Women’s Independent Press

Kathryn Atwood’s book reviews have appeared in numerous print and online journals and she is the author of the new young adult title,

“Women Heroes of World War II: 26 Stories of Espionage, Sabotage, Resistance, and Rescue

Ms Atwood’s book is available at www.amazon.com

 

Women’s history is not always taught in school, so it is rare that young women are aware of the many accomplishments of women through the ages. One such book, Women Heroes of World War 11 identifies 26 women, who with courage of conviction, used their skills to help defeat the Nazis and made a tremendous difference in the lives of many during that time. If you are interested in history, this book is a must read, it will add to what you may have already learned and it will serve to inspire young women everywhere.
Anna Marie Petrarca Gire
www.womensindependentpress.com

“This book tells the stories of the brave, unknown women who risked their lives during World War II to fight for what they believed in. I loved the short stories on the adventures of all the women and felt inspired by all of their courageous acts”
Heidi Schmidt, (Women’s Independent Press) WIP Teens

“What Alice Knew” is a fascinating and entertaining fictionalized “what if” look at the Jack the Ripper Murders (sometimes referred to as the Whitechapel Murders) if the case had been solved by the three famous James siblings, William, Henry, and Alice.

Bringing late 19th-century London brilliantly to life – and writing in a style very similar to that found in the psychologically-attuned, detail-oriented novels of Henry James – Marantz Cohen manages to spin a page-turning mystery while presenting illuminating characterizations, both hilarious and tragic.

The book’s premise is established when Detective-Inspector Frederick Abberline, (the leader of the actual investigation), summons philosopher and psychologist William James from across the Atlantic to help solve the case. Henry and their sister Alice, already living in London in separate locations, agree to a collaborative effort with William, putting together their “much vaunted intelligence and creative skill to catch [the Ripper.]”

Using a shifting point of view, we see London of 1888 through the eyes of each sibling. Marantz Cohen portrays the dinner party-hoping Henry as being always a little jealous and critical of other writers, having him nearly break out into a fist fight with the visiting Samuel Clemens – “he did not like the homely demeanor that Clemens affected, and he liked even less the man’s great success with it” — and initially refusing to drink out of a mug on which was painted the face of a Dickens character. At one point, when Henry and William visit the book’s oft-presented Oscar Wilde in his home, Henry notices that Wilde’s wife closely resembles him: “the resemblance was not surprising. If someone like Wilde was going to marry, he would try as far as possible to marry himself.”

Class distinctions are well delineated in the book and the philosophical William, upon his arrival in London, is struck by the foundational differences between American and British societies: “Thrown into the hubbub of the London streets after a workday, he was struck by the reality of teeming human life that his daily existence tended to obscure. The difference, he also realized, was the difference between the New World and the Old. . . . here, the past was always present, pushing up against you in coats of arms and family estates . . . Even among working people, the past hung heavy. They were pressed into age-old traditions and customs, following along, doing what was expected, doing what was always done. The idea of following the past because it was the past repulsed him . . .”

The reader is dropped, medias res, into the investigation as Inspector Abberline updates the medically trained William on the grisly murders that have already occurred, showing him stark photographs of the victims, and the page-turning murder mystery is on, each James sibling – always completely in character — contributing significantly to the final and satisfying denouement

ISBN-13: 978-1402243554
ISBN-10: 1402243553
Publisher: Sourcebooks

Programs are on Thursdays at 12:15 pm at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh-Downtown & Business, 612 Smithfield St., Downtown. They are free and open to the public.

October 6 Finishing Well – Getting the Care You Want When You Need It Most
Stacy Kacskowski, MHA
Director of Marketing and Public Relations, Community LIFE
(In partnership with the Allegheny County Library Association)

Join Community LIFE in a discussion about Five Wishes – the first living will that talks about your personal, emotional and spiritual needs as well as your medical wishes. Five Wishes has become America’s most popular living will because it is written in everyday language and helps to start and structure important conversations about care in times of serious illness. You won’t want to miss this overview of an essential resource for people of all ages.

October 13 Betting to Win – Your Guide to Casino Gambling
Mark Gruetze, Administrative Editor
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Winning always makes a casino visit more fun. To do that, you need to know which bets to make and which to avoid. Learn how to make money – or at least, make your money last longer – from Mark Gruetze, longtime recreational gambler and author of the weekly Players Advantage column in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Find out the best strategies for blackjack, craps and other table games.

October 20 A Fresh Perspective on Retirement. Guaranteed.
Sara B. Botkin, CFP, Vice President – The Botkin Group
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC

Today, the fastest-growing age group is centenarians. This means you could possibly spend more than 30 years in retirement. Will you have enough money to support your income needs? Find out more about the factors that may affect your retirement and strategies to help you build retirement income in uncertain times.

October 27 What’s the Economy For, Anyway?
(DVD – 40 minutes)

If you have difficulty understanding the concept of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and if, indeed, it is a true measure a society’s quality of life, happiness, health and security, you are not alone. Is our consumer-driven model of economic growth really contributing to the goal of “the greatest good for the greatest number over the long run?” Narrator Dave Batker provides a smart, entertaining and insightful look at thirteen basic issues that reveal how the United States compares to several other countries in many economic sectors. His findings will surprise you.

By Rieva Lesonsky
Pittsburgh SCORE | 411 Seventh Avenue | Suite 1450 | Pittsburgh | PA | 15219
www.scorepittsburgh.org

Find a chapter in your area for free Small Business Advice
www.score.org

It’s not enough just to have created a Facebook fan page and Twitter account. You have to actually use these tools to promote your business, or you’re missing out on a valuable marketing opportunity. While Facebook seems to work best if you target consumers, while Twitter works for both consumers and B-to-B sales, most customers expect you to be active on both platforms. Here are some tips to help you leverage your social media activity.

1.Show up every day. Although you don’t want to overburden your customers with too many postings, it’s important to show you’re active everyday of the work week. Are you running a special this week? Want some feedback on what your customers think of your new service or product? Send a shout out to a great client who made your day? Make a point of posting at least one interesting thing daily so customers will want to check in.

2.Make it worthwhile. Post a special promotion code for Twitter followers or give out a free item for customers who “Like” your Facebook page. Own a restaurant? You can also tweet about the daily special.

3.Be timely. Think about the time of day you tweet or post. Post too early or too late and many people will miss what you have to say. If you’re highlighting a food item, try and tweet near the lunch or dinner hour. Any holidays coming up? Make sure you post last minute seasonal specials.

4.Get familiar with helpful apps. Helpful new applications for Facebook and Twitter seem like they’re issued almost daily—and many are business-oriented. Do a search on applications for Facebook and Twitter, read the reviews to see which really work, and then experiment with them to see if they are truly helpful.

5.Don’t flake out. Social media is time consuming (and can be addictive). As a business owner, if you don’t feel you have the time to make a good effort, delegate the tasks to someone else. The point of using social media is to make sure customers see your business as dynamic.

BizSuccessTips Editor Rieva Lesonsky is founder and CEO of GrowBiz Media, a content and consulting company. A nationally recognized small-business expert, Lesonsky has appeared on hundreds of radio shows and numerous local and national television programs. Read more of her insights at www.SmallBizDaily.com

Dorothy Coll is President of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®, a local and long distance moving company that offers a full line of moving-related services that can be customized to meet each customer’s individual needs. Dottie and her husband, Ray, opened the business in 2005 in the South Hills with two trucks and five employees. Today, they have grown to 16 trucks and over 40 employees and a second location in the Sewickley area. In March of 2010, Dorothy was selected as one of the 25 Top Women Business Leaders by the PITTSBURGH BUSINESS TIMES. She is also the recipient of the 2008 Pittsburgh Airport Chamber’s Small Business Excellence Award in recognition of the ability to overcome obstacles that have resulted in operational efficiency, customer loyalty, revenue growth, and job creation.

She is committed to exceeding her customers’ expectations and ensuring each move is completed properly. Giving back to the community is one of the core values and the basis for our tag line, “Movers who Care.” Ten cents from every move in the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® system is donated to the American Cancer Society. Dottie is immediate past-president of the Brentwood Whitehall Chamber of Commerce and continues to serve on the Board of Directors. She passionately advocates on behalf of all local businesses and especially women-owned. In 2006, she started a networking organization for women in the Brentwood Baldwin Whitehall area which meets monthly at South Hills Country Club. Additionally, she generously donates time and moving services to numerous local charities.

Remembering Hiroshima: Imagining Peace
There are a whole series of events happening this fall:

October 2: film showing “Barefoot Gen 2” CMU, Doherty Hall 2315.

October 12: Junko Kayashige, a Hibakusha (survivor) and artist, will speak at CMU, Porter Hall 100 as part of CMU’s “Two Weeks of Peace.”

October 19: Town hall meeting Grappling with Nuclear Power, University of Pittsburgh, O’Hara Student Center Ballroom, 4024 O’Hara St.

October 24 – 28: Singing Tree Project with Laurie Marshall at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh.

October 4 - Greater Pittsburgh Business & Professional Women’s Meeting - 6pm - 8pm, Max’s Allegheny Tavern Suissman St. - RSVP. 412.480.5247

Go Pink at Panera
Location: Pittsburgh-area Paneras

October 4: 100% of the Pink Ribbon Bagel proceeds will be donated to the Young Women’s Breast Cancer Awareness Foundation (YWBCAF).
October 5-31: A portion of the proceeds from the Pink Ribbon Bagel will be donated to YWBCAF.
Proceeds benefit the YWBCAF, who supports the Patient Navigator Program at Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC.

October 6 – 30 - Quantum Theatre - The End of the Affair - Adapted from Graham Greene’s novel by Karla Boos; directed by Martin Giles - Curtain: Wednesdays – Saturday 8p, Sunday 7p - former Emma Kaufmann Clinic, 3028 Brereton Street in Polish Hill - Call ShowClix 1-888-71-TICKETS or visit www.quantumtheatre.com to book; $35 - $48 with a limited number of $18 student tickets.

Women’s Power Lunch –Washington (NEW!)
October 7, 2011
DoubleTree by Hilton-Meadow Lands
340 Racetrack Road
Washington, PA 15301
Cost: $30.00 (Prepayment Required)
RSVP: Melanieansell@comcast.net
Online Payment: www.womenspowerlunch.com
412-848-0165

October 8 -
10 AM – 3 PM 
LaRoche College Kearn Spirituality Center 
9000 Babcock Blvd 
Allison Park - Register Online www.DrNancyOnline.com
$59.00 per person before Oct 1. Includes lunch.

 $69.00 per person after Oct 1, 2011
NORTH HILLS WORKSHOP PRESENTED BY DR. NANCY MRAMORYOUR RIDE THROUGH LIFE: GETTING ALL OF YOURSELF ON THE BUS
Do you want to achieve a goal but you stop yourself – Meet your Saboteur! Does a part of you want to play while another wants to work – Meet your inner adult and your inner child! Are you a self-critical –Meet your perfectionist and… If you are committed to following your authentic vision for your life – Meet your intuition! We think we are one person, but really we are more like a committee on a bus that runs your life.

October 9 - Connecting Women’s Wisdom
Join the Sisters and other women for Liturgy and brunch, followed by a presentation with time for group sharing and quiet reflection. Presenter: Sister Nancy Langhart, OSF. Free will donations accepted - 8:30 AM - Sisters of St. Francis Motherhouse Lecture Hall - 3603 McRoberts Road Pittsburgh - For more information or to register:
www.osfprov.org - 412-885-7406

October 10 - Silpada Jewelry fundraiser benefiting Bethlehem Haven, Hosted by Bonnie DiCarlo, Board Member, Susan Anderson, Silpada Representative
7pm - 8:30pm - 6327 Jackson St. - In Highland Park - RSVP 412-480-5247

October 11 - Linked In Workshop now in West VA!! Join me in Morgantown at:
Social Networking for Business Should You Be Linked IN? - 9:00am to 11:30am
at Lakeview Golf Resort and Spa - Tickets just $39
www.pittsburghprofessionalwomen.net

October 11- This event will be hosted by Savoy Restaurant - from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Reservations are $35 for Business Times subscribers ($45 for nonsubscribers) and include hors d’oeuvres and two drinks.
Located in the heart of Pittsburgh’s thriving strip district, Savoy Restaurant has made its mark on Pittsburgh’s rich culinary and entertainment history. This savvy urban bistro is poised to be a premier dining and social destination for Pittsburgh’s Urban, Chic, and Sophisticated. You won’t find a more desirable place for happy hour, dinner, business meetings, and hosting special occasions. To register http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/event/53871?mp=1

- Welcome to Oz – Where Small Business and Sustainability Collide

October 11 - Allegheny County, The City of Pittsburgh, Duquesne University Small Business Development Center, Chatham University and Building Bridges for Business will host Welcome to Oz – Where Small Business and Sustainability Collide to educate and empower business owners. The third seminar in the SOLD OUT series will be held on October 10, 2011 at the Fairmont Hotel. The key note speaker will inspire attendees and 15+ resources will share strategies to be sustainable and grow their business. Details for the October 2011 Welcome to Oz event are located on www.buildingbridgesforbusiness.org. Mayor Luke Ravenstahl will give opening remarks. Dr Winslow Sargeant, coming to Pittsburgh specifically for this event, is currently the Chief Advocate for Small Business Research and Regulatory Affairs. President Obama appointed Winslow to this role in 2009.

October 12 - FREE Teleclass with Diana Fletcher - “Get Motivated, Build Momentum, and Keep it Going!” Call will be recorded. All registrants will receive recording—You MUST register by the time of the call to receive the recording and any additional goodies - For More Information and to Register: www.dianafletcher.com/events/teleclasses

October 12 - from 9am-11;30am - Pittsburgh Professional Women Workshop “Social Networking for Business, How do I become Linked IN?” Lakeview Golf Resort and Spa with Special Guest Speaker Beth Caldwell, Author and Publicity Expert
www.pittsburghprofessionalwomen.net

October 12 - Brown Bag Lunch - 12:00 – 1:00pm - Speaker: Jenn Carr, J Squared & Associates - Topic: Fix Your Credit Report - Volunteers of America of Pennsylvania, 1650 Main Street Pittsburgh - FREE
RSVP: 412.782.5344 x 209 or volunteersofamerica@voapa.org

October 13 - from 6-8pm for Clever Connections, a Networking Dinner for Professional Women - With Special Guest Speaker Cathy Bednar, Astrological Insights by Cathy. Topic: Using Astrology to Define Your Purpose Atria’s Fox Chapel (O’Hara Township) 1374 Freeport Road, Pittsburgh
www.pittsburghprofessionalwomen.net

- Building Change: A Convergence for Social Justice
October 13-15

Senator John Heinz Regional History Center, 1212 Smallman Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
The price range for this event is $5-$10 per day and $10 for the evening festivities, with a special All-Event package available. A limited number of sponsorships, program booklet ad space, and tabling opportunities are also available. Detailed information is available on the websites at www.buildingchangewpa.org, and www.trcfwpa.org.

TCOMM EVENT – October 13, 2011
“Commercializing New Technologies”
100 Lytton Avenue
Holiday Inn, Pittsburgh @ University Center (Oakland)
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Register before Oct. 4 and pay only $119
The TCOMM Event is a fast-paced, interactive conference designed for
small businesses and innovators that want to commercialize new technologies.
Register Today At www.duq.edu/sbdc
or Call 412.396.1633

October 14, 2011
BRENTWOOD BALDWIN WHITEHALL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
 WOMEN’S NETWORKING LUNCHEON
 Noon: South Hills Country Club
 
The monthly luncheon meeting* of the Women’s Networking of the Brentwood Baldwin Whitehall Chamber of Commerce will meet on Friday, October 14, noon, at South Hills Country Club. Please plan on attending and bring a friend. We welcome members and non-members.  Tables are available for ladies who would like to display products or merchandise.  Everyone will pass out cards and brochures and present a one-minute “commercial.”
 
Do Your Want to See Yourself in Print?
  Suzanne Caplan, author of 13 published books and project manager on 12 books for others will speak on the current state in the world of writing. For those who have a book in them or those who just love to see their thoughts in public, what are your choices.
  Suzanne is the founder of Women Etcetera, an online social network for women. She is a writer/businesswoman, and regular blogger.
 See you at South Hills Country Club, noon!
 Lunch for Chamber Members - $15 - Bring a friend!
 Lunch for Non-Members - $18
 Display Table $10
 
Please make a reservation* by contacting our secretary:
 Mary Dilla at: 412-884-1233 / secretary@bbwchamber.com

 

Women’s Power Lunch-Butler
October 14, 2011
1:00 to 3:00 pm
Butler Country Club
310 country Club Road
Butler, PA 16003
Cost: $30.00 (Prepayment Required)
RSVP: Suzanne@womenspowerlunch.com
Online Payment: www.womenspowerlunch.com
724-452-5152

October 14 – Women Business Leaders Breakfast – 7:30 – 9:00 – James Laughlin Music Hall, Chatham University – Cost: $25 – Register Online: www.chatham.edu/cwe - Melissa Murphy, Senior VP, Corporate Affairs and Human Resources

October 15 - Small Business Basics
This highly interactive workshop is geared to aspiring and existing small business entrepreneurs. Get the basic information you need to put your new small business on the path to success - 8:00 am - Registration and continental breakfast - 8:30 am – 1:00 pm – Workshop - PNC YMCA - 236 Fifth Ave. 2nd Fl. (in downtown Pittsburgh) Pittsburgh - For more information or to register: http://pittsburgh.score.org/events

Bid for Hope X
Date: October 17, 2011
Time: 7:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Cost: $200/person
Location: Bossa Nova, 123 7th Street Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Hosted by: Heath & Katie Miller and Alan & Julie Faneca
Special Guest Auctioneer: Bob Pompeani
Make a difference in the fight against breast cancer while enjoying an auction, with items to please everyone.
Ticket includes: heavy Hors d’ouevres, Cocktails, a White Panel Football for autographs and gift cards in a custom gift bag, as well as Complimentary Valet Service.

Register online at www.symbolofthecure.com
or call 800-454-6746.
Proceeds benefit the largest under 40, premenopausal breast cancer study in the country being conducted at Magee-Womens Research Institute.

October 18 - Ladies Night Out - Shopping, Food and Prizes! All proceeds benefit the Sisters of St. Francis of the Providence of God. Thank you for your support! - 7:00 PM - Sisters of St. Francis of The Providence of God
3603 McRoberts Road Pittsburgh - For more information or to register: www.osfprov.org
412-885-7232

October 20 - Power of Southpointpointe Women have invites us to attend their November event! Thank you to the Power Ladies! “Women and Mentorship” with Erroline Williams, Ed.D. Director of Leadership and Outreach, Center for Leadership Development, Duquesne University - 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM – visit http://powerofsouthpointe.org/Default.aspx?pageId=1009507&wstepNo=2&wctxId=f9d9228a0de24f46ab0fd410e8467b50&EventViewMode=3&eventId=266857 to register! This event is free for members and $25* for non-members and guests Price includes appetizers and open bar - Bella Sera 414 Morganza Road Canonsburg – 724-745-5575

October 20 - Disability Resource Breakfast - 8:30 – 9:30 AM - Topic: BE RED CROSS READY - Volunteers of America of Pennsylvania - 1650 Main Street Pittsburgh – FREE - RSVP: 412.782.5344 x 209 or volunteersofamerica@voapa.org

Think Big Forum
“Branding and the Customer Experience”

Friday, October 21, 2011
Time: 7:45 am to Noon
Venue: Athletic and Fitness Center, Chatham University, Shadyside Campus
Cost: $45.00 (including breakfast)

Register Online: http://www.chatham.edu/cwe/events/thinkbig/index.cfm

The Think Big Forum will feature keynote speaker MaxineClark, chair, founder, and chief executive “bear” of Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. The forum will also include a panel discussion with regional women executives and entrepreneurs about creating strong brands that drive greater engagement through meaningful customer interactions and ways to develop personal brands for greater business success. Panelists include Susan Gregg Koger, chief creative officer and lead buyer for ModCloth; Donna Sturgess, president and founding partner of Buyology, Inc. and former global head of innovation for GlaxoSmithKline; and Laurie R. Mizrahi, President of Mizrahi, Inc. and interim vice president creative of GNC Corporation. Michele Anne Petruccelli, president of Petruccelli Strategic Marketing Consulting, will moderate the panel

Women’s Power Lunch—Pittsburgh Chapter
October 21, 2011
1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Cioppino Restaurant
2350 Railroad St. Strip District, Downtown (Between 23 & 24th Sts)
Cost: $30.00 (Prepayment Required)
RSVP: Suzanne@womenspowerlunch.com
Online payment at www.womenspowerlunch.com
724-452-5152

Cake Boss Buddy Valastros is coming back to the ‘Burgh!
Date: October 23, 2011
Time: 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Cost: $55-$65
Location: Soldiers & Sailors, Memorial Hall & Museum, 4141 Fifth Ave.,
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Back in Pittsburgh by popular demand is Buddy Valastro, reality TV star and owner of Carlo’s Bake Shop in Hoboken, NJ. Bring your family and friends and enjoy a night of fun with Buddy in this live, two-hour interactive theater show!

Tickets range from $55-65. For tickets, visit www.youngwomensbreastcancerfoundation.com
Portions of the proceeds will benefit: Family House, Cancer Caring Center, and Magee-Womens Research Institute & Foundation

October 26, 27, 28, 29 - Elegance of Dior Workshop featuring National Dior Show Artist Joseph - Let Dior take you on tour where ” Beauty meets Fashion” - Space limited- Private Classes available, Call for Details-Macy’s South Hills Village- 412-854-6889 - Mention Women’s Yellow Pages for your bonus!

October 27 – Downtown Women’s Club - Andora Restaurant - 1928 Cochran Road, Pittsburgh - Please join us for lunch and network with local business women. Our speaker will be Beth Caldwell, business coach, consultant & author of “I Wish I’d Known That!, Secrets to Success in Business.”, “Inspired Entrepreneurs”, and “Get Paid What You’re Worth! A Guide for Professional Women (coming this fall). Beth was honored with the “Radical Woman of the Year Award” in March 2011 in Washington DC. Her passion is to empower and inspire women to achieve their full potential. Beth will be sharing research from her upcoming book including Three Things Women Can Learn From Men That Will Change How You Structure Your Fees Immediately!

Laughter Workshops …Laugh often…Live Well
Free and open to the public. Please Register

October 13 – 7 to 8 pm
Sewickley Public Library
500 Thorn Street, Sewickley
Register at 412-741-6920

October 22 - 10:30 to 11:30 am
Sunny Bridge Natural Foods
130 Gallery Drive, McMurray
Register at 724-942-5800

October 24 – 7 to 8 pm
Unitarian Universalist Church of the South Hills
1240 Washington Road, Mt. Lebanon
Register at 724-942-0486

See you there!
Questions? email julieann@julieannsullivan.com or call 724-942-0486

Women’s Power Lunch—Westmoreland County (NEW!!)
October 28, 2011
1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Restaurant to be determined soon!
Cost: $30.00 (Prepayment Required)
RSVP: Melanieansell@comcast.net
Online Payment: www.womenspoweerlunch.com
412-848-0165

October 28 and 29 - PA Conference Against Torture -
Speakers John Humphries, King Downing, and Kate Porterfield

Go to: www.panetworkagainsttorture.org to register
The conference will be held at: Market Square Presbyterian Church in Harrisburg, 20 South Second Street. This will be an opportunity for individuals and organizations in Pennsylvania to come together to coordinate ongoing anti-torture education, survivor care, and legal/legislative advocacy, with a focus on:
• U.S. Sponsored torture
• Torture in our domestic prisons, in particular prolonged isolation.
Training for professional and volunteer caregivers of trauma and torture survivors.

For more information about the conference, and to register on-line, please go to
www.panetworkagainsttorture.org.

Save the Date

November 2 - 
Pittsburgh Professional Women Clever Connections Networking Lunch
McCormick & Schmick’s South Side Works with Special Guest Speaker Heather Pollier – Topic: Insurance 101 - 1-3 pm
www.pittsburghprofessionalwomen.net

Internationally Acclaimed Eco-feminist
Dr. Vandana Shiva, This Year’s 2011 Thomas Merton Award Winner
Thursday, November 3 - Sheraton Station Square
from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM EDT
$30.00 low income admission
$50.00 per person
$450.00 per table of ten

Sponsorships and Program Ad opportunities are available
The Thomas Merton Center is dedicated to creating a more peaceful and just world.

Last year more than 720 people attended the dinner.
Please reserve now to hold your seat / or table.
We look forward to seeing you there!

Interested in sponsorship or taking out a program ad?
For more information contact:
the Thomas Merton Center at
office@thomasmertoncenter.org
412-301-3022
www.thomasmertoncenter.org

 

November
3, 2011

Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council’s 24th Annual
 
Leaders for Literacy Luncheon
 Presented by UPS
 
 
 Fairmont Pittsburgh Hotel
 Reception 11:30 a.m., Luncheon 12 p.m.
 
“Education:  Creating Opportunity from Adversity”

The child of drug-addicted parents who routinely ate from dumpsters and sought refuge at all-night subway stations to survive, Liz Murray was homeless at age 15–and fending for her life. Determined not to be defined by her circumstances, she recognized education as the key to a fresh beginning and a whole new way of living. She earned her high school diploma in just two years and won a scholarship to Harvard University that would turn her bleak circumstances into a future filled with limitless possibility. She is the subject of the Emmy-nominated Lifetime movie Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story.

For more information, please contact Maria Polinsky at
  (412) 393-7631 or mpolinsky@gplc.org.

The best way to advocate for your business is to
GINORMOUSLY market it for little or no cost.
*FRIDAY NOVEMBER 4, 2011*
Please note the date change - We apologize for the inconvenience, there was a scheduling challenge with our national speaker resulting in the change.
Watch for special updates on lots of gifts for which you will be eligible just for registering and attending and discounts on various applications.
Radisson Pittsburgh Hotel
101 Radisson Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15205
8:00 AM - 3:30 PM
All previously sold tickets with be honored and will receive special discount for our January meeting featuring the Six and a Half Million Dollar Woman, Becky Auer.
For more information on Sponsorships or Vendor tables
Please call 412.854.4827.

November 5 - Showtime is 4pm - Ingomar Middle School, 1521 Ingomar Heights Road. Tickets are $15 for adults ($18 at the door), $5 for children under 12. Join the chorus and Maxx Factor for dinner and more entertainment following the show. We are also celebrating GHC’s 35th anniversary. The buffet dinner is at Sieb’s Pub, 3382 Babcock Boulevard, Pittsburgh, 15237. The cost is $20.00 for adults, $12 for children 10 and under. Tickets for the show and dinner party are available by mail from http://www.greaterharmony.org or by calling 724-613-9800

November 12 – Howard Hanna Annual Children’s Hospital Fundraiser - join us for a tour of beautifully renovated homes in Mt. Lebanon followed by lunch at the Bower Hill Community Church donated by Luma Restaurant - please contact Susan O’Toole at 412.561.7400 by September 30th.

Magee Centennial Celebration
Date: November 10, 2011
Time: 6:30 pm - 10:30 pm
Cost: $100 per person
Location: Circuit Center, 5 Hot Metal Street Pittsburgh, PA 15203-2350

Cocktail reception featuring live entertainment.
Join us for the celebration of the century:
Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC’s Centennial Celebration

For the most up-to-date event information and to register, visit www.mwrif.org/365
We will be unveiling the Magee 100 Mosaic artwork and Centennial video at the celebration. To learn more about and to upload your photos to be included, visit www.mageemosaic.com. The final mosaic, designed by award-winning artist Mark Bender, will become a mainstay in the Magee-Womens Hospital lobby.

The Women and Girls Foundation
annual celebration
“Women Greening Pittsburgh”
Saturday, November 19th
6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Cocktail Reception and Dinner Buffet
7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Keynote and Awards Ceremony
at the August Wilson Center
for African-American Culture
www.wgfpa.org

by Dorit Brauer
www.doritbrauer.com

The regular practice of meditation and guided imagery is the most powerful form of preventative medicine. It reduces stress, which is a major cause for many diseases.
Meditation and guided imagery shows you how to achieve positive changes in your body through the power of your mind.
Every thought that enters your mind creates reality.
On a personal level you can very easily observe this fact. If you entertain positive thoughts and feel happy you are having a good day. If you are down and upset the opposite happens.
I would like to share three simple meditation exercises with you:
1. Breathe to your abdomen. When you are stressed you breathe to your chest. Abdominal breathing activates your parasympathetic nervous system and breaks the stress cycle.
2. Focus on happy memories. Feel the vibration of happiness and joy. Feel the smile on your lips. Research has shown that a happy outlook on life strengthens your immune system. And please remember that whatever you focus on you get more of.
3. Visualize yourself surrounded by bright-shining, benevolent light. The light is all around you. It protects you and shields you from all harmful influences. Through your breathing you bring this light into your body.
Let it fill you entirely and exhale everything that does not serve your highest good. The light cleanses and purifies your entire being. Make this a daily habit, so you don’t internalize negative emotions and stress which, over time, may manifest as disease in your physical body.
Scientific studies have proven that the regular practice of meditation and guided imagery has many positive benefits. These include:
• control of blood pressure with less medication
• reduction in chronic pain
• improvements in sleep
• reduction of premenstrual symptoms
• reduction of nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing chemotherapy
• reduction in anxiety
• and more
Please enjoy the FREE meditation video “Heal yourself & Heal the World.” at www.doritbrauer.com. You are invited to practice this meditation daily and experience a healthy, happy and relaxed life.

You’ve just arrived at Dad’s house and, once again, he’s having toast for dinner. “Why cook,” he laments, “when I’m all alone.” Lack of companionship and cooking for one are among the top mealtime challenges that seniors face, according to research conducted for the Home Instead Senior Care® network.

For fifteen years, the Home Instead Senior Care® franchise network has been devoted to providing seniors with the highest quality care in their own homes, and to arming families with the information they need to make the best decisions about caring for aging loved ones. The Craving Companionship campaign is part of that effort, designed to help seniors connect socially and eat more nutritiously.
“There is no question that having meals with other people in a group setting is preferable to eating alone,” said Carol Greenwood, Ph.D., Department of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Toronto and Senior Scientist at Baycrest, expert source for the Craving Companionship program. “Seniors who eat alone often have an underlying isolation and depression and lack of social engagement. This leads to low quality of life and a more rapid decline as they age,” Greenwood noted.

Following is the list of challenges that seniors identified in the Home Instead Senior Care network survey as a problem for older adults who live alone.
• Grocery shopping for one (79 percent)
• Lack of companionship during mealtimes (75 percent)
• Cooking for one (74 percent)
• Eating nutritious meals (65 percent)
• Eating three meals a day (65 percent)
• High expense of cooking for one (64 percent)
• Loss of appetite (60 percent)
• Relying too much on convenience food (57 percent)
• Eating too little food (47 percent)
• Eating too much food (38 percent)
Strategies for cooking for one include buying healthy, low-sodium frozen dinners and freezing leftovers. Most any type of food can be frozen including sliced and seeded fruit. For more ideas, please visit: www.MealsAndCompanionship.com.

If you, or any organization of which you are a part, is interested in learning more, please contact our office. We would be happy to speak to your group free of charge about this subject, our services, and even employment opportunities.

Sincerely,

Rebecca Champagne, Human Resource Coordinator
Home Instead Senior Care
1102 S Braddock Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15218
Phone: (412) 731-0733
Rebecca.Champagne@homeinstead.com

By Yvonne Phillips
yvonnephillips1@aol.com

In the year of the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the United States, the loved ones of all victims are brought to mind, as well as the military and their families, for whom sacrifice is a way of life.

According to the National Military Family Association, “There are nearly 1.8 million children of active duty, National Guard, and Reserve parents. Deployments are not new to military families, but since 9/11 many parents have been deploying, sometimes on multiple tours, to combat zones for months or more than a year at a time. Service members also frequently go on Temporary Duty (TDY), which can range from a few days to six months. Separation has become a way of life for these families.”

Feng Shui’s healing and supportive impacts create an atmosphere of calm and positive feeling regardless of whether the living space represents a familiar place or an entirely new living environment. Enhance grounding for young people who initially may struggle with a sense of belonging by considering the Earth element by using colors such as tan, brown, green or yellow.
To activate stability, such items as rocks, nature art, sand and crystals add a dash of interest and texture.

Cultivating a helpful relationships at school and within the community and household by using the bagua map which can be found at www.creativecolordesign.com to find the right front corner of a room or house and using black, white or silver accents in that area to ignite supportive bonds and integrated experiences. Find the back middle of your space and add splashes of red to enhance reputation in the outer worlds of school and community, employing the critical fire element of Feng Shui practice. A lamp and items representing achievement, such as certificates and photos will further enhance positive flow in the areas of public profile and reputation.

Children of military families shoulder greater responsibilities, often sacrificing activities and study time to assist in the duties of running a household. They possess a unique life perspective of great breadth and depth. Creating a space for them that feels like their own while offering comfort, calm and stability can be accomplished through simple intention and the easy and accessible help of Feng Shui.

By Anna Marie Petrarca Gire
Domestic violence affects all areas of our communities, including the workplace. An employee’s home life can affect their performance at work, particularly with an issue like domestic violence. Many abusers will stalk, harass, threaten or injure a significant other at work. For the victim, actions like these can present barriers to getting and keeping a job. For the employer and co-workers, it can result in higher medical costs, reduced productivity, absenteeism and an increased risk of violence to others.
Not only is domestic violence devastating for people, Domestic Violence is bad for business. By choosing to proactively address this issue in the workplace, employers can:
• Enhance workplace safety
• Increase employee productivity and morale
• Decrease absenteeism and turnover
• Create a powerful, positive impact in the community
• Implement effective prevention and intervention strategies
A recent study in Maine found that 78% of surveyed perpetrators used workplace resources to express remorse or anger, check up on, pressure or threaten the victim.
Prevalence of Domestic Violence in the workplace
In 2005, a national benchmark survey of 1200 employed adults (age 18 plus) by the Corporate Alliance to End Partner Violence found that intimate partner violence has a wide and far-reaching effect on Americans working lives:
• 44% of employed adults surveyed personally experienced the effects of domestic violence
• 21% of respondents (men and women) identified themselves as victims of intimate partner violence
• 64% of victims of domestic violence indicated that their ability to work was affected by the violence.
American Bar Association Commission
Studies reported on in 2006 by the American Bar Association Commission on Domestic Violence reflect that:
• 30-53% of employed victims of domestic violence lose their jobs due at least in part to the abuse
• 78% reported being late to work as a result of domestic violence
• 47% reported being assaulted before work
• 67% said the perpetrator came to the workplace
• 96-98% of employed domestic violence victims experienced problems at work related to the abuse

Domestic violence encompasses a wide range of acts committed by one person against another in an intimate relationship or within a family. It is a pattern of coercive behavior that is used by one person to gain power and control over another. This may include physical violence, sexual, emotional and psychological intimidation, verbal abuse, stalking and economic control. It may take the form of breaking objects, hurting/killing pets, yelling, driving recklessly to endanger or scare the victim, isolating the victim from friends and family members and controlling resources like money, vehicles, credit, medications and time. In same gender relationships, it can include threats to out the victim.
Domestic violence can happen to people of all racial, economic, educational, religious backgrounds and in heterosexual and same gender relationships. While both men and women may be victims of domestic violence, research shows that the overwhelming majority of adult victims are women and that domestic violence is a major cause of injury to women.
Findings from the National Violence Against Women Survey (July 2000) indicate that domestic violence is pervasive in U.S. society. Analysis of the survey data from calls to 8,000 U.S. women and 8,000 U.S. men, produced the following key results:
• Nearly 25% of women and 7.6% of men said they were raped and or physically assaulted by a current or former spouse, cohabitating partner or date in their lifetime.
• Almost 5% of women and 0.6 % of men experienced stalking by a current or former spouse, cohabitating partner or date in their lifetime.
• Women experience more chronic and injurious physical assaults at the hands of intimate partners than do men.
• Slightly more than 11% of lesbians experienced rape, physical assault and/or stalking by a female cohabitant.
• Approximately 15% of gay men experienced rape, physical assault and/or stalking by a male cohabitant.
• Most intimate partner victimizations are not reported to the police

According to the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence:
Domestic Violence is the leading cause of injury to women ages 15 – 44 in the United States – more than car accidents, muggings and rapes combined.
 1 in 4 women will become victims of domestic violence in their lifetime
 1 in 3 teenage girls will be physically assaulted by a boyfriend
 Domestic violence is the leading predictor of child abuse
 Boys who witness domestic violence in their homes are 1500 times more likely to perpetrate abuse later in life
 50% of girls growing up in an abusive home will go on to be victims of abuse themselves
2007 Relationship and Gender Breakdown of Adult domestic Violence Victims:
 56.5% (48) females killed by current or former intimate partners
 22.3% (19) males killed by others
 10.6% (8) males killed by current or former intimate partners
 9.2% (8) females killed by others
Additionally, Pennsylvania has the third highest number of murder suicides in the nation – including 14 cases in just six months. Seventy-three percent involved an intimate partner – spouse, common-law spouse, ex-spouse, or girlfriend/boyfriend. Of these, 94 percent were women killed by their intimate partners.

Recognizing Domestic Violence

There is not a “typical” victim of domestic violence – it can affect anyone from any socioeconomic, demographic, geographic or educational background. The greatest risk factor for victimization is simply being a woman.
Domestic violence occurs when one person in an intimate relationship exercises power and control over the other through a pattern of intentional behaviors, including psychological, emotional, physical and sexual abuse.
While most people are able to recognize an abusive relationship when it involves physical violence, relationships involving psychological or emotional abuse are more subtle, but no less destructive. If allowed to continue, these behaviors can escalate to include more physically dangerous abuse over time. It is important to recognize key characteristics of domestic violence so that abuse can be stopped before it becomes life threatening.

Are You Or Anyone You Know Being Abused?
The warning signs of domestic violence
There are frequently warning signs that domestic violence is happening in a relationship. If you have experienced or observed any of the following behaviors in a relationship, domestic violence could be happening and you might be able to take action to help yourself or others. Advocates at domestic violence programs are available to help callers determine what options are available.
Warning signs of domestic violence can include:
• One partner harms, or threatens to harm the other, their friends, family members, or pets
• One partner frequently checks up on the other (e.g. listening in on phone calls, constantly asking about whereabouts, calling a person at work or school, or monitoring a person´s car mileage, computer or phone usage)
• One partner puts the other down (e.g. name-calling, constant criticism, or public or private humiliation)
• One partner tries to control the other, (e.g. telling the person not to see certain friends or family members, keeping the person away from work or school, making the person stay home when she wants to go out)
• One partner acts jealous or possessive and says it´s a sign of love
• One partner destroys or threatens to destroy the other´s belongings
• One partner hurts or kills pets or threatens to harm them
• One partner touches the other in ways that hurts or scare the other partner
• One partner makes the other have sex in ways or at times that are uncomfortable
• One partner blames the other and other people for everything, and gets angry in a way that scares the other partner
• One partner says that the concerns of the other about the relationship are not real or not important
• One partner threatens or attempts suicide when the other talks about ending the relationship
• One partner withholds medication, food or other necessary items
• In a same sex relationship, one partner threatens to “out” the other
There is no excuse for domestic violence:
Drinking and drug use do not cause battering. Battering does not cause addiction. Chemical dependency and domestic violence are two separate problems; however, both problems can often co-exist within an abusive relationship. When this happens, both the severity of injuries and lethality rates may increase, making safety and sobriety both areas of concern. Un- or underemployment, stress or ill health, also do not cause domestic violence. These are only excuses or justifications for an abuser´s behavior.
Remember, anyone can be in a violent relationship. If you, or anyone you know is in a violent relationship, a local domestic violence program is available in every county in Pennsylvania or call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE