Kids Against Drugs Newsletter:
Empowering Kids to be Kids Against Drugs Issue #3.1
Change of Focus, Expanded Web Site, New Stuff – Part 1
Michael J. Meredith (Mick) Publisher
January 15, 2003
Dear,
Thank you for being one of 1080 subscribers in 17 countries to our e-zine. Welcome to the 353 new subscribers since our last issue. This is the general newsletter of the Kids Against Drugs Campaign for Drug-Free Families. You may have been subscribed by a friend or family member and will receive it every other week or so. If for some reason you wish to unsubscribe you may do so at any time. Instructions to unsubscribe are at the end of this newsletter.
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A NOTE TO TEEN SUBSCRIBERS: This is a great newsletter for your parents and grandparents to have. Please forward this on to them.
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Think About This:
"When we don't teach children the truth about drugs and
proclaim strong anti-drug messages in our homes and communities a terrible thing
happens. . .our kids get hooked on drugs."
Michael J. Meredith, Founder 1989
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The New Year is here and I am continuing to launch an aggressive promotion to let the world know about my program. There are several things I am doing to find interested adults, invite them to the web site, teach them about drugs and abuse and then motivate them to purchase and use my unique life-saving “Kids Against Drugs Family Action Training Plan”. This issue and subsequent issues will bring and keep you up-to-date.
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Main Article: Change of Focus, Expanded Web Site, New Stuff – Part 1
One of the most interesting things to me about my journey of discovery these past five years has been how things change or I should say evolve. A few days ago I was sifting through and reviewing the old notebooks of the thoughts and to do lists that I use to help me keep track of what I am doing here.
I was fascinated with the transformation of what started out to be a simple one or two page web site to sell anti-drug T-shirts into what has become a huge resource of information and a sophisticated marketing and sales machine. In addition, I have written an outstanding Parents Guide, several short e-books, two years of these newsletters and tons and tons of rewrites of various pages on the web site. Whew, I was amazed at the amount of work and the transformation.
Well, if you take the time to go through the Kids Against Drugs Web Site (all 60 plus pages and counting) you would notice that it is beginning to come together and to make sense of what I am trying to let the world know. With this issue and subsequent issues I am going to try to outline this for you so that you will know what kind of a resource this site is and how powerful of an Anti-Drug program it really is. In future issues I will continue to inform you of the current events, additions and changes and any new products we will introduce.
Generally speaking the Kids Against Drugs Campaign for Drug-Free Families comprises of the Kids Against Drugs Website, This E-zine, The “Kids Against Drugs Family Action Training Plan”, The “Family Action Training” Auto-responder continuing lessons and activities, the online catalogue, Seminar Workshops, links to other anti-drug sites, and the affiliate plan. This combination gives parents an actual resource of valuable, valid teaching tools so they can sit at home with their children, discuss and plan a family drug prevention strategy that is powerful and effective.
The Kids Against Drugs Web Site:
This has been a very fun and worthwhile project for me. I want to give you a little background and why I have set this web site up this way and explain how it is all organized. The web site is the focal point of our whole campaign. It is our brochure, our showplace, our storefront, magazine and link to the rest of the world through the wonderful Internet.
When I was introduced to the Internet (fall of 1995) I couldn’t comprehend the value or see the big picture of it. In fact it took another year (1996) and in another place where my mind opened just a little to the possibilities. By 1998 I had registered the domain of Kids Against Drugs.com, found a small ISP and set up a very rinky-dink web site. I was looking at the hard copy of those first pages the other day and was actually embarrassed by them, but, as the old saying goes, “you’ve got to start somewhere”. I might mention, I’m not a computer tech and have never had a computer or web class so I just had to figure it out on my own. Today I have an exciting vision of a truly remarkable system of communication we have at our fingertips.
Since I began working on the Internet much has happened. I have a comprehensive educational and marketing web site. I’ve done all of the writing (with help from Linda Davis who has edited my writing), web design and construction and now the promotion. I have enjoyed this so much. I have discovered my love and passion and being able to use this to take a cause that I truly have a deep-seated belief in to the world, gives me great satisfaction.
I’ve set up the web site in six general areas. First is the Parent Area. This has articles and resources of interest to parents, it contains the shopping cart so purchases of our programs and other items can be made.
The second area is the teen area. This is a resource area where information about the various drugs is available for school reports and other uses. I have much planned for this area but I have been focusing on the rest of the site first.
The third area is the affiliate area. This area is growing as I develop various marketing aids for the affiliates. Currently we have 179 affiliates.
The fourth area is for those who are interested in sponsoring our program. This would be individuals, companies, youth organizations, non-profit groups and any others who would be interested in the finest anti-drug program available.
The fifth area is the marketing area. Here we have our sales letter, samples of the lesson manual, FAQs, testimonials and other information that would help someone make the decision to join with us.
The sixth area is the shopping cart. This great area can handle all of our orders, take credit cards and checks, send automated responses of thank-you and information to help orient the new member to what we have to offer.
Of course when someone enters the site they can find the site directory to help them navigate through the whole site and our directory of links to our friends. I have more than a page in my workbook of new features that I will be adding to the site over the next few months.
The web site is being refined and is expanding almost daily. Some changes are almost not noticeable and others are dramatic. This keeps me busy but it is exciting to see all of this come together. I am very happy how it is turning out. Of course the big challenge is getting the public to the site and encouraging them to purchase the “Family Action Training Plan”.
In the next newsletter I will describe the “Kids Against Drugs Family Action Training Plan” and explain how it came about and why it is important for every home to have a copy on hand. Following issues will explain the “Campaign for Drug-Free Families” and why it’s an important part of this whole program. Then I will highlight the newsletter and its purpose and future, the affiliate plan and why it is important to the Campaign. Plus we will have our regular features and guest articles. So check your e-mail box in the next few days for part 2.
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A Change of Focus:
As a part of the refining process that one goes through you realize you don’t have it all figured out when you start. For example I was pretty confident that my cause could be titled the “Kids Against Drugs Campaign For Drug-Free Families”. However, with subscribers from more than 17 countries I have realized that I had to make a shift in the name.
I realized that the real focus is drug-free families so I have decided to change the name of the campaign to reflect that. Hence, from now on the campaign will be known as the “Kids Against Drugs Campaign for Drug-Free Families”.
I don’t think I’ve found all of the places that I have yet to make the correction, so please have patience with me if you find references to A Drug-Free America as you go through the information presented here and at the web site. In fact I’ll give a Kids Against Drugs T-shirt (only one T-shirt per person please) to those who find places anywhere in the web site (except in the Newsletter archives) where it still says “Kids Against Drugs Campaign For Drug-Free Families”. Just send e-mail with the words “I found one” in the subject line. Describe the page, list it’s URL and where you found the statement. Send it to Click Here. Tell me the size of T-shirt and your regular mailing address.
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New Stuff:
I have begun the long-term process of web site and product promotion. My first theme is based on the fact that the drug distributors around the world use sophisticated Multi-level Marketing software, distribution systems and sales techniques. This theme has a very wide base of individuals to market to. You can quickly go to the site, read the whole sales letter and see the supporting documents at http://www.kidsagainstdrugs.com/mlmchallenge.htm.
As part of this sales and promotion process I have installed a section in the web site that has several pages of excerpts from the “Family Action Training Plan”. This is great because an interested person can actually click and read a page or more right from the manual. To view these excerpts go to http://www.kidsagainstdrugs.com/excerpts.htm.
I’ve finally finished the Newsletter archive. This contains all of my past newsletters and will be updated at each new issue. You can visit this valuable resource at http://www.kidsagainstdrugs.com/newsletter_archives.htm.
You can find all of these and many other sections and pages that are published on the web site by visiting the web sites site directory which can be found at http://www.kidsagainstdrugs.com/site_directory.htm.
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A call to Action:
Pretty interesting isn't it? I’ve spent 4 years crafting, writing, testing and working hard to have a great web site to showcase my outstanding “Kids Against Drugs Family Action Training Plan”. I hope you’ll take the time to check it all out. I’m excited to hear your comments.
If this works the way I think it will it won't be long before we have thousands of people using the “Family Action Training Plan” in their homes and showing their kids how to choose to be Drug-Free. If you haven't got your copy I would urge you to do so now. You can join us and get your copy at: Click Here. It is really worth it for a whole lot of reasons including your child's future.
Edmund Burke, the 18th century philosopher, said: “All it takes for evil to accomplish its purposes, is for good men (and women) to do nothing.” It’s now up to you to take action and become one of Gods Warriors’ in the fight to protect children from drugs.
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If you have any suggestions or want to contribute articles and stories, please submit them to us by sending e-mail to: Click Here
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IMPORTANT NOTICE: In order for us to spread our message to the world we are doing a couple of things here. First we are asking you to forward this e-zine (don't spam) to someone you know who you think would be interested in receiving it. With this issue we have 1080 subscribers and if everyone sent it to ten others we would increase our mailing list very fast. Second we have our own affiliate program, which you can join for free. Just go to our web page and click on “Become an affiliate today!”
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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: We are currently scheduling seminars. If you would like to sponsor a seminar for a group in your area please contact me and let's talk. Send an E-mail to me subject: seminar?
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20 years ago I took on the challenge to find and do something about stopping recreational drug-use. I have learned much along the way. It has been exciting and a challenge. I ask you to join me in the “Campaign for Drug-Free Families” and become a Parent Against Drugs? Will you share this great program with your family, especially your kids? I believe the best protection from personable drug-pushing terrorists is a well-prepared Kid Against Drugs. Being part of the “Kids Against Drugs Campaign for Drug-Free Families” will give you the tools and support to your kid to be a Kid Against Drugs.
Thank you for subscribing and I welcome you. I promise I will use every tool and my total effort to make this e-zine a valuable and informative publication.
Sincerely,
Michael J. Meredith, Publisher.
America's Drug Prevention Network, Inc.
My E-mail: Click Here
If you received this e-zine as a forward from a friend and would like to subscribe go to http://www.kidsagainstdrugs.com/subscribe2.htm and you will be able to subscribe.