My name is Dee Dooley and I will be taking on the programming and volunteer coordinator position at the Saint Mary’s University Women’s Centre for the 2011-2012 year. I will be joined by Danielle Dufour, who will be looking after Administration and Outreach. We are both so excited about what the centre can offer this year-with your help!

The SMU Women’s Centre provides students with the following services: a safe hangout space for all genders, referral information for issues related to sexual health, sexual assault and other services available largely to women in need around Halifax, free pads, tampons, condoms, tea and coffee, a library with primarily feminist literature, programming on issues of sexual health, sexual identity, LGBTQI issues and violence against women (among others!) and opportunities for volunteering and student leadership.

The vision statement of the Women’s Centre states that the centre aims to educate the University community about feminisms, gender identity and women’s rights, and to celebrate women through activities and events. The centre offers resources to the community and a safe space for members sharing the centres’ principles. The centre provides a space to organize for a variety of political and social causes. The centre advocates a feminist voice and responds to sexist/oppressive happenings on campus and, when possible, in the larger community. The centre strives to collaborate with broader community groups. The centre adopts a pro-choice philosophy and is committed to upholding and promoting reproductive justice.

As September approaches, we are looking to put together a Board of Directors for the SMU Women’s Centre. This is an excellent opportunity to connect with, contribute to and stay involved in Halifax’s feminist and women’s community.

The SMU Women’s Centre is a society and is provided with a student levy from SMUSA each semester to fund its initiatives-however these initiatives are all designed and sustained through the Board of Directors. This means that the Coordinators, along with the Board of Directors, choose what events to plan, promote and provide for the SMU community.

The SMU Women’s Centre Board of Directors will be composed of members who express interest in serving the Centre in accordance with the Vision Statement and feminist principles. If this sounds like you-and something you would be interested in-we would love to hear from you!

Members of the SMU Women’s Centre Board of Directors are required to take part in an Orientation provided by Danielle and I, Support Providers and First Response Training put on by Avalon Sexual Assault Support Centre as well as a workshop provided by the Youth Project on creating safe spaces and inclusive practices. This training will be about two days long and take place in early-mid September (before everyone gets busy!) The up-side is that these are all very valuable to have.

Members are also required to attend meetings (usually 1 hour-1 1/2 hours) every three weeks to discuss centre happenings, events and progress. Members should also make themselves available for at least 10 hours of volunteer work/semester. This can be spread out over centre hours/organization and administration tasks/programming/special events etc.

If you think that you could make this commitment, the Women’s Centre will provide an honorarium in April 2012-budget dependent, but has been $200 in years past. Apart from this small financial incentive, being on the Board of Directors looks great on a resume, provides a chance to get involved and affect change and many interesting and fun experiences.

SO. If you think this is something you would want to do, get back to us. We are excited to see what you think.

Looking forward to a great year!

From 10:30-11:45am:

Eight weeks of free Capoeira! Sweet!

And then from 1:30-2:45:

Hula hooping! I went last week and decorated my hoop. It was a lot of fun and I’m looking forward to going again on Friday. I brought my hoop home on the bus and got a few strange looks, but what the hell! Hooping is awesome!

Both of these are free to full-time SMU students/Tower members. If you don’t fit into one of those categories, I believe a day pass will run you about $8. Which isn’t bad if you were to go to both of these activities. You could stretch it out and use the pass to steam in the sauna or do drop-in yoga at 5pm (although, I warn you – yoga fills up early!). And there are free hoops (first come, first serve) for about ten people to decorate and keep. That is more than worth the $8!

Hope to see you on Friday!

/l-a