Will you join me NOW

I was reluctant to rejoin and try to change NOW from within as were many of you.  Then I went to the NOW conference/election. Now I’m asking you to help us build on this opportunity to be heard nationwide again.  

 Upon arriving, I saw the opposing team dressed in orange. It was clear we were outnumbered 2 to 1—but as it turns out, not by voters, just by agitators. Of the nearly 600 who attended, just over 400 voted. Sound familiar?

 As for the opposing argument – it was the same old story.  Supporters of the O’Neill  slate were cast as bitter, old Hillary-turned- Palin-supporters come to infiltrate this organization and take away women’s abortion rights! We are now known all over the blogs as “Pro-life Palinists” or “Pro-life Feminists”.

But we know who we really are, We are “Free- Choice Feminists” according to Lynette Long and we are  those who understand

…different feminists may come to different conclusions when assessing the best way to advance feminist goals. Especially in a year when the two most prominent women in American politics were reduced, respectively, to a nutcracker and an inflatable doll.~ Violet Socks

We presented information, raised tough questions, marched around, stood our ground and said our piece. It was exhilarating to find so many other women who think, feel and act as we do. We are not alone!

 These three days were indeed reminiscent of the Obama campaign- Young people dressed in orange from head to toe chanted, ran in packs, recited talking points,   would not listen to reason, and  shouted us down.  Their slate promised change, but had presided over huge losses in membership and revenues, and were backed by the crowd that has made NOW seem irrelevant to so many women, a NOW that  did not come out strongly for Hillary each time she was maligned by the media and then failed again to speak up for  Palin. A NOW that ignored the way Obama and his allies in the DNC treated Hillary Clinton last year. A now that watched MS magazine rub salt in our wounds — Obama on the cover reading “This is what a feminist looks like”.  A NOW clearly cowrowing to the Democratic Party and catering solely to far left democrat members who tow the party line.

Their platform was right out of an Obama speech, all talk of hope and change. Complete with a 33 year old woman of color of limited experience running for President and accusing the other team of racism and ageism for running an “old” white, highly experienced, highly competent attorney for President. Note the so-called “racist” slate contains a 29 year old attorney of color for VP. Obfuscation -sound Familiar?

 I was tempted to give it all up and just check out. They had the power – the numbers – the clout- the leadership and they were blasting us from the microphone. They called us racists, Palinists, republicans, Puma’s, infiltrators, traitors, rude, crude and men haters but in the end, we had learned a lot from this last election.  When it came time to vote, the orange neckerchiefs were shed, and the votes were cast for a new beginning. A new day is truly dawning. A real shift has already occurred and with your help, we can build an unstoppable movement. 

 I know how disappointed you have been in NOW – I have been there with you. In the past they have not always stepped up to the plate for many of our shared concerns,   besides reproductive rights—as is if that were  all that mattered. I have heard your complaints they sound like mine. I too am sick of being held hostage to reproduction.

So long as you have reproductive rights NOW does not seem to care if you have civil rights – rights in court – rights to safety or much else. Well now they will.

 Under Terry O’Neill’s leadership, the team of Bonnie Grabenhofer, Erin Matson, and Allendra Letsome will not rest until women – all women – have equal rights and enjoy parity in every facet of society. Terry is serious about getting women into the constitution and wants now more than ever for this to be your organization. She is committed to making NOW relevant to every woman in every way it’s what she does, right, it’s her strong point going back to the grassroots, her inclusive style includes listening to the membership.

 Her young and energetic VP team of Allendra Letsome and Erin Matson will use the latest technologies to bring in members and then support them. They will be responsive to women in rural  areas and women with disabilities and there will be opportunities for chapters large and small to share new and innovative information.  With Bonnie Grabenhofer they will lead national action campaigns that attract, empower and mobilize local activists, strengthen NOW’s financial health through innovative fund raising techniques and use cutting-edge technology to amplify activist voices, increase collaboration, and place social justice for women at the center of political discourse.

The vote was close, however. We won it by only 8 votes. We are now being challenged on the blogs in the most divisive of ways. We have in our hands this opportunity to grab the golden ring. This is an up and running national organization and it can be ours and stay ours for the joining. NOW is a member driven organization. It is in our hands but only if we increase our numbers and stay in the majority.  

 So please folks, a massive membership drive is underway to send an enormous message that we the women of the United States of America demand to be taken seriously and we demand to be heard this time. We need to rise like the Phoenix and show them what we’ve got, ladies. We are not done yet!  Oh, NO—we are not done yet!

Never has it been more important for us to come together and be heard – never have we had such an opportunity to walk into a national organization and build it back up to what it was meant to be. Now is our chance- let’s not lose the momentum. We are the majority today help us stay that way- they only sure way to fail is not to even try!

Help me send a message to NOW and the media that we are ready willing and able to take control of our own destiny and speak up! We are mad as hell and we are NOT going to take it anymore! Let’s join NOW and make it clear that we are here to stay. Please visit the NOW website and find your state and join your local chapter – or start one!

 There is a list on the NOW web site at www.now.org 

Never has it been more important for us to come together and be heard – never have we had such an opportunity to walk into a national organization and build it back up to what it was meant to be. Now is our chance- let’s not lose the momentum. We are the majority today help us stay that way- they only sure way to fail is not to even try!