NOW National Conference 2000
General Information
Conference Facilities
The 2000 National NOW Conference is being held at the Fontainebleau
Hilton in Miami Beach, Florida. All Conference events will be
on-site at the Fontainebleau. Plenaries and general events will be
held in the Fontainebleau Ballroom on Level II. Workshops, issue
hearings and caucuses will be held on Levels I and IV. Should you
have any questions or requests, visit the Information Booth on Level II.
Registration and Credentialing are in the Exhibit Hall area of the Fontainebleau
Ballroom on Level II.
Childcare
On-site childcare is provided during this Conference free of charge if
requested
in advance. The childcare room number is available to guardians
at the Information Booth and at Registration on Level II. We contract
with experienced, licensed providers. Childcare is offered during all scheduled
Conference events, including entertainment—see the Agenda for exact times.
NOW has a practice of providing cost-free childcare at our annual conferences,
special summits and board meetings.
In order to adequately prepare for childcare, we must receive pre-notification
of childcare needs. Meals are not provided; parents/guardians must pick
up their children to provide lunch and dinner. If you have any further
questions regarding childcare, check at the Information Booth or
at the Conference Office.
Special Needs
NOW is committed to making this Conference as accessible as possible.
ASL interpreters will be provided at plenary sessions, and participants
who need sign interpretation can be seated in the front rows of the plenary.
ASL interpreters will also be available at a limited number of workshops.
Please sign up in advance at Registration. Please check with the Conference
Office if you or someone you know is in need of a large print program book.
Conference materials can also be reviewed on our talking computer.
Exhibit Hall
Exhibitors are located in the Fontainebleau Ballroom A&B (East Side)
on Level II. We encourage all registrants to support feminist merchants
and shop at the NOW store.
Caucus Rooms
Chapters, states, regions or special interest groups may schedule caucus
space on a first-come, first-served basis. If you wish to call a
caucus on an issue not already listed in the program book, please sign-up
at the Conference Office on Level II.
NOW PACs' Political Institute is designed
to enhance our ability to elect more feminists to office. The Institute
will build skills to provide trained organizers to work in elections. Participants
who complete five sessions, including the political overview Friday at
the brown-bag lunch, will receive certificates of graduation, and the Institute
will, where possible, place graduates in key feminist races.
The Political Institute offers two tracks of interactive workshops.
The first track is focused primarily on skills for turning out our vote
in November. The second is designed for those interested in developing
campaign teams and offers a broader overview. A two-session, in-depth training
on analyzing a district is aimed at more experienced organizers who want
to play leadership roles in feminist races.
Each workshop in the first track stands on its own, and activists are
encouraged to come to any or all of these sessions. If possible,
the Institute would like participants in the second track to agree to stay
with the campaign-team-building group for all four workshops.
At the Friday brown-bag lunch, NOW/PAC chair Patricia
Ireland will give a national political assessment; all conference attendees
are invited to attend.
Breakfast for New Members
and First-Time Participants
The national officers want to personally welcome new members and those
who are attending their first conference. We invite you to join us
for breakfast in the Presidential Suite Saturday morning from 7:45am to
8:45am or Sunday morning from 8:15am to 9:15am. We'd like to meet
you and say hello. We can also talk about NOW and this conference,
and answer any questions you may have.
Conference Guidelines
The following guidelines are intended to create an atmosphere most conducive
to achieving the goals of the Conference:
1. Every person participating in this Conference is of equal worth
and value.
2. All opinions are valued and needed.
3. Each person is to speak in "I" terms, e.g. "I think...," "I
feel...," "I believe..."
4. Listen to one another with respect. It is important to
understand that people are talking about what is true for them. Points
may arise upon which we may not all agree, but we should disagree respectfully.
5. NO ZAPS! Zaps are personal and personalized digs.
6. If there are things which you do not understand or know, please
ask questions and seek clarification.
7. Stay focused and on track!
8. In small group work, individuals are to report back only once
until all others have had an opportunity to do so.
9. HAVE FUN!
NOW Home Page / Join
NOW / Catalog / Search
/
Send
mail to NOW