[WPA]WPA meeting

Mon, 6 Jun 2005 14:45:52 -0500

Did you mean Tuesday, June 21?=20

Home Instead Senior Care
300 NP Ave, Suite 203
Fargo, ND  58102
Phone: 701-478-1010
Fax: 701-478-1008

-----Original Message-----
From: wpa-admin@ipepp.org [mailto:wpa-admin@ipepp.org] On Behalf Of =
wnrrv@wnrrv.org
Sent: Monday, June 06, 2005 2:33 PM
To: wpa@ipepp.org
Subject: [WPA]WPA meeting

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.=20
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.=A0Only then can we=A0build a progressive majority and construct =
a society built around equal opportunity for all,=A0civil =
rights,=A0diversity, and compassion.=A0
     By working together, we can make a difference -- and change the =
face of American politics.

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