Renae Groskreutz
From her heart...
My name is Renae Groskreutz. I am married to Joel and a mother of four and a public speaker from south central Minnesota. I have been speaking across Minnesota, Iowa and South Dakota for middle schools, high schools and organizations on Drinking & Driving and Shaken Baby Syndrome since 1999. I believe my family's journey and our personnel story will challenge, impact and motivate those who hear it. I share my personnel story with the desire and hope to make a difference in others lives. I hope you will give me the privilege to share with your students. This could very well be a life altering experience for someone in your audience. Allow me to brief you on my story. www.renaespeaks.org
I begin my presentation by talking about my high-school friend, "Scott" and how I wish I had been a better friend. Later in my talk, it becomes very clear why I mention him. I begin to talk about my family; Joel (my husband of 20 years), Emily & Amanda (our daughters) and Ben (our son). I share about Ben being a victim and survivor of Shaken Baby Syndrome in September 1998. I was investigated for child endangerment, and to protect Ben, he was placed in foster care for five days before being returned to us. His daycare provider, a very good friend of mine, was who had shaken Ben. I share about the aftermath of Ben’s injuries.
Our family’s story then continues to November 28, 1998 when an “Alcohol Impaired" driver hit Joel and Emily on their motorcycle. I was, in fact, following and was at the "Crash" site. The driver of the truck that hit Joel and Emily was "Scott"... Emily died instantly at the age of six and half. Joel received sever injuries to his left arm in addition to numerous other injuries. "Scott" was only charged with careless driving. His Blood Alcohol Content level was .05 2 1/2 hour after the crash.
I then share either a video called "Sin Video" or a Power Point about Emily and our family set to very emotional music.
My goal is to travel around the Midwest to:
• Encourage students to be a good friend... a truly good friend.
• Challenge them to make their lives count for something...to make a difference…
• To be a positive influence on their peers...
• To think and care and be brave, and strive for excellence instead of acceptance.
My closing challenge, is for the students to look that their own life. We each have the day we were born and some day our families will have the day we die. In-between those two dates is a DASH. The direction of our DASH is in our control. Looking at our DASH we can ask, ourselves, does it need improvement and how or what do we do to make that come about. Improvement that is what you can change. Your DASH will leave the biggest impact on the lives of your friends & family
In conclusion, I end with 3-5 minutes of questions and comments from the students.
I also email the schools an Impact Reaction Form for you to make copies of for your students to fill out. It has 3 simple questions.
1. What impact did Renae’s story have on you?
2. What impact will this have on you?
3. What can the schools do to help curb under age drinking?
I have found this to be helpful for you to see the reaction of your students and what they are thinking. The reaction forms are returned to me so I can communicate more directly & clearly to my future audience.
Thank you for your time.
Renae