Sullivan's Say 'No' To Bullies Month (or something like that)

"Hi, I'm Mayor Dan Sullivan. I've declared November as Say 'No' to Bullies Month. Bullying occurs far too often, and we need to stand up and say 'no' to this hurtful behavior."

The Jazz Greats concert at the PAC on Friday is a benefit for a good cause: Bye Bye Bullies, an international anti-bullying organization based in Anchorage. Earlier this week, Bent heard that Mayor Sullivan supports the program and declared November Bullying Awareness Month to draw attention to the issue.

It was November 10, but there was no declaration of Bullying Awareness Month on the Mayor's website and no mention of it in the ADN's piece on the concert. Sure the Mayor has been busy vetoing Assembly bills, denying thousands of Anchorage voters protection against hate-based discrimination, and slashing the city's arts and library budgets. But if he wants to draw attention to an important problem like bullying by declaring a month to raise awareness about it, you'd think that his office would send out a press release.

So I wrote to a contact person listed on the Mayor's website, praising Bullying Awareness Month and asking for a copy of the declaration.

Then I heard the radio ad for the Jazz Greats concert with Mayor Sullivan's part quoted above, declaring November as Say 'No' to Bullies Month.

Well, ok, the promoter must have written the name incorrectly, Bullying Awareness Month instead of Say 'No' to Bullies Month. But there wasn't anything posted on a local Say 'No' to Bullies Month either, so I waited for the declaration from the Mayor's office... and was surprised to get a declaration for Bullying Awareness Month. (Did they write it on Nov. 10 in response to my request? Or did they change the name in the radio ad after the declaration was written?)

Bullying Awareness Month

WHEREAS, we must safeguard schools for our children, and, through our recognition of the serious issues that face them each day, offer our children an environment that holds promise and security; and

WHEREAS, many organizations, school districts, educators and parents have publicly expressed concern about the bullying of children; and

WHEREAS, it is important that we acknowledge and heighten awareness about the serious issues and the negative effects of bullying, including the long-term damage it can cause in our youth, which may include the risks of teenage suicide; and

WHEREAS, providing a safe physical and emotional environment is a significant goal and a personal responsibility of each individual; and

WHEREAS, it is appropriate to speak out AGAINST bullying and FOR our children; and

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Mayor Dan Sullivan, on behalf of the citizens of Anchorage do hereby proclaim the month of November 2009 as

BULLYING AWARENESS MONTH

in the city of Anchorage and encourage the community to acknowledge and address the important issue of bullying and work to prevent it from affecting our children.

It's a good statement and a great cause, although I hope the Mayor will do more than just speak about it. For example, he could recommend that the Bye Bye Bullies program be taught in the Anchorage School District.

"It's a benefit for Bye-Bye Bullies, a program to address school violence that originated in Anchorage and is now being effectively used in school districts around the country (though not here; go figure)," wrote the ADN.

Maybe he could do more to provide a 'safe physical and emotional environment' free from bullying for both the children and the adults who live here. Just saying...

Bye-Bye Bullies, Inc. is a nonprofit corporation dedicated to protecting the integrity of individuals and preventing violence in schools and beyond. Founded by attorney Dennis Maloney, Bye-Bye Bullies organized the Violence Prevention Under the Midnight Sun conference in Anchorage, Alaska, the first national conference on bullying.

The Jazz Greats concert features Jeff Golub & Rick Braun, two excellent musicians. Go and enjoy the music for a good cause. And if anyone tries to bully your children this month, stand up and say "no." Mayor Sullivan says so.