JUNE & JULY UPDATE

Sunday June 6th



THE NYC GATHERING AND THE FAMILY BUILDING NETWORK PRESENT:
Creating the Family Story for Parents and Parents-to-be via Donor and Surrogacy.
I want to start off by saying that I am very excited to be meeting both Jean Benward and Theresa Erickson for the first time at the June 6th Workshop.

• Theresa Erickson is an attorney who specializes in Reproductive and Family Law (www.ericksonlaw.net.) and will be speaking on our panel about her own experience as an Ovum Donor. She is an Executive Board Member of Parents Via Egg Donation, PVED.org.

• Patricia Mendell, LCSW, is a psychotherapist in private practice. She is Co-Chair of The AFA, facilitator of their Ovum Donor Seminars, and has written and spoken extensively on fertility, pregnancy loss, disclosure, family, and parenting issues. As a therapist and fertility survivor, Patricia is well aware of the impact decision making choices have on people’s lives. She believes that with the right support system and practical educational tools one can feel confident in tackling any of life’s challenges. http://www.patriciamendell.com, 718-230-9383, 212-819-1778
• Jean Benward, LCSW is a psychotherapist in private practice with over 25 years experience with issues surrounding adoption, infertility, and donor conception. She served as a member of the ASRM’s Mental Health Professional Group Executive Committee for seven years. She is co-president of the Board of Directors of the Sperm Bank of California and has been a consultant on the Sperm Bank’s identity release task force for eight years. Jean is the co-author of the AFA Talking to Kids about Ovum Donation pamphlet. She has just completed a book chapter about Identity Formation in Donor Offspring for a Canadian publisher. She has presented at numerous ASRM symposia and workshops, at the American Society for Bioethics and Humanism and at the Evan B Donaldson Adoption Institute. Her clinical experience includes several years as adjunct professor and clinical supervisor for graduate students in child and family therapy. You can reach her at: officejeanbenward@sbcglobal.net or phone: 925 820 9023.
  This workshop is an expanded version of the very well-received workshop held in November '09. We will have a panel of parents and donor-conceived kids and adults (and a donor!), interactive discussions planned, childrens psychological development info, practical and specific tools will be presented. Please contact pmendell@aol.com or saxel95@aol.com to confirm your reservation.

Additional Events Listing:

Anne Malave-June 2, June 16, June 30-Continuing with Anne Malave PHD, 4 session commitment, Professionally Led Support Group, UWS, 212-787-1304.
Call for Dates-Anne Malave,PHD PG Via DE Professionally Led Support Group, UWS, 212-787-1304.Thurs June 17-Anne Malave PHD, 4 session comittment-6-7pm Professionally Led Support Group in Mineola, 212-787-1304.

Mon June 14, Mon July 12, Tues Aug 3, Mon Sept 13, Mon Oct 18, Tues 11-16, Mon 12-13-The NYC Gathering Womens Dinner in Midtown saxel95@aol.com.
Long Island Resolve Peer-Led Support Group-Third Thursdays Monthly -June 17,July 15,Aug 19,Sept 16,Oct 21, Nov 18, Dec 16.
Sunday-June 27-LI All-inclusive, Eisenhower Park, Lot#2, 10am-1pm.

TPPN-Tues-Jun 8, Sept 14, Oct 12, Nov 9, Dec 14,TPPN, UWS, Professionally Led Support Group, Elizabeth SIlk, LCSW, Nancy Kaufman, LCSW. Esilk2@earthlink.net, NLKaufman@yahoo.com.

Sunday July 11-The Mystic Aquarium, all-inclusive CT and NE Gathering, saxel95@aol.com
Thanks and best to all,
Sara Axel
516-967-7430
http://donorgroupsnyc.blogspot.com/