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2010 NAAFA
Convention A Rousing Success!
from: NAAFA.org
2010 NAAFA Convention A Rousing Success!
NAAFA has just concluded another successful annual fund raising
convention held this year in Millbrae, CA.
During the Annual General Meeting on
Friday morning, NAAFA co-chair Jason Docherty highlighted the
accomplishments of the past year such as the creation of the NAAFA
Child Advocacy Toolkit and our new
alliance with the International Association
Against Image Discrimination, created especially to fight worldwide
image discrimination. Their premier campaign, REFLEXIONS, is a
global campaign to promote "Image Discrimination Awareness Week"
which will be observed annually and took place April 26 through May
2, 2010.
Friday's Fat Advocacy Training Workshop, led by NAAFA
Advisory Board Member Brandon
Macsata, was an advocacy primer on influencing Capitol Hill and the
new media. Saturday's Child Advocacy
Super Workshop featured panelists: Joanne Ikeda, MA, RD
Nutritionist Emeritus, former
co-director of the Center for Weight and Health University of
California, Berkeley; Deb Burgard, PhD, Psychologist and creator of
the
BodyPositive.com; Lily
O'Hara, MPH and PhD (candidate), author and public health lecturer
at the University of the Sunshine Coast
in Australia.
NAAFA introduced two scholarships in 2010. The NAAFA Plus Size
Fashion Design
Scholarship was presented to Sarah
Rosandick at Friday night's Fashion Show Extravaganza. The NAAFA
HAES Scholarship was presented to Jenny Copeland, PsyD candidate at
Forest Institute Springfield, MO at the
Saturday Night Awards Dinner and Dance.
At Saturday night's Awards Dinner, NAAFA honored other key
individuals that have made major strides for the size acceptance
movement:
-The Legislative Pioneer Award was
presented to NAAFA Board Member Carole Cullum whose tireless efforts
behind the scene were responsible for adding height and weight to
the anti-discrimination laws of
San Francisco, CA .
-The Size Acceptance Vanguard Award
went to NAAFA Advisory Board Member Dr. Esther Rothblum for her work
with NAAFA over the years researching issues that affect our members
which has led to the legitimization of Fat Studies at the University
level.
-The International Size Acceptance Trailblazer Award has been
awarded to Fatima Parker who faces constant harassment from a
hostile audience, for her work in promoting the size-acceptance
message throughout the Arab world.
On Sunday evening NAAFA concluded the 2010 convention with our first
International Fat Film Festival. We
were honored to premier "Weightless", a documentary by Faith Pennick
featuring Dr. Liz Nickels, a plus size SCUBA instructor, and plus
size women who learn and enjoy SCUBA diving. "Gordita", written and
directed by Debby Wolfe, is an emotional look at a young Hispanic
woman's blossoming into self-love. And lastly "A
Matter of Size" is a heart-warming film about a group of fat
Israeli men on their journey to size acceptance as they become sumo
wrestlers. Each film depicted a different aspect of life in a fat
body.
Join us next year when we return to
Washington, DC for more visits to The Hill!
NAAFA Applauds Michigan Judge’s Decision
For Immediate Release
August 26, 2010
Oakland, CA
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NAAFA applauds the decision of
Macomb County Circuit Judge Peter Maceroni to uphold the
anti-discrimination law of Michigan.
Judge Maceroni decided recently not to dismiss a lawsuit
against Hooters by two waitresses fired because of their minimal
weight gain. Michigan
is the only state in the US that has a law in place which protects
against employment discrimination based on height and weight.
NAAFA commends
Cassandra Smith and Leanne Convery for standing up for their legal
rights. Hooters’
practices appear to discriminate based on gender as well as weight.
Their male assistant regional manager who refused an
interview with the local news reporter is a very large man.
Policies such as those being enforced at Hooters for their female
waitresses are directly responsible for creating undue stress in the
workplace which can lead to a myriad of serious health risks such as
eating disorders, anxiety disorders, elevated blood pressure and
heart disease, gastrointestinal disorders and more.
NAAFA strongly urges individuals to take action by writing letters
of protest to Hooters of Roseville Inc. and Atlanta-based Hooters of
America Inc. Hit them where it will hurt the most, in their
pocketbooks, by taking your business elsewhere until Hooters is
forced to reverse their policy. Cancel any existing reservations you
have at any Hooters facility if at all possible and make certain
that they know you are cancelling because of their weight control
policy for their waitresses.
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