MAY IS… “Creative Beginnings Month”: Enjoy the budding month of May while discovering something new about yourself. Enroll in a course, write a poem, plant a garden, coordinate a social event. For info call Christina Bergenholtz 508-839-5139, email chrismhb@aol.com.
“Healthy Vision Month”: To inform the public that preventative eye care is important because eye conditions, diseases and injuries that can rob a person’s vision can strike at any time in life. Call the American Academy of Ophthalmology 415-447-0258, email eyemd@aao.org. See www.aao.org/eyemd.
“International Victorious Woman Month”: Celebrates the woman who has shaped life’s challenges into distinct victories. Encourages others to strive toward overcoming difficulties and influences them to achieve their own personal victories. Call Annmarie Kelly, SkillBuilder Systems 610-738-8225. email annmarie@victoriouswoman.com.
“MS Awareness Month”: Multiple Sclerosis is unpredictable, affecting vision, hearing, memory, balance and mobility. See www.mssociety.ca.
“National Barbecue Month”: To encourage people to start enjoying barbecuing early in the season. Call Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association 703-522-0086. See www.hpba.org.
“Personal History Month”: To raise awareness and appreciation for preserving life stories by providing professional services to help record and publish those stories. See www.personallhistorians.org.
“Young Achievers Month”: International Leadership Network’s Young Achievers/Leaders of Tomorrow Program recognizes and encourages positive achievement, behaviour, leadership and service. Call Tom Eichhorst 314-961-5978, email inleadnet@aol.com. See www.ilnleadnet.com.
May 1 “May Day”: Observed as a holiday since ancient times with Spring Festivals, Maypoles and celebrations. But the political importance of May Day has also grown since the 1880’s when it became workers day in the U.S. Observed as Labour Day in many countries. Bermuda, Canada and the US are the only countries that observe Labour Day in September.
May 1 “School Principal’s Day”: To recognize all the good work, leadership and dedication to providing the best possible education for our children. For information call Janet Dellaria 906-852-3539.
May 1 “Stepmothers Day”: A day to honour stepmothers who care! For info email Susan Wilkins-Hubley secondwivesclub.com@gmail.com. Web: www.secondwivesclub.com.
May 2-19 “Canadian Tulip Festival”: The world’s largest festival with more than 3 million tulips in bloom in Ottawa. The event grew out of a thank-you gift of bulbs from the Dutch Royal Family. Call 613-567-5757. Email info@tulipfestival.ca. Web: www.tulipfestival.ca.
May 5 “Cartoonists Day”: To honour all those who use their imagination and a few pens to bring their ideas to life and give us a laugh via the daily paper, magazines, TV and the movies. Call Ken Alvine 605-336-9434 or e-mail kenalvine@qwest.net.
May 6 “National Teacher Day”: To pay tribute to educators, sponsored by the National Education Association. Call 202-833-4000. web: www.nea.org. Listeners nominate the area's best teachers, those who've made an impact on them personally or have provided service above and beyond their job description. Sell an awards program to a sponsor who donates something of value to each nominee and a grand prize for the best teacher as determined by listeners. Post all nominees and winners on web site.
May 6 “No Diet Day”: A day to stop dieting and stop hazardous weight-loss attempts. Find out the 10 reasons not to diet by emailing Francie Berg at fmberg@healthyweight.net (please put “Berg-No Diet Day” in subject line). Web www.healthyweight.net.
May 10 “Astronomy Day”: To take astronomy to the people. Observed internationally on a Saturday near the first quarter moon between mid-April and mid-May. Call Gary E. Tomlinson 616-784-9518, email gtomlins@sbcglobal.net, see www.astroleague.org.
May 10 “National Babysitters Day”: To give babysitters appreciation and special recognition for their quality child care. Call Barbara Baldwin 210-695-9838, email bbaldwin@satx.rr.com. See www.safetywhys.com.
May 11 “Eat what you want Day”: Ignore all those on-again/off-again warnings. Have your morning show give away free lunches today at different ethnic restaurants where Jocks are doing lunch time remotes. Or sell remote at all you can eat buffet and offer a discounted price.
May 11 “Mother’s Day: 100th Anniversary”: The second Sunday in May. The first celebrations in honour of mothers were held in the spring in ancient Greece. They paid tribute to Rhea, the Mother of the Gods. In 1907 Anna Jarvis in Philadelphia, PA asked her church to hold a service in memory of all mothers on the anniversary of her mother’s death. She later began a letter-writing campaign to create a Mother’s Day observance.
May 12 “Limerick Day”: Observed on the birthday of a Limerick champion called Edward Lear. He published a book of Limericks in the 18th century call Edward Lear’s Book of Nonsense. Lots of limericks at http://home.earthlink.net/~kristenaa/.
May 16 “National Bike to Work Day”: Encourages the use of bikes so we become healthy, and help the environment as well. Communities, corporations, clubs, and individuals are invited to sponsor bicycling activities during the month of May in order to increase awareness and acceptance of bicycling throughout the country. Call Patrick McCormick 202-822-1333. Email bikeleague@bikeleague.org. Web www.bikeleague.org.
May 21 “Victoria Day”: Commemorates the birth of Queen Victoria on May 24th 1819. It is a national holiday in Canada. Observed on the first Monday preceding May 25th.
May 18 “International Museum Day”: To pay tribute to museums of the world. Observed annually on May 18 since 1977. For info call ICOM-US 202-289-9115, email aam-icom@aam-us.org.
May 21 “I Need a Patch for That Day” They have patches for nicotine and they have patches for heart patients. How about a Patch for “bad hair day” or “runny noses. Phone 717-279-0184 or email: info@wellcat.com.
May 24 “Brothers Day” Celebration of brotherhood for biological brothers, fraternity brothers, brothers bonded by union affiliation or lifetime experiences. For info: Daniel Rhodes - Phone 205-908-6781. email rhodan@charter.net.
May 25 “National Missing Children’s Day” To promote awareness of the problem of missing children. Toll Free Hot Line Number (800) I-AM-LOST. Email information@childfindofamerica.org.
May 26 “Memorial Day (US)”: Legal public holiday in the United States, in honour of those who have died in battle.
May 28-June 2 “Annapolis Valley Apple Blossom Festival”: Windsor to Digby, NS. Annual festival with barbecues, sports events, art show, Princess Tea, coronation ceremonies, dances, concerts, fireworks, draft fair, children’s parade and more. Call Frances Anderson 902-678-8322, email info@appleblossom.com, see www.appleblossom.com. |