Women's Cancer Resource Center News
January 2008
I invite you to visit the Women's Cancer Resource Center during 2008 and encourage you to check out our monthly e-bulletin for activities that interest you and support your healthy lifestyle. When you do visit the center, you will see the results of a lot of hard work. New flooring, paint and furniture have transformed our space and brought us closer to our aspirations for a warm and welcoming environment.
This vision emerged from a Board Retreat held three years ago this month when one of our Board members, Irene Marcos, a fashion and design professional, set the personal goal of renovating the center.
Using her contacts, Irene enlisted Diane Cuyler and Barbara Cupper, colleagues from the Fashion Institute of Design in Merchandising, who connected her with a master's class in need of a research project. Under the supervision of their instructor, Grant Gibson, these students interviewed staff, volunteers and clients and used their findings to create a design plan employing a rich palette of colors - aubergine, paprika, pumpkin, olive, saffron, and blueberry. Grant and the students also organized an event at Frette in San Francisco to raise money and promote the project.
The WCRC staff organized "Team Declutter" and consolidated office equipment, supplies and file cabinets in what we now call the "Data Center," making space for the true character of our building to emerge.
Irene sought donations from friends and colleagues, enabling us to get a running start on the work. Focusing first on the support group room (Irene leads the post-recovery support group), she painted, re-carpeted and refurnished, creating a "model" room to illustrate the power of the overall project. We featured the "model" room at our 2006 end of year event and attracted more donations to move us further ahead. Among those donors were Joan and Bud Coleman, whose daughter Barbara Frey participated in our Metastatic Cancer Group. Board member Darlene deManincor and her partner Emily Rosenberg pledged to underwrite the costs of new flooring and repainting the center.
Sam Pedicone, the husband of Board member, Linda Epley, consulted with us about translating the design plan into a work plan. Sam also volunteered to expand our library space into an additional support group room and volunteer workspace by installing French doors. He did this on Mother's Day 2007. Another generous gift from Joan and Bud Coleman enabled us to re-cover a couch and chairs and purchase and refinish the French doors.
Irene and Board member Annie Gardiner shared the project with Jane Mele and her colleagues with the East Bay Chapter of the International Facilities Managers Association (IFMA), inspiring Dan Linkhorn (of Connect) to donate state-of-the-art workstations. Alex Gilmete and Dave McConnell advised us about securing materials at low or no-cost and "greening" the center.
Irene enlisted her adopted son-in-law Trevor Truax in installing new laminate flooring over the course of two labor-intensive weekends. My cousin Bill McAtee helped out to honor his mother's battle against lung cancer. Emil Manning painted the administrative side and moved furniture to implement the new floor plan. Volunteers Helen Schneider and Rima Kittner packed and unpacked all of the books in the library to accommodate this work.
Plans are underway to paint the library and expand the kitchen in the spring.
It pains me to think I may have failed to acknowledge anyone for this tremendous effort on behalf of the Women's Cancer Resource Center. So, on behalf of everyone who benefits, my deepest thanks.
Peggy McGuire
Executive Director
Women's Cancer Resource Center
BELOVED ARTIST AND COMMUNITY ARTS LEADER PASSES AWAY
Rae Louise Hayward had her first solo at show at
WCRC back in 1999 and shared her colorful joyous work with us several more times over the years. Rae always gave the Center a generous donation from her sales and donated the lovely print of "Three Women" that greets people as they come through the front door. She also allowed WCRC to use this same image on greeting cards that were used as thank you cards and invitations.
Rae and the late Jan Hart-Schuyers co-founded The Art of Living Black in 1997 and WCRC has benefited from hosting satellite shows of TAOLB for the past six years. The WCRC gallery has also shown the work of over 30 artists who participate in TAOLB. In 2003 Rae was given KQED's Local Hero Award for her work with TAOLB and her service on the boards of the Richmond Art Center and the Women's Caucus for Art.
Rae was diagnosed with cancer in November and passed away on January 3. For more information about Rae click here.
IN THE GALLERY
Painting by
Nannette Harris "All That Jazz" Visual Art with a Music Theme
A Satellite Show of The Art of Living Black
With artists James Gayles, Nannette Harris, Leroy Parker & TheArthur Wright.
Reception with the artists with refreshments & live music
Friday, February 22, 7-9 PM
Memorial tribute to Rae Louise Hayward
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 ensure that you receive a current schedule.
Historical Perspective of Health II
Wednesday, February 13, 2008 ~ 6:00 - 8:00 pm
In honor of Black History Month this presentation will talk about the health of American Americans and how we need to know our past in order to move into the future. For more information and to register please contact Dolores @ x112.
Cooking Club - It's About Soul!
Wednesday, February 20, 2008 ~ 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Join us for evening of "soul food."
We honor Black History Month with good food and fellowship.
For more information and to register please contact Dolores @ x112.
These two events are sponsored by the African American Outreach Group.
Dreams as a Healing Resource
6 Wednesdays 1/23 - 2/27; 2:30 4 PM
Please call Zoe for more info or to register 510-527-9061
Energy Healing Self-Balancing Workshop
With Maureen Longworth M.D.
January 24, 6:30 - 8 PM
Co-sponsored by the Charlotte Maxwell Complementary Clinic
Cooking Club
3rd Wednesdays 6-8 PM
Feb. 20 - It's About Soul (see above)
March 19 - Quick & Easy Meals with Sandy Der
April 16 - Mediterranean Dishes with Sandy Der
Friday Night Dancing
with dance teacher Maya Bergman
All skill levels welcome
Ist hour = lesson, 2nd hour = practice
Feb 1 & 15 - Salsa Dancing - 7-9 PM
March 7 & 21 - Swing Dancing - 7-9 PM
April 4 & 18 - Two Step Dancing - 7-9 PM
Nutrition Classes
Controlling Inflammation with Nutrition
March 6, 6:30 - 8 PM
Food Allergies & Sensitivities
March 13, 6:30 - 8 PM
Therapeutic Diets - Macrobiotics, Acid/Alkaline, Raw, Juicing & Gerson
March 20, 6:30 - 8 PM
All About Anti-Oxidants
March 27, 6:30 - 8 PM
With Sandy Der
Chef and Certified Nutrition Consultant
Register margo@wcrc.org or 510-601-4040 x111
Watercolor Workshop
With Margo Rivera-Weiss
No experience necessary, all materials provided
Saturday, March 15th, 10 AM - 2 PM
Register margo@wcrc.org or 510-601-4040 x111
Latina Program Events (Please see website for support group info)
January 26th: Arts Workshop: Grupo de SoulCollage por y para Latinas
WCRC, 5741 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland, CA 94609
10:00am-12:00pm
Contact: Jean Weiss @ 925.363.4421
January 30th: Calls for Testimonials for the National Latino Cancer Health Summit
WCRC, 5741 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland, CA 94609
4:00pm-6:00pm
Contact: Joanna Cuevas Ingram @ 510.697.7954
February 8th: ACLCC Monthly Meeting
WCRC
5741 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland, CA 94609
10:00 am -11:30 am
Contact: Carlos Londoño @ 510.471.5907
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.
IN THE NEWS
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, February 6, 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.
Volunteer Training
for the Betts In-Home Practical and Emotional Support Program
If you have a desire to support low-income women with cancer and their loved ones, please consider attending WCRC's Volunteer Training for the Betts In-Home Practical and Emotional Support Program. The training will be held at the WCRC's office on Saturday, January 26 from 10 AM - 3 PM.
Betts volunteers are matched with a low-income woman with cancer to provide companionship, connection to resources at WCRC, emotional support, and/or light practical help such as grocery shopping, housecleaning, and transportation to medical appointments.
Please contact Sarah at 510.601.4040 x 105 or sarah@wcrc.org if you would like more information about this volunteer opportunity.
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)
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.
Beyond WCRC
Cancer Survivors Sign up for Free!
It is documented that exercise and stress reduction both aid in the survival rate of cancer victims. What better way to get exercise and reduce stress than to join a women's running/walking group? Ask About Running offers free membership to any woman who is a cancer survivor. You will benefit from running/walking with us. We welcome you. Please join us!
There will be a line on the application for you to indicate if you are a cancer survivor and that's all it takes for you to get into the group. Beyond that, there will be no sharing of information unless you wish to. Please contact Stephanie at Stephanie@askaboutrunning.com or visit her website.
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!
SIMPLE TIPS FOR A HEALTHIER NEW YEAR
by LauraLynn Jansen
Fifteen simple suggestions for a happier, healthier you.
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
Join our mailing list!
If you are interested in receiving the Women's Cancer
Resource Center electronic newsletter via e-mail, please
join our mailing list!
« Back to e-newsletter archive
|
