< back
August 13 Newsletter
Dear Friends,
I hope you are all well and enjoying these lingering days of summer. I like thinking of you
especially as I fly across country and know that every state I fly over has Silent Witness
activists. I think of all of you as a network covering the entire country with your energy and
healing. We'll need your healing power as you will note when I update you on John Peterson.
(See Arizona section).
You've been receiving homework from me lately and I appreciate all your quick responses. I'm sure you'll be really proud of this book that will highlight all the success in the states and large cities in bringing down the domestic murder rate. I'll be in touch with you about the book as we develop it further.
I'm taking two and one half weeks off for a vacation and a retreat, starting the 20th of August. If you need to contact me please do so before I go!! If you desperately need to contact me during my break, call and leave a message at 612-623-0999!! I will not have access to email while I'm gone.
I just received by new Senta plastic figure of the Silent Witness that I carry with me to my talks. Her name is Carmen Brown and she has become like a sister to me. I even put a jacket around her shoulders when she has to stand in a cold place. Here is her story, short and to the point. She, and others like her, are the reason we are all doing this work.
CARMEN BROWN. AGE 31. KILLED DECEMBER 6, 1990.
She lived in Minneapolis. She died of a gunshot wound to the head. The man with whom she shared an apartment has been charged with second-degree murder in her death.
WELCOME NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:
Kori Zens (Center for Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence,
Washburn, WI), Sheriann Hamilton (Louisville, KY, new email addresses), Anne
Dalton (Association of Jr. Leagues Int'l-NY), Georgia Sandmeier
(Executive Director, Shelter, Aberdeen, SD).
RESULTS SINCE LAST YEAR AT THIS TIME:
Just wanted you to gloat about yourselves. Last year at this time we had 43 Results Projects in
place around the country and 235 people on the email mailing list.
THIS YEAR TO DATE WE HAVE 141 RESULTS PROJECTS OPERATING AND 410
ON THE EMAIL NEWSLETTER. (49 states with Data collection, 31 cities with Court
Watch, 18 with Quincy Models, 35 with Stosny Treatment, 3 with the DART model,
and 1 with the Mississippi Model). ONCE AGAIN I SAY, YOU ARE PHENOMENAL.
NEWS FROM THE STATES/COUNTRIES:
ARIZONA:
We have very serious news to report about John Peterson,our dear friend in
Arizona. His chemo looked like it had been so effective and then Diane, his wife, wrote this note to me:
John's cancer has spread and he is now dealing with a brain tumor. He is receiving radiation for that right now, but it has also spread throughout the bone - spine, pelvis, ribs and other areas. We asked the hard questions of the doctor yesterday and were told he has from four months to, possibly, a year, depending on how effective the next round of chemo is. He starts chemo again on August 16th, but the doctor said the second round probably won't be as effective - possibly 30% so.
I (Janet) talked with John when I got this note and he is in remarkable spirits considering this news. He feels so loved by those around him and by the whole Silent Witness network. He says he feels God's arms around him. He is seeking understanding and acceptance about all of this. Angels have been coming out of the woodwork, bringing him more care than he could imagine. The maintenance manager of the condos where he lives took him for a ride in his cart the other day and just sat and talked with him. Keep John and his family in your prayers, please, EVERY DAY. We will stay very close to John and keep letting him know that we care about him and his family.
Keep those emails coming so John knows what a great guy he is and how much he has meant to Silent Witness. Believe me, he is one gem of a human being. I'll try to keep you updated on his health. jdpetazsw@aol.com
ILLINOIS:
Cindy Wolfson, our IL Silent Witness Coordinator write us:
We have worked with Fast Signs of Northbrook, IL, to develop a lightweight SW
figure using the shortest one as a model. They are made of red corrugated plastic and stand up by a triangle on
the back of the same material that folds flat and is attached with
Velcro. We have used them for nearly a year now and they are easy to transport, as they bend a little, so fit
in a regular full-size car. I can easily carry 10 under each arm. For
outdoor use, we slip a rope between the Velcro strips in back and tie it
to stakes or between trees.
The people at Fast Signs charge us $70 each, but will be able to lower the price to $50 if they
get a large order(100 or more). Fast Signs will ship anywhere. Their phone number is
847-291-7446, address 601 Skokie Blvd, Northbrook, IL 60062.
Also, we started the NCJW DV court watch program at the Second Municipal
Court of Cook County in Skokie with a volunteer training last week. Court watchers are observing in criminal
court for DV cases only. We were warmly welcomed by the Presiding Judge, Stuart A.
Nudelman.
*This is wonderful news, Cindy. Another place to order light weight Witnesses and a new Court
Watch program up and going. Great work. Have you all noticed that the longer we work on
Silent Witness the lighter the Silent Witness figures get? Do you remember how heavy they
were to carry on the March in Washington? We felt it was worth the effort to carry them
because they needed to be helped to tell their stories. Now that their stories
are being told, they are getting lighter and lighter. What a great image.
MARYLAND:
Rosemary Raiman, an activist in Maryland, sent me a letter and
news article about the Silent Witness she and her husband donated to a domestic
violence organization in New York State where she used to work. This is a
wonderful way to get a new exhibit going, donate a figure!!
She also adds: "Fern Brown and I are in the midst of planning for domestic violence awareness
month and on October 19, we will host a program for the public at the Charles County
Government Building (Maryland), publicly displaying our Silent Witness Silhouette for the first
time. We are hoping for a good turnout and reaction from the community, and have chosen an
evening hour in hopes that families will attend."
*Thanks Rosemary for making and donating the Witnesses. You are spreading the word and we
really appreciate you.
OHIO:
We heard from Dorothy Lemmey, Lake County, Ohio:
I am currently trying to put something together, including having a church member write a song
with the names of the silent witnesses and making a new figure for each woman who was killed
since we produced them. We are a small community and have chosen to make one for each
one for the past 20 years.
*You may be small Dorothy, but you are one of the most active small communities that I know of in the Silent Witness network. Thanks for all the ongoing activity.
KENTUCKY:
A heartening note from Sherriann Hamilton in Louisville:
I love getting your newsletters and share them with the people I work with. Actually, some of
them have signed up to receive them directly after reading the ones I have forwarded. These
newsletters help keep us motivated by letting us know that we are not working alone and that
we if continue to work together, we can change lives! Keep up the good work!
*Thanks Sherriann, for writing. We all need encouragement and it is nice to know the newsletters are inspiring. One state coordinating group has meetings every two weeks and they told me they read throught the newsletters at the meeting to get ideas and keep inspired. That's what it's all about friends, helping, hoping, and healing!!
KANSAS:
News of plans for Silent Witness events in Kansas/Nebraska from Jan Abbey, our coordinator in Kansas. Several things going on right now regarding events in October. These are possibilities right now, nothing confirmed yet. Myself and our Community Educator are scheduled to meet with the other five Kansas City area shelters next week to discuss a large event that will include all six shelters and of course, the Silent Witness Exhibit.
1) Possibility of a city-wide press conference on Oct. 1 to kick off domestic violence awareness month.
2) A march with the other five Kansas City area shelters on our state line. (2 shelters are on the Kansas side, 4 are on the Missouri side)
3) We have reserved the exhibit for October 18th. Our Community Educator is working on getting the exhibit into our largest mall here.
*This all sounds great to me. Whatever you decide to do, it will be a wonderful event and will highlight the power of the Silent Witnesses' stories.
OHIO: WE NEED YOUR MENTORING!!
This email from Patrick O'Donnell, a new comer to Silent Witness coordination, in Dayton, Ohio:
Joey and I are back in town and I'm looking forward to picking up the Silent Witness figures this week. I will keep you posted. In the meantime, I would appreciate it if you would put our e-mail out there to other Silent Witness organizers giving them an open invitation to contact us "new folks" with suggestions, words of wisdom, etc. Our e-mail is odonnell@donet.com.
Thanks very much. I will be in touch with you soon. Until then, best wishes to you. Patrick and Joey O'Donnell.
*Thanks Patrick and Joey, and welcome to Silent Witness. Please feel free, you veterans to give some ideas of just a word of welcome.
SOUTH DAKOTA:
Shirley Earhart writes:
Hello from South Dakota! Our SDCADVSA Programs (22 member programs) are gearing up and making plans for October. There will be marches, vigils, Workshops, Conferences, media psa's.....with 4 sets of SW Exhibits, it will be much easier to cover all activities. In the past it has been a challenge to get the witnesses back and forth across the state for various events, so we are truly pleased to have the extra sets.
In the past few months, there have been 3 women murdered in S.D.......it is so heartbreaking. We have had requests to create a Witness for all three. This tells us that The Silent Witness Exhibit is truly a means of not only educating the public regarding the issues of DV, but is a vehicle through which families and loved ones can channel their grief and memorialize their loved ones while doing their part to inform the public of these horrid acts of violence. We are always humbled and honored by these requests!
Crisis Intervention Shelter Services at Sturgis is ready for the Sturgis Motorcycle Races & Rally Aug. 7th - 14th. This is always an extremely busy and trying time for that program. Volunteer Advocates from sister programs across the state will go to Sturgis and assist in providing needed services to women. As everyone knows, Shelter Programs simply do not have the necessary funding to hire extra staff, so volunteerism from other advocates is so appreciated and welcomed.
*There is so much activity in South Dakota.YES> Four Silent Witness exhibits!! It is so touching to know that families request to have figures made to honor their loved ones who were murdered in acts of domestic violence. In another newsletter I will highlight a resource for Native Women in South Dakota.
CALIFORNIA:
News from Casey Gwinn about an exciting new venture we can all participate in. They have started a weekly radio show on domestic violence in San Diego, the first of its kind in the country. It's called "Solutions of Family Violence" and it airs on Sunday nights at 7PM (Calif. time) on 760 KFMB in San Diego. The show is sponsored by Qualcomm, a wireless communications company. Anyone around the glove can listen to the broadcast live, and even call in. Just go to 222.760kfmb.com and take it from there. The call-in number is 1-800-455-KFMB. They are getting calls from around the country. Last Sunday, August 8 their topic was Domestic Violence Courts and they had three domestic violence judges speaking about specialized courts. Maybe this idea can spread to other parts of the country as well!!
Their DV Council website is: www.sandiegodvcouncil.org. Their Elder Abuse site is: www.safeseniors.org. The web site for Solutions of Family Violence to get more info and to listen to past shows is: www.histar.com/Events/becky/Domestic_Violence.htm
*Wow, this is really exciting. It could spark another wave of great information. Thanks for spreading the healing across the country, Casey and company.
MICHIGAN:
The Junior League of Ann Arbor has a product we might want to order. Nancy Mooney, our new Silent Witness coordinator there writes this:
You probably are already aware that our Junior League of Ann Arbor, MI produced a dating violence video, "In love and in Danger". Our video has won national awards and gained exposure in many educational arenas. If there is an opportunity to add this to the website as a product available for educational purposes I think it would only benefit our cause.
*Go MIchigan!! Nancy, we're looking forward to seeing that video and getting the particulars on how we can order it. Thanks a lot for the information.
WISCONSIN:
Here is a nice note and some poignant information from Christine White in Madison:
I found your web site through Cavnet and was especially moved by the poignant poetry. I am a Legal Advocate for people with developmental disabilities and have recently been co-coordinator of a women's group at our local Rape Crisis Center in Madison, WI. Even though I know statistically women with disabilities are 4 to 10 times more likely to be victims of sexual abuse and other violence, it is still chilling to hear the women relate the unbelievable amount of violence they have experienced in their lives. There is no escape for them. Because they have no voice, they are truly Silent Witnesses.
*And thank you Christine, for all the great work you do with women with disabilities. You are remarkable.
NEWS FROM NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS:
REGIONAL DIRECTORS RECRUITING STATES FOR OCTOBER SW EVENTS:
These wonderful people have agreed to be the core group to recruit
states for October Silent Witness events. If you are planning an event it
would be great if you would get in touch with them or with us before they call you.
Their email addresses are on the web site under About Us/How to get involved.
www.silentwitness.net
VICKI AMUNDSON/JERRI MILLER: Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Utah,
North Dakota, South Dakota, Colorado, Alaska.
JOANNE COGHILL/LUCIA NORDSTROM: California, Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Hawaii, Louisiana
MONICA BLAIZGIS/JAN FUHR: Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, Rhode Island, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware
STEPHANIE LIGHTER/NADENE HANSON: Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington DC
JAN ABBEY/GAIL ANTHONY: Missouri, Iowa, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Kentucky, Tennessee
STATES ON BOARD FOR OCTOBER SILENT WITNESS EVENTS SO FAR: 18 States.
Alaska, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Rhode Island, Washington State, Wyoming.
SILENT WITNESS RESOURCES FOR EVENTS IN OCTOBER
SAMPLE OFFICIAL PROCLAMATION FOR MAYORS OR GOVERNORS
The Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul Resolution
WHEREAS, The St. Paul Junior League, the Minneapolis Section of the National Council of
Jewish Women, and the Minneapolis YWCA, all non-profit membership organizations, have
banned together to call for a healing of domestic violence; and
WHEREAS, On October 18, 1999, Minnesotans will act to end family violence by drawing
attention to the thousands of victims of domestic violence in Minnesota and across the country;
and
WHEREAS, A march will form at St. Luke's Lutheran Church on that day and participants will
walk to the steps of the State Capitol carrying 27 life-sized wooden figures--Silent Witnesses- to
be introduced during this procession; and
WHEREAS, Twenty-eight percent of all women murdered in America are killed by their male
partners; and
WHEREAS, The Silent Witness National Initiative created the idea for the annual procession of
red wooden figures representing all the women murdered in each state in acts of domestic
violence; and
WHEREAS, On October 18, 1997, all fifty states marched to the Capitol in Washington D.C.
with 1500 Silent Witnesses, to call for a healing of domestic violence in America;
LET IT BE RESOLVED that the Mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul hereby recognize October
18, 1999 as Silent Witness Day and encourage all Minnesotans to join in this effort with the Jr.
League, NCJW and YWCA to heal domestic violence in Minnesota and in America.
_______________________________Mayor, Minneapolis
_______________________________Mayor, St.Paul
SILENT WITNESS PLEDGE (FROM THE WASHINGTON MARCH)
In the name of the Silent Witnesses I pledge to heal abuse of any kind in my own life, in my family, and in my community. I will work to make this country free of domestic violence so we can live in peace.
SILENT WITNESS NATIONAL ANTHEM
Violence in our homes, cries fill the night
Behind closed doors and out of sight
anger rules, tempers flare,
Love tangles and tears.
Bitter words turn to blows,
the secret, no one knows.
Innocent faces, pure of heart
rips their world apart.
Takes away their innocence,
Fills them with self doubt.
Out of the darkness,
Through the silence of the wounded
and oppressed
Comes hope and a new light,
the courage to change and to do what's right.
Entrenched in time, part of our core,
Some say the fruit of war.
So we pass it on, father to son,
To them we give a loaded gun.
It's everywhere we look
and it's everywhere we go,
Out of the darkness,
Through the silence of the wounded
and oppressed,
comes hope and a new light,
The courage to change and to do what's right.
To all those fallen without a name,
We hear your cries, they won't be in vain.
Hold on...
Out of the darkness,
Through the silence of the wounded
and oppressed,
Comes hope and a new light,
The courage to change and to do what's right.
c Mark Szmanda, 1997, all rights reserved.
Order CDs from us. See order form.
SILENT WITNESS POEM:
Cradle of Dawn
The forces facing us are terrible indeed
My hope may flicker in the night
But in the morning I will plant another seed
And while you sleep it seeks the light
There are no promises that we will see the day
The dreams we live for will succeed
But I can promise you that half way round the world
I will hold the light up while you sleep.
Libby Roderick
SILENT WITNESS BLESSING:
Go in peace, blessed to be a blessing. May the God of the poor, the comforter of the oppressed, and the spirit of justice work within you, that you may be a bearer of warmth and love in the corridors that lead to life.
Jan Richardson
SILENT WITNESS OFFICIAL ADDRESS (BASED ON A REWRITE OF THE GETTYSBURG ADDRESS):
This is too long to type here. It is on our web site along with several wonderful poems that you might use.
SILENT WITNESS MISSION
Promote peace, healing and responsibility in adult relationships in order to eliminate domestic murders in the US by 2010. "0 by 2010"
SILENT WITNESS THREE YEAR GOALS 1998-2001
1. 50 American cities with 0 domestic murders by 2001 We will accomplish this through Results Projects, leadership development and collaboration with other domestic violence reduction organizations.
2. A Silent Witness Exhibit in every major city in the US, remembering and honoring the women who have been murdered in acts of domestic violence.
3. Silent Witness Day every Oct. 18 and a Silent Witness Event in every major city or state to memorialize the murdered women, call for healing, and publicize programs that have shown results in reducing domestic violence.
4. Data Collection programs in place in all 50 states in order to accurately record the number of domestic violence murders and murder reduction rates.
5. Recognition and rewards to any programs, cities, or states who succeed in reducing or eliminating domestic violence or changing violent behavior.
PRODUCTS PRICE SHEET: Click here
NATIONAL SIGNATURE DRIVE FOR VAWA: PLEASE SIGN YOUR NAME!!!
Jody Rabhan or the National Council of Jewish Women headquarters in Washington wrote to me to garner our support for the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act. Here's how to help out:
I was wondering if you would mention in your next newsletter a "signature drive" that the National Task Force to End Domestic Violence (based in Washington, DC) has embarked upon. You may have heard about last summer's venture on behalf of the Task Force--we gathered over 30,000 signatures on postcards calling for passage of the Violence Against Women Act II at Lilith Fair concert sites around the country. It worked so well, that we've launched a petition drive, again utilizing Lilith Fair, calling for passage of the Violence Against Women Act of 1999 (VAWA '99). We hope to gather over 100,000 signatures and we are well on our way with over 10,000 to date. We're hoping to gather names through the beginning of October.
This is where you come in--I would appreciate it if you would advertise the Task Force's website, www.vawact.org, which includes a "virtual petition" that all of your network can access and sign their names to. Imagine the number of names we could gather by utilizing the force of the Silent Witness Network!
**So everyone, please take a minute to look up this web site and sign that virtual petition. And tell your friends as well.
CORPORATE ALLIANCE TO END PARTNER VIOLENCE:
CAEPV has their Work to End Domestic Violence Day materials in a CD-Rom format. This is for corporations to use in their workplaces. It includes a sample workplace policy and survey, comprehensive domestic violence statistics, payroll stuffers, and newsletter article, e-mail message, press release, activity ideas--and more. It is $20 and you can order it from their web site at www.caepv.org.
STOSNY TREATMENT AVAILABLE IN SEVERAL LANGUAGES:
The Compassion Based Treatment Model of Dr. Steven Stosny is now available in Spanish, Hebrew, and Korean. It will soon be available in Swedish. To order these materials please visit his web site at www.compassionpower.com.
GIRLS AND DEPRESSION:AN ALARMING DEVELOPMENT
* Adolescent Girls: The Role of Depression in the Development of Delinquency
Current research indicates that the rate of girls' antisocial behavior is rapidly surpassing that of boys. This NIJ Research Preview focuses on predictors of misconduct by adolescent girls, citing depression as a key component. Based on a longitudinal study being conducted in Chicago, this publication lists characteristics of depression, compares the relationship between clinical depression and antisocial behavior, and discusses levels of depressive symptoms among females.
"Adolescent Girls: The Role of Depression in the Development of Delinquency" (Research Preview) (FS 000244) is available on the NCJRS World Wide Web site (http://www.ncjrs.org/cpdocs.htm) and by mail. See "Ordering Directions" and "NCJRS Online Access" at the end of JUSTINFO.
I leave you today with eight free gifts sent to me by Jerri Miller, one of our Silent Witness coordinators in Montana:
EIGHT FREE GIFTS
1) THE GIFT OF LISTENING. . ..
But you must REALLY listen. No interrupting, no daydreaming, no planning your response. Just
listening.
2) THE GIFT OF AFFECTION. . .
Be generous with appropriate hugs, kisses, pats on the back and handholds. Let these small
actions demonstrate the love you have for family and friends.
3) THE GIFT OF LAUGHTER. . .
Clip cartoons.Share articles and funny stories. Your gift will say, "I love to laugh with you."
4) THE GIFT OF A WRITTEN NOTE. . .
It can be a simple "Thanks for the help" note or a full sonnet. A brief, handwritten note may be
remembered for a lifetime, and may even change a life.
5) THE GIFT OF A COMPLIMENT. . .
A simple and sincere, "You look great in red," "You did a super job"or "That was a wonderful
meal" can make someone's day.
6) THE GIFT OF A FAVOR. . ..
Every day, go out of your way to do something kind.
7) THE GIFT OF SOLITUDE. . .
There are times when we want nothing better than to be left alone. Be sensitive to those times
and give the gift of solitude to others.
8) THE GIFT OF A CHEERFUL DISPOSITION. . .
The easiest way to feel good is to extend a kind word to someone, really it's not that hard to
say, Hello or Thank You.
Cheers,
Janet