MARK TWAIN once wrote: "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. So, throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
MY MOTTO IS "EXPLORE. DREAM. DISCOVER."
I WANT TO Explore, Dream and Discover as much as possible in my life here on earth, and I want my Web sites to empower, equip and incite others to do the same.
I WANT TO help folks to find something new and exciting to do and experience. That's why I I formed my charitable organization and named it the "Community Action Team"— a name that I feel encompasses all the varied activities and events that I have (and will continue to) organized for the good of our community.
WHAT CAN I DO to help you explore your potential, make a dream come true or discover new frontiers? I hope to hear from you.
Yours truly, Justin Rudd!
THE MAIN PURPOSE of the Community Action Team (CAT) is to promote social well-being among the general public. As a 501c3 nonprofit corporation governed by a board of directors, contributions to CAT are tax deductible and are used to help produce quality events within our community that benefit children, animals, and the environment.
C.A.T. IS AN UMBRELLAorganization that includes Haute Dogs and: 4Halloween Kids' Costume Contest
4July 4 Kids' Bike Parade
4Dog-themed Poetry contest
4Interfaith Blessing of the Animals
4$1,000 National Elementary School Spelling Bee
4So Cal Adult Spelling Bee
4Sidewalk Chalk Art Contest 4Haute Dogs on the Beach events
4Haute Dog Easter Parade
4Haute Dog Howl'oween Parade
4Operation Easter Basket
4Operation Santa Paws
45k/10k Grunion Run
45k/10k Long Beach Turkey Trot
4monthly 30-Minute Beach Cleanups.
g Justin's Free e-Newsletters 4DOG e-News Weekly; Long Beach, LA & OC area dog news & events; 8,300+ subscribers click to subscribe free 4JUST-IN TIMES e-News Weekly; Long Beach/LA/OC area gay & lesbian news & events; 2,600+ subscribers click to subscribe free 4BEACH CLEANUP e-News monthly reminders for the Long Beach 30-Minute Beach Cleanup at Dog Zone; 1,700+ subscribers click to subscribe free 4BEACH FITNESS e-News weekly e-news about Justin's Sand Challenge classes in Long Beach; 600+ subscribers click to subscribe free
I AM A FIRM believer in the collective power of individuals joined in a spirit of goodwill and generous giving to bring about the success of a community.
- - Justin Rudd!
WINNERKennedy Liem, 7, won $150 at the 2007 Mother-of-the-Year Essay Contest on May 12 in Long Beach. The contest is sponsored by Justin Rudd and his nonprofit Community Action Team (CAT). She is in the first grade at Travis Ranch School in Yorba Linda. Her mother, Michele Liem was presented with dinner-for-two at the White House (Anaheim) and a big bouquet of flowers from Romance, Etc. More than 100 students entered the $500 (total prize money awarded to 1st and 2nd place finishers in grade-level groups) contest and 18 finalists read their essays to a panel of journalist judges including Harry Saltzgaver, Gazette Newspapers, John Canalis, Press-Telegram, and Robin Jones, Westways magazine. Kennedy's winning essay:
My mom should be mom of the year because.my mom is very hard working she works four different jobs! She does real estate, waitresses, teaches art and paints. Don't you think that's a lot? Well, I do. She is so good to me. Oh, did I tell she works her butt off for us? SHE DOES! My mom is soooooooooooooooooo awesome. I love my mom and she loves me. I think she should be the governor, the vice president, or maybe even the president! Well, whatever she does, I'm glad she's my mommy! She holds my hand at night until I fall asleep. She will help me when I'm frustrated until I get it right. Look! I even wrote a poem about her. Well here it goes . . .
Sweet, Beautiful, Working, Kissing, Hugging, I love my Mom and she loves me. Loving, Smiling, Cooking, Nice, Perfect.
So, did you like it? I hope you did. But anyway this is why my mom should be mom of the year. --Kennedy Liem
1st & 2nd Grade Finalists
- Beatriz Doan, Covenant Christian Academy
- Kirby Slater, Naples Elem. 2nd Place
- Lena Lamer, Naples Elem.
- Kennedy Liem, Travis Ranch Elem. 1st Place & Overall Winner
- Colette Araque, Center St. Elem. 3rd & 4th GradeFinalists
- Sarah Sheldon, Lowell Bayside Academy
- Ian Clark, Lowell Bayside Academy
- Charisa Dorn, Covenant Christian Academy 1st Placeshown
- Miguel Perez, Alondra
- Alan Maedo, Naples Bayside Academy
- Kaden Liem, Travis Ranch Elem. 2nd Place
5th & 6th Grade Finalists
- Marina Rowen, Lowell Bayside Academy
- Brooke Conner, Minnie Gant Elem.
- Kylie Smith, Minnie Gant Elem. 2nd Place
- Sam Wilson, Minnie Gant Elem.
- Jacob Outsen, Minnie Gant Elem. 1st Placeshown
- Hikaru Furuya, Minnie Gant Elem.
- Melissa McKee, Cubberley Elem.
gMOM CAN WIN DINNER AT THE WHITE HOUSE $500 Mother's Day Essay Contest for Kids
JUSTIN RUDD and his nonprofit 501c3 Community Action Team (CAT) are sponsoring a Mother's Day essay contest and $500 will be awarded, in addition to dinner for two at the critically-acclaimed Anaheim White House Restaurant. The contest is free to enter and essays must be e-mailed.
ALL LONG BEACH-AREA students (LA & Orange counties) are invited to submit 250-words-or-less essays on the topic "Why My Mom Should be Mother of the Year." Essays should be e-mailed to organizer Justin@JustinRudd.com by Tues., May 8 at midnight. Non-electronic formats can not be accepted. Essays will be judged on theme, content, clarity and appeal. FINALISTS WILL BE notified by e-mail no later than noon on Thurs., May 10. Finalists will be invited to read their essays to their Moms in front of a panel of judges and other guests at a public reception to be held in Belmont Shore on the shaded patio of Polly's Coffee, 4606 E. 2nd Street in Long Beach at 1 p.m. on Sat., May 12 -- the day before Mother's Day. Finalists and their moms must be present to be considered for a prize.
PRIZES There will be $100 cash awards presented to winners in three grade categories: 1st-2nd grade; 3rd-4th grade; and 5th-6th grade. Second place is each grade category will receive $50. Additionally, one of the grade category winners will be selected as the overall essay winner and will receive another $50, and his/her Mom will be named Mother of the Year and she'll be presented with a gift certificate for dinner-for-two from the Anaheim White House Restaurant.
TIMELINE 4Tues., May 8: entry deadline 4Thurs., May 10: finalists will be e-mailed 4THIS Sat., May 12, 2 p.m.: finalists will read their essays to the judges and moms at a public ceremony; the patio at Polly's Coffee,
4606 E. 2nd Street in Long Beach, 90803. Public welcome.
SPONSORS
A Poem for My Mom
Written for a Mother's Day poetry contest in 1987 by event organizer Justin Rudd during his senior year of high school in Ozark, AL. He won first prize and a $250 shopping spree at the local mall a few towns over.
This is a poem 'bout a lady I know
Who loves and cares and helps me so.
It's simple, it's short, and it's filled with much cheer.
It kindles fond memories that last through the year.
Three little letters spell a name, you see,
Of one who is very special to me.
It starts with and M and then comes and O.
And, M ends the word that we all cherish so.
The M stands for ME. I'm important, I am.
As a child to my mother, I'm special, yes ma'am!
The next letter is O. It stands for the OTHERS:
My Dad, and my sisters, and dear ol' brother.
Last comes another M. MOTHER spells this.
And a day with my mother is sure not to miss.
But more than this, there is just one...
She is my mom and I am her son.
She is the true "sun" with her bright rays of joy
'Cause she is my Mom, and I am her boy.
Now you can see. It's all written down;
My thoughts toward my Mom are here to be found.
Her love is forever showing. Her goodness, overflowing;
She is a wonderful lady; She is MOM!
