Activists at the 2000 National NOW Conference will revisit NOW's Statement of Purpose to ensure that it portrays the organization's mission at the turn of the century. NOW's purpose should be considered in light of the new Declaration of Sentiments passed in 1998 (see next page for text). Conference delegates will vote either to keep the original Statement of Purpose or to replace it through a bylaw amendment with one of the three revised statements developed at the 1999 conference.
Current BylawArticle II. Statement of PurposeNOW's purpose is to take action to bring women into full participation in the mainstream of American society now, exercising all privileges and responsibilities thereof in truly equal partnership with men. This purpose includes, but is not limited to, equal rights and responsibilities in all aspects of citizenship, public service, employment, education, and family life, and it includes freedom from discrimination because of race, ethnic origin, age, marital status, sexual preference/orientation, or parenthood. |
Three Proposed Amendments1) NOW's purpose is to take action toward women's equality, to empower women to determine their own destinies, and to have equal representation in all decision-making structures of our societies. NOW is committed to the power of grassroots activism, to multi-issue strategies using a variety of tactics to achieve social and economic justice where there is recognition and respect for each person's intrinsic worth as well as the rich diversity of the various groups among us.2) The purpose of NOW is to take action to assure a world where all women have political, social and economic equality, sharing all opportunities, rights, privileges and responsibilities in a fair and just society. Activists at the 2000 National NOW Conference will revisit NOW's Statement of Purpose to ensure that it portrays the organization's mission at the turn of the century. NOW's purpose should be considered in light of the new Declaration of Sentiments passed in 1998. Conference delegates will vote either to keep the original Statment of Purpose or to replace it through a bylaw amendment with one of the three revised statements developed at the 1999 conference. 3) The purpose of NOW is to actively and tirelessly pursue the full inclusion of all women and girls in all political, social, and economic institutions of society, creating a feminist society wherein every individual is free from coercion and subjugation. We organize to initiate, support, implement and maintain all actions necessary toward a free and equal society believing that human beings are born free, equal in dignity and rights, entitling each to all rights and freedoms without distinction of any kind, such as sex, race, class, sexual orientation, religion or other arbitrary status. |
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