NOW National Conference: 2007

General Information

Conference Facilities

The 2007 National NOW Conference is being held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Dearborn, Michigan.

Childcare

On-site childcare is provided during this Conference free of charge if requested in advance. In order to adequately prepare for childcare, we must receive pre-notification of childcare needs by June 19, 2007. The childcare room number is available only to parents or guardians at the information booth and at registration.

Childcare is offered during all scheduled Conference events, excluding 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 with advance request.

Meals and snacks are not provided; parents or guardians must pick up their children for lunch and dinner, which allows caregivers to take meal breaks as well. If you have any further questions regarding childcare, please check at the information booth.

Parents who use the free childcare provided will be expected to sign a liability waiver agreeing not to sue NOW for any reason related to the child care, and are expected not to leave the hotel without picking up their children.

Accessibility

NOW is committed to making this Conference as accessible as possible. The hotel is in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and ASL sign interpretation is provided at general sessions. Sign interpretation for workshops, special constituency caucuses and/or issue hearings must be requested in advance. If you have additional requests, including large-print program books and program books on disk, please call 202-628-8669 or email conference@now.org. Please submit your request by June 19 so every effort can be made to meet your request.

Please note that in consideration of those with allergies and respiratory problems, the 2007 National NOW Conference is a scent-free environment. Participants are asked to use unscented products in lieu of scented toiletries and detergents, and to refrain from wearing perfumes and colognes.

Political Institute

The NOW PACs will present the eighth annual Political Institute. Workshops in the Political Institute are designed to enhance our ability to elect more feminists to office at every level. The Institute will build skills to prepare activists to run for office and to provide trained organizers to work in elections.

Conference Guidelines

The following guidelines are intended to create an atmosphere most conductive to achieving the goals of the Conference:

1. Every person participating in the 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!

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 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. 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 introduced on Sunday.

Pre-assigned caucuses are those requested in advance, and additional space is available for impromptu caucuses. 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 delegates form the basis of organizational policy.

The sole purpose of an Issue Hearing is to develop and produce resolutions for consideration by the body on Sunday. 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 on Sunday. Only two resolutions may be voted out of each Issue Hearing.

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.