April 2010
NC Women United Connects
News from NCWU and its members
In This Issue
NCWU will release its Legislative Report Card
Notes on the March 11 Member Showcase
Update on Agenda Assemblies
Member Spotlight: Interact
Mark Your Calendar
News from our Members
Take Action
Member Events

WRC Alamance
Working Women Wednesdays
4/14, 5/26, 6/23

Justice Center Crucial Conversationon Valuing Families at Work, 4/14

NC Senate Debate on NBC TV, sponsored by League of Women Voters, 4/14

Interact is screening Playground, Raleigh, 4/15

LWV Asheville Buncombe candidate forum, 4/21

WRC Alamance Herb Festival, 4/22-24

Interact's Denim Day, Raleigh, 4/22

Coastal Women's Fair, Morehead City, 5/1

NCCWPS Women on Board Workshops
5/15 (Winston-Salem), 6/12 (Raleigh)

Equality NC Day of Action 5/25

NCCADV Biennial Conference 5/25-27

Democracy NC Lobby Day, Raleigh, 6/22

See NCWU Calendarfor details
FYI
Join Our Mailing List
ncwunewsLearn about the NCWU Report Card!

Thumbnail of 2008 Report Card
Monday, April 26
11:30 - 1:00

InterAct
Family Safety and Empowerment Center
1012 Oberlin Rd., Raleigh
 
Press Conference at 11:30
Lunch provided at noon

RSVP via e-mail

On Monday, April 26, NCWU will release its report card on the 2009 session of the legislature.

We hope you will be able to join us for this biennial event when we compare the hard work the Legislature did during the 2009 session with the priorities presented as the 2009 Women's Agenda at the NC Women United Advocacy Day.

ncwunewsOur first member showcase!

Alison Kiser and WomenNC membersOn Thursday, March 11, more than 60 enthusiastic and engaged women shared information about NCWU, a half dozen NCWU member organizations, and themselves. Connections and synergy were the highlights of the evening, as we learned where we had common goals and how we could connect with each other.

For more about the Showcase and the information that was shared, see www.ncwu.org.

If you have comments on the Showcase, please fill out the event evaluation.
showcaseGet involved in the Agenda Assemblies!


It's time to start thinking about the Agenda Assemblies that will be happening across the state this Fall! 

NCWU Board members Jina Dhillon and Jessica Ackley will be heading the state-wide effort this year.

For those who are unfamiliar with the Assemblies, this program is central to NCWU's mission. The Agenda Assemblies are an opportunity for diverse women around the state to attend local sessions to discuss the Draft Women's Agenda and make recommendations on priorities for the next session of the legislature.

There are three primary ways to be involved:
  1. Helping to organize a local event in your community
  2. Submitting a paper for the "Draft Agenda," the discussion document that jump starts the local meetings with up to date information about policy issues.
  3. Helping Jina and Jessica with state-wide coordination efforts
 
Being involved with the Agenda Assemblies, either as a part of the planning committee or as a local coordinator, you're doing an amazing service to the women of North Carolina. It is our hope and goal that we can recognize and address the policy concerns of women across this state, and your involvement is vital to achieving that end. 
 
To get involved or learn more, visit the NCWU.org resources section or contact:
 
Jina Dhillon and Jessica Ackley
Co-Chairs, Agenda Assemblies Planning Committee
Contact both by e-mail
866/518-7657
[email protected]

spotlightMember Spotlight

Interact LogoInterAct is asking people to participate in Denim Day, an international day to raise awareness about sexual violence.  Denim Day is on April 22 this year, and got its start in Italy.  The Denim Day website explains its start: 
 
In 1992, an 18-year-old girl in Italy was picked-up by her driving instructor to begin a driving lesson. Soon after the lesson started, he raped her in. She pressed charges and won her case. However, the instructor appealed, and the case went to the Italian High Court.

In 1999, the Court quickly overturned the conviction, with a member of the High Court declaring that since the victim wore very tight jeans, the instructor could not have removed them himself, therefore the victim must have willingly participated.

Women of the Italian Legislature protested the decision by wearing jeans to work. As news of the decision spread, so did the protest. In April 1999, a social service agency in Los Angeles, California established the first Denim Day in the United States. 
 
Denim Day is an opportunity to raise awareness of the harmful myths that still exist around sexual violence and who is to blame for the violence.  By participating in this campaign, you can help raise awareness and support victims of sexual violence.  See http://supportdenimday.com/ for more information. 

calendarMark Your Calendars

Report Card Release Event: April 26
The NCWU report card on the 2009 session of the NC Legislature will be release at an event on Monday, April 26, 11:30 - 1:00 at Interact in Raleigh.
 

Annual Meeting: June 9
The NCWU annual meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday, June 9, 4:00 - 6:00 in Raleigh. Representatives of all member organizations are invited to attend.

Renewals were due April 1
The NCWU membership year is the calendar year and dues for renewing member organizations are payable by April 1. Renew now to be sure your organization is listed in the Report Card event materials. Contact membership chair Tara Romano, [email protected], if you have questions about your organization's status. Thanks to all the members who have sent their dues promptly! New members may join at any time.

News on Advocacy Day

A major piece of our advocacy strategy for the 2010 "short" session involves helping our members to host successful Lobby Days. If your organization is planning a Lobby Day for 2010 -- and it's not listed in the column to the right -- please contact NCWU Secretary Michelle Evans, [email protected], to get your Lobby Day on our calendar and publicized through our channels. Watch the alerts listand the web sitefor updates on these Lobby Days and other NCWU actions during the short session.

To get your events added to the NCWU calendar and publicized here, please send them to the members' listserve!
membernewsMore news
See also the Events listed above on the left


News and announcements from our members


Other items of note

If you want to keep up with this news
in between issues of this newsletter, one way is to follow us on twitter (@ncwu). If you don't "do" twitter, you can also check the headlines that are reposted to the www.ncwu.org home page.


If you want to get your member organization's news highlighted,
post your announcements to the members' listserve (address your  message to [email protected]) or start your own micro-blog on twitter and tell us ([email protected]) about it. Announcements that include a web address for more information are given priority.

 

www.ncwu.org | 866-518-7657 | [email protected]