he Raspberry Tarts in the Media!

March 2006

CTV / CKCO Television, March 4, 2006
Weekend News
Just before Showtime on Saturday night, CTV cameras appeared in the theatre. We were not expecting them, so this was a special surprise. Interviews were held with some of the performers and some of the audience and clips were filmed during some of the first monologues. After the show, when we gathered at the Walper Hotel for the "After Party", we were able to watch the clip on the 11:30 news - and follow it with a big cheer! WOO HOO! Another successful Raspberry Tarts adventure!

Rogers Television, March 3, 2006
Dress Rehearsal
While we were busy doing sound checks and getting comfortable with our headset microphones, Rogers Television cameras were rolling. There were a few interviews and clips from the dress rehearsal, which were edited into a news presentation. Unfortunately, since most of us were unable to leave the theatre between the rehearsal and the show, we were unable to see it. Undoubtedly, this helped us sell out the remaining tickets for Saturday's show.

The Waterloo Chronicle, March 1, 2006
Waterloo Chronicle Editor, Andrea Bailey, interviewed Karis and Sheku and wrote not one but two delightful articles! In the article entitled "Raspberry tarts are my new favourite dessert", she spoke mostly about the Raspberry Tarts and the fun, frivolity and friendship that belonging to such a group entails. She ended her article by saying "As far as I can tell there's only ne downside to the Raspberry Tarts: you have to be 50 or older to join. Knowing what I do about thse special women, the next 23 years can't go by fast enough for me." Thank you, Andrea! (Of course she could always wear a pink hat...)

In the second article, Andrea talked about "The Vagina Monologues", explaining what V-Day is all about, and telling how the Raspberry Tarts' V-Day Kitchener/Waterloo production of the play will help give voice to women's stories and, through those stories, to women's issues.
She outlined how the proceeds from the play would benefit both the Comfort Women (V-Day 2006's special project) and the two local shelters that are part of the Women's Crisis Services of Waterloo Region.
Her article enlightened readers about the play and the monologues themselves. This article certainly sparked interest, and the remaining tickets sold quickly. Thanks, Andrea, for helping make both performances SOLD OUT shows!

February 2006

CKCO Television, News at Noon, February 28, 2006
The Raspberry Tarts present The Vagina Monologues to benefit local crisis shelters
Karis and Michelle Ingram-Smith, from Anselma House, were interviewed by anchor Brent Hansen. This interview focused on how the Raspberry Tarts were "giving back" to the community by this project. There was discussion of who the Raspberry Tarts are and what they do, and what V-Day is all about. The specific services provided by Anselma House and Haven House were described, as well as the fact that both facilities are currently filled over capacity.
The ongoing need for such services in our community was addressed, and I believe a future interview with Anselma House representatives will be scheduled to explore this situation further. The Raspberry Tarts are pleased that their efforts are increasing awareness of the problem locally and will help to make improvements.

Rogers Television, the Daytime show. February 24, 2006
The Raspberry Tarts do it Again!
Host Susan Cook-Scheerer interviewed Sheku and Karis, in a lively chat about "The Vagina Monologues", the Raspberry Tarts, and the Women's Crisis Services of Waterloo Region. We wore our pink Vagina Monolgues t-shirts and red hats and boas. Thank you Susan, and Rogers, for helping promote our show! From there, we dashed back to Waterloo for an interview with the Waterloo Chronicle, which appeared on March 1.

COOL FM, Community Minute. February 19, 2006, 7:45 am.
Pat Haney was interviewed briefly about the Raspberry Tarts' production of The Vagina Monologues. This brief segment was rebroadcast several times and helped begin community awareness of our V-Day Kitchener/Waterloo project..

September 2005

The Record, September 28, 2005
The Record ran this photo in recognition of our "Tart for a Day" event on September 25, 2005. An article by Susan Chilton followed a few days later, telling about her experience as a judge for that day. Our "Tart Day" had also been briefly mentioned in another of Susan's articles preceding the event. Thanks Susan!

"RED HOT
Left to right, Donelda Janzen of Ayre, Flo Foster of Kichener, Pat Haney of Kitchener, Janice Bjarnason a.k.a. Sheku of Kitchener, and Karis Burkowski of Waterloo, are members of The Raspberry Tarts chapter of the Red Hat Society. The women recently competed for the "Best Tart" title in Waterloo."

MAY 2005

YOUR FM 98.5, YOUR Morning Show with John and Stacey. May 9, 2005, 7:45 am.
Having seen the article and photo from the Waterloo Chronicle, John Harada invited the Raspberry Tarts to come for a live interview. Karis and Karen (both of whom had worked until 1:00 am the night before) were up bright and early to participate. They shared some of the amusing anecdotes around the production of the calendar, and had an enjoyable visit with John and Stacey, including announcing that calendars are still available from HopeSpring Cancer Support Centre.

APRIL 2005

The Record, April 28, 2005
Articles announcing the donatation of $26,000 from our "Fifty-Plus and Fabulous" 2005 charity calendar project ran in both The Record and the Waterloo Chronicle (with photo). We appreciate the coverage, to let the folks in town know that all these crazy ladies in red hats, who have been seen selling calendars all over town for the past year, really did accomplish something.

The Waterloo Chronicle, April 27, 2005
"A high-energy, fun-loving group of 50-plus and fabulous women have turned a 2005 calendar into a $26,000 windfall for the HopeSpring Cancer Support Centre. A 2005 charity calendar - featuring tasteful nude photos of these fabulous women - has been selling like fresh tarts through the organization's Web site www.raspberrytarts.com, generating significant and welcome donations to fund a variety of programs supporting those living with cancer, their family members and friends. Since early 2001 the Raspberry Tarts have been meeting for fun, friendship and frivolity. When one of their members was diagnosed with breast cancer, the disease touched them in a very personal way and they rallied to action with customary enthusiasm."

MARCH 2005

Cambridge Times, International Women's Day, March 9, 2005

Pat Haney of Kitchener (left) Gerri McAskill of Etobicoke, members of the Raspberry Tarts, were on hand for International Women's Day, Tuesday at The Pines. The Tarts are a group of ladies who enjoy wearing red hats and raising funds for various charities. JEFF HURST, TIMES STAFF

On March 8, The Raspberry Tarts were featured guests as The YWCA presented "Females Forging Forward" as a celebration of International Women's Day from 7 to 10 p.m. at The Pines.

The event featured guest speaker Trudy Koen, who discussed "Women in the Media: Breaking through the Stereotypes". Our Vice-Regal Mother, Karis, then spoke about how the Red Hat Society has inspired women "of a certain age" to stay current with Internet technology.

The evening included members of The Raspberry Tarts, complimentary roses, pastries and coffee. This year's theme, Females Forging Forward, celebrated "friends, food, fun and frivolity", as well as the evolution of women in all aspects of life. Participants were invited to celebrate being a woman by wearing their favourite funky, elegant or jovial hat. The article shown here, With a fabulous photo of Pat and Gerri, is what appeared in the Cambridge Times the following morning.

JUNE 2004

CKCO Television, News at Noon, June 29, 2004
Creating the "Fifty-Plus and Fabulous" 2005 Charity Calendar.
Karis, Pat and Donelda were interviewed by show host Nancy Richards. All of the calendar photos were shown, and we chatted about some of the experiences and challenges involved in creating the calendar and the fun of the photo shoots themselves. We also talked about our motivation for doing the calendar, and about the reactions we have been getting from the public.

CKCO Television, the News at 6:00 pm and 11:00pm. June 21, 2004
"Fifty-Plus and Fabulous" 2005 Charity Calendar Launch Party!
Reporter Lisa Bragge interviewed several of the Raspberry Tarts on location at HopeSpring Cancer Support Centre, 43 Allen Street West, Waterloo, as we celebrated the launch of our calendar. This coverage provided an excellent "kick-off" and made the community aware of this project.

CKCO Television, Final Round at 6:00 pm. June 19, 2004
Fun for a Good Cause or Egotistical Exhibitionism?
Goodness! We found out after the fact that our calendar had been the subject of 4-person TV panel discussion. Many thanks to Cathy Paresei at CKCO for procuring a tape for us so we could see it. There were comments like:

• "What about the grandchildren? That's my concern. What happens when they get teased - 'I saw your grandma in the calendar!'"
• "Where would you hang it?"
• "Who's to say what's an 'approriate body type'? Every century there is a certain body type that is considered presentable. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder."
• "My God! What if you're in Grade 3 or 4 and you open it up and There's Grandma!"
• You could take pictures of trees in autumn and probably sell more calendars."
• "With these ladies it's about attitude, not image."
• "These girls just want to have fun. Cindi Lauper is in her 50s now, she could be a Red Hatter."
• "I think what they did is fun - not grotesque in any way."
• "If they're not ashamed of themselves, they're sending a good message."
• "These ladies have the 'cahoonas' to go out there and do that for a good cause. I say 'Good for them!'"