It Takes a Village...To Work for Women's Rights

by Hillary S.  Condon, Communications Intern
 
 

NOW Action Center staff members and Victory 2000 campaigners, clockwise from top left: Cheryl Barclay, Tyla Druilhet, Sarah Martin, Johanna Ettin.  Photo by Lisa Bennett-Haigney.
Action Center staff members, clockwise from top left: Leland Maassen, Jan Erickson, Linda Berg and Latifa Lyles.  Photo by Lisa Bennett-Haigney.
  • Linda Berg, Political Director
  • Sarah Martin, PAC Assistant, Field Organizer-Reproductive Rights
  • Tyla Druilhet, Web/LAN/Computer Support
  • Johanna Ettin, Direct Mail Manager
  • Latifa Lyles, Direct Mail Analyst
  • Jan Erickson, Government Relations Director
  • Leland R. Maassen, Comptroller
  • Cheryl P.  Barclay, Membership Specialist


    • NOW's Victory 2000 Campaign aims to elect 2,000 feminist candidates to all levels of political office by the end of the year 2000.  Such an ambitious campaign requires the efforts of practically everyone at the National NOW Action Center, whether it's traveling to cities to recruit or campaign for feminist candidates in hot races or getting a mailing out to raise election funds. Get to know some of the people helping to increase our representation in government.


     

    Linda Berg, Political Director

    Linda is responsible for coordinating all aspects of NOW's electoral program. She serves as staff liaison to NOW's Political Action Committees (PACs), coordinates political training, assists grassroots leadership with elections work and ensures that the NOW/PAC complies with all relevant campaign laws. Linda is currently focused on the Victory 2000 Campaign, recruiting feminist candidates for the crucial upcoming election.  She has been a NOW activist for 15 years and has chaired the Montgomery County NOW (Md.) chapter's election committee for over a dozen years. Linda is an avid reader, a lawyer and the proud mother of three feminist daughters.


     

    Sarah Martin, PAC Assistant, Field Organizer-Reproductive Rights

    Sarah's PAC position consists of organizing, including fundraising events, for NOW's political efforts; documenting campaign finances and preparing reports for the Federal Election Commission. As a field organizer, she also works on reproductive rights issues, keeping NOW's activists informed on candidates' positions and current legislation. She began working for NOW in the fall of 1998 as the membership specialist and recently moved to the PAC. Sarah was born and raised in eastern Kentucky. Away from the office, she is active in the Capital City NOW chapter. Sarah is an avid runner and recently ran in her first marathon.


     

    Tyla Druilhet, Web/LAN/Computer Support

    Tyla is NOW's virtual field organizer. This includes updating the NOW/PAC web site for the elections, Internet outreach and web page development for NOW's action agenda. She helps keep NOW's LAN and web site running and also coordinates maintenance of Action Center computers. Tyla is originally from Louisiana. Her father was in the Air Force, so she grew up in various places in Europe and the United States. She attended the University of Southwestern Louisiana and now studies Computer Information Science at the University of Maryland. Tyla came to NOW to use her Internet and computer skills to help ensure that women's rights are a priority in the U.S. and the world.

    Johanna Ettin, Direct Mail Manager

    Johanna coordinates the activities of the Direct Mail team, which sends out renewals and special requests for contributions, including NOW/PAC's recent, successful Victory 2000 appeal for monthly pledges of support.  She helps use direct mail to increase NOW's membership and political support.  Johanna was a NOW activist in North Carolina, joining in 1977 and serving in almost every office at her local chapter and state organization.  After a number of years directing a non-profit agency serving AIDS and cancer patients, she moved to Washington to work for NOW in 1996.  In her free time, Johanna cooks and reads mysteries and Tudor history.


     

    Latifa Lyles, Direct Mail Analyst

    A member of the Direct Mail team, Latifa is responsible for planning and monitoring costs and results of NOW's direct mail campaigns.  She works on all of NOW's new member acquisitions, reinstatements, renewals and special appeals, including the Victory 2000 Support Committee mailing.  No stranger to numbers and non-profits, Latifa came to NOW in the summer of 1998, having worked a year on Social Security and pension reform at the Older Women's League. Originally from New York City, Latifa has lived in Washington for six years and is an active member of the Capital City NOW chapter.


     

    Jan Erickson, Government Relations Director

    Jan spends a large part of her time keeping a close watch on Congress. Her input on incumbents' records is key in NOW/PAC's endorsement decisions. She writes the monthly NOW Legislative Update, along with Action Alerts that are sent out to NOW's e-mail network. Jan meets with other women's rights groups and participates in lobbying, grassroots organizing and public education on legislation.  She is a former state president of Alaska NOW and a long-time activist, particularly in the area of reproductive rights and women's health.  Jan enjoys traveling, including summer trips to Alaska and Colorado.


     

    Leland R. Maassen, Comptroller

    Leland's job is multi-faceted: maintaining NOW's accounting records, preparing financial statements, coordinating the annual audit, maintaining payroll, and filing nearly 40 state charitable organization registrations.  His experience includes nearly 30 years as an accountant and administrative manager, 10 years as an enrolled agent with the IRS and work with many diverse organizations.  In his spare time, Lee likes to construct detailed ship models, read, bake, and design and build furniture. He volunteers with Habitat for Humanity, constructing affordable housing for families and communities in need.

    Cheryl P.  Barclay, Membership Specialist

    Cheryl is responsible for maintaining NOW's extensive membership database, as well as processing information requests from chapter leaders, members, allies and prospective members. She also produces the mailing labels chapters and candidates need to outreach to potential supporters. A lifetime feminist, Cheryl has always believed in and worked for women's equality. She has a B.A. degree in Psychology from the University of the District of Columbia, and plans to begin her graduate studies in Child Psychology at Howard University this fall. Cheryl's second full-time job is caring for her beautiful 10-month-old baby boy.


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