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How do you build a better adult? Start off by building a better kid.
WHY MOTH?
More than 20 million boys currently live in
fatherless homes within the United States, while thousands more currently have
fathers overseas in the military. Society places a lot of expectations and
makes many general assumptions regarding males such as a competency in sports,
mechanics, tools, etc., and the emotional strength to maintain a stiff upper
lip* without the emotional development to express their feelings**. As a
result, many of these boys have an unaddressed void inside them, a feeling of
insecurity and incompetence and no resource to fulfill it. Ultimately these
boys can become frustrated and may express it through an array of negative and
antisocial behaviors.
Sources:
* J.S. Chafetz, Masculine/Feminine or Human? An Overview of the Sociology of
Gender Roles, F.E. Peacock Pub., l974; Second edition, l978.
**D. Kindlon and M. Thompson, Raising Cane: Protecting the Emotional Life of
Boys, Ballantine Pub. 1999)
Children from fatherless homes account for:
- 63% of youth suicides. (Source: US Dept. of Health & Human Services, Bureau of the Census).
- 71% of pregnant teenagers. (Source: US Dept. of Health & Human Services)
- 90% of all homeless and runaway children.
- 70% of juveniles in state-operated institutions come from fatherless homes (Source: U.S. Dept. of Justice, Special Report, Sept 1988)
- 85% of all children that exhibit behavioral disorders. (Source: Center for Disease Control).
- 80% of rapists motivated with displaced anger. (Source: Criminal Justice & Behavior, Vol. 14, p. 403-26, 1978).
- 71% of all high school dropouts.(Source: National Principals Association Report on the State of High Schools).
- 75% of all adolescent patients in chemical abuse centers.(Source: Rainbows for all God`s Children).
- 85% of all youths sitting in prisons.(Source: Fulton Co. Georgia jail populations, Texas Dept. of Corrections 1992).
MISSION AND PURPOSE
Man of the House, INC (MOTH) was
founded in October 2006 with the purpose of providing virtual mentorship and
developing instructional guidance for the physical, mental and social wellbeing
and enrichment of the lives of male youths 7-17 years of age who reside in
homes without male role models and male youths whose fathers are away from home
including in the military. MOTH provides "virtual" mentorship through
the development of multi-media instructional guidance including, a periodical
literary publication (MOTH magazine), an interactive internet website
(MOTHBoys.org), short instructional videos and comic book-like publications.
TARGET AUDIENCE
MOTH provides a resource for all
boys to obtain the answers and male guidance that may not be available within
their family circle. Through the free distribution of its resources and
partnerships with other charities MOTH targets boys living in single-mother
homes, living with grandparents, missing a father because of military service,
missing a father because of incarceration and other living situations in which
the father is not an active parent in the home.
SERVICES
MOTH is headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
and operates on a national level with more than 40 volunteers from around the
United States and Canada. Man of the House, Inc. publishes "MOTH"
magazine for young boys and maintains an interactive website. The goal is to
provide free basic instruction on typically male topics, mentorship and
instructional guidance for the emotional and physical well being and enrichment
of the lives of male youths from homes without male role models and male youths
whose fathers are away from home serving in the military.
MOTH magazine covers a broad array of topics both crucial to male development and essential for young boys who likely spend significant time away from adult guidance ("latch key kids"). This includes, but is not limited to, social development, morality, manners, etiquette, sports, living sciences, and to a lesser degree popular style and culture.
MOTH also hosts an interactive internet website (MothBoys.org/MothBoys.com). The website mirrors the magazine in educational content as well as provides multiple interactive venues for boys to share information with each other and to consult (indirectly) with the Man of The House, Inc staff. Responses to children's questions are guided by at least one child welfare professional.
CONTENT
Some of the types of material that
will be generated by MOTH:
- *B.A.M.* "Be A Man": tips and pointers on how to be a gentleman. Topics range from how to handle one's self in a restroom to how to treat a girl on a date.
- "M&E" with Miss Meow: M&E stands for Manners & Etiquette. A professional etiquette instructor teaches boys how to show good manners and etiquette. Boys are encouraged to contribute questions.
- The Tool Box: Introductory and advanced information on the use of hand tools as well as tips on routine household maintenance such as fixing a bicycle, patching a hole in a wall and maintaining a first car.
- "Hats" - Cool Careers: Interviews with professionals, promoting career paths both blue and white collar with equal fanfare.
- Snack break: Recognizing the statistics that approximately 3.5 million are "latch key" kids, MOTH will offer fun and healthy snack and meals ideas that a boy can prepare without adult supervision.
- Suburban Jungle: Photo contributions from boys of insects, birds and rodents discovered in their own backyard and neighborhood.
- School Survival Guide: Tips on handling school situations like study tips, fighting procrastination, dealing with bullies, cheaters or when pressured by others to do drugs.
- Sports Rap with Matt: Award-winning sports journalist offers sports insight. From the basics of throwing a ball to more advanced tips for the novice athlete. Will also feature pointers from professional athletes.
- Outdoor Adventures: Basic and advanced tips on outdoor activities such as fishing, camping, swimming, bicycling and gardening. Urban variations of the themes will be considered as well as safety and first aid topics.
- MUSTY's Book/Comic/Cartoon/Movie Reviews: Introduce children to classical literature, movies, etc as well as what's hot right now.
- Safety & First Aid: General safety and first aid will be included as sidebars in articles where appropriate and occasionally offered as its own page in the magazine. Also will be available on the website.
- Science: A wide range of topics to spark interests including fun gadgets, technology reviews, neat home experiments, etc.
- Gamers Grove: dedicated to video game and computer developments.
- Ask MOTH: Big Brother-style advice column. MOTH will promote interaction and contributions within each section and also with a special question & answer section.
- MOTH Board: (website only) an open forum on the internet for boys to share interests, experiences and ask and answer questions. The board will be closely moderated by MOTH staff.
- MOTH Confidential: Boys will be invited to submit questions to the MOTH team. Responses to sensitive questions will be evaluated by child care professionals.
- Feature stories: Topics include the history of Robots, how a cartoon is drawn together, how to build a model rocket, teaching your pet tricks, first kiss experiences, magic tricks and a look into space travel.
MOTH will disseminate
substantial content that is immediately useful and potentially life changing to
our target audience. In order to not further stigmatize fatherless boys, MOTH
will be presented to its target audience as a resource for all boys.
MARKET RESEARCH
Most Children Have Internet Access:
According to a report by the Commerce Department's Census Bureau on September
6, 2001 a ratio of 9-in-10 school-age children (6-to-17 years old) had access
to a computer in the year 2000, with 4-in-5 using a computer at school and
2-in-3 with one at home. The report showed that 54 million households, or 51
percent, had one or more computers in the home in August 2000, up from 42
percent in December 1998.
Children Do Read Magazines:
2004 Subscription Circulation According to Magazine Publishers of America:
Seventeen: 2,129, 622 (girls magazine)
Boys' Life: 1,224,106
National Geographic Kids: 1,217,057
Disney Adventures: 1, 091, 373
Nickelodeon Magazine: 945,346
Sports Illustrated For Kids: 783, 881
Disney Magazine: 510, 122
No services or products like MOTH are currently
available.
- The statistics for fatherless children presented above signify a crisis for all children. In addition, the percentage of these children that are male have limited access to male role models and few resources to supplement their mentor needs.
- Today more than 20-million boys are believed to be living in fatherless homes. Direct mentorship organizations can not keep up with the volume of boys in need.
- Only a few public resources offer positive messages and positive
role models for children. Most of these lack the style and
"cool" factor to attract the large audiences that cable
television shows and adult men's magazines do.
The closest examples to Man Of The House Inc. include the youth mentorship organization Big Brother's Big Sisters of America and the publications Boy's Life and Seventeen.
Big Brothers
& Big Sisters of America provides a one-on-one mentorship program which Man
of the House Inc supports, however, the number of boys in need out-numbers the
number of mentors Big Brothers & Big Sisters of America can provide.
Seventeen covers topics essential to young girls, however, Seventeen is for
females exclusively and focuses primarily on fashion and style. Boy's Life is
an exclusive publication directed towards members of the Boy Scouts
organization and boys of the Christian faith. Boy's Life relies on the
availability and interaction of father's and sons or at least male role-models.
This may have an adverse impact on fatherless boys.
To learn more about MOTH contact us at MOTH@MOTHBoys.org
PERSONNEL
Our management
team consists of the board of directors and officers of MOTH working closely
with the executive director. In addition, MOTH has recruited a team of
freelance writers who are specialists in areas of interest and value to boys to
develop our educational material. MOTH has also recruited an advisory board of
volunteer child welfare professionals and psychologists to help us achieve our
desired outcomes.
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Mr. David McGovern, President, is a former private consultant and a freelance writer. Mr. McGovern has spent ten years developing the concept for MOTH. The concept was first conceived in college when Mr. McGovern recognized similar voids and insecurities amongst young men who grew up in fatherless homes and a lack of instructional media such as the teen magazines for young women which provide supplemental guidance and instruction on the basic roles and practices (make-up, dating) expected of their gender. |
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Mr. Larry Hama, Vice President, is a professional writer, artist, actor, and musician who has enjoyed an extensive career in the entertainment and publishing industries since the late 1960's. Mr. Hama dominated pop culture for boys of the 1980's and 1990's as a writer for Marvel Comics and creator of the popular G.I. Joe series characters and mythos. He popularized the X-Men's Wolverine and created the character Bucky O'Hare, which was developed into a comic book, a toy line and a television cartoon. Mr. Hama served as the catalyst to get MOTH started, including giving the organization its name.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Hama |
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Mr. Matthew Samuels, Executive Director & Editor, is an award-winning journalist and sports editor at The Advocate daily newspaper in Baton Rouge with experience in owning and running his own 10,000-weekly circulation newspaper/magazine. Mr. Samuels began his professional writing career at the age of 12 with a regular sports column in the Jewish Herald-Voice which he still maintains to this day. He helped create a school newspaper in high school, founded and managed a weekly newspaper/magazine while attending Louisiana State University. He has won awards in sports writing, headline writing and page design. |
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Mrs. Katherine Grams McGovern, Treasurer & Secretary, better known as Katie, has been modeling and acting to some degree for most of her life. She also works as a mentor, role-model and instructor to young women, emphasizing the importance of self-confidence and common courtesy in obtaining success. But Katie is not just a bubbly pretty face! She has bachelor of science degrees in both zoology and medical technology, rounding her knowledge out with minors in psychology and English literature. She is also a licensed and certified medical technologist, and has served as the major financier for the founding of MOTH. |
(Note: the founding Board of Directors currently holds interim Executive Committee positions until which time the organization can recruit and fund a full time staff)
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Dan Carber |
John P-Luv Golembiewski |
Rusty Messer |
Mike Verret |
Click on a picture for a list of articles by this author.
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VOLUNTEER
MOTH is eagerly recruiting volunteers from
around the country to contribute to our talented staff. We are actively
recruiting upstanding men with talents they'd like to share with all boys
especially those who can write, are graphic artists, web designers, or have
experience in publishing, advertising, and fundraising.
If you think you have something to contribute
please complete our volunteer submission form (link) or contact us at Volunteer@MOTHBoys.org.
SPONSOR A KID OR YOUTH GROUP
Buy a subscription for a random kid or for an entire youth group. It is MOTH's mission to deliver MOTH Magazine to boys at no cost; you can help us achieve that goal by sponsoring a child or your local youth group. Please contact us for details Sponsor@MOTHBoys.org.
CAREERS
MOTH is not currently hiring; please check back often.
Banner ads, advertisements, or sponsor an entire section!
MOTH IS CURRENTLY LOOKING FOR CORPORATE SPONSORS FOR SELECT SECTIONS OF MOTH'S MAGAZINE AND WEBSITE - "TOOL TIME WITH HOME DEPOT?" CONTACT US FOR DETAILS.
WE'RE GIVING IT AWAY!
Not only is M.O.T.H. an excellent way to reach your target audience of boys 7-17, but since MOTH is largely distributed for free to children's groups, schools, churches, and other child mentor organizations you maximize your exposure! For a limited time, you can advertise for FREE! Get your first four quarter-page ads, or first two half-page ads in MOTH magazine for FREE with two-year contract! (Offer does not apply to internet banner ads)
FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS
MOTH is supported through the generous donation
of time and talent by almost two dozen individuals including pro bono legal and
accounting services - but sweat and elbow grease can only get us so far -
please donate today!
SPONSOR A KID OR YOUTH GROUP
Buy a subscription for a random kid or for an entire youth group. It is MOTH's mission to deliver MOTH Magazine to boys at no cost; you can help us achieve that goal by sponsoring a child or your local youth group. Please contact us for details MOTH@MOTHBoys.org.
To make a contribution, click here, or mail us (the regular way) at:
Man of The House, Inc
P.O. Box 77401
Baton Rouge, LA 70879-7401
To learn more about MOTH contact us at MOTH@MOTHBoys.org
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