Washtenaw NOW News #15

November 13, 2015

Edition 15, 11/6/15

Dear Feminist Friends and Allies,

November’s Feminist Happy Hour will be held this Thursday the 12^th from 7-9 PM in Bona Sera’s lower level. This quieter environment worked very well last month for our animated discussions on topics that ranged from women in the Ohio legislature who are fighting back with proposed laws to control men’s bodies, to the challenges of raising a teenage daughter, to my exciting trip to see former NOW President Ellie Smeal inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame. Kathy Fojtik-Stroud won the drawing for the commemorative champagne glass from the Induction luncheon.

Bona Sera, for those who have not previously come to this monthly event, is located on the corner of North Washington and West Michigan Avenue in downtown Ypsilanti. It is a block from the bus stop, and there is plenty of parking nearby. If stairs are a problem for you, an elevator is available. However, using it requires the assistance of a staff member with a key. So if you plan to attend and wish to use the elevator, please let me know in advance so that those arrangements can be made for you. I hope you can join us for this friendly, informal opportunity to chat with like-minded progressive feminist women and men!

Our U of M Intern Asia Paige has drafted a “culturally competent calendar” for us! The idea is to identify those 3 or 4 really important holiday dates that are celebrated by each of the major religions, during which NOW meetings should not be scheduled. She has also listed secular holidays to avoid. Please check this draft (see attachment) and let me know if we have overlooked anything.

We can now welcome a second Intern, Samantha Campbell from EMU! Asia and Samantha (see attached photo) drafted the letter we just sent to at-large members of NOW who reside in the Washtenaw County zip codes, inviting them to choose our Chapter. Their next project is to identify the Title IX Coordinator for each of the public school systems in Washtenaw County, as a first step toward assessing the schools level of compliance with this important legislation.

Elections are coming! At present, all of our Washtenaw NOW Board members are volunteers. However, under our by-laws we will form a Nominating Committee this month, submit names to the membership next month, and hold a real election for Board members for the first time ever in January! Pratiksha Menon is our volunteer Recorder, and the Recorder chairs the Nominating Committee. The other two members of the committee are appointed by the President, and I am in the process of doing this. You must be a paid member of the Chapter in order to stand for election to office. Please contact Pratiksha if you are eligible and interested! pratikshamenon@gmail.com

We can be proud that we have now mailed over 850 signed postcards in our Eden Foods initiative! The issue is under active discussion by the new Food Ethics Committee of the Ypsilanti Food Co-op. I am a member of the committee, and we are currently researching how other co-ops across the country handle social justice issues like this. Stay tuned…

I attended my first State Coordinating Committee (SCC) meeting last month. This committee consists of the State Board members and the Presidents of each of the Michigan Chapters. We discussed pending legislation to further control women’s bodies, which we oppose. Ideas were proposed for the annual meeting and spring workshops. Nina Muckenthaler, State Administrative Vice President, would love to hear from you if you have ideas for a workshop or would like to help plan the meeting. Contact ninamuckenthaler@yahoo.com Also, if you have you read a good feminist book or seen a good feminist movie lately, please write a review for the next State NOW newsletter and submit it to her! SCC members also talked about State NOW co-promoting Chapter activities planned around the celebration of Roe v Wade on January 22^nd. Our Chapter should probably begin thinking about what we would like to do on that date, which falls on a Friday next year.

Lastly, do you know a woman who would make a great elected official? Would YOU? We need more progressive feminists to run for office at all levels, from school board to city council to state and national office! Check out this interesting program that helps you know how to run successfully!

https://www.facebook.com/sheshouldrun/

Cheryl Farmer MD, President

Washtenaw NOW

Washtenaw NOW News #14

November 13, 2015

Edition 14, 11/4/15

Dear Feminist Friends and Allies,

Washtenaw NOW is in the early stages of planning a media awareness workshop to educate teenagers in the Ypsilanti Community School system about the dangers of the messages that media constantly bombards them with. The idea is to create holistic workshops which will focus on gender equality issues and maybe ignite the minds of a few budding feminists. Currently, this looks like it could be 4-sessions across a one month time frame.

We are looking for volunteers: educators, psychologists, media practitioners, doctors and anybody who is passionate about these issues to serve on this committee and be a part of the project . We need you to contribute with feedback, suggestions, ideas for guest speakers and anything that you think will make this a more effective endeavor!

Below is our draft outline so far:

1) The Women’s Movement & You/’Her’story

What: The idea behind this is to reveal how some of the privileges we take for granted today were the brainchild of the feminist movement’s efforts. We could specifically focus on developments in education.

How:

– We could start off with the facts in a ‘Did You Know?’ (for instance, talk about Title IX, women not allowed to participate in sports, standardized tests designed to favor boys, etc. )

– Move into brief snippets of the women who made big strides in education and how they did it.

– We can end with contemporary women role models (ideally women who middle-schoolers would find cool and have probably not heard about via media), making the case for how important the women’s rights movement is and giving the students someone to aspire towards.

2) That’s Not Me or Anyone I Know

What: The idea behind this is to debunk gender stereotypes in the media. Get to the bottom of why women are portrayed the way they are.

How:

– We can pick up the oft-used stereotypes from popular culture and critically analyze them

– Discuss positive examples of multi-dimensional women characters

– Present statistics on under representation of women in media (off-screen) and link it to the portrayal on-screen.

3) #NoFilter

What: This would deal with toxic body images and the need to love themselves the way they are.

How:

– Focus on current media outlets and practices and the promotion of unhealthy body images

– Give a snapshot on the beauty industry and how it is linked to toxic body image

– Talk about the dangers of fat-shaming, eating disorders and possible long-term effects. Give them ideas on how to love themselves the way they are.

4) Embrace the F word

What: The idea behind this is to give them ideas on how they can empower themselves.

How:

– Speak of what constitutes rape, sexual harassment, etc.

– How to go about reporting issues

– How to stand up for yourself and support others

If you are interested in being a part of this important project, please contact Pratiksha Menon at pratikshamenon@gmail.com We will be setting the date for our first organizational meeting soon!

Cheryl Farmer, President

Washtenaw NOW

Washtenaw NOW News #13

November 13, 2015November 13, 2015

Edition 13, 10/31/15

Dear Feminist Friends and Allies,

Would you like to get paid what you are worth? To see the wage gap between men and women closed in your personal career field? In your lifetime? Then you will want to sign up for this FREE one evening $TART $MART course! In just two hours you will learn practical skills for negotiating a reasonable salary and benefits. Learn how to aim high yet be realistic! What’s important? How do you make the ask effectively? For more information on course content, highlight and right click to open this hyperlink: http://www.wageproject.org/files/WhatIs$tart$martWorkshop.php

The next $TART $MART course will offered at Eastern Michigan University’s Halle Library Auditorium on November 19 from 7-9 pm. Class size is limited to 40, so register early! Participants MUST register in advance. There can be no “walk-ins”. Here is the registration link for the program: http://goo.gl/forms/jbKClnXVu2

Parking for the Halle Library is most convenient in Lot D4 on the EMU parking map, and will also be FREE! Thank you to AAUW for covering the cost of parking passes for attendees. Follow the link if you need a map of the campus (The library is building 12): https://www.emich.edu/parking/documents/parking_map.pdf

Light refreshments will be provided by your Washtenaw NOW Chapter! Please call the staff at the Women’s Resource Center at 734-487-4282 if you have any questions. This is the opportunity of a lifetime to level the playing field and earn the salary you deserve, and it’s all free! See you there!

Cheryl Farmer MD, President

Washtenaw NOW

Washtenaw County NOW

Advocating for women's rights in Washtenaw Co.

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