| NWPC-CA Calendar of Events |
January 16-18, 2009 State Board biennial retreat Harris Ranch (Coalinga)
Strategic planning session for the 2009/10 term. All members are invited to participate. $225 package price based on shared room and includes all meals for Saturday and Sunday. ($335 for private room) Registration deadline January 5, 2009. Register online at www.nwpcca.org or contact Janet Abrams, office manager canwpc@aol.com or 800. 235.0009 for additional information.
The positions of VP Communications, VP Fundraising and So. Regional Director (PAC liaison) are still open. Please contact Debilyn Molineaux at molineaux@qecoaching.com for further information:
December 11 NWPC San Francisco presents
The 4th Annual San Francisco Women's Holiday Party
"It's your night to shine!"
6-10pm
383 Bay Street
December 11
LA Westside Chapter presents their signature Holiday Event ....Mingle with elected officials, political leaders and NWPC members as we close out the year and get ready for 2009
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JOIN NWPC-CA FACEBOOK |
NWPC-CA now has it's very own facebook group. Another great way to stay connected and share information. Please join and invite your friends!
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| Taking NWPC-CA to the Next Level |
| We have much work to do if we are going to realize our goal of 50/50 by 2020. Our newly elected board, under the leadership of incoming president Teray Stephens, has ambitious plans to ramp up our outreach and trainings. In order to implement these initiatives, we need to tap into new funding and so we are undertaking a fundraising-by-phone campaign, contacting members, previous donors and others. If you do not wish to be on our call list, you may opt-out at any time by sending an email to canwpc@aol.com or letting the caller know your wishes. |
| Campaign Trails & Champagne Tales |
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Newly elected Senator Fran Pavley spoke at NWPC-Ventura County's "Campaign Trails & Champagne Tales" Brunch on December 6th of the daunting task the California legislature faces in balancing the budget. Pavley stressed the need to reach across the aisle and find consensus on what California expects of its government and how those services will be funded. Moorpark City Council member Roseann Mikos, Senate candidate Hannah-Beth Jackson, Congressional candidate Jill Martinez and Oxnard City Council candidates Carmen Ramirez and Deirdre Frank, along with NWPC-CA president-elect Teray Stephens also spoke.
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| It Has Been My Pleasure to Communicate |
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As 2008 wraps up many of us will be concluding our tenure on the State Board of Directors. It has been an honor to serve with the talented women of California on the Board and I will miss the camaraderie and idea-sharing that we enjoyed for the past two years. It was from this group that the Caucus Connection was birthed so that we could communicate more effectively with our sisters throughout the State. I am grateful for all who submitted articles, photos, and news worthy of sharing. I am especially thankful to Patty Dilks and Celeste Weingardt who I collaborated with monthly to generate each edition. While we may not live in the same city we are connected to preserving a woman's right to choose and achieving 50/50 by 2020! May we continue to be fruitful in our efforts and take pride in knowing that we are making a difference.
With much appreciation for the journey,
Robyn Ritter Simon, VP Communications |
| 2008 NWPC-CA Board of Directors |
| Celeste Weingardt, President; Lori Durbin, VP Membership & First VP; Robyn Ritter Simon, VP Communications; Cherri King, WLF Treasurer; Debilyn Molineaux, INC. Treasurer; Terry Gibson, PAC Treasurer; Tammi McIntrye, VP PAC; Patty Dilks, Recording Secretary, National Representative & issues Chair; Carol Nutt, Northern Regional Director; Mary Stanley, Central Regional Director; Elaine Norinsky, Democratic Task Force; Elena Ong, Diversity Chair; Teray Stephens, National Board Representative; and Jean Stallings, Parliamentarian. | |
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Greetings!
 My term as president of the California Caucus comes to an end this month and I am taking advantage of this last opportunity at the soap box to express the numerous reasons why I chose The National Women's Political Caucus as my priority political involvement.
NWPC is dedicated to gender equality. Direct representation at the decision making table is critical to women's issues and women's equality.
NWPC is grassroots. Yes, we were there for Hillary in her bid for the presidency - passionately, loyally and loudly - but first and foremost, we are one of the very few groups that supports women seeking their first political appointment or run for local office. The political pipeline starts here!
NWPC is multi-partisan. We continue to recruit, train and support pro-choice women regardless of party, a sometimes difficult position to maintain in an era of increasing polarization between the two major parties. The passage of Prop. 11 is a start. Making politics more civilized will encourage more women to get involved.
NWPC is unequivocally pro-choice. Some argued that we could not be both multi-partisan and 100% pro-choice under the constant barrage of 'chip away' issues of parental notification, late term abortions and others. I am proud to report that each time the subject has been presented, our board has reaffirmed NWPC's staunch support of both principles by overwhelming consensus.
The political pipeline that we create today will produce the woman presidents of tomorrow. We all need to work together to achieve 50/50 by 2020 for ourselves, our daughters, our grand daughters, and also for the suffragists and feminists who paved the way for us.
In the last three years, I believe we have made real progress in strengthening our organization internally so that we can be more effective in our mission to bring more women into the political process at all levels of government. I am so proud to be a part of this great organization and, although I am stepping down from the state and national boards, I am excited to be returning to my local board.
In sisterhood,
Celeste Weingardt
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Introducing Your New NWPC-CA Board of Directors for 2009/10 |
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 Teray Stephens, President & National Rep (pictured right); Barbara Matas, VP Membership & First VP; Tammi McIntyre, VP PAC; Val Muchowski, VP Education & Training; Debilyn Molineaux, INC Treasurer; Terry Gibson, PAC Treasurer; Cherri King, WLF Treasurer; Patty Dilks, Recording Secretary & National Rep; Lori Durbin, National Rep; Marguerite Cooper, National Rep; Carole Nutt, Northern Regional Director; Mary Stanley, Central Regional Director. Additional Committee Chair appointments will be made by the president. |
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NWPC-CA's Successful Election Cycle By:Tammi McIntyre, VP Political Action |
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NWPC California Caucus congratulates all the winners in the November election cycle. We also extend our profound gratitude to all those who ran for an elected office. It is through your desire, dedication, and determination that we know we will achieve 50/50 by 2020.
Nearly 70% of our endorsed candidates won a seat. In the Congressional arena, all ten endorsed incumbents were re-elected. Unfortunately, our two endorsed candidate challengers Debbie Cook and Julie Bornstein lost.
 In the State Senate, four of the six endorsed candidates were successful: Lois Wolk SD-5 (pictured left), Loni Hancock SD-9, Carol Liu SD-21 and Fran Pavley SD-23. Hannah-Beth Jackson was narrowly edged out in her highly competitive race in SD-19 when the final count was completed weeks after the election and Ginny Mayer lost in SD-35.
In the State Assembly races, eight of the thirteen endorsed candidates (including two incumbents) won: AD-8 Mariko  Yamada, AD-10 Alyson L. Huber (pictutred right), AD-14 Nancy Skinner, AD-15 Joan Buchanan, AD-18 Mary Hayashi,* AD-41 Julia Brownley,* AD-54 Bonnie Lowenthal, and AD-61 Norma J. Torres. To their great credit, all of our endorsed women were able to garner at least 40% of the vote although a few were unsuccessful in their bids for office this time around: AD-30 Fran Florez, AD-37 Ferial Masry, AD-38 Carole L. Lutness, AD-60 Diane Singer and AD-73 Judy Jones.
Finally, I want to thank all of the caucuses for their efforts to make this election successful. However, don't think your job is done and you can sit back on the laurels of victory. Make the effort to contact the candidates who were non successful in their bid for elected office. Continue to work with them and encourage them to run again. Continue to look for good women to become candidates for elected office in the future. This is the only way we can achieve 50/50 by 2020, gender equality in public office. |
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Prop 8 Update By: K. Quimby & R. Suckles |
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Three lawsuits have been filed seeking action by the California Supreme Court to nullify Prop 8. The primary basis for these suits is that while Prop 8 was labeled as an amendment to the State constitution, in action it is actually a revision. Revisions require a two-thirds vote of the California Legislature to be placed on the ballot. It is felt that Prop 8 is inherently unconstitutional because it violates the equal protection clause of both the California and US constitutions, which prevents the majority from denying rights to the minority.
On November 19, 2008 the California Supreme Court granted a review in the legal challenges to Proposition 8. The Court agreed to hear the case and set an expedited briefing schedule. The Court also denied an immediate stay.
In addition to court challenges, opponents of Prop 8 are exploring the possibility of placing a measure on the 2010 ballot to reinstate marriage rights. In order for this to be successful, a detailed study of why Prop 8 passed and where education and outreach campaigns are needed will have to be conducted.
In the meantime, the passage of Prop 8 has galvanized not only the LGBT community but also their straight allies. Over a million people are estimated to have participated in rallies and protests since the election. Many younger people who have never experienced the discrimination faced by those who have come before them are astonished that their rights could be taken away from them so easily. |
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Special NWPC Offer: Inaugural Tickets |
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California NWPC incoming President Teray Stephens is on the steering committee of the LINK Inaugural Ball being held on January 20th at the Corcoran in DC. The website is: www.inauguralgala2009.com. She has set up an NWPC sponsorship and arranged for a rate of $750 per person vs. the general admission tickets which start at $1K. There are still 6 NWPC tickets left.
The gala includes cocktail hour, dancing, top entertainment, special Honor Roll awards to sumptuous dinner and drinks. Sponsors at the bronze level and above will be invited to a VIP reception, and we have a limited number of hotel reservations at a first class hotel near the Corcoran, which is reserved for our sponsors, on a first come/first served basis. Payments for the gala will be invoiced and need to be paid once the attendee registers. Each invitee will then receive a mailed, printed invitation to present at the door. If you know of anyone who would like to attend or be a sponsor, please email me at teray@invisiongroup.com and/or follow the instructions below.
To purchase your ticket for the Presidential Gala under NWPC sponsorship, please go to the following webpage and fill out the information for ticket purchase and security: http://www.linkamericas.org/gala2009.htm/Tickets.htm
Indicate in the organization line and comments that you are on the NWPC guest list of Teray at a price of $750. You will then be sent an invoice via e-mail for the ticket with payment instructions. Please confirm back to me once you have done this as we only have a few tickets available at this price. Otherwise, they are $1K for general admission tickets. | |
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