Volume XXI, Number 5
September & October, 2006
Women’s Community Center
NOW News
Voices Around the Table:
Sexual Harassment
Local Perspectives
Women at Work
Women’s Stories
Creative Women
Body & Soul
Community Bulletin Board
Community Resources
The Path to Parity: Local Woman Challenges Church Doctrine
By Trisha Oksner
Friend, foe or telemarketer, Pismo
Beach resident Merlene Olivia Doko
embraces them all when she answers
her home telephone with the reassur-
ing words, “peace be with you.”
It is ironic, then, that this gentle
grandmother found peace within her-
self by performing an act of defiance
against a formidable force: the Roman
Catholic Church. A lifelong Church
devotee, Olivia was ordained on July
31 as a Roman Catholic priest - despite
Church doctrine defying the legiti-
macy of a woman participating in
such a ceremony.
Roman Catholic Womenpriests
(RCWP, http://www.romancatholic-
womenpriests.org) sponsored the
ordination, held on a chartered boat
on the Three Rivers near Pittsburgh,
PA. In ordaining women to the dea-
conate and the priesthood, RCWP
aims to bring about nothing less than
full equality of women in the Church
and revolutionize from within the tra-
ditional, male-dominated hierarchical
structure. While they may be breaking
a Church law, the RCWP and its ordi-
nands believe that the law is as unjust
as apartheid in South Africa or slavery
in the United States.
“Change, particularly in the Cath-
olic Church, comes at the grassroots
level,” noted Dr. Victoria Rue, a pro-
fessor of Comparative Religious Stud-
ies and Women’s Studies at San Jose
State University. A 2005 ordinand to
the priesthood also via RCWP, Rue
noted that “more and more people in
the Church are feeling unfortunately
marginalized. If it isn’t divorced peo-
ple, then it is those who use birth con-
3
4
5
5-6
7
8-10
9
11-12
13-14
15
trol or gay and lesbian Catholics or
women in general. All of those who
have been left out in the margins are
realizing that the margins are grow-
ing. We are calling out many issues in
our ordinations: the issue of celibacy,
the notion of hierarchy, and the issue
of making the sacraments in general -
and Mass in particular – more inclu-
sive of women in terms of the images
and language we use. We shouldn’t
have to go to another tradition simply
because the hierarchy here says that
women will never be ordained.”
Like the pioneers before her who
tackled the status quo, Olivia faces
tremendous challenges on her path to
spiritual fulfillment. Even as she basks
in so recently attaining her dreams of
the priesthood, Olivia awaits word on
whether or not she will be ex-com-
municated from the Church she has
devoted her life to serving. “I will
feel badly and take it seriously if it
happens,” she said. “But as far as I
am concerned, I am ordained and
will preach and administer the sacra-
ments. I just want to serve the people
and provide what they need. If I am
able to be the best priest I can be, that
would be the best message to Rome I
could ever give.”
Unfortunately, not everyone
embraces that message. Despite an
overwhelmingly positive response to
recent media reports on her journey,
Olivia has received hate mail. One
“particularly nasty” letter arrived at
her house from an orthodox Catholic
organization. “I feel badly that others
are angry about my decision – I hurt
for them and I forgive them – but it
doesn’t stop me,” she said, her voice
hardening ever so slightly. It undoubt-
edly helps that she has unconditional
support from her husband of 43 years,
Slavo, a retired meat cutter; her two
sons Nick and Anthony; and their
families. “They really see the impor-
tance of this,” she said, adding that to
a one, her family has been “truly lov-
ing and supportive.”
That support was evident at her
first Mass, held August 6th at La Casa
de Maria spiritual retreat near Santa
Barbara. More than 100 friends, fam-
ily and members of the interfaith
community attended the Catholic
liturgy. Olivia felt “energized” by the
experience, from her infant grandson
sitting in the pews to the nun who
stood up and said, “For every woman
here today, this is her first Mass.”
Not only is her family behind her
wholly and completely, but Olivia has
also found “a depth of love and appre-
ciation” from Catholic women who
dream of following a similar path.
More than 120 women from around
the world are currently training to
become ordained in the deaconate and
the priesthood through RCWP.
Olivia is the first to admit that her
path is not for everyone – particularly
the faint of heart.
“I felt very frustrated because I
didn’t see how I could do this,” she
said of her journey, noting that she
spent time exploring other Christian
denominations that do ordain women
and despaired of ever finding one that
fit for her the way Catholicism does.
Then she found RWCP. “To me, it is
all part of the journey that I surrender
to,” she said. “Once I realized this was
my call, I had to look past the frus-
tration and ask, ‘how can this be so
strong and so real, and not be possi-
ble?’ There is a sense of coming home
when you finally give in to where you
are supposed to be.”
With such tremendous drive and
determination despite great odds,
hopefully peace will continue to be
with her.
Olivia Doko can be contacted at
mdoko@dslextreme.com. She is currently
saying Mass for small Christian commu-
nities in the area who have requested her
to do so.
Cover Art by Dorothy Riggs
Enhancement, Inc. Offers
First Creative Healing
Retreat for Local Breast
Cancer Survivors
Friday Evening, September 29
through Sunday Noon, October 1,
Inn at Morro Bay
Enhancement’s first Creative Heal-
ing Retreat for Breast Cancer Survi-
vors is a pilot for future retreats. The
goal of this project is to help survivors
improve their quality of life by learn-
ing techniques to reduce stress, fear,
and anxiety through art, music, writ-
ing, yoga, and education.
According to the American Cancer
Society, there are approximately 185
newly diagnosed breast cancer patients
in San Luis Obispo County annu-
ally, so there are thousands of survi-
vors in our county. Often survivors
are left without any coping mecha-
nisms to deal with their altered phys-
ical shape, emotional trauma, and so
on. This pilot retreat will have a bal-
anced group of those who are newly
diagnosed as well as survivors of vary-
ing durations to ensure that all levels
of survivors are included.
The University of California at
San Diego website states: “uninhib-
ited expression of feelings and emo-
tions through art may help to release
the fear, anxiety, and anger many can-
cer patients experience. Art can also
be viewed as a distraction to the pain
and discomfort of disease, allowing
patients increased well being and relief
from stress. By relieving stress, the
body’s immune system and, therefore,
resistance to disease, may be height-
ened.”
Yoga techniques that take into
account restrictions attendees may
Continued on HEALING, page 7
 Women’sPress Women’s Press September & October 2006 | editors@womenspress-slo.org

We hope you enjoy the latest edition of the

paper, the issue that launches our new logo!
A new logo, developing website –
a plan for growth
Thanks to Ben Lawless, our layout designer,
for the new logo and design for the front page

October is Breast Cancer

that we present to you in this issue. Ben has redesigned the inside of the paper as
well, as you may have noticed last issue. AND he set up a website up on which
we can post event, with more features to come. Due to committed and creative
persons like Ben, the Press continues to flourish and grow.
We will be holding a strategic planning meeting for the Press on Sunday, Awareness, Sexual Awareness,
and Domestic Violence
September 17, at the WCC offices from 12-4. If you have time and ideas and
want to contribute your expertise to the growth of the paper by attending, call
me, 474-6444.
What does saving the world look like?
Last spring the theme of the first Women’s Press retreat was “Gather the
Women—Save the World.”* By the end of the day we had gone within ourselves
Awareness Month.
to find peace, clarity, and commitment, and gathered together ready to engage
in activities in our community that would be our personal contribution to “sav-
ing the world.”
I’ve pondered since then what role the Press can take to that end, and the
answer is easy: we can continue telling stories. Humans live by stories and, as
David Korten says in his new book, The Great Turning, “To change the human
future, we must change our defining stories.” We need to actually control the
stories by which we define ourselves and our possibilities. The goal of the Press is
to “educate, enlighten, and empower,” and reading about innovative, life-affirm-
ing, and life-changing activities that local residents are engaged in will certainly Letter to the Editor
contribute to those goals. They will contribute to the positive shift in conscious-
ness our planet needs to experience. Thank you, Women’s Press! creative alternative expression and
I’ve lived on the Central Coast for five years, and I sincerely believe it is an We’ve received phone calls each self-employment empowerment.
energy center that expands consciousness. Given the modest population of the week since our WILD Home Gal- Cooperatively, our designs are Brave
county, we have an amazing collection of enlightened thinkers who gather in lery’s OPEN HOUSE covered in the New Wares, which by definition are
small groups, create visions, and actively pursue them. There is ongoing dialogue last issue of Women’s Press! More pro- greater than 85% natural and wild
about solutions to society’s problems we’re not reading about in the mainstream spective members are receiving infor- content – blending recycled elements,
media. Our community has a large number of alternative media: Women’s Press, mation about our new All Women’s made by owner-producers.
HopeDance, Information Press, Rogue Voice, and New Times. HopeDance’s films Creative Cooperative (AWCC). Some AWCC’s mixed media functional
expose us to activities around the world that seek to create living local economies have joined our classes held in my pri- eco-art and craft lines are growing, to
or inform us about issues and activities that make us better informed voters. vate studio in Los Osos on Saturday now include lamps, mirrors, wall art,
I’d like the Women’s Press to actively seek out stories of local activities that afternoons, while others are making vases, tiles, and soon collectible hand-
demonstrate partnership, collaboration, community building, and any attempts patterns of their designs to share with crafted dolls, with puppets of recycled
to create a more civil society – those that will become our new defining sto- new members, including our counties’ textiles. If you’re interested in join-
ries. OR let us know of situations/problems that would benefit from such an women at risk and homeless. ing our Wild Crafting Circle, hosting
approach, and we’ll let our readers know about them, too. So put out your The San Francisco Green Festival a circle in SLO of your own, or have
antenna, keep your ears and eyes open, and let me know about any life-affirm- in November and our Internet shop- a design to share with AWCC call Eve
ing activities and opportunities that we can write about. ping cart, opening at MadeinSanLu- at 815-8700 for a private tour of our
isObispo.com, are our next projects WILD Home Gallery in Los Osos or
this fall. AND we’ve begun to build e-mail us goodideas@bravenewwares.
inventory for both ambitious mar- com.
keting efforts, as we share our designs Eve Adams
to empower all women interested in

Women’s Community Center Board

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September & October 2006 | www.womenspress-slo.org | Women’s Press Women’sCommunityCenter 
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Women’s Press! Dealing With Divorce
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Reflections on the August

Intergenerational Conversation Women’s Press presents
By Shana Ross

The flat warm river rock passed from hand to hand around the circle. As it
reached each woman she felt its weight in her grasp and slowly, deliberately, she
spoke from her heart. The others leaned in to hear her words. The women, rang-
ing in age from 30-something to 80-something, had chosen during this intergen-
erational conversation to talk about Aging, something they all were experiencing,
though from different stages. Some worried about not yet bearing children or
having “made it” in the material world, watching the years slip away. Others
were feeling tired and achy, watching gravity take its toll on skin and joints. Still
others were enjoying the passage of time. Though they were of different genera-
tions, as they listened deeply to one another they heard (and felt) the common
places that joined them. The bonds between them grew and something special
emerged.
Hosted by the Women’s Press, Women’s Community Center, and Cal Poly
Women’s Programs, the “Intergenerational in the conference room in the SLO
Library. Women of all generations are invited to come together to connect and
celebrate womanhood in all its stages and ages. Using a circle format with clear
guidelines and principles to enhance safety, this facilitated group is open to new
members who are interested in being with others in an intimate conversation.
Discussion topics are chosen by the group at each session. For more information,
call Kathleen at 474-6444 or Shana at 541-1736.
Intermezzo A Powerful Process for Reviewing, Re-Envisioning
and Re-Creating the Second Half of Life
WEEKEND OF OCTOBER 28 AND 29, 2006
• Learn innovative techniques to help you re-envision how you want to live the rest of your life
• Identify the obstacles and limiting beliefs and behaviors that prevent you from moving forward and living a joyous life
• Discover powerful tools that will help you to move more creatively into the future
• Experience your personal renaissance by fulfilling undeveloped parts of yourself
Beverly Engel, M.F.T., is the bestselling author of 18 self-help books and is an internationally recognized expert in women’s issues
and relationships. She has been a psychotherapist and workshop leader for 30 years. She has shared her expertise on many national
television programs, including Oprah, CNN, Sally Jesse Raphael, Ricki Lake, and Starting Over.
Heather Mendel is a speech and hearing therapist, spiritual director, calligraphic artist, writer and storyteller. She has facilitated
spirituality groups for women for the past 15 years. Her book, Towards Freedom, has been well received nationally and abroad. She is
a guest speaker in many local venues and a guest lecturer each semester at Cal Poly, in the area of women’s spirituality.
For a full description of the weekend, cost, location and a pre-registration form,
go to www.beverlyengel.com or www.womenspress-slo.org or call: (805) 528-7544

Next conversation: September 20, 4:30-6:30,

SLO Library Conference Room

Thanks to volunteers at New Frontiers

NEW The Women’s Community Center and Women’s Press thanks Barbara Atkinson,

Women’s drop-in support group

Laura Hyde, Rosalee Calvillo, Jan Potter, Robin Werderits, and Dawn Williams
for staffing our table at New Frontiers on August 9. We made $1370 that day! We
appreciate your helping us out and letting more people know about the Center
Thurdays, 7 PM and the Press.
Women’s Community Center
880 Industrial Way, SLO
No charge
Phone for more info – 544-9313.

Cover Art
Dorothy Riggs’ subject matter is thought provoking, and ,at times, controversial.
Her oil and mixed media paintings burst from her soul onto the canvas. “My process
of painting is an opened-eye meditation... a time and place for ultimate freedom...”
Her studio is nestled in the hills south of SLO. She teaches 6-week classes for women
only in her studio, where women discover how art can provide support and self-dis-
covery. You can view her work at www.dorothyriggs.com and contact her at 595.7460
or artstudio@dorothyriggs.com.
 NOWNews
Coordinator’s Corner
By Angie King
By now, members and our friends in
the larger community have realized
that Women’s Equality Day, August
26, came and went without much
fanfare. Partly because of the looming
intensity of today’s foreign affairs
news, and partly because we couldn’t
get the movie we wanted. We tried to
obtain old suffragette films from 1916
to 1918, silent one-reel films directed
and often starred in by Dorothy Gish,
one of the era’s great stars. However,
it turns out the copies (copy?) are at
the Library of Congress and do not
circulate. To top it off, they are in
some really old, now obsolete format
that modern theatres aren’t equipped
to show. By the time I had discovered
all that, it was too late to set up an-
other kind of event. So, apologies to
all who got up Saturday, August 26th
expecting to see a movie at the Palm
and join a discussion about women’s
suffrage. It didn’t happen. Thanks,
however, to Jim Dee, for offering his
theatre for the event.
Women’s Equality Day celebrates
the day the 19th amendment to
the US Constitution finally passed,
securing for women the right to vote
in federal elections. While it was of-
ficially in August, our right to vote be-
comes important in November – and
increasingly before that as more than
1/3 the eligible voters in our county
voted by absentee ballot in the last
election. As you exercise your right
to vote, remember your foremothers’
long struggle to provide that right.
I was very pleased to see the
national convention of NOW last July
take a stand against Parental Alien-
ation Syndrome (PAS). The Women’s
Community Center’s Family Law
Action Committee has been protest-
ing the use of this so-called syndrome
here in SLO county for many years.
The term was created as a tactic to
defend fathers accused of child mo-
lestation or other abuse, and has been
repudiated by the experts in the field.
The National Council of Juvenile and
Family Court Judges has strongly con-
demned its use. The NOW resolution
recommends that any professional
whose mission involves the protection
of the rights of women and children
denounce the use of PAS as unethical,
unconstitutional and dangerous. Yes!
NOW Chapter # CA 565
PO Box 1306, SLO, CA 93406
SLONOW @ kcbx.net
The purpose of NOW is to bring women into full participation in the mainstream of American society NOW !
October is chock full of activi-
ties for NOW members. October 7-8
marks the Morro Bay Harbor Festival,
supporting the fishing industry
that supports our economy. NOW
volunteers each year to help out, and
in return, receives a donation from
the Festival. This year we will be,
again, selling scrip for beer near the
entertainment stage. Please contact us
(slonow@kcbx.net) to volunteer for a
3 hour shift either or both days. You
get in free to the festival, there’s great
music, and many vendors give the
volunteers free food.
October 18 is Love Your Body
Day, established by the NOW Foun-
dation as way to celebrate women’s
bodies for what they are, not what
advertisers think we ought to be.
Hollywood and the fashion, cosmetics
and diet industries work hard to make
each of us believe that our bodies
are unacceptable and need constant
improvement. Print ads and television
commercials reduce us to body parts
— lips, legs, breasts — airbrushed
and touched up to meet impossible
standards. TV shows tell women and
teenage girls that cosmetic surgery is
good for self-esteem. Is it any wonder
that more than 80% of fourth-grade
girls have been on some form of fad
diet? Women and girls spend billions
of dollars every year on cosmetics,
fashion, magazines and diet aids.
Teach your adolescent girls (and boys)
about the effects of dieting when
you’re 12, and how to say “no” to
harmful ads. This year, SLO NOW
joins the Cal Poly Women’s Center
to showcase the positive aspects of
women’s bodies. Check with them
(756-2600) for more details and visit
loveyourbody.nowfoundation.org for
more action tips.
NOW is also involved in the on-
going Intergenerational Conversations
sponsored by the Women’s Press and
the Women’s Community Center. See
the information on page 3 of this issue
for the next meeting of this group.
Meeting and talking with women of
all ages about our lives is not only
good for your health (see article) but
also life affirming, deepening our
awareness of how we are all intercon-
nected.
NOW Calendar
Sept 1: NOW regular meeting, 6 PM
• birthday of Ann Richards, gover-
nor of Texas, 1933
Sept 4:
• 1995 UN Conference on Women
in Beijing, China
• Labor Day, celebrating gains in
organized labor movement
Sept 6:
• NOW first national organization
to champion lesbian rights, 1971
Sept 9:
• CA Admission Day
Sept 15:
• 4 black children bombed in
church, Birmingham, 1963
Sept 16:
• birthday of Karen Horney, 1885;
first to challenge male notions of
psychology
National Organization for Women
Election News
November 7 is Election Day this year.
We will vote at the federal level for
Congress, at the state level for gover-
nor and other statewide positions, and
the Assembly, and on the local level
for mayors and city councils.
Besides analyzing candidates for
their positions on issues you are most
interested in, it is apparently an indi-
cator that a person’s position on all
“women’s issues,” including abortion,
will be more liberal if that candidate
has female children, regardless of
that person’s party affiliation or pub-
lic statements. Using data collected by
NOW and the National Right to Life
Committee (the anti-choice group), a
Yale professor tallied the voting scores
of male legislators, and found that
the more female children the legisla-
tor had, the more likely he was to lean
towards a liberal, feminist position.
The “daughter gap” was strongest on
issues such as abortion and contracep-
tion. A handy way to assess candidates
as we enter this election season.
One issue will be immigration. At
the recent NOW national convention,
the group passed a resolution calling
for NOW to support fair immigra-
tion reform, that includes at a mini-
mum, a path to citizenship, including
a reasonable timetable including espe-
cially those who do not work outside
their homes; reunification of families,
including LBGT families; preserving
the provisions of the VAWA to protect
victims of domestic violence; provi-
sions to improve wages and working
conditions to prevent further exploi-
tation; and excluding building more
prisons or fences at the border. The
immigration reform bill is still in
Congress who are under pressure to
pass it before the election.
Another issue will be Prop 85,
a statewide initiative designed to
restrict a minor’s right to abortion,
by requiring a 48-hour waiting period
after she has notified one or both of
her parents before a doctor may per-
form abortion services. Violations
are punishable by jail time. The real
answer to teen pregnancy is preven-
tion and strong, caring families – not
new laws that endanger vulnerable
young women. For more information,
go to noon85.com. It will be this issue
that brings out the conservative vot-
ers who will also then vote for gover-
nor, congress, etc. Tell all your friends
about the dangers of Prop 85. It is
unfortunate we have to keep fighting
these attempts to restrict our constitu-
tional protected rights, but we do!
Sept 19
Oct 5: by the membership was in support of
• Sandra Day O’Connor becomes
first woman US Supreme Court
Justice, 1981
Oct 7-8: denying women access to birth control
• Harbor Fest, Morro Bay
Oct 10:
• California approves votes for
women, 1911
Oct 11:
• birthday of Eleanor Roosevelt,
1884
• National Coming Out Day
Oct 17:
• birthday of Mae Jemison, first
black woman astronaut, 1956
• NOW regular meeting, 6 PM
Oct 18:
• Love Your Body Day
Oct 26:
• birthday of Hillary Clinton, 1947
Women’s Press September & October 2006 | editors@womenspress-slo.org
Reproductive Rights News
EC Approved: The big news in
August was that the Federal Food
and Drug Administration had finally
bowed to political pressure and ap-
proved the over the counter sale of
Plan B, the so-called “morning after”
pill or Emergency Contraception.
That was indeed good news, as science
had proven and experience in Europe
for the last 35 years had shown the
medication was safe for any woman
if taken correctly. The Bush Admin-
istration had held up approval on the
bogus reasoning that women could
not be trusted to handle this medica-
tion without a prescription and it
would result in legions of women
engaging in sex without consequence.
Finally, the refusal of Senators Clin-
ton and Murray to allow a vote on
the confirmation of the FDA chief
led the administration to back down
– slightly.
As it turns out, women under 18
must still obtain a doctor’s prescrip-
tion; the pill itself is kept behind the
counter, as condoms once were; it
costs between $25 and $45 per dose; it
is available only in stores where there
is a licensed pharmacist and only
when that pharmacist is on duty. And,
individual pharmacists still have con-
trol over whether they will choose to
make the pill available on “conscience
grounds.” The terms of approval
require that pharmacies keep a log of
sales, and the FDA has announced it
will send anonymous shoppers in on
“sting” operations to make sure no
teen obtains the medication.
It is teenagers who have less access
to regular birth control and who are
more likely to have “accidents;” who
are far less likely than adult women to
have a doctor available to write a pre-
scription. Making it more difficult for
the people who need it most does not
make sense, unless seen from the poli-
tics of punishing young women for
having a normal sex drive.
Plan B is a contraceptive device,
similar to a very high dose of regular
birth control pills. It prevents the egg
from becoming fertilized. It is inter-
esting to note that it was only in 1960
that the first birth control pills were
approved by the FDA.
The Alan Guttmacher Institute
estimated in 2002 that over 50,000
abortions annually are prevented by
the use of EC, and that was when only
about 5% of women had tried it. Now
that it is generally available, the num-
ber of abortions should decrease dra-
matically, pleasing both sides in the
great abortion debate.
At the 2006 national NOW con-
ference, one of the resolutions passed
“laws and policies that ensure imme-
diate, in-store access to birth control
and which prohibit pharmacies from
based on moral political or religious
Morro Bay Harbor Fest, October 7-8
SLO NOW’s annual fundraising event
Each year, the Morro Bay Harbor Fes-
tival helps local county non-profits by
sharing the proceeds for the weekend
with their volunteers. For many years,
SLO NOW has used this oppor-
tunity to raise additional funds for
chapter activities (like peace marches
and public forums) by volunteering
to sell drink tickets. We need 3 peo-
ple for each shift, which is usually 3
grounds.” Looks like we have already
made good on one of our goals.
After Roe: There are lots of pun-
dits analyzing the tealeaves of the new
Supreme Court. What will happen if
Roe is overturned? First of all, many
feel it will not be. Over 70% of Amer-
icans believe a woman should have the
right to terminate her pregnancy. The
numbers drop as different scenarios are
mentioned, but overall there is major-
ity support for keeping abortion legal.
In the event the court does repeal
its ruling that the US Constitution
includes a right to privacy, there are
laws at the state level already in place
which would continue to prohibit
restrictions on our right to choose.
California is among those states, and
interestingly enough, so is Florida. In
1989 their state legislature approved a
law prohibiting restrictions on a wom-
an’s right to choose. As of now, there
are only 9 states where abortion would
be prohibited.
Far more troubling, however, is
the federal law recently signed by Bush
that prohibits an adult from taking a
minor across state lines from a state
where a parent’s consent is required
to obtain an abortion in another state.
Roe or not, this law remains on the
books.
Remember Rosie Jimenez: Rosie
Jimenez was the first victim of the
Hyde Amendment. In 1976, Sena-
tor Henry Hyde attached an amend-
ment to the appropriations bill for
the health and human services bud-
get, prohibiting any public money be
used to fund abortion services. Rosie
was on welfare, raising her 5-year old
daughter and working part time. She
could not afford to pay for an abor-
tion, so when she got pregnant in
1977, she had an illegal one. It was also
unsanitary. She died in the hospital of
tetanus infection. If this were just an
historical anomaly it would still be
horrific. But the truth is that the Sen-
ate has approved this same restrictive
amendment every year since 1976.
Reproduction Justice Campaign:
The national NOW convention in
Albany this year passed a resolu-
tion calling for an active campaign
to develop an agenda to build and
strengthen ties in our communities by
planning joint actions to defend and
protect reproductive health and repro-
ductive rights. Our first challenge
comes in this election with Proposi-
tion 85, a repeat of Prop 73 from the
special election last fall. While all par-
ents rightly want to be involved in
their teenage daughters’ lives, in the
real world, some teens can’t go to their
parents - a major reason why Proposi-
tion 85 is wrong for California. Join
with NOW and other like-minded
groups to defeat this pernicious
attempt to restrict access to reproduc-
tive health care.
hours long, either or both days. You
get in free to the Festival, which is lots
of fun, has great music and craft ven-
dors, and your help will support both
NOW and the commercial fishing
industry of Morro Bay. Please sign up
to be a volunteer by sending an email
to the chapter address (slonow@kcbx.
net).
September & October 2006 | www.womenspress-slo.org | Women’s Press
Voices Around the Table
Laura V. Hyde
As I write this, I am aware of three
young women in San Luis Obispo
who are feeling harassed by their male
bosses in the workplace. This is very
unfortunate and I believe that it will
continue as long as women remain
silent and do not set clear boundaries
or assert their rights, including seek-
ing legal counsel. Now I realize that
doing so is often com-
plicated; women are afraid of losing
their jobs, being invalidated, and ridi-
culed for making a “scene.” However,
since physical and verbal harassment
is not an issue of sex, but of power,
men who are confronted often back
down. I recently spoke with a friend
about this issue who is an attorney,
and he informed me that there are sev-
eral effective female attorneys in our
county that provide legal counsel on
such matters and who take an asser-
tive, no-nonsense approach to harass-
ment issues. Women do not have to
subordinate themselves to any form
of sexual harassment, and we need to
remind ourselves--and each other--
that we are entitled to having work
places and schools that are safe for us
physically and emotionally. Too many
women are afraid of saying “No”: no
touching, no hugging, no sexual talk,
no sexual jokes. Let us remember
that “No” is a complete sentence and
therefore, does not require any expla-
nation.
News in Brief
Older Women and Poverty
Here come the baby boomers, retiring
earlier and living longer, but appar-
ently not any richer. In fact, poorer.
According to an AARP Public Policy
Institute study, older women will suf-
fer higher rates of poverty than men.
Women’s income is generally lower
than men’s, across the board. There-
fore, their retirement earnings will
be less. For women age 65 and older,
their median retirement income is
just slightly more than 1/2 that of
their male counterparts. That income
($11,816) is barely above the official
poverty threshold. One-eighth of
women 65 and older are in poverty;
for minorities, that number is even
greater. Nine out of 10 white and black
women depend on Social Security as
their only source of income. In many
cases, it is the only reason the pov-
erty rates for older women aren’t even
higher. The AARP study showed that
Social Security benefits paid to almost
40% of older women managed to raise
their income above poverty level.
Fair Housing Laws Protect Battered
Women
October is Domestic Violence Aware-
ness Month. Many women do not
leave their abusive situations because
they have nowhere to go. Between 22
and 57 percent of homeless women
identify DV as their primary cause of
homelessness. Others are evicted from
rental housing after DV altercations,
Heather Mendel
As one paradigm dies out, mak-
ing room for another, things do not
change overnight. The problems we
continue to read about will persist I
believe until we can educate a genera-
tion of young girls to feel totally com-
fortable with who they are, and teach
them how to create boundaries for
themselves and the tactics to employ if
boundaries are crossed.
We can only encourage women
and girls who find themselves in
such difficult circumstances,
with the love and support of
caring family members, to
continue reporting each and
every instance of this overstep-
ping of personal boundaries with
the hope that with the awareness of
the public that such things continue
and could happen to any one of us,
there will be a groundswell that will
bring about the punitive responses
appropriate to the perpetrators.  their species. Humans are possibly the
In Jean Shinoda Bolen’s Gather
the Women and Save the World, there
are some excellent examples of women
taking matters such as these into their
own hand in overseas countries and
finding ways to embarrass the men
guilty of such behavior. Perhaps we
should see how such tactics could
work here?
Roberta Youtan Kay
I think there are still many men,
who are the primary perpetrators of
harassment, but not exclusively, who
were socialized to view women in only
two ways: one, as a sexual object, and
the other, as a family member, like a
mother or sister. Anything else,
like as an equal or business
colleague, is a strange con-
cept,. Thus, the prob-
lem continues. As far as
sending an unfair message that
they must keep quiet or risk
losing their shelter. There are
federal laws that seek to rem-
edy some of this injustice. The
Violence Against Women Act, recently
re-authorized, prohibits evictions from
publicly subsidized housing because
the tenant is or has been a victim of
DV or stalking and provides for bifur-
cation of the voucher to permit her to
stay once he has been removed.
The Fair Housing Act covers pri-
vate housing discrimination and pro-
vides that discrimination against a
victim of DV is a form of sex discrimi-
nation and is prohibited. Discrimi-
nation can take the form of gender
stereotyping (she caused the abuse
and she can stop it anytime) or in the
form of disparate impact (evicting her
because the violence took place where
she lives).
In addition, there are state laws
that protect the housing rights of DV
survivors. California has a number of
provisions in the Welfare and Institu-
tions Code that exempt victims of DV
from requirements to be eligible for
public benefits, but does not directly
prohibit eviction for suffering DV.
If you are or know someone who
is the victim of domestic violence,
know there are laws to protect her
from being evicted. The first step is to
call the Women’s Shelter at 781-6400.
Why do you think sexual harassment continues to be
such a problem in our schools and in the workplace?
the family member association, that
accounts for mostly older folks who
treat women as inferior, as needing
their guidance and assistance, and not
to be taken seriously.
Trisha Oksner
It is not standard practice to
address sexual harassment in the
schools and in the workplace. Until
every student and employee - at every
level of an organization - is exposed to
this issue and how to handle problems
BEFORE THEY ARISE, it will con-
tinue to plague our schools and places
of employment.
Jacqueline Turner
I think the question should really
be: Why does POWER continue to
be a problem in schools and at work?
Harassment is not about SEX. Sex is
a biological urge in humans and ani-
mals for the purpose of perpetuating
only life force where sexual urges are
for entertainment as well as adding to
the population. Animals just do it!
POWER: Recently I went to see
the Elephant Seals in their beach habi-
tat off Highway 1 near San Simeon.
The dominant (and humungous)
males puff out their chests, strut their
stuff, bark loudly, and intimidate
other not-so-Alpha males. Of course,
they bully (sexually harass) the females
Global ShortTakes
Colombia. That nation’s highest court
overturned the ban on abortion, call-
ing it “irrational, ” and ruling the pro-
cedure legal in cases of rape, incest, if
the life of the woman is in danger, or
if the fetus is expected to die. Latin
American feminists were heartened by
the decision, seeing new opportunities
to use the courts.
South Africa. Former national
Deputy President Jacob Zuma, 64,
was found not guilty of raping a 31-
year-old HIV-positive AIDS activ-
ist and longtime friend. He testified
that the woman signaled she wanted
intercourse by wearing a skirt and sit-
ting with her legs uncrossed, “oblig-
ing” him, as a traditional Zulu man,
to have sex with her.
Greece. The Greek police won’t
gain any more female officers. The
Council of State has ruled that only
15 percent of police academy recruits
should be women, noting that his fig-
ure was sufficient “because of the well-
known biological differences.”
Portugal. Parliament passed a gov-
ernment-backed law mandating that
at least one-third of candidates from
any political party involved in national
or local elections be women. Approxi-
mately 25 percent of parliamentary
seats are currently held by women.
LocalPerspectives
of the species through force, intimida-
tion, and POWER!
Alright, so the question is ‘why
does sexual harassment continue?’
To my mind, the answer is this … as
long as people want to, and need to,
control others; as long as people feel
the need to make themselves feel ‘big-
ger’ by making
others feel
‘smaller’;
as long
a s
P OW E R
equals strength
+ money + ego, sex-
ual harassment will continue to
impact the lives of both women and
men.
Jill Turnbow, Comedienne
For me, there is such a fine line
between sexual harassment and a job
perk! Seriously, though, harassers prey
on the weak and easily intimidated
because of their own insecurities.
Deep down, men fear women and
they feel sexual power gives them a leg
up, so to speak. A lot of women still
have a fear of authority and crumble
under this harrassment. I think we all
need to thicken our skin and learn to
dish it back out. I have found that the
quickest way to stop a man is thrugh
the fine art of sarcasm.
Paula Sigman
I believe that there is still this
“social thing” that men think that it is
still acceptable to act in a disrespect-
ful way...I believe that it is up to the
women to teach men how wrong that
is!  attempting to keep their hegemony,
Dawn Williams
I think that sexual harass-
ment continues on the job
The Wonder of It All
Young and Old Alike
By Hilda Heifetz
“Aging Is a Lifelong Affair” ...? A
friend of mine in Santa Barbara wrote
a book by that title, and way back
then it blew my long-held pre-concep-
tion. For over sixty years, I’d been car-
rying around the notion that I would
think about aging “when I got there.”
Although I was already over sixty, I
felt I still had plenty of time. But this
book (even just the title) was telling
me that life was a process with no arti-
ficial segments marking the end of one
stage and the beginning of another.
Well, it took me a little while to
see what this meant for me and oth-
ers. We were, in reality, living beings
meant to develop as a whole in the
context of time. There was no sudden
occurrence of old age. I would natu-
rally unfold according to my being
and becoming. I found this very good
news. Not only would I worry less,
but I could develop a new attitude. I
felt more encouraged to laugh, a ten-
dency that has helped me deal with
life. Surely, aging doesn’t have to be a
GRAVE SUBJECT!
Now there’s gravity and there’s
gravity. At my age (92), I know there’s
the gravity that pulls down softening
tissue, that lowers body parts, even
my height. But the gravity I’m talking
about here refers to great seriousness.

and in school because women are
socialized to be attractive and to take
sexual overtures as a compliment, and
men are threatened by women’s skills
and achievements, and because —
well, it’s just the nature of the beast.
Me Tarzan, you Jane —even if I want
to be Wonder Woman!
Lynette Diaz
T h e
answer
to this
ques-
tion is
undoubt-
edly two-fold.
First, we must recognize
the scientific and biological nature
of humans. We need sex in order to
procreate and maintain survival. That
fact is innate in all of us. Whether we
realize it or not, our physical, artis-
tic and intellectual traits are equiva-
lent to a bird’s mating call.   Secondly,
we must recognize the societal and
cultural environments humans have
made for themselves. With the emer-
gence of global capitalism, we have
evolved into a visually-based society.
Why are three-year-old girls having
self-esteem issues? Because her envi-
ronment claims she isn’t good enough
unless she acts or looks a certain way.
The solution is to educate one another
about the traits inherent to us that we
cannot change, and then have a dis-
cussion on how to change the things
we can.
Angie King
The optimist in me says it’s the
last gasp of the old patriarchal culture
but the pessimist says harassment con-
tinues because we let it. Women are
not doing enough to educate and sup-
port each other to force a real change
in that culture.
This kind of gravity I want to treat
with levity. I want to make light of
such heaviness. I value the leavening
of humor, for it raises my spirit to a
height where I can see a larger picture
revealing more options and promises.
Of course, everything isn’t sweet-
ness and light. We cannot always
find the redeeming features (RF Fac-
tors, I call them.) Thought optimists
are said to see the cup as half-full and
pessimists see it as half-empty, both
can also be said to be in some state of
denial. Realists know that the cup is
both. Yet knowing this, it does help to
be cheerful, whenever possible.
And when I think about the con-
tents of the years being a mixed bag,
I recall my friend’s reaction to her
cataract surgery. Not exactly com-
plaining, she admitted that, with the
luxury of improved eyesight, she now
saw wrinkles never seen before. And
though I also know of my own wrin-
kles, another friend surprised me by
asking where I was hiding them. I had
to thank her for reading “between the
lines.”
Young and old, all in all, though
in different ways, have aging in com-
mon. And, really, it doesn’t have to be
a grave subject.
 LocalPerspectives
Commit to Nurturing Your Life
By Susan Wood
Recognize your strengths
and connect to your
inner knowingness.
“Life coach—what’s a life coach?” is
probably the most frequent response
I get when people ask me what I do.
The short answer is that a life coach
supports a person in excelling is his or
her life just as a sports coach supports
an athlete in excelling in a sport.
Our lives have become increas-
ingly busy and seemingly compli-
cated, and there’s a great tendency to
run from one thing to the next on
“auto-pilot,” with little time spent on
reflection. Running “programs” that
no longer serve us, we can forget what
is really important and can feel con-
fused about what we need to feel ful-
filled in our lives. Many of us have a
vague (or not so vague) feeling of dis-
content—even when there appears to
be little that is wanting in our lives.
If you want a beautiful garden,
one that brings beauty, joy, and satis-
CynicsCorner
Being Single in San Luis Obispo
By Jacqueline Turner
I’m single! When you are fifty-nine
and living in an area like San Luis
Obispo, you may be in trouble. This is
an area not known for its single scene,
and fifty-nine is not an age known for
being a ‘hottie’ … although I am, and
so are my friends!
Here’s my problem: Once I elim-
inate the marrieds, the attached, the
gays, the elderly, the students, the fun-
damentalists, the cowboys, the hunt-
ers, the shooters, the vacationers, the
homeless, the meth, alcohol & drug
addicts, the conservative right, the rad-
ical left, the sexual perverts, the former
members of ASH, the members of the
Men’s’ Colony, the non-English speak-
ing, the low lifes, the unemployed, and
the underemployed … there are possi-
bly three eligible men left and they are
impotent, impoverished, immature,
or otherwise unavailable, and they are
not interested in me. Why? Even they
want younger!
So, what is an older eligible woman
supposed to do with her libido in a
town like this? Many of us join Inter-
net dating services. My friends all said
‘go on Match/Harmony and you will
meet the man of your dreams.’ What
Did You Know?...
by Gina Whitaker, Recruitment Coordinator, Community Counseling Center
Community Counseling Center is
here for you! Since 1968, we have been
providing low cost therapy, based on
your ability to pay, for low income
and uninsured people in the county.
Our agency is staffed by three dedi-
cated folks—Binah Polay, Executive
Director; Gina Whitaker, Recruitment
Coordinator; and Jeff Bringle, Admin-
istrative Assistant. But what makes us
truly unique is the fact that our staff
of super licensed and pre-licensed
therapists is an all volunteer staff! This
means they really want to be here, giv-
ing back to our Central Coast com-
munity.
We have therapy sites available in
faction—you tend it carefully—plant-
ing seeds, pulling weeds, watering and
fertilizing, and nurturing. To produce
a life of joy and fulfillment, we need to
nurture ourselves and our lives in the
same way. Hiring a life coach is mak-
ing a commitment to nurture your
life—to grow your life like a beautiful
garden—and to reflect on what you
want in that garden.
The coaching relationship is an
ongoing relationship of mutual respect
and trust that brings clarity, commit-
ment, and action. You set the agenda
for each coaching session. The coach
will ask questions, based on your
statements, to help you look forwards
rather than backwards. During this
process of inquiry, the coach facilitates
your discovery of values and vision for
what you want in your life. The coach
helps you open your awareness to new
options, focus on what you want, and
set goals and intentions. Part of the
coaching process is for you and your
coach to agree on actions you are will-
ing to take to move toward your goals.
The coach will then follow up with
you at your next coaching session.
The coaching process also helps
I found on Match was that if the men
knew where SLO was, they never come
here, or they want to but can’t find ten
traveling hours. Also, they don’t read
well. My bio says that I am an animal
lover, spiritual not religious, not terri-
bly into exercise, love great food, and
would rather die than camp. So, who
answers my ad? Guys who own guns;
guys who want to know if I attend
church on Sunday; guys who love to
eat and sleep and urinate outdoors;
guys who run, walk, bike, hike at least
ten miles/hours a day, and who only
want a vegan! As for Harmony … I
labored over this extensive profile that
took me over two hours to fill out, and
you know what they told me? “Sorry,
we cannot find a match for you at this
time.” And ‘this time’ lasted for many
months, until they matched me with a
guy from Idaho! No joke, really. Why?
Because we both mentioned liking
movies in our profiles! I like pota-
toes, too, but that doesn’t mean that
I would have a lot in common with a
potato farmer from Idaho.
What’s a girl to do? I realize that
I chose SLO for the cows and the
weather. I knew I would be paid only
SLO, North, and South County. We
serve children, teens, couples, fami-
lies and individuals. At Community
Counseling Center, you can be assured
of having a safe space and environ-
ment where you can work out life’s
mysteries and problems, and grow to
become the best person possible. It
takes your time and commitment, but
we are here to assist you on your path!
In late September, we will be start-
ing a group just for women reenter-
ing the single life! “Moving Beyond
Divorce” will be facilitated by Ly-
Lan Lofgren, MSW, and will meet
at Community Counseling Center
weekly on either Monday evenings
you recognize your strengths, uncover
and move through any limiting beliefs,
get “unstuck,” and find inspiration,
motivation, and a deeper connection
to your own inner “knowingness.”
Every step of the way, the coach is
there to cheer your accomplishments
and to challenge you to continue to
move forward.
With the support of a good life
coach, clients take charge of their lives,
become accountable, learn to align to
what they value, live more consciously,
take action, and discover a life pur-
pose. Coaches help clients get positive
results and find fulfillment in all areas
of their lives—professional, financial,
physical, intellectual, relational, and
spiritual.
Susan Wood is a Certified Life Coach
living in Morro Bay. She usually coaches
by telephone and serves clients across the
country. She will happily provide a free
session for anyone wanting to explore
what coaching with her is about. You
can find out more at www.susanwood-
lifecoach.com or by calling Susan at 805-
771-9706.
in “Paradise dollars,” but I believed
that there would be at least one cover
here for my pot! My New York mother
promised me that that would always
happen. Obviously, my mother never
heard of San Luis Obispo! To get her-
self off the hook, my mom tried to
pack me off to Boca Raton to find a
rich, retired cover for my overfed pot.
They pay in hot sticky “Paradise dol-
lars” there, too. I said “No, thank
you.”
So, SLO is not the senior dating
Mecca of the world; so desirable and
available men are in very short sup-
ply here; so I am not in the age group
that make most men giddy … but,
women my age are lovely and intel-
ligent and independent and funny
and extremely fantastic and young at
heart. Sorry, men of San Luis Obispo
… if you don’t recognize the beauty in
all that … then you may not be smart
or worldly enough for the women of
San Luis Obispo! Meanwhile, I will be
vacationing with my friends in Miami
… care to join us?!
Hugs, Jackie Turner
or Saturday afternoons according to
needs of attendees. This open group
will address issues of divorce, includ-
ing independence, termination of
marriage, and new financial, parent-
ing, and relationship concerns. THIS
IS NOT A DROP-IN GROUP. Call
Gina or Jeff at CCC to indicate your
interest in coming: 543-7969.
If you or your family need coun-
seling, or if you are a licensed psy-
chologist, MFT or social worker who
wants to offer therapy services to your
community through our non-profit,
please call us today!
Women’s Press September & October 2006 | editors@womenspress-slo.org
Homeschooling - Part 4
By Elizabeth McGregor
Most people would agree that our
public schools have major problems
that need attention. They are over-
crowded, under-funded, and gener-
ally mismanaged. Is it any wonder
that parents who are able to, are
homeschooling their children in ever-
increasing numbers?
Online resources for homeschool-
ers are abundant, especially those who
are interested in a Christian-based
curriculum. There are several compre-
hensive websites that will guide par-
ents through the process, from the
initial decision to home educate, right
through to the SATs. They are great
resources for ideas, curriculum, sup-
port, and materials.
Three of the most complete web-
sites that I found are Homeschool.
com (www.homeschool.com), The
American Homeschool Association
(www.americanhomeschoolassocia-
tion.org) and The Homeschool Zone
(www.homeschoolzone.com) And if
you can’t find the help you need there,
see if your school district has an Inde-
pendent Study Program.
There are also Virtual Academies.
These tuition-free public schools work
with the state and local school districts
to provide the best of both the home-
school and public school worlds. They
provide an opportunity for flexible,
independent instruction combined
with the assistance and accountabil-
ity of a state agency. I found a great
deal of information on the California
Virtual Academy website (www.caliva.
org).
But for most parents, home educa-
tion is not an option. After all, some-
one must stay at the home with the
student a majority of the time to teach
and supervise them. And as most of
us know--it can be a struggle making
ends meet with two incomes, let alone
one. So if you are a working parent
The Power of Being For
By Barbara Atkinson
Recently I’ve been experimenting with
a different perspective in regards to
the ills of the world and the varying
opinions and statements of pundits
and leaders.
Old enough to have participated
in the protest movements of the late
60’s and 70’s, I recall the torrent of
verbal anger with which we assaulted
each other in discussing civil rights,
or the war, or machismo men who
“had no clue.” At a rally or march,
a speaker would articulate that anger
and our need to stand fast. Collec-
tively, we made our point.
Yet now, either in personal inter-
changes, groups, or at peace rallies,
I find I’m not interested in tearing
down President Bush or the religious
right or spewing anger about the war
in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the myr-
iad of injustices existing in our coun-
try and our world. This is not because
I agree with their perspectives or don’t
care about these things. No. Today
I come to you suggesting a shift of
attention. It’s very slight, yet I think
if you try it on and carry it through
to every aspect of your life, as Gandhi
said, you will “become the change you
want to see…”
who is dissatisfied with our public
schools and unable to afford private or
home education, what do you do?
I believe the answer lies in getting
involved. I often hear parents com-
plain about schools, teachers and stu-
dent workloads. But just how involved
are we really in our children’s educa-
tion? We might quiz them on a few
spelling words or answer a question or
two that comes up, but is that level of
involvement enough?
I think we need to go back to
school. Seriously, take a couple of
mornings off from your job this fall to
go to your child’s school for a closer
look. Get to know their teacher and
classmates. Volunteer to read to the
students or help with lessons. Chap-
erone a field trip. Most teachers wel-
come parents who want to assist
and the more familiar you are with
the school environment, the better
equipped you will be to ask your child
the right questions, address his con-
cerns, and evaluate his performance.
We all talk about how important
education is in our society, but what
are we actually doing for our kids? A
child’s schooling does not stop when
the bell rings. It is the parent’s respon-
sibility to not only help their children
with their homework, but to become
involved in the education process. You
may be disappointed in our public
schools, or frustrated that you cannot
homeschool your child full-time, but
you can arm yourself with an attitude
of communication and involvement
that will benefit both you and your
child.
Elizabeth McGregor is a freelance
copywriter and designer and working
mother of two children in public school.
She can be reached through her website
at www.writingfinelines.com.
Be for peace, for justice, for equal-
ity, for nature, and against nothing
and no one.
With this shift you are for all the
things that concern and affect you at
the same time that you support and
work for the changes you wish to see
in yourself, our leaders, and in our
world.
Notice how you felt when you read
those words. Did it softly resonate yet
carry power? Perhaps you don’t like
this shift. That’s ok. Though, if it
makes you angry you might want to
notice where inside you that anger is
coming from, where it’s held in your
body. But if this perspective speaks
to you, play with these words in your
mind as you use “being for” something
in all the ways it might apply to your
life and opinions. Notice your body
and how you feel when you express
“being for.” It’s simple really.
Be for yourself, for others, for
kindness, for being present to each
moment, and against nothing and no
one.
One small shift for you; one giant
awakening for humankind!
September & October 2006 | www.womenspress-slo.org | Women’s Press
Mind Your Business:
Choosing a Small Business Advisor
By Andrea Zeller
It’s important when choosing a busi-
ness advisor to find one with a good
reputation you can build a good rela-
tionship with and who can address
several different aspects of your busi-
ness. Select an advisor that listens and
that you can effectively interact with.
Interview a few different advisors to
be sure you select one that is right for
you. If you choose your advisor well,
he or she will become an important
part of your business, and you should
be together for the life-time of your
business. After all, business planning
is an ongoing activity!
Determine Your Needs
Being clear on your needs up
front will help you connect with the
right expertise. Maybe it is account-
ing, finance, legal, marketing, and
human resources, or basic start-up ori-
entation. Although there are experts
in each area, a good business advisor
should serve as an anchor and help
you bring in additional expertise when
necessary.
Get a referral. Ask your friends
and business associates for recommen-
dations – or ask for references from
people who own businesses similar to
your own.
How to Find a Business Advisor
Once you are clear on your spe-
cific needs and you’ve sought out
referrals, no doubt you’ve run across
recommendations to seek help from
one of your local U.S. Small Busi-
ness Administration resource partners.
San Luis Obispo is fortunate to have a
strong support system for small busi-
nesses. There are many private sector
advisors that will assist you for a fee;
there is also a strong network of SBA-
sponsored advisory programs here in
SLO supported by your tax dollars.
They are:
Small Business Development Centers
(SBDCs)
SBDCs, SBA’s largest resource part-
ner, enhances economic development
by providing small businesses with
Healing
Continued From the Cover
have because of their surgeries will
be offered. Yoga provides techniques
that can help teach the body to relax,
as many of us have obviously lost
that ability. Through guided visual-
izations and proper breathing guide-
lines, learning how to “stop” can result
in some surprisingly positive changes.
Simple relaxation tools that can be eas-
ily taught are invaluable to improved
quality of life and also overall health
and healing.
One of the most well respected
cancer hospitals, MD Anderson in
Houston, states “Comprehensive
medical care must take into account
not only the biologic dimensions of
an illness, but also the psychological
management and technical assistance.
There are more than 1,100 SBDC lead
and service centers located around
the country. Locally, Cuesta College
hosts an SBDC that provides business
counseling services and workshops.
(805) 549-0401 or www.smallbusi-
nessinfo.org.
Women’s Business Centers (WBCs)
Women’s Business Centers rep-
resent a national network of more
than 90 educational centers designed
to assist women start and grow small
businesses. WBCs operate with the
mission to level the playing field for
women entrepreneurs, who still face
unique obstacles in the world of busi-
ness. Locally, Mission Community
Services has a pending application
with SBA to host an SBA-sponsored
WBC here in San Luis Obispo.
MCSC, through its Women’s Business
Partners Program, is already providing
entrepreneurial education and support
to SLO’s business women and has
been well supported by the local SBA
Fresno District Office. Reach MCSC
and the Women’s Business Partners at
805 595-1357 or www.MCSCorp.org Se
Habla Espanol
Service Corps of Retired Executives
(SCORE)
You can also get personal free expert
advice and counseling through a vol-
unteer organization called SCORE, a
locally-chartered volunteer organiza-
tion sponsored by the US Small Busi-
ness Administration, which provides
free expert problem-solving assistance
to small businesses. Locally, 805 547-
0779 or www.sloscore.org.
SBA District Offices
In addition to its resource partners,
the SBA operates full service district
offices in every state of the country.
The SBA Fresno District office serves
all of Central CA including SLO.
You may reach them toll free at (800)
359-1833 then press 6 or http://www.
sba.gov/ca/fresno/index.html.
Andrea Zeller, Executive Director of
Mission Community Services, coordi-
nates Women’s Business Partners (WBP)
to ensure all community resources are
leveraged and optimized to support
entrepreneurial women. WBP serves
everyone interested in establishing self-
sufficiency through small business owner-
ship while primarily focusing assistance
towards socially and economically dis-
advantaged women. WBP can take
you step by step towards success and can
help those who speak only Spanish. Visit
www.MCSCorp.org or call 595-1357 to
find out more.
and social factors that can affect the
whole person.”
Through different media, retreat
attendees will create collages, practice
journaling, and make music. Joanne
Ruggles, retired Cal Poly art profes-
sor, nationally acclaimed artist and
breast cancer survivor, will lead the
collage sessions; Pam McCully, local
writer and teacher, will lead the jour-
naling sessions; Marisa Wadell, well-
known KCBX radio personality, will
lead the percussion/music sessions;
and Shoosh Crotzer, master yoga
teacher, will lead the yoga classes.
Attendees will also learn about lymph-
edema and ways to help prevent, diag-
nose, and manage it. They will learn
Are You Breathing?
By Dianne Legro
I’m not joking. For most of us our
response to stress is prolonged shallow
breathing and actual stopped breath.
Just notice right now whether you are
breathing deeply or hardly at all. If
the latter is true, please take in a deep
abdominal breath. Right now.
Our shallow/stopped breath is part
of our natural fight-or-flight response.
Living modern lives, we have a great
deal of intense stimuli. Responding
to phones, buzzers, messaging, con-
ferencing, driving, and more has us
breathing in a “defensive” shallow
mode throughout most of our day.
It is one of the major reasons we are
physically and mentally so tired at the
end of the day. We are toxic from not
cleaning our circulatory system with
good fresh oxygen.
The Good News
My tip for you to try this week is
to make a habit of what I call ‘Living
on the Inhale”- breathing IN to life’s
presenting moments. By noticing and
becoming aware of the key stressors
that affect you, you can teach yourself
YourCareer
Frustrated in Current Job?
By Denise Nickeson
Don’t quit! This will leave you with
fewer options. Since I’m not sure
exactly what your frustrations are, be
it the work, the people, the company’s
values/philosophies, or something else,
a place to start is your current job. Are
there aspects of your current job you
do enjoy? (e.g., projects that involve
writing, work that involves collabo-
rating with others to achieve a goal
or produce a product? work that gives
you an opportunity to be creative?) Is
there an opportunity to do more of the
projects you like doing? Can you talk
to your supervisor about picking up
new responsibilities? Can you transfer
to another department? Explore your
options to improve your current situ-
ation. Every job has an upside, even if
it only some financial security.
If you still want to make a change,
take some time for reflection. You
might consider starting a journal.
Begin by asking yourself these ques-
tions: Do you prefer working with
people, things, or information? Is
there something I’ve always been good
at but have done primarily as a hobby?
Is there something you particularly
enjoyed doing as a kid? Is there some-
thing someone told you or (tells you
the importance of exercise, what type
of exercise to avoid, what type is rec-
ommended; and they will learn ther-
apeutic routines and techniques to
improve breathing and relaxation
and reduce stress. All data evaluations
will be compiled by Dr. George Stan-
ton, also a retired Cal Poly professor.
If you are interested in participating,
the application deadline is September
15, 2006. There will be a sliding scale
so no one will be denied on the basis
of finances. Those unable to attend
will be placed on a priority list for our
next retreat. For further information,
call Enhancement at 771-8640.
WomenatWork 
to automatically breathe IN instead of
holding and stopping your breath when
they occur. When you do this you will
retain your quick-thinking ability lon-
ger in your day, you will avoid burn-
out, and you will stay more resilient
and connected to your feelings and
intuition for better decision making.
Most importantly, you will feel much
more vital and able. Take your breath
in when your phone rings, when your
name is called, when it’s your turn to
present yourself in a meeting. Enjoy the
rich rewards of “Living on the Inhale.”
You will become In-spired.
Dianne Legro helps clients achieve solid
rapport with their audiences, live and
in radio and television appearances. Her
essays and articles have been reprinted Live on the inhale.
extensively. As a speaker she gives Keynotes
on Creativity, Leadership, Communica-
Become in-spired.
tion Skills, Marketing via Speaking, and
Expanding the Spirit. Contact her office at
805-534-9535 for one to one coaching and
corporate group training programs. Visit
diannelegro.com.
I’m feeling really frustrated at my current job,
and I’ d like to make a change, but I’m just
not sure what else I’ d be good at. Every time I
think about quitting, I get scared.
now) that you are particularly good overcome them? Could you use your
at? If you looked in the future 10-20 favorite skills and natural abilities in
years, is there something that comes this new profession? If so great! If not,
up that you really want to do or expe- you may want to keep searching.
rience? Is there something you would In addition to the above, our local
love to do if money, obligations and community college has low-cost tests
responsibilities or other worries or and questionnaires used by career
concerns were not an issue? What type counselors that can help assess your
of work would you pursue if success skills and interests. Low cost tests are
were guaranteed? also available on the Internet. The Pri-
All these questions need to be vate Industry Council’s website www.
fleshed out until you can come up jobhunt.org has a good list on their
with some specific fields and occupa- resources page.
tions. Enlist the support of a friend
or partner to help you. Brainstorm Denise Nickeson’s background includes
with him or her until you can narrow working as an employment trainer/job
down the possibilities. Then start your coach for an occupational training cen-
research. Go and talk to people who ter as well as a personnel manager and
are doing what you think you might corporate trainer for desktop support ser-
want to do. Get the good, the bad and vices company in Silicon Valley. She is
the ugly. Talk to more than one per- available for private career assessment
son. Find out their career path. What and job coaching services. You can reach
challenges did they face? How did they her at dnickeson@hotmail.com
Something to ponder...
 Women’sStories
Locks of Love
A Gift to Others and Self
By Helena Bresk
ill, I decided it was time for some
rite of passage, some physical
acknowledgement of moving on
and helping others. This was on
May 31st.
Having heard of Locks
of Love in 2005, I
decided it was time to
cut off my hip-length
hair and move it on
to a new home. My
dear friend and hair
stylist Debra Angell
suggested I might
Helena and Debra before the cut
postpone an appoint-
ment, as Mercury was
In the past, when I have lost my loved so ill, but it felt imperative to do this,
ones to Spirit, I’ve grieved deeply to bring support and love to someone
albeit somewhat silently. It’s always else in my grief.
seemed that there was something so Mercury passed on June 2nd
wrong, that I couldn’t get a hold of it, peacefully for him, painfully for me,
so I pushed it deep inside. but a new head of hair was born for
I am a spiritual person who a child who has lost hair because of
believes that the soul lives on and on. illness. So with this act, I released
With this in mind, it became time this my beloveds to Spirit and asked their
year, at the age of 51, to turn my grief blessing along with the hair of faith, to
in to something positive. bring new joy and comfort to some-
A half dozen or so people and ani- one in their hours of need.
mals I dearly loved have passed on The joy of giving a part of myself
this year. When Mercury, (my dar- to someone else has given me a great
ling 6-year old black cat) was very gift and new resolve to open into a
A Q&A with Judy Vick
On Running for Office
By Renee Sanpei
Judy Vick What were some of the gifts of this
ran for experience?
the Board By far, the wonderful people I
of County met -- so many dedicated people who
Supervi- care deeply about our communities
sors earlier and our environment. So many peo-
this year. She ple gave of their time, their talent and
was unknown to most financial means to preserve our quality
of her constituency, the only female, of life.  I am deeply grateful to them
and had much less financial backing for their support.
than the other two candidates. She Other gifts:
took the lead on supporting renew- • Giving a voice to issues that peo-
able energy and affordable housing. ple care about, but that other
It was a challenging three-way race politicians hesitate to address.
against seasoned candidates and yet • Speaking up for vulnerable pop-
she was endorsed by the Tribune, the ulations.
Sierra Club, and the United Domes- • Discovering the courage that
tic Workers Union. She garnered a lot comes with running and putting
of support not only from liberals but yourself on the line. Mark Twain
also from Republicans. I asked Judy once said, “Courage is the mas-
if she would like to convey some of tery of fear, not the absence of
her experiences about her first politi- fear.”
cal race. • Pride in doing it my way–run-
Sharon Beery
Running for Congress
By Renee Sanpei
Sharon Beery is running for Congress. the South County Democratic Club
After a career as an educator and in for 2005. She also became the state
real estate, she decided – rather than delegate of the Democratic State party
just complain about the state of our in 2004 and was encouraged to run
country – to put herself in a position for Congress at that point.
to make some changes. She is a busy I asked Sharon what differences
mother and grandmother and turned she saw between Democrats and
to her family for support. They gave Republicans. “Democrats are more
her their vote of confidence to pur- laid back. They want desperately to
sue this endeavor and she and her hus- win, and should, but what they don’t
band have been on the campaign trail understand is that they can’t wait for
ever since. the other guy to do it. My way is not
Being a Republican up until to just talk it but walk it.” And that
2003, Sharon found herself “not lik- is what has been winning over both
ing what I was seeing.” I heard Dennis Republicans and Democrats alike in
Kucinich speak and that inspired me. her campaign.
I became active instead of doing noth- “People want to talk about the
ing.” She worked on his campaign and issues, make change and get our coun-
got elected to the Democratic Central try back, but they feel helpless. When
Committee. She became president of they see that someone is willing to rep-
greater awareness of all dimensions,
as well as remind me of the frailty of
all life and lives. If you have long hair,
this is a very powerful way to help.
Namaste and blessings to all.
Helena Bresk, Healer of Animals and
Humans. Pegasusunl@yahoo.com
Locks of Love is a national non-
profit organization that provides cus-
tom-fitted hairpieces to children
suffering from medical hair loss.
Since it was founded in 1997, Locks
of Love has helped more than 1,400
children. Most suffer from alopecia
areata, a condition in which a person’s
immune system attacks the body’s
hair follicles, resulting in permanent
hair loss. Burn victims and radiation
patients also have been served.
Donations are accepted as either
ponytails or braids at least 10 inches
long. Bleached hair cannot be used,
although permed and color-treated
hair is fine.
Contact them at info@locksoflove.
org or call (561) 963-1677 or fax (561)
963-9914
ning a clean campaign–despite
pressure to do politics as usual.
How would you do things differ-
ently next time?
• I would start a year ahead, with
an established campaign team
and network of supporters.
• If I could, I would devote myself
completely to the campaign.
During my campaign, I con-
tinued to work full-time. It was
quite a challenge balancing work
and the campaign.
• Running my second time, I
would have more name recogni-
tion, which is very important to
winning.
• Hopefully obtain a campaign
manager and treasurer from the
beginning. I flew by the seat of
my pants and wore all hats for
months!
Continued on VICK, page 10
resent them, they’re grateful.” She told
me that men have indicated that they’d
like to see more women in office. “We
have to get rid of this macho attitude,”
this language that wages war and stirs
hatred and alienation.
What are the major concerns of con-
stituents?
1. Getting out of Iraq
2. Impeachment. The desire to get
rid of this entire administration.
3. Health care and education
4. Recreating a democracy; spying,
lying, and having a President ignore
Congress and the Constitution is not
Women’s Press September & October 2006 | editors@womenspress-slo.org
UnsungHeroine
Jean Gerard Poet and Activist
By Berta Parrish
The music of flutes and drums is
called gagaku. The projected images
are beautiful ancient Japanese prints.
The performers retelling the intriguing
Japanese novel, The Tale of Genji, are
wearing exquisite kimonos. This was
the scene at Linnaea’s Café in San Luis
Obispo on August 2nd when four local
poets read from the poetic version
written recently by an American writer
in Los Osos. How was the world’s first
romantic novel
recreated?
The answer
lies in the con-
vergence of a
commitment
to nonviolence
and feminism,
an extensive
knowledge of
Japan, a rare tal-
ent and a desire
to share impor-
tant insights. This
convergence is
Jean Gerard, poet,
writer, and activ-
ist.
The Tale of
Genji was writ-
ten by a woman
named Mura-
saki Shikibu 1000 years ago and is
over 1000 pages in its English transla-
tion. Jean wanted to bring the life and
times of ancient Japan, especially the
role of women, alive for modern audi-
ences. Her Genji Poems, a cycle of 140
poems with over 100 characters, writ-
ten over a period of thirteen months,
indicates that feminism started a long
time ago.
With a Master’s Degree in English,
Jean accepted a position at Wakayama
University in Japan in the sixties,
where she taught English for thirteen
years, studied Japanese culture, and
led exchange programs during sum-
mer vacations. At the time, she often
heard about The Tale of Genji but it
didn’t capture her imagination until
she had more free time.
“I’m happy to have the chance to
stop spinning, and at age 92 to have
time to think, to read, to listen and
to consider. For me, the active life is
not compatible with writing,” says
Jean. She is now writing poetry and
prose consistently. Her active life,
teaching overseas and dedication to
social causes, have influenced the top-
ics, style, and message of her writing
today.
Having three sons old enough for
military service in the late fifties and
early sixties introduced Jean to the
peace movement. Both before she
a democracy.
She said that Republicans are
expressing concern that not only did
the Bush administration steal the
country but “they stole the Republi-
can Party.” People want to overcome
the politics and become Americans,
working toward the same goals.
“If we don’t change, we’re lost.
My message is to remember that they
(Congress) are working for us. We do
not work for them. I care what you
think. I want to hear from you. I’m
there to be your voice.”
Campaigns are arduous and Sha-
ron is grateful for her husband’s con-
stant support as well as the people she
has met and shared concerns with.
“People will feel so good and ener-
went to Japan and after she returned,
she worked for the Women’s Strike
for Peace, the Committee for a SANE
Nuclear Policy, the Nuclear Weap-
ons Freeze Campaign and the Amer-
ican Friends Service Committee, a
Quaker pacifist organization. Later
she began writing editorials for the
Pasadena Weekly at the time when she
was a part-time secretary for the Gar-
vey School District Teachers Union in
Los Angeles. She
retired three years
ago.
She has just
completed a
charming chil-
dren’s book filled
with humor,
rhyme, and
facts about fish.
Besides delight-
ing children
with the poetry
and extending
their vocabulary
through word
play, the book
teaches children
not to pollute the
very waters that
breed these fasci-
nating creatures.
Add ecology to Jean’s activism.
Jean continues to write because
she secretly hopes to change the world.
She is “interested in trying to express
some of the best of what I think,
know, feel, or have discovered.” The
audience at Linnaea’s and the read-
ers of her poetry are glad that she is
sharing the insights of a long life well
lived. Her continued commitment to
peace through poetry is illustrated in
the following poem.
Chasing a Grain of Rice
She was an old woman in farm clothes
bent over like a broom-straw
curled from so much sweeping.
Barefoot even in winter chill,
she crept from woodpile to kitchen,
arms full of rice straw for kindling
and faggots to feed the fire.
The iron pot of rice
steamed fragrant on the cook stove
and the soup and fish were ready.
We ate in silent thankfulness
for food and drink.
As we put down our chopsticks,
docking them carefully like boats
on their little china racks,
she paused to remind us of the war
while chasing one last grain of rice
around the edge of her empty bowl.
gize themselves if they take action and
believe that ‘we’ can win.” It is a large
district, covering Kern, Lancaster,
and L.A. counties as well as parts of
SLO county. She tells me that here at
home, support has been slow in com-
ing. Elsewhere, she’s garnered strong
support.
We spoke about campaign reform.
“People tend to believe that if I don’t
have money, I can’t win. Where along
the way did they convince us that this
is true? Like $500,000 equals 500,000
votes. We need to get rid of big money
and have public financing.”
Contact the Sharon Beery for
Congress Campaign (805) 473-2762 or
www.sharonbeeryforcongress.com.
September & October 2006 | www.womenspress-slo.org | Women’s Press CreativeWomen 
The Women’s Community Center would like to convey our
deepest gratitude to those of you who helped celebrate the

We are uplifted by the support of this wonderful community of entertainers, artists, and vol-
unteers who continually give of their time and talents.
The entertainment was superb and enjoyed by so many.
We hope that this creative spirit will continue to grow and be nurtured in our commu-
nity.  It is a wonderful experience to have the opportunity to express ourselves creatively and
our hope is that it will inspire and bring joy to others.  If you are interested in supporting
future events like this, please contact us at the Women’s Community Center at 544-9313.

Many thanks to the performers:

1. Sheri Odenwald
2. Triad, featuring Fran Dukehart, Francesca
Nemko and Grady Houser
3. Mary Donnelly and the Tribal Mundo Dancers
4. Jennifer Young and Travis Larson
5. Karen Tyler
6. The Motowners, featuring Dave Ottenberg, 1 2 3
Frank & Romi West, Doug Fredericks, Cheryl
Iona, Randy Crowser, Karen Tyler, Helen
Edwards, and the drummer, Dave.

Thanks, too, to “Sacred Skin, and Arba Wa.”

And special thanks to the folks at

for keeping the show on the road. 4 5 6

Circle Connections:
Ann Smith Part II Our interview continues:
By Beverly Engel Beverly: “You mentioned that one
of the projects within Circle Con-
nections is the Indigenous Women’s
Pathways program that was created
by Indigenous women for Indigenous
women. You talked about the program
being brought to Alaska last February.
Can you talk more about this?”
Ann Smith: “The Indigenous
Women’s Pathways program (IWP)
In the last issue of Women’s Press I interviewed that was started several years ago was
able to go to Alaska because my friend
Ann Smith, one of the founders of the Millionth
the Rev. Ginny Doctor, a Mohawk
Circle along with Jean Shinoda Bolen, myself and leader, received a grant to conduct the
several other circle leaders. Ann has recently formed program through the Native Ameri-
can office of the Episcopal Diocese
Circle Connections, along with Rhonda Hull and of Alaska. When we did the program
Carol Hansen Grey. in Utah and Montana, we had lots of
written materials about racism such as
what causes it, how it affects people—
a lot of left brain stuff. We wanted to
explore questions such as, “What is
racism?” But circles once again taught
us a valuable lesson. We learned to get
rid of the paperwork when we dis-
covered that what the people really
needed was to tell their stories.
Beverly: “It is amazing how pow-
erful the simplicity of the circle can
be. I’m reminded of this over and
over. We tend to complicate things so
much when all most of us really want
and need is to be listened to.”
Ann Smith: “Absolutely. One of
the powerful experiential exercises in
IWP is creating a timeline in the form
of a circle. Participants were able to
put their own personal history and the
entire history of their people in a cir-
cular timeline and to see how history
affected their personal lives. For exam-
ple, they were able to see how events
in history— such as the1493 Roman
Catholic Papal Bull declaration that
authorized all Christians to go forth
and conquer all the lands of people
of the non-White world—were juxta-
posed with events in native history—
such as genocide, mandatory boarding
schools where many Indigenous chil-
dren were sexually abused, alcohol-
ism, and incest. This helped them to
understand more about internalized
racism and why such problems as
alcohol abuse and incest are so promi-
nent in their culture.
By the end of our time together,
the grandmothers came to strongly
believe that they were the only ones
who could stop these problems. They
realized they needed to bring back the
language and the old ways, such as
traditional dancing, drumming, food,
herbal medicines, and circling. They
decided to take their program all over
Alaska, raising their own money. As
they explained, “If we don’t do it now,
our culture will be gone.”
Beverly: “Yes, it is ironic that
you were able to remind them of the
power of their own tradition. After all,
we got the idea of meeting in circle
from native people.”
Ann Smith: “Yes, Ginny Doctor
wrote in a theological paper that it
took her making a friend with a white
woman to believe in their Indigenous
way of being in circle. Now she and
others are bringing back the circle to
their people.”
10 Women’sStories
Aging Gracefully
By Francesca Nemko
What does it mean, aging gracefully?
Does it mean “letting it all hang out,”
Or, not letting it all hang out?
Covering up, making believe
There’s nothing changing.
Still feeling l6
When my body is  screaming
I’m not l6! Nor 35! 
Nor even 50!
Pay attention to what needs to be addressed — NOW.
It’s not the same, nowhere the same
As it used to be.
What once worked for me
Is useless, arcane, out of date.
But, oh, I loved that me
That me who smiled so brightly
Whose eyes glowed green and invitingly
Whose supple body was a delight to behold
Never to grow old
                      (even gracefully)
 
The time has come, though
To reevaluate what it means
To love myself no matter what
Love the lines, the crevices, the weakening bones and joints
The dimmer eyes, what a surprise to me
Who never thought I’d change that much
Be so out of touch with reality
The reality of an aging physical form.
 
The time has come, as a walrus once said
To talk of many things
Such as what to eat, and what not to eat
When to run around, and when to rest, take a nap
                                                      
You’ve earned it, I tell myself
Yet it’s still hard to “give in”
So, I continue to live in denial
Still eat those corn chips that used to satisfy
But now react within to remind me
That nothing’s the same in there!
I cannot fool myself another minute
Relax and let my body rest
From all the adjustments it’s had to make
                                      to accommodate my willful ways.
 Why do I keep thinking I’m invincible
Different from my sisters
Who do gracefully age, become wise old sages
And pass on their expertise and experience
To the next generation.
That’s what I should be doing
Instead of “holding on” to something
That’s basically gone
                              forever!
 
Oh, oh, oh, I said it, finally I said it
I let the proverbial cat out of the bag
Admitted to being an old hag
             (well, not really, but it rhymed) Is letting go of the past -- gratefully.
Still, it feels good to say it
And not have to play it
Nourishing Moments
By Jeanie Greensfelder
An Amateur
When I told my artist friend Phil that
I bought some tempera paints and
adored splashing color to paper, he
said, “You’re an amateur.”
My face dropped until he said,
“But the word amateur comes from
the French word ‘amare,’ to love.  wind-up swings, someone to fix our
Amateurs work because they love it
and it brings them pleasure.  Profes-
sionals acquire credentials and work
for money.”
Phil’s comments come to mind
when I delight in paints or pursue
other heart wishes.
I’m pleased to be an amateur!
Notice the things you love to do.
Might you do them more often?
        (just like a kid)
that youth game any more
Phew!  what a relief, form a new belief
In aging gracefully, which for me
 
Yearning for a Mom
 On a visit to our infant granddaugh-
ter Julia, we enjoyed pampering her,
anticipating what she might want and
providing it for her.
Andy and I came home want-
ing bouncy chairs for grownups, big
meals and sing us to sleep, and some-
one to carry us on demand.
We listed our grown-up substi-
tutes: recliner chairs, rockers, bedtime
music, mutual cuddling, massage, gar-
lic-mashed potatoes, and chocolate
sundaes.
Since the need for nurturing is
ongoing, it felt good to acknowledge
our deep infant wishes for MORE.
How do you nurture yourself?  ing!
Need some now?
Another breast cancer survivor retreat
held twice yearly near Big Bear
A.W.O.L. (A Way of Life...after diag-
nosis), a program out of Rancho Santa
Margarita, CA, specifically designed
for women who have or have had
breast cancer, holds retreats in Octo-
ber and June near Big Bear at a camp
in a beautiful nature setting with a
loving nurturing environment. The 3-
day retreat is designed to help improve
the quality of life and well-being of
survivors. Activities include mas-
sage therapists and aestheticians at
• Life’s Savor
• By Hilda Heifetz
When my phone rings and I hear the
introduction: “This is the voice of rea-
son!” I know it’s John calling. In what
has now become a ritual, my response
is: “This is the voice of experience!” I
feel I outrank him. I’ve just turned 92
and John is only 62 (he probably likes
the “only” as a tribute to his youth,
and I like it as a suggestion that he still
has a lot to learn). In this exchange,
we do hold a mutual respect across
our generations.
Actually, John is my son’s friend
from the sixties at UCLA. When he
first came to visit our home, there was
a lot of lively talk around the dinner
table. From the standpoint of an his-
torian, economist, and political activ-
ist, John is an intense arguer. I confess
that I enjoy passionate dialogue about
VICK
Continued from page 8
People are hoping you will run
again. Would you consider doing
so?
Yes, I am considering running
again in four years or perhaps running
for another office. Meanwhile, I am
doing what I can to help Bruce Gib-
son win the District 2 seat in Novem-
ber. While Bruce and I have our
differences, I believe he is the best can-
didate running to preserve our quality
of life on the Central Coast.
What endeavors are you interested
in at this point?
I am now a voting member of the
San Luis Obispo County Democratic
Central Committee.
I am volunteering on the No on
Measure J (Dalidio project: nomea-
surej.org ) campaign.
I am interested in campaign
finance reform (CA Nurses Associa-
tion) and clean elections efforts.
Campaigns are challenging and can
bring out the best or worst in peo-
ple. What kept you inspired?
• My own personal internal com-
pass.
• My training with Wellstone
Action and EMILY’s List
• My close friends and fellow activ-
ists
• My experience and training as a
family therapist, keeping calm
and focusing on strengths.
• Being grateful for the help of so
many in so many different ways–
a grassroots campaign is inspir-
• My children are grown women
and they were watching the cam-
paign. I wanted to make them
Women’s Press September & October 2006 | editors@womenspress-slo.org
hand to provide treatment; custom-
ized trust building exercises that allow
for letting go vs. controlling; specially
tailored art and writing workshops
offered as a healing art; yoga and Tai-
Chi classes; and crystal healing bowls
sessions (given by local sound thera-
pist Barbara Perry).
Call 949-916-6851 for more infor-
mation or go to www.chrysalistow-
ings.com.
important things. At this first encoun-
ter, he was strongly defending the role
of government in civilizing human
affairs. I, on the other hand, showed
great concern about abuses of too
much government authority and the
eroding of individual power and pri-
vacy. I had gotten to the point where
it seemed I was favoring “anarchy”
when my son re-captured John’s atten-
tion. I was feeling an appreciation or
airing deep conviction on both of our
parts when John took off. His parting
shot was: “That was fun! Next time,
I’ll take the other side!” What a ras-
cal ...
It’s good to be aware of John’s
playfulness. Even when we’re engaged
in telephone banter, he would still
prefer that I have e-mail accessibility.
proud!
How would you advise someone who
is considering running for office?
First of all, we need to appreciate
people willing to consider a run for
office. Due to the rigorous demands
of campaigning, it is often the elite
that have the time and the money to
pursue a run for elected office. But
common folks are in touch with the
real needs of people. We need more
grassroots candidates who are fiercely
ethical, hardworking, loyal, and dedi-
cated to meeting the needs of the peo-
ple they serve. This type of candidate,
who is looking to win with grassroots
efforts, needs our encouragement to
take it on and our time and financial
support to be successful.
That being said, I would strongly
recommend the Wellstone Politi-
cal Action Training (www.wellstone.
org) and/or an EMILY’s List (“Early
Money Rises Like Yeast”) Training
(Dedicated to helping women win
seats in the Congress and Senate over
the past 20 years: www.emilyslist.org).
The concepts I learned at these train-
ings kept me centered throughout our
campaign.
Other tips:
• Observe elected officials. Get to
know people close to the posi-
tion you are interested in. Meet
individually with community
leaders and organizers from gov-
ernment to grassroots.
• Develop a good relationship with
media contacts.
• Read newspapers daily and know
both sides of the issues affecting
your potential constituents.
Photo by Ani Garrick
He thinks I’m quaint to still be using
a typewriter. The other day, when
he saw me typing, he pointed to the
machine and cried: “What is that?!”
In every way, he is a bold advocate of
modern technology. He can’t believe
that I resist the computer and using e-
mail. My excuse to him is that I like
the ring of his laughter and the sound
of his voice. He dismisses that with:
“That’s no problem. I can simply write
‘Ha! Ha!’”
I could go on about the many
ways a friendship with young people
gives flavor and buoyancy to my life
at this tender age. The “Ha! Ha!” in
any form is more than a chuckle; it’s a
profound lift. John’s company is also a
profound gift.
• Find creative, positive solutions
to the issues you are raising and
be able to articulate how to get
there.
• Keep your campaign clean–do it
differently–people will appreci-
ate it!
• Be authentic.
• Be above reproach.
• Know yourself well – your
strengths and weaknesses – and
have a strategy for both.
• Know your opponents – their
strengths and weaknesses – and
have a strategy for addressing
both.
• Be internally motivated. Respond
to criticism with an open mind
and gracious attitude–you may
learn something valuable.
• Give credit where credit is due
and make sure your volunteers
know you value them. The more
you are organized and have jobs
for the volunteers, the more vol-
unteers you will retain.
• You will get more bang for your
buck by using fresh, unique
graphic materials—people are
more likely to remember some-
thing unusual (but tasteful).
• Be willing to walk miles of pre-
cincts to meet your constituents
and get your message out!
• Invest in yard signs, a great web-
site, radio, and TV ads!
• Give it your all–it is going to take
your all and more to win!!!
Judy Vick can be contacted at
venturemind@hotmail.com or 441-8644
September & October 2006 | www.womenspress-slo.org | Women’s Press Body&Soul 11

The Golden Years

Paid Political Advertising

“I support
By Gary E. Foresman, MD Bruce Gibson in this
election because
Since the beginning of time, when a If you are having a troublesome I believe he has the
woman reached that stage in life where menopause, and while you are looking Judy Vick Endorses necessary skills to
she was lucky enough to have irregu-
lar periods, which eventually went
for the answers as to why it is trou-
blesome, for heaven’s sake, treat the BRUCE work with the Board
to get the job done.”

away, associated with night sweats,
hot flashes, and a myriad of mood
fluctuations, she knew she was enter-
ing into menopause. She didn’t need a
hormonal test, whether it came from
her saliva, blood, urine or eye-socket.
Typical for our modern era, we have
created a normal transition into a well-
marketable disease which can then be
treated by expensive pharmaceuticals,
guided by so-called authorities who
are more than willing to support the
disease model.
Just like PMS, menopause is a
hormonally-related condition by
which no absolute hormone level can
be definitively associated with any
one symptom. Our entire culture of
women have been misled by the idea
that menopause is scientific. That is “If
I only had a certain level of estrogen,
testosterone or other hormone, then
I would feel a certain way.” When in
truth, every scientific study has shown
this to be untrue, and that at best we
can make broad generalizations about
hormone levels and symptoms.
So what is a woman to do? Just
like with any symptom, listen to it. Is
my transition difficult due to stress,
or lack of exercise? Do I need to slow
down, listen more carefully, spend
more time in nature, “be” more and
not “do” more? Maybe these are the
answers that you and your body are
looking for, not necessarily a drug
or an herb. You see, as we head into
the “Wise Woman” phase of our life,
our body might just be asking us to
GIBSON
symptoms. A simple natural remedy
—Judy Vick
known as “Hot Flash” by Source Nat-
urals at 2 tabs, 2-3 times per day is an for
excellent natural phytoestrogen blend
County Supervisor 805.995.1652
that can work wonders. Evening Prim-
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per day added on to Hot Flash, I have
found beneficial many times when the
Hot Flash was not enough. If the nat-
ural approaches aren’t enough to treat
your symptoms, and especially if you
WOMEN’S
have a low bone density, strongly con- H O L I S T I C
sider natural hormonal therapy (a dis-
cussion with your natural Doctor). HEALTHCARE
Finally, if you have still not responded At A Natural Balance, we understand women’s needs. Most of our health
to these approaches, it is time to con-
professionals are women and we work together as a team. We take the
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time to listen to our clients, respectfully. We educate and advise, but ulti-
I tremendously respect the discom- mately you choose the kind of holistic treatment you want. Come meet our
fort that some women experience dur- friendly staff. We’d like to get to know you.
ing menopause. But just like with any
other health condition, the key comes
OUR PROFESSIONAL STAFF
in actually listening to the symptoms
and listening for the answers that are
Gary E. Foresman, MD, Cofounder David M. Marquis, DC, DACBN, Cofounder
always there. Chiropractic / Board-Certified Nutrition
Internal / Integrative Medicine
In Good Health,
Gary E. Foresman, MD
Jenny Dull, LAc Cathy Giumini, MS, PT Debbie Kaminski, RN, CPT Cynthia Caldeira
Acupuncture & Physical Therapy & Nurse Manager Certified
Chinese Medicine Rehabilitation Health & Lifestyle Coach Hypnotherapist
Christelle Martinet, CMT Sherri Sorro, CMT Mara Stevens Corin Brock
Massage Therapist Massage Therapist Cranio-Sacral Therapy Skin Care &
Physical Therapy Aide Compassionate Communication Aromatherapy Facial Rejuvenation

become a “Wise Woman.” Honor
your symptoms, enter them, face
them, but don’t run from them. Our
society teaches us to run from discom-
fort. I am asking you to listen to it.
Journal, spend time in nature, vaca-
tion, and listen.
Gary Foresman, MD, Integrative/ OTHER SERVICES: Intravenous Vitamin Therapy • Health & Fitness Lab Testing • Nutritional Analysis
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy • Health Classes & Support Groups • Retail Store with Physician-Selected Vita-
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Natural Balance Integrative Wellness
iss this THE TRUTH ABOUT HORMONES
Gary E. Foresman, MD
Center in Arroyo Grande. He may be
Don’t Mecture! Tuesday, Sep 19, 2006 • 7 pm - 9 pm
Debbie Kaminski, RN
Mara Stevens
contacted by phone at 805-481-3442, or
Great L
Community Room, Public Library • 995 Palm St. • San Luis Obispo
by e-mail at info@anaturalbalance.com
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BookReview
By Charlene Huggins

founder of MoveOn.org) and Kris- leave, which is funded through a state

The Motherhood
Manifesto: A Mother’s
Call to Arms
The “Mommy Wars,” a battle largely
being fought by and within the
media, pits working mothers against
stay-at-home moms. The controversy
is rooted in the question: When rais-
ing children, is it better to stay home
or work? This question only pertains
to a small percentage of families who
possess the means and have the lux-
ury of time to argue; otherwise, the
debate is pointless. The reality of the
U.S economic structure demands that
its citizens work—that includes three-
quarters of its women. Only a fraction
of women enjoy the luxury of choice
when deciding between working or
staying home to care for children. The
media’s focus on the “Mommy Wars”
deflects and dilutes the real economic
and social problems women and fami-
lies experience in their everyday lives.
Co-authors, Joan Blades (co-
tin Rowe-Finkbeiner, outline in The
Motherhood Manifesto issues requir-
ing a political movement to initiate
change and to overcome the many
challenges families struggle with daily.
The areas in which women and their
families need help are easy to iden-
tify: maternity/paternity leave, flexible
work schedules, after-school programs,
healthcare for all children, and realis-
tic fair wages. These authors ask the
question: If these issues affect so many
children’s lives, why is public policy
failing to support the American family
and why do we still adhere to the tra-
ditional 9-5 corporate structures?
The author’s impetus is change,
and each chapter gives a plan of action
for each issue addressed. The reader is
given an intimate look at a woman’s
private life and then offered solutions,
which require better national poli-
cies and more incentives for corpora-
tions to create programs that enhance
family life rather than impede it. For
example, California is the only state
that offers six weeks of paid family
disability insurance fund. With this
piece of legislation, a woman who has
just had a baby can take short-term
disability leave and care for her new-
born for up to six weeks without the
threat of losing her job or experienc-
ing a huge financial loss. If this law
did not exist, she’d have to go back to
work immediately. This is a powerful
example of the interconnectedness of
women’s lives and public policy. These
authors wish to change the status quo
of our society, asking for nothing less
than a revolution. They wish to “sum-
mon all Americans-mothers, and all
who have mothers- to start a revolu-
tion to make motherhood compat-
ible with life, liberty, and the pursuit
of happiness.” I think it’s time we all
join the fight.
12 Body&Soul Women’s Press September & October 2006 | editors@womenspress-slo.org

SpiritualityMatters
Consider Writing an Ethical Will
By Heather Mendel
We are all familiar with the con-
cept of creating a will before we die
that directs the dividing of our mate-
rial wealth. Is an ethical will perhaps
more important?
We do not have to wait until death
approaches, for who knows when that
day will come? An ethical will can be
written at any time and is a great way
to review our values and to see where
our lives, physical and spiritual, mesh.
To prepare such a will, we need
to take a hard look at our beliefs and
what it is that we would like our chil-
dren, or those we leave behind, to
remember about us. Thinking back
to our own loved ones who have
passed through the portal to the Great
Unknown, we know that the color or
style of hair, their height and weight
is not what we remember. It is the
expressions, both on their faces as well
as those articulated from their lips that
leave lasting impressions.
Things most meaningful will inev-
itably come from the deep pool of
spiritual truth from which we all draw.
The containers of that precious liquid
may appear different as each one will
be formed by the religious traditions
that have impacted our lives. If we
were able to examine the contents of
the containers, it is almost certain we
would find that common to all is how
we are able to give and receive loving-
kindness. Is this not the wellspring of
all the good and positively creative
actions we can perform?
As the Jewish New Year
approaches, it is a time for all Jews to
examine their lives and the decisions
taken for this past twelve months—
may I be so bold as to suggest it is a
worthwhile exercise for us all. As we
consider where we have fallen short
this year, we can consciously decide
to behave more ethically in the com-
ing year. What are the factors we can
consider?
How do we treat ourselves, our
immediate circle, and the world at
large— as an international family as
well as the planet itself? It may seem
odd to start with self. For many this
seems selfish. On the contrary—where
else to begin? In the words of sage
Hillel: “If I am not for myself, who
will be for me, if I am only for myself,
what am I? And if not now, when?”
I need to start with myself. If I don’t
care for myself, who will? If my inter-
ests remain only for myself, then I am
selfish. And what better time is there
to start, than right now.
On consideration of our goals,
aspirations, and the motivating causes
for the actions we take, once we are
aware of the role of loving-kindness in
our lives, we may be able to see what
others will remember about us when
we are no more. How do we spend
time caring for ourselves— read-
ing, walking in nature, nurturing our
souls? How available are we when oth-
ers need us? Do we have one cause
into which we are willing to put time
and effort to make the world a better
place?
These three questions may be a
launching pad to the writing of an
ethical will. It is a valuable exercise. I
invite readers to share their thoughts
to stimulate ideas in us all. What few
words would we live to see on our
tombstone? Again, this is not meant
to be a morbid fascination with death.
On the contrary, if were to boil down
everything that is extraneous, what,
in a few words, would sum up our
life’s’ journey. For myself “What if ”
has been the thrust of my life. I look
for alternatives, potentials and possi-
bilities— other ways of understand-
ing ourselves and our world, ways that
may not be obvious, but may be bet-
ter.
After a period of introspection,
devise your own axiom for your life
story and we would welcome your
sharing it with us.
Heather Mendel has focalized women’s
spirituality groups for the past 15 years.
She can be contacted through her web-
site at www.wordartist.com, e-mailed at
heathermendel@charter.net or called at
544-4933.
Women and Our Worth
By Laura Hyde
Understanding and knowing where
our energy flows is essential to our
physical and emotional health and
well being. Since everything is pure
energy, focusing our attention, or
obsessing about something or some-
one, disturbs the balance in our energy
fields, which can lead to physical ill-
ness. For example, if we are directing
our thoughts toward someone about
something that has happened in the
past, we are “leaking” our precious life
force energy—ki, chi, prana, or qi—in
a negative manner which depletes our
energy on a cellular level. Becoming
aware of our thoughts and where we
are leaking energy can help us under-
stand the healing process.
Most of us are aware that we have
seven energy centers in our bod-
ies known as chakras. Our emotions
affect our bodies and our chakras.
Because the individual and collective
programming of most women involve
the creed, “Please others,” many of us
suffer from low self-esteem. At an early
age, our validation has often stemmed
from our capacity to take care of
others and to seek others’ approval.
Therefore, as we evolve and awaken
to the creativity within, our families
may unconsciously withhold support,
from fear that they may lose our loy-
alty to the family “tribe.” This type of
tribal thinking can cause us to limit
ourselves, to hold ourselves back from
accomplishing what is in our hearts.
The third chakra is associated with
the center of Self-Esteem and Personal
Power. For women, this area involves
our connection with ourselves and
others, our ability to balance indepen-
dence with dependence (interdepen-
dence), and our capacity to achieve
our goals and dreams. When we’re
not balanced in this area, we may feel
inferior, incompetent, overly respon-
sible, territorial, and/or relinquish our
inner power to others (sound famil-
iar?). The physical areas affected by
this chakra include the spleen, kidney,
pancreas, gall bladder, liver, abdomen,
upper intestines, stomach and lower
esophagus. Our emotions directly
affect these areas, so when we’re not
validating, appreciating, or trusting
ourselves, physical ailments can occur
such as heartburn, ulcers, gastric upset,
irritable bowel syndrome, diabetes,
anorexia and bulimia, indigestion, and
substance abuse.
So, how do we value ourselves in a
culture where our worth appears to be
based on putting others first?
First, we must become aware of
how we’re leaking our energy. Taking
some time to contemplate the follow-
ing probes will help you strengthen
the relationship with yourself:
• How am I spending the major-
ity of my day? Who do I think
about the most? Where do I put
my energy/effort/focus, and why?
• Whose approval do I seek? Whose
opinion matters to me the most,
and why?
• How much time do I take to
appreciate how far I’ve come,
how much growth I have experi-
enced?
• Do I feel competent in taking
care of myself? If not, what do I
need to work on to increase my
sense of adequacy?
• What parts of my life are work-
ing, and which parts need to
change?
Taking time to reflect on the
above probes will assist you in making
changes that are helpful emotionally,
intellectually, physically, and spiritu-
ally. Remember that you are a wise and
powerful and woman who deserves to
have a balanced and meaningful life.
Laura Hyde is the Spiritual Leader of
the Unity Church – Five Cities and a
facilitator of A Course in Miracles. She
hosts “Relationship Wisdom” on Public
Television. Please visit her at www.lau-
rahyde.com.

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September & October 2006 | www.womenspress-slo.org | Women’s Press
Events
The Truth About Hormones
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
7 pm - 9 pm
Community Room, Public Library
995 Palm St. • San Luis Obispo
A Lecture by Gary E. Foresman, MD,
Internal / Integrative Medicine,
Cofounder of A Natural Balance
Intergrative Wellness Center
With Debbie Kaminski, RN, CPT
and Mara Stevens, Essential Oils and
Aromatherapy Specialist
This exhaustively researched and
balanced presentation exposes the
myths, misunderstandings and out-
right lies about the complex issue of
hormonal health and prepares women
to make well-informed choices at any
stage of life, but especially meno-
pause. The often-confusing personal
choices regarding Hormone Replace-
ment Therapy are carefully consid-
ered. Debbie Kaminski, RN, CPT
and Mara Stevens contribute invalu-
able palliative advice for any woman
experiencing the symptoms of meno-
pause.
The spiritual training course “Liv-
ing the Eternal Way” will be held for
12 weeks starting Thursday, Sept 7
through Dec.7, from 7:00pm –9:00
pm at the Awakening Sanctuary, 1130
Napa Avenue, Morro Bay. What do
we seek? This course provides the spir-
itual tools for turning our lives around
in the direction of true fulfillment and
demonstrating how to prosper from
the soul level in every area of our life.
Call 772-0306 or go to Awakeningin-
terfaith.org for information and pre-
registration. Course offered on a
free- will donation basis.
“The Voices of Truth”
Speaker Series
Sunday Sept 17th, 10am
Tony Criscuolo on “Yoga and the
Spiritual Life”
Sunday, Oct 15th, 10 am
Dr. Nisha AbdulCader, “At the
Crossroads: Islamic Perspectives on
Interfaith Dialogue “
Rev. Nancy Ballinger will be speak-
ing on all other Sundays at 10am at
Awakening Interfaith Spiritual Com-
munity 1130 Napa Ave. Morro Bay.
Call 772-0306 or go to Awakeningin-
terfaith.org for information.
ECOSLO Hikes
September 23:
Reservoir Canyon Hike
Ends at 9am. Bring sunscreen and
water for this moderate hike. For
more info, visit www.ecoslo.org, or
call 544-1777 or 781-7211.  Fortis Health*, I’m offering flexible
September 30th:
SLO County’s Creek Day from 9am
to Noon
Just like Coastal Cleanup Day,
there are a list of sites at which to par-
ticipate.  Go to www.creekday.org for
information.
October 10th:
Save the Date - Smart Energy Solu-
tions Summit
This is an unprecedented regional
community summit. From 8:30a to
4:30pm at the SLO Veteran’s Hall.  Milwaukee, Wisconsin. No member
One day, eight panels, and everything
you need to know to get to a clean
energy future. $15 including lunch,
or $20 at the door.  You will be able
to make reservations soon at www.
SLOenergysummit.org.  Call Andrew
of the Sierra Club at 543-8717 with
any questions.
“From Vision to Venture” Self
Employment Training Courses 
Over two hundred individu-
als have completed the “From Vision
to Venture” course since 2003 in San
Luis Obispo County.  Graduates have
opened or expanded businesses such
as apparel and food manufacturers,
distributors, medical services, beauty
shops, retail operations, restaurants,
childcare and many other types of
small businesses in and around the
county.   The Arroyo Grande Chamber of
While open to all people, MCSC’s
“From Vision to Venture” courses
especially inspire, encourage and
address the particular needs of women
and minority-owned enterprises.   In
addition to two English courses, two
of the 14-week “From Vision to Ven-
ture” courses will be offered in Span-
ish.    Classes start in Sept. in Paso
Robles, Atascadero, San Luis Obispo,
and in Guadalupe or Nipomo.    Indi-
viduals interested in learning more
about these self-employment training
opportunities may call 805 595-1357 to
register for a free informational meet-
ing.   
Sycamore Mineral Springs
Resort Offers Free Wellness
Classes September 24
The Resort will be offering the
community a day of free wellness
classes on Sunday, September 24,
entitled “Staying Healthy with the
Season of Autumn” from 12:00 to
4:00 pm at the resort’s Healing Arts
Institute. Events will include Chi Ball,
Color Therapy for Autumn, Heal-
ing Waters, and Astrology for Fall.
For more information and a complete
schedule of regular weekly classes, go
to www.smsr.com or call Sycamore
Mineral Springs Resort at (805) 595-
7302.
Free Housing Education Fair
Coming to SLO
Saturday, September 16
11 am to 3 pm Vets’ Hall at 801
Grand Ave.
Get information about buying,
renting, designing and insuring an
affordable home in San Luis Obispo
County.
Forty different booths, panel dis-
cussions. For more information about,
please go to www.slowhc.org or con-
tact Marguerite Bader at 595-7276 or
bafo@earthlink.net.
ng for
ok i
Lo
Call for details on coverage, costs,
restrictions and renewability.
*Coverages issued and underwritten
by Fortis Insurance Company,
a Fortis Health member company,
of the State Farm family of
companies is
financially
responsible for the
Individual Medical
Coverage product.
Fortis Insurance
Company is not an
affiliate of
State Farm.
P01421 11/02
CommunityBulletinBoard 13
Arroyo Grande Chamber
Champions: A Strong Local
Economy at Senior Showcase
Wednesday, October 4, 2006, 10
a.m. to 2 p.m.
South County Regional Center,
800 West Branch Street in Arroyo
Grande, Free-of-charge
Commerce and Arroyo Grande Com-
munity Hospital announce the Third
Annual Senior Showcase. The focus of
the showcase is to encourage seniors,
recent retirees, and Baby Boomers to
be proactive in thinking about their
future, and to provide them with ideas
and information on how to meet their
long-term needs.
For additional information contact
the Arroyo Grande Chamber of Com-
merce at 489-1488 or email agcoc@
arroyograndecc.com.
Cuesta College
Writers’Conference XXII
September 15-16, 2006
San Luis Obispo, California
$139, 28 Workshops in all areas of
Writing and Publishing.
Classes are presented by published
authors, publishers and agents. Key-
note Speaker: Earlene Fowler
To register or for more infor-
mation, call (805)546-3132 or log on
www.communityprograms.net/wc/
wcinfo.htm
Free Astrology Workshops
September 13 and 24
SLO Astrologers, a newly formed
association on the Central Coast
whose mission is to provide a vehi-
cle for the study, advancement, and
enjoyment  of astrology, is offering
free mini workshops . 
“Astrology for Men,” Wednesday,
September 13, from 7:30-8:30 pm in
San Luis Obispo.(1204 Nipomo St.)
“Astrology and Your Health,”
Sunday, September 24, from 4-5pm
at Sycamore Springs (Healing Arts
Institute) in Avila Beach.
Workshops will be done by Mar-
garet Hennessy and Curtis Williams.
Call or e-mail to reserve a space: 805-
546-3420 or sloastro@yahoo.com
Then look to your good neighbor
State Farm® agent. Through an
unbeatable alliance with
and affordable insurance coverage.
If that’s what
you’re looking
for, come see
me today:
Susan Rodriguez, Agent
Lic.# 0D30697
1317 Broad Street Suite A
San Luis Obispo, CA
805-783-7050
Like a good neighbor,
State Farm is there.®
statefarm.com®
State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company
Home Office: Bloomington, Illinois
14 CommunityBulletinBoard
Volunteer Opportunities
Hotline Needs Phone Staffers
We need volunteers to help staff
the 24-hour information & referral/
support / crisis line. Volunteers will
receive extensive training in active lis-
tening, resource, and crisis skills. The
only qualifications needed are to be
18 years of age or over, have a desire
to help people in our community and
be a good listener. The next training
program startS October 3rd. Contact
Mike Bossenberry @ 544-6016, ext. 13,
or mike@slohotline.org
Women’s Shelter of SLO
Needs Mentors
Do you want to mentor a child
in need? Do you want to give back to
the community? The Women’s Shelter
Program of SLO County is recruiting
for the mentor program. CHAT men-
tors attend a 40-hour training and
then are matched with a child from
our program. The mentor has visits
with the child and does advocacy in
the community and the school sys-
tem for the child. The Women’s Shel-
ter Program is also recruiting Crisis
volunteers for the crisis line. If you
are interested in either of these oppor-
tunities, please contact Beth Raub at
781-6401 x202.
United Way Has a Wish List
United Way of SLO has a wish list
from its member agencies. You can
help a SLO County nonprofit agency
(or maybe more than one!) by taking
a moment to read through the “wish
list” of items and volunteers needed,
as well as employment opportunities
and special events.
If you can help by donating an
item or by volunteering, or want more
information about a job posting or
a special event, please contact the
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 Saturday, September 16th, 2006
JOOFSHVJEF!TCDHMPCBMOFU 9 am – 12 pm
The California Coastal Com-
mission is proud to announce that
the 22nd Annual California Coastal
Cleanup Day will take place at over
700 locations around the state. Volun-
teers will clean trash and debris from
1,100 miles of the California coast as
well as another 1,000 miles along the
inland shorelines of bays, creeks, riv-
ers, and lakes throughout California.
Locally ECOSLO offers 26 clean-up
sites in SLO County.
Contact Patrick Kirby at
805.544.1777 with any questions, or
visit us on the web at www.ecoslo.org
to see a list of all Beach Site meeting
places, interesting articles, and details
on our Clean-up Celebration at Pismo
Pier from 12:30 pm to 4pm.
Women’s Press September & October 2006 | editors@womenspress-slo.org
Coffee for CASA
Starbucks hosts information meet-
ings for CASA- Court Appointed Spe-
cial Advocates for Children of San
Luis Obispo County
What: Select Starbucks through-
out San Luis Obispo County will
host informational meetings for men
and women over the age of 21 who
are interested in volunteering to help
abused and neglected children in San
Luis Obispo County. CASA is look-
ing for volunteers interested in advo-
cating for the best interests of abused
children, helping to turn a life of hurt
into one of hope. Bi-lingual volun-
teers are also needed. To reserve a
space, contact CASA at (805) 541-6542
ext. 101.
When: First Tuesday of every
month at 6:30 pm starting Septem-
ber 5th at the Marigold Center in San
Luis Obispo.
CASA recruits, trains and super-
vises volunteers who advocate for
abused, neglected and abandoned chil-
dren. There are 150 children in SLO
County who are assigned a CASA vol-
unteer; 500 children are currently in
the court system and are eligible for
the services. For more information,
call 541-6542 or visit www.slocasa.org.
CASA Recruiting New
Volunteers
CASA is looking for men and
women who are committed to doing
what is best for abused and neglected
children in our community.  Volun-
teers visit children regularly and are
thoroughly trained in courtroom pro-
cedure, social services, the juvenile
justice system, and the special needs
of abused and neglected children.  Luis Obispo County donated back-
Volunteers generally work 12-15 hours
each month.    ing Family Empowerment) System of
 Our next orientation will take
place on Wednesday, Sept. 27, at noon
in our office  in the Pacific Coast Cen-
ter, 75 Higuera Street, Suite 180, San
Luis Obispo.  Training for prospec-
tive advocates begins on  October 7,
2006  . Please call the CASA office at
541-6542 or visit www.slocasa.org  for
more information.  ing Moms Support) is a nonprofit
organization created to provide sup-
CMachala@Charter.ne
SLO County to be part of
new NVC network
A new regional NVC (nonviolent
communication) organization is being
formed in Southern California. It is
going to include the counties of San
Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura,
Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego
with the possibility of adding/includ-
ing Riverside and San Bernardino. A
new Yahoo group has also been cre-
ated http://groups.yahoo.com/group/
SoCalNVC to serve this group and we
invite you to join.
Contact: rodgersorrow@verizon.
net, Rodger 805-963-0101, Kathi 805-
682-5618. http://www.communica-
tionfromtheheart.com
SARP Center Volunteer Train-
ing
Become a State Certified Sexual
Assault Crisis Counselor!
Fall Training: October 3rd –
November 16th, Tuesdays and Thurs-
days 5:45 pm – 10:00 pm
For additional information or an
application, please contact:
(805) 545-8888 or volunteer@sarp-
center.org
An Evening with the Artists
November 9, 2006
6:00 pm – 9:00 pm at Edna Valley
Vineyard
Local artists, music, food and
wine, and a silent auction benefiting
the SARP Center
For additional information, please
call (805) 545-8888 or visit www.sarp-
center.org
 
MOMS Club Donates to
Back Pack Project
The MOMS Club of South San
packs to the SAFE (Services Affirm-
Care, a local school-linked program
to keep kids safe, healthy, at home, in
school and out of trouble. Last week
15 backpacks, filled to the brim with
sorts of school supplies, were brought
to the program’s Arroyo Grande loca-
tion.
MOMS Club (AKA Moms offer-
port, encouragement and friendship
to stay-at-home moms.
Further Information contact:
Christine Machala, 805-440-7941
September & October 2006 | www.womenspress-slo.org | Women’s Press Resources 15
ABUSE
Adults Molested as Children Support Group (AMAC) Talk/Listen - Emotional support Parkinson’s Support Groups
545.8888 489.5481 466.7226 (Atascadero/Templeton)
Center for Alternatives to Domestic Violence Transformations Counseling Center 481.7424, 473.1714 (Arroyo Grande)
781.6406 Free monthly workshops 541.7908 544.1342 (SLO)
North County Women’s Shelter & Resource Center, Planned Parenthood
(inc. domestic violence support groups) FINANCE/BUSINESS SLO 549.9446
461.1338 Consumer Credit Counseling Services Stroke Support Group
Rape Survivors Support Group, SLO 800.540.2227 471.8102 (SLO)
545.8888 Mission Community Services Corporation Caregivers of Stroke Survivors
SARP (Sexual Assault Recovery & Prevention) Women’s Business Partners 544.2266 (SLO)
545.8888 595.1356 www.mcscorp.org Women’s Support/Therapy v (general)
Support Group for Sexual Assault Survivors 534.1101
545.8888 GAY & LESBIAN Women’s Healthcare Specialists
Women’s Shelter Program of SLO Gay and Lesbian Alliance of the Central Coast 544.4883
781.6400 www.womensshelterslo.org 541.4252
PFLAG.Parents & Friends of Lesbians & Gays POLITICAL
ADDICTIONS 438.3889 Code Pink
AA Meeting SOL (Single Older Lesbians) ososousaville@aol.com
541.3211 Mostly socializing! Call 474.9405 Commission on Status of Women
Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACA) 545.8412; Dawn Williams
595.2695 HOSPICE Democratic Women United
Cambria Connection (12 step support) AIDS Bereavement Group (Hospice) 541.4252
927.1654 544.2266 League of Women Voters
Casa Solana Hospice of SLO County 543.2220
Women’s Recovery Home 481.8555 544.2266 and 434.1164 NOW (National Organization for Women)
Compulsive eaters Anonymous, H.O.W.Concept Hospice Partners of the Central Coast slonow@kcbx.net
546.1178 782.8608 SLO Green Party
Drug & Alcohol Services http://www.slo.greens.org 544.1580
781.4275 JOBS/CAREERS Younger Women’s Task Force
NA 800.549.7730 AARP 788.2643 www.ywtf.org
Overeaters Anonymous Cal Poly Foundation
541.3164 Jobline 756.7107 READERS/WRITERS
SCA, SLAA & SAA (Sex, Love & Romance Addictions) Cal Poly University Adult Literacy
461.6084 http://calpolyjobs.org 756.1533 541-4219
TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) Cuesta College Nightwriters
929.1789 http://www.cuesta.edu Jobline 546.3127 549.9656; contact Shirley Powell
Women for Sobriety The Creekside Career Center Sisters in Crime
http://www.womenforsobriety.org www.slocareers.org 788.2631 or 788.2690 http://SinC-CCC.blogspot.com
215.536.8026 Department of Rehabilitation
549.3361 SENIORS
CHILDREN & FAMILIES Mission Community Services Corporation Adult Day Care
Childcare Resource Connection Women’s Business Partners 544.1414 (SLO); 748.9070 (Arroyo Grande);
541.2272 or 800.727.2272 595.1356 www.mcscorp.org 434.2081 (Templeton); 927.4290 (Cambria)
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Private Industry Council (PIC) Computerooters:
“A child’s voice in Court in SLO County” www.jobhunt.org 788.2601 Computer help: 528.3892
541.6542 Department of Social Services:
Children’s Services Network LEGAL In-Home Support to the Elderly/Homemakers
781.1847 ACLU Helpline help with ADLs 781.1790
First 5: Children & Families Commission 544.0142 nursing help for the terminally ill 781.5540
781.4058; ask for Susan Hughs Core Mediation Services Equal Singles 60+ Meet Monthly
Homeschooling in SLO County (HSC) 544.6334 medeee8@aol.com 489.5481, dg17@juno.com
462.0726; ask for Barbara District Attorney’s Office – Victim Witness Center Foster Grandparents.Senior Companions
La Clinica De Tolosa 238.5334 781.5821 782.9200
La Leche League Family Law Facilitator Senior Peer Counseling
489.9128 546.3769 free, trained in.home counseling for 60+
Migrant Childcare Program Lawyers Referral Services/Legal Aid Alternative 547.7025 ext. 15
544.4355 and 466.3444 788.2099
MOMS Club of South SLO county Pro Per Divorce Workshop
544.9313
SPIRITUAL (OR NOT)
473. 2548; 440.7941 A Course in Miracles
Partnership for Children Senior Legal Services
Mondays, 7 PM, Unity of SLO, 995.1390
541.8666; ask for Beth 543.5140 Awakening Interfaith Spiritual Community
Real F.A.C.T.S. (Forum on Abused Children)
460.9016 MEDICAL SUPPORT/SERVICES Sunday service, 10–11 AM; 772.0306
Central Coast Jewish Historical Society
Social Services ALS Support Group (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) 543.9452
781.1600 227.4785 Meditation Group
Support for Kids Coping with Domestic Violence Alzheimer’s Support Mondays, 7:30–8:30 PM; 772.0306
473.6507 534.9234 (LO); 547.3830 (SLO); New Beginnings Church
226.8669 (Templeton) Every Sunday, Coalesce Bookstore, MB
EMERGENCY/CRISIS Caregivers of Early-Stage Alzheimer’s
Hotline 547.3830, 534.9234 (SLO/Los Osos)
American Cancer Society
WOMEN’S CENTERS/SHELTERS
www.slohotline.org 800.549.8989 Homeless Shelter
Sexual & Rape Prevention (SARP) Paso Robles 238.9657 781-3993
545.8888 or 800.656.HOPE (4673) Anorexia Nervosa & Bulimia Support Group Housing Authority
Temporary Restraining Order & Victim Witness 541.9113 543.4478
Program 781.5821 Arthritis Foundation North County Women’s Resource Center, Shelter
892.5556 461.1338
EMOTIONAL SUPPORT Cancer/ Breast Cancer Support Groups Prado Day Center
A.D.A.P.T. (Aid in Divorce Adjustment Problems Today) 543.1481 ext. 3 for information 786.0617
543.0388 Caregivers of Aging Parents Women’s Community Center, SLO
Alzheimer/Dementia Resource Center 547.3830 (AG); 927.4290 (Cambria); 544.9313
434.3061 or 534.9234 or 800.443.1236 226.8669 (PR); 547.3830 (SLO) Women’s Shelter Program of SLO
CALL–Concerned Agoraphobics Learning to Live Endometriosis Association 549.8989 (crises), 781.6401 (business)
543.3764 www.endometriosisassn.org www.womensshelterslo.org
Co-Dependents Anonymous (CoDA) Enhancement, Inc.
542.0577 (SLO) 481.5093 (Grover Beach)

(for breast cancer survivors)
771.8640 www.enhancementinc.com
OTHER WOMEN’S ORGANIZATIONS
927.1654 (Cambria) 466.8600 (North County) Altrusa International, Inc.
Community Counseling Center EOC Health Services Clinics 481.1039; Cici Wynn, President
543.7969 no or low cost reproductive health services Hadassah.SLO
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance Group 544.2478 (SLO); 489.4026 (Arroyo Grande) 543.9452
927.3703 Healthworks of the Central Coast Women’s Network, SLO
Eating Disorders Support Group no or low cost reproductive health services 546.3727 www.womenslo.org
546-3774; free, meets weekly in SLO 787.0100 (SLO); 773.4500 (Pismo);
Hospice of SLO County (inc. miscarriage/stillbirth 610.8865 (Atascadero)
Long-term Care Ombudsman Services of SLO County
OTHER GROUPS & GATHERINGS
support) 544.2266 or 434.1164 Central Coast Peace and Environmental Council
Safe and Sober Support Group 785.0132 544.3399 or 783.2383
473.6507 Lymphedema Education & Support Group Compassion & Choices (formerly Hemlock Society)
Senior Peer Counseling 2nd Monday, 4:00-5:00 pm 938.7853 or 458.5328
free, trained in-home counseling for 60+ 782-9300 for info
547.7025, ext. 15 Please send additions, corrections or deletions to:
editors@womenspress-slo.org or leave a message
at the WCC: 805.544.9313. Last update 9/6/06.

BackTalk
When in your life have you felt the most courageous?
Sydney
Telling my children that
their older brother, 28, had
died in an airplane acci-
dent. From some God given
place, I pulled on courage
to embrace the fact, pray
with my children, and get
through the ensuing days.  on my skull. I felt dizzy,
Courage I didn’t know
existed helped me fly out
to the site and spend the
following days with Joe’s
widow and young son.  I
thank God for giving me
the courage to be strong in
what felt like an unbearable
situation.
LONGEVITY
He
1405 Garden Street, San Luis Obispo
805-548-0987
Subscribe to Our Complementary Lecture Series
and Newsletter at www.longevityhealthcare.com
Neomi Vembu
The most courageous I
probably ever felt was the
first day I was alone with
my daughter, Ella. I had
just gotten out of 6 weeks
in the hospital where neuro-
surgeons performed surgery
scared and tired. Every-
day I worked towards get-
ting better. First I walked to
the mailbox and then two
weeks later, I walked two
miles with good friends and
neighbors like Lynda Roeller
and Sue Moore. Two years
later, I ran a 5K.
are Ce
t h c
al n Hospital; Santa Margarita– Santa Margarita Mercantile
Integrated Medicine
Specializing in
Healthy Aging,
Chronic Disease,
Allergies and
Nutritional Therapies
Reversing the Underlying
Cause of Disease,
Not Just Symptom
Management
Peter J. Muran, MD
Board Certified
in Holistic Medicine
Lisa Hersch
I would have to say it was leav-
ing my career, friends, and family
behind in Los Angeles – all that
was familiar, comfortable, and
safe – to get a college degree ( at
34 years old) and a new start on
the Central Coast where I didn¹t
know a soul. I had a successful
career as a copywriter in advertis-
ing in Los Angeles, as well as my
own small public relations and
marketing firm, and going back
to school (where I had never been
a stellar student) was really quite
a big step for me.
te
r
Medicinal Herbs: Healing With Heart
Saturday, September 23rd, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
$105 includes lunch, snack and materials ($95 for reser-
vations received by September 17th and checks received by
September 20th). Overnight accommodations are available.
Create and bring home medicinal teas, tinctures, and
salves. With Shawna Timmerman, a Nationally Certified Arroyo Grande Retreat Center
Massage Therapist with a diploma in Herbal Medicine.
Plant nine herbs in your own eighteen inch “strawberry” pot. With Tara Storke, a
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Certified Hypnotherapist, who helps clients
find peace and spiritual healing in her gardens.
To register, call or e-mail Tara at 455-8342, tara@oakhavengardens.com
Yoga Retreat: Two Yoga Sessions and Meditation; Optional Massage
Saturday, September 30th, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
$95 including lunch and snack. Register by Sept. 15th with $30 non-refundable deposit.
½ hour optional massage with Shawna, $35.
Each class is a full body, balanced experience focusing on strength building, flexibility,
balance, toning, stretching, energy work, and is synchronized with the season, the weather
and time of day, taking into account Ayurvedic principles. For beginners and experienced
practitioners alike.
Call Val Petrova, owner of Holistic Movement Center in Morro Bay, (805) 909-1401
or go to www.holisticmovementcenter.com for detailed information and to register.
Self-Hypnosis: Empowerment through Utilization of the Subconscious
Mind
Saturday, October 28th, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
$90 includes lunch and snack ($80 for reservations received by October 22nd and
checks received by October 25th). Overnight accommodations are available.
Learn how to quickly and easily enter a hypnotic state and achieve positive results
with many problems, concerns or addictions, including excess weight or eating issues,
smoking, substance abuse, pain management, stress and fatigue, anxiety, guilt, anger and
depression.
Tara Storke, M.S., is a certified hypnotherapist, assisting many clients through hypno-
sis in her psychotherapy practice.
To register, call or e-mail Tara at 455-8342, tara@oakhavengardens.com
Where to find Women’s Press
All SLO County Libraries and the following exceptionally fine establishments!
• NORTH COUNTY: Atascadero – The Coffee House and Deli, Starbuck’s at
Von’s Plaza, Carlene’s Café, Player’s Pizza, Harvest Health Food Store, North
County Connection, Senior Center, Women’s Resource Center/Shelter Office; Paso
Robles – Café Vio, Chelsea Bookshop/Café Novella, Old Mission Coffee House,
Wilmot Market, DK Donuts, Panolivo French Cafe, Community Thrift Shop,
Paso Robles Health Foods; Templeton –  Magic Windows Coffee Café, Twin Cities
• NORTHERN COAST: Baywood – Coffee & Things; Cambria – Cambria Con-
nection, Gym One, La Crema, 7 Sisters, Azevedo Chiropractic; Cayucos – Cayucos
Super Market, Kelley’s Espresso & Dessert, Lily’s Coffee House, Ocean Front
Pizza; Los Osos – Starbuck’s, Baywood Laundry, Cad’s, Carlock’s Bakery, Cham-
ber of Commerce, Copa de Oro, Garden Café, Los Osos Deli, Valley Liquor,
Volumes of Pleasure; Morro Bay – Backstage Salon, Coalesce Bookstore, Coffee
Pot Restaurant, The Rock, Southern Port Traders, Sunshine Health Foods, Two
Dogs Coffee
• SAN LUIS OBISPO: Art Café, Booboo Records, Creekside Center, GALA,
Jaffa Café, Marigold Nails, Palm Theatre, Susan Polk Insurance, Susan Rodriquez
Insurance, Utopia Bakery, Unity Church, Zoe Wells, Naturopath, Cal Poly
Library, Center for Alternatives to Violence, Chamber of Commerce, Cuesta Col-
lege 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, Phoenix Books, Planned Parenthood,
Rudolph’s Coffee & Tea, San Luis Obispo Housing Authority Office, SARP, The
Secret Garden, Sierra Vista Hospital, SLO Perk Coffee, Spirit Winds Therapy, The
Studio Fitness for Women, Two Dogs Coffee, Uptown Cafe, Yoga Centre, Ahshe
Hair Salon, Apropos Clothing, Soho Hair Salon, Tom-Mel Beauty Center
• SOUTH COUNTY: Arroyo Grande – Natural Balance, Mongo’s, World Gym,
Act II Boutique, Andreini’s, Central Coast Yoga, CJ’s Restaurant, Country Kitch-
en, Curves-AG, Cutting Edge, EOC Health Services Clinic, Family Chiropractic,
Girls Restaurant, Grande Whole Foods, Hunter’s Landing, Kennedy Club Fitness;
Avila Beach– Custom House, Sycamore Hot Springs; Grover Beach – World
Gym, Back Door Deli, Cindi’s Wash House, Nan’s Pre-owned Books, Therapeutic
Body Center, 20-minute Fitness; Halcyon – Halcyon Store; Nipomo – Center for
Holistic Healing, World Gym, California Fresh; Pismo Beach – HealthWorks,
Honeymoon Café, Pismo Athletic Club; Shell Beach – De Palo & Sons Deli,
Seaside Cafe, Steaming Bean
• SANTA MARIA: Café Monet, Hunter’s Landing, Library, Loading Dock, Mar-
ian Medical Center