FAC Participates in Dine & Learn Brooklyn

On November 9th, 2007, we participated in a massive
health fair for women, held at Brooklyn’s famous Tabernacle
Church. The fair was presented by SUNY Downstate Medical
Center, in conjunction with The Brooklyn Tabernacle, American
Cancer Society (Brooklyn), Diaspora Community Services,
and Center for Women’s Development at Medgar Evers College/
CUNY. Over 1200 women pre-registered for the event,
and I’d guess that at least 800 attended, despite a nightlong
downpour. Our information table was staffed by Shakti Ziller
(then a volunteer and now a board member) and me, and gave
us the opportunity to reach a very large, primarily African-
American audience. We also met lots of other like-minded
health care providers and representatives of community organizations
and advocacy groups. Most memorable visitors: the 3
teenage girls who kept circling back to our table, giggling, but
definitely interested.

Thank you, Barbara Seaman

The comparison to Ralph Nader is apt. Like Nader, she was a controversial muckraker. She opened our eyes at a time when people were used to blindly trusting their doctors, trusting their government, etc.

NY Times obituary

Washington Post obituary

Benefit is over, long live the benefit

THANK YOU to everyone who supported us before, during, and after the benefit. It was a lot of fun. And of course we have a zillion pictures, but (a) some of them are somewhat risque and (b) I think we need to put them up on a Flickr page or something to avoid clogging up this blog. In the meantime, here are a few to tide you over:



Suzanne & Autumn deciding the fate of the raffle participants.



Stage kitten Carter chatting with Liza.


The Baronass Von Harmer doing her gender-bendy thing.


Autumn and Ilene, happy that it's over.

Buy some raffle tickets!!!

Here's the dope: some wonderful, generous people have donated some really groovy stuff to support the Fertility Awareness Center. You can buy tickets online, and/or at the benefit. Winners will be picked at the benefit on 11/27 (see BENEFIT post, below this long one). The great thing about this raffle is that you can enter for just the prize(s) you want to win. If your heart is set on one of those beautiful lucite purses from the 1950's, put all your tickets in that pool. Or, if you can't decide between the bodywork session or the class at Babeland, and part of you just really wants that biscotti, distribute your tickets between all three. Most of the prizes are things that can be shipped, so if you don't live in or near New York, don't fret! You can still participate. And we've made the tickets affordable so that you can buy a bunch:

1 ticket - $3
2 tickets - $5
5 tickets - $10

Prizes are described below. Pick what you want, then go to Paypal and send us some money! Here's how you do it:

• Go to PayPal.
• Log in (or create account).
• Click on "send money" tab.
• Enter our email address - admin@fertaware.com.
• Specify the amount you want to send, based on prices, above.
• Choose one of the options in the "for" menu - service/other or goods - doesn't matter which.
• Click "continue."
• On the next page you will see "message to recipient." For subject, please put "raffle tickets." For message, here's the important part - tell us what you're trying to win!!! You can say "5 for x, 3 for y," or, if you're feeling lucky, "1 for z." Every bit helps!
• Don't forget to click the "send money" button :)
• You will receive a confirmation from PayPal.
  

And now for the prizes!

(1) 90 minute essential oil restorative bodywork session. Ahhhhhhhh. Union Square area. Expiration date 1/31/07. (New York area only)

(2) $50 gift certificate to Flower Power , an Herbal apothecary, staffed with caring, knowledgeable herbalists offering the highest quality organically grown medicinal herbs. Can be used online or at store.

(3) $30 certificate good for one workshop at Babeland. Workshops cover a variety of topics related to sexuality. Take a class at Babeland University and get smarter in all the right ways! Note: we have 2 of these certificates, so 2 people can win this one. (New York area only)

(4) Yummy hazelnut biscotti from 'n Joy Sweets & Pastries. 24 pieces, will keep for several weeks (right - like you're not going to eat them before then).

Now, are you ready for the antiques? Deco Etc (122 W 25th Street, 212.675.3326) has made an amazing donation of some truly unique & beautiful items.

(5) One of two lucite purses, both from the 1950's. This first one is perfectly clear with a gold-colored clasp. It's about 8.75" long, 4.25" wide, and just over 3" deep, and is in the shape of a long octagon. Lucite is lightweight and easy to care for. And you'll always be able to find your cell phone! Please refer to this as "clear lucite purse" if you're going for it. Antiques are often not perfect - one handle seems to have been replaced and is translucent, rather than clear.




(6) The second purse is also lucite, but this one is red, in an imitation tortoiseshell pattern with what looks like brass trim. 8" long, 4.25" wide, 3" high. Some overzealous fashionista tried to clean this purse with vinegar, and now it has a faint eau-de-salad, mostly noticeable when you open it. Do not clean your purse with vinegar! Plain water will do nicely, or a glass cleaner mixed half & half w/water if you need something stronger. Carry a scented handkerchief and no one will notice. Please refer to this as "red lucite purse" in your entry.


















(7) Our last item is a beautiful old desk clock, probably from the 1930's, maybe 40's. Face plate is lucite, with a black dial with gold numbers set against a larger clear panel. The dial itself is a brass-colored metal. This clock has to be wound, and it makes a ticking noise that most of you young'ns are probably unfamiliar with. It has an alarm, which also works, but I wouldn't count on it for anything important. If you win this clock, and you love it, you should take it in to a professional for a cleaning & general tuneup (in particular to get it to run faster). Antique clocks need a bit of periodic maintenance as they work on mechanical bits like springs and gears. But how many of your little electric alarm clock/iPod docking wonders are going to be around & working in 70 years?

Lighten Up, Take It Off! A Night of Comedy & Burlesque to Benefit the Fertility Awareness Center

You are NOT going to want to miss this. Top-notch comedy & burlesque, fabulous food and libations. And did we mention the raffle prizes??

Tuesday, 11/27 at 8PM.
The Living Theatre, 21 Clinton Street, Manhattan
F train to 2nd Ave (use 1st Ave exit, walk East on Houston, make right on Clinton)
or F train to Delancey Street
buy tickets here

Hosted by the incomparable Howlin Vic, as Liza (with a Z), performers include:

(burlesque)
Fetchin' Gretchen
Baronass Von Harmer
JZ Bich

(comedy)
Brooke Van Poppelen
Queefer Sutherland
Giulia Rozzi
Margot Leitman

and sideshow man Sam Conway.

Tickets are $40 advance, $45 at the door. You can do us a big favor by buying your tickets in advance, so we know how much food & drink to get for y'all. And again, here's where you can do that:
Brown Paper Tickets

Now let's talk about those raffle tickets! Note: if you can't attend the benefit, buying some raffle tickets is a great way to support our work. Most of the prizes can be shipped. Please see the RAFFLE post for all the details.

Kudos

Thanks to board member Melissa King for having the idea for this blog and for setting it up. Even though I said I would never have a blog.

Books of Note

On 10/31/06, Toni Weschler somehow managed to come out with two books at the same time.

One was a tenth anniversary, updated edition of her landmark book, Taking Charge of Your Fertility.

The other book was Cycle Savvy, a book about Fertility Awareness for teens (minus the birth control and pregnancy achievement parts).