PROGRAM ASSISTANT

(Full Time)

Central Shenandoah Valley Office on Youth. Responsible for implementing direct-service Teen Pregnancy Prevention programming. Must possess the ability to relate well to youth of varying abilities and backgrounds, have knowledge of the consequences associated with risky behavior, and possess strong interpersonal and public-speaking skills to interact with the public in classrooms and community organizations. Good organizational skills a must. HS diploma or GED required with experience in the delivery of youth-oriented programming. Requires valid driver’s license, passing criminal background/sexual offender registry check, and drug test. Please submit resume w/cover letter and City of Waynesboro application to Human Resources, 503 W. Main Street, Suite 102, Waynesboro, VA 22980. Salary: $24,192. Closes: 5:00 p.m. Monday, October 1, 2007. Questions contact Ginny Newman @ 540-942-6757. EOE

~Lois

We went to war in powder blue armed only with a bag of games and a smile…

Young, adventurous, idealistic and committed, we were a breath of fresh air in the dusty firebases and sweaty base camps of Vietnam. We were the Donut Dollies whose job was to distract U.S. soldiers on the front lines with games, songs and a listening ear.

Heirs to the recreation program begun in WWII, we Vietnam girls didn’t have donut machines (still the name stuck). But we were armed … with a never-ending smile, a listening ear and a collection of silly games. And our mission? Deliver a touch of home to the combat zone.

Join me on Tuesday evening, September 18th at 7 pm for the screening of A Touch of Home: The Vietnam War’s Red Cross Girls (47-minutes). The screening will be in the No Sweat Fitness store behind the Mall near the Thai Café and Heavenly Ham. Bring your own chair! Kool-Aid will be served (since this is what we served to the guys in Vietnam).

Reservations a must (fire regulations, doncha know). RSVP by email by Friday, September 14,(write ATOH in the subject line) or call me, Holley Watts, at 433-3677. If you get my voicemail, please leave your name, your phone number and number in your party. There will be a free-will contributions bucket at the door so I can show it at Court Square Theatre with some proper promotion.

See you soon!

Holley Watts, Donut Dolly
American Red Cross SRAO
DaNang, Chu Lai, An Khe, Cu Chi
Vietnam Sept ’66-Sept ‘67

~Lois

As a freelance writer and publisher of a weekly marketing email newsletter, Brainy Tidbits, I am often sent books to review. Most of them, quite frankly, do not hold my interest. But Dylan’s Story by Cristin and Joe Fergus is an amazing story of one family’s journey to learn about and heal their child of autism.

Thankfully, I do not have a child with this problem. I do have a friend whose child has been stricken, however. I have also raised two children with sensitivities to dyes, preservatives and chemicals as well as various food allergies.

This book clearly discusses how to eliminate these toxins from a person’s environment and how to move toward a healthier lifestyle that includes whole grains, pesticide-free fruits and vegetables, and organic foodstuffs. Several recipes and numerous resources are included in the book, making it an essential reference book for anyone dealing with food and toxin sensitivities.

It is written in an easy-to-read style and discusses the ordeal these parents went through for almost 6 years before healing their son. I highly recommend this book, especially if you have an autistic child. It may be your way to heal your own child.

~Lois

The Mine Action Information Center at JMU is looking for someone to help with conference planning. It’s a short-term opportunity. Do you know anyone who might be interested?

Job Description

The Mine Action Information Center at JMU is seeking to hire a program assistant to help plan and implement a five-week resident course for senior managers of landmine action programs around the world. The program assistant will play an important coordination role in a team setting. Tasks will include: coordinating daily transportation, organizing field trips, meals, airport transfers, classroom management, student employee management, and attendee liaison. The successful candidate will be detail-oriented, can manage multiple tasks in a fast paced environment, possess good communication skills, enjoy working with people from other cultures and available to work irregular hours as needed. This position is short-term (Sept-November) with the possibility of continuing if funding allows. Pay rate: $13-15/hour.

For more information please contact Christine at +1 540-568-2315 or Daniele +1 540-568-3356.

~Lois

Summer is almost over and it’s time to get back in the swing of things. This month’s meeting is a Focused Networking event, designed to help you reconnect with other members and friends and meet new ones.

We’ll also have a discussion about what topics and presentations interest you, so come prepared to tell us who you’d like to present programs and what you’d like to hear about. Bring names and phone numbers, too! We are always trying to make Women’s Forum better, and you can help by providing ideas. No committees, no obligations. Just your ideas during the meeting. That’s pretty easy, isn’t it?

So bring plenty of business cards, flyers, marketing materials, etc. Come prepared to tell everyone who you are and “everything” you do in 60 seconds or less (30 seconds is even better!). Bring your friends and business associates, too! They want to meet new people and expand their businesses and friendships, don’t you agree?

RSVP by Tuesday, Sept. 11, noon:
lcarterfay@gmail.com or 540.820.3840

Women’s Forum Meeting
Thursday, September 13
11:45 am - 1:00 pm

Spotswood Country Club
Harrisonburg, VA

$15 Members
$20 Guests

~Lois

Sorry I haven’t created any entries for you since July. I do have a good excuse, actually 3 excuses. We’ll see if they pass muster.

First, I was out of town at a conference. I took my niece Roni with me on a business trip to Vancouver, B.C. We managed to have a good time even though I had some obligations at the conference every day and neither of us was feeling well.

It was the ISPO (International Society of Prosthetics and Orthotics) conference, which I attended because my job at the Mine Action Information Center at James Madison University has given me the opportunity to compile a catalog of adaptive technologies for landmine victims. Our researcher, Maureen Morton, and I thought we might discover some good information for the project and possibly find some interested donors as well. Only time will tell if our efforts were productive.

I came back home August 4 and the afternoon of August 5 found me in the hospital with angina, which later developed into a full-blown heart attack that required emergency surgery to implant a stent in my LAD artery. They kept me flat on my back for three days, then finally let me get up late at night on Wednesday. I went home on Thursday.

The following week my niece, Nessa (17 and pregnant) was hospitalized off and on most of the week with a kidney infection. Then she went into labor at 2:30 am on August 17. Baby Amelia Kaye Bowman arrived at 8:28 am. Mom and baby are doing great. In fact, Nessa delivered on Friday and started Blue Ridge Community College the following Monday!

On August 23, I went back into surgery for another cathetization, expecting to have another stent put in the second blocked artery. Amazingly, the artery had cleared itself and nothing was required. So now I’m on six different medications each day and following a diabetic diet (having also been diagnosed with this disease while in the hospital!).

I’m back at work about six hours a day. I still get tired, mostly from the medications, but I’m doing very well. I started cardiac rehab at the hospital last Monday. They promise to whip me back into shape.

I plan to avoid having any more heart attacks. They hurt!

Thanks for all your prayers and good wishes. It seems they worked quite well.

~Lois