OKLAHOMA CITY – I hope your Labor Day weekend was full of relaxation. I schedule a vacation each year with friends to get away over this holiday which allows me to “charge up the batteries” for upcoming work. I hope you have had that opportunity as well, as this truly does help to renew one’s spirit.

My family rarely took vacations due to my dad suffering from injuries sustained from a truck wreck. In fact, the only real trips which I remember were to visit my grandparents in Texas, which helped establish a bond of love with them. Certainly, consider factoring trips to see family members as that can build greater connections with relatives.

National trends show a high likelihood of families traveling for a vacation. For example, one source indicates that 53% of people plan to travel with family, and 85% of parents are likely to travel with their children in the next year. Even if it is just for a weekend, this will create memories which they will hopefully cherish for the remainder of their lives. Oklahoma has some amazing destinations for one-day visits, so check out https:// www.travelok.com/brochures for recommendations.

The Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA) is in the middle of accepting nominations for a series of awards to be presented at our Fall Awards Luncheon, which will be held on Wednesday, October 15 in Oklahoma City during our Fall Forum conference. We present 12 different awards to child advocates from different backgrounds or for noble causes. Please go to OICA’s website at https://www.oica.org/ awards. The 12 awards are:

• The Steven A. Novick Child Advocacy Award,

• The Laura Choate Resilience Award,

• The Jasmine and Melvin Moran “Kidizenship” Award,

• The Burnes/Lichtenstein Award for Excellence in Journalism,

• The H.E. “Gene” Rainbolt Corporate Citizen Award,

• The Ray & Pat Potts Community Leader Award,

• The Judy Eason Mc-Intyre Inclusion Award,

• The Sandy Garrett Educator Award,

• The Jari Askins Justice for Children Award,

• The Jon Hansen Public Servant Award,

• The Dr. Dwight Sublett Healthcare Award.

We also recognize our volunteer of the year. By submitting nominations for our board to consider, this helps us know who is doing great work for children, and it allows us to offer our services to further assist them.

I want to conclude this week with what feels has been a sad trend for 2025. There have been several Oklahomans who have made a positive difference in our state who have passed this year. The two most recent ones close to me are former state Rep. Debbie Blackburn and Oklahoma City philanthropist Pat Potts. Both had a tremendous impact all across the state.

Representative Blackburn authored the state college savings plan legislation which has aided families in providing education for many who otherwise could not afford it. She also was a champion for community development and beautification, along with a long list of positives done both inside and outside her work as a lawmaker. Condolences to her husband, Bob, and the rest of her family.

Pat founded the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits, and with her husband Ray established the Potts Family Foundation (PFF). This foundation provides support for programs for working with children from birth to three years old. They have provided assistance for thousands of youth-serving programs and countless children. Her work to create an early childhood caucus in the Oklahoma Legislature helped drive forward many positive laws which support youth. Condolences to her family and the team at PFF.

I will certainly miss having both wonderful women in my life, but I am most assuredly thankful that these leaders championed truly life-changing work and left a positive mark on our state.