September & October 2005

SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER 2005

A PUBLICATION OF THE WOMEN’S COMMUNITY CENTER • SAN LUIS OBISPO • CALIFORNIA

WEducate • Enlighten • Empower VOLUME XX, NUMBER 5

PRESSSmen’ o

Inside:Become a Women’s

Press supporter… page 2

Learn money management

… page 3

… page 4

A young woman abroad… page 5

My left breast… page 6

Local woman an African shaman

… page 7

Day With Creative Women thanks you

… pages 8 – 9

Sex, lies and menopause

follow-up… page 10

Panel discussionon Prop. 73

… page 11

NEW COLUMNMind Your Business

… page 12

CommunityBulletin Board

… pages 13 – 14

Community Resources

… page 15

Back Talk… page 16

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Page 2 E-mail the editors: [email protected] Women’s Press September/October 2005

WantedYour OpinionSend your letters to :

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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 [email protected] or call 805.544.9313.

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WOMEN’S COMMUNITY CENTER BOARD

Angie King, PresidentDawn Williams, Secretary

Kathleen DeragonSusan Howe

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Andy McMeansJan Potter

Renee SanpeiRobin Werderits

Karol Vogt

Kathleen’s Quill

KATHLEEN DERAGON MANAGING EDITOR, WOMEN’S PRESS [email protected]

— Kathleen

The mission of the Women’s Press is: to educate, enlighten and empower women of all ages in San Luis Obispo County; to show women that they can be the change they want to see in the world; to strive to provide a quality newspaper that builds awareness of women’s strengths in all areas of life; to remind us that we are not alone in our joys and our struggles and that we are constantly growing, changing, and making a difference.

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Dear Readers,What do we need to live? What are the basics? The victims of Hurricane Katrina starkly faced those questions—and so did we who observed their incomprehensible distress. I became so grateful for my tap water, my full larder and dry comfortable bed. I felt so ineffective, able only to write a check and pray. Like many Americans, I compared the sadness and outrage I felt on 9/11 to that I felt as I watched the hurricane victims, knowing the death count and number of human lives affected would be higher, and that maybe this destruction could have been prevented or at least made less extensive. I’ve been in emotional conversations with friends, neighbors, and acquaintances who are talking frankly about how it feels to be an American right now. We talk about the ugly underbelly of racism, wars we choose to begin, an environment we are not protecting, a population for whom we can’t guarantee the basics of life in what is – perhaps was – the greatest nation on the planet.I am grateful that these conversations are occurring, even in the media, about what we as Americans want our country to reflect about ourselves. Do we care for our children, our elderly, our disabled, and poor? Can all children expect proper nourishment, an education, and protection from violence? Can women be protected from domestic violence? Is there truly equal opportunity for all persons willing to work for it? Is education that prepares for employment in a technological economy available for all? Is reasonably priced housing available in every community? Are we truly still a land of opportunity? For all?To stave off helplessness, I thought about what we each might be able to do in our own communities for those less fortunate than ourselves—maybe even beyond what local agencies or organizations can do for them. A community of caring. To that end, please write me and let me know of needs you see in your neighborhood and community that could be met by local persons willing to give of themselves or resources. Maybe it’s volunteering for an organization that needs more volunteers, maybe it’s a need unmet by local agencies. Whatever, let us know and maybe we can get you readers involved in making our own community the best place to be.Hopefully,

Subscribe to the Women’s Press: The annual subscription fee for delivery of the Women’s Press by U.S. Mail is $20/year (six issues). Mail check to Women’s Community Center, 880 Industrial Way, San Luis Obispo,CA 93401. Write “Women’s Press subscription” on the memo line.

Do you want to be a Temptress or a Diva? Suit yourself! Make a Donation to the Women’s Press

Choose your level and mail a check made out to the Women’s Community Center with Women’s Press on the memo line. Mail to:Women’s Community Center, 880 Industrial Way, SLO 93401

Women’s Press


OUR MISSION IS:

• TO maintain an accessible center to collect and exchange information of interest and concern to women

• TO organize and facilitate workshops, clinics, seminars, classes and support groups on subjects of interest and need

• TO engage in and facilitate interaction among local, state and national agencies and organizations working to benefit women

FAMILY LAW ACTION COMMITTEE

Dealing With Divorce3rd Wednesday of each month – 7 PM Upcoming: Sept. 21, Oct. 19, Nov. 15

Talk with other women who have been there, done that in a supportive, non-judgmental environment. $5 donation

Self-Represented Litigants’ Clinic4th Tuesday of each month – 5:30 PMUpcoming: Sept. 27, Oct. 25, Nov. 22

Get family law advice from local attorneys and/or paralegals.Reservations required $25 donation

Call the WCC- for more information: 805.544.9313

880 INDUSTRIAL WAY • SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA 93401 • 805.544.9313

Women’s Community Center Helps Women in Transition

WCC forming divorce support groupWe have received requests for suport from women going through divorce and transitioning out of violent relationships. We would like to help meet those needs in a way that gives them the tools and fortifies them in their journey. We would like to offer a support group at the Women’s Community Center, 880 Industrial Way, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. one evening a month.Please call 544-9313 if interested.

The Women’s Community Center offers moral support and practical information in a time of crisis or transition. We are a resource that helps bridge gaps and meet some of the needs in stabilizing and empowering women and families. One resource we offer is the Self-Represented Litigants’ Clinic, the Pro Per clinic, which offers legal advice and help with paperwork for women going through divorce without an attorney. The clinic was established to help level the playing field for children and parents (mostly mothers), who often have to resort to leaving the state or going into hiding to protect themselves. Mothers and children need to be protected in the courts. The clinic

educates them about how to maximize their chances of being heard in court. We encourage mediation as a means of harmonizing the traumatizing and very adversarial experience the family courts can be. The clinic is held every fourth Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. Another resource is a monthly class on divorce, which will tell you want you need to prepare for entering into divorce. You get a booklet, “How to Prepare for Your Divorce.” It is held every third Wednesday at 7 p.m. Courtwatching is also an activity of the Center. Volunteers witness court proceedings and document cases in order to observe how women, children, and pro pers are faring in the courts. Litigants have noticed a “big difference” in

the respect of judges when other women are watching. The Center also has volunteers answering the phone during the week to answer questions and refer people to various agencies. They lend a compassionate ear for those who need it. The Center also networks with many agencies and can help save your time and keep your from getting discouraged when seeking financial support, housing, counseling, crisis intervention, legal assistance, and more. Whenever we get an outpouring of gratitude and thanks for “doing what you do” and can witness the transformation of someone’s life, it makes the work worthwhile. If you care to be a part of this effort, please join us. Call 544-9313.

The Women’s Community Center is offering a series of classes in financial literacy, presented by Carmel Vignocchi. “All too often women ask me, ‘Am I doing it right?’” reveals Carmela. “Most want reassurance that the financial decisions they have made are on target. Others question me about credit or budgeting because they don’t know and are worried. They have never had a personal finance class. They may be lacking confidence in their financial literacy skills or are seeking additional knowledge. These classes cover the very basics of personal financial literacy. They are not investment classes. Each class is a stand-alone module that can be taken independent of the other modules. Together all 5 modules will cover the very basics of money management.”

Cost: $20 Prerequisites: NoneLength: 2 hours eachNumber of participants: Minimum 10 - Maximum: 30Location: Goodwill Building, 880 Industrial Way, SLOTime: 7-9 p.m.

What will the first class cover? Getting Financial Organized: Where are you now? Where do you want to be? At this class, you will be discussing issues regarding later life financial security. You will learn to: • Clarify myths from realities about later-life financial security • Identify specific action steps that can help protect financial security • Assess your personal progress in planning, acting and evaluating your financial security • Know which financial documents are necessary to keep and for how long • Create a snap shot of your financial net worth.

Call 805-544-9313 to save a space.

Asking me, the newly appointed Head Honcho, Big Cheese, or, in some circles, the Chairperson of the Day With Creative Women, to compare this year’s event with last year’s (or ANY other year for that matter) is a little like asking someone to compare Hamburger Helper to escargot.. Unless of course, you’ve had escargot. In which case the analogy is lost! Yes. I hold my head in shame as I admit that I had never, ever, gone to a Day With Creative Women—until this year! Though I have lived on the Central Coast for 11 years; I confess that I had never even heard of Day With Creative Women before this year’s event so this comparison thing is just not possible. But what I can do

My First Day With Creative Women Was the Best!BY ROBIN WERDERITS

is describe how this year’s event went. Well, it was fantastic! And clearly the best one I’ve ever seen! Best one I’ve ever been to! Wait… didn’t we already go there? From belly dancers to popcorn, the Day was a huge success! Vendors were lined up and down Broad Street, Monterey Street and on both sides of the Mission Plaza. We interspersed retail vendors with non-profit groups so that as you walked down the street, you were exposed (oh no!) to all sorts of interesting creations along with valuable information (Code Pink, Literacy Council, Core Mediation Services) to name a few… This year we invited several well-known and

stimulating speakers from the Marriage and Family Counseling field. Their topics ranged from “Crazy Teens” to “How to Deal with Stress.” They spoke about relationships and families. They offered a question-and-answer period for a bit of interesting interaction after their talk. Master gardeners from the SLO Botanical Gardens gave demonstrations on container gardening and making a worm bin. Local business women owners talked about their experiences. With the engaging entertainers, bounce house, food, lots and lots of creative items, interesting booths, music, and dancing – I’d say there was quite literally something for everyone! See you next year!

Learn the Basics of Money Management

Mark your calendars for the upcoming cl

Carmela Vignocchi has a Masters in Business Administration and a BA in Psychology. She retired from Public Education after 16 years as an Assistant Superintendent of Business Services. In 1996 she joined with Consumer Credit Counseling Service as the Director of Outreach and Education. Her passion is helping people learn about money.

Schedule of ClassesOctober 5 – Getting Financially Organized: Where Are You Now? Where Do You Want to Be?October 19 – How Does Your Cash Flow?November 9 – Banking and Credit: Tools for Your Cash-Flow System

November 30 – Managing Your Risks: Insurances, Services, & Programs

December 7 – The Basics of Saving and Investing

Women’s Community Center


NOW CHAPTER # CA 565PO BOX 1306, SLO, CA 93406

SLONOW @ KCBX.NET

EVERY WOMAN DOESN’T HAVE TO JOIN NOW, JUST THE 125 MILLION WHO ARE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST!

THE PURPOSE OF NOW IS TO BRING WOMEN INTO FULL PARTICIPATION IN THE MAINSTREAM OF AMERICAN SOCIETY NOW!

National Organization for WomenCoordinator’sCorner BY ANGIE KING

NewsNOW

As you can see, the NOW pages are down to one page. – the Women’s Press is doing so well, it needs the space for its own material. While that’s great for the Press, it poses a problem for NOW. Shall we (a) pay to have the newsletter included in the Press by committing to four pages and keep the additional readership and exposure; (b) stick with one page and point people to our expanded web site for more articles; (c) take the newsletter out of the Press and print our own, mailed only to paid NOW members and include special mailings when needed? Or (d) another choice not listed? In all cases, we’re going to need consistent, responsible help to keep a newsletter going. If we go it alone, postage will be more because we do not have enough members for a bulk mailing permit. We need to ask: where will it get printed, how much will it cost, can we aff ord it, who will maintain the membership data base, etc. If we stay with one page and expand the web site, who is in charge of that? If we expand to four pages, who will help me put them together? Please give me your ideas: [email protected] or call me: I’m in the book. We need to choose by the end of October, deadline of the next issue. We will talk about it at the September and October meetings. Please come and voice your input. I am excited about some of our activities planned for September and October. NOW supports the Peace March in SF; I’m going and so are a number of us from SLO NOW. Come along – if you remember the Vietnam Era, you’ll feel right at home. If you’re new to the peace movement, you’ll meet lots of new friends. NOW will have a booth at Harbor Fest in October on the water, close to the Albacore Grill – the signature booth of the fi sherman’s cooperative. It is always gorgeously warm and sunny then in Morro Bay. You’ll get to see lots of free entertainment, dance, and eat your heart out. And, if you volunteer, you help SLO NOW raise money. If you have a daughter or know someone who does, you won’t want to miss the discussion on Prop 73 (restricting minors’ abortions). (See Action Shorts) You may agree with the backers of the measure that a girl should have parental consent for such a procedure, but come to the forum with an open mind and learn why not every teen can confi de in her parents, and why it is dangerous to her health and safety to require her to do so. Have your mammogram during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.

Reproductive Rights NewsThe big news now is the John Roberts nomination to the US Supreme Court and the implications for the future of the right to choose. But that may not be the only right at risk, and women are not the only group opposing Roberts. NOW’s opposition to Roberts is based on his statements and record on a number of issues related to women’s equality and civil rights: his comments on pay equity indicate a cavalier attitude toward economic justice for women and a disdain for women who stand up for their rights; he has argued to restrict Title IX, the equal education law for women and girls; he has objected strenuously to federal affi rmative action programs; and he has disparaged the landmark Violence Against Women Act. While Democrats in the Senate are vowing to grill him in the hearings scheduled for September, they have not indicated if they will fi libuster. Part of the problem is who will come along next and will that person be more extreme. Support Sen. Boxer as she takes the lead in opposing Roberts. Even more important, write to Sen. Feinstein and tell her not to go along on this vote. We need her opposition, too.NOW, which testifi ed in 1981 in support of the nomination of Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, has formally requested to testify at the Roberts hearings. “NOW has concluded that his

confi rmation represents a danger to many of the rights for which we have worked so hard. . . . To confi rm John G. Roberts to fi ll the seat [O’Connor] held for 24 years would jeopardize the full range of established women’s rights. Through our testimony, we hope to apprise the committee of the basis of our strong opposition to this nominee.”

On the other hand, Jeff rey Rosen, a law professor at George Washington University, urges the Senators not to focus so much on Roberts’ past, bad as it is, but to ask broader questions, including how, in the broadest sense, the Court should prepare to handle cases arising from the technological and social changes of the coming decades. In the next

10 or 15 years, the Supreme Court will, in all likelihood, be asked to decide a fascinating array of divisive issues, now only dimly on the horizon, such as issues involving high-tech electronic surveillance, so-called brain fi ngerprinting, which uses functional magnetic resonance imaging, or M.R.I., to detect brain activity associated with particular kinds of recollection. Is it constitutional? There will be issues involving embryonic genetics, such as implanting in the woman’s womb only those embryos that display a specifi ed range of desired characteristics -- traits like intelligence, eye color, height, and sex. When and what limits those choices? There will be issues over the scope of rights involving private property -- in particular, the ability of corporations and entrepreneurs to control a broad spectrum of intellectual property. When does ‘’a high-IQ genetically engineered dolphin’’ or, perhaps more plausibly, a computer program for artifi cial intelligence that seems to perform human functions, deserve constitutional rights?Go to the California NOW’s web page and link to action you can take to oppose Roberts and become active in the fi ght to keep choice alive. Write Feinstein and Boxer; write the newspaper editor; talk to your friends. Take action!

Every woman do n’t have to join NOW, just the 125 million o are discriminated against!

NOW CalendarNOW regular meeting, 6 p.m. Sept 20 NOW booth at Farmer’s Market Sept 22Peace March bus to SF Sept 24Harbor Festival, Morro Bay Oct 1-2NOW regular meeting, 6 p.m. Oct 18

Peace March in SF, Sept. 24NOW has joined with Code Pink, A.N.S.W.E.R., and other anti-war and peace activists to support the September 24th March and Rally in San Francisco. Code Pink has arranged for three busses up to SF and back, all in one day. Call 541-1279 if you want a seat. Demonstrate your support for ending the Iraqi occupation and investing proportionate fi nancial resources in Iraq rebuilding and humanitarian relief.

Morro Bay Harbor Fest, Oct. 1-2SLO NOW’s annual fundraising eventThe Morro Bay Harbor Festival shares the proceeds for the weekend with their volunteers, and SLO NOW volunteers to sell drink tickets and so raise additional funds for chapter activities. We need 3 people for each 3-hour shift, either or both days. Festival is free for volunteers. Contact: [email protected].

Love Your Body Day, Oct. 19California NOW Foundation has set October 19 as Love Your Body Day, a time to celebrate women’s bodies for what they are, not what advertisers think they ought to be. Hollywood and the fashion, cosmetics and diet industries work hard to make each of us believe that our bodies are unacceptable. These industries can’t sell their products without our assistance.

Check out one of SLO NOW’s two excellent videos about how advertising distorts girls’ images of what is beautiful, and how damaging the cosmetics industry is to women’s health. Teach your adolescent girls (and boys) how to say “no” to harmful ads.

Prop 73 Constitutional Amendment on November BallotPublic Forum: Oct 24, 6-8 PM, SLO LibraryProp 73 would amend the state’s con-stitution to require that a teen’s parent or guardian be notifi ed before she can receive an abortion, and requires the physician to report all minors’ abortions and compile statistics for the state. This type of language has already been found unconstitutional in other states. Attend the public forum (info above), put on by SLO NOW, Democratic Women Unit-ed, Planned Parenthood and AAUW, to fi nd out the problems this initiative would create. Supporters of the mea-sure say their intent is to improve par-ent-teen communication, yet they also oppose sex ed in the schools. Women’s groups oppose the measure because it puts the health and safety of young women at risk. Go to the web page for details: www.noprop73.org.

Action Shorts

NOW Chapter # CA 565PO Box 1306, SLO, CA 93406

SLONOW @ kcbx.net

Do you know where your Curves membership money goes?In a country that is grossly overweight, shouldn’t the success of a company that genuinely helps women lose weight be a positive thing? But there is a problem with where the Curves money goes: the owner is an avid Catholic who believes in pro-life causes. He matches the fi rst $1,000 that each franchise raises for community causes such as walkathons to benefi t pro-life pregnancy-care centers. In 2003, he pledged one-million dollars to Care Net, a Christian organization that is pro-life and anti-Planned Parenthood. This organization, in addition to promoting the factually incorrect ideology that abstinence-only sexual education works (when statistics show that it doesn’t) also supports outright bans on late-term abortion and the morning-after pill. If you are a member, consider changing clubs. Or let management know you disapprove of your money going to anti-choice causes.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein(202) 224-38411130 ‘O’ St. #2446Fresno CA 93721(559) 485-7430Sen. Barbara Boxer(202) 224-3553312 N. Spring St., #1748LA CA 90012(213) 894-5000Send mail to the local fi eld offi ce; they forward mail daily to the legislator.

Women’s Press September/October 2005 E-mail the editors: [email protected] Page 5

Women’s Stories

Kristin Sanders is a senior English major at Cal Poly. This poem was written for and inspired by her summer school class WS 311: “Women in a Cross-Cultural Perspective,” taught by Shawn Burn, and by Thomas Friedman’s book The World is Flat.

Suppose we are on a trainwhere each car is a countryconnected by fiber-optic cables,

the Internet and cell phones,strung together by technology.Some call this the flat world.They say the world is shrinking,individuals are being empoweredand the money is pouring in!In my car, nearest the front,I am ordering drinks and clothes.“New clothes!” is my demand, in a collective cry with my consumer sisters,waving my drink in the air,“All the latest trends!”And the conductor runsback and forth between meand the very back car,where a young woman my age sews. (Maybe this car is Mexico,or China, Korea, Taiwan,Macau or Morocco.Check your tag and fill in the blank.)What if I got up and walkedto the back of the train.What would she tell me? Maybe she is hunched overa sewing machine for twelve hourswith no break, in a room with no windows, coughing,her fingers tired and raw.Or maybe this is truebut she is glad to have a job,her mother was never allowed on the train but stood waiting at the station for her husband,her sister sells sex as a tourist attraction to businessmen who traveled down from my car,her cousin is a maid a few cars upand sends the money home to her children.Whatever it is she says,I will take her hand and say: the world is not only flat,it is sagging beneath the weight of its actions, and we are like two points on a stringthat come together when a force between thempulls down.Tell me your story,and I will tell the otherswhat you need us to do.

The Women on This Train That Is the WorldBY -KRISTIN SANDERS

BY ELDONNA EDWARDS BOUTON

Finding Peace Upon the Page

Wake Up and Smell the Cafe Con LecheA Young Woman Abroad …

BY TYLER ALDRICH,CAL POLY AGRICULTURAL BUSINESS MAJOR

I came to Madrid, Spain, with an idea similar to Napoleon’s ...CONQUER! I figured being young, inspired, witty, charming, and AMERICAN made me a shoe-in to win over the Spanish people, make tons of friends, and gain an inside perspective on the life of our “youthful” country. WRONG!!!!! I have been fooled. I felt very cultured and up-to-date on current foreign policy, news, and laws. I thought I knew how people felt and reacted and that by having a good heart, courage, and an open mind, I could communicate in such a way to give the Europeans a better understanding of Americans: we’re all not just a bunch of Bush-loving, gun-carrying, death-penalty supporting, overweight people, that some of us care about the Earth, humanity, and war’s devastating effects on societies and countries. What I discovered is not the complete opposite nor depressing. I have met several Spaniards who feel the U.S. should accept Europe as another cultural and global

superpower both economically and politically, that we as Americans can learn from these countries and grow ourselves, being able to finally look objectively at what we are doing to the world and to our future. As far as women’s rights are concerned, Spain and Europe are a step above us, having many countries passing gay rights marriage laws, applying new domestic violence laws that favor women, and following many other forward-thinking tactics. I thought I knew it all, but what I knew was simply SLO or California or to put it on a larger scale, the USA. I knew nothing about how women in foreign countries really struggle, working 13-hour days, taking care of children, and sending the little money they earn home if they don’t use it to buy that 10-Euro tank top they have dreamed of for months. These people emigrate from South America, Africa, and Asia daily. They have beautiful property and even sadder, families and children back home, who remain intangible simply because their governments, being run by men – forgive me but we know

it’s true – are controlling everything, corrupting, and participating in wars. DOESN’T THIS SOUND FAMILIAR? I think we can find common bonds across borders and oceans. We need to encourage international support and break down the barriers of color and history, just as the European Union has done in its efforts to create a “Unified Europe.” Year by year they grow, they share, they communicate, they learn, and they unite. Let’s think outside our homes, our cities, our states, and even our own country and try and envision the “others.” Pick up a newspaper and read the International section, donate to an organization, or even better: try and get to know a woman, her story, her dreams. Remember that 25 countries with different languages, different foreign policies, and a history of warfare and bloodshed today all share a common currency, a flag, and a little more understanding and compassion.

Written with hopes to unify women in SLO, California, and the USA

In a world where Prozac is a household word, many people are looking for alternatives to drugs to combat depression and anxiety. For some, personal journaling often proves better than drugs, more cathartic than talking to a good friend, and cheaper than a therapist. A forty-nine cent notebook listens without judgment--opening the pathway to contemplation and self-knowledge through stream-of-consciousness writing. According to a report in the Journal of American Medical Association, “Tests conducted by a team of psychologists and immunologists demonstrated that subjects who wrote thoughtfully and emotionally about traumatic experiences achieved increased T-cell production, a drop in physician visits, fewer absentee days, and generally improved physical health.” Journaling can’t replace a professional; however, writing is a helpful adjunct to talk therapy. In fact, huge numbers of

people worldwide are turning to journal writing as a way to resolve unhealed emotional wounds, track patterns in dysfunctional behavior, and to provide a creative outlet for pent up stress. Men and women alike are finding that by putting their thoughts on paper (or on a computer screen), they’re better able to sort out personal difficulties and resolve inner and outer conflict. As you journal, you take inventory of your feelings, find answers to lingering problems, make decisions, and bring clarity to your life. Look

for familiar patterns in your entries. If the same issues keep popping up over and over, maybe it’s time to begin writing a new story for yourself. This process may come in the form of an Unsent Letter (cathartic letters written to release pent-up anger and resentment for the purpose of letting go) or it may be accomplished by writing from the Other Side (an exercise in empathy), or even writing from the

perspective of an older, wiser version of oneself--tapping into the inherent wisdom within each of us. Unlike the diary of the past where we dutifully recorded events of the day, a journal’s purpose is to capture emotions between each moment. Through journaling, your hand reaches into the depths of the self and allows for free expression. Isn’t it time you put down the phone, turned off the Internet, and set aside some time to discover the wonderful world within yourself?

Eldonna Edwards Bouton is the author of two journaling books. Journaling from the Heart: A Writing Workshop in Three Parts and Loose Ends: A Journaling Tool for Tying Up the Incomplete Details of Your Life and Heart are available at local bookstores or through her website; www.whole-heart.com. She will be offering “A Woman’s Write” private journaling retreat at The Inn at Avila Beach the weekend of October 14-16. For more information, call 805-543-8640 or e-mail [email protected].

An invitation to cancer patients and survivors Crystal Singing BowlsSaturday, October 22 1:30-3:00 p.m.Yoga CentreSuite A4, 1880 Santa Barbara St., SLO

Join Barbara Perry, Sound Therapist, for a gentle, restorative session geared for tuning and opening the body’s seven energy centers (chakras) while experiencing the deep cellular relaxation and inner harmony created by the crystal bowls. Free.

Call Barbara to reserve your space: 805-927-3952 (space limited)

http://www.whole-heart.com

mailto:[email protected]


Belly Dance is an ancient art dating back to the time of the Pharaohs. It has a long-standing tradition of social celebration still seen in the Middle East today. There are many theories on its origin and purpose from fertility rites to entertainment for the Sultan. It has transcended over many years but at its base, the dance accentuates the beauty of the feminine. The term Belly Dance is a western term and in the Middle East it is known as “Raks Sharki.” When it was first performed in the United States, people were amazed with the undulating movements of the abdomen and hips and so called it “Belly Dance.” I generally, however, call it Middle Eastern Dance as it originated in the Orient; its music is very Eastern and is still very popular today in the Middle East. At night clubs all the woman dance it and for weddings and on special occasions a “Belly Dancer” is hired to entertain the guests! In the United States the dance has taken on many different forms. You may have heard of Tribal Style Belly Dance, Egyptian Style, or American Cabaret. These are simply a few genres of the many that are out there. They are each unique, with their own style, technique and music, but in the end

their base is all the same! As a student and a teacher, I have seen women transform from taking Middle Eastern Dance classes. Many at first feel shy and a little intimidated about moving their bodies, especially in undulating sensuous movements. Although sensuality is part of the dance, it is not the only part and this is important to remember. Arabic music has many moods and feelings and the dancer interprets the music. There are fiery drum solos, upbeat fast rhythms, calming melodic tunes, and the slower more sinuous melodies. As a student, you learn the various techniques and styles and become more familiar with the sound of Arabic Music. You are learning about a culture, a dance, and after a few classes the intimidation goes away. Middle Eastern Dance becomes fun, a celebration of the feminine, a means of expression, a great work out and a terrific way to spend some time with some girlfriends!

Saundra currently teaches Belly Dance Classes and if you would like more information please contact her at www.sousoudance.com or 805 459-2055.

The Art of Belly Dance

BY SAUNDRA SARROUF

Tips for using colored file foldersBY KIMBERLY CHAPMAN

Colored file folders can help you quickly prioritize, file, retrieve and re-file documents. Develop a color-based “in-box.” Urgent - Needs Immediate Attention files could go into a red file folder; Important - Not Immediate files could go into a yellow file folder. Place these files in a vertical file holder that sits on top of the desk. The colors will give you visual cues as to what needs to be acted upon and when. Give files in your filing cabinets color with a functional meaning. This will make their corresponding category easier to remember (example: red = overdue accounts).Use a stand out color like orange to hold current projects. You will avoid looking through a sea of green files in order to retrieve them. Create a master index indicating which category corre-sponds to which color. This will help prevent misfiling and allow others in your office to accurately use your filing system.Kimberly Chapman is the owner of Santa Maria-based Optimize and Organize. She can be reached by e-mail: [email protected]” or phone: 805.928.4837

“At least you have one!”, my phone mate giggled, trying to cheer me up. “I hate you!” I barked back, rushing into our gale of laugh-ter, wondering, how we get through these days of delay and deterrence. Though her interjection re-minded me that working on an ironing board beat not having an ironing board, the image that came to mind was my right breast, the one unblemished except for the stretch marks of my Mommie days. The scarred left one unveiled my first sign of womanhood dur-ing my 10th summer when an accidental brush against my playhouse door sent an excruci-ating searing through my chest. My response to my mother’s angry, “What happened to you?”, only served to have my favorite playmate sent home forever because, according to my mother’s understanding of the fibrous lump in my chest, I’d “been playing with myself.” Aching and dumbfounded, I was sent to my room with an ice bag to suffer, alone and guilty – of what I did not know. That night the binding began. Laid back on my bed, my breast buds were swabbed with wads of Red Cross cot-ton, rolled from its sterile blue wrapping and soaked with spir-its of camphor. Camphorated oil would be the swelling po-tion on alternate nights. Then, face down, a clean, white, tri-folded towel was wrapped tightly around my chest and safety pinned in back. The pressure and stench took my breath away. Today, my breath-ing is impaired as a side effect of chemotherapy and the terror associated with the all too eas-ily flung about phrase, breast cancer. As I mature, the power of my mother’s potions appear to have borne the fruits of her labor. She nipped mine in the bud. I am, even after giving birth to four children, an A cup. The left of the “little skins”, as my second husband referred to my small breasts, has sur-vived the initial shock of de-velopment, my mother’s siege, my first husband’s drunken, “If I can’t have you, nobody will,”lunge into my left breast with a paring knife, and an er-rant surgeon’s scalpel. Exactly thirty days after the death of my eldest son in 2003, as I wrapped my freshly showered body in a towel, I felt a lump the size of a garbanzo bean in my left breast. Upon consultation with my Nurse Practitioner, she suggested that a biopsy could easily de-termine the cause and urged me not to panic. “This could be as simple as a clogged mam-mary gland or lymphatic system malfunction,”she consoled.

“After all, our emotions do have an effect on us and the loss of a child is tremendous can contribute to a systemic break-down.” Three days later, a clerk in her office called to spew, “You have cancer. I’ve made an appointment for you with Dr. X.” As I learned later, Dr. X was a friend of the clerk, not the surgeon my trusted Nurse Practitioner had intended. My appointment with this man was terrifying. He was unkempt, appeared “hyped up,” avoided my eyes and seemed not even to be in the room with me. Even though he had

operated on an acquaintance of mine many times, her last three surgeries had been to correct previous mistakes. The oncologist I was led to by a “survivor” friend of a mutual acquaintance wouldn’t listen to my observations or respect my knowledge of Self. The characteristerics of my lump, fluctuating between growing larger and shrinking – from hour to hour or day to day, being of a soft, Jello-like texture and easy to move around seemed to impress this man as some dumb thing I’d made up. He was outraged that I refused chemo and radiation therapies. My next stop was with the, purportedly, “best surgeon” around. He immediately drew lines above and below the lump to map out his plan in a way that would give him “a good margin around” it and submit-ted the paperwork to my insur-ance carrier. As those who sang his praises, included me in net-works, support groups, and re-lated activities, I was distracted me from my core belief that I did not have breast cancer. The lump grew to the size of and about the same texture as a peeled lichee. By the time I un-derwent surgery, it had become the size of a small apricot. During the four months between the discovery and sur-gery, I’d modified and supple-mented my diet and sought in-sight and advice from an array of allopathic and folk science practitioners. Independent of each other, they insisted that I had a cyst. I did homeopa-thy, naturopathy, acupuncture, Reiki, yoga, meditated and envisioned the surgeon go-ing into my body and coming out baffled, “There’s nothing there.” The evening after my surgery, he called and quietly

informed me, “There was noth-ing there.” The lump that I lost a third of my left breast for was not cancer. Seven months later, on the anniversary of my son’s death, another lump emerged in my left breast. This time, my internist, gyne-cologist and five of five “alter-native” practitioners diagnosed “cyst.” One M.D., professing to practice “complementary” medicine squeeze and prodded the lump until it hurt, blurted, “You have cancer,” and pre-scribed a batch of high-priced pills only provided by his estab-lishment. Lumpy continued to grow. When I ran out of funds to cover the alternative treat-ment, Moxabustion, which was shrinking Lumpy, it grew one third larger in a matter of weeks. In desperation, I went to the surgeon my Nurse Practitioner had wanted me to see with the first lump. As he inserted his biopsy instrument, hot, watery liquid ran down my side onto the table. “What was that?” I wondered.“Water,” he responded dryly. “It’s cystic.” Within days, I was back in the office of the oncologist who had assured me after the first surgery that I had not had cancer—this time to be treated with chemotherapy that he assured me would “soften and shrink” this lump. In absolute frustration, I submitted to a plan of four injections of “the most powerful chemo available” to be administered every two weeks with the assurance, “You will lose your hair.” Bald, except for a small ridge of hair, sitting tiara-like upon this red, tender, ever-moist head, I wish I’d used it better before taking two of the four doses of the gunk that only made Lumpy mad. My bodily functions are now those nor-mally associated with the aged infirm. But Lumpy seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and re-duce in size and discomfort as soon as I refused to continue chemo. The post-chemo ultrasound analysis confirmed “cyst. Now, the size of a small grapefruit, this sac of water of unknown origin sits over my heart, reminding me of the ignorance, misinformation, inconsideration, egos, and mis-treatment that breast lumps can be about. And yet, knowing that in spite of having endured another blow to my beingness, this time I just said “NO.” As I recover from the ravages of misdiagnoses and share this experience with you, I hope you are encouraged to not be easily led or terrorized into undergo-ing such destructive treatments as “chemo” and “radiation” with-out great certainty that it will cure you of what ails you.

My Left BreastBY ANNE WARNER-HOWE

It’s not always

cancer

Women’s Stories …


Alyson LeBlanc is available to speak to your group about her experiences and our need to reconnect to spirit, or for read-ings. Contact her at 805-708-0978 or [email protected]

Local Woman Called as African ShamanNever did I think I would sit across from a female African shaman – a sangoma – right here on a hilltop with a view of Avila Beach. The fact that she, Alyson LeBlanc, was raised in North Dakota makes the ex-perience even more amazing. Many of us don’t have a clear calling about what we need to be doing in our lives: not so with Alyson. Her calling was profound and it makes for great storytelling. “I’ve been different all my life,” reveals Alyson, “Seeing spirits, hearing voices, knowing things. But a five-year old Mid-westerner learns quickly not to talk about such experiences.” As an adult, therapy doesn’t help. Eventually your body is almost paralyzed and nonfunc-tional. The calling you don’t realize you have is trying to get your attention. Events in your life conspire to free you up. A path to Africa appears, and you meet a white sangoma who formally calls you to this Zulu healing tradition. Arriving in Africa, you know you’ve come home. And some-thing within you shifts, changes when you are told, against all reason, that you have “the sick-ness of calling.” You prepare for initiation with diet, disciplines, and ritu-al. In Botswana for your initia-tion, thwaasa, you bare your

feet, braid and oil your hair, and for three months experi-ence what most humans can barely imagine. You live with only a bowl, mat, beads, and the garb of a thwaasa. Finally, you are tested by se-nior sangomas, one test being the finding of the components of your sangoma costume, which the elders have hidden from you. Your intuition guides you to them. In celebration,

you dance your spirits in the costume you have earned. You have, however, died to who you were. You have a solid sense of knowing who you really are. From that clarity comes the ability to “see” for people. Now a conduit to the spirit world, you return to your family and back into society. Like all sangomas, you are charged to spend your life in service. Your service will be

in your own country, telling Westerners about our lost connection with spirit and how to reconnect. You are a carrier open to being filled up. Your ancestors speak to the ancestors of the persons you

guide and heal. “I want to address the impor-tance of focusing on spirit in all aspects of life. The need for a higher path is a universal yearn-ing and exists everywhere,” observes Alyson. “Unlike those who live within the old traditions, we in the West have forgotten our con-nection with this, leaning on the mind and dismissing the wisdom of the heart and soul. “Women have held such mysteries intact from the old times, when awareness of the Goddess aspect of God was a respected and accepted part of life. This is not to deny the ne-cessity of the collective mascu-line, but rather re-emphasizes the importance of both as-pects of our experience. What will bring things back together into the service of all of God’s creation? Balance. That’s the key word, I feel.”

BY KATHLEEN DERAGON

Alyson LeBlanc shown center in a visit to the Zulu cultural village Simunye, in KwaZulu Natal, RSA. Here she met and danced with the Simunye sangoma and his disciple.. The entire village came out to see ‘the white sangoma’ dancing.

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… Women’s Stories

When I get around old cars, I feel an excitement that only true love gives. They speak to me of closeness, and give me a sense of stability as nothing else does. I own a 1969 Dodge Dart Custom. A four-door, 225, slant six, gas-guzzling, mid-sized land yacht of a vehicle. It was built when cars were still made of metal. It was a family car, made for family road trips, and excursions to the local Dairy Queen with your favorite date or your annoying little brother. It was a car that embodied the kind of closeness we don’t have much time for anymore. My grandmother gave me the car when she was 92, having decided to buy her 94-year-old friend’s Ford because she thought the Dodge was too old. I begged her and my father to give me the car. It was in good condition, needing only a paint job and a little bodywork. After a solid week of pleading, the car was mine. That car is the part of my childhood that I shared with my grandmother, the part about feeling warm, safe, and cared-for. I grew up in

that car. Oma (which means “grandmother” in German) bought it from Hollywood Dodge in late 1968. It was the first car she bought with her own money. Oma introduced me to my hometown in that car. We would visit Descanso Gardens and their famous camellias; the Huntington Library and its world-famous botanical gardens. There, I got to see the Blue Boy for the very first time, holding Oma’s hand and wondering how it was possible for anyone to paint so

well. We’d take trips to Santa Monica Pier and Muscle Beach, the trains at Travel Town in Griffith Park, the petting zoo at the L.A. Zoo, and to my favorite place: the pony rides at Zoo Drive and Los Feliz. Through it all, the Dodge was our faithful third companion, the hum of the engine lulled me to sleep on the way back from our forays. I can still remember those trips every time I sit in that car, because it still smells faintly of her skin cream and perfume and hair spray.

BY SHELLEY SPRANZA

True Love, My Dodge Dart

I know I’ll have to take the Dodge off active road duty and get something more eco-friendly. But new cars don’t have fins. Or bench seats. Or chrome, for crying out loud! After the seats were re-covered, I picked up my grandmother for a dinner outing in her old friend. As I showed her the new upholstery on the seats, her face lit up.

“I always thought this was such a beautiful car,” she told me, and hugged me. In her eyes, I thought I could see the long stretches of highway the three of us had shared.

THANK YOU!EntertainersLaura Lee and the Mighty Croon DogsSweet AdelinesMary Donnelly World Dance StudioThe Belles of Los OsosPeter MorinDavid PlumbJenna Mitchell’s DancersWendy and BobWendy LeeTriadDawn LambethTrash

PresentersJudy WaltersHelen SherryCarol WilcoxLona PeoplesAlisa PietteMary MalikDeanna DelknerDeborah BurgeFran DukehartAndrea ZellerCarole HopperAnn Hamrich

Leabah WinterKathleen BoydEveline BlanchetteLinnaea PhillipsKhent HauptBarbara GrantMargaret WebbSandra SarroufRoberta SoulesEvelyn RossLaura KassJan MeshkoffRuth MurphyElizabeth Scott-GrahamBernadette RiesShirley HerbelSylvia HoffmayerDiane MillerInformation Press Gryphon SocietySomething’s Cooking Finding Wings

Supporters

SponsorsVon’sOutspoken – A Beverage BistroYMCACore Mediation ServicesLinnaea PhillipsCity of SLO Promotional Coordinating CommitteeAGP VideoKCBXKYNSNew TimesShari Small at KSBY

Robin Werderits and Lisa Gonzalez – Event CoordinatorsKacey Kralicek and Chris Neiburger – DWCW PublicityRebecca Brown– Women’s Press PublicityAngie King– Logistics

Women’s Community Center and Women’s Press staff

To everyone who made the 31st annual Day with Creative Women

a happy and successful event!

Event CommitteeMembersAndrea ZellerEve AdamsBarb PerryKathleen DeragaonRenee Sanpei

PhotographersRani ShahLynda Roeller

THANK YOU!EntertainersLaura Lee and the Mighty Croon DogsSweet AdelinesMary Donnelly World Dance StudioThe Belles of Los OsosPeter MorinDavid PlumbJenna Mitchell’s DancersWendy and BobWendy LeeTriadDawn LambethTrash

PresentersJudy WaltersHelen SherryCarol WilcoxLona PeoplesAlisa PietteMary MalikDeanna DelknerDeborah BurgeFran DukehartAndrea ZellerCarole HopperAnn Hamrich

Leabah WinterKathleen BoydEveline BlanchetteLinnaea PhillipsKhent HauptBarbara GrantMargaret WebbSandra SarroufRoberta SoulesEvelyn RossLaura KassJan MeshkoffRuth MurphyElizabeth Scott-GrahamBernadette RiesShirley HerbelSylvia HoffmayerDiane MillerInformation Press Gryphon SocietySomething’s Cooking Finding Wings

Supporters

SponsorsVon’sOutspoken – A Beverage BistroYMCACore Mediation ServicesLinnaea PhillipsCity of SLO Promotional Coordinating CommitteeAGP VideoKCBXKYNSNew TimesShari Small at KSBY

Robin Werderits and Lisa Gonzalez – Event CoordinatorsKacey Kralicek and Chris Neiburger – DWCW PublicityRebecca Brown– Women’s Press PublicityAngie King– Logistics

Women’s Community Center and Women’s Press staff

To everyone who made the 31st annual Day with Creative Women

a happy and successful event!

Event CommitteeMembersAndrea ZellerEve AdamsBarb PerryKathleen DeragaonRenee Sanpei

PhotographersRani ShahLynda Roeller


Sex, Lies, and MenopauseA follow-up to T.S. Wiley’s July 30 presentation

Sylvia Alcon, a writer and re-tired mid-wife, said she came because, “The thought that I wouldn’t lose my memory (as my mother has) by doing this therapy and the hope of being pain-free piqued my interest. She’s done an enormous amount of research and not fl ying by the seat of her pants.” Evelyn Vollmer, co-owner of Oz Botanicals, commented that she was interested in the protocol because of having thy-roid imbalances for which she was unable to fi nd remedies. She said the talk motivated her to go to one of the physicians who was doing the protocol and in doing so has found a treatment helpful to her condition. She and her friend, Nancy Reinstein, a nutritionist, both concurred that Wiley’s protocol gave them cause to research the informa-tion further. Both women were eager to fi nd out more before going on the protocol. Dr. Robert Mathis, a retired family practitioner in Santa Bar-bara, currently has 200 women on the Wiley protocol. He came out of retirement to pursue and support this work because, “I was tired of practicing medicine and not getting results. With this, I get results.” Dr. Anne Marie Tommey, a local physician who is adjust-ing her ob-gyn practice to specialize in menopause and hormones, told me, “It’s been a wonderful opportunity in my practice – giving women anoth-er option, especially younger women with endometriosis and problems like that. The Wiley

Protocol also provides another possibility for women who have tried everything and haven’t’ been able to solve their hor-monal problems.” In order to address the con-cerns raised and to respond to the interest Wiley’s research has generated, I

have spoken with Debbie Epkes, who organized and co-sponsored the talk. She is on the protocol and is familiar with the research and those involved. Q. Have you found the proto-col easy and manageable? A. Yes, very easy to follow. One minute, twice a day. I ap-ply the cream more often as I found it keeps it more stable in my system. Q. What is the source of the hormones? A. Yam. It is bio-identical. Your body recognizes it as a substance that it produces itself. The advantage of bio-identical is no harmful side eff ects. Your body knows what to do with it. For example, if you eat an apple, your body knows what to do with it. If you eat Splenda, your body doesn’t know what to do

with it.” Q. Because it’s such a radical therapy, people are wondering what research has been done. A. Wiley pulled together a staggering amount of research documenting the shortcomings of synthetic and static-dose bio-identical hormones. The last third of her book is re-search references. The Protocol itself is only a few years old. Anecdotal data is being collect-ed from approximately 5,000 women presently on the Proto-col across the country. ACAM, the American College for the Advancement of Medicine, has enrolled physicians across the country for a study that will compare pharmaceutical hor-mones with currently avail-able bio-identical hormones and with the Wiley Protocol.

It will be years be fore this research is com-plete, however, and in the meantime, each of us must make decisions about how best to maintain and en-hance our own health. The logic in Susie Wiley’s theo-ries and the therapy she has developed based on those theories seem to me to be light years ahead what any-one else has come up with so far. Q. What are the post-therapy symptoms? A. None known. Most people continue because of the benefi ts. It doesn’t build up in the body so it’s out of your system quickly. Q. What about the risks of heart disease? A. Women die most fre-quently of heart disease. To quote Wiley, “For those of us over fi fty, no HRT of any kind is disastrous, because

the heart attack of the younger middle-aged woman, sudden vasospasm, is a product of no progesterone, but the heart attack of the postmenopausal woman, coronary artery occlu-sion (men’s heart attack), is re-ally the absence of estrogen.” Q. Have people been able to get health insurance coverage on the protocol? A. Yes. You need to speak to your provider. I know people who have gotten full and partial coverage. Q. What assurances are there for high dosages? A. These doses are physiolog-ical, what your body produces naturally in your 20’s. Wiley chose to emulate an optimum stage of health as opposed to a declining stage. Q. Can I have my prescrip-tion fi lled at any pharmacy? A. The only way to be certain

you are getting the right hor-mones in the proper dosages is to have your prescription fi lled by a pharmacy registered as a Wiley provider. In San Luis Obispo, the only registered pharmacy is Health Plus at 948-A Foothill Blvd. If you have any questions about your prescription or about the Pro-tocol, defi nitely call Dana Nel-son at Health Plus. Ms. Wiley will be giving another free lecture at the Arroyo Grande Hospital, October 6, at 6:30 p.m. A users group has begun in San Luis, which will share ex-periences and Ms. Wiley will be monitoring, once a month. For further questions: Debby Epkes 544-4732, Cheryl Car-penter 543-6408, Elaine Watson 528-3995. (all currently on the protocol). Dana Nelson, at Health Plus Pharmacy, 543-5950.

therapy and the hope of being

protocol because of having thy-

was unable to fi nd remedies. She

go to one of the physicians who

doing so has found a treatment

and her friend, Nancy Reinstein,

has generated, I

have spoken with Debbie

bio-identical hormones. The last third of her book is re-search references. The Protocol itself is only a few years old. Anecdotal data is being collect-ed from approximately 5,000 women presently on the Proto-col across the country. ACAM, the American College for the Advancement of Medicine, has enrolled physicians across the country for a study that will compare pharmaceutical hor-mones with currently avail-able bio-identical hormones and with the Wiley Protocol.

It will be years be fore this research is com-plete, however, and in the meantime, each of us must

Dr. Kourosh BagheriFamily Practice1194 Pacifi c #100, SLO781-9111Dr. Dustin Bernard Endocrinologist1239 Osos, SLO 546-9911(By referral only)Dr. Sorina Carabeth Psychiatrist1941 Johnson, SLO 541-3032Dr. Steven ClarkeFamily Practice205 S. Halcyon, AG473-8671

Local T.S. Wiley Protocol Providers Dr. Carmelo Plateroti, D.O. 6895 Morro Rd., Atascadero462-2262Dr. Atsuko ReesOBGYN896 E. Foothill Suite B, SLO542-0900 (also PB, Atscdro)Dr. Ann Marie Tommey OBGYN8105 Morro Rd. #D, Atscdro462-84291248 Laurel Lane,SLO 703-0753.Kathleen Fennelly, NP for Arthur Segal, OBGYN1941 Johnson #301, SLO544-4883

All providers must use a licensed T.S. Wiley pharmacy. Call Health Plus at 543-5950. Ask for Dana Nelson.

BY RENEE SANPEI

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Call for details on coverage, costs,restrictions and renewability. *Coverages issued and underwritten by Fortis Insurance Company, a Fortis Health member company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. No memberof the State Farm family of companies is financiallyresponsible for the Individual Medical Coverage product. Fortis Insurance Company is not an affiliate of State Farm.

P01421 11/02

BY LAURA HYDE

Happiness is our birthright. It’s the goal of our life. Yes, there will be times when we will suff er, but some of the most infl uential people on our planet are those who choose and allow themselves to be happy, no matter the circumstance. Happiness is a choice; it’s less about our circumstances and more about our attitude. Recently, after facilitating A Course in Mir-acles lesson titled “My happiness and func-tion are one,” a group of us committed to choosing happiness for fourteen days. When we reconvened two weeks later, everyone agreed that the mornings we meditated and consciously chose happiness, our days were fi lled with contentment, even some bliss. But on the days we didn’t, fear, anxiety and stress infl uenced our daily lives. We also discovered that the fi rst week of choosing happiness was easier than the second week. Resistance—the ego’s crafty ploy—crept in, preventing the same amount of satisfaction and peace from occurring. Also, courage is an essential ingredient to living a happy life. It requires courage to allow yourself to be genuinely happy. We

do not yet reside in a society that supports happy people. There are countless sup-port groups for those suff ering, but not for those who take risks, go beyond self-im-posed limitations and live life with gusto. Robert Anthony once penned, “Most people would rather be certain they’re mis-erable, than risk being happy.” In my own life, I have discovered there are certain qualities which lead to happiness:1) Taking Responsibility—realize you are not a victim and are accountable for your thoughts, feelings and actions, and everything that happens is occurring for the unfoldment of your greatest good;2) Clear Intention—become clear of what makes you happy, making choices accord-ingly, and setting a clear intention that is in line with your life’s purpose;3) Looking for Lessons—acknowledge that every situation is an opportunity for growth and can be reframed in a positive and healing manner, which reminds me of John Barrie’s quote, “The secret of happiness is not getting what you like, but liking what you get”;4) Appreciation—actively appreciate your

The Courage to Be Happy

See Happiness is a choice, p. 12

Body and Soul


Cynic's CornerBY DOLORES DEL RIO

Since its inception fifty or so years ago, watching TV has been the great American pastime, and a deliciously guilty pleasure of the masses, We love our television sets! TV provides companionship for the lonely and bored; babysitting services; news reporting for those who don’t care to read; constant background noise; laughter, tears, emotions; friendship and connection in a world gone mad by its need for distraction. I am not ashamed to admit it … I’m into TV. There is nothing more delicious than vegging in front of a television set with a bag of Doritos, my cats, and a blankie. Give me any sitcom based in New York, “Housewives,” or HBO’s latest foray into the bizarre, sexy and cultish world of my imaginings; give me game shows with zillion-dollar prizes; give me news programs, news reporters, court dramas, history channels, geography channels, animal planets, and lots of movies; feed me more Apprentices, Bachelors, Models, Survivors. All right, you get the picture! Now for the problem! It seems that lately, while I was

not paying attention or staring blindly down a deep well, a sinister scam has crept into TV-Land … the television producers forgot to include television shows into their programming! Watch any thirty-minute program on a non-cable station, and you will find only twelve minutes of the highlighted TV show, and eighteen minutes of irritating and loud commercials! For one-hour shows – more than twice that amount of commercials. Even watching Oprah can be painful and frustrating. Intriguing segments are constantly being interrupted by commercial breaks – sometimes ten different ads in a row. They bombard us with messages of all kinds, from the subliminal to the conscious to the life-altering … foods to eat, ways to look, medicines to take, people to emulate, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. Some people defend commercials by saying that they present a good time to go to the bathroom or to get a drink of water. Some even say that this is the way we pay back the producers for the programs they give us. I say …

the droning noise and constant barrage of advertisements are mind pollutants, and are creeping further and further into our psyches. We even think this is normal now! When we go to movie theaters, we pay an arm and a leg to see a movie, buy over-priced popcorn, and we get treated to advertisements. Not just movie previews that we love, but actual product-hawking! And we pay for this! Are we as a society going crazy – or are we just stupid? So all right … lack of space prohibits me from berating myself and everyone else even more. You get my point. My personal solution is to keep my remote handy to mute or change channels whenever commercials come on. I may be suffering from some sort of carpel tunnel syndrome from changing channels so frequently, but it is my way of getting even with ‘them’ for trying to brain-wash or dumb-me-down. As much as I love my shows, I love my ideals more. Producers, is it so much to ask … Can we get a little TV with our commercials, please?

I’d like a little TV with my commercials, please

The last column left me dancing solo at my favorite hot spot. Last week I decided to dance a duet: this time with Michael. After an upbeat song, the band played a slow couples dance and Michael held out his arms. Uh-oh, I’m thinking, here we go. Usually when I go out dancing, I’m friendly in a standoffish kind of way. I’m there for the rock-and-roll dances, not slow ones. I don’t want conversation over the lead guitar. When I dance, I like to close my eyes. This attitude means that men stay away. But, as I do want to meet a special someone, I have realized that it would be easier if I were more open. So I decided to practice openness with Michael. I recognized him as a ‘regular’ and this spelled safety to me. Michael and I danced ballroom style for one safe minute. I was laughing and relaxed and that must have been the signal for him to pull me in for the full press feely. Why do men think that a woman they have never spoken to before would suddenly want to share a three-minute embrace usually reserved for lovers and sumo wrestlers? I stiffened, shook my head no, and danced away from him.

He got the message. We danced one more upbeat song, and I declined his invitation to dance again. When I ran into this Mister later in the week, I was hanging with a guy pal. I made sure to introduce them, knowing that Michael would assume the pal was my “other” person. Where did I get the idea that I need a reason other than No, Thanks in order not to deal with this man again: VH1, the NBA or Sports Illustrated? Why did I need to let Mister Michael assume that I was attached in order to feel safer in my boogie-ing future? I thought the days of women needing escorts were over. After hearing my complaint, my platonic pal, who knows ballroom dancing, explained that there is supposed to be a constant space in-between the couple that allows for breathing or doing a fancy turn. Then, you come back together – willingly. I’m sad that the post-Saturday Night Fever world makes men feel that they have to clutch at a woman in order to make physical contact – that

contact has to be sexual. I’m sad that a different friend-a consciously and politically aware woman, told me that many of her female friends don’t even bother to go dancing anymore because the whole scene is such a meat market. I understand their point, but that’s not stopping me. So, gentlemen,-if you spot me solo on the dance floor-often the only one on the dance floor-shaking my “everything” to the beat it’s not cause I’m lonely, drunk, or a wallflower. It’s because I’m dancing. May you and your daughters always be juicy. Namaste.

Dorothy Segovia asks you to fold the paper to this column and leave it out for men to read. She is currently writing a book on women’s issues and invites your comments be sent to her at [email protected].

Circling the SquareBY DOROTHY SEGOVIA

Panel Discussion on Proposition 73 - Parental Notification and Waiting Period for

Termination of a Minor’s Pregnancy

Monday, October 246 – 8 PM

SLO LibraryWill include representatives of Planned Parenthood, American Association of University Women, National Organization for Women, and Democratic Women United.

For information, call 542-0452 or [email protected]

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Prop 73 puts the health of our teenagers at risk. On the November 8 special election ballot, you will decide on Prop. 73, the Parental Notification Initiative, which requires a 48-hour waiting period before a teenager can seek an abortion. A growing coalition of medical experts, teachers, nurses, parents, and counselors all oppose this initiative because it will put teenagers in harm’s way. Parents rightfully want to be involved in their teenagers’ lives, and all parents want what is best for their teens, but government cannot impose good family communication. And it can’t force an open dialogue between parents and teens. No law can do that. Even teenagers who have a good relationship with their parents may not come to them about something as sensitive as pregnancy. Even in the most loving homes, a pregnant teen may fear her parents’ disappointment or disapproval. And many teens live in troubled homes: the family might be having serious problems, be abusive, or worse. A terrified, pregnant teenager with an abusive family is not going to be marching up to a judge in a crowded courthouse. She doesn’t need a judge: she needs a counselor. Scared pregnant teens who can’t go to their parents do scary things like choosing illegal abortions instead of going to the doctor to get the medical

care they need. And if they do turn to illegal, self-induced or back-alley abortions, many will suffer serious injuries and some will die. California’s teen pregnancy rate has dropped significantly over the last decade without constitutional amendments or forced notification laws. That’s because doctors, nurses, parents, teachers, and counselors are teaching teenagers about responsibility, abstinence, and birth control. These programs will help keep our daughters safe and out of trouble. As parents, we would all want to know when our daughters face a decision like this so we can be helpful and supportive. But, in the end, the safety of our daughters and all teenage girls in California should be more important than our desire to be informed. Their safety is our responsibility.

The Campaign for Teen Safety: No on Prop. 73 is made up of a growing coalition, including the California Medical Association, California Nurses Association, American Academy of Pediatrics District IX, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists District IX, the League of Women Voters of California, and millions of parents. For more information, go to www.NoOnProposition73.org.

Vote NO on Proposition 73FROM PLANNED PARENTHOOD

Local Perspective


ADAPTABLE: Be tolerant, flexible and able to adjust to changes with grace.

CONFIDENT: Believe in yourself and your judgment. Seek out people who believe in and encourage you.

DETERMINATION: If at first you do not succeed, try, try, try again. Be persistent in achieving your business goals.

DECISIVE: Make decisions based on facts and good research. Understand your market and how desirable your product or service is to the market.

INTUITIVE: Listen to your gut, trust your instincts. No one does this better than women!

LEADER: Be able to articulate your direction and motivate others to support your vision and efforts.

VISIONARY: Have a clear vision of your business, see the possibilities and maintain focus.

PASSION: Fuel the burning drive in your belly and maintain a healthy competitive attitude.

POSITIVE: Always approach problems with a “can do” attitude.

RESOURCEFUL: Know how to do more with less.

THE SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSWOMEN

Rarely does a day go by without someone asking me what it takes to be successful with a small business. Many believe you have to be born an entre-preneur and they quickly dismiss the possibilities for themselves without serious thought. Then again, I see individuals, mostly women, with passion burning and excited eyes sharing their entrepreneurial vision and looking to me to point the way towards the door of possibilities. The truth is, anyone can learn to start up and manage their own busi-ness, yet not everyone succeeds. Successful en-trepreneurs share similar traits (all of which can be learned!). See The Suc-cessful Businesswomen list below. If you have these traits or believe you can develop them with a little help then you can pursue economic improvement through self-employment. Many are doing just that – everyday more than 1,600 women become business owners.

According to the Center for Women’s Business Research, nearly half of all U.S. small businesses are 50% or more women-owned. Between 1997 and 2004, the estimated growth rate in the number of women-owned firms was nearly twice that of all other firms while their employment expanded at twice the rate of all firms. The number of firms owned by women of color has increased 32%, four times faster than all U.S. firms. And, even more impressive, our Latina sisters are opening business at six times the rate of all others. HURRAY, SISTERS!! Did you know that 44% of all female-headed families with children under 18 years of age live in poverty in the State of California? I’ll bet most of them have not seriously considered starting up a small business. With a little guidance and support, self-employment is truly a viable option for all women.

Mind Your Business

Andrea Zeller works with Women’s Business Partners (WBP), a locally coordinated non-profit organization, which ensures all community resources are leveraged and optimized to support entrepreneurial women. WBP serves everyone interested in establishing self-sufficiency through small business ownership while primarily focusing assistance towards socially and economically disadvantaged women. We can take you step by step towards success and we can also help those who speak only Spanish. Visit www.MCSCorp.org or call 595-1357 to find out more.

BY ANDREA ZELLARDear Friends, In honor of my mother and to recognize the strength of thousands of women recovering from breast cancer, I’m asking for your support as I compete in Ironman Florida in Panama City, Florida, on November 5, 2005. In 1977, my mother—Joann Shoresman—faced the biggest battle she ever encountered: it was against breast cancer, which eventually took her life. She was 32 when she died, almost a year younger than I will be when I face the biggest physical challenge of my life thus far, Ironman Florida. The battles that breast cancer survivors face are much harder and more commendable than about 13 hours of swimming, biking and running. But I hope my motivation will be a catalyst, encouraging others to give and support one Central Coast agency that works to help survivors win their battle.

I have been a volunteer with Enhancement for four years and know firsthand the important work they do and the positive impact they make. Please help me reach my Ironman Florida fundraising goal of $7,680! You can become a sponsor for this event in the three ways:Race Day Sponsor — For $500 or more, your group, business or agency receives my thanks in all press releases, advertisements, and other pre-race and race-day publicity. This includes having your name and logo on T-shirts and other items sold before the event and worn by me and my supporters on the day of the event.Training Sponsor — For $250–$499, I publicly thank you in all press releases and other pre-race publicity. Plus, your name is listed on T-shirts and other items sold before the event and worn by me and my supporters.

Per Lap/Per Mile Training Sponsor — Pick any amount you’d like to donate. Every lap/mile and every dollar brings me closer to my Ironman and fundraising goal! I am available to speak to local groups about the Ironman and Enhancement. Updates on my training progress and donation information are at www.enhancementinc.com .

Michele Shoresman

SLO tri-athlete raises funds for Enhancement, Inc

• Every three minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer.

• Every 12 minutes breast cancer claims another life.

• 85 percent of women who develop breast cancer have NO known family history of the disease.

Credit card companies have been issuing credit to some consumers beyond their capacity to repay and back in March 2003, four federal agencies joined together and issued “guidance” to financial institutions to make changes. The changes the credit card companies are making may have a dramatic effect on your finances! Under the new guidelines, credit card companies must adjust the minimum payment calculation. This means credit card companies must establish minimum payments to have

the balance paid in full in a reasonable timeframe. For those who normally pay only the minimum and can afford the hike, you’re being forced to begin sound financial management practices – getting out of credit card debt. For those who can’t afford to have your minimum payments double, begin thinking of ways to increase your income and/or cut your expenses. It may be painful at first, but in the long run, it will help your situation tremendously. If you need help developing a plan, go to a nonprofit agency accredited by the Council on

Credit card minimum payments doubleBY CARMELA VIGNOCCHI

1345 Broad Street, SLO• Lifestyle Management• Certified Applied Kinesiology/TBM• Sports/Work Rehabilitation• Certified Sacro-Occipital• Nutrition Counseling• Gentle Care• Massage

Accreditation. (They are the largest accreditor of nonprofits in the country.)

Carmela Vignocchi is the Director of Community Outreach and Education with Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS), a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people get out of debt and learning about using money wisely. If you would like more information about CCCS, you can reach them at (800) 540-2227 or by visiting their web site at www.gotdebt.org.

life and the people in it; practice staying in the mo-ment, and have reverence for life as something ex-traordinary and invaluable;5) Honesty—recognize your truth and speak it with sensitivity and love;6) Compassion and Ex-tension—be willing to give from a place of beneficence without expectations or demands. Express the courage to choose happiness. As you let your own light shine, you give permission to oth-ers to be happy, too. Laura V. Hyde, M.A., pro-vides counseling and coach-ing and is a national author and speaker. Laura is also the host of “Relationship Wisdom” on Public Televi-sion and may be contacted at www.laurahyde.com or 805.748.7506.

Happiness is a choice from p. 12

Local Perspective

http://www.enhancementinc.com


• Workshops •Explore the legal, psychological. and social issues of divorce.Date: 1st Saturday of each monthTime: 8:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.Cost: $45 per participantLocation: Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo Campus, Room 4730. Hwy. 1 at

Education Dr.Registration: On site 8- 8:30 a.m. (no preregistration necessary)

For information contact Cuesta College Community Programs at (805)546-3132 or at www.communityprograms.net.

Divorce Workshop For Women

Maximize your chances of surviving a sexual assault – and even learn ways to successfully avoid one all together! The Sexual Assault Recovery and Prevention Center proudly off ers this four-hour workshop to help empower and protect 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 class is open to women of all athletic abilities, ages 12 and up. Beginning and advanced classes are off ered. Call the SARP Center at (805)545-8888 to sign up.

Women’s Empowerment& Self Defense

If you have an ad or a listing you would like to appear in Workshops, call 805-544-9313

Th e S ond AnnualGreen Earth Expo 2005

Saturday October 15th 11a.m. to 11p.m.SLO Veterans Hall 801 Grand Ave.

This Event is a Fund-Raiser for ECO SLO and Information Press

The Power of Living Green 20 workshops on Sustainable and Healthy Lifestyles.Green Businesses, Non-Profi ts, Delicious Food and Live Music in the Music Café. A Green Car Show, Arts and Crafts, Local Organic Farmers, Massage, Health Practitioners, Local Government Offi cials, and much more. Fun for kids with hands-on art activities at the beautiful Anam Cre Art Booth.

Fund-Raiser Dance Party with a live bandTicket Prices

Attending the Expo During the Day is FreeUnlimited Workshops $5Evening Keynote Speaker & Fund-Raiser Dance Party $15Students with ID $10 • Persons under 15 are freePlease contact us if you would like to be a vendor, volunteer workshop leader or sponsor. All volunteers receive free ticket to the Evening Event!

www.greenearthpromotions.org805-528-7985

PO Box 14911 SLO CA, 93406Promoting People and Ideas that are Earth-Friendly

The Basics ofMoney Management

CONDUCTED BY CARMELA VIGNOCCHI CO-SP ONSORED B Y THE WOM EN’S COM M UNITY CENTER

Bi-monthly at the Goodwill Building880 Industrial Way, SLO7 to 9 p.m.$20 per session (Scholarships available)

Session 1October 5 – Getting Financially Organized:Where are you now? Where do you want to be?

Workforce Housing Coalition Receives Donation to Support Education ProjectsThe Workforce Housing Coali-tion of San Luis Obispo County has received a donation of $2,500 from the Atascadero Association of Realtors to con-duct educational workshops on housing issues aff ecting the workforce of San Luis Obispo County.The Coalition most recently sponsored workshops on

Higher Density Housing in San Luis Obispo and Templeton. A follow-up workshop will be held in Arroyo Grande in Oc-tober. The Coalition includes community housing advocates, educators, not-for-profi t and for-profi t housing providers, business representatives, en-vironmentalists, and building trade representatives, all of

Banks Invest in Housing Trust FundMid-State Bank & Trust has pro-vided a $1 million Equity Equiva-lent or EQ2 investment to the Housing Trust Fund. The invest-ment will be used to fi nance af-fordable housing throughout San Luis Obispo County. “Mid-State Bank’s investment doubled the capitalization of our revolving loan fund and will help us to fi nance more aff ord-able housing,” said Jerry Rioux, the Fund’s executive director. The Housing Trust Fund now has more than $2 million in lending capital to help fi nance aff ordable housing projects.

The Fund also has received a $1,000 contribution from Santa Lucia Bank.Rather than build or manage housing, the Housing Trust Fund provides fi nancing and technical assistance to assist private developers, nonprofi t corporations and government agencies that do. The Fund’s goal is to raise a total of $3 mil-lion by the end of 2005 and $5 million by the end of 2006.Additional information on the Housing Trust Fund is available online at www.slochtf.org

Get a copy of “California Tenants - A Guide to Residential Tenants’ and Landlords’ Rights and Responsibilities.” The fi rst copy is free and can be ordered from:

California Tenants c/o Department of Consumer Aff airsPO Box 989004West Sacramento, CA 95798-0004

It is also available on the internet at www.dca.ca.gov.

Have issues with your landlord?

‘Five Cities’ needs Hospice volunteersHospice Partners of the Central Coastwill be conducting an In-Home Volunteer training program beginning October 19,Wednesday afternoons from 1-5 p.m. for 5 weeks in San Luis Obispo at the United Methodist Church

To sign-up or for more information, please call Marney Briggs or Carly Davis, Volunteer Coordinators, 782-8617 ext.152 or 782-8608.

Enhancement, Inc. is holding the FIRST event to celebrate National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It will be the largest event in the county for Breast Cancer and we expect at least 200 people. Please join us for Enhancement, Inc.’s 8th Annual Fall Fundraiser, “Come on Get Rhythm - Celebrate Breast Cancer Survivors”:• Sunday, Sept. 25, 2005, 1-5PM• Edna Valley Vineyard• Catered food, appetizers and desserts• Wine from local wineries• Live music by Usonia Jazz• Silent Auction and Live Auction (with Jim Gardinier)• Mistress of Ceremonies is Shari Small from KSBY There will be booths with information about breast cancer and we encourage the community to join us by keeping the admission price low. Tickets will be sold at Booboo's for $45, $50 at the door and blocks of 10 tickets will also be available for $425Call Shoosh at Enhancement at 771-8640 for information or blocks of tickets. This event will help us continue our work improving the quality of life of breast cancer survivors. We appreciate your support and hope to see many of you there!

FUNDRAISER TO CELEBRATE BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS

The TV show that inspires awareness & growth through relationship.

SLO Public Access, Ch 2Hosted by national author,

speaker & counselor

Laura V. Hydewww.laurahyde.com

805.748.7506

Mon-3:30PM • Wed-7PMSat-4PM

RelationshipWisdom

Sp ialist s in women’shealth for all ag

–Low-cost/no-costreproductive health servic for women, men and teens

–Minor urgent care

San Luis Obispo 542-0900Pismo Beach 773-4500Atascadero 610-8865

whom share a concern about the lack of workforce housing in our communities. The Workforce Housing Coalition uses research, public education, and advocacy to encourage the creation and re-tention of more housing units in San Luis Obispo County for households earning less than 160 percent of the county me-

dian income to buy or rent. The Coalition supports residential projects that build communities and use land eff ectively.For more information visit the Workforce Housing Coalition call 546-2850 or visit the web site at www.slowhc.org

Community Bulletin Board


Since 1990 “More than experts at computers — we’re experts at teaching ” 541-9225

Calif. Approved SchoolLic. #4000511

Referrals for Mac & PCTroubleshooting, Upgrades

Microsoft Office, Graphics, iApps, AutoCAD,Word/Access/Outlook Geniuses,Digital Camera, Photoshop Wizards,Internet, E-Mail, Dragon Voice System.

2308 Broad St. SLOLimit 7 per classCall for calendar

VERYVERY

V-E-R-YPATIENT

www.macteacher.com

MasterCard®

VISA ®

Casa – Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children – is looking for volunteers who are committed to doing what is best for abused and neglected children in our community. Volunteers generally work 12-15 hours a month. Orientation meetings for prospective volunteers are every fourth Wednesday at noon at 1160 Marsh St., SLO. More info is at www.slocasa.org or 541-6542.

ECOSLO OktoberfestOctober 14, 7 to 9 p.m. Come to Central Coast Brewing, 1422 Monterey St., SLO and for $10 join the Oktoberfest -- polka, sturdy beer-drinking,German food mit senf.For information, call 544-1777.

15th AnnualSisters of the DanceSeptember 23-25: Long dance in the center of the Medicine Wheel for women of all ages. Sing and pray together at the Autumn Equinox for a weekend of ceremony, celebration, and healing under the stars. $100 - This is a nonprofi t event. Cost facilitates insurance, land fees, supplies, etc. For details and more infor-mation, contact Hua at 481-0892, Jade at 772-7645, or Skywalker at 967-6537.

SURFRIDER’S “FREE-FALL ART

BENEFIT”San Luis Bay Surfrider Founda-tion will capture the beauty of the environment indoors, rath-er than outdoors, this year at its third annual “Free-Fall Art Benefi t.” Over 35 local artists will showcase their ocean-in-spired paintings, photos, wood carvings, glass, and jewelry. Wine, beer, food and great music will be available. A por-tion of the proceeds go to help Surfrider programs, including water-testing, beach clean-ups, beach access, educational out-reach, and legislative actions.Admission is freeOctober 8 11PM to 5PM Cayucos Vets Hall (at the Cayucos Pier, the Cayucos Vets Hall lies in the heart of downtown Cayucos on the beach)

Take Training on Sexual Assault Crisis Intervention.Fall 2005 Dates October 4, 6, 11, 13, 18, 20, 25, 27November 1, 3, 8, 10(all classes are Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 5:45pm-10pm)For an application or more information call 545-8888.

OrganicFall Vegetables

AvailableThe Cal Poly Organic Farm (CPOF) will be starting their Fall/Winter Community Supported Agriculture Program October 17th! Members receive seasonal fruits, herbs, and vegetables every week and also a weekly newsletter with recipes and farm news. The fall season is a 9-week commitment and the winter a 12-week commitment. You can sign up for each individually or together for a discounted price. Harvest Boxes can be picked up at our farm in San Luis or at drop sites in AG, Templeton, Arroyo Grande or Morro Bay. It is a great opportunity for students and staff to get to know the people who eat the food we grow! For more information, please contact Sandra at 756-6139 or visit www.calpoly.edu/~sarc/csa.htm.

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Win A Room RemodelLocal businesses will donate furniture, materials, and ser-vices for this remodel. The winner will choose from a list of remodeling tasks to be com-pleted. Tickets are $10 each, or 3 for $20 and 8 for $40. Tickets are available at ReStore in Templeton, Coldwell Banker Vista Associates, Cuesta Title, and Decorating Den in San Luis Obispo, or by calling the Habitat offi ce at 782-0687. Our goal is to sell 5,000 tickets. The drawing will be held Thurs-day, October 13, at ReStore.All funds go towards build-ing houses for low-income residents of San Luis Obispo County. Some re-strictions apply.Habitat’s ReStore – Some-thing for Everyone!A very special donation from Wesley Dawes of the Stove & Spa Center in Atascadero is now available at ReStore. You can get a brand new fi replace for half the cost of retail and help build Habitat homes at the same time. Not in need of a fi replace? Come by anyway and see the full line of building ma-terials available at ReStore.Located at 3250 La Cruz Way, Templeton – Thurs., Fri. & Sat. 9 AM – 3 PMVisit www.hfhsloco.org for more information.

Free session with the Crystal Singing Bowls

for persons with cancer or cancer survivors

October 22 Yoga Centre 1:30 to 3 p.m.

Call Barbara for more information 805-927-3952

Code Pink Peace Bus to SF On Saturday, Sept. 24, CodePink will leave SLO in three buses for SF where passengers will participate in the demonstration and march against the war in Iraq organized by the A.N.S.W.E.R Coaltion. Price $28 round trip. Bring snack/dinner and water. Wine and snacks will be provided for return trip.If you want to get on board, call Monica at 541-1279.

Mission Community Services and the Business Information Center moved to Creekside Career Center. Their new address is: 4111 Broad St., Suite A in San Luis Obispo. We are just south of the intersection of Tank Farm Rd. and Broad St.

At the Creekside Career Center, MCSC & the BIC joins the State of CA Employment Development Department, the Private Industry Council, the Economic Vitality Corp. and the Service Corps. of Retired Executives to simplify

and coordinate services for employers and those seeking jobs, education and training. MCSC & the BIC will continue services to both existing employers and potential entrepreneurs to help with business planning and development.

Employment services agencies relocate

Community Bulletin Board

NEW DIRECTIONS FOR KIDSOCCUPATIONAL THERAPY CENTER

Individual Th erapy /Sensorimotor Groups for Children with Special Needs

Sande Rutstein, OTR/LOccupational Th erapist

145B Bridge Street Arroyo Grande, CA Phone 805-541-7628 • Fax 805-528-5069

“Holding the potential of each precious child”

Women’s Press September/October 2005 E-mail the editors: [email protected] Page 15

ABUSEADULTS MOLESTED AS CHILDREN SUPPORT GROUP (AMAC) 545.8888CENTER FOR ALTERNATIVES TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE 781.6406NORTH COUNTY WOMEN’S SHELTER & RESOURCE CENTER, (inc. domestic violence support groups) 461.1338RAPE SURVIVORS SUPPORT GROUP, SLO 545.8888SARP (SEXUAL ASSAULT RECOVERY & PREVENTION) 545.8888SUPPORT GROUP FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS 545.8888WOMEN’S SHELTER PROGRAM OF SLO 781.6400 www.womensshelterslo.org

ADDICTIONSAA MEETING 541.3211ADULT CHILDREN OF ALCOHOLICS (ACA) 595.2695CAMBRIA CONNECTION (12 STEP SUPPORT) 927.1654CASA SOLANA Women’s Recovery Home 481.8555COMPULSIVE EATERS ANONYMOUS, H.O.W.CONCEPT 546.1178 DRUG & ALCOHOL SERVICES 781.4275NA 800.549.7730OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS 541.3164SCA, SLAA & SAA (SEX, LOVE & ROMANCE ADDICTIONS) 461.6084TOPS (TAKE OFF POUNDS SENSIBLY) 929.1789WOMEN FOR SOBRIETY http://www.womenforsobriety.org 215.536.8026

ARTSMOTHERTONGUE FEMINIST THEATER COLLECTIVE For info call: 528.6827

CHILDREN & FAMILIESCHILDCARE RESOURCE CONNECTION 541.2272 or 800.727.2272COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES (CASA) “A child’s voice in Court in SLO County” 541.6542CHILDREN’S SERVICES NETWORK 781.1847FIRST 5: CHILDREN & FAMILIES COMMISSION 781.4058; ask for Susan HughsHOMESCHOOLING IN SLO COUNTY (HSC) 462.0726; ask for BarbaraLA LECHE LEAGUE Moe 541.3471MIGRANT CHILDCARE PROGRAM 544.4355 and 466.3444MOMS CLUB OF SOUTH SLO COUNTY 929.1668PARTNERSHIP FOR CHILDREN 541.8666; ask for BethREAL F.A.C.T.S. (FORUM ON ABUSED CHILDREN) 460.9016SOCIAL SERVICES 781.1600SUPPORT FOR KIDS COPING WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE 473.6507

EMERGENCY/CRISISHOTLINE www.slohotline.org 549.8989 or 800.549.8989SEXUAL & RAPE PREVENTION (SARP) 545.8888 or 800.656.HOPE (4673)TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER & VICTIM WITNESS PROGRAM 781.5821

EMOTIONAL SUPPORTA.D.A.P.T. (AID IN DIVORCE ADJUSTMENT PROBLEMS TODAY) 543.0388ALZHEIMER/DEMENTIA RESOURCE CENTER 434.3061 or 534.9234 or 800.443.1236CALL–CONCERNED AGORAPHOBICS LEARNING TO LIVE 543.3764CO-DEPENDENTS ANONYMOUS (CODA) 542.0577 (SLO) 481.5093 (Grover Beach) 927.1654 (Cambria) 466.8600 (North County)COMMUNITY COUNSELING CENTER 543.7969EATING DISORDERS SUPPORT GROUP 546-3774; free, meets weekly in SLOHOSPICE OF SLO COUNTY (inc. miscarriage/stillbirth support) 544.2266 or 434.1164SENIOR PEER COUNSELING (LIFESPAN) free, trained in-home counseling for 60+ 549.0150

TALK/LISTEN - EMOTIONAL SUPPORT 489.5481TRANSFORMATIONS COUNSELING CENTER Free monthly workshops 541.7908

FINANCE/BUSINESSCONSUMER CREDIT COUNSELING SERVICES 800.540.2227MISSION COMMUNITY SERVICES CORPORATION WOMEN’S BUSINESS PARTNERS 595.1356 www.mcscorp.org

GAY & LESBIANGAY AND LESBIAN ALLIANCE (GALA) [email protected] & FRIENDS OF LESBIANS & GAYS 438.3889SOL (SINGLE OLDER LESBIANS) Mostly socializing! Call 474.9405

HOSPICEAIDS BEREAVEMENT GROUP (HOSPICE) 544.2266HOSPICE OF SLO COUNTY 544.2266 and 434.1164

JOBS/CAREERSAARP 788.2643CAL POLY FOUNDATION Jobline 756.7107CAL POLY UNIVERSITY http://calpolyjobs.org 756.1533CUESTA COLLEGE http://www.cuesta.edu Jobline 546.3127THE CREEKSIDE CAREER CENTER www.slocareers.org 788.2631 or 788.2690DEPARTMENT OF REHABILITATION 549.3361MISSION COMMUNITY SERVICES CORPORATION WOMEN’S BUSINESS PARTNERS 595.1356 www.mcscorp.orgPRIVATE INDUSTRY COUNCIL (PIC) www.jobhunt.org 788.2601

LEGALACLU HELPLINE 544.0142CORE MEDIATION SERVICES 544.6334 [email protected] ATTORNEY’S OFFICE – VICTIM WITNESS CENTER 781.5821FAMILY LAW FACILITATOR 546.3769LAWYERS REFERRAL SERVICES/LEGAL AID ALTERNATIVE 788.2099PRO PER DIVORCE WORKSHOP 544.9313SENIOR LEGAL SERVICES 543.5140

MEDICAL SUPPORT/SERVICES ALS SUPPORT GROUP (LOU GEHRIG’S DISEASE) 772.5990ALZHEIMER’S SUPPORT 534.9234 (LO); 481.9364 (SLO); 226.8669 (Templeton) Caregivers of Early-Stage Alzheimer’s 547.3830, 534.9234 (SLO/Los Osos)AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY Paso Robles 238.9657ANOREXIA NERVOSA & BULIMIA SUPPORT GROUP 541.9113ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION 892.5556CANCER/ BREAST CANCER SUPPORT GROUPS 543.1481 ext. 3 for informationCAREGIVERS OF AGING PARENTS 547.3830 (AG); 927.4290 (Cambria); 226.8669 (PR); 547.3830 (SLO)ENDOMETRIOSIS ASSOCIATION www.endometriosisassn.orgENHANCEMENT, INC. (for breast cancer survivors) 771.8640 www.enhancementinc.comEOC HEALTH SERVICES CLINICS no or low cost reproductive health services 544.2478 (SLO); 489.4026 (Arroyo Grande) HEALTHWORKS OF THE CENTRAL COAST no or low cost reproductive health services 787.0100 (SLO), 773.4500 (Pismo), 610.8865 (Atascadero)LONG-TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN SERVICES OF SLO COUNTY 772.3059LYMPHEDEMA EDUCATION & SUPPORT GROUP 2nd Monday, 4:00-5:00 pm 782-9300 for info

Please send additions, corrections or deletions to: [email protected] or leave a message at the WCC: 805.544.9313. Last update 9/19/05.

PARKINSON’S SUPPORT GROUPS 466.7226 (Atascadero/Templeton) 481.7424, 473.1714 (Arroyo Grande) 544.1342 (SLO) PLANNED PARENTHOOD SLO 549.9446STROKE SUPPORT GROUP 471.8102 (SLO)WOMEN’S SUPPORT/THERAPY V (GENERAL) 534.1101WOMEN’S HEALTHCARE SPECIALISTS 544.4883

POLITICALCODE PINK [email protected] ON STATUS OF WOMEN 545.8412; Dawn WilliamsLEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS 543.2220NOW (NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR WOMEN) 542.8242

READERS/WRITERSADULT LITERACY 541-4219NIGHTWRITERS 549.9656; contact Shirley PowellSISTERS IN CRIME http://SinC-CCC.blogspot.com

SENIORSADULT DAY CARE 544-4355 ext.531COMPUTEROOTERS: Get help with computers. [email protected] OF SOCIAL SERVICES: In-Home Support to the Elderly/Homemakers help with ADLs 781.1790 nursing help for the terminally ill 781.5540EQUAL SINGLES 60+ MEET MONTHLY 489.5481, [email protected] GRANDPARENTS.SENIOR COMPANIONS 782.9200SENIOR PEER COUNSELING (LIFESPAN) free, trained in.home counseling for 60+ 549.0150

SPIRITUAL (OR NOT)A COURSE IN MIRACLES Mondays, 7 PM, Unity of SLO, 995.1390AWAKENING INTERFAITH SPIRITUAL COMMUNITY Sunday service, 10–11 AM; 772.0306CENTRAL COAST JEWISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY 543.9452MEDITATION GROUP Mondays, 7:30–8:30 PM; 772.0306NEW BEGINNINGS CHURCH Every Sunday, Coalesce Bookstore, MBREIKI IN-SERVICE 528.6996

WOMEN’S CENTERS/SHELTERSHOMELESS SHELTER 781-3993HOUSING AUTHORITY 543.4478NORTH COUNTY WOMEN’S RESOURCE CENTER, SHELTER 461.1338WOMEN’S COMMUNITY CENTER, SLO 544.9313WOMEN’S SHELTER PROGRAM OF SLO 549.8989 (crises), 781.6401 (business) www.womensshelterslo.org

OTHER WOMEN’S ORGANIZATIONSALTRUSA INTERNATIONAL, INC. 481.1039; Cici Wynn, PresidentHADASSAH.SLO 543.9452WOMEN’S NETWORK, SLO 546.3727 www.womenslo.org

OTHER GROUPS & GATHERINGSCENTRAL COAST PEACE AND ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL 544.3399 or 783.2383COMPASSION & CHOICES (FORMERLY HEMLOCK SOCIETY) 434.1883 or 489.5481FRIENDS OF OCEANO 474.9094; fax 805.474.9096SLO GREEN PARTY http://www.slo.greens.org 544.1580

Reouurces

Where to fi nd Women’s PressAll SLO County Libraries

and the following exceptionally fi ne establishments!

NORTH COUNTY: Atascadero – Harvest Health Food Store, North County Connection, Senior Center, Women’s Resource Center/Shelter Offi ce; Paso Robles – Community Thrift Shop, Paso Robles Health Foods; Templeton – Twin Cities Hospital

NORTHERN COAST: Baywood – Coff ee & Things; Cambria – Cambria Connection, La Crema, 7 Sisters; Cayucos – Cayucos Super Market, Kelley’s Espresso & Dessert, Lily’s Coff ee House, Ocean Front Pizza; Los Osos – 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 – Coalesce Bookstore, Coff ee Pot Restaurant, The Rock, Southern Port Traders, Sunshine Health Foods, Two Dogs Coff ee

SAN LUIS OBISPO: Cal Poly Library, Center for Alternatives to Violence, Chamber of Commerce, Cuesta College Library, EOC Health Services Clinic, French Hospital, Garden St. Essentials, HealthWorks, Healing Alternatives, Jamaca You, Karen Hale Chiropractic, Laguna Laundry, Linnaea’s, Monterey Express, Natural Foods Coop, New Frontiers, Nautical Bean, Outspoken Beverage Bistro, Panache, Phoenix Books, Planned Parenthood, Rudolph’s Coff ee & Tea, San Luis Obispo Housing Authority Offi ce, SARP, The Secret Garden, Sierra Vista Hospital, SLO Perk Coff ee, Spirit Winds Therapy, The Studio Fitness for Women, Two Dogs Coff ee, Unitarian Universalist Church, Uptown Cafe, Yoga Centre

SOUTH COUNTY: Arroyo Grande – Act II Boutique, Andreini’s, Central Coast Yoga, Corcoran’s Restaurant, Curves-AG, Cutting Edge, EOC Health Services Clinic, Family Chiropractic, Girls Restaurant, Grande Whole Foods, Hunter’s Landing, Kennedy Club Fitness; Grover Beach – Back Door Deli, Cindi’s Wash House, Nan’s Pre-owned Books, Therapeutic Body Center, 20-minute Fitness; Halcyon – Halcyon Store; Nipomo – Creekside Coff ee House, Hunter’s Landing; Pismo Beach – HealthWorks, Honeymoon Café; Shell Beach – Seaside Cafe, Steaming Bean, Turning Point Acupuncture

SANTA MARIA: Café Monet, Café Ole, Foods for the Family, Loading Dock, Marian Medical Center

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION

U.S. POSTAGE PAID

PERMIT NO. 95SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA

Women’s Community Center880 Industrial WaySan Luis Obispo, CA 93401805.544.9313

DATED MATERIAL — PLEASE DO NOT DELAY

What do you do for fun?

Alisha – “Drawing, reading a lot and playing solitaire all night long on the computer.”

Laurie – “The New York Times crossword puzzle with my husband.”

Mary – “Getting together with my women’s group once a month.”

Ann – “Arts and crafts and going to museums and craft fairs to see the arts and crafts of other people.”

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Back talk

Ingrid – “Sit on the love seat with my hus-band, holding hands and gazing out at the garden and the birds eating seeds and the cats watching the birds and talking about any-thing and everything.”

HEALTHCARE CENTERLONGEVITY

Peter J. Muran, MD

Sexual VitalityMenopause

Natural Hormone Balancing for Men and WomenChronic Disease Care

Chelation, Detoxification and Nutritional Therapies

1405 Garden Street, San Luis Obispo805-548-0987

Subscribe to Our Complementary Lecture Series and Newsletter atwww.longevityhealthcare.com

Integrated Medicine Specializing in Cardiac, Brain, Digestive & Immune Disorders and Healthy-Aging

Reversing the Underlying Cause of Disease,Not Just Symptom Management

Board Certified in Holistic Medicine

Documents

September & October 2005