Curves
July 29, 2006 | Leave a CommentPosted by admin | Filed Under Erin Weed's Blog
Yesterday Tiffany mailed out 120 letters to Curves women’s fitness locations within 40 miles of our studio. Bascially, we want to target this awesome company as partners of Girls Fight Back, and hold self-defense workshops at their studios. (or at our studio, if that works better.) Another thing we’re trying to organize is setting up community workshops…local activists or business owners set up and publicize the event, and I show up to teach the women how to fight. What a win-win situation. If you belong to Curves, tell them you want to pair up with GFB!
Jennifer Moore
July 28, 2006 | 2 CommentsPosted by admin | Filed Under Erin Weed's Blog
A teen from New Jersey was found murdered in a dumpster in Weehawken yesterday. She had been missing for 48 hours after partying in New York City. When she and her friend went to leave the club, they discovered their car had been towed. After going to the impound lot, Jennifer’s friend passed out and had to be taken to the hospital. Then Jennifer somehow wandered away and got lost. She was either lured or abducted in a yellow cab, taken to Weehawken and strangled in a hotel room. They have a guy in custody who they think is the killer, but I know from personal experience, it doesn’t make the friends and family feel much better. As Jennifer’s dad said in a news conference yesterday, “We had about 5 seconds of relief.”
All of us here at Girls Fight Back send our condolences to all who loved Jennifer.
Sex Offender Registry
July 27, 2006 | 1 CommentPosted by admin | Filed Under Erin Weed's Blog
Today President Bush signed legislation which establishes a national sex offender registry, making it more difficult for sexual predators to victimize kids via the Internet. Pictured above is my hero, John Walsh, his wife and the President. John was there because the law is called the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006. It is named in memory of John’s son, Adam, who was 6-years-old when he was abducted and killed in 1981. You go John. GFB appreciates all the incredible work you have done in the shadow of such a great loss.
July E-Newsletter
July 26, 2006 | Leave a CommentPosted by admin | Filed Under Erin Weed's Blog
Just sent it out today…
Tips for College Selection
July 24, 2006 | Leave a CommentPosted by admin | Filed Under Erin Weed's Blog
Security On Campus, Inc.’s Top 5 Safety Tips for choosing a college or university are:
1. Monitor available crime information
Under the federal Jeanne Clery Act, colleges are required to disclose both crime statistics and timely information regarding campus crime. Schools are also required to disclose key security policies such as whether the campus is protected by police officers, security guards, or a trained student patrol.
2. Choose schools willing to embrace innovative technological solutions
Electronic key-card systems and video surveillance in public areas can cut down on criminal activity. More recent technologies, like those from Rave Wireless, which transform students¹ mobile phones into personal alarm devices, are also poised to reduce crime on campus.
3. Favor schools that administer strict alcohol and other drug abuse policies
Most campus violence is alcohol or other drug related, and 1,700 college students die annually from alcohol related causes. Dry campuses and those which offer substance-free housing experience fewer problems.
4. Consider the institution’s history of advocacy for victims of sexual assault and other violent crimes.
As many as one quarter of undergraduate women will be the victim of a completed or attempted sexual assault, and most on-campus crimes will be committed by a fellow student or acquaintance. Creating a support system fosters campus-wide attention to the problems at hand, and can help deter future crimes.
5. Demand effective parent-notification policies
When students get into serious trouble with alcohol or other drug abuse, failing grades, suicide attempts, or perpetrating violence, their parents or guardians deserve to be notified.
These guidelines, as well as a complete campus safety audit, may be downloaded from the SOC web site. For more information please visit http://www.securityoncampus.org/ or http://www.campussafetymonth.org/.
GFB Challenge Graduates
July 21, 2006 | Leave a CommentPosted by admin | Filed Under Erin Weed's Blog
Meet the first-ever graduates of the GFB Challenge 12-hour class held at our studio in Hoboken, NJ. Last night they faced a woman’s worst nightmare (an attacker, but in a padded suit) and fought back full force and escaped! They had supporters watching from the audience and we videotaped all their Victory Fights. (and watched them on a projector afterwards while eating popcorn and sipping champagne.) While each of them came from totally different backgrounds and experiences, each of them made Kevin and me extremely proud. You all kicked ass…come back and fight with us again soon!
NJ Woman Fights Back
July 20, 2006 | Leave a CommentPosted by admin | Filed Under Erin Weed's Blog
A 48 year old woman fought off a burglar/rapist yesterday in her home in New Jersey. When she first entered her home, she saw duct tape and a man’s t-shirt on the floor of the living room. Fearing a robbery, she went upstairs to investigate. (I don’t recommend doing this, by the way. If you think there’s been a break-in, get the heck out of there and call police.) When she got upstairs to the bedroom she saw a man wearing her underwear on his head. Wow. Upon seeing her he attempted to sexually assault her, but she physically fought back, starting with grabbing the underwear off his head. She ultimately escaped unharmed. You just can’t make this stuff up…but all of us here at GFB say, “You go girl.”
A message from John Walsh
July 18, 2006 | Leave a CommentPosted by admin | Filed Under Erin Weed's Blog
Please help us pass the Child Safety Act by clicking on the link below to send a letter to the US Senate leadership and help change the laws to better protect our children. We need a law that will protect our children from child predators and sex offenders. We’ve needed a law for a long time. Too many children have suffered. Tragically, in the first months of 2005, Jessica Lunsford, Jetseta Gage, and Sarah Lunde were each murdered. In each case a known sex offender was the accused killer. The mounting emotional toll that those cases took on the public opened lawmakers’ eyes to the absolute need for effective laws and rules concerning child predators and sex offenders.
SEND A LETTER TO SENATOR SPECTER NOW
Tell him that you want to see a national law to protect our children from sex offenders and predators. At the following link you’ll find an E-mail letter you can easily add your name to and send in less than a minute. http://www.thesafeside.com/about/CSA2006_letter.asp
TELL YOUR FRIENDS. We need to make an impact together in the next 48 hours so we can have this on the president’s desk the week of July 24th, 2006. Help us pass the Child Safety Act. It will take a moment of your time, and the passing of this bill will help to protect all of the children that you care about. Please help our children today by sending this email to all people on your E-mail list right now. http://www.thesafeside.com/about/csa2005.asp
Thank you,
John Walsh and Julie Clark
Founders - The Safe Side Company
Big Apple Fighting
July 18, 2006 | Leave a CommentPosted by admin | Filed Under Erin Weed's Blog
One of the exciting things I was asked to particpate in this summer is the city of Hoboken’s Exercise in the Park series. Yesterday it was cancelled due to the horrific, scorching heat. However, I recently came across this fun pic taken at the June event. How cool to teach moves where movies always shoot films. Check out the Empire State Building in the background. Nice.
Campus Safety Month
July 17, 2006 | Leave a CommentPosted by admin | Filed Under Erin Weed's Blog
Campus safety advocates are working hard to get Congressional recognition of the month of September as the 2nd Annual National Campus Safety Awareness Month. We need your help! Please contact your Member of Congress by clicking below and ask them to co-sponsor H.RES. 765 which supports NCSAM. Thanks, comrades!
Weed vs. Water Cooler
July 14, 2006 | 1 CommentPosted by admin | Filed Under Erin Weed's Blog
Some people are scared of clowns. Or flying. Or sharks. I have some cliche small woodland creature fears, like mice. But what I really fear, is when it’s time to change the 5 gallon bottle on the water cooler. I’ve never had good luck with water cooler devices, in fact, I’ve gone through about 5 of them in 3 years. They leak, break, explode, get shorted out…whatever. I just don’t have good luck.
We recently got a new water cooler for the studio, and it was time to change the jug. So today I decided to do the task head-on, and have it documented. I had Tiffany (the GFB program coordinator) take pics while I did the deed. I told her not to stop taking pictures no matter what. I was expecting a full on debacle, based on past disastrous attempts at changing the jug. I figured if I was going to create a mess, at least make it funny.
So there I was…ready to go, heart pounding, thoughts racing and debating whether I should go slow with good aim or fast and furious. I opted for the latter. Lo and behold, I got it straight in on the first time, with just a slight hint of a dribble down the side. It was victorious. See the above pics of pre-launch and action shot. Boo ya.
Giulia Goolia
July 12, 2006 | Leave a CommentPosted by admin | Filed Under Erin Weed's Blog
Ever see the movie, The Wedding Singer? It’s one of my faves of all time. If Julia in the movie would have married Glen, her married name would have been Julia Goolia. I always found that to be really hysterical for some reason. And then there was this news anchor in Chicago named Robin Robinson, which I also find funny, but not nearly as funny as Julia Goolia. I mean, seriously, either Robin’s parents did that to her or she didn’t spend enough time considering if taking her husband’s name was really such a good idea. But yeah, Julia Goolia just gets me every time. And now you’re probably wondering what the hell this post is about…come on Weed, focus!
So if you haven’t seen her already, which is hard, because she’s pretty much everywhere right now…I’d like to introduce you to my friend Giulia Rozzi. Part writer, part comic, part speaker and all woman. She kicks ass in her own hilarious way. Right now she’s in Glamour magazine on page 180 (Ashley Judd is on the cover) doing some outrageous stunts to get a reaction on a New York street. You gotta see it. She also did a piece with VH1.com called “The Best Week Ever” where she gives her shy and reserved opinions on what TV shows she watched. (NOT)
But not only is she funny and fabulous, she’s also a crusader for women’s issues…specifically body image stuff we’re pummeled with everyday in the media and common discussion. Giulia is girl power! Check her out at: http://www.giuliarozzi.com/
Big night
July 11, 2006 | Leave a CommentPosted by admin | Filed Under Erin Weed's Blog
Tonight was monumental. It was the first session of the 12-hour GFB Challenge class, which takes place over 4 evenings. For the past 5 years I have trained with all sorts of martial arts, fighting styles, military peeps and real-world bad asses. The curriculum I wrote for the GFB Challenge combines the very best of them all, along with long discussions with my friend and co-instructor Kevin Lockwood. (See pic of us above, taken last Feb. when I spoke at Seton Hall University.) Last night we covered strikes and stranding kicks, as well as the fighting stance and blocks. These women came in a little timid, and left with a whole new perspective on what they are truly capable of. For me, the best part of teaching this stuff is watching my students’ faces once they realize they are indeed DANGEROUS! Can’t wait ’till class two when we take the party to the ground…stay tuned.
Tracy’s Chemo
July 10, 2006 | Leave a CommentPosted by admin | Filed Under Erin Weed's Blog
Today was my friend, Tracy Maxwell’s, first day of chemo. As I posted on June 15, Tracy was recently diagnosed with Stage II ovarian cancer. She is the exec. director of my speaker’s bureau, and just a fabulous gal. She’s handling this situation with such grace and humor…and making some marvelous fashion statements in the process. (She’s gradually cutting her hair so that the eventual baldness isn’t as shocking…so she’s trying a bunch of great styles.) Anywho, keep her in your thoughts as she goes through all this…and we’re getting closer to our goal of raising $10,000 for Team Tracy. Proceeds go to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund.
Please click here to donate and help achieve our goal!
World Cup Insanity
July 9, 2006 | Leave a CommentPosted by admin | Filed Under Erin Weed's Blog
Today was the July Self-Defense 101 lecture/demo at the Hoboken studio. It went awesome, and I met some great women who now know the wise ways of the Palm-Knee-Knee. Thanks for coming out!
Well apparently just moments ago Italy won the World Cup. I know this because people on my street are literally hanging from windows, flailing cups o’ beer and doing Pee Wee Herman screams for minutes on end. You know the Pee Wee scream…it goes something like this, “ARRRHGGHHHHHHH!”
New book cover?
July 8, 2006 | Leave a CommentPosted by admin | Filed Under Erin Weed's Blog
Great news! Today Barnes & Noble placed a hefty order of books through my distributor…this means my books will be in B&N stores all across the nation, specifically in college markets.
But here’s their suggestion…they think the second printing of the book should have a new cover. So I’m asking you all what you think…do you think we should do another cover that’s more edgy or college-focused? Post a comment here or contact us with your thoughts. Thanks for your opinion!
S Factor
July 7, 2006 | Leave a CommentPosted by admin | Filed Under Erin Weed's Blog
So I’m watching Oprah today, and she has a guest on the show teaching women how to pole dance. At first I was like, “What’s THIS show about?!” I soon find out the guest is named Sheila and is an actress and founder of the S Factor. It’s basically a workout that consists of pole dancing, lap dancing and strutting around your living room while keeping your body in an “S” shape. Interesting stuff. Some people in the crowd looked pretty shocked and appalled. You know they were thinking, “Here I am, at long last, as an audience member of the Oprah Show. I thought I was going to partake in a good cry watching one of her famous guests lament about their horrific childhood. And here I am, watching some lady teach me how to slink down a wall and walk with my toes dragging on the floor…
But hey, I guess Richard Simmons was bound to be overtaken by somebody. Good for her. I think it’s great to encourage women to embrace their bodies and move with confidence. And if one could draw a link between the S Factor and Girls Fight Back, we both share the ideologies of: love yourself, be confident and own your life. If your workout has gotten lame, swing by Sheila’s site: www.sfactor.com
Happy 4th
July 4, 2006 | Leave a CommentPosted by admin | Filed Under Erin Weed's Blog
Happy Independence Day, everyone.
Today I’ve been thinking a lot about freedom…and how grateful I am to live in this country. Despite some of the political madness that goes on, we really are so lucky…
Marvelous Men
July 3, 2006 | Leave a CommentPosted by admin | Filed Under Erin Weed's Blog
Today is my 2 year wedding anniversary to my husband Peter. We got married on Maui, after dating and living-in-sin for 5 years. Peter possesses the kind of male goodness I wish for women everywhere…supportive, kind, encouraging and loves the girl power! For the first year or so, he was my constant Scary Bad Guy (S.B.G.) during GFB seminars, but today I kick around other people. (He was retired from active duty as GFB grew…I think he was pretty psyched about it.) He’s not only a brilliant tech guy, but a rockin’ guitar player. Check out his MySpace page and friend him…tell him GFB sent you…and thank him for supporting me. Because if he hadn’t, I can’t tell you that all GFB has accomplished the past 5 years would have been possible.
More than anything, Peter reminds me of all the marvelous men in this world. Sometimes people see the name “Girls Fight Back” and instantly think we’re an army of militant man-haters. It couldn’t be further from the truth. I believe the good guys of this world are such an enormous part of the SOLUTION in the fight to end violence against women and girls. So give a marvelous man in your life a big hug today.
Alpha Phi Convention
July 1, 2006 | 3 CommentsPosted by admin | Filed Under Erin Weed's Blog
Yesterday I spoke in Orlando, FL at the Alpha Phi Convention. Being that this is my sorority, (or technically referred to as a fraternity, since it was started before the word “sorority” existed) I was looking forward to it for quite some time. The thing about speaking in front of several hundred Alpha Phis from across the nation is the amount of love and empathy that nearly knocks me off the stage. It’s the kind of speaking engagement where I sometimes get pretty choked up in the introduction, because I know that the women truly understand the loss of losing an A-Phi sister.
I spoke early, at about 8:45am. Of course, I didn’t go onstage without the support of my trusty cup o’ strong-ass coffee to get me rearing. Did an abbreviated talk about campus safety, and to meet time constraints, zipped ahead to some of the self-defense stuff. Enter my scary bad guy for the event (and lone source of testosterone at the entire convention) Ross Szabo. Ross is my homey. He’s my people. He’s the man. He’s also an incredible speaker with a passsion and energy level strikingly similar to my own. He’s a crusader for mental health issues that affect young people today. Check out his mission at www.nostigma.org.
Anywho, Ross did his job well as my S.B.G. The ladies loved Ross. Perhaps I should start calling him L.L. Ross-man. Yeah, that’s hot. But seriously, after I kicked his ass for awhile, it was time for me to say adios…and L.L. Ross-man seamlessly went into his hour talk about what students can do to recognize the warning signs of mental illness and how to create campus activism. We were seamless I tell you! Seamless!
The event photographer approached me as I got off stage, giddy as a school girl and showing me the digital pics on his camera screen. He was laughing especially hard at the one of me wracking Ross’s testicles with my high heel. Awesome. Will post these hilarious pics as soon as I can order them.
But to all the A-Phis out there…I got nothin’ but love for ya. Thanks for coming out. And thanks for buying the books! (I sold all 60 that I brought with me within an hour) AOE to you all. (and a secret hand shake too…)