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Board of Directors: Wanda Burch Judy Disco Francine Frank Brenda Ginardi Nancy Guest Janet Hotis Michele Keleher Claudia Longo Shannon O'Neill Margaret Roberts Co-President: Joan Sheehan As a breast cancer survivor, Joan Sheehan has been involved in advocacy, education and support since 1986. She was among the founding members of CRAAB! As Co-President, she serves as liaison to the office staff and manages operations. She also conducts a peer telephone support hotline for Lymphedema patients, is CRAAB’s representative to the Albany County Healthy Women’s’ Partnership, and is active in numerous community organizations. Co-President: Bonnie Spanier Bonnie Spanier, Ph.D., was a founding member of CRAAB! She is an Associate Professor in the Women’s Studies Department at the University of Albany. Her doctorate from Harvard University was in Microbiology and Molecular Genomics, and she has done research on the molecular biology of viruses that infect animals. Bonnie has attended the National Breast Cancer Coalition’s Project LEAD training and Advocacy Training, and the Department of Defense Era of Hope Conference. Secretary: Michelle Ray Michelle Ray is a Child Welfare Education Specialist in the Professional Development Program at Rockefeller College (University at Albany). She has been an active CRAAB! member since 1997, and one of her main concerns is environmental links to cancer. She is a member of Colonie Pesticide Watch, and has participated in the New York State Breast Cancer Advocacy Day, Earth Day Lobby Day and other environmental conferences. Newsletter Editor: Cara Anaam Cara Anaam brings over 30 years experience as a writer and editor to her position as CRAAB!'s newsletter editor. She says, "My interest in and passion for envisioning the environment as a healthy place for us to live and raise our children and grandchildren finds expression in newsletter articles on environmental issues. We're highlighting personal and societal behaviors that promote good health as well as ways to protect ourselves from factors implicated by research in the development of breast cancer." Cara’s other responsibilities include grant writing and bookkeeping. Office Manager: Debbie Marchesini Debbie Marchesini has a B.S. degree in Engineering Technology from Kansas State University and a Master’s degree from SUNY Albany. Her involvement with breast cancer began when her grandmother was diagnosed with the disease in the late 1970’s. In recent years, a number of her friends have been diagnosed with breast cancer at various stages of the disease. Her work with CRAAB! enables her to share information about breast cancer treatments, options and most important, prevention, with other women of her age group. Program Coordinator: Cathy (Cay) McEneny Cay McEneny is a breast cancer survivor who has been involved with breast cancer and environmental advocacy groups for more than a decade. She and a fellow survivor started one of the first breast cancer support and advocacy groups in the Capital District. She also worked with a small group of environmentally conscious citizens in her hometown of Bethlehem to enact legislation phasing out pesticide use on Town owned and operated property, and helped the local school district develop a written pesticide use policy that included parental notification before such notification was required by NYS law. Cay holds a B.S. degree in Accounting and retired in 2003 as an analyst with the NYS Dormitory Authority. She serves as the breast cancer activist member of the Albany County Pest Management Committee, which approves emergency–only pesticide applications on County-owned or operated property. She is particularly interested in promoting awareness of the emerging evidence of relationships between cancer and the environment. Liaison to the NYS Breast Cancer Network: Margaret Roberts Margaret Roberts has a master of Fine Arts degree. She is president of Pen & Palette, a non-profit organization that uses the arts to raise awareness of cancer care issues and foster personal expression of cancer survivors. Margaret was also one of CRAAB’s founding members and its Director for two years. She became involved in cancer awareness and advocacy after both of her sisters died from different forms of cancer; one sister (a non-smoker) had lung cancer, and her other sister, Susan, had breast cancer. As her sister Susan’s primary caregiver, Margaret became intimately aware of the complexities of breast cancer. She has devoted herself and her artistic talents to helping survivors “cope through creativity.” In 2003-2005 participants in the art workshop program created a play, “Alive, Alive, Oh!” Margaret has received numerous grants and awards to advance her work. |