IU Dance Marathon Miracle Makers Handbook

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IU Dance MarathonMiracle Makers Handbook

• Everything you need to know and more!

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• To create a Dance Marathon, a dynamic
  organization of friends in community, that will
  provide hope for the ill children of Riley
  Hospital for Children by generating funds which
  will be used to build the Ryan White Infectious
  Disease Center.
• Our diverse family of talented and dedicated
  student leaders will use compassion, strength,
  dedication, and vision to forge Dance Marathon
  into a lasting tradition of excellence in service
  to children in need.
• In an environment thriving on faith in each
  other, hope for the future, and inspiration to
  achieve, we will stretch the limits of our mind,
  body, and spirit to launch the most humanly
  diverse personally consuming experience at
  Indiana University.

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Do it for the Children

• Some call us a family and we are I would say.
• Cause we all came together in the very same way.
• To help those young children that may not live.
• And to look in ourselves and see what we can
  give.
  
• Were not here for the fame or involved for the
  glory.
  
• Were here cause these kids are a unique kind of
  story.
  
• See some will stay with us and some will surely
  die.
  
• And I wish I could tell you but I do not know
  why.
  
• Why these kids are born hurting with frowns on
  their faces.
  
• And spend most of their lives in hospital-type
  places.
  
• It tugs at your heart when those big tear-filled
  eyes
  
• Are looking up at you and asking why.
• Why their bodies dont work right and their world
  is so sad.
  
• So keep working hard people for those sick little
  ones
  
• And know deep in your heart that goods being
  done.
  
• Because what you are doing helps make miracles
  each day.
  
• For you give yourselves in an unselfish way.

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Ryan White

• IUDM was established to memorialize the
  courageous life and efforts of Ryan White.
  
• Ryan White was a typical 13-year-old when he was
  diagnosed with AIDS which he contracted through
  contaminated blood products he had been given for
  his hemophilia. When this news became more
  public, his school district in Kokomo, Indiana,
  denied him the right to return to classes. The
  ensuing court battles made headlines all over the
  country because Ryan had to fight not only the
  school district, but the fearful, misinformed
  community.
• Ryan won the right to return to school, but this
  battle with the community and the disease itself
  had just begun. The White's struggled through
  many traumatic experiences at the hand of the
  people in the community. The family dealt with
  the fear and anger of these people on a daily
  basis hoping that eventually things would return
  to normal. However, after a bullet was fired into
  the White home, the family moved to Cicero,
  Indiana, where they found peace.
• Throughout his own struggles with the disease and
  public misconceptions, Ryan spoke out. He
  combated those misconceptions and called for
  compassionate treatment of all AIDS sufferers. He
  appeared at schools and fundraisers across the
  country and testified before the President's
  Commission on AIDS. National Celebrities such as
  Michael Jackson and Elton John became his friends
  and offered their support.
• After a courageous struggle, Ryan White died on
  April 8, 1990, the spring before he had planned
  to attend Indiana University. His fight to help
  those afflicted with infectious diseases is
  continued, in part, by the Indiana University
  Dance Marathon Council. In memory of Ryan's life
  and work, the annual Dance Marathon benefits
  Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis and
  established the Ryan White Infectious Disease
  Center.

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IU Dance Marathon History

• Just days after Ryan White passed away, his
  friend, Jill Stewart, sat in the office of Jeff
  Jones, who would later be IU Dance Marathon
  Council's first advisor and discussed a way for
  IU students to carry on Ryan's name and efforts.
  The idea of a dance marathon was mentioned, as
  Penn States 48-hour dance marathon had received
  top student event honors in a contest the year
  before. The rest is history. Jill and twelve
  other student leaders established the IU Dance
  Marathon Council in February 1991. They visited
  Penn State and committed themselves to making
  IU's even better.
• The First Annual Dance Marathon was held on
  October 26-28, 1991. It was a 36-hour fundraising
  event. Through the dedication and hard work of
  students the Dance Marathon has grown very
  rapidly in just a few years. In 1991, 11,000 was
  raised. Since then, nearly Five million dollars
  have been raised for the Riley Hospital for
  Children. In addition, five high schools have
  marathons that help raise money for Dance
  Marathon. The Dance Marathon has become a
  tradition at IU, and has found its place in the
  hearts of many students.
• The IU Dance Marathon's slogan, "The Chance of a
  Lifetime, to Give a Lifetime of Chance,"
  professes the actions and purpose of this event.

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Dance Marathon Countdown
Oct/Nov 2007
Mon
Sun
Tue
Thu
Wed
Fri
Sat
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Miracle Makers 101Slide 1

• Remember that you are at Dance Marathon to
  motivate the dancers thats the primary role of
  Miracle Makers. Dancers should be treated with
  respect, extreme consideration, and admiration in
  return for what they are doing for the kids.
• Entertaining the dancers, try to make it
  interactive. Initiate games, tell jokes, talk
  with them not at them. Try to learn the dancers
  names.
• If you find dancers struggling, be compassionate.
  Dont try and reason with them or tell them they
  are wrong. It is a good idea to walk around with
  them and help them find other people they know.
• Be alert and watch for distress signals! Look for
  such things as tears, disorientation, limping,
  facial expressions, falling asleep while
  standing, violence, abnormal talking and
  self-immersion. If dancer seems to be in trouble
  see if you can talk them through it. If they
  continue to have trouble or you spot physical
  difficulties, take them to a Morale Captain (tie
  dye shirt) or the Emergency Medical Technicians
  immediately.
• Be a happy face for the dancers never act bored
  or tired!!!
  
• Keep the dancers moving, even if its just
  swaying from side to side. Encourage dancers to
  stretch out.
  
• Bring toys with you to entertain the dancers.
  Golf balls for them to roll their feet on, stress
  balls, or any other games.

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Miracle Makers 101Slide 2

• 7. Dont WEAR WATCHES ON THE DANCE FLOOR!!!!! Ask
  any person wearing a watch to remove it. It is
  better that the dancers dont know what time it
  is.
• 8. Put your heart into every conversation and
  massage. The dancers can tell when you give it
  your all and it makes a big difference!
  
• 9.Keep an eye on dancers that are having a hard
  time. If you switch shifts or leave the floor,
  make sure someone knows who to watch.
  
• 10. You are there for any dancer who needs your
  support!
  
• 11. Dont cluster with your friends. Go find
  someone who needs your help and encouragement.
  
• 12. Tell the dancers jokes and stories. Try to
  get them into conversation about things other
  than Dance Marathon. But if they dont want to
  talk, leave them alone.
• 13. Never talk about sleeping, sitting, or going
  home while at Dance Marathon. Dancers can hear
  you and since they cant do any of these things,
  it may upset them.
• 14. Ask dancers if they could use a massage. (Ask
  if their calves and back hurt)
  

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Fundraising

• Making Miracles in 07
• Although being part of Dance Marathon is fun and
  exciting, we must not lose sight of our main
  objectives to save childrens lives by raising
  money for the Ryan White Infectious Disease
  Center.
• Every Miracle Makers has a Goal in 2007 of
  contributing 150 to be able to participate in
  Dance Marathon
  
• WAYS TO RAISE
• Canning
• Letter Writing
• Telephone calls
• Visit www.IUDM.org for further explanation and
  more ideas

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• Attend all meetings and be on time
• Attend all dance marathon events
• Be organized and efficient
• Listen and communicate with all Miracle Makers
• Keep a positive attitude
• Raise lots of for Riley
• Have Fun!!!!

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• Attend all meetings and be on time
• Participate in Dance Marathon Events
• FUNDRAISE, FUNDRAISE, FUNDRAISE, FUNDRAISE!!!
• Remember why we are here keep the marathon fun
  for the dancers and to help the kids at
  Riley!!!!
  
• Most importantly HAVE FUN!!!!

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Contact Information

• Please email all conflicts to
•  iudm.miraclemakers_at_gmail.com
• By October 28 at 1159pm