omanspace

W
Newsletter November 2009

Womanspace
In this issue: FOCUS
AGM 2009

An Interview with Martha of

Martha’s Monthly
Join us for the Annual General
Meeting on Thursday, November
Current Project - Financial
19, 6:30 pm, at the Galt Museum.
Services for Low Income
Inspiring guest speakers include
Women
participants of the current project
- Your Money and Your Life, Financial
Take Back the Night 2009
Services. As is becoming a tradition,
the Desert Wind Belly Dancers will
New Student at the office
be entertaining us, and the desset
auction is always a hit. See you there!
Alberta Women Making
Waves

Public Interest Alberta

Get your feminist on!

Exciting New Partnership

Websites we love Womanspace is honoured to be embarking on a new partnership with

(and you will too!) Opokaa’sin Early Intervention Society for our financial literacy programs.
Opokaa’sin clients participated in our last set of financial information ses-
www.pialberta.org sions. In addition, Opokaa’sin provided valuable financial support to the
www.desertwindbellydancers.com program, purchasing the accordion folder filing kits for the participants.
www.rabble.ca Members of the Opokaa’sin youth mentorship program provided the
www.etsy.com child care for the sessions - a wonderful mutually beneficial arrangement
www.womanspace.ca where young First Nations people got valuable work experience and we
www.marthasmonthly.ca could provide on-site child care to our participants!
www.gailvazoxlade.com
We look forward to furthering our partnership with Opokaa’sin.
 An Interview with Martha,
of Martha’s Monthly
by Lisa Lambert

Martha is a private woman; some saw she is also an enigma. So

Womanspace asked her to sit down for a one on one about her thoughts,
her politics, and just how often Henry does the dishes.

Womanspace (W): Martha, one of the first things I want to ask is

what your last name is, so many people want to know. I hear from people
that want to talk to you, call you up, have a chat.

Martha (M): Everywoman, Martha Everywoman is my name. But my

number is unlisted and I am terrible on the phone. I prefer to hear from
people via email and facebook, my new favorite place to be.

W: Martha, since 2004 you have been writing about politics in Alberta. Goodness me!

!
Are you running out of issues and things to write about? I just love getting my Martha.

s
M: Oh, I wish that I could run out of issues. In the beginning I thought I might. I mean, honestly, I thought that
if the government just heard the facts from some of us they would make different choices and we could solve a
lot of problems. But the truth is this government makes the choices they make based on the same information

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we have…they just value things differently. That makes my job a little different. I am not educating the govern-
ment as much as I am educating the voters to know what values the parties hold and make sure they vote for

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the party that reflects their values. And we need to hold the government accountable to the people, some-
thing Alberta is not all that used to.

o
W: It sounds like you are saying that writing the government makes no difference.

R
M: Oh, goodness me, not at all. All those thousands of letters that Marthas across this province have generated
to the government and the opposition have had great effects. For one thing, the government knows it will get
letters from us about issues of importance to women and I think that makes them a little leery of making deci-
sions that will be easily attacked by us and other groups. Secondly, our letters have a big impact on the opposi-

a
tion parties because they tell me so. They use our Martha’s Monthly to engage in dialogue with women across
Alberta about issues of importance to them like child care and health care and poverty. And as I said before,

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the more women we empower to make political decisions based on their values then the more likely we will
be to have women’s voices and women’s issues become important in politics. In the end, I just want to see the

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Legislature bursting with a diversity of women and passionate politicians.

r
W: So electing women is an important part of your work?

a
M: Electing women, getting women to help candidates, getting women to join the parties, having women sit on
Boards and Commissions, encouraging women to donate to parties and organizations, and encouraging young
women to see politics as something that is understandable, achievable, and valuable to them – that is my to do

M
list. Women generally do all these things less often than men and we need to change that. The only way we
will get more women-friendly policies from our government is to make our government more women friendly.
It is not just women that we need but we need many, many more women.

W: Martha, one of the things that women tell us is that politics is just not on their radar. They are busy with
kids, work, home, and the dishes always need to be done. What advice would you give to women so they can
get politics on their radar?
 Financial Services for Women
Current Project
by Shannon Phillips An interview with Martha continued...

The final set of financial information sessions, funded by our Status of M:You know, that is a great question. I
Women project, were held in October. This set of sessions was held in want to assure every woman reading
partnership with Opokaa’sin Early Intervention Society, as Opokaa’sin this that politics is very much on their
clients participated in the sessions and Opokaa’sin employed participants radar because they are so affected,
in their youth mentorship programs for child care. In addition, Opokaa’sin everyday, by political decisions that
provided some valuable financial support, providing the filing kits we dis- they need to be part of the mix. If
tribute to our participants – the “accordion” pocket file folders for the a busy mom can volunteer for one
women to set up a home filing system. We were also grateful for support hour to deliver voters to the ballot
from Edna Badeagle, who delivered information to the participants about box on Election Day then she is my
Registered Education Savings Plans. hero. If a stressed out employee can
attend a union meeting and see how
For this set of sessions, we were honoured to have past participants she can get help and help others in
come to share their experiences with the women. Sharon, Barb, Theresa her worksite then she is a giant in my
were all outstanding contributions to the learning experience, as they esteem. If a woman that is too tired
brought their own stories and shared how the Womanspace program at the end of the day to do more than
improved their lives. play Bejeweled online can take five
minutes and forward on the Martha’s
Our financial sessions have benefited tremendously from the support of Monthly to her friends then she is
the financial and other professionals who deliver the information to the my ally. And if a woman watching her
clients. A special thanks should go to Inga Jesswein, who has been a fan- son’s Christmas concert can wonder
tastic financial mentor for many of our participants in addition to being aloud to the other parents why they
an excellent resource for our staff. Inga also sits on the project steering have to fundraise for essentials in
committee! the school then I want to give her a
medal because all of those acts are
As this phase of Status of Women funding wrapped up at the end of profoundly political and just plain
October 2009, our financial literacy services for low-income women are fabulous. I hope women see that their
somewhat reduced, but we should be able to continue to deliver most lives are political and their decisions
client services. We also have funding for another set of financial literacy and actions are too. Do what you can
sessions in January 2010. If you or anyone you know is interested in the in your community and we will build a
sessions, please contact the office and sign up! network of women looking for some-
thing more, something better. That is a
revolution.

The Your Money and Your Life: A Guide to Financial W: And the dishes, what are we to do
Womanspace Financial Information Manual 2009
Independence manual is now available for pur- about them?
Your Money chase. This practical, easy to read manual is full
Your Life
and

of inspirational anecdotes from project participants, M: Oh, if Henry needs a dish he can
money-saving tips, budjeting guidelines, internet and wash them up himself. I’ve got poli-
local ressources, and written exercises. It will assist ticking to do!
readers in understanding debt, planning, and saving.
80 pages, partial color, coil binding. Participants W:Thanks, Martha. You rock!
A Guide to Financial Independence
You’ll get the picture.
of the project will receive manuals, and copies are
available at the office for $20. Copies will also be M:Thank you, all you
Wo
manspace
available for sale at the Annual General Meeting. Womanspacers, you rock way
more!
 New Student
at the office
Julia Rand is our invaluable social
work practicum student this
semester. Julia and Womanspace
were clearly made for each other!
She is here Monday through
Wednesday until December 8. We
have kept her really busy doing
research, helping with the financial
information sessions and assisting
clients. She has also been assisting
with the preparations for the big
fundraiser, Making Waves, and im-
mediately after, our Annual General
Meeting on November 19. Julia
has been a really good fit here at
Womanspace, and we sincerely TAKE BACK THE NIGHT 2009
hope she keeps in touch with us Another successful event
after the practicum. by Heather Rowland
Contact us! Women Unite! On Sept. 11 over one hundred enthusiastic women and
office@womanspace.ca children united to celebrate the annual Take Back the Night Rally and
403 329-8338 or March. The event was organized by Womanspace volunteers to draw at-
403 320-8332 tention to the continued occurrence of violence against women. One in
Fax - 329-8886 four Canadian women experience violence. When women join together
www.womanspace.ca for this event it reminds people of the challenges women face, but also of
#504 - 740 4th Avenue the resilience, compassion, power and strength women possess.
South Lethbridge T1J 0N9
The night started with our Mistress of Ceremonies, Donna Jo Jeffrey,
Special thanks to:
introducing a diverse and engaging line up of speakers. These included
Bonnie Greenshields of Round
Darcie James, Jacinda Weiss, Jazz Palmer, Ramona Big Head, and the
Street Cafe for donating all the
Musical styling of Jean Greer McCarthy. All were well spoken and in-
food for the financial project
spirational in sharing their stories and strength. Kids and adults alike
information sessions.
enjoyed the craft table and sidewalk chalk to write their own messages
and signs bringing awareness to this issue.
Our anonymous donor who
dropped off a cheque after
Take Back the Night received excellent media coverage including an in-
reading about our financial
terview on Global and front-page coverage from the Lethbridge Herald.
project in the newspaper.
Overall the night went very smoothly, the community response was
excellent and we look forward to next year!

Womanspace Gala Fundraiser with live entertainment by musician Maria Dunn and
other special guests. We honored Tanya Pace Crosschild of Lethbridge, Susan Scott of
Calgary, and Maria Dunn of Edmonton (read more about these amazing women on our
website at womanspace.ca). Cocktails, appetizers, and three women who make waves in
our province - we were asked repeatedly to make this a yearly event. All proceeds
went to our current project, Financial Literacy Programs for Low-Income Women.
Public Interest Alberta
Womanspace continues as a board member for Public Interest Alberta, a province-wide advocacy group that
stands up for public services and the common good. We sit on the child care task force and are the only
women’s organization on the board. PIA conducts campaigns around issues of concern to Albertans, and has
most recently been involved in standing up for long-term care and seniors’ issues. Support PIA’s efforts by visit-
ing www.pialberta.org and getting involved. A news release about the government’s plans for long-term care
– obtained in a leaked document by Public Interest Alberta – is below.

September 22, 2009 Documents Reveal Cuts, Deregulation and Privatization of Long-Term Care
Advocacy group demands open public consultation on privatization plan for LTC
Public Interest Alberta released leaked documents today that reveal significant changes are being planned for
Alberta’s long-term care system.The report and the minutes from closed-door meetings of the Long-Term
Care Accommodations Variable Fee Structure Advisory Team show that:
* The government target is to reduce long-term care beds by 80% over the next 20 years.
* Significant changes are already in process from Alberta Health for LTC policy including establishing a private long-term
contacts model (P3) for building new long-term care and amending the “first available bed policy.”
* There are 800 people currently in the health system awaiting placement in a LTC bed.
* Only 54% of LTC facilities are compliant with standards even after they are given 2 – 6 months to resolve the problems.
* Industry spokespeople say they require an increase to $90 per day (up from an average of $50/day) to cover the capital
costs of building new care facilities.
* All pricing models for long-term care that are being proposed will deregulate the accommodation rates, which will transfer
the costs onto the frailest of seniors and their families.
“These documents reveal that not only is our current long-term care system deeply flawed, but that the pricing
and privatization models that are being proposed will make it even worse for seniors who require the highest
level of medically necessary care,” says Bill Moore-Kilgannon, Executive Director of Public Interest Alberta.
“This whole process has been taking place behind closed doors and Albertans need to understand that unless
we speak out, our long-term care system will be rapidly privatized and high needs seniors will be faced with
very significant cost increases.”

Even though the government officials acknowledge in

the documents that “Today’s system is characterized
by constrained supply of long-term care beds…” and
that we currently have 800 people in hospitals medi-
cally assessed to require a LTC bed, the report reveals
that “The Continuing Care Strategy targets a significant
its coming for you
reduction in long-term care beds.”

PIA will be launching a public awareness campaign and is

calling on Albertans to contact the Premier, the Minister
of Health and Wellness and the Minister of Seniors and
Community supports along with their MLAs to chal-
lenge them not to cut, deregulate and privatize the
system.
Links to get involved in this advocacy campaign,
a synopsis of the main findings and the summary
report and minutes can be found on Public
Interest Alberta’s website at http://www.pialberta.
org/program_areas/Seniors
desertwindbellydancers.com
403 308.5907
The Desert Wind Belly Dancers have become a bit of a
tradition with Womanspace, having performed for numerous
events including Annual General Meetings and International
Women’s Day. Their passion for dance is readily apparent
as they are crowd-pleasers for all audiences. They identify
themselves as, “just a group of women sharing the joy.”
Thanks for sharing that joy with us!
NEW ITEMS FOR SALE
Get your feminist on!

Bumper Sticker (we like to use them on binders and folders). $2

Purple stainless steel water bottle with Womanspace logo and unique
design. Quantities limited. $20