FreeSpeaks WWW WVFREE ORG WV FREE s mission is

FreeSpeaks WWW.WVFREE.ORG WV FREE’s mission is to protect the right to choice, to increase accessibility to affordable birth control and to improve education on reproductive choices. Organizations Affiliated with WV FREE include: American Association of University Women, WV American Civil Liberties Union of WV Hadassah of Charleston League of Women Voters of WV National Association of Social Workers, WV National Council of Jewish Women, WV Section National Lawyers Guild of WV National Organization for Women, WV Planned Parenthood of WV Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice Students for Choice Temple Israel Sisterhood Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of the Kanawha Valley WV Nurses Association WV Young Democrats Women’s Health Center of WV, Inc. By Margaret V. Chapman WV FREE Renew Your Commitment To Choice The holidays are a time to reflect, take stock of our blessings and give thanks. I am keenly aware of how lucky I am to be working with an organization as fabulous and dynamic as WV FREE. We have experienced unprecedented growth in our staff, influence, and ability to garner support financially and politically. As these pages show, WV FREE is busy promoting women’s reproductive rights in our great Mountain State with a variety of exciting projects. I’m thankful for your support which has enabled us to make significant advances for reproductive justice. To continue this work, we need your help again. Transition has accompanied our recent growth. In October we said goodbye to Julie Archer, our Organizer. Julie did a tremendous job working to increase access to reproductive health services in West Virginia. She championed the effort to survey every single pharmacy in the state to find out if they stock Plan B, emergency birth control. During her tenure, we strengthened our partnerships with the Foundation for Rape and Information Services, the National Women’s Law Center, the Abortion Access Project and the ACLU of West Virginia. Thank you, Julie! We wish you the best in your post at Citizen Action Group. While we were sad to see Julie go, we were thrilled to welcome our new Organizer, Lida Shepherd. Lida is a very bright and capable young woman who comes to us with a rich background in social justice advocacy. I’m excited to see how her unique perspective shapes our work in the coming year. To hear more from Lida, check out her article on page 2. I’m utterly thrilled to tell you that at long last, we were able to create the new position of Office Manager. Maria Armada, who joined the staff in August, fills this role ably and keeps things organized and warm in the office. I couldn’t be more thankful to have Maria with us. See more about Maria on page 5. In other exciting news, our emergency birth control campaigns are in high-gear and have earned the support of national advocacy organizations. Because we know the exact availability of EC in West Virginia, we can now more effectively work to increase access through targeted education of health care providers, policy makers, and the greater public. We continue to place a high value on strengthening our alliances with other social justice organizations. In that spirit, we will be partnering with the NAACP to show the Eyes on the Prize video series which documents the civil rights movement. This is particularly exciting for me because these documentaries changed my life Continued on page 5 In This Issue: From the Organizer/President ..................2 Brazil & The Morning After Pill .................3 Mark your Calendar .................................4 Eyes on the Prize .....................................4 Mobilize ...................................................5 New Office Manager .................................5 From the Field By Lida Shepherd As the new Organizer for WV FREE, I am thrilled at the opportunity to be working in my homestate furthering the pursuit of better reproductive health, choice, and education for West Virginia women. As I familiarize myself with the political and social landscape around these issues in the state, I am learning about the hard-won victories of my predecessors and colleagues, and also about the possibilities and challenges which confront us today and tomorrow. Following in the footsteps of the former Organizer, Julie Archer, I am mindful of the fact that they are big shoes to fill! One of my first items of business has been seeing to completion the emergency birth control access survey. Through collaboration with the ACLU-WV and the Foundation for Rape Information and Services, as well as tireless volunteer efforts calling pharmacies across the state, we are arriving at a very clear picture of emergency birth control access and awareness statewide. The results thus far show that improvements have been made in terms of the percentage of pharmacies that stock Plan B (emergency birth control). Thanks in large part to the victory of Plan B being approved for overthe-counter sale by the Food and Drug Administration in August 2007, we have found that of the 487 pharmacies surveyed thus far, seventy-seven per cent stock Plan B. Nonetheless, we still face the challenges of an often misinformed or under-informed consumer and pharmacist population. The good news is that we can use results from the survey to strategically direct emergency birth control education campaigns and pharmacist trainings. I am tremendously excited about our emergency birth control public education campaign in colleges and universities across the state. Through collaboration with university health clinics and residential halls, we will educate young women about what their options are if they find themselves in the troubling situation of an unintended pregnancy. We are also launching an ad campaign in the Kanawha Valley public bus system, with ads inside buses advertising Plan B and where to find it. Check out the ad below. In other news, we recently had a successful citizen lobbyist workshop at Bethany College in the northern panhandle. Chris Wolf, WV FREE board member and communication specialist extraordinaire, did yet another fabulous job outlining indispensable lobbying and advocacy tips. In preparation for the Continued on page 5 From the President By Vicki Stroeher Dear WV FREE Members, Jane Goodall once observed, “You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” So, I am proud to be President of an organization filled with committed men and women who choose to make a positive difference in our state. Through the leadership of our executive director, Margaret Chapman, WV FREE is at the forefront of emergency contraception access. With the help of our local partners, Foundation for Rape Information and Services and ACLU, our survey of state pharmacies and emergency rooms not only led the way for similar studies in other states, it has also increased awareness of, and hence, greater access to, much needed services. Most recently, a private foundation from North Carolina has bolstered our financial ability to continue our work in this important arena. We are honored that they have chosen to help us make a difference. We provide the voice for choice in West Virginia, both in our support of the state’s only two abortion care centers and in our work with the legislature. The assault on a woman’s right to choose comes daily and in ways one has never dreamt possible. Through our many efforts to uphold the rights afforded by the Roe v. Wade decision, we continue to make a positive difference in the arena of reproductive justice. Our ability to enact positive change in West Virginia is due in large part to your support both financially and philosophically. We cannot make a difference without you, our members, by our side. So, please join us for two very special WV FREE events: the Roe v. Wade Gala on February 25th, and Lobby Day on February 26th. With your help, we will make a difference! Sincerely, Vicki 2 Brazil Doles Out “Morning After” Pills By Andrew Downie The Christian Science Monitor (reprinted with permission) those underground procedures. “It’s all about sexual rights and reproduction,” says Dr. Adson França, one of the federal officials involved in implementing the programs. “What we want to do is give access to the poorest citizens and let them choose what course of action to take. We want to give them options.” To do that, the government has launched a series of programs over the last few years that Dr. França says mark a “coordinated effort never before seen in Brazil.” One of the main goals is to slash the number of abortions and unwanted pregnancies. In 2004, the last year for which figures are available, 7 in every 100 Brazilian women between the ages of 15 and 19 gave birth, says França’s colleague Dr. Lena Peres. This is nearly twice the number in the US, according to 2003 government figures. The medical costs of back-street abortions are enormous, with 240,000 women hospitalized each year suffering from complications caused by illegal procedures, according to Health Ministry figures. In May the government slashed 90 percent off the price of contraceptive pills in government-run pharmacies and The country’s most populous state now offers the contraceptive pills at metro stops in a battle to limit illegal abortions. São Paulo, Brazil - As part of a new fight against Brazil’s sky-high number of unwanted pregnancies and illegal abortions, the country’s most populous state is offering “morning after” contraceptive pills at metro stops and 90 percent off contraceptive pills at pharmacies. And that’s not all. Federal Health officials are offering to train teachers to give sex education and offering condoms to pupils. And the Health Ministry wants men to take more responsibility and is offering free vasectomies. These and other measures are part of a wide-ranging and controversial new public health initiative by state and federal officials designed to address women’s health issues and reduce the number of illegal abortions and complications stemming from this year it will spend more than $50 million in doubling the number of free contraceptive pills it gives to state clinics from 20 million to 50 million. Perhaps most controversial, São Paulo State has made the morning after pill available at pharmacies in metro stations. “We expect to see fewer unwanted pregnancies and the number of abortions going down,” says Drezett. Sometimes it feels like we’re at a crossroads and don’t know which way to go. Wouldn’t it be nice if the U.S. followed Brazil’s lead? Reverend Carlton Veazey, President & CEO, Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice The Reverend Carlton W. Veazey is President and CEO of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice and a minister of the National Baptist Convention U.S.A. Reverend Veazey is founder of the Coalition’s celebrated National Black Church Initiative, which is breaking the silence about sexuality in African American churches. His long and distinguished career in the ministry and public service and commitment to social justice have brought him to the presidency of the 33-year-old alliance of religious groups from 15 denominations and faith traditions. Reverend Veazey has received many honors during his tenure as President and CEO of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice. The Ms. Foundation in 1999 presented him with its prestigious Gloria Steinem Award. In 2001, Reverend Veazey received the Planned Parenthood of Washington Metropolitan Washington Champions of Choice Community Partnership Award. In 2002, he received the Voters for Choice Reproductive Freedom Award. In 2005, he was named one of “21 Leaders for the 21st Century” by Women’s E-News—the only man so honored. He is the recipient of the United Church of Christ/ Howard University School of Divinity James F. Jenkins Pillar of Faith Award and a Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Meadville Lombard Theological School. He is a member of the boards of Advocates for Youth and Americans United for Separation of Church and State. WV FREE’s Benefit Gala Keynote Speaker: Don’t miss him on February 25th! 3 Where’d You Get Those Peepers? In May, WV FREE and our emergency contraception coalition partners, ACLU and Foundation for Rape Information and Services, were selected by the Ms. Foundation to attend a special convening in Miami. This is a picture of Julie Archer in her award-winning pipe cleaner glasses, which she designed herself. We know she will forgive us for printing this picture. We miss you, Julie! ☺ Let’s Keep Our Eyes on the Prize Eyes on the Prize is a 14hour television series produced by Blackside and narrated by Julian Bond. Through contemporary interviews and historical footage, the series covers all of the major events of the civil rights movement from 1954-1985. Series topics range from the Montgomery bus boycott in 1954 to the Voting Rights Act in 1965; from community power in schools to “Black Power” in the streets; from early acts of individual courage to the flowering of a mass movement and its eventual split into factions. It has been called “required watching” by New York Magazine and “indispensable” by Time. To mark Black History Month and to make clear the connections between the women’s movement and the civil rights movement, WV FREE is partnering with the NAACP to show this award-winning documentary. Please stay tuned for details on venues and dates! Shop for Choice! Help raise funds for WV FREE while you shop! It’s simple - every time you shop online at places like The Gap, Body Shop, Net Flix and 300+ others, WV FREE gets a donation. Go to www.iBakeSale.com for details. MARK YOUR CALENDAR! January 9th: January 14th: Legislative Session Begins Citizen Advocacy Training, Osteopathic School of Medicine Lewisburg, WV January 15th: Citizen Advocacy Training, Unitarian Universalist Church, Charleston January 16th: Citizen Advocacy Training, Shepherd University January 21st: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Breakfast, Trinity Lutheran Church, Charleston January 22nd: Roe v. Wade 35th Year Anniversary February 25th: WV FREE’s Annual Benefit, Charleston Woman’s Club February 26th: Lobby Day and Press Conference at Capitol February, Dates TBA: Eyes on the Prize Viewings 4 Please call the WV FREE at 304-342-9188 for more information or email Maria at tinyarmada@gmail.com. MOBILIZE: LOBBY DAY FEBRUARY 26TH! Renew Your Commitment (cont.) Join us for Lobby Day on February 26th, 2008. The coming legislative session promises to be one of the most critical ones we’ll face as a reproductive justice movement. If we are to continue to experience legislative success, we need EVERY pro-choice West Virginian to commit to coming to the capitol, making calls, writing letters, and talking to friends and neighbors. We will not be able to maintain our reproductive rights if we – YOU-- are not part of a concerted effort. When we marched together in Washington in April of 2004 we were a million-strong! Hundreds of pro-choice, pro-women West Virginians led the charge! It’s beyond time to take charge in our own state. What can we do to help you join us? Do you need childcare? Transportation? Please let us know by emailing tinyarmada@gmail. com. Tell your boss today that you need to schedule some time away on February 26th. Whatever you do, don’t miss it. Please stay tuned for details. as an activist in my college days. Our wish is to inspire viewers to mobilize for progressive action and to take a stand against racism and the forces of social injustice more broadly. I hope you’ll join us for our annual Roe v. Wade benefit on February 25th. This year’s soiree will feature live music by local jazz favorite, Bob Thompson. We’ll be honoring Senator Dan Foster for his remarkable leadership and dedication to women’s reproductive health. Reverend Carlton Veazey, President and CEO of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, will deliver what is sure to be a rousing keynote speech. Finally, we’re gearing up for another active legislative session. We will be fighting the usual myriad of anti-choice bills, including one that would imperil the lives of young women by changing our existing parental notification statute. Another bill of grave concern would cut off Medicaid funding of abortion for West Virginia’s poorest women. Also, we’ll be working proactively to educate policymakers about family planning and emergency birth control. So while our successes are many, the unfortunate truth is that each and every year there is a renewed and aggressive assault on women’s health. That’s why we need your support now more than ever. Please use the enclosed card to demonstrate your commitment to reproductive justice right now. Or, go to www.wvfree.org and donate online! Just click on the “Make a Donation” button and type the words, “Fundraising letter” into the “Payment” field. We look forward to working with you and for you in our continued fight for women’s reproductive rights. On behalf of the board and staff, thank you for your support. Yours for choice, From the Field (cont.) upcoming legislative session, we are partnering up with the ACLU and the West Virginians United coalition to spearhead more Citizen Advocacy workshops both at Shepherd University and in Charleston. Our objective through these workshops is to equip people across the state with the tools they need to effectively advance a progressive agenda in the 2008 legislative session. These are exciting times indeed with many challenges and opportunities afoot! Please contact me if you have any questions, suggestions, or you just want to say hello! Working wildly and wonderfully for West Virginia women….lida@wvfree.org We would like to thank the following volunteers for their help with the EC campaign. Tisha Barnett Deedy Vaughan Seth DiStefano Simone Temple Katie Kern Gaby Lewis Misty Peal-Auville Rachael Molenda Ruth Zika and Nancy Hoffman and her rape crisis center representatives Please meet WV FREE’s new Office Manager! Maria Armada has been a passionate advocate for pro-choice and progressive causes since she was in high school. Born and raised in Hurricane, West Virginia, she attended college at both WVU and Marshall, graduating from the latter. She has worked for a number of progressive causes in Charleston and including a position as the project manager for J.R. Clifford Project, which educates West Virginians about the contributions of our state’s first African American attorney. Last legislative session she worked as a lobbyist under political consultant Karen Coria, which is when she became involved with WV FREE. 5 Happy Holidays wvfree.org wvfree.org . 100 Capitol Street Charleston, WV 25301 from WV FREE