GEN's Voice

Issue 8

February 2002

GENaustin's web site now features current programs on the homepage. Go to www.GENaustin.org anytime to see what events are coming up. Here's what's going on in February:

Girl-to-Girl: Girl Friends, Girl Foes
Peer relationships are everything in middle school. When they're good, they're very, very good. When they're bad.... Girls may express their aggression through hurtful words, gossip, and other forms of relational violence that can damage girls emotionally. A SafePlace facilitator and a panel of local high school girls will share insight and successful strategies for dealing with ways girls love, hurt, and can heal each other.
Monday, Feb. 4, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. Hill Country Middle School cafeteria, 1300 Walsh Tarlton (south of Bee Caves Rd. at Walsh Tarlton)

Ten Things Dads Can Do To Support Smart, Strong, Bold Girls by Michael Hayes, Ex. Dir., Texas Fragile Family Initiatives, national trainer for Planned Parenthood and father of an adolescent girl.
Hayes offers a 10-point plan for strengthening father-daughter bonds, supporting daughters in healthy choices, and guiding girls toward competence, confidence, and success in career and relationships.
Tuesday, Feb. 12, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m., Chisholm Trail Middle School library, 500 Oakridge Dr. (one mile west of I-35 and Hwy. 620 at Deepwood)
Monday, Feb. 18, 7:30 - 9:00 a.m., St. Stephens School dining hall, 2900 Bunny Run (take Westlake Dr. west from 360. Left on Bunny Run) Breakfast will be served. Call 512/327-1213, ext. 215 to RSVP.

Fathering a Successful Daughter by Dr. Steve Larson, LPC
Research has shown fathers play an enormous role in the ability of girls to make critical life and career choices. Local teen and family counselor Dr. Steve Larson, LPC, will review what proven steps fathers can take to help their daughters grow in confidence and competence - enabling them to make successful choices both in work and in relationships.
Wednesday, Feb. 13, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. O'Henry Middle School library, 2610 W. Tenth (10th and Exposition in Tarrytown)

Dads & Daughters: Heart-to-Heart by Juan Sanchez , Ed.D., Ex. Dir., Southwest Key Program.
Dads will learn what they can do to help their daughters be "all they can be." Daughters will be encouraged to confide, through a facilitator, those things they need from their fathers to feel more confident, competent, and strong. Dads also will share with each other what seems to work in forging strong father-daughter bonds. Join fellow dads for a memorable morning with your special "Valentine."
Thursday, Feb. 14, 7:30 - 9:00 a.m., Mendez Middle School library, 5106 Village Square (south of Stassney & South Pleasant Valley) Breakfast will be served.

Mom, Leave Me Alone! But First, Can You Take Me to the Mall? Teresa Kelly, GENaustin
She's hostile one moment, adorable the next. You're reasonable one day, clueless the next. The teen years can take their toll on mother-daughter relationships. But if you want to have a loving, healthy relationship with your grown-up daughter someday, you've got to act now. Teresa Kelly, GENaustin Board Member, takes parents through the whys of adolescent behavior and into the "what nows?" in terms of maintaining a healthy, loving relationship with your daughter during her turbulent teens.
Tuesday, Feb. 19, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m., Lamar Middle School library, 6201 Wynona (northwest corner of Burnet Rd. & Koenig Lane)

Dads: Raising Successful Daughters by Dan Jones, Ph.D.
Studies show fathers have an enormous influence over their daughters' future success and happiness. Dan Jones, Ph.D., founding board member of the Austin Men's Center, therapist, and author, will facilitate a practical, from-the-heart discussion among fathers, daughters, and those who care about them about what fathers can do to help their daughters grow up feeling confident, competent, and able to make successful choices both in work and in relationships.
Wednesday, Feb. 20, Noon - 2:00 p.m., Covington Middle School, (Check office for location), 3700 Convict Hill, (just south of Wm. Cannon & Brodie Lane) Bring your lunch.

Math, Science and Fun! by "The Edge"
Girls just want to have fun! Gaming, robotics, digital photography, graphics, animation, and web design. Learn how and why science can be fun. Join experts with "The Edge," the new mobile technology center offered by the Lone Start Girl Scout Council, for a hands-on, FUN afternoon.
Thursday, Feb. 28, 3:30 - 5:00 p.m., Fulmore Middle School (Check office for location), 201 Mary (off S. Congress at Mary)

The 2002 3M Half Marathon and Relay and 5K Fun Walk/Run is Sunday, Feb. 3. This year, GENaustin will be the beneficiary of the event, an honor that comes with a generous $15,000 donation. There's still time to sign up for either of the runs. Just go to packet pickup at the downtown RunTex store (422 W. Riverside Drive) on Friday, Feb. 1, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. or Saturday, Feb. 2, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Become part of the GENaustin team! GENaustin is looking for a part-time (20 hours per week) Program Director to help us grow and manage our programs and develop new initiatives. Our current programs include the Speaker Series, Girls Clubs, workshops, retreats, and an award-winning informational and interactive web site - and we've got a lot more great plans for the future. Join the revolution at GENaustin!

The Program Director's responsibilities will include:

• recruiting, training, managing, and assisting volunteer adult and teen facilitators;
• recruiting girls, parents, school personnel, and other interested people to our programs;
• working with volunteer committees;
• facilitating groups;
• developing and monitoring outcome measures;
• assisting with grants; and
• continuing the development of girl-focused, creative and therapeutic activities designed to promote competence, resilience, leadership skills, self-esteem and critical thinking skills.

The ideal candidate will thrive in a rapidly changing environment, must be flexible and able to work independently and within groups, and have excellent communication skills. Experience in curriculum planning/delivery and program outcomes research is strongly desired. A passion for girls, a must.

The Program Director's 20 hours are flexible, but some evenings will be required. GENaustin offers a competitive salary based on experience and three weeks of vacation. Interested? Forward your resume, three references, and salary requirements to Anita Mennucci at [email protected] by Feb. 11.

GENaustin is also looking for an Access database expert to transform our existing data into a user-friendly Access database and to train staff on Access. This opportunity is a temporary project position. Please forward your resume, three references, and rates to Anita Mennucci at [email protected].

We are outgrowing our current space and are looking to relocate. We need about 300 square feet and a shared conference area. If you know of an available space, please contact Anita Mennucci at [email protected].

Join Girlstart on Saturday, Feb. 23, for RoboBLAST. The event is free and is open to girls in grades 5 through 8. The girls will learn to build robots, then compete in teams with their robots to win prizes from our celebrity judges, one of whom is Kimberly Ball from K-EYE! The event will be held at Mendez Middle School, and registration is happening now. To register or for more information go to http://www.girlstart.org/roboblast.htm.

Girlstart is a local, non-profit organization that encourages and empowers girls in mathematics, science, technology, and engineering.

What can you do to ensure more of Austin's low-income students go to college? Attend the launch of Breakthrough in Austin on Feb. 1!

Join Mayor Gus Garcia, Applied Materials employees, students and teachers from established Breakthrough sites, and other community leaders to learn how Breakthrough will prepare promising, low-income middle school students for college while inspiring older students to become teachers.

The event is Friday, Feb. 1, 2002, from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., at the Fulmore Middle School Theater (on South Congress between Oltorf and Mary).

Breakthrough is a national education program in which older students teach younger students the skills they need to go to college. For more information on this event or on Breakthrough, visit www.breakthroughaustin.org.

Barnes & Noble is introducing a Mother-Daughter Book Discussion Group at their Westlake store. The goal of the group is to encourage conversation and nurture understanding between mothers and daughters. The group is for girls around the ages of 10 to 13. The first meeting is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 25, at 7:30 p.m. At this meeting, the group will explore the interest in the community, talk about times and days for a monthly meeting, and discuss a format and suggested titles. For further information, please contact Jo Virgil, Community Relations Manager, Barnes & Noble Westlake, at 512/328-3652.

This site was last updated on 10/26/2004.

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.