Newsletter

September 2, 2005

Dear Friends,

First off I would love to thank everyone for being so kind and patient as I am learning the ropes and the ins and outs. Janet has been a great mentor and teacher who is very patient! There is a lot of activity! People are starting to gear up for their October events for Domestic Violence Awareness Month and some even for April events! I love hearing about all the exhibits that are happening. Please let me know what you are doing in your state for the month of October so I can publish it and people in your area can go! The new events and locations are in:

Julie Pinchues in UT for the Hill AF Base

Crystal L. Chrisman-Jones in Fayette County , Ohio for My Sister's House Domestic Violence Program

Diane Britton in Los Angeles , CA for the Shelter's Right Hand

Veda McGregor in Sanger , TX for SOS

Capt Paul Candelaria and Maureen Darcy for the Cannon Air Force Base in NM

Sharon Popp in Detroit , MI for the Wayne State University School of Medicine

Kathy Ferguson in Prince George 's County MD for the County DV Coordinating Council

Glenda Dean in Fort Garry Manitoba for the Women's Resource Centre in Manitoba

Joanne Patterson in Waltham , MA for REACH

Amanda Maxwell in Ruston , LA for DART

Jennifer Hart in Chicago , IL for the Chicago Hearing Society

Gwyn Roland in Chicago , IL for the City of Chicago Domestic Violence Help Line

Diane Mayfield in McComb , IL

Debra Nash Bierney in Valdosta , GA

Rich Rolfes in Tampa , FL for the Hillsborough County Domestic Violence Task Force

Marley Smith in Tucson , AZ for the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base

It has been great helping everyone out and let me remind you that if you need anything my email address is cassie.pritchard@okstate.edu and my phone number is (405)744-1113.

Take Care, Cassie Pritchard
What's Up with Sheila's Shawls?

October will be Domestic Violence Awareness month in the United States . Let's knit Sheila's Shawls and Paul's Scarves!

Activities: State Coordinator Danielle Byron in Lombard , IL plans to sit and knit next to a Sheila's Shawls information table at an upcoming conference in Chicago on September 10 th and Volunteer Knitter Miriam Duguid hopes to bring her shawl-work too ;-)

Gifts/Donations: Nancy Schultz donated six large bags full of acrylic yarn for Sheila's Shawls to Janet Hagberg in Minnesota .

New Volunteer Knitters: Sophie Charles from Lille , France sent a shawl she knit to one of our new State Coordinators in the USA ! Here's a picture of the shawl: (not sure who's in the photograph…)

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New State Coordinators: Susan Rosebrough in Radford , VA ~ and ~ Kim Foster in Chatsworth , CA . Thank you! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Stories to Share:

I just received a Shawl from FRANCE !!! It was such a cool surprise! The only thing I can figure is that the donor found me on the Silent Witness website. Also, so far I have received 42 shawls and 4 scarves from donors (since February). I love this project! ~ AND ~ Here's a heartwarmer ... There is a local woman here who is currently in DV (still living with her abuser) and so far she has donated ~18~ shawls to offer comfort and healing to other women who have been abused. I love this project. ~ Susan Rosebrough

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Hey everyone,
Like Susan and Janet said I met Janet Hagberg, a grassroots member of Silent witness and Shelia's shawls / Paul's scarves. Paul Wellstone was the MN Senator before the Plane crash and He and his wife were very active in Silent Witness and ending domestic violence. Anyway~ several years ago I became aware of the Shelia's shawls program and I knit up several shawls and sent them off to Janet. I received my thank you note from Janet and then really didn't think much more about it. Other things to do, you know. Well. Now at least 3 years later, I volunteered to be a state rep for Shelia's shawls and Paul's scarves. I picked up the yarn and shawls/ scarves from Janet and several other pieces of material to enable me to do my job effectively. I got home and started sorting things into more permanent locations. I got to the bottom of the shawl box and there was a little card with the name Renee Falkum-Youngberg / Mike Youngberg on it, with a safety pin attached. It was not pinned to anything nor was it there for any apparent reason. I called Janet to ask her a couple questions. She shared with me that she wrote the name of the shawl knitter on a card and attached it with a safety pin to the shawls as they came in. I believe they were removed before the shawl was given to the recipient. The divine intervention moment is that the name on the card is my full name and my husband's name. The only card that got saved other than shawls that are to be distributed yet is the one with my name on it. It is as if I was meant to do this job and the card was just waiting for me after I knit the shawls for the program so many years before. What an awesome world we live in. I thought I would share this with you. ~ Renee Youngberg in MN

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Dear Renee Youngberg,
Thank you for inquiring about receiving some quilts for children. I may have some surprising news but Ron, Jacob, and Harlee's aunt Sherry has already put a request in and I will be sending the quilts asap. I have all the information from Sherry that I need which I received today. I also just received 3 quilts so I will be able to fill this request. Thank you so much for asking. It is so great to know so many people love and care about these children. If you have any other requests [for quilts] just feel free to e-mail me quiltsforkids@hotmail.com with the child(ren's) name(s), age(s), gender, and a mailing address I can send the quilts to. Thanks again and I hope to hear from you soon!!!
Sincerely, Augusta (age 12)

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Susan, I thank you for thinking of us here in Tulsa as we move forward with our FACES organization that will bring education and awareness to communities about the impact of violence on people, families and home, workplaces, and communities. What is the process for requesting shawls for Carrie's parents? Again, thank you. I've known about Silent Witness for a long time and read the newsletter but it had not yet occurred to me to contact you. Sherry Clark RSVP and FACES, Tulsa , OK

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Gratitude:

Thanks to Nancy Schultz in Minnesota for her generous donation of yarn, which goes to many of our Volunteer Knitters.

Thanks to Augusta for her wonderful work making quilts available to children of families involved in Domestic Violence.

Thanks to those who hold hopes of comfort for all and help with this project by creating, collecting, distributing, gifting and receiving Sheila's Shawls and Paul's Scarves.

Please contact me – or any of the State Coordinators -- if you know of any folks who could benefit from shawls, scarves, or quilts (well, let Augusta know about the quilts, okay?). Also, let us know if you'd like to volunteer to knit (or crochet), become a State Coordinator in your local area – or even if you have some loose change or coffee money you'd like to send along to help us cover the increasing costs of packing and postage. Thank you kindly ;-) May there be domestic peace in every home.

Susan Bourne, National Coordinator

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SheilasShawls

NEWS FROM THE STATES:

Illinois :

As I said in my introduction Jennifer Hart is a DV Counselor/Advocate for the DV Program at Chicago Hearing Society. She provides services to victims/survivors of DV who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. She is setting up an exhibit and would love any stories that people have of women who were deaf or hard of hearing. If you can help her out her email address is JHart@anixter.org .

New York :

Julie S. McKown from Rochester , NY wrote-

I am part of a robust team of volunteers working now to produce a concert here
on 9/23/05 . It's called "Shatter The Silence 2005." Our web site is www.ShatterTheSilence2005.com We are looking for individuals and
organizations who can list us on their web site, or help us to promote this
event through their email lists, etc.

If anyone can help her email address is jsmckown@rochester.rr.com

South Carolina :

I received an email from Joyce Wagner who provides a wonderful service that I would love to share with everyone! Below are excerpts from the email:

Hi Cassie,

Thank you so much for sending your newsletter. Over a year ago I had spoken a couple of times with Janet in Missouri and had expressed an interest of becoming involved with the Silent Witness Program. I sang for two Silent Witness Events here in SC but would like to expand and do more.

I am a gospel singer/speaker and a strong advocate for issues around domestic and sexual violence as well as substance abuse. One of my main concerns is bringing more awareness to these issues and how they affect children in the home. Being a child witness myself I know what it can do to a person.

I go to shelters here in SC through Sistercare and sing and speak to the women and children there and I am preparing to take a training course with the sexual trauma organization of the midlands.

If I can ever be of assistance to you or to any event involving these issues, please do not hesitate to call or email me. joyce@joycewagster.com - 803-926-0945 or cell - 803-463-8360.

I am working on raising funds for my ministry so if my services can be used in any way and there is no budget to bring me there, I can have the funds to come.

I have many uplifting and positive message songs and have one in particular that I hope to re-record and release to radio by January 2006! I sang for a "speak out" of about 75 women who had survived DV and shared their testimonies and I closed with this song and everyone was singing it and holding hands and it blessed my heart so.

I have such a desire to help in any way I can. I grew up not knowing what a "safe" home was and hopefully with the doors God is opening I can help someone else realize the importance of helping others dealing with these burdens.

My website is under construction but you can go there and look to the right and click on links to get in. Also, if you like, go to my EPK (also listed on the right side) and you can read and hear more about the ministry and what I do. www.joycewagster.com

I do not have closed doors on this ministry. I go into secular and christian organizations and events and I just want to help.

Thanks so much Cassie...and have a great day.

With "Joy" Unspeakable!
Joyce Wagster
Gospel Singer/Speaker www.joycewagster.com

8 03-926-0945
Joyce has been nominated for "Female Vocalist of the Year" through the Inspirational Christian Country Music Association

Texas :

Below is what Veda MacGregor sent me about the fundraiser her group, www.sosinc.org, is doing in SANGER , TX :

We are having a fundraiser the 15th of October at our local Woman's Club (built in 1928). It's the perfect location for our "You Call This Love?" art exhibit which includes Silent Witnesses. We have over 30 art pieces and our state agency, TCFV in Austin is loaning us theirs. Each Witness will stand proudly next to art depicting their story. They will spend the evening among the historical beauty (Victorian decor) that befits their Dignity & Class. We'll be making our own set after that . We're laminating 200 of the little paper doll size cutouts. During a half hour presentation, a volunteer will sit at a table with a tri-fold board striped with Velcro. We'll have a clock so that every 9 seconds they'll place a figure on the board so that at the end of the 30 minute presentation, the group will have a good visual on the 200 women who were beaten during that time.

NATIONAL NEWS:

New statistics on pregnant women:

A 2004 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that homicides were second only to car accidents (31 percent versus 44 percent) as the cause of trauma deaths in pregnant women and new mothers. The study's authors found 617 such homicides in 30 states between 1991 and 1999. The actual number is thought to be much higher, since some states do not trackhomicides of pregnant women. (ed. italics added for emphasis)

Shortcut to:

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=15078700&BRD=2212&PAG=461&dept_id=465812&rfi=6

CELL PHONE DRIVE :

The Body Shop National Cell Phone Collection gives new life to used wireless phones while supporting the fight to stop family violence. Donated phones will be sold, refurbished, or recycled, with proceeds benefiting the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) and the Wireless Foundation.

Additionally, nearly 1,500 wireless phones will be donated to The Body Shop domestic violence shelter partners. These wireless phones are distributed to victims of domestic violence within our communities.

Wireless phones can be dropped off at any of The Body Shop stores through August 31, 2005 or start your own collection with the Collection Kit below.

Collection Kit: (downloadable PDF files)

From the CAEPV e-updates:

CAEPV Member The Spokane County Domestic Violence Consortium is in the process of finalizing a new report on research findings on intimate partner violence in the workplace. They are very excited about this new update as it has now constitutes the largest study of its kind on intimate partner violence in the workplace. Credit for the research goes to Christopher Blodgett, Ph.D., Washington State University .

Findings are based on baseline surveys with employees and 5-month follow-up results. It includes 32 companies, 1,390 baseline employee interviews, and 373 six-month employee surveys from 17 companies. (Note: Employees volunteer to take surveys and companies choose to participate in the Consortium’s free domestic violence in the workplace training program, thus this is different than a completely random survey.) A general overview of their initial findings includes the following:

· 21% of employed men and 52% of employed women report having been an IPV victim at sometime in their lives

· 3% of employed men and 8% of employed women have experienced IPV victimization in the past 12 months

· Employee victimization experience differs substantially across different types of organizations

· In nearly 20% of IPV workplace incidents, victims report that their co-workers and/or supervisors were directly threatened or harassed as part of the IPV

· 3% of employed men and 23% of employed women report some work performance impact as a consequence of IPV at least once in their lives

· 51% of employed female IPV victims and 35% of employed male IPV victims report some level of IPV work disruption

· More than 60% of employees have personally known of an IPV incident involving a co-worker at some time in their careers

· 19% of employed men and 32% of employed women report that the IPV victimization of a co-worker has directly affected them at some time

· 1 in 10 employees report that their workload burden increased as a consequence of their co-worker's IPV victimization

· One in five employees report that they have known a co-worker who perpetrated IPV on work time. In the past 12 months, 3% of men and 5% of women knew of a co-worker who was an IPV perpetrator while at work

· 7% of employed men and 18% of employed women have been stalked by a current or ormer intimate partner

· 3% of men and 8% of women said the stalking occurred at their place of employment

You can request a copy of the full report from Jennifer Pearson Stapleton at jstapleton@domesticviolence.net.

From the CAEPV e-updates:

Are you talkin' yet? We are definitely talking around here -- and we are very excited about this year's It's Time to Talk Day -- taking place on Tuesday, October 11, 2005 .

How about proclamations from mayors and city councils and county boards . . . and maybe even governors declaring It's Time to Talk Day? Or police cars with purple ribbons on their antennas? Or corporations with Silent Witness exhibits in their atriums and posters in their break rooms encouraging employees to talk about the signs of domestic violence? Or the Empire State Building being lit up at night -- and yes, that REALLY DID happen last year in honor of the "Day"! How about a media partner to help you -- in Central Illinois, CAEPV members are fortunate to again partner with Radio Bloomington to get the word out to the community.

Get your ideas rolling -- CAEPV's It's Time to Talk Day 2005 webpage will be up soon -- and we'll be able to share the very cool things that Liz Claiborne, Marie Claire magazine, and their new partner, Verizon Wireless, are planning this year. (But we can't share just yet...so hang in there and start planning.)

Sent to me by Jennifer Stanley one of our National College and University Coordinators:

10 Things College Men can do to Stop Rape
Issued August 16, 2005 by Men Can Stop Rape
Supported by Sexual Assault & Trauma Resource Center of RI

1. Define your own manhood. Consider whether messages about manhood, like "don't take no for an answer" and "be tough" play a role in creating unhealthy and unsafe relationships. Choose what kind of man you want to be.

2. Talk it over. Better communication in sexual situations—listening to the other person, stating desires clearly, and asking when a situation is unclear—will make relationships safer and healthier. Create a space to speak honestly about sex.

3. Understand the ability to consent. Drugs and alcohol can affect people's ability to decide whether they want to be sexual with someone. If a person is "really out of it" and can't give consent, wait until you both are ready to enthusiastically say yes.

4. Get a woman's perspective. Ask women how the fear of rape affects their daily lives and whether they know someone who has been raped. Listen and learn from them about the impact of rape and how to stop it.

5. Ask guys. Ask men how it would feel to be seen as a potential rapist and how they would feel if a woman or girl in their life was sexually assaulted. Learn about the ways sexual violence touches the lives of men.

6. Be aware of pop culture's messages. We are surrounded daily by TV shows, music, magazines, video games, and movies that communicate messages about masculinity and relationships. Don't let images in popular culture dictate your behavior.

7. Choose words carefully. When you use words to put women down, you support the belief that they are less than fully human. It is easier to ignore women's well-being when they are seen as inferior. Choose language that respects women.

8. Speak out. You probably will never see a rape in progress, but you will hear attitudes and see behaviors that degrade women and promote a culture of violence. When your friend tells a joke about rape, say you don't find it funny. Use your voice.

9. Get involved. Join a student group working to prevent violence against women. Or if there isn't a student group, start your own. Men's anti-rape groups are becoming more and more common on college campuses. Make a difference.

10. Show your strength. Don't ever have sex with anyone against their will. Make a pledge to be a man whose strength is used for respect, not for hurting.

Now that I have started school you can expect the newsletter every other Friday with the exception of October when it might come out every week! I look forward to continuing the newsletter! J

I would like to leave you with this quote that speaks about how each and everyone of us make a difference each day!

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.
- Leo Buscaglia

Take Care,

Cassie
Cassie.pritchard@okstate.edu

State/Country Coordinators

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