Spring 2006 Events

January

Thursday, January 26: The Abortion Diaries
The Abortion Diaries is a documentary featuring 12 women who speak candidly about their experiences with abortion. The women are doctors, subway workers, artists, activists, military personnel, teachers and students; they are Black, Latina, Jewish and White; they are mothers or child-free; they range in age from 19 to 54. Their stories weave together with the filmmaker's diary entries to present a compelling, moving and at times surprisingly funny "dinner party" where the audience is invited to hear what women say behind closed doors about motherhood, medical technology, sex, spirituality, love, work and their own bodies. Presented by Penn Nurses for Choice.
7 PM - 9 PM, Nursing Education Building, the Auditorium

Thursday, January 26: Happy Birthday Roe v. Wade!
Celebrate this historic anniversary - and help make sure there are many more to come. Cupcakes will be provided.
11 AM - 3 PM, The Bistro in Houston Hall

Saturday, January 28: The Sex Toy Box Social
Running low on flavored lube? Need a motion-detecting vagina ball to get through your daily workout? Enjoy food, dancing, and an interactive demonstration by a Toygasm representative from The Mood. Proceeds will benefit the Greater Philadelphia Women's Medical Fund.
9 PM - 11:30 PM, Bodek Lounge in Houston Hall

February

Thursday, Feb 14: A viewing & discussion of a special episode of Boston Legal about a woman who was denied emergency contraception (the "morning-after pill") after she was raped. Penn for Choice will host a viewing of this episode and a discussion about emergency contraception and victims' rights. Join us for a cozy evening and stimulating conversation.
Hamilton, M30
For more details, email lheifetz@sas.

Wednesday, February 15 - Tuesday, February 21: Penn Women's Week
See the Vagina Monologues, attend events sponsored by constituent groups of the Penn Consortium of Undergraduate Women (including us), and the Women's Week keynote speaker, Gloria Steinem - for details visit pcuw.org.

Thursday, February 16: Penn for Choice/Women In Thought Coffeehouse
Enjoy desserts and hot beverages while savoring performances from the Excelano Project, Pennchants, Off the Beat, Penn Jazz, and others. Benefits MADRE, an international women's human rights organizations. Proceeds will go towards MADRE's assistance towards South American Women's Rights groups.
7-9 PM, LGBT Center, $5

March
MARCH 16: Planned Parenthood Southeastern Pennsylvania Event
"As you may be aware, we have been in our "quiet phase" of our Capital Campaign for some time and are about to kickoff the campaign to the public. On March 16, we will be holding our kickoff event at the World Café Live from 5-8pm. There will be 2 components to the event: the first is an "experience" that replicates what our patients must go through when visiting our Reproductive Health Center and our Surgical Center. The second is the premiere of our Owning Our Future video. I've included more details on the event and the campaign for you below.

I'm writing to you because we will need a tremendous amount of volunteer support for this event, and I'd like to invite you to participate. We will need volunteers to serve as escorts, clinic advocates, and coordinators within the experience, as well as people to help with coat check and many many other things. Here's the time commitment needed for this:
1. You will need to be available from 4pm-8pm (or a bit later) on March 16th
2. You will need to be available to attend at least 1 of 2 orientations (dates TBA)

Walk past picketers, check in for your medical appointment, and see where your visit to a Planned Parenthood Southeastern Pennsylvania health center takes you, in our PPSP Experience. You will encounter many of the obstacles that hinder access to healthcare, see the full range of PPSP services, and feel the quality of care that PPSP staff provides to all of our patients. The Owning Our Future video will premiere at the March 16 Kick-Off event. Don't miss seeing your friends and colleagues on the big screen! Produced by the award-winning Attie & Goldwater Productions, the Owning Our Future video is sure to entertain and inspire.

MARCH 20: Philly Women's Center ESCORT TRAINING
The next volunteer escort training will be held on Monday, March 20th from 5pm-7pm at the Philadelphia Women's Center. This is an excellent opportunity to support women and get active within your community! PWC is the longest operating abortion provider in PA, but moved to a brand new, spacious, beautiful facility in fall, 2005. It is, quite literally, immediately after you exit the Ben Franklin Bridge in Center City Philadelphia (literally, about four blocks from the bridge), and is accessible to every bus/train/subway that exists in the City.

Our exact address is 777 Appletree Street and I can give specific directions to people who RSVP. We will be serving food and beverages, as well as giving a clinic tour. Please let me know if you will need more information.

April

APRIL 4 - Penn for Choice Takes Harrisburg
Join women and men from all over Pennsylvania in advocating for "A Women's Agenda" - issues include comprehensive & commpasionate care for rape victims, increased access to polling stations, discouragement of any bans on same-sex unions, and other important issues.

LEARN how to lobby effectively, MEET your representatives, ENGAGE with other advocates and community organizers, and MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Buses will leave from Penn and return that day. Transportation will be free or cheap.

Fall 2005 Events

September
Tuesday, September 13 - Meeting
8 PM Women's Center
First meeting of Fall 2005
We will be talking about our 60 day EC-OTC countdown, which will include a senator call-a-thon coming up in two weeks, a patient escort training for Planned Parenthood in early October, and brainstorm about Choice Week and the Supreme Court.
Wednesday, September 21 - FDA Call-a-thon on making EC over the counter

October
No meeting on October 11 - instead, we're going to see Eve Ensler's The Good Body at the Annenberg Center.

Choice Week
Monday 10/31: Contraception Fair
Houston Hall, 11 am - 5 pm
Stop by for answers to all your contraception questions and enjoy free samples (and say hi to the huge condom). Not to be missed!

Tuesday, 11/1: Choice Internationally
Arch Crest (36 & Locust), 8 pm
A screening of Rosita, the documentary chronicling the rape and pregnancy of a 9-year old Nicaraguan girl, and her family's fight to get her an abortion. Followed by a Q&A with Carol Petritis, director of the Clara Bell Duvall Project at the ACLU. Refreshments will be served.

Wednesday, 11/2: Men of Choice
Arch Lobby (36 & Locust), 12-2 pm
Because men who love women love women's rights. Join us in asking Sen. Arlen Specter to fairly question Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito. Pizza and soda will be provided.

Thursday, 11/3: Choice & the Law
Huntsman Hall 260, 8 pm
What are the laws affecting your right to choose, and how might they change in the future? Join a panel of experts from the Women's Law Project for an energizing discussion. Refreshments will be served.

Friday, 11/4: Choice Up Close
Penn Women's Center (37 & Locust), 3 pm
Join the director of the local Women's Medical Fund for dessert and a discussion of how poverty affects women's choices, and how someone actually goes about getting an abortion in Philadelphia.

All Week: More information, t-shirts, and buttons will be available at our table on the walk and at dolphin.upenn.edu/~p4c.