Leadership Conference March 12 for Oklahoma Women in Public Service

Entitled "Women Inc: Innovate, Navigate, Create", this conference is on Friday, March 12, 2010 at the Reed Conference Center in Midwest City (5750 Will Rogers Road). It is sponsored by the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, University of Oklahoma Center for Public Management, and the Oklahoma Office of Personnel Management.

Through keynote addresses, panel Q & A, breakout sessions, small group discussions, and high levels of interaction, participants will learn ways to:

Innovate – respond to contemporary challenges, rapidly changing systems, and workforce demographics.
Navigate – an approach to career decision making that allows each of us to navigate our own unique path to personal and professional leadership.
Create – tap into fresh value-creating ideas that inspire, promote, and push the boundaries.

Speakers includ Angela Monson, June Elkins-Baker, Paula Hearn, Kim Holland, Sarolyn Stager, Oklahoma's First Lady Kim Henry,  Mrs. Oklahoma Heather Rouba, Connie Schlittler, and more.


Who Should Attend? Current public service employees and students interested in developing their leadership skills or moving into positions of greater responsibility. This conference is for women in public service who have a strong interest in achievement, the drive to advance their careers, and an interest in partnering with others to promote women's leadership.

The conference prefers the participation of a diverse group of professional women, including those who are:

~ new to their organization;
~ actively seeking to develop their careers in public service; and
~ in senior level positions in their organizations continuing to serve, fully engaged in the future leadership challenges in state government.

There is also an opportunity for students to attend the conference. Full-time students who are not yet gainfully employed in a public service field and seeking a career in government are encouraged to attend.

Read all about the program and register to attend at the following website:
http://wlc.oucpm.org/

Oklahoma S.I.S. website: Reducing incarceration rate of women in Oklahoma

The Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women, the Oklahoma Women's Coalition and the Oklahoma Department of Corrections are partnering on an initiative seeking solutions to the high rate of incarceration of women in Oklahoma. We call it Oklahoma S.I.S. for short. you can read more about this effort at the new Oklahoma S.I.S. website: http://oklahomasis.com/

Oklahoma Policy Institute's Great Primer on the Oklahoma Legislature

The Oklahoma Policy Institute has put a great overview of Oklahoma's legislative process on their website at http://okpolicy.org/2010-oklahoma-legislative-overview/.

The 41 page presentation will answer many of your questions on

* Composition of the Legislature, including leadership positions and committee chairs;
* the Executive Branch;
* the policy path from bill introduction to law;
* Budget process; and
* Legislative resources.

Kudos to Ed Kelly for his Video on Incarceration of Women in Oklahoma

Ed Kelly, editor of The Oklahoman, has an excellent editorial video on the need to reduce the rate at which Oklahoma incarcerates women. You can watch his video by clicking on the following link:  http://www.newsok.com/multimedia/video/46886250001

Ice Boating on Geneva Lake, Wisconsin is Soooo Much Fun

My brother Jim and his wife Natalie have been  ice boating on Geneva Lake in southern Wisconsin.
His yacht got named "Willow Bender," my brother Pete tells me, after Jim crashed into a willow tree near the shoreline. Jim owns and operates Undercover Canvas in Walworth, WI., a fabricator of custom canvas boat covers, roll-up porch curtains, etc. Jim's club is the Boe-Craft Skeeter Association.

Below is a video of ice boaters in action that was taken in front of Gordy's Boathouse Restaurant in Fontana, WI. I am surprised the shots are so smooth because "back in my day" the ride across the ice at close to 100 miles an hour madefor a pretty bouncy ride! I suspect it is because the surface of the lake is incredibly smooth on this occasion. Watch and enjoy!

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qC0I5PEhkJo)

Rita Aragon speaking at the Complex Dialogues Conference at UC Jan 26

Brenda Partington left a comment on a post of mine about Rita Aragon. I thought I'd share her post with you (below). I've also posted a photo of Rita giving her talk at the conference:

A Conference at Oklahoma Christian University was held on Tuesday, January 26, 2010 in the Oklahoma City area, and Major General Aragon was the keynote speaker, who gave an outstanding presentation regarding women and self-esteem. It began with a short clip about Wonder Woman, and continued with a speech from General Aragon on the changes over the years regarding women and how much they can actually do, including how good they are at their jobs. On a final note, it was summed up with a video of 4 female soldiers in the Middle East who had discovered some of their fellow soldiers already attacked and ambushed. They had to immediately save their fellow comrades, and in the process, killed 14 of the enemy attackers. Two of these young women soldiers were only 19 years old. To say that I was impressed is not the words to describe, and it brought tears to my eyes. Our thanks must go out to her not only for her presentation, but for taking the stand on what women are truly capable of. This particular Conference was in regard to overcrowded women's prisons in Oklahoma, and it was a very positive educational experience.

"Take Charge! Program" - Oklahoma’s Breast & Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program

The Take Charge! Program is Oklahoma’s Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program. The mission of Take Charge! is to inform women about early detection of breast and cervical cancers to prevent unnecessary suffering and death.

The program provides no-cost health counseling, clinical breast exams, pap smears and mammograms for women that qualify. Call the OU College of Nursing to schedule an appointment at (405) 271-2428 Ext. 49230.

No-Cost services to women who meet the program guidelines include:
• A well-woman assessment to consist of a health and cancer risk history as it applies to breast and cervical cancer,
• Clinical breast exam,
• Pap smear and limited screening vaginal and perineal exam,
• Coupon for a free mammogram for women 50-64,
• Referral and follow-up for women with abnormal results.

Take Charge! Program Eligibility Guidelines for 2009
All areas of eligibility must be met

1. Age.
Age 50 – 64 (Will receive an annual free mammogram and a free pap test every two years)
Age 40 – 49 (Must have breast symptoms to be seen)
Age 35 – 49 (Must not have had a pap test in the last 5 years in order to be seen)
Age 35 – 49 (Must have had a hysterectomy due to cervical cancer or pre-cancer to be seen)

2. Insurance. Women must not have insurance or have insurance with a high deductible. In addition, they must not be covered by Medicare or Medicaid.

3. Income. Women must earn only 185% or below of the federal poverty level.
Poverty Guidelines for Take Charge!
(185% of Federal Poverty Level)

Size of Family Unit	Annual Income	Monthly Income	Weekly Income
1	$20,036	$1,669	$385
2	$26,955	$2,246	$518
3	$33,388	$2,823	$642
4	$40,793	$3,399	$784
5	$47,712	$3,726	$918
6	$54,631	$4,553	$1,051
7	$61,550	$5,129	$1,184
8	$68,637	$5,720	$1,320

Remembering Bessie Coleman

Bessie Coleman's birthday was January 26. We like to claim her as an Oklahoman because she attended Langston Industrial College, Oklahoma for one semester in 1910. She was brave and adventuresome and made quite a mark for herself in her short 33 years. The following is from the website About.com  Women's History:

Bessie Coleman
January 26, 1892 (some say  1893) - April 30, 1926
The first African American woman to fly a plane, Bessie Coleman was an aviation pioneer who made her living as a stunt pilot. She intended to start a pilot training school for African Americans, since she had found it so difficult to get admitted to such training, herself.

Human Trafficking in Oklahoma

I've spoken before about Oklahoma's connection to human trafficking (see http://oklahomawomen.blogspot.com/2009/02/human-trafficking-update.html). I recently visited with Linda Caswell (on right in picture) who has started an organization based in Oklahoma City that will address human trafficking in Oklahoma. Yes, Oklahoma. We have Oklahomans "stolen." (Have you seen the movie "Taken" yet - or, for that matter, do you know who your kids are visiting with on the Internet?) Officials with the OKC Police Department, ICE and FBI assure me that, with major interstates passing through Oklahoma City, we are also a major route for bringing sex traffic and other categories of "free labor" into the US from Mexico.  I'll have more to say on this subject in the future. S

Learnmore about Linda's program, All Things New, here http://www.youtube.com/user/skylineOKC#p/a/u/1/BcsAP190h7Q

Event April 22, OU, Norman - Get tickets now to hear "Three Cups of Tea" author Greg Mortenson

Greg Mortenson, author of Three Cups of Tea and Stones into Schools, will be giving a free public lecture on the Norman OU Campus at 10 AM, Thursday, April 22, 2010. In order to determine the venue for this event sponsors want to know approximately how many people are interested in attending. A person may reserve up to 4 tickets now at http://www.eventbrite.com/event/448141403

Greg Mortenson will be on the OU campus as a guest lecturer at the OU College of Engineering Centennial Symposium April 21-23, 2010. For updates on the public lecture venue go to the COE web site www.ou.edu/coe/centennial .

Mortenson is co-founder of the Central Asia Institute. He was a guest on Bill Moyers Journal, January 15, 2010. The video of the program is available for viewing online at http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/01152010/profile2.html .

A "Pennies for Peace" project in support of the Central Asia Institute will be held in conjunction with the event. Anyone interested in participating may send a request for information to league@norman.ok.lwvnet.org and the request will be forwarded to co-sponsors Mary Francis and Brenda Wheelock. For information about Pennies for Peace go to https://www.ikat.org/pennies-for-peace/. The goal is to present pennies to Greg Mortenson in a special presentation during his public lecture at OU on April 22. If enough Oklahoma groups participate, they hope to collectively raise the $35,000 needed to build a CAI-sponsored school.

Tulsa Salvation Army + Bill O'Reilly

The Salvation Army in Tulsa reports Bill O’Reilly is the keynote speaker at their 2010 annual benefit dinner March 13th. I just love THIS Bill O'Reilly: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tJjNVVwRCY

January 26 Summit Focuses On High Female Incarceration Rate

There is a wonderful event on January 26 on the high rate of incarceration of women in Oklahoma and what we can do to lower those rates. The public is welcome. You can read about it in Kurt Hochenauer's blog post here:
http://www.okiefunk.com/node/692

February 22 is "World Thinking Day 2010"

The Girl Scouts reports that each year on February 22, girls participate in activities, games and projects with global themes to honor their sister Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in other countries. The theme for World Thinking Day 2010 is girls worldwide say "together we can end extreme poverty and hunger." World Thinking Day is part of the WAGGGS Global Action Theme (GAT) based on the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which aim to improve the lives of the world's poorest people.

World Thinking Day not only gives girls a chance to celebrate international friendships, but it is also a reminder that Girl Scouts of the USA is part of a global community—one of nearly 150 countries with Girl Guides and Girl Scouts.

TED is now also TEDMED (health, wellness, medical videos)

In case you still haven't discovered TED: Ideas Worthing Spreading, now they have "signed a unique content partnership agreement with a sister conference, TEDMED, that extends TED's reach into the vital realm of medicine and wellness. It's a mutually supportive partnership that will allow us to bring the best of their talks to TED.com. TEDMED was founded in 1998 by TED founder Richard Saul Wurman. It used the famous TED conference format to address wide-ranging issues in healthcare." Check it out here.

United Methodist Relief Executive Dies Before Rescue from Hotel Ruins in Haiti

If, like me, you are a member of the United Methodist Church, one of the things that makes you very proud to be a part of a "connectional" church is the wonderful work done by the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). It is well known that, in the event of a crisis anywhere in the world, first in is usually UMCOR - often working in direct partnership with the US government. UMCOR, we like to say, is first in and last out. For example, UMCOR is still supervising recovery efforts in Louisiana even though many of us have moved on from Hurricane Katrina.  When I lead mission teams to Kenya, our service projects are often at UMCOR sponsored institutions like the Maua Methodist Hospital or the Bio-Intensive Training Facility in Meru. So I found the news below particularly heartbreaking.

New York, NY, Jan. 16, 2010 - The Rev. Dr. Sam Dixon, head of the humanitarian relief agency of The United Methodist Church, died before he could be rescued from the rubble of a hotel destroyed by the earthquake that hit Haiti on January 12.

The executive officer of the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) was part of a group of mission and relief specialists trapped by the collapse of the Hotel Montana. Other persons in the group of five, including two more from the General Board of Global Ministries, were rescued and were back in the US by the morning of January 16. The group was pinned down for more than 55 hours.

Dixon was reportedly alive in the hotel ruins on the morning of January 15. Confirmation of his death before rescue was conveyed to Global Ministries through several sources, including eyewitnesses from a Methodist guest house in Port-au-Prince, where Dixon and his colleagues had been staying. Frequent press reports throughout the day on January 15 asserting his safety were incorrect.

He and the Rev. Clint Rabb, head of the United Methodist office of mission volunteers, and the Rev. James Gulley, a former missionary and now consultant to UMCOR, were at the hotel for meetings with representatives of other organizations, making plans to improve medical services in Haiti.

"Sam Dixon was a tireless servant of the church of Jesus Christ on behalf of all of us," said Bishop Joel N. Martinez, interim general secretary of the General Board of Global Ministries."His death is an incalculable loss to Global Ministries, UMCOR and our worldwide ministry of relief to God's most vulnerable children. Our directors and staff extend their condolences to Sam's wife, Cindy, their children, and their wider circle of friends and colleagues."

Bishop Janice Huie of Texas, president of UMCOR, said that Dixon "was an extremely gifted minister of the Gospel. He lived his life following the commandments of Jesus to feed the hungry, care for the sick, and love the least of these - all over the world. Jesus is holding him dear, and we are in prayer for his family."

Dixon was a native of North Carolina where he served for 24 years as a pastor. He came to the General Board of Global Ministries in 1998 to serve as director of field operations of the non-governmental agency (NGO) section of UMCOR. He then became head of the United Methodist Development Fund and moved up to head the unit on Evangelization and Church Growth. Dixon was tapped to head UMCOR in 2007.

He was officially a deputy general secretary of Global Ministries assigned to UMCOR, where he oversaw programs of emergency relief, long-term disaster recovery, economic development, health services, and peace-building.

Dixon was educated at the University of North Carolina and the Chicago Theological Seminary. He was a member of the North Carolina Annual (regional) Conference of his church. He and his wife have four children.

US President Barack Obama: "Martin Luther King & the Challenges of a New Age"

Yesterday (Sunday, January 17, 2010) US President Barack Obama recognized the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. when he spoke at the Vermont Avenue Baptist Church, in Washington, D.C. Don't kid yourself; we ARE being tested today and there is still a long way to go.

You can listen to his talk at the link below:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/01/17/martin-luther-king-and-challenges-a-new-age

Happy Martin Luther King, Jr Day

Below is a nice tribute to Dr. Martin Lurther King, Jr.; it was originally published in 2007 but worth another read. I am old enough toI remember vividly where I was when I heard of Dr. King's death and I wept. His assassination - and the days that followed it - marked me permanently. We think of "Martin" as ours - our American statesman, philosopher, theologian, ethicist, civil rights leader. But the truth is he also belongs to Poland, East Germany, South Africa, China and all of the other nations since his death where individuals have gathered in nonviolent protest to seek justice and equality. He is today the world's human rights icon. Thank you, Martin. We strive to live up to your example. Enjoy.

The time was noon. It was Jan. 15, 1929, and as happens each day many times over, a child was born. The birth was ordinary. The life that followed was anything but.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a hero to millions, but his first label in life was simply "son." His father, Reverend Martin Luther King, Sr., was a Southern Baptist preacher - his mother, a preacher's wife. He was the second of three children, born in an ordinary family to ordinary circumstances.

He had an ordinary childhood attending school in Georgia, graduating from college and choosing a career, as many ordinary people do.

Dr. King became an ordained minister in February 1948 at the age of nineteen, and in 1955, he received his doctorate in Systemic Theology from Boston University.

His family, his childhood, his education were at least somewhat, well, ordinary. His faith, however, was extraordinary.

Dr. King was a true believer in the common man, and over the course of his lifetime, he became a symbol of justice, a champion for minorities and a voice for the working class.

He was a tireless leader of the civil rights movement working to gain equal rights for African Americans and blue collar workers. He was arrested more than 30 times, despite being a vocal proponent of non-violent protest.

He was a man with a dream, and he worked toward that dream up to the day of his death in 1968.

And so on Martin Luther King Day, we honor a great American, as Dr. King will again be labeled.

He is remembered as a champion, a pillar, an orator, a father, a husband, a victim, a reverend, a son. Most of all, he was a man whose extraordinary faith in ordinary people never wavered, and he worked selflessly to better the lives of millions. Perhaps the label Dr. King would have liked best ... maybe the one he would have given himself ... is simply "servant."

And maybe the best thing we can do to honor Martin Luther King, Jr., our humble servant, is to ourselves, as ordinary men and women, serve others.

For, as Dr. King told the congregation in a 1968 sermon shortly before his death, even ordinary men can aspire to greatness.

"Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve," Dr. King said. "You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You don't have to know about Plato and Aristotle to serve. You don't have to know Einstein's Theory of Relativity to serve. You don't have to know the Second Theory of Thermal Dynamics in physics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love, and you can be that servant."

Dr. King certainly was that servant. He was truly extraordinary. He followed the admonition of St. Francis to, "Teach the gospel constantly and, if necessary, use words."

Author: Drew Edmondson, Attorney General of Oklahoma

Watch MLK deliver his "I have a dream" speech. If you don't know TED yet, learn about it!

Oklahoma Women's Coalition is reading bills, planning Day at the Capitol March 2

Hang on to your hat! The second session of the 52nd Oklahoma Legislature gets under way Monday, February 1st. The deadline for introducing bills was yesterday with over 2,200 bills introduced. In the Senate, 1082 new bills and 28 new resolutions were filed plus there were 860 Senate bills and 38 Senate resolutions that carried over from last year. In the House of Representatives, 1,153 bills and 31 resolutions were introduced and 901 House bills plus 48 House resolutions carried over from last year. Now the Oklahoma Women's Coalition is busy reading these bills and resolution to identify those that impact women and girls. We'll be tracking bills on aging, education, girls, health, incarceration, violence against women, and work & family.  We'll host a Day at the Capitol on March 2nd to visit legislators and let them know we are available as a resource on women's issues. Visit our website at http:/www.oklahomawomenscoalition.org/to learn more and join online. Now the question is -- (how) will we use social media to keep our members and others informed during the Legislative Session? Got a thought? suggestion? Tweet me @jeanwarner or leave a note on Facebook /jeanwarner.

Posted via email from Social Media Musings

Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame Set for April 7 in OK City

Mark your calendar; this is always a fun event. The Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women will host the 2011 Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame program at 3pm on Thursday April 7, 2011 at the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City. Public is invited.

Representative Lamons Introduces Bill to Preserve Women’s’ Mammogram Coverage

Lamons’ Bill to Preserve Women’s’ Mammogram Coverage

OKLAHOMA CITY – In light of a recent study suggesting mammograms are not necessary for women younger than 50, state Rep. Lucky Lamons has filed legislation to preserve existing insurance coverage for mammograms in Oklahoma.
“I want to make sure any woman concerned she may have breast cancer is able to get a mammogram if her doctor orders one,” said Lamons, a Tulsa Democrat who is also a member of the Susan G. Komen Board, an organization dedicated to education and research about the causes and treatment of breast cancer. “In Oklahoma, it’s estimated that one out of every eight women will be affected by breast cancer, so this is literally a life-and-death issues for thousands of families across the state.”
Current state law requires insurance coverage to pay up to $115 for mammograms for any woman age 35 and up.
However, a November report from the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force recommended that women should wait until age 50 for regular mammograms.
In light of that report, Lamons filed House Bill 2688, which declares that insurance policies cannot be “subject to modification by insurers based upon studies or recommendations of medical research entities without specific approval of the Legislature.”
The proposed law would also allow any woman younger than 35 to have the same mammogram coverage “provided the treating physician prescribes the screening based upon physical findings or a genetic predisposition to breast cancer.”
“This is personal for me,” Lamons said. “My wife Shana is a three-and-a-half year cancer survivor. She was diagnosed at 45. Early detection really does save lives. My wife’s cancer was detected in the early stages. Had she been required to wait until age 50 for a screening, the cancer would have been much larger and tougher to treat.”
The 2010 session of the Oklahoma Legislature will begin February 1.

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Source.State Rep. Lucky Lamons: (405) 557-7390

Here Come the Bills

House Completes Bill-Filing Process

OKLAHOMA CITY – At the conclusion of the filing process at 5 p.m. on Jan. 14 – the last day for state representatives to file legislation – there were 1,153 bills and 31 joint resolutions filed in the Oklahoma House of Representatives for the 2010 legislative session.
This is the second year members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives were able to file bills electronically, increasing efficiency and moving the state one step closer to a “paperless” government.
Last year, the House Chief Clerk’s Office reported that 1,270 bills and 46 joint resolutions were filed in the Oklahoma House of Representatives for the 2009 legislative session.
Of last year’s measures, 901 House bills carried over and remain alive this session, as do 48 joint resolutions.

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Source: House Media: 405-557-7421

Everyone - Give a Little for the Haiti Relief Effort Please

If you haven't already, please make a small donation to help the people of Haiti now. At this point, what is needed most is financial donations. You can donate $10 to the American Red Cross – which will be charged to your cell phone bill – by texting "HAITI" to "90999." Or you can contribute online to the Red Cross.  If everyone just gave $10 it would be a huge help. Find more ways to help through the Center for International Disaster Information.  Later - there will be mission trips to help rebuild. But for now we need to let the NGOs get water and medical care and shelter, etc to the victims.

Thanks everyone. 

Great gift idea: The Healthy Woman: A Complete Guide for All Ages

The Healthy Woman: A Complete Guide for All Ages
by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health.

Empowers women to:
Recognize signs of heart attack and stroke as well as understand risk factors
Learn the risks for type 2 diabetes and how to manage it
Deal with the diagnosis of an autoimmune disease
Understand the impact of chronic pain
Care for their mental health
Prepare their body for pregnancy and delivery
Request a second opinion when they feel it's necessary
Other Highlights Include:

Compelling foreword by CNN international journalist Jill Dougherty
Touching personal stories women can relate to
Full color charts and diagrams to help readers understand their health
The latest recommendations for screenings, exams, and immunizations

Order Your Copy Today!  

List price: $24.95 Paperback
Spread the Word!

New Federal Guidelines Protect Scientific Decisions From Political Interference

The National Partnership for Women and Families reports "The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy unveiled a four-page memorandum to guide federal agencies in ensuring that their scientists are protected from political interference, the Washington Post reports."

Hurray for those of us who still believe in science.   : - )

Now let's just hope the policy gets enforced! You can read the blog post entitled "Long-Awaited Guidelines Protect Scientific Decisions From Political Interference" here.

What is YOUR Favorite New Year's Resolution?

Happy New Year to you. Here is hoping that in 2010 we see more peace and less war, more health and less sickness, more joy and less sadness, more prosperity and less hunger and poverty and despair.

I have many 2010 resolutions (read the Bible more regularly, spend more time with family members and friends, make the Oklahoma Women's Coalition a success, be a better support for my dear friend struggling with ovarian cancer, and much, much more).

My favorite resolution - the one that will bring me great joy and satisfaction in the year ahead - is to spend more time working to bring aid to the children of Meru, Kenya - the hearing impaired, the sick, the visually impaired, the physically handicapped and especially the orphans. Stay tuned for more on this subject. And this includes - I dearly hope - my fifth visit to Kenya during 2010.

What is your favorite resolution for 2010?

We.news (aka Women's eNews) covers Women's Issues/Lives

We News (womensenews.org) is an interesting resource with lots of articles on art, history religion, cultural trends, traditions, marriage/divorce/motherhood, media, politics, work, education, health, science, justice and much, much more! Check it out here. It is national and international - lots of good stuff here. Go see who they selected for their "21 Leaders in 2010".

In April, Blog About Sexual Violence

Every two minutes someone in the United States is sexually assaulted, but Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month only happens once each year. RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network), the nation's largest anti-sexual assault organization, is asking bloggers to contribute to our efforts by doing a post about sexual violence/rape in April.

RAINN is also asking vloggers on YouTube to create videos speaking out against sexual violence, and they're hoping that bloggers like you will aid themin this endeavor as well to ensure that this year's Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month helps as many people as possible.

Speaking of YouTube, RAINN released a new video on March 25 featuring musician/activist Otep Shamaya, who urges viewers to seek help via the National Sexual Assault Hotlines. Otep has been named one of CNN's "People You Should Know" and is nominated this year for a GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Music Artist. With her help, in addition to the help of numerous vloggers and bloggers like you, they are hoping to make a huge impact online this year.

If you have any questions or think this is something you might be interested in doing, feel free to contact Patrick McNeil with Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (patrickm at rainn.org)