Sharing the Experience by Marianne Christensen and Debby Halbert -----Here we are back at home, back at work, and back to everything that is familiar to us. Being in San Jose surrounded by many people we had never met before, who were drawn together for women's rights, made us wonder what, if any, surprises were in store for us -- and whether those surprises would be positive or negative.
-----Due to schedules and commitments, it was 2:00 a.m. Saturday before we could share in the excitement of being away from home and experiencing new things, leaving us ready to finally sleep at about 4:00 a.m. Four hours later, we were off to hear some very dynamic and energizing speakers who could inspire the most lethargic activist into moving. After three wonderful speakers, we were given the opportunity to witness a play about the first women's conference that we, ourselves, had thought about doing for Women's History Month. The play was excellent, and I can't think of a more fun way to learn new things. Maybe next WHM???
-----Next, we were off to experience a few of the many workshops that were offered. One of the workshops gave new information on the squirmy way the religious right is trying to impede on our right to abortion. It goes without saying that most Christians have LOTS of money, since that is the number one guilt trip used on their parishioners. Lately, they have decided to use their funds to purchase hospitals (public and private). Then, using their religion as a moral basis, they refuse to provide reproductive health care -- not just abortion, but birth-control and other types of health care, too. If the hospital is corporate-owned, the religious organization would only have to own 25% to have control over what is provided to the patient. Other workshops included "Combating the Barbie Doll Image," "Constitutional Equality for Women: A Vision for the 21st Century," "Domestic Violence - Death Review," "Women Candidates in 1998," "Restoring Affirmative Action in our Schools," "The Religious Right's New Agenda," "Feminist Activism on the Internet," and more.
-----Saturday evening found us giddy from lack of sleep, so instead of attending the dinner, we decided to have room service. We spent the evening giggling about . . . well, some things you just have to experience. Before hitting the road Sunday morning, we joined a Goddess Gathering to celebrate the Greening of the Earth and Crowning of the Queen of May.
-----Looking back, the trip surpassed our expectations and had every one of our dendrites dancing. We learned so much, got along great, and have only one regret -- that we will not be enjoying the National NOW Convention together in July. It is our hope that someone will get to experience Seneca Falls so that we can have the pleasure of hearing their stories.
-----Palm Springs is breathtaking in the spring. Darla Birce and I were fortunate to spend most of the Dinah Shore weekend there attending several events put on by the NOW Equality PAC.
-----On Friday, Marcy 27, we enjoyed "Party With A Purpose," a comedy show starring Suzanne Westenhoefer. Patricia Ireland opened the evening with a Salute to the 1998 Women of Power: Representative Tammy Baldwin, retired Colonel Grethe Cammermeyer and San Diego Council member Chris Kehoe. These three openly lesbian women are running for political office and stand a very good chance of winning.
-----On Sunday, March 29, we attended a NOW PAC training session led by Linda Berg, National NOW Political Director, and hosted by Palm Springs Area NOW. Although the 4-hour session was short, and therefore not as comprehensive as the more intensive program that lasts several days, it was a terrific overview of the role chapters and members can play in political campaigns. I found the information regarding laws and limitations tremendously valuable.
-----Linda explained how we need to "fill up the political pipeline" by placing pro-women candidates in all levels of government starting with non-political positions like water boards. As political activists we need to understand the demographics of our districts: including the economics, the racial makeup, the educational climate, and the hot button issues. We need to develop a candidate before the incumbent's term is up. In non-winnable seats, we can use the opportunity to raise women's issues and create a hot topic.
-----Linda emphasized how important coalition building is in finding and developing a candidate. She recommended forming a task force to look for candidates to fill city and county boards and commissions. Some organizations are natural allies like AAUW, League of Women Voters, as well as pro-union and pro-environmental groups.
-----Although CA NOW has a lengthy questionnaire for candidate endorsement (which I hear is the toughest of any state chapter), National NOW does not. They rely on state chapter recommendations for state offices and personal interviews with potential federal candidates. Once a candidate has been endorsed by either the state or National NOW PAC, or by a chapter that has its own PAC, there are very strict rules regarding what chapters and individuals can and cannot do for a candidate.
-----Is it that important that we follow the rules very closely? You bet! The opposition would love to catch us in a mistake; and these innocent mistakes cost NOW a great deal in legal expenses every year. I took very detailed notes and will list the do's and don't's for our members prior to joining any campaign. As individuals you can help any campaign you choose so long as you observe the limits on campaign contributions ($1,000 per federal candidate per election cycle).
-----Finally, Linda shared one of Patricia Ireland's favorite lessons by using Maslow's "Hierarchy of Needs" to demonstrate how we, as activists, typically don't approach our issues in the right order according to people's needs. Maslow's theory is that people must have their basic physiological needs met before they can move on to issues of safety, love, esteem, and finally self-actualization. We need to learn to talk to people at the level they can relate to. For example, it is difficult to encourage a woman to care about work place equality or reproductive rights when she doesn't know where she will be living tomorrow, or if she and her children will be safe from an abusive husband. We need to listen to what people are really saying.
-----Have you always wanted to know how your idea becomes a bill, and then how to follow your bill through the legislative process? Here is your chance to learn. Beth McGovern will be conducting a Legislative Workshop for Southern California NOW members to be held here in Temecula -- making it very easy for our members to participate in the event.
-----Mary Segreto has graciously offered her beautiful, roomy, and easily accessible home for us to hold the workshop. There will be refreshments and a great chance to meet with other local chapter members. For more information, call Debby at 244-8414.
-----Recently, our Chapter was requested to provide active support for Dr. Bruce Steir, abortion provider at the Women's Clinic in Moreno Valley. Many of you have heard Dr. Steir's story -- one that sounds like so many others. This one is special, however, for a couple of reasons: 1) it is here in Riverside County where our active support can make a difference and 2) if convicted, this case would set a precedence of other abortion doctors being convicted of murder.
-----Dr. Steir's nightmare could happen to any provider of late abortions, especially one who travels a distance to provide abortions in a conservative community. He has surrendered his license, being unable to fight three legal battles at once -- the battle to retain his license, the battle to prove he was not negligent, and the battle to stay out of jail.
-----Representatives from our chapter have met with Dr. Steir and his lawyer, attended a hearing, and examined the medical reports and transcripts from the case. We are fully satisfied that Sharon Hamptlon, the patient who died of an undetected perforation that bled into the abdominal cavity, was provided with competent medical treatment that met or exceeded the standard of care.
-----This attack on Dr. Steir is serious. The effects of it, even if Dr. Steir is charged with the lowest criminal charge, Involuntary Manslaughter, can have a devasting effect on the availability of later abortion care nationally.
-----As members of this community, we must take the lead in standing by Dr. Steir. Our support is imperative as this case will receive a lot of coverage from our ever-conservative Press Enterprise. We may be the only progressive voices there from Riverside County. Dr. Steir's next trial is July 10. We need to have as many members there as possible. Please speak to Tambra or Debby about what else you can do to support Dr. Steir.
-----More information and transcripts from the trial will be available at our next meeting.
