September 2007

Love, Strength, & Hope: The Mautner Project's Annual Gala
You are cordially invited to the 17th Anniversary Gala! Enjoy dinner, dancing, entertainment, and more all benefitting the Mautner Project -- Your National Lesbian Health Organization.

Join us:
17th Anniversary Gala Dinner
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Hilton Washington and Towers Hotel
1919 Connecticut Ave. NW Washington, DC 20009
Auction & Reception 6 p.m.
Dinner at 8 p.m

Entertainment by comedian Rene Hicks
Buy your tickets online or call us at 202.332.5536.

Volunteer at the Gala!
If you're looking for a fun way to help out, give us a call or email ssanford@mautnerproject.org.

VIP Art Preview
If you're an art lover, you won't want to miss this special preview of original created especially for the Gala! Please join us on Thursday, September 27th, from 6 - 9 pm at:
Fine Art and Artists Gallery
2920 M St. NW (in Georgetown)
Washington, DC 20007

It's Time to Quit.
Smoking affects us all in the LGBT community including our partners, our children, and even our pets! Looking for a way to quit? Let Mautner show you that you too deserve to breathe better and be healthier. Contact us now by calling 202.332.5536 or emailing mautner@mautnerproject.org

Ask Ms. M
Dear Ms. M: Every time I go into my general practitioner or my gynecologist, they ask me if I perform a monthly self-breast exam. I know early detection is important - but I'm 23! Do I really need to start doing this now? -- Young One

Dear YO: In a word - YES! Absolutely! Now for a more detailed answer. There are actually a variety of reasons why you should be doing a breast self exam every month. First of all, you don't need to think about it as "looking for cancer;" who wouldn't dread doing that on a regular basis? Instead, try thinking of it as getting to know your breasts better. For most women, a "lumpy" or irregular texture is normal, but you'll need to be very familiar with what is normal for your body in order to recognize unusual changes. If you do find any changes, you'll be able to share information with your care provider that could be invaluable - which you can learn in only a few minutes every month! Finally, young women can and do develop breast cancer, and before you start having regular mammograms, self-exam is a valuable tool for early detection. For more information and resources, check out the Young Survival Coalition. For more information on how to examine your breasts more thoroughly and effectively, give the Mautner Project a call at 202.332.5536, or take a look at Komen's online tutorial.

Got a question about any aspect of your health? Ms. M has got the answers! Just send an email to ssanford@mautnerproject.org.

Calling All Daytime Drivers!
Fall is a great time to make new friends. You can discover a lot about a person driving a Mautner client to a medical appointment. The scenic view of the George Washington Parkway can lead to conversations about an early childhood memory or the latest Mystics' game. If you have a weekday or part of a day and would like to volunteer with us, please call 202-332-5536 or e-mail cfoley@mautnerproject.org or lbiros@mautnerproject.org.

Executive Director Search
Mautner Project seeks an exec. Dir. to lead organization dedicated to improving the health of sexual minority women and their families. Founded in 1990, Mautner has 5 staff, 8-mbr board and $1 mil. budget. Great oppty. for visionary leader with expe. working in health care field and diverse communities. Requires 8-10 yrs. sr. management exp., fundraising success. See Transition Guides for more details. To apply send resume, cover ltr and salary reqs. to mautner@transitionguides.com (email apps ref'd) or fax 301.439.6638.

Save the Date!
The 5th annual National LGBTI Anti-Tobacco Summit, "Expanding our Movement: Lessons from the Field," will be taking place on October 23, 2007 in Minneapolis, MN. This year's keynote speaker: Dr. Francisco O. Butching, vice president of CLASH (Coalition of Lavendar Americans on Smoking and Health). Don't miss out on the best opportunity to network with others in the field of LGBT tobacco control and health! Find out more details by visiting the LGBT Tobacco homepage.

Interested in giving a workshop at this conference?
Abstracts are now being accepted here. Forms must be received by COB, August 14th PST. Topic focus this year includes: reaching underserved/hardest to reach LGBTIQ populations, future advocate training, LGBTIQ tobacco control and social justice, LGBTIQ inclusion in mainstream tobacco control efforts, investigating LGBT targeting tactics, and other topics exploring how to exapnd LGBTIQ tobacco control.

The Mautner Project improves the health of lesbians, bisexual, and transgender women who partner with women, and their families, through advocacy, education, research, and direct service. We envision a healthcare system that is guided by social justice and responsive to the needs of all people.

Health Education Team
Mautner Project: The National Lesbian Health Organization
202.332.5536