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Dolores “Dee” Eldridge Scholarship Award
The scholarship board is pleased to announce we have awarded Karina M. Cockman a DDE scholarship. She is very deserving and an extremely committed student, intent on completing her Associates degree by the end of 2021. At that time, she intends to transfer to a four-year college in the behavioral sciences. She has three children, ages 3, 8 and 9 and works as a Late-Night Facility Manager at Charis Youth Center, a residential treatment facility that cares for minors. She recently completed a summer schedule of 15 units and will be taking a full load in the Fall. She is maintaining a 3.4 GPA. Karina began her Fall semester at the end of August.
A point of pride is that she is the first one in her family to graduate from high school! Karina describes herself as creative, determined, compassionate and understanding and considers one of her greatest strengths the ability to multi-task. It is easy to see how essential that is for her right now. We wish Karina all the best. Below is her submitted essay (with an absolutely great title).
That is Too Much for you to Handle Sweetie
Throughout my life, people have always told me not to bite off more than I can chew. I graduated high school and shortly after got married and had my son. A few years went by, and my marriage fell apart. I was left to pick up all the pieces and make sure that my son was provided for. I gave up my  dreams of going to school and set my focus on work. Twenty-six years old hit and I yearned to complete my dream of furthering my education. I nervously enrolled at Sierra College and got myself prepared. Now a mom of three, working full time, I set my focus on school. I had to get organized and prepared for this new journey. I had no idea where to start. I got a last-minute counselor appointment and was rushed through it in 20 minutes. I got my list of classes but no information on when and where to begin. I asked a friend for advice and set my path. I got a planner and did my best to stay organized. So far, I have completed three semesters and am currently in the middle of my fourth semester heading into my fifth. Throughout this journey I have had people ask me what I do. My response is: I am a mother to three amazing children. I work full time as a Late Night Facility Manager which usually means working a lot of hours. Lastly, I am enrolled in school full time to not only obtain my degree, but further my career in residential treatment. The response I usually get is there is no way you get all of it done, or I’d be careful taking that many classes with kids. You won’t be able to finish it all. Instead of words of encouragement I was faced with the idea that I needed to do what a woman is meant to, focus on my children and work, but school wasn’t necessary. Women for years have been told what they should and should not be doing with their time. They have been led to believe that they are not good enough or will not be able to do it. I would not be swayed. I had my goals set and was ready to achieve them. While starting school I had a prior job that did not believe in my success. I asked for days off to help fit best in my schedule and was told that, my manager taking two classes had priority when it came to scheduling. Besides, I was just taking on too much. I made a spur-of-the-moment decision to go back into a field where I could truly make a difference in this world. I went back to Charis Youth Center to help counsel struggling and mentally ill youth from the surrounding communities. Within a month I was offered a Facility Manager position and now continue to strive to be the best I can be. School has been so influential to me, and I hope women can step away from choices being made for them, or past beliefs, and really strive to be the best they can be. It is possible to reach your goals. Do not let anyone tell you that you can’t or sway your decision to be who you want to be. I will continue on my journey to be the best version of myself that I can be.
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BPW Spotlight - Meet Our Newest Member
Tristin Avaalos
1.Tell us about yourself.
I’m a local LVN who received a scholarship from this organization when I was in school to become a nurse. I started out as a CNA and then pursued the LVN licensure and eventually became an MDS Coordinator Nurse for a local skilled Nursing facility.
2. What influenced you to live in Nevada County.
I grew up in Nevada County. I have lived in Truckee, Nevada City, Grass Valley, and Kings Beach. I moved away for a few years and realized that this area is the place for me. I enjoy being a patron of my fellow classmates and friends’ local businesses. Being a local has its privileges such as knowing the best places to relax, to knowing where to dine for your stomachs desire. This majestic county has the landscape to accommodate the daily adventure I crave.
3. What do you consider to be your greatest accomplishment.
I think my greatest accomplishment was to be able to step back and learn to live in the present. Life comes and goes so fast, that if I don’t take the time to slow down and look around, I might miss the most precious moments that you cannot get back.
4. Who is your celebrity crush
Who is your celebrity crush. I don’t have one. I’m happily married.
5.What is your favorite word.
Don’t laugh. Coffee.
6. How and why did you get involved with BPW.
My previous Boss recommended that I become a member years ago. Years later I’m back. It feels good to be apart of an organization that helps supports local Businesswomen. Together we thrive. (we are glad you did!)
7.Who would invite to your dinner table pick four quests of any time period (living or not) for a lively conversation with you as the host.
Robin Williams, Maya Angelou, Margaret Cho and Wanda Sykes. That would be a great night of humor and reflection.
8. Which 3 books would you recommend we read.
Don Quixote, The Odyssey and Nickeled and Dimed.
9. What advice do you have for young women today.
Continue to pursue your heart’s desire, things may become tough, but it is worth it. Some things are worth the climb so you can see the view from the top. Oh, and don’t forget to look around and smell the flowers while you are pursuing your endeavors.
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PUBLIC POLICY: CURRENT EVENTS AFFECTING REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND JUSTICE
TEXAS BANS ABORTION AFTER 6 WEEKS
The cataclysmic event we have all heard about is Texas’s 6-week abortion ban. It relies on citizen vigilantism, enforced by suing those suspected of performing, or aiding or abetting, an abortion beyond that term, and rewarded by $10,000 payable by violators of the law to those successfully suing to enforce it. Without the U.S. Supreme Court granting emergency relief to stop it, SB 8 went into effect on September 1, 2021.
A lower federal court took the courageous step, on October 5, of issuing an order to temporarily, but immediately, stop implementation of the law. However, fearful that such temporary relief might soon be overruled by a higher court, many Texas abortion providers have not gone back to providing abortion care beyond 6 weeks gestation. The bottom line: far too many women in Texas are being denied their rights to decide for themselves whether to continue their pregnancies. Far too many are being forced to go to great lengths and at great expense to travel out of state seeking medical care that is theoretically legal and constitutionally protected -- as terminating a pregnancy before viability has been since the Roe decision in 1973.
The situation for Texas women is fluid and uncertain. Different lawsuits are wending their way through the courts. The ultimate outcome may turn on the Supreme Court’s decision in another case directly challenging Roe. That case involves Mississippi’s 15-week abortion ban. It is set to be heard by the Court on December 1, with a ruling early next year. To learn more about the Texas law, its implications, and what we can do to help Texas women, go to www.citizensforchoice.org.
BPWNC LEGISLATIVE SUCCESSES IN CALIFORNIA
We have had good success this year. Many laws that we have supported have been enacted, improving women’s lives and opportunities. The most recent ones were signed by Governor in early October.
One aims to improve maternal health outcomes and address disparities for women of color (SB 65). Statistics show the need: the US has the highest maternal death rates among wealthier countries. As of 2018, the rate was 17 per 100,000 births, or about 700 pregnancy-related deaths. For non-Hispanic Black women, the rate was 37 per 100,000, more than twice as high. California is leading the way in reducing maternal mortality, recently reduced to the lowest in the nation at 4 per 100,000 births. A law we supported last year now requires hospitals to implement implicit bias trainings for health workers involved in perinatal care. Another important initiative to reduce racial and ethnic disparities was forming the California Pregnancy-associated Mortality Review Committee. Yet, disparities remain.
Black women’s maternal death rate in our state is 26.4 per 100,000, almost 3.8 times higher than white women. In addition, California is projected to have critical shortages in maternity health providers by 2025, risking a maternal health crisis. The new law enhances the role of the Mortality Review Committee to monitor maternal health disparities and recommend best practices to address disparities. And, it adopts already proven strategies, including expanding Medi-Cal to include coverage of doula care, a pilot program of income support for low-income pregnant people, and building up the midwifery workforce.
A second legislative victory was the signing of a law to address California’s epidemic of sexually transmitted infections (SB 306). Rates of STDs in CA have skyrocketed, worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic and the spread of a new strain of antibiotic-resistant gonorrhea. More than 325,000 Californians were infected with syphilis, chlamydia, or gonorrhea in 2019. Statewide data indicate over half of all STDs in the state are experienced among California youth ages 15 – 24 years. Our state ranks 4th in the country for syphilis rates. Approximately 445 babies were born with congenital syphilis in California that year. The new law would require congenital syphilis testing during pregnancy, among other measures. It would expand access to STD coverage and care for low income and uninsured Californians, improving health outcomes and creating a more equitable health system for all.
FEDERAL POLICIES
Federal funding for family planning is back on track, with the issuance of new regulations restoring the Title X funding program. California’s Title X grant administrator, Essential Access Health, is preparing to participate in the program for fiscal year 2022. The final rule, issued October 4, rescinds Trump-era program restrictions. It restores and expands on Title X’s mandate to make the full range of family planning services available to patients nationwide. Essential Access will be welcoming back those providers, like Planned Parenthood and Women’s Health Specialists, that left the program rather than complying with the Trump limitations on providing family planning services alongside abortion services.
A Congressional development we are watching is the potential to eliminate the Hyde Amendment, which bans the use of federal funds for abortion care. The amendment has been added to national funding legislation since the 1970’s. It was excluded from the House of Representative’s funding bill for Medicaid, to allow coverage of abortion care for low income women. Like other legislation passed by the House, the hurdle is the Senate, which must also pass the funding bill without the Hyde Amendment for it to be effective.
Thank you for your interest in our ongoing advocacy efforts. Let’s celebrate the victories, and vow to continue working toward a more equitable nation for women and their families.
Elaine Sierra, Advocacy Chair
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Lynn Wenzel, Board Member of BPWNC and Citizens for Choice, and Claire Miller, Women's Health Specialist Manager of their Grass Valley reproductive health clinic, together as speakers at the Women's March Rally for Abortion Justice in Nevada City, October 2 2021.
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PLEASE RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP
Though we have not been able to have in person meetings in the past year, BPW has continued to have monthly newsletters, interesting and informative monthly presentations on zoom, advocacy for women, and awarding scholarships to deserving women in Nevada County.
Please continue to support our organization by renewing your dues for 21-22 membership.
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Employment Opportunity
Women's Health Specialist is hiring for the clinic in Grass Valley
NP CNM or PA-C - 32 hours per week - salary is negotiable
Front Office/Intake Job
Healthworker
For further information please go to Nevada County Citizens 4 Choice job openings.
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Club Business
Now that we have more home time help get the word out. Please send names and email addresses of your friends and family to Phyllis porzalli@att.net. to join the growing list of friends of BPWNC. They will receive our monthly newsletter which will inform them of all the good stuff happening with our organization. No need to be living in Nevada County
Thank you
~ Membership, Deb Armanino 415-786-1160
*** Please add Phyllis Orzalli e-mail (porzalli@att.net) to your address book to ensure it does not go to junk!
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Mission Statement
The mission of the Business and Professional Women of Nevada County
is to support and promote equity for women in all aspects of their lives.
Objectives
~To promote personal and professional development for working women.
~To advocate on National, State, and Local legislative issues of importance
to working women.
~To support the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls.
~To promote the education of our members and the community in matters of women's equality as it relates to economics, employment, health, education, housing, civil rights, and other issues of equal opportunity.
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Interested in joining our dynamic group of women?
Want to take on a lead role in our organization?
We need active members who have time and interest
in being a board member: president, vice president, secretary,
treasurer or program committee.
For only a few hours a month you can guide future endeavors of our great group. Please contact Deb Armanino LeBlanc
415.786.1160 or email her at debarmanino@aol.com to discuss the great possibilities!
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