CDG Meeting Minutes - 13 Sept 2015

Venue: Waratah Wellness Centre 69 William St, Preston Attendees: Carolyn Shurey, Sallly Quinn, Tanja Novakovic, Kath Callinan-Moore, Charlotte Young, Lori Conn, Michelle Buggy, Ingrid Petterson, Anne Hall, Janoel Liddy, Jane Bennett Apologies: Melinda Whyman, Jac Torres-Gomez, Mardi Terrasson, Beck Meyers Wellwishers: Many!!

1. Welcome

2. Update from Jane and Minutes of last meeting held 1 Feb 2015 2.1 Article on CDG in The Australian. Woohoo! Generated by Jacinta in Sydney. You can see it here: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/life/health-wellbeing/celebration-day-for-girls-helps- conquer-the-puberty-blues/story-fnr5f5xi-1227519806958 2.2 CDG Kath mentioned an article in The Australian on the angst involved with menstrual products and the fact that in advertising menstrual products are the most complained about. 2.3 . List of facilitators and their contact details. Carolyn suggested a shared Googledoc, that anyone can amend as they work with a school community, so that we can see which schools have been approached/engaged with. Also include any special interests that we have, which is not for public use. Action: Jane to work with one of us to create a Googledoc facilitor list (for CDG facilitator use only) with schools already covered. 2.2 Jane has created a map so we can see where everyone is! (Location on the ‘Facilitator’ page) 2.3 Surveys have been going out, but not many back (40 from mums for the last year, plus facilitators’ responses). All of them have been really positive. It’s good for us as facilitators to debrief straight after the event – we can forget details so quickly. Caro commented that we’re much more likely to get a response if we handed out a paper feedback form. However, Jane is reluctant to introduce this, as it flips to a completely different part of the brain after sharing a Celebration Day. Michelle mentioned 7Sisters sends out an online feedback that offers free tix incentive. We could offer beautiful WeMoon pads or something as an incentive. Maybe a book eg a Blessing no a Curse or CTGH if Jaci s into it. Use wording “A 2 minute survey could win you a copy of….” Judy Howell from MenseSense might donate something. Janoel suggested we send them out one month after rather than 2 months later. Recommended: We need to send back our own facilitator feedback within a couple of days. 2.4 Add to the running sheet to tell mums that they will receive an emailed feedback request in a month’s time. Action: All of us to start sending out surveys a month after plus offer of a prize Emily to continue her great work on this.

CDG Facilitator Gathering 13 Sept 2015 Page 1 of 5 2.5 Registration process. The circle discussed that we could include a question about whether you have family history or concern that may be relevant. However, it could put some people off, and possibly suggest that we are going to address/heal this, which we’re not. Do we need to have a more formal registration process? Adds a whole lot of admin responsibility, and distracting. Jane suggested that when working with girls that have been abused, we need to remember we are not therapists, but offering what we do, which is talking about something healthy. IT’s tricky to be overly focused on it, even internally. Good to check in with mums who tell us about something like this ‘have you got some good care or support about this?’ Also good for us to have a resource to refer women if they come to us for assistance. We need our professional boundaries, and stay on our topic. Caro noted that WIRE is there for that (in Melbourne) Action from last meeting: Mardi has been working with Jane to have a referral handout for women who may need it at a CDG. Mardi and Jane to complete and add to Facilitator page Jane to ask Emily to create another Googledoc with good referral agencies that we can all add to if we come across a great agency.

3. A Celebratory Apron! Jane has made a stunning apron with uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries created in felt, complete with a long strip of fabric that can be released with gentle steady pulling to show the flow of blood. The ovaries get a little scar every time you ovulate, so she has even included

4. CDGs so far this year Fifty-five so far scheduled this year, in addition five have been scheduled but didn’t run. [note from JB: 22 September: amend that to 61 scheduled so far this year] This year Jane trained 11 new CDG Facilitators in Victoria (not all Victorian though), 4 in Perth and 3 remotely [22 September: and 6 more remote participants currently].

5. CDG Offering for Staff Professional Development (PD) in schools Generally introducing the idea of menstruation to schools, advising on school policy, aside from PD on the subject for staff. There is a working group of CDG facilitators set up from our last meeting. If anyone would like to join, you are very welcome - please let Jane know. Not clear how much time commitment will be required. It’s also great to have ongoing development. Society for Menstrual Cycle Research had a conference in the US/New York this year. Here for more about the conference: http://menstruationresearch.org/

6. Waratah Project Research phase is now complete. 3300 women and girls took part. Great work those who held and participated in groups. There is a commitment from VWT that it will be published around April next year. CDG Facilitator Gathering 13 Sept 2015 Page 2 of 5 7. Facebook: posting CDG events and FB Facilitator Group Melissa has been posting CDGs as events on our page – thank you for your work on this, Melissa! She would like a 6 month break. Best for privacy issues to not post the actual address, just the suburb, just to avoid anyone ‘unwanted’ turning up on the day. Also good to put ‘full’ rather than ‘closed’ when you have a private group. Action: Michelle to take on the role as fb event poster. Thanks, Michelle! Charlotte has set up a Closed Facilitator group on facebook, They need to be friends with Charlotte to be added (although they are welcome to unfriend her after they have joined! In your CDG training manual, Charlotte’s email address is included, so you can email her with a request to join the Group … and here it is here: [email protected] The group is being used, although it’s not extremely active. [Jane 22.9.15, that said it is an effective way to speak with a group of other facilitators, items you want to share, questions you have where did you get your womb thingies?, sharing about your CDG, etc. Even if you’re not a big FBer like me, it’s well worth signing up for this for the sharing and support. Contact Charlotte]

8. Melbourne’ Child advertising Katherine researched this. Ads cost are prohibitive BUT we can send them our event details which could be added to their calendar if they have room. Discussion of possibility of us all putting in a little to have a Classified Section ad run for a number of editions. Also discussion of us putting stories into Leader/other local newspapers Action: Catherine to post Melbourne CDG dates for the coming month to get Vic dates put into Melbourne’s Child calendar

9. Other Business  Michelle noted that there is a name confusion: There is a Celebration for Girls organization [known to us, a US organization that makes pads for developing world girls, with many making groups dotted around]  Ruby Cup will send one to Africa for every one that you buy.  Starter pack for girls: quite sweet, but let’s steer the girls away from using panty liners that encourage  Kate Lawrence.com.au has some beautiful writing that is worth looking up. She does storytelling workshops in the Macedon Ranges  Cath Hakanson: Has taught sex-ed for years. Has a website called sexedrescue.com written well with a great amount of resources, with more to come.  Carolyn commented on the clarity of Michelle and Ingrid’s flyer that there are 3 sessions: session 1 mothers only, session 2 girls, session 3 girls and mothers  Vulvalicious mini puppet that Carolyn has bought now has more anatomical accuracy We loved this!

CDG Facilitator Gathering 13 Sept 2015 Page 3 of 5  Girls often have negative language around their vulva; great for us to have our positive word use.  Bookmarks: If you would like your own personalized version of the CDG bookmark, it will cost around $35 or $40 for Jane’s graphic design guy (as long as it’s straightforward): [email protected]  Handy portable seat support: One of our UK facilitators, Tilly (Louise) James has a great invention www.buttaflyseat.com. We tested it out. Tilly is looking for an Australian distributor.

10. Gift Cards at the close of the CDG workshop On request, Jane has now organized a postcard version with mandala on one side and quote on the other. [22.9.15: to be in Toolkit on website shortly] Jane has brought along coloured letterhead sheets and bookmarks for us to collect today. Thanks Jane!

11. List of facilitators and their locations Ourselves, rather than beleaguring Jane with sending us each the list. Also good to include on this list when any of us have an ongoing relationship with a school. Also see the Zeemap on the facilitator’s page of the website

12. Long term vision and organisation In order for this to grow, CDG needs organizational structure. Jane has worked on this and determined that the best path is to become a Not-for-profit company. It has progressed considerably since February, it is a big step but feels right. CDG will be the flagship program under tagline like: 'contemporary menstrual education: respect inclusion, connection'.Women’s Health Lodden Mallee – cover a third of the territory of the state – may auspice us, and take an admin fee when receiving tax deductible donations/ grants on our behalf. jane meeting CEO next week. DGR (deductible gift recipient) status is REALLY handy when you are applying for grants, but much harder to get, so WHLM, if it works, will be a very handy stopgap/solution. This change of status will not affect us as individual facilitators, as we run our own thing. At the moment, Jane is the head of this organization, but in time there will be successors, to continue the work! And a board of directors.

Name for the new organisation Respectful, inclusive, connection The group brainstormed some wonderful ideas! Jane will collate a short list, and send out to us as well as other groups of people for feedback. Exciting!!

CDG Facilitator Gathering 13 Sept 2015 Page 4 of 5 [22.9.15. JB: Please keep this development under your hat for the time being, until the ink dries. I will let you know as soon as this happens. Am currently working through the ‘Articles of Association’. Wish me luck and a clear brain.]

Library Talk Anne and Melissa had a very well-attended night – the library staff were excited about it! Didn’t translate into any direct bookings, but every event helps.

Price rise for CDGs? We will leave it to a vote – we need to decide on one of two options; for Australia Option A: Keep it the same at $125 for full, $100 concession, $1000 for a group Option B: Increase price to $140 and $100 concession. And $1150 for a group (eg schools) Jane to set up an email vote on whether to increase the price.

1.00 pm End meeting time and lunch break : )

Thank you Janoel for taking brilliant minutes (and Tanja for offering to, but someone, ahem, forgot to signal time to change shift!) Thank you everyone who attended for your contributions and presence Thank you to Anne Hall for your exquisite holding of our afternoon story-telling session Thank you Carolyn for organizing the great venue Thank you everyone for the scrumptious lunch Thank you to everyone preparing, promoting and running CDGs Thank you to everyone taking on special tasks for us all: Melissa – FB events, Charlotte - FB private group, Emily – surveys, the PD in schools group, Mardi – depression/suicide risk resources, and everyone I’ve forgotten, especially you!

More coming very soon re: The Remote Meeting, Cool on the Inside and Fathers Celebrating Daughters Training and other stuff. Jane  xx

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