BAC Spokesperson Editorial in the Star

"Why Are Midwives Being Targeted?"
By BAC Spokesperson Kimberly Rivers

Here is an short excerpt, and please read the full story at: http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/apr/25/rivers-why-are-midwives-being-targeted/

Why are midwives being targeted?
Certified nurse midwives were notified that beginning Monday of this week they would be allowed back to St. John's Pleasant Valley Hospital in Camarillo following a ban that lasted over a year. Being allowed back is good for them, the women they serve and the hospital.
Unfortunately, the press as a whole continues to miss the point. Midwives are being targeted; rights of birthing women are being restricted.
The hospital continues to hide behind the claim of "patient safety" in the decision to remove certified nurse midwives (CNMs), and yet it has failed to present evidence showing that the care women receive from CNMs is less safe than care provided by the obstetricians who continued to attend births and perform cesareans at Pleasant Valley Hospital. I suggest that such evidence does not exist.

Read more: http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/apr/25/rivers-why-are-midwives-being-targeted/#ixzz1KeWEynPW
- vcstar.com

Save the Date: June 10 Movie Screening "Guerrilla Midwife"

BAC in partnership with Baby International Film Festival is proud to host a benefit screening of the documentary film

"Guerrilla Midwife"

"Healing the Earth, 

one baby at a time"
~ Robin Lim

Click the image below to see a trailer of the film

When: Friday, June 10, 2011 

*Reception and ticket sales begin at 7:00pm*

Movie starts at 8:00pm

Discussion following the film with Mary Jackson LM and 

Tracy Lough (midwife intern at birth center)

Where: the WAV Building

175 S. Ventura Avenue, Ventura, CA  93001

Why: This event will benefit BAC & Bumi Sehat Foundation, providing gentle birth services

for families, direct aid & training of midwives in Indonesia

Film Synopsis: Guerrilla Midwife follows Ibu Robin Lim into the trenches of her work.  From Bali, where hemorrhage after childbirth is the leading cause of death, into the Tsunami disaster zone in Aceh, where her battle is fought with only one weapon, love.  In this culturally mesmerizing, heart wrenching documentary, you will discover why we must reinvent our protocols for pregnancy and childbirth in order to preserve our Planet’s Humanity.

Deja Bernhardt, the film’s director says “This six year project  took me from the rituals of Bali to the places where people washed up after the Tsunami, without their souls.  It took me to Santa Barbara, to sit beside the very midwife whose hands welcomed me gently into the world, and to Italy where one midwife was honored as a warrior for peace.  My prayer is that Guerrilla Midwife may be seen by enough people to tip the balance of our planet toward a lasting peace, where we all wish to arrive home.”

Who: BAC is seeking interested sponsors and vendors to participate in this benefit event and reception prior to the screening. For more information call the event chair:
Summer Sivas 805-453-2968 or email summer.sivas@gmail.com 
www.birthactioncoalition.org

BAC Joins Ventura's St. Patricks Day Parade

BAC Celebrates St. Patricks Day !

Volunteers needed to walk in the

parade in downtown Ventura.

When: Saturday, March 12th, 7:50am

Where: Meet at the Ventura Mission then walking down Ann Street.

What: We need families to represent BAC. Getting the word out. 

**We need a truck to carry adult riders**

Please contact Tasha if you can drive: 805-338-6690

Details: All who march must wear festive attire (green!) or your brown BAC shirt.  Green hats or wigs are great too.  If kids can dress in yellow or as "treasure" that would be fun and tie in to the theme.  Please decorate your wagon or stroller. We have stickers and flyers to pass out.  Pregnant mommies can paint their tummies with pots of gold :) It must be decorated, and we'd like to hang some banners on it. 

The theme is "Giving back, the real pot of gold".  We will be making signs that say "BAC gives back!" "Mom's give to their 'Pots of Gold'!" and other theme related slogans.  If you want to come and decorate your wagon or stroller with us at our sign making party, let us know!

For information on the parade go to their website: http://www.venturastpatricksdayparade.com/

Contact Tasha at 805-338-6690 to let me know if you will be participating.  I look forward to seeing lots of families SUPPORTING BAC!

If you know of other community events that BAC should participate in please contact our Events Scout: events@birthactioncoaiition.org

Movie Screening "Guerilla Midwife"

BAC is a proud co-sponsor 

of a benefit movie screening of:

Guerrilla Midwife

please join us for a community event and film screening exploring the links between gentle birth practices, peacebuilding and our humanity

Suggested donation - $10

this event will benefit Bumi Sehat Foundation, providing gentle birth services for families, direct aid, & training of midwives in Indonesia

 

View a trailer of Guerrilla Midwife at www.skwattacamp.com

“Healing the Earth, one baby at a time” 

~ Robin Lim

Thursday, February 24^th, 6:30 pm

6:30 pm – arrive, meet and greet, welcoming

7:00-8:15 pm – film will begin promptly

conversation afterwards with Mary Jackson, a local midwife interviewed in the film

at The Unitarian Society, Parish Hall

1535 Santa Barbara St. at corner of Arrellaga St.

in downtown Santa Barbara

Guerrilla Midwife follows Ibu Robin Lim into the trenches of her work.  From Bali, where hemorrhage after childbirth is the leading cause of death, into the Tsunami disaster zone in Aceh, where her battle is fought with only one weapon, love.  In this culturally mesmerizing, heart wrenching documentary, you will discover why we must reinvent our protocols for pregnancy and childbirth in order to preserve our Planet’s Humanity.

Deja Bernhardt, the film’s director says “This six year project  took me from the rituals of Bali to the places where people washed up after the Tsunami, without their souls.  It took me to Santa Barbara, to sit beside the very midwife whose hands welcomed me gently into the world, and to Italy where one midwife was honored as a warrior for peace.  My prayer is that Guerrilla Midwife may be seen by enough people to tip the balance of our planet toward a lasting peace, where we all wish to arrive home.”

View a trailer of Guerrilla Midwife at www.skwattacamp.com

Event Contact:  Kolmi Majumdar~ kolmi@quailsprings.org, 805-452-6873

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thank you to our event sponsors!

Central Coast Doula Association, Santa Barbara Birth Center, Birth Action Coalition, Quail Springs, SB Permaculture Network, Hana Peace Works, Parent Television Network, and Baby! International Film Festival

Write A Letter for Birthing Options...

Remember our protests last year? against the ban of CNM"s at Pleasant Valley Hospital?
Well the ban is still in effect, we are figuring out what the delay is, and what if any action we will take at this time. But in the meantime, please let the CEO know that you are still watching.

For info on the Midwifery Ban and BAC's actions last year see our website: http://www.birthactioncoalition.org/6.html

Please write to:

Mr. John Bibby
President and CEO
Pleasant Valley Hospital
St. John's Regional Medical Center
1600 North Rose Avenue
Oxnard, CA  93030

and to

Ms. Laurie Eberst
President and CEO
Catholic Healthcare West Ventura County
St. John's Regional Medical Center
1600 North Rose Avenue
Oxnard, CA  93030

In your letter mention that you are a member and/or supporter of the Birth Action Coalition and that you hope the ban will be lifted soon.

Please post a copy of your letters here.
Thank you for Speaking Out for Birth Choices,
Kimberly Rivers
BAC Board Member

A New Role

Dear BAC members and supporters,

I am very excited about the upcoming year and serving as the new president of BAC. I want to begin by thanking all of you for your hard work and support over the last couple of years. I also want to specifically acknowledge and thank Kim Rivers for her tireless efforts as president; she has truly been the backbone of BAC. I hope to carry on her efforts so that BAC continues to thrive by educating and advocating for birthing women in our community.

BAC is such a wonderful organization that supports women and their families and I am so thankful to be a part of that. Working with BAC as Secretary over the last year has been extremely rewarding. I have made some amazing friendships and have been inspired by the passion of all the members. I look forward to working closely with the new board of directors and I am thrilled that Sandy and Summer have joined us.

Thank you again for your support. You will be hearing from us soon as we have some exciting new outreach programs and several community events that BAC plans to participate in during the upcoming year. Please contact me if you have any questions, concerns or suggestions. We are always striving to expand the mission of BAC.

All the best,

Summer Sivas

Welcome New President and Board Members

Dear BAC Members & Supporters, 
As of today, September 1, 2010, I am no longer serving as president of the Birth Action Coalition. I have been honored to have served for two years. I will remain on the Board as a Member at Large and look forward to supporting our new President, Summer Sivas. Summer is a new mom who lives in Ventura, as well as a researcher in the field of chemistry at the University of California, Santa Barbara. She is wholly dedicated to our mission of educating and advocating for all birthing women in our community. Summer has served on our Board for the past year or so as Secretary and so she is familiar with the current issues and direction BAC is headed. Please join me in welcoming her to this new role in our organization. 
I also want to welcome two brand new Board members, Sandy Lipkin and Summer Hines. Both have been BAC members and when we went looking for new Board members they accepted the nominations from current Board members. Sandy is a local patent attorney, mother and will serve as a Member at Large on our Board. Summer is a busy new mom who was a tremendous help in our wildly successful "Women Create" fundraiser last year. Summer will be acting as Treasurer. 

So here is our current Board:
President: Summer Sivas
Vice President: Tasha Cleaveland
Secretary: Jenn Plew
Treasurer: Summer Hines
Member at Large: S. Krystal McCauley
Member at Large: Jen Camomile
Member at Large: Laurel Connell
Member at Large: Kimberly Rivers
Member at Large: Sandy Lipkin


We will be adding Board Member bios to our website shortly. And remember, we want YOU to get involved in BAC. Click here to view our Volunteer Page. 


Best, 
Kimberly Rivers