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Activities 2010 |
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Rally to Restore SanityWomen's Voices member Mary O'Reilly went to Washington, DC, in October 2010 to participate in the Rally to Restore Sanity. "It was wonderful to be with such an enormous crowd of well-behaved people who were able to have civil conversations, even if they don't agree on everything. Maybe there just could be the possibility of a return to sanity sometime in the not-too-distant future," Mary said.Some of Mary's photos (click on an image for a larger view):
Women's Voicers "Play" Together Maureen McGrath, Ann Ross, Nina Swartz Following the performance, the group enjoyed a discussion with Director Linda Kennedy, who explained how she saw the characters, particularly the young sisters, learning from examples set by others around them. "Some of this we accept, some we reject," said Kennedy, "but it's how we learn to be ourselves." This afternoon of fine theatre was made possible by the generosity of Deanna Jent, a new member of Women's Voices and the Artistic Director of Mustard Seed. "The mission of our company is to produce plays that focus on issues of social justice," says Jent. "That meshes perfectly with the mission of Women's Voices. We should know about each other." Women's Voices Sponsored Showing Of Award-Winning DocumentaryAgainst All The Odds, an 85-minute social issue documentary film about the city of East St. Louis, IL, received its premier Missouri showing under the sponsorship of Women's Voices on Wednesday, July 21. This film was recently awarded Best Documentary Feature Award at the 9th Annual Route 66 International Film Festival. The showing was at Meramec Community College, Kirkwood. Filmmaker Sandra Pfeifer of Simpson, IL, attended and participated in a discussion following the film. Against All The Odds recounts the sometimes-gruesome historical events that led to the birth of America's only "All Black City," and takes an insider look at the important grassroots community efforts that hold this unique city together today. It showcases many of the courageous citizens who work non-stop, in the worst of circumstances, to make their city a better place to live, despite the hopelessness that the outside world sees. "East St. Louis is a city born out of a nation's racial ignorance and the fundamental need to belong, a place where surviving and thriving are heroic efforts," Pfeifer said. "It's a place where the American dream took a wrong turn, leaving an entire city without resources for 30 years, and it depicts who helped, who didn't, and why we should care." Pfeifer is an award-winning documentary filmmaker who received her undergraduate degree in film production from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, when she was 50 years old. She has continued to work on her MFA in film production. All of her documentaries are based on social justice issues. Getting the Facts on the Affordable Health Care Act - July, 2010An impressive panel of experts and consumers presented a thoroughly informational discussion on the new national health care act at Kirkwood Baptist Church on Tuesday, July 13. They did an admirable job of sifting out the key aspects of the Act, which the panelists explained to an overflow crowd. Women's Voices was one of eleven organizations that co-sponsored the event. Some of our members attended the forum and others helped staff the well-organized event. Ron Pollack, founding executive director of Families USA, talked about gradually filling in some of the "donut hole" for seniors who now have to pay 100% of their drug costs after they reach $2,830 and before the total cost goes to $6,440. Pollack also described how better preventive care, covered by a yearly exam, will keep Medicare recipients healthier. With regard to pre-existing conditions, he explained some of the advantages of the insurance fix that will affect about 1.2 million Missourians, a part of the plan that begins this year. Additionally, families at 400% of poverty eligibility can receive tax credits if they use one of the exchange plans. Small businesses would be eligible for tax subsidies as well if they insure their employees. It appears the Medicare trust fund will be extended for 19 more years, which is good news. Dr. James Kimmey, president and CEO of the Missouri Foundation for Health, moderated the program and provided additional information. Dr.Heidi Miller, a primary care clinic doctor, explained how better community clinics can serve families better and for less cost than emergency rooms where many of the poor go for medical care. Nurse Judy Bentley, Fritzi Lainhoff and Arlene Zaremba discussed screenings, Medicare, and small business insurance issues. Afterwards, Rev. Scott Stearman, pastor of Kirkwood Baptist Church, facilitated a question and answer period. Round Table Discussion with State Senator Eric SchmittOn July 9, Barbara Richter and Mary Clemons joined with representatives of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI), Missouri Health Care for All, Paraquad, Parish Nurses, and Jobs With Justice (WV member Amy Smoucha) in a round table discussion with State Senator Eric Schmitt concerning the new Affordable Health Care Act. Rev. Scott Stearman of Kirkwood Baptist Church opened the meeting and WV member Rabbi Susan Talve of the Central Reform Congregation closed by eloquently asking Senator Schmitt to work with us on achieving our goals. The round table discussion provided a good foundation for creating a working relationship with Senator Schmitt in the future.Webster Groves July 4th ParadeOn July 3, Women's Voices members joined the Missouri Health Care For All contingent to march in the Webster Groves July 4th celebration. WV members marching in the parade included Joanne Kelly, Rea Kleeman, and Mary Clemons. Along with members of Jobs With Justice, Paraquad, and other groups, WV members helped distribute 34,000 informational flyers with facts about the new Affordable Health Care Act and invited people to a forum where they could learn about the reform legislation. Wearing shirts and marching under umbrellas asking "How Will You Be Covered?," the group marched in hot weather member Mary Clemons described as "daunting" but was buoyed by the positive response of the crowd to the literature being handed out.Pride Parade - June 2010For the sixth year, members of Women's Voices gathered with other progressive organizations to march down South Grand Blvd. in the festive Pride Parade. The 90-degree heat did not smother the enthusiasm of marchers or onlookers, who waved and cheered as we marched by with our banners and rainbow-colored leis. Participating in the event were Mary and Dale Clemons, Barbara Finch, Susan Hayman, Julie Healey, Joanne Kelly, Shelly, Brad and Sasha Lemons, Kerrie Lintner, Anne Ruger and Maxine Stone. Also joining us for the one-mile march were State Rep. Jeanne Kirkton and her husband, Larry King.
Tour of St. Louis Holocaust Museum - June, 2010Jerry Koenig's compelling look into Nazi Germany and Poland was the highlight of a special Women's Voices tour of the Holocaust Museum and Learning Center on June 9. As a nine-year-old boy, Koenig, along with his parents and brother, survived by hiding in a bunker under a barn for 22 months after being smuggled out of the Warsaw Ghetto, leaving other family members behind. In exchange for his father's giving them his farm, a Catholic family brought food to them and seven other people packed into the tiny room until the Soviets liberated Poland. Koenig's incredible story, in conjunction with our docent-led tour of the excellent museum, challenged us to reflect on the depth of evil that human beings are capable of, as well as the strength of the human spirit embodied in the lives of the Koenig family. The Holocaust Museum and Learning Center is a remarkable asset to St. Louis. It focuses on education in order to prevent similar tragedies.Tours and many other educational activities are provided. Each year 22,000 middle school, high school, and college students visit. The museum is a powerful reminder that we must have the courage to fight against prejudice and genocide wherever it occurs--even in our own country, even today. A quote on the museum's wall: "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." -- Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holocaust Museum and Learning Center, 12 Millstone Campus Dr., Creve Coeur, 63146, 314-432-0020, www.hmlc.org Annual Meeting - May 2010Members of Women's Voices celebrated their fifth anniversary at the group's annual meeting on May 13, 2010. The event was held at the Green Center in University City and drew more than 40 members and guests for the annual business meeting and an inspiring talk by Gwenne Hayes-Stewart, executive director of Gateway Greening (more info...). Barbara Finch, the president of Women's Voices for the past four years, was honored for her service and Joanne Kelly was elected new president of the organization. As a token of members' appreciation for Barbara Finch's leadership, she was presented with a special photo book describing the group's activities and programs during the past five years.
Members March For Immigrant, Civil Rights - May, 2010Members of Women's Voices, some of their spouses, and one dog took to the streets in downtown St. Louis on Saturday, May 1, to march for immigrant, civil and human rights. The march was organized by the United Methodist Women to call attention to the plight of immigrants in this country and to protest the increasing use of racial profiling. Speakers included WV member Rabbi Susan Talve and supporter Jamala Rogers.
President's Health Insurance Reform Rally - March, 2010Several members of Women's Voices were privileged to attend the invitation-only rally for President Barack Obama at St. Charles High School on Wednesday, March 10. The President was in Missouri to make the case for health insurance reform.  Stacey, Ruth (back), Amy, Sidney Subscribers: Stacey Sickler, Policy Manager Faith Beyond Walls and coordinator for Missouri Health Care for All; Ruth Ehresman, Director of Health and Budget Policy at the Missouri Budget project  Mary, Barb, and Romona Romona Taylor Williams, friend of Melanie Shouse and co-founder with Melanie of M-SLICE, Metropolitan St. Louis Coalition for Inclusion and Equity, received 6 tickets from the White House. She invited Mary Clemons, Treasurer of Women's voices and Barb Finch, our President, to join her. In the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Thursday, March 11, Amy Smoucha was quoted as saying that she left the speech feeling confident in the president and his plan. We are proud to have members who are speaking up and working for change. Rallies for Health Reform Intensify In St. Louis, members of progressive organizations took to the street on Feb. 17 in front of the Anthem Blue Cross-Blue Shield building to protest the insurer's planned increase in premiums. One of the featured speakers was Women's Voices treasurer Mary Clemons. Click here to read her remarks.   Death of Member Inspires Renewed Action On Feb. 4 the President spoke via webcast to members of Organizing for America and the Democratic National Committee. Following is an excerpt from his remarks: "I got a letter -- I got a note today from one of my staff -- they forwarded it to me -- from a woman in St. Louis who had been part of our campaign, very active, who had passed away from breast cancer. She didn't have insurance. She couldn't afford it, so she had put off having the kind of exams that she needed. And she had fought a tough battle for four years. All through the campaign she was fighting it, but finally she succumbed to it. And she insisted she's going to be buried in an Obama t-shirt. (Laughter.) But think about this: She was fighting that whole time not just to get me elected, not even to get herself health insurance, but because she understood that there were others coming behind her who were going to find themselves in the same situation and she didn't want somebody else going through that same thing. (Applause.) How can I say to her, "You know what? We're giving up"? How can I say to her family, "This is too hard"? How can Democrats on the Hill say, "This is politically too risky"? How can Republicans on the Hill say, "We're better off just blocking anything from happening"? The president did not divulge the name of the woman - but the White House says he was referencing Melanie Shouse. (Read her St. Louis Beacon obituary.) Her death has inspired many of our members who have worked tirelessly for health reform to renew their efforts. Here is a letter Mary Clemons sent to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi after Melanie's death:  Melanie Shouse has died. She was 42 years old. You met her on October 3, 2009 at the Chase Park Plaza Hotel in St. Louis.  During her 5 years with cancer she campaigned vigorously to elect our President. She became an advocate for health care reform speaking at forums with Representative Carnahan, appearing on news shows, protesting at Anthem offices and at the offices of our elected officials. We promised Melanie we would not give up the fight. We urge you, no, we insist that you complete the job and pass a health care reform bill now. Thirty million Americans are counting on you. We are counting on you. Respectfully, Mary and Dale Clemons Martin Luther King Day - January 18, 2010  Marching and chanting their way from the Old Courthouse to Powell Symphony Hall were Alice Serrano, Ann Ross, Nancy Scargall, Stephanie Sigala, Jim Rhodes, Ruth Ann Cioci, Pat Cioci, Mary Clemons, Dale Clemons, Marilyn Sue Warren, Ann Ruger, Judy Evans, Mary Ann Tipton, Marilyn Burba and Mike, and Barbara Finch. Watch a video clip here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PkR_2DSWGU 2009 Activities 2008 Activities 2007 Activities 2006 Activities 2005 Activities |
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