Local Boat yacht owners and Fort Lauderdale residents volunteer their time and resources to take 20 homeless and runaway youth staying at the Covenant House on a ½ day fishing trip. They had the time of their life and it made them feel appreciated.
(PRWEB) October 25, 2005 -- Lt. Colonel Bob Weinstein, keynote and seminar speaker, writer and beach boot camp instructor who is retired from the army reserve, organized the fishing trip with the help of his clients Andy and Lorah Carrie of Essentials Boutique and Kyle Meyer, President and CEO of Builder Financial with main office in Fort Lauderdale.
For the past two years, Lt. Col. Weinstein has been taking homeless and runaway youth as a volunteer of the Covenant House for a beach boot camp workout designed to be fun and motivating.
Asked about why he donates his time for these youth, Col. Weinstein replies, “I have become attached to the kids. They are so appreciative.”
Several stories from the youth have really touched his heart.
One young man of 17 talked about how his mother said to him, “I don’t want you anymore.” He maintained his composure as he told this story although it was evident in his eyes that he was impacted by this. He was friendly and calm. “I had a hard time maintaining my composure as I listened to this story. All these kids really want is someone that cares.”
Weinstein takes the time to ask each youth where he or she comes from, what they are now doing and what they would like to be after training and school.
During the beach fitness classes he is constantly looking for opportunities to motivate, praise and inspire them.
One of his favorites is to ask them as a group, “What do you do when you fall down?” And they respond, “Get back up!” This question is shouted several times and they shout back, “Get back up!” And Col. Weinstein asks again, “How many times?” The youth respond, “Every time!” “That’s the right answer! As many times as it takes!” Col. Weinstein reiterates. “If the cause is worthy and noble, never, ever give up.”
“People are inspired by and admire those who go through difficult circumstances and never give-up to overcome and eventually be victorious.” Weinstein uses the example of the boxer in the ring who finds the determination within to keep getting up to continue the fight even though he is knocked down many times. Who is the crowd cheering loudest for? It’s the boxer demonstrating his will and determination to survive and keep going.”
Then there are the many one-on-one discussions. Once when Col. Weinstein was talking about the importance of focusing on helping and caring for others, one of the youth said, “I don’t need anyone’s help.” Needless to say, the Health Colonel enlightened this juvenile on just how dependent we are on each other. He emphasized that true happiness comes from doing something that benefits others.
The Covenant House is the largest privately-funded childcare agency in the United States providing shelter and service to homeless and runaway youth. It was incorporated in New York City in 1972 and has since expanded in the United States to Anchorage, Atlanta, Atlantic City, Detroit, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark, New Orleans, Oakland, Orlando, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Washington, D. C., and, outside the United States, to Toronto, Vancouver, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and Nicaragua.
For more info: http://www.covenanthouse.org/
About Lt. Col. Weinstein:
Lt. Col. Weinstein was born in Washington, D.C., grew up in Virginia and spent twenty years in Berlin, Germany; he is retired from the Army Reserve as a Lieutenant Colonel with 30 years of service and spent about half of that time as a military instructor with the Command & General Staff College.
He has been featured on radio and television, among others, on the History Channel and Fox Sports Net as well as in various publications such as the Washington Times, RAZOR magazine and the Herald. He is also on the Expert Panel of 24 experts for the New York based company called Affinity Solutions as their Health and Fitness Adviser as a service to other national companies and their employees.
His background is unique and diverse: military instructor, attorney, motivational speaker, wellness coach, certified corporate trainer, and certified personal trainer. Bob is fluent in German and English.
In furthering the health and wellness aspect of his military years, he started his own business "The Health Colonel" and specializes in a military-style workout on Fort Lauderdale Beach that incorporates strength, cardio, flexibility and agility training, both personal training and group sessions.
Bob is known as the Health Colonel and is a motivational speaker on topics of leadership, team building, sales, fitness, nutrition, health, wellness and the importance of interrelationships of people. You can find out more about his programs at www.NoMoreCryBabies.com.
He is also presently writing a book on health and wellness.
His burning desire is to help others lead healthier and happier lives and reduce some of the preventable health-related suffering and deaths caused by an unhealthy lifestyle.
Some of Bob’s clients as a speaker: Sony, American Express, KPMG, AOL Latin America, IBM, AARP and Humana.
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