| Inspiration & History for B.L.U.E. Coalition |
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| B.L.U.E. Coalition was inspired by 3 things in my life. The First was the Woodsy Owl Give a hoot Dont Polute Campaigns of the 70's which I took part in at Domeric Elementary school in Winter Park Florida sometime in the late 70's. Thats where I got the ideas to do Beach Clean ups and commuinty clean ups. The Second was my very close friend the Late Doug Stegmeyer aka: Slug Douglas who was also the bass guitar player for Billy Joel for roughly 15 years. He was like an older Brother to me. We wrote and recorded music together in the early 90's. He was all heart, the greatest friend I have ever had. I was a teenager when I met him. He kept me off drugs . I was a pretty wild kid back in my teenage years. Working with him was the coolest thing in the world. He inspired me to be good in the world. in August of 1995 he passed away in his recording studio. I think about him everyday. His spirit is always with me. In his name I will always do good. Click on his picture to be taken to his memorial page. The third thing that inspires me is the Movie "Gone With the Wind" which I have watched over 400 times. Its an epic story of a women (Scarlet O'Hara Played by Vivian Leigh) who overcomes all odds and never gives up in life no matter how much the world throws at her. The story of how the movie was put together was just as inspiring. |
| B.L.U.E. Coalition aka: Better Life Unity Education Coalition was originally named "No More Ghettos Coalition" and its purpose was sort of an urban renewal mission. To clean up the urban areas of New York so there would be NO MORE GHETTOS. We did community clean ups in Harlem (where no one but me showed up) and Beach Clean ups where we had the help fo local boy scout troops. The organization was started my a co worker of mine named Josh (dont know where he is these days) and then was also supported by some friends of mine of my Masonic Lodge. After a few short months of our creation July 7th 2000 (Aniversary of Vivian leighs death) we named our organization B.L.U.E. Coalition. I was told we needed to get rid of the "No More Ghettos" name by an advisor. So one day I was laying in the grass in the park in Westchester (Rockafella Park) and looked into the Blue Sky and said thats it. Blue.... Blue Coalition. We did public service annoucements, safe boating classes and started an environmental education documentary. But due to no funding and lots of rejection letters of foundations who found our mission not important enough (yes I am bitter about rejection letters) our environmental documentarty never got finished. In 2003 I moved to Orlando Florida. I Joined the Bahia Shriners and made raising money through B.L.U.E. Coalition for the "Shriners Hospital for Children" part of our mission. I did a Christmas CD with help of some friends of mine in the Eastern Star and Rainbow Girls. In spring of 2007 after hearing on the Radio (Rush Limbaugh Show) that it was reported by the World Health Organization that the #1 Leading Cause of Death in the World was Road Traffic Accidents for people 10-24 years old. I decided that "Safe Driving" was Blue Coalitoins new mission. Through my life I have witnessed a great many auto accidents and roadside memorials are all over Orlando as it is one of the most dangerous places to Drive in the world. Although I recognize many organizatoins addressing the drunk driving fatal accidents what makes up roughly 40% of all accidents, I noticed not much being mentioned about the other 60% of all fatal auto accidents which include speeding, road rage, reckless driving, falling asleep at the wheel, drag racing and just people who have no consideration for laws and other drivers on the road. So through many efforts for as long as I live B.L.U.E. Coalition will be addressing all causes of auto accidents. World Wide "Safe Driving" Public Service Annoucement campaigns, educational safe driving documentaries, candle light vigils and many other proejcts will be key to our success in reducing fatal auto accidents. "Be Wise, Be Kind, Be Civilized When You Drive" Christopher J. Wauben |