Breakout Session I: Friday 10:15 - 11: 30 a.m.

WORKSHOPS

Constitutional Equality
Room: Wabasha III & IV
Feminists have fought for generations to achieve constitutional equality – and the fight goes on in this new century. This workshop will remind us why women still need to be in the Constitution, and will present various perspectives on strategies to obtain this basic guarantee of equality.
Jackie Hillyer, Terry O’Neill, Marion Wagner

Ending Violence: Using the Law to Protect Survivors of Abuse
Room: Wabasha II
Discuss the latest developments around the nation, including protections for women on welfare, remedies for working women who experience domestic violence or sexual assault, and new laws helping women who face housing discrimination because of domestic violence or sexual assault.
Angela Rose, Jan Erickson, Pat Reuss

Got Pay Equity? Stories from the Front Lines
Room: Kellogg II
Plaintiffs in Fish v. MNSCU, a class action lawsuit filed on behalf of more than 250 women faculty at St. Cloud University in 1995, will discuss the legal, emotional and financial concerns of women who sue their employers for equal pay. Hear their experiences and share your own.
Marjorie Fish, Christine Jazwinski, Lora Robinson

POLITICAL INSTITUTE

PACs 101: Everything You Want to Know, But Didn't Know How to Ask
Room: Kellogg I
Avoid legal pitfalls. Learn simple practical steps from experienced state and local Political Action Committee members. It's easy to follow the rules — and a big headache if you don't. Elect fabulous feminists while avoiding getting tangled in legal red tape.
Linda Berg, Bonnie Grabenhofer, Roberta Waddle

Breakout Session II: Friday 11:45 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

WORKSHOPS

Taking Action: How to Organize in Your Community
Room: Wabasha III & IV
This workshop will address the importance and significance of direct action in the feminist movement. The presenters will provide "How To" details on organizing two action events they've done successfully: Take Back the Night and Date Rape Drug Awareness.
Chris Mitchell, Elizabeth Olsen

Violence Against Women as a Human Rights Issue
Room: State I & II E
Introduction to women's human rights, and issues of violence against women within that framework. Consider the intersection of multiple identities and identity based human rights violations, and make global and local connections between the issues. Become an effective activist for women's human rights.
Elisabeth Duban, Molly Gena, Alyson Kozma

Keeping "Security" in Social Security
Room: Kellogg III
Learn why Bush's proposals will hurt seniors, women with disabilities, people receiving survivors benefits, and women of any race, color, and ethnicity. Discover why privatization is bad for women, and discuss grassroots strategies for fighting privatization in the field.
Jean Craig, Ann Crowley, Gail Crichton, Lisa Maatz

Think Globally, Act Locally: CEDAW in Your Town?
Room: State II W & III
The U.N. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women still hasn't been ratified by the U.S. Senate, but local activists are seeking (and winning) local non-discrimination legislation like CEDAW in their communities. Learn how you can do it too!
Martha Davis

POLITICAL INSTITUTE

Looking For Voters in All the Right Places
Room: Kellogg I
You've got a great feminist candidate running against Attila the Hun. Now where are you going to find the voters that can put her in office? Learn how to look at a district and figure out where to put your energy and resources to get out the feminist vote.
Kathy Austin, Janet Canterbury, Cindy Guerra

Breakout Session III: Friday 2:45 pm- 4:00 p.m.

WORKSHOPS

Sweeping Changes — a Feminist View of Campaign Finance Reform
Room: State II W & III
Examine the ways money corrupts the political system and stands in the way of electing more women and people of color to office. Leaders in the struggle to reform campaign financing laws discuss innovative ways to level the political playing field.
Sean Dobson, Sen. John Hottinger, Duchy Trachtenberg

Passing the Torch: Organizing Young Feminists for Activism
Room: State I & II E
Why is feminism relevant today? What is at stake for young women? Get tips for increasing activism, taking on issues that resonate, and organizing for change. NOW leaders will share their successes in recruiting and activating young feminists at the chapter and state levels.
Matthea Marquart, Megan Seely

Media Activism NOW
Room: Kellogg III
The media has a powerful influence on women, girls, society, and our democracy. Learn how to take action on the violence, stereotyping, and lack of social responsibility in the media. Discuss media democracy, images of women and girls, and how NOW's Watch Out/Listen Up Campaign is making a difference.
Lisa Bennett, Helen Grieco

Race, Class, Culture, Conflict
Room: Kellogg II
Identify the problems that prevent or complicate alliances between grassroots women, women of color, and profess-ional women. Examine issues of respect in working relationships, and communication problems that stem from different styles, backgrounds and positions in life.
Geraldine Miller, Melanie Stafford, Olga Vives

POLITICAL INSTITUTE

Your Chapter and the 2002 Elections— How You Can Make a Tangible Impact
Room: Kellogg I
You don't have to wait for your candidate to realize that your chapter's activists could make all the difference in her election. But we can't give you a "Get out of Jail Free" card, so you need to know the rules. Strategies for campaign involvement to elect feminists and build your chapter's volunteer base and political clout.
Kathy Austin, Kim Gandy, Harriet Trudell

Breakout Session IV: Saturday 9:00 - 10:15 a.m.

WORKSHOPS

Images of Lesbians: Has "Lesbian-Baiting" Become a Non-Issue in Women's Rights
Room: Governors II
Do media images - like femme v. butch - affect feminist politics? Is "lesbian-baiting" still relevant political issue/wedge? Have prominent lesbians (like Ellen, Rosie, Martina) been baited? Explore the portrayl of lesbians in all facet of the media, and why this imagery is a feminist issue.
Colleen Dermody, Cathy Renna, Olga Vives

A Girl's Right to Decide: Genital Cosmetic Surgery
Room: Wabasha III & IV
Explore current efforts to eliminate gender-selection surgery on infants. Hear personal experiences, as well as medical, psychological, social, and legal thoughts on this hotly debated topic. Learn how to educate others and speak out against an out dated patriarchal medical practice.
Betsy Driver, Dandara Hill

Organizing in the Red States
Room: Governors IV
Everyone recalls the swath of red on TV screens "Election Night 2000," showing that most of the midwest, south, plains and mountain states were won by Bush. That's not the whole story! Members from those areas want active NOW chapters — so come hear success stories and tips for action in rural and small community areas.
Connie Hannah, Barbara Hays, Wanda Stephens, Gilda Yazzie

The Truth About Polygamy — and How You Can Help
Room: Wabasha II
An inside look into the cult-like world of polygamy, where extreme patriarchal religions violate the civil rights of women and children. Learn about the harm perpetrated by some of these groups, ways to detect abuse in these environments, and strategies for intervention.
Andrea Moore Emmett, Michael Kropveld

POLITICAL INSTITUTE

Your Vote, Your Choice . . .
No Vote, Their Choice
Room: Kellogg I
Translate campus enthusiasm for social justice into a powerful voting bloc. Learn how to build voter mobilization and get-out-the-vote campaigns on campuses. Get the skinny on how voting affects the issues young women care about, and discover how young voters made the crucial difference in close feminist victories.
Jennifer Adams, Andrea Lee

Breakout Session V: Saturday 2:00 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.

WORKSHOPS

New Members for NOW
Room: Governors IV
All chapters have increasing membership as a goal, but the numbers don't always materialize. Learn why interested folks contact NOW, what they really want, and how to get them involved and keep them. Leave the workshop with your chapter's growth plan!
Barbara Hays, Erin Sullivan

Disability, Abortion, and Eugenics
Room: Wabasha II
Discuss the intersection of disability rights, feminism, and reproductive rights. Is it OK to abort a fetus just because it has a disability? Is it OK to use prenatal testing to create "designer" babies or a "super race"? Are we transforming the culture of motherhood? What kinds of differences do we value in our society?
Tobi Hale, Stephanie Ortoleva

Crisis Pregnancy Centers - NOT!
Room: Governors I
So-called Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPCs), designed to mislead women seeking abortions, are a growing tool of the religious right wing. Find out the current landscape of CPCs and get tools for organizing to counter them. Discuss ways activists can include women's stories in the fight against fake clinics.
Alyssa Barnum, Jenny Blasdell

Gender Incarcerated: Women in Prison
Room: Governors II
There are over 90,000 women in US prisons, mostly for economic crimes. Experts will discuss that and other issues, such as inmates' reproductive health; families caught in the system; mandatory minimum sentences; rehabilitative programs; women on death row; readjusting to society. Share your experiences and ask questions.
Mary Gaines, Theresa Meisz, Teresa J. Nelson, Martha Taylor

POLITICAL INSTITUTE

But Is She a Feminist?
Room: Kellogg I
Some candidates' hearts are in the right place, but they're listening to the same old party consultants, or they're afraid of (and don't know what to say about) feminist issues. Role playing helps you learn how to interview candidates, move them in our direction, and sell them on NOW's issues.
Linda Berg, Alice Cohan

Breakout Session VI: Saturday 5:45 p.m. - 7:15 p.m.

WORKSHOPS

Linking Arms for Justice: Fighting the Far Right Takeover of the Federal Judiciary
Room: Governors II
Strategies to increase collaboration among feminists, disability advocates, and other progressives to fight the court-stacking. Look at federal judge battles around the country, and how the outcomes may impact the Supreme Court. Focus on media strategy, grassroots organizing, lobbying, and creative coalition building.
Alice Cohan, Stephanie Ortoleva, Olga Vives

www.MyChapter.org — Get Your Chapter on the Internet
Room: Wabasha II
Discover the steps to register a domain, find a free web host, create a web site, and make it accessible. You will leave with a concrete plan for getting your chapter (or yourself) on the Internet (almost) painlessly and for less than $50 a year.
Janet Margul

Family Law Bias: Your Rights in Danger
Room: Kellogg III
View the award-winning documentary "Small Justice" by Boston filmmaker Garland Waller, and then discuss current issues in family law, such as child sexual abuse, Parental Alienation Syndrome, bias against women in the courts, and move-away laws that disadvantage women.
Kim Gandy, Jane Hicks, Garland Waller

Whose Welfare Are They Protecting, Anyway?
Room: Governors IV
Millions are off the rolls since the 1996 welfare "reform" act, but are they out of poverty? You know the answer. Discuss current Bush Administration plans (diverting money to marriage promotion, cutting child care, decreasing education opportunities, increasing work hours, etc.) and how we can stop them.
Martha Davis, Jan Erickson, Pat Reuss

POLITICAL INSTITUTE

Getting Out the Feminist Vote
Room: Kellogg I
There's only one day that really counts, and none of your fabulous electoral work matters if you can't get your voters to the polls on election day. Don't depend on a weather forecast to predict who will cast their ballots. Join experienced political organizers for this skill building session to Get-Out-The-Feminist-Vote.
Robin Davis, Loretta Kane

• National Conference 2002 Information