usvi-on-line
such a wonderful person and organization
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stjohnrunner
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- Posts: 13
- Joined: Fri Dec 05, 2008 5:32 pm
- Location: St. John
Hello to all St, John Travelers!!
I am a member of Dean's Team here on St. John and am working with the group to better the lives of our youth. I sent our Governor a letter yesterday. He is aware of our program and me and Dean have spoken to him personally about having his office involved with our efforts. A copy of that letter is below.
Anyone traveling from the west coast who would be willing to take a few bags on the plane for us would be greatly appreciated, or if you know of any trucks going cross county to South Florida that we could add freight to, that would be of immense help . Thanx to all who are helping!!
http://usingsportforsocialchange.com/home Dean Doeling
stjohnrunner@gmail.com Luigi Costello
Good Day Governor,
I am writing to you today in regards to the recent 3 part series on the state of sports for our children that the Daily News ran last week. I am assured that you are as dismayed and disheartened as I am over the recent cancellations of these ever so important sporting programs for our youth. During the recent St. John Christmas celebration for the kids in the Cruz Bay Park that your office attends yearly, my 7 year old son delivered a letter for you through your wife expressing his concern for sporting activities on St. John. This was the same boy whom the year before wore his best shirt and tie for you when you personally came over and shook hands with all the kids. There is a video of that exchange with you and the children of St. John on You Tube. I site this example because we are at the crossroads with this issue and the younger a child gets involved in these sporting programs the better they will be able to adapt to the overall expectations of life.
During the last town hall meeting your office and you attended I spoke to you about our initiative here on St. John called "Using Sports for Social Change" and how this program, through a benefactor from Nike named Dean Doeling, is getting sporting equipment to the youth of St. John. Now more that ever Governor we need the help of your office and your stamp of approval on our project. I am asking you for a letter from your office that we can use to solicit other individuals and businesses in our effort to bring our initiative to a larger arena of participants and having the overall support of the community at large. Your office carries a lot of clout and a document from you will help us immensely. In addition we need help in facilitating the shipping of these free sporting good items to our island. If the government has any way of letting us add our freight onto a truck or semi leaving from the west coast that would be great. We also need to know how we can get these items here without having to pay duty and excise tax since they are not for profit and go directly to our youth.
Our little group is growing and we are planning events for the youth of St. John. I know you are a very busy man Governor, but a few minutes of your time to draft a letter, similar to the one you sent me thanking me for attending the town hall meeting would be well received.
In closing Sir I can look back on my own childhood, growing up in an impoverished area of South Philadelphia, and look back at some of the programs individuals and groups provided us and they were my saving grace as an inner city child. Our small group is trying to make a difference for the youth of St. John and your partnership is crucial to our success. I will send a hard copy of this letter to your office this week.
Thank you and Be Well
Luigi Costello
Cell: 340-344-5492
http://stjohnrunner.blogspot.com/
vioveg@mac.com
I am a member of Dean's Team here on St. John and am working with the group to better the lives of our youth. I sent our Governor a letter yesterday. He is aware of our program and me and Dean have spoken to him personally about having his office involved with our efforts. A copy of that letter is below.
Anyone traveling from the west coast who would be willing to take a few bags on the plane for us would be greatly appreciated, or if you know of any trucks going cross county to South Florida that we could add freight to, that would be of immense help . Thanx to all who are helping!!
http://usingsportforsocialchange.com/home Dean Doeling
stjohnrunner@gmail.com Luigi Costello
Good Day Governor,
I am writing to you today in regards to the recent 3 part series on the state of sports for our children that the Daily News ran last week. I am assured that you are as dismayed and disheartened as I am over the recent cancellations of these ever so important sporting programs for our youth. During the recent St. John Christmas celebration for the kids in the Cruz Bay Park that your office attends yearly, my 7 year old son delivered a letter for you through your wife expressing his concern for sporting activities on St. John. This was the same boy whom the year before wore his best shirt and tie for you when you personally came over and shook hands with all the kids. There is a video of that exchange with you and the children of St. John on You Tube. I site this example because we are at the crossroads with this issue and the younger a child gets involved in these sporting programs the better they will be able to adapt to the overall expectations of life.
During the last town hall meeting your office and you attended I spoke to you about our initiative here on St. John called "Using Sports for Social Change" and how this program, through a benefactor from Nike named Dean Doeling, is getting sporting equipment to the youth of St. John. Now more that ever Governor we need the help of your office and your stamp of approval on our project. I am asking you for a letter from your office that we can use to solicit other individuals and businesses in our effort to bring our initiative to a larger arena of participants and having the overall support of the community at large. Your office carries a lot of clout and a document from you will help us immensely. In addition we need help in facilitating the shipping of these free sporting good items to our island. If the government has any way of letting us add our freight onto a truck or semi leaving from the west coast that would be great. We also need to know how we can get these items here without having to pay duty and excise tax since they are not for profit and go directly to our youth.
Our little group is growing and we are planning events for the youth of St. John. I know you are a very busy man Governor, but a few minutes of your time to draft a letter, similar to the one you sent me thanking me for attending the town hall meeting would be well received.
In closing Sir I can look back on my own childhood, growing up in an impoverished area of South Philadelphia, and look back at some of the programs individuals and groups provided us and they were my saving grace as an inner city child. Our small group is trying to make a difference for the youth of St. John and your partnership is crucial to our success. I will send a hard copy of this letter to your office this week.
Thank you and Be Well
Luigi Costello
Cell: 340-344-5492
http://stjohnrunner.blogspot.com/
vioveg@mac.com
*****Update****
I have now updated my website to include a "DONATE TO SHIP PAGE". This page will let you select the product that you want to ship. Check it out!
www.usingsportforsocialchange.com
Of course, we will still accept a straight cash donation on the original donation page, as well as contacting us to donate time and/or talent to the "USFSC Island Team".
Either way, we want to hear from you!
I just had a person contact me through this forum. He said that he lives in Beaverton (where I live) and he is heading down with his family for another St. John trip. He asked if he could take some balls down with him! How cool is that?!
=)
Dean
www.usingsportforsocialchange.com
Of course, we will still accept a straight cash donation on the original donation page, as well as contacting us to donate time and/or talent to the "USFSC Island Team".
Either way, we want to hear from you!
I just had a person contact me through this forum. He said that he lives in Beaverton (where I live) and he is heading down with his family for another St. John trip. He asked if he could take some balls down with him! How cool is that?!
=)
Dean
Using Sport For Social Change