American Mothers Winter 2012

Winter 2012

Eating Organic

Guidance from Mom

Helping Victims of Violence

Featuring…

Published by American Mothers, Inc.®

2 The American Mother Magazine

about ami |

3 Letter from the President

4 State Updates

9 Health: Chocolate’s New Benefit

10 Health: Eating Organic

12 Profiles: Renee Dunifon Anne Flynne Shelly Soliz

17 Perspective: A Mother’s Guidance

18 Feature: Violence Against Pregnant Women

22 Relationships: From College to the Real World: My Mom’s Words of Wisdom

23 AMI: Convention

Table ofcontents

Letter from the DirectorLet’s face it..being a mom is a job that requires strong communi-cation skills, love, life balance and a sense of humor.

Sharing ideas on how to find that bal-ance, fulfillment and happiness in our daily lives helps us become even more amazing moms.

We are excited to have you take part in our first Mom to Mom Conference on May 5, 2012 at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C. It’s a chance to reach out to other moms in the D.C./Baltimore region and hear from nationally-recognized experts about issues important to all of us.

Communications expert Aundráy Col-lins is an Army wife who was recently awarded the Commander’s Award for

Public Service from the Department of the Army for outstanding volunteer service, the fourth highest honorary award given to private citizens! She is an instructor for Army Family Team Building and is joining our conference to share her tips on strengthening relationships and building strong com-munities.

We’ll hear from a panel of experts about the important issue of violence against women and ways we as moms can make a difference in combating this global crisis.

Author and professional speaker Rick Grandinetti will provide his insights on how to grow effective relationships in your personal and professional life in his presentation called See Jane Suc-ceed, a seminar just for women.

On the lighter side, New York Times bestselling author, successful blogger

and TV hostess on the Food Network Ree Drummond will entertain with her stories of being a woman, mom and wife.

The Mom to Mom Conference is just one of the amazing events scheduled during the 2012 Annual Convention of American Mothers Inc. AMI is a non-profit, non-political, interfaith organization for women and men who recognize the important role of moth-erhood through educational programs and community outreach.

Looking forward to joining you at the Mom to Mom Conference and the 2012 Annual AMI convention for three days of sharing, learning and engaging with one another.

— Andrea Ball, Executive Director

3Published by American Mothers, Inc.®

section head |

American Mothers, Inc.®Executive Director: Andrea BallCommunications: Sandy SponaugleMembership: Jacquie [email protected]

2011 AMI Board of DirectorsPresident: Connell Branan1st Vice President: Joan Braitsch2nd Vice President: Cristi Bulloch3rd Vice President: Kimberley SheltonSecretary: Sondra AndersonTreasurer: Valerie EarnshawArea I Coordinator: Sherri ZirkerArea III Coordinator: Tonia NantkesArea IV Coordinator: Mary ComptonArea VI Coordinator: Vivian DibbArea VII Coordinator: Johanna BuitArea VIII Coordinator: Marian MorrisonArea IX Coordinator: Genevieve ChampanaArea X Coordinator: Carolyn BranaganImmediate Past-President: Deanne TaylorBylaws Chairman: Yolanda Perez Endowment Fund Chairman: JaLynn PrinceMother of the Year Search Chairman: Irene CostilowPublic Relations: Dianne CallisterMembership Chairman: Kimberly WrightEducation Chairman: Julie StarrAwards Chairman: Miki FarrisLiteracy Chairman: Renee DunifonSpecial Projects Chairman: Jan Du PlainNational Mother of the Year®: Ernestine AllenNational Young Mother of the Year: Shawni Pothier

The American Mother MagazineEditor-In-Chief Sandy [email protected]

EditorKrista Brick

ContributorsJaimee Borger, Krista Brick, Hanna Weaver, Dianne Callister, Dawn Nolan

DesignKalico DesignFrederick, MDwww.kalicodesign.com

Printing and FulfillmentGraphcom Inc.Gettysburg, PAwww.graphcom.com

about ami |

Published by American Mothers, Inc.® 3

With the new year comes new begin-nings and endless opportunities. It is also a time when American Mothers, Inc.

will continue its mission of honoring and celebrating inspirational women from across the country. These women are from all walks of life; different backgrounds, beliefs, and life experi-ences, but they are women who share one thing in common - they care deeply about children and families. It is through the Mother of the Year, Young Mother of the Year, and Mother of Achievement search process that American Mothers recognizes these remarkable women.

American Mothers, Inc. has been acknowledging the many contributions these mothers make in their com-munities and our country since 1935. Established as one of the purposes of the American Mothers Committee, Mrs. Daniel Poling, a Past President of American Mothers, described the search process as follows: “Nomina-tions from all over the country were sent to the National Headquarters of the Mothers Committee. But the volume was becoming too great to be handled in one central place. Beginning in 1943, committees were gradually organized in every state, the District of Columbia, Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico, and a Mother of the Year is now selected in each state and territory.”

What a special responsibility Ameri-can Mothers, Inc. has to honor and recognize outstanding women who have dedicated their lives to making a positive difference. Since this year’s search process officially began last fall, we have received nearly 100 nomina-tions for the three award categories on the American Mothers website alone, and their stories have been nothing short of awe-inspiring! In fact, we hope to publish many of the stories on the website so that we can share them with our members. However, you don’t have to wait to read about these incredible women, you can read about some of our extraordinary members and their many contributions right here in the pages of our magazine!

As an important reminder, the women selected through this national search process will be recognized for one of our awards and honored at our Na-tional Convention, May 3 - 6, 2012, in Washington, DC. So, save the date and plan to join us for this special occa-sion!

In the meantime, I would encourage each of you to take a moment and express your gratitude to the extraordi-nary women you may know. Share your stories with us. Tell us what inspires you as a mother, a grandmother, men-tor or friend. We would love to hear from you!

— Connell Branan, President American Mothers, Inc.®

Letter from the President

On the Cover: American Mothers, Inc. President Connell Branan enjoys a moment with her family; husband and Oklahoma State Senator Cliff Branan as well as son, Ford and daughter, Langley.


| state updates

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From the StatesAlabamaAlabama is in the process of getting its charter up to date and in good standing with the national office. We have had some challenges but hope to have the process completed soon. We have a few faithful members and are trying to get former members interested in AMI again.

We always want to recognize Jean Pryor and Mary Martin who have been stalwart AMI supporters. They have attended almost all of the National Conventions for more than 25 years. Thank you Jean and Mary for your support!

We have many outstanding mothers in the state of Alabama, and we hope to honor them in the future. It may not be in year 2012 but definitely in the year 2013. We are working toward that goal!

– Dover Currie, Alabama State President

ArizonaArizona hosted a retreat with the Power of Mom team, and everyone had a wonderful time. A service project for Elizabeth House, a shelter for expectant homeless women, was completed. At-tendees assembled kits including several letters of encouragement and hope from successful moms to those mothers entering the shelter. Through service, we are making the sun shine even brighter here in Arizona.

– Janeen Wright Arizona State President

DelawareWe are happy to report that Delaware’s Chapter of AMI is alive and active. Since Delaware be-came the first of the original 13 states to ratify the U.S. Constitution, it is known as the First State. Although we are the second smallest state in the Union, the benefits of the 2 ½ hour trip from north to south and the small population enables our mothers to know our national, state and local officials if they are interested in doing so. Our Chapter members have included former Moth-ers of the Year who have served as Governor and Secretary of State.

Since the beginning, our annual Springtime Installation Ceremonies have been hosted by our Governor at his (or her) official residence at the State Capital in Dover. Our Chapter also receives an annual grant from the Office of the Secretary of State.

Our statewide membership has financially support-ed the construction of a private garden for families arriving to accept the remains of their fallen heroes at the Dover Air Force Base; three crisis pregnancy centers; a group which benefits handicapped children and the Hope Clinic, which serves 32,000 uninsured Kent County family members and whose Executive Director, Dr. Vicky Marquez, is a former Merit Mother.

We have presented two programs of historical interest which have been open to the public. Last fall, former Merit Mother, Mildred Tribbitt, and her daughter, presented a program at the historic Barratt’s Chapel and Museum. This spring, our Chapter presented a program concerning Major Allen McLane, a Delawarean, patriot, spy and hero of the Revolutionary War, who was recognized by Gen. George Washington.

Our Mother of the Year, Terri Nellans – Brown, and the Young Mother of the Year, Dr. Amy Bautis-ta, will co-host an interfaith event around Mother’s Day. May mothers and families everywhere be blessed in 2012.

– Kay Wood Bailey, Delaware State President

District of ColumbiaOn November 20, Mother of the Year, Ernestine Allen, hosted an Interfaith Service at

Greater Mount Calvary Holy Church in Wash-ington, DC. At the service, a total of $735.00 was donated to a nonprofit The Grace Calloway Food Ministry. With our generous donation, the Food Ministry was able to feed a total of 450 families with a complete meal including a turkey. “I felt it so necessary for American Mothers to reach out and touch the needy during this holiday season. Many families were blessed,” says Allen.

Join Us!Hop on board and help

American Mothers in

reaching, teaching and

honoring outstanding

moms across the country

who are making a posi-

tive difference. Sign up

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Connell Branan,

National President

American Mothers, Inc.®


state updates |

The DC Chapter of AMI is also very excited and looking forward to the 2012 National Convention that will be held in the area in May.

– Joan Braitsch, DC President

GeorgiaThe Georgia Mothers Association of American Mothers, Inc. has been very busy. The search for the 2012 Georgia MOY and Georgia YM has been completed. We have two wonderful mothers who will represent Georgia at the National Conven-tion. We have also given all of the paperwork to one nominee for the Georgia Mother of Distinc-tion. We also have forms in many schools for the Fifth Grade Essay Contest.

Mentoring is a big part of our program. Each month we mentor more than 650 mothers and fathers. One of the mentoring programs that we are privileged to carry out is called SEMAA and is through NASA. Each Saturday morning, there are about 70 or more parents who receive three hours of mentoring. We have been doing this for 11 years. Amazing things are happening there. Our own Ruth Manning was given the recipient of the “National Parenting Award” for her mentoring services.

We also have a great interest in helping families in a homeless shelter in downtown Atlanta. We pro-vide school supplies for the children. We provide for holiday parties and take towels, washcloths, soap and clothes to these families. Recently, we were able to provide 29 Bibles to homeless children who had never had a Bible. They are now enjoying a bible study time at the shelter.

We have also given out more than 5,000 books through our Books for Babies program. They have gone to many different organizations, such as public libraries, hospitals, schools, parents that are mentored and churches. We have also shared books with other state chapters of AMI to help their Books for Babies programs grow.

We love the way we lift the lives of many people through American Mothers, Inc.

– Ruth Manning, Georgia State President

IllinoisThe Illinois Association of American Mothers, Inc. is keeping busy by answering messages about the search for the 2012 Mother of the Year and Young Mother of the Year. We are pleased that our ar-ticles in a number of nearby newspapers are being noticed. We look forward to working with these ladies on their portfolios which will be judged early next year.

We are also beginning to work on the 5th Grade Essay Contest. The winners will be selected in February 2012.

We had a good fall meeting in Springfield and are now making plans for our spring meeting.

– Dot Beldon, Illinois State President

IndianaIndiana American Mothers has had a busy fall. We held a garage sale in September to bolster our treasury, and our Annual Convention was held in October. We had two really wonderful speakers -Mrs. Indiana of 2011, Angela Witte and a local writer for our newspaper and mother of three, Jill Adams. Her column is called “Life without Bum-per Pads”, and it describes how our lives unfold when we try something new and figure out how to succeed without a safety net.

We also collected baby items for our adopted char-ity, “Healthier Moms and Babies”. In December, we celebrated the Christmas season with a holiday brunch and small gift exchange and collected children’s books for a local organization called “Kate’s Kart”. They distribute books to hospitalized children.

We’re looking forward to another great year in 2012. We already have several meetings planned. We’re happy to have representatives for MOY and YMOY. They’re working on their portfolios and planning for the National Convention.

– Darlene Cyr, Indiana State President


| state updates

From the StatesMaineThe Maine Chapter just held our annual Christ-mas Party for six residents at a home for children. Each child received a homemade quilt (thanks to Connie Warren, 1991 MOY) and individual gifts (provided by Norma Rossignol, 1990 MOY, and Velma Albert, 1996 MOY). Christmas carols were sung and holiday goodies were eaten. The children and the staff enjoy our annual activity.

– Anne Giroux, Maine State President

New Hampshire

On October 15, several women from the New Hampshire Chapter of American Mothers, Inc. gathered together to assemble Books for Babies bags. Sixty-five bags were assembled and distrib-uted to moms who delivered their babies at CMC (Catholic Medical Center), one of the largest maternity hospitals in Manchester and one that specializes in care for under-privileged moms and babies. Each of the bags contained three or four books, information and tips on how to promote literacy starting at birth and information about NH AMI. Members of the NH AMI, Georgia As-sociation of American Mothers and others from the community donated books. It was a wonder-ful day that not only allowed us to help other mothers, but also share photos and stories about things that had happened in our lives since our last meeting.

– Valerie Earnshaw, New Hampshire State President

New JerseyThe New Jersey Chapter of AMI has reorganized under a new president, Antonia Fauntleroy, and are members are busy working on several new projects including the MOY search and Bundles of Love, which incorporates the ABC Quilts and Books for Babies into a take-home package for new mothers, especially new moms of NICU babies. They are also planning a membership Tea and MOY event on April 14, 2012.

– Marian Morrison, Area VIII Coordinator

North DakotaThough we have an aging group, and many members are unable to participate due to age and health problems, we have good things happening in North Dakota!

Our 2011 Young Mother of the Year and State Secretary, Stephanie Southam, gave birth to a baby boy recently! He is adorable, and mother and baby are doing well. Max is a true miracle for Stephanie and her husband Reeve, who waited 15 years to be blessed with the joy of parent-hood. Baby Max is their third child; each of their children have a remarkable and miraculous story of love.

The ND AMI Association took part in a Christmas tree display at the Capitol and won an award for Most Attractive Tree. With the theme, “Mother-hood is the Best Gift”, State President Karla Cox and a wonderful new ND member, Kendi Chase, decorated the tree with lights, gift bags, packages and gift tags. It was a good place to receive a little exposure for our organization.

We will be meeting as a state organization in early February.

– Karla Cox, North Dakota State President

MOY and YMOY Nominations!Do you know a special mother? If so, nominate her for Mother of the Year, Young Mother or one of our new Mother of Achieve-ment Awards by visiting www.ameri-canmothers.org.

Send Us Your News!AMI wants to share your good news and experiences with our members!

Send your State Association updates and photos (must be 300+ dpi) to: [email protected].


state updates |

Oklahoma

Oklahoma members have been busy with lots of fun these past few months. We have held and participated in a varitety of activities, including volunteering at the Infant Crisis Services Lun-cheon to support our Oklahoma Mother of the Year, Miki Farris. We have also been working on the nominations for our 2012 honorees and held a reception/orientation for the nominees in De-cember to meet each of them and share more in-formation about the award, our organization and the AMI Convention. In January we will meet to plan our Day at the Capitol to honor our Mother and Young Mother and have a special reception planned for their families, the nominators, and our members.

– Shelly Soliz, Oklahoma State President

Puerto RicoThe Puerto Rico Associa-tion of American Mothers, Inc. has been very active in the last couple of months. Most recently, in Decem-ber, the 2012 Puerto Rico

Mother of the Year and Young Mother of the Year were selected at a meeting that the Puerto Rico Association held at the Pampas Argentine Res-taurant and Convention Center. Ms. Ernestine Allen, 2011 National Mother of the Year, was the keynote speaker at the event. Ms. Natty Haddock was chosen as the 2012 Puerto Rico Mother of the Year, and Ms. Basthy Dávila was named 2012 Young Mother of the Year. Both women are very active in their communities and our association.

Another exciting event for the Puerto Rico As-sociation took place in May. It was then that the Puerto Rico Mother Sculpture was unveiled. The sculpture was placed in front of the La Casa Cuna de San Juan, an orphanage located in an old Department of the Navy facility in the core of the San Juan.

Also in May, the 2010 National Mother of the Year, Dianne Callister, visited Puerto Rico. During her trip, Ms. Callister captured the need to assist AMI Puerto Rico members who help mothers and children at the State’s Pediatric Hospital during hospitalization time. During her visit a grant of $5,000 from the Singer Founda-tion was presented through AMI to the Puerto Rico Children Foundation. Funds were used to purchase rest chairs for mothers, food for one year and specialized cancer treatment for children in U.S. hospitals. The AMI Puerto Rico member-ship wholeheartedly thanks Dianne for her care of disadvantaged children.

— Yolanda Perez, Puerto Rico President

Texas

We have had a very special season. Pictures from our ABC Quilts project are featured on the American Mothers website. We have some moth-ers preparing their papers for Mother of the Year and Mother of Achievement. We also have several schools participating in the 5th Grade Essay Contest. Recently, the San Antonio Chapter had an American Mothers 2011 3K Fun Run/Walk to earn money for their chapter. It was a successful event, and they also held a Garage Sale. The San

The American Mother Magazine

Marcos Chapter has held several meetings and is moving forward. AMI - Texas Association partici-pated in the Sights and Sounds of Christmas in San Marcos. As you can see, Texas is rocking!

– Marjorie Barton, Texas State President

Virginia Virginia’s MOY, Sharlet Bouchelle, has had some great opportunities to spread the word about AMI this year. She has been in three parades – one as the parade marshal – bearing the message “Strong Moms Strengthen Families” and “Strong Families Strengthen Communities.” She has spoken to two women’s groups on the blessings of mother-hood. In November, she traveled to Washington, DC, to participate in the Interfaith Service put on by Ernestine Allen, the National MOY. Sharlet has been able to promote AMI and motherhood through radio interviews and radio spots. She is helping to spread the word about AMI in Virginia!

– Annelle Doxey, Virginia State President

UtahWhat a wonderful Holiday season! 2012 means another new year in AMI. We are busy with our search for our 2012 Mother and Young Mother. We have several candidates and have our Se-lection Luncheon in place for Feb. 4th at the Eldridge Manor in Ogden, Utah. Sally Olsen and Emi Edgley have represented our state this past year and have had many opportunities to speak and serve. We love and appreciate all that they have done for our Utah mothers. We have planned a visit to Capitol Hill in February after we select our 2012 mothers. We will also attend a High Tea at the Governor’s Mansion hosted by our Gover-nor’s wife, First Lady Jeanette Herbert, where our new 2012 Mothers and Mothers of Achievement will be honored.

Dixie Clifford, Dixie Conger and Emi Edgley have organized our 5th grade essay contest this year and are working with various schools in our state.

We have planned our State Convention for early spring before our National Convention. As presi-dent, I am grateful for a wonderful State Board and appreciate all they do to serve the mothers of Utah.

– Jenneice Beckstrand, Utah State President

| state updates

From the States

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American Mothers is always seeking ways to honor and encourage all mothers for their com-munity service, talents and skills by offering op-portunities for recognition through participation in American Mothers, Inc. events and activities. With our Mother of Achievement Award, we seek to honor women by promoting, coordinat-ing and recognizing them in the many areas of their influence with appropriate acknowledge-ment, appreciation and ceremony at local, state and national levels.

The Mother of Achievement recognition is given to a woman in the community that American Mothers would like to honor for her community service, talents and skills.

NominationsTo submit a nomination for the Mother of Achievement Award, please send the following items to [email protected] by February 20, 2012:

•The nomination form

•A resume

•Biography of no more than 150 words written in third person

•A personal statement of achievement (up to 3 pages of text, New Times Roman font size 12)

•2 letters of reference

A printable copy of the nomination form can be found on the American Mothers website under the “Honor” section.

Mother of Achievement

Save the Date!The American Mothers Annual Convention will take place May 3- 6, 2012, at The Mayflower Renaissance Hotel in Washington, D.C.


health |

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This is not the advice you expect to hear from your doctor, but according to a new study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC), eating about two chocolate bars a week lowers your risk of having a stroke by 20 percent.

“Even consuming a relatively small amount of chocolate had quite a large impact on stroke risk,” says Susanna Larsson, PhD, of the National Institute of Environmental Medicine in Stock-holm, Sweden, and lead investigator of the research. “But women reporting the highest amount of chocolate consump-tion - equivalent to about two chocolate bars a week - had a significantly reduced risk of stroke, suggesting that higher intakes are necessary for a potentially protective effect.”

Although previous studies have shown a link between chocolate consumption and stroke, authors say this is the first to as-sess the potential cardiovascular benefits of chocolate across different stroke types, according to the American College of Cardiology.

The benefit of the chocolate is in the flavonoids, which is said to have antioxi-dant properties. Antioxidants protect the body from free radicals and can suppress oxidation of low-density lipoprotein or “bad” cholesterol.

“Flavonoid-rich dark chocolate, made from the bean that is found in the fruit pod of the cacao tree appears to have significant cardiovascular health benefits. Evidence linking consumption of choco-late to improved cardiovascular health first emerged from studies of the Kuna people, natives of the San Blas islands off the coast of Panama. Flavonoids in chocolate increase blood levels of nitric oxide, a compound that helps relax the

smooth muscle in blood vessel walls, which improves blood flow,”explains Dr. John Harold, vice president of the Ameri-can College of Cardiology.

According to the Chocolate Council of the National Confectioners Association, Americans looking to gain the benefits from chocolate are upping sales of dark chocolate. Sales of dark chocolate prod-ucts have increased by 20 percent over the last few years, confirms the NCA.

“For solid chocolate bars it is becoming more common to see a percent of cacao labels on the front of the packaging,” says Susan Whiteside, vice president of communications for the National Con-fectioners Association. “Consumers have been reading the possible health effects of dark chocolate so they have been seek-ing it out.”

Whiteside added that dark chocolate, in addition to the health benefits, is increas-ingly popular among older Americans due to its stronger taste. Also, she men-tioned that chocolate manufacturers are offering dark chocolate versions of tradi-tional products and vendors are latching on to the popularity of dark chocolate giving it prominent shelf space.

To be considered a dark chocolate product, also known as bitter sweet or semi-sweet chocolate, the product must contain at least 35 percent chocolate liquor. Chocolate liquor is made when the center of the cocoa bean, including the cocoa and the cocoa butter, is ground into liquid.

Bitter chocolate traditionally contains 50 percent chocolate liquor. Baking chocolate contains 100 percent choco-late liquor, but it is not considered an

eating chocolate. Darker eating choco-lates have 60 to 70 percent chocolate liquor.

Dark chocolates have significant anti-oxidant properties that can be measured through the ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) score. According to Dr. Harold, milk chocolate products typically have less antioxidant properties and have lower ORAC scores. The more sugar and milk added to the choco-late bar to improve tastes reduces the flavonoid concentration and antioxidant properties.

So, eating a dark chocolate bar twice a week may help avoid stroke, but it might not be the best for your diet.

“Antioxidant benefits of a bar of choco-late can be achieved with fewer calories by drinking green tea which has a high flavonoid content. The antioxidants in teas can help block the oxidation of LDL cholesterol and increase HDL choles-terol. Observational research suggests that drinking at least three cups of green or black tea a day can significantly reduce the risk of stroke,” explains Dr. Harold. “The Kuna natives drank unprocessed, unsweetened cocoa, but most chocolate products on stores shelves in the United States are loaded with calories, fats and sugar. Flavonoid-laden or not, chocolate is in no way a diet food and has to be taken in moderation.”

Chocolate’s New BenefitBy Krista BrickEat two chocolate bars

and call me in the morning…

Published by American Mothers, Inc.®


| health

Picky eaters make mealtime tough. Throw in an attempt to follow the organic movement and get ready for a fight.

But, is the benefit worth the battle? The answer depends on whom you ask.

The U.S. Organic Standards and Certification do not address food quality. The Standards provide a methodology of production and han-dling. In fact, the Organic Food Production Act has only been around since 1990. That’s when the U.S. Department of Agriculture developed national standards for organically produced agricultural products to assure consumers that products labeled “organic” were in fact pro-duced that way.

Who Gets to Call Themselves Organic?The National Organic Program regulates the production and handling of crop production, wild crop harvesting, organic livestock manage-ment and agricultural products.

To get an organic label, crops must be grown without using conventional pesticides, petro-leum-based fertilizers or sewage sludge-based fertilizers. Animals raised on an organic opera-tion must be fed organic feed and given access to outdoors. Also, they are not given any antibi-otics or growth hormones.

“As for the USDA’s role in regulating the organic industry, we specifically create and en-force the federal organic standards and oversee the certification process, a necessary require-ment for companies to market their products as organic,” explains Soo Kim, spokesperson for the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service. “Specific to milk, then, the difference between organic and conventional product begins with the livestock all the way to the point at which

the milk is packaged (“USDA organic” means organic from farm to table). Thus, by seeing the USDA organic label on milk, a consumer is able to discern that livestock, raised in living condi-tions that accommodated its natural behaviors and without being administered hormones or antibiotics, grazed on pasture grown on healthy soil and was fed 100% organic feed.”

According to Kim, the standards for crops are also rigorous, requiring that the harvested land cannot have contact with toxic and persistent pesticides or petroleum-based, synthetic fertil-izers. Instead, land is managed using physical, mechanical and biological means.

“Processed organic foods do not contain artifi-cial preservatives or colors or flavors. Organic foods as a whole are produced without the use of genetic engineering, radiation, or sewage sludge and cannot be introduced to any sub-stances that are not approved in federal regula-tion,” says Kim.

Read Between the Label LinesNot all products calling themselves “organic” are the same.

Products labeled as “100 percent organic” must contain only organically produced ingre-dients while products with a label of “organic” must consist of at least 95 percent organically produced ingredients. Only products with those qualifications can display the USDA Organic seal.

Processed products that contain at least 70 percent organic ingredients can use the phrase “made with organic ingredients” and list up to three of the organic ingredients or food groups on the principal display panel. Pro-cessed products that contain less than 70 per-

EatingOrganic

By Krista Brick


health |

cent organic ingredients cannot use the term “organic” other than to identify the specific ingredients that are organically produced in the ingredients statement.

Buying into OrganicWhat was once only found in specialty stores, organic products are garnering prime real estate on mainstream grocery shelves.

According to the most recent USDA Economic Research Service publication, retail sales of or-ganic foods totaled $21.1 billion in 2008. That’s up from $3.6 billion in 1997.

The increase is due in part to a marketing effort by retailers who are now also carrying their own private line of organic products.

According to the report, produce is the top or-ganic seller although dairy products, beverages, packaged and prepared foods and breads and grains are all making a push.

“Generally speaking, families enter the organic market by purchasing organic fresh fruits and vegetables. This means that the fruits and vegetables they purchase have been produced without the use of toxic and persistent pesti-cides. They also tend to select organic dairy products such as organic milk due to practices used—and avoided—in organic milk produc-tion,” explains Barbara Haumann, senior writer for the Organic Trade Association.

According to the Organic Trade Association’s (OTA’s) U.S. Families’ Attitudes & Beliefs 2011 Tracking Study produced in partnership with KIWI Magazine, more families than ever before are choosing organic foods, with 78 per-cent of U.S. families reporting they purchase at least some organic products. According to the study, four in ten families indicate they are buying more organic products than they were a year ago.

Nearly half – 48 percent – of parents surveyed revealed that their strongest motivator for buy-ing organic is their belief that organic products “are healthier for me and my children”. Other motivators for purchasing organic included con-cern over the effects of pesticides, hormones

and antibiotics on children and the desire to avoid highly processed or artificial ingredients.

Affording OrganicAt a time when family funds are limited, buying certified organic products might mean added costs.

“The main benefit would be for fami-lies who cannot afford to purchase all organically produced foods is to buy a variety of foods to meet all of their dietary needs, rather than not buying any organic products at all,” says Haumann.

But, there are options to save some costs.

• If you have a green thumb, try your hand at your own garden and follow organic growing practices.

•Most supermarkets and groceries of-fer their own organic products, and many are priced comparably to their conventional counterparts.

•Become a member of a community-supported agriculture. CSAs allow consumers to buy directly from farmers for in-season products.

•Get the most out of your organic buck by buying organic versions of the products you use the most.

For more information… on organic products, check out the following sites:

www.organicitsworthit.org (Organic. It’s Worth It)

www.usda.gov (U.S. Department of Agriculture)

www.ota.com (Organic Trade Association)


| member profile

Renee Dunifon’s commitment to American Moth-ers, Inc. began in 2003 when she was introduced to the organization through a close friend. “Her grandmother was the IN MOY, and she invited me to go to some meetings with her,” she re-calls. “I attended a few meetings and had such a great feeling of love and worth whenever I was around these amazing women.” Just three years later, Renee was nominated to be Indiana’s 2006 Young Mother of the Year. “I was flattered but felt unworthy of such an award,” she describes. “I didn’t really like all of the attention because I just felt like an ordinary mom, but I felt that I was selected for a reason, and even if I did not know what that was at the moment, I was willing to find out what this was all about.”

During her time as State Young Mother of the Year, Renee aimed to show other women that motherhood was not about perfection. “We have all heard people say ‘Well, I won’t be named mother of the year any time soon!’ While I really dislike being in the spotlight, I would sometimes chime in that there actually is a ‘Mother of the Year’ award, and those mothers who are selected are not perfect, nor do they pretend to be,” she says. “We are all flawed in some way. We all try our best, but sometimes we fall short. The fact that we keep trying, despite our flaws and short-comings, is what makes us ‘Mother of the Year’.”

Though she has completed her term as Indiana’s 2006 Young Mother of the Year, Renee’s service to AMI has continued. Currently, she is the Vice President of the Indiana Chapter, where she stays connected to moms in her area by using social media. “I reach out to mothers using Facebook. I believe using social media is a great way to keep an open dialog among both young and mature mothers,” Renee explains.

On the national level, Renee is the National Literacy - 5th Grade Essay Chairperson, an initia-tive about which she is very passionate. “I love the way that AMI honors mothers from all over the country and Puerto Rico, every year by having 5th graders write essays about their mothers,” she says. “Technically this is a contest with a national

AMI Member Profile:

Renee Dunifon

“AMI has been such a wonderful support group for me, in all of my struggles and triumphs in motherhood.”


member profile |

winner, but I believe that every mother is the win-ner because they get an insight into their child’s mind about their feelings toward their mom. I feel that often mothers are not appreciated in today’s society, and often, mothers are overly criti-cal of themselves. I know I am. Seeing ourselves through our children’s eyes can be so reaffirm-ing. We don’t always get that recognition in our day-to-day lives, so the 5th Grade Essay is a way to promote motherhood through the mouths of the children. The topic “What My Mother Means to Me” makes it so personal and individual for the kids. It is amazing to see how kids understand their moms. They watch us so closely and mimic our actions, which is also a gentle reminder to us to be good role models for our kids.”

The role of family is the most important in Renee’s life, and her family consists of her three children - Isaac (11), Ellie (9), Abbie (7) - and her Labradoodle, Wrigley. They spend a lot of time on the lake during the summer and with other family members on a near weekly basis. “Being a single mom, I am very lucky to have my entire family close by, and we get together almost every week-end,” Renee says. “I have so many fond memories from my childhood of being close to my grandpar-ents and cousins, and I want my children to have the same opportunity.”

Renee’s memorable moments as a mom occur frequently. “Anytime anyone tells me how well be-haved my children are, I get a tear in my eye,” she describes. “Once, the principal at school stopped me in the hall to tell me how much she loved hav-ing my kids in the school, and that they are always very polite and courteous, good students, and are great friends to others. Now, if they could only behave this way when they are at home, I would have fewer headaches! At least they behave well in public.”

As a mom of three, Renee has learned a number of things from her motherhood journey. “First and foremost, do not judge others’ parenting skills! We are all different, and while something may work well for one person, that may not work well for others. As a young mom, I think I judged oth-

The Barbara Thompson Gift The Barbara Thompson Gift of $1,000 is given annually to sup-port a needful and deserving mother, child, or worthy cause as determined by a special committee that will include the Presi-dent, Executive Director and the Awards Chairman. Barbara Thompson’s husband, U.S. District Judge Ralph G. Thompson will review the recommendations of the committee for the final decision.

Thompson funds this award in honor of his wife, the 1995 Na-tional Mother of the Year®, for her generosity and loving concern for the mothers and children of this country and for her commit-ment to strengthen the moral and spiritual foundations of the family and home.

Nominations are submitted by the State Associations. Frequently, a State Mother of the Year has been honored for her service with an organization and the Barbara Thompson Gift has been awarded to the organization in which she is involved.

ers, and myself too critically. Over time, I grew to under-stand that every day brings a new challenge,” she explains. “Second, each child is different. Some behave well with little reprimanding, but some require much more! Some are funny, and some are a little more stoic! Some really try your patience, while others don’t do so as much! Also, on any given day, they may completely change! Finally, remember that you never have it all figured out!”

Renee has a firm belief in growing American Mothers, Inc. and thinks that other moms should get involved. “AMI has been such a wonderful support group for me, in all of my struggles and triumphs in motherhood,” she describes. The lovely ladies of AMI understand that while we are different and come from diverse backgrounds, we all share a common bond of motherhood. I have met so many beautiful and amazing women from across the country. I truly believe that “Strong Moms Strengthen Families”, and I want to be the strongest mom that I can possibly be!”


| member profile

With an active role in the South Carolina Chap-ter of American Mothers, Inc., Anne Flynne aims to spread the mission of American Mothers to the women throughout her state. We’ve asked her to share her work with American Mothers and her thoughts on motherhood.

1. What is your involvement in American Mothers? I currently serve as Chairperson of the South Carolina Mother of the Year Search Commit-tee. The purpose of this committee is to select and honor the South Carolina Mother of the Year. The Search Committee in South Carolina handles the publicity for the MOY nominations, receives all the applications and makes the selec-tion. This Committee also coordinates a presen-tation with the Governor of South Carolina that honors the Mother of the Year and hosts a Tea at the Governor’s mansion with the First Lady (for approximately 200 invited guests).

2. How long have you been a part of the organization?I joined the organization in November 2008.

3. What has been your favorite moment during your time as an AMI member? It has to be making the New Year’s Day call on Jan 1st, 2011 to Marianna Black Habisreutinger to tell her that she had been selected as the 2011 SC MOY. I have known Marianna and her family most of my life, and I was just thrilled that some-one I have great respect and admiration for from Spartanburg, SC (my hometown) was selected. She is an outstanding lady and has impacted the lives of her children as well as so many other people throughout the South Carolina. To make that call to a lifelong mentor and friend was truly my most memorable moment.

4. Why do you believe others should get involved in this organization?I was aware of the South Carolina Mother of the Year Search Committee because my mother had served on this committee for about 10 years in the 1980’s. The reason I became involved was the opportunity to work with the exceptional la-dies who served on the Search Committee. Their commitment to the role of mothers in the lives of their children, families and communities was something that mattered to me. The many con-tributions made by the ladies who make up this committee statewide, along with their friendship, experience and wisdom have been a gift.

Recognizing the important role of mothers seemed to be something I had valued all my life. Jackie Kennedy once said, “If you bungle raising your children nothing else much matters. “ I was honored to be a part of a committee that selected and honored an outstanding and deserving South Carolina Mother. In our state we have a 69-year

AMI Member Profile:

Anne Flynne


member profile |

history of selecting remarkable mothers. In 2012 we will select the 70th recipient of this honor in South Carolina.

5. Tell me about your family.I have been the wife and partner to my husband Larry Flynn for 32 years. We live in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and are the parents of Lawrence, Tatum and Anne Porcher. Lawrence is a bond at-torney in Columbia, SC, and is married to Rachel English from Huntsville, Alabama. Our second son Tatum (a commercial real estate broker) met his wife, Margaret Colmore while they were in college at Sewanee (University of the South), and they reside in Nashville, TN. Our daughter, Anne Porcher, who graduated from Sewanne and received her nursing degree from Belmont University, is an ICU Trauma Nurse and works at Earlanger Hospital in Chattanooga, TN.

I would be remiss not to mention our grand-dogs, Duke, Jonsey and Otey!

The magic moments for our family are cooking together in the kitchen, hanging out at the lake, kayaking, swimming with the dogs, floating in

inner tubes on the lake, eating dinner on the porch, getting together, laughing a lot ( we have a family comedian) and watching South Carolina football games!

6. What has been your most rewarding moment as a mom? The most difficult day in my life also became my most rewarding moment as a mother. Six years ago my daughter was in a serious accident. Her condition was critical, and we did not know for some time if she was going to survive. The way my family came together, their faith, and their support was the gift of a lifetime. This support was extensive. It also came from extended family, my family of friends, their children, teachers, our church and even strangers. What more could you ask for as a mother?

What lessons have you learned from motherhood?I have learned many things from being a mom so here goes…

• WRINKLES AND GRAY HAIR come from teenage children. GRACE comes from God.

• I realized I have an amazing mother who taught me more by her actions than her words. She was my role model as a mom and still is today.

• Humor solves a lot of arguments.

• Expect the unexpected and you will be fine.

• Never ever give in once you have laid down the law.

• Just like roses, children have thorns. They are beautiful, but at times they can prick the skin and make you bleed. Yet, they are worth the effort!

• Sometimes you have to let your chil-dren fall down so they know how to get up!

• You need to say NO a lot and mean it.

• Marry the oldest son of 8 children because they can cook, change dia-pers, do laundry, have a great disposi-tion, rarely complain and are terrific fathers!

• Fairness isn’t every child receiving the same thing. It is every child receiving what they need.

• As I have gotten older, I realize how brilliant my parents are!

• Say I’m sorry when you are wrong and I love you even if you are furious. You may not get a second chance.


| member profile

The American Mother Magazine16

As Oklahoma State President and Oklahoma’s 2009 YMOY, Shelly Soliz takes pride in her roles in American Mothers, Inc. and strives to promote the organization at every opportunity, and since we at American Mothers enjoy sharing stories from moms across the country, we decided to take this opportunity to spotlight Shelly and her efforts in a question-and-answer format.

1. What are your roles in American Mothers, Inc.?I have held positions in our local chapter as Secretary, and I am now serving as President for a two-year term, which ends in May of 2013. I have also served on the Selection Committee.

2. How long have you been a part of the organization?I have been involved with American Mothers, Inc. since 2008 when I was invited to a meeting of the local chapter.

3. What has been your favorite moment during your time with AMI?My favorite moment has been helping on the Selection Committee, talking with the nominees and hearing the tremendous stories of mothers and their love for their families!

4. What was your favorite part of serving as Oklahoma’s 2009 YMOY?It would have to be attending the National Con-vention in Portland, Oregon, and meeting the other YMOYs from 2009! Also, I have enjoyed getting to know the Oklahoma Mothers and de-veloping friendships that will last a lifetime!

5. What drew you to serve on Oklahoma’s AMI Chapter Board?I have a passion for volunteerism and have been fortunate enough to have had wonderful training

as a volunteer! Sharing this experience with oth-ers is something I love to do. My mother always told me to leave a place better than I found it, and hopefully AMI-OK will feel that way when I am finished with my term of service!

6. Why do you believe others should get involved in AMI?Supporting the profession of motherhood is something we should all embrace and lift up to others! I think mothers do a tremendous amount of work, one of the most important jobs around, and they are not always given credit for the contributions that they make for the betterment of society!

7. Tell me about your family.My family is composed of my husband Gilbert, to whom I have been married 30 years this Septem-ber (2012), and our twin sons, Victor and Dalton, who are 19 years old.

8. What has been your most rewarding moment as a mom?My most recent rewarding moment has been hav-ing both of my sons finish their first semester of college. I love watching these two young men as they grow and turn into the men they are meant to be. I am very proud of who they are becoming. Knowing that I have been a part of that is the MOST rewarding part of being a mom for me!

9. What lessons have you learned from motherhood?The biggest lesson I think most of us have learned as a mom is that we ALWAYS have to put someone else ahead of our own needs and wants. Truthfully, I think this is one of the best gifts of motherhood! It allows you the ability to see others before yourself, which in itself is a terrific gift! Now that my sons are more independent, I am working to do some things for myself again, not an easy transition, but one I know I will learn (and learn from) again!

AMI Member Profile:

Shelly Soliz

perspective |

One of the most valuable things a daughter receives from her mother is guidance. My mother has given me some of the best advice; some I’ve lis-tened to, and some I’ve chosen to disre-gard and learn my own lesson. I usually (quickly) realize that mom was right. Of all the guidance my mom has given me over the years, I never thought that one little piece of advice would change my life in a tremendous way.

Graduating from high school and mov-ing on to college is a milestone in a young lady’s life. I went from a small graduating class of 85 students to a “small” university of about 4,000 un-dergraduate students. For the average student, my university is small, but to me it was very large and overwhelm-ing. Not only did I have to find my way around campus and a new town, I also had to decide what I wanted to study for the next four years and turn into a career for the rest of my life. At 18 years old, I had no idea how I was going to make that kind of decision.

I started my first year as a communica-tions major with a minor in journalism. I really enjoyed this major and for the most part, the classes were relatively easy for me. Somewhere between my first and second semester, I decided that I wanted to become a teacher. I thought that since I really like children and my mom is a teacher that I could

succeed with this career path. My first set of education classes went really well, and I excelled in every class, but as my sophomore year began to end, I realized something was still missing.

During a visit home to see my parents, I discussed my dilemma with my mom. This is my typical solution to the major-ity of my troubles. We talked about how much I have always enjoyed writing. She thought maybe being an education major was keeping me from writing as often and freely as I wished. Although my mom is a teacher, one of the best in my opinion, she tried to deter me from entering the teaching field. I was really puzzled as to why she would try to keep me from doing something that she had enjoyed for so many years. Little did I know, mom had something up her sleeve. She started talking about all the awards and honors I had received in high school because of my writing. Slowly, she began making her point.

My mom has always told me that she wanted better things for me in my life than she has had in hers. Not that her life has been terrible, but she has always told me she wants me to achieve more. For her, the teaching profession has been forever changing, partially because we moved around a lot as I was growing up. She has had a generous income and benefits but has also expe-rienced the opposite. Since a teacher’s

salary is different everywhere, it is not as stable as other professions.

Mom told me that I was supposed to write. No matter what I decided to do, it needed to deal with writing in some form. Of course, I could still be a teacher, but she said she wanted more for me. She encouraged me to go back to my first major of communications since I enjoyed it so much and could better use my writing abilities. I soon made yet another change in major and went back to where I began.

Since changing back, I have achieved more than I thought possible as a col-lege student. I excelled at writing for my university’s student-led newspaper and obtained an internship at a local public relations firm, which allowed me to be published in a national journal while still a junior in college. I am now in my senior year and have a part-time job as a communications assistant at the same public relations firm where I completed my internship. I have one semester left of school, and in the upcoming semester I have several plans for various writing opportunities.

None of this success would have been possible had my mom not given me the best advice she could. Had she not told me to change my major again, I would

A Mother’s Guidance

continued on pg. 21

By Hanna Weaver


18

| feature

Violence against women is a complex global cri-sis that encompasses multiple structural issues and crosses all social, cultural, economic, reli-gious and political boundaries. Gender-based violence is manifested in various ways around the world. Women are marginalized by a lack of social power and limited access to basic re-sources including legal protection, health care and maternal education. Perpetrators of such violence include partners, family members, community members and authorities. Statistics

demonstrate that one in three women will experience gender-based violence during

their lifetimes.1

Violence against women is often exacerbated during pregnancy resulting in extreme consequences for both the mother and the fetus. As Kim Gandy, president of the National Organization for Women explains, “Violence in intimate relationships is all about power. There are fewer times when you can have power over a woman than when she’s pregnant. She’s

vulnerable. It’s an easier time to threaten her.” There is a greater in-

cidence of maternal homicide during pregnancy and this threat of death extends to the fetus as well.2

Although estimates claim that gender-based violence against pregnant women occurs at a rate of 1 in 20 women globally, this particular form of violence is grossly under-reported and requires greater attention. While pregnant women are routinely screened for various conditions, the experience of violence is a much more com-mon occurrence that is not

properly evaluated. Rena Blumberg explains, “The most dangerous time for a woman is when she is pregnant.”3

American Mothers, Inc. and Reducing Violence Against Pregnant WomenAmerican Mothers, Inc. is a 75 year-old, in-terfaith non-governmental organization, that is dedicated to recognizing the crucial role of motherhood through education and outreach. There is nothing that is more important than protecting and promoting the well-being of women as they bring new life into the world. October 2011 marked the birth of the seven billionth baby, and it is time the world protects and defends women in child bearing. Through its mission, American Mothers is focused on working towards ending violence against moth-ers. Recognizing the severity of violence against pregnant women and the lack of current servic-es available for those suffering such brutalities, American Mothers is committed to creating an initiative to address this global crisis.

Faith Based Communities as Agents of ChangeAs an interfaith organization, American Moth-ers recognizes the important role faith-based organizations and spirituality play in the lives of women and families overall. Religious leaders and communities have incredible influence and the potential to act as powerful agents of education, advocacy and change. According to the United Nations Population Fund,

“Faith and religion play a vital role in the lives and cultures of most people throughout the world. Indeed, about 70 percent of people identify themselves as members of a religious

Violence Against

Pregnant Women:Intervention and Education through

The American Mother Magazine


feature |

or spiritual community. Religious values and practices…play a powerful role in shaping attitudes, opinions and behavior.”4

Thus, in order to effectively address this threat against pregnant women, this proposal calls for intervention via an education and advocacy campaign centered within faith-based communities.

Religious leaders and communities are posi-tioned to create change by educating them-selves and others about the devastating effects of violence against pregnant women. Religious principles and teachings of the world’s major faith traditions affirm religion as promoting the full dignity of every human being. Faith com-munities can be used to highlight the prob-lematic nature of violence against pregnant women and the damage that results for women, children and family.

Based on the “Restoring Dignity” toolkit pro-duced by Religions for Peace,5 this proposal rec-ommends a multi-action plan centered within the religious community. This strategy includes education, prevention, advocacy, and support components and incorporates inter-religious elements and participation from women and men. American Mothers proposes launching this education and advocacy campaign by pro-viding a comprehensive training within a cen-tralized location for religious leaders in North America with the purpose of preparing teachers and clergy to implement the Restoring Dignity toolkit to end violence against pregnant women. Initial locations chosen will be rural locations where women’s access to services, as well as the community in general, is limited.

The action items to be implemented by reli-gious communities are as follows:

Education and Awareness•Inter-Religious Educational Programs

� Train religious leaders, including teachers and clergy, on the global crisis of gender-based violence.

� Increasing public knowledge and promoting an ethical code of living that encourages respect and dignity for women and girls.

•Religious and Spiritual Educational Events � Organize meetings aimed at educating

the community on the issues involved in gender-based violence.

� Incorporate messages about gender-based violence into services and rituals on a regular basis

•Healing and Leadership Building � Skill building workshops that train

survivors to become community leaders and teachers.

•Develop and Disseminate Awareness Materials

� Mobilize resources to address the global issue of gender-based violence against preg-nant women and its effects on women and families including brochures, fact sheets, posters, etc.

Prevention•Include Both Women and Men in

Prevention Efforts

•Inter-religious Dialogue and Multi-faith Collaboration

� Implement collaboration between multi-faith communities.

� Demonstrate the universal faith-based principles that support the full human dignity of every person.

Pregnant Women:Faith-Based Leadership in Rural Communities

Faith and religion

play a vital role in the

lives and cultures of

most people through-

out the world. Indeed,

about 70 percent of

people identify them-

selves as members of

a religious or spiritual

community. Religious

values and practices…

play a powerful role in

shaping attitudes,

opinions and

behavior.

“

“


| feature

•Integrate Gender-Based Violence into Re-ligious Gatherings

� Incorporate information and education about violence against women/pregnant women into religious gatherings and services on a regular basis.

•Discuss Gender-Based Violence with Youth � Offer education and intervention

initiatives focused on youth that creates the potential for future generations to become agents of change.

Advocacy•Reclaim Religion as an Agent for Peace

� Promote scriptures, doctrines, and practices that respect the sanctity of life and the support full human dignity of every person.

� Condemn all religious and non-religious practices that support gender-based violence.

•Organize Community Efforts � Break the silence about violence and

dangers faced by pregnant women through collaboration between religious leaders and community organizations.

•Connect with Community and Government Leaders

� Unite with community and government leaders to explore how religious leaders can effectively address community needs and work towards reducing violence against women.

Support and Care•Give Attention to Survivors’ Stories

� Offer a safe environment where women and families who have experienced gender-based violence can speak without fear.

•Develop Support Groups � Facilitate group reflections about

violence against women to lessen feelings of isolation, to empower, and create larger support networks.

•Unite with Health Care Organizations � Assist survivors in obtaining quality

health care that addresses both physical and emotional effects of violence.

� Work with health care organizations to create a screening process to identify and interrupt violence against pregnant women.

•Offer Support Services to Individuals Impacted by Gender-Based Violence

� Provide counseling to women, children, and families who have been impacted by gender-based violence.

� Create outlets for individual to distin-guish between healthy and abusive relation-ships.

ConclusionViolence against pregnant women is not simply a woman’s issue but a community issue because of its wide-reaching effects. Women and men must be involved in working towards disman-tling power structures and ending violence against pregnant women. Developing an educa-tion and advocacy campaign within the faith setting offers great opportunity to impact the overall issue and create change.

American Mothers, Inc. is committed to work-ing toward eradicating violence against moth-ers. This proposal seeks to pursue this goal through the multi-action plan supported by Religions for Peace. By training religious leaders to bring together resources within rural com-munities, a cultural transformation through spiritual healing can begin.

Violence Against

Pregnant Women: (continued)

References1. Karen J. Carlson, et. al. The New Harvard Guide to Women’s Health. (Cam-bridge: Harvard University Press, 2004); Joan Zorza, Violence Against Women: Victims, Abusers, Preven-tion and Protection, Legal, Medical, and Research Developments. (Kingston, NJ: Civic Research Institute, 2004).

2. Linda Bellig. “Domestic Violence and Pregnancy,” International Journal of Childbirth Education 21 (2) (June 2006): 18-20.

3. Rena Blumberg. “Do-mestic Violence in Preg-nancy.” Special Delivery. 27 (3) (Fall 2004): 10.

4. United Nations Population Fund. “Building Bridges Among Faith-Based Organizations and Practitioners,” retrieved from http://www.unfpa.org/culture/fbo.html.

5. See “Restoring Dignity: A toolkit for Religious Com-munities to End Violence Against Women,” Religions for Peace, retrieved from http://religionsforpeace.org/resources/toolkits/restoring-dignity-a-toolkit.html.

Commission on the Status of Women: Fifty-sixth session :: 27 February - 9 March 2012

Follow-up to the Fourth World Conference on Women and to the special session of the General Assembly entitled “Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century”: Implementation of strategic objectives and action in critical areas of concern, and further actions and initiatives.


not have achieved as much as I have after making the switch. My mom has always been my best support system and the best giver of guidance. Her willingness to help me as much as she possibly can and support me in all of my endeavors has helped to shape not only the person I am today, but the person I wish to become. Although she may not realize what an impact her “little bit of advice” had on my life, I give her full credit for swaying my decision.

It is so important for mothers to guide their children, no matter how old they may be. Even when they may not seem to be listening or taking the advice seriously, at some point the “Oh wait, Mom told me this that one time,” mo-ment will happen. Being the giver of advice also helps to create a stronger bond between mother and child. If my mom never gave me all the advice she could think to give, we may not have the same relationship that we do today. Sometimes, children don’t want to listen because it means they are wrong and mom is right, and let’s face it, we don’t like to be wrong, but don’t let their “in one ear and out the other” mentality bring you down or keep you from giving more guidance in the future. There were many times that I chose not to listen to my mom’s advice, and I either regretted it or learned a lesson later. Keep giving; eventually your advice will impact your children as much as my mom’s did for me.

A Mother’s Guidance (continued)

Submitted by:Dianne D. Callister 2010 National Mother of the Year UN Representative American Mothers, Inc.

Lynn Clark Callister, RN, PhD, FAAN Professor Emerita, Brigham Young University College of Nursing

Gina Messina-Dysert, Ph.D. Visiting Assistant Professor Department of Theological Studies Loyola Marymount University Claremont Graduate University

Peace Building and Motherhood:American Mothers is pleased to announce that we have been selected to host a parallel panel at the upcoming 56th Conference on the Status of Women at the United Nations. Our theme is:

“Peace Building and Motherhood: Art, Culture, and Faith — Promoting Peace in Rural Families,”

Admission is free and open to all who would like to attend!

Location: Church Center for the United Nations, 10th Floor 777 United Nations Plaza (corner of 44th St. and First Avenue) New York, NY

Date: Friday, March 2, 2012

Time: 2:30 – 4:00pm

Sponsored by: American Mothers, Inc

In partnership with: World Movement of Mothers, The Mother’s Legacy Project & Worldwide Organization of Women


| relationships

Being a soon-to-graduate senior in college is an intimidating thought. Graduating from college isn’t like graduating from high school; after col-lege it’s time for the real world (unless you go to graduate school) and that typical 9 to 5 job that comes with all sorts of responsibilities. There are so many things that can be said when giving a college grad advice on the real world. Since I soon will be making the transfer from the college life to the grown-up world, I’ve been discussing what to do with my mom.

For the majority of my life questions, my mom has been my personal go-to gal. On my most recent trip home for Thanksgiving break, I had a lot of girl time with my mom. We covered all sorts of topics from rela-tionships and clothes to school and my upcoming graduation. I asked my mom what advice she had for me since I am about to start my post-grad job search; I wanted guidance on finding a good job and just the “grown-up” life in general. Here is what she had to say:

Now, for those moms out there who have college-age children that are about to embark on the next big step in their lives, I suggest you sit down and collect your own thoughts on what to tell your children because my mom’s advice is something I am going to keep with me as I venture out in the real world and face more obstacles in life. It is also something that no one can take away from me, which makes it another priceless gift that my mother has given me.

From College to the Real World: My Mom’s Words of Wisdom By Hanna Weaver

•Remember what you have learned in the past 20 years. “You have the foundation, so take it and build from it,” she said.

•Never be bitter, deceptive or petty. This is something I remember her telling me before. This time she added, “Doing that gets you nowhere fast.”

•Be responsible and on time. “I always set my clock ten minutes fast and wake up 20 minutes early. Things happen.” This was her personal fix for being on time.

•Write it down. Make a list.

•Smile.

•Remember your roots. “Always keep your head held high,” she said.

•Learn how to iron or buy wrinkle-free clothes. Your appearance counts.

•Watch your cash flow. She always likes to tell me to “save for a rainy day”.

•Stay safe.

•Take care of number one, yourself. This is her most used advice. Whenever I’m in a rut and have to make a tough decision, this is what my mom tells me, and even though it’s rather simple, usually it’s the most helpful to me.

convention |

2012 Convention

Conference

California

We have had new members and individuals out-side of our organization nominate outstanding mothers to honor in 2012. We appreciate the PR work the National Board is doing.

Our 2011 MOY of the year, Karen Veda from Santa Barbara and mother of ten, continues to inspire us with her blog, Circlemothers.blogspot.com. We hope you will take a minute to read some of her entries.

Sara Dawn Mayer, 2010 YMOY, 2011 YMOY Tina HoChing and State President Dorothy De-Vore enjoyed an evening at the home of Craig and Beverly Nelson in Upland, CA, introducing an empty nester group to the American Mothers organization. They were happy to know there is a group that honors, informs, encourages and uplifts mothers.

Our California members are very busy and committed to taking care of their own families and we appreciate the value they place on this organization and their willingness to carve out the moments to promote and serve.

— Dorothy DeVore, California State President

Sara Dawn Mayer, 2010 CA YMOY, Craig and Beverly Nel-son, CA President Dorothy DeVore, Tina HoChing, CA 2011 YMOY after evening of sharing information about American Mothers with the Nelsons’ friends.

From the States (continued)

Published by American Mothers, Inc.® 23

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Meet your national Congressional leadership, listen to nationally-known speakers on women’s issues, congratulate American Mothers’ state honorees and join us as we celebrate the 2012 Mother of the Year and Young Mother of the Year at the Annual American Mothers’ Inc. Convention in Washington, D.C. May 3-6.

The weekend extravaganza will offer members a chance to network with one another as well as discuss issues that affect all women nationwide.

In addition to naming the 2012 Mother of the Year and Young Mother of the year, the convention offers several outstanding speak-ers and panel discussions during the Mom to Mom Conference on Saturday.

Saturday’s lineup includes: Aundráy Collins, recipient of the presti-gious Commander’s Award for Public Service from the Department of the Army and creative image consultant advices how to give back to the community but keep true to yourself.

New York Times bestselling author, successful blogger and TV host on the Food Network Ree Drummond will entertain with her stories of being a woman, mom and wife.

Author and professional speaker Rick Grandinetti will provide his insights on how to grow effective relationships in your personal and professional life.

Attendees will also hear a panel discussion on violence against women with leading global and national women’s organization who will educate attendees on the crisis and initiatives to prevent it.

The weekend culminates in the American Mothers Gala. Together we will honor the 2012 Mother of the Year and Young Mother of the Year.

Convention attendees will be treated to a bus tour of D.C.’s monu-ments by night, recognize award-winning mom’s during the Mother of Achievement lunch and get a chance to meet congressional leaders on Capitol Hill.

For more information… about the 2012 American Mother’s Inc. Convention log on to the AMI website at www.americanmothers.org, call us at 1-877-242-4264 or email us at [email protected].

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Washington, DC with American Mothers!

Save the Date May 3-6, 2012

For more information, visit www.AmericanMothers.org

Documents

American Mothers Winter 2012