National NOW Conference: 2009

National NOW Officer Slate Information

"Feminist Leadership NOW" Slate

Terry O'Neill for President

Bonnie Grabenhofer for Executive Vice President

Erin Matson for Action Vice President

Allendra Letsome for Membership Vice President

Ticket Platform

Campaign Website

Terry O'Neill
Candidate for: President
Chapter Affiliation: Montgomery County-MD
Member Since: 1994
NOW Offices Held: Elected: VP Membership, National NOW (2001-2005); NOW National Board, Mid-Atlantic Region (2007-present); NOW National Board, Mid-South Region (2000-2001); President, Maryland NOW (2007); President, Louisiana NOW (1996-1998); President, New Orleans NOW (1998-2001)
Appointed: Racial Diversity Committee, National NOW
Personal Statement: I'm running for President because I want to use my skills and ability to overcome the challenges we face and to seize the opportunity that exists at this moment in history. I believe women around the country are fed up with persistent inequality and are ready to put justice for women at center stage. Upon election, my running mates and I will immediately launch a series of national action campaigns to demand the things women need to achieve real equality.
Simultaneously, I will restore NOW's revenue stream by bringing together our vendors, donors and leaders to work with me in implementing a plan to reverse our membership losses, and revitalize our message and grassroots organizing. My administration will be transparent and accountable. I will set goals and report results. I ask you to join us, and together we'll win the struggle for equality and justice.

Bonnie Grabenhofer
Candidate for: Executive Vice President
Chapter Affiliation: DuPage County NOW - IL
Member Since: 1982
NOW Offices Held Elected: National NOW: National NOW Board, Great lakes Region (2002-2004); Illinois NOW: President (2003-2009); VP Action (2002-03); Chair IL NOW PAC (2001-2009); DuPage County NOW (1983-present): President (three terms); VP Action; State Council Representative; and Secretary
Appointed: National NOW: Intergenerational Committee (2002-2003); Lesbian Rights CIC (2001-2002); President's Cabinet (1999). Illinois NOW: Co-Chair IL NOW PAC (1999-2001); Member, PAC Board most years (1987-2009)
Personal Statement: I've been a NOW activist for over 25 years because helping to achieve equality and justice for women is the most important work I do. As president, I worked with IL NOW to introduce reproductive justice legislation, lead pro-choice support for a fiercely contested clinic; and start a successful telemarketing campaign to support our work. But our struggle isn't over.
Using my NOW experiences and professional expertise in learning, business processes, and performance improvement, I'll work to restore our financial health, and improve organizational capability and results. I would be honored to have your support now, and as we work together to reclaim our role as the preeminent women's organization and achieve equality for all women.

Erin Matson
Candidate for: Action Vice President
Chapter Affiliation: Uptown NOW - MN
Member Since: 2002
NOW Offices Held Elected: NOW National Board (2006-present); Prairie States Regional Director (2008-present); Minnesota NOW President (2003-2006, present)
Appointed: National State President's Caucus co-chair (2005-2006); National NOW Young Feminist Task Force (2003-2008); co-chair (2006)
Personal Statement: I joined the women's movement twelve years ago after anorexia left me with only a few days to live. In recovery, I swore I would devote my life to justice for women. As Minnesota NOW President, I led a successful campaign against pharmacist refusal clauses that included several pickets, testifying in the state legislature and public consciousness raising on college campuses. I personally negotiated national concessions from Walgreens. I am an artist, award-winning online strategist and advertising copywriter. I believe we can and must raise our voices collaboratively, inclusively and without fear - across chapter boundaries. When I was 24, I won a Federalist Society debate against Phyllis Schlafly and, afterwards, stunned her speechless by telling her that there were thousands more young feminists just like me!
As Action Vice President, I will drive bold, creative and unwavering campaigns, amplifying our demands for equality and real progress.

Allendra Letsome
Candidate for: Membership Vice President
Chapter Affiliation: Northern Prince George's County NOW
Member Since: 2002
NOW Offices Held Elected: Maryland NOW Executive Vice President (2003-2005); Maryland NOW Co-President (2005-2006); Maryland NOW PAC Chair (2005-2006)
Appointed: NOW Young Feminist Task Force (2002-2005); Maryland NOW Legislative Intern (2002-2005)
Personal Statement: The first time I represented Maryland NOW at the table testifying in front of the Maryland House of Delegates, I knew my presence was due to the work of brave and dedicated women who had gone before me and to the mentoring I received from strong local NOW leaders. Women may still have a long way to go, but we're making progress and NOW is helping us do it.
I am running for Membership Vice President because I am committed to growing our activist base and fostering the type of leadership and passion that I believe is inherent in every NOW member. I am also committed to working with the Action Vice-President to reach out to and connect with the next generation of feminist leaders. Within NOW, there is a place for every activist, not only to participate, but to rise to new and unforeseen heights.

Platform

We Believe in the Power of NOW
We live in amazing times! And we join progressive people here and around the world in celebrating the hope and promise of the Obama administration. But we also know that we will not see meaningful, lasting change for women unless we have a strong feminist movement fighting for all women's rights.

NOW needs a new team of leaders who are up to the task of strengthening and revitalizing our organization and our movement. NOW's grassroots activists are the heart and soul of this organization. That's why we commit to support NOW activists in every way possible to be their most powerful and effective.

We will lead change

• We will lead national action campaigns that attract, empower and mobilize local activists.
• We will strengthen NOW's financial health through innovative fund raising techniques -- and good-old member recruitment.
• We will use cutting-edge technology to amplify activist voices, increase collaboration and place social justice for women at the center of political discourse.

We will be accountable to you

• We pledge to be transparent and accountable to NOW's members.
• We will implement open forums, both online and in person, so that NOW activists have access to their national officers and each other.
• We will listen and respond to chapters, and support local activism with training, networking and online tools.
• We will also provide meaningful support to NOW's national committees and task forces, linking them to one another as well as to the National Board and state presidents.

We are the best team for NOW
Because of the hope inspired by the new administration, many activists and donors feel that they can just sit back and wait for progressive change to take root. We know better.

Now more than ever, we need a strong feminist movement to ensure that women's rights and feminist issues make it to the top of the priority list at all levels of government. We are a new team of experienced leaders, and with your help we know we can strengthen and revitalize NOW and the feminist movement for the tasks ahead.

The Feminist Leadership NOW team members have the passion, skills and a record of success to meet the challenges we face. Collectively, we have 50 years of NOW experience. But even more importantly, we are ready to lead NOW in making needed change so that our organization sets the direction for the future - and wins for women. Our team will not rest until women - all women - have equal rights and enjoy parity in every facet of society.

We respectfully ask for your support and your votes so that we can deliver the promise of change and hope to women NOW.

More info: www.FeministLeaders.org