THE SUNDIAL

Volume XVIII No. 7 March 2008

E I A -Education

AJesus, Children & Beyond the 3 R=s@

Aldersgate United Methodist Church

4115 Dewey Ave

April 4, 2008 9:30 am-noon

[map on back of flyer]

This is the first in a three-part series.

We will be exploring various ways to motivate children to excel in school and in life.

From the President

As Church Women United continues promoting economic justice, promoting ways to diminish violence, as well as promoting and providing opportunities for spiritual growth and fellowship, we are thrilled that CWU National has chosen ABuilding a World Fit for Children@ for the 2008 celebration theme. Therefore, the focus for our Rochester Unit=s EIA this spring will be centered on Achildren.@

We must recognize that all children must have equal rights to health and safety, and freedom from

discrimination, regardless of who they are, or where they may live. We must also recognize that children and youth are our most precious resources for tomorrow.

--Audrey Davidson

Women=s Health Kits

The following items are needed for kits for women leaving the Monroe County facility:

Shampoo Tooth Brush* Sturdy Comb** Wash Cloth

Deodorant Tooth Paste Tissues Socks

Remember to pack items in a 1-gallon plastic bag. Please remove soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, etc. from any cardboard boxes or hard plastic wrappings. Please bring donations to the celebrations or if your group has completed kits ready for delivery, please call Betty Allinger at 663-0862, to arrange for pick up. Items can be any size, though full size is preferred. Please Note Change: To meet with jail requirements, *tooth brushes must have plain squared-off handles and *combs must be without handles. Thanks.

The Sundial -2- March 2008

Kids= Korner News

This is a New Drug Known as AStrawberry Quick@

There is a very scary thing going on in the schools right now that we all need to be aware of. There is a type of crystal meth going around that looks like strawberry pap rocks (the candy that sizzles and >pops= in your mouth.) It also smells like strawberry and it is being handed out to kids in school yards. They are calling it strawberry meth or strawberry quick. Kids are ingesting this, thinking that it is candy and being rushed to emergency in dire condition. It also comes in chocolate, peanut butter, cola, cherry, grape and orange.

Please instruct your children not to accept candy from strangers and even not to accept candy that looks like this from a friend (who may have been given it and believes it is candy) and to take any that they may have to a teacher, principal, etc, immediately.

We need to raise awareness and hopefully prevent any tragedies from occurring.

APromoting healthy lifestyles for women and children@ CWU Quad Priority

Report from the CWU Legislative Office

FDA Regulation of Tobacco.

Did you know that a box of Macaroni and Cheese is more regulated than a pack of cigarettes? Both

are aggressively marketed to our children!

I just left Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi=s office where I along with leaders from other faith organizations, met with her staff. The meeting was very exciting because the Speakers= staff believe that the FAMILY SMOKING PREVENTION AND TOBACCO CONTROL ACT (HR 1108) has a very good chance of passing. The Speaker will bring it to the floor. The persistence and perseverance of the Faith United Against Tobacco coalition (CWU has been a member since it=s beginning) and the Tobacco Free Kids Campaign for the past five years has paid off ! (by the way, the chances for passage in the Senate are also very good.) This bill will establish FDA regulation of Tobacco.

Congratulations especially to CWU members from certain states that held press events concerning the dangers of smoking. Some CWU members (for ex. In Pennsylvania) actually spoke at the events.

What work remains for passage of this bill?

Send letters to your Senators and Representative urging that they do all they can to see to it that HR 1108 (Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act) passes all the way to the President=s desk! GIVE PERSONAL STORIES about the evils of smokingCespecially for young people and children. Speaker Pelosi=s staff member assured us that personal stories are the most effective means of advocacy in personal letters!

I spoke up in the meeting and thanked the Speaker for her efforts on SCHIP re-authorization (Children=s health insurance program) and pointed out the connection between prevention of smoking and healthcare expense.

Thank you for all you do for our children. Patricia Burkhardt CWU-Legislative Office

100 Maryland Ave NE Rm100 Washington DC 20002 202 544 8747, fax 202 544 9133

The Sundial -3- March 2008

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CHILDREN=S BOOKS NEEDED

Children=s books are needed in the Children=s Center in Monroe County Family Court at the Hall of Justice. Children wait in this center while their parents are in court. When they leave, they are offered a permanent reminder of their visit.....an age-appropriate book.....in an attempt to encourage reading. The Center needs about 300 books per month. New or gently used books are sought. If you are interested in donating books, please call the Children=s Center at (585) 428-2295.

Group Contributors to CWU in 2007

N	We wish to thank all of our faithful contributors in 2007; we are thankful for all contributions so that we can make a difference in this community.

Brighton UCC

Central Missionary Guild/DUPC

Covenant UMW

Draconis-Mt. Olivet Bapt

Durand UCC WF

Fairport UMW

First Presbyterian Church/Pittsford

First Congreg Church UCC- Women=s Guild

Greece UMW

Hilton Baptist Church

Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church

Irondequoit UCC WF

Lake Avenue Baptist Church

Mt. Rise UCC--Social Ministry Team

Ogden Presbyterian Church, WA

Penfield UMW

Rochester Korean United Presbyterian Church

Ruth Circle, Webster Presby.

Sisters of Mercy of Rochester

St. Paul=s Lutheran

Summerville Presbyterian Church

The Lutheran Church of the Incarnate Word

UMW of Webster-169 Main St.

Union Congregational Church of Christ WF

United Church of Pittsford

Webster Presbyterian Women

Webster Baptist Church

WELCA/Lutheran Church of Resurrection

Wesley UMW

Women ELCA-St.Paul=s,

Pittsford/Dorcas/Rachael Circle

The Sundial -4- March 2008

Domestic Violence

Domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking directly affect at least 1 in 4 women

in the United States. Funding through the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA), and the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Fund has helped provide services for victims, and each year we see more victims come forward for help. Yet, devastating funding cuts in the FY 2008 Congressional Budget have hampered our ability to respond. The President=s Budget for FY 2009 proposes funding cuts that will destroy services for victims. On behalf of victims of domestic violence, I urge you to support funding for local domestic violence, sexual assault and victim assistance programs in the FY =09 Congressional Budget.

Locally this would affect valuable victim services provided by: Alternatives for Battered Women, Monroe County District Attorney Victim/Witness Assistance Bureau , Rape Crisis, Bivona Child Advocacy Center, RPD Victim Assistance Program, Society for the Protection and Care of Children, Monroe County Sheriffs Office Victim Assistance Program, and the Gay Alliance Anti-Violence Project.

In the FY >09 Congressional Budget I urge you to support full funding for Violence Against Women Act programs at $320 million in the LHHS budget and $683 million in the CJS budget, protect the balance of the VOCA Fund and raise the VOCA Fund cap to $717 million. Domestic violence, sexual assault and victim assistance programs nationwide can continue to help victims and their children find safety and security and build self-sufficiency.

National Housing Trust Fund Bill

"Adequate housing is an essential condition for stable and happy homes."

CWU Social Policy Book, 1941-2004, p. 117, (statement on housing from 1946)

Take Action for Affordable Housing!

CWU Supports the National Housing Trust Fund Campaign. Senate co-sponsors are needed for National Housing Trust Fund bill. CONTACT your Senator!

Introduction

Recently National CWU notified us of a bill being sponsored in the Senate. This bill calls for a National Affordable Housing Trust Fund and it is exactly the legislation that will expand housing for low and moderate income families.

Senator Charles Schumer is a co-sponsor of this bill and we will be writing him to thank him for his support. As of March 1, Senator Hillary Clinton has not signed on as a co-sponsor. We are sending Senator Clinton a letter that will be signed by our CWU President and Executive Director. We hope to have other church women adding their names to the letter in support of the bill within the next month.

BEllie Newell

What is the National Affordable Housing Trust Fund Act? The National Housing Trust Fund will provide ongoing, permanent, dedicated and sufficient sources of revenue to build, rehabilitate and preserve 1.5 million units of housing for the lowest income families over the next 10 years. This is not a problem that can be solved by the private housing market. If a profit could be made in building and operating housing that extremely low income families could afford, the market would have long ago responded to this acute need. As with other market failures in the provision of basic needs, public investment is required. In the past 20 years, hundreds of state and local governments have formed housing trust funds that now total $1.6 billion in annual investments. Such a trust fund needs to be established on the National level! For More Information about the National Housing Trust Fund

The Sundial -5- March 2008

Campaign go to: www.nlihc.orgPatricia Burkhardt.....Church Women United-Legislative Office-100 Maryland Ave NE RM 100Washington DC 20002-202 544 8747, fax 202 544 9133

Please contact your Senator. Sample letter available at the CWU office 342-2790.The Sundial -5- March 2008

National Housing Trust Fund Bill (continued)

CWU in Rochester & Vicinity

During the World Day of Prayer and the March Board meeting, you will have the opportunity to sign this letter to support the National Housing Trust Fund Bill.

CWU Short Subjects

Thank You

Claire Crump & Joan Rohlin

for assembling the February Sundial.

CWU Office Hours

Mon-Thurs 9-12:30

Easter

The CWU Office will be closed Friday, March 21-Monday March 24 for Easter.

Church World Service Drop-off site for CWU Kits in 2008

If unable to drop off your kits at the designated time, please call the contact person to make arrangements.

Rochester: April 1-May 2; 9:00-12:00 noon

Downtown Presbyterian Church, 121 N. Fitzhugh St, Rochester, NY 14614

Contact: Dan Holland 585-325-4000, Ext 12.

WOMEN=S INTERFAITH COALITION

Wednesday, March 26 Welcome and Coffee 10 am; Program 10:30-11:30

At the Jewish Community Federation, 441 East Avenue

Speaker/Topic: Jewell Gayle-Jones will speak on Bodacious Women of Faith: A different harvest requires a different seed.

Wed. March 12- 11 am at Temple B=rith Kodesh, 2131 Elmwood Ave -Annual B=rith Kodesh Temple Tea. Bring a non-meat sandwich; beverages and desserts will be provided.

Wednesday, April 16--Welcome and Coffee 10 am; Program 10:30-11:30 At the Jewish Community Federation, 441 East Avenue Speaker/Topic: Dorothy Holmes/Local history of Mormons

Need a ride? Call Lori Friedman, President 425-0019

Questions? Connie Fedorchuk 586-5609 or Jewelle Gayle-Jones 506-9618

The Sundial -6- March 2008

CASA Volunteer Training (Court Appointed Special Advocates)

Become a CASA volunteer and speak up for abused and/or neglected children in our community. Learn to advocate for the best interests of children by becoming a CASA volunteer. If you are interested in a volunteer opportunity where you can make a difference in the life of a child, call CASA and sign up for the volunteer training scheduled to begin in March 2008.

Five-day training classes for prospective volunteers will be held at the Hall of Justice in downtown Rochester on March 11, 18, 25, April 1 and April 8 from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm each day.

Pre-registration is required. Call 585-428-5297. The application packet can be downloaded from the CASA website: www.casarochester.org.

ABiofuels-Promises and Problems@ With the huge emphasis on ethanol despite its many deficits, the Federation of Monroe County Environmentalists is sponsoring a major forum, "Biofuels - Promises and Problems" Monday, March 24, 7-9 pm at the Brighton Town Hall Auditorium, 2300 Elmwood Ave., Rochester. Featured speakers are: Jason Masters, President of Northern Biodiesel and Jeff Gutterman, Chairman of Delphi=s next generation fuels forum. The speakers will address many aspects including:

* Could biofuels be sustainable in our region?* What is our role in conservation of gasoline and energy use?* How does biofuel production impact the food supply and costs?* Are bioenergy crops preserving or diminishing wildlife habitat and water resources?* What are the best options among ethanol, biodiesel, methanol, corn, switch grass, brewery waste?* Are there better renewable sources of energy?

Presentations will be followed by discussion with the audience with the goal of gaining better information to determine the most sustainable path for us to advocate. Light refreshments will be served . The forum is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Carol Hinkleman at info@fmce.org or 585-663-2981.

The Sundial -7- March 2008

Church Women United

E I A -Education

AJesus, Children & Beyond the 3 R=s@

April 4, 2008 9:30 am-noon

Aldersgate United Methodist Church

4115 Dewey Ave

[map on back]

This is the first in a three-part series.

We will be exploring various ways to motivate children to excel in school and in life.

Questions? 342-2790