As the C.L.A.R.E. Committee looks to the ongoing Franciscan formation for our sisters, Leadership offers congregational staff deep looks into issues such as Franciscan leadership, the lives of Francis and Clare and the history of our congregation. This month’s gathering had a very different look and feel.
S. Judy Beiswanger came to the congregational offices from WNY to teach staff some easy methods for staying safe when running errands or walking streets alone. S. Judy has a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and Choi Kwon Do, Korean-based martial arts. She teaches self-defense classes at adult senior centers in the Buffalo area.
S. Judy started with several simple tips to prevent attacks from happening before getting staff and leadership on their feet to practice methods for dealing with physical attacks. While S. Judy is capable of causing great physical harm to an individual, she emphasized that the goal is not to hurt someone but to stay safe.
Some tips from S. Judy:
- Carry your purse in front of you, against your body with your arm across it. Make sure your purse is closed.
- If you have a purse with a strap that goes across your body, do not use it. Someone coming up behind you can use the strap as a weapon against you.
- When parking your car in a lot, park under a light. Look around you before getting out of the car. Pick a landmark to help you remember where you parked (“The lane that’s directly in line with the T in Tops,” said S. Judy as an example.)
- Don’t use the lock mechanism on your key fob to help you find your car. It lets everyone in the parking lot know where you’re going.
- When walking into and out of the building, carry your car keys or key fob in your hand. That way you won’t need to stand outside your car digging through pockets or purse to find them, giving someone time to target you.
S. Judy shares these and other safety tips in classes she teaches at senior centers throughout Erie County in western New York. Thank you for coming to Syracuse,
S. Judy!
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