"Is it a Crime for a Citizen of the United States to Vote?" by Tricia Dycka

It’s All About YES

VOLUME 2; ISSUE 10

OCTOBER 6, 2012

Fans of the Week • October Issue 2012 Stephanie McDilda As the owner of Flashpoint International, Stephanie is writing a book on love and leadership. If you have had a very good... or very bad experience as a leader or an employee that you would like to share, you can contact her at stephanie@flashpointinternational.com

Mary Joyce Productivity Summit: I am one of the 21 experts giving you their top 5-minute tips time management, effective marketing, self-care, productivity, and business strategies starting October 10. Are you in? register here http://21daystoproductivity.com/

Marta A. Sloane I’m a single creative lass, looking to relocate to a drier climate with two fun, sometimes rascally cats. And currently not dating but hoping to shortly as soon as my pc issues are resolved. My creative pursuits include macramé, Chinese brush painting, writing, acrylic painting, and film making. I love music. some of my favorites are Josh Groban, Jamie Cullum and Lady Antebellum. {Yes, there are others, this is just a sampling.} I’d love to see Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific as well as return to the UK and see some places I haven’t seen yet. I’m also a foodie, chocolate is one thing I like as well as salmon, turkey and zucchini. I am on Facebook and Google, as well as some other social sites. https://www.facebook.com/ masloane.fla

All of us at It’s All About Yes thank you for your wonderful contributions/ comments to our page. As you can see, as our way of saying Thank You we have Fans of the Week here in the monthly magazine. Here you are highlighted with your picture, and a chance to say something about you, your business AND have a hot link to your site. Because we have HUNDREDS of readers, look at how many people you can reach with info about YOU.

TABLE OF CONTENTS 2

Fans of the Week

From the Publisher...

Voting for Someone Else’s Fear is Ridiculous by Kelly Beversdorf

Women! These chains cannot hold us! Spread the word! by Jennifer Shelton

Power Up That Vote! By Cindy Readnower

Take a Stand!! by Tricia Dycka

One Reason to Vote is Reason Enough! by Leslee Horner

Photo Op Ed by Lori Paquette

All About YES Interview: All About Tricia Dycka

How Does Voting Work? by Liz LaClair

“If You Don’t Stand For Something, You’ll Fall For Anything” by Lori Latimer

By Changing Nothing, Nothing Changes by Mary Joyce

How One Woman’s Vote is Changing The World by Tracie Nichols

Windows by Sherrie Williams

To Vote or Not to Vote? by Liz Nonnemacher

Politics and Voting by Stephanie McDilda

VOLUME 2; ISSUE 10

It’s All About YES

OCTOBER 6, 2012

FROM THE PUBLISHER… October’s cover comes from a quote by Susan B. Anthony. A very courageous woman Susan Brownell Anthony was a prominent American civil rights leader who played a pivotal role in the 19th century women’s rights movement to introduce women’s suffrage into the United States. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_B._Anthony As the election draws near I ask you to take some time and figure out what you want then go VOTE! It is very important that we stand up for ourselves and our communities. Do you know people have said to me why bother voting it won’t make a difference or who cares nothing will change anyway. WHAT? With that kind of an attitude, how will anything ever change? I am one of those people who are positive and my outlook is, things will always work out for the best. Something good will come. However I take action, I do something about it. Again I ask you to vote and share your voice. “Susan B. Anthony voted in the 1872 US Presidential Election, even though women did not have the right to vote! While she was arrested, and her vote was not included among those counted, her act had ramifications that spread far beyond the choice of President. After her arrest and prior to her trial, Anthony undertook an exhaustive speaking tour of all 29 of the towns and villages of the county where her trial was to be held. In her speeches she addressed the question ‘Is it a Crime for a Citizen of the United States to Vote?’ She was eventually convicted and fined $100. She never paid the fine.”

Voting for Someone Else’s Fear is Ridiculous by Kelly Beversdorf

Voting...How can anyone effect change if they do not get out having their voice heard? How many times have you not voted then you complain about the direction? The way things look now it feels as if we are going back to the dark ages and women as a whole must stand up to be heard You know what really makes me sick to my stomach about voting?? We’ll let me tell you, it’s the issues that we as humans vote for. Why the hell do I need to vote on whether a group of people can marry each other, or vote to tell women what birth control they should use, or whether they can have an abortion? I think voting is getting to be a bunch of crap…or maybe it’s the politicians I’m supposed to stand in line on election day to vote for that are full of crap. Both…yea it’s both. I still don’t understand how society can even look in the mirror and seriously think they have moved beyond the dark ages. Humans as a whole are still struggling to treat each other with kindness and respect and love. We treat each other like SHIT basically!!! That is the real issue here! Who the hell do we think we are telling women what to do with their own bodies?? Why is the topic of banning abortion even a freakin’ topic?? Same question for birth control??? Really, who is going to put men’s penis and testicals on the election ticket? When are we as a society going to start issuing vasectomies to very man who has X number of children, earning X dollar amount income to properly support the X number of kids he helped reproduce? I think that would be sometime to vote on! When did the act of marriage become exclusive to only heterosexual people? When did love put out so many limitations on who can receive love and give love?? How did love become something to fear, thus ban from certain groups of people??? Better yet who the hell put these people into groups to begin with, who put up the hate barriers separating Love from the Soul???? This is an issue that can’t be answered by going to the election booth, this can only be answered when we as human beings start to wake up and realize a perfect world is one made of love and respect PERIOD! Do I go to the voting booth and vote? Yes. Do I choose a particular political party to “belong”? NO? Do I have a very “idealistic” view point on how things should work in society? YES. Do I think most of the issues that get talked about in the news or political campaigns are ridiculous, insulting, and aggregating? HELL YES!! Do I think it’s barbaric that I still have to vote to keep my own rights to do what I want with my own body? FUCK YES! Do I think it’s cruel and continued on next page

It’s All About YES

VOLUME 2; ISSUE 10

OCTOBER 6, 2012

hateful to vote on whether people who love each other should get married or not based purely on their gender? DOUBLE HELL YES!!! Do I think it’s a piss poor waste of time for me to vote on a handful of people to “do the right thing” in Congress, the Senate, or the White House? I do think it’s a waste of time, and here is why. EVERY PERSON WHO LIVES ON PLANET EARTH NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEMSELVES AND DO THE RIGHT THING. STOP PUTTING THE RESPONSIBILITY ON SOMEONE ELSE…THINK FOR YOURSELF. Damn it! If everyone just pulled their heads out of their butts and asked “what am I so afraid of here?” Why is there such a strong obsession to control everyone with laws to force people to “do the right thing?” Here is another question “What exactly IS the RIGHT THNG?” Everyone’s answer is going to be different because we are all different, and THAT IS PERFECTLY OKAY! The only problem is FEAR gets in the way of LOVE, and that is where the obsession for creating laws comes from. Unfortunately these laws to protect love are made by scared people, and scared people make scary laws…or they try to scare the shit out of other people to vote for their scary laws. Am I the only one that sees this vicious cycle? Fear creates more fear, fear then makes up laws that wouldn’t need to exist if fear wasn’t in the picture. This saddens my soul; because here we are living on this beautiful planet creating laws for each other to follow that are based on fear. We as a human race have a long way to travel to get out of the dark ages of fear and into the light of love. Once we all start living out our time on Earth from a place of love the need for birth control bans, homosexual marriage bans, health care reform, drug trafficking laws, and the fight for human rights will dissolve. Just imagine how it will be living in a place that only has one law LOVE! Then there would be no reason for election days, protests, politicians, political parties, prisons, and issues to debate. Go vote…do it from a place of love!

KELLY BEVERSDORF Kelly currently works as an evening receptionist at a for profit college while continuing her studies in the holistic health & metaphysical field. In 2011 Kelly became a certified Usui Reiki Master. She has been studying astrology, intuition development since 2010, and will be pursuing a massage therapy certificate later this year. In her free time she enjoys walking half-marathons for charity, free lance writing, participating in a local artists community’s annual chalk mural festival and playing with her nephews. Kelly says: “the best part of working with my reiki clients is that I can help them gain back control over their own lives by gently opening them up to heal their disease on all levels.” Kelly truly believes nothing is more fulfilling than being the facilitator of a Reiki healing session.

You can find Kelly on Twitter: https://twitter.com/kellybeav and Linkedin: http://www. linkedin.com/pub/kelly-beversdorf/2b/230/9a0

Women! These chains cannot hold us! Spread the word! by Jennifer Shelton

Originally published on FemCentral, February 15, 2012 Elephant keepers and trainers in India—mahouts—commonly use chains to restrain their elephants. A chain strong enough to hold a grown elephant, however, would be far too heavy for a human to lift. So, the mahout ties the baby elephant with the heaviest chain that the mahout can handle. Though the size of the chain is too big for the baby elephant, it attempts to break the thick chain for years, finally getting the notion that the chain can never be broken. Later when it becomes an adult and actually has the strength to easily break its chain, the elephant never attempts to do so. Its willpower has been destroyed. The elephant lives its life not knowing about its strength. Occasionally, an elephant becomes aggressive and tries to run away. In that struggle it breaks the chain and sets itself free. Once the elephant is caught and again chained, however, it does not remember that it can free itself. (Source: http:// www.sakthifoundation.org/breakchain.htm) Have you tested your chains recently? I was speaking with an acquaintance the other day, talking about FemCentral and my suffrage research. While talking, I referred to women as “minorities.” I immediately stopped. I know that women are not minorities. Last I checked, there are roughly an even number of males and females in the world. My “slip” indicated deeper beliefs about the status of women. I decided to find out the actual ratio of men and women in the United States. I was shocked to see that, according to the 2010 US Census, women are in the MAJORITY. Let that sink in – there are more women in the United States than there are men. I checked some other countries. Women are in the majority in Canada, the UK, Australia and Russia. There are more women than men in Germany, Australia and China. Spain, Belgium and Denmark. Argentina, Chile and the Netherlands. (Look up other countries at the United Nations Statistics and indicators on women and men.) Coretta Scott King once said, “If American women would increase their voting turnout by ten percent, I think we would see an end to all of the budget cuts in programs benefiting women and children.” Do you realize what power we, as the majority, have to end programs that perpetuate stereotypes of women? To enact new legislation? To elect officials that have our best interests in mind? What if someone ran for office with the intent of eradicating all institutionalized prejudice against women’s freedom? Think no one would vote for this person? If all the women voted for him or her, she COULD NOT LOSE! continued on next page

It’s All About YES

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OCTOBER 6, 2012

What if all women boycotted companies with sexist advertising? Publicly protested workplaces that discriminate? Demanded equal treatment? Women! These chains that we are wearing CANNOT HOLD US! I know it’s scary to try to break free. We have centuries of indoctrination telling us it’s futile. Our “keepers” certainly want to keep up the charade. But, all we have to do is provide a little resistance. Some of you may be in an abusive relationship. You may even live in a country where you are not allowed to vote or even drive a car. Remember, our power in is our UNITY. United we stand; we liberate; we change. If you are alone, abused, too tired to resist – reach out to other women. There are people and organizations waiting to aid you. If you don’t know where to go, ask others to assist you in finding this help. Women! Our muscles grow stronger with use. Vote. Learn about legislation that would perpetuate the myth of our slavery. Advocate for women’s rights. Educate other women. Encourage women to vote, protest, donate, volunteer, run for office. Ask other women for help when your life gets overwhelming. Offer a helping hand to others as well. WE are not victims. WE are strong. WE have the power. UNITED we stand but divided we stay in chains. It’s time to leave these chains behind. ________________________________ This post was originally written in observation of Susan B. Anthony Day, a commemorative holiday to celebrate the birth of Susan B. Anthony and women’s suffrage in the United States. It has been historically celebrated since 1920, after 31 of 48 states had ratified the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, giving women the right to vote. In the state of Wisconsin, Susan B. Anthony Day is an established state holiday, which was enacted into law April 15, 1976. This holiday is also commemorated in Florida as a legal state holiday. In West Virginia, this day is celebrated on Election Day on even years. One of the reasons this holiday is not celebrated at a national level, like Martin Luther King Jr. Day is due to strong opposition. Women! We can change this!

JENNIFER L SHELTON Jennifer is the founder and administrator of FemCentral, the Virtual Institute for Women, where she also works as an astrologer, intuitive coach and instructor. She teaches undergraduate, online classes in global cultures for Franklin University and works as an education, outreach and training consultant. She’s a writer. She’s a mom. She’s gloriously busy doing the things she loves. You can find Jennifer at www.jenniferlshelton.com

Power Up That Vote! By Cindy Readnower

I grew up during the Feminist movement of the 1970’s. That was an era when women literally had bra-burning parties to make a statement. They went braless to show that no one could tell them that their breasts should be kept hidden. They demanded equal pay (nope, still not equal today), they wanted access to the same jobs as men (better, but still not equal) and they wanted to be able to make choices as to whether to stay home to raise their children or work and have quality daycare. Women ended up taking on even more responsibilities. Women ended up tired. Now, we work, raise our kids and still do more housework than males. Perhaps this “tiredness” accounts for the reason that more women choose not to use their voice to protest the inequities that still exist for us. If you check the Internet for Gender Equality ratings, you will find that the United States does not even rank in the top ten. We are not even on the same level as some small European countries. And yet, we haven’t taken to the streets or written thousands of letters to our Congressmen (yes, most of them are still men!). But we can do the one thing that doesn’t take much effort and that is VOTE! I heard someone say that the economy overtakes all other concerns so if women are worried that some parties will take women back thirty years in hard earned rights, then so be it. Women, do you hear this? Why on earth can anyone think that women need to be the ones to suffer, that we need to make choices that put us down, restrict our decisions and make us second-class citizens?! You have all seen the way politicians will flip flop on an issue when they are pressured. So, if you side with a party based on their economic platform, then put the pressure on to ensure that women will always be honored along with their choices and their rights. It’s not a mutually exclusive decision. The economy can be strengthened as well as women’s choices. Vote someone into office that will listen to women and take their demands and needs seriously. My mother never voted, not even once in her life! She took the attitude that she was above it all. That she wouldn’t get involved in the fray that politics could be. That shocked me. She came from a generation where choices were much more limited than today. If she wanted a career, she was welcome to become a nurse or teacher. Even those women that went to college in her day most often did so to become secretaries. Can you imagine being so limited in your choices but yet not voting to let your voice be heard? It seems unthinkable. Voting was a small thing she could have done not just for herself, but also for other women, her sisterhood. Women outnumber men in this country and by the age of 80, women out number men two to one. So how come women still struggle to be heard when we are the majority? How is it that only 28% of all businesses are women owned? Why do women still lack in equal pay, hit glass ceilings and not have anywhere near the female representation in politics that men do? It’s because we have not expressed our voice enough. We have not shouted enough. We have not risked upsetting our lifestyle to take a stand. We have given out power away. continued on next page

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This fall we will all have the opportunity to take that power back and it starts with VOTING! This is a small but very important thing to show that you believe your thoughts, feelings and desires matter. So what if no candidate exactly matches your views? Educate yourself, assign priorities and then vote. With social media, we also have a means to start a grass roots movement to get politicians to listen to women, to discuss our needs and be held accountable to us. Don’t be silent. Don’t sit back and be complacent or critical. Stand up, be counted…vote.

CINDY READNOWER • Cindy has a busy and distinguished life and background. • She has earned her M.B.A. • Over fifteen years with Fortune 500 companies in computer sales and marketing • Former owner of two restaurants • Certified Life Coach • Certified I See Your Dream Job and I See Your Soul Mate Coach • Studied Lightworks Method Energy Healing • Writer, Columnist • Business Consultant • Owner, Integrated Mindset and Skinny Leopard Media • Two-time winner of Sarasota’s Favorite Life Coach Award (Nattie Award) • Appearances on radio, local television and Internet television

Take a Stand!! by Tricia Dycka

I do not care what political party you are or what ballad you cast, what I ask is that you take a stand. Make a decision. Too many times women sit back and question why bother, I cannot make a difference so we allow others to make the decision for us. The 2012 election is right around the corner, take the time to know what you want for yourself as an individual, as a family, part of a community and part of the country. Listen to what the candidates have to say for themselves. What is important to them and their agenda? How will it affect you? Women since the late 1800â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s have been fighting for our rights. To sit back and not get involved will be having these courageous women rolling over in their graves. The other side of the coin is IF you do not vote then who are you to complain about the way the country is being led or the rights that are being violated? Will we always vote for the right one? In that moment it is the best choice that we made. Women have had to shoulder much more responsibility. Full time jobs, businesses, taking care of their homes and families not to mention everyone expects you to be at your top performance. It has not lessened if anything there is very little time left over for us. In this day and age it seems as if we are going back to the dark ages with womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rights. As I sit here listening to the candidates and what they feel SHOULD be done for women and our health I wonder who has the right besides me to make those decisions? Why are my choices becoming less and less? Why do I feel like a second hand citizen? When was it deemed that I am incapable in making a decision? But it is not just about women but about every single person and their right to choose their own way of life. These questions keep coming up for me and I am going to make a stand and make sure I will be out there to vote so that my voice is heard. So that all of our voices will be heard, together we stand. If we do not say anything and sit here mute how can we expect to be leaders? To effect change in a positive way? I feel by not being involved is exactly what is being expected of us. Normally I am not very involved in Politics. Since starting the YES Ezine I really wanted to share our voices on a variety of topics, some controversial. I find myself taking more of a role and wanting to share my thoughts and feelings because I know I felt like hiding many times and continued on next page

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allowing others to tell me what to do, who to vote for or always putting myself last. This last year has seen many changes for me and politics is one of them. I want to know what is going on in the world and am part of a movement that puts people first. To show others that you can put aside your fear and find courage to find your voice. Share that voice starting with you. Seeing women mistreated in other countries, I will do my best to stand up here that it may never happen. To show little girls, women can be strong, preserve, have faith in themselves, knowing what they want from life is at their finger tips. So please TAKE A STAND!!!

TRICIA DYCKA Tricia is an Entrepreneur, life enthusiast, author, intuitive, funny, very candid, great listener. Take the path less traveled. Living in the moment. Enjoys massive amounts of chocolate and coffee. Supportive friend who is there for you when everyone else has abandoned you and thinks you have lost your mind. Encourages entrepreneurs to embrace themselves so they can create an environment that supports their dreams. You can find me at www.triciadycka.com

One Reason to Vote is Reason Enough! by Leslee Horner

It seems that every time elections come around I have the same conversation with my best friend. She always says, “People should be informed about who and what they are voting for and if they aren’t they should just stay home.” In the past I have always agreed with her. You should be informed and you should know who and what you are voting for. I used to get really mad about one-issue voters. I know at least one person that I’ve always assumed voted solely based on her pro-life belief. (Granted, I never actually asked her, but I’m still pretty sure of it.) Anyway, it always made me angry. There are so many other issues that are just as or more important. But if I put my pet-peeve up with my best friend’s than we end up with some crazy idea that in order to vote at all you should be totally informed and take into account all issues and all people. What would it look like if we actually did that? I’m pretty sure that only about 5% or less of the population would vote at all. By that standard, even I should have stayed home in all the elections I voted in the last 19 years. These days a lot of people like to talk about how the political parties aren’t really what they used to be. That may be true, but they still have a basic platform. For me, I’ve found the party that is most in line with my beliefs on the issues that are most important to me. When I get in the voting booth if I don’t have enough information about a candidate I default to the Democrat. I may not know exactly how this individual will get the job done, but I do know their values are in line with mine. If it’s a bipartisan election and I can’t pick the Democrat, I usually pick the woman. Sure I could be taking a chance on this one and picking a Sarah Palin type (no offense here but I am a Democrat), but still it is important to me to see women in leadership roles. I have to say that my voting system probably fails my best friend’s litmus test. This year though I’m actually thinking her litmus test may be off a little. The thing is we need to make sure all of our voices are heard. If you’re a one-issue voter, a straight ticket Republican or Democrat, or you show up just to vote for the one person on the ballot that inspires you for whatever reason, continued on next page

Looking for a bit of encouragement or just a ‘lift’ in your mood? Well, that is where our Facebook page comes in. Filled with possibilities, our Facebook page is a page that you will want to visit often.

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please get out there and vote! This is the only chance we get to let our voices be heard on the way our society is run. The more people show up the more likely we will all be represented. Even if we don’t have all the information, certainly we have enough to throw our two-cents in. We can’t really afford not too! So this November, GO VOTE! Between now and then, do what you can to get informed. But if life is just too busy to learn everything, find one reason that matters to you and give voice to it. (I’ll be in a booth somewhere voting for the Democrats and the women!)

LESLEE HORNER Leslie is an author, blogger, and artist. She is currently working on a Young Adult novel series about a girl who flashes back to previous reincarnations that all have two things in common, true love and death. When Leslee is not writing she’s creating art or spending time with her husband and two young daughters. You can learn more about Leslee at www.lesleehorner.com.

Image: http://www.atheistnexus.org/forum/topics/no-vagina-dialogues-we-re-americans

Photo Op Ed by Lori Paquette

<---- DON’T LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU! You have a voice. Use it. You have the right to vote. Use it. You have the power to do whatever makes you happy (powerful, strong, etc.). Use it. You are not helpless. You are not weak. You will not be silenced. Get informed. Get involved. Speak up. VOTE for what YOU believe in. What will make your world a better place. <----- DON’T DO THIS TO YOURSELF. Image credit: http://www.123rf.com/photo_7853448_caucasianwoman-silenced-with-a-thick-rope.html’>moori / 123RF Stock Photo

LORI PAQUETTE Lori is the kooky, sort-of badass, intuitive resident flirt at FlirtyGrrl.com, a visual design-smithing shop for visionary messengers. A freelance graphic designer since 1988, Lori has worked with solopreneurs, small business, corporations, universities, and non-profit organizations on a variety of brand identity, books, ebooks and marketing collateral, web graphics, and advertising projects. She helps her clients by applying creative strategy and design techniques to unite their message and visual voice. Lori works best with heartcentered folks—healers, writers, artists, creative visionaries and messengers—all who have millions of ideas and messages to share, but not sure where to begin and how to express them to the world. The Flirty Grrl mission is to empower like-minded visionaries with an aligned, consistent visual presence along with rockin’ promotional campaigns so their messages are seen (and heard) loud and clear. Lori is often found chattering away on Twitter. Follow her @lipdesign and say hi.

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ALL ABOUT YES INTERVIEW: YES: Before we get in to the whys and wherefores, explain to us—just what is Tricia Dycka all about? TD: I am an intuitive healer. I help others release their blocks that hold them back. I am Reiki certified so I look at others energies and help them move forward towards their dreams. We hold ourselves back in so many ways that we do not even realize. We learned it from our families, school, and society, yet when we go to move forward we do not understand why nothing is happening. This is where I come in. The energy gets released so that new energy can come forward. I offer a safe place for your spiritual awakening.

YES: What possessed you to start your business? Why did you become an entrepreneur? TD: When I moved to FL I had a lot of time to myself to think. I discovered that I wanted to live life on my terms. It took me a while of stumbling through before I found my purpose. I want freedom to choose how I want to experience life.

YES: Does anyone close to you (family friends) help you with your business? TD: What is funny is some of my family has no idea what I do and that is OK. My husband is my biggest supporter. He helps with brain storming and editing. I am dyslexic and sometimes my words make no sense my brain is way faster then my fingers.

YES: What’s your favorite thing about being an entrepreneur? TD: My favorite thing about being an entrepreneur is all the wonderful, vibrant people I meet.

YES: What was the one thing that really got you excited—made you glad you started your business? TD: Running my own business is amazing I would rather do something and fail then never to have tried in the first place. It is about honoring who I am and living life to the fullest.

ALL ABOUT TRICIA DYCKA YES: What challenges do/did you face? TD: It was a big learning curve for me in so many areas. The technology piece, the marketing, plus learning all about me, all at once was a bit overwhelming. Now I take in stride and flow with it. The more I resisted the more difficult a situation became.

YES: What recommendations do you give other women who are thinking about starting a business? (or business similar to yours/in your field) TD: Go for it for as you lie on your death bed the last you want is recriminations of what you should have or could have. Do it NOW!!!

YES: Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s your biggest lesson? TD: That if it scares the sh*t out of you full charge ahead.

YES: Best question for lastâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;What does success mean to you? TD: Success to me is helping one person not give up their dreams. Reaching out and holding their hand and watch as they blossom.

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How Does Voting Work? by Liz LaClair

Who actually votes for the president in the United States? Some historical facts (from Wikipedia – originally learned in grade school, I did anyway): The Constitutional Convention in 1787 used the Virginia Plan as the basis for discussions, as the Virginia delegation had proposed it first. The Virginia Plan called for the Congress to elect the President. Delegates from a majority of states agreed to this mode of election. However, the Committee of Eleven, formed to work out various details including the mode of election of the President, recommended instead that the election be by a group of people apportioned among the states in the same numbers as their representatives in Congress, but chosen by each state “in such manner as its Legislature may direct.” The Electoral College consists of the electors appointed by each state who formally elect the President and Vice President of the United States. Since 1964, there have been 538 electors in each presidential election. Article II, Section 1, Clause 2 of the Constitution specifies how many electors each state is entitled to have and that each state’s legislature decides how its electors are to be chosen. U.S. territories are not represented in the Electoral College. The Electoral College is an example of an indirect election, as opposed to a direct election by United States citizens (such as for members of the United States House of Representatives). So basically, Presidential electors are selected on a state-by-state basis, as determined by the laws of each state. Generally (with Maine and Nebraska being the exceptions), each state appoints its electors on a winner-take-all basis, based on the statewide popular vote on Election Day. Although ballots list the names of the presidential candidates, voters within the 50 states and Washington, D.C. actually choose electors for their state when they vote for President and Vice President. These presidential electors in turn cast electoral votes for those two offices. Even though the aggregate national popular vote is calculated by state officials and media organizations, the national popular vote is not the basis for electing a President or Vice President. Now when you vote you need to know a few things: • How does your state select its electors – how do the laws work? • How many electors represent your state? (currently Michigan has 16) • How do your electors vote? (in Michigan the electors pledge follow the “winner takes all” fashion – the popular vote) • Did you know that the winner of the Presidential election must win with at least 270 votes? • Every other politician, reasons for American citizens to vote do go by actual citizen counted votes.

Now, having said all of the above regarding the Electoral College, remember your vote does count. As has been said many times – vote your conscience and use your brain. You don’t have to stick to any one political party; vote for who you think is the best choice to get things done. Now, keeping with history. Did you know it was amazing to many people that John F. Kennedy was even nominated for president? There were so many people with the belief that a “papist” would never become president, because then the Vatican would actually run the United States. Women running for office have to deal with cracks like the county’s in trouble when she’s PMSing, or look out she’s going through menopause. With close-minded beliefs such as those, it goes a long way towards explaining one voting issue – voting for the least “offensive” person. It can even get to a point where you don’t like what they wear or how their hair is combed, you are not going to vote for that person. With enough people believing that way, we’ll never know if the truly best/ right person was elected for the job. That’s the saddest thing of all – it’s like throwing away your vote. So, please, please research your vote. Remember to use reliable sources: the media and celebrities are not the proper sources. Do not listen to commercials – so many of those are just flat out wrong. Don’t let things like a person’s sex, religion, how they dress run your vote. Think of things like, • how did they vote on issues you found important? • (if applicable) how did they run their business and/or state before running for higher office (Senate, Congress, President)? Vote with your brain and your eyes open. Remember, if you don’t vote, then you have no right to complain.

LIZ LaCLAIR I have TWO best parts of my life. I’m thrilled to have found my business calling! I truly enjoy working with my clients – the work I do is fun! Check out how I got past my challenges – learn how I’m taking what was a not so good and making it great. Yes, I write a blog too. I’m a small business entrepreneur who likes working/supporting other small businesses. The other best part of my life? I’m married to the love of my life. He’s very supportive of what I’m doing. Who could ask for more? You can find me at http://www.virtuallyhelps. com/

VOLUME 2; ISSUE 10

It’s All About YES

OCTOBER 6, 2012

“If You Don’t Stand For Something, You’ll Fall For Anything” by Lori Latimer

(I’d love to give proper credit to whoever first said this, but it’s unclear as to who that was.) In the United States, we’re in the middle of another presidential election season. It concerns me to see all the hate being spewed – not so much by the candidates themselves, but from people on social media. Sadly, most of it has been from women. Before social media, it was mainly mainstream media and celebrities who seemed to think that their “opinion” is somehow fact. Now, it’s the average citizen out there perpetrating all of the vicious attacks. Women in the United States won the right to vote less than 100 years ago, but in many countries, women have had the right to vote a lot less time than that. Regardless of when women gained the right to vote in any particular country, my question is: What are you actually doing with that right?? And how are you using that right? Are you doing something constructive with it, in a constructive way that furthers the conversation? Or are you just vomiting your opinion, which is not fact, in a vicious way that is destructive? I admit I don’t know much about politics in other countries. I do know that in the United States, unfortunately, we seem to have fallen into a pattern of viciously attacking others based on our own political party and therefore, the beliefs of that party. It appears that many women (and men, too, for that matter) simply follow whatever the candidates in their party preach. They’re like sheep that follow the crowd. And that means that they aren’t using their own brains to make their decisions. They’ll simply vote for whatever candidate is running in the party they belong to. What happened to educating yourself on a candidate’s true values and beliefs? And I do not mean those touted by the American media, or by what people post on social media. I mean educating yourself on things like: • A candidate’s previous life (including their voting record if they’ve been in politics before); • What they’ve done in their personal life (not to be judgmental of them, but simply to see if their actions back up their words – that’s a huge difference that people seem to have lost sight of); • Their past careers/businesses/community service; • Where they stand on the issues that are important to you as an individual and to our country as a whole; and • Anything else that’s important to you as a voter and citizen.

I’ve voted for people in parties other than the one I’m registered with. The reason is very simple: I do my research, I listen to what the candidates are saying, and then I check in with myself to see which person is most aligned with my values and beliefs. What I do not do is simply close my mind to a candidate just because aren’t in my party! And I certainly don’t attack or criticize any candidate in a mean, harsh, and judgmental way just because I don’t agree with their political views. I’ll respect someone’s opinion if they can express it in a civil and respectful way. But when someone attacks another person – or perhaps worse, an entire political party just because they have opposing views – that’s when we’ve lost the ability to disagree in a constructive way. That’s where all the divisiveness comes in, and that’s what’s tearing this country apart. (Yes, in the United States one of our greatest freedoms is that of free speech. But when someone uses free speech to vent their own personal opinions as mean and vicious attacks, that’s when we’ve lost the ability to communicate in a constructive way.) So it’s really quite simple: What do you stand for? Are you using your own brain to question, observe, and make your own informed decisions? Or are you just one of the sheep following the crowd? I’m fairly certain that when women gained the right to vote, the idea was for us to do the former, not the latter. Do you have the courage to do that? If not, perhaps you should think about whether or not you should even vote. I invite you to do your homework, take a stand, and then to take the high road when expressing your opinions. Oh, and after you’ve done all that? Don’t take your rights for granted – Go vote!

LORI LATIMER Lori is a hand analyst, an intuitive coach, speaker, and certified teacher of The Art Of Feminine Presence. She’s also a mom and grandma to two darling little grandsons. Working as a paralegal in family law for many years and going through her own divorces (yes, more than one!), she saw a pattern in herself and other women who’d been successful in their careers but were missing something in their personal lives. She now loves helping women find joy and passion within themselves so they’re able to find all of that and more in both their personal and business lives – just as she’s done. You can find her at www.lorilatimer.com.

VOLUME 2; ISSUE 10

It’s All About YES

OCTOBER 6, 2012

By Changing Nothing, Nothing Changes by Mary Joyce

Holding my hands up, I am not a regular voter. I don’t know if its because I’m an Irish woman living in the UK, voting day always falls on my busiest day or if whoever is in power doesn’t actually make any difference, different party just same story or a 100 or so other excuses. Here in the UK we’ve already had a female prime minister (the iron lady herself Margaret Thatcher) and in Ireland two consecutive female presidents (Mary Robinson and Mary McAleese, people called Mary make great leaders) so it feels that there are no obstacles for other women from stepping in and changing things if they want to. I admit I don’t take much interest in national politics but locally I’m heavily involved and sit on many panels, forum and boards, which drive forward change that affect my community. I’m a regular member of a scrutiny panel and we meet every 6 weeks to look at the changes from central government that affect our local area and services particularly around housing and social care. Things are really changing here in the UK, recent changes being that more financial power has being transferred over to local councils. This is billed as localism. These changes mean that now local councils/counties keep all the money they bring in from taxes, charges, rates and fines etc. to manage their own services. The local governments no longer pay into central Government as they have done in the past and then receive back what they need. So for example, if one council/state/county brings in £100 million a year from their charges such as those listed above, they now get to keep that and spend it in their own area. Sounds great doesn’t it? Reminds me of being a teenager and working while I still lived at home and I got to keep all the money I earned without having to pay any bills. Unfortunately it’s not so great for any of the London boroughs as having huge expenses and services to provide due to the large population, this has led to huge shortfalls and massive cuts to vital services. Where as in the past they brought in say £100 million and paid that into the government pot they could just take out (lets say) £300 million. Happy days – bubble’s burst and the whole country is now in austerity measures. One other common theme which I’ve learned from working with government agencies locally was the old system was, applying for funding and just to ensure you’d receive the same amount the following year, you had to make sure that you spend it all. You can imagine how much money was wasted and the culture that created.

I believe to make any change we need to make it locally in our own community. I come from a very small area in the West of Ireland, teeny tiny place, at the time when I lived there the population was pretty small and most probably we were all more or less related. One of our Local candidates, he is related to me through marriage somewhere along the line, made it all the way to the European Union as an MEP. I know heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a man but his journey was no easier. He was just a regular guy who was concerned about his local area, mainly potholes and poor infrastructure in those days. Got people behind him and before he knew it he was off to Brussels, the European Union primary seat in Belgium. The current president of Ireland is also a Galway man who was also a local councillor and I had many conversations with him as a kid at his Saturday surgery (meetings). He also did amazing work locally and created real change for the people whom he grew up with and worked for. If you want to make a change in the world, start in your own backyard. To put the world in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must put the family in order; to put the family in order, we must cultivate our personal life; and to cultivate our personal life, we must first set our hearts right. ~ Confucius

MARY JOYCE Mary Joyce is a life and relationship coach, naturally gifted intuitive, works with the angelic Realm, and Mum to two beautiful young children. She runs a couple of weekly life coaching workshops for women, works with local government agencies in the UK providing trainings in both life and career coaching. She works with women from every background from Entrepreneurs, small business owners to single mothers to help them live a life of Purpose and prosperity. You can find Mary at www.marymjoyce.com.

VOLUME 2; ISSUE 10

It’s All About YES

OCTOBER 6, 2012

How One Woman’s Vote is Changing The World by Tracie Nichols

What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make. ~ Jane Goodall Raising our voice is what creates change and makes a difference. Raised alone or in community, in conversation and song, through respectful disagreement and prayer, we build bridges, invite curiosity and find solutions. One of the most powerful ways to raise our voice is by voting every time we have the opportunity. Every time, even if there is no perfect person or solution being offered. I often raise my voice about a notso-secret wish that everyone will fall passionately in love with the earth and start making choices that help all LIFE to thrive. So I was curious to see the recent ways in which people have raised their voices for the planet. What I found blew me away. Did you know that in early September the country of New Zealand granted the Whanganui River rights of personhood? That means they are choosing to view a river as a living being. After thousands of years of treating rivers as nothing more that a resource, property, to be exploited, they were choosing to acknowledge the living status of this river. “Today’s agreement … recognizes the status of the river as Te Awa Tupua (an integrated, living whole)…”says New Zealand’s Minister for Treaty for Waitangi Negotiations, Christopher Finlayson. From now on, the thriving of the river, river inhabitants and the people who live on and around the river are all to be considered in decisions about the river. This happened because people raised their voices, spoke about what they knew was right, and voted. And then there’s Ecuador. In September 2008 they became the first country in the world to declare constitutional rights to nature. The rights of nature are written into the constitution of their country! Ecuadorians got tired of watching their country, one of the most bio-diverse in the world, be systematically destroyed for its natural resources. So they voted the people who would draft a constitution like that into office and then they voted that new constitution into being. According to an article on ProjectCensored.org “Reflecting the beliefs and traditions of the indigenous peoples of Ecuador, the constitution declares that nature ‘has the right to

exist, persist, maintain and regenerate its vital cycles, structure, functions and its processes in evolution’.” But it was what I found out next that really floored me. The first time a developed, western society legally granted nature personhood was in a small town in Pennsylvania. And, it was a woman who started the whole thing. One woman casting a vote because she cared about her community may have quietly transformed the way developed nations think about nature—at least legally. Her name is Cathy Morelli, and she was a school nurse who ran for, and won a seat on, the city council. Her political career started because she wanted more transparency in a city government which had been peopled with an old boys’ network for too long. She just wanted her community to be a good place to live. She wasn’t looking to change the world. But she did. At the time she took office an outside company was proposing to dump sewage sludge and coal fly ash into abandoned mining pits on the edge of town. Here’s what happened next, in the words of Jason Mark of Earth Island Journal, earthisland.org. “Halfway through her one-term stint on the council, Miorelli spearheaded the passage of an anti-sewage sludge ordinance that included a provision recognizing the rights of ‘natural communities’ to flourish—the first law of its kind in the world.” The Ordinance passed in her community inspired communities in Vermont, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania to create similar rights of nature laws. Their courageous actions then influenced the people of Ecuador to write their astonishing and groundbreaking constitution. Jason Mark goes on to say, “The idea that nature, just like people, possesses inalienable rights has percolated up to the United Nations, which has considered a proposal to adopt a ‘Charter on the Rights of Mother Nature.’” One woman, one vote, one voice inspiring a community, then inspired other communities, and then inspired a country. We can’t possibly know the power of our voice or the influence of our vote until we use them. So what do you think? Will you vote the next time you have the chance?

TRACIE NICHOLS, M.A. Earth Intuitive * Transformative Mentor * Teacher * Intuitive Listening Sessions * Ongoing Mentoring * Classes & Gatherings I help earth loving change makers get clear about who they are and what they’re capable of—and discover the self-confidence to go out and do it. My heart-based practice rests on the power of my deep intuition, the wild wisdom of nature, the scholarly foundation of my master’s degree in Human and Organizational Transformation, and my long experience of being a woman speaking out for what she believes. I serve through sacred listening sessions, ongoing mentoring programs, classes and gatherings (virtual and in person), public speaking and my daily blog posts. You can find all of that at http://tracienichols.com.

VOLUME 2; ISSUE 10

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s All About YES

OCTOBER 6, 2012

Windows

by Sherrie Williams

We all have homes that we live in. It is not our place to take up residence, in the houses and hearts of others, and then pretend to know, as invited guests, that home and its contents. That home is your human life, and the years and experiences that have formed it. How much, do we truly understand, and truly know, about those things and people in our lives? How many times, have you watched, as if from a street corner, gazing into the window, the life of someone you know or love, play out? Is that you in there? If it is not, how do you know what is really going on inside. There are what things appear to be, what you want things to be, what you perceive things to be, and what they truly are, and almost never, are any of these, in agreement. Most cannot and rarely do, gaze into their own window, and see within their own house, what is truly taking place inside their walls. Not a place, to ever deem to do so, into anotherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s My house, has been carefully, and at times wrought fully built from a lifetime of 42 years of circumstances, events, moments, memories and happenings, some good, some bad, some produced from my own actions, some produced from others, some just a natural evolution of time, circumstances and events. But all of these things do not a house or human make, they are just the materials that built the home. It is my foundation that will determine what those walls can withstand, and the earth it sits on will be what determines the spirit of the air that fills this house. I am not the palatial home on a slab of concrete somewhere; I am the rustic little log cabin, which was built over years of struggle; working with whatever materials life hands me, and refusal to submit. Over time, errors I have made, have added delays into the building of this structure. I have had to

compromise on what I wanted to build it with, and take what I was handed instead, and this is my resourcefulness. I have had to rebuild what the storms in my life have blown away or broken, this is my perseverance. I have had to keep placing the timbers, when my exhaustion told me I should just quit; this is my stubbornness pushing me on. I have been attacked on all home fronts, my walls are riddled with arrows and bullets of many onslaughts, and this is my peace and love towards all. I am how I have been shaped by these things. My reactions to them are what has fashioned and formed the materials of my house, and the forces that have ultimately shaped me, are my willingness to stand in the storm, and allow it to do its magic in my life. I am not all that I appear to be to the outside world and I am what lies in the heart of this home. I am the sole occupant here, I live inside these walls, and everyone else, visitors here. Welcome, come on in, but remember how comfortable you may feel here, you have your own home, and it is the only place that truly knows you, that you also know. This is my haven, my place of rest, my fortress of grace, kindness and acceptance; all are welcome here, as long as they abide by these rules.

SHERRIE WILLIAMS Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m Sherrie, a.k.a. wildfire :) by those who really know me. I was born in Albemarle, NC and raised on a farm in Davidson, NC tending chickens, horses and a crop. Father was a carpenter, blacksmith, photography bug and engineer. Mom is a career Real Estate Professional/Broker/Consultant and Motivational Speaker. I have 4 children ages 16 to 20, two are my fraternal twin girls. I have done many things. The best of them is being the mother of these 4 unique spirits I have been blessed with. I am an independent location/traveling photographer and have also over the past 20 years been an avid lover of the spoken and written word in all forms. I was a fitness trainer and gym manager at one point. I prefer to nourish now where the true reservoir of strength and wellness comes from and starts, our spirits! You can find me at: www.facebook. com/riversoftime

PAST ISSUES WHICH MAY INTEREST YOU

VOLUME 2; ISSUE 10

It’s All About YES

OCTOBER 6, 2012

To Vote or Not to Vote? by Liz Nonnemacher

I never have taken voting as seriously as I do now. When I was first able to vote (back in the dark ages of the early 80’s), I always voted for an “off-brand” so to speak. Voting neither Republican nor Democrat, my frisky young age had me in the ballot box choosing the candidate that no one had ever heard of. It was kind of fun, in a weird way. However, as I have gotten older, I take the right to vote and voting itself much more seriously. Voting is a right that women fought very hard for. Have you ever seen the movie, Iron Jawed Angels? If you haven’t, it’s time to find it on Netflix or rent it somewhere. I was taking a class about 7 or 8 years ago which was just when this movie came out. It’s not a feelgood flick—rather it makes one think about everything that women have gone through to have equal rights. And what women have gone through is certainly not pretty. It is my opinion (and there are definitely those that may argue with me) that there is so much being thrown around the upcoming election about women’s rights. And it seems to me that it is masking the two biggest problems that we have right now – national security and our economy. THOSE are the things that I care about most now. THOSE are the things that threaten my family and the lives of other families. FOR ME, those are my greatest concerns. Thankfully, women have the right to vote and we need to use it. Let’s not spend our time arguing about which candidate is the perfect one. Let’s not spend our time telling other people how they should vote and who they should vote for. Speaking of which, did you hear about the professor at a community college that has demanded that her students vote for Obama? She is currently under investigation and on an unpaid leave from that college.

Worth the Read It makes absolutely no sense. As women, we need to think for ourselves, not get caught up in the mud slinging or propaganda and make informed decisions based on what WE feel is right. Not what others tell us that we SHOULD believe.

Why have vaginas—which were once worshipped— become taboo?

And to me, that is one of best reasons to vote. We have the right to be heard. We need to continue to exercise that right.

Vagina. There, we’ve said it. Yet so many won’t. This vital organ, once revered, has become taboo. But could women be about to reclaim it? It has been a busy year for the vagina. First a group of Russian feminist punks became a global story, especially after Madonna got involved. And let’s not forget where Pussy Riot got their name from. In Russian they’re sometimes called “the uprising of the vagina”.

LIZ NONNEMBACHER Liz is the Editor of Wickedly Chic,www. wickedlychic.com, the hottest destination for shoppers seeking advice and product recommendations from the world of independent businesses. Liz’s experience as trend-spotter for her two daughters led her to Wickedly Chic in June of 2006. She is passionate about independent business and works hard to keep her readers both entertained and informed and to promote the businesses that are marketed within Wickedly Chic.

by Viv Groskop

Then Lisa Brown, a US Democratic state senator, was barred from speaking in the Michigan state courthouse just for using the word “vagina”. She was told by the Speaker that she had “failed to maintain the decorum of the House of Representatives”. Brown got Eve Ensler to stage a reading of her Vagina Monologues on the courtroom steps for 5,000 people. The word “vagina” was uttered more than 100 times. Now, in a final rallying war cry, feminist icon Naomi Wolf is unveiling her much-anticipated cultural history of the world’s sometimes worshipped, sometimes reviled and rarely mentioned female body part. Vagina: A New Biography comes out tomorrow. Vaginas are always good for a laugh. As Kate Harding of feminist website Jezebel wrote, saluting the news that Wolf had been “beavering away” on a new book: “About time! For too long, historians have clammed up on this topic, snatching women’s history from us and squirrelling it away in a box. I’ll stop now.” Continue reading here

VOLUME 2; ISSUE 10

It’s All About YES

OCTOBER 6, 2012

Politics and Voting by Stephanie McDilda

I struggled to write my article this month. I hate politics. I am, perhaps, the least political person you will ever meet. I am counting the days until the election is over. However, I realized with time that this edition is about voting and not politics, although the two seem to go hand in hand. First, I had to come to terms with what makes me so uncomfortable about the current political environment. I have realized that I have a high level of discomfort around the anger and negativity that seems to surround each election. The two party system (and, yes, I know there are sometimes more than two candidates) was set up so that we might have an intelligent discussion of the expectations and desires of people who don’t always think and feel the same about a variety of issues. Our system was set up so that we might hear and respect the views of all of the people who are ruled by our government. With each passing election, the emotions seem to become more and more heated. Lies, negativity, and name calling seem to be at the forefront of most interactions… and that is just on social media, never mind the ads and campaigns themselves. No one can deny that the issues of our current time seem to be especially troubling. Name calling and finger pointing will not solve our problems. There will be many articles in this issue that will remind you of the fight and the sacrifice made by many women who came before us in order that we might have the right to vote. And there are many reasons why women should vote. The most important reason is because you have the right to have your voice counted. Whether you agree with my political position, or not, you have the right to be heard. It is a right that women in many other countries do not have and we should always honor our equal standing and our right to have a say in how this country is run. You should vote because you can relate more to issues that involve women. You have a deeper understanding about the impact of some of the decisions which have come under scrutiny at the moment. You might even be personally affected. Unless we want to turn back the clock about 100 years, laws about a woman’s right to make decisions about her own body should not be left in the hands of men. Some statistics indicate that women live longer than men. If that is true, you may be more likely to be affected by long term decisions such as health care and social security. You should have

a voice in how those benefits are managed because the success or even the existence of these programs may affect you for many years to come. This country is a better place because of the representative balance of masculine and feminine energy. Force balanced by gentleness. The factual, mental aspect balanced by the heart. Power balanced by nurturing. Women tend to be highly intuitive. Listen to your heart as you make a voting decision. Find the facts…which are often hard to decipher these days. Remember that in “politics as usual” both sides may occasionally twist the facts to enhance their own success. Be led by your Spirit and avoid the hype and rhetoric that accompany the political furor of the day. Trust your ability to make the right decision for yourself and for the people who are important to you. Be tolerant of those who do not agree with your political choice because, like you, they believe they are making the best decision for themselves. Go out and vote in November. It is your right… and your responsibility. People who want to limit your rights to make decisions about your own body will be voting… you should too. People who want the government and the laws to reflect their personal spiritual beliefs will be voting…you should too. People who are both better off and worse off than you financially will be voting…you should too. Until November, let your “politics” be tempered in love and tolerance. Remember that after November, we will still be one nation.

STEPHANIE McDILDA Stephanie is an expert on unconditional love – for yourself and others. As a speaker, coach, and author, she enjoys working with professional women and corporate leaders. She supports her clients in translating love into a powerful leadership strategy first for themselves, and then for others. Stephanie is warm, approachable, encouraging, and intuitive. She looks forward to connecting with you and learning how she can best support you. You can connect with her on Facebook at http://www. facebook.com/FlashpointInternational or email her at stephanie@ flashpointinternational.com