NOW National Conference 2000

Session Glossary

Plenary Sessions

Plenary Sessions are meetings of all participants for Conference programs and to attend to the business of the organization. In Plenary Sessions we hold the opening and closing ceremonies, present the Women of Courage Awards and hear the Conference's featured speakers and performers.

We devote the final plenaries on Sunday to setting policy for the organization.  Delegates will vote on resolutions passed in Issue Hearings or submitted by petition.  It is here that the body will consider a new Statement of Purpose for NOW and a proposal to have undelegated conferences.  The work of the Conference culminates in the closing ceremonies at the end of Sunday's sessions.

Workshops

Workshops are interactive sessions focusing on organizing for women's rights.  Presenters and participants will share information, exchange ideas and discuss action plans.  The presenter's role, unlike that in a traditional workshop, is to make brief opening comments and then to inspire dialogue and creative problem-solving.  The goal of these sessions is to send participants home with new inspiration and tactics to organize in their own communities and mobilize local chapter activists.

Special Constituency Caucuses

Special Constituency Caucuses provide a time for feminists who share a common interest to get together.  This offers an excellent opportunity to meet others from around the country who share specific concerns.  These Caucuses also provide a forum for discussion of resolutions before they are presented at an Issues Hearing and introduced on Sunday.

Pre-assigned caucuses include topics covered by NOW national committees (Conference Implementation Committees or CICs).  These topics and the caucus locations can be found on page 21.  A limited number of additional rooms are available, and if you are interested in convening a caucus on a separate topic, please sign up in the Conference Office. We also encourage small groups to caucus at breakfast and during dinner breaks.

Issue Hearings

NOW's annual Conference is the supreme governing body of NOW, and the resolutions passed by the Conference form the basis of organizational policy.

The sole purpose of an Issue Hearing is to develop and produce resolutions.  NOW members can bring ideas to the Issue Hearings, even if the ideas are not in resolution form.  However, due to time constraints, it is preferable to have proposed language prepared in advance.  The ideas will be incorporated into the resolution(s) coming out of that session, if accepted by the majority of the participants.  The hearing format allows for combining similar ideas/resolutions, and editing and general refining before the resolutions come before the Conference body in plenary session.  Only two resolutions may be voted out of each Issue Hearing.  The schedule for the hearings is on page 20.  Information on the resolution process starts on page 30.

Regional Caucuses

Regional Caucuses provide an opportunity for regional activists to get together.  Regional issues, actions and organizing plans may be discussed, as well as resolutions and other conference business.

NOW has nine regions: Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Mid-South, South Central, Great Lakes, Prairie States, Northwest and Southwest.  To determine which region your state is in, turn to the schedule.

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