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THE CAT CHRONICLE
-----------------
					* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
					*  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  *
					*    September 22, 1995   *
					* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Children's Animated Television (CAT) is a 501-C-3 non-profit
organization that produces educational videos for children and
teens on contemporary social issues such as AIDS, diversity,
violence and GLB teen self esteem. CAT also provides as a public
service a BBS, a weekly full color newsletter and a Web site for
the family of the future: http://www1.usa1.com/~furball/

* Please note a full color printed version of this newsletter is
  available upon request ($2 per week), as well as on the Web.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
CAT People:
~~~~~~~~~~
The CAT person of the week is Senator Edward M. Kennedy of
Massachusetts. Senator Kennedy and his wonderful staff continue to
provide information and help to CAT when we need it most. Senator
Kennedy continues to be a man of great courage and foresight, as
illustrated by his support for CAT's video project for gay, lesbian
and bisexual teens. Hats off to Senator Kennedy!!!

CAT Currents:
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Below is a perfect example of Senator Kennedy's good timing on CAT's
behalf, in a letter to Bessie Hadley, our Executive Director:

United States Senate
				 COMMITTEE ON LABOR AND
				 HUMAN RESOURCES
				 WASHINGTON, DC 20510-6300

				 September 5, 1995
Ms. Bessie Hadley
Executive Director
Children's Animated Television, Inc.
1492 Highland Ave., Suite 3
Needham, MA 02192

Dear Ms. Hadley:

Thank you for sending me information about the Children's Animated
Television project on Gay, Lesbian and Bi-sexual youth. I apologize
for not contacting you sooner, but the Senate schedule has kept my
staff and me extremely busy over the last few months.

Programs addressing self-esteem, positive role-models and the
challenges faced by gay and lesbian youth are certainly needed
and I applaud your efforts. I hope that the project you are
undertaking will help alleviate or reduce some of these challenges
like attempted suicide, increased drug use and violence.

We cannot afford to waste the talents of any one in our society.
Everyone should be free to grow and develop in order to meet their
full potential. The Children's Animated Television project on gay
and lesbian youth will be successful if only one person who would
otherwise feel scared and alone sees hope and promise in his or her
future.

Thank you again for contacting me. I look forward to hearing about
the project. Keep up the good work.

Sincerely,

Edward M. Kennedy

-  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  - 

Want more information on this project and how you can help???

Please contact:

Children's Animated Television, Inc. (CAT)
1492 Highland Ave., Suite 3
Needham, MA 02192
voice 617-449-9699
fax   617-449-2238
Internet: didom@usa1.com
Web: http://www1.usa1.com/~furball/

You can also catch the latest CAT news in "The CAT Chronicle"
Subscribe by E-mail: didom@usa1.com
Web: http://www1.usa1.com/~furball/newslett/newslett.html/

For your convenience, here is the June press release
Senator Kennedy is referring to:

-  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -

					* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
					*  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  *
					*       June 5, 1995      *
					*                         *
					*  CONTACT: Bessie Hadley *
					*       617-449-9699      *
					* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

  A Brighter Future for ALL Gay, Lesbian & Bisexual (GLB) Teens
  -------------------------------------------------------------

  Children's Animated Television (known as CAT), a progressive
  non-profit organization is seeking volunteers and national
  support for a ground breaking video production. The focus of
  this significant project will be GLB teens, their self-esteem
  and positive role models, as well as the challenges they face:

     *  Higher and unacceptable incidence of suicide than the
	general populous
     *  Prevalent alcohol and substance abuse
     *  Increased risk of HIV and sexually transmitted
	diseases (STD's)
     *  Unsupportive and/or hostile family, school and
	social environments
     *  Violence and hate crimes
     *  Inadequate or no education because they fear
	attending school
     *  Being thrown out of their homes or feeling compelled
	to run away
     *  Involvement in prostitution for survival, if homeless

  CAT produces educational video programs for children & teens.
  Previous videos have included important contemporary issues
  such as diversity and a general information and prevention
  video on HIV/AIDS for pre-teens. To stay on the cutting-edge
  of today's social issues, CAT is developing a new video on
  sexual diversity and teen suicide prevention. The goal is
  to help GLB teens learn to understand sexual diversity
  and provide hope for a long, productive and healthy life.

  Confident GLB teen and adult role models will be interviewed
  to demonstrate how self esteem and a positive attitude is
  possible. CAT needs national support for sponsors, donations
  and for GLB people to come forward and volunteer for
  on-camera interviews.

  "The statistics on GLB teens who have tried to kill themselves
  is quite alarming", according to Bessie Hadley, Executive
  Director of CAT. "The numbers suggest 7-23% of all GLB teens
  in the U.S. have attempted suicide. Many of these were multiple
  attempts. Compare this to the 2-3% in heterosexual teens. Can
  you imagine being so afraid of your sexual identity that you
  feel your only choice is not to live at all?"

  There are multiple features that make this video project unique:

     *  Promoting self esteem in GLB teens
     *  Introducing positive GLB role models of all ages, races,
	religions and walks of life
     *  Demonstrating the correlation between low self esteem
	_and_ GLB suicide, substance abuse, the resurgence of
	HIV and STD'S
     *  Stimulating discussion for groups in schools, social
	clubs, community centers, religious organizations
	and families
     *  Providing hope and a brighter future for troubled
	GLB teens
 
  Claude DiDomenica, the President and video producer for CAT
  tells why this project is critical to him: "We are in the
  beginning stages of this exciting new video project. We MUST
  address the alarming suicide rate in GLB teens. We would like
  to show positive teen and adult role models in an attempt to
  beef up their self esteem. I, for one, am ashamed to live on a
  planet that treats its fellow beings as many of us do." He also
  emphasizes, "As a side benefit, we wish to have an impact on
  the resurgence of HIV infection. We believe low self esteem
  contributes towards unsafe sex practices. I, for one, will no
  longer remain silent. These concerns have compelled me to
  produce this video. My primary motive is to help save these
  precious young lives."

  CAT will include a diverse group of GLB teens and adults in
  the video. GLB men and women of color, Asian Americans,
  Native Americans etc. are encouraged to contact CAT for
  on-camera interviews and appear in the video. Also, GLB
  people from all professions, trades, religious or
  non-religious groups as well as experts in the field of
  GLB psychology are welcome.

  "How can you help? We all are distressed about today's
  youth", continues Ms. Hadley. "We need YOUR help to become
  sponsors, to donate time and money and to volunteer to help
  promote and develop this timely video. Support and
  encouragement from other teens and adults will send a positive
  message that we want to help GLB teens to have long lives and
  contribute to our society..."

  Contact Person:
  Bessie Hadley, Executive Director
  Children's Animated Television, Inc.
  1492 Highland Ave, Suite 3
  Needham, MA 02192
  Voice:            617-449-9699    FAX:  617-449-2238
  Dr Furball's BBS: 617-455-8415  node 1  617-433-0026 node 2
  Internet:         hadley@usa1.com

  CAT is a 501-C-3 non-profit organization and all donations
  are tax-deductible. CAT will be publishing a free newsletter
  to keep concerned people informed of this project. Please
  contact CAT to be put on the mailing list. Please specify
  either E-Mail, printed version or FAX.

  Copyright 1995 Children's Animated Television
		 All Rights Reserved

  This may be freely distributed, as long as it remains
  unaltered.
				# # #
Parent's Corner...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tip of the Week: Crib Safety...

Crib Safety Alert, from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission,
Washington, D.C. 20207  (301) 504-0580

An unsafe used crib could be very dangerous for your baby! Each year,
about 50 babies suffocate or strangle when they become trapped
between broken crib parts or in cribs with older, unsafe designs.

A safe crib is the best place to put your baby to sleep. Look for a
crib with a certification seal showing that it meets national safety
standards.

A safe crib has:

 * No missing, loose, broken, or improperly installed screws,
   brackets, or other hardware on the crib or the mattress support.

 * No more than 2 3/8 inches between crib slats so a baby's body
   cannot fit through the slats.

 * A firm, snug fitting mattress so a baby cannot get trapped between
   the mattress and the side of the crib.
 
 * No corner posts over 1/16 of an inch above the end panels (unless
   they are over 16 inches high for a canopy) so a baby cannot catch
   clothing and strangle.

 * No cutout areas on the headboard or foot board so a baby's head
   cannot get trapped.

 * A mattress support that does not easily pull apart from the corner
   posts so a baby cannot get trapped between mattress and crib.

 * No cracked or peeling paint to prevent lead poisoning.

 * No splinters or rough edges.

If your crib does not meet these guidelines, destroy it and replace
it with a safe crib.

Jeff Sam
Volunteer Child Safety & Parents Coordinator,
Co-Sysop of Dr Furball's BBS and CAT's Co-Webmeister
Internet Address: jsam@usa1.com
Please visit Jeff's Sam's Parenting and Child Safety Web page:
http://www1.usa1.com/~furball/jeffsam/jeffsam.html/

GLB Youth Advisor:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CAT's current video project is on GLB teen self esteem. Our goal
is to help put a stop to the unacceptably high rate of GLB teen
depression and suicide. We also believe there is a direct correlation
between low self esteem and unsafe sex practices. To this aim, as a
public service we present to you the GLB Youth Advisor...

GLBT Youth Survey...
-------------------
This week I'd like to share with you some information about a survey
for GLBT youth, which was forwarded to CAT:

Subjects Needed for Research on Lesbigay Youth
PLEASE DISTRIBUTE AND CROSS-POST AS WIDELY AS POSSIBLE

A national research project on issues faced by lesbian, gay,
bisexual, and transgendered youth is being conducted by Dr. Tony
D'Augelli, a psychologist at Penn State University who has published
extensively on these issues. Dr. D'Augelli is seeking to obtain a
large number of lgbt youth from different parts of the country who
are at least 18 years old to complete a survey about their
experiences. They survey should take about one hour and has questions
about personal background, family relationships, and experiences with
different kinds of victimization.

We are seeking organized groups of lgbt youth interested in
participating in the research. Only groups with an advisor,
facilitator, counselor, or coordinator of some kind can help. The
adult contact person will be sent a packet of surveys and will be
asked to send them back to Penn State after they are completed. The
requirement of having someone supervise the surveys is intended to
protect the privacy of people taking the survey and to assure that
they are fully informed about the project.

Research on lgbt youth is extremely important so that we can develop
programs that provide support in the most helpful ways. Your
participation in the project will be of tremendous help in bringing
the needs of lgbt youth to the attention of legislators, school
administrators and policy-makers.

If you are able to help, email Dr. Tony D'Augelli at
ard@psuvm.psu.edu, sending the name and contact information about the
person will be supervise the distribution of the surveys. Or, you can
mail Dr. D'Augelli at Department of Human Development and Family
Studies, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802.
Phone: 814-863-0241.  Fax: 814-863-7963.

This project has been approved by Penn State's office on research on
human subjects. You may contact this office at 814-863-8699.

Thank you for your help. Tony D'Augelli
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Mike Reddin
Volunteer GLB Youth Advisor
for Children's Animated Television
Internet Address: wxman@pcix.com
Mike has an area on our Web site dedicated to GLB youth:
http://www1.usa1.com/~furball/glb/glb.html/

What if???
~~~~~~~~~~
A new feature to the popular CAT Chronicle is "What if???"
Our President, Claude DiDomenica will be writing a weekly column to
stimulate the minds of our youth and adults who haven't lost their
"youthful imaginations..."

What if our spiritual development was at the same pace as our
technological development??? Things would certainly be a lot better
for all of us! We live in a time when technology has outpaced our
wisdom to use it for the betterment of humanity and our planet. The
same Biotechnology that promises a cure for cancer is used to produce
biological weapons. For the first time in history, an individual
person or a small group can reach the world through the Internet and
World Wide Web. A small grassroots non-profit organization such as
CAT can literally reach millions of potential supporters. This same
technology is being used to spread hate and misinformation on many
fronts... Something to think about...

Claude DiDomenica didom@usa1.com

The CAT Credo...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Children's Animated Television (CAT) believes in a positive future
for all children...

CAT's philosophy is to help solve today's complex social problems
through honest and open dialogue, education, information and
compromise...

CAT will produce video programs for pre-teens and teens to stimulate
their minds, harness their creativity and imaginations to cultivate
long-lasting answers to problems in their world...

As a public service, CAT will also provide educational information
using all available technology including a computer bulletin board,
World Wide Web site and other electronic media. CAT will supply this
knowledge for children, parents and educators to enable our society
to develop ideas and solutions for a better tomorrow...

Claude DiDomenica & Bessie Hadley
Founders of Children's Animated Television
July 15, 1995
---------------------------------------------------------------------
To subscribe to "The CAT Chronicle" via E-Mail:
E-Mail to didom@usa1.com  Subject: Subscribe CAT Chronicle

CAT is a 501-C-3 non-profit organization and all donations
are tax-deductible as allowed by law.

Contact Information:
Bessie Hadley, Executive Director
Children's Animated Television, Inc.
1492 Highland Ave, Suite 3
Needham, MA 02192 USA
Voice:            617-449-9699    FAX:  617-449-2238
Dr Furball's BBS: 617-455-8415  node 1  617-433-0026 node 2
Internet:         hadley@usa1.com
Claude DiDomenica, President of CAT and Sysop of Dr Furball's BBS
Internet:         didom@usa1.com
CAT's WEB Home Page!!! http://www1.usa1.com/~furball/
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright 1995 Children's Animated Television, Inc.
	       All Rights Reserved
This newsletter may be freely distributed as long as it remains
intact and this notice is not removed. Please do not post on USENET,
FIDONET, WILDNET etc. without permission of the conference moderator.
				#  #  #
