Haven't been able to update recently so there's a lot...
South Dakota Midwife bill headed to House: Story in the Rapid City Journal noting "The House Health and Human Services Committee voted 10-3 Friday to approve a bill to allow midwives to deliver babies under certain limited circumstances."
Crisis Center receives $10K grant: The Fargo Forum notes "The Rape and Abuse Crisis Center has received a $10,000 grant from Dakota Medical Foundation."
Teen pregnancy not an accident: Kathryn Lopez column in the Jamestown Sun noting "Seventeen magazine is a great gift to the youth of our nation. Before the magazine’s February issue, our nation’s adolescent girls were in danger of “accidentally” falling into pregnancy, or so their cover implies: “Shocking Ways You Could Get PREGNANT By Accident.”"
Female Firefighters In Our Community: 'Girls need heroes, too': Sioux Falls Argus Leader story noting "Dragging around a 75-pound hose is part of the job description. So is eating smoke, responding to medical emergencies and working 24-hour shifts. Today's firefighters are the first on the scene in medical emergencies and must merge their first-responder skills with Sioux Falls' growing diversity. That diversity is fueling a need for more variety among the ranks of firefighters, too. With three women firefighters and at least three minority firefighters in Sioux Falls, the city has a need for more, says Jim Sideras, division chief of Sioux Falls Fire Rescue."
Single women get engaged: Sioux Falls Argus Leader story noting "Single women were supposed to be the Democrats' guest of honor on Election Day. Excuse me, unmarried women. The party has studied unmarried women so much it knows they don't like to be called single women. But something wild is happening. Unmarried women are crashing the party early. In Iowa, they were 28 percent of Democratic caucus-goers. In New Hampshire, they were 22 percent of the party's primary voters, and in South Carolina, 30 percent. Those are big numbers - for them."
Women in Blue Jeans offers chance to share ideas, learn and network: The Mitchell Daily Republic notes "Major magazines have their own advice for women when they are stressed. But out on the farm, for instance, those ideas simply aren’t realistic, says Diana Goldammer, a committee member for this week’s Women in Blue Jeans conference."
Workplace experts-Respect is rule No. 1: The Fargo Forum notes "What is and is not acceptable office behavior can be difficult to define, but experts in the area of discrimination and harassment say some rules of thumb apply."
Coffee talk surrounds sonograms: Sioux Falls Argus Leader story noting "Abortion and the choices surrounding it dominated legislative debate again Saturday, only this time the choices concerned a woman watching a sonogram and a pharmacist selling contraceptives." Additional stories here and here.
Reproductive Rights Letters-For and Against: There are lots for North and South Dakota and are as follows The most accurate term in ‘pro-choice’; Women still have a long way to go; Hateful language has no place in Forum; 'Culture of death' affects more than just humans; Crime and abortion links elude us; Safe alternative must exist; U.S. abortions decline to lowest since 1974; Roe's promise remains unfulfilled; Abortion and good parenting don't mix; Our pro-life ethic needs a home; Abortion bill unenforceable; Mothers, babies will need help; Back even a conditional ban; and Talk of reproductive rights is really ‘killing rights’. Told you there's been a lot.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
SD senate passes sonogram bill.
Here's an Argus article on the Senate's debate.
Jay Duenwald was quoted:
Gotta love that lawmaking by anecdote, of which anti-abortion legislators are so fond. Guess what, Jay, there are a lot of people who want you to keep your nose out of the interaction between a doctor and a patient.
Jay Duenwald was quoted:
“It’s designed to help pregnant women make informed decisions," he said. “There are a lot of people who have had abortions in the past who have come to regret them, sometimes many years later."
Gotta love that lawmaking by anecdote, of which anti-abortion legislators are so fond. Guess what, Jay, there are a lot of people who want you to keep your nose out of the interaction between a doctor and a patient.
Crackerbarrel Contradictions
To elaborate on Ms. Anna's post on the goings on of last Saturday's Legislative Coffee, I'd like to point out two ridiculous flip-flops that made me squirm in my seat:
1) Don't ya know? Representative Manny Steele is all about options! He said so himself repeatedly on Saturday. During the Q&A, Steel pivoted to a point again and again about how "important" it is to have "options." Now if that's not a pro-choice sentiment, I don't know what is. I agree - it is important for women to have options. Manny, my friend, it's time to start putting your vote where your mouth is.
2) And Representative Kari Weems, known primarily for perpetuating myths surrounding rape and conception, voiced her opposition to SB 164, The Birth Control Protection Act, solely because it uses the word "findings" to introduce Section 2. Yet just moments before, Weems referenced the "findings" of the good ol' South Dakota Task Force to Study Abortion. I'm sorry - what?
1) Don't ya know? Representative Manny Steele is all about options! He said so himself repeatedly on Saturday. During the Q&A, Steel pivoted to a point again and again about how "important" it is to have "options." Now if that's not a pro-choice sentiment, I don't know what is. I agree - it is important for women to have options. Manny, my friend, it's time to start putting your vote where your mouth is.
2) And Representative Kari Weems, known primarily for perpetuating myths surrounding rape and conception, voiced her opposition to SB 164, The Birth Control Protection Act, solely because it uses the word "findings" to introduce Section 2. Yet just moments before, Weems referenced the "findings" of the good ol' South Dakota Task Force to Study Abortion. I'm sorry - what?
Monday, January 28, 2008
Sioux Falls legislative crackerbarrel
Here's an article about this weekend's crackerbarrel in Sioux Falls. It appears that the sonogram bill and the pharmacy bill were both discussed at some length.
Make a note of the legislators who made comments indicating that they trust women and our ability to make good decisions for ourselves. Then support them in their campaigns this year.
Make a note of the legislators who made comments indicating that they trust women and our ability to make good decisions for ourselves. Then support them in their campaigns this year.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
More pharmacists.
Oh, how I have missed Ken Blanchard, who responded to my last post about the conscience clause in South Dakota for pharmacists. The funny thing is, none of the right-wing bloggers who have responded to the posts on this issue on Dakota Women have any understanding of what this clause is, and what it means for consumers.
Hence, comments like this:
Incorrect, Ken. South Dakota law states that pharmacists have the right to refuse to fill prescriptions to which they have a moral objection. Target in South Dakota has no right to insist that its employees "dispense any legal product carried by its pharmacy."
Just to make my position on this clear: as someone who has been personally affected by the "conscience clause" for pharmacists in this state, I could give a flying fuck whether an individual pharmacist wants to fill my prescription or not. I really don't care. I think it's kind of silly to go through the schooling required to be a pharmacist, and then suddenly act outraged when you're asked to fill a birth control prescription, but whatever.
What I want, as a patient, is the assurance that a pharmacist will either 1. fill my prescription OR 2. refuse to fill my prescription and either a. refer me elsewhere or b. allow me the ability to take the prescription to another pharmacy to be filled.
I really get annoyed discussing this, but here's my experience with a pharmacist who refused to fill my prescription at a large chain drugstore in Sioux Falls.
The doctor's office called the prescription in to my normal pharmacy. This was a refill of a prescription I'd had for a couple of years before this. My order was routed to a pharmacist who refused to fill it. As a customer, I was not notified of this until I went to the pharmacy to pick up my medication. I was asked to step out of the line and go to one of those little compartments where you consult with the pharmacist, where the pharmacist in question advised me that he wouldn't fill my prescription. He then turned away from me and went back to whatever he was doing. I spent a little time trying to get his attention, and finally a clerk pointed to me, indicating that I still had questions for him. When I asked him if he would give it to someone else at that location to fill, he said he would not. When I asked him if he would release the prescription so it could be sent to another business, he said he would not. This man was not just refusing to fill my prescription because he had moral objections, he was actually attempting to stop me from getting the prescription filled anywhere, by anyone. This goes far beyond a simple exercise of conscience on the part of a trained professional. He had no concerns with my health, with the possible side effects of the medication, nothing. This pharmacist was attempting to replace my own conscience and that of my doctor with his own. That is not the role of a pharmacist, ever. Period.
This was eventually settled in a way that was satisfactory to me, but it's entirely possible that it never would have turned out that way. First of all, I had the available time, money, and transportation to have meetings with the pharmacy manager for that branch of the chain, and eventually with the person who oversaw all of their local pharmacies. This process took about three days.
Secondly, since this was a refill of a prescription I already had, I did have a supply of pills and never went without the medication my doctor prescribed. I lived in a city with all kinds of pharmacies and all kinds of pharmacists. I was not requesting a time-sensitive medication like Plan B. I am not the only woman who has dealt with this kind of BS from a pharmacist, and many of them did not have the same advantages I had when I was fighting with these morons.
Honestly, if you think what happened to me is in any way acceptable, I really don't even know what to say to you. It was an awful, humiliating, annoying, unnecessary experience. It's not something anyone should have to go through just to get a legal prescription from a doctor filled.
So you all can keep talking about the importance of protecting the delicate flowers in the pharmacy world who can't handle filling prescriptions for sluts who want birth control. That's fine. I know how scary and unnerving it is to be the customer/patient in this situation, and my concern will always be for them.
Hence, comments like this:
Target would be equally with its rights if it insisted that the pharmacists it employs be willing to dispense any legal product carried by its pharmacy.
Incorrect, Ken. South Dakota law states that pharmacists have the right to refuse to fill prescriptions to which they have a moral objection. Target in South Dakota has no right to insist that its employees "dispense any legal product carried by its pharmacy."
Just to make my position on this clear: as someone who has been personally affected by the "conscience clause" for pharmacists in this state, I could give a flying fuck whether an individual pharmacist wants to fill my prescription or not. I really don't care. I think it's kind of silly to go through the schooling required to be a pharmacist, and then suddenly act outraged when you're asked to fill a birth control prescription, but whatever.
What I want, as a patient, is the assurance that a pharmacist will either 1. fill my prescription OR 2. refuse to fill my prescription and either a. refer me elsewhere or b. allow me the ability to take the prescription to another pharmacy to be filled.
I really get annoyed discussing this, but here's my experience with a pharmacist who refused to fill my prescription at a large chain drugstore in Sioux Falls.
The doctor's office called the prescription in to my normal pharmacy. This was a refill of a prescription I'd had for a couple of years before this. My order was routed to a pharmacist who refused to fill it. As a customer, I was not notified of this until I went to the pharmacy to pick up my medication. I was asked to step out of the line and go to one of those little compartments where you consult with the pharmacist, where the pharmacist in question advised me that he wouldn't fill my prescription. He then turned away from me and went back to whatever he was doing. I spent a little time trying to get his attention, and finally a clerk pointed to me, indicating that I still had questions for him. When I asked him if he would give it to someone else at that location to fill, he said he would not. When I asked him if he would release the prescription so it could be sent to another business, he said he would not. This man was not just refusing to fill my prescription because he had moral objections, he was actually attempting to stop me from getting the prescription filled anywhere, by anyone. This goes far beyond a simple exercise of conscience on the part of a trained professional. He had no concerns with my health, with the possible side effects of the medication, nothing. This pharmacist was attempting to replace my own conscience and that of my doctor with his own. That is not the role of a pharmacist, ever. Period.
This was eventually settled in a way that was satisfactory to me, but it's entirely possible that it never would have turned out that way. First of all, I had the available time, money, and transportation to have meetings with the pharmacy manager for that branch of the chain, and eventually with the person who oversaw all of their local pharmacies. This process took about three days.
Secondly, since this was a refill of a prescription I already had, I did have a supply of pills and never went without the medication my doctor prescribed. I lived in a city with all kinds of pharmacies and all kinds of pharmacists. I was not requesting a time-sensitive medication like Plan B. I am not the only woman who has dealt with this kind of BS from a pharmacist, and many of them did not have the same advantages I had when I was fighting with these morons.
Honestly, if you think what happened to me is in any way acceptable, I really don't even know what to say to you. It was an awful, humiliating, annoying, unnecessary experience. It's not something anyone should have to go through just to get a legal prescription from a doctor filled.
So you all can keep talking about the importance of protecting the delicate flowers in the pharmacy world who can't handle filling prescriptions for sluts who want birth control. That's fine. I know how scary and unnerving it is to be the customer/patient in this situation, and my concern will always be for them.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Cancer lovers.
A year after I first said it, we have further proof that Leslee Unruh and her Abstinence Clearinghouse cohorts must love the cancer. Guard Your Kids from Gardasil? Seriously??
Blogger Reagan says:
There are so many things wrong with this statement, I'm not sure where to start. People can get STDs in a monogamous relationship if their partner has been sexually active in the past or is not faithful to them. And since HPV can be transmitted without intercourse, whether you or your partner has saved sex for marriage is irrelevant. It doesn't take living a 'sexually promiscuous' life to get HPV. That's why about half of all people will have it at some point in their lives. Do Reagan and Leslee actually believe that those who are unable to find a partner in the tiny percentage of people who have never possibly been exposed to HPV ("You shared a swimsuit when you were 15? You're out!") deserve to get cervical cancer?
That's b.s. It's totally okay to want to protect your kids from cancer, parents. In fact, I'd be a little worried if you didn't.
Blogger Reagan says:
But how does someone obtain any kind of STD in the first place? In a monogamous relationship, where sex is saved for marriage?
Probably not.
STD’s are usually obtained by those who live sexually promiscuous lives.
There are so many things wrong with this statement, I'm not sure where to start. People can get STDs in a monogamous relationship if their partner has been sexually active in the past or is not faithful to them. And since HPV can be transmitted without intercourse, whether you or your partner has saved sex for marriage is irrelevant. It doesn't take living a 'sexually promiscuous' life to get HPV. That's why about half of all people will have it at some point in their lives. Do Reagan and Leslee actually believe that those who are unable to find a partner in the tiny percentage of people who have never possibly been exposed to HPV ("You shared a swimsuit when you were 15? You're out!") deserve to get cervical cancer?
That's b.s. It's totally okay to want to protect your kids from cancer, parents. In fact, I'd be a little worried if you didn't.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Pharmacists and conscience.
I love it when a plan comes together.
Bob Ellis has this to say:
It's funny he mentions that, because Target in the Mpls/St.Paul area has faced this very issue when Muslim cashiers refused to handle pork in their checkout lines.
What did Target do? THEY GAVE THOSE CASHIERS DIFFERENT JOBS.
I don't know why we should treat pharmacists who won't fill birth control prescriptions any differently.
Bob Ellis has this to say:
How about a Jewish or Muslim grocery store owner being forced to sell pork. After all, don't we all (Christians, anyway) have a right to get pork without encumbrances, hardships, or even moral judgments?
It's funny he mentions that, because Target in the Mpls/St.Paul area has faced this very issue when Muslim cashiers refused to handle pork in their checkout lines.
What did Target do? THEY GAVE THOSE CASHIERS DIFFERENT JOBS.
I don't know why we should treat pharmacists who won't fill birth control prescriptions any differently.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Some good legislative news, sort of.
SB 88 was voted down in committee today. Because anti-abortion legislators can beat a dead horse like no other group of people I've seen, it will be reintroduced as a House bill. (Seriously, and they say we at Dakota Women are too focused on abortion!)
Another of those "why do I bother" moments...
Over on Dakota Voice (yeah, I know), Bob Ellis asserts that SB 164, one of the few sensible bills on women's health I've ever seen in this legislature, is "'government intrusions into the private lives' of pharmacists." (Grammatical errors are his, not mine). Bob forgets, of course, that this bill involves only the professional lives of pharmacists, and the private lives of their customers, but, you know, the fact that people are unable to figure out the difference between the two is probably most of the problem we're dealing with here.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Blog On, Sisters!
I vote pro-choice because...
* It's the fundamental right of each and every woman to make decisions about if and when she'll have children.
* It's central to women's autonomy to be able to control our own bodies and futures.
* Parenting is a huge responsbility and not one to be taken lightly.
* All children should be raised by parents that are willing, loving, and capable.
* I'd so much rather play for Team Kate than Team Leslee - I mean c'mon.
And although today's a happy day where we can celebrate this right, let it also serve as a wake up call to the pro-choice movement everywhere. We've got a lot of work to do, people! So, celebrate today - relax and reboot - and tomorrow it's back to work. To choice!
Blog for choice, part II: Why I vote pro-choice.
I vote pro-choice because I have never met a candidate for elected office who knew what was best for my life and my future better than I did.
I vote pro-choice because I trust women.
I vote pro-choice because it's wrong to turn doctors into criminals.
I vote pro-choice because religious convictions about fetal personhood have no place in the laws of my state or my country.
I vote pro-choice because tens of thousands of women die needlessly each year from illegal, unsafe abortions.
I vote pro-choice because the global gag rule is absolutely shameful.
I vote pro-choice because Supreme Court justices Roberts and Alito scare the bejeezus out of me for a whole bunch of reasons.
With that in mind, I vote pro-choice because it's not just about abortion.
I vote pro-choice because I trust women.
I vote pro-choice because it's wrong to turn doctors into criminals.
I vote pro-choice because religious convictions about fetal personhood have no place in the laws of my state or my country.
I vote pro-choice because tens of thousands of women die needlessly each year from illegal, unsafe abortions.
I vote pro-choice because the global gag rule is absolutely shameful.
I vote pro-choice because Supreme Court justices Roberts and Alito scare the bejeezus out of me for a whole bunch of reasons.
With that in mind, I vote pro-choice because it's not just about abortion.
Blog for Choice 2008
In commemoration of the 35th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, thousands of bloggers nationwide are participating in Blog for Choice Day. While I obviously don't need a special day to blog for choice, I do like the idea of some collective internet activism and solidarity. It seems like the progressive movement has been struggling for a while now to imagine what the future of activism is going to look like. Some want to see the return of 60s-era marches and sit-ins. Some see the future in the online grassroots organizing done by MoveOn and Dean for America (now Democracy for America). One thing is clear, however: we need new strategies and technology is going to play a huge role.Apart from tactics and strategies, however, the pro-choice movement needs to be thinking about the message that we're going to take forward, as well. Despite major strides in the availability and variety of contraception, the accessibility of abortion services has actually decreased in the last 35 years. We as a movement have been too willing to let restriction after restriction pile on without putting up much of a fight or attempting to educate the public on why we oppose such restrictions. As vital as it is to preserve legal abortion, such a narrow, defensive focus only forces us into a corner and put reproductive rights in greater danger than ever. As Justice Harry Blackmun warned, "The women of this Nation still retain the liberty to control their destinies. But the signs are evident and very ominous, and a chill wind blows." We need to do better.
I'm glad Roe has lasted this long, but I'm not going to hope it stands another 35 years. Perhaps someday, with the right court, we could get a decision made of somewhat stronger stuff. In the meantime, though, Happy Roe Day! Here's to living in a country where, a least nominally, women are people who can make their own decisions and control their own futures.
Monday, January 21, 2008
So true.
On Mount Blogmore, commenter Patti Martinson had this to say about SB 88, the bill requiring clinics to give women a sonogram before performing an abortion:
Which, let's be honest, is essentially the point of the bill.
And here's a fun quote from Sen. Dennis Schmidt, the bill's prime sponsor:
Why yes, Sen. Schmidt, it IS their decision! Thanks for your understanding.
Now, on to legislative issues that actually matter...
There should be an amendment to this bill that would require the sponsors of the bill to be there in the room with the woman and they all shake their finger at her.
Which, let's be honest, is essentially the point of the bill.
And here's a fun quote from Sen. Dennis Schmidt, the bill's prime sponsor:
"Maybe they would think, 'Well, maybe I'll not go through with it.' It's their decision," Schmidt said."
Why yes, Sen. Schmidt, it IS their decision! Thanks for your understanding.
Now, on to legislative issues that actually matter...
Thursday, January 17, 2008
South Dakota Legislative Session-Update 2
Here's an update on some bills that have been filed since my last post. Please note that there is still a few days left for bill filing so there may be more yet...
Bills on Pregnancy and/or Reproductive Rights:
HB 1155: An act to provide for the practice and regulation of licensed midwives.
HB 1167: An act to exempt the services provided by certified birth doulas and certified postpartum doulas from sales and use taxes.
HB 1193: An act to require abortion facilities to offer sonograms to pregnant women under certain circumstances.
SB 34: An act to allow certified nurse midwives to attend out-of-hospital births under certain circumstances.
SB 88: An act to require abortion facilities to offer sonograms to pregnant women under certain circumstances.
Other Gender Specific Bills:
HB 1178: An act to make an appropriation for the costs related to the intensive methamphetamine treatment program in the women's state correctional system.
There have also been a number of additional bills filed on child custody and visitation as well as divorce and support:
HB 1130: An act to revise certain provisions relating to the implementation by the court of the standard visitation guidelines.
HB 1131: An act to permit the court to assess the crime victims' compensation surcharge in cases involving certain adjudicated children.
HB 1132: An act to revise certain provisions concerning the circumstances under which children may be held in temporary custody.
HB 1157: An act to revise certain provisions relating to the residency or military presence of parties in divorce or separate maintenance proceedings.
SB 62: An act to revise certain new hire reporting requirements relating to the collection of child support.
My last post also carried a number of bills that had been previously filed and related to child custody issues.
Domestic Violence Issues:
HB 1135: An act to revise certain provisions relating to filing petitions for protection.
HB 1149: An act to extend the period of time a protection order granted upon a finding of domestic abuse may remain in effect.
HB 1168: An act to clarify the penalty applicable to violations of certain no contact orders.
That's it for now...there are also some other bills regarding child abuse and neglect that I'm not linking (for now).
Bills on Pregnancy and/or Reproductive Rights:
HB 1155: An act to provide for the practice and regulation of licensed midwives.
HB 1167: An act to exempt the services provided by certified birth doulas and certified postpartum doulas from sales and use taxes.
HB 1193: An act to require abortion facilities to offer sonograms to pregnant women under certain circumstances.
SB 34: An act to allow certified nurse midwives to attend out-of-hospital births under certain circumstances.
SB 88: An act to require abortion facilities to offer sonograms to pregnant women under certain circumstances.
Other Gender Specific Bills:
HB 1178: An act to make an appropriation for the costs related to the intensive methamphetamine treatment program in the women's state correctional system.
There have also been a number of additional bills filed on child custody and visitation as well as divorce and support:
HB 1130: An act to revise certain provisions relating to the implementation by the court of the standard visitation guidelines.
HB 1131: An act to permit the court to assess the crime victims' compensation surcharge in cases involving certain adjudicated children.
HB 1132: An act to revise certain provisions concerning the circumstances under which children may be held in temporary custody.
HB 1157: An act to revise certain provisions relating to the residency or military presence of parties in divorce or separate maintenance proceedings.
SB 62: An act to revise certain new hire reporting requirements relating to the collection of child support.
My last post also carried a number of bills that had been previously filed and related to child custody issues.
Domestic Violence Issues:
HB 1135: An act to revise certain provisions relating to filing petitions for protection.
HB 1149: An act to extend the period of time a protection order granted upon a finding of domestic abuse may remain in effect.
HB 1168: An act to clarify the penalty applicable to violations of certain no contact orders.
That's it for now...there are also some other bills regarding child abuse and neglect that I'm not linking (for now).
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
January 15, 2008 in the News
A few stories in our area papers...
Family, friends plan skydiving campaign to raise awareness: The Minot Daily News notes "College students from across North Dakota, including at Minot State University, will come together this spring to skydive in an effort to raise awareness about violence against students. Dru Sjodin, a University of North Dakota student, was raped and murdered in November 2003. Her killer, Alphonso Rodriquez, is currently on death row. Mindy Morgenstern, a Valley City State University Student, was killed in September 2006; her killer, Moe Gibbs, received life without parole. During the summer of 2007, Anita Knutson, a Minot State University student, was murdered in her apartment. The case remains unsolved. Students in the UND School of Communication in Grand Forks taking the Public Relations Practicum taught by Shelle Michaels are leading the effort with a campaign called “Dru’s Dive.”" See the article for more information.
Men should keep mouths shut: Letter to the Editor in the Sioux Falls Argus Leader on the abortion debate.
Soroptimists raising trafficking awareness: A Fargo Forum story notes "On any given day, 12.3 to 27 million people – mostly women and girls – are enslaved worldwide for forced labor or sexual servitude, a news release reported. Soroptimist club members in Fargo and Moorhead will place sexual slavery cards in visible locations, including transportation centers throughout the area, the release said."
Former employee sues Texas Roadhouse: A Sioux Falls Argus Leader story notes "A Sioux Falls restaurant and its general manager are being sued by a former employee who said she was fired after complaining of sexual harassment."
Announcements:
Women in Action 2008 Conference, NDSU, Fargo, ND, January 25, 2008. Session topics include: Body image and the media, healthy sexuality, and emotional health. A keynote address will be provided by Prairie Rose, FM area writer and activist. The annual Women-in-Action conference is planned collaboratively by Women’s Studies students and faculty at Concordia College, MSUM, and NDSU. Our mission is not only to educate but also to motivate individuals toward greater involvement in their communities. For more info, click here.
From the League of Women Voters:
Cracker Barrells for Sioux Falls
DATES:
Saturday, January 26 (Districts 9, 11 & 12 = West) (Moderator: Eileen VanSoest)
Saturday, February 2 (Districts 10, 13, 14 & 15 = East) (Moderator: Carol Muller)
Saturday, February 9 (Districts 9, 11 & 12 = West) (Moderator: Eileen VanSoest)
Saturday, February 23 (Districts 10, 13, 14 & 15 = East) (Moderator: Carol Muller)
LOCATION: Holiday Inn City Centre, International Room (1st Floor), 100 W. 8th Street (8th & Main Downtown)
TIME: 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Family, friends plan skydiving campaign to raise awareness: The Minot Daily News notes "College students from across North Dakota, including at Minot State University, will come together this spring to skydive in an effort to raise awareness about violence against students. Dru Sjodin, a University of North Dakota student, was raped and murdered in November 2003. Her killer, Alphonso Rodriquez, is currently on death row. Mindy Morgenstern, a Valley City State University Student, was killed in September 2006; her killer, Moe Gibbs, received life without parole. During the summer of 2007, Anita Knutson, a Minot State University student, was murdered in her apartment. The case remains unsolved. Students in the UND School of Communication in Grand Forks taking the Public Relations Practicum taught by Shelle Michaels are leading the effort with a campaign called “Dru’s Dive.”" See the article for more information.
Men should keep mouths shut: Letter to the Editor in the Sioux Falls Argus Leader on the abortion debate.
Soroptimists raising trafficking awareness: A Fargo Forum story notes "On any given day, 12.3 to 27 million people – mostly women and girls – are enslaved worldwide for forced labor or sexual servitude, a news release reported. Soroptimist club members in Fargo and Moorhead will place sexual slavery cards in visible locations, including transportation centers throughout the area, the release said."
Former employee sues Texas Roadhouse: A Sioux Falls Argus Leader story notes "A Sioux Falls restaurant and its general manager are being sued by a former employee who said she was fired after complaining of sexual harassment."
Announcements:
Women in Action 2008 Conference, NDSU, Fargo, ND, January 25, 2008. Session topics include: Body image and the media, healthy sexuality, and emotional health. A keynote address will be provided by Prairie Rose, FM area writer and activist. The annual Women-in-Action conference is planned collaboratively by Women’s Studies students and faculty at Concordia College, MSUM, and NDSU. Our mission is not only to educate but also to motivate individuals toward greater involvement in their communities. For more info, click here.
From the League of Women Voters:
Cracker Barrells for Sioux Falls
DATES:
Saturday, January 26 (Districts 9, 11 & 12 = West) (Moderator: Eileen VanSoest)
Saturday, February 2 (Districts 10, 13, 14 & 15 = East) (Moderator: Carol Muller)
Saturday, February 9 (Districts 9, 11 & 12 = West) (Moderator: Eileen VanSoest)
Saturday, February 23 (Districts 10, 13, 14 & 15 = East) (Moderator: Carol Muller)
LOCATION: Holiday Inn City Centre, International Room (1st Floor), 100 W. 8th Street (8th & Main Downtown)
TIME: 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Dirty Tricks Don't Help Anyone
While Hillary isn't my #1 candidate, I really do want to like her. A lot of friends and people I respect are Hillary fans and I want to understand what they see in her. But when she pulls crap like this, it's really difficult for me. If she wants to point out the differences between her positions and Obama's, that's fine. But there is no question that in this case, she (or someone working on her behalf) purposely distorted his record for political gain. The local Planned Parenthood has explicitly said they asked him to vote this way and he did. If anything, this shows his commitment to the pro-choice movement. For NOW to assert that because he went with his local Planned Parenthood's strategy instead of theirs, he's somehow not totally pro-choice is the height of B.S. If they were honest, there's plenty in Hillary 'every abortion is a tragedy' Clinton's record that they could take issue with as well.
Admittedly, Hillary being a woman is a plus for her as a candidate in my book. But that doesn't mean she gets a pass for every misstep she's ever taken or that she can engage in whatever Rove-like tactics she wants in the name of winning.
Edit: Here's a great article by Rebecca Walker that sums up a lot of what I've been feeling about the primary lately.
Admittedly, Hillary being a woman is a plus for her as a candidate in my book. But that doesn't mean she gets a pass for every misstep she's ever taken or that she can engage in whatever Rove-like tactics she wants in the name of winning.
Edit: Here's a great article by Rebecca Walker that sums up a lot of what I've been feeling about the primary lately.
Friday, January 11, 2008
A plug for Madville Times:
I hoped to blog a little over my Christmas break, but I had a pretty laid back, low key kind of break. Nothing got me worked up enough to want to blab about it on the internet.
However, I did want to point out that Cory at Madville Times wrote a really fabulous review of Jon Lauck's Daschle v. Thune that, I think, brings up a lot of fair and necessary criticism of the book. It's rare that I'm this enthusiastic about a post on a blog.
However, I did want to point out that Cory at Madville Times wrote a really fabulous review of Jon Lauck's Daschle v. Thune that, I think, brings up a lot of fair and necessary criticism of the book. It's rare that I'm this enthusiastic about a post on a blog.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
January 10, 2008 in the News
Several stories from last few days...South Dakota heavy...
Female prisoners increasing, Rapid City prison planned: Rapid City Journal story (from google cache since I can't locate the original now) noting "The inmate population of the women's prison in Pierre continues to increase, and a state official said Wednesday that the time may come when women are also housed at prison facilities in Sioux Falls and Rapid City."
Teaching safe sex should be priority: Column by a Northern State University student in the Aberdeen News on abstinence, safe sex teaching and reproductive issues.
With the South Dakota Legislative Session having begun, there are several letters to the editor regarding abortion and reproductive rights. Mostly anti-reproductive choice. Here's the list: Allow legal abortion to continue; Treat burglary like abortion; Pro-choice supporters exposed; Abortion fight will never stop; and Ban with exceptions will pass.
Many lawmakers support another vote on abortion ban: According to a Rapid City Journal story: "About half the members of the South Dakota Legislature support a plan to hold a statewide vote on a proposed abortion ban that includes exceptions for rape, incest or threats to a woman's life or health, according to a survey by The Associated Press."
Child custody law changes could smooth the system: Story in Jamestown Sun stating "North Dakota could smooth the often rocky, frustrating road parents traverse in child custody disputes by borrowing laws from other states, a family law attorney told legislators Wednesday."
Child, family advocacy center opens: Aberdeen News story notes "Aberdeen-based program focuses on entire family unitA resource-based child and family advocacy center has begun operation in Aberdeen. A Voice For Children and Families Advocacy Center provides services throughout northeastern South Dakota."
Struggling shelter copes with problems on reservation: An additional Rapid City Journal story states "The struggle to maintain a domestic-violence shelter on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation provides a glimpse of the hard times facing Native American women in isolated areas on tribal lands where law-enforcement is stretched thin and legal protection limited."
Female prisoners increasing, Rapid City prison planned: Rapid City Journal story (from google cache since I can't locate the original now) noting "The inmate population of the women's prison in Pierre continues to increase, and a state official said Wednesday that the time may come when women are also housed at prison facilities in Sioux Falls and Rapid City."
Teaching safe sex should be priority: Column by a Northern State University student in the Aberdeen News on abstinence, safe sex teaching and reproductive issues.
With the South Dakota Legislative Session having begun, there are several letters to the editor regarding abortion and reproductive rights. Mostly anti-reproductive choice. Here's the list: Allow legal abortion to continue; Treat burglary like abortion; Pro-choice supporters exposed; Abortion fight will never stop; and Ban with exceptions will pass.
Many lawmakers support another vote on abortion ban: According to a Rapid City Journal story: "About half the members of the South Dakota Legislature support a plan to hold a statewide vote on a proposed abortion ban that includes exceptions for rape, incest or threats to a woman's life or health, according to a survey by The Associated Press."
Child custody law changes could smooth the system: Story in Jamestown Sun stating "North Dakota could smooth the often rocky, frustrating road parents traverse in child custody disputes by borrowing laws from other states, a family law attorney told legislators Wednesday."
Child, family advocacy center opens: Aberdeen News story notes "Aberdeen-based program focuses on entire family unitA resource-based child and family advocacy center has begun operation in Aberdeen. A Voice For Children and Families Advocacy Center provides services throughout northeastern South Dakota."
Struggling shelter copes with problems on reservation: An additional Rapid City Journal story states "The struggle to maintain a domestic-violence shelter on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation provides a glimpse of the hard times facing Native American women in isolated areas on tribal lands where law-enforcement is stretched thin and legal protection limited."
South Dakota Legislative Session
I may not live in South Dakota but am always interested in following their legislative sessions because of potential impact on North Dakota. The South Dakota (short) session has begun and thought I'd give an update as to bills filed to date which may be of interest:
SB 34: Allows midwives at out of hospital births
HB 1064: Modifies law regarding incest to include foster parents
Bills involving child care, visitation or custody:
HB 1088: An act to revise certain provisions relating to temporary custody prior to divorce or separate maintenance.
HB 1089: An act to revise certain provisions relating to the rights and duties of joint legal custodians.
HB 1090: An act to require that most records and applications regarding a child reference the names and addresses of both parents.
HB 1091: An act to provide that either parent is to reasonably inform the other parent about routine decisions concerning children when residing with the other.
HB 1092: An act to revise certain terminology in the statutes providing for standard child visitation guidelines.
HB 1093: An act to revise certain provisions relating to the custody, service, and earnings of children.
HB 1094: An act to repeal certain provisions concerning the rights of custodial parents that have been superseded by other statutes.
HB 1095: An act to adopt the South Dakota Family Law Arbitration Act and provide for its implementation and enforcement.
HB 1096: An act to authorize the court appointment of parenting coordinators in certain custody and visitation disputes.
HB 1097: An act to provide for the imposition of certain sanctions against parties who willfully do not comply with custody or visitation decrees.
HB 1098: An act to revise certain provisions relating to the rights of alleged contemnors in visitation and custody matters.
HB 1099: An act to require custody or visitation dispute mediation under certain circumstances.
HB 1100: An act to create a rebuttable presumption against the award of custody to any person with a proven history of domestic abuse.
HB 1101: An act to provide for an order of joint physical care over certain children whose parents exercise joint legal custody and to create a rebuttable presumption against joint legal custody and joint physical custody under certain circumstances.
HB 1102: An act to provide for a statewide visitation enforcement program and to provide for its funding by making an appropriation therefor.
Legislation involving other children's issues:
HB 1024: An act to revise the definition of child for the purposes of the South Dakota Retirement System.
HB 1073: An act to require abuse and neglect registry screening for certain special advocacy volunteers and guardians ad litem.
HB 1074: An act to authorize court ordered release of certain child abuse or neglect records.
HB 1075: An act to require certain criminal record checks in adoption home studies for children in the custody of the Department of Social Services.
They still have a couple more weeks of potential bill filing so we'll see what else gets added.
SB 34: Allows midwives at out of hospital births
HB 1064: Modifies law regarding incest to include foster parents
Bills involving child care, visitation or custody:
HB 1088: An act to revise certain provisions relating to temporary custody prior to divorce or separate maintenance.
HB 1089: An act to revise certain provisions relating to the rights and duties of joint legal custodians.
HB 1090: An act to require that most records and applications regarding a child reference the names and addresses of both parents.
HB 1091: An act to provide that either parent is to reasonably inform the other parent about routine decisions concerning children when residing with the other.
HB 1092: An act to revise certain terminology in the statutes providing for standard child visitation guidelines.
HB 1093: An act to revise certain provisions relating to the custody, service, and earnings of children.
HB 1094: An act to repeal certain provisions concerning the rights of custodial parents that have been superseded by other statutes.
HB 1095: An act to adopt the South Dakota Family Law Arbitration Act and provide for its implementation and enforcement.
HB 1096: An act to authorize the court appointment of parenting coordinators in certain custody and visitation disputes.
HB 1097: An act to provide for the imposition of certain sanctions against parties who willfully do not comply with custody or visitation decrees.
HB 1098: An act to revise certain provisions relating to the rights of alleged contemnors in visitation and custody matters.
HB 1099: An act to require custody or visitation dispute mediation under certain circumstances.
HB 1100: An act to create a rebuttable presumption against the award of custody to any person with a proven history of domestic abuse.
HB 1101: An act to provide for an order of joint physical care over certain children whose parents exercise joint legal custody and to create a rebuttable presumption against joint legal custody and joint physical custody under certain circumstances.
HB 1102: An act to provide for a statewide visitation enforcement program and to provide for its funding by making an appropriation therefor.
Legislation involving other children's issues:
HB 1024: An act to revise the definition of child for the purposes of the South Dakota Retirement System.
HB 1073: An act to require abuse and neglect registry screening for certain special advocacy volunteers and guardians ad litem.
HB 1074: An act to authorize court ordered release of certain child abuse or neglect records.
HB 1075: An act to require certain criminal record checks in adoption home studies for children in the custody of the Department of Social Services.
They still have a couple more weeks of potential bill filing so we'll see what else gets added.
Friday, January 4, 2008
I <3 Vermillion
I haven't traveled the world, but I've been enough places to know that Vermillion, SD is my favorite place on the planet. I was reminded of all of the reasons I love this town so much during Tim Johnson's homecoming today. What an amazing, caring, loyal community. Mayor Christopherson talked about how Sen. Johnson exemplifies 'Vermillion values' as well as South Dakota values, and I have to agree. As cynical as I can be sometimes, I see my former classmates (and not-so-recent Tanager graduates like Tim Johnson) doing really extraordinary things for the world and it makes me so proud.
P.S. Get out your microscope and see if you can find the DakotaWomen blogger in the video in this story:) Or just check out the lovely Buffalo Run Winery.
P.S. Get out your microscope and see if you can find the DakotaWomen blogger in the video in this story:) Or just check out the lovely Buffalo Run Winery.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
January 3, 2008 in the News
The recent stories of interest hitting our Dakota papers:
Standing Rock women's shelter has money, needs city support: A Rapid City Journal story reports: "Needs are nothing new for the shelter or the people it serves. Right now, the most fundamental need is a home, after continuing break-ins and vandalism early last fall forced the center to abandon of an apartment it had been using in a rough section of town." Read the entire story for more info on the impact of this shelter. You might also be interested in the posted comments.
Women voters group set to meet on Friday: The LWV of Fargo-Moorhead have a meeting scheduled. See Forum announcement here.
Nebraska Senators Favor 'Trigger Law' For Abortion: Yankton Press & Dakotan story about potential legislation in that state. Note that North Dakota passed such a law in its 2007 Legislative Session. For more wonderful reading, here's a South Dakota anti-choice letter.
Wombs available for rent in India: A recent Aberdeen News story discusses the controversial project. The story notes: "The small clinic at Kaival Hospital matches infertile couples with local women, cares for the women during pregnancy and delivery, and counsels them afterward. Anand's surrogate mothers, pioneers in the growing field of outsourced pregnancies, have given birth to roughly 40 babies. More than 50 women in this city are now pregnant with the children of couples from the United States, Taiwan, Britain and beyond. " Note, this was also a recent story on 60 Minutes.
And just a reminder...South Dakota Legislative Session starts on Tuesday, January 8th. For the session basics, click here.
Standing Rock women's shelter has money, needs city support: A Rapid City Journal story reports: "Needs are nothing new for the shelter or the people it serves. Right now, the most fundamental need is a home, after continuing break-ins and vandalism early last fall forced the center to abandon of an apartment it had been using in a rough section of town." Read the entire story for more info on the impact of this shelter. You might also be interested in the posted comments.
Women voters group set to meet on Friday: The LWV of Fargo-Moorhead have a meeting scheduled. See Forum announcement here.
Nebraska Senators Favor 'Trigger Law' For Abortion: Yankton Press & Dakotan story about potential legislation in that state. Note that North Dakota passed such a law in its 2007 Legislative Session. For more wonderful reading, here's a South Dakota anti-choice letter.
Wombs available for rent in India: A recent Aberdeen News story discusses the controversial project. The story notes: "The small clinic at Kaival Hospital matches infertile couples with local women, cares for the women during pregnancy and delivery, and counsels them afterward. Anand's surrogate mothers, pioneers in the growing field of outsourced pregnancies, have given birth to roughly 40 babies. More than 50 women in this city are now pregnant with the children of couples from the United States, Taiwan, Britain and beyond. " Note, this was also a recent story on 60 Minutes.
And just a reminder...South Dakota Legislative Session starts on Tuesday, January 8th. For the session basics, click here.
"Can't these chicks do anything but whine?"
Run, don't walk, over to Nellie McKay's MySpace and listen to Mother of Pearl. Seriously. Go now!
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Just to Clarify, We Are Not Every Dakota Woman Who Ever Lived
Apparently, Pat Powers thinks we're a little too narrowly focused over here at DakotaWomen. I haven't been able been able to figure out what exactly he'd prefer we talk about (except that we don't pick on anti-choice democrats enough, so here you go PP: Kathy Miles and Mary Glenski are the reason I don't give money to the state party), but I think the main gist is that we talk too much about abortion and not enough about gas prices and 'clean neighborhoods'. As anyone who knows me can tell you, I actually have a lot to say when it comes to the litter in my neighborhood, but it doesn't seem worth blogging about. The thing is, I think you could survey the whole South Dakota blogosphere and find a heck of a lot more about abortion than about finding a good paying job. Not only is it something that I personally care about, it's sort of a big issue around here. Perhaps if I posted every hour or so like Bob Ellis or PP, I'd widen my scope a little (although Bob discusses abortion about ten times more than anyone on DakotaWomen, so I guess that's not a given). Anywho, here was my response to PP over at War College:
P.S. Welcome to our newest DakotaWomen blogger That Girl. Way to start off with a bang:)
Honestly, I think you’re looking a little too far into it, PP. DakotaWomen is a group blog and all the contributors work independently. We don’t have editorial meetings where we sit down and decide what pressing women’s issues we’re going to try to cover. Just like I’m assuming you do, if something seems sort of interesting to one of us, we’ll write about it. I don’t know what Anna or KeepAskingWhy is going to say and they don’t know what I’m up to.
By the same token, I have no idea if all of the DakotaWomen are liberal or democratic or not. Obviously, I’m pretty liberal and that’s going to inform what I write about and how I say it. I don’t think any of us have ever claimed to speak for all the women of the Dakotas, but “Some Dakota Women” seems like a pretty silly name for a blog. Is Bob Ellis really the Voice of the Dakotas? Are Ken and Jason the last word in South Dakota Politics? Or are we expected to be representative because we’ve chosen to identify ourselves as women? We’re women in the Dakotas, so it seems to me that an issue affecting one of us is sort of automatically an issue affecting at least *a* woman in North or South Dakota.
As for your question, “Where’s the similar invective and mocking for the female Democratic legislators with the same views?” I guess I’m not sure what you’re getting at here. It was an post about one particular legislator…obviously that means that the rest aren’t discussed. I don’t think that should be taken as any sort of stamp of approval for the Kathy Miles’ and Julie Bartlings of the world. But there are a lot of ‘liberal democratic Dakota Women’ out there that shop at Shantel’s shoe store without being aware of her politics, so for them, it might be some good information.
P.S. Welcome to our newest DakotaWomen blogger That Girl. Way to start off with a bang:)
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