Plan Ahead

To assist program directors in scheduling timely speakers, please take note of these dates:

September 1-30:

• Baby Safety Month – The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association Inc. (JPMA), a national trade organization of juvenile-product manufacturers devoted to helping parents keep babies safe, is disseminating information to parents, grandparents, and other child caregivers about baby safety. For a free brochure, enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope, indicate whether you would like this in English or Spanish, and send to: ATTN: JPMA Safety Brochure, JPMA PR Dept, 17000 Commerce Parkway, Ste C, Mount Laurel, New Jersey 08054.

• Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month – Prevent Blindness America directs its educational efforts to common causes of eye injuries and common eye problems among children. Materials that can easily be posted or distributed to the community will be provided. For info: Prevent Blindness America, 500 E. Remington Road, Schaumburg, Illinois 60173; phone, 800-331-2020. Web site.

• Children’s Good Manners Month – This is a national program of teachers and parents encouraging good manners in children. For info: “Dr. Manners,” Fleming Allaire, PhD, 35 Eastfield Street, Manchester, Connecticut 06040; phone, 860-643-0051.

• Library Card Sign-Up Month – National effort to sign up every child for a library card. For info: American Library Association, Public Information Office, 50 #. Huron Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611; phone: 312-280-5043; e-mail; Web site.

• National Humor in Business Month – Dedicated to creating awareness of the constructive and profitable ways humor in business can contribute to organizational success. For info: Darren J. La Croix, The Humor Institute, PO Box 557, Auburn, Massachusetts 01501; phone, 888-528-4451; Web site.

• National Piano Month – Recognizes the United States’ most popular instrument and its more than 20 million players. Also encourages piano study by people of all ages. For info: Donald W. Dillon, executive director, National Piano Foundation, 13140 Coit Road, Suite 320, LB 120, Dallas, Texas 75240-5737; phone, 972-233-9107; e-mail; Web site.

• National Sewing Month – Celebrates the art, craft, and hobby of sewing. The month-long celebration includes special sales, promotions and education programs directed at increasing awareness of sewing. For info: Home Sewing Association, 1350 Broadway, Suite 1601, New York, New York 10018. Phone: 212-714-1633.

September 20:

• International Day of Prayer and Action for Habitat for Humanity – To further the goal of eliminating inadequate and poor housing. For info: Habitat for Humanity, 121 Habitat Street, Americus, Georgia 31708-3498; phone, 800-HABITAT or 912-924-6935; Web site.

September 22:

• Elephant Appreciation Day – Celebrate the earth’s largest, most interesting and most noble endangered land animal. Free info kit from: Wayne Hepburn, Mission Media Inc., PO Box 50095, Sarasota, Florida 34232; phone, 941-365-7787; e-mail.

September 25:

• Kiwanis Kids Day – Annual observance by Kiwanis clubs to recognize today’s children as tomorrow’s citizens. For more info, click here.

• Ancestor Appreciation Day – A day to learn about and appreciate one’s ancestors. For info: W. D. Chase, AAD Association, PO Box 3, Montague, Michigan 49437-0003.

October 1-31

• Month of the Young Adolescent – An annual national collaborative effort of education, health, and youth-oriented organizations, including Kiwanis International’s Builders Club. Initiated by the National Middle School Association, this month brings together a wide range of organizations to focus on the needs of this important age range, ages 10-15. For info: National Middle School Foundation; 800-528-NMSA (6672): Web site.

• Adopt a Shelter Dog Month – To promote the adoption of dogs from local shelters, the ASPCA sponsors this important observance. For info: ASPCA Public Affairs Dept., 424 E. 92 nd St., New York, New York 10128; phone, 212-876-7700.

• Diversity Awareness Month – Celebrating, promoting, and appreciating the diversity of our society. For info: Carole Copeland Thomas, C. Thomas & Associates, 400 W. Cummings Park, PMB 1725-154, Woburn, Massachusetts 01801; phone, 800-801-6599; e-mail; Web site.

• National Breast Cancer Awareness Month – For info, call the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month Program toll-free at 877-880.NBCAM.

• National Cookie Month – For info, call Cookies for You, 117 S. Main Street, Minot, South Dakota 58701; phone, 701-839-4975 or 800-814-5334; Web site.

• National Depression Education and Awareness Month – A nonprofit campaign to educate patients, the elderly, and professionals about depression disorders. Kit of materials available for $15. For info: Frederick Mayer, president, Pharmacists Planning Service Inc., 101 Lucas Valley Road, #210, San Rafael, California 94903; phone: 415-479-8628; e-mail; Web site.

•   National Roller Skating Month – A monthlong celebration recognizing the health benefits and recreational enjoyment of this long-loved pastime. For info: Roller Skating Association, 6905 Corporate Drive, Indianapolis, Indiana 46278; phone, 317-347-2636; e-mail, Web site.

October 1-7

• Universal Children’s Week – To disseminate throughout the world info on the needs of children and to distribute copies of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child. For info, send $4 to cover printing expense, handling, and postage. For info: Stanley Drake, president, International Society of Friendship and Good Will, 8592 Roswell Road, Suite 434, Atlanta, Georgia 30350-1870.

October 16

United Nations: World Food Day – Annual observance to heighten public awareness of the world food problem and to strengthen solidarity in the struggle against hunger, malnutrition, and poverty. For information: United Nations, Department of Public Information, New York, New York 10117; or Patricia Young, US National Committee for World Food Day, 2175 K Street NW, Washington DC, 20437. Phone, 202-653-2404.