Michigan legislators seek to limit no-fault divorce
On February 19, 2008, a bill was introduced in Michigan's state legislature to amend the divorce statute with respect to grounds for divorce. If passed, this law would take Michigan residents back 38 years. In terms of the majority view on morality, evidenced by significant increases in cohabitation rather than marriage as a lifestyle, it would take us back to the 18th century. The legislation, if passed, would state:

Safe Internet use | For those breaking up
Whether you are researching the Internet while doing pre-divorce planning, in a relationship with an abuser, or discussing divorce strategy with your lawyer or a friend, you need to take precautions ro avoid exposing your plans and strategies to your spouse or abuser. Otherwise, you risk danger of injury by an abuser or interference with the settlement of custody, parenting time, or property issues. One of the first things I ask a new client is: "Does your spouse know your email account password?" The communications you have with your divorce lawyer are intended to be confidential. This is particularly important when you and your lawyer are doing strategic planning. And nowadyas, client-lawyer communications often occur via email, as they do with my practice when my clients live far from my office.

A Woman's Brain
Have you ever wondered how a woman's brain works? It's finally explained here in one, easy-to-understand illustration:

Cats Help Shield Owners From Heart Attack
Whether it's a frisky kitten or a tubby tabby, a cat at home could cut your heart attack risk by almost a third, a new study suggests.

Private RU-486 Confounds Anti-Abortionists
Don't look now, but the front lines of the abortion battle are shifting. Thanks to advances in medical technology and the introduction of the drug mifepristone (aka RU 486), which gives women the option of having safe, early abortions in private locations instead of public clinics, the raving crazies who tape pictures of bloody fetuses to their bodies, stalk Planned Parenthood and howl "murder" at anyone who walks through its doors, may suddenly find themselves all dressed up with nowhere to go -- and no one to terrorize. If Islamic Jihadists had done even a tenth this much damage, every last Muslim in America would be doing stress-position calisthenics in a concentration camp somewhere in the Nevada desert right now. But since this impressive achievement in domestic terrorism was almost entirely accomplished by white Christian men -- well, y'see, it's Not Terrorism when we do it -- the public has barely batted an eye.

From Pro-Life to Pro-Choice
January 9, 2008—What makes a woman change her view on a deeply held, intensely personal belief?

Resources for Military Women
Women make up fifteen percent of the U.S. military. One of every ten U.S. troops serving in Iraq is a woman. More than 16,000 single mothers have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Roughly one-third of female veterans who have sought counseling at the VA report having been the victim of rape or attempted rape during their service.

Unmarried Women: This Election’s Holy Grail
During the run-up to the 2004 election, I traveled around the countryand day after day on the road, I was blown away by the unbelievable women I met. From Hollywood to Hoboken, I saw first hand that this country is made-up of amazing women who do their best to make their lives and the lives of those around them better. These women care deeply about health care, the War, national security, education and the environment, and they have the potential to bring these issues to the forefront of political debate. Yet, in the last presidential election, 20 million eligible unmarried women did not vote, making unmarried women the largest group of non-voters in the country.

61% of 33 U.S. lipsticks test positive for lead
American-made lipstick contains “surprisingly high levels of lead,” according to new product test results released Friday by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. The lead tests were conducted by an independent laboratory over the month of September on red lipsticks.

Michigan companies lack women execs
Women have made few strides at the executive level and in boardrooms compared with their male counterparts at Michigan's largest public companies, according to a report expected to be released today. The 2007 Michigan Women's Leadership Index, first published in 2003, looks at the presence of female leaders at 100 corporations headquartered in the state.

The Total Perspective Vortex
Consider eating disorders, for instance. It’s generally been believed that an unrealistically negative body image is an important factor in the self-abuse that characterizes anorexia and bulimia. A 2006 study at the University of Maastricht in the Netherlands, however, came to a very different conclusion. Here, groups of normal and eating disordered women were asked to rate the attractiveness of their own bodies. They were then photographed from the neck down, and panels of volunteers were brought in to view the photos and rate the women’s appearances objectively. The normal women, as it turned out, evaluated themselves much more positively than the panels did, while the self-ratings of the eating disordered women were in close agreement with the objective ratings. The eating disordered subjects, in other words, had a more realistic body image than the normal women. However, it is important to note that the study was based upon the broad concept of "attractiveness" rather than body weight specifically—while the eating disordered women may have rated themselves poorly because they felt "fat," their weight was a controlled variable and not the basis of the volunteers' assessments.

Why Do We Pay Our Plumbers More Than Our Caregivers?
Surely leaky pipes aren't more important than our children. Yet, in America, most plumbers make five times what caregivers do. Author Riane Eisler shows how our economic system, rooted in gender inequality, is failing us. Why does the stock market rally when workers are laid off? Why are working people consistently losing ground? Why do so many women and children live in poverty? Why is the average age of a homeless person in the United States 9 years old? Why are so many seniors forgotten? Why don't we plan ahead or invest well when it comes to things like the environment, education or healthcare? Can the answer be that our economic signals are out of whack with reality?

Click here for a comprehensive regional calendar at "WeAreTraverseCity.com"

Events in Southern Michigan | Events in the Chicago Area

June 4 -8
Smart Commute Week
The goal of Smart Commute Week is to promote alternative ways to get around town. Smart commuting includes bicycling, walking, carpooling or taking BATA. The purpose of Smart Commute Week is to promote alternative transportation and to educate area residents of the benefits of a smart commute. Smart commuting includes many benefits for your health, for the environment and for your pocket book. Smart Commuting increases our mobility with less pollution.

July 25 - 27
Camp "Out" Bike Tour 2008
For 15 years, Friends North organized a weekend of camping, biking, and outdoor fun for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals and their friends in Northern Michigan. In July 2007, that tradition continued as Camp Out Michigan took over operation of the Bike Tour. We had over 70 participants who came from all over Michigan as well as Indiana, Illinois, Ohio and Ontario. The event is still a fund raiser for Michigan GLBT causes. Each year we will select one or two charities who will benefit from Bike Tour proceeds.

August 9-10:
Annual Lower Platte Kayak & Float Your Rubber Boat
Kayak the lower Platte River at the Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore. As in the past few years, please express your interest early on and we will try to find a way to camp and play together.

Every Friday from 3pm - 6pm
Right Brain
Warehouse District (221 Garland St), Traverse City—Join us for Happy Hour. Oh yah, and it's smoke free.

Second Friday Each Month - 7:30 - 9:30pm
Dances Of Universal Peace - Traverse City Dance Circle
After years of talking about it, We are ready to start our Dances Of Universal Peace - Traverse City Dance Circle. We are calling it - Living in Harmony / Traverse City Dance Circle It will be held the Second Friday of the Month starting in December going till June. The dances will be held at Just Imagine 225 West 14th Street Traverse City. The time is 7:30 PM till 9:30 PM. Suggested Offering $5-10 All are welcome. No musical or dance experience necessary. Dances are easy to learn and are taught to the whole group each time. Also It's time to put our New Years Eve Global Dance on your calendar. It will again be at our Lama Meadows Farm.

Event Planning: Happening Now!
We are now planning events around the year. We are seeking your ideas on events and activities that you would like to share with other women. All ideas are welcome and encouraged. Join the discussion now at the "Message Center" (click the link at the top of this page).

SUPPORT

Mastectomy Hospital Bill in Congress
It takes 2 seconds to do this and is very important! There's a bill called the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act which will require insurance companies to cover a minimum 48-hour hospital stay for patients undergoing a mastectomy. It's about eliminating the "drive-through mastectomy" where women are forced to go home just a few hours after surgery, against the wishes of their doctor, still groggy from anesthesia and sometimes with drainage tubes still attached. PLEASE!! Sign the petition; This takes about 2 seconds.

Women Sue Wal-Mart Over Discrimination
Wal-Mart may have the best legal team money can buy -- but even the fanciest of corporate lawyers can't stop the largest class-action lawsuit in U.S. history. Thanks to the determination of current and former Wal-Mart employees, their dedicated counsel and the judicial wisdom of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, the world's largest employer will face allegations that it actively discriminated against its female employees. This case could cost them close to $20 billion. This is a historic day for all of us who believe that women deserve equal pay, equal promotions and equal treatment at work. Tell your friends and family that Wal-Mart's day in court has come. As for readers of this message: Do the right thing for our community and please Boycott Wal-mart.

• Our goal is to change our culture in order to prevent increasing violence against women and girls through education, entertainment and positive representation of women.
• In these pages we provide news and information about current events and regional social activities.
• We also will share information that may be personally empowering for many women.
• We are also pleased to recognize "Notable Women of NW Michigan" who have contributed to our region and our world in a myriad of ways.
• While women make up over 51% of the human population, we enjoy nowhere near 51% of the power and influence. Our goal at “Traverse for Women” is to build more effective women's networks in our region that will help to correct this inequity. A fair and balanced cultural system that represents the demographics of our society would be healthier for all.

Looking for a few good women
“Traverse for Women” would like to hear from women that would like to be part of the design and editorial team for this web site. No experience in web site management is necessary. READ MORE

A Web Page for Your NW Michigan Women's Group
If your women's group would like to have your own web page at this site, please submit a proposal to us. Simply click the title of this message, or the e-mail button at the top of any page to contact us.