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       West Pinellas National Organization for Women

          P.O. Box 336, Ozona, FL 34660

          (727) 738-0007  wpinellasnow@gmail.com
                                             Join NOW

And Together We Can Make Equality a Reality

NOW is the largest, most comprehensive feminist advocacy group in the United States. Our purpose is to take action to bring women into full participation in society — sharing equal rights, responsibilities and opportunities with men, while living free from discrimination.

AN OPEN LETTER TO CONGRESSMAN MEEKS

 

Hon. Congressman Meeks, I thank you for your reply but I respectfully beg to differ with your opinion. It is fundamentally unfair for there to be any different health care coverage for women as there is for men, and to even consider negotiating away full coverage for one-half of the citizenry is inexcusable. Legislation should not be passed that would limit any person’s  right to health care and that would include the entire range of women’s health concerns, including all reproductive services.  A minority of your colleagues who do not approve of some medical procedures should not be allowed to control health decisions that are best addressed between a patient and her physician.  I refer you to a quote by Justice Ginsburg in a recent interview where she stated that “The basic thing is that the government has no business making that choice for a woman.”  The women of this nation could not agree more.

 

Please do not allow self-righteous individuals who have no medical expertise to make personal health decisions for others in their quest to hijack women’s health care and impose their own officious agendas on the rest of us. They do not have women’s best interests in their hearts but rather they only care about imposing their narrow opinions on the rest of us.  Like all other health care services, decisions about women's reproductive health care should be made by professional health care providers and their patients -- not politicians.  Please do not deny coverage of any reproductive health services, especially contraception, emergency contraception and abortion services. 

 

Women's full reproductive health care coverage must be a part of any reform plan. Please do not bend to extremist pressure to prohibit coverage in a public option and to restrict private insurers' current coverage for abortion services. The status quo is inadequate and the model being touted by the right wing and the Blue Dog Democrats potentially puts women in an even worse position. This is the time to demonstrate courage and stand up for women's fundamental human rights to receive needed and appropriate reproductive health care services. The campaign of intimidation of women, health care providers and elected officials over abortion and contraception must stop.

 

I respectfully ask you to re-evaluate the freedoms granted to our citizens by the Constitution. In light of those protections, please recognize how freedom of choice and the freedom to have control over our own bodies are indispensable for women to exercise those fundamental rights. Reproductive justice is every woman's right and is not negotiable. 

 

NOW STATE MEETING, ORLANDO AUGUST 29, 2009

Call or e-mail if you are interested in attending this informative event

727-738-0007 and bjstar@att.net 

WATCH THIS SPOT FOR A DETAILED  REPORT ON THE 2009 NATIONAL NOW CONFERENCE

Connecting the Dots . . .

NOW is one of the few multi-issue progressive organizations in the United States. NOW stands against all oppression, recognizing that racism, sexism and homophobia are interrelated, that other forms of oppression such as classism and ableism work together with these three to keep power and privilege concentrated in the hands of a few.

Government, our judicial system, big business, mainstream media and other institutions treat many groups in our society like second-class citizens. Pitting us against each other is an essential mechanism for maintaining the status quo. Together, we can create the change we've been dreaming of—our unity is our strength.

NOW's Top Six Priority Issues

HELP NOW SET A FEMINIST AGENDA FOR THE NEW ADMINISTRATION

 

NOW has just released our Feminist Action Agenda for 2009 and Beyond and this exciting, extensive women-centered document should be useful for activists in many ways and can be used in your writing, advocacy, coalition work, state and local policy discussions, just to list a few uses.

Right NOW, we are asking you to use the Agenda in several ways:

1. Review the agenda and fill out our web survey -- let us know how you think we should prioritize our time, energy and funds on behalf of these critical feminist goals. Starting Jan. 20, the U.S. will have a presidential administration that has vowed support for women and girls. That doesn't mean our work is done, though. Together we must urge the Obama-Biden team and Congress to do all they can to undo the damage from eight years of George W. Bush, and finally begin to advance women's rights. We have a long haul toward full equality.

 

So, tell us which of our nine "to do" list items are most critical to you, and help us make it an even 10 by suggesting an additional item or issue that is dear to your heart or on your mind. We're already hard at work, because there's not a moment to lose, and we want to hit the ground running when the new Congress begins in January. Be a part of this effort, and together we can make women's rights a top priority in the White House and Congress. Take action NOW!

 

2. Use the Feminist Action Agenda as a resource for engaging in community action. If you're feeling the effects of the current economic crisis and are angry that big corporations are being "bailed out" and women, children and families are being ignored, then join up with your friends, neighbors and colleagues and make your voices heard! Bring the Feminist Action Agenda to town hall meetings and community discussions being held all around the country and speak out for yourself and on behalf of all the women and their families, who will suffer from the greed and recklessness of giant corporations who have run amok with little supervision these past eight years.

 

How Does NOW Take Action?

Educating the public and media about the status of and threats to women's rights

Organizing rallies, protests, demonstrations and marches of all sizes

Protesting businesses that mistreat women and people of color

Lobbying for and writing laws that promote full equality for women

Registering new voters and inspiring them to get to the polls

Recruiting and electing feminist candidates at all levels of government

Initiating and supporting lawsuits against violators of women's rights

Demanding fair and unbiased courts and judicial nominees

Working in coalition with progressive allies

Get Active in a NOW Campaign and Help Change the World!

 

Educating the public and media about the status of and threats to women's rights

Organizing rallies, protests, demonstrations and marches of all sizes

Protesting businesses that mistreat women and people of color

Lobbying for and writing laws that promote full equality for women

Registering new voters and inspiring them to get to the polls

Recruiting and electing feminist candidates at all levels of government

Initiating and supporting lawsuits against violators of women's rights

Demanding fair and unbiased courts and judicial nominees

Working in coalition with progressive allies

Get Active in a NOW Campaign and Help Change the World!

Save the Supreme Court
Protect the court from a right-wing takeover
by anti-woman, anti-civil rights judges

Women-Friendly Workplace Campaign
Demand discrimination-free workplaces
Protest "Merchants of Shame" like Wal-Mart

Campus Action Network/High School Clubs
Increase young feminist activism

Equal Marriage Rights NOW
Win full marriage rights for same-sex couples

Social Security Protection
Advocate for real improvements that help women

Love Your Body - NOW Foundation
Challenge dangerous beauty standards
Promote positive body images

NOW's Grassroots Power

Founded in 1966 by a small but determined group of women's rights advocates, NOW has more than 500,000 contributing members and hundreds of chapters across the U.S. NOW members are the heart, soul and muscle behind the group. They elect leaders, set policy and determine our agenda. NOW's vast and diverse membership gives us clout in the government, media and the public eye. By speaking out and taking action, NOW activists make change happen at the local, state and national leve. Because we don't rely on foundation or corporate dollars, NOW's work for equality and justice is made possible by membershup dues, individual donations and volunteer hours.

NOW Member Benefits

Each NOW member can get involved at your own speed. Once you join, you'll start receiving our National NOW Times newspaper, a great place to start if you simply want in-depth analysis on feminist issues. If that gets you fired up, you can sign-up for email alerts and take action right on our web site. Get even more involved by joining your local chapter at no extra cost. Then, you might want to attend a National Conference and help shape policy. It's up to you...but whatever you do, you'll be making a difference.

Join NOW



Women's Rights Activists GET RESULTS . . .

Women win the right to vote in 1920.

The birth control pill is approved in 1960.

The Equal Pay Act is passed in 1963.

The Civil Rights Act passes in 1964, outlawing sex discrimination in employment.

In 1967 NOW leads a successful fight to extend Affirmative Action in federal contracts to women.

In 1972 Shirley Chisholm, first African-American woman to run for president, is endorsed by NOW.

Women win Title IX in 1972, prohibiting sex discrimination in education and school athletics.

In 1973 Roe v. Wade establishes a woman's legal right to abortion.

In 1978 feminists win a ban on employment discrimination against pregnant women.

Sexual harassment is ruled an illegal form of job discrimination in 1986.

NOW wins money damages and jury trials for sex discrimination in Civil Rights Act of 1991.

Family and Medical Leave passes in 1993.

The Violence Against Women Act is signed in 1994 and mass action by NOW ensures funding.

NOW organizes to bring 1.15 million marchers to DC in 2004 for women's health, reproductive rights.

Public support for same-sex marriage has grown due to education and activism by groups like NOW.

. . . But The Struggle Is NOT OVER YET.

Women are paid only three-quarters of men's pay, while women of color make even less.

Racism, sexism and homophobia are rampant, limiting the potential of more than half the country.

A woman has never been President of the U.S., nor been nominated by a major party.

Women make up less than one-fifth of the members of Congress and state governors.

Women hold the top positions at less than three percent of the Fortune 500 companies.

Women are vastly under-represented in science and technology professions, the military, judicial
seats and many prestigious fields.

Increased restrictions on reproductive rights leave women and girls with less control over their bodies, health and well-being.

Women and girls are more than 85 percent of all U.S. rape and domestic violence victims.

Congress and most states do not grant equal marriage rights to lesbian and gay couples.

More than 90 percent of those struggling with eating disorders are women or girls; women are 85 percent of cosmetic surgery patients.

Poor women, women of color and women with disabilities experience a disproportionate amount of discrimination, violence, interference in their private lives, and other barriers to equality.

Women's equality still is not guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution — but we don't intend to quit!

 
To join West Pinellas NOW, please telephone or Email: wpinellasnow@gmail.com
 
 
Please join our Discussion at: http://groups.google.com/group/westpinellasnow
 
 
 

 

The New Administration will be sworn in on January 20th and they have a huge job ahead. Let us not allow them to forget women and the issues that are most important to us. Please go to the  Transition Website  and write to President-Elect Obama and tell him of your vision for this Nation.  

 

You can also read the Transition Team's  Agenda for Women  on the same site.

 

Remember, Silence is the Greatest Act of Sedition.

 

GET INVOLVED, STAY INFORMED, BE ACTIVE !

 

 
 

  http://www.wpinellasnow.org

 

http://sites.google.com/site/wpinellasnow/

 

 

 

 

 

Subpages (1): February 22 Event