National NOW Times >> Spring 2006  >> Article

New York State Hosts NOW's 40th Anniversary Conference

By Marcia Pappas, President NY State NOW

Are You Ready for Albany? Conference on the Web Register for the conference on the NOW Web site at www.now.org/conference. Check the conference page regularly, as we update our agenda and add more events. Workshop Proposals Workshop proposals will be accepted for the Young Feminist Summit and the Conference until April 15. Criteria for workshop proposals and the forms are available at www.now.org/conference. Lodging The Conference hotel is the Crowne Plaza Albany, located at State and Lodge Streets. For reservations call 1-800-2CROWNE and tell them you are with the NOW conference to receive our special rate of $125 per night.

NOW more than ever, women from around the country must come together for a common cause. That cause, as we all know, is equality for all women. On July 21, the National Organization for Women will roll into Albany, N.Y., to make its mark on our city. For 40 years, NOW has been making its mark on the country as the leading feminist organization working to achieve full equality for women. Albany is ready! What better place to celebrate NOW's 40th anniversary than in the state where Betty Freidan founded NOW's first chapter — New York City NOW.

Excitement has been building as the weeks pass. More and more activists are contacting us to say they want to volunteer. One of the highlights of this weekend will be the Young Feminist Summit, to be held on Friday, July 21st. As State President of New York NOW, one of our major goals as a state organization is to bring young and new feminists into the National Organization for Women. Winning the bid to host the National NOW conference, knowing that the focus would be on young and new feminists, made one of our dreams come true. Young feminists are a key part of the movement that will fulfill the ultimate dream of equality for all — the same dream held by our foremothers Alice Paul, Sojourner Truth, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, Harriet Tubman and so many others. 2006 will prove to be a challenge for feminists, but as always, NOW activists welcome those challenges.

Kim Gandy addresses feminists at the 2005 National Conference about Sandra Day O'Connor's Supreme Court vacancy. What will the 2006 National Conference bring?

Saturday's workshops will focus on devising strategies and actions at the local and national levels, on campuses and in communities, to fight the many attempts by the state legislatures, the Congress, the courts and the Bush Administration to roll back our rights. NOW's Political Institute will focus on identifying candidates and organizing for the 2006 and 2008 Congressional and state elections. There will be, as always, engaging speakers and fabulous entertainment to make your weekend an empowering experience. There has seldom been a more important time politically for NOW activists to gather at a National Conference. These are perilous times — your participation in this event is crucial to the advancement of women's rights.

New York State NOW, all of its chapters and wonderful activists look forward to seeing you all in Albany, New York to celebrate our 40th Birthday.