Women's Cancer Resource Center News
December 2007
A message from the Women's Cancer Resource Center's Board of Directors:
Join WCRC's Strategic Planning Efforts - Complete Online Survey
The Board of Directors of the Women's Cancer Resource Center is leading our first strategic planning process. Its success depends on the quality of the information we gather from the people we serve and the people who support the center through volunteering, donating and promoting our work in the community. We are supported by a team of consultants from CompassPoint and have organized a series of activities including Board interviews with 25 community partners and a Town Hall meeting in October 2007 that was attended by 30. This process leads to the Board's Strategic Planning Retreat to be held January 25-27, 2008. At the retreat Board Members will revisit the mission, vision and values of the organization and provide strategic direction which the staff will incorporate in future budgets and operating plans.
We believe our future depends upon 360 degree thinking and acting. By this we mean:
- Programs that grow out of rigorous assessment of the needs of the people we seek to serve;
- Outreach in the communities where our clients live, work, worship and raise their
families;
- Staff and volunteers who offer linguistically and culturally competent services,
and;
- Collaborating with health care providers and community partners.
Tell us what WCRC does well, what needs to be improved and changed and to share the innovative ideas you have for WCRC's future services and community involvement.
Thank you!
Board of Directors
Janak Preston, Superstar
Ten year old Janak Preston wanted to do something to support his aunt, Leslie Preston,
a WCRC Board member in dealing with her cancer diagnosis and current treatment.
He organized a bike ride of fifteen kids from 6 to 13 who raised a whopping $3419
for Women's Cancer Resource Center. This was Janak's first time organizing a fundraiser
and what a fantastic job he did! Congratulations Janak, and thanks for supporting
your aunt and WCRC.
In the News
Blacks at Greater Risk of Cancer
By Kamika Dunlap, Oakland Tribune staff writer, 12/02/2007
Environmental Action Item
Aerial pesticide spraying for the light brown apple moth is coming to the Bay Area
this spring. To get more information, sign a petition, and work to stop the spraying,
please visit Stop the Spray.
Volunteer
Do you have experience with Microsoft Access?
Are you a whiz at Facebook, MySpace,
change.org, etc? If so, we are looking for you! Please contact Sarah at sarah@wcrc.org or 510.601.4040 x105 for more information regarding our
administrative volunteer opportunities.
Come to our Volunteer and Intern Orientation
When: Wednesday, January 9, 6 to 7:30 pm
Where: WCRC office, 5741 Telegraph Ave. (at the corner of 58th St. in North Oakland.)
Transportation: AC Transit 1 and 1R buses. There is also plenty of parking if you
are driving.
Find out about who we are, what volunteers and interns do, and basic information
about cancer.
To sign up for an orientation, e-mail or call Sarah, sarah@wcrc.org,
510.601.4040 x105.
Fundraising
Supporting WCRC's Work
Please read our December letter (doc)
Wish List
- Locksmith services
- Unopened boxes of tea bags or gift cards to Berkeley Bowl, Trader Joe's or Whole Foods to use to purchase tea and goodies for WCRC clients
- Gift cards to local furniture/design stores or IKEA to off-set the cost of our redesign project
- Graphic design service
- Printing services
- Houseplants, especially orchids
- Energy-efficient space heater
- Newer laptop computers
- Cordless microphone, amplifier speakers, stands and cables, a mixer and turntables (for the Swim a Mile)
The Pension Protection Act and Charitable Contributions
One of our regular donors has alerted us about a giving opportunity available under the Pension Protection Act of 2006. This allows Traditional and Roth IRA owners who have attained the age of 70½ the ability to make charitable contributions of up to $100,000 per year directly from the IRAs to an eligible charitable organization without incurring any adverse federal tax consequences.
The ability to make direct donations is only available until December 31, 2007. The distributions will be counted for purposes of the required minimum distributions ("RMDs") from an IRA but will not be included in calculating the individual taxpayer's limitation on charitable deductions in the year the donation was made.
There are specific procedures that must be followed to ensure no taxes are due on the IRA distribution. If you are interested in making a charitable contribution using your Traditional and/or Roth IRA assets, contact your financial advisor.
For Bart Riders
BART tickets with tiny bits of value on them that you find in your wallet, pockets and drawers have just become far more valuable to the Bay Area's community organizations. As part of the Tiny Tickets Program, BART ticket holders may donate these tickets to the Women's Cancer Resource Center. Connecting local resources and community needs is what the Tiny Tickets Program is all about.
Please send your "tiny tickets" directly to WCRC at
5741 Telegraph Ave
Oakland, CA 94609
If you're in the area you may also drop them off Monday - Friday 9 am - 5 pm.
Workshops, Classes and Events
In addition to on-going groups: Writing for Wellness, Gentle Yoga, T'ai Chi Chih, Yarn Divas, etc. we offer a variety of other workshops and classes. Please check the calendar on our website or send your contact information mailing address and
email to margo@wcrc.org to make sure that you receive a current
schedule. Please be sure to check the calendar
for days WCRC will be closed. Look for dance classes, more nutrition classes and
much more in 2008.
Beyond WCRC
We welcome Street Level Health Project as one of our new community outreach partners
in our Latina Services Program! Please consider their work as well in your holiday
giving as we expand our services in our communities:
Street Level Health Project is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the health and well-being of underserved urban immigrant communities in the Bay Area. The organization is an entry point to the health care system for those most often overlooked and neglected, namely the uninsured, underinsured, and recently arrived.
For more information about Street Level Health Project, visit Street Level Health.org
WCRC Support Groups
If you or a loved one is struggling with cancer, we encourage you to participate in a support group here at WCRC. If you are interested in a support group that is not listed, please call Dolores at 510.420.7900 x112.
See a list of the support groups at WCRC!
WCRC's Schedule
WCRC will be closed from December 24 to January 1 and will reopen on January 2. There will be Information and Referral volunteers checking messages and returning phone calls during this time period.
Holiday Madness
by LauraLynn Jansen
How do you deal with all the madness? First and foremost, BREATHE.
Read Entire Article. . .
LauraLynn Jansen can be contacted through her
website, www.ihcoach.com
Our Mission
To empower women with cancer to be active and informed
consumers and survivors; to provide community for women
with cancer and their supporters; to educate the general
community about cancer; and to be actively involved
in the struggle for a life-affirming, cancer-free society.
email: news@wcrc.org
web: http://www.wcrc.org
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