Point Blank invites the community to its Fund Raising dinner to be held Sunday, March 21 at the Orcas Senior Center, at 5:30 p.m.

In addition to a delicious meal, the club members will be on hand to share their club’s mission and projects with attendees.

Point Blank is a high school leadership club, open to any high school student, who is interested in educating themselves and others about making positive choices and avoiding the use to alcohol, drugs and tobacco during their adolescent years. The club currently has a membership of 22 students and is affiliated with the national organization Students Against Destructive Decisions. Their activities this school year have included sending a delegation to the Prevention Youth Summit in Yakima last October and sponsoring a countywide SPEAK OUT! training to learn about tobacco use and health risks which was facilitated by The American Cancer Society. They also performed an assembly that was open to all island students and the community about the ramifications of driving under the influence.

Julie Pinardi, the club’s adult supervisor, was recently trained to teach students the TATU curriculum (Teens Against Tobacco Use). Club members have now also been trained and will take their skills into the fifth, seventh, and eighth grades at Orcas School after April break. Hands-on activities, videos and small group discussions during these peer-taught classes lead to a lively learning experience for middle grades students. The club is also planning activities for KICK BUTTS! day and to teach younger students about alcohol advertising.

Point Blank is sponsored by the Orcas Island Prevention Partnership and will be presenters at OIPP’s Town Hall meeting in April.

“They’re a really enthusiastic group of students and we’re glad to have them as part of the prevention coalition here on Orcas,” OIPP director Marta Nielson said. “Kids doing positive things are always worth supporting.”