KINDNESS IS CONTAGIOUS; LOOKING FOR AN EXCUSE TO BE NICE? YOUR WEEK IS COMING

Warning. Kindness is coming, and it's contagious.

Registration for the third annual Random Acts of Kindness week begin Monday. The weeklong observance of kindness starts on Mother's Day, May 11.

Hundreds of organizations, businesses, churches, families and individuals are expected to participate.

"Kindness is contagious," said Joni Adams, managing editor of the Southeast Missourian newspaper.

Adams brought the idea to Cape Girardeau and once a year turns the Southeast Missourian newspaper into "Kindness Central."

"In this business we see a lot of the ugly and sick things going on in the world," Adams said. "It's good to be reminded that there are a lot of wonderful people doing great things every day."

Adams read about a town in Michigan committing Random Acts of Kindness and decided to give it a try here.

"We weren't quite sure what kind of response we would have," Adams said. "We thought it would be great if a few people joined in."

As part of the celebration that first year, the newspaper printed 10,000 stickers to be given away.

"We agonized about printing that many stickers," she said. "What would we do if thousands were left over?"

Two weeks after the project was announced, and long before the week commenced, all 10,000 stickers were gone.

"We ran out of everything," Adams said. "We were overwhelmed. Hundreds of people, businesses, churches and organizations participated. And they had great ideas."

People seemed to be waiting for someone to take the first step.

Some kindnesses are simple and truly random. Allow a motorist to merge into traffic or give someone else the best parking space. Others are more elaborate and obviously well planned.

"Last year was fantastic when whole communities, like Scott City, joined together to be kind," Adams said.

The national observance begins on Valentine's Day, but in February, the newspaper staff is in the middle of its annual Progress edition. So the local celebration begins on Mother's Day.

"Schools are starting to wind down. The weather is nicer," Adams said. "I don't know if we would have the same participation in February."

It's time to make plans for the 1998 observance. Participants may sign up by calling the newspaper office.

"You don't have to tell us what you're doing," Adams said. "You just have to promise to do something."

During the weeks leading up to the event, names of participants will be published on the front page of the newspaper.

To make participating as easy as possible, the newspaper will give away stickers, bookmarks, signs and a sheet listing 100 kind suggestions. All are free.

The newspaper has printed 25,000 stickers and 13,000 bookmarks for this year's observance.

"We want to give them all away," Adams said. "These are free. All you have to do is ask."

In addition, the newspaper will write dozens of news stories about kind people and kind acts during the week.

"Often people who commit kindnesses don't want to toot their own horns," Adams said. "But I think it's important to let people know what's going on. People don't do these things to be noticed, and that's why I think we should notice them."

Each day of the week, a full-page of the newspaper will be dedicated to those who do kind deeds. People may nominate someone they know for one of these human-interest stories.

In addition, a kindness hot line will operate throughout the week. Participants may call in to report kindnesses committed. Speak Out calls that week are limited to kind comments.

The newspaper also offers an extensive Random Acts of Kindness section on its Web site, www.semissourian.com.

Participants may sign up online and may print promotional materials directly from the Internet.

Adams said kindness feels good. "It's especially good when you do something for no reason and the other person never knows who did it or why," she said.

Recently, she and her husband left a waitress an extra large tip. "It was just a couple bucks for us, but I know she went home smiling that night," Adams said. "And I went home smiling too."

People in Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois do a lot of kind things every day. "But let's be `super kind' for a week," Adams said.

"We are really setting an example for our children. When our kids see 20,000 people being kind that should balance the scales some," she said. "The world is not going down the tube, and kindness can be a way of life."

RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS

What is Random Acts of Kindness Week?

This nationwide celebration encourages people to perform kind acts. Hundreds of thousands of people participate each year. This marks the third year for the local celebration.

When is Random Acts of Kindness Week?

The local celebration begins Mother's Day, May 10, and runs through May 16.

How do I nominate someone for a kindness story?

Simply call the Southeast Missourian at 335-6611 and ask for Joni Adams or Peggy Scott. Full pages in the newspaper will be devoted to kind people who perform kind acts throughout the year.

Who can sign up as a Random Acts of Kindness participant?

Anyone. Last year's effort boasted of more than 350 participants. These were entire cities, churches, businesses, organizations, families and even individuals. Signing up just means you agree to do a kind act during the week. Names will run on the front page of the newspaper.

What free stuff is available at the newspaper?

We have colorful Random Acts of Kindness stickers, bookmarks, participation signs, a list of suggested kind acts, sign-up sheets and community and teachers guides. A free packet will include samples of many of these items. Call the newspaper at 335-6611 for large requests or stop by at 301 Broadway. About 25,000 stickers and 13,000 bookmarks will be given away.

How do I report kind acts?

Call the Kindness hotline at the Southeast Missourian, and your kind act will be published in the newspaper. The phone number is 334-8997. It rings directly into the newsroom. Speak Out comments will also be limited to kind comments during the week.