The annual “Character Counts Week” begins Sunday and spokesperson Amy Smit says it’s a time to remember the six pillars of the program.

She says we get caught up in our lives and we forget to put extra emphasis on the pillars of caring, citizenship, fairness,respect, responsibility and trustworthiness.

Smit says once you remind yourself of the pillars, it gets easier to follow through on them. Smit says the big step is being aware and conscious of character as she says once you do that it becomes easier to do and it becomes a habit throughout your life. Smit says a new area Character Counts is focusing on is teaching civility on the internet and through e-mail usage.

“It’s a new responsibility for us as citizens to show good character and practice civility on-line,” Smith says. She says we have gotten into the habit of using the veil of a computer screen to say things online that we wouldn’t say in person.

For more information you may go online to: www.charactercountsiniowa.org.

By Pat Powers, KQWC, Webster City