It is December 2010 and it is hard to believe yet another year has cruised by.

We (Bonnie and Marlene) thought you would want to know what was done this year with your donations.

January: In January we were quiet as Marlene's son Matt's memorial date is January 1 and Bonnie’s son Tim's memorial date is January 21.

Marlene and Bonnie did join the conference call with the Tallahassee Office of Suicide Prevention Council meeting on January 13^th. We discussed, among other things, the preparation for the Day at the Capital in March.

February: Bonnie taught suicide prevention to both Cordova Massage School and at Loraine's Academy.

March: We were both kept very busy during March. On March 7^th, we went to Washington DC to the Suicide Prevention Network (SPAN) conference. SPAN is the political arm of American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

We went to the “Hill” and advocated for the continuation of the Garrett Lee Smith Suicide Prevention Bill that has since passed.

We were also were looking for someone to propose a new bill that would instruct President Obama to send letters of condolence to those in the armed forces that die by suicide. Currently, the President sends letters of condolence to all those who die by any other cause.

Since our visit, Congressman Bill Young agreed to introduce that bill to Congress.

On the 24^th, Bonnie and Marlene headed to Tallahassee for Suicide Prevention Day at the Capital. This year, Debbie Nelis, whose son, Nick, died by suicide, joined us as we visited our congressmen and senators.

We were looking for a Representative and a Senator to introduce a bill promoted by the Office of Suicide Prevention to allow teachers to receive CEU’s for taking a suicide prevention course. Representative Heller, from St Petersburg, introduced the bill in the house.

Our Lifekeeper Quilts were displayed in the rotunda all that day.

April: On the first of the month, Bonnie and Marlene went to USF to sit on a panel of survivors of suicide. The purpose of the panel was to educate on the devastation left behind when a loved one dies by suicide. To see this panel, go to http://onlinelearningincmh.com; scroll down to Community Awareness; click Suicide Survivor Panel; click Login as a guest.

We had the good fortune to meet Matthew Cook, who is a counselor for PEMHS that day. Matthew Cook and Bonnie discussed forming a support group for survivors of suicide and hence our new support group called HALOS (Healing after a Loved One’s Suicide) began to be formed.

Bonnie received a scholarship to go to the American Association of Suicideology’s 43^rd Annual Conference in Orlando 21-23 and the 22^nd Healing after Suicide Conference. Our Lifekeeper Quilts were on display during both of the conferences.

May: We started our HALOS (Healing After a Loved Ones Suicide) an open, that means you can come any time to our support group. We meet the 1^st and 3^rd Tuesdays of each month at 7pm at PEMHS 11254-58^th Street, Pinellas Park, 33782 check our website www.suncoastyr.org for details.

June: On the 4^th, Governor Crist signed the education bill allowing teachers to get CEU’s for taking Suicide Prevention courses of which we are approved to teach. Yes!

July: A very quiet month as we prepared for Suicide Prevention and Awareness Week in September.

August: We started to collect proclamations from cities, counties and a special proclamation from Governor Crist for Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention and Awareness Week.

September: The 5^th – 11^th was Suicide Prevention and Awareness Week. This year we outdid ourselves in collecting proclamations. We received 2 from Governor Crist, 3 from counties and 19 from cities. We were touched by stories of thanks from different city commissioners that told us how we made a difference.

In one case, a city commissioner, who is also a teacher, took note of the warning signs and risk factors and brought a student to the counselor's office who in turn called in the parents. This student acknowledged that he did have a plan to complete suicide over the holidays. He received treatment and is back in school with the teacher who took the time to pay attention.

On the 11^th of September, we had our 8th annual Evening of Remembrance on Madeira Beach. What a beautiful night where we enjoyed a drumming circle along with our candlelight service.

Marlene and Bonnie were invited to the PACE awards on the 23^rd at the Palladium in St Petersburg where, again, we displayed our LifeKeeper Quilts.

On the 29^th, we took our Quilts to a suicide prevention seminar at Community Hospital in Tampa.

October: On the 4^th, Bonnie went to Suncoast Kid’s Place in Tampa to train their staff to be instructors in the Yellow Ribbon Program. We now have a chapter within our chapter. We are so excited to have this awesome opportunity to be a part of this education and awareness being taught.

On the 23^rd of the month, the 1st Out of the Darkness Community Walk for AFSP was held in St. Petersburg. Bonnie brought the Quilts to be displayed. It was a beautiful day for a lovely walk along the bay and a chance to be with others who have lost loved ones to suicide and walk this walk. Debbie Daharsh and friends did a terrific job.

November: On the 17^th November, there was a fundraiser for AFSP at The Venue in Clearwater. We were there with the Quilts.

On the 18^th, Bonnie taught at Richard Sanders School for The Great American Teach – In.

On the 20^th, was National Suicide Survivors Day. We had the first conference here in Pinellas County at the Largo Library. We were there and enjoyed the conference and we displayed the Quilts.

December: We had our fourth Annual Suicide Prevention Motorcycle Run.

I am sure there is much more that we have done with your donations but printing costs are our biggest expense. Please help us make a difference. We cannot bring back our loved ones, but we can be their voices. As Tim McClelland said in his note: “learn from this and help each other.”

Thanks to all who have supported us, come to our events and speak up and make a difference in other peoples lives. We know we are never alone on our quest to make a difference with suicide education awareness and support for survivors.

Donations: We are a 501(c)(3) tax deductible organization. If you had someone special in your life that you will soon start the New Year without and you would like to remember them, please go to SuncoastYR.org and click Make a Donation. Please let us know who you are remembering along with your donation and we will include them on our Thank You section on the website.

Thanks, Bonnie McClelland and Marlene Jehs.