Pretty Bird Woman House - first and last call

by: betsyny

Mon Dec 21, 2009 at 20:16:54 PM PST

For those of you who aren't familiar with the history of our involvement with the shelter, I will direct you to a post that Andy T wrote on the Pretty Bird Woman House blog, which pretty much summed up our efforts then.

the shelter, which includes a general (tax deductible) fund for the shelter, and a separate one for gift cards for the staff (not deductible).

This year, for reasons I will tell you about in the update below, I'm just doing a ChipIn for the staff. General donations (the tax deductible kind) can still be made by check, but not on-line.

Lets Honor Joe Biden's Family Like this

by: betsyny

Mon Oct 06, 2008 at 12:11:25 PM PDT

Considering that Sarah Palin wants Alaskan women to buy their own rape kits and is against abortion even in case of rape or incest, and John McCain's pathetic record on women's issues buying Pretty Bird Woman House a new furnace also draws a stark contrast between our values, shared by the Obama/Biden ticket, and the McCain/Palin horror show.  

So what do you say? Are you in for say $5.

Pretty Bird Woman House Needs a Coat of Paint +

by: betsyny

Mon Jun 09, 2008 at 11:07:48 AM PDT

Anyway, the shelter has been operating for about a month, and wonderful things have been happening since they closed on the house in February.

One exciting development has been that many members of the McLaughlin community have gone from being suspicious to being supporters. That's one reason we're raising money right now: a youth group from a local church as volunteered to paint the house.

More below the fold.

Pretty Bird Woman House Update: It's a GO!

by: betsyny

Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 14:55:59 PM PST

First of all, I want to express my deepest gratitude to all the Kossacks and other members of the netroots community for your commitment to the survival of the Pretty Bird Woman House.  Helping this shelter has been one of the most gratifying things I've ever done, and some of that has to do with the outpouring of caring and compassion that I witnessed while I was doing this project.

This morning I received an email informing me that the McLaughlin City Council had unanimously approved the shelter's petition to operate in the house it wants to purchase. This was a wonderful accomplishment given some initial misgivings that some of the City Council Members had expressed.  

Pretty Bird Woman House Update: Why Isn't Anything Easy in Indian Country?

by: betsyny

Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 10:20:52 AM PST

I want to update everyone who has been involved in the Pretty Bird Woman House fundraiser on the situation with the house purchase.

After you read this you might also ask: Why isn't anything easy in Indian Country?

While we were running this fundraiser, the City Council of McLaughlin, which exists as a separate entity within the boundaries of the Standing Rock Reservation, passed an ordinance requiring that any nonprofit wishing to establish a boardinghouse or shelter in a residential area get the approval of the City Council first.

This means that  even though Pretty Bird Woman House could have closed on the house on January 4th, they had to wait for a Council meeting on January 7th.

Everyone was certain that after hearing about the shelter, the City Council would just say "of course you can" to their request.

Not so.  

Pretty Bird Woman House Update: YOU are buying THIS house!

by: betsyny

Fri Dec 07, 2007 at 12:17:23 PM PST

We need donations urgently right now since there was only enough money for a really low bid, so that makes things still a bit tenuous. And then there will be closing costs and a security system. But even though we haven't sealed the deal yet, we're coming very close!

The amazing part of this project is that the individual efforts of a bunch of bloggers are making such a big difference to a group of women. This is what a community is really about.  And were else can you see donations doing something so huge so fast?