By THERESIA LLOYD-SIEMER

Local 328 (OHSU)

Dear AFSCME Brothers and Sisters,

I'd love it if you'd join me and the Oregon AFSCME Women's Committee at the American Cancer Society's "Making Strides Against Breast Cancer" walk on Saturday, May 11. Our goal is to raise $2,500. Please sign up to walk and raise funds with us — simply choose one of the links below.

Why am I walking and why do I want you to join me? Well, for one thing, there are 2.5 million breast cancer survivors who celebrated another birthday last year because people like you signed up to walk with or donate to people like me. There are a lot of breast cancer events out there, but I'm walking with the American Cancer Society because they are the leader in the fight to end breast cancer — doing the most to help women with breast cancer today in every community and working tirelessly to find cures to end the disease tomorrow.

The best part? When you support me with a donation, more people in our community will ...

• Benefit from groundbreaking research and new discoveries to find, prevent, treat and cure breast cancer;

• Have someone to talk with at 3 a.m. (or any other time of the day or night) to ask questions and get answers;

• Know the steps they should take to reduce their risk of breast cancer or find it early when it's easiest to treat;

• Get access to lifesaving mammograms and treatment; and

• Benefit from free information and services when and where they need it, like transportation, lodging, wigs, support programs, financial assistance and more!

This progress is only possible one walker and one donation at a time, so please click one of the links and join me! I'd love to see you and thanks so much!

Click to visit my PERSONAL page.

Click to visit our TEAM page.

By CJ MANN

Council 75 Women's Committee Chair

Some politicians want to cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid benefits, all to give tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans.

Tell Congress:

• NO tax cuts for the richest 2 percent of Americans; and

• NO benefit cuts to Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid.

Please join me in signing the online petition to protect Social Security, Medicaid and safety net programs such as housing services for millions of Americans that depend on housing programs to keep a roof over their heads.

The American Federation of Labor - Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) works every day to improve the lives of people who work.  

Please, put in a good word for fully funding HUD at 100 percent of its operating budgets and payments to landlords to house millions of Americans; also protect public housing and its capital funds.

Thank you.

By ANNETTE SKILLMAN

Local 2376 (Corrections Security Plus)

Breast and ovarian cancer are two of the leading causes of death for American women. In an effort to help fight these deadly diseases, the Oregon AFSCME Women's Committee has actively encouraged members statewide to participate in local events that raise money aimed at research and cures.

Oregon AFSCME has engaged in two annual walks in particular in memory of our union sister and former Council 75 Political Coordinator Cornelia Murphy, who lost her battle with ovarian cancer in 2006. We want to make a push right now to make people aware and plan on being there at 2013 events!

• Since 1993, eight million American Cancer Society supporters across the country have raised more than $460 million through Making Strides events to help fight breast cancer. Last year alone, dedicated supporters raised more than $60 million nationwide.  

This year's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk was on May 12, the day before Mother's Day. Theresia Lloyd-Siemer of Local 328 (OHSU) was our only walker this year; the walk was held at the Portland International Raceway.   

• The Sherie Hildreth Ovarian Cancer (SHOC) Walk was held at Team Latus Motors in Gladstone on Aug. 4. This year Lloyd-Siemer, her Local 328 co-worker and Council 75 Secretary Marci Jo Carlton (and her mom) and our Women's Committee staff liaison Kate Baker participated.

Money from the SHOC Foundation goes to the Knight Cancer Institute at OHSU. This marks the eighth annual donation to the Knight Cancer Institute; to date the SHOC Foundation has contributed $470,000.

More information on these two organizations is available on their respective web pages:

http://makingstrides.acsevents.org

http://www.shocfoundation.org

You can help make a difference by sending a donation to:   

American Cancer Society

0330 SW Curry St.

Portland, OR   97239

(Make check out to American Cancer Society, and include "Making Strides – Portland, OR on the memo line)  

SHOC Foundation
P.O. Box 327
Gladstone, OR 97627

I hope to see you all at the 2013 walks.