The Spoken Word "Pass It on!"
                   Given by Lloyd D. Newell
                            March 1, 1998

          Life's true treasures are those we can share with
          others without ever reducing our own supply.
          Traits like kindness, courage, and happiness
          have no expiration dates.  They can be
          transferred from life to life and shared from
          generation to generation, with each new
          reflection further brightening the world.

          Among the most ennobling aspects of the human
          family is our ability to share what we feel and to
          teach what we know. By sharing the things that
          have enriched our lives, we make the world a
          better place. Through explanation and example,
          we can increase our own joy by offering it to
          others. As on expressed it: "Have you had a
          kindness shown? Pass it on!"

          The inherent powers of kindness, courage, and
          happiness lie in their ability to reproduce
          themselves when shared. Even the simplest acts
          of generosity and goodness may be amplified by
          grateful human hearts until they reach eternity. In
          ever-widening ripples--like those that silently
          spread after a rock is thrown into still pond--the
          influence of doing good to a single individual
          may expand in every direction.

          By passing on the best that we know and the
          best that we are, we are changing the
          world--sometimes even during our daily
          routines. A new mother gently rocks her baby to
          sleep with a lullaby she learned from her
          grandmother. In snarled traffic a patient driver
          allows someone to merge, and that car's grateful
          driver extends the same courtesy to others.
          Members of a family extend the same warm
          welcome they received when they moved into
          the neighborhood to the next new arrivals.

          Each day we have the chance to blaze trails of
          character and compassion that our families can
          follow. Each day we can share our happiness
          with friends and offer kindness to strangers. And
          each day we can be courageous and patient in
          enduring our trials. Ultimately, what we pass on
          to others will outlive us.

          We become architects of eternity when we live
          the present moment well, using unselfish hands
          to share lasting values and to create timeless
          memories. Some of life's most enduring and
          inspiring gifts will forever bless the lives of others
          if we will simply remember to pass them on.