Hello Friends!

I am back from my trip (and it was absolutely incredible!).. but it's nice to be home too.

I have a lot of forwards to pass on to you all, but first, I'd like to thank everyone that helped with, and came out to the open house, and made it such a success!

The winner of the door prize for a $50.00 gift certificate for Venus Envy is:

Ruth Shorten! Congratulations Ruth! :)

Also, today is the Student's Day of Action, so bundle up and brave the cold so that we can demonstrate our intolerance of the unjust tuition fees being charged.

We're going to rally at Victoria Square (corner of Spring Garden and South Park) at 1:00 and we'll be layin down some radical cheers, so don't miss it!!

And tonight will be the SMUSA Executive Candidates Debate from 7-9pm in the McNally Theatre Auditorium. I encourage everyone to come out and familiarize yourself with the campaigners- they will be working for YOU next year! Also, we have 6 women that are running, so make sure you take the time to consder their platforms- it's important to have female representation within the Student's Association!


Now for the forwards:


Dalhousie Legal Aid is proud to announce that we now have a comprehensive tenant rights website. Check us out!

http://tenantrights.legalaid.dal.ca/

You can access our plain language tenant rights guide here, and find out when our tenant rights dropins are around the city. There are also links to government forms as well as the number for our phone info line. We're really excited that now, in addition to our local drop ins and workshops, and along with our tenant info phone line, tenants (and advocates!) from around the province can access information about their rights no matter where they are in the province.

Hooray!


Megan Leslie
Community Legal Worker


Dalhousie Legal Aid Service
2209 Gottingen St.
Halifax NS B3K 3B5
t: 902.423.8105
f: 902.422.8067

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Hi Everyone!!My name is Marion Fennell and I am a single parent here on campus.This semester, I am happy to be working closely with Christie Wagg atthe DWC to get a volunteer, parent run child care program off the ground here at Dal (Yes, that means you guys!).Christie and I have a basic framework in mind:- Two volunteers every saturday (on a rotational basis - the morepeople we get the less saturdays you will be needed) to come from 12-4 (or 1-4...you guys decide) to look after kids for any of the otherparents who want to drop them off to be able to study, do groceries,go out with a friend, etc.

ALSO-A monthly Saturday afternoon activity for the kids (sledding, the Dal Funzone, the Discovery Centre, etc.) that keeps them happy and alsogives parents an opportunity to socialize with each other.-An up-to-date list of interested parents and their contactinformation that can be distributed among us so that parent swaps can be arranged at the individual level.At the moment, our list is critically lacking phone numbers. We wouldbe so grateful if interested parents can send them along so we can addthem to our list. Let us know if you would be willing to have your number added to a list that we can give out to each parent, so that wecan all link up, and find someone to help us when needed :)

e-mail your phone numbers ASAP, so that we can contact you more regularly, and let you know of upcoming events. Also mention if this phone number is for Christie and I only, or if you would be willing toput it on the swap list. To make this quick and easy send the number to marionjfennell@gmail.com AND christiewagg@gmail.comMarion


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Inspired by the same conference as Atlantic Waves (AND we will be there presenting):


Greetings from the Vancouver Feminist Action Project, We're a group of undergraduate
students and community activists who are hosting a conference on third wave feminism(s) from May 24 - 26 2007

This group was inspired to come together after the first national conference on third wave feminism(s) in Edmonton, May 2006. Thi second annual conference is titled Feminism(s): Strengthening the Ties and will be held in Vancouver, BC. This conference will continue to focus on the work of undergraduate feminists, while including feminists from graduate programs as well as activist and business communities. The idea is to begin bridging the gaps between different feminist groups so that stronger networks and a more cohesive movement will emerge

We recognize that feminism has become a movement marked by challenges both from within and without. These have resulted in fragmentation. We believe that we can re-establish a strong network of feminists that can collaborate on an issue-to-issue basis to effect powerful social action. Part of healing and rebuilding will include creating environments for learning, debate, discussion, and networking: such as this conference We want to facilitate an environment where challenging our own and each other's ideas is accepted as a valid, constructive part of the journey towards understanding and not a personal attack. We hope to create new interactions between activists, academics students, and others; to strengthen ties between different branches of feminism through sharing knowledge and experience. This conference will showcase and increase the representation of feminists and feminist organizations. We are looking for presentation proposals for our conference.

Please send an abstract to feminisms@gmail.com by March 1st, 2007 Presentations can be either 20 or 30 minutes long, including discussion. Please see Guidelines for Submissions below for more details. We welcome submissions that reflect research or activism related to a range of topics that fall under the scope of feminism. Please refer to our website www.feminisms.ca for more information. We welcome participants of all genders, abilities, and backgrounds

Topics include but are not limited to: racism, first nations' issues, sexuality, gender and trans gender issues, health, the "justice" system, sustainable living, media representations, poverty, economics, mental health, HIV, pornography, sex trade work and legislation, sex trafficking, globalization, colonization, and violence.

We welcome feedback, questions, and requests for more information. Please contact us at feminisms@gmail.com.

*Submissions Guidelines:* In your submission, please include the following:
1) The title of the presentation
2) A 500 word (approx)summary of the presentation including a. Your objectives b. How the presentation fits into the framework of "Feminism(s): Strengthening the Ties" c. The method/manner in which the presentation will be conducted (ex. Number of presenters,multimedia elements, interactive elements, etc)
3) The length of the presentation should be either: a. 20 minutes (with 10min discussion) OR b. 30 minutes (with 15 min discussion)
4) Depending on if the submission is on behalf of an organization or an individual, please include brief organization description or a bio of yourself and your contact information
5) Email submissions are preferred, but not required

Thank you!

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS - March 1st, 2007
Please send your submission attention Program Committee at: feminisms@gmail.com OR Vancouver Feminist Action Project
Grandview RPO
P.O. Box #78074
Vancouver, BC
V5N 5W1 -- > Thank you for your time, Conference Coordinators Feminism(s): Strengthening the Ties
Vancouver Feminist Action Project> feminisms@gmail.com> www.feminisms.ca


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Hello Vagina Lovers!!! Hope all is well! Just letting you know about our VAGINA WEEK which lead up to the show itself!

The VAGINA MONOLOGUES is on the 12, 13 & 14 of February starting at 7pm. All this week we are selling TICKETS! The tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door!

You can get tickets at the Dalhousie Women’s Centre- 6286 South St. or at Venus Envy- 1598 Barrington Street. You can also get tickets at the Dalhousie SUB from 10-4 from Monday-Friday. Or at the University of King’s College on Tuesday from 10-4.

For more information please contact Jean at vdaydalhousie@yahoo.ca

WEDNESDAY- Vagina YOGA & BELLYDANCING! Come on out and work out the kinks! Wednesday, February 7, 6pm at the Dalhousie Women’s Centre (6286 South Street, right next to the Dalplex driveway). Cost: 5$ (sliding scale).

THURSDAY- She-She Boutique. Looking for a way to treat yourself? Looking for that perfect gift for a special someone? Then you’re looking for the Chi Chi Boutique! Local retailers and artisans will be showcased as will Vag Pops and some awesome raffles. Thursday, February 8, 11-3 in room 204 of the Dal Student Union Building (6136 University Ave.)

FRIDAY- Pleasure Party and Potluck hosted by Venus Envy and V-Day Dalhousie. Enjoy some yummy dishes and treats while getting the best deals on how to get down with yourself (and maybe someone else!). Friday, February 9, 6pm at the Dalhousie Women’s Centre (6286 South Street, right next to the Dalplex driveway). By Donation for V-Day.

Don’t forget to pick up your TICKETS for the VAGINA MONOLOGUES!

Thanks and vagina love,
Jean

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Leslie Menagh wrote:

Hi, Starting this coming Monday night, a new club at NSCAD will be featuring free films (or by donation) in partnership with The Nova Scotia Public Interest Research Group.

Our first film is documantary called Wal-Town. Directed by Sergeo Kirby, Wal-Town is an effort to examine, expose and ultimately resist the negative impact that multinational retailers such as Wal-Mart have on Canadian communities and international human rights.

Come watch and then discusss with the makers of the film themselves (yup, they're going to be here in the flesh and are seeking billets, so let me know if
you're interested in putting up a film-maker/activist for a couple days). Bring your fine self and/or a friend or two

Bell Auditorium at NSCAD University
4th floor, 5163 Duke St.
8:30pm

Please see http://www.onf.ca/webextension/wal-town/ and www.waltown.com for more information on the movie.

And contact foci@nspirg.org for
more information regarding the screenings, auteurs and the film programming schedule or visit >http://www.cinemapolitica.org/halifax/

Please forward this on to anyone you think would be interested.

All the best,
Leslie Menagh





Hello everyone. This is a notice about a forum we are organizing to take place in Antigonish on March 22 and 23. This is part of the Face to Face Project that I have been working on for the past couple of years.

I'll attach the notice to this message as an RTF document, and paste it below in the body of this message. Please contact me if you are interested in participating, and I encourage you to share it with anyone who you think might be interested:

women affected by the social assistance policy, people who work with low-income single moms, people who teach or work as support staff in post-secondary education institutions, etc. I'd be happy to answer any questions you have or to hear any comments you would like to make.

(902-863-5212 or 902-364-2232) Katherine Reed

A Hand Up: Improving Nova Scotian Single Mothers' Career Options
A forum organized by the Face to Face ProjectSponsored by the Antigonish Women's Resource CentreFunded by the Public Health Agency of Canada

When: March 22 and 23 (Thursday and Friday)
Where: Keating Millennium Centre, St. F. X. University, AntigonishWho: People interested in educational supports for single mothers on social assistance
Why: Because our knowledge and experience can help governments, institutions, and organizations foster the independence and well-being of single mothers and their families If you are as hopeful as I am about the potential for single mothers on social assistance to build sustaining and rewarding careers, I invite you to participate in this policy strategy forum.

By thinking and acting together, we can address barriers that single moms face and open up new avenues for educational achievement and economic self-reliance. There has been a focus in recent years on moving social assistance recipients to self-reliance. We must provide "a hand up instead of a hand-out" as they say. Policies and programs have been re-shaped and new ones introduced to provide people with incentives and supports, mainly to help them earn college credentials so they can qualify for a more rewarding job. What is not yet fully understood by social policy decision-makers is that this type of "hand up" must provide a firm enough grip to truly pull a person up to the level of self-reliance.

To be effective, policies and programs must recognize the specific needs and resources of the people they serve. Elements of the new policies and programs are not achieving their stated objectives because they do not recognize some of the specific barriers to educational success faced by single mothers, or they do not adequately address those barriers, or they are not effectively building on the strengths of the women. Issues such as these have been identified in the Face to Face Project through interviews with women who have experience with the social assistance system and the human service personnel who assist them.

A literature review was also done. We analyzed the information gathered, and developed a short list of recommendations for improving the education and training supports for single mothers on social assistance in Nova Scotia. At the forum we will consider these recommendations and develop strategies for advancing them.

Your knowledge and input will make a difference. Please join us!

For more information call Katherine Reed at 902-836-5212, or email <reebing@ns.sympatico.ca>

I look forward to see you all!

<3Holly.