, Texas 75013)

June 18, 2013 - MADD Adult VIP at 6:00 pm located at the Salvation Army (600 S. Wilson Creek Parkway, McKinney, Texas 75069)

June 22, 2013 - McKinney YMCA MyChallenge at 12:00 pm located at 300 Ridge Road, McKinney, TX 75070 to at-risk teenagers

Red Cross

My heart goes out to these families and towns. As one of my Meals On Wheels clients put it, "We are one body, united. We are all affected and must pray for one another daily." Makes our daily struggles look insignificant in comparison. May we do more than pray but also learn from this, especially how truly blessed we are, and do what we can to help. Let's be the love our fellow Americans who were impacted by this need!

www.redcross.org

May Speeches

May 21 - MADD Adult VIP at 6:00 pm located at the Salvation Army (600 Wilson Creek Parkway, McKinney, Texas 75069)

May 28 - Sherman High School juniors and seniors at 10:00 am located at 2201 E. Lamar, Sherman, Tx 75090 

Fundraiser #1 for Toby Mills

We are raising funds for Toby Mills, my boyfriend's best friend since middle school, who was in a serious car crash last September and is quadriplegic and paralyzed as a result. Not only is he paralyzed but his injury is much worse than mine. He damaged and nearly severed his C4 spinal cord segment which is very high on the spine (actually in the neck). The area of the spinal cord that is affected and the amount of impact and damage to the spinal cord determines what an injured person can move or feel. The higher the injury level on the spinal cord, the less ability and function a person has. Also, a person with spinal cord injury is classified as either paraplegic or quadriplegic. Paraplegia refers to a person that cannot move (or possibly feel) lower body extremities due to damage in the back. Quadriplegia refers to a person that cannot move (or most likely feel) all or parts of both upper and lower body extremities due to damage in the neck. The high spinal cord damage Toby obtained unfortunately has left him with only the abilities to blink, eat, speak, think, and move both his neck and one forearm (very) slightly. He has lost the abilities to move and feel below his neck and encounters daily struggles with pressure sores, breathing troubles, bladder infections, and loss - loss of independence, privacy, and all the abilities the average person takes for granted. We often think we have it bad, but then comes along someone who has it much worse. Toby spends most of his days in his hospital bed watching T.V., waiting only for night to come and another day of doing the exact same thing.


We are raising funds for:
a) Toby to have a computer with adaptive technology - aide in independence and quality of life
b) Inpatient and at-home rehabilitation - aide in physical health, independence, and quality of life
c) Adaptive equipment and tools for daily living (eating, getting in and out of bed, etc.)

We plan on having on-going fundraisers for Toby as he has many needs and desires and currently does not have insurance. His first fundraiser, "Tools for Toby," is an online fundraiser but is only the beginning! The direct link is http://www.youcaring.com/Tmills.

Ways you can help:
1) Pray
2) Donate money
3) Send Toby or Amber, his girlfriend and caregiver, an encouragement card or helpful resources (9433 Olive St., Princeton, Texas 75407)
4) Share this email and spread the word
5) Help us get more fundraisers started
6) Offer knowledge or help - visiting with him, praying over him, care sitting to give his family a break, etc.
7) Make him and his family meals

We have a couple restaurant fundraisers in the works and will keep you posted on those!

Toby's girlfriend, Amber, has honorably remained by his side. You can contact her at aweglowski21@gmail.com or 469-951-7863.

Father, we lift up Toby and Amber and pray that their faith will not fail but be strengthened. When all they see is struggle and defeat, Father, again, strengthen them. Let them experience you personally. May their eyes and hearts and very being be opened to you and who you are. May they understand how much you love and care for them and how you are there for them and always have been. May they look to you for understanding. Reveal purpose, truth, and guidance to them Holy Spirit. Father, we ask for doors of opportunity, blessing, and healing to be opened to them. We trust you God and thank you for saving Toby and their relationship and for your amazing calling on their lives. I see the greatness you have in store for them and praise you God for that revelation. Father, may their spirits be lifted, encouraged, motivated, and empowered and may your people enter their lives and bless them. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Thank you supporters. May you be eternally blessed.

Life Update

Hello family and friends!


I have been good and just finished another semester of school. I have been at UNT for a year now studying social work and love it! I have been learning so much about people, society, behaviors, and especially, myself. I also have been growing a lot in my faith and spending a great deal of my time volunteering. I have been speaking for MADD since 2009 and for the YMCA since last June. And for a little over a year, I have been volunteering at Meals On Wheels as a "well check" caller to 55 clients every Monday. These three things - school, growth in faith, and volunteering - have opened many doors for me but more importantly, they have been preparing me for the life ahead of me and affirming the personal revelations from God about myself, my future, and my purpose. And I look forward to further opportunities to use my skills and talents once I graduate in May 2016 (from taking only two classes per semester)! My family has also been doing well (minus the major foundation work and sewer leaks in our house)! My boyfriend Billy recently started a new job which he enjoys and my sister Natacha moved to Colorado at the beginning of May with her boyfriend!

This summer I plan to continue volunteering but am interested in gaining experience with the homeless. We have one homeless shelter in my county and it happens to be in my hometown. I am not sure how I can help at the Samaritan Inn but I definitely plan to get plugged in. I also have plans to update my website (three new pages) and create several fundraisers for my boyfriend's best friend who is paralyzed. Be on the look out for his fundraisers!

Community Garage Sale Fundraiser in June

We are raising funds for two important things:
a) A MOTOmed motorized hand-cycle and bicycle ($8,000) - will aide in strengthening, range of motion, and overall physical health
b) Modifications for my van so I can drive and be independent (quoted $30,000-$50,000) - will aide in independence

We are having another community garage sale fundraiser for the "kick-off" fundraiser and are kindly asking for your help!

Ways you can help:
1) Donate items for the garage sale
2) Volunteer (before, during, and/or after [clean-up])
3) Shop at the garage sale
4) Tell your friends and family!
5) Pray

We thank you for your support in the past, now, and in the future. If wanting to help, please email me at tonya.winchester@hotmail.com. Once we get an idea of who is able to help and what days work best for them, I will send a mass email with an attached flyer! We are waning to have the fundraiser in June.



*We are also raising funds for my boyfriend's best friend Toby, who was in a bad car accident last September and is now paralyzed (C4), for him to have a computer with adaptive technology as well as inpatient rehabilitation. We are having trouble getting help from organizations known for helping in these areas and after patiently waiting 7 months, we have decided to take financial matters in our own hands. I will be posting a blog regarding his first fundraiser soon!

I realize that many of you either live far away or are not financially or materially able to help, but we were hoping you could keep us in your thoughts and prayers and spread the word! :)

Thank you so much! God bless!

Go and Be Event - Helping and Meeting the Needs of McKinney Residents

Go and Be is a whole event where we deploy all our 3e McKinney partner churches to make a statement: there's a God in heaven who loves the people of this community, and we get to bring people that news through our humble acts of service. Let's join together as families, groups and as church family to serve our local communities with outrageous service, bringing a little bit of heaven to earth. This year, our primary focus will be on revitalizing one specific area in east McKinney, the Rockwall community. As we partner with the City of McKinney, 3e McKinney, Habitat for Humanity and Volunteer McKinney, we are accepting a God-sized challenge to show the love of Christ by renovating 25-30 homes.

  

April 20, 2013   this will be prep. Day for the projects, cleanup, power washing and some construction and scraping.  Getting ready for the paint to go on the home.

April 27, 2013 will be the big day.  One of the major projects will be painting, also landscaping and maybe some construction.

For those that want to meet the residents and not paint, we will also do surveys that day. I will provide a quick training class on how to complete form so ask for me.  So this is just walking house to house talking and blessing the people of the community.

All events start at 8 am and go to 4pm each day, but come when you can and leave when it is needed.

Please visit the 3e website to sign up as a volunteer or you can contact Leroy Smith.

Tentatively we are supposed to park in a truck parking lot at 800 elm st, mckinney

Smith, Leroy. "Go & Be Event." Message to Tonya Winchester. 15 April 2013. E-mail. 

Thank you for helping!! I can guarantee you will be blessed!!

Encouraging Pastor Warren, His Family, and His Church

Interested in encouraging and helping Pastor Rick Warren (who recently lost his son), his family, and his church? You can!

Statement from Pastor Rick Warren:

Dear Friends,
Kay and I have been overwhelmed by your outpouring of love since Matthew’s tragic death. You are true friends, especially with the vitriol from haters we’ve received. Friends show up when others walk away.
If you missed what happened, click here to read my letter.

You’ve asked, “Is there anything we can do to help you?”

The answer is yes! We could use your help right now in FIVE PRACTICAL WAYS:

1. Sign a petition that urges educators, lawmakers, healthcare, and congregations to raise the awareness and lower the stigma of mental illness, and also to support families that are dealing with mental illness on a daily basis. Thanks for adding your voice!

2. Offer your help and prayers to those around you who are caring for mentally ill family and friends. They need your encouragement more than you realize

3. Fight mental illness with an online gift to The Matthew Warren Fund for Mental Health. Your gift is tax-deductible. Or, you may mail a check to
The Matthew Warren Fund
Saddleback Church
1 Saddleback Parkway
Lake Forest, CA 92630.

4. Send a note of encouragement and sympathy.

Pastor Warren's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pastorrickwarren
Pastor Warren's email: PastorRick@saddleback.com
Or mail a card to the above address.

5. PRAY

We are reading every note. We’d love to hear from you here on Facebook, or you can email us at PastorRick@saddleback.com. Your prayers and words continue to strengthen us.

Pastor Rick

Warren, Rick. "Join Us In the Fight Against Mental Illness." Saddleback Church. 13 April 2013. Web. 15 April 2013. .

Upcoming Speeches

April 19, 2013 - Princeton High School to 3 Health classes from 11:20am - 2:30 pm located at 1000 E. Princeton Drive, Princeton, Texas 75407.

April 20, 2013 - McKinney YMCA MyChallenge at 12:00 pm located at 300 Ridge Road, McKinney, TX 75070 to at-risk teenagers

7 Weeks of Blessing at Covenant Church

April 7, 2013: Kickoff Sunday - Give money to help sponsor kids to attend summer camps

April 14, 2013: Diaper Sunday - Bring diapers & wipes in all sizes

April 21, 2013: Grocery Card Sunday - Bring a gift card to a local grocer in any amount

April 28, 2013: Gas Card Sunday - Bring a gas gift card in any amount

May 5, 2013: School Supply Sunday - Bring any school supplies

May 12, 2013: Meet a Need Sunday - Give money to help fund needs within our community and church

May 19, 2013: Professional Services Sunday - Do you have a service to offer? Are you in need of a service?

To donate any of these items, please drop the items off at the Covenant Church in McKinney
        975 S. Central Expressway, McKinney, TX 75070
        Office hours: Monday - Thursday (9:00-5:00 pm) or Sundays

If you are in need of any of these items or services, please visit the church (the appropriate Sunday) or call at 972-548-2700.

Pastor Rick Warren's Son Passed Away

Pastor Rick Warren's son passed away Saturday after an unfortunate decision to commit suicide. I have never met Pastor Warren or his son but I respect him and his beliefs and have joyfully been subscribed to his daily email devotionals for several years. Please keep Pastor Warren, his family, and his church in your prayers.

http://news.yahoo.com/church-pastor-rick-warrens-son-commits-suicide-211206608.html

Father,

We lift up Pastor Warren, his family, and his church to you and pray in the name of Jesus for your healing power to cover them, guide them, and bring them through this as stronger and greater for your purposes. We ask that you fill them with supernatural strength, endurance, perseverance, courage, and encouragement. In their weakness, sadness, and misunderstanding, may they look to you. May they remain focused on you God, trust that you have their best interest at heart, and grow in unsurpassable ways. Father let them feel your holy presence. At a time when all eyes are on them Father, we pray that their faith will not fail and that their love and trust in you will shine even brighter. Father we pray against all spiritual attack, hindrances, and harm on the family in the name of Jesus and pray for your mighty protection over their minds, hearts, and bodies. We know you have a purpose in this that exceeds our knowledge and we trust in you God for you are good. Father thank you for your love and for answering our prayers. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Palm Sunday

Today is Palm Sunday, the day Jesus fulfilled a prophecy written in Zechariah about the entrance into Jerusalem of the coming king - the Messiah. Jesus fulfilled this prophecy by riding into Jerusalem on a donkey. The people of Jerusalem, familiar with Scrpture and witnesses of Jesus' miracles, teachings, and authority, threw their coats and palm branches on Jesus' path shouting in praise, "Hosanna in the highest!" Hosanna means save us now and essentially became a cry of praise. These people believed Jesus was the coming king but thought he was going to save them right then from the Romans. Jesus, following the will of his Father, instead had a much greater plan; a plan that these people could not yet comprehend.

Palm Sunday is the Sunday before Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Good Friday is the day these same people dispised, betrayed, mocked, and rejected Jesus, ultimately leading to his blood being shed on the cross for our sins. Easter Sunday is the day Jesus rose from the dead, overcoming the world and purchasing our freedom with his blood.

Matthew 21:1- (NIV)

Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King

As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”

This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:

“Say to Daughter Zion,
‘See, your king comes to you,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’"

The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,

“Hosanna to the Son of David!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”

The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”



SaMmM123. "Hillsong - Hosanna (High Quality)." Youtube. March 2008.

Visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQGJdTpMUcU to watch the video.

Hosanna in the highest!

Please Take My Survey

I am conducting a survey for my Human Behavior II class and would greatly appreciate your participation. It is completely anonymous!

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/F2LV2GL

Thanks!

Deadly Deception Critique

If you receved this blog posit in your email, please visit my blog or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCYdI2b_9Vs to watch the Deadly Deception documentary.

          The Deadly Deception is an insightful documentary about the controversial Tuskegee Study of Untreated Syphilis in the Negro Male conducted for 40 years on poor African American men in Macon County, Alabama. During the 1920s, 300,000 individuals fell victim to syphilis every year and experienced symptoms of pain, fever, and rashes in the early stages and blindness, arthritis, heart disease, dementia, and even death in the late stages if untreated. Determined to stop the further spreading of this disease by treating and curing it, the U.S. Public Health Service authorized six treatment projects, performed by government doctors, in predominantly poor African American infected communities. After unexpectedly exhausting government funds, five of the projects in effect came to a halt while the sixth altered shape completely, changing the purpose to solely studying syphilis, the method to withholding treatment, and the participants’ status into “experimental subjects” without informed consent.
          The U.S. Public Health Service wanted to attain some benefit from the program so they strived to test the theory that there are essential genetic differences among the races as well as the belief that the syphilis disease in blacks was not deadly by determining whether the syphilis disease was the same disease in both whites and blacks. In Macon County, test results revealed an alarming 35 percent syphilis infection rate among the black population. Furthermore, the study uncovered that the disease creates the same symptoms for both races which confounded the medical world and motivated a long open-ended continuation of the study. From this moment on, the 400 men of Macon County under study were deceived and it was not until another long 39 years that the truth was unveiled. These men were deceived by their government, church, school (Tuskegee Institute), and employers who took advantage of their social locations in addition to their child-like trust in and respect for honorable authority and institutions. From the promise of care and free treatment in addition to the diligent strive of the U.S Public Health Service to help these men, they assumed that the government had their best interest in mind and truly wanted to treat them. The men in this study were racially, socially, physically, and medically at a disadvantage and were not ones to question motives or merits or speak up for themselves.
          Concealed truths behind the experiment include unconcern for the men of study; the true nature of the experiment, its open-endedness, its dangers, and their illness; that “bad blood” really meant infection with the syphilis disease; and that the criteria to which these men were chosen was based on prejudice, racism, and social and economic disadvantage. The men of Macon County were not told the true nature of the experiment because the U.S. Public Health Service wanted to break new scientific ground with this disease and felt that (1) telling would interfere with the study by subjects not agreeing to participate and (2) would only bring negative attention, perceptions, and consequences toward them. The U.S. Public Health Service, however, had many occurrences which should have shed light on the unethicalness of this study such as the external and internal symptoms of infection; the 1936 findings that a significant amount of the subjects suffered from late syphilis, cardiovascular problems, and neurological problems; the U.S. Public Health Service campaign launch to combat syphilis and issue of informed consent guidelines; the passing of the National Venereal Disease Control Act; the effectiveness of penicillin in treating syphilis; the evidence that some of the men were dying from late syphilis; the Nürnberg horrors and trial; the civil rights movement; and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention panel convention.
          The ultimate finding of the Tuskegee Study corroborated existing data about the natural and deadly course of syphilis and detected negative results for differing forms of the disease among the races. The main idea behind this movie is to display the importance of ethics in social research as well as keeping personal values, biases, and agendas out of social research. I find this experiment wrong on the same grounds as Attorney Fred Gray did wherein the U.S. Public Health Service violated the rights of the men in this study. They had the right to know that there was a study, what “bad blood” actually meant and its full symptoms, and that they were not receiving treatment and should have been given the ultimate decision as to whether or not they wanted to participate. This experiment not only had consequences for the men in the study but also for the greater society. It is a profound example of medical misconduct; demonstrates why so many people distrust doctors, the government, institutions, and white Americans; and proves how prejudice, discrimination, hatred, and oppression can negatively affect medicine, science, and research.

Winchester, Tonya. University of North Texas. February 2012.

Upcoming Speech

February 16, 2013 - McKinney YMCA MyChallenge at 12:00 pm located at 300 Ridge Road, McKinney, TX 75070 to at-risk teenagers.

Speech in January

January 5, 2013 - McKinney YMCA MyChallenge at 12:00 pm located at 300 Ridge Road, McKinney, TX 75070 to at-risk teenagers.

Upcoming Speeches

December 4, 2012 - MADD Allen Teen VIP at 7:00 pm located at 301 Century Parkway, Allen, TX 75013.

December 8, 2012 - McKinney YMCA MyChallenge at 12:00 pm (or possibly 11:00 am) located at 300 Ridge Road, McKinney, TX 75070 to at-risk teenagers.

The Gift of Christmas

Want to bless a child this Christmas? Through World Help, you can bless an orphan with a Christmas gift for only $5 a child (covers the shipping of the Christmas box). This is an amazing organization which really seeks to "help" the world. "Something so simple can bring a level of joy only a child can fully understand. Giving to ship Christmas for Orphan boxes is an easy way of showing love. The look on a child's face is priceless as they receive their first—and very own—gifts" (World Help, 2012). They provide many other great ways to help as well and let you specifically choose a service or need! Visit http://goh.worldhelp.net/cfao/ to gift a Christmas box to a orphan and http://goh.worldhelp.net/ for other gifting options. You will make a "world" of a difference!

For the daily needs of impoverished children/families:
- Immunizations
- Bedding
- Shoes
- Coats
- Life saving supplies including food and clean drinking water
- Mosquito nets
- Wheelchair
- Operation Baby Rescue & Child Sponsorship

For school and education:
- School scholarships
- Books and supplies
- Uniforms (some kids cannot attend school without a uniform)
- Sports equipment
- Rooms to learn
- Sewing Machines
- Welding equipment
- Hair styling tools and products

Sustainability for a family:
- Livestock (Goats, Pigs, Cows, Sheep, Chickens, or Rabbits)
- Fruit trees
- Beehives
- Harvest-producing seeds
- Bicycles

Community & Spiritual Development:
- Bibles
- A church
- A home
- A clean-water project

Upcoming Speeches

November 14, 2012 - MADD Plano Teen VIP at 6:20 pm located at 900 E 15th Street, Plano 75074.

November 17, 2012 - McKinney YMCA MyChallenge at 1:00 pm located at 300 Ridge Road, McKinney, TX 75070 to at-risk teenagers.

November 28, 2012 - MADD McKinney Adult VIP at 6:00 pm located at 2100 Bloomdale Road, McKinney 75071.