FREEBORN Midwifery Benefit, Bloomington Indiana

600 Views 10 Replies 5 Participants Last post by MamaTaraX, Aug 22, 2006

Peppamint

Discussion Starter · Aug 6, 2006

Updated info!

Quote:

Freeborn Benefit Aug 26, 1-8 pm, Third Street Park, Bloomington, IN
A day of family fun and music. In addition to a concert and silent
auction, activities include speakers, legislative information,
refreshments, vendors, massage, a special children's area and more.
Admission is free but donations will be accepted. All funds raised
will go to the Jennifer Williams Legal Defense Fund.

Here's the press release:

Quote:

FREEBORN

Contact: Shelley MilliganFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tel. 812/369-5507
Email: [email protected]

COMMUNITY RALLIES TO PROTECT FREEDOM OF CHOICE
Freeborn Benefit Goers Seek to Preserve Birth Options by Raising Awareness

Only nine states in the US criminalize midwife attended home birth. Many concerned Hoosiers wonder why Indiana must be one of them. Local home birth families and other concerned citizens are gathering to celebrate their freedom to choose home birth. The event is called Freeborn and is part of a larger grassroots legislative effort in support of the Indiana Midwifery Licensure Bill.

Freeborn is scheduled for August 26, 2006 from 1:00 to 8:00 p.m. It will be a day of family fun and music at Third Street Park in Bloomington, Indiana. Performances on the stage include Conrad Newholmes (a.k.a. Smaze), Zion Crossroads, Earth Mamas, Alex Shroyer, The Drew Laird Experience and so much more!

In addition to the concert, a silent auction will raise money for the letter writing campaign and the legal defense of a local midwife. Festival goers may bid on goods and services generously donated by local artists and businesses including Bloomingfoods, Andy Reed, Natural Elements, Fossil Rain, Greg Sereno, Donna Cooney, Brown County Weavery, Avers, Boxcar Books, Mondo Del Gado, Jeff Cooney OMD, Athena, Tad Richardson, Laughing Planet, Penny Stonecipher, SOMA, Jane Bradley, Landlocked Music, Chris Long, Rachel Henry, Melissa Larimer, Here and Now, TD's, Erin Sebree and many others.

A special children's area will be open from 1:00 to 7:00 p.m. with many fun and exciting activities including bubbles, face painting, songs, puppet shows, collage crafts, storytellers and water play. Parental supervision is expected in the children's area. Massages will be donated by the students of the Associates of Integrative Health from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own picnic and plan to stay the day.

Festival goers can learn more about the issue of midwifery legislation and home birth in general. Supplies will be on hand at the information booth for anyone who wishes to send a letter to their state representatives urging them to vote yes on the Indiana Midwifery Licensure Bill.

This special event is just one part of a larger grassroots effort in Indiana to raise awareness about home birth and our freedom to choose delivery with a certified professional midwife. In addition to this event, there is a class action lawsuit against Attorney General Steve Carter, a letter writing campaign, local protests and other fundraising efforts. Additional information is available upon request.

Admission to Freeborn is free but donations will be accepted. The suggested donation is $5.00 to $10.00 per person. All funds raised will go to the Jennifer Williams Legal Defense Fund.

# # #

If you'd like more information, please call Shelley Milligan, event coordinator, at 812/369-5507 or email [email protected]. Supportive information about home birth and the current legislative efforts is available upon request.

ALSO

Quote:

Please remember that the hearing to add the names to the AG law suit is Sept 5. Although this is not a big legal deal, we are trying to use it
as a big time press opportunity. We will be meeting with Pat ****** for our study hearing soon after that, and it would be great to have a lot of publicity on that date. I am going to write and call my Amish communities and try to get them to come. Please come, bring your kids, invite your play group kids, make it a homeschooling project or take the kids out of school for the day, get the grandparents, beg and borrow people, and let's make it a HUGE HUGE turnout. We will do some sort of rally either before or after the hearing, and the hearing is at 3. We want to pack the courthouse for that hearing. My lawyer wants "babies hanging off the rafters" Signs, wagons, painted vans, homebirth t-shirts, the works - anything you can think of to promote homebirth and midwifery.
I will be writing you with more specific details soon, but it will be in the afternoon on Sept 5 at the courthouse in Bloomington, Indiana.

See less See more

Save

1 - 11 of 11 Posts

Jazmommie

· #2 · Aug 8, 2006

Thanks for posting this --I was wondering what was going on with this.

Save

Peppamint

Discussion Starter · #3 · Aug 9, 2006

There is also the Assisting Workshop coming up...

Quote:

Learn to be an assistant to a midwife at a homebirth!
Learn to be a valuable asset to a homebirth midwife!
If you aren't quite ready for that, you will still enjoy this workshop and you can explore where you might "fit" in the world of midwifery.

I'm REALLY hoping to go. I was considering the doula classes at BABS but this is more in line with what I really want to be doing someday.

If you come in the afternoon on the 26th, I'll be working in the kid's tent.

See less See more

Save

Blumbosa

· #4 · Aug 11, 2006

Hi Busy Busy Mama,
My name is Erika and I think we were in birth class together at BABS six and a half years ago? I live in Boulder, CO, now, and I was just checking the boards for news from Bloomington. I heard about the Jennifer Williams thing from Georg'ann, right around when it was in the New York Times a few months ago. Anyway, if I were closer I would love to come to your event.
Jennifer was my midwife for Serena, and Mary Helen was for Noah in 2003
Say hi to everyone for us.

Erika Blum, Francisco, Serena (6.5) and Noah (3)

Save

Kaitnbugsmom

· #5 · Aug 11, 2006

I am looking into getting a slot at the workshop. if i heard right it's at BABS?

Save

Peppamint

Discussion Starter · #6 · Aug 11, 2006

Judith- Hmm, I'm not sure of the location actually

... I'm sending in my registration deposit today via PayPal. Maybe I'll see you there!

Erika- no, it wasn't me. I wish I would've taken BABS birth classes instead of the Bloomington Hospital Lamaze

. My first birth was 5.5 years ago at BH and my second and third births were at home with GV. I'll try to remember to say hi to Jennifer for ya! If you want to keep up on the news, you can join Jennifer's yahoogroup at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/trilliumbirthing

See less See more

Save

Kaitnbugsmom

· #7 · Aug 11, 2006

I'm paypalling on Tuesday

See less See more

Save

Peppamint

Discussion Starter · #8 · Aug 21, 2006

Just a bump- it's this weekend!

Also, I'm trying to drum up food donations. All food has to be prepacked due to health codes but we're in need of drinks and food by national brands such as Coke, Pepsi, Frito Lay etc. (We're covered in the natural area I think) If you'd like to donate but can't pick up any snacks and get them to me, feel free to PayPal and I will pick up some chips, cookies or soda in your name.

I hope to you there!

See less See more

Save

MamaTaraX

· #9 · Aug 22, 2006

Maybe I'll jump in here...

Is anyone going on Saturday coming from north of Bloomington? (like from Indy?) I'd loe to go but I need a ride. I'll happily give gas money, anything you'd like. If anyone knows anyone who may be able to help, I'd appreciate it! I really want to be there in person! I live between Indy and B'ton.

Namaste, Tara

Save