NOW NATIONAL CONFERENCE: The Conference will be held from Friday, June 29
through Sunday, July 1 in Philadelphia. It promises to be exciting as it is a
voting conference with TEAM* NOW, a new slate of candidates, challenging the
current leadership. The Chapter has voted to endorse TEAM* NOW candidates:
President: Toni Van Pelt, former president of Florida NOW, VP Executive: Gloria
Woods, former president of Michigan NOW and national board member, VP Action:
Marcia Pappas, former vice president of New York State NOW and national board
member; VP Membership: Alicia Perez-Banuet, current president of Michigan NOW.
Their emphasis, is on enhancing grass roots activism and fiscal accountability.
To further these goals, they propose an Issues and Action Clearinghouse to
develop and share resources with chapters and states regarding new and emerging
issues and to develop model legislation, legislative strategies and action
plans. They pledge to voluntarily adjust the national officers’ compensation to
membership growth. If you cannot go to the Conference, you can support TEAM*
NOW by sending a donation for their campaign to: Campaign for NOW, Lois Galgay
Reckitt, Treasurer, 38 Myrtle Ave., S. Portland, ME 04106.
We expect a sizeable
Westchester delegation to attend the Conference. The only way to have a voice
in the selection of officers is to go to the Conference since NOW by-laws do
not allow absentee voting. The Westchester Chapter has 19 delegate slots. NOW
Members current as of March 30th may be voting delegates by pre-registering
with the chapter by May 30th or at the Conference with Chapter
verification. All delegates MUST show their current membership card and a
picture I.D. to vote. Philadelphia is a great place – I know, I lived there
for 10 years. Close enough to New York
to go for the day, it has so much to offer near the hotel that one needs extra time
to see the Art Museum, Reading Terminal Market, and Society Hill. I hope to see
you there! Call (914) 834-6264 for more information about Conference
registration.