Co-hosts: Political Action Committee for Excellence (PACE), Commission on the Status of Women-Alameda County, Commission on the Status of Women-Contra Costa County, Alameda County Tri-Valley NOW, and California Women’s Leadership Association (CWLA).

Each session meets at a location central to the topic, whether it’s literacy, hunger, aging, etc. A panel of service providers and volunteers will offer a wide range of experience and perspective. Agencies will be on hand to explain how you, or your family, office, church, or social club can get involved so you can make a difference.

The September 9 forum will discuss Literacy, and will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 at Cambridge Elementary, located at 1135 Lacey Lane, in Concord. Then, On November 11, a forum on Hunger needs in our community will be held at the Contra Costa and Solano Food Bank Warehouse, located at 4010 Nelson Avenue, Concord, from 6:30 to 8:30. For more information, visit the Hearing And Doing web site or e-mail service@hearinganddoing.com

It is so important for caregivers to find ways to sustain themselves while they take on the tasks of being there for their loved one with cancer. Dottie is an example of how to do just that The Balancing Act is an extension of The Star Campaign, an initiative launched last summer that enables patients and survivors to recognize and share the stories of their Stars–their caregivers. The inspiring stories of caregiving featured in the book have been chosen from more than 300 Star Walk of Fame entries on www.starcampaign.org.

Dottie’s story exemplifies Tip #1–Find a Caregiver Support System. Soon after her husband Andy’s diagnosis, Dottie began attending TWC’s caregiver support groups. It didn’t take long for her to realize the value in talking to other caregivers who shared similar experiences. Andy loved to see how these weekly support groups rejuvenated Dottie. “We were in this journey together and it was comforting to see that she was getting the support she needed also.” Dottie joins others to shed light on caregiving experiences that often go unnoticed.

“It is so important for caregivers to find ways to sustain themselves while they take on the tasks of being there for their loved one with cancer. Dottie is an example of how to do just that,” says Margaret Stauffer, MFT, Program Director.

The Wellness Community San Francisco East Bay, located in Walnut Creek, provides a comprehensive program of education and support for both people with cancer and their loved ones. Services include support groups led by therapist facilitators, educational programs on a variety of topics related to managing treatment and recovery from cancer, and creative expression, stress reduction and specialized exercise programs such as yoga and guided imagery. These services are provided free of charge in order to be as accessible as possible to families in their time of need.

In conjunction with the book’s launch, TWC today released the results of a new national cancer caregiver and patient/survivor survey. These findings provide insight into the needs of caregivers and affirm the need for a strong cancer caregiver network. Some key survey findings are as follows:

While patients and caregivers seek assistance from and ask questions of doctors, fewer than one in four caregivers are aware of the potential resources available to them after their loved one’s initial diagnosis. While doctors or other medical professionals walked six in ten (62%) cancer patients/survivors through resources available to them during the initial diagnosis, fewer than one in four caregivers (24%) were walked through caregiver resources.

Many cancer patients and caregivers still have questions after the initial doctor visit. More than three-quarters of cancer patients (77%) and caregivers (79%) said they had questions about the disease or treatment after the initial doctor visit.

Cancer patients rely on many other resources for support and information during their cancer experience. Patients are most apt to rely on different types of people during their cancer experience, particularly family members. Nearly nine in ten report they turned to family members during their cancer experience, while eight in ten turned to doctors and friends. Approximately three in four cancer patients/survivors (78%) and caregivers (72%) went to a Web site specifically to learn more about the illness.

These results reflect the growing need for resources to educate both patients and caregivers about the cancer experience. To order your free copy of The Balancing Act, visit www.starcampaign.org. The Star Campaign and The Balancing Act: Tips for the Caregiver are made possible thanks to a charitable donation from GlaxoSmithKline Oncology.

The Wellness Community San Francisco East Bay, based in Walnut Creek, CA, helps people with cancer and their loved ones enhance health and well-being by providing a professional program of emotional support, education, and hope. The Wellness Community offers free comprehensive programs include cancer support groups, educational workshops and stress reduction classes.

For more information, contact: Margaret Stauffer, The Wellness Community (SF/East Bay), 925-933-0107

Volunteers will receive on-the-job training. Everyone is welcome. No qualifications, only a willingness to work. Volunteer one weekend a month or lots of weekends…whatever fits your schedule. You are needed.

Diablo Appraisal and Estate Sales was established in 1999 for families requesting help selling household items. Families are guaranteed honest, efficient, reliable service. Funds generated from the sale go to Hospice of the East Bay programs and services.

If you are interested in this opportunity, please call Lamont Campbell at (925) 766-5066.

Join nonprofit leaders for a day of learning and networking as the conference examines the many ways the aging of the Baby Boom population is affecting the nonprofit sector. Fast-paced workshops and stimulating panel discussions will help managers, administrators, and board memebers navigate the many changes and challenges nonprofits face in the areas of leadership transition, fundraising, board development, cultural competency and volunteer recruitment

To be held at the Crowne Plaza in Concord, February 1 from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. Registration is limited. Early bird registration ends January 7, 2008 is $95. Regular registration, after Janurary 7, is $135. Click here to register online.

For 25 years, volunteers trained by CASA of Contra Costa County have advocated for the needs of hundreds of children who have been abused, neglected or abandoned.

CASA needs volunteers to help provide its unique and desperately needed advocacy services to these vulnerable children. After the training that we provide, CASA volunteers are appointed by the Juvenile Court. They spend time with the child and they meet with teachers, therapists and others to assess the child’s situation and needs. They are uniquely able to advise the court and speak up for the children they serve. CASA volunteers show up when they say they will; they model caring consistency; they keep their promises to children who have lost trust in adults and lost hope in their lives.

CASA volunteers are ordinary people from various walks of life who do extra-ordinary things in the lives of children. They are unlike any other, because they meet strict requirements and commit over 15 hours per month and a minimum of two years to each child. In addition to training, CASA provides its volunteers with a broad volunteer support program including Case Review support; mentoring through a Team Leader structure; a CASA Support Group; and strong volunteer recognition efforts.

If you are interested in becoming a CASA volunteer, it is strongly recommend that you attend an orientation session to assist you in your decision to apply to be a CASA volunteer. CASA will help you with the application process, give you more information about its next training class to be held Jan. 15 – Feb. 7, 2008, and answer any of your questions about the role and duties of a volunteer.

Those interested in volunteering should call CASA to sign up to attend this session: 925-256-7284.