This just in ... ONE LAST PUSH!
Our lobbyist has reported that since the legislature was called back into session, our sponsors have been hard at work on our bill, and they are strongly recommending we push ahead for the last two days of THIS General Assembly, and try to finish passing an amended SB385 on January 12 & 13!!! (That's a Monday and a Tuesday.)

So you have two very easy things to do.

1) Call your state representative in the next week at both offices and tell them the following short message (and ask all your friends and family):

"The nurses have dropped all their opposition. Please let me know if you will support the Home Birth Safety Act, now that the nurses are neutral."

2) Take our your calendar and schedule in

THE MOTHER OF ALL RALLIES (revisted)
Show the AMA & ACOG who's in charge of your baby's birth
Come to the Illinois Capitol Jan 12 or 13, 2008
(use search terms S. 2nd St. and E. Monroe St., Springfield, IL 62701 and bring quarters for the parking meters, or walk just 3 short blocks from the Amtrak train station!)

We are holding a two-day rally to show legislators that we need midwives, and we need them now. Please invite everyone you know. Bring your children, your babies, your sister, and your friend. Just be there to make history!

If you live in anywhere in the midwest, you can make a huge difference in stopping organized medicine from blocking midwife licensure bills. This is your chance, no matter who you are, to show your support for home birth by helping the toughest state in the entire country to pass a CPM licensure law! We have the chance to set a precedent in the country, this first year after the AMA officially vowed to stop midwives. DON'T LET THEM! COME SHOW YOUR SOLIDARITY WITH YOUR HOME BIRTH SISTERS!

A little history ...
In approximately the past ten years, the home state of the American Medical Association, Illinois, has LOST MORE THAN 25 HOME BIRTH PRACTICES. We are in desperate need of safe, legal access to home birth midwives, and after three years of very intense work and negotiations, Illinois is THE FIRST STATE EVER to terms with the state's nursing groups.

Now that the nurses have dropped all their opposition, we have the best chance, literally, in history to pass a bill, but we can't count our chickens before they hatch! And that's why WE NEED YOU!!! No matter the weather, take a day out of your life to show our lawmakers that midwives matter!

SHE WAS THERE FOR YOU ...
When you were pregnant, your midwife was there for you. She was available and patient and there for your baby's birth. Now it's your chance (even if your "baby" is now grown) to show the AMA and legislators that licensing certified professional midwives is the right thing to do!

We are going to keep the rally simple. Just be there. You will see us wearing the black "got midwife?" pins. If you're from Illinois, we will help you find and meet with your state representative, and if you're form another state, your presence can really help show the whole nation that home birth is a necessary option, and legal access to home birth midwives should every woman's, baby's and family's right!

We would like to extend a special invitation to our plain clothes friends, but no matter what kind of clothes you wear, we need you. We need everybody to show Springfield how important this bill is!

Stay tuned for more details, and please plan to be part of this truly historic moment, and show your support for home birth!

See you there!

Colette Bernhard
Legislative Chair, Coalition for Illinois Midwifery
Vice-President, Illinois Families for Midwifery
birthnews at earthlink dot net
http://homebirthishea...
(773) 278-8625 - office
(773) 504-8442 - cell

I'm posting this from the Illinois Families for Midwifery email list ... A MESSAGE FROM MICHELLE BREEN

We have asked you many times to make these contacts. Please keep up the effort. It doesn't matter how many times you have called, because you are providing brand new information. As Colette posted earlier today, the Illinois Nurses Association (INA) has removed its opposition to the Home Birth Safety Act.

Although I have contacted my representative many times about this bill, I just sent him another email. I thanked him for his ongoing consideration of this important issue, and I updated him on the news about the INA and that the Bill's sponsors are pushing the legislation this session.

Recently, I attended the Annual Meeting of the Campaign for Better Health Care. Leaders of this group confirmed the importance of on-going communication with legislators from constituents. It's up to us to keep our reps informed about changes that they be not be aware of.

Like many of you, I have spent years on this issue. I have had the privilege of serving as a Board Member of the Coalition for Illinois Midwifery (CFIM) as the Home Birth Safety Act (SB 385) advanced through our General Assembly, and I fondly remember serving on the Board of Illinois Families For Midwifery (another privilege) years before the existence of CFIM. I have observed and learned quite a bit about advancing legislation through these years. This call for action is special. Things are so different now. We have great feedback coming from Springfield. Our legislative sponsors are directing us to PUSH NOW. We have a coalition of health care organizations working with us, supporting us and embracing us. The last meeting I attended with leaders in our state's nursing community was "warm and friendly". Honestly.

This is not just another rally and call to action. This is THE RALLY AND CALL TO ACTION. This is your opportunity to be part of Illinois' midwifery herstory. More importantly, this is our story. We own it. It's our celebration. Start typing emails tonight. Call your representative tomorrow. Contact your friends and family, associates and members of your religious communities, Don't forget to make your travel arrangements for Springfield January 12 and 13.

Best Wishes for a safe and happy holiday season,

Michelle S. Breen, MHS
Vice-President and Acting President
Coalition for Illinois Midwifery

Hi everybody,

I just called my rep again (with our one-week-old daughter on my lap - born at home!). It really only takes 5 minutes to do, but if we all do something this small and easy it'll make a big difference. Let's make this happen so that we give Illinois families the birth choices they deserve!

See you all soon,
Kerry


Kerry Maiorca
Bloom Yoga Studio
www.bloomyogastudio.com

CONTRAGULATIONS KERRY!! Have you named you new daughter yet?

You're right. It only takes about five minutes.

You can view our latest action alerts on our new blog

http://HomeBirthIsHea...

New babies make the best lobbyists! ;-)