August 11: Day With Creative Women

May 13
SAVE THE DATES August 26: Women’s Press Retreat & Fundraiser MOTHER’S DAY

Volume XXII, Number 3

May & June, 2007
A Publication of the
Women’s Community Center
of San Luis Obispo County
Voices, Views and Visions of the Women of San Luis Obispo County

6
National Organization
for Women

7
Women’s Stories

9
Voices Around the Table:
Memories of Mom & Dad

10
Local Perspectives

12
Women at Work

13
Body and Soul

14
Community Bulletins
Cover Art by Shirley Kirkes Mar

15
Resources for Women

2
Where to find the
Women’s Press
 Women’sPress
Readers,
The brouhaha around Don Imus’ inap-
propriate comments and subsequent fir-
ing by CBS is timely given the new section
we are introducing in the paper this issue:
Talk About It. The Imus issue has us talking
about how we have just let shock jocks spew
their violent disrespectful statements onto
our airwaves and into our psyche without
calling for a more civil society. Ellen Good-
man called the incident “a stop sign in front
of the speeding coarseness of the culture.”
She also used a metaphor I liked, saying
that “if women are the canaries in this cul-
tural mineshaft, the official name over the
mineshaft is incivility.”
Our Talk About It section will bring to
our awareness the many places and ways
that incivility—abuse—exists in our cul-
ture, with our section’s focus being on how
women are targets and are affected. Those
of us who conceived of the section believe
that if we don’t talk about it – don’t own
the problems – that they can’t change.
The challenge and difficulty about any
social change efforts are that they take
effort! Speaking up for what we believe,
which may mean telling someone that how
they said or did something is unacceptable,
takes courage and might leave you isolated
and rejected. In my mind, to act and speak
for what we stand for is the highest good.
My hope is that “talking about it” will
give us common ground on which to walk
toward a more civil society.
The next steps of growth for the Wom-
en’s Press is to get enough volunteers to help
us develop our website, database, and a
listserv—things that will enable us to keep
local women informed about events and
issues of particular interest to women. If
your skills, interests, and schedule allow,
call me (474-6444) and we’ll work together
to bring the Press up to its potential as a
source of information and inspiration to
the women in our county.
For other volunteer opportunities, see
elsewhere on this page.
And save the dates:
• August 11 for Day With Creative
Women
• August 26 for 2nd Annual Women’s
Press Retreat and Fundraiser
Have a relaxing summer,
MAILING ADDRESS:
Women’s Press
Women’s Community Center
880 Industrial Way
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
805.544.9313
Managing Editor: Kathleen Deragon
managing-editor@womenspress-slo.org
Assistant Editor: Amelia Free
Layout & Design: Benjamin Lawless
Photographer: Lynda Roeller
Distribution Manager: Paula Sigman
Advertising Team: Carol Dawn, Ben Lawless
Subscriptions:
subscriptions@womenspress-slo.org
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(Put “ads” or “subscriptions” in subject line)
Submissions Welcomed!
Articles, essays, opinion pieces, letters, artwork, poetry
wanted & appreciated. The Women’s Press reserves the
right to edit all submissions for content, clarity & length.
Contact managing-editor@womenspress-slo.org or call
805-544-9313.
The opinions expressed in the Women’s Press are those of the
authors & do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the
Women’s Community Center. The Women’s Community Center
does not necessarily endorse products or services advertised
in the Women’s Press.
6000 free copies distributed in SLO County. Subscriptions by mail & by e-mail available.
Women’s Press | May & June 2007 | editors@womenspress-slo.org
STANDING WOMEN The women of San Luis Obispo call upon
the women of the world, from day-old babies
to our most senior elders, to stand with us on
May 13, 2007, to save the world.
We are standing for the world’s
children and grandchildren,
and for the seven generations beyond them.
We dream of a world where all of our children
have safe drinking water, clean air to breathe,
and enough food to eat.
A world where they have access to
a basic education to develop their minds If you share this dream, join us
at 12:45 on Sunday, May 13,
and healthcare to nurture their growing bodies.
A world where they have a warm, safe to stand in silence for five minutes
and loving place to call home. at 1 PM in the Tranquility Garden,
A world where they don’t live in fear of violence — the grassy patch between City Hall and
in their home, in their neighborhood, in their school the Little Theater, on Palm St. near Morro.
or in their world. We ask you to invite the men and boys
This is the world of which we dream. you care about to join you.
This is the cause for which we stand. Please bring bells.
For more information go to
STANDINGWOMEN.ORG
or call Shana at 541.1736,
Eve at 786.4541,
or Bobbe at 541.6099
$$$ Join our sales team! $$$
D
o you enjoy the Women’s Press? meet people in a different context and see
Would you like to learn new skills and our service as a win-win situation. Our rates
support this women’s publication and are very affordable and our commission
the Women’s Community Center? And earn fees give me a welcome added income for Women’s Community Center Board
some extra income? my efforts. (20% on all advertising, Angie King, President
We need sales reps. from all parts of including renewals and business profiles; Kathleen Deragon
the county, North Coast, North County, and 10% one-time development bonus for new Susan Howe
South County. We even distribute issues in accounts) It’s part time because our issues Jan Potter
Santa Maria. are every two months and we can work as Robin Werderits
You’ll have an opportunity to meet a team to share leads and ideas. If this
with business women and women-friendly sounds like something you would enjoy
businesses for mutual benefit. One of our please contact us.
special offers is to interview business own- Prior experience is not necessary.
ers/operators and create a human interest Contact Carol Dawn, Sales Rep
article about them and their services. I have 235-4960
found this to be lots of fun, an opportunity to
ADVERTISING RATES
Contributors for publication-ready ads:
Beverly Engel Heather Mendel
Jeannie Greensfelder Denise Nickeson Business card:
Hilda Heifetz Berta Parrish $35/one issue $150/year (6 issues)
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Half page:
Volunteers $190/one issue $850/year (6 issues)
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Workshop Listings $35 an issue
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Nancy Booye Jacky Lopez
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Ad Design/Layout available at an additional charge
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Susan Howe Dawn Williams
May & June 2007 | www.womenspress-slo.org | Women’s Press Women’sPress 

Where to find Women’s Press

All SLO County Libraries and the following exceptionally fine establishments!
• NORTH COUNTY: Atascadero – The Coffee House and Deli, Starbuck’s at
SAVE THE DATE: Sunday, August 26
Von’s Plaza, Carlene’s Café, Green Goods, Player’s Pizza, Harvest Health Food Store,
North County Connection, Senior Center, Women’s Resource Center/Shelter Office;
Paso Robles – Cuesta College North Campus, Café Vio, Chelsea Bookshop/Café Novella,
Curves, Old Mission Coffee House, DK Donuts, Panolivo French Cafe, NCI Village
Thrift Shop, Paso Robles Health Foods; Templeton –  Magic Windows Coffee Café,
Twin Cities Hospital, Templeton Market & Deli; Santa Margarita– Santa Margarita
Mercantile
• NORTHERN COAST: Baywood – Coffee & Things; Cambria – Cambria Con-
nection, Cambria Pines Lodge, Chamber of Commerce, Gym One, La Crema, 7 Sis-
ters, Azevedo Chiropractic, Lilly’s, Alloco’s; Cayucos – Cayucos Super Market, Kelley’s
Espresso & Dessert, Ocean Front Pizza, Chevron Station, Chamber of Commerce; Los
Osos – Starbuck’s, Baywood Laundry, Cad’s, Carlock’s Bakery, Chamber of Commerce,
Copa de Oro, Garden Café, Los Osos Deli, Valley Liquor, Volumes of Pleasure; Morro
Bay – Backstage Salon, Coalesce Bookstore, Coffee Pot Restaurant, The Rock, Southern
Port Traders, Sunshine Health Foods, Two Dogs Coffee
• SAN LUIS OBISPO: Broad St. Laundry, Cool Cats Café, La Crepes, Edna Market,
Froggie’s, Art Café, Booboo Records, Creekside Center, GALA, Marigold Nails, Palm
Theatre, Susan Polk Insurance, Susan Rodriguez Insurance, Utopia Bakery, Unity Church,
Zoe Wells, Naturopath, Cal Poly Library, Center for Alternatives to Violence, Chamber
of Commerce, Cuesta College Library, EOC Health Services Clinic, HealthWorks, Heal-
ing Alternatives, Jamaca You, Karen Hale Chiropractic, Laguna Laundry, Linnaea’s, Mon-
terey Express, Natural Foods Coop, New Frontiers, Nautical Bean, Outspoken Beverage
Bistro, Phoenix Books, Planned Parenthood, Rudolph’s Coffee & Tea, San Luis Obispo
Housing Authority Office, SARP, The Secret Garden, SLO Perk Coffee, Spirit Winds
Therapy, The Studio Fitness for Women, Two Dogs Coffee, Uptown Cafe, Yoga Centre,
Ahshe Hair Salon, Apropos Clothing, Soho Hair Salon, Tom-Mel Beauty Center, Hemp- Second Annual Women’s Press Retreat and Fundraiser
shack, YMCA, KCBX, Fairchild Salon, Jaffa Café, Med Stop (Madonna Plaza) Gather the Women and Save the World:
• SOUTH COUNTY: Arroyo Grande – Natural Balance, Mongo’s, World Gym, Act II
Boutique, Andreini’s, Central Coast Yoga, CJ’s Restaurant, Country Kitchen, Curves- Caring for Our Spirit; Caring for Our Earth
AG, Cutting Edge, EOC Health Services Clinic, Family Chiropractic, Girls Restaurant,
Grande Whole Foods, Hunter’s Landing, Kennedy Club Fitness; Avila Beach– Custom
House, Sycamore Hot Springs, Inn at Avila, Avila Grocery; Grover Beach – World Gym, “We invite women to come together to celebrate women’s true
Back Door Deli, Cindi’s Wash House, Nan’s Pre-owned Books, Therapeutic Body Center, worth; to express our shared concern for our human family and
30-minute Fitness; Halcyon – Halcyon Store; Nipomo – Anna’s Creekside Coffee House, our earth; to learn from each other; and to take our inner
Healing Touch Spa, Curves, La Placita Market, Slender Lady, Brianna Nicole Spa, World
Gym; Pismo Beach – HealthWorks, Honeymoon Café, Pismo Athletic Club, Zadok’s; knowing to outer action so that we may live peacefully together
Shell Beach – De Palo & Sons Deli, Seaside Cafe, Steaming Bean in a balanced world.”
• SANTA MARIA: Café Monet, Hunter’s Landing, Library, Marian Medical Center,  
Curves on Main and on Broadway, The Bookworm, Lassen’s. Look for details after June 1 on the Women’s Press website: www.womenspress-slo.org
• ORCUTT: Loading Dock, Café Ole

There are many ways to Artists! Craftswomen! Volunteers!

contribute to the Women’s Press! Participate in the
33rd Annual Day With Creative Women
ADVERTISE Saturday, August 11, 2007
Mission Plaza
SUBSCRIBE 10-5
DONATE TIME TO PROJECTS:
Calling all Creative Women! The Women’s
• Getting a monthly film series organized Community Center of San Luis Obispo
• Setting up a listserv County invites you to participate in the
• Developing a Community Calendar for our website 33rd annual Day with Creative Women.
• Setting up a database This event draws over 2500 people from all
• Outreach to other women’s organizations around the Central Coast and beyond, and
• Working with distribution manager to increase locations and subscriptions features more than 70 vendors displaying
• Contacting potential sponsors their own creative arts.
If you create art or handcrafted items,
BRING US LEADS ON CONTENT: you are invited to display and sell your
works. Entertainers of all types are welcome
• Women to interview for our Unsung Heroine feature to perform throughout the day. Non-profit
• Books to review organizations are invited to provide the
• Artists whose work you’d like to see on our cover community with information about your
• Local activities, persons, and issues our readers would be interested in knowing about services. Reserve your booth now!
• Ways local women are celebrating their lives and laughing together Day with Creative Women celebrates
women’s creativity with music and enter-
Contact 474-6444 or 305-9775 or editors@womenspress-slo.org
tainment, arts and crafts for display and
sale, continuous entertainment, delicious
food, and children’s activities (crafts, face
painting, and bounce house), and is a fund-
raising event to benefit the Women’s Com-
munity Center of San Luis Obispo County,
dedicated to the empowerment of women.
Entertainment includes Fran Dukehart,
Francesca Nemko, and Grady Houser of
Triad, Karen Tyler, Sherrie O, Jill Knight.
For more information on volunteer
opportunities, entertainment, or booth
space reservation, contact the Wom-
en’s Community Center at 805-544-9313,
e-mail DWCW2007@aol.com. You can
now load the vendor application from
www.wccslo.org.

We Have The Power Introducing a new section
By Beverly Engel, M.F.T.

As women we have the power to band together to make our voices heard—to speak out
against violence toward women and children in all its manifestations.

You decide to do something, perform one small action,
and suddenly it’s a tide, the momentum is going, and there’s
no possibility of turning back. Somehow, even though you
thought you foresaw all that would happen, you didn’t know
the pace would pick up so. — Amanda Cross
treat them with respect and thus send the message that
they deserve to be treated well by men. We can provide our
sons with healthy fathers who show them by example how
to honor and respect women.
As women, we can learn the red flags that signal that a
man may be abusive. By learning these warning signs we
M
orro Bay resident Mary Norby came to me some
weeks ago and asked if the Women’s Press would
consider starting a column in which lesbian women
could tell their stories. Her own granddaughter had a dis-
tressing time when she “came out” and Mary believes if
there were more forums where lesbians could talk and

W
e all have the power to help decrease the level of
violence in our community and in the world. If we
begin with the premise that violence begins at home
we can see that small starts, small actions can indeed cre-
ate huge results.
It is our contention that women have the ability to play a
particularly powerful role in allevi ating violence.
As mothers, we have the power to raise boys who are
respectful of girls and women—boys who don’t take advan-
tage of their superior physical strength but who protect and
defend females from those who try. We have the power to
raise girls who respect themselves enough to take care of
themselves—to be assertive when someone attempts to
control them, to defend themselves when someone tries to
hurt them, and to tell others if either one of these strate-
gies don’t work.
As mothers, we can do more than teach our children
about good touch and bad touch. We can open the lines of
communication between ourselves and our children so that
sex can be talked about openly. We can talk to our children
very early on about sex in general and sexual abuse in par-
ticular.
As women, we can come out of denial about our own
abuse experiences. We can tell our stories to others to help
educate and illuminate. We can reach out for the treatment
we need so that we don’t pass the abuse on to our own
children. We can get the support we need so that we don’t
become romantically involved with men who abuse us or
our children. Instead we can become powerful role models
for our daughters—role models who marry good, healthy
men. We can provide our daughters with loving fathers who
can avoid bringing an abuser into our own lives or the lives we could listen, that coming out wouldn’t be so difficult .
of our children. As she asked me, “Why can’t we talk about it?” I knew we
As women, we can reach out to support other women had a title, not just for a lesbian column, but for a whole
who have been abused—either emotionally, physically or section in the Press where we could cover issues that too
often create barriers between us because they are not easy
sexually. We can listen to their stories and offer emotional
or pleasant to talk about— in particular, violence against
and financial support. Instead of judging women who stay
women and children.
in abusive relationships, we can make the effort to support
My commitment to the new section, which we will,
them in gaining the strength to leave.
indeed, call Talk About It, was strengthened when I heard
As women, we have the power to educate ourselves
Angela Davis talk at Cal Poly on March 9. She gave the sta-
about the prevalence of violence in our community and
tistic that, around the world, at least 1 in every 3 women
to educate others. Around the world at least 1 in every 3
will have been beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise
women have been beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise
abused in her lifetime. Staggering. I asked myself, “Why
abused in her lifetime. Domestic violence is a national trag-
does one gender of our species perform so much violence
edy of staggering proportions—up to six million women are
on the other half? What can we women do to prevent it? “
believed to be beaten in their homes each year; four million
One of our regular contributors, Beverly Engel, is a
incidents are reported. And there is an epidemic of child
nationally known expert on abuse, so she and I have come
molestation spreading across the United States yet few
up with the vision for Talk About It, and eventually—we
people are aware: 100,000 children are molested a year—1
hope—a community movement to stop violence against
in every 3 girls and 1 in every 4 boys.
women and children. We will collaborate with other wom-
As women, we have the power to band together to make
en’s organizations that already work to prevent violence
our voices heard—to speak out against violence toward
against women or give women and children a safe haven.
women and children in all its manifestations. This sec-
We are calling our movement WAVS: Women Aligned for
tion of Women’s Press is a beginning, a place from which
a Violence-free Society. (See mission statement on this
to start. We intend to let our voices be heard through our
page.)
articles, our stories and eventually, our programs. And by
We consciously chose not be Women Against anything
banding together with other organizations in the commu-
but Women For something. Identifying what we all can
nity we plan on taking action that will not only be heard but agree on is more important and can lead more readily to
felt. Please join us in our efforts. Every woman’s voice is solutions than taking oppositional positions. That is where
important—every woman’s voice can add to the cacophony we can find common ground.
of voices that can eventually create a shout that is heard — Kathleen
around the world.

Mission Statement
WAVS: Women Aligned for a Violence-free Society

O
ur mission is to create a community free of domes-
tic and sexual violence. It is our belief that women
can be the most powerful force in this endeavor.
Our goal is to empower women to stand up and speak out
against the violence (emotional, physical, and sexual) that
is directed at our children and at women. Although we
accept and appreciate the support of good men who also
stand against domestic violence and sexual abuse against
women and children, we feel that as women we have a
unique perspective and a powerful voice in the eradication
of these forms of violence.
We believe that the eradication of child abuse, domes-
tic violence, and the sexual assault of woman and chil-
dren is within our power. Each and every one of us has
the power to make a significant difference in the lives of
women and children around us.
To this end, we will be devoting a section in each issue
of the Women’s Press to the subject of domestic vio-
lence, child abuse, and sexual assault against women. We
also plan on presenting a powerful and innovative pro-
gram designed to educate, illuminate, and empower every
woman in our community to become a strong force in stop-
ping these forms of violence.

Why?? We’re Here, We’re...

By Mary Norby By Sarah Deragon

S F
he is bright. She is articulate.
She was in all the high school stage
productions. She volunteered in the com-
munity. She took all of the advanced placement
classes.
She is gay.
She “came out” in her last half year of her
high school senior year. She took part in the gay
activities on the campus. She was abandoned
by her social peer group. She was on suicide
watch for six weeks. She never returned to her
school.
She went on to her freshman year at Mt.
Holyoke College on a scholarship. Her comment
on arriving at Mt. Holyoke was, “It feels very
safe here, a feeling that I haven’t had in a very
long time. It’s good to know that I don’t have to
be constantly editing my words or hiding my self
for fear of God knows what.
I read it, and I cried. I am her grandmother. I
read it over again. I ask why?
irst off, I want to state that I am eternally grateful to
my mother and editor of the Women’s Press Kathleen
Deragon, and Mary Norby for creating this column. My
hope for this column is that it becomes a space in which
queer, lesbian, and bisexual women share their stories of
struggle, survival, empowerment, and creative endeavors—that
it will be a column that also seeks to educate.
As the first contributor to this column, I want to say that I
identify as queer. Why identify as “queer,” you say? The word
queer has a resoundingly negative history in which it was
used to describe someone who was abnormal or unusual. In
this short space I cannot begin to excavate the histories that
created this unfavorable definition. But I do know that queer
is now an empowering word used by bisexuals, transgender,
intersex, lesbians, and gays to describe themselves. Salvaging
the word queer from its unfavorable connotation is one of the
many things that queers have done for this society. I hear we
also throw fabulous parties!
Living a political existence as a queer woman is a most
excellent thing to do, and I will contend that politicizing one’s
identity is easier than I ever thought. I think that the most
important thing any gay woman can do is come out of the
closet. Coming out of the closet is not something that happens
just one time; it is an ongoing process.
My identity as a queer person demands new attentiveness
in my daily life and the same is true for those closest to me. I
received many different reactions from my friends and family when
I came out. A few of them were devastated, and those I thought
would disown me actually offered me unconditional love and sup-
port. If someone close to you comes out, I highly recommend
that you educate yourself before saying something that you could
regret. When a queer person tells you that they are out means that
they want to build the capacity to have a closer relationship with
you. Thankfully, the resources for families and friends of queer
people on the Internet and in print are vast, so please take advan-
tage.
Every queer woman’s coming out story is worthy of hearing,
and if you know a queer woman, I implore you to ask her to tell
you hers. In fact, if you know someone who has a friend or family
member who knows someone queer, ask them about their experi-
ence as well. Engaging in conversations with people who identify
as queer (or who know/love someone who is) is a powerful tool to
gain new understandings and disrupt problematic knowledge pro-
duction. I want to mark that there is no uniform way to be queer
nor is there any uniform way to show up as an ally, but to act ethi-
cally and at least try could make all the difference in someone’s
life. In closing, I would ask the readers of this article to think about
the different ways you can engage in ethical conversations with
queer people about what faces them everyday.
 Stories of Strength, Hope and Healing
My Story
By Beverly Engel
I
should have become a criminal, a prostitute, or a patient in a
mental hospital. I came close to being all three.
I should have become a criminal because the sexual
abuse I experienced at nine years old and the rape I suffered
at twelve filled me with such rage that I acted out against soci-
ety in numerous ways, including hanging out with “bad boys”
and shoplifting.
I should have become a prostitute because the man who
molested me taught me to trade my body for attention, pres-
ents, and root beer floats. He taught me that my only worth
was to give men sexual pleasure.
I should have become a patient in a mental hospital
because the emotional abuse and neglect I experienced from
my mother nearly drove me crazy and the sexual abuse almost
finished the job.
The point is that my emotionally and sexually abusive child-
hood wounded my soul and caused deep psychological dam-
age and that because of this – and in spite of this – I am who
I am today.
The neglect I experienced made me feel unwanted, unlov-
able, and unacceptable to society.
The emotional abuse I experienced from my mother caused
me to doubt my perceptions, to be self-critical and critical of
others. It created a rage inside of me that I turned against
my mother, myself and others. It caused me to rebel against
authority figures. It devastated my self-esteem.
The sexual abuse I experienced created a deep sense of
shame inside me. I felt as if I had a huge mark on me that told
everyone there was something wrong with me. It caused me to
act out sexually, first by passing the abuse on to other children
and then by becoming a promiscuous adult.
Every survivor’s story is different and yet at the same time
every story is the same. We all suffered fear, pain, humilia-
tion, and shame. Some of us dealt with our shame by turning
it into rage and others carried our shame with us throughout
our lives. I did both. Some of us had children and worked hard
to not pass on the abuse we experienced. Others, like myself,
decided not to have children out of fear of passing it on. Some
tried desperately to maintain a relationship with their abusive
parent(s) while others, like myself, ended up temporarily or
even permanently separating from them.
I’ll never know who I might have become had I not been
abused. But I do know that, because of the abuse, I developed
some extremely positive qualities. Because of my experiences
I developed a great deal of empathy and compassion for other
people who have suffered. I started helping others as early as
high school. I became a Big Sister to a mentally retarded child
and I became involved with an outreach program sponsored
by our local Y.W.C.A. for the adolescents in our local mental
hospital.
Because I survived such a horrible childhood, I developed
resilience and stamina that helped me weather other difficul-
ties in life. Since I had suffered so much in childhood, I wanted
to create a better life for myself and this provided me with the
motivation to put myself through college. And because of my
abuse experiences, I became very realistic about what humans
are capable of.
Not all survivors become more empathetic toward oth-
ers— in fact, some close off their hearts and are unable
to feel the suffering of others. Not every survivor develops
strength— some are broken by the experience. And some sur-
vivors remain in denial and become blind to the abuse of their
own children. But all those who suffered abuse as a child are
indeed survivors with unique and often outstanding qualities.
Although my life has been shaped by my abuse experi-
ences, I don’t consider my story to be a tragic one. In fact, I
consider my life story to be one of hope and healing. I truly
believe that, had I not been abused, my life may not have been
as interesting. I wouldn’t have become a therapist who special-
ized in working with survivors of abuse. I wouldn’t have written
19 self-help books, mostly about surviving abuse. I may not
have traveled around the world as much as I have and met so
many interesting people. And I certainly would not have had
a life that is as meaningful as mine has been. For my life has
been dedicated to my own healing and the healing of others. It
has been about gaining understanding about why people hurt
one another and why and how shame and abuse gets passed
on in families. It has been about learning how to have com-
passion for others and myself and how to forgive others and
myself. I am a much wiser, deeper, more compassionate per-
son than I would have been had I not been abused. 

If you were abused as a child (either emotionally, physi- 
cally or sexually), you have your own story to tell. We want to 
hear your story. We want to witness your pain. But we also 
want to hear about your strength and hope and healing. Send 
your story to editors@womenspress-slo.org or Women’s Press,
c/o Women’s Community Center, 880 Industrial Way, San Luis
Obispo, 93401. (Your name does not have to be printed.)

The Column That Counts
Stats on the Abuse of Women
I
n spite of a great deal of public education, we are still
dealing with a huge problem when it comes to the abuse
of women. Statistics tell us that women continue to be
abused in record numbers. For example:
 The American Medical Association estimates that
over 4 million women are victims of severe assaults by boy-
friends and husbands each year.
 Around the world, at least 1 in every 3 women
have been beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused in
her lifetime.
 Nearly one-third of American women (31 percent)
report being physically or sexually abused by a husband or
boyfriend at some point in their lives.
 Approximately 1 in 5 female high school
students report being physically and/or sexually
abused by a dating partner.
 Three in four women (76 percent) who
reported they had been raped and/or physically
assaulted since age 18 said that a current or for-
mer husband, cohabitating partner, or date com-
mitted the assault.
 Nearly one-fifth of women (18 percent)
reported experiencing a completed or attempted rape
at some time in their lives.
 Annually in the U.S., 503,485 women are
stalked by an intimate partner.
 Seventy-eight percent of stalking victims
are women.
Peace
Artwork by Jessica Greenwalt
A
ccording to the dictionary, peace is
“the normal freedom from civil com-
motion and violence.” Unfortunately,
in many cases, peace isn’t as “normal”
as anyone would like.
A solid first step in beginning to
bring peace to our surroundings is to
find the strength in oneself to rise
above pain and cruelty. I painted
a woman releasing a dove as a
reminder that struggle can only be solved
with peace.
How You Can Make A Difference
By Beverly Engel
I
t doesn’t take a lot of time or money for you to join
the movement for a violence-free society. In each
issue of the Women’s Press we will offer sugges-
tions as to how you can begin. We welcome your sug-
gestions as well.
1. Don’t close yourself off from topics like abuse
or homosexuality just because they make you feel
uncomfortable. Instead, look a little closer at why top-
ics such as these make you feel uneasy.
2. A lot of people don’t know what to do when they
see a mother yelling at, berating or hitting her children
in a public place like a supermarket. In most cases,
the best thing to do is simply talk to the mother in a
supportive way. Say something like, “It looks like you
have your hands full. It can be stressful trying to man-
age children while you’re trying to get things done.” In
this way you distract her and help her to calm down.
But you also validate her experience (raising children
What We’ll Be Talking About is the hardest job there is and managing kids while
you’re in public is incredibly difficult). You also send
In future issues, we will be discussing such topics as: a subtle but often effective message that others are
Media messages to young women regarding body image watching her. Of course, there are times when a moth-
Subtle verbal violence in TV and print media er’s behavior is so blatantly abusive that you need to
Older women and poverty report her.
Use of women’s bodies to sell anything in advertising 3. Don’t allow others to pressure you into marriage
Abuse women will suffer as soldiers return home or having a child if you know you aren’t ready. This is
Pay discrimination in the workplace especially important for those of you who were abused
as a child. Make sure you have healed your childhood
wounds before you marry or have children—otherwise
you risk doing to others what was done to you.
 NOWNews
Coordinator’s Corner
By Angie King
The invasion of Iraq and its aftermath is
still with us, and in addition to the daily
reports of violence and death there, and
the sorry state of veterans’ care at home,
there is also the largely untold story of vio-
lence against the women in our armed ser-
vices. According to the Pentagon (who has
been keeping track of these cases for only
3 years), the number of reported cases of
sexual assault has increased steadily, 2006
almost 25% more than 2005, but only a
third of those reported cases result in any
consequences for the perpetrators. And
that’s just the reported cases. Women in
the military are told to suck it up, don’t
endanger the mission, and all sorts of other
patriotic responses to their charge of sex-
ual assaults, so that actual assaults are more
likely 10 times the reported number. When
honoring the military on Memorial Day
this year, let’s not forget what war does to
ordinary humans living under unworldly
conditions. It’s time to find another solu-
tion to conflict!
The big NOW event this spring was
the state NOW convention in San Diego,
focusing on examining the walls (real and
metaphorical) we place around ourselves.
There were great workshops, lots of lively
discussion, and a renewal of spirit for
the year ahead, as well as a time to renew
friendships with NOW members all over
the state. We’ll be reporting on the con-
vention at our next meeting, May 15 and
making plans to take action on some of the
activities proposed by the presenters. Come
learn about NOW’s immigration reform
initiative, reproductive justice coalitions,
information on sex slaves, and more.
On the horizon: Pride Day in the Plaza
(July 8); National NOW convention in
Detroit (July 12-14); Day with Creative
Women (August 11); Women’s Equality
Day (August 26). Mark your calendars for
August 25 – the date of a huge celebration
march in support of women’s suffrage in
Sacramento, complete with white dresses
and horses, just like the 1913 march in
Washington DC, so well depicted in Iron
Jawed Angels. If there is sufficient interest,
we can rent a bus and make a road trip!
This Page Presented by the National Organization for Women
The purpose of NOW is to bring women into full participation in the mainstream of American society NOW !
A movement working toward a family-friendly America
Just in Time for Mother’s Day – MomsRising!!
According to various studies recently pub-
lished, women without children make 90
cents to a man’s dollar, mothers make 73
cents, and single mothers make about 60
cents to a man’s dollar; mothers are 44%
less likely to be hired than equally qualified
non-mothers, and are offered an average of
$11,000 lower starting salaries.
For MomsRising, a new grassroots
web-based movement, this discrimination
against motherhood begins to explain why
there are so many women and children liv-
ing in poverty, and why there are so few
women in leadership.
MomsRising is working toward cul-
tural and political change to build a more
family-friendly America. It is non parti-
san, welcoming aligned organizations with
a similar mission, including some of the
nation’s strongest women’s organizations,
family advocacy groups, mother’s organiza-
tions, child advocacy groups, unions, health
Reproductive Rights
By Angie King
The big news in April, sandwiched between
Alberto Gonzalez’s lapses of memory in
the Senate and the Virginia Tech massacre,
was the Supreme Court’s decision in a pair
of cases challenging a law banning a spe-
cific type of late-term abortion procedure,
the intact extraction. The problem is that
with all the rhetoric and multiple opinions
in these cases, decided only by one vote (5-
4), no one is quite sure what they mean.
Analysts for major pro-choice groups are
still reviewing the language; media pundits
have come down on both sides of the argu-
ment: whether the decision forecloses Roe
or not, whether there is anything positive
to glean from the language, etc. It appears
that only one specific procedure was made
illegal, graphically described by the court in
its opinion. However, the justices seemed
to take great pains to conclude that the
basic right to terminate a pregnancy was
still intact. Constitutional questions still
abound, however, about whether the deci-
sion trumps any particular state’s more
expansive, more liberal law, such as Califor-
nia. We heard at the state NOW convention
that pro-choice groups are contemplating a
lawsuit in California to challenge that asser-
tion.
Women’s Press | May & June 2007 | editors@womenspress-slo.org
care organizations, parenting groups, the
faith community, and many other organiza-
tions which have aligned missions to build
a family-friendly America. NOW is one of
those groups.
In the 9 months since starting up last
June, the MomsRising membership has
gone from 0 to nearly 90,000 people.
Here’s the Program. Drawing from
NOW Chapter # CA 565
the MoveOn.org organizing model (and
PO Box 1306, SLO, CA 93406
co-founded by Joan Blades, co-founder of
SLONOW @ kcbx.net
MoveOn.org), the MomsRising program is
http://groups.myspace.com/~slonow
ambitious:
• Organize through the web NOW Calendar
• Leverage the collaborative power of
existing organizations May 1
• Recruit new organizational and grass- • International Workers’ Day
roots supporters, many of which have May 1
not previously partnered on family • Birthday of Mary Harris “Mother
issues Jones”, labor activist, 1830
May 14
Continued in Rising, pg. 7 • Mother’s Day (see article)
May 15
• Birthday of Florence Nightingale, 1858
May 15
• NOW regular meeting, 6 PM
Justice Kennedy writing for the majority May 22
seemed to focus on his personal belief that • Amelia Earhart flies Pacific Ocean solo,
a woman who aborts a pregnancy will inev- 1932
itably feel such great remorse that it is his May 23
duty to prevent her suffering by preventing • Birthday of Aileen Hernandez, former
her from aborting in the first place. Doc- NOW president, 1926
tors are upset that the court has substituted May 28
its political position in place of a medical • Equal Pay Act enacted, 1963
decision between a patient and her doctor.
We should all be concerned that this “origi- June is Pride Month
nal intent” Court has become an arbiter of June 11
social policy instead of making a legal deci- • First woman promoted to Army gen-
sion based on precedent. eral, 1970
Congress can overrule the Court by pass- June 19
ing federal legislation countering the deci- • Juneteenth, anniversary of the Emanci-
sion, but that is unlikely to happen soon, pation Proclamation
with the presidential election campaign June 19
already in full swing and with the Iraq inva- • NOW regular meeting, 6 PM
sion still foremost in peoples’ minds. In the June 21
meantime, we can hope that doctors will • WNBA first professional women’s bas-
continue to treat women on a case-by-case ketball season opened, 1997
basis and not be intimidated by the bul- June 22
lies on the right. When abortion was illegal • Birthday of Sen. Dianne Feinstein,
altogether, doctors still performed abor- 1933
tions; they just called it something else. June 23
Many have stated they will continue to save • Title IX, banning sex discrimination in
women’s lives despite these decisions. There education enacted 1972
will be much more analysis in the coming June 28
months. Stay tuned. • NOW founded, 1966
May & June 2007 | www.womenspress-slo.org | Women’s Press Women’sStories 

Practical Mysticism? Nurturing Environments

By Jeanie Greensfelder
By Hilda Heifetz
I’d always wanted to write, but easily got
disheartened with my lack of skills until I
This Small Place
By Carla Martinez Reidel
joined a writers group that encouraged my
first drafts and later offered learning sugges-
tions when I could receive them. You only get to know a little bit of earth:
I recalled the importance of that nur- Outline it carefully with the tip of your finger,
turing experience when I read Thoreau’s the way you skim the skin of a lover under sheets,
description of a farm couple having tea on feeling a spark travel through your body.
an aged wooden table.  They heard a tiny
scratching noise and soon an insect emerged Mark this space with the length of your vision,
During my life, there have been very real
from inside the oak table.  An egg, warmed the width of seeing where you won’t miss a thing.
but unaccountable influences to deal with.
by the teapot, had awakened.  Thoreau sug-
They shape our very existence and are
gested that each of us harbor our own eggs You’ll recognize the ghosts of everyone
unforgettable—even awe-inspiring. Such
that await the right circumstances to hatch, you’ve known, hear voices
happenings cause us to listen with respect
inviting us to the winged life.
when others share similar experiences. One tell stories in leaves and stones.
D. W. Winnicott, a British psychoana-
of my Mother’s true stories about my older
lyst, taught that infants need a good hold-
brother comes to mind. Your body explains the gentle lift of wind in this region.
ing environment to flourish.  A holding
He was born in 1911, when infants
environment includes loving parents or
were referred to as “blue babies,” due to a How you move shatters sunlight
friends who provide appreciation, stabil-
heart problem. And in those days, it wasn’t on the ground, and all things fragile fall.
ity, and reliability.  Those qualities promote
unusual for doctors to find they were unable Right here. Now.
growth into adulthood.
to be of help. Though the doctor gave up
I look for friends and groups who
on my brother, my Mother wouldn’t and
encourage mutual egg warming.
didn’t . . . ! She decided to look outside of
 What experiences warm your heart?
the field of science and medicine.
She had a neighbor in the New York City
apartment house who was referred to (not
very kindly) as a “witch.” Actually, she was
a follower of the teachings of the Kabalah,
a form of mystical Judaism. My Mother, as
RISING
Continued from pg. 6
filing (discrimination against mothers
long as I knew her, was somewhat tuned in in hiring).
to similar beliefs and regularly visited the • Over 600 articles and reports on the
• Provide education and model legisla-
Chasidic community (prospering even now) issues that MomsRising covers--from
tion for state and national legislators
in Brooklyn. So it was hardly a leap of faith the need for healthcare to cover all
• Hold elected officials accountable
for her to consult her neighbor about sav- children, to the reasons paid family
for their positions on family-friendly
ing the life of my brother, named at birth leave will help new parents, to child-
issues
“Joseph Isaac.” For example, care issues and more—have been cov-
• Promote change in the private sector,
The neighbor listened carefully, worked • This spring, members sent thousands ered by radio, television, blogging, and
and
over the information my Mother shared, of e-mail letters to Congress to support print outlets across the country. From
• Proactively conduct media outreach,
meditated for a time, and then instructed the Healthy Families Act. the New York Times, “Mom’s Mad.
public education, and outreach to key
my Mother a follows: • Washington state members sent over And She’s Organized” to CNN Money,
traditional and non-traditional constit-
First, you must change his name. (In 2,500 e-mail letters asking their state “Moms rise up, fight for workplace
uencies.
the Kabalah, a person’s name contained a legislators to move a Paid Family and rights: Mothers, fed up with work-life
What MomsRising Stand For. The gen-
portion of his destiny. One doesn’t, there- Medical Leave Insurance policy out of balance options, join Moms Rising
esis of MomsRising lies in the sharing of
fore, name a newborn after a living person committee (they did). to seek reforms,” and to all the local
mothers’ stories, collected in the Mother-
who might then be deprived of fulfilling • Massachusetts members sent over 300 papers and bloggers, the word is get-
hood Manifesto, which has become the ral-
the purpose of his life.) So following the letters to state legislators to support ting out.
lying call for the movement. From these
neighbor’s advice, my parents re-named my paid sick days, an unprecedented num- How You Can Get Involved
stories, MomsRising has identified core
brother “David Irving,” the name all of us ber there. • Check out the web site (where the
issues which not coincidentally, spell out
knew him by. (I have since seen his original • In partnership with the Progressive information for this article came from
M.O.T.H.E.R.
name on the issued birth certificate.) States Network, MomsRising made – MomsRising.org)
M - Maternity/Paternity Leave: Paid
Second, you must, with a string, mea- contact with 1500 state legislative lead- • View the Manifesto online or down-
family leave for all parents after a new child
sure the outline of the baby’s body, and ers covering all 50 states, sending them load the book
comes into the family.
then take the string to some secret hiding a menu of model family-friendly legis- • Sign up to get e-mails
O - Open Flexible Work: Give parents
place to bury it. (This was to give up the lation, with multiple options of sample • Contribute your own story through
the ability to structure their work hours
flawed body (symbolically) and allow a new legislation. They also received a copy the blogs
and careers in a way that allows them to
body to be formed.) My father did that. of the book Motherhood Manifesto and • Have a house party.
meet both business and family needs. This
Third, you are to sell him to another the documentary film on DVD. Check
includes flexible work hours and locations,
family. (This was to create a different family out the model legislation package
part-time work options, as well as the abil-
environment for the unfolding of his life.) at: http://www.progressivestates.org/
ity to move in and out of the labor force to The first house party to screen the
My Mother sold him, again symbolically, momsaction
raise young children without penalties. Motherhood Manifesto film was in
for a penny . . . ! • When a woman was kicked off an air-
T - TV We Choose and Other After-
Which brings me to the circumstance plane for breastfeeding, MomsRis- Washington, D.C. last fall, hosted
School Programs: Give families safe, edu-
that moved my Mother to share with me ing members responded, gathering by Senator Hillary Clinton, along
cational opportunities for children after the
this incredible true story. For we were sit- over 20,000 petition signatures in a
ting at the beach in Rockaway New York,
school doors close for the day, including: with Senators Obama, Dodd, and
• Create a clear and independent uni- few short days. Delta Airlines and its
many years later, when Mother pointed to a subsidiary airline then apologized to Kennedy. “Despite all the rhetoric
versal television rating system for par-
woman sitting on the sand a short distance the family, improved their training of about being family-friendly, we have
ents with technology that allows them
away. employees, and are considering sup- structured a society that is decidedly
to choose what is showing in their own
“See that woman over there,” she porting the Breastfeeding Promotion
homes; unfriendly... What’s missing now is a
announced. “I sold your brother Dave to Act in Congress.
• Support quality educational program- movement. What’s missing now is an
her for a penny when he was a new baby.” • As a result of film screenings of the
ming for kids;
Would my Mother have preferred to Motherhood Manifesto, a group of organization. That’s why MomsRis-
• Increase access to, and funding, for
leave it at that? However, I begged her to women and organizations in Pennsyl-
after school programs. ing is so important.” said Senator
tell me more and she gave me the above vania (including NOW) have come
H - Healthcare for All Kids: Provide Obama that evening.
account. together to work to end Maternal Pro-
quality, universal healthcare to all children.
You might want to know that, when we
E - Excellent Childcare: Quality, afford-
celebrated my brother’s eightieth birthday
able childcare should be available to all
in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1991, I asked the
parents who need it. Childcare providers
family if they knew how wonderful it was
should be paid at least a living wage and
that he reached this ripe age. It turned out
healthcare benefits.
they never knew the story. My brother lis-
R - Realistic and Fair Wages: Two full-
tened as if for the first time. He never let us
time working parents should be able to earn
know if he ever knew the story or if he pre-
enough to adequately care for their family.
ferred to keep it to himself.
In addition, working mothers must receive
We all realize that people are often reluc-
equal pay for equal work.
tant to share “far out” experiences . . . they
What Has Already Been Done. MomsRis-
are more comfortable with what can be
ing has already made strides towards these
explained. I, for one, like real-life mystery
goals.
stories, especially when, like this one, they
have a happy ending!
 Women’sStories
UnsungHeroine
Marianne Kennedy:
Passion Creating Purpose
By Berta Parrish
Most people hope for a challenging and
rewarding career. We would love to be
paid for doing what we love. Pursuing such
invigorating vocations, amateurs turn pro-
fessional and hobbyists become entrepre-
neurs. With all the many possibilities, who
would choose domestic violence? Thank-
fully, Marianne Kennedy did.
After earning a Master’s degree in psy-
chology in her forties and volunteering
at a domestic violence shelter in Oceans-
ide, CA, Marianne served as Children’s
Program Coordinator at a shelter in Lan-
caster, becoming the Director of the Wom-
an’s Shelter Program of San Luis Obispo
County in 1986. Under her twenty years of
leadership, the Woman’s Shelter Program
has grown from 3.5 staff members to 27 and
from a $130,000 to a $1.5 million annual
budget.
What keeps her optimistic and excited
to work in a field that could be considered
overwhelming and depressing? Her coun-
termeasures apply to all of us, as we cope
with our various professional and personal
challenges.
Focus on the positive. Marianne stresses
three inspirational sources that consistently
reward her efforts: 1) the strength and cour-
age of the women and men overcoming
adversity; 2) the openness and resilience of
the children; and 3) the kindness and gen-
erosity of the community. She says “I see
the worst side of human nature, especially
between people who say they love each
other. But I also see the best side, which far
outweighs the negative.”
Cultivate a creative outlet. With her
husband, David Baumgarten, Marianne
is co-producing feature films. Their first,
Melinda’s World, is based on a novel that
she wrote and is available on Netflix®. Set in
the 1950s, the film is about a young girl who
escapes her repressive family through music
and art. The couple is currently editing a
film based on the Robert Nathan novel So
Loves Returns that they will soon be taking
to film festivals.
Contribute to the community. In
addition the extensive responsibilities of
her position, Marianne serves as board
president for the Pacific Light Opera The-
atre and serves on the Housing Trust Fund
Commission, which helps develop afford-
able housing especially for people with spe-
cial needs. She is also a board member for
the Legal Alternatives Corporation which
provides free legal services for low income
families. These volunteer commitments
broaden her interests and give her a chance
to serve the greater SLO community.
Believe in a cause. Although the judicial
system tends to blame the victim and popu-
lar culture desensitizes us to violence, Mari-
anne believes that progress has been made.
More people consider domestic violence a
crime and know about the social services
available to assist families. Working in this
area is like “planting seeds. It’s a slow pro-
cess requiring lots of patience.” However,
she adds, “If you believe in something,
anything can happen. I believe that people
want to be good.”
At 70, Marianne still loves her job and
is not anticipating retirement. She advises
everyone to “go after what you’re passionate
about. You don’t know where it will lead.
You’re never too old to go back to school or
to pursue your passion.”
Women’s Press | May & June 2007 | editors@womenspress-slo.org
Shirley Kirkes Mar
This month’s cover artist
Painting is dance to me. I choreograph
the lines, placement, and colors. I gather
an idea, photograph my subject, make a
mistake, and fight my way to the finish. I
love the way a so-called mistake guides and
evolves the piece. It’s all so magical. I actu-
About the artist:
“Energetic, enthusiastic and adventure-
some are characteristics that describe Shir-
ley Kirkes Mar’s art. Her work, which she
describes as “expressionist,” exemplifies fas-
cination with and reverence for the figura-
tive form. She uses bold strokes and colors
to imbue her subjects with both motion and
emotion. The suggestion of music uncon-
sciously resonates from each painting. You
can feel a dancer or animal engage in a real-
istic participation of a dramatic moment.
The sustained, pervasive sense of time,
the tilt of the head, the body extension,
breathes life into the awareness of physi-
cal talent. Many of Kirkes Mar’s paintings
have been moments of choreography from
her original ballets. Dancing became Kirkes
Mar’s way of life from the age of 7, when
she started taking dance lessons to reme-
diate a crippling injury. (Funny how later,
another injury took dance away, and put art
in its place.) At 18, she left her Texas home
to pursue a career in New York, Chicago,
Los Angeles, and international venues. She
became a featured dancer on television
shows and in movies for many years. Shir-
ley choreographed comedy as well as bal-
ally don’t know if I have much to do with
it. I relate my journey as an artist the same
way I developed knowledge, experience,
and style as a dancer. Talent, perseverance,
and tenacity drive the machine. Like dance,
I must paint or practice my art daily.
lets with such stars as: Steve Martin, Carol
Burnett, Michael J. Fox, Bernadette Peters,
and Henry Winkler. She studied in south-
ern California at the Art Studio in Santa
Monica.
Shirley has been one of twelve artists
selected to paint for the SLO Mozart Fes-
tival 2006 and 2007. At present the off-
Broadway hit show, “Menopause The
Musical” has chosen her self-portrait to
travel with the musical. Shirley’s works have
also been bought or rented for television
series and movies; most recently the series
“Lost” and “Two and a Half Men”, and the
movie “Freedom Rider”.
A mother of two and grandmother of
three, Kirkes Mar now shares her life with
husband, Jeff Mar. Formerly a sound edi-
tor and composer for film and television,
Mar worked with his wife writing music for
their ballet company. Now as a team they
are using their musical talents to develop
new works. Kirkes Mar values her gifts as
an artist, as much as she valued her gift of
dance; so putting dance on canvas seems to
be the most natural thing to do.”
May & June 2007 | www.womenspress-slo.org | Women’s Press Voices 

Voices Around the Table:
Jill Turnbow
Comedian/Actress
My mother used to love to stand on her
head.  We never knew why.  But once when
I was in the 7th grade, she came home
from a formal dinner dance in her chiffon
gown with 50 dollars in her hand.  She said,
“Look what I won!  They bet me 50 bucks I
wouldn’t climb on a table and stand on my
head.  Easy money!”   I was both horrified
and in awe.  My mother was a riot.
 
Kathryn Brewer
“My dad was a very compassionate man
and an avid gardener.  He was particularly
proud of his state-of-the-art compost pile
complete with recently mail-ordered spe-
cialized worms.  One Kansas spring day
when I was seven or eight, I found a nest
of three baby birds, newly fluffed, that had
been dislodged from its tree home.  The
mother would not come near.  I knew I had
to save the birds, but how?  Then I remem-
bered “the worms.”  attempt. I recalled all of this recently when
 I will never forget the look on my dad’s
face when he came home from work and
my mother spilled the beans about my
intervention into Mother Nature.  He was
obviously so torn between being proud of
me for caring about the birds and furious
that I had sacrificed his expensive worms,
that he did nothing.  Later he taught me
what to do if I ever found baby birds again,
and my mother dealt with me for stealing
the worms.”  by The Plastic Heiress, Barbara Atkinson
What is your favorite memory of your mom or dad?
Lynne Levine
A few days before my college graduation
in Washington, D.C. my Mom came to
sightsee.  She stayed with me in my col-
lege dormitory room and forgot all about
sightseeing - she hung out with me and my
friends and became just “one of the girls”
and she loved it!
Kathleen Deragon
We ate a lot of hot fudge sundaes while
I was growing up—because my mother
couldn’t get fudge to harden. It was a phe-
nomenon we still cannot explain. She tried
every recipe she could find and even the
never-fail ones failed for her. Once she even
had an unbelieving neighbor bring over her
favorite recipe and watch as my mother
measured the ingredients, put them in the
pan, heated them up, and monitored the
candy thermometer. Baffled, the neigh-
bor sat down as mom offered her a bowl of
ice cream topped with another failed fudge
I was going through old photos to put in
a memory book for Mom’s 80th birthday
party. There was a photo of her in teased
hair in a flip, victorious smile on her face,
holding a pan of fudge at a 90º angle, prov-
ing that at least once she had managed to
cut and not pour her fudge for all to enjoy.
Jeanie Greensfelder
Each February Mother rolled, spindled,
and perforated Pillsbury dough with her
dreams of winning the bake-off.
We children were her tasters.
Not unlike the joke about men
on a camp-out who agreed
that whoever complained
about the cooking became the
cook, we grimaced, but fearful
of her reaction, said, “We love
it, we love it.”
Pillsbury judges agreed
with us. Undaunted, my
mother entered jingle con-
tests. Like the mother in the
film, Prize Winner of Defiance,
Ohio, she racked up a televi-
sion, a mystery-fur collared coat,
and a shopping spree--all she could
basket at the supermarket in four min-
utes. We enjoyed the dry run to the A &
P to evaluate the most expensive items, but
soon tired of canned ham that winter.
The high spot of her career was win-
ning a car she couldn’t claim. After Mother
submitted her verse, Viv, my married sister
dropped by. Viv didn’t like Mom’s entry but band’s name, and a month later Fred won a
found a discard in the wastebasket which Ford Mustang.
she loved. Viv entered it under her hus-
One of Mom’s Funnier Moments

As my mother has aged, she’s lost a lot of
her sight, but not her wits, although this
story may belie that. When I came to SLO
and started to care for my mother after my
father died, a curious thing began to hap-
pen. At the time, there was a two-cushion
sofa in the large kitchen/dining area of her
nicely appointed condo. It was an old and
small sofa-bed whose metal coils and rods
were only good for torturing the mean and
unkind or a guest you never wanted. After
a few minutes of sitting on this sofa, the
cushion and I would invariably begin to
slide off at a slow, measured pace, landing
on the floor if not curtailed. Every time
this happened, I would tell my mother that
I think she needed a new sofa – this one no
Roberta’s mother is in the second row from the top, second in on the left. longer served its purpose -- but it fell on
deaf ears.
Roberta Youtan Kay older than my dad so she absolutely HAD One day I got up to examine this unwel-
My mother was 39 years old, one month to keep this quiet! When my mom turned coming sofa, carefully removing the cush-
shy of 40, when she had me. However, 65 years old, however, and she found out ions. What should I find but an unending
my father didn’t know her real age. On that she could start collecting Social Secu- supply of flattened plastic bags of every
my birth certificate, she listed her age as rity, she finally told him the truth. I always shape and size – at least a hundred of them!
34. My father was 37. In 1941, it was a real wondered why dates were ripped off of pic- No wonder the cushion was sliding. My
stigma for a woman to have gotten married tures and so many documents were miss- mother said you never knew when you
so late in life and since she was 32 years old ing! Even her elementary school picture, would need one. How many years had my
when she did, she kept her real age a secret which is so meaningful to me, has a huge parents (and their friends) been living with
from my father for more than 30 years! To rip in the bottom of it! this “sliding couch”. I laughed and laughed
make things even worse, she was 2 years telling her this would be my inheritance,
that it would join my other discoveries:
the plethora of plastic tubs collected over
the years from tub-butter, cream cheese,
cottage cheese, deli treats, etc. that took
up two full cabinets! Then, over the next
month, thinking I was already rich in plas-
tic, I was amused to find stashes of little-
to-tiny plastic bags flattened under files in
the large desk drawer, more under the desk
mat, under other chair pillows, and in her
bedroom chest of drawers.
There was more plastic storage in the
garage – the bubble-wrap and foam from
seemingly every item she’d ever purchased.
This garage plastic joined a stack of boxes
taking up a fourth of the garage that once
housed appliance and catalog purchases she
now owned, and two oversized hooks from
where large handled paper bags were hung.
I began the plastic purge, knowing that if
a certain size of plastic bag was needed and
couldn’t be found, I’d never be forgiven.
But the need never arose. I managed to
lower the box count, but lost ground to
my mother’s complaints about getting
rid of some the bubble wrap or the handled
paper bags – after all, you never know...
They’re still there. And oh, if you need
any, please, let me know. It will make my
mother feel good.
10 LocalPerspectives
BookReview
Debunking the Big Boys
By Charlene Huggins
Ellen Bravo is a life time advocate of wom-
en’s equality, and in her new book Taking
on the Big Boys she presents the undeniable
argument that feminism is “good for fam-
ilies, business, and the Nation.” Through
anecdote, facts and personal experience,
Bravo illustrates the need for change in
government policy and the need for more
public action to eradicate the barriers of
economic and domestic disparity, which
still exist in our society today. She also
debunks the prevailing “Big Boy” myths
that support these injustices. For example,
that the workplace is family friendly or
women’s work is equally valued to males.
Bravo points out that these types of myths
minimize and stifle any real change within
the culture or within our society.
The “Big Boys” are defined as, “the ones
who control wealth and power in this coun-
try.” “Some may even wear high heels and
lipstick.” They have the most to gain in per-
petuating the illusion that women have it
better than ever and that equality has been
achieved. Any effort to change the sta-
tus quo seems insurmountable, but Bravo
encourages change.
The beauty of Bravo’s book is that she
organizes her arguments into very clear,
precise titles and chapters. She explains the
myth, proves the reality, and offers solu-
tions. She understands the resistance of
women today to work for social changes
like the feminist of the past, and she’s
aware that most women are at a loss when
considering how to begin. Her last chapter
titled,” How You Can Get There” offers a
myriad of ideas for all who,” dare to imag-
ine the world as it should be and work to
make it happen.”
Women’s Press | May & June 2007 | editors@womenspress-slo.org
Single-Payer Insurance:
An Rx for California’s Ailing Health Care System
By Donna Sullivan
How would your life be different if you
didn’t have to worry about health insur-
ance? It’s not unusual for people shape their
lives around a need for access to health care.
Are you locked into a job that isn’t a good
fit for you, but that you need because of the
benefits?
Many families are just one major illness
away from financial ruin. Early in my nurs-
ing career I was stunned when a patient had
to declare bankruptcy because of her illness:
A professional woman in her forties, she
developed cancer. She was unable to work
because of her illness and lost her health
insurance. Her savings were quickly gone;
she maxed out her credit cards, declared
bankruptcy and went to live with her
elderly parents who were frail and in poor
health themselves. We now know that 50%
of bankruptcies are due at least in part to
medical bills, and that 75% of those people
started out with health insurance.
Women, even more than men, are
intensely concerned about rising health care
costs and are looking for action. Last year
the U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce
launched a study called Access to Health:
An American Values Initiative. Their prem-
ise is that access to affordable health care is
a right, not a privilege. They found it a huge
concern that one in four women report they
can’t afford to see a doctor even if they have
health insurance.
Fixing health care is finally a front-
burner issue. At state and national levels
politicians, corporations, and other decision
makers (not just activists) are abuzz with
ideas and plans to repair our broken sys-
tem. New coalitions of employers, unions,
insurers, consumers and medical groups
have formed even though some of these
have never before seen eye to eye.
The California Legislature has a num-
ber of possible reforms on the table. Some
provide for universal health care and some
do not; some have individual mandates
for health care coverage; and some have
an employee mandate to participate in
the coverage provided by their employers.
Employer responsibility to provide coverage
differs among the plans, and some encour-
age the use of Health Savings Accounts.
Cost containment and financing vary
widely.
The League of Women Voters of Cali-
fornia has long held a position in support
of universal health care with a single-payer
system as proposed in Senator Sheila Kue-
hl’s bill, SB 840. The “single payer” would
be a newly created state agency to assume
the role of the insurance company, using
the state’s considerable purchasing power
to negotiate bulk-rate prices with medi-
cal providers from pharmacies to hospitals.
The plan would ensure choice of providers,
affordability, accessibility, cost controls, and
contributions from individuals and employ-
ers based on ability to pay. It is patient-cen-
tered and significantly improves the quality
of our health care system as well.
You are invited to become involved.
Learn more by visiting www.healthcare-
forall.org.
Donna Sullivan is director of action and
health issues for the League of Women Vot-
ers of SLO County. She is also a member of
the local chapter of Health Care for All and
a registered nurse. Donna also served as pro-
gram director of Senior Peer Counseling in the
county and continues to volunteer with this
unique program, which involves counseling
seniors in their homes.
May & June 2007 | www.womenspress-slo.org | Women’s Press
Deaf, Dumb & Blind
By Delores Del Rio
If you look at the history of this once-great
nation, you will see that Americans have
been forced to endure all types of presiden-
cies. We had a president (Roosevelt) who
was physically challenged, but managed to
bring us into World War II and back; we
had the womanizing president (Kennedy)
who (luckily?) died before he lost his cult
status; the impeached president (Nixon)
who was later exonerated because, in retro-
spect, we have seen far worse governmental
offenses; there was the cheating and lying
semi-impeached president (Clinton) who
was beloved like a sex symbol or rock star.
What about President Reagan who went
through almost his whole second term with
sleep apnea, epilepsy, or Alzheimer’s!
Our current president (Bush) suffers
from three major handicaps— he is Deaf,
Dumb, and Blind!
He is Deaf to the cries of the masses that
are crying out in pain due to death, destruc-
tion, disease, torture, loss of self-esteem,
lack of freedom and human dignity. How
can he not hear peoples’ desperate weeping
due to his administration’s lack of human-
ity... the murder of souls and the destruc-
tion of families? He is Deaf to our nation’s
screams!
He is Dumb (numb?) to the fact that in
the last election, the majority voted against
him – sought to overthrow his policies and
rejected his colleagues – trying to send him
and his constituents a Message! That elec-
tion was six months ago, and still we are in
the midst of an Iraqi conflict that has no
end in sight and no game plan. Not only
that, but the big B--- wants the United
States to send additional money and more
troops to a war-ravaged country that nei-
ther wants our help nor recognizes that we
are helping them at all.
He is Blind to the fact that his place in
history will be permanently scarred by an
unpopular and ridiculous war that cost bil-
lions of dollars, and thousands of civilian
and military lives. This money could have
been used to help pressing domestic issues
such as health care, education, and disso-
lution of poverty, or universal issues such
as global warming, preservation of natu-
ral resources, and the elimination of world
hunger.
He is Blind to the fact that, during his
tenure in office, the United States has seen a
major decline in world status -- we are now
loathed instead of loved. He is Blind to the
sorrow his presidency has caused; Blind to
the loss of human lives; Blind to the cost
his decisions have caused to this planet.
(Future generations will have to bear the
burden, I am afraid!)
Let us hope and pray that our next pres-
ident will be neither a warmonger nor Deaf,
Dumb & Blind.
Adapt or reject?
By Kathleen Deragon
I had a real negative reaction to the Asso-
ciated Press article in the April 12 Tribune
on how board game manufacturers are
developing short versions of such classics as
Monopoly, Scrabble, and Sorry. The reason
given was that parents want to spend time
playing games with their children but they
don’t have the hours those games take to do
it. The marketplace has adapted.
Parents will buy the games and be grate-
ful for the option and enjoy the time with
their children. And that’s a good thing.
But, I thought, wouldn’t it be better to have
more time and not have to adapt to hav-
ing less of it? Maybe we need to see the toy
company’s response to our reduced avail-
ability to our children as a trend we need
to reject.
Is it even possible to make more time to
spend with our children? And if not, why
not? And if we know the current situation
is not okay, what will it take to start a dia-
logue in our society about making changes
so that parents don’t have to look at their
watches when they are with their children?
What forces brought us to this point: both
parents needing to work to make ends
meet, too exhausted when they come home
to interact with their children? Single par-
ents carrying financial burdens alone, even
more strapped for time and energy? At
what point do we say no more! and begin
LocalPerspectives 11
to gather and discuss how to create a more
family-friendly society?
Simply, at the base of this issue is how
we as a society value our children.
If what we are doing is not giving us the
time and energy to provide our children
with what they need to grow into caring
human beings—not consumers, but caring
persons—what can we do differently? Need
to do differently?
• Many solutions come to mind:
• Buy less so we have to work less
• Reject “busyness” and embrace leisure
• Job share so that parents can spend
more time at home
• Shorten work weeks
• Establish more opportunities for flex-
time and flexplace
• Develop onsite childcare centers so
parents can see children during the day
• Subsidize childcare
• Pay for parental leave
• Form babysitting coops so parents
don’t have to pay for babysitters and
children feel part of a community of
other loving parents
• Build communities where all adults
take responsibility for raising our chil-
dren
Will we make the decisions? Or will we
let corporate entities make it for us?
12 WomenatWork
The “Speaking for Clients” Recipe
By Dianne Legro
This recipe has been handed down to speak-
ers since Moby Dick was a minnow. I have
adapted it, added some very special ingre-
dients of my own, coach it, and I know it
“cooks.” My clients are watching it work
and you can, too. Don’t get overwhelmed
by the steps. This is something you can do.
Just like any recipe ingredients you assem-
ble, the resources are out there – most of
them right in your own phone book. With
a dash of patience, this recipe will help you
attract more clients and help your business
flourish if you follow it faithfully.
• Decide on a topic that is relevant to
your market audience and create a
catchy title
• Do a short write up for your talk that
explains the benefits
• Create a bio and information sheet on
your business for the “Speakers Pack-
age”
• Create a contact sheet to track your
campaign
• Research organizations that would
be your best audiences and clients for
your business
• Track down the program directors for
these groups
• Develop and practice a good “cold call”
to the program directors
• Call the program directors and pitch
your talk
• Send them your speaker’s package
• Follow up in a few days to answer any
questions they may have
• Implement a keep-in-touch phone and
email campaign until you book some
talks
• Create a detailed flyer/ press release to
promote your event. Send it to your
database
• Coordinate regularly with your organi-
zation about room size, sound equip-
ment, lighting
• Prepare your talk!! Create a good out-
line and handouts
Getting Unstuck: Part 2
By Denise Nickeson
In the last issue, we talked about some of
the obstacles to change that can keep us
in unhealthy, unpleasant situations in our
lives, unable to reach our goals. Today we’ll
look at how we can begin to dismantle those
barriers. Because of this column’s space lim-
itations, we’ll take a look at the top 3.
Barrier #1. Low Self Esteem. Without
raising self-esteem and starting to believe
you deserve a better life, you will have no
motivation to dismantle the other barriers
or try to change in any way. An exercise to
build self-esteem is to think about people
you believe have high self-esteem. Ask your-
self: How do they show their self-esteem?
How can you tell they like themselves?
How does their self-esteem work for them?
For each way these people exhibit their
self-esteem, write down that characteristic
below their name. After you list the charac-
teristics for the people you’ve chosen, create
a list for yourself with your qualities. Next
list the qualities you would like to have and
the ways that these high self-esteem models
might serve as a mentor or model to you.
Barrier #2. Not Seeing Alternatives.
Asking for help is particularly beneficial
strategy when you cannot see available alter-
natives or make decisions about the options
you do see. Help can come in the form of
a counselor, coach, support group, or just a
good friend.
Getting an objective take on a particular
decision or option can also help point you
in a new direction or stimulate more pro-
ductive thinking. Another effective way to
stimulate thinking is to brainstorm. Brain-
storming is just about identifying options
(the more the better) and listing them--
• PRACTICE your talk. Memorize your
opening and closing. It’s ok to refer to
notes in the middle
• Create an ending with a call-to-action
close and PRACTICE IT!!!!!
• Dress and groom for your company
image or service group image.
• Get there early and get comfortable
with your stage area and microphone
• Collect business cards or e-mails with a
sign up sheet
• Follow up with phone calls as you
promised after the talk.
• Set up appointments with qualified cli-
ents
• Turn your prospects into clients with
a great interview and pitch when you
meet them.
Congratulations to all of the focused
and committed entrepreneurial women who
came out recently for the Women’s Forum
at Hancock College! It was a great turnout
and I was honored to present to so many of
you who are building businesses and defin-
ing your marketing with heart and mean-
ing.
Dianne Legro is a national speech coach to
individuals and corporate groups. She is a key-
note speaker and will help you to speak like a
pro and increase your business. Contact her at
Dianne@diannelegro.com.
without editing and without judgment--for
evaluation later. Brainstorming can be used
to generate alternatives to any situation.
Barrier #3. Not Knowing What You
Really Want. Values clarification sim-
ply means knowing what is important to
you, knowing what you really want out of
life. One clarification strategy is to create
a planning “board.” Divide up 2 sheets of
paper into 12 equal slips. Anytime you have
a decision to make, are thinking about a
change, or need to clarify what you actu-
ally want from a given situation, write the
points to consider on the slips of paper and
arrange them in order of their importance
to you. For example, a relationship plan-
ning board will have you asking yourself:
What is important to me in a relationship?
A job planning board will ask: What do I
really want from a job?
The saying “A journey begins with a
single step” is no more true than with your
change efforts. That first step will be not be
easy, but getting started and keeping that
momentum going is easier when you plan
for self-improvement, identify potential
barriers, and begin to move beyond them.
As Sidney Simon says in his book, Getting
Unstuck, “imperfect movement is better
than perfect paralysis”. Do it. Do it. Do it.
Denise Nickeson’s background includes
working as an employment trainer/job coach
for an occupational training center as well as
a personnel manager and corporate trainer
for desktop support services company in Sili-
con Valley. She is available for private career
assessment and job coaching services. You can
reach her at dnickeson@hotmail.com.
Women’s Press | May & June 2007 | editors@womenspress-slo.org
MindYourBusiness
Maximize Your Advertising Dollars
Feature Author, Lori Rai
In today’s business environment, you need
to maximize your advertising dollars more
than ever before. If you haven’t found your
target market, then you are letting dollars
flow out the door, but for many business
owners finding that target market can be
difficult.
You might say, “I have no idea what
my ‘real’ target market is.” You may have
a business that attracts a variety of clients
so it becomes difficult to know just where
to maximize your advertising dollars. Here
some simple steps to get the “bang for the
buck” you desire.
Step #1. Target the Market – You must
decide on who is your target market. If you
have been in business for at least a year then
look over your current client list and deter-
mine who is buying from you the most. If
you have not been in business long, you
need to pick a target client and then deter-
mine if indeed they are your target market.
Step #2. Focus the Market – Once
you have that target, client then focus your
energy and budget on them. If the target
market is; females, 35-45, earning 55-65K,
then you need to find places where these
customers “hang out” and spend time with
them. The more you can know about your
target market the easier it becomes to reach
them.
Step #3. Keep it Clear – Given the tar-
get client above – let’s say they are getting
most of their information by watching net-
work news – you would want your message
on the news program. It has to be a very
clear message, so avoid advertising that is
confusing the message. You need to convey
the following information each and every
time; who you are, what you offer, why the
need it, and how they find you.
Step #4. Track It – It isn’t enough just
to have advertising, you must also track the
advertising to be sure you are reaching your
target market. Don’t give up too soon. But
Clients or Customers? You Decide
By Adele Sommers
In the English language, we make an inter-
esting semantic distinction between the
words “customer” and “client.” Sometimes
we use these expressions interchangeably
in English, but more often than not, we
intend them to mean something different.
Below are some composite definitions from
various dictionaries:
• Customer: A person who purchases
goods or services from another; a buyer
or patron.
• Client: The party for whom profes-
sional services are rendered; anyone
under the patronage of, or receiving
the benefits and services of, another
person.
Notice how the term “client” implies
much more of a caring, fiduciary role for
the benefit provider. It strongly suggests the
presence of a relationship -- one that will
endure over time to enable the benefit pro-
vider to continue providing benefits. The
term “customer,” on the other hand, sug-
gests that a relationship, if any, forms only
when a purchase is made -- and that the
relationship might dissipate soon after.
Whatever you call the people to whom
you offer products or services, consider the
subtle but important value of using the term
“client” when thinking of them. People will
sense that difference and respond positively
to your concern for their well being. It will
be a relief for them to feel that you’re look-
ing out for their welfare, and not trying to
push them into taking any action unless it
is clearly in their best interests.
While you are thinking about
your clients and customers, ask yourself
the following:
if you have been running ads for at least 6
months and tracking shows it isn’t working,
change it.
Step#5. Ask the Question – Final point
– but also the most important – ask your
target clients where they get their informa-
tion. Use this to help you place your adver-
tising so it will attract your target market.
If your clients don’t watch network news,
then don’t buy it. If instead they read the
local paper or listen to a local station, then
go there to broadcast your message.
If you follow these five steps you will
find that your advertising dollars will be
working harder for your business. Remem-
ber, people can’t buy what you have to offer
if they don’t know how to find you.
Feature Author Lori Rai is the Interim
Women’s Business Partners’ Program Director.
Ms. Rai is writing on behalf of Andrea Zeller
the Executive Director of Mission Community
Services (MCSC). MCSC coordinates Wom-
en’s Business Partners (WBP), which serves
everyone interested in establishing self-suffi-
ciency through small business ownership while
primarily focusing assistance towards socially
and economically disadvantaged women. Visit
www.MCSCorp.org or call 595-1357 to find
out more. Se Habla Espanol
1) Are you their greatest fan and sup-
porter? Along the lines of encouragement,
do you take every occasion to acknowledge
and congratulate their successes, as modest
or significant as they might be? Since they
have honored you by requesting your aid,
and you have been privileged to provide
assistance, you can help them celebrate the
results!
2) Do you aim to ensure their down-
stream success? Are you consciously con-
sidering the success of not just your clients,
but also your clients’ clients, and even your
clients’ clients’ clients?
In conclusion, by striving to produce an
ongoing series of benefits and satisfaction,
you will be providing products, services, or
other offerings that not only fill your cof-
fers, but also provide significant and lasting
returns to your clients and customers.
Adele Sommers, Ph.D. is a business per-
formance consultant who helps entrepreneurs
align their life passions with their business
purpose. She also guides organizations through
“tactical tune-ups” and “strategic makeovers”
in individual or group sessions. Contact her
today for a free initial consultation at Adele@
LearnShareProsper.com, or 805-462-2199.
May & June 2007 | www.womenspress-slo.org | Women’s Press Body&Soul 13

Peace Begins at Home

by Laura Hyde
Eat for $15 a Week in SLO County (And It’s Healthy!)
By Marleen Walmsley

All minds are joined. Therefore, all healing
is self-healing. Our inner peace will, of itself,
pass to others once we accept it for ourselves.
— Gerald G. Jampolsky
Many years ago, I heard someone state that
it’s impossible to have a healthy or successful
life if one’s home is lacking peace and har-
mony. Immediately, that rang true for me.
For how can one be a messenger of peace
if drama, chaos, and grievances co-exist
within one’s home—the very foundation
where one’s physical, spiritual, and emo-
tional being resides? I’ve met people who
have prided themselves for taking political
action toward world peace and people who
have served on religious committees for
world healing. And too often, some of these
same people have not addressed the anger
simmering beneath the surface of their own
families, or sought to heal the resentments
within their own minds.
What is the “emotional climate” of your
home? If we are withholding love, blaming
or accusing those closest to us, then how
effectively can we be bearers of peace? Or
for that matter, how can we be of service in
any meaningful way?
A Course in Miracles teaches, “Peace is
clearly an internal matter. It must begin
with your own thoughts then extend out-
ward.” During this time of upheaval, uncer-
tainty and war, we naturally want to stop
the violence and hostility. Most of us want
to see it stop “out there,” and so we focus
on what the boss, government, community,
and so forth, must do differently. Yet the
truth remains that the world outside of us
stems from our inner condition. Peace “out
there” will only occur to the extent that we
heal our own violent, angry, judgmental
and victim-oriented thoughts. Peace is an
inside job.
You think that you can’t do it? Sure you • Drink 6-8 tall glasses of pure water
can. With the increasing costs of gas and every day. Good for you and dimin-
the resulting costs of consumer goods, it ishes hunger.
helps to manage our food budget a little
better. Without sacrificing nutrition, I set 5 lb. bag white rice $2.97
out to do it on a dare one Saturday morn-
1 doz. organic eggs 3.00
ing. Comparing Ralph’s, Albertson’s, Von’s
and Spencer’s, I came up with a weekly gro- 4 chicken quarters 2.00
cery list that comes under $15 a head and 1 lb. calf liver 1.50
Practice the following exercise and watch meets all dietary guidelines. 1/2 lb. carrots .35
as peace gently soothes your mind and soul: Substitute items each week with alter-
6 red potatoes 1.00
• Search your mind for anger-provoking natives listed here so you won’t be bored. It
situations, upsetting personalities or doesn’t include the cost of spices, olive oil 1 green onion .69
events, or anything else in which you or butter, but even tailoring for those items, 1/2 lb. green beans 1.00
are harboring unloving thoughts or you can still do it. And be full all the time. 1 bag Fuji apples 3.00
feelings. Begin with the situations and
Subtotal $14.94
people closest to your heart. • Foods are going to be cheaper in sea-
• Note them as informally as possible son.
and let them rise one-by-one, repeat- • Watch for food specials in the Sunday Alternative Produce Items
ing to yourself, “I could see peace in this paper to save more money. Bunch radishes .69
situation [or with this person] instead of • The best nutrition comes from raw
4 bunches spinach/bag 2.00
what I now see.” produce. Better ye buy organic (just
• Keep repeating the choice for peace 12% more). 4 bananas .69
until you feel some sense of relief, • The farmers’markets are good sources 16 oz. raisins 2.00
then go to the next level of healing by of food and about the same cost as 1/2 papaya 1.49
repeating, “I am willing to see peace in supermarkets. Other Cheap Sources High Quality Protein
this situation instead of what I now see.” • Spencer’s is the least expensive overall
• Next, deepen your sense of inner peace item for item. Ralph’s was the highest Lean beef
by repeating, “I choose to see peace in overall. Cornmeal $2.39
this situation instead of what I now see.” • Locally grown produce is no cheaper in Nuts: almonds, walnuts 2.00
• Finally, allow yourself to fully surren- spite of minimal transportation costs. Seeds: pumpkin, sunflower .99
der by repeating, “Through the eyes of • You can get adequate protein on a veg-
love, I see only peace in this situation.” Peanut butter 3.39/16 oz.
etarian diet.
• Supplements do NOT give you the Beans - kidney, pinto, black 1.29/lb
Laura V. Hyde is the Spiritual Leader same nutrition as whole foods. It’s been Mussels, clams 2.50/lb
of the Circle of Spiritual Enlight- proven. Miso .35/cup
enment in San Luis Obispo, CA: • It’s the processed foods that eat up your
Cottage cheese 1.89
www.spiritualcircle.org. Laura is also the budget.
author of the books Gifts of the Soul and The Fish, 3.5 oz (fresh cheaper than canned) 3.00
Intimate Soul, and the host of the show “Rela-
tionship Wisdom” on San Luis Obispo Public
Access Television. Visit Laura at: www.laura-
hyde.com or call: 805.748.7506 Supplements: Do you really need them?
By Marleen Walmsley, Naturopath

We Americans probably have the high- is my advice: Concentrate on raw, organic

SpiritualityMatters est dietary standards on the planet. We have foods. Green leafies, fresh fruits, fish and
access to just about any food we want. But poultry in place of fatty beef. And stay far

What Is Your Memory of Choice? are we getting enough nutrition?

By Heather Mendel
In Judaism, no one ever dies as long as
someone remembers them. For this reason,
on the anniversary of a loved one’s death,
the Kaddish, a prayer of remembrance, is
said by those who hold dear the memories
of the deceased. And what is it we really
remember?
Ultimately it is not the height, weight,
complexion, or the color of eyes or hair that
remain with us after the death of a loved
one. It is something of the spirit of the
person that lingers— often the values that
motivated their behavior, comical or wist-
ful, that we recall.
Memory can be kind. When we think
of parents long gone, parents who may have
suffered from lingering illnesses at the end
of their lives, many of us find that those
painful memories are not the ones that
bubble to consciousness when we remem-
ber them. Our memory bank opens for us
to other times and seasons. Images resurface
of our loved ones still healthy and vigorous.
A recent Japanese film entitled After
Life presents a waiting room where those
recently deceased spend a short time before
moving on. During the week they have
access to the waiting room, they are asked
to think about their lives and choose the
one memory they wish to keep with them
for eternity. All other memories will be lost
to them. What would be the defining mem-
ory of each of our lives, if we had to choose?
For how many of us would that image take
us back to our own childhood or adoles-
cence? Would such a memory link us to a
beloved life partner or to our children or
grandchildren?
On the occasion of our 18th wedding
anniversary, I decided to gift my husband
with an 18-page photo album, each page
representing one year of our lives spent
together. Selecting a single photograph
from our overstuffed albums to represent
each year was challenging enough. Just one
image from our entire lives? Indulging in a
reflective exercise of this nature is a fascinat-
ing way to review our lives to this point and
may leave us with the question as to what
those people most intimately involved in
our lives today would select as their mem-
ory of choice. Hopefully such consideration
may lead to us re-evaluate how we conduct
ourselves and how we relate to others as we
try to leave an imprint for goodness in our
relationships, families, and communities.
Heather Mendel has focalized wom-
en’s spirituality groups for the past 15 years.
She can be contacted through her website at
www.wordartist.com, and also e-mailed
at heathermendel@charter.net or called at
544-4933.
In spite of access to such a variety of
afield from high-fat, high-sodium and all
processed foods as you can. Doing that,
foods, we spend about $20.4 billion on it isn’t likely you will need dietary supple-
dietary supplements annually, yet don’t ments at all. If you do, go for the food-
have the longevity of the Sonora Indians based. They are bio-available; synthetic ones
of Mexico, for instance, whose diet consists are not. Organic food is in resonance with
primarily of corn. - nor the Sherpas or Azur- Schuman Resonance of 7.83 Hz, the vibra-
baijanis, who don’t have much nutritional tional frequency of the earth.
variety, either, yet are fathering children in Select a good company: Call the 800
their nineties. What is the difference? Stress number on the label and ask to speak to
levels, family unity, long-standing traditions the lab. Ask are there are preservatives such
and faith values, and simple lifestyles. They as mercury? Is the formula bio-available?
are also in synergy with nature. What is the percentage of actual nutrients
The critical question is: How do you per tablet and how much is “ash”?
know if you need supplements at all? This What follows is a ratings chart of the
some of the more popular retail brands.
Brand Name Label Rating (-1 – 100+)
Kirkman (Costco) Kirkman Super Nu-Ther 12.3
Source Naturals Ultra Multiple 7.5
Nature’s Way Complete Ultra Energy Multi 17.6
Solaray Solo Caps 6.2
Avon Vitadvance Women’s Complete II 5.2
Rite-Aid WholeSource 6.2
Centrum Select 4.6
Geritol Complete 4.2
One-a-day Advanced Men’s Formula 4.6
Puritan’s Pride Vita-Min 0.0
Maculitis Eyeglasses $200 Bilberry $1.07
Source: Comparative Guide to Nutritional Supplements – 2006 by Biochemist Lyle MacWilliams
Marleen Wamsley is a naturopath in Morro Bay. She is
host-producer of Healers Who Share, an educational TV pro-
gram on Ch. 2 for those without health insurance. She writes a
global naturopathic newsletter and teaches workshops for med-
ical professionals called New Paradigms In Healing. Contact
Marleen at 831-325-7483 or clarityandhealth@yahoo.com.
14 CommunityBulletins Women’s Press | May & June 2007 | editors@womenspress-slo.org

Volunteer Crisis Intervention

Women’sCommunityCenter
Our mission is:
• TO maintain an accessible center to
collect and exchange information of
interest and concern to women
• TO organize and facilttate workshops,
clinics, seminars, classes and support
groups on subjects of interest and need
• TO engage in and facilitate interaction
among local, state and national agen-
cies and organizations working to ben-
efit women
Women’s Press presents
Family Law Action Committee
Dealing With Divorce
3rd Wednesday of each month – 7 PM
Upcoming:
May 16, June 20 and July 18
Talk with other women who have
been there, done that in a supportive,
non-judgmental environment.
$5 donation
Self-Represented Litigants’ Clinic
4th Tuesday of each month – 5:30 PM
Upcoming:
May 22, June 26 and July 24
Get family law advice from local
attorneys and/or paralegals.
Reservations required. $25 donation
Call 544-9313 for information
Sexual Assault and Re-victimization
by the Media
By Amber Kennedy,
Fund Development Coordinator
No one asks to be raped. Ever. Sexual assault
is not about sex: it is about asserting power
through the use of force, fear, or coercion.
Why is it then, that when a woman sur-
vives this brutal crime, the questions asked
surround her attire, alcohol consumption,
relationship to the perpetrator, and previ-
ous sexual history? Questions such as these
remove the focus and blame from the per-
petrator, and place the responsibility on
the victim. And often, society questions if
the assault occurred at all, perpetuating the
myth that women “cry rape.” Sexual assault
is never the victim’s fault. There is only one
person who can prevent a sexual assault
from occurring: the perpetrator. Both vic-
tim blaming and disbelief continue to re-
victimize sexual assault survivors, and it is
happening in the most public forum we
Counselors Needed
Take Action! The Sexual Assault Recov-
ery and Prevention (SARP) Center of SLO
County is seeking compassionate men and
women to work as volunteer crisis interven-
tion counselors/advocates. Volunteers work
with teen and adult survivors of sexual
assault and abuse, providing support and
advocacy either in the office or on our 24-
hour telephone crisis-line. The CA State-
certified training program will be held July
10th through August 16th on Tuesday and
Thursday nights from 5:45 to 10:00pm.
More information and applications for the
training program may be obtained online
at www.sarpcenter.org  or by contacting
the SARP Center at 545-8888. Applications
must be received by June 29th, 2007.
Community Counseling Center
Needs You!
Attention all LCSWs and LMFTs: Com-
munity Counseling Center is looking for a
few good men or women to join our vol-
unteer pool and help us out! We are espe-

Intermezzo have: the media.

Recently, mainstream media has begun
referring to survivors of rape and sexual
assault as “the accusers” and suspects in the
EVERY THURSDAY IN JUNE A Powerful Process for Reviewing, case as “the accused,” implying the perpe-
San Luis Obispo Location, $200 Re-Envisioning and Re-Creating the trator is the one being victimized. Report-
ers use “alleged” as a modifier proceeding
Second Half of Life
rape more often than other crimes, such
as theft or destruction of property. A sur-
• Learn innovative techniques to help you re-envision how you
want to live the rest of your life vivor’s right to privacy is rarely respected as
the story of their intensely personal crime
• Identify the obstacles and limiting beliefs and behaviors that
prevent you from moving forward and living a joyous life makes the papers, and often the focus of the
piece is aggressive retaliation from a perpe-
• Discover powerful tools that will help you to move more cre-
atively into the future trator’s legal counsel, putting the victim on
the defense and again shifting blame from
• Experience your personal renaissance by fulfilling undeveloped
parts of yourself perpetrator to victim. When details of the
assault are reported, information is often
delivered in a way that implies the victim
Beverly Engel, M.F.T., is the bestselling author of 18 self-help books
and is an internationally recognized expert in women’s issues and rela- was engaging in consensual activity. It is also
common practice for media to lay a victim’s
tionships. She has been a psychotherapist and workshop leader for 30
years. sexual past out for public scrutiny, though
it has no bearing on the sexual assault. Note
Heather Mendel is a spiritual director, calligraphic artist, writer and that the perpetrator’s sexual past is rarely
storyteller. She has facilitated spirituality groups for women for the past mentioned; instead media discusses his wife
15 years. or children, implying a “family man” could
never commit rape.
This is not to say that no newspaper,
For a full description of the weekend and a pre-registration form, radio, or news station supports the move-
go to www.beverlyengel.com or www.womenspress-slo.org or call: ment to end sexual violence, or respects
survivors of rape and sexual assault. How-
(805) 528-7544
ever, sexual assault survivors continue to be
re-victimized by the blame and skepticism
Our first Intermezzo Workshop was highly successful. Some participants said that it actually changed their
life! Proceeds benefit the Women’s Press. perpetuated by the mainstream media and
in turn by society. It is up to us as com-
munity members and media consumers to
stand up and speak out. Write a letter to the
editor next time you see a victim of sexual
assault re-victimized on television or in the
newspaper. You can change the media and
you can make a difference. For more infor-
mation contact the Sexual Assault Recovery
and Prevention Center at 545-8888.
Women’s Empowerment
& Self-Defense Workshop
Maximize your chances of avoiding a sexual
assault! The Sexual Assault Recovery and
Prevention Center proudly offers this four-
hour workshop to help empower and pro-
tect the women in our community. This
workshop will focus on improving your
awareness and assertiveness skills, and will
teach physical techniques that can help you
escape a dangerous situation. Remember
– your best weapon is yourself: your mind,
your voice, and your body! This free class is
open to women of all athletic abilities, ages
12 and up. Beginning and advanced classes
are offered. Call 545-8888. For dates and
times, please visit http://www.sarpcenter.
org/services/defense.htm
cially seeking therapists who can see clients
in South and North County, but no mat-
ter where you live, we need you! We have
spaces in which you can see our clients
throughout the county. We also are always
hoping for more male and Spanish speak-
ing therapists to apply.
Our therapy is short term (10 sessions),
for uninsured and low income folks with
a wide variety of issues. No court-ordered,
domestic violence or active substance abus-
ers. What else is there, you ask? We see
people for parenting, relationship, life tran-
sition, glbt, grief, depression, anxiety issues
and more. If you’d like to share your skill as
a therapist with someone who could never
afford therapy privately, please call Gina
@ CCC: 543-7969 or gina@cccslo.com for
information on volunteering.
Community Counseling Center
805.543.7969
gina@cccslo.com
YMCA Urges Electronic Equipment
Recycling: Computer & TV Recycling
& Fundraising Event 
Here’s a chance to move along your old
computer monitors, laptops and TV’s to
raise money for a good cause – while also
helping the environment. RES Recycling
and Environmental Services, located in
San Luis Obispo, has partnered with the
San Luis Obispo County YMCA during
the month of May to encourage electronic
equipment recycling.  During May, for each
TV, computer monitor or laptop that is
recycled at RES, in the name of the YMCA,
RES will pay the YMCA 25% of the recycla-
ble value of electronic equipment.   
All the community needs to do is call
RES at 541-5865 to schedule a drop-off
time at the RES facility and then mention
the San Luis Obispo County YMCA when
delivering their recyclable electronics.
For additional information regarding
the recycling fund raiser contact Maria Fos-
ter at mfoster@sloymca.org or call her at
543-8235. For more information about the
San Luis Obispo County YMCA and the
YMCA’s efforts to build strong kids, strong
families and strong communities visit www.
sloymca.org or call the administrative office
at 543-8235. 
CASA Volunteers Needed
Help an abused child - become an advocate,
volunteer in the office or join the CASA
Guild.
For information, call 541-6542 or visit
www.slocasa.org
May & June 2007 | www.womenspress-slo.org | Women’s Press Resources 15

ABUSE Talk/Listen - Emotional support

489.5481
Stroke Support Group
471.8102 (SLO)
Adults Molested as Children Support Group (AMAC) Transformations Counseling Center Caregivers of Stroke Survivors
545.8888 Free monthly workshops 541.7908 544.2266 (SLO)
Center for Alternatives to Domestic Violence Women’s Support/Therapy v (general)
781.6406
North County Women’s Shelter & Resource Center,
FINANCE/BUSINESS 534.1101
Consumer Credit Counseling Services Women’s Healthcare Specialists
(inc. domestic violence support groups) 800.540.2227 544.4883
461.1338 Mission Community Services Corporation
Rape Survivors Support Group, SLO Women’s Business Partners POLITICAL
545.8888 595.1356 www.mcscorp.org Code Pink
SARP (Sexual Assault Recovery & Prevention) ososousaville@aol.com
545.8888
Support Group for Sexual Assault Survivors
GAY & LESBIAN Commission on Status of Women
Gay and Lesbian Alliance of the Central Coast 545.8412; Dawn Williams
545.8888 541.4252 Democratic Women United
Women’s Shelter Program of SLO PFLAG.Parents & Friends of Lesbians & Gays 541.4252
781.6400 www.womensshelterslo.org 438.3889 League of Women Voters
543.2220
ADDICTIONS SOL (Single Older Lesbians)
Mostly socializing! Call 474.9405 NOW (National Organization for Women)
AA Meeting slonow@kcbx.net
541.3211
Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACA)
HOSPICE SLO Green Party
AIDS Bereavement Group (Hospice) http://www.slo.greens.org 544.1580
498.2176 544.2266 Younger Women’s Task Force
Al-Anon Hospice of SLO County www.ywtf.org
534.9204 544.2266 and 434.1164
Cambria Connection (12 step support) Hospice Partners of the Central Coast READERS/WRITERS
927.1654 782.8608 Adult Literacy
Casa Solana 541-4219
Women’s Recovery Home 481.8555
Compulsive eaters Anonymous, H.O.W.Concept
JOBS/CAREERS Nightwriters
AARP 788.2643 549.9656; contact Shirley Powell
546.1178 Cal Poly Foundation Sisters in Crime
Drug & Alcohol Services http://SinC-CCC.blogspot.com
781.4275 Jobline 756.7107
Cal Poly University
NA 800.549.7730
Overeaters Anonymous http://calpolyjobs.org 756.1533 SENIORS
Cuesta College Adult Day Care
541.3164 http://www.cuesta.edu Jobline 546.3127 544.1414 (SLO); 748.9070 (Arroyo Grande);
SCA, SLAA & SAA (Sex, Love & Romance Addictions)
The Creekside Career Center 434.2081 (Templeton); 927.4290 (Cambria)
461.6084 www.slocareers.org 788.2631 or 788.2690 Computerooters:
TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly)
Department of Rehabilitation Computer help: 528.3892
929.1789 549.3361 Department of Social Services:
Women for Sobriety
Mission Community Services Corporation In-Home Support to the Elderly/Homemakers
http://www.womenforsobriety.org Women’s Business Partners help with ADLs 781.1790
215.536.8026 595.1356 www.mcscorp.org nursing help for the terminally ill 781.5540
CHILDREN & FAMILIES Private Industry Council (PIC)
www.jobhunt.org 788.2601
Equal Singles 60+ Meet Monthly
544.4347 or 481.1793, dg17@juno.com
Childcare Resource Connection Foster Grandparents.Senior Companions
541.2272 or 800.727.2272
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)
LEGAL 782.9200
Core Mediation Services Senior Peer Counseling
“A child’s voice in Court in SLO County” 544.6334 medeee8@aol.com free, trained in.home counseling for 60+
541.6542 District Attorney’s Office – Victim Witness Center 547.7025 ext. 15
Children’s Services Network 781.5821
781.1847
First 5: Children & Families Commission
Family Law Facilitator SPIRITUAL (OR NOT)
546.3769 Circle of Spiritual Enlightenment
781.4058; ask for Susan Hughs Lawyers Referral Services/Legal Aid Alternative 995.1390
Homeschooling in SLO County (HSC) 788.2099 Awakening Interfaith Spiritual Community
462.0726; ask for Barbara Pro Per Divorce Workshop Sunday service, 10–11 AM; 772.0306
La Clinica De Tolosa 238.5334 544.9313
La Leche League Central Coast Jewish Historical Society
Senior Legal Services 543.9452
489.9128 543.5140 Meditation Group
Migrant Childcare Program
Mondays, 7:30–8:30 PM; 772.0306
544.4355 and 466.3444
MOMS Club of South SLO county
MEDICAL SUPPORT/SERVICES New Beginnings Church
473. 2548
ALS Support Group (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) Every Sunday, Coalesce Bookstore, MB
227.4785
Partnership for Children
541.8666; ask for Beth
Alzheimer’s Support WOMEN’S CENTERS/SHELTERS
Real F.A.C.T.S. (Forum on Abused Children) 534.9234 (LO); 547.3830 (SLO); Homeless Shelter
460.9016 226.8669 (Templeton) 781-3993
Social Services Caregivers of Early-Stage Alzheimer’s Housing Authority
781.1600 547.3830, 534.9234 (SLO/Los Osos) 543.4478
Support for Kids Coping with Domestic Violence American Cancer Society North County Women’s Resource Center, Shelter
473.6507 Paso Robles 238.9657 461.1338
Anorexia Nervosa & Bulimia Support Group Prado Day Center
EMERGENCY/CRISIS 541.9113
Arthritis Foundation
786.0617
Women’s Community Center, SLO
Hotline
www.slohotline.org 800.549.8989 892.5556 544.9313
Sexual & Rape Prevention (SARP) Cancer/ Breast Cancer Support Groups Women’s Shelter Program of SLO
545.8888 or 800.656.HOPE (4673) 543.1481 ext. 3 for information 549.8989 (crises), 781.6401 (business)
Temporary Restraining Order & Victim Witness Caregivers of Aging Parents www.womensshelterslo.org
Program 781.5821 547.3830 (AG); 927.4290 (Cambria);

226.8669 (PR); 547.3830 (SLO) OTHER WOMEN’S
EMOTIONAL SUPPORT Endometriosis Association
www.endometriosisassn.org ORGANIZATIONS
A.D.A.P.T. (Aid in Divorce Adjustment Problems Today)
Enhancement, Inc. Altrusa International, Inc.
543.0388 (for breast cancer survivors) 481.1039; Cici Wynn, President
Alzheimer/Dementia Resource Center
434.2081 or 534.9234 or 800.443.1236 771.8640 www.enhancementinc.com Hadassah.SLO
CALL–Concerned Agoraphobics Learning to Live EOC Health Services Clinics 543.9452
543.3764 no or low cost reproductive health services Women’s Network, SLO
Co-Dependents Anonymous (CoDA) 544.2478 (SLO); 489.4026 (Arroyo Grande) 546.3727 www.womenslo.org
Healthworks of the Central Coast


542.0577 (SLO) 481.5093 (Grover Beach)
927.1654 (Cambria) 466.8600 (North County) no or low cost reproductive health services OTHER GROUPS &
787.0100 (SLO); 773.4500 (Pismo);
Community Counseling Center
543.7969 610.8865 (Atascadero) GATHERINGS
Long-term Care Ombudsman Services of SLO County Central Coast Peace and Environmental Council
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance Group
785.0132 544.3399 or 783.2383
927.3703 Compassion & Choices (formerly Hemlock Society)
Eating Disorders Support Group Lymphedema Education & Support Group
2nd Monday, 4:00-5:00 pm 800.247.7421 or 458.5481
546-3774; free, meets weekly in SLO
Hospice of SLO County (inc. miscarriage/stillbirth 782-9300 for info
support) 544.2266 or 434.1164 Parkinson’s Support Groups
Safe and Sober Support Group 466.7226 (Atascadero/Templeton)
473.6507 481.7424, 473.1714 (Arroyo Grande)
Senior Peer Counseling 544.1342 (SLO)
free, trained in-home counseling for 60+ Planned Parenthood
547.7025, ext. 15 SLO 549.9446
Please send additions, corrections or deletions to:
editors@womenspress-slo.org or leave a message
at the WCC: 805.544.9313. Last update 05/02/07.
16 BusinessProfiles
Infinite Dynamics
Are you looking for your core? Trying to
improve your posture? Wondering how to
push yourself to another level of fitness?
Infinite Dynamics is a studio for movement
education and therapy. Spacious and airy, it
contains the latest equipment and a compe-
tent and friendly staff. Training sessions are
generally one-on-one, but can also include
semi-private sessions and group classes, and
are for all ages and abilities.
The studio specializes in the exercise
systems of Pilates, GYROTONIC, and
GYROKENESIS. These systems of exer-
cise focus on the connection between mind
and body. Specialized equipment is a part
of every session. The studio also offers mat
classes. Each individual session is entirely
custom, designed for each client’s specific
needs. If you have ever struggled in a gym
setting, a group class, or in front of an exer-
cise video wondering if you are doing it
right, then a one-on-one, hands-on session
will be a real revelation.
Teresa Spafford first came to the stu-
dio as a client suffering with pain and lim-
ited feeling in her legs due to a severe back
injury. She was unable to do her daily
activities. The work at Infinite Dynam-
ics helped her to improve her health and
avoid further back surgeries. After years of
study, she is now an active certified trainer,
and she knows the value of these practices.
Announcing
the publication
of Beverly Engel’s
latest book:
www.beverlyengel.com
“Many people need help in learning how to
become pain free in their movements,” she
asserts. Nancy Rodgers’ foot injury from
running and poor posture were not as debil-
itating as Teresa’s situation, but the work
had powerful applications for her as well, “
I loved learning about optimal movement
and knew I wanted to teach this to others.
Infinite Dynamics is a great place to learn.
Having clients become more comfortable
with themselves, whether it is better ath-
letic performance or just daily comfort and
strength, is incredibly rewarding.”
Infinite Dynamics’ great strength is the
custom, noncompetitive nature of the stu-
dio and work. Programs are individually tai-
lored to the client’s needs to they leave with
more mobility, better balance, and able to
do more of what they enjoy. As they prog-
ress in mind-body awareness and efficient
and therapeutic movements, clients learn
more effective ways to move so they feel
better and more confident in their bodies.
So whatever your goals for yourself
may be, Infinite Dynamics can be a posi-
tive component of your program. Appoint-
ments with Teresa or Nancy can be made
Monday-Saturday by calling 805-594-1061
or online @www.infinitedynamics. The
website also has a schedule of classes and
more information.
Women’s Press | May & June 2007 | editors@womenspress-slo.org
QuietStar Presents
Yvonne Roza: Harmonic Healing
Yvonne Roza began practicing the healing emotion.” She also completed Harmonic
arts as a hairdresser. It was her clients who Healing classes with Deena Spear in Ithaca,
showed her the healing benefits of caring NY; a unique method of “tuning” energy
touch, listening, feeling heard, and seeing fields into harmony. “Using Hebrew letters
their own unique beauty. Now retired from makes Harmonic Healing simple yet pow-
hairdressing, she continues her practice but erful and beautiful.”
in the medium of energy healing. Yvonne doesn’t see herself as a healer,
Through the experience of her own “One must do that for one’s self. Mostly
healing, she began a journey of exploring… my practice is holding a safe container for
“anything that Spirit put before me.” That someone to do their own healing. I provide
journey began at QuietStar seven years ago, sound, caring touch, and visual guidance.
where the relationship continues, hold- You will feel heard – mind, body, & Spirit.”
ing her healing practice there. “What I like Yvonne also gives workshops in Sound
most about the QuietStar concept is that of and Harmonic Healing. Upcoming is Power
acceptance…supporting and allowing your of Toning, May 5. You can reach her at
own truth to emerge.” 234-6822 or visit her website:
Last year she completed Jonathan Gold- www.vibrationattunement.com.
man’s Sound Healing Course. “I see illness
as a ‘dis-chord’ of frequencies. The right
Contact info: (805) 783-2662
sounds, such as toning and crystal bowls,
can bring in harmony – mind, body and www.quietstar.com/slo.htm
Seeking Writers and Artists
W
e are seeking content for our July-August issue, the theme of which
will be “creative women” in keeping with the Women’s Community
Center’s annual fundraiser Day With Creative Women. We would like:
 Short short fiction (500-750 words)
 Poetry
 Photography
 Art
Send to editors@womenspress-slo.org
or call 474-6444 or 305-9775
DEADLINE: June 11