Support the New Poway Veterans Park

The City of Poway is going to build a Veteran’s park on Midland Road and they need your help. On June 6, 2010, there is going to be a Motorcycle Benefit Ride to help raise money. As a Marine Corps veteran and Poway Citizen, I am donating 1 month of free martial arts training as a raffle prize (a $100 value). You can participate in several ways: riding in the benefit or donating directly. Donating $25 gets you a raffle ticket and ride entry and $1 more enters you in the poker hand for the Bike run.

Ride Details:

1. Ride will take place on Sunday, 6 June 2010.
2. Event will start and end at Poway VFW Post 7907 (12342 Old Pomerado Road Poway, CA 92064)
3. Registration begins at 0830 and ends at 0925.
4. Riders depart at 0945.
5. Ride will make stops at: Moreland Choppers, Vista VFW Post 7041, Escondido Cycle Center, Ramona VFW Post 3783, Poway Veterans Park Future Location
6. Ride completed no later than 1300.
7. Prize awarded for best hand and raffle conducted at end of ride.

It is a poker run. People start at the Poway VFW and then at each stop, they draw a playing card which is recorded on their “poker hand card.” At the end of the run they will have drawn enough cards for a poker hand and the best hand wins the “pot”. At the end of the run, back at the Poway VW, there will be free hot dogs and hamburgers, music, and the raffle prizes are given away (along with awarding the poker hand pot).

To Sign Up for the Motorcycle Ride:
Ride Point of Contact is Joe “Gunner” Vaineharrison at: vaineharrison@aol.com 858-722-9206
To participate in the Motorcycle Ride, email Joe for the entry form.

To Send a Check:
Make checks payable to “City of Poway” (write “Veteran’s Park” in memo). Donation is tax deductable. The receipt will come directly from the City of Poway.
If you cannot attend on June 6th, please mail your donation to:
Joe Vaineharrison
12247 Buckskin Trail
Poway, Ca 92064

See you in the dojo.
Tony Whetstine (The Bushido Guy)
Poway Samurai Martial Arts

I’m excited to be speaking at the Mira Mar Rotary club this Thursday about how to reach At Risk Youths. Every year the number of kids who become “at risk” for getting involved in gangs increases. Especially in these tough economic times, parents are working as much as possible and unfortunately away from home for longer periods of time than ever before. Many parents cannot afford after school programs for their kids and some kids who do attend them, are not getting the attention and mental stimulation they need to stay out of trouble.

A traditional martial arts program can help kids of all ages stay out of risk and out of trouble. One of the main reasons it works is due to the focus on self-improvement. This leads to higher self-esteem and when you feel good about yourself, you are not looking for ways to act out for negative attention. Martial arts classes motivate kids to work hard and improve themselves, day by day. An ethical instructor provides a strong role model so the children learn important life lessons. When kids don’t have a role model to learn from, they try to learn right from wrong from their peers which doesn’t work. This can lead to gang situations and lots of trouble for society.

In a good traditional martial arts program like the one we teach at Poway Samurai Martial Arts, everyone participates and supports each other. Unlike many sports activities, there are no teams. Everyone learns together and excels together but each in their own way. Kids can even help each other learn as the older ones can become role models for the younger ones. All the students learn positive life skills and values to help them succeed in whatever they choose to do in life.

I will be emphasizing this information to the Mira Mar Rotary club tomorrow because it really is a simple matter of “Pay Now” by sponsoring kids to take martial arts classes and save them while there is still time or “Pay A Lot More Later” as their actions cause society to suffer with crime and violence. If you have a group interested in learning more about how to support “At Risk Youth Programs” or, if you know of an organization ready to provide a sponsorship for kids now, please contact me at #858-486-0059.

Thank you!
Tony Whetstine (The Bushido Guy)

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Tony Whetstine and Daisy Scout Troop 8633

Tony Whetstine, Owner and Instructor at Poway Samurai Martial Arts was pleased to donate his time recently to Daisy Scout Troop 8633, to teach them about Courage and Strength, which was their learning topic for that week.

“We covered how to be physically strong as well as have a strong character,” Says Tony Whetstine. “It’s important they learn to stand up for themselves and others by physically demonstrating and saying “no” if they feel endangered and also learning how to safely ask for help from parents and teachers, when they or others need it.”

Girl Scout Daisies meet in groups of 5 to 10 with two or more adult leaders in a nurturing, inclusive environment. They go on trips, learn about nature and science, and explore the arts and their communities. This week they were learning about Courage and Strength and the troop leader called Poway Samurai Martial Arts to ask if they could help teach those topics to the group.

“ I am always happy to volunteer my time in the community”, says Tony, “and I also encourage my students to do the same. I enjoy speaking and demonstrating safety techniques to groups of all ages, from Girl Scouts to Elementary and Middle Schools as well as Women’s Organizations and Senior Centers.” To schedule Tony to volunteer his time for your organization, please call #858-486-0059

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