Newletter - July 2007

Greater St. Louis Ninety-Nines Newsletter
July 2007


July meeting:
July 21, meet at 10 am
Circle of Hope Office
460 N. Lindbergh in the American Heart Building
(on the east side of Lindbergh just south of Olive and Monsanto)

We will have a business meeting and lunch will be provided. This is a service project; we will be making Circle of Hope Bracelets or working on another similar project. Information on the Circle of Hope is appended to the end of the Newsletter. This is truly a worthwhile endeavor and we hope to see many of you on July 21.

Proposed Standing Rules Amendment:
At one time our chapter treasury paid the registration fees for the Chapter Chairman to attend the yearly International and Section meetings. At some point this practice was discontinued. After much discussion, we decided to bring the following amendment to the Standing Rules of the Chapter to a vote of the membership at the July meeting. Note that the payment of registration fees is not automatic; it must be requested by the Chapter Chairman or invited speaker.
To encourage participation in the annual North Central Section and International Annual meetings, the Chapter Chairman or any member invited to give a formal presentation at the meeting may request payment of the meeting registration fee from the Chapter treasury. It is understood that the Chapter Chairman or invited speaker is personally responsible for all other meeting related expenses including, but not limited to, travel expenses, hotel, meals, and entertainment.

Chapter Handbook:
The 2007-2008 Membership Director and Handbook is inpreparation. If your address, phone number, or e-mail address has changed, please give your corrected information to Martha Norman. Her e-mail address is cfifly170s@mail.tigernet.gen.mo.us and her phone number is 573-546-7472.

Library Exhibit:
Thanks to Gussie Freese, our library exhibit will be shown at libraries in St. Louis County from August 2007 through December 2008. We do have three months that are not filled: February, August, and November 2008. Please let Gussie or Libby Yunger know if you can schedule the exhibit at a library in your community. Also please let Libby (girlpilot@sbcglobal.net) know if you would be willing to help put up or take down the exhibit. The library schedule will be available at the July meeting and will be on our website (www.st-louis-99.com). If anyone has books, articles or other artifacts to add to our exhibit, please contact Libby. In order to insure that the exhibit items remain intact for the next year or two, we have laminated the posters and newspaper article on refurbishing the DC-3. We would like to submit an article on the library exhibit to the Ninety-Nines News. Please let Libby know if you would like to contribute to or assist in writing this article.


News from Baghdad:
Gussie, Libby, and Mary Kinnaw shared messages they received from Kim Atkins. If you want to write to Kim, her e-mail address is Kimberly.atkins@bdab.centaf.af.mil .
Message to Gussie on June 18:
Just wanted you to pass along to the ladies that I am doing well in Baghdad. It's super hot but I work inside so it's tolerable. I'll certainly have to share my stories and pictures of the busy schedule of flights in an out of here and also some interesting stories of being attacked. Yep, got more than I bargained for in the war zone.
I miss everyone and will be back in September.
Sincerely, Kim

Message to Mary on June 24:
Thanks for writing it's great to hear from you. We are okay here aside from all the action. This is certainly a life changing event which may be exactly what I need considering being newly divorced. This place is helping me to realize what really is important.
I've attached a picture of me with two basketball players. Seems like we have many visitors who are trying to keep up our morale. (Photo is attached to the Newsletter.)
Be safe\
Kimberly

Message to Libby on July 10:
Thanks for writing it's great to hear from you. This deployment is good for me in many ways but mostly I will appreciate the freedom and luxuries we enjoy in America. I'll be glad to drive on a paved road, take a shower without wearing shower shoes, and most of all not duck and cover for incoming. You know I am an adrenaline junky but am very concerned about people being injured by rockets. I have many stories to share when I come home that I cannot discuss over e-mail.
Have fun with the summer air shows. I have one out my back door all day and night and love it.
Kim

Circle of Hope
As an executive board member of AMC Cancer Research, I have had the honor for several years of working with an exceptional group of women who are all breast cancer survivors, and who we honor in a Pictorial Tribute that feature their photos and inspirational quotes. The Pic Trib, as we call it, travels to different shopping malls, events and business in the St. Louis area to celebrate the survival and spirit of these amazing women.
One of the women honored was Fran Lefrak-Brown. Although nearly all the women are still with us, and fighting for the cause, we lost Fran last year to a recurrence. Her legacy lives on, however, in the Circle of Hope bracelet, which she created in 1999 after her first diagnosis in order to raise money for research. What began with Fran sitting at her kitchen table with crystal beads and silver hoping to raise a few thousand dollars has now exploded into an 501(c) (3)organization with hundreds of volunteers coordinated by Fran's husband, Jerry Brown. In just a few short years, Circle of Hope has contributed over $200,000 to AMC and other charities working for a cure. They have sponsored events ranging from Day of Caring to Walks for Women; have worked with the American Cancer Society Relay for Life; and been featured on several St. Louis news programs and in newspapers and magazines.
Their volunteers include everyone from women's groups to girl scout troops (including River Bend Senior Troop 111) to learning disabled children; even customers of Talbots. Talbots at Plaza Frontenac was so impressed with the design that they now sell them at special events, and will be introducing them to at least one additional Talbot's store in Indiana. The bracelets are also sold at several stores in the St. Louis area, with the best selections at Small Indulgences on Big Bend, and Ann's Bra Shop right around the corner at olive and Woods Mill.
In 2003, Circle of Hope continues to grow, with the introduction of a brochure to handle mail orders, and a new Web site. I have been giving Circle of Hope bracelets as gifts for several years now to friends, family, teachers and colleagues. They are beautifully presented, wonderfully crafted and always appreciated gifts. Bracelet making parties are a great way to help this all volunteer organization help meet the demand of their expanded marketing programs, and raise even more money for cancer research.
The nice thing about bracelet parties is that it doesn't matter how many people show up, or how much time they have to spend. Circle of Hope appreciates the effort whether the result is ten bracelets, or 200. People can stop by for 45 minutes, or stay for several hours depending upon their level of interest. And it's something that all ages can do (although I'd like to limit it to middle and high school age children), and which benefits all ages in that Circle of Hope raises money to fund cancer research and awareness programs.
Circle of Hope is a fabulous charity, and bracelet making parties are a lot of fun. There is no skill involved - Circle of Hope provides all the materials, and training takes only a few moments. We will probably have materials to make three or four different bracelets, so we can rotate folks around the tables so that they can meet new neighbors as well.