Keep your eyes open for the upcoming Reality Parties.  There will be Reality Parties hosted statewide by the local Area Prevention Resource Centers.  Reality Parties are for adults only, however, they portray the reality of house parties that are taking place not only in our area, but across the nation.  The purpose of Reality Parties is to bring in parents, law enforcement, city officials and community members to see the truth of what is taking place with our young people.  The Oklahoma Prevention Needs Assessment survey has shown that in our area the majority of our youth that are obtaining alcohol are doing so either at a party or from someone else’s parent.  There is a reason the national age to drink is 21.  Drinking before then can cause vast damage to a young developing brain that is actually not fully developed until around the age of 21.  Many municipalities in Oklahoma County have already passed a Social Host ordinance and others are in the process.  Social host allows law enforcement to hold whoever is sponsoring the party responsible in order to decrease youth access to alcohol at private parties.  Reality Party is tentatively set for mid-November, please watch for more details to come.

Eagle Ridge Institute has partnered with Taylor Group Event Management to produce the Annual Oklahoma City Turkey Trot. Taylor Group’s Jeff Kidder (President) and Thomas Hill (CEO) met the week after this year’s race and signed an agreement with ERI to manage the event.

The Annual OKC Turkey Trot has been a major fund raiser for ERI over the last 9 years. Under the agreement with Taylor Group the race will continue to raise money for ERI. “The OKC Turkey Trot has the potential to be a significant fund raising event,” said Jeff Kidder, “and it can also be a way for many more people in Oklahoma City to learn about this great organization and remain involved long after the race is over.”

In 2008 the race drew over 1000 participants and the event has grown each year from the couple hundred that showed up the first year the race was held. “Dorothy Herring has done a fantastic job as race director for all these years.” said John Mayfield, President of ERI, “partnering with the Taylor Group will allow the race to move up to the next level, and free us to do more of what we are here to do.”