LIX - Newsletter

Special Interest Groups & Activities

Hey LIX Chicks,

How’s it going? Who knew we’d all be witnessing history in the making as 2008 wound down. First, the election of an African-American as president of the United States. I never thought I’d see such an amazing thing in my lifetime. Revolutionary! And then last week it was reported that President-elect, Barack Obama, is considering nominating an ‘out’ lesbian to serve as labor secretary. The Wall Street Journal reported that Obama was considering Mary Beth Maxwell, the founding executive director of American Rights at Work, to head the Labor Department. If nominated, and confirmed by the Senate, she would be the nation’s first openly gay cabinet member. I just love the image of a black family in the White House having queer people over for dinner!

Last week we had our own historic event here in Ottawa when Prime Minister Harper decided to drag out a dusty old constitutional ‘tool’ which would allow him to ask for the prorogation of parliament. Whether you’re a Coalition supporter or a fan of the Conservative minority government, you have to admit that we haven’t had this much excitement in Ottawa in ages. And to think I used to call Ottawa ‘the town that fun forgot’.

At this month’s LIX networking meeting, we were privileged to have Karen Munro-Caple, a registered massage therapist, give a talk on ‘Breast Care & Health’. Karen explained that massage therapy often helps to minimize anxiety for women who have just been diagnosed with breast cancer. Any reduction in anxiety helps keep people in good health. Karen discussed the three major phases where massage therapy can help women: after surgery, during radiation treatment, and during chemotherapy treatment. After surgery, gentle massaging helps patients to relax and, more importantly, can help improve upper body mobility. This type of massage is done two to three weeks after the surgery. Massage therapy can also be used at this time to help deal with the post‑operative scarring. Eventually, when the patient is feeling stronger, a more vigorous massage can take place.

During radiation treatment, patients often feel drained and tired. Gentle and supportive massage therapy during this phase of cancer treatment can help women feel more relaxed and less stressed. Any reduction in stress levels is needed at this time in case the woman requires chemotherapy treatment. Similar to radiation treatment, the chemotherapy treatment is very draining for the patient and regular gentle massages help the healing process. Typically the recovery time for breast cancer is about one year.

During the Q&A part of her talk, Karen was asked if massage therapy could actually spread the cancer through the lymphatic system. Karen explained that if the cancer had spread or was going to spread, it would do so with or without massage therapy. In other words, the massage therapy would not play a part in the spreading of the cancer. A big thanks to Karen for an excellent presentation. Karen’s web site is located at www.kmc-rmt.com and she can be reached by telephone at (613) 230-3527.

If you’re looking for something to do on New Year’s Eve, check out Upcoming Events #4 and #5 (below). Elise Hallewick and the gals at Events4Women are hosting the Fourth Annual Women’s Black & White New Year’s Eve Gala. This year’s event is being held in the east end at Salle Kiwanis Hall, Centre Richelieu Center and will, undoubtedly, be amazing. If you feel like spending New Year’s in Toronto, consider New Year’s Eve for Lesbians at the Palais Royale Ballroom. The premium tickets include dinner, comedy concert (starring Elvira Kurt) and dancing until 3:00 a.m.

Just a quick reminder that our January meeting will be held on Thursday, January 8th rather than on the 1st. As exciting as our networking meetings are, we didn’t think many of you would be interested in coming down to Swizzles on New Year’s Day.

This is the last LIX e-news of 2008. On behalf of all of us on the Steering Committee (Kerry, Lucy, Sinéad, Catherine and myself), I would like to wish you all a delightful holiday season. Thank you for your ongoing support of LIX. Thanks to Wendy Denley, our fabulous web site and e-news design and technical support gal...you’re a star Wendy! Thanks to Deanne Fountaine for being the LIX Facebook consultant and emergency computer guru..you rock Deanne! We end 2008 with over 360 members in the Lesbian Information Xchange!

I hope to see some of you at the Black & White New Year's Eve Gala...let's support the efforts of our sister organization. (See Upcoming Event #4.) Happy New Year LIX Chicks! Catch you later...

Special Interest Groups & Activities
1.Monthly group for non-biological Moms in same-sex families. I’m interested in creating a group for those of us who have started families together and where one parent is the biological mother and one isn’t. The purpose of the group would be to provide an informal space to share concerns, fears and issues with other Moms going through this experience and navigating this sometimes difficult terrain. My thought would be to meet for coffee/tea at a café or at someone’s home. If you are interested, please contact Laura Cohen at lauracohen@rogers.com or at (613) 228-9778 and we can go from there. 2. Ottawa Amazons Women's Motorcycle Club. Come and join the gals for fun, friendship, laughter and travel with an all lesbian motorcycle group. Monthly meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month at Bridgehead Coffee, 362 Richmond Road (west of Churchill in Westboro) at 7:15 pm. If you would like information on how to become a member of the Ottawa Amazons, how to obtain a motorcycle license, and/or tips on negotiating the purchase of a new or used motorcycle, the Amazons are the gals to contact. If you plan to attend a monthly meeting, please contact Molly King at Ottawa.Amazons@monaco.ca.
LIX Chicks Want Ads	LIX Chicks Tips
For Sale: Turtle Blessing Drum. Hexagonal drum, hand-made and beautifully painted by artist Carl Winters, purchased in New Mexico. In excellent condition and lovingly taken care of. Full description at: http://www.sweetmedicinedrums.com/carlwintersDRUMS.html. New ones currently selling for $257 Cdn. Asking $175. Contact Djuna at RoseFynn44@gmail.com.	Looking for a fun dance-based fitness class? Have you joined a gym in the past and rarely gone to work out? Does the thought of wearing spandex gym-bunny gear make you want to toss your cookies? Then I have a class for you! Consider Nia (neuro-muscular integrative action). Nia is a combination of dance movement, yoga and martial arts and, at long last, classes are being offered in Ottawa on Wednesday evenings at the Chinese Canadian Heritage Centre at 397 Kent Street (corner of Florence). Nia supports the pleasure principle: if it feels good keep doing it, if it hurts, stop! Classes are taught by Diane King and Kathleen Connelly. Doors open at 6:00 pm. and at 6:15 we start dancing…in a lovely ballroom with hardwood floors…until 7:15. Outdoor shoes are not allowed in the ballroom. Barefoot is the preferred way of dancing but ballet slippers or jazz shoes are fine. For more information, call Kathleen at (613) 276-0295 or send an email to Diane at diane@dianekingandassociates.com. Classes are $15 or 8 for $105. Hope some of you will decide to join me! (Marie R.)