Dr. Robertson was the 2011 Chair for our inaugural Oregon Nurse of the Year awards.  And much to our delight, he’s coming back as 2012 Oregon Nurse of the Year Chair!

Closing in on 30 years of honoring women of achievement, we are proud to have recognized 198 women who have made a significant impact on their communities. WOW! 

And now we’re accepting nominations for the 30th Annual White Rose Award—A Salute to Women of Achievement. 

White Rose honorees are selected on the basis of volunteerism, professional excellence and contributions to the community as a whole. Honorees must live or work in Oregon.  

Learn more about the event, save your seat or download a nomination packet from our website here.

Nominations are due by January 27, 2012; so don’t dilly-dally.

Seared Tenderloin Of Beef from Chef Mark Henry

It was another fabulous Signature Chefs event this year in Portland! We raised even more than last year, with over 320 people in attendance the delicious event brought in $115,207 to help babies get a healthy start in life. 

Our evening’s “winners” will enjoy a trip to New York, a cocktail party for 30 of their closest friends at Mothers Bistro and Bar, a private golf tournament for 20 at the Reserve Vineyards and golf club, a two night Stay at the Allison Inn, a tantalizing Thai Fusion dinner cooked in their kitchen by Chef Kenny Morgan from Sysco Portland and a five course chefs dinner paired with wine for six people by Chef Alex Parsons of El Gaucho! 

A huge thank you to our chefs: Aaron Bedard of The Stephanie Inn, Matt Christianson of Urban Farmer at The Nines, Mark Henry of Marriott Portland Downtown Waterfront, Marissa Burback of Porto Terra Tuscan Grill & Bar, John Newman of Newmans at 988, Lisa Schroeder of Mother’s Bistro, and Kenny Morgan of Sysco Portland!  

Plus a shoot out to Columbia Distributing  for their generous donation of wine,  Craig Walker for emceeing, the Rhythm Dogs for their great music, and Katie Mandzij for bringing the mission of March of Dimes home. 

Want to see the photos? We put them on our Facebook page.  THANK YOU Tara Thackeray of One Love Photography for capturing the evening!

Please mark your calendar for the 2012 event on October 9^th and contact Denise Townsend (971.270.2890)  to be first on the list!

Rosemary Elyse

We’d like to send out a big CONGRATULATIONS to Courtney and Matthew on the birth of their beautiful baby girl: Rosemary Elyse.  Rosemary was born on December 1st at 5:27 am weighing 7lb 3oz. Mom and baby are doing wonderfully.

It’s December 1st, which means 2 things:

1. Christmas is, essentially, tomorrow. And
2. There are a LOT of runny noses out there.

Here’s  a list from the Omamas that’s got you covered on both counts. In Amy Wang’s compilation of great ways to handle your gift buying for young ones while supporting local folks, I found a fabulous new (to me) product–Boogie Wipes.  These soft wipes with saline solution help break up all that icky mucus running out of our kids’ noses right about now. I might even try them on my nose (shh, don’t tell anyone!).

There are other really cool products made locally on this list, as well as children’s books by local authors, entertainment and shops.  Thanks, Amy!

The nation’s preterm birth rate slipped under 12 percent for the first time in nearly a decade, the fourth consecutive year it declined, potentially sparing tens of thousands of babies the serious health consequences of an early birth. 

The national preterm birth rate declined to 11.99 percent last year, according to the National Center for Health Statistics, which released its report “Births: Preliminary Data for 2010,” today, the first-ever World Prematurity Day. Despite the improvement, still too many babies, one out of every eight, was born too soon.

See the preliminary 2010 rates by state .

Read the March of Dimes press release here.

Want to help us raise some awareness?  Here’s what you can do:

• go to facebook.com/WorldPrematurityDay
• like the page  
• click on “Spread the Word” on the left-hand side
• save the image and make it your profile pic on November 17
• AND copy and paste the status update text into your status on November 17

Let’s turn Facebook purple for the babies tomorrow, shall we?

Oh! You can also put up a poster in your office or at your school or anywhere you think people might see it.  Download the poster here:  World Prematurity Day 2011Poster.  You can even make your own.  Here’s one St. Charles Health System in Bend, Oregon, made and put up:

Be sure you tell them you’re eating out for March of Dimes!

Pediatric neuroscientists at Oregon Health & Science University Doernbecher Children’s Hospital are the first to use high magnetic field strength MRI to reveal tiny white matter injuries in the developing brain previously undetectable using standard MRI. Early, accurate identification of these lesions in the preterm human infant could prevent delays in therapy and treatment.

The study revealing this breakthrough was funded in part by March of Dimes.  Just another way we’re working together for stronger, healthier babies.

The Great Oregon Chapter of March of Dimes is looking for a temporary part-time person to be our 2012 March for Babies Family Team Specialist  in the Portland/Vancouver area. Could that be you? Take a look at the job description and let us know!