As women's rights supporters gear up for the unique challenges ahead
in the next millennium, NOW has chosen the
entertainment capital of the world as the site of its final national
conference of the 20th Century. On July 2-4, 1999, NOW members
will converge on the Beverly
Hilton in Los Angeles to celebrate the victories we've achieved and
to plan strategies for the year 2000 and beyond.
As the center of the Hollywood Dream Machine, Los Angeles is an ideal place for NOW to make women's voices heard by an entertainment industry that has long ignored the concerns of women and often objectifies, degrades and demeans us. This year's National NOW Conference will offer activists the unique opportunity to make their presence felt in the entertainment community.
"As NOW moves into the next century, more determined than ever to control our own message, what better place than Los Angeles to demonstrate our commitment to becoming a major force in the communications world," said Action Vice President Elizabeth Toledo.
Other key issues on the agenda will include NOW's commitment to having 2000 feminist elected officials by the year 2000 and our continuing struggle to protect reproductive rights.
The national conference will also be the place for activists to take part in examining NOW's Statement of Purpose and proposing changes to fit the challenges of the next millennium.
"The National Board has asked chapters to begin discussion of a new statement of purpose for our organization," said Membership Vice President Karen Johnson. "Current language appears as Article II of our National Bylaws. During our National Conference in Los Angeles, members will collaborate on the new statement, which will be voted on as a bylaws amendment at our conference in Miami in 2000."
A Media Institute is also planned in conjunction with the conference
and will be open to activists
on a first-come, first-served basis. Last year's conference
participants in Rochester passed a Declaration
of Sentiments where we declared: ". . .We commit to building
a mass movement where we are leaders not followers of public opinion. We
will continue to move feminist ideals into mainstream thought, and we will
build our media and new technology capabilities to control our own image
and message . . ." The 1999 Media Institute will be a major step toward
implementing this vision.
Look for more information on the Institute in the next issue of the National NOW Times, and check NOW's website for updates.
Of course, it's not all work and no play at a National NOW Conference. As always, there will be plenty of exciting entertainment as feminists from around the country gather to celebrate their community. Conference attendees can enjoy miles of beautiful Pacific beaches and caucus at the two hotel pools.
The Beverly Hilton sits at the border between Los Angeles and Beverly Hills and is located near terrific shopping and restaurant areas. Los Angeles is also home to several vibrant ethnic enclaves. Visit Chinatown's gardens and herb shops, Little Tokyo's sushi bars, and Olvera Street's patio diners where live mariachi music fills the air.
Art enthusiasts can visit the popular new J. Paul Getty Museum, which houses some of the world's finest art treasures. The Museum of Tolerance, a heartwrenching but enlightening journey through the dynamics of racism and prejudice, is also near the conference site. This museum highlights not only the atrocities of the Holocaust, but also racial conflicts in the U.S., including the L.A. uprisings. It is a must-see for any equal rights activist.
Register now for the
National Conference and be a part of the fight for women's rights in the
next millennium (click here
for registration form). Please book your airfare through West End Travel
at 1-800-368-5874 and tell them you are going to the NOW
Conference. Each ticket purchased through that agency counts toward
free tickets to bring in speakers and entertainment. Room rates at the
Beverly Hilton are $115 single, $125 double, $135 triple, and $140 quad.
Reservations must be made by June 1. Call 1-800-HILTONS to reserve your
place at the hotel, and don't forget to check NOW's website at www.now.org
for the latest information on the conference or to register online.
"Los Angeles NOW is really excited about this conference, and they are already doing outreach in the area," said Toledo. "This 1999 conference promises to be an entertaining and informative strategy session."