 Announcements:Check out Winchester's new RAD Racers!Join us on Monday, November 14 at 4:00 p.m. at the ELMMC to hear about our latest community projects. ************************************************What is WGYB?WGYB is a network of parents trying to create an environment of support to reduce underage drinking and its effect on the community.Parent Express Parenting can be challenging and overwhelming, especially when parents don’t know who in the community is supporting their values or who is serving alcohol to minors. WGYB is a group of concerned parents in Winchester and Ashuelot who want to support each other in raising our children into positive thinking and healthy choice-making teens and create a system of communication ultimately with an expectation of building a healthier community for our families. In this past year, the CAST (Community And Schools Together ) members began to talk about building a healthier community in Winchester and came up with a couple priorities to help focus our energies. A sub group of CAST felt empowered to do something about reducing underage drinking, binge drinking and parent hosted parties. We pulled together a couple focus groups in the spring of 2009 comprised of parents, many with teenaged children, to get ideas about how we could begin to make a difference. What we learned was that parents really care about their kids, and worry about the amount of drinking that goes on in the community. We learned that parents want to find healthy ways to communicate their values to each other without fear of retaliation or harm to their kids. We learned that 99% of parents surveyed think that we need a curfew in our community. We learned that 96% of our parents believe they have an influence on their child’s behavior, and 88% of the teens believe their parents are their biggest influence. We also learned that NOT ALL TEENS are drinking! There are many misconceptions. As parents and community members, we realize that we are NOT FOR SALE in Winchester. Our Values and our Trust in each other are NOT FOR SALE in our community. It is important to start talking with each other and with our children about what our values are, what trust feels like...and create dialogues (not monologues). Signs started popping up all over town in an effort to motivate our community's parents to begin (or continue) thinking (and talking) about our values, and how to be honest with each other as parents about our children. This kind of communication can prevent underage parties and the onset of drug and alcohol abuse. This campaign is attacking the unhealthy choices we see our kids making and promote the healthy activities some have been choosing. This “WGYB” group reconvened with parents this fall to find out how we could rally together to offer support to each other and to change the way our community and our teens perceive underage drinking. Parents wanted other parents to know : “WE’VE GOT YOUR BACK” we respect your values and sometimes we may not agree or "Even If we don’t share the same values, parents in Winchester want to feel that is okay to be honest with each other about what those values are". We want to hear from each other and support each other. One woman said “I didn’t know that other parents are worrying about how to be a step parent” Another said “It used to be easier to hide behind my screen and hope that no one knew what my teen is up to” So… parents, community, friends, organizations, schools, bus drivers, and TEENS, please know that WGYB …. WE'VE GOT YOUR BACK! This site is presently under construction so please be patient while information is being gathered. |
Angela Stebbins, RAD Spokesperson, and team leader of the WGYB RAD Racing Team announced Saturday September 17th as the date for the 3rd annual Monadnock Youth Fest and WGYB’s RAD day at the races from 9am-noon at the Monadnock Speedway, 840 Keene Road on Rt.10 in Winchester, N.H. Admission is FREE to the public with donations accepted to help WGYB continue their work and development in preventing youth substance use and abuse in the Monadnock region. All participants to the event will also be given FREE admission to the Super Saturday Championship races that night at Monadnock Speedway with the Big Wheels Race and Great School Bus Race that night too! Practice starts at noon and race time is 2pm so you can stay all day to play for FREE!  The WGYB RAD Racing Team is a newly formed network of volunteers dedicated to promoting a healthy, drug free lifestyle to our nation’s youth by creating a new youth race team for grades 5 and up. RAD Racing Team is a program of NCPRS (National Center for Prevention and Research Solutions) based out of Daytona Beach Florida. They provide the framework for motorsports professionals and enthusiasts to incorporate a drug free message into their racing interests, allowing them to serve their communities through advocacy. RAD Spokespersons are role models who educate, inform, and encourage youth to make responsible choices, set appropriate goals, and refrain from abusing drugs or alcohol as today’s safe, drug free youth are tomorrow’s leaders. The WGYB RAD Racing Team is encouraging everyone to come out and help support their efforts to keep our communities and our children safe and drug free all while enjoying a fun filled day at the racetrack! Come meet the first WGYB RAD racers, learn all about RAD Racing and what is happening in the Monadnock Region for youth substance abuse prevention and how you can get involved. There will be a RAD poster contest for elementary, middle and high school ages with prizes awarded that day, details and registration forms may be found online at www.RadRacingTeam.org. There will also be many other fun and free activities for all ages with plenty of FREE goodies and prizes to take home as well! Some activities and events will be bounce houses, face-painting, a meet & greet with Ribby from the Keene Swamp Bats, and pony rides for the younger participants, teens can enjoy music from local band ‘No Grounds,’ participate in a mud-bog tug-of-war, take the pit-stop tire changing challenge, and get RAD hair colors (temporary) or nail painting courtesy of The Keene Beauty Academy to name a few. RAD spokesperson, Miss Southeast NY and recording artist, Amanda Mason will be performing at the event and will be hosting a meet and greet discussion on why she chose to be a RAD racing spokesperson. WINK 98.7, the area’s live and local country station will also be broadcasting live from the event with some great local prizes to be given away. Food and beverages will be available for purchase at the speedway food concession stand and the Kona Ice truck will also be on site! Parents can expect a very educational day as well as some great family fun and entertainment with very little out of the pocket expense. WGYB stands for ‘We’ve Got Your Back’ and is a network of caring, concerned community parents, local businesses, and organizations trying to create an environment of support to reduce underage drinking and substance abuse and the effects on the community…For more information, or if you would like to join the WGYB group or learn how your business can become a part of this event, contact Angela Stebbins at 603-239-8390 or log on to www.wgybwinnh.com. |