| OCR Text |
Show 6,500 youths and parents attend Drug-free youth conference called 'tremendous success' By GARY R. BLODGETT SALT LAKE CITY There was something for everyone at the recent Utah Federation for Drug-Free Drug-Free Youth Conference held at the Salt Palace. More than 6,500 youths and their parents responded to the two-days of featured speakers and workshops. work-shops. The Friday-Saturday seminar semi-nar is believed to be the largest of its kind ever conducted with a total attendance of between 6,500 and 7,000, about 1 ,500 more than a year ago. "The conference has been a tremendous success, not only for attendance but for participation of the youth and their parents in the workshops that were held," said Marva Jones, of Bountiful, general chairman of the conference. From the opening keynote address by Marcus Allen, 1981 Heisman Trophy winner and running run-ning back for the Los Angeles Raiders of the National Football League, to the closing remarks by Gov. Norman H. Bangcrter and U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, R-Utah, the Salt Palace was a beehive of activities. Some of the best-known speakers speak-ers on drugs and alcohol in the country, as well as several top speakers from the Salt Lake area, were involved in motivating the youth to get "A natural high by saying 'no' to drugs." Following the theme, "Reach for a Natural High," the fourth-annual fourth-annual conference was highlighted Saturday morning with two full-house full-house performances of "It's My Life," a hard-hitting stage production produc-tion written by Carol Lynn Pearson with music by Lex de Azcvcdo. Utah Symphony Hall was packed for both performances. Marcus Allen got the conference off on a high plane with his soul-searching soul-searching comments and encouragement encour-agement to youth to "being a trailblazer and not a follower." "It all starts at home by setting early goals (he wanted to be a pro football player at age 8) and to prepare pre-pare for your lifetime of dreams by staying cool and drugs and alcohol alco-hol are not cool," he said. "I work with young children in the Los Angeles School District and I know how hard it is to turn away from drug offers. Drugs and alcohol are everywhere but you still must say 'no' by keeping a high self-esteem and knowing that drugs are harmful," he said. Elder Vaughn J. Featherstone, president of the Utah South Area, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Latter-day Saints, told how a spiritual commitment is essential to overcome over-come drug and alcohol problems regardless of your religious faith. He encouraged the youth to have faith in a divine being; to maintain a high self-esteem; and to "come unto Christ" with your problems and needs. "Blessings will come from spiritual spir-itual commitment," he stressed. "God (or a supreme being) is available avail-able to help you 24 hours a day. He is our Father with a personal interest in-terest and unconditional love for everyone." Assistant BYU football coach Chris Pclla outlined four "D's" for helping athletes to succeed: (1) desire, de-sire, (2) dedication, (3) discipline, and (4) determination. Speaking on desire, he urged the youth that it is better to "try and fail than to fail to try." He said "desire is what keeps us going." Relating a story of another athlete, Coach Pclla told of a little boy, partially handicapped with bone disease, meeting the great Jim Brown of the Cleveland Browns outside the lattcr's dressing room. "I want to tell you something," the little boy said with n smile, as he tugged at the football star's pants. "1 may be crippled now, but some day I'm going to play profes- sional football and I'm going to break all your records." That little boy was O.J. Simpson and he did break all but three of the long-standing football records held by Jimmy Brown. The large Assembly Hall in the Salt Palace was filled for a panel discussion of sports celebrities, moderated by Craig Bollerjack, of KSL Television. The panel was comprised of Diane Ellingson, all-American all-American gymnast from the University Uni-versity of Utah; Steve Young, former for-mer BYU football great and quarterback quar-terback of the San Francisco 49ers ; Karl Malone and Thurl Bailey, representing rep-resenting the Utah Jazz; John Moore, Natural Mr. International, 1986 and 1987; and Becky Trimble, high school all-state basketball player from Woods Cross High and a member of BYU's women's cage team. Other Friday speakers included John Alston, "Strive for Excellence;" Excel-lence;" Richard Eyre, "Balancing family, school, work and social needs;" U.S. Attorney Brent Ward, "Drugs and the law;" Craig R. Nichols, "AIDS in Utah and the nation;" Otto Moulton, "Misinformation "Misinfor-mation media and in print;" Andy Anderson, an undercover agent, "Is There a Dmg Problem in Utah;" Lewis Hancock, "When drugs hit home;" and a drug addict and alcoholic told "how it was. what it was like, and how it is now." Among Saturday's workshop speakers were Dr. Victor Clinc, author of "How To Make Your Child A Winner;" Dan Clark, "Getting High, how to really do it;" Dr. Austin M. Chiles. "How to use warmth, empathy, and genuineness with your friends;" Dr. David T. Seamons. "You can make a difference;" Claudia Magcc "Parents helping parents with tough love;" Lynn Mikcl. "Resisting peer pressure;" and David R. Mike, "You were born to succeed." |
