Conference turris::womannotes-v5

	Sunday, Mar 23 (Palm Sunday) the Sudbury and Lincoln Bell Ringers
will give a handbell concert at Memorial Congregational Church in Sudbury.

	We'll do a variety of numbers, including a medley from "Annie".
I will be playing a duet - Faure's "Pavane"...two ringers plus piano
accompaniment.

	It's free (but we pass the plate).

		Oh, yes, it's at 3:30...

	Dick

		     Lexington Area NOW presents

			  NATIVE ENCOUNTERS
			  -----------------

		       Stories of White Women

				and

		     American Indians, 1758 - 1997


When:  Monday, March 31, 7:30 - 9:30 pm
Where: Bedford Town Center, 12 Mudge Way, Bedford, MA (behind the Town Hall)


When we think of the history of white and native peoples over the centuries 
since Europeans first began to colonize this land, we tend to think of men 
exploring the "wilderness," fighting the Indian wars, making and breaking 
treaties.  But what were the women doing?  As writers and captives, teachers 
and missionaries, government agents and neighbors--white women interacted with 
Indians in a wide variety of ways.  Come listen to their stories.

For more info, call 617-862-2192 or
	 	    617-646-7336

    From PlanetOut:
    
    This is worth hearing about even if you're not going to be in Boston on
    Saturday: the debut of what's probably the first musical work centered
    on the text of a Congressional debate. It's the debut of composer James
    Woodman's "The Marriage Debate Waltzes," with lyrics excerpted from
    openly gay congressmember from MassachusettsBarney Frank's actual
    remarks on the House floor denouncing the so-called Defense of Marriage
    Act (DOMA, enacted into law in September to deny recognition of gay and
    lesbian partnerships for all federal purposes -- over 1,000 of them,
    according to the Government Accounting Office -- and to empower the
    states to deny legal recognition to same-gender marriages which might
    someday be performed in another state). It's the showpiece of the
    Boston Gay Men's Chorus' 15th anniversary concert at Jordan Hall, and
    yes, lyricist Frank and his partner Herb Moses will be guests of honor. 
                                                                            

    
		ICE AGE GODDESSES AND BLACK MADONNAS
		------------------------------------

		      a lecture/slide show by

			    Deborah Rose


When:      Friday, April 4, 1997, 7-9 pm
Where:     Unicorn Books, 1210 Mass. Ave., Arlington, MA
	   (At intersection of Appleton St., Arlington Heights)
Admission: $12


From the blurb:

Deborah Rose presents her slide show and lecture that traces the ongoing 
stream of female wisdom originating in the Ice Age and flowing down to us 
in the contemporary and increasingly popular icon of the Black Madonna.  
Deborah will present photographs from her most recent trip to France 
documenting the Gypsy pilgrimage to the dark-skinned Sara-la-Kali, and 
images from the newly discovered Chauvet cave where carved vulvas date to 
32,000 BPE.

Deborah Rose, acupuncturist and herbalist, has spent most of her adult life 
researching the sacred feminine in a diverse array of traditions.  A chapter 
of her book-in-process, *Ice Age Goddesses & Black Madonnas*, was recently 
published in an international newsletter, "Goddessing Regenerated."

For more information, call 617-646-3680

    Really quickly:
    
    I have a show tonight at Jackson's Restaurant on Rte 110 in Methuen. 
    It is a mystery dinner theater.  Deadline At the Journal.
    
    Doors open at 7
    
    Phone for information:  (508) 688-5021
    
    
    E

                      Official Lilith Fair Announcement

     Lilith Fair Festival Tour to Celebrate Excellence in Women's Music

             Superstar Acts and Emerging Talent to Be Showcased

  Sarah McLachlan Defines Tour as a Reflection of Women's Evolving Role in
                                Popular Musuc

                               MARCH 26, 1997

                           

               "It doesn't exclude men, it simply celebrates
               women," says Sarah McLachlan of Lilith Fair, a
               festival tour created by McLachlan and her
               management.

               Last year, they tested the concept with a four
               city mini tour. The results were capacity
               crowds at each event, and the confidence to
               plan a major women's North American festival
               schedule for the summer of 1997. The Lilith
               Fair tour is the first of its kind, and makes
               a statement about the evolution of the role of
               women in popular music.

               McLachlan notes, "three years ago promoters
               were really scared to put two women on the
               same bill. Now, the climate has changed
               dramatically. We've proved it can be done.
               This tour is a huge step in the right
               direction for women's rights, but it isn't a
               soapbox for extremist feminism. It isn't about
               dissing men, it's about quality in every
               aspect of life between men and women -- so
               that's part feminist, part humanist. I just
               think everybody is equal."

               In addition to McLachlan, the tour will
               feature a broad spectrum of contemporary music
               and will feature such diverse artists as The
               Cardigans, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Paula Cole,
               Indigo Girls, Suzanne Vega and many more.
               Dates are set to begin early July, and will
               continue through the end of August.

               McLachlan also intends to have Lilith Fair
               provide a forum for up-and-coming female
               artists. The festival's set-up will feature a
               second stage on the audience lawn for both
               emerging artists and unique career
               performances by established artists. This
               second stage will give bands the chance to
               play for far more people than they would
               likely draw if touring independently. "The
               possibility that I could give emerging artists
               a real platform is a thrill to me. I would
               love to see somebody become successful from
               the tour or at least get a start."

               Some of the newer acts already booked for
               Lilith Fair are Wild Colonials, Victoria
               Williams, Autour de Lucie and Kelly Willis.

               Tour routing and individual show artist
               line-ups will be announced soon.

                           [this would be a line]

    In case it saves someone the time to browse for a Lilith Fair WWW site:
    
    http://www.lilithfair.com/
    
    Didn't see much in the way of dates or venues yet.
    
    Chuck

Margaret Starbird, author of the book *The Woman With the Alabaster Jar:  
Mary Magdalen and the Holy Grail* (1993), will be speaking about her book 
this Thursday evening, April 10, on the UNH campus in Durham, New Hampshire, 
in Murlkand Hall, 7-9 pm.

Margaret Starbird is a devout Catholic and scholar who holds a controversial 
view, which is what her book is about.  From the book's blurb:

"Margaret Starbird's theological beliefs were profoundly shaken when she 
read *Holy Blood, Holy Grail*, a book that dared to suggest that Jesus 
Christ was married to Mary Magdalen and that their descendants carried on 
his holy bloodline in Western Europe.  Shocked by such heresy, this Roman 
Catholic scholar set out to refute it, but instead found new and compelling 
evidence for the existence of the bride of Jesus--the same enigmatic woman 
who anointed him with precious unguent from her 'alabaster jar'.  In this 
provocative book, Starbird draws her conclusions from an extensive study of 
history, heraldry, symbolism, medieval art, mythology, psychology, and the 
Bible itself.  *The Woman with the Alabaster Jar* is a quest for the forgotten
feminine--in the hope that its return will help restore a healthy balance to 
planet Earth."

Contact is Karen Blennerhassett @ 603-742-7762.

According to today's paper, The Lilith Tour will be at Great 
Woods on 7/22.

No word on when tickets will go on sale.

Fiona Apple and Shawn Colvin have been added to the tour.

		     Lexington Area NOW presents

			  NATIVE ENCOUNTERS
			  -----------------

		       Stories of White Women

				and

		     American Indians, 1758 - 1997


When:  Tuesday, April 29, 7:30 - 9:30 pm
Where: Bedford Town Center, 12 Mudge Way, Bedford, MA (behind the Town Hall)


When we think of the history of white and native peoples over the centuries 
since Europeans first began to colonize this land, we tend to think of men 
exploring the "wilderness," fighting the Indian wars, making and breaking 
treaties.  But what were the women doing?  As writers and captives, teachers 
and missionaries, government agents and neighbors--white women interacted with 
Indians in a wide variety of ways.  Come listen to their stories.

For more info, call 617-862-2192 or
	 	    617-646-7336

I, of course, receive no remuneration for this:


                             JAVA THEATER NEEDS YOUR HELP!

We're excited about our next production, "Hunger", portraying a family
struggling with abuse and food.  But mounting a theater piece is an 
expensive proposition!  So to help ease the burden we're hosting a benefit 
along with the Massachusetts Eating Disorder Association (MEDA).

In addition to our undying gratitude for your donation of just $10.00, we will
provide a delightful evening of music and comedy, and the chance to win
a number of wonderful gifts!

Entertainment is generously being provided by:

	singer Raven
	comedian Jerry Caruso
	and singer Justine Sullivan, with Gordon Hill!

Please join us Friday, April 25th, from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at the
Cyclorama, Boston Center for the Arts, 539 Tremont Street, Boston, MA.

Tickets (covering admission and the raffle!) are available at the door, or
from
"Hunger" production members.  Attendance is not necessary to win prizes.

Donations may be sent to:
	Java Theater
	c/o Milton Coykendall
	11 Cameron Ave., #1
	Somerville, MA 02144

For more information, call 1 (617) 776-9563

And!  Don't forget to come see "Hunger", May 15 - June 1, at the BCA!


Directions to the BCA

	Public transportation:  The MBTA's Orange Line, Back Bay station
		and Green Line, Copley Square are both within walking
		distance.  The MBTA Bus #43 stops in front of the BCA
 		on Tremont Street.

	Car:  From 93 South, take exit 20 (Mass. Pike/Albany St.), bear
		left following the sign for Albany Street.  At 2nd light, 
		turn right onto East Berkeley St., then at the 5th light
		turn left onto Tremont.
	         From the Mass. Pike, exit at Copley Square, take a right onto
		Dartmouth, then at the 3rd light take a left onto Tremont.
		Go through 1 light and the BCA is on your left.

	Parking:  Limited parking is available at the lot on Warren Ave., 
		near the corner of East Berkeley and Tremont.
	       

[Posted by WWW Notes gateway]

    Please note, by the way, that the featured performer is erstwhile =wn=
    co-mod, Justine Sullivan, and that one of the prizes will be jewelry
    made by erstwhile =wn='er Heather Allison!
    
    
    E

    I went to see "Jack the Ripper: The Whitechapel Musical" at the Boston
    Center for the Arts this weekend.  It is being put on by Centastage.
    
    I have to admit, I went mainly because Centastage has a nice habit of
    giving reduced price tickets to the acters on their mailing list, and I
    rarely get to see any theatre!  I really wasn't expecting much.
    
    Girl, was *I* wrong!  This is an INCREDIBLE piece of theatre.  And I'm
    not a big fan of musicals.  I was amazed.  And judging by the response,
    so were most members of the audience.  Considering that it was press
    night, and more than half of the audience members were critics
    (including a New York critic from the acting trade, Back Stage), that
    is saying a lot! 
    
    I highly recommend this show.  You can find more information at
    Centastage's web page:  http://world.std.com/~centasta
    
    
    E

	A concert of sacred vocal music by KAIROS.  The group includes the
interim Music Director, Ellen Oak, of my church.  She is a marvelous teacher,
director, composer, performer (song and dance).

	To quote the poster she distributed:
	"KAIROS - Vocal ensembles dedicated to the
		sacred sound of the soul.

		IN CONCERT Sunday, May 18  4:00pm

	11th and 12th Century Polyphony and songs of
	Campion, Hildegard (von Bingen,ed.), Lewis,
	Oak (herself,ed.), Palestrina, Willan

	tickets $5/ $3 (seniors, students)

	Grace Episcopal Church, Eldredge and Church Streets, Newton, MA
	info call: 617.942.8732   email: [email protected] "

	Memorial Congregational Church, Sudbury, Mass.,
hosts "Sounding the Light: Hildegard of Bingen", a
one-woman performance created and performed by Ellen Oak,
Friday, May 2, 7:30 P.M. (The church is at the corner
of Concord Rd. and Church St., one block north of rte. 20.)
	The evening features the songs and writings of
Hildegard, a 12th-century German Benedictine nun.
Through costume, song, and dance, Oak speaks and sings
in Hildegard's voice.
	Ellen Oak is interim minister of music at Memorial
Church.  A musician, actor, teacher, dancer, and minister
of music, Oak has master's degrees from the Divinity School
of Music at Yale University.  Her recordings include the
music of Hildegard of Bingen.
	Admission is $5 for general public; $3 for senior
citizens and students.

                                    HUNGER

                                 Java Theater

                             at the Leland Center

                          Boston Center for the Arts
                              550 Tremont Street

                               May 15 - June 1
                          Thursday - Sunday at 8:00
                           Sunday Matinees at 2:00

                               Tickets: $15.00
                           $12.00/seniors, students
                   Information/reservations: (617) 426-0320

    Three siblings struggle with food, weight and their relationships with
    each other after the death of their abusive father.  This is a new play
    in development by writer/director Milton  Coykendall and the Java
    Theater Company.  

    After each performance the Massachusetts Eating Disorders Association*
    will provide information and resources to those interested.

HUNGER stars.......

Candy Brooks as Chastity
Chris Crowley as Robert
Randy Frye as Dad
E Grace Noonan as Hope

*A portion of the proceeds will be donated to MEDA


Directions to the BCA

        Public transportation:  The MBTA's Orange Line, Back Bay station
                and Green Line, Copley Square are both within walking
                distance.  The MBTA Bus #43 stops in front of the BCA
                on Tremont Street.

        Car:  From 93 South, take exit 20 (Mass. Pike/Albany St.), bear
                left following the sign for Albany Street.  At 2nd light, 
                turn right onto East Berkeley St., then at the 5th light
                turn left onto Tremont.
                 From the Mass. Pike, exit at Copley Square, take a right onto
                Dartmouth, then at the 3rd light take a left onto Tremont.
                Go through 1 light and the BCA is on your left.

        Parking:  Limited parking is available at the lot on Warren Ave., 
                near the corner of East Berkeley and Tremont.
               
                                                  

    angela Davis will be speaking at Shove Chapel in colorado Springs
    Monday evening at 5:00 PM.
    
    

 In February I went on a cruise (NCL) with friends and we ended
 up going to the art auction every day.  We were all from the
 same condo complex and we talked to Jeff (the auctioneer).  He
 was going off into business for himself and we talked about him
 doing an auction here in Massachussetts.  It is this weekend.
 The auction is very casual -- it was my first.  Most of the time
 you were the only one who wanted the artwork.  I am posting it here
 so we get a good turnout. (I don't get anything) And it is alot of fun.

    Lisa
    dtn 276-8660
    home (508)365-4673


	Art International

	Bid on Fine Art at 75-85% below retail gallery prices.
	Also available: Original works from Central and South America,
	otherwise not available in the U.S. (Acrylic, watercolors,
	oils, pen and ink and pastels.)

	Enter our art raffle!   No purchase necessary. 
	(raffle piece retailed at $1000)

	Complimentary champagne.

	Ridgefield Condominium Clubhouse
	Clinton, MA

	Friday, May 9:	  7 pm to 9:30 pm   Art Preview

	Saturday May 10: 12 noon to 1 pm    Art Preview
                         1  pm		    Art Auction begins

	Sunday, May 11:  2 pm to 3 pm       Art Preview
			 3 pm 		    Art Auction begins
	
	
	Directions:
		495 to Route 117 West
		about 1 mile, left at flashing light (Wataquadock Rd)
		stay to the right
		after Sylvestors, the road will curve around
		stay to the right at the fork; 1 mile down
		left into Ridgefield Condominiums
		Clubhouse is straight ahead (left, then quick right)

Tickets go on sale this Sunday at Noon for the Lilith Fair Tour 
7/22 at Great Woods.

Fiona Apple
Paula Cole 
Cardigans
Tracy Chapman
Sarah Maclachlan
3 acts still TBA

Gates open at 3pm. 

First act starts at 4:30.
Sarah comes on at 10:10 and ends the show at 11:00pm.

Looks like 20 minute sets for the second stage and 45-50 minutes 
scheduled for the main stage.

Other shows and artists at: http://www.lilithfair.com

From a mailing:

Here is information and a little background piece on the Conference that we 
in the local Alliances for Democracy are working on.  Please help us spread 
the word, forward it to people on your network.  And come!! 

It will be a full and exciting day, with our Public Citizen keynoter, 
specialized workshops, an "Action Lunch", debate in the afternoon, then 
visions of analternative future, by Pat Choate and Hilary French.  Thank 
you for passing on the information!   

The Conference and Debate will be held at Boston College, Devlin Hall, 
from 9:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 31.  We are pleased to offer a 
wide range of distinguished.speakers.  Below is the nearly final program:
 
MAI: THE NEW CORPORATE COLONIALISM?
Devlin Hall, Boston College, 5/31/97

9:00	Registration begins ($10, $8 preregistered, $5 low income, see 
	below)
9:45	Prelude (vocal group): The Bostonians
10:00	Greeting and overview.  Charlie Derber (Boston College), Dave Lewit
	(Alliance for Democracy), Simon Billenness (Franklin Research &
	Development Corp.)
10:05	Introduction: "A National Debate." Ronnie Dugger (Alliance for 	
	Democracy)
10:15	Keynote: "MAI: Blessing or Horror?"  Lori Wallach (Public Citizen)
10:40	Q & A.  Resource persons: Scott Nova (Preamble Center for
	Public Policy) and (US Environmental Protection Agency)
10:55	MAI Impacts...
	Special experience of discussion leaders.  Agendas for specialized 
	workshops:
	on Small and Medium Business. Raymond Vernon (Kennedy School, Harvard),
	and AlanTonelson (US Business & Industry Council) on Labor. 
	Thea Lee (AFL-CIO) on Regional Development.  
	Scott Nova (Preamble Collaborative) on Environment.  
	Andrew Deutz (Woods Hole Research Center) on and by Media.  
	Charles Sennott (Boston Globe) on Culture, Community and Organizing 
	Mary Zepernick, Virginia Rasmussen (Program on Corporations, Law & 
	Democracy; WILPF) on Law & the States. 
	Robert Stumberg (Georgetown University Law Center) on Political 
	Power and Democracy. State Rep. Jim Marzilli, Mel King, Simon 
	Billenness   
11:45	Break-out groups: Open discussions with above leaders (Auditorium 
	and classrooms)
1:00	Action-lunch/workshop. How To Campaign: "Making your convictions 
	count." Simon Billenness, Scott Nova, State Rep. Jim Marzilli, 
	State Rep. Byron Rushing
1:00	Cafeteria lunch also available.
1:50	Gathering song. The Bostonians
2:00	Debate. Moderator: Congress member John Tierney.  "Is MAI Good for 
	Everybody?"
	Marino Markesh? (National Association of Manufacturers)
	? (Dept. of State, Treasury, Commerce or EPA)
	Ronnie Dugger (Alliance for Democracy)
	Lori Wallach (Public Citizen)
	Rejoinders by debaters 
3:30	Seventh Inning Stretch
3:35	Alternative Future A: Pat Choate (Reform Party)
4:00	Alternative Future B: Hilary French (Worldwatch Institute)
4:25	Audience questions and comments.
4:40	Action-lunch report-back.  Meeting and campaigning opportunities 
	for all.
5:00	Closing. 

Sponsored by Alliance for Democracy, local chapters, Public Citizen, Boston
College Sociology Dept.,Center for Popular Economics, CPPAX, Franklin
Research and Development Corp., Mobilization for Survival, Boston CISPES,
Sisters of Saint Joseph Office of Justice and Peace, 5th District Citizens
Concerned about Central America, New England Council for Responsible
Investing and others.

Registration is $10, $8 in advance, or $5 low income: checks to Boston-
Cambridge Alliance, c/o Adams, 10 Newland Rd, Arlington MA 02174.  For more
info: call the Alliance at 617-266-8687, or 508-872-6137.  Boston College 
is at
140 Commonwealth Ave., Newton.  Enter at the Com. Ave. gate; you will be
directed to Devlin Hall.  By MBTA go to the end of the Green line, "B" 
train.


Background, by Paul Johnson

At a time when more responsibility is being shifted to state and local
government to deal with social needs, new laws are being drafted at the
international level which will restrict the power of state and local
government to affect economic development, environmental, or labor
standards, and the retention of domestic industries.

The Multilateral Agreement on Investment, being prepared by O.E.C.D. 
(The European-based Organization for Economic Co-operation and
Development) with the United States, is designed to make it easier for
corporations and big investors to expand their operations into new locales
by overriding many federal, state, and local requirements.  MAI would
jeopardize the Community Reinvestment Act, which prevents redlining by
banks, as well as programs in cities like Baltimore which require a living
wage be paid by any company with a city contract, minority hiring
requirements, plant closing requirements, development funds for local
business or these owned by women or minorities, requirements for job
creation or retention when tax breaks or other subsidies are given, and
human rights laws such as the Massachusetts Burma law which restricts the
state from doing business with companies based in countries with gross
violations of human rights. MAI could be, in short, a devastating assault 
on the right of local self determination.

Although MAI was scheduled for ratification by the US Senate this fall, it
has not yet been released to the public.  It has been drafted virtually in
secret over the last two years and has had almost no coverage in the press.

Multilateral agreements like NAFTA and GATT, which removed trade barriers
and allowed the free importation of goods from low-wage countries with few
environmental standards, have resulted in the loss of many good jobs in US
and--in the interest of remaining "competitive"--a race to the bottom of
low wages and low environmental standards.  MAI is the latest in that
tradition and perhaps the most critical, because it goes beyond NAFTA and
GATT in establishing--for the first time--the right of powerful,
multinational corporations to sue and collect compensation from local
communities that exercise various kinds of control on investment behavior. 
Local and national governments would have no right to sue corporations on
behalf of their people. 

MAI proponents say the agreement will put the US in a stronger position to
attract investment, build new facilities, and compete in the global
marketplace. Opponents see it as an assault on community rule and the
democratic process, an agreement that will reduce wages and lower
environmental standards while giving much more power to large
multinationals. 

It is clear that any agreement with such a massive impact on local
authority deserves adequate time for presentation and debate. Our goal is
to start a national debate.  Please join us. 

				LIVING DOWNSTREAM:

		An Ecologist Looks at Cancer and the Environment


			      by Sandra Steingraber


			       Publication Reading


Tuesday, June 10, 7:00 - 8:30 pm
The Mary Ingraham Bunting Institute
34 Concord Ave.
Cambridge, MA
tel. 617-495-8212


A quote on the flyer (from the Kirkus Review):

"A graceful, precise delineation of the ugly marriage between synthetic 
chemicals in the environment and rising cancer rates, from poet/biologist 
Steingraber....It's not the first time this bleak association has been made
--remember *Silent Spring*?--but Steingraber's is a polished an powerful 
warning shot.  It would be folly to ignore her."

(Sponsored with support of the Women's Community Cancer Project, Physicians 
for Social Responsibility, MASSPIRG, The Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition,
The National Pediculosis Association, and the Toxics Action Center)