The Watchful Eye Foundation

SEX OFFENDERS PREDATORS PARKS

noreply@blogger.com (Watchful Eye Foundation) — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 21:54:00 +0000

Which of These Words Don't Belong?

Sex Offenders, Predators, Parks.....

Here is a letter that was sent to the Senators on the Nebraska Judiciary Committee just a few days ago when it was discovered that they had felt it best to wait a year or so on a law labled LB265 which was introduced by Senator Robert Giese.

I would like to ask all of you to review the Committee's link - review the blogs and articles that each Senator writes and then please send them a letter in support of the bill LB265

Here is the letter that I wrote on behalf of the Watchful Eye Foundation:

WHICH OF THESE WORDS DON'T BELONG TOGETHER:
SEX PREDATORS CHILDREN PARKS

This letter is in regards to the proposed bill LB265 by Senator Robert Giese.

I understand that there was some hesitance in regards to pushing this through and viewed as a "what will be next issue" ......I would think that as voices for the citizens in Nebraska it would be best to view this as " What Else Can We Do"....

Not only in the State of Nebraska but worldwide we have suffered as communities in the lack of protection laws that are necessary to protect the most innocent species on earth - our Nations children.

To hold off on such a pertinent bill is simply not something that I nor others throughout Nebraska feel is acceptable....especially when it is a bill that protects a place that vulnerable children go to run and play and to just be innocent children. That is what I think when hear the word park. I do not think about sexual predators.But they are there camping and sitting on park benches next to the playground equipment or by the pool, seeking out their next victim. By holding off on this bill we are putting children at stake. When municipals spend so much funding on parks it is to attract the families and children - not sexual predators who are stalking their next victim.

As Senators representing the people who requested you to be their voice, to make the proper choices for our districts this responsibility has been given to you by those that trusted you enough to vote you into office. We the people, who you represent, are asking that you act upon this in a positive and timely manner so as to ensure Nebraskans that not only as their Senator's but as their voices, you will do whatever it takes to protect our children.

To sit back and do nothing is just wrong. All of you have children in your lives. If your child were at the park and was approached by a sex predator and pulled behind a group of trees and severely raped - you as parents, would be devastated.....now imagine that child and what they will be feeling....and the memory that has been forced upon them for the rest of their lives......all because it was thought best to hold off on a law that could have prevented sex predators from going into parks.

We have no choice Senators....we must be vigilant in the protection of our children. If we cannot count on you to help us with this we will feel as if you have let us down. Not only those who voted you into office but the children who you all state are your major priority.

Agreeing to the protection of children in any form does not in any way shape or form portray you as a soft sided Senator....it in fact portrays you as not only an individual who cares but also as a Senator who keeps their word about protecting the most vulnerable members of our society. Our children.

As Founder of the Watchful Eye Foundation it has been one of my goals to pursue changes in the sex offender laws. Nebraska has had numerous sex offender crimes and murders involving children. To be vigilant in improving our laws in Nebraska is not something that the voters will call you soft on.

Most people don't think about sex offenders being in parks a problem - however they are. In South Sioux City we had that very problem when registered sex offenders/predators were "camping" in Scenic Park and approached the swimming pool which is in the park, and began to flash their private parts to small children.

The people in Dakota County are on edge in particular when mentioning the words "sex offenders" as we had a 3 year child raped and sodomized and murdered by a man who came through her bedroom window last year. People are on edge. The quickest way to shut down a park is to allow it to sit empty and unused. That will happen I am afraid not only here in Dakota County but throughout Nebraska unless action is taken.

In Dakota County as well there has been an influx of offenders coming over across the bridge from Iowa. Out of 35 sex predators in South Sioux City, all but 6 are from Iowa. And that has been just since the new law went into effect January 1, 2010. Thirty five may seem like a small number however considering that all but one are classified as sexual predators, its a problem and a very frightening one at that.

If you look at Senator Giese's proposed bill LB265 as one that is to protect children, not one that is against predators then maybe that will convince you. I have faith in all of you that you will review this bill and move forward with it instead of pushing it back for another year. For the sake of our children in the state of Nebraska please act on this in a timely manner.

Sincerely,

Susie Squires M.
Founder
Watchful Eye Foundation

Here are the NEBRASKA Senators email addresses so that you may send your own letters.

mchristensen@leg.ne.gov

slautenbaugh@leg.ne.gov

Phone: (402) 471-2622Address: Room 1103, State Capitol, Lincoln NE 68509

Writers Wanted

noreply@blogger.com (Watchful Eye Foundation) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 10:10:00 +0000

Writers Wanted!

Seeking writers for articles that can be posted on this blog as well as Twitter & Facebook & Myspace accounts which are already in existence.

This is a non paying position - volunteers.

Full credit will be given to the writers with a bio on each writer as well.

Contact us today at

contact@watchfuleyeusa.com

or by phone at

(402) 412-3EYE or 412-3393

UPDATE ON SALVIA Nebraska LB123

noreply@blogger.com (Watchful Eye Foundation) — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 22:26:00 +0000

NEBRASKA - Nebraska has stepped up to the plate and successfully BANNED Salvia!!!

LEGISLATURE OF NEBRASKA

ONE HUNDRED FIRST LEGISLATURE

FIRST SESSION

LEGISLATIVE BILL 123

FINAL READING

Introduced by Karpisek, 32; Christensen, 44; Coash, 27; Dubas,34; Friend, 10; McGill, 26; Pirsch, 4; Rogert, 16;Wallman, 30; Giese, 17.

Read first time January 09, 2009

Committee:Judiciary

A BILL

Click on the link below to go straight to the PDF file
http://uniweb.legislature.ne.gov/FloorDocs/Current/PDF/Final/LB123.pdf

Salvia Divinorum - LEGAL?

noreply@blogger.com (Watchful Eye Foundation) — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 12:19:00 +0000

BAN SALVIA NOW!!!
When I first discovered Salvia it was because some teenagers had told me that it was the "legal high" that was pretty popular. I started to investigate this and was really shocked at what I learned. My goal here is to not only inform you - our readers - but to ask you to help us in getting this banned not only in the United States but world wide.
Two hits of Salvia and your'e high!
It is my understanding that Salvia is possibly more dangerous than marijuana and just as potent as LSD which is a hallucinogenic and very, very dangerous as well as habit forming.
Though I have not discovered anywhere that Salvia is said to be addictive, I believe it won't be too long before there is a very serious problem with this.

For those of you who may not be familar with Salvia - you can smoke it, drink it, chew it, just about any form of digesting it will bring about the immediate hallucinogenic high.

BAN IT!
What is really amazing to me is that the issue of banning this is being tackled in the United States as state by state. For a country that is so focused on safety and protecting our children, I found it quite surprising that the Salvia was being allowed to be brought into the United States period.
Some questions that need to be raised for the United States are:

Why does it need to be banned state by state? Why can't we focus on banning it by the country?

Why do we need to wait for a disasterous event prior to banning this hallucinogenic from any single state - let alone country?

Here is a list of the countries and states that have banned Salvia.
Australia
As of June 1, 2002, Australia became the first country to ban Salvia and salvinorin. According to the Australian Drugs and Poisons Committee, salvia had not yet shown evidence of damage or threat to public health/safety but had potential to be abused. In a statement which has been criticized as self-negating the committee said, "there was no evidence of traditional therapeutic use other than in shamanistic healing rituals".
Croatia
Salvia divinorum was banned in Croatia in April 2008 by addition to the official list of illegal substances and plants.
Denmark
With effect from August 23, 2003, Salvia divinorum and salvinorin A were classed as 'category B' drugs in Danish law. Category B includes psilocybin mushrooms, cocaine, amphetamine, and several others substances that are only legal for medicinal and scientific purposes. Possession carries a penalty of up to 2 years in prison.
Finland
Finland passed legislation in August 2002 making it illegal to import Salvia divinorum without a prescription from a doctor.
Germany
Salvia divinorum was effectively banned in Germany in February 2008 by addition to the official list of illegal substances.
Sweden
Salvia divinorum and salvinorin A were added to Sweden's list of controlled substances with effect from April 1, 2006.
Spain
The sale of Salvia divinorum has been illegal since February 6, 2004. The law only prohibits commerce. It does not make possession or use a crime.
Italy
In August 2004, the Italian government decreed salvinorin A "a substance with hallucinogenic properties that may cause conditions of abuse and can manifest latent psychiatric pathologies like acute psychosis and depressive psychosis even in an irreversible way" and put it and the plant Salvia divinorum on their ‘table I’ of outlawed psychotropic substances in March 2005. The Italian government referred to an evaluation of Salvia made by the Italian National Health Institute, assessing it as "a powerful natural hallucinogen" to justify their decision. Cultivation of the plant or the possession of more than 0.5 mg of Salvinorin A carries a penalty from 6 to 20 years in prison.
HERE IS WHERE THE ISSUE STANDS IN THE UNITED STATES:

ALABAMA
SB330
27-Mar-2007
Schedule I
not passed / died
Sen. Hank Erwin
18-Oct-2007
not passed / died
Sen. Roger Bedford & Rep. Johnny Mack Morrow
ALASKA
SB313
05-Apr-2006
Schedule IIA
not passed / died
Sen. Gene Therriault
SB38
16-Jan-2007
not passed / died
CALIFORNIA
AB259
05-Feb-2007
prohibit sale to minors
Passed - 22-Jul-2008
Assembly Member Anthony Adams
Proposed bill wording amended from original Schedule I prohibition to only prohibit sale to minors instead. - Passed. Comes into effect 01-Jan-2009.
Delaware
SB259
16-Mar-2006
Schedule I
Passed - 02-May-2006
Sen. Karen Peterson
aka Brett's Law
Florida
SB340, SB1612 & HB1363
7-Feb-2008
Schedule I
Passed - 29-May-2008
Sen. Evelyn J. Lynn & Rep. Mary Brandenburg
Possession felony for up to 5 years in prison. Effective July 1, 2008
GEORGIA
SB295
8-Mar-2007
'misdemeanor'
proposed House - passed Senate (moved to House Judiciary Non-Civil committee; may be discussed again in 2008 session)
Sen. John Bulloch
n/a possession, cultivation, harvesting ... for aesthetic, landscaping, or decorative purposes. Also exempts research at Georgia universities and use of Salvinorin A as a legal homeopathic.
KANSAS
SB481
28-Jan-2008
Schedule I
Passed - 24-April-2008
Sen. Peggy Mast
incl. any extract from any part, and every compound, manufacture, derivative, mixture or preparation of such plant, its seeds or extracts
ILLINOIS
SB2589
19-Jan-2006
Schedule I
not passed / sine die
Sen. John J. Millner
HB457
26-Jan-2007
Passed - 18-Aug-2007
Rep. Dennis M. Reboletti
Salvinorin A not mentioned, but bill wording incl. "any extract" from plant. Took effect January 1, 2008.
INDIANA
T.B.A
13-Jan-2008
Schedule I
proposed
Rep. Suzanne Crouch
T.B.A
IOWA
HSB133 SSB1051
18-Jan-2007
Schedule I
proposed
Governor's Office of Drug Control Policy
LOUISIANA
HB20
25-Feb-2005
Schedule I
Passed - 15-Aug-2005
Rep. Michael G. Strain
First State to ban Sd.
MAINE
LD66
Dec-2006
prohibit sale to minors
Passed - 15-May-2007
Rep. Chris Barstow
Amended - originally proposed 'Schedule Z' classification
MARYLAND
Bill Nos. 08-0032 & 08-0006R
28-Jan-2007
prohibit the sale, possession, and use
not passed / died
Councilwoman Belinda Conaway
MASSACHUSETTS
4434
16-May-2007
class C
in committee
Rep. Viriato Manuel DeMarcedo and Rep. Daniel K. Webster
MICHIGAN
HB5700
12-Feb-2008
Schedule I
Passed House
Rep. Micheal Sak
MINNESOTA
HF2949
14-Feb-2008
Schedule IV
not passed / died
Rep. Joe Atkins
SB2668
not passed / died
Sen. Steve Murphy
MISSISSIPPI
SB2456
29-Jan-2008
Schedule I
Passed - 01-Jul-2008
Sen.Hob Bryan
MISSOURI
HB165
05-Jan-2005
Schedule I
not passed / died
Rep. Rachel L. Bringer
HB633
23-Feb-2005
Passed - 28-Aug-2005
Rep Scott A. Lipkeand Rep. Rachel L. Bringer
NEBRASKA
LB840
10-Jan-2008
Schedule I
not passed / sine die
Attorney General Jon Bruning & Senator Vickie McDonald
NEW JERSEY
AB3139
06-Apr-2006
Schedule I
proposed
Assemblywoman Linda Stender
SB1867
15-May-2006
Schedule I
proposed
Sen. Stephen Sweeney
NEW YORK
S695
18-Apr-2005
prohibit sale
being considered by the State Assembly
Sen. John J. Flanagan
fine of no more than $500 per violation
A8920
5-Jun-2007
prohibit possession
proposed
Assemblyman Carl Heastie
fine of no more than $50 per violation
S07736
18-Mar-2008
Schedule I
proposed
no sponsor listed
Possession- Class B Misdemeanor. Sale- Class A Misdemeanor
NORTH DAKOTA
SB2317
15-Jan-2007
Schedule I
Passed - 01-Aug-2007
Sen. Dave Oehlke, Sen. Randell Christmann et al.
bill refers to salvinorin A and "any of the active ingredients" of Salvia divinorum
OHIO
HB215
May-2007
Schedule I
passed House unanimously, now in Senate
Rep. Thom Collier
OKLAHOMA
HB2485
06-Mar-2006
prohibit extracts
Passed - 26-May-2006
Rep. John Nance
enhanced, concentrated, and chemically or physically altered
HB3148
23-May-2008
Schedule I
Passed - 23-May-2008
Rep. David Derby and Sen. Jonathan Nichols
applies to all forms of Salvia divinorum - law comes into effect 01-Nov-2008
OREGON
SB592
22-Feb-2003
Schedule I
not passed / died
Sen. Richard Devlin and Sen. Ryan Deckert
HB3485
15-Mar-2003
not passed / died
Rep. Billy Dalto
HB2494
25-Jan-2007
not passed / died
Rep. John Lim
PENNSYLVANIA
HB2657
02-May-2006
Schedule I
not passed / died
Rep. James Casorio et al.
SB1217
16-Jun-2006
not passed / died
Sen. Lisa Boscola et al.
SB710
29-Mar-2007
proposed
Sen. Lisa Boscola et al.
HB1379
29-May-2007
proposed
Rep. Beyer et al.
HB1547
18-Jun-2007
proposed
Rep. James Casorio et al.
SOUTH CAROLINA
H4687
13-Feb-2008
Schedule I
Passed House
Rep. Huggins
TENNESSEE
SB3247 /HB2909/TCA 39-17-452
15-Feb-2006
Class A misdemeanor
Passed - 01-Jul-2006
Rep. Park M. Strader, Sen. Tim Burchett
not an offense to possess, plant, cultivate, grow, or
harvest Sd for aesthetic, landscaping, or decorative purposes
TEXAS
HB2347
02-Mar-2007
Penalty Group 2
not passed / died
Rep. Charles "Doc" Anderson
Penalty Group 2 of the Texas Controlled Substances Act
HB3784
09-Mar-2007
Penalty Group 3
Rep. Tan Parker
Penalty Group 3 of the Texas Controlled Substances Act
SB1796
prohibit sale to minors
Sen. Craig Estes
proposed concurrently to HB2347 and HB3784 above
UTAH
HB190
18-Jan-2007
Schedule I
not passed / died
Rep. Paul Ray
HB260
09-Jan-2008
proposed
Yes
VIRGINIA
HB2844
10-Jan-2007
Schedule I
not passed / died
Delegate John M. O'Bannon, III
only
Any material, compound, mixture, or preparation, which contains any quantity of Salvinorin A (another name: Divinorin A). - The plant Salvia divinorum was not mentioned
HB21
29-Nov-2007
Passed - 02-March-2008 to take effect 01-July-2008
only
originally referred to salvinorum, but committee corrected to salvinorin, Salvia divinorum plant not Schedule I listed
WISCONSIN
AB477
07-Aug-2007
fine not to exceed $10,000
proposed
Rep. Sheldon Wasserman et al.
only
prohibits manufacturing, distributing, or delivering salvinorin A with the intent that it be consumed by a person
WYOMING
HB49
13-Feb-2006
Schedule I
not passed / died
Rep. Stephen Watt

Here is what the DEA has listed on their site:
The DEA website is reviewing Salvia divinorum and is evaluating the plant for possible scheduling. Daniel Siebert claims he was informed on July 20, 2007, that the DEA had initiated an Eight Factor Analysis of Salvia divinorum. The Controlled Substances Act requires that this analysis be performed before a substance can be scheduled as a controlled substance. The eight factors considered are:
Actual and potential for abuse
Pharmacology
Other current scientific knowledge
History and current pattern of abuse
Scope, duration, and significance of abuse
Public health risk
Psychic or physiological dependence liability
If an immediate precursor of a controlled substance
Based on the results of the analysis, the DEA may recommend that Salvia divinorum be scheduled as a controlled substance. This analysis will probably take several months to be completed.

NOW IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT IT IS THAT YOU CAN DO - SCROLL BACK UP TO THE NAMES LISTED UNDER THE UNITED STATES AND LOOK AT THE NAMES THAT HAVE ASSISTED WITH TRYING TO PUSH THIS THROUGH TO BAN THIS.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEND EITHER OUR OFFICE A LETTER THAT WE CAN FORWARD ON FOR YOU, OR GOOGLE THEIR NAMES FOR THEIR INDIVIDUAL CONTACT INFO I URGE YOU TO PLEASE DO SO.

This is something that is affecting our youth. It is at this time a legal hallucegenic that kids are able to buy.

We have been successful in the past by taking on the Hershey Company for the insane marketing that they have done in the past in regards to a candy that was pulled from the shelf called "PACS".

I believe that we can be successful in this as well. Together!

Remember - your state representatives, congressman, etc - are electted officials who work for you. Let them know that you want them to persue banning Salvia in your state as well.
If you have any questions feel free to contact us at watchfuleye@cableone.net.

PLEASE BAN SALVIA - DO NOT SPEND ANYMORE DOLLARS AT ANY OF THE BUSINESSES THAT ARE SELLING THIS PRODUCT!!!

If you would like to see for yourself what the effects are of Salvia click on this link to You Tube -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuM2oREjE6Y&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1yVHioM_fM&feature=related

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT OUR SITE AT http://www.watchfuleyefoundation.org/ OR http://www.wefusa.com/

Sexual Predators

noreply@blogger.com (Watchful Eye Foundation) — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 00:42:00 +0000

PROTECT OUR CHILDREN ACT 1738

noreply@blogger.com (Watchful Eye Foundation) — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 15:15:00 +0000

Help Pass the PROTECT Our Children Act 1738

The September 15th episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show was dedicated to the “PROTECT Our Children Act”, referring to U.S. Senate Bill 1738 targeting online child predators, according to an official release from Chicago’s Harpo Productions.

Please help bring AWARENESS to this important issue!

During the show, Oprah and her guests detailed the “extent and pervasiveness of child pornography trafficking in America,” and Winfrey has asked viewers to contact their senators about U.S. Senate Bill 1738, the Protect Our Children Act. It doesn’t matter what your political position is with the upcoming election, whether you are Republican, Democrat, Independent etc. This is a bipartisan effort to help protect children across the United States.

The map behind Oprah shows how quickly one single pornographic image of a child being molested can spread across the United States from coast to coast within 24 hours, starting with the large red dot from a computer in Washington, D.C. “This is just an average day in America—24 hours.” Oprah says, “For once, you and I can do something about it!”

“What you are going to see is going to shock you to the core, but I’m asking you to please don’t turn away, because this is happening in our country to our children in the United States every day”, Oprah said.

One particularly disturbing new trend involves predators engaging in live video chats that include on-demand child molestation and rape, which has caught the attention of the cybercrimes division of the Department of Homeland Security, which combats child exploitation.

Agent Claude Davenport says, “They will get together, discuss activities that they would like to see performed and actually perform it on their own children.” Davenport continues saying, “We’ve had cases where infants have been molested on live feed. When the violators are caught, their reason for using such a young child is because the child can’t articulate the violation that they’ve received.”

Authorities have discovered How-To videos and manuals created by pedophiles with instructions on how to molest and rape children, some just months old (including one case of a baby with the stub of an umbilical cord still attached being raped) and how to get away with the crime of molesting and raping children. Well-known cartoon characters are being used in videos to desensitize the children in order to rape or molest them.

Flint Waters, father of two and commander of the Wyoming Internet Sex Crimes Against Children Task Force, developed a revolutionary and historic software program that runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, pinpointing and tracking computers trading pornographic images and videos of children in order to catch child predators. There is a serious problem of man-power, not enough money to put more “boots on the ground” to catch these predators.

Camille Cooper, who works with PROTECT, a group working to pass better laws to build protection for children, says Senate Bill 1738 is going before the Senate this month. Camille stresses that it is important to contact your senators immediately and put pressure on the Senate before Congress recesses on September 26th.

The PROTECT Our Children Act has already passed the U.S. House but it must pass in the Senate before sexually abused children can be rescued and pedophiles caught and put away.

Please help protect children, from infants to toddlers to teenagers from these predators. Please take a few moments and read more about the PROTECT Our Children Act on Oprah.com, and then follow her links to send a made-for-you letter that you may send to your local senators. Click here to go directly to the link http://www.oprah.com/slideshow/oprahshow/20080911_tows_predators/1

Remember, the Senate recesses on September 26th, so don’t wait a moment longer. If you are so inclined, please forward this onto others so they too can help pass the PROTECT Our Children Act, Senate Bill 1738.

I urge you to PLEASE help save the children from the horrors of sexual abuse. YOU CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!!!

Here is a link to locate where you can contact YOUR senator from YOUR state. Please flood the phone lines, send emails, write letters, contact your local news media - tv, radio and newspapers, and do whatever it takes to INSIST that this be passed. Put the pressure on to get this passed. These are YOUR elected officials who are YOUR VOICE.....let it be heard for the sake of the children.

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Then once you are finished reading this article, please take the time to pass it onto everyone you know. Please.

For further information on the PROTECT OUR CHILDREN ACT SENATE BILL 1738 please feel free to contact the Watchful Eye Foundation at 402/412-3393 - U.S.A. phone line or email us at watchfuleye@cableone.net.

Attorney General Bruning to Attend ceremony

noreply@blogger.com (Watchful Eye Foundation) — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 05:09:00 +0000

Is MY Son or Daughter in a Gang???

noreply@blogger.com (Watchful Eye Foundation) — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 14:50:00 +0000

Is It Obvious My Son or Daughter Is In A Gang???

As you can see from the picture, this is a pretty CLEAR warning sign that your son or daughter is in a gang.

It is however NOT ALWAYS that clear.

In this series of Gang Issues, you will learn EXACTLY what you need to look for. You will also learn what to do if you discover that your teen is involved in a gang.

THINGS TO LOOK FOR

Wearing a lot of one specific color or a combination of colors, such as blue and grey, black and yellow, etc.

Tilting hats to the side, wearing bandanna's - again the bandanna's will be in the same colors as the clothing.

Gang graffiti on notebooks, personal belongings

Defensiveness about how they spend their time, and who they spend it with

Alienating themselves from family, school, church involvement

Doing poorly in school - including skipping school
Three dots :. on their body parts such as hands, in between the fingers, ankles, hairlines, also on their Face book or My Space pages

Insisting on buying clothing or hats with crowns, pitchforks, the number 13, 18, 14,7

Breaking the curfew law

Fighting

Drugs or drug paraphernalia such as pipes, smoking papers, cigars

Signs of using drugs such as red eyes, dilated pupils

Using Roman numerals

Suddenly being called by a "different" name by their friends

Coming home "beat up" and not admitting to being in a fight
Suddenly wearing rosaries or crucifixes as a fashion statement

These things listed above are just a few of the signs that parents need to watch out for.

Most gang members range from 13 to 35 years of age. Some gang members start as young as 9 years old. It is not just boys. Girls are very active in the gangs as well. The members that are 15 to 18 appear to be the most violent. This is the period of time when new members are trying to prove themselves to the older gang members and raise their status in the group.

GANG ASSESSMENT TOOL

Is there graffiti in or near your neighborhood? Yes = 5 points
Is the graffiti crossed out? Yes = 10 points
Do the young people in your community wear alike clothing colors, jewelry, flash hand signs, or display other behaviors that may be gang related? Yes= 10 points
Are you aware if illegal drugs are available in your neighborhood? Yes = 10 points
Was there an increase in the number of physical confrontations within the past 12 months in your neighborhood? Yes = 5 points
Is there an increasing presence of weapons in your community? Yes =5 points
Has there been a "drive by" shooting in your community? Yes = 15 points
Have you had a "show by" display of weapons in your community? Yes = 10 points
Is the truancy rate and/or burglaries in your community increasing? Yes = 5 points
Have you noticed graffiti in your neighborhood? Yes = 15 points
Have you noticed graffiti crossed out in your neighborhood? 15 points
Is there a history of gangs in your community? Yes = 15 points
Are you seeing a presence of informal social groups with unusual names such as crew, king, disciples, queen? Yes = 15 points
Have you noticed large traffic of young people at one house in your neighborhood? Yes = 10 points

ADD UP YOUR SCORE:

0-20 POINTS = NO PROBLEM

25-45 POINTS = EMERGING PROBLEM

50-65 POINTS = YOU HAVE PROBLEMS

70+ POINTS = THERE ARE SERIOUS PROBLEMS

AT 50+ POINTS A NEED EXISTS TO DEVELOP A GANG PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION PROGRAM.

If you have questions or are concerned about gang activity either in your family or in your neighborhood, please do not hesitate to contact the Watchful Eye Foundation. Your calls are completely confidential. We speak English and Spanish both.

402/412-3393

The Watchful Eye Foundation is a non profit working to ensure that our community is safe for everyone to live a healthy and happy life.

Next: YOUR TEEN AND MYSPACE!!!! WHAT YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW....

Gangster for Life - typical "OG"

noreply@blogger.com (Watchful Eye Foundation) — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 14:08:00 +0000

When he was born into this world it was the same as most - something happened along the rode of life, probably when he was about 10 years old.

He decided he wanted to be tough, cool and respected. He wanted to belong to a group that was just that - his so called "idols".....

He decided to join and become a gangster. After all, in the movies the gangsters are the ones that have all the girls, all the money, fancy cars, fancy homes etc.....he saw it as the easy way to get what he wanted in life.

By the time he was 24 years old, he was considered a typical "OG" - meaning "Original Gangster".....

Gangsters refer to themselves in this manner because along the way as they themselves get older, they continue to recruit those little 9 and 10 year old kids who look up to the older gangsters. Of course they do. What kid would not want the attention given from an older person who they think is the ultimate in cool.
So the "OG's" then as they are referred to become their mentors.

These "OG's" will then get the younger kids to go out and steal, sell drugs etc. because if the kids get busted for doing this - they just get sent to juvenile detention or put on probation. If the adults get caught they go to prison.

These "OG's" are good at what they do - there is no denying that. They get these boys who are sometimes right at puberty, entice them to drink, get them high, give them a girl to have sex with for the first time - and with all of that they then have these kids won over.
They convince the kids that they are the greatest love the kid will ever have. They will go along with them and tell them - "ya, your mom and dad dont want ya" or " man, they are too hard on you, come live with me" and etc.

Before you know it - your little boy or girl is suddenly a totally different person. They are begging for tattoo's, they dress differently, they never are where they say they are, they act very defiant and they show you zero respect.

Before you know it your little boy or girl is on the road to the ganglife going about 150 miles per hour.
What can you do as a parent? Get involved in your kids life. Don't worry about being their friend. You did not give birth to a friend. You cant be their friend. It just wont work.

When your son or daughter wants to go somewhere, ask them where they are going, who they are going with, what time will they arrive,what time will they leave and what time will they be home. If they can answer all those questions then ask one more - and what will you be doing while you are there?

If your son or daughter wants you to buy pants that are so big that two of your kids could fit in them together, tell them no. If they do not like what you help them to pick out then tell them to get a job so that they can spend their money on what they would like. If they get a job, 1. they will stay out of trouble, 2. they will see how much the things they want really cost when they start spending their own money.

Having a teenager or a pre- teenager is no different than watching over a two year old. You must watch them, love them, and pay attention to them. Listen to the type of music they are listening to. Watch the video games they are playing. Ask to see their MySpace page or Facebook. You might have a few surprises.

I have personally gotten to know some of the toughest teens who were involved in gangs. I listen to them - really listen.....the one thing that they all say is "my mom or dad is cool, they dont care".....
Parents, scroll back up to the picture - look at it really good....you need to care. It doesnt cost you a thing.

NEXT BLOG WILL TELL YOU ABOUT THE GIRLS IN THE GANGS

CHILD INTERNET PORN....

noreply@blogger.com (Watchful Eye Foundation) — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 15:39:00 +0000

CHILD INTERNET PORN....

The prelude to actual molestation of a child

Child pornography is a crime. It is plain and simple.

Who in the world in their right mind would consider looking at a small child naked and consider it sexy? There are those people that believe that it is just a "harmless crime".....

Child porn viewers are anything but harmless. If you are looking you are obviously wishing it would become your reality. For those of you who think " oh, all he or she was doing was looking - nothing bad happened"......COULD YOU DO ME A FAVOR AND WAKE UP PLEASE?

If you are shopping - you look at various things that maybe you will or will not buy. If you are looking at CHILD PORN you are shopping.

For the spouses who have a spouse that has committed this crime - I am sorry, no matter how much you want to stand by your mate and insist to yourself and the world that this is not a crime and that your spouse should not be on any sex offender registry - YOU NEED TO STOP LYING TO YOURSELF AND THE WORLD.

LOOKING AT 5 and 6 year old little girls being forced to have their pictures taken while they are being molested - THAT IS A CRIME!!!!

If you have children and are living with a person that has been known to view child pornography, I would suggest that you take your child to be examined or at least speak to a counselor.

Child molesters and child porn viewers are in the same field. The only difference between the two is that one has watched and wishes he could and the other one just moves right in for the kill.

People ask me often, why does a person want to look at child porn? It is because they have the urge to touch a child. It is pretty plain and simple.

Does child porn really damage a person? You better believe it. An entire family is torn apart when there has been a charge of sexual abuse.....including child internet porn.

I feel sorry for the families that have been forced to be caught in the devious behaviour of a child porn viewer. My advice to you? Get some counseling and really and truly re-think your life.

People often write me and tell me that they are in support of a convicted sex offender and that the person has "found God" and has changed. That is great is what I answer back; however, while this offender is on his quest for heaven, the victim is living in sheer hell....more than likely for the rest of his or her life.

I think that it is wonderful that you are being supportive to the offender. Just keep in mind that the reason that he or she is an offender is because there was a victim.

The term pedophile refers to an adult who is sexually attracted to children, whether or not the adult acts upon that attraction by sexually abusing a child.

There is no known treatment or cure for pedophilia, however there are therapies that can reduce the incidence of pedophilic behaviors that result in child sexual abuse. Viewing Child Porn is pedophilic behavior. A person convicted of this should be charged and held accountable for this crime the same as all other sex offenders.

Viewing child pornography is common amongst child predators. Often times a predator is a very likeable person. Keep in mind they are someone that children as well as adults are drawn to by their winning personalities. This is one of their common traits.....a winning personality.

If you know or suspect someone of viewing child porn I urge you to do the right thing - contact law enforcement in your area immediately. If you do not feel comfortable in doing this, please feel free to contact the office of the Watchful Eye Foundation at 402/ 412-3393. Your call will remain confidential.

In order for our children to live as children should live which is safe and innocent from harm it is the responsibility of all of us to protect them from predators.

For further information please visit www.watchfuleyefoundation.org

To sum it all up - those individuals who have been convicted of the crime of viewing, possessing, distributing child porn should be treated in the same manner as a sex offender who commits a crime on a child. In addition these individuals should be made to comply with the same restrictions as other sex offenders, such as where they can live, work and play.

A SEX OFFENDER IS A SEX OFFENDER. THE DEFINITION OF THE CRIME COMMITTED WHETHER IT BE LEVELS 1, 2 OR 3 SHOULD NOT MATTER AS THE CRIME WAS AGAINST A CHILD.

Gang Awareness NOW 101

noreply@blogger.com (Watchful Eye Foundation) — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 10:21:00 +0000

Gangs...they have existed for a very long time. There are various ethnic gangs whether they be Irish, Italian, Mexican, Asian, etc.
The point is folks, this is nothing new. Just like in the days of Al Capone, people especially younger people thought he was a "cool" guy. When gangs evolve, communities ALWAYS suffer....this needs to be a community effort.
The following is some of the things that will provide you with further knowledge of gangs.

FACT: DID YOU KNOW THAT CHILDREN AS YOUNG AS 8 YEARS OLD ARE GETTING INTO GANGS?

WHAT EXACTLY IS A GANG???
A gang is basically 3 or more people that hang out together on a regular basis.
They do not always have to be involved in criminal activity.
They try to set themselves apart from others with distinct clothing - (colors), or certain haircuts,hand signs etc.

DO GANGS HANG OUT IN CERTAIN AREAS???
A gang may not always claim any special section of town, however the signs that they are definetly in a neighborhood is the various graffiti taggings.
Gangs are normally territory oriented however. Each gang has its own turf and graffiti marks its boundaries. Anyone who does not belong in the area and resembles a rival gang member may become the subject of attack.
If you see graffiti that is crossed out it is because another gang is trying to claim ownership of that section of town. Chances are there will probably be some sort of a gang fight brewing.

WHERE DO THEY GET THEIR NAMES???
The name of the gang in general for the entire group is sometimes linked to a street name or a park or a larger gang in a larger community that the gang wants to model themselves after.
Tag names or individual names for each gang member vary. These names are normally strange, action type names which they will use in replacement of their birth name. These are especially used when they tag up with graffiti - they feel that they are safer to use and the cops will not be able to identify them by this new name. Normally these "nicknames" or "tag" names will match with their personality or their phyical appearance. If someone is more of a quieter type of person maybe they will go by the name of "Silence" for example.

WHO LEADS THESE GANGS???
Gangs do not have Presidents or Secretaries....The leader of each gang is choosen in an unspoken manner. The leader is generally the person that is the most dominating and shows leadership at certain times by taking control of a situation. Usually it is a well liked person who can show force when needed in any given situation.

WHY DO PEOPLE JOIN GANGS???
There are alot of reasons. Some of them include the excitement, peer pressure,attention,protection,financial benefit,family tradition,family abuse - physical or sexual. Mainly they want to feel as if they BELONG to something. What is really sad is that often times the parents just dont realize that their kids are involved in gang activity.

WHAT CAN YOU DO???
First off, do not go out and try to battle or win back your neighborhood on your own. Leave that to the cops. They have specialized officers that deal with this. Gangsters do not hesitate to involve innocent people.
Some of the things that you can do though are -
Join a community service group that tackles cleaning up the graffiti (The Watchful Eye Foundation does this)
Have your kids join an afterschool program to get them involved in the beautification of the community. This way they will claim pride in the area that they live. (The Watchful Eye has an afterschool program)
The other people you could contact would be your local city hall or United Way to ask where you could call to get involved.
The word COMMUNITY means that there is more than one person in that area. It takes a group of people to create a gang, however it takes an entire community to battle them.
Please don't be one of those persons who sits around in their recliner complaining as they watch the news or read the paper how the community is just going to hell because of the gangs. Get up and help with this problem. This is the only thing that will work - if enough people get together to take this on it will help.
I am not a politician so I will not make any promises however I will say that if you help out in your community it will change things at least 90%.

Stay tuned for more info on gangs and what you can do to help with this problem.

MySpace and Your Child

noreply@blogger.com (Watchful Eye Foundation) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 11:09:00 +0000

MySpace

If you have kids, more than likely, they have an account on MySpace.com.

ANYONE can create an account on this site - there is NO PROTECTION guaranteed from sexual predators or gang members.

I want to show you just HOW MUCH information your child is putting out there on the world wide web for everyone to see. Not just their friends - EVERYONE.
This is making them targets.

You may be thinking - "no, my kid has an account but he is not hooked into any gangs at all" or " my kid is too smart to put a lot of personal information out there".....

I have had parents sit and tell me just that. When I ask a parent if their child is involved in gangs the answer is normally "no". Then I ask the parent if they know if their child has a MySpace account....the answer is normally - "yes - I have seen it".....

Then I pull up their child's name under the MySpace website - - here is what happens:

Their child's web page suddenly pops up and the background is filled with gang symbols such as crowns, F13, or Sur13 etc.....all gang "high alert" signs.
The same page will more than likely have "gangster music"
Scrolling down the same page it will normally have a "personal survey"
Then I will glance over their friends comments and find out who they "hang with" (normally it is other gang members)
On the same page I might find marijuana leaves, beer signs, meth pictures etc....

Get the point? Now just imagine the parent suddenly realizing that they really don't know their own child's life like they thought they did.

On these personal surveys that the kids fill out and post on their pages, it is meant for their friends. They are kids. They don't think about the fact that sexual predators are checking these pages out too. They don't think about the fact that maybe a sexual predator is interested in their little baby sister who they have pictured. Or the fact that their address is super easy to locate.

Just "googling" your phone number can pull up your address with a map of directions how to get to your house. Scary? Yes it is.

Our kids are not stupid. They are however naive in the facts of life when it comes down to thinking "what are the consequences".....

They are kids. That is what they have parents for - to teach them the consequences. Before it's too late.

These kids that create the MySpace pages are really talented. They can design a web page that is incredible. Self taught designers. However, as I said, you must as a parent teach them to be safe.

Many parents are not aware that their child is living a "secret life" online. I have had parents tell me, " my son is not in a gang, he is involved in the church and is a good boy"....Hey Mom and Dad - check out his MySpace page. Since when does marijuana leaves running across a webpage have anything to do with church?

A mom of a young girl told me once, " my daughter is out of control, she will not listen to me at all"....I looked up her daughters MySpace page,saw that her 13 year old daughter was being groomed by a sexual predator. The predator was a gang member over the age of 21 who groomed young girls so that they would join his gang. Her mom's "new" knowledge saved this young girl's life.

If you don't have a clue about running a computer - there are parent training programs through the Watchful Eye Foundation available. These are free programs with a free will donation accepted. Classes will start in January and are limited to 15 people per session.

Give me eight hours and I will provide you with a necessary learning tool that EVERY PARENT will need to ensure their child's safety. If your child is important to you then their safety should be number one on the list.

You might be saying "I am so tired when I get home from work" or "I have so much to do, I don't have time for this" ........IF YOU LOVE YOUR CHILD THEN YOU SHOULD CARE ENOUGH TO TAKE THIS CLASS AND LEARN HOW TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF YOUR CHILD.

Trust me, their are things going on in your child's life that you are just not aware of. Some of it is really scary.

Don't wait until your child is in court or your child has been sexually abused.

We wont show you how to work Quick books or how to design websites. We WILL show you however how to know what your child is doing on line.

YOU DO NOT NEED TO KNOW HOW TO OPERATE A COMPUTER - all you need to know is how to turn it on.

These classes will be held in English and Spanish. Call 402/412-3393 to sign up.

Give your child the gift of safety. By providing them with your parental knowledge you will keep them safe from all harm.

OPRAHS BIG GIVE & KCAU TV

noreply@blogger.com (Watchful Eye Foundation) — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 14:19:00 +0000

The Watchful Eye Foundation is a part of Oprah's Big Give!!!!!!!!!!!!

Help us to GROW this money

The "spirit" has come to Siouxland and Channel 9 KCAU-TV is proud to be a part of Oprah's Big Give (airing on Sunday nights at 8pm). Oprah has challenged us to take $10,000 and build upon it to help make dreams come true in Siouxland.

The Watchful Eye Foundation came from the vision of the Founder, Susie Squires, to offer the solution to the magazine that she created - Variety/Variedad. The magazine showed society the problem henceforth it was necessary to implement a plan of defense for the problems that are specifically pointed out in the magazine. Thus, the Watchful Eye Foundation was created.

With keeping the Neighborhood Watch programs and guidelines in mind, the Watchful Eye Foundation will revive certain parts of the Neighborhood Watch as well as install other programs geared toward education and safety. In addition to implementing the Neighborhood Watch program, there will be classes held in schools with trained volunteers pertaining to the Yello Dyno program.

The mission of the Watchful Eye Foundation promotes educational public awareness for the safety and protection of all children.

Another facet of the Watchful Eye Foundation is the DETOUR program. This afterschool program is geared towards getting and keeping kids out of local gangs.

The Watchful Eye Foundation also has initiatied and is maintaining a program called the "REWARDS PROGRAM". Cash rewards are offered to anonymous persons who notify the Watchful Eye Foundation with information which will lead to the arrest and conviction of the person's responsible for any GANG GRAFFITI.

Thanks to Oprah and Channel 9 KCAU-TV, there is help for these kids, but your help is desperately needed, and the need is great.

Channel 9 KCAU-TV has kicked off this event by donating $10,000 and we now we are asking you to donate to help match this amount. Click on the link below and you can donate right now.

To donate go to: http://www.watchfuleyefoundation.com/ and click on "donate"

For more info and to keep up with how much money is raised go to http://www.kcautv.com/

Is YOUR Teen out of control?

noreply@blogger.com (Watchful Eye Foundation) — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 13:33:00 +0000

Is your teen out of control?

During past articles we have discussed problems that parents may have with their teens. One of the hardest "jobs" in the world is to be a parent - it is also one of the most under-paid yet rewarding ones that there is.

The Watchful Eye Foundation does not claim to have all of the answers - however what we do know we are willing to pass onto you what we do know so that you can raise your child to be successful in being a respectable person that you will be extremely proud of.

Raising a child to be successful and respectable does not necessarily mean raising a Harvard law school graduate. It means basically to have a child who regardless if they flip hamburgers at the local McDonald's or wash dishes at the Taquiera that child is honest and respectful as well as kind.

Alot of times something major will occur in a child's life such as running away or getting into trouble with the law and 98% of the time the parents will say - " I don't know what happened"....

This "trouble" Mom and Dad did not suddenly just "happen". Odds are that it has been like a car gaining in speed as it travels down a hill. You might not barely notice it until one day "Bam!" your teens life is full speed ahead and headed for the danger zone.

The key is to become your child's hero and jump in the drivers seat and hit the brakes. It wont be easy going back up that hill, but it can be done. If you really try and want to.

Lets start with a few questions that you can answer privately and honestly....

Is your child an angry child?
Does your child "cop an attitude" when he or she doesnt get their way?
Does your child seem secretive?
How's school? Is your child in trouble at school often?
Is your child skipping school or getting there late alot?
Grades at school - have they gone down to the point where they are failing?

Has your teen had issues with running away?

Do you know if your child is sexually active?

Saying I hate you and/or cussing and other abusive language to you or other family members?

Is your child frequently out late, without your permission?

Does your child have friends who are also making poor decisions?
Does your child associate with troublemakers or have secretive peers?
Has your child started to hang around with older teens or adults?
Is your child frequenting internet chat rooms?

Does your child have new friends and do you know who they are?
Is your child defiant?
Has your child been involved in fights and disturbances in the community or at school?

What kind of music is your child listening to? The words in the music - do they talk about sex, killing and other acts of violence?

Does your child deliberately self-injure, or cut markings into his or her skin?
Has your child withdrawn from family activities and family involvement?
Have there been abrupt changes in your child's personality and behavior?
Have your child's eating habits changed?

Does your child break curfew rules or laws?
Do you suspect your child of using drugs or alcohol?
Has your child stolen money from you?

Does your child have unexplained cash, new clothes, or material items?
Has your child destroyed property in your home?
Has there been a change in your child's clothing style?
Has your child been violent at home?

Does your child listen to music with violent, sadistic, degrading, or gangster-influenced lyrics?
Have you ever needed to call the police for help with your child?
How is your child's behavior affecting your work?
How is your child's behavior affecting your marriage, home and family?
ARE YOU SATISFIED WITH THE WAY THINGS ARE?

Take a few minutes to answer these questions - answer them honestly. This isnt a test. This is your child's life. Your ultimate responsibility. People say to me all the time that they just don't understand why their teen talks to them the way they do - saying things such as "shut up or your'e stupid" .....

It's because you let them. Put your foot down and say what you mean and MEAN what you say.

In other words stick to what you say. If your teen thinks that you will simply change your mind in a few hours or so - they will learn that you and your rules are basically pretty flexible.

One day - believe it or not, your teen will appreciate what you have taught them.

I know that often it is necessary for teens and parents both to go to counseling. In the South Sioux City, Nebraska school system for instance there is funding for counseling for those that cannot afford it.

If you are in that school district go to the office or the school counselors and ask for the Cardinal Connections assistance to pay for your childs professional counseling sessions.

This is an excellent opportunity for parents - especially those that cannot afford counseling. Also you can check out Catholic Charities or other non profits that may help with counseling fees. Please do NOT be embarrassed about asking for help. When it comes to your child pride should never get in the way of their mental or physical health.

The other program that this particular school system offers is called Love and Logic. I have heard very good reports on these classes. Check at your own school and ask what if any assistance they can help with.

If you would like to hear about other issues with teens please feel free to email me. watchfuleyefoundation1@yahoo.com.

Take care and stay safe!

Prevent your teen from running away

noreply@blogger.com (Watchful Eye Foundation) — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 13:40:00 +0000

No Parent wants their child to end up in the streets as a runaway. It happens though - over 100,000 children run away every year often over family problems.

It seems more and more common that teenagers are running away more and more. Parents of all walks of life are asking what it is that they can do.....The answers are never easy. Teens are not the easiest people in the world to deal with - however, there are a few things that a parent can do to possibly eliminate this somewhat if not totally.

Lets start first with criticizing; as a person yourself, you don't want to go to work every day and have your boss or coworker criticize you do you? That would make it virtually impossible to go to work or even want to go to work and try and have a productive day.

So with that in mind why would you want to critcize your teen and force them to have a miserable day?

I am not talking about constructive criticism - I am talking about criticizing every little thing that they do wrong. Everyone of us makes mistakes - your child is going to make mistakes as well.

The key is how you handle the mistake.

Be honest with your teen. Just like you know when they are lying to you - they are keen enough to know when you are lying to them. Admit your mistakes so that your child will be able to see that you as the parent are taking responsibility of your mistakes. What a great lesson to teach your child.

For instance - remember when you were young and you got into trouble? Remember the feeling of not wanting your parents to find out because you were scared? Admit these feelings to your teen. Tell them about a few of the mistakes you yourself made in the past. It will amaze you how your teen will look at you in a totally different light.

Moving along - if you ground your teen to their room or take away phone priviledges etc., dont tell them one day that they are grounded and then feel bad the next day and let them off. If you gave them a week of grounding let them have a week grounding. Losing permission to go out with thier friends or talk on the phone is not going to be the end of their social life for ever - they might think so but it wont be. Stick to your rules on this.

Someday your child will have children and they will use this type of training on their children.

Now one of the biggest mistakes is when parents ignore their teens feelings. Teenagers are moody. They are no different than you when you were a teen. For instance - remember when you were trying to impress a certain guy or girl in school? Or you wanted the other kids to like you so that you could be one of the so called popular kids in school....

Your teen is no different. It may seem a little weird because you forget that they are not the same little kid who you used to have to help them pick out their clothing or remind them to look both ways when they cross the street - it may seem as if while you looked away they suddenly grew up.

As parents we often get so caught up in the adult world. The world that forces us to go to work everyday, pay bills and lose that fun child-like freedom. Live life through your child eyes.

If your child does runaway here are your options:

contact law enforcement immediately - you do NOT have to wait 24 hours.
contact the Watchful Eye Foundation

At the Watchful Eye Foundation we will assist in the following:

create flyers to post; provide you with flyers that you can use to pass out to your childs friends, hang in stores etc. We want YOU to find your child. We will also assist you with calling in your missing/runaway child to the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children. Once your information is turned into them your child's information is sent out all over the United States to persons such as law enforcement, and others.

The Watchful Eye has volunteers as well that go out and hang flyers, knock on doors, etc. In addition to that we use the same flyer and post it in an email "blast" throughout the Siouxland area to an established list of persons and businesses in the tri state area of our location.

The Watchful Eye will also let law enforcement know that the parents have come to them for additional assistance and work closely with police on any tips that might come into the Watchful Eye office.

We also will contact news media and/or refer the parents to the media. An example of this is once when we had a missing/runaway boy, the pressure that was put on the public by both the Mundo Latino newspaper and the Watchful Eye Foundation was enough to cause people to make numerous calls tipping off as to where the boy was. That is a perfect example of the collaberation of team work among the media that is required to bring many of these children back home.

If you have a child that has runaway, please contact our office. Regardless if your child is a runaway or not, he or she is still YOUR child and they are missing. We will do everything in our power to help YOU find them.

Our office number is: 402/412-3393 or you may email us at: watchfuleyefoundation1@yahoo.com

Gangs and Bullies

noreply@blogger.com (Watchful Eye Foundation) — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 23:13:00 +0000

It should be - especially here in this country one of the safest things that our children can do....go to school everyday. It is too bad that it is one of those places that actually holds fear for some kids.

This is not in anyway blaming the school, they have the liason officers, security cameras, teachers on alert, etc.....but still something is wrong and a change needs to happen.

Did you know that when your son or daughter goes to school the pressure is on for them to get involved into a gang?

Did you know that the summer before they enter the Middle school that even though your child is able to show you their regular, normal, everyday face, - inside they are scared to death about what is going to happen in the Middle school....

Did you know that when your teen is in school, to learn things such as math and reading, that anywhere he goes in school, the bullies and gangs are there - pressuring him as to what he claims?

Did you know that your child thinks it is "safer to pretend to claim a gang than not claiming anything? This keeps him or her from being beat up or jumped by the gangs.

Do you know how scary it must be for your kid every day to go to school like this?

For the kids this is only part of their reality.......

It is NOT supposed to be this way.

Here is a small version of how one 6th graders day at school goes....

He gets up and dresses for school, carefully checking his clothing colors to make sure that he is not matching up any gang colors which he has known about since the 3rd or 4th grade.

While eating breakfast he reminds himself not to eat or drink too much so that he dont have to go into the bathroom more than once at school - alot of things happen in the bathrooms.

When he gets to his locker he makes sure to get whatever it is that he will need for the entire day out of the locker. It is much easier to carry the load of books than to risk the chance of going back to the locker and having a confrontation.

Lunchtime - he smiles to himself because he has made it through half of the day. A gangster kid is staring him down in the lunchroom (mad-doggin) and he decides to ease over to some other kids that he knows are in one of the bigger, tougher gangs.

He knows that if something goes down these kids from this bigger gang will help him out - they tell him all the time that if he ever needs something they "got his back".....most of these kids he has known his whole life. He knows that they will "protect" him if he needs it.

That is often how it starts. I know, you are thinking that how could your child even consider being involved with a gang. Maybe you are thinking that what others are calling a "gang" isnt as bad as they think.

Don't think that way please.....this is your wake up call Mom and Dad.

You are probably asking yourself what you can do. The majority of parents cringe at the very thought of someone hurting their child. That is normal. That is your job to protect your child. Here are a few things that you can do.

When your teen wants to go somewhere whether it be with a friend or the mall, question them. Ask them - how are you getting there, who all is going, what are you going to be doing, what time do you plan on coming home. Trust me, it is much better to ask these questions BEFORE anything crazy happens so that YOU know what is going on.

Ask your teen how their day was at school. If you ask your teen something like " how was school" they will probably respond back " fine" ---they are not going to fill your ears with everything just because you asked. You need to be a little tricky to get them to talk to you. Instead try this:

PARENT: "how was school today"

TEEN: " fine"

PARENT: "anything exciting happen today"

TEEN: "no, same old thing"

PARENT: "really? I remember when I went to school, there was always something different going on either at school or one of my friends doing something - in fact I had this one friend who was always getting into trouble"

TEEN: "really? like how?"

Then this would be your opening to either talk about an old memory of yours from school or make one up. This is your chance to get your teen to open up. Whatever you do - dont let this chance pass by.

Another thing that you can do is to get involved with your teen a little more. Believe it or not - they still need you. If needed become that Mom or Dad that is always the one to give rides or have the other kids over to the house. This allows you the opportunity to witness first hand who their friends are as well.

Just remember, your teen has feelings too. Dont ridicule them or treat them as if their feelings dont count. If they ask if they can have friends over, let them. Tell your teen that the house rules apply to their friends as well. If you treat your child the way that you would want to be treated then they will respect you for that.

And last but not least - remember - you are not their friend. You are the parent and you are the one that sets the rules. Just remember that your child is under an enormous amount of pressure everyday at school. They are trying to survive the bullies and they are trying to keep thier grades up.

Talking to your teen is one of the best pieces of advice. The other would be to listen not only with your ears but with your heart.

Until next time,
Take care and stay safe

Hershey Company states they will cease making Pacs candy

noreply@blogger.com (Watchful Eye Foundation) — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 04:09:00 +0000

The first words out of my mouth when I read that the Hershey Company has decided to HALT the making of their new candy PAC'S in the look a like drug packaging were ----WOW!!!!

They - this multi billion dollar company actually listened to the consumers. That is incredible!!!

It's in newspapers all over the country but you can also read it here at this link:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22827806/from/ET/

The one thing that I DO NOT agree with is that they have left what they had on the shelves in the stores that they distributed to. They say it is a limited number - what does that mean exactly - a limited number? I mean basically to a company with the magnitude of Hershey is a limited number a thousand or is it a few million?

It has taken all of us that care enough to call, send in the petitions, write letters, stop buying Hershey products, etc.....to get this changed.

I would think that regardless of the freedom that we have in our country that the food and drug administration wake up a little earlier than the marketing groups that come up with ideas such as this.

Hershey Company is acting the same as a spoiled child. By leaving what product they have on the shelf, so that they do not lose any money, they are trying to act as if they are doing all of us - the consumers a favor.

They think that since they have agreed to STOP making the product, that this should be OK with us -----

Helloooooo?????

It seems as if it is extremely hard for Hershey's to openly admit 100% that yes, they definitely made a poor decision - not just for their company but for the public - who I might add are their customers.

What would I say if I could attend a one on one meeting with the board of directors of Hershey's? In layman's terms it would be relatively simple - it would go something like this....

OK, first lets start off with my gratitude that you have actually seen that this is certainly not one of the brightest moments in marketing that you have had. Thank you so much for making the decision that you will not create this drug look a like "candy" - that is not what we were asking - we were simply asking you to change the packaging of it. Yet instead you yourselves made the decision to insert this latest marketing strategy into the grinder. Good for you.

What I would really like to see is that you go a step further and REMOVE the product from the store shelves. Give it to your employees in the break rooms. Throw it away and write it off on your taxes as a loss. Just get it off the shelves.

Here in our area there have been numerous people going into the stores that have this and requesting it be pulled from the shelves.

People buy your candy. Schools use your services as well to sell candy for you.

Go one step further guys - pull this completely from the shelves.

I am not a bored person with so much time on my hands that I cannot find other things to do. That has been insinuated by some people through their comments on ABC News blog sites. Speaking for myself, I am in fact an extremely busy person. It is when instances such as this come up that issues such as this take top priority.

I personally like everyone else grew up loving Hershey candy products. I plan on my grandchildren loving them as well - as long as there are no further blunders such as this one.

I appreciate your trying to come up with new and insightful ways of marketing however, Hershey is supposed to be something that stays in your mind like a good memory of days gone by. Things like making sure that when you went to the movies there was always going to be a little extra money so that you could buy a box of Milk Duds. Or when your Mom made chocolate chip cookies she always used Hershey Chocolate Chips. Those are the kind of memories that you want your company to have. Not something like when you made a candy look like a deadly drug.

So while I appreciate the decision that you have made to stop making the candy in this form, I would as well as many many others appreciate that decision more if you would also pull the candy that you have made off of the shelves.

Please....it's just that simple.

I continue to urge all of you to keep calling or writing to Hershey's and thank them for stopping the manufacturing of this candy but to now pull this from the shelves and be done with it.

Take care and stay safe

Susie

Contact Hershey's by phone: 1-800-468-1714 Monday – Friday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET

PETITION FOR HERSHEY COMPANY

noreply@blogger.com (Watchful Eye Foundation) — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 21:26:00 +0000

This is the petition that has been issued out by the Watchful Eye Foundation against the Hershey Company. Please print it out, get some signatures, mail it to the Watchful Eye Foundation / P.O. Box 574 South Sioux City, NE. 68776

For those of you that live locally and would like to assist with filling out these petitions - please call our office at 402/412-3393

TOGETHER WE CAN STOP THIS!

BOYCOTT Continues against HERSHEY COMPANY

noreply@blogger.com (Watchful Eye Foundation) — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 11:41:00 +0000

"Our goal is to recharge growth and take advantage of all opportunities we see in the marketplace"

This is what the NEW CEO - David J. West who took over the management of the Hershey Company stated on December 1st. It looks like he really meant it when he stated "take advantage of ALL opportunities we see in the marketplace".....

Since when has illegal drug packaging become an "ADVANTAGE" in the marketplace???

I wonder about a number of reasons here - lets look at a few and then you - THE CONSUMERS - be the judge of it all....

approximately a year ago a man by the name Kenneth Affolter was sued by the Hershey Company for selling marijuana laced illicit edibles. These "treats" were elaborately packaged to simulate legal edibles such as "Puff-a-Mint Pattie", "Rasta Reeses", "KeefKat" etc....

For a photo click on this link - http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/pubs/states/newsrel/sanfran031606_fig1_highres.jpg

Affolter was arrested by the DEA and sentenced to prison. Here is where it gets VERY INTERESTING FOLKS -

The Hershey Company sued Affolter for $100,000 dollars. The reason why? This is what they said is for TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT, TRADEMARK DILUTION, AND UNFAIR COMPETITION!!!!

Yes - they said that - unfair competition.....hmmmm ----OK - now lets go a little further -

Trademark Dilution laws as explained in the lawsuit article forbid the use of a famous trademark in any way or manner that would cause harm to the unique reputation of the company.

So basically if you were to see "Puff-a-Mint Pattie" and you knew that it was laced with marijuana - most people right away would assume the association with Peppermint Patty candy. That of course would be very harmful to the maker of Peppermint Patty - Hershey - because they have stated numerous times through out the years that they thrive on maintaining a positive image in the public.

So now all of a sudden we have numerous directors that have been asked to resign from Hershey's board, a new CEO in place, and stating that he wants to "take advantage of all opportunities in the marketplace"....

As I said before this type of fight is normally not the battle that the Watchful Eye Foundation takes on - however, when something this insane happens, you either do one or two things - do something about it or do nothing about it. We decided to do whatever we could to inform the public and to form a boycott of their products.

This I am afraid seems to go deeper than just the guy in the marketing department trying to impress his bosses with a "new, innovative idea" such as the packaging of the Pac's candy. This seems to actually be starting at the top.

Obviously what Hershey's saying is that in order to recharge growth that they must take advantage of all opportunities and that includes the market of illegal drugs.

I called yesterday to the Hershey Company. Spoke to a very kind woman who had been placed at a phone just to take calls such as all of ours pertaining to the boycott. I felt genuinely sorry for her as I am sure that not everyone had been as polite as I was to her. If I had been allowed to speak with the CEO David West, here is what I would have said....

Mr. West, first let me congratulate you on your new position of becoming the CEO of the number one Candy Company in the world. It deeply saddens me however that you have within a few days of your new post taken the road of destruction for your company by allowing the new candy Pacs to be packaged to resemble an illegal street drug such as crack or heroin.

I live in the Midwest and we battle the drug problems just as everyone else in the world. Maybe more so when it comes to methamphetamine. I am shocked Mr. West of what road you have chosen to go down and you sir should be ashamed of yourself for damaging the Hershey name in this manner.

In addition to that I simply cannot believe that you have taken an opportunity to create havoc for law enforcement officers, parents, school officials, and others just to sell candy.

What in the world were you thinking? Maybe you are listening and maybe not....however, here in the heartland we take pride in doing the right thing and protecting all that is good. You have made a mockery of the school fundraiser program as well as many of your other programs that you state are for the "good of the communities".

I am asking you to do the right thing - pull this product from the market - create a new packaging for it, and be done with it. I don't feel that this is too much to ask for. When Milton Hershey created this company I can almost flat out guarantee that he did not ever intend for this to ever take place. I am sure that he too would be disappointed as well as sickened in what you have done not only to the consumers that purchase your products but to the reputation of the Hershey Company.

Do the right thing Mr. West - pull this off the shelves and replace the packaging. That is all we are asking for. It's just that simple.

Please Everyone - call Hershey Company today!

Contact Hershey's by phone: 1-800-468-1714 Monday – Friday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET

Mark K. PogharianVice President, Investor RelationsThe Hershey Company -Phone: (800) 539-0261

BOYCOTT HERSHEY COMPANY THIS CHRISTMAS

noreply@blogger.com (Watchful Eye Foundation) — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 10:18:00 +0000

WHAT IS The HERSHEY Company THINKING????

That was my first reaction when I found out about this newest "candy" that they just recently released.

This so called "candy" named PACS, so closely resembles the exact packaging that is used for illegal street drugs such as crack, heroin, coke etc. that the insinuation coming from the Hershey Company is to say the least appalling.

If a small child were to mistakenly get ahold of a package that they thought was the candy Pacs, they could overdose and possibly die from such a mistake.

I have always favored Hershey candies myself, however something has gone haywire there with their marketing strategy. How in the world can a company that promotes so many wonderful things for children all over the world suddenly create a candy, package it completely to resemble illegal street drugs.

I am personally disappointed in the Hershey company for feeling as if they have to somehow come up with a new method to "out-do" the other companies. They obviously have very stupid people working for them who have not pointed out that they are number one in the majority of the worlds love for chocolates.

If I were a shareholder in the Hershey Company I would demand that whoever came up with this idea be terminated immediately as well as the company immediately pull the Pac's candy from every single store shelf. In addition I would also have their public relations persons come up with a public apology for the insinuation of exploiting illegal drug packaging in hopes of benefiting the Hershey Company financially.

I have already sent in a complaint to the Children's Advertising Review Unit (CARU) in New York that handles the reviews for this. I will post the contact information below so that you can all contact them as well. I beg you to please BOMBARD them with emails, phone calls, whatever it takes to get this Pac's candy removed from the market.

In addition to contacting CARU, Please leave a comment or email me back if you would like to sign the petition to get this candy pulled from the shelves before it gains in popularity with the children. It has only been out a week. Together we might be able to convince them that this is just 100% stupid and furthermore that they should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves.

I am informing the Hershey Company that I will be gathering people to boycott their business until this candy is marketed with different packaging that is not in anyway shape or form similar or resembling illegal street drugs.

Email: watchfuleye@cableone.net send me an email if you want to sign the petition.

Children's Advertising Review Unit (CARU)

70 West 36th Street, 13th Floor New York, NY 10018

Email: caru@caru.bbb.org

Hershey Company

Call Toll-Free: 1-800-468-1714 (Weekdays 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM EST)

The Hershey Company

PO Box 810100 Crystal A Drive

Hershey, PA 17033

Investor Relations Contact

Mark K. Pogharian

Vice President, Investor Relations

The Hershey Company

100 Crystal A Drive

P.O. Box 810

Hershey, PA 17033-0810

Phone: (800) 539-0261

Kirk Saville

Public Relations Department

The Hershey CompanyPhone: (800) 468-1714

Here is what the Public Relations Director Kirk Saville stated:

"Each pouch is made by two dissolvable mint strips that bears the Ice Breakers logo.

It is not intended to simulate anything"

Look at the picture at the top for yourselves....it sure looks like illegal crack or heroin packaging to me.

Get involved and help stop the Hershey Company from profiting from illegal look-a-like drugs.

Things are difficult enough in this world that we battle to ensure the safety of children. We certainly do NOT need a multi billion dollar company - who may I remind you strongly state that they believe in children all over the world, to create a look-a-like illegal drug package to sell.

I am sickened from this. This is normally not my type of battle to take on as we have so many - however, this is just one of those things that literally turn my stomach. What were they thinking?

Gang Poll

noreply@blogger.com (Watchful Eye Foundation) — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 19:35:00 +0000

The poll that was recently put out here on this blog asked the following question:
What do you honestly think about the gangs in your area? Is the problem getting worse?
100% of the votes that were cast all stated IT'S GETTING WORSE!

Thank you to all who took the time to vote on this. Now - lets get busy and learn to educate ourselves on the ganglife so that we can better protect our communities and our children.
Take Care and stay safe!

HOW YOU DRESS POLL

noreply@blogger.com (Watchful Eye Foundation) — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 10:33:00 +0000

Here are the results from the poll....

THE QUESTION WAS: DOES APPEARANCE AFFECT THE WAY THAT YOU ARE TREATED?

90% VOTED YES
9% VOTED SOMETIMES

A SAFE PLACE

noreply@blogger.com (Watchful Eye Foundation) — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 11:01:00 +0000

Published Saturday | October 27, 2007
Watchful Eye gives South Sioux City teens a safe place to go
BY DALTON WALKER
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

PLEASE CLICK THE LINK OR COPY AND PASTE IT INTO YOUR BROWSER TO READ THE COMPLETE STORY!

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10169097

VOLUNTEERS WORK KEEPS TABS ON SEX OFFENDERS

noreply@blogger.com (Watchful Eye Foundation) — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 10:40:00 +0000

Susie Squires compiles information for the Watchful Eye Foundation which publishes Variety Variedad, a magazine that tracks child predators. (Staff photo by Jerry Mennenga)

Volunteer's work keeps tabs on sex offenders *see link bar - Sioux City Journal
By Joanne Fox, Journal staff writer

SOUTH SIOUX CITY -- Susie Squires made a promise to God following a bout with cancer four years ago.

"I told Him if he would save me, I would do something with my life," she shared.

That something resulted in the Watchful Eye Foundation, an organization dedicated to protecting children from child predators.

The specific impetus came from the abuse and murder of 5-year-old Samantha Runnion of Stanton, Calif. in 2002.

"I looked at that little girl and she so resembled one of my twin daughters when she was that age that it was eerie," Squires recalled. "I could just see that face over and over in my mind."

Squires began noticing that every time she picked up a newspaper or turned on the television, another child was suffering the same horrific fate of Samantha Runnion.

"I knew this had to stop," she insisted.

So, despite the fact that her own children were young adults, Squires set out to be the voice for kids.

Her first step was to publish Variety Variedad magazine, which printed the names, photos, descriptions and addresses for every registered sex offender living in the tri-state communities.

"I had no experience in any of this," she said gesturing to the publications. "I made up a dummy which I took to businesses, asking them to believe in me and help me by advertising in the magazine."

Enough people did believe and the bimonthly magazine came out in November 2005. In addition to the information about the predators, the magazine also includes recipes, stories, children's activities, and other general interest articles, in both English and Spanish.

"If you only speak Spanish, you have no access to information about sex offenders because you can't read English," Squires explained. "I speak Spanish so I know how important this is to the Hispanic community."

She knew her decision to go bilingual was the right one when a Hispanic woman shared that she and her husband worked hard to buy a house, only to discover later through the magazine that a convicted sex offender lived across the street, Squires said.

"All this family wanted to do was live the American dream and to put it point blank, what happened to them, that's just wrong," she added. "Now she can't let her kids out of her sight for fear of what might happen."

On the heels of the magazine, Squires established the Watchful Eye Foundation, a nonprofit corporation that provides safety education for children, such as the Detour program that provides a soccer club, the Runaway Teens program which disseminates fliers to assist in help finding a child and the Yello Dino program that teaches young children to stay safe.

"I liked the Watchful Eye idea about keeping an eye on kids, but I also liked the first two letters were 'w' and 'e' which spells 'we,'" she explained. "We, as a community, need to all be involved."

About a year ago, Squires obtained an office at 1910 Dakota Ave. for an after-school program that provides a safe place for children, 12-17, who might be at risk. In mid-October of last year, Squires discovered a number of registered sex offenders were living at a mobile home court. She organized a walk-through, distributing copies of the magazine and telling residents about the offenders.

The magazine, which is distributed free, the information, the programs are all the result of volunteers, including Squires who donates about 60 hours a week of her time and talent.

Recently, Squires organized a discussion on gangs in the tri-state area.

"We are seeing a lot of graffiti right now," she said. "We've organized some of those kids from the after-school program to help paint over the graffiti."

For as open as she was about the organization, Squires was reluctant to have her photo taken to accompany the article or to share much personal information.

"I've gotten threats," she confessed. "Remember I'm revealing information about criminals who could target me or my family."

More details on the organization can be found by visiting either the magazine's Web site at www.varietyvariedad.com or Watchful Eye's Web site at www.wefusa.com

Read Comments > | Share This Story: - What's this?

pat wrote on Jun 4, 2007 9:50 PM:

" You are our local hero believe me someone needs to speak for our kids. More need to join in how can we help and where can we find this magizine? "

LM wrote on Jun 4, 2007 10:11 AM:

" THANK YOU! As a victim myself, I am grateful to people like you who take this seriously. Molestations should be on everyone's, especially parent's, to help list. Just because this is so common, doesn't mean we should just accept it and move on...this affects the victim their whole life, sometimes RUINING their lives....Susie is an inspiration and I hope everyone who has taken her mission for granted sees that this is possibly the greatest mission! Thank you, Susie! "

COLLEEN wrote on Jun 4, 2007 3:01 AM:

" I THINK THIS A GREAT THING YOU ARE DOING. WE NEED MORE PEOPLE LIKE YOU IN SOUTH SIOUX CITY AND THE AREA AROUND US. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK "

SEXUAL PREDATORS LOGOS

noreply@blogger.com (Watchful Eye Foundation) — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 14:21:00 +0000

CLICK THE PICTURE TO SEE IT IN A LARGER FORMAT.