ACT NOW

ACTNOW ANNUAL PLANNING MEETING
January 10, 2010

    Attendees:  Pat Finch, Dee Miner, Kathy Woofter, Maureen Hamm,  Mary Harrison,  Nancy Freedom, Karen Severud, Rahima  Haya.

    The meeting began, after Maureen and Kathy’s terrific breakfast, at 10:10am.

    The agenda was reviewed, amended, and adopted.

    2009 goals and accomplishments were reviewed:
We did tabling, wrote letters to the editor most months, visited our representatives, formed our healthcare taskforce, had good programs, organized a fun event, held our annual garage sale, sent out a successful donation letter, raised money with silent auctions, and kept our web site up to date.

    2010  board positions:
President – Pat Finch
Action chair, treasurer, data base manager – Maureen Hamm
Programs - Kathy Woofter
Newsletter distribution – Claire Nelson, Jean Felton
Newsletter editor - Nancy Freedom
Scribe – Jean Felton
Membership – Dee Miner
Board rep position – Karen Severud

    Treasurer’s report – We have $1095.97 in checking, $223 in the PAC account, and received $570 from our donation letter.  Maureen talked about the cost of the newsletter.  We can’t afford to continue to send it out since we are getting such small rebates from National.  The cost for postage, publishing, printing and our bulk permit come to almost $3000 per year.  Our PO box rental is $72 per year.  Our telephone cost was $45 per month but we have disconnected it since we have email and the website.  Maureen suggested we keep the PO box and the bulk mail permit for now.  The motion was voted on and passed unanimously.

    Disband the Chapter or continue?  We are one of only 2 Chapters left in the Bay Area (the other is SF NOW).  After much discussion we decided to continue the Chapter, to keep our focus on the local level.

    Actions - Roe V. Wade Anniversary events will be held simultaneously in Fremont and Pleasanton January 22 from noon-1pm.  Healthcare taskforce will continue and include visits to representatives.

    Brainstorming - We talked about holding some meetings in Fremont area.  We will submit women’s names for a new park in Pleasanton (Nancy will do this).

    Membership – Dee will do an at-large mailing.  Maureen will compose a letter to be included.  We will also include a Roe v. Wade Anniversary event flyer if timely.

    Newsletter – It was decided that we will do one last newsletter explaining what we are doing and that news will be posted on the website in the future.  Nancy and Pat will compose this final newsletter, Maureen will provide the labels, and the mailing team will send it out.  It will also be posted on the home page of our web site.

    Newsletter ads – can they be added to the website?  Dee will see if this is possible.

    Web site – Dee still needs someone to update the website when she is traveling.  She will ask Judy who has done it in the past.  Pat wants a reminder to be sent out through the website on the Monday before each meeting or event.

    Once a month letter to the editor – shall we continue to do this?  Will discuss and decide at the February meeting.

    Fundraising – We will continue to do the donation letter, the yard sale, and the silent auctions.

    Goals for 2010 – Get through the year!  Be positive!  Keep our eyes on the healthcare bill and work to overturn Prop 8!

    Expanding your Horizons – this is a program promoting careers for girls in math and science.  Maureen suggested we support it by sponsoring 4 girls at a total cost of $40 and that we ask to be listed as a co-sponsor.  Motion was passed unanimously.

    Women’s History Month – Pat and Maureen agreed to see if display cases are available for us at the Fremont and Livermore libraries.  If so, we will display feminist books and articles.

    Announcement – Rahima told us about the Afghan Women’s New Year Celebration to be held in Livermore March 25 from 4-8pm.  She will send all the info to Nancy.

    Meeting adjourned 3pm.

    PAC Meeting
    New PAC members – Pat, Jean, Karen, Maureen, Mary, Rahima, and Nancy.
    2010 elections – Karen will research on the Registrar of Voters website and will report at the February meeting re Alameda County upcoming elections.

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YOUR BODY, YOUR CHOICE   

 
     Despite a week full of rain, the clouds parted long enough for our ACT NOW pro-choice demonstrations in Fremont and Pleasanton to commemorate the 37th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision. We stood on the street corners holding signs as the lunch hour traffic passed. Female and male supporters gave us the thumbs up, honked or yelled encouragement out the window. A few negative gestures came from a handful of men which reminds me of a pro-choice bumper sticker that says “If you don’t like abortion, wear a condom!”
    Support for a women’s right to choose is under attack and an example of that is the current health care bill going through the U.S. Congress now. Contact your Senators and U.S. Representative and tell them to oppose limiting women’s reproductive health care choices.
                                            --Maureen Hamm, Action Chair

For a photo - see our NEWS page 

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