calvin f. williams, jr. » Community http://calvinwilliamsjr.com one man. one vision. unlimited potential. Sun, 25 Dec 2011 13:54:31 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 Teenagers, Instant Messaging and Situations http://calvinwilliamsjr.com/2010/05/25/teenagers-instant-messaging-and-situations/ http://calvinwilliamsjr.com/2010/05/25/teenagers-instant-messaging-and-situations/#comments Tue, 25 May 2010 14:48:28 +0000 Calvin http://calvinwilliamsjr.com/?p=533 I received this as a forward and I usually never forward forwards but this one struck me. I wanted to read it because I was a child that grew up on the computer and this could had been me. Even more, with our currently culture, this can happen to even more children and I pray never to my own. Therefore, I hope you enjoy this and share it with those that you feel it could bless. Whether the story is true or not, it still sends a message that should be recieved by all considering the times we live in.

After tossing her books on the sofa, she decided to grab a snack and get on-line.. She logged on under her screen name ByAngel213. She checked her Buddy List and saw GoTo123 was on. She sent him an instant message:
ByAngel213:
Hi. I’m glad you are on! I thought someone was following me home today. It was really weird!
GoTo123:
LOL You watch too much TV. Why would someone be following you? Don’t you live in a safe neighborhood?
ByAngel213:
Of course I do. LOL I guess it was my imagination cuz’ I didn’t see anybody when I looked out.
GoTo123:
Unless you gave your name out on-line. You haven’t done that have you?
ByAngel213:
Of course not. I’m not stupid you know.
GoTo123:
Did you have a softball game after school today?
ByAngel213:
Yes, and we won!!
GoTo123:
That’s great! Who did you play?
ByAngel213:
We played the Hornets. LOL. Their uniforms are so gross! They look like bees. LOL
GoTo123:
What is your team called?
ByAngel213:
We are the Canton Cats. We have tiger paws on our uniforms. They are really cool.
GoTo123:
Did you pitch?
ByAngel213:
No, I play second base. I got to go. My homework has to be done before my parents get home. I don’t want them mad at me. Bye!
GoTo123:
Catch you later. Bye
Meanwhile, GoTo123 went to the member menu and began to search for her profile. When it came up, he highlighted it and printed it out. He took out a pen and began to write down what he knew about Angel so far.
Her name: Shannon
Birthday: Jan. 3, 1985
Age: 13
State where she lived: North Carolina
Hobbies: softball, chorus, skating and going to the mall.
Besides this information, he knew she lived in Canton because she had just told him. He knew she stayed by herself until 6:30 p.m. every afternoon until her parents came home from work. He knew she played softball on Thursday afternoons on the school team, and the team was named the Canton Cats. Her favorite number 7 was printed on her jersey. He knew she was in the eighth grade at the Canton Junior High School . She had told him all this in the conversations they had on- line. He had enough information to find her now.
Shannon didn’t tell her parents about the incident on the way home from the ballpark that day. She didn’t want them to make a scene and stop her from walking home from the softball games. Parents were always overreacting and hers were the worst. It made her wish she was not an only child. Maybe if she had brothers and sisters, her parents wouldn’t be so overprotective.
By Thursday, Shannon had forgotten about the footsteps following her. Her game was in full swing when suddenly she felt someone staring at her. It was then that the memory came back. She glanced up from her second base position to see a man watching her closely.
He was leaning against the fence behind first base and he smiled when she looked at him. He didn’t look scary and she quickly dismissed the sudden fear she had felt.
After the game, he sat on a bleacher while she talked to the coach. She noticed his smile once again as she walked past him. He nodded and she smiled back. He noticed her name on the back of her shirt. He knew he had found her.
Quietly, he walked a safe distance behind her. It was only a few blocks to Shannon ‘s home, and once he saw where she lived he quickly returned to the park to get his car.
Now he had to wait. He decided to get a bite to eat until the time came to go to Shannon ‘s house. He drove to a fast food restaurant and sat there until time to make his move.
Shannon was in her room later that evening when she heard voices in the living room. ”Shannon, come here,” her father called.. He sounded upset and she couldn’t imagine why. She went into the room to see the man from the ballpark sitting on the sofa.
“Sit down,” her father began, “this man has just told us a most interesting story about you.” Shannon sat back. How could he tell her parents anything? She had never seen him before today!
“Do you know who I am, Shannon ?” the man asked..
“No,” Shannon answered.
“I am a police officer and your online friend, GoTo123.”
Shannon was stunned. “That’s impossible! GoTo123 is a kid my age! He’s 14. And he lives in Michigan !”
The man smiled. “I know I told you all that, but it wasn’t true. You see, Shannon , there are people on-line who pretend to be kids; I was one of them. But while others do it to injure kids and hurt them, I belong to a group of parents who do it to protect kids from predators. I came here to find you to teach you how dangerous it is to talk to people on-line. You told me enough about yourself to make it easy for me to find you. You named the school you went to, the name of your ball team and the position you played. The number and name on your jersey just made finding you a breeze.”
Shannon was stunned. “You mean you don’t live in Michigan ?”
He laughed. “No, I live in Raleigh . It made you feel safe to think I was so far away, didn’t it?”
She nodded.
“I had a friend whose daughter was like you. Only she wasn’t as lucky. The guy found her and murdered her while she was home alone. Kids are taught not to tell anyone when they are alone, yet they do it all the time on-line. The wrong people trick you into giving out information a little here and there on-line. Before you know it, you have told them enough for them to find you without even realizing you have done it. I hope you’ve learned a lesson from this and won’t do it again. Tell others about this so they will be safe too?”
“It’s a promise!”
That night Shannon and her Dad and Mom thanked God for protecting Shannon from what could have been a tragic situation.
*****NOW****
EVEN FORWARD THIS TO PEOPLE WITHOUT KIDS SO THEY CAN SEND IT TO FRIENDS THAT DO HAVE CHILDREN OR GRANDCHILDREN.
]]> http://calvinwilliamsjr.com/2010/05/25/teenagers-instant-messaging-and-situations/feed/ 0 Keys to Starting a Non Profit http://calvinwilliamsjr.com/2010/02/19/keys-to-starting-a-non-profit/ http://calvinwilliamsjr.com/2010/02/19/keys-to-starting-a-non-profit/#comments Fri, 19 Feb 2010 15:15:48 +0000 Calvin http://calvinwilliamsjr.com/?p=516 Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership and Learning (WELL) presents…

Keys to Starting a Nonprofit Organization
Saturday, February 27, 2010, 9am—12:30pm at the
Nussbaum Center for Entrepreneurship
Attend three informative workshops:
1. Forming a North Carolina Nonprofit
Facilitator: Dennis Walsh, CPA
Learn the steps and cost of starting a nonprofit organization.
2. Operating Your Nonprofit Effectively
Facilitator: Dr. Julie Lapham
Learn how to avoid the pitfalls many nonprofits experience and simple strategies to grow your organization.
3. Grant Resources 101
Facilitator: Letitia Vann
Learn the various types of grants and how to conduct research to find foundations interested in funding your organization.
Just for You Catering will provide a continental breakfast and the workshop is free.
Register today.  Men are welcome to attend.
Join WELL Online and on Face Book

]]> http://calvinwilliamsjr.com/2010/02/19/keys-to-starting-a-non-profit/feed/ 0 I’m Collecting Donations for Haiti – List of Items Needed http://calvinwilliamsjr.com/2010/01/27/im-collecting-donations-for-haiti/ http://calvinwilliamsjr.com/2010/01/27/im-collecting-donations-for-haiti/#comments Wed, 27 Jan 2010 13:48:00 +0000 Calvin http://calvinwilliamsjr.com/?p=479 If you have not yet given to haiti, please take this as an opportunity to either look around your house at items you can give or go out and purchase. I am collecting items at my office and through my church will give to Haiti.

Please see the list of items below:

  • Blankets
  • Baby food
  • Batteries
  • Canned tuna
  • Soap
  • Toothpaste
  • Flip flops
  • Plated
  • Dust mask
  • Sleeping bags
  • Flashlights
  • Feminine hygiene products
  • Powdered evaporated milk
  • Band aids & first aid
  • Toothbrushes
  • Towels
  • Cups
  • Utensils
  • Medical supplies
  • Clothes

Please bring items already bagged or boxed as that would make it most easy for me to transport again. You can drop them off at my office (turn by turn directions provided) between the hours of 12pm and 5pm on Friday, January 29, 2010. Please call ahead to ensure that someone will be there, 336.510.9642.

Lets all take this opportunity to give to those in need.

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