Sponsor a Calendar
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Order your 2011 Born at Home Calendar!
Sponsor a Calendar
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
A Message from Megan, FOIM Lobbyist
Hello! My name is Megan Day, and I am lobbying on behalf of Friends of Iowa Midwives.
I became involved in Friends of Iowa Midwives in Nov, 2008. I have been a doula for 17 years, throughout Central, and Southern Iowa. I am a stay-at-home mother of two little ladies, whom were born at home. I have worn many hats, but my passion has always been birth related.
I know first-hand, and from clients, the struggle families face when choosing a home-birth midwife. In Central Iowa, there are no CPM’s, and only 3 practicing CNM’s attending home birth. The home births I’ve attended are beautiful, but they should be happening at a higher rate. More low-risk families should be afforded the opportunity to use a Certified Professional Midwife, with the comfort of knowing she is legal and/or licensed. More insurance companies should be covering the cost of home birth. More hospitals should be friendly to transfers. More people should be educated. I had to do more.
I attended a FOIM meeting in Nov of 2008, became involved, and attended a few lobbying days in 2009. In 2010, I went to the Capitol on the first day of the session, to talk to our lobbyist, and my representative and senator. I met with a few other legislators (as many as would speak to me). I kept going back, until I ran out of people to talk with, realizing that most of the Representatives would take a few minutes to listen. Suddenly, it was mid-session, and I was made aware that it was time to register as a “volunteer” lobbyist, before FOIM got in trouble for non-reporting.
I understand why it’s important for families to choose the provider and place of birth. I know the statistics, and I know what the current birth climate is first hand. I also have the availability to be at the Capitol. So, with that, and the connections I have made, I am now a “real” lobbyist.
I attended each meeting at the Capitol we were invited to, as your representative. I have spoken to your legislator, on your behalf. I have worked with our sponsors, and our co-sponsors to bring this bill to the attention of the legislators.
Last session we started with 13 Representatives supporting our issue, but we were never able to take a full committee vote. This year, we started with 17 sponsors, from both parties, and made it to the full committee. Our assigned committee was State Government, who deals with licensing issues. We had a committee vote, and came out with the majority in support of sending our bill to the floor for a full House vote. We never did see a full floor vote in the House, nor did we see any action in the Senate. Our bill rested. However, what we came away with was many, many more bipartisan supporters. Next session, we start over with sub-committees.
There will be many times this upcoming session when I reach out for your support. Legislators don’t mind hearing from me, but they LOVE hearing from you, their constituent. They hold town meetings or coffees, and look for your there. If they are not hearing or seeing constituents in support of the legislation, they assume there is no interest in their community for that issue. There is certainly strong opposition, and they do hear from them. This is why your support is key!
I hope you remain committed to Friends of Iowa Midwives while we push for the legalization and licensure of midwives. I can not push at the Capitol without your support at home. Write a note to your Representative and Senator, give them a call at home, or stop by a community coffee event. Whatever you do, stay involved and vocal! Donate generously to FOIM if you can, and ask for friends and family to donate on your behalf for Christmas!
Sincerely,
Megan
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Submit your photos for our 2011 Calendar!
 |
| 2010 Calendar |
The deadline for photo submissions is November 14. We prefer high resolution photos. Send your submissions to: foimcalendar@yahoo.com.
You can send as many photos as you like - we will narrow it down. Along with your photo, please include a paragraph that responds to the question "Why we had our child(ren) at home" and include the location where the birth took place. A committee will select the finalists and we'll get back in touch with you for permissions.
We would like to see families represented from across the state, so please share this notice far and wide!
Q: Do the pictures have to be from the birth?
A: No. Any beloved photo of your homeborn child is appropriate. Last year, we included family portraits, pregnancy pictures, professional and amateur snapshots, and pics of the kids all grown up. Find your favorites and send them in!
Q: Does the baby have to have born this year?
A: No. It's important to demonstrate to people that homebirth is NOT new in Iowa, and that families of all kinds have been using the services of Iowa midwives for decades. Anyone born at home is welcome, so get your pics of grandma and send 'em in!
Walk for Midwives 2010
Thanks to everyone who attended Iowa Walks for Midwives, and thanks to all our sponsors!
We had great turnout across the state. In Iowa City, we put our handprints and signatures on the banner we walked with, and we'll be taking that banner to the Capitol in January as a representation of our community's support for midwifery. Here are some photos from the Iowa City walk.
We had great turnout across the state. In Iowa City, we put our handprints and signatures on the banner we walked with, and we'll be taking that banner to the Capitol in January as a representation of our community's support for midwifery. Here are some photos from the Iowa City walk.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Labor Day Picnic Special Guest: Tribe Unda Bellydance
Tribe Unda Bellydance is Eastern Iowa's premiere American Tribal Style Bellydance troupe, led by Melanie Moore, Certified Professional Midwife. They will be performing at 3:15 at our Labor Day picnic in Iowa City. Don't miss it!
Monday, August 30, 2010
Labor Day Picnic: Special Guest
We are delighted to feature Diane Tinker, birth doula from Des Moines, IA, as a special guest at our Labor Day Picnic and Silent Auction! Diane was recently published in an anthology titled Bearing Witness: Childbirth Stories Told by Doulas, and will be reading from that collection, as well as signing books, at the picnic. Books will be availabe for purchase. Diane says:As a birth doula who has been practicing all over Central Iowa and beyond for nearly 15 years and having witnessed and supported women, their partners, and families through hundreds of births in both the hospital and home setting, I am very excited to have been choosen to be a contributing author of this book. It is a creation of poems and stories about birth written from a doula’s perspective. As doulas, we have an honor and privledge of being chosen to be part of a very intimate experience in a woman's life. We bear witness to one of life's greatest miracles - birth - time and again. In this process we also bear witness to the powerful forces of birth, the strength and capabilities of women and the the obstacles that are sometimes put in the way of a normal, natural process. This is a collection of our inside or bird's eye views from the birth space and our way of life as doulas that has been edited & authored by fellow doulas Lisa Doran and Lisa Caron.
More information about the collection:
Bearing Witness is an anthology of 50 stories about doulas working with birthing families. Stories of joy, awe, miracles. Stories that are gut wrenchingly funny and stories that are sad and difficult to hear. There is wisdom in these pages. These stories are presented here to you from the heart. The contributors to Bearing Witness are women who have made a lifestyle out of rising from their warm beds in the middle of the night to answer pages from their clients, of leaving their home and families sometimes for days on end. We do this because most doulas want to help change our birth customs. We want to educate women and advocate for natural childbirth so that they achieve a positive birth experience and feel strong and confident in themselves and will mother their babies in a healthy way. Birth needs to become human again. It needs to reclaim its wild primacy. Peace on earth does indeed begin with birth.
Auction preview: Enwrapture Vintage Silk Skirts
If you love wrap skirts, you will love Enwrapture Vintage skirts! These double layer skirts come in a variety of gorgeous tones and can be tied in over 100 different ways! Our auction will feature two 24" length Enwrapture Vintage skirts! They retail at $50!Bid on these and more at our Labor Day Picnic & Silent Auction at Wetherby Park in IC from 2-6 pm!
Friday, August 27, 2010
Auction Preview: Tax Prep from Carrie Houchins-Witt
Item: Gift Certificate for preparation and filing of 2010 individual federal and state tax return.
Carrie Houchins-Witt provides honest, affordable and timely tax preparation and financial planning to ordinary families.
Carrie is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER(TM) Practitioner (CFPTM) with more than six years of professional tax preparation experience and an extensive background in business and finance operations. In addition to this professional experience, Carrie's own journey with personal finance has taken her through many common financial milestones.
Carrie can help you through ordinary or extraordinary periods of your financial life. She knows what it is like to struggle financially, to save for a house, and to put away money for her children's education. She has experienced debt, and better yet, knows the feeling of freedom that comes with shedding that debt. She explains taxes and personal finances in a simple, thorough way that anyone can understand. She wants you to be in control of our own life, and wants to help you reach your goals.
Carrie is a local work-at-home mother of two young boys born with the support of a midwife (one cesarean section and one beautiful VBAC).
Please explore her website at www.houchinswitt.com to learn more about Carrie and the services she offers.
Bid on this and lots more at our annual Labor Day Silent Auction and Potluck Picnic Sept 6, 2-6 pm at Wetherby Park in Iowa City.
Carrie Houchins-Witt provides honest, affordable and timely tax preparation and financial planning to ordinary families.
Carrie is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER(TM) Practitioner (CFPTM) with more than six years of professional tax preparation experience and an extensive background in business and finance operations. In addition to this professional experience, Carrie's own journey with personal finance has taken her through many common financial milestones.
Carrie can help you through ordinary or extraordinary periods of your financial life. She knows what it is like to struggle financially, to save for a house, and to put away money for her children's education. She has experienced debt, and better yet, knows the feeling of freedom that comes with shedding that debt. She explains taxes and personal finances in a simple, thorough way that anyone can understand. She wants you to be in control of our own life, and wants to help you reach your goals.
Carrie is a local work-at-home mother of two young boys born with the support of a midwife (one cesarean section and one beautiful VBAC).
Please explore her website at www.houchinswitt.com to learn more about Carrie and the services she offers.
Bid on this and lots more at our annual Labor Day Silent Auction and Potluck Picnic Sept 6, 2-6 pm at Wetherby Park in Iowa City.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Auction Preview: Bamboo Birth Doula Services
Item: gift certificate for a complementary upgrade from Economy to Full Service doula package, $75 value.
If you know anything about birth services in Iowa City, you know Jun-Nicole Matsushita and her amazing doula services, Bamboo Birth. Jun-Nicole is a certified doula who empowers women to achieve their goals of low- to no-intervention hospital births and specializes in hypnobirthing techniques. Know a mom expecting? Does she want a natural birth, but is delivering with CNMs or an OB at a local hospital? She will help you with a natural birth, low intervention birth or a medicated birth with a low intervention approach.
Bamboo is a vigorous and versatile plant that symbolizes grace, endurance and compromise as it bends but does not easily break. Bamboo survives in the harshest conditions and endures nature's challenges with resilience and flexibility. Standing tall and green year-round a bamboo forest sways in the wind reminding us of the strength, yielding and adaptability necessary during the powerful process of birth.
Learn more about Jun-Nicole at her website, Bamboo Birth.
Bid on this and lots mor at our annual Labor Day Silent Auction and Potluck Picnic Sept 6, 2-6 pm at Wetherby Park in Iowa City.
If you know anything about birth services in Iowa City, you know Jun-Nicole Matsushita and her amazing doula services, Bamboo Birth. Jun-Nicole is a certified doula who empowers women to achieve their goals of low- to no-intervention hospital births and specializes in hypnobirthing techniques. Know a mom expecting? Does she want a natural birth, but is delivering with CNMs or an OB at a local hospital? She will help you with a natural birth, low intervention birth or a medicated birth with a low intervention approach.
Bamboo is a vigorous and versatile plant that symbolizes grace, endurance and compromise as it bends but does not easily break. Bamboo survives in the harshest conditions and endures nature's challenges with resilience and flexibility. Standing tall and green year-round a bamboo forest sways in the wind reminding us of the strength, yielding and adaptability necessary during the powerful process of birth.
Learn more about Jun-Nicole at her website, Bamboo Birth.
Bid on this and lots mor at our annual Labor Day Silent Auction and Potluck Picnic Sept 6, 2-6 pm at Wetherby Park in Iowa City.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Create a website to raise money for FOIM!
Hey everyone! I just used a really simple, free website service to create a page to raise money for FOIM. Since we are having a Walk for Midwives in Iowa City this October, I'm taking the opportunity to use my social networking and ask friends and family for help as we work towards our goals this year.
It's Easy.
I used the website Weebly to set up my site very quickly. It allowed me to drag and drop elements I wanted to use and upload pictures.
To create a paypal donation button, you'll first need to create a paypal account. Once that's taken care of, click "services" and then "get paid." The site will generate a donate button. On Weebly, drag and drop "custom html" and then copy and paste the button code into that box.
I used the website Ticker Factory to create the fundraising ticker. Again, drag and drop "custom html" and then c&p the code into the box.
PLEASE NOTE: Being "sponsored" is NOT a requirement to participate in this or ANY walk in October!! I'm doing this of my own accord because...
It's Smart
With email, twitter, and facebook, publicity is already taken care of. How many times have YOU had friends or family ask you to sponsor them as they walked or ran for a cause? By sharing your website using social media you're already using, you raise awareness and money without hassling people or feeling embarrassed. I personally plan to post a link to my website once or twice a week until the day of the walk, and offer different reasons to donate money. Even if I only raise $100, that's a huge help to FOIM! That covers postage for our packets to legislators, the fee for an event, or a FULL DAY OF our lobbyist working on our behalf at the capitol. All from taking 30 minutes to create a site and share it on facebook.
It's Necessary
We have very ambitious fundraising goals this year (more details TBA). This year more than ever, FOIM needs support so that we can make our biggest push to license CPMs in Iowa in 2011. I have never asked family or friends who aren't in town, or who aren't parents, to support FOIM. Now I am asking them to support me and my personal stake in this issue.
My goal is to raise $500, enough to support a full week of lobbying. You can see my fundraising page here. I will update to share with you how well it goes!
It's Easy.
I used the website Weebly to set up my site very quickly. It allowed me to drag and drop elements I wanted to use and upload pictures.
To create a paypal donation button, you'll first need to create a paypal account. Once that's taken care of, click "services" and then "get paid." The site will generate a donate button. On Weebly, drag and drop "custom html" and then copy and paste the button code into that box.
I used the website Ticker Factory to create the fundraising ticker. Again, drag and drop "custom html" and then c&p the code into the box.
PLEASE NOTE: Being "sponsored" is NOT a requirement to participate in this or ANY walk in October!! I'm doing this of my own accord because...
It's Smart
With email, twitter, and facebook, publicity is already taken care of. How many times have YOU had friends or family ask you to sponsor them as they walked or ran for a cause? By sharing your website using social media you're already using, you raise awareness and money without hassling people or feeling embarrassed. I personally plan to post a link to my website once or twice a week until the day of the walk, and offer different reasons to donate money. Even if I only raise $100, that's a huge help to FOIM! That covers postage for our packets to legislators, the fee for an event, or a FULL DAY OF our lobbyist working on our behalf at the capitol. All from taking 30 minutes to create a site and share it on facebook.
It's Necessary
We have very ambitious fundraising goals this year (more details TBA). This year more than ever, FOIM needs support so that we can make our biggest push to license CPMs in Iowa in 2011. I have never asked family or friends who aren't in town, or who aren't parents, to support FOIM. Now I am asking them to support me and my personal stake in this issue.
My goal is to raise $500, enough to support a full week of lobbying. You can see my fundraising page here. I will update to share with you how well it goes!
Friday, July 30, 2010
Iowa City Area Events
Chapters across the state are planning exciting events for the fall to raise money and awareness as we gear up for the 2011 session. Mark your calendars for two events in Iowa City this autumn, and pay attention for more events to come across the state!
Labor Day Silent Auction & Picnic
When: Labor Day, Sept 6 from 2 pm - 6 pm
Where: Wetherby Park on Taylor Dr. in Iowa City -- enjoy the picnic shelter, restrooms, playground, sandbox, and Iowa City's only SPLASHPAD!
What: Bring a dish to share and bid on tons of great products and services in the corridor area! Funds directly support our advocacy on the hill. Stay tuned for previews of all our amazing auction items. If you are a local business or craftsperson who'd like to donate something to our auction, please contact Jenn Bowen at jennuwine4@yahoo.com and thank you!
Walks for Midwives during National Midwifery Week
Raise awareness for midwives, homebirth, and licensure by participating in a walk in your community!
When: October 3-9
Where: Walks are being planned across the state. Iowa City's walk will be held Saturday, Oct 9th at 8 am. We will meet at College Green Park and take a route through the Farmer's Market and downtown Iowa City. Stay tuned for more dates and locations for walks across Iowa!
What: Families supporting Iowa's midwives will gather and walk through their communities to raise awareness for our cause. MORE INFO TBA SOON!
Labor Day Silent Auction & Picnic
When: Labor Day, Sept 6 from 2 pm - 6 pm
Where: Wetherby Park on Taylor Dr. in Iowa City -- enjoy the picnic shelter, restrooms, playground, sandbox, and Iowa City's only SPLASHPAD!
What: Bring a dish to share and bid on tons of great products and services in the corridor area! Funds directly support our advocacy on the hill. Stay tuned for previews of all our amazing auction items. If you are a local business or craftsperson who'd like to donate something to our auction, please contact Jenn Bowen at jennuwine4@yahoo.com and thank you!
Walks for Midwives during National Midwifery Week
Raise awareness for midwives, homebirth, and licensure by participating in a walk in your community!
When: October 3-9
Where: Walks are being planned across the state. Iowa City's walk will be held Saturday, Oct 9th at 8 am. We will meet at College Green Park and take a route through the Farmer's Market and downtown Iowa City. Stay tuned for more dates and locations for walks across Iowa!
What: Families supporting Iowa's midwives will gather and walk through their communities to raise awareness for our cause. MORE INFO TBA SOON!
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Pre-order your t-shirts!
Now is the time to order t-shirts! We have several awesome designs, for kids and adults, available for pre-order on our website. Special discounted pricing is available with paid membership!
We will be shipping t-shirts in August, so visit our online store and support Friends of Iowa Midwives today!
Friday, July 9, 2010
Midwife Advocacy articles
Please go to
http://www.joylandgraf.blogspot.com/
Advocacy for midwives, homebirths, and families in Iowa
http://www.joylandgraf.blogspot.com/
Advocacy for midwives, homebirths, and families in Iowa
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Submit your birth story!
Did you have a midwife-attended home birth in Iowa? Want to share your story? Please send your birth stories, along with photos, to be featured on our blog! Send birth stories to: beautifulbirth@yahoo.com.
Friday, February 12, 2010
write your reps NOW!
The deadline to get our bill to the floor is MARCH 5th.
We need you to contact you reps NOW and ask for them to support midwives. Even if you haven't or wouldn't have a homebirth, if you believe the option should be legally available, say so!!!
These reps especially need to hear from you:
Fairfield/Jeff Co.- Rep Curt Hanson needs to hear from you
Knoxville/Marion Co-Rep VanEnglenhoven
Ottumwa/Wapello -Rep Mary Gaskill
Washington-Rep Larry Marek
Sigourney/Ollie/Keokuk Co- Rep Betty DeBoef
Osky- Rep Eric Palmer
There are a bunch of regional letter writing parties happening in the next 2 weeks.
Letter Writing Tips
If your rep is a supporter, write to thank them and ask for their advocacy with their peers!
We need you to contact you reps NOW and ask for them to support midwives. Even if you haven't or wouldn't have a homebirth, if you believe the option should be legally available, say so!!!
These reps especially need to hear from you:
Fairfield/Jeff Co.- Rep Curt Hanson needs to hear from you
Knoxville/Marion Co-Rep VanEnglenhoven
Ottumwa/Wapello -Rep Mary Gaskill
Washington-Rep Larry Marek
Sigourney/Ollie/Keokuk Co- Rep Betty DeBoef
Osky- Rep Eric Palmer
There are a bunch of regional letter writing parties happening in the next 2 weeks.
Letter Writing Tips
If your rep is a supporter, write to thank them and ask for their advocacy with their peers!
Thursday, February 11, 2010
HF 781 PASSES OUT OF THE HOUSE COMMITTEE!!
Hi all,
Great news on the midwifery bill: We passed out of committee in the House!
This is a tremendous success, especially considering the shortened session and the state's current budget concerns. The fact that they even heard our bill is a big deal. We survived funnel week, and we are still in the game this session! This is farther than a midwifery bill has ever gotten in Iowa.
It's also true that we have a lot of work ahead of us. We will really need your help during the rest of this month and next month as we work toward votes on the house and senate floor. Please stay tuned for updates on how to stay involved!
Today's victory wouldn't have been possible without the help of Ida Darragh, CPM, who came to Iowa from Arkansas to educate our lawmakers about CPM education and help us lobby this week. She was absolutely instrumental to our progress. We are still needing financial contributions toward covering Ida's travel expenses - If you can make even a small donation to FOIM today, it would be a big help.
http://www.friendso fiowamidwives. org
Special thanks also go out to:
Megan Day-Suhr, who is consistently present at the Capitol, and is fearless and persistent when it comes to talking to lawmakers about midwives;
Eric Goranson, our lobbyist-consultant ;
Mary Mascher, our bill sponsor;
Everyone who came out to lobby day, baked cookies, wrote legislators, and sent calendars;
And all the wonderful midwives of Iowa who serve our families so lovingly and bravely.
It's such a great pleasure to be doing this good work with you all!
~Monica
Steering Committee
Great news on the midwifery bill: We passed out of committee in the House!
This is a tremendous success, especially considering the shortened session and the state's current budget concerns. The fact that they even heard our bill is a big deal. We survived funnel week, and we are still in the game this session! This is farther than a midwifery bill has ever gotten in Iowa.
It's also true that we have a lot of work ahead of us. We will really need your help during the rest of this month and next month as we work toward votes on the house and senate floor. Please stay tuned for updates on how to stay involved!
Today's victory wouldn't have been possible without the help of Ida Darragh, CPM, who came to Iowa from Arkansas to educate our lawmakers about CPM education and help us lobby this week. She was absolutely instrumental to our progress. We are still needing financial contributions toward covering Ida's travel expenses - If you can make even a small donation to FOIM today, it would be a big help.
http://www.friendso fiowamidwives. org
Special thanks also go out to:
Megan Day-Suhr, who is consistently present at the Capitol, and is fearless and persistent when it comes to talking to lawmakers about midwives;
Eric Goranson, our lobbyist-consultant ;
Mary Mascher, our bill sponsor;
Everyone who came out to lobby day, baked cookies, wrote legislators, and sent calendars;
And all the wonderful midwives of Iowa who serve our families so lovingly and bravely.
It's such a great pleasure to be doing this good work with you all!
~Monica
Steering Committee
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
progress!!
We have great things happening in Iowa! First, we are excited that we have bills in both the House and Senate this year, and our House bill has half a dozen co-sponsors. The leap in support for our cause this year is incredible! We were disappointed when our House bill was assigned the the HR committee last week, which has a few members who are extremely opposed to our cause. However, our brilliant sponsor, Mary Mascher, made a genius move yesterday: she resurrected our bill from last year, which had been assigned to the State Gov't committee, and added the new bill as an amendment to it.
This bill passed through subcom yesterday and goes to full committee today at 4. We don't know what will happen, but State Gov't is a much friendlier place for our bill to be than HR would have been, so we are optimistic!! It's been a blessing that Ida Darragh joined us this week, and got to speak to the committee yesterday to educate legislators. All in all, it's been an amazing week for midwifery! We have members at the capitol today to lobby the SG committee, and Ida will be there as well.
Hooray!
This bill passed through subcom yesterday and goes to full committee today at 4. We don't know what will happen, but State Gov't is a much friendlier place for our bill to be than HR would have been, so we are optimistic!! It's been a blessing that Ida Darragh joined us this week, and got to speak to the committee yesterday to educate legislators. All in all, it's been an amazing week for midwifery! We have members at the capitol today to lobby the SG committee, and Ida will be there as well.
Hooray!
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