Page 3 - PGA Community News - April '25

April 2025 April 2025 PGA C.A.N.!, Page 3
From The Editor: Join The Club …

There has been a for us. In the eighth year after the initial treatment, he was Leno,” “Dr. Phil” and most of the news shows. Quite an
proliferation of profanity diagnosed with cancer of the larynx and advised that it would accomplishment for one teenage boy! Of course, there are
recently used by our require surgery, a laryngectomy. i.e. removal of his larynx aka skeptics and naysayers. Some say it is a waste of time because
government officials and voice box aka Adam’s apple. No speech after the surgery!!! words have no meaning. Some have even raised the issue of
other people in the television He would not have the ability to speak like you and I do. His Freedom of Speech.
news. As a result, I am choices were a portable device placed against his throat to Humans have a greater capacity to destroy than to create.
repeating this column from magnify an attempt at speech or learning to speak again by It takes 9 months to create a human life and years of nurturing
a few years ago. formulating words from his diaphragm. He chose the latter. which can all be taken away in seconds in an act of violence.
A while ago, I stopped by Twice a week he and my mother would travel two hours by Words do have meaning. One word or one sentence can
the supermarket in Jupiter on subway to the Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan destroy a family or a relationship. Once a word is uttered it
my way to the office. While for speech therapy and lessons. First, he had to learn to cannot be taken back. Expletives are never used to express
waiting in the express line, I formulate the sounds. After months of practicing sounds, he a positive idea or an endearing phrase. It takes months or
saw one of my favorite cashiers in the next line. She is always tried to speak a word. He would control his diaphragm so years to build trust and love between 2 people. Once a word
very pleasant and personable. She has hearing impairment that air was forced through his esophagus to form the word. is uttered it can destroy that trust and love – and never be
and wears a hearing aid in each ear. I saw her start to engage My father excelled in his class. We were so proud of him and taken back.
in a conversation, signing with 2 hearing impaired young showered him with the affirmation he so justly deserved. Most The No Cussing Club expresses its philosophy as follows:
women and then I noticed a toddler sitting in the carriage people in his class could not achieve what he did. His first “Your words become your thoughts. Your thoughts become
and all three of them were signing, thank you, and signing exercise with a group of words was a nursery rhyme. I can your behavior. Your behavior becomes your character. Your
with the toddler. The child responded with the same thank still hear him saying, “Lazy bones sitting in the sun, how you character becomes your destiny.”
you sign. I thought to myself how adorable the child was gonna get your work done?” Can you picture a sixty-year- I challenge you to value each word you speak and join
and then my mind was diverted to the woman in front of old man excited to recite those words? If you witnessed it or the Club.
me in my line when she blurted out, “Oh **** (expletive), experienced it, you would recognize the value of every word Until next month…
I forgot to ring up my water in the bottom of the cart.” She you speak. My father did so well, the doctor asked him to James A. Cioffi, Editor
said it loud enough that people ten feet from her could hear teach the other patients, and he gladly volunteered his time. james@jcclaw.com
it. I looked at her but she had no reaction, no apology. It must Years ago, I was listening to National Public Radio and
be a common part of her speech. heard a story about McKay Hatch, a 14-year-old junior high
The incongruity became apparent to me. The hearing- school student from South Pasadena, California. He started PGA POA Communication Corner from page 1
impaired women, who are unable to speak, would give the NO CUSSING CLUB in school because he said, “some
anything to be able to utter one word and the woman who of my friends would cuss and use dirty language all the time. Washing Machine: Please turn off the water valve for
speaks does not realize the value of every word she utters. They did it so much they didn’t even realize they were doing the washing machine fill. The hoses sometimes do fail,
Our speech is a choice we make. When did it become it.” McKay challenged his friends to stop and they accepted and water can quickly flood a residence.
acceptable to use profanity so casually? They were never the challenge. Within a month he had 50 students in the Hurricane Protection: The POA does not allow
used by my parents or my family in the normal course of club. When McKay started high school, he got approval shutters to be installed or closed for the whole hurricane
speaking. from the faculty to start the Club and on the first day he had season unless you have accordion shutters or clear panels.
I believe that our ability to speak is a gift and we should 100 members. They started a website and had over 22,000 Please store all patio furniture or other home landscape
value every word that emanates from our mouths. I developed members in every state and 33 countries around the world. accessories that could become dangerous projectiles
that belief at an early age when I saw my father endure the After the media began to cover the story, the membership during high winds. If you do not have the type of hurricane
ravages of cancer. When I was five years old my father was doubled. There is now a Facebook Page. The movement protection that can be installed and closed for the season,
diagnosed with throat cancer and was treated with radiation. has broadened to anti-bullying and avoiding peer pressure. please make sure you have someone who can install storm
It actually burned his skin and left scars. He had smoked Their motto is “Leave People Better Than You Found Them.” shutters once a hurricane warning is issued.
cigarettes many years before. At that time, the popular belief Their objective has broadened to look for opportunities every Enjoy a great spring and all that PGA National, Palm
was that a period of 7 years without a recurrence of cancer day to help people and lift them up through their words and Beach Gardens and South Florida has to offer this month!
meant you would survive. My father dispelled that belief actions. McKay has been on “The Tonight Show with Jay

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