A Publication Of the Women’s Community Center • San Luis Obispo, California

Educate • Enlighten • Empower Volume XXI, Number 4 • July–August 2006

Artwork by Simone Viola

Inside: Women’s Community Center 3 9

NOW News 4 Creative Women 10-11
Voices Around the Table:
Marriage Equality 5 Body & Soul 12
Local Perspectives 5-6 Community Bulletin 13-14
Women in Business 7 Community Resources 15
Women’s Stories
8
 Women’sPress Women’s Press July & August 2006 | editors@womenspress-slo.org

I hope you are all having a fun and refreshing

summer.
It’s interesting to me how, even though it’s
been decades since I was in elementary school,
Letters to the Editor
I hold onto the expectation that summer will
be a time to take my mind and body away from Dear Editor, federal and state civil marriage rights. And honey, there’s not only safety in
the routine and pressures that school used to present from September through Apathy and Fear are the strongest Most of you would be surprised to numbers, there’s POWER in num-
May. Of course, now I have a job that does not offer three months away, but I political attributes of those fighting to know that as registered domestic part- bers. As an old Negro spiritual says,
find that I still have that summer mindset that leads me during June, July, and not only permanently ban civil mar- ners in California, my partner and I “None of us are free. None of us are
August to think new thoughts, to revive myself for the work to be done in the riage rights for same-sex couples but are now financially responsible for one free. None of us are free while one of
fall. This summer for me fits that pattern: time away from the work of growing also to remove current domestic part- another’s debts. As you can see many us is chained, none of us are free.” So
the paper but definitely a time to think about its possibilities and prepare for the nership rights in California. It’s not of these rights protect society and the please get involved, get informed, and
work ahead. a question of, “Are they going to put taxpayer. support those of us who happened
I wrote a business plan this spring and with input from women whom I anti same-sex propositions on the bal- Here’s how I educated Aunt Flo: to be born GAY. This is an EQUAL
asked to be my steering committee, I crafted a vision of the paper’s potential as a lot?” It’s simply a question of when. “Auntie, it’s not about religion, it’s RIGHTS, EQUAL RESPONSIBIL-
vehicle to inform, connect, and entertain women. Monthly salons. Weekly films As a gay woman, I can help erad- about approximately 1,400 state and ITIES, and EQUAL TAXATION
by, for, and about women. Monthly intergenerational conversations. Collabo- icate irrational fear by getting out of federal laws that affect those who have issue.
rations with other women’s organizations. Sponsoring of miscellaneous events my comfort zone, educating myself “civil marriage” rights. Currently in Ethel Landers
of special interest to women. A vibrant website that links women to informa- on the issues, and then having the California, same sex couples have over Nipomo
tion and events not just in the county but nationwide. Increased distribution. strength and courage to educate my 300 of those rights offered by domes-
Advertising expansion that includes the website. Next year’s fundraiser retreat. circle of influence as well as ask for tic partnership laws - but our enemies Dear Editor,
But which next? Why? How? help. I not only need your under- want to take those away. Also, fed- I was given a copy of the May-
In the fall when members of the steering committee have returned from their standing but I eventually need your eral laws do not cover my registered June 2006 issue of Women’s Press,
summer travels, Shana Ross, new to the Central Coast, will guide us into form- votes. domestic partner and I. For example, which I thoroughly enjoyed reading
ing a strategic plan. Ben Lawless, who does our layout, and a fellow peer of his, It is estimated that currently vot- did you know if my partner should die cover to cover because of all it uncov-
Neven Samara, have already designed a new look for the paper and a new logo, ers within the State of California are today, I’d have to pay inheritance tax ers! Congratulation on such an edu-
which you will see in our September-October issue. Ben is also working this divided: 40% for Gay Marriage; 40% on my own home!! And even though cating, enlightening, and empowering
summer on getting our website full of content and possibilities. We have ordered adamantly against Gay Marriage; we’ve both worked and paid into paper!
racks so the Press will be visible in more places. and 20% undecided. Those of you Social Security for over 30 years, nei- Of particular delight was the
We are excited about the growing presence of the Press in your lives. If you in that 20% category are very impor- ther of us would receive survivor ben- new column by Hilda Heifetz, the
want to be part of this enriching process of growth, please give me a call – 474- tant people and many of you haven’t efits, not even $255 toward burial of 92-year-young sage, who, in my esti-
6444. What can you do? even thought much about the issue. our spouse! Of course if I was married mate, ranks right up there with his-
Oh, you may be uncomfortable with to a man, even for one day, he’d get tory’s male philosophers! But this
• Solicit more advertisers the stereotypical, imaginary vision of all these rights upon my death! It’s not amazing female punctuates her wis-
• Help maintain the website two women in tuxedos or two men in fair or equal. Don’t you agree that my dom with refreshing lightheartedness
• Interview women we profile gowns standing at the family church. partner and I deserve the same rights, and amusement! Her comments in
• Research and report on timely topics Usually those in opposition to Gay responsibilities, and taxation as you “From Hilda” leave me hungering for
• Edit articles Marriage have some form of religious and Uncle Fred? So Auntie, we need more columns by the “dancer with the
• Seek out content concern that causes my Aunt Flo to you to vote for us when it comes to help of some superior choreographer,
• Create graphics; design ads ask, “Why do you have to call it mar- approving federal and state civil mar- the actor on a boundless stage, and
• Distribute in your city riage?” (Believe me, if she doesn’t ask riage and preserving our current state the main character of her life, but not
• Be volunteer coordinator me directly she does inside her head!) domestic partnership rights. Will you necessarily the Author.” Such simulat-
However, most of the 20% who are please do that?” Auntie said yes, and ing insights would help all of us—not
Growing our volunteer base is a necessity if we are to fulfill our potential. So undecided do believe in equal rights, even said she’d tell her friends. just us seniors. –to live more fully and
I hope to hear from you. equal responsibilities, and equal taxa- Another step in eliminating Fear enjoyably.
And don’t forget to come to Mission Plaza on Saturday, August 12, for Day tion. That is precisely what civil mar- and Apathy is uniting our commu- Eve Mortensen
With Creative Women. See page 9. riage offers and precisely why we need nity at large. We all need one another. Prescott, AZ

Women’s Community Center Board

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Thanks for supporting Family Law Action Committee

Women’s Press! Dealing With Divorce
Temptress 3rd Wednesday of each month – 7 PM
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Pat Soulliere-Ochylski Talk with other women who have been there, done that in a
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Join Us in an
Intergenerational Conversation
Join Cal Poly students and faculty and other women from the community in
an intergenerational conversation to be held at SLO Library from 4:30 to 6:30
PM on Wednesday, July 19. Share your stories, your viewpoints, and generational
experience with women of other ages.
We hope to have these conversations, sponsored by the Women’s Press and
Women’s Community Center, every month. We did this a year ago and all who
participated were enriched by the sharing and learning we all experienced listen-
ing to one another and celebrating womanhood in all stages of our lives.
At this first meeting, we will decide the future schedule and topics the group
Sunset North Car Wash Fundraiser a Success! is interested in discussing. Bring a light snack to share. Hope you can come. Tell
Thanks to Sunset North Car Wash for the opportunity to spread the word about
the Women’s Community Center and Women’s Press AND net $613.07 as our
share of their profits for the day (189 vehicles washed!). We enjoyed spending the
day with Candi and the staff of car washers; they were a pleasure to be with. And
they appreciated our having popcorn, hotdogs with trimmings, donuts and cof-
fee, soft drinks, and water for sale. Thanks to Robin Werderits for pulling that
together.
Thanks, too, to all the volunteers who helped us make signs and stood on
Broad Street waving them to urge people into the car wash: Robin, Andrew, and
Rachel Werderits; Paul Rinzler; Jan Potter; Angie King; Susan Howe; Pamela
Thomas; Anne Quinn; Amber Atkinson; Shana Ross; and Kathleen Deragon.
Other benefits of the day were that a number of people offered to volunteer
for our activities; everyone at the cash register got a copy of the Women’s Press;
and the business has agreed to let us distribute in their racks for future issues.
The day wasn’t too hot and a good time was had by all!

NEW
Women’s drop-in support group Cover Art
Simone Viola is a self-taught artist who works mostly with acrylic paint. She finds
Tuesdays, 7 PM the work “therapeutic for the psyche, liberating for the soul, and very much an exhila-
Women’s Community Center rating, tactile experience.”
880 Industrial Way, SLO Simone exhibits her artwork locally and has been reviewed quite favorably in the
No charge Tribune, New Times, and Santa Maria Sun. Originally from West Los Angeles, she
Phone for more info – 544-9313. now resides on the Central Coast with her family.

Come to the 32nd Annual

Saturday
August 12, 2006
10 am to 5 pm
Mission Plaza

Delicious food • Live music • Wonderful art, crafts and gifts for sale! • Kids’ activities

Day With Creative Women is a fundraiser for

the Women’s Community Center of San Luis Obispo
For more details, see page 9.
 NOWNews
Coordinator’s Corner
By Angie King
We are sooo ahead of the curve
at NOW: in the last issue of the
Women’s Press, the “relationships”
issue, the lead article on our page was
about NOW’s commitment to same-
sex marriage. In this issue, the Voices
Around the Table question is “What
are your thoughts about marriage
equality?” I guess you know where
NOW stands on this issue.
But we have to keep on speak-
ing out, because there is a growing
backlash against the openness gays
and lesbians have experienced in the
past 20 or so years. With elections
coming up, and needing a “wedge”
issue to scare people and distract
them from the real problems we face,
conservatives are raising the same-sex
marriage issue to flame the fears of
ignorance and turn voters away from
any progressive ideas.
We must be vigilant to inform
people we encounter who raise
this topic so they understand the
underlying fairness of the civil rights
argument. All citizens enjoy civil
rights – the right to vote, the right to
speak out on issues, the right to own
property, etc. One of those rights is
the right to be married under the
civil law and enjoy the benefits the
law provides to married couples. It
is inherently unfair to deny some
people those benefits merely because a
religion declares only some marriages
valid. There are some who say our
society has already crossed the line
and become a theocracy, but I hope
they’re wrong.
On another topic, Women’s
Equality Day marks the annual
celebration of the passage of the 19th
Amendment, giving women (finally)
the right to vote, in 1920. Do you
know anyone older than the 86 years
women have been able to vote? This
is a good time to ask them how they
felt when they first voted. NOW will
be showing a movie at the Palm on
Saturday, August 26, this year, at 10
AM, to commemorate this event. As
usual, after the show, we will entertain
discussion from the audience. We are
asking a $10 donation at the door to
defray the cost of production. Get up
early and come enjoy a movie with
your friends.
And finally, enjoy the summer
months, but remember your sun-
screen and keep hydrated! We need all
of you healthy and active for the fall
elections.
Three felonies in one day:
He assaults me and goes free
A personal story by Megan West
I’m a 21-year-old Cal Poly student.
Last year, I was involved in an inci-
dent with a Grover Beach firefighter,
who is now trying to enter the police
academy. After reading several articles
about corrupt fire and police officials,
I felt compelled to tell my story.
This man, who I will call Jack, and
I dated for a few weeks. After seeing
his enraged temper and learning of a
violent episode that took place with
one of his past girlfriends, I decided to
end things.
I was alone in my apartment the
day he came by to pick up his things. I
set them by the door in order to crack
it and hand them to him. However,
when he arrived, he forced his way
inside and assaulted me for 45 min-
utes. After shoving me against walls,
The purpose of NOW is to bring women into full participation in the mainstream of American society NOW !
Attend Morning at the Movies to
Celebrate Women’s Equality Day
Saturday, August 26, 2006
10 AM
Palm Theatre,
San Luis Obispo
Women’s Equality Day should be a
day of exuberance and gratitude for
the culmination of the long years of
struggle by our foremothers to secure
for women the right to vote. However,
it seems more and more, women, in
particular, do not realize how impor-
tant this day is in history.
Women have the power to change
the society we live in, to make it more
women-friendly, to achieve our goals
– if only we would vote, and vote in
our best interests. Analysis of the 2004
presidential election revealed that an
appalling number of women voted for
an administration that seeks to crimi-
nalize abortions, deny women health
care, shut down abused women’s shel-
ters, cut funding for the Office Of
NOW News
NOW v. Scheidler: Opera-
tion Save America, formerly known
as Operation Rescue, the organiza-
tion headed by Joseph Scheidler, was
responsible for many of the bombings
and fires at health clinics across the
US in the 80’s. NOW brought suit,
claiming the federal racketeering laws
applied to their acts of violence against
women’s health clinics. The court
agreed and enjoined Operation Res-
cue from interfering with the rights of
women to obtain services from these
clinics. Operation Rescue appealed all
the way to the US Supreme Court,
which, in February this year, rescinded
the injunction. NOW’s president, Kim
Gandy, said that without strong legal
protections against clinic assaults, the
right to abortion could become mean-
ingless. Scheidler’s group announced
it will hold a week-long blitz at the
only women’s health care clinic in the
state of Mississippi in July. NOW has
vowed to be there.
Every woman doesn’t have to join NOW, just the 125 million who are discriminated against!
throwing me on furniture, smashing
my hand when I attempted to call
911 or run out the door, shattering
glass across my room and locking me
inside, chasing me around the house,
and grabbing me, I finally convinced
him to leaveby telling him I wouldn’t
tell anyone what he had done.
I later filed a police report. The
police told me that he had commit-
ted three felonies that day. I decided
to press charges and get a restraining
order; however, neither of these would
ever be approved.
The process of seeking justice
dragged on for seven months, during
which Jack got an attorney, moved out
of town, and went to work for another
fire department near Santa Barbara.
During this process, I discovered
National Organization for Women
Women’s Affairs, refuse to fund child
care centers or increase the minimum
wage. These policies are not in our
best interests.
Apparently just voting isn’t
enough. Every year in August, the
SLO chapter of NOW examines the
importance of this holiday by holding
an event to educate the public about
our history and our future.
Building on the success of our Roe
v Wade presentation at the Palm The-
ater in January, the SLO chapter of
NOW invites you to attend a movie
to celebrate Women’s Equality Day,
on Saturday, August 26, at 10 AM at
the Palm Theatre. We are still in nego-
tiations as to which movie it will be,
but we know it will be pertinent and
entertaining. After the movie, depend-
ing on time, we will discuss some of
the issues raised in the movie in the
context of the upcoming November
elections.
Admission is a $10 donation; the
public is invited; and there will be
refreshments served. The Palm Theatre
is located at 817 Palm Street, in San
Luis Obispo. For further information,
email us at slonow@kcbx.net. See you
there.
Florida NOW protests state spe-
cialty license plate: Choose Life:
Motorists in Florida who pay extra for
vanity plates that say “Choose Life”
help fund anti-choice activities. Fol-
lowing defeat in the court seeking a
prohibition against displaying political
messages on license plates, Orlando
NOW is leading the campaign to pick
a pro-choice license plate design. Go
to www.licensetochoose.org for more
information.
NOW goes on daytime TV: ABC’s
Diane Sawyer aired a piece in Febru-
ary on Good Morning America that
tried to stir up controversy by pitting
stay-at-home moms against women
who work outside the home. This
well-known tactic – to try to divide
a group from realizing their common
interests - so infuriated NOW Presi-
dent Kim Gandy that she contacted
Sawyer and waged a public relations
campaign to seek a response on air.
he was a convicted felon and had
committed two felonies prior to my
incident, one of them in a fire depart-
ment. How did this person continue
to get hired after all he had done?
Considering that a firefighter was
served a restraining order, while work-
ing, for assaulting a woman and was
allowed to continue his employment
makes one wonder if the problem lies
not only with those committing these
crimes, but with their supervisors who
deem these acts acceptable by allow-
ing them to continue. After months of
court hearings, the DA’s office did not
press charges, saying nothing could be
proven because it was his word against
mine. The commissioner, who hears
all domestic violence cases, did not
issue the restraining order. During our
Women’s Press July & August 2006 | editors@womenspress-slo.org
Having Women Friends Is
Good for Your Health
The power of girlfriends protects seem to affect a women’s health as
women. It lowers blood pressure; much, and researchers are now inves-
boosts immunity, and promotes heal- tigating whether that’s because she has
ing. It also may explain why women female friends with whom she shares
have lower rates of heart disease and her life.
longer life expectancies. It’s because So, hug your girlfriends and count
we have women friends on whom we your blessings. We were right after
rely to buffer us from the vicissitudes all; having girlfriends is good for your
of life, unlike men, who seem not to health.
have the same kind of social bonding
relationships. Lifted liberally from the Tribune, May
It turns out there is a hormone 27, 2005, which lifted the article from
responsible for all this. – oxytocin. the LA Times article by Melissa Healy.
When levels of oxytocin get low,
women tend spontaneously to reach
out to others, and the level goes back
up. It is the connection with estro-
gen and oxytocin that researchers are
now studying, because when men’s
oxytocin levels are low, they do not
exhibit the same “socializing” behav-
ior. Higher oxytocin levels result in
lower blood pressures, lower reaction
to stress, and less physiological dam-
age to tissues.
Men rely on their wives for social
bonding, almost exclusively. Married
men have been shown to live longer, NOW Chapter # CA 565
be happier, and lead healthier lives
PO Box 1306, SLO, CA 93406
than bachelors or widowers. On the
SLONOW @ kcbx.net
other hand, being married doesn’t
NOW Calendar
July 6:
Birthday of Nancy Reagan, 1921
July 8:
Sawyer invited Gandy on the show
Birthday of Faye Wattleton,
in March, where she appeared with
activist, 1943
other mothers to discuss the complex
July 9:
issues moms face at home and in the
Gay Pride in the Plaza
paid workforce. Only by realizing our
July 18:
common interests can we expect to
NOW regular meeting, 6 PM
achieve pay parity, quality child care,
July 19:
better schools, and all the other goals
Seneca Falls convention, 1848
women have for themselves and their
July 21-23:
families.
National NOW convention,
NOW joins progressives in Peace
July 21:
March in New York: April 29 saw
Birthday of Janet Reno, 1938
over 350,000 protesters marching in
midtown Manhattan for peace and a
Aug 3:
change in our country’s priorities. As
Birthday, Maggie Kuhn, founder,
part of a broad coalition, including
Grey Panthers, 1905
Jesse Jackson’s PUSH, Cindy Sheehan,
Aug 6:
Susan Sarandon and others, NOW
Women’s Peace Day, anniversary
took the lead in outreach to the
of Hiroshima bombing,
media. The event drew lots of press
1945
coverage on the East Coast, including
Aug 12:
the Spanish press and alternative news
Day with Creative Women,
outlets.
Mission Plaza
Aug 13:
Birthday of Lucy Stone, 1918
Aug 15:
NOW regular meeting, 6 PM
Aug 26:
Women’s Equality Day
last hearing on November 15, 2005, maybe death? To this day I have night-
he said he believed me and acknowl- mares, paranoid he’s going to hurt me
edged that Jack admitted the events again, for the emotional effects of
occurred, but if Jack were issued a being victimized by Jack and the court
restraining order, he would not be able system exceedingly outlast the physi-
to carry a firearm, an obvious require- cal effects of that afternoon. I no lon-
ment for a police officer. ger feel safe even in my own home
After reading other similar cases, because those who are supposed to
I now have a great concern for our be protecting us are assaulting us and
community and society. It sends chills raping us (as in officer Brian Thomas’
down my spine to think of Jack legally case), knowing that no measures will
carrying a gun and having people’s be taken against them because they
lives in his hands. hold what I used to think were “hon-
The commissioner’s decision was orable and prestigious” positions in
unjust, for it was more important to our society. Hopefully, more innocent
protect this felon’s future than to pun- people will not have to be harmed by
ish him for harming innocent people. corrupt officers in order to open the
How severe does a situation have eyes of our justice system.
to be for judges to think it acceptable
to penalize these dangerous officials…
Women’s Press July & August 2006 | editors@womenspress-slo.org LocalPerspectives 

Voices Around the Table What are your thoughts about marriage equality?

Evelyn Adams
When two people love one another
and want to share their lives, I believe
God smiles on them. I don’t think
God should enter into people’s consti-
tutional rights. IF it is true that peo-
ple have equal rights to the pursuit of
life, liberty and the pursuit of happi-
ness, then its pursuit should be equal.
It doesn’t state some people, or people
of the opposite sex. I truthfully don’t
understand how we make a judgment
like this, altering constitutional rights
of individuals, to suit some people’s
interpretation of the Bible, judging
right or wrong, as well.
The right to full marriage equal-
ity is a constitutional right and the
un-Christian Right are making a
mockery of the Constitution of the
United States. They’re attempting to
divide this country, heterosexuals on
one side and homosexuals on another.
As a middle-aged married Chris-
tian woman, I don’t think God could
appreciate their judgmental attitudes,
as they adversely affect so many good
human beings, forced to live without
their constitutional rights.
Jacqueline Turner
Same-sex marriage? Why not!?
Since marriage is a society-made
(or man-made) institution, we can
make the rules or change the rules as
we wish. Since marriage is a business
deal made by individuals in our soci-
ety, we can choose our own business
partners. Marriage is not about Love;
it could be about Love, but it is not
necessarily so. Why do people marry?
Not everyone marries for the same
reasons … don’t we all know some
people who married for other reasons,
for example money, security, to get out
of the house, pregnancy, societal pres-
sures, insecurity, sex … some people
even marry to have a Saturday night
date. Bottom line: do same-sex people
not have these same needs?
It is very simple to me, so I kinda
consider this a non-issue. Same-sex
people want tax advantages, too; they
want to wear rings that symbolize and
announce their union; they want that
piece of PAPER! They want to feel
safe and loved! Two women or two
men have the same needs as a man
and a woman have. WE ALL WANT
CONNECTION & A SENSE OF
BELONGING. In our world, mar-
riage promises that. Gay people want
that too. It’s that simple!!!!!!!!
 Karen Reyes
There is such a simple resolution
to something that remains a complex
item of discussion in our country:
follow through with the separation
of church and state.  The legal con-
tract of marriage should be a state-
issued document regardless of the sex
or gender of the parties involved. For
those who would additionally like
their union blessed by their particu-
lar faith or spiritual practice, a fitting
ceremony can be held.  I know of no
other legally binding contract in our
country that commingles a legal prac-
tice with a religious ceremony. Many
other countries separate the practice
of completing the legal contract of
marriage from the religious ceremony
performed by a priest or minister; this
would end the debate.
Melinda Forbes
In my opinion, marriage is a cele-
bration of love and commitment. Why
anyone would feel it was important
to pass legislation denying lovers the
right to celebrate something so beauti-
ful, I do not understand. Instead let us
spend our energy working to protect
the rights of children, of the homeless,
the ones in need, to work for peace
and the health of our planet.
Pamela Thomas
I believe two people mutually fall-
ing in love with one another is one of
the most glorious things that can hap-
pen in our lives. Whether this love
occurs heterosexually or homosexu-
ally is secondary to the fact that a lov-
ing relationship exists
between two
individuals.
Marriage, as the
celebration and
commitment of
this love, is a logi-
cal extension of
this bond.
Rusty Zane
While I have
mixed feelings
about marriage
itself, due to experi-
ence, I believe in everyone
having the right to seek happi-
ness.  Finally, in Marriage Num-
ber Three, I have found it.  I only
wish everyone could enjoy the
experience I now have with the per-
son I am with.  One of my favorite
bits of marriage advice is:  Stop try-
ing to FIND the “right person” and
instead concentrate on BEING the
“right person.”
Ruth Osorio
Marriage equality evolved into the
chief cause of the mainstream LGBT
(Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans-
gender) activist movement, whereas
marriage inequality is now the main
objective of the fundamentalist right.
Currently, same-sex couples are
denied numerous federal and state
rights granted to married couples. But
even more tragic is the government’s
disregard of 10% of America’s popula-
tion. Same-sex couples pay taxes, vote,
enlist in the military, and represent
Americans as elected officials; despite
their constant participation and sup-
port of the government, the govern-
ment refuses to recognize the
love between gay indi-
viduals as legiti-
mate.
Unfortunately, our contempo-
rary consciousness only considers
the legality of same-sex relationships
when the term “marriage equality” is
brought up. As feminists, we should
also inspect the equality between
spouses by advocating against domes-
tic violence and for shared governance
within the household. We should
be asking why women are expected
to take the last name in heterosexual
marriages, and why the women’s fam-
ily is traditionally responsible for the
finances of the wedding. Once same-
sex marriages are recognized by the
federal, state, and local governments
(because freedom and equality always
eventually triumph in our country),
we need to continue challenging the
status quo to ensure equality between
spouses.
But gay marriage movement only
affects same-sex couples—what about
LGBT individuals? The mainstream
LGBT community’s narrow focus on
gay marriage has neglected the human
right issues affecting LGBT youth,
LGBT of color, and lower class LGBT
people. Even though the LGBT com-
munity is estimated to make up 10%
of the United States’ total population,
over 30% of homeless youth are LGBT.
Suicide and depression continue to
affect more LGBT youth then straight
youth, and some states do not protect
LGBT individuals from employment
discrimination. Clearly, basic human
rights are still denied to LGBT indi-
viduals. When gay marriage activists
speak of property rights, they are only
speaking about the individuals who
have property. A serious risk of the
LGBT movement focusing solely on
gay marriage is the exclusion of single
and/or poor lesbian and gay individu-
als from the mainstream movement.
Regardless of the dangers of tar-
geting only one injustice affecting the
LGBT community, the movement
to legalize same-sex marriage should
involve straight allies, feminists, civil
rights activists, immigration right
advocates, and everyone in between.
The fight for same-sex marriage isn’t
just a fight for marital rights: it is an
opportunity for the government to
recognize and validate the love that
exists between all couples.
Susan Howe
What LGBT and any persons who
are part of a couple wanting to be
given rights equal to those in “mar-
ried” heterosexual relationships need
to do is move the issue into the arena
only of equal civil rights for a domes-
tic partnership. It must be that “MAR-
RIAGE” is not the issue as that word
is sacrosanct to the right.
Marriage can be done as your own
optional private ceremony by any cou-
ple. Domestic relationships with all
the rights that are now given to “mar-
ried” heterosexual relationships are all
that are really important. So remove matters when two people make a life
the emotional button of the word together. Tax breaks and other civil
“marriage.” marriage benefits are designed to
encourage the family’s stability and
Roberta Youtan Kay security, which is good for individuals,
What comes to mind is the ques- communities, and country.
tion I consistently ask of those who are Equal rights for gays is also good
so opposed or threatened by the con- for business. The UCLA School of
cept - WHY??  What are they afraid Law found that marriage equality
will happen to them or their marriages would add $25.6 million a year to the
if marriage was offered as a choice to State budget through increased tax
same-sex partners?  It baffles me. revenue and reduced public services. A
recent Forbes study calculated poten-
tial revenue from gay marriages for the
Heather Mendel wedding industry alone at $16.8 bil-
In a spiritually mature society, we lion. For California, marriage equality
celebrate diversity. Living in a works out to $3 billion and
democracy, we have the thousands of jobs.
rights and respon-
sibilities to make
personal deci-
sions that
enhance
who we
are. The
sanctifica-
tion of all
relationships
of love should be cel-
ebrated by society, encour-
aging adults to choose a life
partner with whom to make a life
of meaning and significance. The
United States of America is sup-
posed to be the leading democracy
in the world. Are we too immature
as a people to live up to the gift of
the freedom of choice that is the
inalienable right of all Americans?
Just as I believe that a woman has
the right to make the decision about
‘when and if ’ to become the best
mother that she can be, all adults
have the right to marry life part-
ners of their choosing and enjoy the
same benefits of equality in marriage.
I look forward to living in a time and
place where diversity is celebrated
rather than feared. So marriage equality is fair and fis-
cally smart, yet the benefits are denied
Terre Dunivant to one and all. Why? Some churches
My partner and I were married in will bless dogs on a fox hunt but not
San Francisco in 2004, the only mar- the commitment of a loving couple.
riage for either of us, both in That’s their choice, but Jesus himself
our 40s. Though our never condemns gays. The
marriage license damning words of
was rescinded, we anti-gay preach-
consider ourselves ers are their own,
spouses. When my and they ignore
Dad died she was a both the Judge
big help to my fam- and the Golden
ily, which includes Rule. Spiritual
southern Baptists people focus on
who accepted our the main message
relationship once of love and compas-
they saw it in action. sion, accepting gays
We are business- and marriage equality
women, employers, as natural and right.
good neighbors and The pope can be as
citizens, but crimi- stingy with his bless-
nals in prison can ings as he likes, but
marry while millions I expect more rational
of people like us are behavior on the part of
barred. Penalizing gay my government. American
families because a couple democracy is based on civil
has matching genitalia puts rights, which are based on the individ-
the focus on sex and ual’s natural right to life, liberty and
ignores every- happiness. In order to “form a more
thing else perfect union,” I should have the same
t h a t right as anyone else to marry the one
I love.
  LocalPerspectives
Women Helping Women
Part 2 of a new series
By Evelyn Adams-Ryal
In this issue, information about the needs
met by the services of the North County
Women’s Resource Center (NCWRC).
In 1982, the Atascadero branch of
the American Association of Univer-
sity Women established the Women’s
Resource Center and they ran it them-
selves with volunteers. They wanted
it to be a source of information and
referrals for women and their families,
with educational workshops offered.
They received so many calls from
women in critical domestic violence
situations that, by 1985, the Women’s
Resource Center incorporated to pur-
sue grants, receiving a small city grant
from Atascadero, followed by a state
grant to open a small two-bedroom
house, at first with very limited ser-
vices.
Over the years, it has continued
to grow to meet the needs, expanding;
opening two homes until now it has
30 beds serving women and women
with children with life-threatening
needs for shelter. Temporary women’s
domestic violence shelter and accom-
SLO Code Pink
By Dian Sousa
I recently counseled a good friend who
thought she should read Ann Coul-
ter’s new book in order to understand
a conservative perspective. I love my
friend, plus, I’m a martyr, so I decided
I would check it out for her, hoping
to spare her sweet soul a ridiculous
foray into the unimaginative and dis-
passionate chicanery pawned off on us
as “fair and balanced” dialogue. So, I
went to Ralph’s because I had signed
up with Mothers for Peace, so that a
portion of my purchase would benefit
their courageous organization.
(www.mothersforpeace.org)
Ralph’s book aisle is located on
the Jelly Belly peninsula directly
adjacent to the farm-raised, color-
enhanced salmon and the antibiotic
beef. Fittingly, this is where I find Ann
Coulter’s new book with her on the
cover, of course, in full body pose. Her
perfectly make-up-spackled face and a
little black dress sheath her unwom-
anly straight body, just like the mean,
make-believe neo-con god intended,
When It’s Time To Talk: Do Not Resuscitate
By Teri Weitkum, RN, BSN
As a care manager, whose focus
is working with those that have
Alzheimer’s and other dementia-
related diseases and those fighting
cancer, we eventually talk about end-
of-life care. When it comes time to
discuss Advance Directives and Do
Not Resuscitate, I am asked “What’s
the difference?”
I explain an Advance Directive
for Healthcare is a way to make your
healthcare decisions known if you
can’t speak for yourself. This form has
information on what you would want
done medically to keep you alive. It
allows you to appoint people you have
chosen to oversee these decisions and
make sure they are carried out.
A Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) is
a form that is signed by you or your
decision maker and the physician giv-
ing medical personnel the permission
panying services are provided to single
women, women with children, and
it’s one of a few homes in the state
that can accommodate teenage boys.
Last year, they served some 70 fami-
lies through their shelter services, with
a time limit on stays from 60 to 90
days. Most of their clients are referred
through law enforcement and emer-
gency rooms; however, within public
and private agencies, people that are
aware of their services and provide
referrals include, family therapists,
doctors, and other agencies; such as
the Department of Social Services and
Child Welfare Services. All services
provided are free and serve physical
and emotional needs and many needs
in between, including; counseling for
women and play therapy for children
from ages 3 and above. Their services
include case management, advocacy
with the local court system, and work-
ing with social services to find housing
and income.
The NCWRC encourages con-
tinued counseling whether individ-
just like a pornographic representa-
tion of a teacher or a nurse-“Ooh,
baby, baby, I got a cure…” but only
when the camera’s looking.
I read the first page and its fraudu-
lent, inane screeching confirmed what
I already knew: Ann Coulter and all
others like her, who do not write from
a mandate of compassion, imagina-
tion, courage, or a genuine desire
to help or inform humanity, have
allowed—to quote the burning words
of Ginsberg—“the absolute poem of
life to be butchered out of their bod-
ies.” Who needs love, creativity, or
truth when you’ve got the long arm of
money up your skirt?
This summer, the real writ-
ers, teachers, nurses, doctors, artists
of SLO Code Pink are using all the
change in our pockets to engender a
passionate, heart-felt dialogue.
In July and August, SLO Code
Pink is sponsoring the following films:
NOT to restart your breathing or
heart should they stop.
An Advance Directive is not the
same as a Do Not Resuscitate.
When I am explaining the differ-
ence to the clients, I use examples such
as my grandmother who has Alzheim-
er’s disease. My family made the deci-
sion that goes beyond the Advance
Directive to add a “Do Not Resusci-
tate.” Our decision revolved around
the quality of my grandmother’s life
now that she is in the end stage of her
disease.
If we did not have a DNR in place
and she stopped breathing or her heart
stopped, medical personnel would
have to abide by her Advance Direc-
tive. The way it is written, as most are,
has very broad criteria for decision
making. CPR would be preformed
and, in her frail state, her ribs may be
ual, group, or for the children. Past
clients call with varying needs and
continue to receive services, includ-
ing court advocacy. Since each case is
unique, assistance must meet diverse
needs, including; child care, with ser-
vice referrals for job training, medical
care, and transportation. Whatever the
challenge, the North County Wom-
en’s Resource Center steps up to meet
extraordinary need with extraordinary
effort.
Although a few women will go
home (affordable housing is becoming
harder to find), with continued service
support, most women won’t return to
a harmful situation. Women enter-
ing a shelter for the first time have
already fled their “situation” to live
with friends or family several times.
Today, due to comprehensive sup-
port programs, it’s the hope of each
women’s domestic violence shelter in
our county that battered women will
want to find a way out of their domes-
tic nightmare and with their children,
begin to live again.
Inside Iraq, Thursdays, July 13, 20, 27:
7pm at the SLO Library
I Know I’m Not Alone, Tuesdays, Aug
8, 15, 22: 7pm at the  SLO Library
Free admission. Donations joy-
ously accepted.
Our July 10th meeting will be
dedicated to “un’ Raising.” As always,
everyone is encouraged to attend.
ECOSLO, Marsh & Nipomo @ 6.30
PM.
For more information,
please check out our website:
www.slocodepink.org or e-mail Dian
Sousa, ososousaville@aol.com.
broken and she may have a tube placed
for breathing. Then, once at the hos-
pital, two doctors would have to do
tests and agree that she was going to
live in a “vegetative state” before med-
ical intervention could be stopped.
We would then have to make another
hard decision, when to “unplug” her
life-sustaining equipment.
I encourage everyone over 18 to
have an Advance Directive in place.
When filling out the form, there is an
area for additional information. Think
about what quality of life is for you
and give specific guidelines to those
who will be making decisions for you.
For those of you who are caring
for someone that has a disease or is at
an age that makes it necessary to think
about resuscitation, I encourage you
to discuss quality of life versus length
of life with them. Discuss the pros and
Women’s Press July & August 2006 | editors@womenspress-slo.org
Dolores Winje: A victim helping other victims
In 1985, after suffering in a physically abusive marriage for 22 years, Dolores
Winje’s husband shot her in the neck and jaw with a shotgun. She lived. After a
lengthy and painful recovery, including three surgeries; she picked up women,
day or night, who sought shelter at the SAFE House – and she did this for 14
years. Since 1989, she’s used her emotional pain to share her story with youth
at the California Youth Authority, hoping to reach their humanity and create
prevention.
Dolores was one of five recipients of the State of California’s first Doris Tate
Award in 1993 for “exceptional dedication and commitment to creating and en-
hancing the awareness among inmates of the plight of victims.” Dolores, a life-
long resident of San Luis Obispo, had been a successful small businesswoman,
and still is. She makes time to visit Paso every two months to speak to the youth
there because she believes wholeheartedly in a future of prevention.
Her best advice: “Get out. I stayed because I was a crusader and I wanted
to save someone who didn’t want to be saved. There’s no trick. No magic pill for
making this decision. There comes a time, I find, when people get sick and tired
of being sick and tired.”
Homeschooling Part 3
Keep Those Vacation-Numbed
Brain Cells Active
By Elizabeth McGregor
So here we are; well into our sum- Explore the Web! Sit down at the
mer vacation and I can see the telltale computer with your child and visit
signs of lethargy in both of my chil- some educational websites. Here are
dren. I am not opposed to an occa- a few of my favorite sites to visit with
sional supervised session of Sponge my kids:
Bob or Game Boy, but I refuse to let • nationalgeographic.com/kids.
this summer vacation become a Gold- Great place to learn about ani-
fish-eating, channel surfing, video mals, nature, science and geog-
game-playing marathon. raphy.
So what to do? • www.kinderart.com
Like most parents, I try to expose Fun site for the creative minds
my children to a balance of fun and in your home! Arts and crafts,
responsibility, incorporating educa- contests, art history and lots of
tional activities into everyday activi- projects! Fun for all ages.
ties as often as possible. With that in • www.starfall.com
mind, I have compiled some of the Wonderful resource for parents
most useful ideas and resources that of younger children who are
I have found, to keep those vacation- learning to read, grades K-2.
numbed brain cells active. • www.funbrain.com
Spend a few days working with Lots of fun games that teach
each child on a specific project; help math, reading and more! Geared
them along, being sure to do things toward kids 12 and under.
with them, but not for them! • www.learningpage.com
Put on a play or concert. Create a This site requires you to sign up,
basic stage in your home or yard, and but it’s free. It is directed pri-
then let them make costumes and play marily towards homeschoolers
music; or write and act out a simple and teachers, however, there is a
play. It can be as simple or elaborate lot of great clipart for coloring,
as you want it to be. Don’t forget the interesting activities and lots of
video camera! links to other cool sites.
Make and fly paper airplanes. • www.primarygames.com
There are several good websites that Lots of games, puzzles and proj-
can show you how to make many dif- ects, all educational--but dis-
ferent styles, from basic to complex (I guised as fun!
like www.paperairplanes.co.uk). Make Remember to supervise your
a few different models and compare children when they are online. And
how they perform. Modify them as remind yourself often that this is sum-
necessary to introduce your child to mer; time for their little brains to rest
the concepts of aerodynamics. and recharge. The big idea is to have
Foster an animal. Check the local fun!
shelters for fostering programs. This is
a great way to teach your children the Elizabeth McGregor is a freelance
responsibility of caring for a pet, with- copywriter and designer. She can be
out the lifetime commitment. A great reached through her website at www.
opportunity to help the shelter, the writingfinelines.com
animal, and your child.
cies, the library, and a reliable internet
cons of CPR, what end of life wishes
site. Another helpful guide is called
they have, and how they want to be
“Five Wishes,” available at www.
cared for. I know it is a difficult dis-
myhealthdirective.com.
cussion – but it is so necessary.
There are many places to get infor-
You can reach Teri at Client Care
mation on Advance Directives and Do
Consultants, 805-466-4435
Not Resuscitate orders. Be sure to get
the information for your State. Here
are a few ideas: your healthcare pro-
vider, clergy, care manager, hospice
agency, attorney, senior resource agen-
Women’s Press July & August 2006 | editors@womenspress-slo.org
Mind Your Business:
CASH FLOW - The Key to
Controlling Your Business
By Andrea Zeller
Where’s the Cash?
Are you a business owner who strug-
gles to pay your bills? How many of
you have had to dip into personal
pockets to make payroll or use high-
interest credit cards to cover debts?
The stress of doing business on
emergency levels takes away from your
business in more ways than you might
think. You will have far greater control
over your business and your personal
stress level if you learn to project out
the day-to-day cash flow—the money
that flows in and out of your business.
Using the simple steps outlined below,
you can learn to control this essential
aspect of your business.
Identify Money Flowing in to the
Business
Here are simple techniques to help
you understand how cash is flowing in
to your business:
First, count the cash you have on
hand. Use the total cash on hand at
the beginning of the first month in
your projection. After completing the
steps listed here, you will arrive at the
end-of-month cash on hand. The end-
ing cash balance will then become the
beginning cash balance of the next
month.
Second, estimate the cash receipts
expected during the month. This will
include cash sales, credit card sales,
collections from credit account and
any interest income. The key here is
to record the actual amount of money
you expect to flow in. Do not include
sales when cash is not received.
Third, record the cash you expect
from accounts receivables into the
month in which you expect the cash
to be received. It is a good idea to cal-
culate your “average collection period”
by dividing your total sales for the
previous year by 365. This gives you
an average daily sales volume. Then
divide the dollar value of your cur-
rent accounts receivable by the aver-
age daily sales volume. This number
gives you the average number of days
it takes you to collect on bills owed to
your business. You can use this aver-
age time frame to estimate future pay-
ments as they come in over the next
year.
Fourth, add in any miscellaneous
cash such as loan proceeds, stock offer-
ings or owner cash infusions.
Subtotal cash available. For each
month in your projection, adding
items as specified in steps one through
four above will give you the total cash
available to you in each month.
Identify Money Flowing out of the
Business
Now for cash paid out. Yes, I
know, this is the painful part. Now
you need to list all your operating
expenses. Be sure to document all
expenses in the month in which you
expect to actually pay for them. You
can use last year’s expense records to
help you project this year’s expenses.
Here’s a short list of items you’ll
want to include. Your business will
undoubtedly have its own unique list
of expected expenditures.
• Gross Wages
• Payroll taxes and benefits
• Supplies
• Repairs and maintenance
• Postage, packaging, shipping
costs
• Advertising
• Rent
• Telecommunications
• Utilities
• Insurance
• Professional service fees (accoun-
tants, lawyers, consultants etc.)
• Interest due on loans
• Loan principal payments
• Other expenses unique to your
business
• Owner’s draw
• Capital expenditures (depreciable
expenditures such as equipment,
vehicle, leasehold improvements,
building etc)
• Miscellaneous (it’s a good idea to
pad your estimate with a small
cushion)
Subtotal Cash Paid Out. When
you finish listing the month’s expenses,
subtotal all the expenses of doing busi-
ness. This reflects your estimate for
the total cash you will need to have in
that month.
Determine the Month’s Cash
Flow. Subtract the cash paid out sub-
total from your total cash available
to identify your cash flow for each
month. As you project your cash flow
over 12, 24, or 36 months, each month
should be positive. If it is not, you’ll
need to take steps to mitigate those
months where cash flow is expected
to be short. A quick scan over each
month’s totals in a year can give you
an idea of how much an alternative
cash reserve should be.
Alternative cash reserve could be
in the form of a savings account, a
line-of-credit from your bank, or per-
haps an action as simple as tighten-
ing up on the time needed for your
accounts receivables to be paid.
If you’d like an MS Excel cash-flow
spreadsheet to help you capture a cash
flow picture, email info@MCSCorp.
org. And, if you’d like more help with
your projections, give us a call. We’re
here to help you learn to control and
manage your business for success.
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.
Tools for speaking success
Connecting at the Speed of Trust
By Dianne Legro
The first few seconds of meet-
ing between two people are driven
by instinctive reactions. Each per-
son makes unconscious, unthinking
appraisals that have to do with assess-
ing their own safety. “I do/don’t feel
safe with you” and “I do/don’t trust
you.”  This animal instinct is our fight
or flight response. We are super alert
at a subconscious level until we assess
how safe we are to reveal ourselves and
how fast we can reveal ourselves.
Becoming aware of this fact is key
to the progress of the relationship.  cultures (France for one) a smil-
Here are four things people register
instantly that you can add to your
awareness for more success when you
are meeting new people.
1. Attitude- Your attitude is the
first thing people pick up on. It is an
option to consciously choose your
attitude. Based on testing of this in my
field we know the three best to choose
are: enthusiastic, curious, and humil-
ity. The number one people factor
most admired by others is health and
vitality. Are you putting energy in the
room? Are you encouraging growth
and giving rather than taking?
2. Body Language- is 60% of
what we communicate about our-
New Career Q&A Column
The Place of Not Knowing
By Denise Nickeson
There is a time for departure, even when there’s no
certain place to go. -Tennessee Williams
When I was laid off from my job last
year, a lot of well-meaning but con-
cerned friends, family and co-workers
wanted to know, “What’s Your Plan?”
( I knew the layoff was coming so it
wasn’t a surprise.) or, “Do you have
something lined up?” The truth was
I had neither “a plan” nor “something
lined up”. In fact, I wasn’t quite sure
WHAT I wanted to do next. I wanted
to experience NOT knowing for a
while.
I started with career self-help
books; while helpful, they didn’t pro-
vide me with any real clarity or direc-
tion. It wasn’t until I started working
with career coach Mary Lyn Miller
that I began to. She guided me
through self-assessment tool she had
created called CORE ESSENCE™.
The interesting thing was that it wasn’t
so much about identifying a potential
good “job” as much as it was about
helping identify my core talents, val-
ues and motivations. Through a series
of some brief (and fun!) exercises and
discussion we came up with a list of
adjectives that comprised my CORE
ESSENCE. It was a very powerful
experience; I felt like I had found my
North Star. From there we set about
putting together a vision of what I
wanted to my life to look like, since
WomeninBusiness 
selves. You want your body language to
be open (high heart in open chest) fac-
ing your new meet.  You want to mir-
ror the person you are speaking with.
Be subtle, but reciprocate in kind with
similar gestures and vocal inflections.
Why? (We) People trust others who
seem to be like us.
3. Eye Contact- Look people in the
eye and smile. In most cultures this is
the fastest way to let people know you
are happy to be with them. (When
traveling, do research this—in SOME
ing stranger can be interpreted as an
approaching con.
4. Voice- Lower the pitch of your
voice. It signifies your competence,
self-esteem, confidence and authority. Dianne Legro helps clients achieve
When we are stressed our voices get solid rapport with their audiences, live
tight and small, or forced. Others inter- and in radio and television appear-
pret this as “overwhelmed” or “discon- ances. Her essays and articles have been
nected” from yourself. Unfortunately reprinted extensively. As a speaker she
this creates skepticism about your effec- gives Keynotes on Creativity, Leader-
tiveness and sincerity. ship, Communication Skills, Market-
These are four things that contrib- ing via Speaking, and Expanding the
ute to connecting instantly with high Spirit. Contact her office at 805-534-
trust.  By no means are they ALL the 9535 for one to one coaching and cor-
relevant factors, but they do help with porate group training programs. Visit
initial trust building and rapport with diannelegro.com.
audiences and individual interviews.
BookReview
By Anne R. Dunbar
Mama Makes Her Mind
Up and Other Dangers of
Southern Living
You may want to pick up this enter-
taining little book written by Bailey
my coach informed me: “You Don’t White and published by Vintage
Need a Plan, You Need a Vision!” Books.
It’s now almost a year since my lay It is a delightful selection of short
off and I’ve managed to create a port- stories written about her unbeliev-
folio career for myself. I have com- able family in north Georgia. A warm
bined a “regular” part-time job with Southern flavor permeates the book.
contract work conducting employee You will find yourself relaxing with a
development workshops. I also get glorious slice of family color, absur-
to take others through the CORE dity, and imagination. This is a book
ESSENCE™ process. I use skills that for the busy person who needs to let
come naturally to me and that I enjoy go and giggle but perhaps doesn’t
using! Such an improvement, such find the time to invest in a full-length
a change from my last employment book at the moment.
experience! To me the key was getting Bailey is a first-grade teacher who
guidance, support and insight with a lives with her interesting, uninhibited
self discovery process that is difficult mother in a land of surprises where al-
to do alone. ligators can be trained, baths are taken
Often it’s not the change that on the front porch, and a pet parakeet
scares us as much as the transition: is “something like a husband.”
when things aren’t the old way but Don’t miss this unique collection
they’re not really a new way yet either. of stories depicting down-to-earth
It can scare you and keep you stuck. living in an American town!
With guidance and support you can
get unstuck and be on your way to a
life filled with joy, passion, purpose
and fulfillment.
Denise Nickeson’s column will offer
answers to questions about various job
hunting or career transition issues you
may have. She offers individual career
coaching and consulting services. She
can be reached at dnickeson@hotmail.
com.
 Women’sStories
The Wonder of It All
The Magic Flute
By Hilda Heifetz
In the sixties, exploring the Oriental
religions, I came upon “sumi-e” in the
context of Zen Buddhism. It’s a form
of brush painting sometimes referred
to as “meditation in ink.” It’s more
than art in the usual sense, for it holds
a mystiques which values the “process”
over the “product.” Sumi-e is the Japa-
nese term for ink paintings.
Traditionally, one grinds one’s
own ink from a special charcoal stick,
uses a pointed brush which can create
strokes from the thinness of an eyelash
to the thickness of heavy bamboo and
mountains. One paints on sensitive,
absorbent rice paper. This discipline
needs a certain “mindfulness,” a cer-
tain detachment from daily pressures.
In Japan, both men and women prac-
tice sumi-e for the relaxation alone.
Of course, talented artists create won-
derful pictures as well.
Though I work in different forms
of art, sumi-e was a love-at-first-
sight happening, and I’ve been paint-
ing (even teaching) this style for over
thirty years. (If I have my way, I would
like to make my ultimate departure
with a sumi brush in my hand.)
Circle Connections:
An Interview with Founder Ann Smith
By Beverly Engel
The organization, The Millionth Cir-
cle, had its first meeting some six
years ago and I was privileged to be
invited. A group of high-powered
women came together to discuss how
we could work together to spread the
word about the power of women’s cir-
cles, as well as offer guidelines on how
to start a circle. I met Ann Smith at
this first gathering. She, like myself,
had been working to promote circles
and conducting circle trainings for
many years. At the time she was work-
ing as Director of Global Education
Associates, an NGO (non-government
organization) with the United Nations
and was instrumental in bringing the
circle to the United Nations.
As so often happens, our work
with the Millionth Circle got bogged
down due to conflicts about how to
proceed. Our decision making pro-
cess, which was circular in structure,
became too unwieldy—we were just
too many people trying to come to a
consensus. Now Ann Smith is doing
what we in the Millionth Circle set
out to do.
Along with Carol Hanson Grey
and Rhonda Hull, she has created an
organization dedicated to promoting
circles as an avenue to deeper relation-
ships, a sense of belonging, an inspira-
tion for action and a path to peace.
Ann has taken her experience
working with Global Education Asso-
ciates, as well as what she learned from
working with PeaceXPeace promoting
circles in the U.S., and has applied it
to her new company, Circle Connec-
tions.
For $35 a year membership an
individual can have a 20-minute con-
sultation with a circle trainer and get
assistance in how to create their first
circle. They will also have access to
Circle Mentors who can host a circle
in their area. Still another aspect of the
program will be recorded interviews
and teleconferencing calls on circle
Women’s Press July & August 2006 | editors@womenspress-slo.org
Unsung Heroine
Granny of Peace
By Emily Yurcheshen
Dee Carroll can be spotted every third material was military bashing so they
When my fiend, Edmee, offered
Saturday on the corner of El Camino moved our table into the career room
to ease the sorrow of my husband’
Real and Highway 41 with 15-20 oth- where nobody knew we were even
death in 1972, she invited me
ers standing silently with peace signs. there.” Because Dee felt this informa-
to go with her to a summer
This group is known as the Women in tion needed to be accessible to chil-
course at UC Santa Cruz
Black. Dee started it a year and half dren, she created the Peace Youth Fair
featuring “abstract
ago to bring greater awareness about at the Sunken Gardens in Atascadero.
sumi-e.” I accepted.
peace to the North County. But it The fair was well attended and there
What took
was her dedication and contribution were many prominent peace activists
place during the
to Atascadero’s children that brought there including Melinda Forbes, the
workshop will
her to my attention and has earned facilitator of a highly successful chil-
never be forgot-
her the Unsung Heroine title for this dren’s organization that voices its call
ten. The teacher
issue. In May, this 73-year-old woman for peace through creativity. “I have to
who led the
organized the first give Melinda Forbes
course was an
annual Peace Youth a lot of the credit.
inspired artist,
Fair in Atascadero. We held most of the
philosopher,
The motivation for meetings for this at
and musi-
this event stemmed her house,” she said.
cian. He wove
from her grand- Dee has always
his commentary
daughter Amber’s been a teacher of
around the essence
service in Iraq.When kindness and respect
of Zen, and to our ut-
Amber joined the for her eleven chil-
ter delight, he played the
National Guard six dren. “I’ve been
flute while we painted! Sheer magic!
years, ago, Dee said youth-oriented all
Flute and brush weaving a spell, a Ah, Edmee, what an act of friend-
to her, “What do my life. If I wasn’t
dance materializing on the rice paper ship that was! How healing! And as I
you want to join the teaching peace, I was
by enchanted painters, music and ink continue to point this way, strains of
military for? They teaching my children
in a rapture of their own. It was all a the magic flute emerge.
just teach you to to behave in a peace-
demonstration of the “process” over
kill.” Amber’s reply ful manner, to not
the “product” as in Zen.
was “Oh, Grandma, I’m not going to be racist or critical of others. I would
kill anyone. I just want them to help take them to convalescent hospitals
with my education.” Five years later,
Amber was sent to Iraq and the hor-
ror she witnessed there led her and her
and preschools for the mentally hand-
icapped children, so they could learn
how to be kind to people. That’s where
grandmother to become strong peace peace begins, inside of each of us and
advocates. you’ve got to do that on an individual
After attending a San Luis Obispo basis, on a family basis and it goes on
peace rally, Dee learned through Code into the schools, into our country and
topics. In a recent telephone inter-
Pink about different avenues for grad- into the world.” Dee Carrol is a model
view, Ann told me: “Circle experts
uating high school students besides for us all to stand up for what we
like Christina Baldwin, Jean Shinoda
the military. After attending a Santa believe in and to each do our part to
Bolen, and yourself will be part of the
Barbara training on this issue, Dee bring greater peace to our planet and
teleconferencing calls. We want the
decided to share these alternatives guide our children. “This youth issue
group to be culturally diverse so we
with Atascadero High School. She is very important. They are our future.
will also have Claire Peterson from
set up a table in the quad and was They are going to inherit this world,
Canada and my friend, Jenny Doc-
well received by the students there. and we have to make them aware of
tor, an indigenous leader from Alaska,
“But then the principal decided the what is happening now.“
among others.”
Ann wants Circle Connections
to become a clearinghouse for circle
events.
They plan on creating a newsletter
that will include all good news about
how circles are being brought into
various environments. “We want to be
able to share best practices with one
another and share our collective wis-
dom and power,” Ann explained.
In addition to her work with Cir- 18th Annual Greenspace
cle Connections, Ann is also coordi-
nator of Gather the Women, South Art and Adventure Auction
Florida. “We decided to call a large
circle and two hundred people showed
up! From this event, we formed four Purchase art by some of
action circles based on interests and
passion. We have learned to organize the finest artists in
around the dream versus the prob-
lem.”
SLO County
And what about The Millionth
Circle? What is happening with that
organization? As Ann explained:
Bid on an Arctic
“The Millionth Circle is our vision expedition, a cruise thru
keeper and has had a strong presence
at national and international events.
the Panama Canal and more! Gateway to Greenspace
Besides teaching others about Cir- Creekside Reserve
cle Principles, it provides us with the By Brent Berry
vision and the depth in which cir-
cle principles can be taken. This is a
very important role. ” For more infor- Saturday, August 19th, 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
mation on Circle Connections go to
www.circleconnections.com.
Cambria Veterans’ Memorial Hall
In the next issue, Beverly will share more 1000 Main Street, Cambria
about her interview with Ann Smith
and her work bringing circles back to
Tickets: $8 in advance or $10 at the door
the indigenous people of Alaska.
See page 10 for an upcoming Cicle (call the office at 927-2866)
Connections event in San Francisco.
 Women’s Community Center Presents the 32nd Annual

Saturday
August 12, 2006
10 am to 5 pm
Mission Plaza

Day with Creative Women celebrates women’s creativity with music and entertainment,
arts and crafts for display and sale, delicious food, and children’s activities.
A fundraiser for the Women’s Community Center of San Luis Obispo, For more information and/or to request an application for
dedicated to the empowerment of women. a booth at the event, go to www.wccslo.org, call
805.544-9313, or email info@wccslo.org, subject: DWCW.

11:00 Triad. Three living legends blossom a blend of beautiful sounds and smooth jazz-like
movement telling tales that will spellbind young and old alike. Through music-
storytelling-mime, you will see, hear, feel the hero’s journey in your heart. Francesca
Nemko, storyteller, Fran Dukehart, mime artist, and Grady Houser, musician.
• Fran Dukehart is a Master Movement Artist (MMA) who has done aerial bal-
let for the Greatest Show on Earth and been a chorus line dancer and elephant
rider for the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus. She has studied mime,
pantomime, and clowning and seeks to fulfill the challenge of one of her mime
teachers to develop the body of an athlete, the mind of a novelist, and the heart
of a poet.
• Francesca Nemko is a writer and performance artist, who offers her creativity
in a multitude of ways. For the Day With Creative Women (which will be her third
appearance) she’ll be seen and heard as a storyteller with Triad. Her writing by-
line has appeared in many local publications, as well as in national jazz magazines.
• Grady Houser’s entire life has been filled with both music and art. He has a
wide array of oil paintings, available for viewing in various places, most notably in
Cayucos, where he currently makes his home. He has honed his musical ability,
and now can be heard playing acoustic guitar and flute, as he does with Triad.

12:00 Mary Donnelly and the Tribal Mundo Dancers’ encore performance at this
year’s Day With Creative Women will be their 180th performance as they continue
their “Year of the Dog” Tour with shows for the Children’s Creative Project’s “I
Madonnari” Festival (Mary’s World Dance Studio sponsors a beautiful chalk painting
each year!), the Alzheimer’s Association’s “Memory Walk,” and concluding with their
27th benefit performance for the Cabrillo Care Center at the end of summer.

1:00 Sheri Odenwald, singer of country/folk and original pieces, now known as Sheri
O, moved to Cambria in 1979 from Santa Barbara where she performed at such
places as Cold Spring Tavern and Teasers as Sheri Geiger. Married to Lee Oden-
wald, mother of four and now grandmother to three boys, she performs on the last
Wednesday of every month at the Cambria Pines Lodge. She also performs at wed-
dings and social events in the area.

2:00 Jennifer Young and Travis Larson. Since 1996 The Travis Larson Band has deliv-
ered their Jazz/Rock Fusion instrumentals to guitar fans everywhere, and the music
world has taken note. With the release of three albums, a live concert DVD and a
fourth album in the works, this award-winning band continues to garner rave re-
views at home and abroad.

3:00 Karen Tyler, winner of the 2003 Monterey Bay Blues Festival’s Battle of the Bands
and a California Arts Council Touring Artist, was referred to as “one of the world’s
top female Blues artists and easily the greatest North American songstress” by Real
Blues Magazine.

4:00 Running with Scissors, formerly known as the Central Coast Blues Divas, has
reformed and are bringing their bold blend of jazz, blues, world and American roots
music to the central coast. The lineup includes Dona Deack on vocals, guitar and
drums, Helen Edwards on vocals and bass, Lisa Smith on vocals, guitar and drums,
and Karen Tyler on vocals and guitar. Running with Scissors breaks the rules and has
a darned good time doing it with tight four-part harmony and a swinging sound that
is sure to please.
10 CreativeWomen
All Women’s Creative Cooperative
Creates Brave New Options
By Evelyn Adams-Ryal
When one woman exerts
positive force--- empow-
erment and change take
place. When women
come together as a
positive force, a
unique synergy
takes place that
begins to change
the world, one
community at a
time.
This summer
a group of women
have been meeting
in my home studio
and other studios in
Los Osos to learn wild
crafting together. Each
woman, an accom-
plished crafter in
varying mediums, was
intrigued by my offer to
teach them how to help other
women reclaim their lives through
creativity. Specifically, to learn to
teach how-to make a diverse array
of products. Our products, Brave
New Wares (BNW), form a founda-
tion for the All Women’s Creative
Cooperative. Products range from
custom interior accents to persim-
mon tea with everything in between.
Legacy
By Jodee Smith
I inherited a garden.
Not from my mother but from the Great Mother Herself.
I am a living plant in that garden
And it is my birthright and my responsibility
To bloom – fully and completely.
I didn’t always know this.
For many years I had no idea I was a seed
Or that I could bloom.
And when I finally knew I could,
I had no idea what I could bloom into,
What I wanted to bloom into.
So I spent all my time underground
Afraid to bloom.
Afraid to come up because maybe I would get eaten,
Or thunder and rain would wash me totally out of the garden.
Things like that.
I saw other plants blooming and sprouting,
But I stayed down there safely in the ground.
Then one day a very friendly mole came digging by
And told me about the sun.
And a very wise worm told me about breath and relaxing.
I began to like those things and I began to feel safe.
In this I grew myself, watered by my tears.
I grew myself from the roots of unworthiness,
Out of the tight soil of repression
And the squelching weeds of conformity,
Out of the mire of mediocrity
And the poison of fear.
I grew in my own way,
Pulled by a Light brighter than the sun
Radiating to the petals in my heart.
I grew myself beautiful and triumphant
In full flower color!
I am living wholly in my garden, now,
In my Holy Garden.
Women’s Press July & August 2006 | editors@womenspress-slo.org
The cooperative will We believe women can change
include members from the world, one women’s community
across the county at a time
who are, or were once We invite you to assist in the
homeless women formation of All Women’s Creative
and women with Cooperative this summer for a life-
children. The changing experience!
BNW website
shopping cart
is set to open
this fall
OPEN HOUSE
Whether
woman has been
a
Come celebrate the opening The Wonder of It All
of our “Wild Home Gallery”
Dis-Oriented in Japan
battered, homeless
or not, she needs
Friday, July 28th and 29th
to be with other
women, not isolated, from 7-9 each evening By Hilda Heifetz
AND the stronger and 2250 Doris Avenue, Los Osos Being dis-Oriented in Japan? It was in by exotic Oriental scales and improvi-
more whole we are, Silent auction / raffle and October 1977 when my long-antici- sations? Perhaps you noticed that we
the more we need to pated tour was happening, at last! As a were in Japan in October 1977, a few
share our strength and
door prizes both evenings
Japanese brush painting (sumi-e) art- months after the August death of Elvis
nurture one another. Proceeds to benefit ist and teacher, I wanted to enrich my Presley.
Here in San Luis Obispo, All Women’s Creative work by the personal experience and To my utter amazement, we
we will see all women across our Cooperative pleasure of immersing myself in their attended a special tribute to Elvis. The
county grow, who want to grow. Oriental culture. Sumi-e had won my performers were Japanese “Rockettes”
All Women’s Creative Coopera- heart by way of Zen. – a chorus line dressed in the satin
tive is for women who want to come When we arrived at the Tokyo and glitter of cowboy outfits like ones
together, to grow a business that airport, we were met by the Japanese he wore. And the music all evening
will help them reclaim humanity. For more information on how
tour guide. After being comfortably was top songs of Presley recordings. It
We make Brave New Wares to give you can participate at any level---call
seated in the tour bus heading for was dis-Orienting!
brave new options: options for our Eve at 815-8700 or go to BraveNew-
out hotel, she introduced herself. The Do you ask if we ever discov-
producers and brave new options Wares.com or write to: goodideas@
most intense aspect of her account ered real Japan? Ah so, indeed! And
for our buyers. bravenewwares.com
dealt with her brother’s and her depar- the wonder of it all! The charm-
ture from the strict Japanese mores. ing architecture; beautiful gardens,
She had married outside her race to ancient temples; authentic cooking;
an Australian and her brother had
committed himself to his wife’s fam-
ily instead of assuming his responsi-
tiny eating places with signs outside
proclaiming in English: “coffee and
jazz”; paper-making studios in which
bilities as the only son of his own. The the various papers were the pictures;
outcome was disturbing to all, and she viewing majestic Fuji from the bul-
solemnly concluded; “Just like in “The let train. The human figure, bowing,
Fiddler on the Roof ”! What?! was a familiar sing of Japanese hospi-
As an American Jewish woman, I tality, but it became a practice in the
felt I’d never left home. In the States, Ginza department stores to substitute
our people treasure the film and its a robot at the escalators. They were
message, of course. But here in the also used as highway guards.
Orient, everything would be different, The Western opening of our East-
right? We were supposed to hear bout ern adventure does add a light touch,
the Buddha, the samurai, the Emperor, but it was evidence of the fast-growing
sumo and sushi, for instance! Well, global phenomena of national borders
this wasn’t the only surprise … becoming very porous. Ah, Kipling-
The first evening’s event for our san, “East is East and West is West”
tour was attending a Japanese the- but the twain IS surely meeting .Dare
atre. Would we see the Grand Kabuki we hope it will be to the benefit of
or a Noh drama from which it was humankind?
derived? Would our ears be astounded
Changes
By Barbara Elizabeth Atkinson
Subtle changes can be so slight
mimicking the glowing moon
from one night to the next
its deft circumference Magnificence of Circle Retreat
slowly giving way September 22-23, 2006
yet seemingly the same Mercy Center • Burlingame, CA 
As I softly stretch myself (minutes from the San Francisco airport)
treading on expanded horizons
often failing to recognize transformation This three-day workshop retreat is designed for women who want to learn how
as Light continually fills in the whole of me. to start and sustain their circles. You will be given circle theory and practice in a
safe and loving setting where each woman will be empowered to release fears and
grow in self-confidence as skillful circle facilitators and leaders. You will experi-
ence how the circle model values each person and provides unlimited oppor-
tunities for personal growth, collective wisdom, and full participation. You will
explore ways to bring circle to your communities, workplaces, and gatherings.
You will leave with resources and skills to start and nurture circles back home.
For more information and registration, go to: www.circleconnections.com and
click on Trainings and Events
Women’s Press July & August 2006 | editors@womenspress-slo.org CreativeWomen 11

Adventure in the Amazon

By Katherine Stukenberg

Now that my body has finally cooled
off enough to allow my brain cells
to flicker back on, I ask myself: “If a
woman has a hot flash  on the banks
of the Amazon in the Peruvian rain-
forest, does she know it?”  Before
I can answer, my bladder breaks in
on the other line. Since a night walk
down a dimly lit path to a latrine will
be involved, I put the incoming mes-
sage on hold. I divert my attention to
the tightly woven mosquito netting.
Mosquitoes crave me. I am to mos-
quitoes as heroin is to an addict.  They
hold their little mosquito noses
and drill through my 100% Deet-
drenched skin  to swill  my ambro-
sial blood. I tuck  the netting into the
crack between the mattress and the
bed frame and try to go back to sleep.
There are too many sounds outside
the lodge. The sleeping quarters of the
Explorama Lodge  is one long build-
ing open at the window level (cur-
tains provide a primitive privacy) and
the thatched roof sits above the top of
the window in an attempt to lure any
breeze inside the rooms. The rooms are
separated by thin walls of plywood. I
hear the wife of the couple next door
snoring softly. There are birds calling
outside and rather large masses seem
to be rummaging around and through
the ample foliage. Occasionally some-
thing lands on the thatched  roof and
rustles around for awhile. There is also
a frequent whoosh and flutter that
sounds as if it were inside the room. I
scrape a knuckle as I retuck the net-
ting and roll over. To my surprise, I
have cooled off. My feet sneak under
the long tee shirt I have tossed on the
bed to serve as a robe in case I abso-
lutely have to make a latrine trek.
My brain replays the bladder
message. I consider venturing out into
the night. The whoosher whooshes
and flutters. I turn over onto my
other side. My brain puts my blad-
der through. I have no other recourse;
I have to take this call. I fish around
for the long tee shirt and pull my slim
flashlight from underneath my pil-
low. Getting out from under the mos-
quito netting must be an acquired
skill—I’m thankful my husband sleeps
through the clumsy event. Not even
he deserves that much comic relief. I
feel around for the flip-flops I brought
for shower shoes. Since I cannot walk
in thong sandals of any type  even on
flat, smooth surfaces, this is going to
be a vertical version of the mosquito
netting decampment. I unlatch the
hook on the door and stagger down
the path that is brightly lit by kero-
sene lanterns. I switch off my super-
fluous flashlight. The flip flops are
making a lot of noise. I would pre-
fer a bit of anonymity so I try walk-
ing heel first. It’s quieter but slows
me down. Yesterday our guide men-
tioned nocturnal snakes on paths. In
the interest of not upsetting the frag-
ile Amazonian balance of nature, I
opt for not offering any fer-de-lance a
slower target. I lurch quickly forward,
flip flops slapping loudly but some-
what, I hope, more rhythmically.
The latrine also is lit by kerosene
lanterns. I tear off a sheet of tissue
paper and gingerly raise the lid. The
lack of odor surprises me. I tear off two
long strips of tissue and place them on
each side of the toilet seat. I gently
position myself on the protective strips
— my mother would have been so
proud. There is a distinct whoosh and
flutter overhead – no — on the left—
no—right—DAMN!! BATS!! My
bladder has abandoned the commu-
nication center — I’m stranded here
in  the still tropic air amid the furry
bat whir and sibilant lamp hiss. My
brain breaks through: “The bats are
eating mosquitoes. Repeat: The bats
are eating mosquitos.” Ah! My brain
has reached me. My bladder throws
the switch.
I stand carefully, not too sure of
the bats’ sonar. Strips of toilet tissue
are glued to the backs of my thighs. By
the time I’ve peeled them off I’ve
been brushed twice by bat wings. It’s
a soft sensation, more whisper than
touch. We part friends.
This latrine trek occurred in one of
the three primitive but comfortable
Explorama Lodges during a tour of Perú
with the Overseas Adventure Travel
company in May. (The fourth, Ceiba
Tops Lodge, has a pool and air condi-
tioning.)
Linda Rollison and Barbara Ricardo in front of the gallery in Halcyon.
Halcyon Gallery Invites
Local Artists to Exhibit
By Linda Rollison
Nestled in a grove of eucalyptus,
cypress, and pine trees in the village
of Halcyon, the University Center
Gallery offers a unique opportunity
for artists and art lovers to share and
enjoy the creative expression that
abounds on the Central Coast. The
UC Gallery was built in the 1970’s,
designed by artist and Halcyon com-
munity leader, Harold Forgostein. It is
lofty and graceful, and lends authority
to the work exhibited there.
Halcyon is the international head-
quarters of The Temple of the People,
a theosophical organization dedicated
to peace and brotherhood for all
humanity. Art and creativity are fun-
damental components of The Tem-
ple’s philosophy. Three years ago, UC
Gallery curators Barbara Ricardo and
Linda Rollison decided the time was
right to open the gallery to the pub-
lic with a series of exhibits dedicated
to celebrating local creativity. Barbara
and Linda are artists, and both women
have discovered that designing and
hanging a show is an art form in itself,
with its attendant joys, demands, frus-
trations and rewards.
celebration of art. The art is for sale,
but each artist handles his or her own
transactions, and the gallery only asks
for a donation from any sales to help
cover expenses. All Central Coast art-
ists are encouraged to consider exhibi-
tion in the UC Gallery.
In August the next year’s season
will open with a show of the work
the gallery was designed to exhibit,
an impressive and inspiring series of
oil paintings by Harold Forgostein
about the life and legend of the Native
American Peacemaker, Hiawatha. The
opening reception will be held at the
UC Gallery, from 2 to 4 pm on Satur-
day, August 5. The webpage of the gal-
lery will also be enlarged to include an
online gallery of the Hiawatha paint-
ings.
To contact Barbara or Linda or for
more information about the Univer-
sity Center Gallery, call 805-489-2822
or visit http://www.templeofthepeo-
ple.org
The University Center Gallery is
located at 3171 Temple Street in the
village of Halcyon.

Creativity: Our Birthright

The UC Gallery is not a com-
mercial venture. It is dedicated to the

By Emily Yurchesen

I remember the day my work was
born. Depressed and hungering for
expansion, I walked into a Port-
land bookstore and was immediately
drawn to a book entitled The Artist’s
Way by Julia Cameron. Interesting
title I thought, but I don’t have a right
to read it, for I’m not an artist. But I
opened it anyway to a page entitled,
“Basic Principles.” #1 “Creativity is
the natural order of life. Life is energy:
pure creative energy.” I was intrigued
and read on. “There is an underlying,
in-dwelling creative force infusing all
of life-including ourselves.” You mean
to say, creativity is natural and every-
one is creative, even me? “As we open
our creative channel to the creator,
many gentle powerful changes will
happen.” Boy, I sure could use change,
I thought. “Our creative dreams and
yearnings come from a divine source.
As we move toward our dreams, we
move toward our divinity.” This line
struck me, for I always had a desire to
travel the world and an incredible pas-
sion for music, but I wasn’t pursuing
either. I had a steady teaching job and
a long-term sedentary boyfriend. I had
chosen a life or so I’d thought until I
began moving through this 12-week
emotional and spiritual creative recov- ativity. Creativity is our birthright.
ery course, and my life transformed. It is the Om sound that the Hin-
Within a year’s time, I was on dus chant to connect with the divi-
a plane to Asia for a trek in Nepal, ine presence which is within and
watched a cremation on the Ganges all around us. We all have dreams
River in India, and was hired for a 2- that are meant to be manifested.
year teaching contract in Portugal. As Yet in the larger picture, cre-
my world expanded, so did my cre- ativity is how we choose to
ativity. I started using Cameron’s two express and communicate
essential tools in creative recovery: the in every moment. It is
Morning Pages and the Artist’s Date. the care and nurturing
The pages are a “pathway to a strong we give to ourselves,
and clear sense of self. They are a trail our families, our
that we follow into our own interior, communities and
where we meet both our own creativ- Mother Earth
ity and our creator “ (15). Writing on a who creates con-
daily basis, I began tapping into a wise stantly to nour-
intuitive voice. ish all life. Many
I also started doing Artist Dates, blessing to you
which is simply a solitary play date, as you explore
an hour or two a week you explore your dreams and
something that delights you and and do your part
brings your inner child joy. My dream to create a more
of playing music also began to take peaceful, loving,
shape. I brought my beautiful Martin and joyful world.
guitar out of the closet where it had
sat for six years virtually untouched.
Words and music began to flow to me,
and soon there were songs and CDs
and performances and teaching others
to create music and unblock their cre-
12 Body&Soul
Spirituality Matters
Meaning of Life
By Heather Mendel
At a recent screening of the movie
“One,” it was interesting to see how
people being interviewed, even those
who are spiritual teachers, were taken
aback when asked to express their
views on “the meaning of life.”
We are all very busy living our
lives, following the important agendas
that fill our pocket calendars or their
digital equivalents, and searching for
meaning. If you were to stop reading
these words right now and jot down
on a piece of paper your answer to
the question, I wonder what it would
be? How long does it take us to com-
pose an answer to a seemingly simple
question that is directed at the way we
each spend our waking hours – and
perhaps, those during sleeping time,
too? With a little time to put my own
thoughts together, I would suggest
that Life is a gift, a precious gift that
we too often take for granted until
some unexpected event – an illness,
accident, or other trauma shifts our
focus and awakens us to the forgotten
miracle of each day we are alive.
Judaism asks us to be a bless-
ing – not recite a blessing, or think a
My Menopause
By Anne Dunbar
I feel hesitant. I wish to appear calm
and together. I am menopausal and
eager to present a view of nonresis-
tance. I value this experience as I did
every other phase of my life. I’ve never
been afraid of life until now. Still, I
forge on into menopause knowing
that this is next for me.
I don’t really know who or what
I am becoming. Being a woman, I
have wished for less pain and flow of
life force from me. At the same time,
isn’t the one I am becoming a woman
also? In the female tradition, myste-
rious, unknown, unseen, am I to be
the crone or the wise one? What is a
crone anyway? The dictionary calls her
a withered old woman! No, anything
but that!
ng for
ok i
Lo
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P01421 11/02
blessing, but become a blessing. If we
awaken to the meaning of life as an
opportunity to experience this mate-
rial world as a spiritual being on a
human journey, here to listen when
others need a listener, to talk or act
when words or deeds of loving-kind-
ness are required by another, we
become the blessing. When we honor
and respect one another’s uniqueness,
with the understanding that we each
carry the identical spark of divin-
ity – when we learn to take care of
and nurture ourselves as well as those
we love and care for, we become the
blessing. When we take time to stop,
and breathe, and look at the miracles
of each day in this beautiful place that
we call home, and give thanks for the
opportunity we have to experience
our lives, we become the blessing. Liv-
ing in a space of awakened gratitude,
our answers to the question about the
meaning of life take on a whole differ-
ent perspective.
The time we take each night to
sleep and open to the world of the “not
yet speech-ripe” images of the uncon-
scious as Jeremy Taylor described
I was graceful though critical in
my forties. My fifties are quite dif-
ferent. I am reduced on many levels.
I regret my youthful judgments and
criticisms. I am not taking the fall of
my face gracefully. I am not ok with
how difficult it is to find the edge of
my lips with my lipstick. Occasion-
ally, I am overcome with emotion and
the topics of my distress are real. Later,
after weeping and making a scene,
I am embarrassed. I value strength
and composure. Perhaps these issues
would never have come out without
my menopause.
I cannot look in a mirror with-
out trying to pull my tummy in. I go
mad with whiskers protruding from
my chin. I am afraid to grow older.
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Home Office: Bloomington, Illinois
them, offer us inspiration for becom-
ing the blessing. Do we take note of
our dreams and mine their images
for the treasures they offer, or do we
simple ignore dreams as the mind’s
shuffling of our daily activities? The
Talmud teaches that a dream uninter-
preted is like an unopened letter.
To answer the question fully about
the meaning of life, it is a reward-
ing exercise to take a few moments
to consider the answer that springs
from our inner being and see where
the answer takes us. Hopefully, to live
in a conscious state of gratitude and a
willingness to become a blessing as we
consciously live our lives.
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.
I’m not sure I have the courage to do
it well. I’m afraid of illness, disability,
and loss of my autonomy. Help!
Some vitamins and minerals help
my body to balance during this time. I
prefer not to take many supplements.
I find exercise helps. There may not be
a way to understand this time intel-
lectually. I can only think from the
heart through this one. Thus, I am liv-
ing and enjoying life, as I become my
next self.
I am not quite sure how I will
emerge from the mid-life crisis, if I
will emerge at all. I am not afraid to
do this, at least in this moment, shar-
ing with you. I am grateful. I value
this chance to write to you about my
menopause.
Learn to use your dreams for fulfilling goals, improving relationships, and changing your life.
Women’s Press July & August 2006 | editors@womenspress-slo.org
Dreams
By Laura Hyde
Rich with symbols and archetypes,
dreams are an invaluable healing
instrument, and when regularly pro-
cessed and understood, can be a path-
way to higher consciousness, healed
relationships, fulfilling your life’s pur-
pose and greater abundance. Dreams 2) What do I need to know from
my dreams so I can take the next step
are jackpots of information, espe-
in my personal and spiritual growth?
cially when you ask for answers to spe-
Dreams occur to help you in every
cific concerns. Edgar Cayce taught,
area of your life, even those areas that
“Dreams work to solve problems
you have built a defense around and do
of the dreamer’s conscious waking
not want to see. (Examples: addiction,
life, and they work to quicken in the
self-destructive behaviors, unresolved
dreamer new potentials which are his/
relationship and childhood issues, unful-
hers to claim.” Such is the capacity of
filling career, etc.)
your nightly dreams.
Dream recall
It’s important to keep in mind
• Set your intention to remember
that each of your dreams, however
your dreams before falling asleep.
silly or insignificant they may first
• Keep a notebook near your bed
appear to be, are abundant with infor-
(or a tape recorder).
mation. They only await your will-
• Immediately upon awaking, focus
ingness to learn. Further, dreams are
on any dreams you have had and
meant to help you, not scare you.
record them as soon as possible.
Being “stories of information,” they
are expressed from your higher self Often, “wisps” become catalysts
for remembering the rest of it
through your subconscious to lovingly
later in the day.
guide you. Countless times I’ve heard
• Commit to remembering your
people exclaim, “I want to learn from
dreams for several months. As
my dreams, but mine seem so weird
you do, your dreams will become
or negative that I’m hesitant to work
easier to remember and under-
with them.”
Learn the language of your dreams stand.
Dreams are highly personal and If you are interested in understand-
using your dreams as a pathway to
your soul is a process. In the book
Season of Changes, Ways of Response it
ing your nighttime dreams, please join
us for a dream workshop in Septem-
ber (see ad below). Because of their
states, “The greatest book of study is honesty, dreams are both powerful
that of your own, written by the soul and healing. Through dream work, we
upon time and space—that of your are able to cultivate a deep and soul-
dreams.” Two key questions to keep in ful relationship with our true self and
mind while working with a dream is: unite authentically with others. Sweet
1) What am I currently dealing dreams!
with, or being affected by, that my
dream may be trying to show me? Laura Hyde is the Spiritual Leader
Dreams tend to reflect your life and of the Unity Church - Five Cities and
its current situation. Thus the thoughts a facilitator of A Course in Miracles.
and feelings you had the previous day is She hosts “Relationship Wisdom” on
key. Public Television. Please visit her at
www.laurahyde.com.
Dream Workshop...
DREAMS: A PATHWAY TO YOUR SOUL
Laura V. Hyde
Spiritual Leader, Counselor, Author & Teacher
Dream Analyst & Instructor of more than 50 dream workshops
What do your dreams mean?
Learn to recall your dreams.
Understand common dream themes.
Recognize your own particular dream language.
Sept 12th, 19th, 26th & Oct 3rd, 2006
6:30 - 8:30 pm, Coalesce Bookstore, Morro Bay, CA
Telephone: 805-748-7506, E-Mail: laura@laurahyde.com, www.laurahyde.com
$145/person, Dream Guide Included
Women’s Press July & August 2006 | editors@womenspress-slo.org
CASA – Court Appointed Special
Advocates for Children of San Luis
Obispo County presents:
13th Annual Kiss the Pig
Kiss the Pig is a contest between com-
munity leaders to see who can raise
the most money for the CASA pro-
gram in SLO County. The candidate
who raises the most money will either
kiss the pig or assign that duty to one
of the other contestants.
Emcee: Bill & JJ from The Coast
Morning Show
Performer: Keith Perry
When: Thursday, July 27, 7 pm
Where: Corner of Chorro & Higuera
Streets during Farmers Market in San
Luis Obispo
Candidates: Anita Robinson, Mission
Community Bank; Carol Thom &
Stacy Stanek-Fairbanks, The Thom
Group Investment & Insurance
Group; Hamish Marshall, WestPac
Development
For more information, contact staff@
slocasa.org, www.slocasa.org
Rendezvous at the Ranch
What: Dinner by McLintock’s and Pa- be held at the Meadow Park Center.
cific Harvest Catering, entertainment,
silent art auction, live auction and raffle and discussion about the struggles of
drawings of more than 20 items.
Emcee: Dave Hovde, KSBY TV 6
Auctioneer: Bill Mello foster spirituality. Dr. Ritter will dis-
When: Saturday, September 9th, 5 PM cuss how the problems with religion
Where: Santa Margarita Ranch, 9000
Yerba Buena Avenue, Santa Margarita
Tickets: $100 per person. $1,000 for a
VIP table of 10.
Call 541-6542 for reservations.
Major sponsors: Santa Margarita
Ranch, McLintock’s, Pacific Harvest
Catering, Johnsen & Johnsen Legal
Support Service, and The Tribune
Proceeds support the recruitment,
training and supervision of volunteers
who advocate for abused and neglected
children in San Luis Obispo County.
Community Counseling
Center seeking clients
The Community Counseling Cen-
ter staff has top notch therapists and
therapy interns and trainees from at
least four universities! These licensed
and pre-licensed therapists need
clients!! So, CCC is seeking clients for
our low cost, sliding fee scale therapy
sessions! Our services are designed for
the uninsured or underinsured client
who could benefit from 10 sessions of
therapy conducted by highly qualified
Licensed Clinical Social Workers or
Marriage Family Therapists. We see
individuals, couples, families, children
and teens. We can see clients in
South County, North County, North
Coast and in SLO during the day, or
evenings and/or weekends. We are
here for you! Please call Gina or Jeff
8:30-5:30, M-F, at 543-7969 for further
info or intake appointment.
Win a Convertible and
support local nonprofit
OPTIONS
OPTIONS Family of Services, a
local nonprofit organization
providing positive choices for people
with disabilities, is holding a raffle for
a 2006 Pontiac Solstice convertible.
Tickets are $100 each and only 1,000
tickets will be sold. The winning
ticket will be drawn and announced at
the Avila Beach Music Festival, Sept.
30, 2006, during a benefit concert in
support of OPTIONS, and the win-
ner need not be present to win.
For further information, contact
Lisa Hersch at 805-772-6066, ext. 101
Join The Coalition of
Welcoming Congregations
Are you a member of a SLO County
religious congregation and
supportive of the Gay, Lesbian, Bi-
sexual, and Transgender community
and its issues?  Would you like to
be part of a special group dedicated
to bridging the gap between the
faith community and the GLBT
community?  Please join us at one
of our monthly meetings of “The
Coalition of Welcoming Congrega-
tions” and find out how your sup-
port can make a difference in SLO
County.  Simply send a message to
Gina Whitaker (gwhitaker@ginanken.
com) or Caro Hall (stbenedicts1@aol.
com) to let us know you are interested
and we’ll get you the details.  Check
out below some of our upcoming
events.
Sunday July 9th, noon – 6 pm
Pride in the Plaza Festival.  Please
attend this wonderful event and come
stop by our booth.
 Saturday, September 9th,
1:30 pm – 3:30 pm.
“Sexual Minorities and Reli-
gious Conflicts”, a workshop by the
renowned author and teacher, Dr.
Kathy Ritter, Professor of California
State University—Bakersfield will
This workshop will consist of lecture
lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender
people to remain religious and to
and sexual minorities came about,
how GLBT persons have attempted
to resolve these conflicts, and what
they can continue to do. We hope
everyone will attend this informative
workshop.
Please call Sari H. Dworkin at
home- (805)773-5139 or cell 559-930-
1747, or Stephanie Simon-Lortie at
(805) 545-0186, if you have questions
about any of these events.
Women’s Shelter grant
to be used for children’s
recreational area
The Women’s Shelter Program of
San Luis Obispo County was recently
awarded a $4,000 grant from the Jans-
sen Youth & Youth Sports Fund, held
at the San Luis Obispo County Com-
munity Foundation. This grant will be
used for the creation of a recreational
area at the Women’s Shelter Program’s
Transitional Housing unit where child
residents can participate in healthy
and safe sports-related activities.
The Women’s Shelter Program of
San Luis Obispo County provides
services (including housing, legal
services, counseling, and outreach/
education) to adults and children
affected by domestic violence and
abuse. The agency can be contacted at
(805) 781-6401.
CommunityBulletins 13
Bounce House Wednesday
at the SLO YMCA
Looking for a fun, safe place to
spend a summer afternoon with your
kids? Then come to Bounce House
Wednesday at the SLO YMCA!
Every Wednesday in June/July/August
from 2pm - 5pm, the YMCA hosts
a bounce house for the community
to enjoy. In addition to the bounce
house, Kids Gym will be open with
a rope swing/dress up stations/crafts
and face painting. Cost is $1 to
bounce for an hour and $5 to bounce
for the afternoon and play in Kids
Gym.
Space still available in
SLO County YMCA
Specialty Camps
4-8 year olds: 9am-11am
Cost: 2-day camps are $30. 3-day
camps are $37. For both camps there
is a $15 program fee (if not already
paid for the year). Fees include snacks
and materials.
TOT CAMPS: 9:30am-11am
1-3 year olds adult participation
required
Cost: $25 per participant + $15 pro-
gram fee (if not already
paid for the year). Fees include snacks
and materials.
Contact Person: Amy Buchanan
(805)543-8325, ext. 120 or abuchanan@
sloymca.org
Central Coast Ag Network
is ready to sow the seeds
of its “Central Coast Grown”
campaign
Local consumers, local agricultur-
alists, and local products are the three
essential ingredients in the Central
Coast Ag Network’s (CCAN) new
“Central Coast Grown” campaign. In
an effort to educate and involve local
consumers, CCAN representatives are
available to give presentations to local
groups and organizations that may be
interested in learning more about the
“Central Coast Grown” campaign.
The cornerstone of the campaign
- which is modeled after many others
from around the state and the country
- is the label that local ranchers and
farmers who join CCAN can use
to market their local products to
consumers who want to buy products
that are grown, raised or produced
right here in San Luis Obispo County.
Contact Debra Garrison at 772-
5623 or go to www.centralcoastgrown.
org.to arrange for a presentation.
14 CommunityBulletins Women’s Press July & August 2006 | editors@womenspress-slo.org

DEMOCRATIC
WOMEN UNITED
Make a difference--get involved!
On September 15th, “The
Volunteer Connection” event will
help people who are interested in
getting involved connect with elec-
tion campaigns. Representatives for
the countywide campaign for the
Democratic slate, as well as represen-
tatives for individual candidates and
propositions will be there to answer
your questions and get you signed up.
They will provide information, talking
points, materials, etc.
This volunteer work, including
precinct walking, phone banking
and anything else that is needed, will
continue throughout October up
until Election Day, when we hope to
celebrate the fact that we took back
our government! DWU will be at Day
with Creative Women--stop by our
booth to find out more or email us at
dwuslo@yahoo.com. Phone number
for more information is 781-0581.

BruceGibson å6 04-05-06 Ldrshp 4/14/06 2:02 PM Page 1 (Black plate)

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Women’s Press July & August 2006 | editors@womenspress-slo.org 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 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 7/4/06.
BackTalk How do you express your creativity?

photos by Lynda Roeller

Heather E. Roeller
I like to express my cre-
ativity mostly with writing,
poems, short stories, that
sort of thing.  I am also an
esthetician student and put-
ting makeup on someone
is another way; transform-
ing the way someone looks
is amazing.  I try to be cre-
ative in every aspect of my
life.  Just being you is being
creative!
Karen Peterson
At various times I’ve done
ceramics, sewing/quilting,
and stained glass.  For the
past fifteen years I’ve been
hooked on Polaroid Transfer
Prints. They start as 35mm
slides, transferred onto Pola-
roid film then printed on
watercolor paper or fabric.  play between ethereal and
They can then be painted
with watercolors or colored
pencils.  I like the creativity
this process adds to a pho-
tograph.
Trudy Sidener
I express my creativity
through cooking.  I usually
listen to Latin music and get
into this trance-like state;
smelling, chopping, blend-
ing, tasting.  I relate to the
book Like Water For Choco-
late. It’s magical for me.
Terre Dunivant
I own a design company,
Gaia Graphics, so creativity
is my stock in trade. Clients
enjoy the process of co-cre-
ating something that looks
good and gets results. I love
the mix of art and busi-
ness, the whole-brain inter-
functional. Before I design
a logo for example, I inter-
view and research, then tell
my dreams to play with
symbols and colors as I fall
asleep thinking about my
client and their business.
Claudia Cadwallader
Fortunately I have many
opportunities to express my
creativity.  Being an acu-
puncturist allows me to use
my intellectual as well as my
creative side.  It is truly a
medical art which allows me
to integrate my two sides.  I
also play the violin and do
some creative writing.

Where to find Women’s Press

All SLO County Libraries and the following exceptionally fine establishments!

LONGEVITY
• 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

HEALTHCARE CENTER Robles – Café Vio, Chelsea Bookshop/Café Novella, Old Mission Coffee House,
Wilmot Market, DK Donuts, Panolivo French Cafe, Community Thrift Shop,
Peter J. Muran, MD Paso Robles Health Foods; Templeton –  Magic Windows Coffee Café, Twin Cities
Board Certified in Holistic Medicine Hospital; Santa Margarita– Santa Margarita Mercantile
• 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
Integrated Medicine Specializing in Cardiac, Brain, Pizza; Los Osos – Starbuck’s, Baywood Laundry, Cad’s, Carlock’s Bakery, Cham-
Digestive & Immune Disorders and Healthy-Aging 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
Sexual Vitality • SAN LUIS OBISPO: Art Café, Booboo Records, Creekside Center, GALA,
Jaffa Café, Marigold Nails, Palm Theatre, Susan Polk Insurance, Susan Rodriquez
Menopause
Insurance, Utopia Bakery, Unity Church, Zoe Wells, Naturopath, Cal Poly
Natural Hormone Balancing for Men and Women Library, Center for Alternatives to Violence, Chamber of Commerce, Cuesta Col-
lege Library, EOC Health Services Clinic, French Hospital, Garden St. Essentials,
Chronic Disease Care
HealthWorks, Healing Alternatives, Jamaca You, Karen Hale Chiropractic, Laguna
Chelation, Detoxification and Nutritional Therapies 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
Reversing the Underlying Cause of Disease, • SOUTH COUNTY: Arroyo Grande – Natural Balance, Mongo’s, World Gym,
Not Just Symptom Management 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
1405 Garden Street, San Luis Obispo
Body Center, 20-minute Fitness; Halcyon – Halcyon Store; Nipomo – World Gym,
805-548-0987
California Fresh; Pismo Beach – Black Pearl Café, HealthWorks, Honeymoon
Subscribe to Our Complementary Lecture Series and Newsletter at
www.longevityhealthcare.com 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