TARC, an affiliate of the nation's largest volunteer-based organization dealing with life-long issues of mental retardation, marks National Mental Retardation Awareness Month in March. During March, TARC joins chapters of The Arc around the country in engaging in a media awareness campaign aimed at brigning issues conecerning people with mental retardation and their families to the pbulic for the 28th consectuvive year.

Each year, National Mental Retardation Awareness Month provides our community with the chance to learn more about issues affecting people with mental retardation and their families, and to become aware of the positive contributions of people with mental retardation and related developmental disabilities. We invite the people of Terrebonne Parish to learn more about The Arc and its mission during March and during every month of the year.

Chapters of The Arc around the country are embarking on a public awareness campaign this month to bring attention to their programs and activities. Through billboards, advertisements, media coverage, and public service announcements in newspapers, radio, and on television. The Arc hopes to reach millions of people with its message of inclusion for people with mental retardation.

The Arc has recently adopted a set of Core Values that will serve as the guiding principles of the national association and its affiliated chapters. Those values include Peopl First, Democracy, Visionary Leadership, Community Participation, Diversity, Integrity, and Excellence. For more infomration about The Arc, visit the organization's website at www.thearc.org or visit TARC's website at www.TerrebonneArc.org.

The Terrebonne Arc is committed to securing for people with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities the opportunity to enjoy a meaningful life.

The Arc of the United States is the nation's leading national organization on mental retardation. The Arc represents over seven million children and adults with mental retardation and their families. The Arc has over 100,000 members within approximately 900 state and local chapters nationwide. The Arc privides organizational support to affiliated chapters, and represents the membership on advocacy and programmatic issues pertaining to mental retardation.