Project Censored releases 2012 Sourcebook

“Most journalists in the United States believe the press here is free. That grand illusion only helps obscure the fact that, by and large, the US corporate press does not report what’s really going on, while tuning out, or laughing off, all those who try to do just that. Americans—now more than ever—need those outlets that do labor to report some truth. Project Censored is not just among the bravest, smartest, and most rigorous of those outlets, but the only one that's wholly focused on those stories that the corporate press ignores, downplays and/or distorts. This latest book is therefore a must-read for anyone who cares about this country, its tottering economy, and—most important—what’s now left of its democracy.” — Mark Crispin Miller, professor of media ecology, NYU

Censored 2012: The Sourcebook for the Media Revolution, The Top Censored Stories and Media Analysis of 2010-2011 by Mickey Huff and Project Censored. In this volume, there are 500 pages of real news you can use, plus ample analysis that eradicates civil paralysis, and antidotes to our current Truth Emergency that will strengthen societal media literacy.


Former Project director Dr. Peter Phillips kicks off this year’s work with a dynamic introduction to understanding the NATO/US/military industrial media complex matrix of managed news and propaganda. Censored 2012 also once again proudly showcases the poignant and timely cartoons of Khalil Bendib. The Top 25 Censored Stories of the past year are not only announced, but this year, they are housed in Censored News Clusters that analyze the architecture of censorship in America by looking at the topical connections of the most commonly underreported stories. We go down memory lane with PC interns in Censored Déjà vu looking at past censored stories; endure the ubiquity of Junk Food News and News Abuse with professor Adam Bessie and Abby Martin of Media Roots; and highlight solutions for our many interconnected global problems with professor Kenn Burrows and the students of San Francisco State University in hopes to provide people with positive and proactive stories of change that are at the core of the media revolution. Media Democracy in Action is something Project Censored strives to achieve and we endorse and support many organizations with the same goals. This year, we proudly feature some of the best and brightest in that vein, both veterans and new comers to the scene. 


This year’s TRUTH EMERGENCY section looks at Understanding Propaganda in Theory and Practice. Censorship, framing, and spin are all tactics that act to shape the public mind in democratic cultures. Understanding these requires context. A Brief History of Propaganda is offered by Dr. Randal Marlin and provides a solid foundation for the following chapters; professor Jacob Van Vleet writes on Mass Psychological Manipulation and the theories of Jacque Ellul; Dr. Robert Abele pulls the veil off the US Propaganda Machine; The Impending Demise of Net Neutrality is explored by Dr. Elliot D. Cohen; and Dr. Anthony Dimaggio deconstructs the Tea Party and Manufactured Dissent.


The final section of this year’s book, PROJECT CENSORED INTERNATIONAL, focuses on Human Rights and the Right to Know and introduces the collaboration between Media Freedom Foundation/Project Censored and the Fair Share of the Common Heritage, explained by Mary Lia. This section includes the Media Distortion of Nonviolent Struggles by Dr. Cynthia Boaz; journalist Ann Garrison on the US in Africa; Establishing Ghetto Palestine with journalist Jon Elmer; professor Robin Andersen looks at HBO’s Treme, and the Fractured Press Coverage of Post-Katrina New Orleans; Margaret Flowers, M.D., illustrates the Corporate Control of the Message in US Health Care Reform; and renowned midwife and author Ina May Gaskin shows Censorship of the True State of Maternity Care in the US.


Here is a list of the top censored stories from chapter one this year:


Censored 2012: Stories of 2010-2011 
1. More US Soldiers Committed Suicide Than Died in Combat

2. US Military Manipulates the Social Media

3. Obama Authorizes International Assassination Campaign
4. Global Food Crisis Expands

5. Private Prison Companies Fund Anti–Immigrant Legislation

6. Google Spying?

7. U.S. Army and Psychology’s Largest Experiment–Ever

8. The Fairytale of Clean and Safe Nuclear Power

9. Government Sponsored Technologies for Weather Modification

10. Censored # 10: Real Unemployment: One Out of Five in US

11. Trafficking of Iraqi Women Rampant

12. Pacific Garbage Dump—Did You Really Think Your Plastic Was Being Recycled?

13. Will a State of Emergency Be Used to Supersede Our Constitution?

14. Family Pressure on Young Girls for Genitalia Mutilation Continues in Kenya

15. Big Polluters Freed from Environmental Oversight

16. Sweatshops in China Are Making Your iPods While Workers Suffer

17. Superbug Bacteria Spreading Worldwide

18. Monsanto Tries to Benefit from Haiti’s Earthquake

19. Oxfam Exposes How Aid Is Used for Political Purposes

20. US Agencies Trying to Outlaw GMO Food Labelling

21. Lyme Disease: An Emerging Epidemic

22. Participatory Budgeting – A Method to Empower Local Citizens & Communities

23. Worldwide Movement To Ban or Charge Fees For Plastic Bags

24. South Dakota Takes Extreme Measures to Be the Top Anti–Abortion State
25. Extension of DU to Libya

To preview the top censored stories online see
http://www.projectcensored.org/top-stories/articles/category/top-stories/
Additionally, here are some recent videos about our work taken by Media Freedom Foundation board member Abby Martin of MediaRoots.org. Project Censored celebrates its 35 years at Moe's Books in Berkeley, CA: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yge4kJaNfR0&feature=relmfu


Exclusive interview with Ralph Nader about Project Censored and current events: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMobQqiYKI4&feature=channel_video_title


Censored 2012 is one of our greatest collaborative efforts consisting of 105 professors, hundreds of students, community members, and people from all around the world. We aim to expose media censorship and provide ways to be catalysts of the media revolution we need to restore the commons of human knowledge and education, establish and protect the right of the public to know what is going on in society, and work to maintain our democratic institutions– our culture of liberty. We hope you join us in these vital endeavors in critical times.


Thank you for your support.
Mickey Huff Director,
Project Censored/Media Freedom Foundation Associate Professor of History,
Diablo Valley College


Help celebrate the 35th year of the oldest media research organization in the US by donating $35 for a signed copy of Censored 2012, or simply pick up a copy for yourself, friends, or a local library or school for only $19.95 each ($22.95 w/shipping).

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Chester Aaaron on Over-Radiation of African Americans

Over-Radiation of African Americans

A Conversation with Chester Aaron

By Raynetta James
Chester Aaron, now 87 years old, has published 25 books: fiction and non-fiction, adult and young adult. He has won a variety of awards, including NEA and Primo Levy grants. His books have been translated into Dutch, French and German. He is a WWII veteran and a professor emeritus of Saint Mary's College. His new novel, About Them, is due late this year, and a new collection of ten short stories, Saved for My Pallbearers, is due early next year.

I have been getting creative writing tips from Chester for almost 2 years in a class started by Lolly Mesches to raise funds for the Occidental Center for the Arts. It was hosted at the home of the late Doris Murphy, a long-time labor and justice advocate and a founder of the center. During the year or so that Doris was well enough for us to meet at her house, Chester told me a story that came to mind when the current radiation crisis in Japan began. So I asked him about it:

Q. Chester, you told me that, when x-rayed, African Americans often received more radiation than a white patient of the same age and size. They got a higher dose of radiation than a white person, only because they were African American. Is that right?
A. Yes. The amount of extra radiation varied from tech to tech, hospital to hospital, but it was happening all over the country. The amount of extra radiation ranged from a third more to a half more that a white patient of similar body mass would have received. Radiation, especially in the aggregate, is dangerous; that's why there are lead shields. So over-radiation is likely to have caused many deaths and health problems over the years.

Q. How did you discover this over-radiation?
A. By accident. In the late 60's I was Chief Technician in the x-ray Department of Alta Bates Hospital in Berkeley, California. I was concerned about the lack of standard training and practice of x-ray technicians and I believed licensure would help establish standards. At that time, New York was the only state requiring x-ray technicians to pass a state-sponsored exam to prove they were knowledgeable enough to safely dispense radiation to patients. We had been trying to get similar standards and licensure in California.


I was preparing for state committee hearings, when I learned from Pat, one of the seven x-ray technicians at Alta Bates, that she was giving extra radiation to every African American patient that she x-rayed, regardless of age, gender or the target of the radiation, whether it was bone, soft tissue, organs or the skull. She had been ordered to do so by the Radiologist who trained her. The text she used in training said that African Americans required extra radiation to provide films of acceptable diagnostic quality. Later, I found that the practice was common.

Q. When did it happen? Is it still going on?
A. After I discovered it in the late 1960's, I tried many times to get it stopped and acknowledged. It may have been stopped, in many hospitals, but it was never acknowledged. The question of after-effects on present and future African Americans should be studied and dealt with in terms of health consequences and deaths.

Q. You're saying although it was stopped, we should still be concerned?
A. I am. First, the effects of radiation are long term. Skin cancer, thyroid cancer, leukemia and reproductive harm are all possible. Second, the practice is part of the history of racial inequality in this country, part of the history of African Americans being treated as if they are "other." And the response of governmental officials and institutional leaders is part of the history of African Americans being treated as less than equal. Consider the infamous Tuskegee Syphilis Study of 1932-1972, when 400 Black men were infected with syphilis with secret government support. We don't stop being concerned about the ramifications of that experiment just because it was stopped. In both cases we should recognize that the same practices applied to white people would not be tolerated.

Q. And how did you try to stop it?
A. Over the years, I have contacted more than a hundred people who I thought should and would be concerned. I selected people I thought would do something to stop over-radiation, but I got few responses and less satisfaction. Each time I would send information to someone who should have cared, and either hear nothing or be brushed off. For instance, the last big push I gave it was in 1998, when I sent a letter to Ed Bradley. His program, 60 Minutes, was one that took risks and investigated stories in depth. I offered him a story more than 50 years deep. I told him how I had discovered that in most American Hospitals African Americans were being over-radiated, receiving more radiation than a comparable white patient, and that it had to be disclosed; it had to be stopped. The practice, I said could be more disastrous to African Americans than the results of the Tuskegee Syphilis Study.

Q. Weren't they interested?
A. I did get a response, from Catherine Kim, identified on her letter as "...a researcher for Ed Bradley." She said Mr. Bradley wanted to visit my California farm to interview me and disclose this unrecognized and horrible piece of American history. I agreed, but three days later a letter from Ms. Kim informed me that Mr. Bradley, having received information that the practice of over-radiating African Americans had stopped since I had first disclosed it some thirty years before, was canceling the pending visit and interview.

Q. That must have been disappointing, to get so close.
A. It was. I wrote back to inform them that though the practice had diminished it had not stopped. Even if it had stopped altogether, the reasons for it to have ever existed had to be disclosed and researched farther for a variety of reasons, only one of which related to our country's history. I told them that Mr. Bradley was certainly over-radiated when he was young because he was a "Negro," and that his parents had been over-radiated because they were "Negroes." Because of that generational over-radiation Mr. Bradley and his children and his children's children, may very well inherit ongoing health problems. And, I asked, what about African Americans who, unlike Mr. Bradley, do not have the benefits of high income and good health care to deal with those predictable and unpredictable consequences?

Q. What did they say to that?
A. I didn't hear a word. Sadly, 8 years later, in 2006, Mr. Bradley died of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. The risk of that disease greatly increases among people who have been exposed (or whose parents and grandparents have been exposed) to high doses of radiation. And the chances are very high that the parents of Mr. Bradley and Mr. Bradley himself, every time they were x-rayed, from childhood, received as much as twice the radiation that would have been given a white patient the same gender, age, size and muscle-mass. Think Hiroshima. Think Nagasaki. Think Chernobyl. In my letter lamenting his death, I included those details, but I never heard from Ms. Kim or anyone else at CBS.

Q. But that wasn't the first time you had tried to disclose and stop over-radiation, was it?
A. Oh no, as I said I had contacted hundreds of people over the years. When I discovered the practice in the late '60s I was in my mid-forties, barely 20 years home from WWII, where I had participated in the liberation of the concentration camp of Dachau. How could I not be sympathetic to the fate of innocent victims? So when I discovered the practice while preparing for hearings on State Licensure, I was astounded. I had received two years training at Cowell Hospital on the campus of the University of California at Berkeley. I had worked as an x-ray technician at Kaiser Hospital, San Francisco for two years and Alta Bates Hospital for three years before being appointed Chief Technician by the three Radiologists serving Alta Bates Hospital. In all that time I never once used the color of a patient's skin to determine how much radiation I should use. 


And my films had been acceptable to the Radiologists; after all they had made me Chief. I had never even heard of such a theory. But then Pat told me she had been ordered to do so by her Radiologist trainer, and her textbooks said that African Americans required extra radiation to provide films of acceptable diagnostic quality. Then I found out that most x-ray technicians had been taught the same thing, and did increase the dosage of radiation for African Americans. Their reasons varied: African Americans had darker skin, African Americans had harder bones, or African Americans' bones contained more calcium. I could find no scientific evidence proving any such reasons were legitimate.

Q. That was when you were fighting for licensure legislation. Did stopping the practice of over-radiation become part of the effort?
A. When our group working for State Licensure traveled to Sacramento to meet with the Committee on Efficiency and Economy in the State Assembly whose Chairman was Willie Brown, later San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, an African American. I was selected to act as spokesman. To illustrate the need for licensure, I noted that every x-ray technician in the state must learn the truth: that extra radiation to African American patients was not only unnecessary but hazardous. Willie Brown declared the meeting at an end. The Committee had no time, he said, to consider such discussion. Over the following years my letters of further explanation and appeal to Representative Brown received not one single reply. We failed to get licensure at that time.


I got involved in helping the East Bay technicians decide on the union by whom they wished to be represented. The ILWU (the International Longshoremen Workers Union) was selected. In that effort, I discovered through questions added to a survey of x-ray technicians that 72 of the approximately 90 technicians surveyed stated they did routinely give higher doses of radiation to African Americans. I tried to get the ILWU involved in the over-radiation battle, but our local representative and the Union officers could not have been less interested.

Q. Where did it go from there?
A. I kept gathering information about the possibly homicidal practice of over-radiating African Americans, and I heard about a physicist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (Dr. Karl Z. Morgan, Time Magazine, Sept. 8, 1967) who stressed the hazards of x-rays, inconsistent dosage and lack of training for many who gave x-rays. We exchanged letters of support for each other's work.
I heard from technicians all over the country who were as angry and helpless as I was and who gave me details of the textbooks and their Radiologists (many who "ordered" their techs to give extra radiation to African Americans.)


Senator Jennings Randolph (D. West Virginia) sent me a letter of strong support. He worked for many years to get Federal legislation to establish minimum standards for the accreditation of x-ray machine operations.


By the early to mid '70s I had a collection of letters and research documents totaling about 50 pages. By the late 90's, I had sent perhaps 50 copies to officials in the NAACP, in Health, Education, Journalism and Government, including my own senators Feinstein and Boxer and Representatives Lynne Woolsey and Ron Dellums, and to Representatives Shirley Chisholm and Maxine Waters, pleading for support. Maxine Waters sent me a card informing me that she was referring my letter to my Representative, Lynne Woolsey.


Rep. Woolsey did take the matter to the Office of the U. S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division. I received a letter from Bill Lann Lee, Acting Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Division, dated May 20, 1998, which said that the practice did not, quoting here "appear to indicate ongoing violation of CRIPA (Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act), i.e. the circumstances you have described do not involve practices to which individuals confined to or residing in public facilities (let me emphasize that phrase) presently are being subjected. Under these circumstances we have no authority to initiate an investigation under CRIPA of your allegations...."


Rep. Ron Dellums, my own representative from my own city did not reply. A few years later, when I informed him that I intended to disclose this information to the then-very conservative Oakland Tribune, his Oakland Office Manager called and suggested I come to the office. I did. His greeting: "I understand you have a problem." My response: "I don't have a problem. You do. And Representative Dellums does. You are both black and I am white." He said he had not read the report I had sent to Congressman Dellums. I got up and left the office.


At meetings of my own American Society of X-ray Technicians I was hooted down and more than once called a Communist or agitator or both.

Q. Did you have any success at all?
A. There was a ray of hope in the early 70's: an African American Nurse at my own hospital, Ethel Jellins, RN, sent a copy of my document collection to her cousin, John A. Williams, a WWII vet and author and journalist at The Amsterdam News, New York.


John and I had several telephone conversations before he published an article in the Amsterdam News disclosing the practice of the over-radiation of African Americans. But I did not receive one response.
And, as another hopeful sign, Ralph Nader was introduced to the issue by Dr. Karl Z. Morgan. Mr. Nader did his own research in several hospitals and testified before a U.S. Senate subcommittee, I think in 1971, to publicize the issue, citing my work. His statistics about the practice of over-radiation bore mine out.


The following day, several newspapers all over the country had Nader's testimony about the over-radiation of African American patients on their front pages. The stories included reference to my name and my work. David Perlman, Science Editor of the San Francisco Chronicle, interviewed me on the phone for a half hour. The day after that the Chronicle ran the science editor's report.


The day after that I was given notice by the Assistant Administrator at Alta Bates Hospital, Richard Adams, to clean out my desk and be off the premises in two hours.


When I informed Mr. Nader of the consequences of his testimony he very kindly said that if I wanted my job back he would come out to California to help me. I refused his offer. I should have accepted it.
Thinking myself more than qualified to be a Chief Technician I was sure I would have no difficulty getting a job. But over the following year every hospital and private office I applied to turned me down, except one: Ross General in Marin County. I lasted not quite two months. I was fired when I protested that the Chief Radiologist was not permitting the technicians to have their coffee breaks.


Over the years, after I left the Medical Field (I became a professor at Saint Mary's College, where I served for 25 years) I continued to try to get a variety of relevant local and national authorities to act in some way on the issue of over-radiation of African Americans, but they all ignored those efforts. The only protest by a relevant authority came from an article published in the Black Muslim newspaper Muhammad Speaks. There was no reaction.


Enter Jack S. Mandel, PhD, MPH, Professor and Head Mayo Chair in Public Health at the University of Minnesota. In the mid-90's, I began receiving requests from Professor Mandel to participate in a study that was developing information about the effects of possible radiation effects on the health of former x-ray technicians.


I think I answered two different surveys before I sent a letter to Prof. Mandel, along with my collected documentation regarding the over-radiation of African Americans, and asked him if he was including in his study the fact that African American Technicians might have extra concerns because of the cumulative effects of their exposure as patients added to their exposure as x-ray technicians. He did not respond.


I persisted, demanding a reply, or, I said, I would go to higher authorities. I reminded him of the involvement of "scientists" and health officials in Alabama in the infamous and deadly Tuskegee Syphilis Study, where at least 400 African American men died, thanks to scientific research, funded by the same Federal Government that was probably funding much of his work.
I sent a copy of this letter and copies of my documents to a reporter for the leading Minnesota newspaper.


Finally, a reply came from the Professor, dated March 17, 1997, in which he said, "I have talked to many people at the National Cancer Institute and elsewhere about the issue you raised. I was not able to locate anyone who had any information. I spoke to people who are international experts in radiation epidemiology and health physics representing over three decades of research experience. None was able to recollect the Senate Commerce Committee hearings to which you referred or the issue of over-radiation of black patients."


I wrote back pointing out that I had originally brought the issue to his attention ten or eleven years earlier when I first received his questionnaire. I reminded him that I had documented the practice some 25-30 years earlier, that my documentation of the practice was verified and reported before the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee by Ralph Nader, that, in preceding and subsequent public testimony by Dr. Karl Z. Morgan of Oak Ridge National Laboratories, after performing his own research, verified the ongoing practice and suggested that the death of approximately 300 African Americans per year was related to this over-radiation, that David Perlman, the Science Editor of the San Francisco Chronicle had interviewed me and published much of this information in the Chronicle. I reminded him that all of this testimony and documentation was public record. I accused him of willfully denying and ignoring the facts, facts relevant to his study of the effects of radiation of x-ray technicians.


I sent copies of my letter to many people. Dr. Mandel never responded. Of the governmental officials I contacted, only Representative Maxine Waters replied, to inform me she was relaying my letter to my own Representative, Congresswoman Lynne Woolsey, who contacted the Civil Rights Division of the Attorney General's office - I have already described their letter and reasons for doing nothing - as well to 60 Minutes, the results of which I have already described.


I gave up.


Then in 2009, in a brief essay delivered on National Public Radio, reviewing my life, I mentioned (20 seconds in a statement of about five minutes) "... my attempts to stop the over-radiation of African American patients in hospitals 40 years ago...."


Over the next several days I received phone calls and emails requesting more information. I contacted the offices of the NAACP in Baltimore, Maryland. I spoke to Mr. Adam Lee who transferred me to Ms. Wendy Hamilton. Ms. Hamilton expressed serious interest. I suggested I send her copies of those documents I still had. She agreed. I sent the copies. I heard nothing. Is, was, this silence a repetition of the disinterest displayed by the NAACP in the '60s? But why? I sent Ms. Hamilton an email saying that I am now almost 86 years old and I would not be patient and considerate and indulgent any longer. Should I not hear from the NAACP in 5 days I would seek other routes for disclosure. I still have not heard.

Suggestion: if you are an African American - no matter your age, no matter your gender - think about what increased health risks you may now be exposed to because, and only because, you are an African American. Shouldn't we all, but especially the NAACP, be concerned?

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Bike the Cure for Breast Cancer: 2500 Miles in 44 Days

One women, one bike, one road 

and 2,500 miles in 44 days -

That’s BIKE4THECURE – a heartfelt charity project, 

initiated by 35-year-old Iris Klein, 

which is set out to raise awareness 

and money for breast cancer research

what is BIKE4THECURE about?
 
Starting September 13th, 2010 Iris will ride her bicycle on Route 66 all the way from Chicago to LA to raise awareness and funding for breast cancer research. Iris’ trip is scheduled to end in LA on October 26th, 2010. Along the way she will visit health clubs and gyms that are hosting “Breast cancer Awareness Workout Nights.”

A “Welcome Reception” will kick off the events. Iris will talk about the experiences that led her on her journey. After the reception, Club members will present Iris with a “Daily Dare” where she will be challenged to a fun competition. After the challenge is completed Iris will lead a “Special Group Fitness Class” consisting of a fun mix of different workout styles (some barbell action, martial arts moves, Latin dance grooves, and a cool down). The event will close with an “After Workout Party.”

Iris is documenting her trip in daily videos and pictures, which she publishes on her website at http://www.bike4thecure.com/ as well as on YouTube. All money raised goes to “Ellen for the cure” benefiting Susan G. Komen for the cure.

Why Route 66?

In 2009 Iris lost a close friend Kelly to breast cancer. Kelly called Illinois home and loved Chicago. Route 66 is not just any road – it is THE most famous road in the world and offers lots of history. It is so much more than just concrete and road striping. It represents people’s dreams and hopes and that makes it the perfect setting for this project.

Iris believes that through BIKE4THECURE she can support a good cause and bring positivity and joy to people. She has always been passionate about sports and fitness and is taking this opportunity to demonstrate how important it is to take care of yourself – both physically and mentally - and help people to establish a healthy, well-balanced lifestyle.

According to worldwide stats, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, after skin cancer, representing 16% of all female cancers and in 2009 about 40,000 – only in the US - women died of it. While it is true that the risk of getting breast cancer significantly increases as you grow older, early detection is key. Thus getting mammograms and conducting self-exams on a regular basis becomes more and more important. And so is maintaining a healthy life-style.

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Honoring Sonoma County Philanthropists

Association of Fundraising Professionals

To Honor Local Philanthropists

Community Foundation Sonoma County will be presented with the 2010 Spirit of Philanthropy Award at the 2010 National Philanthropy Day® Awards luncheon, sponsored by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Wine Country Chapter. The awards ceremony will take place on Tuesday, November 2, 2010, at Wells Fargo Center for the Arts in honor of National Philanthropy Day® (NPD).

More than 300 people are expected to attend the luncheon, which recognizes individuals and organizations for their contributions to countless charities and causes in the North Bay. This year marks the 25th anniversary of National Philanthropy Day, and more than 100 AFP chapters and nearly 50,000 people will participate in events across North America.

“National Philanthropy Day® is the one day that our community comes together to recognize and pay tribute to the contributions that people make through philanthropy –  that spirit of giving is what makes the Wine Country such a great place to live,” noted Vicki Yarnal, President of the Wine Country Chapter. “With the federal government downsizing, charities have to rely more and more on individual contributions and community organizations for support. Our honorees have demonstrated this spirit of giving through their commitment to support philanthropy in the North Bay.”

The Spirit of Philanthropy Award is presented by the Wine Country Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals to an individual or organization that demonstrates exemplary leadership in philanthropy in the Wine Country through personal giving and the fostering/mentoring/ encouragement of others to give for the benefit of all. The Community Foundation Sonoma County exemplifies the “spirit of philanthropy” by proactively convening and collaborating with other organizations and funders to create community solutions that benefit from diverse perspectives and healthy discourse. Since its inception in 1983, the Community Foundation Sonoma County and its donors have awarded $116 million in grants. Over the years, they have has demonstrated their commitment to improving the quality of life for residents of Sonoma County.

“We thank the Association of Fundraising Professionals for celebrating the creativity, commitment and generosity of philanthropy in our community,” said Barbara Hughes, President and CEO of Community Foundation Sonoma County. “It is indeed an honor to receive the Spirit of Philanthropy Award for the work that we do to preserve, build and celebrate community assets.”

Additional awards to be presented include:

Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy, will be presented to 14-year-old Ivan Chang (nominated by Dicksie Park Tamanaha of Sonoma County Family YMCA & Rotary Club of Santa Rosa Sunrise). Ivan was chosen for his consistent and compassionate approach to helping those less fortunate. He has demonstrated the type of youth leadership that will grow into a lifetime commitment to public service. His many achievements at such a young age include securing $15,000 in funds for the Colgan Creek Fitness Station project, putting in more than 400 volunteer hours at the Beye Farm Summer Lunch Program, and serving on the City of Santa Rosa’s Community Advisory Board to assist in identifying programs that meet community needs in Southwest Santa Rosa where he and his family reside. Ivan is the winner of the Santa Rosa Sunrise Rotary college scholarship, is a an afterschool tutor and education and recreation program coordinator at Kid’s Street, a peer education tutor at Elsie Allen High School, and a youth organizer for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. The presenting sponsor for this award is Wells Fargo.

Outstanding Civic Organization Partner, will be presented to Soroptimist International of Santa Rosa (nominated by Lucy Barnett, Sutter VNA & Hospice, Kendra McKenna, The Living Room, and Kristi Padley, YWCA. Soroptimist International of Santa Rosa has shown itself to be a great example of what civic clubs provide to our community. The selection committee was impressed by the longevity of the organization (founded in Santa Rosa in 1945) and by the many activities its members have personally supported over the year.

Outstanding Business Partner, will be presented to Wells Fargo Insurance Services (nominated by Lucy Barnett, Sutter VNA & Hospice). Wells Fargo Insurance Services was selected for encouraging their employees to get involved in community service and allowing them to take time out of their work day to do public service work. They also stood out because of the length of time that they have quietly been committed to serving the community.

Outstanding Individual or Family Philanthropist, will be presented posthumously to Bob Burke (nominated by Katrina Thurman on behalf of the Board of Directors of West County Community Services). Bob was selected for his outstanding breadth of work in the Kids Program. Prior to his death in June of this year, Bob dedicated the past 40 years of his life to running a charitable resource for children with life-threatening or debilitating diseases. Bob Burke’s Kids Program was run solely by a team of volunteers, including Bob himself, who made sure that there were special events for kids and their families throughout the year. The presenting sponsor for this award is the Community Foundation Sonoma County.

Complete details about the National Philanthropy Day® luncheon can be found on the Association of Fundraising Professionals Wine Country Chapter’s website at www.afp-wcc.org. The event begins at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 2, 2010. Registration deadline is October 27th. National Philanthropy Day is sponsored by Community Foundation Sonoma County, Wells Fargo, Exchange Bank, Direct Mail Systems, and Wells Fargo Center for the Arts.


The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) represents more than 30,000 fundraisers in 200 chapters throughout the world, working to advance philanthropy through advocacy, research, education, and certification programs. The Wine Country Chapter   serves Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino and Marin counties by providing educational programs, networking, career opportunities and extensive online resources for fundraising professionals at all levels.

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Sonoma County Housing Hero Margo Warnecke Merck

Sonoma County Housing Coalition
Affordable Housing Week
May 10-16

Housing Hero Award recipient:
Margo Warnecke Merck

The Sonoma County Housing Coalition will be honoring as their 2010 Housing Hero; Margo Warnecke Merck, at their annual Affordable Housing Week breakfast May 10th, 2010 at the Flamingo Hotel in Santa Rosa. Former Board President of Community Housing Sonoma County, Margo has displayed an undaunted commitment to provide for the housing needs of extremely low-income persons living with disabilities.

“We are so proud of the work that Margo has accomplished always making sure that we focus on the human element of what we do at Community Housing Sonoma County,” stated Paula Cook, Executive Director of the organization. “Margo has been an outstanding advocate for special needs housing throughout Sonoma County, and she has authored landmark legislation to create a reasonable accommodation ordinance. Margo has always been there to further the mission of Community Housing Sonoma County--when work needed to be done to make housing happen.”

Dianne Spaulding, Executive Director of the Non-Profit Housing Association of California says of Margo: “No one has represented the interests of special needs/ affordable housing in the last fifteen years more than Margo. She has been a tireless, articulate and passionate leader on behalf of all underrepresented groups who desperately need affordable housing. She was a leader in the NPH-9 county Housing Advocacy Network, a staunch supporter for Proposition 46, Prop 1C, Inclusionary zoning and many other funding and policy initiatives.“

Margo has quietly gone about setting Community Housing Sonoma County on the right course. Since 2003, her efforts helped lead to successful partnerships that have produced 179 units of very low-income housing, with 71 units set aside as permanent supportive housing for persons living with disabilities.

For her dedication to creating housing opportunities for people in our community, we hope you will join us in honoring Margo Warnecke Merck . To learn more about the goals and mission of Community Housing Sonoma County please visithttp://www.ch-sc.org

For more information on the SCHC Affordable Housing Week Events - please go to: http://affordablehousingsonomacounty.org/


Sonoma County Housing Coalition, sponsor of Affordable Housing Week, is a group of over 100 housing interests working year-round to provide housing for low and moderate income County residents.

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Fire Fighter News Jan 2010

4th Annual Bucket Brigade Blood Bank of the Redwoods
Fire departments around Sonoma County are still competing in the Blood Bank of the Redwoods’ 4th Annual Bucket Brigade, which continues into January. Of course the West County Firefighters would like to win the Trophy this year but we will need the help of the community to do so. To help us you can donate blood, through the Blood Bank of the Redwoods, anywhere in the county between now and the end of January and ask that the donation be made in the name of your favorite West County Fire Department.

Graton
Christmas Tree Farm/New Fire Station
Thank you to everyone that came to our new property on Highway 116 to get a Christmas tree... We sold a lot of trees and cleared more space for the new station! A big “Thank You” to our tree farm manager, Heather O’Dell, for all of her hard work getting the tree farm looking so great. We had a great time meeting everyone and raised a lot of money to go towards the new fire station. Remember- your Christmas tree was also a donation and, therefore, a tax-deductible item for your taxes. We look forward to seeing you next season!

Toy Drive... Another Success
The 2009 Toy Drive was a fantastic success, thank you! Graton Fire was able to deliver presents to over 50 children, brightening their holidays. We wish everyone could experience the joy we see when the fire engine pulls up and delivers your presents... once again, thank you. A tremendous thanks also needs to go out to the Graton Post Office, Andy’s Produce, and Graton Community Club for being toy collection points.

Forestville
Toy Drive – 2009
The Forestville Firefighters Association toy drive was a huge success despite a slow start. Your donations provided toys to 60 families through the Giving Tree at the Forestville School, 78 families through the Forestville Methodist Church and over 50 families through Toys for Tots.
The Forestville Firefighters Association also donated several movie passes for some of the older recipients. A special thank you to all who donated to this wonderful cause!

December Blood Drive
The Forestville Firefighters would like to thank the 42 citizens and firefighters who donated a total of 39 units blood at the December 16 blood drive at the Forestville Fire Station.

Property Tax Information
Did you know that the Forestville Fire Protection District is almost entirely funded by the property taxes paid by its citizens? Each property owner in the District pays 1% of the assessed value of their property in annual property taxes. The Forestville Fire Protection District receives an average of 11% of that 1% for its annual operations. The remaining 90% of the 1% is distributed to the County of Sonoma and to other agencies within the individual’s tax rate area. The property taxes received by the District in December and April make up approximately 85% of the Districts total revenue. An additional 11% is derived from a Special Tax for Fire Protection and Prevention, typically $40.00 per parcel/household, which is also included on your annual property tax bill. The Districts remaining revenue, approximately 4%, is derived from various sources such as grants and State reimbursements. Because the District is so dependant on property taxes the number of foreclosures and the downturn in property values could cause a reduction in the Districts revenue for the next few years. The Board will again be watching the results of the first installment of property taxes, later this month, closely to determine the effects of the current economic situation on the Forestville Fire Protection District.

Sebastopol
Toy Drive
The Sebastopol Firefighters would like to thank the local citizens, Sebastopol I.O.O.F. Lodge and CVS Pharmacy for a very successful toy drive. In cooperation with the Sebastopol Alliance Church, we were able to provide toys to 266 children in 102 families in the Sebastopol area. We received a record number of cash donations, which helped to purchase gifts for older children, who are often left without gifts.

Community Emergency Response Team Classes
The department will be publicizing the CERT classes for 2010 soon. If you ever wanted to be better prepared to survive and respond to natural disasters, this is the class for you. 196 Sebastopol residents have already been trained and you are next. Watch the City of Sebastopol website for class dates and details. www.ci.sebastopol.ca.us

Russian River
Toys for Kids
Thank you all for assisting us with the annual toy drive it was a very successful year.

RRROC
Please help us by attending the RRROC meeting at the Guerneville Vets Hall on January 21st, at 6 pm. We are ultimately asking for funds to purchase and equip a new and much needed ambulance. This will be a difficult decision when goes up in front of the Supervisors since the law is very grey in this area (my opinion) and not likely to be approved.

For 2010
Regretfully by the time you read this article, The Russian River Fire Protection District will have hosted a public hearing on January 6th, at 7 pm, at the fire station to discuss another special tax headed to the voters on June 8th, 2010. We are up against statutory deadlines and have to get this out to you for a first look. The Board has indicated it will hold more public hearings if the public indicates a need or desire.

Following the advice of many after our failed tax initiative of two years ago, we hope to present to you something more palatable. The new tax measure still asks for more money, but it is easier to understand than our last measure. Vacant parcels will be charged $70, no matter the size. At property owners’ suggestion, contiguous vacant parcels will be charged $70. Parcels with one home will be charged $140.00. If your parcel has more than one home on it, the first home is charged $140.00 and each additional home on the same parcel is charged $70.00 (2 homes on one parcel = $210.00, three homes on one parcel = $280.00). Most commercial and industrial properties will be charged $350.00 per parcel. The exception to that is if you have more than four specific uses on your parcel. As an example, if you have a 500 acre parcel with crops on 200 acres and you have a bed and breakfast for a maximum of ten couples, a 1000 square foot retail store and a house your tax will be $350 based on the single highest use (the bed and breakfast).

If you add one more use to this property, let’s say a factory that is industrial in nature, the single highest use changes to industrial use and the fire tax becomes $700.00. Most of our parcels do not resemble anything like this but it is used to illustrate my point. Agricultural parcels are charged $175.00. This new tax measure is asking for $100 more from most of you per year. That equals $.27 more per day than what you are paying now for a total of $.38 per day.

The Russian River Fire Protection District has done everything in its power to save money and reduce expenses but it is not enough. We are not willing to reduce the level of service to balance the budget. It is simply not in your best interest for us to do that and the wrong thing to do; your safety depends on us. It has been thirty years since our last tax measure was overwhelmingly passed. We need your help as much as you need ours. We will make every effort to keep you better informed. Thank you.

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Fire News & Holiday Events

4th Annual Bucket Brigade Blood Bank of the Redwoods
Fire departments around Sonoma, Lake and Mendocino counties have come together to participate in Blood Bank of the Redwoods' 4th Annual Bucket Brigade during December and January of this year. Last year 40 fire departments took part and we collected nearly 1155 units of blood, which was a huge boost for our community's blood supply.

Last year's winner, Geyserville Fire Protection District attracted a grand total of 102 donors.. Participating fire departments will recruit community members, colleagues, friends and family to donate lifesaving blood in an effort to win the Bucket Brigade Trophy. Of course the West County Firefighters would like to win the Trophy this year but we will need the help of the community to do so. To help us you can donate blood, through the Blood Bank of the Redwoods, anywhere in the county between now and the end of January and ask that the donation be made in the name of your favorite West County Fire Department. Blood drives in the West Count will be held on:
• December 16, 2009 from 3pm to 7pm at the Forestville Fire Station
• December 19th from 10am to 1pm at the Russian River Fire Station

Blood drives for Graton and Sebastopol fire stations has already occurred, but you can still donate at any blood bank event, or at their main office, and let them know which department you would like to support.

Preventing Christmas Tree Fires

Selecting a Tree for the Holiday
Needles on fresh trees should be green and hard to pull back from the branches, and the needle should not break if the tree has been freshly cut. The trunk should be sticky to the touch. Old trees can be identified by bouncing the tree trunk on the ground. If many needles fall off, the tree has been cut too long, has probably dried out, and is a fire hazard.
Caring for Your Tree
Do not place your tree close to a heat source, including a fireplace or heat vent. The heat will dry out the tree, causing it to be more easily ignited by heat, flame or sparks. Be careful not to drop or flick cigarette ashes near a tree. Do not put your live tree up too early or leave it up for longer than two weeks. Keep the tree stand filled with water at all times.
Disposing of Your Tree
Never put tree branches or needles in a fireplace or woodburning stove. When the tree becomes dry, discard it promptly. The best way to dispose of your tree is by taking it to a recycling center or having it hauled away by a community pick-up service.

Forestville Fire Protection District
The Forestville Firefighter's Association Toy collection for Toys for Tots, the Giving Tree and the Methodist Church is off to a very slow start this year. Your new and unwrapped gifts may be dropped off at the Forestville Fire Station up to December 23rd. Recalled or used toys can not be accepted.
We are Thankful Too
The full-time staff, volunteers and the Board of Directors of the Forestville Fire Protection District are thankful this year for the continued support of the Forestville Community. Because of your tax dollars we are able to provide a cost effective yet efficient emergency delivery service to the community. Your tax dollars allow the District to have sufficient paid staff to be on the road and responding to any emergency with our first engine company within 45 to 60 seconds from being notified by our Dispatch Center. Every request for service within the District also generates a response from home or work of our full-time and volunteer staff who respond to the station to either respond additional engine companies or standby in case there is another call for service. This occurs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days of the year. As the District's emergency responses near the 700 mark annually this is a significant commitment of personnel and hours. Service and Sacrifice is alive and well in the Forestville Fire Protection District. Again all of the members of the Forestville Fire Protection District would like to thank our entire community for your support and wish you all a happy and safe Holiday Season and a wonderful New Year.

Graton Fire Protection District
Graton Fire Christmas Tree Farm: Thu-Sun 9-5
With the purchase of the Del Davis Christmas Tree Farm at 3750 Gravenstein Highway North in 2006, the volunteer firefighters and board members now find themselves selling Christmas trees. With over 9 acres of pine, fir, and spruce trees, we have lots to sell. The tree farm is open Thursday through Sunday from 9am to 5pm and all donations are going to support the new fire station. As a donation, your tree is tax-deductible as well. Trees are being sold by height, regardless of the type of tree. Pull saws and measuring sticks are available as are volunteer firefighters to help you cut, carry, trim, and net your tree. There are fire helmets and badges for the kids. If you have further questions, please call the firehouse, 823-7939. Thank you for supporting the new fire station.

Toy Drive Deadline is 12/21
Our annual toy drive continues through Monday, December 21st. Each year, Graton volunteer firefighters work with Oak Grove School and local charities to determine needy families in our district. This holiday season, we are collecting new, unwrapped toys for over 30 children up to age 12. We will also accept cash donations, wrapping paper, tape... whatever you can spare. Items can be dropped off at:
• Graton Post Office
• Graton Christmas Tree Farm (Thu-Sun, 9-5)
• Andy’s Produce Market

Thank you to everyone who donated last year and helped make another family’s Christmas a reality. We look forward to your support again this year. Questions? Call 823-7939.

Sebastopol Fire Department
Sebastopol Fire Department is collecting toys for our Christmas helping program until December 15th. Please bring new (or like new) toys to the fire station and help share the spirit of the season.

Russian River Fire Protection District
The Russian River Firefighters are collecting toys for the holiday season. Like many others we are seeing a decline in toy donations, but we are thankful for what arrives, and we know our residents will do everything they can to help out. So feel free to drop off your unwrapped toys at the fire station.
As a reminder please be careful when hanging your holiday decorations and use only Underwriters Laboratory (UL) listed appliances, devices, and lights.
The Russian River Fire District Board of Directors and staff continue to deal with revenue losses beyond our control. We continue to look at cost effective ways to serve you at the same levels you have come to expect. The Board of Directors reminds you to attend the regular Board meetings held here at the Fire Station on the third Tuesday of each month. The meeting in December (12/15/09 at 7pm) is very important since we well be discussing a tax measure we expect to go to the voters on June 8th of next year. The first public hearing specific to the tax measure will be held in early January. We will keep you posted.

Bodega Bay Fire Protection District
The Bodega Bay Firefighters are collecting toys for the holiday season.
Please keep an eye out for our annual report in early February.
Thank you and best wishes for the holiday season.

Drive Safely
Please be very careful out on the road this season. Driving your vehicle is most dangerous this time of year, with rainy, icy weather and often restricted vision due to fog. Please drive carefully and remember to plan ahead with a designated driver if you plan to tip your glass at your favorite Christmas party.

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Local Fire Departments Come Together in Friendly Competition to Collect Lifesaving Blood for Patients in Need

Fire departments around Sonoma, Lake and Mendocino counties have come together again to participate in Blood Bank of the Redwoods’ 4th Annual Bucket Brigade during November, December and January. Participating fire departments will recruit community members, colleagues, friends and family to donate lifesaving blood in an effort to collect the most blood and win the Bucket Brigade Trophy. The competition will help blood inventory levels during the winter months, which are greatly effected by seasonal illnesses, weather conditions and family travels.

Last year 40 fire departments competed in 34 blood drives with a total of 1155 participating donors. The 3rd Annual Bucket Brigade Trophy was proudly carried away by Geyserville Fire Department, who won the contest with 102 donors. We are very thankful to all of our donors for their care and continued support toward local patients and Blood Bank of the Redwoods!

The notion of a Bucket Brigade originates from the Great London Fire of 1666, where lines of townspeople created “brigades” and passed buckets of water from the town’s water source to the fires that threatened their community. This contemporary Bucket Brigade brings our community together in the same way, not to fight fire but to save lives through blood donation.

Participating Fire Stations:
Anderson Valley Fire Department, Brooktrails FD, CAL Fire & Cloverdale FD, CAL Fire & Wilmar VFD, CAL Fire Napa, CAL Fire Ukiah, Covelo VFD, Forestville FD, Fort Bragg FD, Geyserville FPD, Glen Ellen FD, Goldridge FD, Graton FD, Healdsburg FD, Kenwood FPD, Lakeport FD, Lakeville FD and San Antonio VFC, Little Lake FD, Long Valley FPD, Mendocino FPD, Middletown FD and CAL Fire, Occidental FD, Petaluma FD, Rancho Adobe FPD, Redwood Coast FD, Redwood Valley-Calpella FD, Rincon Valley FD, Rohnert Park DPS, Russian River FPD, Santa Rosa FD, Sebastopol FD, Sonoma Developmental Center FD, Sonoma Valley Fire & Rescue, South Coast FD, Ukiah FD, Ukiah Valley FD, Windsor FPD

4th Annual Bucket Brigade Competition

2009 - 2010 Blood Drives Listed by Date

Dec. 12th 10:00am - 2:00pm Middletown FD and CAL Fire Lake 21095 State Hwy 175 Middletown 95461

Dec. 13th 01:00pm - 4:00pm Santa Rosa FD 1775 Yulupa Avenue Santa Rosa 95405

Dec. 13th 11:00am - 2:00pm Long Valley FPD 44920 Willis Avenue Laytonville 95454

Dec. 14th 03:00pm - 7:00pm CAL Fire Petaluma & Wilmar VFD 3825 Bodega Ave. (Wilmar Station) Petaluma 94952

Dec. 14th 03:00pm - 7:00pm Sonoma Valley Fire & Rescue 630 2nd Street Sonoma 95476

Dec. 15th 03:00pm - 7:00pm Fort Bragg FD 141 North Main Street Fort Bragg 95437

Dec. 16th 03:00pm - 7:00pm Forestville FD 6554 Mirabel Road Forestville 95436

Dec. 16th 03:30pm - 7:30pm Glen Ellen FD 13445 Arnold Drive Glen Ellen 95442

Dec. 17th 02:00pm - 5:30pm South Coast FD and CAL Fire Sea Ranch 38901 Ocean Drive Gualala 95445

Dec. 19th 10:00am - 1:00pm Russian River FPD 14100 Armstrong Woods Road Guerneville 95446

Dec. 20th 01:00pm - 4:00pm CAL Fire Ukiah 2690 North State Street Ukiah 95482

Dec. 20th 01:00pm - 4:00pm Little Lake FD 111 Commercial Street Willits 95490

Dec. 28th 03:00pm - 7:00pm Goldridge FD 4500 Hessel Road Sebastopol 95472

Dec. 30th 03:00pm - 7:00pm Ukiah FD 293 Seminary Avenue Ukiah 95482

Jan. 7th 03:00pm - 6:00pm Rancho Adobe FPD 11000 Main Street (Station 2) Penngrove 94951

Jan. 8th 03:00pm - 7:00pm Rincon Valley FD 45 Lark Center Drive Santa Rosa 95402

Jan. 8th 04:00pm - 8:00pm Geyserville FPD 20975 Geyserville Avenue Geyserville 95441

Jan. 9th 11:00am - 3:30pm Anderson Valley FD 14281 Hwy 128 Boonville 95415

Jan. 9th 11:00am - 3:30pm Redwood Coast FD 19601 South Hwy 1 Manchester 95459

Jan. 11th 03:00pm - 7:00pm Mendocino FPD 44700 Little Lake Road Mendocino 95460

Jan. 12th 08:00am - 12:00pm Petaluma FD 198 D Street Petaluma 94952

Jan. 16th 10:00am - 1:00pm Lakeport FD 445 N Main Street Lakeport 95453

Jan. 16th 01:00pm - 4:00pm CAL Fire & Cloverdale FD 1001 S Cloverdale Blvd. Cloverdale 95425

Jan. 19th 02:30pm - 7:00pm Healdsburg FD 601 Healdsburg Avenue Healdsburg 95448

Jan. 20th 01:00pm - 4:00pm CAL Fire Napa 1199 Big Tree Road St. Helena 94574

Jan. 22th 02:30pm - 6:30pm Rohnert Park DPS 5200 Country Club Dr. (Station 2) Rohnert Park 94928

Jan. 23th 10:00am - 2:00pm Windsor FPD 8600 Windsor Road Windsor 95492

For More information, contact Blood Bank of the Redwoods

707-545-1222

www.bbr.org

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