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July 2012 Teddy Bears Needed By Fran Miller
Serving the Lafayette Community
The heart-rending tug of a public service announcement heard over her car radio is what led Judy Miller to reach out and offer her volunteer services beyond the boundaries of Lafayette. It was 1998, and having faithfully given her time to the Lafayette schools from which her two children had graduated, she was now faced with a void that her vocation as an occupational therapist and avocation as an artist would not fill.
Junior Troop 30650 from St Perpetua School has earned the Girl Scout Bronze Award, the highest award a Junior Girl Scout can earn. Working toward this award demonstrates the Scout’s commitment to helping others, improving her community and the world and becoming the best she can be. The girls, who all begin sixth grade this fall, completed their project at Stanley Middle School when they hosted the Brownie and Daisy Songfest for all kindergarten through third grade Lafayette troops. The girls planned and organize the activity, learned and practiced the songs, and taught the younger girl scouts the songs. The girls also did a community outreach project where they worked with Judge Lois Haight of Superior Court of Contra Costa County by collecting new or slightly used stuffed animals. These stuffed animals were given to the children who have to appear in court providing comfort in a difficult time. Shown here are the girls of Troop 30650, including, Brennan, Katherine, Gabby, Alexis, Maddy, Meaghan, Mandalyn, Kristan, and Jaimie.
Ellsworth Selected for Leadership Award
Judy Miller's Teddy Bear Patrol helps to provide comfort to children in distress.
The provoking Public Service Announcement told the story of police officers who, throughout their rounds, provided the comfort of stuffed animals to traumatized children. It was a simple idea that seemingly yielded satisfying results. Miller thought to herself, “I can do that.” She gathered her friends, and with the cooperation of local police departments, formed “The Teddy Bear Patrol.” Her small committee raised funds, worked with local youth in helping to organize teddy bear fundraisers, and arranged donor events at venues such as a Golden State Warriors game. The Patrol members individually bagged the bears and provided them to the Oakland and Walnut Creek Police Departments, as well as to an ambulance company and a fire department, where they were gratefully accepted and utilized in situations where a child was upset or injured, such as a traffic accident or domestic abuse situation. The Teddy Bear Patrol was going strong until the traumatic events of September 11, 2001 diverted law enforcement to larger issues of national and foreign security. “Police Department focus changed dramatically as a result of 9/11,” says Miller. “There was no extra time or personnel for smaller community based efforts like The Teddy Bear Patrol. Due to police priorities, we went into hibernation.” Nearly a decade later, Miller received a call from Brenda Ivey, Neighborhood Watch Coordinator with the Oakland Police Department’s Police Activities League. “She asked if the program was still available, and if not, could I start it up again.” says Miller. “She said the Oakland Chief of Police, in his efforts to be more alert to the needs of his community, had personally asked to reinstate the program.”
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Erich Ellsworth has been selected as the first recipient of Lafayette Boy Scout Troop 243’s newly established John A. Coleman Leadership Award for outstanding leadership in the Troop and community. The award, named in honor of longtime Troop 243 Scoutmaster John Coleman, will recognize one Life or Eagle Scout annually for his character, leadership skills, service, awards, honors, achievements, employment experience, and academic record. Ellsworth has been a member of Troop 243 for six years, and he is on the trail to Eagle. He currently serves as President of the Troop’s Venture Crew, a Scouting program in which scouts pursue special interests, develop leadership skills, and become good citizens. “Erich is calm and patient with the younger boys in our Troop and is able to motivate the older scouts,” says Seth Moldoff, Troop 243’s Committee Erich Ellsworth Chair. “He leads by example and has demonstrated clear and consistent leadership skills over the years. “He Volume V I- Number 7 never has to be asked to step-up, and 3000F DANVILLE BLVD #117 ALAMO, CA 94507 he is consistent in his participation at Telephone (925) 405-6397 Troop events. As the first recipient of Fax (925) 406-0547 this award, he sets a great example for editor@yourmonthlypaper.com those who follow of what the award is Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher about.” The opinions expressed herein belong to the The Award’s namesake, John writers, and do not necessarily reflect that of Lafayette Today. Lafayette Today is not Coleman, earned his own Eagle Award responsible for the content of any of the ad-
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