Calendar of Events Archive

An Historical Perspective

30 September 2002

   AFOM Rally -- Oct. 19 from 10 to 2 at Sportsman's Lake in Cullman. No admission charge. Come show your support for the practice of midwifery in Alabama. Planned events are --

   There will also be t-shirts for sale (2 new designs), along with bumper stickers, buttons and auto window decals. Fun stuff for the kiddos includes a great playground, a walking trail, a wildflower garden, and a pond where you can feed the fish and ducks. For a small fee, they offer mini-golf, carousel rides, train rides around the lake, and paddle boats.

   Volunteers are needed (of course)! Please volunteer your time or donations in at least one of the following areas:

• donations of bake sale items for fund raising
• donations for silent auction for fund raising
• pouring and keeping up drinks
• wrapping hot dogs and hamburgers
• handing out chips
• dipping nachos
• manning the table of bake sale items
• auction coordinators
• making cotton candy
• making the cotton candy cones
• manning the t-shirt, decal, information pamphlets and logo button table, sign-in area and name stickers.

   Keep in mind that this is going to be our biggest, most informative gathering yet. Make sure you don't miss it! There is still a great need to raise money for legal expenses, spreading public awareness and education. Get involved and help make a difference in Alabama. Donate something to sell or contact a local merchant and ask for a donation. Volunteer to help out with the sales and serving. Invite others to attend--even if you don't think they'll come, let them know that a large statewide group is actively supporting midwifery in Alabama. Remember these efforts in your prayers.

   For more information, contact Kathy@AlabamaMidwives.com or call 256-747-1999; or contact Charity (Chatty) Freeman at candcfree@direcway.com or call 256-734-9142. Your participation on any level will be greatly appreciated and you will be ultimately gratified by the acceptance of midwifery in your area.

26 September 2002

   This is another tickler for the Cullman Group of Alabama Friends of Midwives Rally to be held rain or shine on October 19th at Sportsman's Lake Park in Cullman, Alabama under shed # 14 from 10 AM til 2 PM (or until all speakers and Q & A's are finished.) There is no admission charge. We are planning a Silent Auction of donated items from supporters like yourself (and hopefully something from you) and local merchants from 10 AM til 11 AM or so, and then we will be serving hotdogs, hamburgers, drinks, etc. for donations until 12 PM. At that time we will begin introducing speakers which will include: Rob Bowman, a member of the State Health Committee and representative from the Bob Riley Campaign; Jeremy Oden, State Representative; Neal Morrison, State Representative; Margaret Charles Smith, Alabama Grand Midwife and co-author of "Listen to Me Good;" to name a few. We will have cotton candy, nachos, bake sale goods (feel free to donate your own baked goods,) awesome new t-shirts (short and long sleeve, colors and white, 2 new designs), eye-catching buttons (that will include sayings like "Birth is Normal," "If You Don't Know Your Choices, You Have None,") auto window decals, and much more. Aside from that, the park offers a great playground, a walking trail, a wildflower garden, and you can feed the fish and ducks. For a small fee, they offer mini-golf, carousel rides, train rides around the lake, and paddle boats.

   Keep in mind that this is going to be our biggest, most informative gathering yet. Make sure you don't miss it! There is still a great need to raise money for legal expenses, spreading public awareness and education. Get involved and help make a difference in Alabama. Donate something to sell or contact a local merchant and ask for a donation. Volunteer to help out with the sales and serving. Invite others to attend--even if you don't think they'll come, let them know that a large statewide group is actively supporting midwifery in Alabama. Remember these efforts in your prayers.

   For more information, contact myself by emailing Kathy@AlabamaMidwives.com or call 256-747-1999; or contact Charity (Chatty) Freeman by emailing candcfree@direcway.com or call 256-734-9142. Your participation on any level will be greatly appreciated and you will be ultimately gratified by the acceptance of midwifery in your area.

   Warmly,

   Kathy Blackwood
 

25 September 2002

   It has just been confirmed that Alabama's oldest (96 yrs) grand midwife, Mrs. Margaret Charles Smith of Eutaw, AL will be coming to our October 19th Rally at Cullman's Sportsman's Lake. YEA!

   Nancy called her on a dare from me a while back and invited her to our get-together and lo and behold she accepted. Thank goodness we called her early as a group in Boston asked if she could speak to them on the same day. She told them she already had an engagement.

   Nancy also contacted Books-A-Million in Cullman (North Shopping Center) about having a book signing on the 18th from 3:00p until 5:00p so come early and bring some extra money as there may not be another chance to get an autographed copy of her book, "Listen to Me Good".

   We'll go to Eutaw to pick her up on that Friday morning but need someone to drive her back home on the evening of the 19th. Eutaw is a little over 2 hours drive from Cullman.

   There will be a silent auction to raise money at the rally so bring those items you think would stimulate some interest. Let's go Birmingham, Mobile and Huntsville. Dig in your closets and see what you can find.

   More later. Stay tuned.

   Steve and Nancy

   For more information on the Cullman area chapter contact the representative.