GEN's Voice

Issue 12

June 2002

Join us on June 23 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Lazy Oak Bed and Breakfast on 211 West Live Oak for a Summer Solstice Women's Artisan Show. There will be local arts and crafts, great food, tarot readings and more. Ten percent of all proceeds will benefit GENaustin. For more information contact Renee Buck at 512/447-8873 or visit www.lazyoakbandb.com.

Relational aggression between girls has recently gotten a lot of attention due to several recent books and stories on news programs and talk shows. As we mentioned in our April issue, GENaustin was featured in stories on this topic in the New York Times and on Good Morning America. GENaustin also provided information for an article in the Austin American Statesman and was featured in a Time Magazine for Kids article.

GENaustin has and continues to provide opportunities for girls to talk about the subject and to learn coping skills for dealing with relational aggression.

In her presentation on the topic, Carolyn Brooks, counselor at Westridge Middle School and GENaustin series speaker, asks the girls to write down a time when they have felt like they have experienced "relational aggression", felt let down by a friend, or were guilty of letting someone else down.

Here are some examples of what the girls wrote:

"My friend likes to rub things in my face. There was a party that I couldn't go to and she made me feel bad. She also said that I had no rhythm, that I couldn't dance, and so it makes me feel self-conscious. If she would stop saying that and help me instead, maybe I could be better."

"My friend was with me and other people I didn't know but she did. They had a bunch of inside jokes and secrets that I didn't know. We were all sitting down and then the three of them left and I was sitting there all alone. I felt awful."

"My friend hurt my feelings when she called me fat."

"I heard my friend say under her breath, 'she's so annoying' about me to another friend. It really made me feel bad."

"Once a friend pretended like she had an injured foot so she didn't have to go trick-or-treating with me. I found out later she went out with some other friends."

Carolyn also provides tips for dealing with relational aggression. Here are some tips that you can share with your daughter and/or other girls you know.

• Share experiences with your moms. They can usually tell you about similar experiences when they were younger.
• Write down the names of your 2 closest friends. Friends you can REALLY count on. By their names, list all the traits you like about those friends, list why you consider them friends.
• Think about yourself and what kind of a friend you are to others. Make the longest list you can of all your positive friendship traits. Pat yourself on the back for being a good friend!!
• When someone tries to "control" your friendships with others (asking you to ignore someone, asking you to 3-way call to "fool" someone, telling you that they won't be your friend if you hang with certain people), ask yourself why that person is trying to have power over you. Why should you give your power away?!
• "Check it Out!" When you hear rumors or if your "friend" tells you that another "friend" is dissing you, get the facts! Don't rely on the gossip you hear. Go straight to your friend and get the real story. This can stop a lot of rumors and negative gossip before it gets out of hand.
• Everyone wants to fit in. Even the most "popular" kids feel insecure sometimes. Remember that in the long run, people remember who was the friend that could be counted on.
• You can help other girls when they are victims. Do what you think is right, not what is cool.
• Reject the idea of revenge-remember that you are a bigger person for being able to do what's right, rather than trying to gain more popularity.

For more information on relational aggression and how to help girls deal with it, check out these books and web sites:

For Parents:

• Odd Girl Out, Rachel Simmons
• Strong Smart & Bold: Empowering Girls for Life, Carla Fine
• A Toolbox for Our Daughters, Annette Geffert & Dianne Brown

For Girls:

• Teen Ink: our voices, our visions, Written by teens and compiled by Stephanie H. Meyer and John Meyer
• Every Girl Tells A Story, Carolyn Jones
• www.newmoon.org
• Friendship, published by New Moon / a series of poems, advice, stories, etc written by girls
• The Girls Guide to Life, Cathernie Dee
• The Girl's Book of Wisdom, compiled by Cathernie Dee
• The Girls Book of Friendship, compiled by Catherine Dee

This summer filmmaker Marci Winters Allen and Greater Tuna's Tim Mateer are offering week-long acting camps for kids at Alleywood Studios. Reel Kids on Film will feature on-camera acting and improvisation work, allowing kids to build confidence while having fun. Each one week session is $170 (discount for ongoing students and siblings and payment plans available). Session dates are as follows:

June 10-14 (Mon-Friday), 9 a.m. - Noon, Ages 6-9
June 17-21 (Mon-Friday), 9 a.m. - Noon, Ages 10-16
July 15-19 (Mon-Friday), 9 a.m. - Noon, Ages 6-16 (we'll split up in groups)
August 12-16 (Mon-Friday), 9 a.m. - Noon, Ages 6-16(we'll split up in groups)

Snack provided in all classes.

To enroll or for more information, contact Marci at 512/707-1097 or Tim at 512/457-8510.

Please join GENaustin in welcoming Alexis Carreiro. As program director, Alexis will be responsible for managing our clubGEN after school program.

Alexis has been a volunteer with GENaustin since September of 2001. She has been instrumental in developing clubGEN and has also played a significant role in our Speaker Series video project.

"Alexis has been a driving force behind GENaustin's clubGENs and video productions," stated Donna Van Fleet, board chair. "Our programs are sure to grow even stronger under Alexis' leadership as GENaustin's new program director."

Her experience also includes working as a production assistant for "It's a She-Shoot", a film and video production class for adolescent girls. She has also worked as director for Media Madness in Boston, Massachusetts, where she created a media literacy curriculum to empower adolescent girls with topics ranging from media production to body image and commercial culture. She has a Bachelor's of Arts in Sociology from Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts and graduated Cum Laude. As you can see, her experience makes her well suited to manage GENaustin's programs.

One person who is especially pleased to have Alexis on board is executive director, Anita Mennucci: "Alexis brings a whole new dimension to the GENaustin family. Her investment in GENaustin as a volunteer, her strong commitment to girls, and her easy rapport with girls makes her an excellent addition."

We're very pleased to have Alexis as part of the GENaustin team, and we look forward to more great programs.

Do you know an Austin woman who would make a good mentor? Liv in the Game is an Austin-area nonprofit that works to empower girls through physical activity and sport. Liv has a unique Sport-based Mentoring Program that is currently recruiting new mentors for their Fall 2002 class.

The program matches 5th grade girls with adult female everyday athletes. During the year, the girls and mentors come together as a group for monthly Play Days with activities led by expert coaches in a wide range of sports. The girls also spend time one-on-one with their mentors or in smaller groups, doing all sorts of sports-related activities.

Liv mentors must attend an information session; complete an application; have an intake interview; complete training; have a clean driving and criminal record; be an 18+, female "everyday athlete;" and commit to at least one year of service. Previous Liv in the Game experience not required but is encouraged. To get more information, contact Program Director Carly Moran at [email protected], or by phone at 512/485-3040, ex. 3.

Three cheers for Christina Kelly! As the new editor-in-chief at YM magazine, she's sending an important message to teens about body image. The following is an excerpt from a Women's Enews article:

Teen Mag Editor Promotes Healthy Body Image
by Carol Lee

When millions of teenage girls page through this month's issue of YM magazine, what they read-stories like "Girls' Night Out" and "Cat Got Your Tongue? It's Hard Being Shy"-may be less noteworthy than what they don't read. There is not a single dieting story, tip or "how to." Nor will there ever be as long as Christina Kelly is in charge.

Kelly, 39, publicly announced last month her decision to ban dieting stories and to feature larger-size models in YM, which has 2.3 million readers. Her announcement came four months after her promotion to editor in chief of YM from executive editor. But Kelly says the policy unofficially began her first day on the job.

"I always had this belief that as soon as I became editor in chief, diet stories would be gone," Kelly says. "I'm really aware of the body-image issue."

Although they won't formally know about the changes until they read the editor's note in the April issue, readers and their parents have already noticed them. Rebecca Onion, who edits the letters section of the magazine, says she has sifted through volumes of grateful correspondence from readers who used to balk at skinny YM models.

"I knew people would agree with me. I just didn't know how many," Kelly says.

Not everyone agrees. One former YM photographer refused to shoot anyone who wasn't a size four or six. So YM doesn't work with her anymore. The fashion editor of the magazine has also struggled to find models of all shapes and sizes, says Kelly. Apparently, her efforts have paid off: The February issue features a size 14 model.

"We want the girls to reflect our readers," says Kelly. Indeed, when Kelly publicized YM's pursuit of larger models in a recent television interview, she was deluged with unsolicited photographs of enthusiastic readers.

Advertisers have been supportive as well, although Kelly says their reaction was not a factor in her decision. "If parents and readers are happy then advertisers are happy. And parents and readers are happy," says Kelly.

For the full article go to http://www.womensenews.com/article.cfm/dyn/aid/833/context/archive.

GENaustin seeks volunteers with strong PR, communication and media skills to promote GENaustin's Fall 2002 programs and activities. Media highlights from GENaustin's 2001-02 calendar year included coverage or full features in the Austin American-Statesman, Austin Chronicle, KXAN & KVUE, KLBJ radio, ESPN radio, New York Times Magazine, Good Morning America and more!

Specifically, GENaustin seeks volunteers to:

• supervise student interns to conduct weekly media outreach;
• publicize GENaustin's on-going speakers' series;
• inform Austin parents about upcoming GENaustin events;
• create content for the GENaustin website;
• promote special GENaustin community events; and more!

PR Volunteers are asked to attend one monthly meeting and commit 2-10 hours per month to assist with GENaustin media and PR activities.

Interested volunteers should contact Sarah J. Wheat at [email protected] or Diana Kirby at [email protected] for more information or to attend the next volunteer meeting.

The Austin Theatre Alliance, the parent company for the Paramount Theatre and the State Theater, and Missoula Children's Theatre announce Camp Paramount 2002, a tuition-free day camp at the historic Paramount Theatre on Congress Avenue. This weeklong summer event for kids in kindergarten through 12th grade begins July 29 and will conclude with two performances of Treasure Island on Saturday, August 3, 2002 at 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on the historic Paramount Theatre stage.

Missoula Children's Theatre touring productions are complete with costumes, scenery, props and makeup. The MCT Tour Actors/Directors will conduct the auditions and daytime rehearsals from July 29 through August 3. Auditions are open to the first 500 who pre-register. 50-60 participants will be selected by audition. No theatre experience is required, just lots of enthusiasm, a great smile, an ability to sing on key, and excellent listening skills. It's a great opportunity for youngsters to gain hands-on theatre experience and teamwork.

Registration packets will be available for pick up starting on Monday, June 3, 2002 at the Paramount Theatre Box Office, 713 Congress Avenue. Box Office hours are Monday-Saturday, 12-noon until 5:30 p.m. The deadline for registration is Sunday, June 30, 2002. Registration is required for all auditions.

Auditions will be held on Monday, July 29 starting at 10 a.m., but please remember that participants must pre-register to audition. More information about the auditions and camp week will be included with your registration packets.

When you make a purchase at the following places part of your purchase goes to help fund GENaustin.

• Randall's (Remarkable Card code 9033)
• Greatergood.com
• iGive.com
• Bookpeople.com

Also, mention GENaustin when you shop at Giada, a unique boutique and gift shop just west of downtown, and 2% of your sale will go directly to GENaustin. GENaustin is excited to be a part of Giada's Community Investment Program. Giada is located at 704 West Sixth Street, a block west of Katz' Deli, 457-8881.

One more way you can help is by purchasing one or more raffle tickets. The raffle is for two roundtrip tickets on Southwest Airlines, and the tickets are $5 each or $20 for 5. Call 512/414-0472 to find out how to get your raffle tickets.

This site was last updated on 04/04/2005.

Copyright © GENaustin, Inc. 2001. All rights reserved. GEN, GENaustin, and GENaustin logos used and displayed herein are registered and unregistered trademarks of GENaustin, Inc. All other trademarks, service marks and logos used herein are the property of their respective owners. Email us at office@genaustin.org.