[WPA]WPA meeting

[Kate M. Olson]

Is it Tuesday, June 21st??  or Wednesday, June 22nd??
Just curious... kate

> WPA members,
>      We held a meeting on Thursday June 2 at the Knitty Gritty Cafe.
> In attendance: Kenna Hairgrove, Lysa Ringquest, and Amy Jacobson.  Several
> members contacted WPA to say they would not be able to make the meeting.
>     Discussion was held about the low attendance at the past several
> meetings.  We came to a consensious that monthly meetings an hour and
> a half to two hours in length is a better idea.  Teams would have more
> time to meet between the larger meetings.  This will create WPA
> meetings of more substance and direction.
>     We have invited Ester Allen to lead a meeting on mission statement
> development and planning.  We would like to establish a clear mission
> for our organization.  That  meeting will be....
>
> Tuesday June 22nd
> 7-9 pm
> At the Knitty Gritty Cafe
> on Main in Moorhead.
>
>      Ms. Allen would like everyone in the write their vision for the WPA's
> mission statement and bring it along as well as core values for the
> organization.  Ester would like to know the number of people of
> attending so please RSVP to Amy at wnrrv@wnrrv.org  or at 233-2737.
> If you are unable to attend we would still like your input.  Just
> e-mail Amy your mission and anything else you would like to share.
>      We will hold off on team meetings until after our mission is
> developed.
>      Would also like to start working on meet and greets for the women
> candidates to mingle with the community.  We would like to start
> these events in July!
>      PEPP will be hosting a political organizing workshop in July.  If you
> are interested or have questions contact Lysa Ringquest at
> lysa@pepp.org.
>
> I am including the mission statements and guidelines for several political
> women's organizations.   Reading what they are doing may help you write a
> mission for WPA.
>
> Thank you,
> Amy Jacobson
>
> MN Women’s Campaign Fund
> Pipeline Committee Guidelines    Pursuant to Board policies:
>  1.  Candidate funding requests are made on a case-by-case basis, taking
> into account factors  such as:
>  a.  the candidate’s need;
> b.  likelihood of winning her race including the willingness and ability
> to conduct a  good campaign;
>  c.  the candidate’s potential as a future candidate;
> d.  the candidate’s leadership on women’s issues and equal rights as
> evidenced by  leadership positions held by the candidate;
>  e.  nature of the opposition;
>  f.  interest and knowledge in a broad spectrum of political, economic and
> social  issues,
> g.  support for Roe v. Wade and issues of reproductive choice; and
> h.  a commitment to democratic principals and ethical process.
> 2.  Absent special circumstances, we will fund up to 25% of a candidate’s
> total budget in the  Twin Cities metro area and up to 33% in greater
> Minnesota.
> 3.  The Board does not make contributions to retire campaign debts.
> 4.  In a close race with an incumbent who has demonstrated a positive
> voting record on  women’s issues, the Board may fund the incumbent and not
> the challenger, or provide  only minimum funding for the challenger.
>  5.  If an incumbent is not seriously challenged, the Board may provide
> indicate approval  without providing funds or provide only minimal
> support.
> 6.  If two viable newcomers are running against each other, the Board will
> split the  maximum contribution for a single candidate between them.  The
> Board may decide the  ratios of the split based in part on maintaining
> party balance.  When two candidates  running for the same office meet all
> Board funding criteria equally, the Board will either  support both or
> neither.
> 7.  Funding may be targeted to particular races based on the following
> goals:
> a.  supporting a pro-choice woman candidate so that she may obtain a
> position of  power in dealing with women’s issues;
> b.  supporting a woman candidate running against an incumbent with a
> negative  voting record on women’s issues;
> c.  supporting a woman candidate for an office that has never been held by
> a  woman;
> d.  supporting woman candidates in geographic areas where women have not
> been  elected before.
>
> NOW Guidelines
> Rigorous Criteria
> In addition to recommendations from state and local NOW chapters, NOW PACs
> base their endorsements on a broad feminist agenda. No other PAC expects
> its candidates to take strong stands on such a wide range of issues. These
> issues include, but are not limited to:
> • 	reproductive freedom without restriction
> • 	 civil rights for all people—with emphasis on lesbian and gay rights
> and racial justice
> • 	moving women out of poverty through empowering, non-punitive welfare
> policies
> • 	 a constitutional amendment that guarantees women's equality,
> reproductive rights and non-discrimination based on sexual orientation
> • 	affirmative action ensuring equal opportunity for women and people of
> color
> • 	 ending violence against women
>  After the elections, NOW follows up with the officials NOW PACs helped
> elect to make sure they are meeting these commitments.
> About NOW PACs
> National NOW's political action committees put individual contributions
> together to work for the best women's rights candidates. Which PAC you
> choose to donate to depends on whether or not you're a NOW member and
> whether you want to support national or state and local campaigns.
> • 	 NOW Political Action Committee (NOW/PAC) supports feminist candidates
> for federal office (U.S. House and Senate).
> • 	 NOW Equality PAC (NEP) supports feminist candidates for state and
> local office—governor, state legislature and city council, for example.
> This PAC's work is crucial to protecting women's rights and filling up the
> political pipeline with feminist supporters.
> • 	 Since many NOW chapters sponsor their own local or state PACs, contact
> your local chapter for detailed information about candidates for state and
> local office.
>
> Minnesota Women’s Political Caucus
> Mission
> The Minnesota Women's Political Caucus (MWPC) is a grassroots,
> multipartisan organization of members throughout the state dedicated to
> increasing the number of women in elected and appointed office by
> identifying, recruiting, training and supporting pro-choice women
> candidates.
> MWPC seeks to be an expert resource for women in Minnesota and women
> candidates supporting women's issues. Our goal is equality and equal
> representation at all levels of government.
>
> The White House Project
> The White House Project (WHP) is a national, non-partisan organization
> dedicated to advancing women's leadership across sectors and fostering the
> entry of women into all positions of leadership, including the U.S.
> presidency.
> Does WHP support candidates?
> No, WHP does not support candidates.
> Why is it called The White House Project?
> Americans have the perception that women have reached the top in all
> fields, from business to education to politics, but in reality they
> haven't. To challenge that misperception, The White House Project focuses
> on the top spot in the country that has yet to be filled by a woman: the
> presidency.
> How does The White House Project advance women's leadership?
> WHP is involved in a number of far-reaching strategies that encompass
> research, national media campaigns, initiatives to encourage civic
> engagement and measures to influence popular culture. WHP's programs are
> designed to change the cultural climate so that it becomes commonplace and
> normal in the eyes of the public and the press for women to be governors,
> CEOs and president. These programs are designed to foster both immediate
> and enduring change.
> What kind of research does WHP do?
> WHP conducts groundbreaking research on female candidates for elective
> office, including studying how the press covers female candidates and how
> often female experts and leaders appear on the Sunday morning political
> talk shows. WHP's most recent research project studies the barriers and
> opportunities women face in getting elected to office by analyzing a
> number of political advertisements by female candidates from the last
> decade to help them present themselves most effectively in ads.
> Does WHP host events?
> Yes, WHP has developed a series of events to engage the public in
> discussion about women's leadership. For example, we host a forum that
> brings together women business leaders to talk about the unique challenges
> they face. WHP has also hosted a series featuring far-reaching, candid
> discussions with high profile women leaders.
>
> League of Women Voters
> Our Mission
>  The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization,
> encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in
> government, works to increase understanding of major public policy
> issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.
>
> Emily’s List
>      EMILY's List members are dedicated to building a progressive America
> by electing pro-choice Democratic women to office. We believe in the
> power of women as candidates, as contributors, as campaign
> professionals, and as voters to bring about great change in our
> country.
>
> When women are involved in the political process, our democracy is truly
> representative. When women make policy, the needs of women and families
> are not ignored. When women vote, Democrats -- who share our values and
> priorities -- win.
>      EMILY's List is committed to a three-pronged strategy to elect
> pro-choice Democratic women: recruiting and funding viable women
> candidates; helping them build and run effective campaign
> organizations; and mobilizing women voters to help elect progressive
> candidates across the nation.
>      EMILY's List will win today and build for tomorrow. Our immediate
> focus is to win elections to turn back the Bush Republicans and their
> right-wing agenda. At the same time, we are making a long-term
> investment in women to develop their political skills and cultivate
> resources so that we can bring more women into politics and elected
> office. Only then can we build a progressive majority and construct a
> society built around equal opportunity for all, civil
> rights, diversity, and compassion. 
>      By working together, we can make a difference -- and change the face
> of American politics.
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> WPA mailing list
> WPA@ipepp.org
> http://ipepp.org/mailman/listinfo/wpa
>


-- 
Kate M. Olson
kate@pepp.org
cell: (701) 367-8704