Funding Frustration

What is the biggest barrier to implementation of programs to prevent Domestic Abuse?
Funding. Am I right? And the reason is it that only funding goes to service activities, running shelters right? Everyone agrees it is critical that these shelters be funded so those who are victims will be cared for. But what is wrong with funding prevention to stem the flow of victims, so it does not continue to be at least twice as many as can be cared for? The answer is very simple. You cannot get funding because the grantors will only fund projects that can quantify the results. Fix the Hurt recently applied for funding from Allstate Insurance to take Domestic Violence the Musical to different locations around the country, that could not afford to pay for the travel of the cast. Now everyone knows that domestic abuse is one of the big factors of economic loss to corporations and many employees lose their jobs because of the problems with an abusive spouse, whether that is the stated reason for termination or not. The result is the large percentage of the victims become homeless.

Allstate said efforts to prevent domestic violence did not meet their criteria because there was no evidence of building economic stability. I submit that the problem with funding is the excuse that there is no way to prove how many people are not beaten because of the prevention efforts!

Do you think we should suggest that since we cannot quantify the number of teen age girls that do get pregnant we should stop providing forms of birth control and put the money into unwed mother homes? Further we cannot determine the number of cases of sexually transmitted disease that are prevented so we should stop that program too. Why do we spend money on preventing death by drunk drivers when we cannot quantify the lives saved?

Perhaps we need to do follow up contact with people that attend the programs we present and if less that 30 percent have not abused their wife/husband then that is the number of cases of domestic abuse we have prevented.

The Search for a Logo

The search for a logo. Linda wanted something that speaks to Domestic Abuse and our use of the arts in our effort to prevent domestic abuse. We have little artistic talent, but we met a special lady that is loaded with talent, and a heart, as big as all outdoors. She has the tenacity of a pit bull and the sensitivity of an angel. The results of her efforts is . . . . . . taa, daa!


Logo by Vickie Florschuetz


The question of the day -------Is it Domestic Violence or Domestic Abuse?
You tell me!
As we go through life we seem to encounter change. Sometimes we resist and other times we accept it willingly. Really depends on whether the change is needed, doesn’t it?

So it is with the above terms in my opinion. In both, we are talking about acts, neither of which is acceptable.

I went to Webster to find the definition of violence. To my surprise and to point out how commonplace it has become when I entered the word violence both violence and domestic violence came up under the one inquiry. I was really shocked.

But I found the definition of Domestic Violence to be “The inflicting of physical injury by one family member or household member on another.”

Abuse is defined as” language that condemns or vilifies, usually unjustly, intemperately, and angrily”.

The other night Linda and I attended a banquet and one speaker talking about verbal and emotional abuse quoted another person as saying, “The bruises and broken bones and other physical damage is painful, but it heals. However, if you could turn me inside out you would see all the bruises that don’t heal.”

I was speaking with a co-worker some years ago. Talking about an unhappy marriage she said to me, “Sometimes the words hurt a lot more than the hits!”

Taking this frame of reference it would seem that Domestic Abuse covers the ground a little more completely, but I will probably continue to use domestic violence because I am an old dog and find it hard to change.

Now having said that lets all go out and fight to prevent them both.

The Season Approaches

‘Tis the season many of us anticipate with joy, visits with family and friends. ‘Tis also the season when many dread the tension, financial woes and beatings.
As we have just come out of the month designated as Domestic Violence Awareness month, there will be many that won’t think about it until next October, or at least April when we will observe Sexual Assault and Crime Victims Rights Month.
We have really been trying to figure out how to change the practice that we observe these things in the designated month and then the angels continue to be overrun with victims to minister to, as we wait to observe it again next year.
I did some research and will admit that it is not a very scientific approach. I wanted to see if I could determine about how many domestic violence incidents occurred each month and if there were months that had much lower occurrences than others. My first problem is that not many states publish monthly statistics and those that do, are not regular, so I had to compare different years data to try and see the results. Still, the numbers seem to be near enough to give us a trend. Another problem, is that the incidents were not published by month for most states. I was only able to find four states monthly numbers for a year, Utah, PA, NC and Mass. Totals by month are: Jan - 14, Feb - 9, Mar - 21, Apr - 19, May - 21, June - 16, July - 21, Aug - 14, Sep - 22, Oct - 15, Nov - 8, Dec - 16. The point we are making is that abuse happens year round and October and April hypes don’t get it done. We need to be presenting Domestic Violence the Musical every month!
Let’s all get busy and forget about the October and April National designation and work each month to do our best to prevent Domestic Violence. WHAT A CHRISTMAS PRESENT!! YIPPIEEEE NO BEATINGS THIS MONTH, or ever again.

Phoenix Cast Auditions - Dating Violence Concerns

We have been remiss in not keeping our commitment to post a new blog message each week. Sometimes it just seems impossible to keep up. We hope you faithful readers will forgive us.

To the side is a logo we are considering for Fix the Hurt Performing Arts Group. Vickie Florschetz has worked tirelessly to bring something to the table that we "love". I think this is it. If you have an opinion let us know.

Loren Marsters held auditions on Saturday, Nov. 8th for a Phoenix cast for Domestic Violence the Musical? We were encouraged by the talent that turned out for the audition, but still need some help with a couple of spots. Anyone out there know a good keyboard player that is good at improv? Let us know if you do. We also need a couple of male actors to take important parts. If you know of someone that would fit these spots let us know right away as we hope to start rehearsals shortly;

The auditions were made more enjoyable by the occasioned visit of two of our original El Paso cast that came to give Loren assistance and moral support. Ginny Green Warren came to help with choreography and Alexander St. Clair came to help by inspiring those trying out. Thanks Ginny and Alex for caring enough to make the trip. After the auditions we got to visit with them as we had lunch at Loren’s favorite burger house—“In and Out Burger”


Things have been very busy and we are involved in some new projects that we are excited about. Currently, we are in a grant application-writing mode for a very important project. We are hoping to get funds which will allow us to write the musical we will call Dating Violence 101. Our talented writer, Loren Marsters has been pondering the opening of this musical, that we intend to appeal to teens and their parents, with music will be geared to fit the targeted audience. Sounds like an impossible task, but we have tremendous confidence in Loren’s ability to pull things together.


We know from the surveys that about 81% of the parents surveyed don’t think dating violence is a problem or say they don’t know if it is a problem, and 54% say they have never talked to their teens about dating violence.

We know from surveys that 83% of tenth graders reported they would turn to a friend for help with dating abuse, rather than to a teacher, counselor, parent or other caring adult.

With these prevailing attitudes among teens and their parents, in most cases the most caring person is left out of the loop with the teen - the parent. How do we resolve this problem? With the musical! How? The intent is to take the shows to high schools and bring parents and teens together to watch the play. The thought is that the parents and teens can open a dialogue about what they see and get their thoughts and concerns out in the open about the play. This will hopefully give the parents and teens the courage to talk about the issues of concern to the teen, and allow the parent to get better insight into the potential or existing problem. This is a critical issue. We must stop Dating Violence and quit graduating Domestic Violence abusers from the schools. If you have any thoughts about grant money let us know.