Founder's Message

IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME..

Happy New Year!!

I want to apologize for the delay of the newsletter. After the success of our Empowerment Weekend for Plus-Size Women in October, I needed to take some time off for a little Rest and Relaxation.

I pray that everyone had a wonderful Holiday Season. Can you believe it's a new year? Just a year ago, everyone was preparing for "Y2K" and now the much anticipated year of 2000 is over.

I want to thank all of the women who attended our Empowerment Weekend and a special "thank-you" is extended to our wonderful presenters: Sonia Alleyne (Belle Magazine), Chyna McGarity Arnold (Plussizemodeling.com), Venise Berry (author), Barbara Harris (Fabulous You.com), Cynthia Johnson (HIPPS, Atlanta), Zine Leschiner (Dor-Ne Corset Shoppe-DC), Mary Schmidt (Elana by Tanner), Dina Tate (Sister 4 Sisters), Michele Weston (MODE Magazine/Modestyle.com), Pam Young (Models Plus International), and last but definitely not least our wonderful keynote speaker GregAlan Williams (Actor, Author, gregalan.com)

One of the highlights from our Empowerment Weekend was Mr. Williams' presentation. He shared with the attendees his experiences while working on the BayWatch Television Series for 7 years and encouraged women to love themselves and
not try to conform to manufactured media images. But the quote that prompted a standing ovation was when GregAlan encouraged women to ask their significant others or their potential significant others "DO YOU HAVE THE COURAGE TO LOVE A PLUS-SIZE WOMAN?" And I must admit that question undoubtly provided interesting dialogue.

We also want to thank Cisco Designs, Davide' Fur, and Adrienne Burch (VWC) for making the "Phenomenal Women of Size" Fashion Show a success. A special thanks also goes to our wonderful Mistress of Ceremony, Gwen "Diva" DeVoe, of DeVoe Signature Events for being a gracious host. We will have copies of the Fashion Show tape for sale within the next couple of weeks.

In this issue of the newsletter we feature Womensuits.com, an internet retailer that has designer suits up to size 34W at reasonable prices. The attendees of the Empowerment Weekend had a chance to meet the President/Founder and Vice President of Positivelyme.org, an organization whose mission is "to help women achieve their personal best and live for today, by ending the dieting craze and
learning to accept themselves and their weight." In addition to being a wonderful organization,they have a great product called "Satin Spa". This product is natural and can be used on any part of your body. It cleanses, exfoliates, protects and moistures your skin. It is definitely a must have for keeping your skin soft and moisturized during the Winter months.

In our Healthy Habitat corner, we talk about Mutiple Sclerosis. Multiple Sclerosis (MS) has recently affected a member of my family, and I thought it was important that I share some information about it with our newsletter subscribers. Many times we
think that diseases such as MS affects only older people, but recent reports have revealed that this disease affects people in their 20's, 30's, and 40's.

In order for VWC to provide events, services, products and information to women of size, we need to hear from you. I was a little disappointed with the participation in
our Plus Size Awareness Campaign. I can only assume that plus-size women enjoy shopping in the basement of department stores, and also enjoy seeing size 10 women in catalogs that sell plus-size clothing. Ladies WE ARE THE MAJORITY and
can demand change. I urge to help VWC make a difference. If you have already started writing letters or placing calls, please let us know who you contacted and if you receive any feedback.

In 2001, don't let your size dictate your destiny. Start working towards those dreams that the spirit has place on your heart. Remember that God has given each of us a gift, and as my pastor always says "You are pregnant with possibilities!"

Be sure to give birth to those possibilities this coming year. And as always we will leave you with an inspirational message.

Inspirational Message:

NEGATIVITY:
When negativity threatens to overtake me, I will look to You, my Lord. Help me see all the positive things in my life and protect me from those who try to infect me. I will keep You in my heart so that I may be immune from other people's negative attitudes.

(This inspirational message was taken from T.D. Jakes book entitled: "His Lady;Sacred Promises for God's Woman")

Peace and Blessings,

Jennene Biggins-Grimsley
Founder and CEO

We continue to receive some wonderful feedback from our readers and we will begin to include those letters in future editions of the newsletter.

Letter sent via email in response to our Empowerment Weekend::

Date: Sun, 22 Oct 2000 23:21:03 EDT
Subject: What a Blessed Time We Had!!!!
To: jbiggins@volupwoman.com

Let me just say once again what a blessed event the conference turned out to be for me. I have never attended or experienced such an occasion. I have never, ever seen a full-figured fashion show. Everything was totally new for me, and the experience has opened up a whole new door in my life. I will always be eternally grateful to you and the VWC family for that. I hope to see you often and hope to continue the "Circle of Friends" that was created today. May God Bless and Keep You and Yours.

Andrea W. Maryland

VWC appreciates receiving your wonderful feedback and we hope to continue to provide useful information and words of encouragement.

We will have a listing of events for 2001 as soon as they
become available. If you know of any events in your
area for 2001, please send an email to vwcstaff@volupwoman.com
so that we can include them in a future issue of our newsletter

Mutiple Sclerosis (MS)
For more information: http://www.msfacts.org
The Mutiple Sclerosis Foundation, Inc.

Question: What is Multiple Sclerosis?
Answer: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an illness diagnosed in over 350,000 persons in the United States today. Even now, much is to be learned about this still mysterious neurological illness. In brief, what is known about MS is that it is signified by more than one (multiple) area of inflammation and scarring of the myelin in the brain and spinal cord. Myelin is the tissue that covers and protects our nerve fibers. When this occurs, nerve "communication" is disrupted. Thus, a person with MS experiences varying degrees of neurological impairment depending on the location and extent of the scarring.

Question: What causes MS?
Answer: The cause of multiple sclerosis is not yet known. However, it is increasingly thought that a virus may provoke the illness, but researchers still question this idea. Genes and an imbalance in the immune system may also influence an individual to the illness.

Question: Who gets MS?
Answer: There is no one group of people who "get" MS. Considered a lifelong disorder, trends show that MS often strikes between the ages of 30 and 50, and mostly women. For unexplained reasons, MS is most commonly found in
Canada, the United States, South America, and Europe. Near the equator MS is unknown. To date, no research has provided a definitive reason for this varying distribution.

Question: Is multiple sclerosis fatal, contagious, or hereditary?
Answer: MS is not considered a fatal, contagious or directly hereditary illness, although a susceptibility to MS may be inherited. Prevalence in families of persons with MS runs somewhat higher than in the general population. Several
investigations are underway into this question.

Question: What are the most common symptoms of MS?
Answer: MS is often characterized by a pattern of exacerbations and remissions. Some people experience only very mild symptoms with difficult, but non-disabling
symptoms. More common are severe attacks followed by periods of recovery. Still others progress to a serious stage in which they may need a wheelchair. Symptoms include fatigue, which can be overwhelming though a person may appear well. In addition, loss of coordination, muscle weakness, spasticity, numbness, slurred speech, and visual difficulties often occur. Most acute symptoms, but least
occurring, may be paralysis, muscle cramps, bladder or bowel problems and sexual dysfunction.

Question: Why do doctors feel that I am imagining my symptoms?
Answer: In the beginning phases of multiple sclerosis, diagnostic tests, such as MRI's, may be negative due to subjective sensory symptoms. These symptoms can include numbness, tingling, or fatigue, and will not be seen on diagnostic tests. This leads doctors to believe there is no illness or that anxiety is present. You should also know that a clinical diagnosis of MS may take years. Often a physician observes a person over a period of time before reaching a diagnosis of MS. Neurologists are generally consulted and diagnostic tests such as MRI's, evoked response potential,
and others may be used to help with a diagnosis.

If you are not sure you have MS, don't be afraid to ask questions and to find out more about feelings and symptoms. Do not let symptoms continue without further investigation.

Question: Am I going to end up in a wheelchair?
Answer: Odds are not likely. Only 25% to 30% of persons with MS become disabled to the point where they may need a wheelchair. And, this condition may take years to
develop. Each person varies, but if you keep a positive outlook, eat a healthy low-fat diet and exercise on a regular basis this can lessen the chance of the need for a wheelchair in your near future. Other options also exist for MS management and the MS Foundation is available to help guide people to appropriate conventional and non-traditional choices for symptom management.

Question: What options can help me?
Answer: There are two basic courses to take when treating MS. One option is to try medicinal treatments. Many drugs are available to alleviate MS symptoms, but may also result in side effects. The second option is alternative healing modalities, commonly known as "holistic treatments." Many people find a combination of the two choices can achieve the best results.

Question: Does diet affect multiple sclerosis?
Answer: What we eat has a direct relationship on how we feel and function. Nutrition is a process of fueling our bodies and those with MS may have unique nutritional needs.
Because MS is rarely found in areas near the Equator, or in Asian population, some theorize that their lower-fat dietary habits may be the reason for this. Many diets have, in fact, been suggested for the treatment of MS including diets free of allergens, gluten, or fat, and others. To date, the most accepted diet for those with MS is one low in fat. Smart choices and knowledge of nutrition can help most anyone feel better and more in shape.

Question: What next?
Answer: The Multiple Sclerosis Foundation is pleased to answer any question you have about multiple sclerosis and any related topic. If you have a question that was not addressed, please call the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation Program Services Department at 1-800-441-7055. Or e-mail us at support@msfacts.org.

RECOMMENDED READING:
The National Institute of Health may provide a free booklet to the public on request. To order a single copy, send a note to: NIH, Clinical Center Communications,
9000 Rockville Pike, Bldg. 10, Room 1C255, Bethesda, MD 20892. The information is made available as part of the “Medicine for the Public” series.

MS: What It Is, Who Gets It, and What You Can Do About It. 1992 paperback book by Dr. Louis J. Rosner. To order contact Prentice Hall Press, 15 Columbus Circle,
New York, NY 10023. Cost is $11.00. ISBN: 0-671-778-099.

For more information contact the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, Inc. 6350 North Andrews Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309 or by calling (954) 776-6805
or toll free (800) 441-7055.

DISCLAIMER: The Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, Inc. (MSF) offers information and/or referrals compiled from various authoritative sources, including professional opinion,
published record, and expert recommendation. MSF does not endorse any specific treatment regime. All information and/or referrals are offered solely for the purpose of helping those affected by MS make informed decisions about their health care options and does not represent therapeutic recommendation or prescription. Any decisions regarding specific medications or treatments should involve consultation with your professional health care provider.

**information provided from the Multiple Sclerosis website**

Uniquelyme.com - A personal plus size shopper website that offers accessories, beauty products, lingerie, hosiery, shoes, outerwear, fitness, casual and business clothing. Uniquelyme.com functions not only as a personal shopper, but as a liason between the consumer and manufacturer. Visit their website at http://www.uniquelyme.com

Positivelyme.org - Positive Me is an organization whose mission is to instill acceptance, motivate with compassion and live a healthy, glamorous lifestyle at any size. They also have some wonderful products. Visit their website at http://www.positivelyme.org or call 262-574-4555

Built2XL - A place where your personal dreams for health, fitness and athletic excellence can become your reality. Built 2XL want to inspire, encourage and assist you in achieving your goals. They are a new Internet company that aims to be the premeir online community for people who are big-boned, plus-sized, tall
or muscular. Visit their website at http://www.built2XL.com

Secretsinlace.com - Online boutique featuring a full-figured salon featuring bras, sleepwear and shapewear. Visit their website at http://www.secretsinlace.com/cgi-bin/webc.cgi/fullfiguresalon.html

NICHOLE's - Every 15 seconds a woman is beaten within an inch of her life by her husband, boyfriend, or male acquaintance. Men also suffer silently from physical and emotional abuse at the hands of their significant other. Some don't survive! Hear Nichole's story and help support the end to domestic violence. Visit http://www.ebizfinders.com/

Audradella's - Audradella's Plus Size Fashions. Apparel in sizes 1x-10x. They carry lingerie, bras, swimwear, pantyhose,etc. Visit their website at http://www.audradella.com or call
(313) 582-7709

Cherry Tree Hill - Cherry Tree Hill Caribbean Rum Cake. A dark moist, rich, delicious traditional Caribbean dessert. Visit their website at http://www.cherrytreehill.com or email them at info@cherrytreehill.com

Women of Substance Spa - Health movement in an atmosphere without judgement, that encourages participants to find the fun in movement and play. Visit their website at http://www.women-of-substance.com or email them at woshs@women-of-substance.com

**If you know of any plus-size websites that you would like to share with our newsletter subscribers, please send an email to newsletter@volupwoman.com**

It's 2001, is your business on the web? If you are a small or home-based business and have a website or are interested in marketing your product/service on the internet, you need an Internet Marketing Plan/Strategy. For affordable internet marketing services visit our website at http://home.earthlink.net/~jenneneb or call (202) 756-4100 ext 5992 or fax (240) 465-0529

Womensuits.com on Plus Size Apparel......

Throughout the years, plus size clothing has become more readily available to Women in all area of apparel. But there is still definitely a shortage of high quality fashion available for the plus size woman. We have seen great sporting attire, casual attire, swimsuits, and lingerie. But what about the times when us women really want to spin heads and look absolutely ravishing? What about the social and special occasion parties, weddings, banquets, & church events?

Some women settle for lower-end-plus-size clothing for social occasions not only because it is not readily available but also because of some pretty high price tags.
To ensure a great fit, high quality fabric, and marvelous design, you have to pay at the very least $300 for a complete ensemble right? NO That might be true if you are shopping around boutiques looking for plus size clothing. Boutiques need to mark up prices to deal with high rent, inventory, employee salaries, and a number of other factors. That is why Womensuits.com stands out above the rest. We make a point of providing the same high quality plus size clothing you have seen at the boutiques (i.e. Donnavinci & Vango) and offer them at just above wholesale prices.

The one thing that we have to deal with is just how fast we rapidly sell out of the ensembles. When it comes to high fashion designer plus size clothing, there is none
better than DonnaVinci & Vango. We keep an extremely large inventory of their collections but the demand is still very high.

After much research regarding consumer trends, top quality design, and customer satisfaction, we are extremely proud to announce that we are currently offering the complete product lines of Donnavinci and Vango. Donnavinci and Vango have suits that are perfect for any number of occasions such as holidays, mothers day, church, weddings, and especially, suits for the everyday career woman.

We greatly, more than anything, appreciate your feedback and encouragement. We at Womensuits.com want to let you know that we will never stop providing you with the best products and the best customer support we can.

Sincerely,

David Golshan
Womensuits.com

Visit womensuits.com at http://www.womensuits.com

Our Full-Figured Woman's Resource Guide is a collection of 272-pages of resources that include retailers, manufactures, modeling agencies and organizations (just to name a few) that have products and services for the plus-size woman. The Guide will sell for the retail price of $18.95 plus $3.00 (shipping/handling) and will include free updates via our website. The listing includes the name, address, phone/fax numbers, type of business, email and website addresses. In addition, the book has a cross-reference section broken down by state and product to assist you with your search. The book will be shipped within 2-3 weeks. You can order via our website at http://www.volupwoman.com/book.htm or send an email to sales@volupwoman.com and an order form will immediately be mailed to you.

If you know of a company that would like to be included in the 2nd edition of the Full Figured Woman's Resource Guide which will be available May 2001 via the internet. Send an email to resguide@volupwoman.com

Lord Jesus, as I enter this work place, I bring your presence with me. I speak Your peace, Your grace, and Your perfect order into the atmosphere of this office. I
acknowledge Your Lordship over all that will be spoken, thought, decided, and accomplished within these walls.

Lord Jesus, I thank You for the gifts you have deposited in me. I do not take them lightly but commit to using them responsibly and well. Give me a fresh supply of truth and beauty on which to draw as I do my job. Anoint my creativity, my ideas, my energy, so that even my smallest task may bring You honor.

Lord, when I am confused, guide me. When I am weary, energize me. Lord, when I am burned out, infuse me with the light of the Holy Spirit. May the work that I do and
the way I do it, bring hope, life, and courage to all that come in contact with me today.

And, Oh Lord, even in this day's most stressful moments, may I rest in You. In the mighty Name that is above all Names, in the Name of my Lord and Savior Jesus, I pray, Amen.