Color it Spring

Soft fabrics and prints with beautiful pinks, greens, turquoises, and blues are making a rich statement this spring. Top these off with great belts, jeweled buttons, and colorful handbags and you're set to go for 2005!

From Rhonda Ashcraft Articles - 8510 Montgomery N.E. Suite A-1 Albuquerque, N.M. (505) 298-6700

When it comes to houseplants for March, everyone thinks of the traditional St. Patrick's Day Shamrocks and Easter Lilies. Rowland's suggests these favorites as well as fragrant Stargazer lilies, pretty pastel hydrangeas, "Crown of Thorns" Eurphorbia, and the seemingly expired "Resurrection" plants that have the ability to return to life when placed in water.

From Erica Rowland Chief Finder of Things at Rowland's Nurseries (505) 884-7802

Lift Weights to Lose Weight fat weight that is!

Strength training with weights, exercise tubes, or just calisthenics is the key to long term "fat" weight loss! Whether you are working with a certified personal trainer, a friend, or going it solo, strength training will raise your metabolism enabling you to burn more calories at rest 24-7! All you need is 15-30 minutes two to three days a week to start building your own fat burning machine! I know you can do it! Please consult a certified Health/Fitness professional and check with your doctor before beginning any new exercise program.

From D.J. Jones Personal Trainer and Motivator, DivaskinZ www.DivaskinZ.com

"99 Ways to make more money in the 21st Century Expo"

Spend $49 to learn how to make more money in 2005. More than 20 workshops will be offered on new business opportunities, and how to make more money for writers, publishers, entrepreneurs. March 19-20 at Sweeney Center in Santa Fe. $149, or pre-register and mention New Mexico WOMAN for a $100 discount.

From Carol Douras Chief of Stuff at Sage Ways Lifetime Learning Center, call (505) 271-7029 for more information.

Want to learn Spanish?

Try the Instituto Cervantes, a nonprofit organization that promotes the Spanish language and Hispanic culture. From offices located in the National Hispanic Culture Center, the IC's superb teaching staff of native speakers will help the beginner or the advanced student. The IC offers day and evening classes in small groups and custom courses for organizations. The next sessions begin April 4 in both Albuquerque and Santa Fe.

From Brookes McIntyre Former SVP of Banco Santander Central Hispano and veteran of six terrific classes at the Instituto Cervantes. For information call (505) 724-4777 or email: cenabq@cervantes.es go on-line at http://albuquerque.cervantes.es

Tip for Single Working Moms
Paper! Paper! Paper!
Baskets. Baskets. Baskets.

Organize all those school papers, junk mail, and bills. Start with organizing incoming mail. Have one basket for each: junk mail (that you want to read), bills, and important papers. Pick up mail on your way home, not on your way out. I have a great "basket" for bills: It has 31 slots. I file the bills in the slot dated for the day it needs to be paid and mailed. If your kids are in elementary school, you are probably thinking you could start your own paper recycle center. Get baskets for the school papers too. Have your kids put completed homework for you to look at in one basket, papers for parents to read and sign in another, and homework for the night in a basket on the kitchen table.

From Juli Farresta JFarresta and the Resta Design. Supermom, supercook, super designer of magazines. www.jfarresta.com, or (505) 281-9406.

Browsing in a country antique store along Highway 4 the other day, we found an antique pharmaceutical cabinet with wooden drawers, bearing the original hand-lettered sign, which listed, by number, 35 elixirs and cures. Snake oil, perhaps, but life certainly was simpler then, as far as medicine cabinets went. Today, the typical household medicine cabinet is a confusion of prescriptions, over-thecounter remedies (OTCs), supplements, vitamins, stray hair clips, and bandaids. You may be astonished to find how many out-of-date medications you have lurking in there!

JUST HOW IMPORTANT ARE THOSE EXPIRATION DATES?

Are expiration dates "real" or a drug industry scam? We found an interesting article on the subject by Thomas A.M. Kramer, MD, Associate Professor of Psychiatry, University of Chicago (www.medscape.com). He found that most OTCs are actually good beyond the expiration date. The expiration date refers to how long the manufacturer guarantees that a drug is fully potent and safe, but the drug may actually be fine beyond that date. According to his findings, taking most OTCs beyond the date won't hurt or kill you. Dr. Kramer reports that U.S. military and FDA testing a decade or so ago revealed that drugs had 90 percent safety and effectiveness even 15 years later. Still, safe is always better than sorry. Expiration dates ARE important in drugs such as insulin, nitroglycerin and some liquid antibiotics.

SPRING CLEANING

Common sense: don't discard old medications where children can get at them. Traditionally we have thrown them down the toilet; however there are now warnings that discarded antibiotics, hormones, and other medicines raise potential health and environmental concerns. You should clean out your medicine cabinet annually; turn over leftover prescription medicines to a pharmacy or hospital incinerator or your local household-hazardous waste collection program. Throw old medicine away-in child-proof bottles, taped and double-bagged.

MIX AND MATCH?

Sorting through expiration dates is one thing, there is then the question of which medications you should or should not mix. This can get a bit confusing, especially if you have different doctors prescribing different medications, plus are using OTCs and supplements.

Be sure you tell your doctor about other medications you take- including OTCs, vitamins, supplements, herbal medicines-to avoid potentially dangerous drug interactions. Ask if there are any foods, drinks, other medications, supplements or activities (such as driving) you should avoid while taking a drug. Report drug allergies, and keep in mind that there are some conditions with which certain medications should not be used. Even the best doctors, on a busy day, may forget to mention such things unless you ask. Medications are usually available in brand name or generic form. Some insurance plans will only pay for the generics unless your doctor specifically prescribes a brand. Get the drug pamphlet and try to find a pharmacy that keeps a patient profile, so you can keep tabs on any potential medication conflicts. Finally, to avoid seizures, some medications should not be abruptly discontinued, such as Depakote, Neurontin and Topamax. The dosage needs to be tapered down if you discontinue.

WHAT ABOUT ALL THOSE DRUG ADS?

An evening watching television will tell you that the pharmaceutical industry leads the way in research and development for the U.S. and the world, confronting the leading causes of mortality and morbidity on the planet. Almost 32 million Americans take three or more medications daily according to the American Heart Association; drug costs comprise 10 cents of every American health care dollar. The economic logic is that, by taking prescription medicines, other healthcare costs such as hospitalization, long-term care and loss of income-not to mention loss of life-are diminished, leading to increased productivity and a better quality of life.

But what about that cheery voice listing side effects at the end of each advertisement? Obviously the patient and doctor need to weigh the pros and cons for an informed choice! To add to our confusion, there are so many brand name choices in prescription medications. One reason is that not everyone's body composition or brain chemistry is the same. The operative word is "choices;" an individual may respond to one drug but not to another. A good example is Selective Seratonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI's), or the anti-depressant class. A person with a depression diagnosis may try three SSRI's before they find one that works. Which brings us to the question - how do these drugs make it to the pharmacist's shelves?

THE FDA PROCESS

To consumers, a prescription is just a scribbled piece of paper which we take to the pharmacy. Presto, the white paper sack is in our hands and then we sort out our dosing schedule. However, there are many steps in the process of getting a drug to market.

A new drug goes through six extensive-testing phases (3.5 years) before it goes for regulatory review before the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The test population includes human and animal cells in a laboratory setting as well as live animal studies, to assess the safety and biological activity of the drug.

An Investigational New Drug Application (IND) must then be filed with the FDA prior to starting human trials. The IND details the results of the pre-clinical testing and outlines the anticipated tests and expected results on humans.

Phase I, II, and III (6 years) disclose the safety, dosage, effectiveness, and side effects, then verify effectiveness, and monitor reactions from long-term use. The average cost of developing a new prescription medicine is currently $802 million. Some say research costs do not drive the price of a prescription pill while others claim drug costs are justified in light of the risk, high cost, and time involved in development, including those that do not come to market.

If the drug happens to be one of the 27 percent that gets through Phase III, then a New Drug Application (NDA) is filed with the FDA for review. Phase IV begins after FDA approval is given and may be at the request of the FDA. During Phase IV, long-term risks and benefits post-market are monitored. It can take 11.5 years for a drug to make its way through all phases of a clinical trial without a glitch. The clinical trial process, before that bottle reaches your hands, is long and arduous.

The days of snake oil are hopefully past us. Still, we are wise to keep in mind that we are not only "patients" but can be "educated consumers" in this world of multiple drug choices.

THE HRT SAGA

That's not the end of the clinical trial story. Pharmaceutical companies are not the only ones who conduct clinical trials; fortunately there are other watchdogs. For example, in recent years, critical findings regarding Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) came to light from clinical trials conducted by the National Institute of Health (NIH), a division of the United States Health and Human Services Department. The Women's Health Initiative (WHI) began in 1991, consisting of clinical trials and observational studies of over 160,000 healthy, postmenopausal women.

The NIH clinical trials, suspended in May 2002, were designed to test what impact postmenopausal hormone therapy, diet modification, calcium, and vitamin D supplements had on heart disease, fractures, breast, and colon cancer.

In women 65 and older, the results were disturbing. Compared to placebo, estrogen plus progestin resulted in an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, blood clots, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, no protection against mild cognitive impairment, and increased risk of dementia. The same study also found that, compared to the placebo, estrogen alone resulted in no risk difference for heart attack, but possible increased risk of stroke, blood clots, uncertain effect for breast cancer, no difference in risk for colon cancer, and reduced risk of fracture.

The FDA requested the manufacturers update their labels for estrogen- and progestin- containing drug products to include this new information, thus allowing women to understand the r isks and benefits of these products and make appropriate health care decisions.

Clearly, anyone considering these treatments should stay current on the medical studies. If you are dissuaded from using HRT, alternatives for postmenopausal women include a heart-healthy lifestyle to reduce heart disease; weight bearing exercises and a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D to help prevent osteoporosis. Before suspending or altering any current therapy, women are advised to consult with a health care provider. For more information on the Women's Health Initiative visit www.nhilbi.nih.gov/hwi/. Another great website on women's health issues is www.project-aware.org.

 Marion Karvas is a pharmaceutical representative for Stiefel Laboratories specializing in both prescription and nonprescription dermatology products. She is a graduate of Texas Tech University in Agricultural Education and Journalism. Michelle Miller Allen is a freelance writer living in Jemez Springs, New Mexico, author of Journey.

From the Keep of the Bones (Amador Publishers, 2003 COVR Award #1 Runner-Up), Hunger in the First Person Singular (Amador 1993, winner New Mexico Press Women's Zia Best Book Award) and is president of Green Phoenix Productions.

North America's largest car rental company opens its 38th location in New Mexico. Enterprise Rent-a-Car rewards employees according to these four ambitious women managers. By Kate McGraw Photos by Kyle Zimmerman

 When former fighter pilot Jack Taylor began Enterprise Rent-A-Car in 1957, he gave careful thought to guiding principles. Among them was a determination to have the company's employees mirror the communities they worked in. That was a common-sense description of what a later generation would call "diversity" or "affirmative action." 48 years later, Enterprise is North America's largest car-rental business, with more than 57,000 employees in the U.S., U.K., Canada, Ireland, and Germany. More remarkable is the privately owned company's reputation for hiring and advancing women and minorities.

"We've been making great strides across the board," commented C.J. Twomley recently. "Our people live in the neighborhoods where they work."

Twomley, human resources manager for the New Mexico Group (New Mexico, El Paso, and the southwest corner of Colorado), offered group-hiring statistics for 2004. The 12-month average staffing through December 2004 showed females were 41.4 percent of all fulltime staff and 42.9 percent of all management. Minorities were 55.7 percent of fulltime staff and 51 percent of all management. Group-hiring trends in 2004 were similar: 40.2 percent females and 59.8 percent minorities.

 In the annual Fortune magazine rankings, Enterprise is touted as one of the best companies to work for. Female employees cite generous attitudes toward family responsibilities and unusual "promotability." The company's deliberate diversity draws kudos as well. New Mexico WOMAN spoke to four women managers from around the state. Here are their stories.

Angel Adams is a Navajo woman who was born in Dallas, grew up in Farmington, N.M., and earned a degree from Fort Lewis College. She worked her way through college, waiting tables in Farmington and commuting to Durango, Colo. Angel, married and the mother of a sixmonth- old son, started her Enterprise career as a management trainee in Farmington, continued as a branch manager in Gallup and briefly back in Farmington, and then transferred to Santa Fe, where she is currently branch manager. As a Native American, college-educated woman, Angel acknowledges that she would be any affirmative-action manager's dream hire. The real test, however, is whether that entrylevel job would translate into promotions. "That's the difference," Angel says. "I deal with people every day who talk about their jobs, and Enterprise is different from any other company in that they encourage you to work towards promotions. Everyone starts out at the same level and everyone has the same opportunities to advance. "I really love the company that I work for," she says. "They have taken me places that I never thought I would see, for training in different cities. Before I got this job, I had never been beyond Texas, but in a little over a year with Enterprise I was in Orlando, Florida!"

 Angel says she appreciates the Enterprise attitude toward families. Fourteen months ago, she was the branch manager in Gallup, preparing to take over the Farmington job, when she told her area manager that she was pregnant. "I really worried about it," she says. "I had heard horror stories from women employees of other companies. But my boss was really excited and supportive. It was a great experience. When I was on maternity leave, they kept in touch, and when I returned, everything just started off like it was when I left. It didn't hold me backat all."

 Her short-term goal with Enterprise is simple: she plans to become an area manager. After that, Angel says, "The sky's the limit. This company is growing every day. Which makes for many opportunities in the future."

 Angela DeNike, group training manager for the New Mexico Group, says her only regret about Enterprise is how much time she wasted before joining the company. A former travel agent in Alamogordo, for almost four years she resisted the urging of a friend who worked for Enterprise. "I thought it was small potatos compared to other rental companies," she says ruefully. "I thought I was better than being a rental car representative. I laugh now at how high I was on my abilities and myself as a travel agent. Thank goodness she could see the potential in me." Once she came on board, Angela rose swiftly, moving from management trainee in June 1999 to group training manager in August 2004. "I didn't start out in the training department intending to make a career of it; it just kind of happened," she says, "It has been a great opportunity, because the basis of our company philosophy is training."

She developed new training approaches and materials, never realizing that she was making a name for herself in the larger company. "Another trainer within our company told me she had been dying to meet me. When I asked her why, she said, 'Because you have created some great stuff and everybody talks about you.' Blew me away!"

Angela's goals are to be a training specialist in the Corporate Training Department for three to five years, and then return to a group with a smaller geographic area but larger inventory than the New Mexico Group. Her husband and two small sons are supportive. In fact, Damon, 9, considers himself a part of the Enterprise family. Last summer, driving with his grandmother to Amarillo, Texas, he needed to a use a restroom and told his grandmother not to pull into a service station. "Find an Enterprise branch," he said. Damon's instincts were right, his amused mother says. "Even though they didn't know me-because we're a different group-they let him use the restroom, and then he sent an e-mail to me. Damon felt safe and at home in any Enterprise branch."

Yvonne Enriquez, daughter of a "strong, matriarchal" family in El Paso, found Enterprise at a college career fair and was sold on the company's opportunities for advancement for a minority woman. Four and a half years after beginning as a management trainee, she was an area manager overseeing southeastern New Mexico-Enterprise branches from Clovis to Hobbs and as far west as Ruidoso. "It's been more than anyone could ever imagine and extremely rewarding," she said. "This is a company where a woman of a minority ethnic group can go as far as she wants." Based in Roswell, Yvonne said her biggest challenge in the job is to "keep a good work/life balance."

Her most satisfying moment was personal. "My mother always was a little disparaging about me working for Enterprise. She thought I wasn't doing enough with my degree from the University of Texas at El Paso. But not too long ago, she rented a car from Enterprise. She told me she was impressed with the professionalism -and also with the fact that the agent had just left a management position with another company to join Enterprise. And when he found out she was my mother, he started telling her all about me, how I was a top-performing area manager and everyone knew who I was … I finally received her blessing!"

Viola Godwin's career path, she says, has twined around the block a few times-maybe several blocks. Born and raised in Pennsylvania, she has worked as a bartender, a drafting designer, a retail sales clerk, and a platoon leader and financial management specialist in the U.S. Air Force. She met her husband more than 18 years ago, while stationed at Cannon Air Force Base in Clovis, New Mexico. After leaving the Air Force, Viola started a janitorial service in Clovis, and then worked off and on in Roswell while completing her degree at Eastern New Mexico University. She worked as a resource administrator for the State of New Mexico's Department of Health, as a transportation consultant, and as a behavioral aide with the Clovis Public Schools. During the summer break in 2003, Viola ran across the Enterprise website (Enterprise.com) while surfing the net, and applied online. She attended management training in Albuquerque that September, and was promoted to assistant branch manager for the Clovis branch in June 2004. She expects to be branch manager by March 2005.

"Experience is seen as an asset with Enterprise," Viola said. "My diverse background has allowed me to relate to customers," she said. "We have customers from all walks of life, careers, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Being able to converse with these customers on subjects that they are familiar with often breaks the ice and helps the rental process move a lot more smoothly." "I plan on making Enterprise Rent-ACar the last stop on my resume," Viola says. "My mid-term goal is to be working in the area of human resources, training, or employee development at corporate headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri, in two to four years. After I retire from Enterprise, I plan to attend culinary school and use my newfound techniques for charitable events!"

Still a privately held company principally owned by the Taylor family, Enterprise does not sell franchises. Each local car rental office is company-owned. In addition to car rentals, Enterprise has other business divisions, including fleet services, car sales, and truck rentals. The New Mexico Group's latest branch, at 9300 Coors NW, has rentals on one side and sales of Enterprise used cars on the other. Enterprise strives to open a new branch every day-365 per year-and is always looking for new employees. Check out the website at Enterprise.com, or contact group recruiter Jack Srouji at (505) 880-9797.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

Founder Jack Taylor set out "founding values" that govern the company's business principles nearly 50 years later:

• Our brand is the most valuable thing we own.
• Personal honesty and integrity are the foundation of our success.
• Customer service is our way of life.
• Enterprise is a fun and friendly place where teamwork rules.
• We work hard … and we reward hard work.
• Great things happen when we listen … to our customers and to each other.
• We strengthen our communities, one neighborhood at a time.

Kate McGraw is a freelance writer and editor in Santa Fe. She writes frequently on a wide variety of topics for several magazines and newspapers.