First, I want to thank you for entrusting me with the future of this  great organization.  More importantly, I want to thank you for being a supporter and friend of the Arkansas Ovarian Cancer Coalition.  Without you, we would not be where we are today.  I encourage you to get involved in 2012.  There are many opportunities for volunteers – from active leaders to someone who only has time to help out an hour a month. 

 When the Board of Directors met to discuss the future of AROVCC, we implemented a growth plan.  We have several great ideas and opportunities for educating Arkansans about ovarian cancer, but along with increased activity comes increased financial burden.  Therefore, we started thinking of “out of the box” ideas for raising money and increasing awareness.  We also made some hard decisions regarding past events.  I hope what you will find is a new and improved organization that is striving to change the face of ovarian cancer.  

Regarding our past events, in 2012 we will say goodbye to the Survivor’s Luncheon.  We are eternally grateful to Governor Beebe and First Lady Ginger for opening their home to us and sharing their experience with ovarian cancer.  However, it is time to increase survivor connections and create a community of survivors who are helping each other cope, recuperate and thrive.  Our first Survivor event will be a picnic during and/or after Hope Hike.  We need volunteers to help organize and carry out this event. 

 We will still host an awareness rally, just not at the capital.  Instead we will “Rally at the River.”  We propose to have a massive teal balloon release in downtown Little Rock followed by a gathering for survivors and supporters.  We need volunteers to help organize and carry out this event.  

We will continue to host Artists for Ovaries, but we will implement new guidelines for submitting artwork.  We will look at different avenues for increasing attendance and revenue at the auction.  We need volunteers to help organize and carry out this event.  

We also have several other opportunities for volunteering in 2012: 

 ·         Survivor Kits:  We want everyone who is diagnosed with ovarian cancer to have access to the resources they need.  We are partnering with St. Vincent’s New Outlook to create and distribute Survivor Kits.  We need a few volunteers to take an hour or two at least every quarter to put these kits together. 

·         Turn Arkansas Teal:  I have a dream of seeing teal everywhere I turn during the month of September.  The first step in achieving this dream is placing teal “piggy banks” in local stores and restaurants during the month of September for people to donate their spare change.  I encourage you to begin planning now for the number of banks you want and asking for permission for leaving them.  You will be responsible for gathering the money too.  Not only do we need people in September to pass out the piggy banks and gather the money, we need at least two people working on this project now to ensure that this event runs smoothly.

 ·         Riverfest:  This one of the state’s largest community events and the perfect opportunity for us to reach thousands of women!  We need two people to begin looking into different avenues of being involved in this event. 

·         Health Fairs:  As in the past, we need volunteers to pass out literature and answer a few basic questions at different health fairs throughout the year.  You can sit for an hour or a whole day.  The choice is yours.  We are currently scheduling volunteers for Tuesday, March 13 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Little Rock.

 ·         Bookmarks:  These mini-brochures have a great potential of reaching thousands of people.  We already have someone in charge of placing bookmarks in the Central Arkansas Library System and Saline County libraries, but we need volunteers for other libraries.  If you live in a different area, we would love for you to deliver some bookmarks to your local public library. 

·         Educational Brochures:  I want to encourage you to commit to supplying your doctor (whether a general practitioner, a GYN, or your dentist) with our Educational Brochures.  We will supply you with the brochures and display rack, you just need to go by the office once a month and replace the brochures.

 I am positive I left something off the list, but as you can see we have a very full year planned!  If you would like to participate in any of the events, please e-mail me at cebumgardner@yahoo.com.  The truth of the matter is we need you to reach thousands of Arkansans in 2012.  I look forward to working with each of you.

Teal There’s A Cure,

Carrie

 P.S.  A big thank you to Amy Lasseigne, our first Past Executive Director/Chairman.  Amy’s vision and desire to change the face of ovarian cancer has truly inspired me and gave me hope during my battle with ovarian cancer.  I have some pretty big shoes to fill!

This will be a fantastic night of girl time, wine and painting (or the attempt thereof- HA!). This night is intended to be filled with fun and laughs. Everyone at Spirited Art will make sure your comfortable. You get to have fun for a great cause and walk away with a cool painting that you can keep in remembrance of your contribution to fight ovarian cancer. These would also make great Christmas presents.

We will be painting Monet Waterlilies (see photo on attached flyer). The cost is $35, with $25 per person benefiting Arkansas Ovarian Cancer Coalition. Doors will open at 6:00 pm, painting begins at 6:30.

REGISTRATION IS LIMITED and you must sign up online.
1. Visit www.myspiritedart.com
2. Select ‘Little Rock Calendar’
3. Click on the painting (monet waterlilies) and follow the steps to checkout!

Spirited Art® is an optimistic, creative class for folks who want to learn the basics of acrylic painting in the company of great friends and good wine. In each class we will show you step-by-step how to create your own masterpiece that you can be proud of and take home at the end of the night. Don’t worry if you can’t even draw a stick person. We believe it’s easier to learn when you’re having fun; and if you know your letters, shapes and colors then you are prepared to learn how to paint!

Informational Invite

You can learn more and watch a short video about the app at OCNA – Ovarian Cancer Symptom App By using the Ovarian Cancer Symptom Diary App, a woman can:Answer questions about factors that could increase or decrease her odds of developing ovarian cancerTrack symptoms of ovarian cancer anywhere, any timeEmail herself a full symptom reportBe prompted to make an appointment with her doctor if she records symptoms for 14 days in a given monthAccess and update her personal account from a smartphone, iPad or desktop computerLearn more about ovarian cancer and services offered by the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance (OCNA) 

OCNA & AROVCC are very excited about the launch of this new tool, and we hope you will help us spread the word by announcing this to your own communities and talking about the app with women who are concerned they may have ovarian cancer. Please feel free to contact OCNA if you have any questions or comments about the app.

Once again, BIG thank you to the following sponsors: AY Magazine, Simmons First National Bank, Arkansas Press Association, McMullan Law Firm, Simply the Best Catering, Glazers Distributors, Harbor Distributors, Gillespie Family, Arkansas Oncology, Distinctive Designs by Tanarah, Innerplan Office Interiors, Ifrah Financial Services, Collins Family and Nana’s Cookies.

Just a couple of hours left to purchase Artists for Ovaries tickets online at the reduced rate. Please go to our Merchandise Page. Your printed receipt is your ticket in.
A BIG thank you to the following sponsors: AY Magazine, Simmons First, AR Press Association, McMullan Law Firm, Simply the Best Catering, Glazers Distributors, Harbor Distributors, Gillespie Family, Arkansas Oncology, Distinctive Designs by Tanarah, Innerplan Office Interiors, Ifrah Financial Services, Collins Family and Nana’s Cookies.

Doors open at 6:30, bid times close at 8:30 and 9:30.

Thanks for reporting this KAIT!!  http://www.kait8.com/story/15413461/men-man-up-and-get-pedicures-for-cancer

Awareness Rally

AWARENESS RALLY | Wednesday, August 31 10:00 am | Arkansas State Capitol
Please gather in the inside rotunda with decorated posters marking your years of survival. The 140 Heels of Teal will link the rotunda balcony signifying the 140 women Arkansas loses yearly to ovarian cancer. This event is free. Artist for Ovaries tickets and awareness t-shirts will be available for purchase.

SURVIVORS LUNCHEON| Wednesday, August 31 Noon-1:30| Arkansas Governors Mansion

Survivor's Luncheon

The gates will open at 11:45, please RSVP to Kay Bumgardner by August 19th at 1-501-993-5661 and indicate any dietary restrictions. Payment in advance is requested.

Survivors are Free, each additional guest is $25. Tables of 10 are available for reservation, payment is required for table reservation.  Artist for Ovaries tickets and awareness t-shirts will be available for purchase.

ARTISTS FOR OVARIES | Friday, September 23, 2011 6:30-10pm | Junior League Building, 401 Scott Street

This event is AROVCC’s only annual fundraiser and is a silent art auction featuring all types of mediums from oil paintings, mixed media to jewelry. Tickets are $25/pp & $40 per couple in advance or $30pp/$50 per couple at the door.  First bid time closes at 8:30, second at 9:30.

A huge thank you to all of the artists that donate tireless year after year! We love you!

You can see a list of sponsors on our Merchandise page as well as a link to purchase tickets. Sponsors we would like to highlight are AY Magazine, McMullan Law Firm & Simmons First National Bank. Thank you for your support!

We can’t wait to see you there!

Take. Early. Action & Live.

Raising  awareness & promoting  education  about  ovarian  cancer

  April 30, 2010     11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Lunch  will  be  served

  First United Methodist Church, Family Life Center

  200 North 15^th Street,  Fort Smith, Arkansas | 479-782-5068

  Keynote Speaker:

  Dr. Timothy O’Brien, M.D., Stage 1 Diagnostics, Little Rock

  Keri Tullos, Ovarian Cancer Survivor, Little Rock

Entertainment: Ruth Anne Price, OC Survivor &  Hollye  Dickinson,  Harpist

No  cost,  but  reservations  are  required  by  April  27,  2010.

Email  reservations  to Blance West at  rivervalleyar@ovarian.org

written and distributed by UAMS News, find full article here
A University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) researcher and his team have discovered that by manipulating and fine-tuning the specific color of gold nanoparticles, cancer diagnosis can become more specific, and therapy more efficient.

The discovery by Vladimir Zharov, Ph.D., director of the Phillips Classic Laser and Nanomedicine Laboratory, Department of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery at UAMS, and his team is published recently in Nature Photonics, a prestigious monthly journal featuring groundbreaking research in all areas of light generation, manipulation and detection.

The finding builds on Zharov’s previous discoveries involving the use of cancer-detecting gold and magnetic nanoparticles. Zharov’s new discovery finds that by manipulating the color of the gold nanoparticles with a laser before injection into the bloodstream, they can return more precise and valuable diagnostic information as they match up with specific biomarkers in a patient’s bloodstream. This laser-based color amplification or inhibition that leads to “color holes” as a sign of therapeutic efficiency is universal and can be applied to the existing and newly developing world of nanoparticles.

Artists for Ovaries will be held Friday, September 23, 2011 – location to be determined.

Are you still interested but cannot give a lot of time? That’s okay! If you know an artist that might be interested in donating a piece of art, please contact them or send us their contact information and we will do so on your behalf.