Feel Safe Again, Inc

November 2007

We would like to extend a warm welcome to all of the newly elected and reelected Board Members of Feel Safe Again, Inc. We are truly honored to have Detective Mike Proctor, criminal consultant and author of "How to Stop a Stalker", and Tino Struckmann, personal security expert and author of "Stalked: What You Can Do About It" join our organization, as well as a survivor of stalking, and a dedicated victim witness advocate. We truly appreciate your commitment to helping victims of stalking become survivors, and thank you for your support. The founder of FSA recently attended the New Hampshire Governor's Commission on Domestic and Sexual Violence, Stalking Conference-Invisible Threat: Creating a Multidisciplinary Response to Stalking, in collaboration with the Attorney General's Office and the National Center for Victims of Crime - Stalking Resource Center. The two-day conference offered excellent speakers, seminars, material and discussion. There was also a valuable resource table where we included our brochures, business cards, pens, and awareness ribbon pins, as well as bookmarks with a very inspirational and empowering poem written by the founder, entitled "Until The End Of Never" about the tragic loss of her sister Sandra Berfield, and hope for other victims of stalking.

October 2007
We would like to take a moment to acknowledge Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Once again this year, the founder of Feel Safe Again, Inc. participated in the United Against Domestic Violence - 5th Annual 5K Run/Walk-a-Thon in New Hampshire, in memory of her sister, Sandra Berfield, and on behalf of all victims and survivors of stalking. A display was setup with information and available resources, including safety kits and awareness ribbons. We also offered stalking books, T-shirts, tote bags and mugs from our Online Store to help us raise additional funds. Next month we will be distributing our Community Assessment Surveys for Criminal Justice, Law Enforcement and Human Services, in order to collect statistical data throughout Massachusetts and New Hampshire communities. We will also be adding links to our Victim Resources page for each of these surveys, as well as a Stalking Survey for victims and survivors to be completed Online. All of the data collected will be shared with the National Center for Victims of Crime - Stalking Resource Center, and incorporated into our annual "End This Silent Fear" campaign in January to recognize Stalking Awareness Month.

September 2007
The founder of Feel Safe Again, Inc. was one of twelve women nominated for the Women's Recognition Award in New Hampshire. The award is made annually in conjunction with Women’s Equality Day, August 26, and is part of the Commission on the Status of Women’s activities, which are designed to address issues in women’s lives and to recognize women of achievement in the state. We also have an exciting announcement! We will be hosting our "1st Annual Stalking Conference", in collaboration with the Massachusetts State Police, the Stalking Resource Center, and AWARE. It will be held on Friday, March 14, 2008, at the Devens Common Center in Devens, Massachusetts, from 8:30am-5:30pm, which will be immediately followed by a reception and book signing from 5:30pm-6:00pm, and then our "4th Annual Benefit Dinner" from 6:00-11:00pm. We are accepting Online Registration until March 7, 2008. Also, for a limited time only, we are offering benefit dinner tickets at a special pre-buy discount of $35.00 per person. Tickets can be purchased Online, by mail, or from any board or advisory board member.

Please make checks payable to:

Feel Safe Again, Inc. P.O. Box 490188 Everett, MA 02149

August 2007
On behalf of our sister, we would like to take a moment to recognize August 1, 2000. "Sandy's Law" an anti-stalking law named for Everett, Massachusetts resident and stalking victim Sandra Berfield was signed into law. This law has greatly assisted law enforcement officials to prevent harassment of another individual, and possibly another tragedy. We would like to thank all of the volunteers who donated their time during Old Home Days in Hudson, New Hampshire. Our table provided free information from several of our community partners; including the Kiwanis Club of Hudson, Head Start, Southern New Hampshire Services, Fuel Assistance, WIC, and Commodity Foods. Special thanks also goes to the Kiwanis for sponsoring our SMART-Kid™ Project safety trainings. With their assistance we distributed 184 coloring books and child identification kits during the event. We have also launched our new Back-to-School SMART-Kid™ Sr. Project for teens, ages 13-18. The focus of this new project will be on Internet safety and relationships.

July 2007
In collaboration with the Kiwanis Club of Hudson, New Hampshire, we are offering our SMART-Kid™ Project coloring book, crayons, pencil, and sticker to all children at Old Home Days in Hudson, from August 10-12, 2007. Each parent will also receive our Child Identification Kit to be completed and kept in a safe place. This very important, potentially life-saving information will assist law enforcement officials if their child is ever abducted. On August 1, 2007, we are launching our SMART-Kid™ Sr. Project, for teens, ages 13-18, in conjunction with our annual Back-to-School SMART-Kid™ Project safety and stalking awareness training. If you would like additional information, or to schedule a safety training in your area, please contact us at (888) 99B-SAFE or e-mail info@feelsafeagain.org.

June 2007
We would like to thank everyone who testified in support of Senate Bill 1413, "An Act Relative to the Enhancement of Public Safety" and Senate Bill 755, "An Act Relative to Housing Discrimination Against Victims of Domestic Violence, Rape, Sexual Assault and Stalking". We appreciate the collaborative efforts of Senator Pamela P. Resor, and all the Massachusetts State Troopers who have worked tirelessly to support this bill, in order to prevent another tragedy. We are extremely hopeful both of these bills will be passed quickly. On June 13, 2007, the founder and president of Feel Safe Again, Inc. received the "Empowering Women Award" from the GFWC Hudson Junior Women's Club. The General Federation of Women's Clubs is an international women's organization dedicated to community improvement by enhancing the lives of others through volunteer service. As a past member of this local volunteer organization, the founder was honored to receive this award in the presence of many old and new friends. She would also like to thank them for their generous donation to Feel Safe Again, Inc.

May 2007
We would like to thank everyone who came out to show their support for victims, and the volunteers who donated their time during the Victims' Rights events this year. As always, we are committed to creating positive change, providing available resources, and being a voice for all victims. There will be a hearing at the State House in Boston on Wednesday, May 23, 2007 for Senate Bill 1413, "An Act Relative to the Enhancement of Public Safety" at 10am before the Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee, and on Tuesday, June 5, 2007 for Senate Bill 755, "An Act Relative to Housing Discrimination Against Victims of Domestic Violence, Rape, Sexual Assault and Stalking" at 10am before the Housing Committee. We are also pleased to inform you of an exciting and innovative training opportunity. The Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance is now offering their new Massachusetts Victim Assistance Academy for victim advocates from community and criminal justice based agencies. Applications for the inaugural MVAA will be accepted until Friday, May 25, 2007.

April 2007
Feel Safe Again, Inc. offered free SMART-Kid™ Project safety coloring books, child identification kits, and "Sneaky Escapes" safety videos in collaboration with several community organizations, as well as Collins Dentistry for Children of Pelham, during Hudson's 1st Annual Prudential Verani Easter Egg Hunt in Hudson, New Hampshire on Saturday, March 31st. We distributed a total of 225 coloring books during the event! Special thanks to everyone who volunteered during the event, and to the Kiwanis Club of Hudson for sponsoring our SMART-Kid™ Project trainings. Please consider joining us during National Crime Victims' Rights Week from April 23-27, 2007. In New Hampshire, a press conference is scheduled for Tuesday, April 24th at St. Paul's Church in Concord at 11:00am, and a memorial service at 5:30pm, which will be followed by a victims' rights vigil at 7:00pm. In Massachusetts, opening remarks will be given by Governor Deval Patrick and First Lady Diane Patrick on Thursday, April 26th, from 9:00-3:00pm, at the Statehouse in Boston, included is a new "Violence Transformed" art exhibit.

February 2007
Our "Third Annual Benefit Dinner" is Saturday, March 10, 2007 at the King's Court & Banquet Hall in Hudson , New Hampshire , from 7:00-11:00pm. Tickets are $25 per person, which includes speakers, buffet, silent auction, raffle and DJ. We are pleased to announce...our keynote speaker is Kathleen Baty, a stalking expert, survivor and the author of "A Girl's Gotta Do What A Girl's Gotta Do." Ms. Baty comes to us from California , where she advocated for the passage of the first anti-stalking law in the

United States

. We also have special guest speaker Stephen Hewett, a martial arts instructor and creator of the child safety video, "Sneaky Escapes." His video will be used as a visual aid for our SMART-Kid™ Project safety trainings. We have also invited several public officials, law enforcement and victim witness advocates from Massachusetts and New Hampshire. You don't want to miss this potentially life-saving event!

January 2007
We would like to remind everyone that January is National Stalking Awareness Month In addition to launching our annual "End This Silent Fear" campaign to create public awareness, we are also launching our new "I'm A Survivor" fundraising campaign, in order to help us raise funds to continue helping victims become survivors. The new campaign has three suggested donation options to help us reach our fundraising goal. In recognition of Stalking Awareness Month, the founder of Feel Safe Again, Inc. will speak during a press conference, scheduled by Senator Pamela P. Resor, at the State House in Boston, on Thursday, January 18, 2007 at 2:00pm. She will also attend a press conference co-hosted by the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, Governor Lynch, and Attorney General Ayotte at the Governor's office in Concord, on Friday, January 19, 2007 at 11:00am. Consider subscribing to our bimonthly "Stalking Victims News" for current stalking information, training events and special announcements. For additional information e-mail fundraiser@feelsafeagain.org or call
(888) 99B-SAFE.