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GEN's Voice
Issue 16
October 2002
In This Issue:
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Be Heard. Do an
Online Survey on Smoking and Tobacco |
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Got an opinion?
If you are a girl between the ages of 12 and 18, we
want to know what you really think about smoking and
tobacco! Your answers are completely anonymous and
confidential so please speak the truth. Your
participation will make a difference.
Click here to give us a piece of your mind
http://fh.inquisiteasp.com/surveys/U2B7YB.
Parents, teachers, and other adults, please pass
this survey on to girls you know. We’d like to get
as many surveys completed as possible.
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GENaustin’s October
Programs |
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GENaustin’s web site now features current programs
on the home page. Go to
http://www.GENaustin.org anytime to see what
events are coming up. Here’s what’s going on in
October:
“Positive Parenting in an Uncertain World” Raising
emotionally healthy children is especially
challenging when the evening news includes mentions
of terrorism, school violence, and the threat of
war. Incidents of violence, particularly on a scale
as large as that of Sept. 11, 2001, can leave
children and teens with feelings of fear and trauma
in their daily lives. Local therapist Sharon Woodul
will explain how traumatic events affect children
and how parents and other adults can help them deal
with their reactions in a constructive and healthy
way.
Wednesday, October 2, 7-8:30 p.m., O.Henry Middle
School library, 2610 West 10th (10th and Exposition
in Tarrytown). For parents.
“Girls as Friends, Girls as Foes: Strategies for
Spotting and Diffusing Relational Aggression in Your
Daughter and Her Friends” Peer relationships are
everything in middle school. When they’re good,
they’re very, very good. And when they’re bad… “Girl
fighting” is often a hallmark of middle school, and
some of the most painful times in girls’ lives.
Girls may express their aggression and insecurities
through hurtful words, gossip and other forms of
relational violence that can damage each other
emotionally. Parents can help by understanding the
conflict and communicating with their daughters.
Middle school counselor Carolyn Brooks will share
successful strategies for dealing with ways girls
love, hurt and can heal each other.
Monday, October 7, 7-8:30 p.m., West Ridge Middle
School, 19201 Scenic Bluff Dr. (off Bee Cave Rd. in
Barton Creek Estates). Call school at 732-9243 for
location. For parents.
“Girls as Friends, Girls as Foes.” By Carolyn
Brooks, West Ridge Middle School counselor and local
expert on relational aggression. “Girl fighting” is
often a hallmark of middle school, and some of the
most painful times in girls’ lives. Young teen girls
may express their aggression through hurtful words,
gossip and other forms of relational violence that
can damage girls emotionally. An experienced
counselor will discuss why this happens and will
help girls explore coping strategies and solutions.
Wednesday, October 9, 3-4:45 p.m., Kealing Middle
School. For girls.
“What is Your Relationship with Your Body?” For many
people, meeting society’s ideal body image has
become more important than being healthy. Society’s
top solutions appear to be “a diet” or surgery. But
there are ways to change your body image without
doing damage to your body! Lynne Bannatyne, Ph.D.,
will discuss how learning to love your physical
appearance can positively affect self-acceptance,
self-esteem and physical health.
Thursday, October 10, noon-1 p.m., Paredes Middle
School, 10100 S. Mary Moore Searight Dr. (south of
Slaughter near Manchaca). For girls.
“What is Your Relationship with Your Body?” For many
people, meeting society’s ideal body image has
become more important than being healthy. Society’s
top solutions appear to be “a diet” or surgery. But
there are ways to change your body image without
doing damage to your body! Lynne Bannatyne, Ph.D.,
will discuss how learning to love your physical
appearance can positively affect self-acceptance,
self-esteem and physical health.
Tuesday, October 15, 6:30-8 p.m., Chisholm Trail
Middle School, 500 Oakridge Dr. (one mile west of
I-35 and Hwy 620 at Deepwood), library. For girls.
“Om: Yoga for Girls” Come get a taste of how yoga
can help your mind, body and spirit. Learn basic
yoga moves and how to incorporate relaxation
techniques into your daily life. Understand your
body in a way completely different from what fashion
magazines tell you, and find out how to let go of
stress at home and at school. Yoga is fun! Wear
comfortable clothing. It’s best to do yoga on an
empty stomach; if you need to eat beforehand, please
eat lightly. Anita Stoll, LMSW-ACP, is a certified
hatha yoga instructor.
Wednesday, October 16, lunchtime, Covington Middle
School, 3700 Convict Hill (just south of Wm. Cannon
& Brodie Lane). For girls, parents welcome.
“Girls as Friends, Girls as Foes” By Carolyn Brooks,
West Ridge Middle School counselor and local expert
on relational aggression. “Girl fighting” is often a
hallmark of middle school, and some of the most
painful times in girls’ lives. Young teen girls may
express their aggression through hurtful words,
gossip and other forms of relational violence that
can damage girls emotionally. An experienced
counselor will discuss why this happens and will
help girls explore coping strategies and solutions.
Wednesday, October 23, lunchtime, Fulmore Middle
School, 201 Mary (off S. Congress at Mary). (Call
the GENaustin office at 414-0472 for exact time and
location.) For girls.
“Building a Toolbox of Friendship Skills” If
relationships came with instructions, what would
they be? If every girl had a toolbox full of tools
to help her friendships in middle school, what would
be in it? An experienced counselor will teach girls
how to use their tools to keep friendships strong,
honest and healthy through the preteen and teen
years. Kathleen Gubitz, M.Ed, LPC, is the ROPES
coordinator and Safe and Drug Free Schools Counselor
for the Leander ISD.
Friday, October 25, lunchtime, West Ridge Middle
School, 19201 Scenic Bluff Dr. (off Bee Cave Rd. in
Barton Creek Estates). (Call school at 732-9243 for
exact time and location.) For girls. |
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We’re currently taking reservations for the
following special events:
Mother-daughter Personal Safety Workshop GENaustin
is proud to cosponsor a self-defense and safety
skills workshop with Sun Dragon Martial Arts and
EveryWoman’s Self Defense. Mothers and daughters age
11 – 14 are invited to a fun and empowering
afternoon with nationally certified women
instructors. Learn how to set and maintain personal
boundaries, handle bullies without using violence,
and respond appropriately to adult strangers. Be
prepared to handle situations at the mall, the
movies and school with assertiveness and practical
skills. Mothers and daughters will break into
separate groups for instruction on specific topics.
Sunday, Oct. 6, 1 to 4 p.m., Sun Dragon Martial
Arts, 203 E. Riverside Drive. $50 per
mother-daughter couple. Scholarships are available.
Attendance is limited to 30 pairs. Call the
GENaustin office in advance at 512/414-0472 to
reserve your space and find out details.
“Relationships and Healthy Choices” Parent-daughter
Workshop Helping girls age 13-15 think through
dating expectations and choices, relationships and
intimacy is the focus of this workshop led by Ellen
Sanchez, SafePlace Co-Director of Community
Education and certified sexuality educator. Girls
and parents will discuss issues separately and
information will be shared through a facilitator in
a non-threatening way. The goal of the workshop is
to keep the doors of communication open between
parents and teens, and to help parents support their
daughters in making healthy, informed choices. $45
per parent-daughter couple. Call the GENaustin
office at 512/414-0472 to reserve your space and
find out more information. The workshop will be
limited to 12 parent-daughter couples. Sunday, Oct.
20, 1 to 4 p.m., St. Edward’s University Mabee
Ballroom. |
Leadership Austin
Class Members Explore Expansion Initiatives
for GENaustin |
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This year, members of Leadership Austin's class of
2001-2002 collaborated with GENaustin to explore
expansion and partnership opportunities. The mission
of Leadership Austin is to convene a diverse group
of Austinites who are interested in public and
community service, and to provide them with
leadership development and collaborative
opportunities that strengthen and transform our
community. Every year, Leadership Austin solicits
project ideas from Austin-based organizations, and
then class members select which project they want to
work on. When GENaustin's Executive Director, Anita
Mennucci, presented her request for a strategic
analysis of expansion and partnership opportunities,
seven class members signed on for her "LA SWAT
Team."
The LA SWAT Team members for GENaustin include: Anna
Sanchez, Community Development Leader, Wells Fargo
Bank; Colin Rowan, Marketing, Environmental Defense;
J.R. Ruiz, Contracts and Vendor Relations Manager,
Technology Services, Lower Colorado River Authority;
John Fitzpatrick, Executive Director and Vice
President for Education/Workforce Development,
Capital Area Training Foundation and Greater Austin
Chamber of Commerce; Karen Hill, Development
Director, Lifeworks; Maria Stewart, Partner, Brown
McCarroll law firm; and Pam Whitley, Community
Service Volunteer.
One of the team members, Karen Hill, explained the
reasons behind her decision to become involved with
this project: "As the mother of five daughters,
GENaustin's innovative programs for middle
school-aged girls resonated with me, and
participating in the LA SWAT team project offered an
opportunity to learn more about the organization and
provide support to help them expand their
programming in the Austin area." Another team
member, Maria Stewart, described her desire to
become involved in GENaustin's strategic planning:
"When I was in middle school, I experienced many
changes all at once, including a move to a new city
and a new school, which meant new friendships and
new interests. A self-esteem and awareness boosting
organization like GENaustin would have been a
helpful transition program for me. For these
reasons, I wanted to become involved in GENaustin's
expansion initiatives."
During the four-month project, the team members
surveyed area school counselors for their insights
into expanding GENaustin's programs into high
schools and additional middle schools, and created a
counselor database for GENaustin. The team also
evaluated advanced curriculum topics and partnership
opportunities. Based upon their research and
evaluation, the team provided a strategic analysis
of expanding "deeper and then wider." |
Everywoman’s Self
Defense Extends Invitation for Personal Safety
Workshop |
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Everywoman's Self Defense (a 501(c)3 non-profit)
would like to invite you to a personal safety
workshop on Sunday, Oct. 20, from 1 to 4 p.m. Their
program is for women and is taught by women. They
cover all kinds of strategies and scenarios,
including de-escalation, acquaintance assault, and
verbal and physical techniques. No previous physical
experience is required. All ages and abilities are
welcome.
The class is $50 per person, and partial need-based
scholarships are available. Advance registration is
required. To register, simply send your payment by
mail to Everywoman's Self Defense, 203 E. Riverside
Dr., Austin, TX, 78704. They’re located one block
east of Congress, right next to Thundercloud Subs.
You can read about the course at http://www.everywomans-selfdefense.org.
If you have any questions, please call Joy
Williamson at 512/416-9735. |
We Need Your Help:
Speaker Series Volunteer Opportunities |
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We need your help with our 2002-2003 Speaker Series.
GENaustin has the following volunteer positions
available:
School Coordinators: Acts as liaison between
GENaustin and a particular school. Works with school
to coordinate, promote, and put on events (four to
six events per school year). Most schools meeting in
the evenings. Some schools meet at lunchtime.
Kealing meets from 3:00-4:45 p.m..
Evaluation Form Coordinator & Support Group:
Collects, tallies, and tracks evaluation forms.
Provide monthly summary of evaluations and identify
issues to be addressed. Work from home or office. No
set hours or specific events. Must be computer
literate.
Follow-Up Coordinator: Follows up with speakers
after each event with thank you note, stipend check,
and evaluation summary. Work from home or office. No
set hours or specific events. Must be computer
literate.
Administrative Coordinator: Handles administrative
tasks related to the Speaker Series including
answering inquiries, maintaining contact lists, and
providing information to the web site committee.
Work from home or office. No set hours or specific
events. Must be computer literate.
Contact Jane Chambers to volunteer at [email protected].
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“Stranger Danger”
Video Now Available from the Austin Police
Department |
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The "Stranger Danger" video is now available from
the Austin Police Department. The video was created
for children ages 3 -12 to educate and raise
awareness about child safety issues and is not
intended to alarm or scare children or their
families. The video can be viewed or downloaded at
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/police/strangerdanger.htm.
To schedule a presentation for a school, church, or
civic organization, please call the Austin Police
Department Office of Community Liaison at
512/459-1877. |
Introducing Our New
Director of Programs, Barb Steinberg LMSW |
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We’re excited to announce that we have a new Director of Programs – Barb
Steinberg. Barb has over ten years experience in program management and social
work. Barb also has her own business delivering professional training to
educational and community agency personnel and students across Texas and
nationally.
Previously, she was a trainer with the Workers Assistance Program where she
provided professional training to audiences of up to 120 people. Barb has also
held positions with Healthcare Rehabilitation Center, Texas Clinical Associates,
and Hays-Caldwell Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse.
She holds a Masters of Social Work from Rutgers – The State University and a
Bachelors of Social Work from Southwest Texas State University. We’re very
pleased to have someone with this level of experience working with us. Please
join us in welcoming her to our GENaustin team. |
A Big Thanks to Our
Corporate Sponsors |
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GENaustin's programs are made possible through the
generous support of 3M, Alice Kleberg Reynolds Meyer
Foundation Applied Materials, Austin Ventures, Brown
McCarroll, the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation,
Hogg Foundation, IBM, Milkshake Media, Southwest
Airlines and Xopix Productions.
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Easy Ways to Help
GENaustin |
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When you make a purchase at the following places
part of your purchase goes to help fund GENaustin.
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.
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This site was last updated on 1/04/2005.
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.
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