2008 MONTGOMERY NOW YEAR-END RECAP

by 2008 chapter president Amy Applegate

The National Organization for Women is not a single-issue organization!  This year our chapter has tackled a wide range of issues and interests:

• A year ago in December, our speaker was our own Rev. Mary Jo Smiley, who spoke of her involvement in the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

• In January, Jimmy Turner spoke to us about his work with the Montgomery Gay & Lesbian Alliance, Equality Alabama, and the ACLU.  He presented information on the upcoming Vigil for Victims of Hate and Violence.

• In February, we received a state-of-the-art update lesson in Sex Education from Zoe Savitsky.

• At our April meeting, we heard from Susan Petrus of the Alabama Birth Coalition, which is seeking to pass midwifery legislation to increase maternity care options for Alabama families.

• At the June meeting, we heard from Melinda Stallworth, a Diversity Specialist for Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama.

• July’s guest speaker was Tafeni English, the founder and Executive Director of Eve’s Circle, who shared her vision, duties, and accomplishments with that organization.

• In August, Shirley Ann Rawls gave us her report (and some gifts!) upon her return from the 2008 National NOW Conference in the Metro Washington DC area.

• Angier Johnson, the Director of Media Relations to Commissioner Susan Parker of the Alabama Public Service Commission spoke of energy efficiency at the September meeting.

• On September 20th, several members tabled and attended the banquet at Equality Alabama’s Seventh Annual Day of Equality in Birmingham.

• Several members helped plan and organize the Ken Baker Equality Alabama Center Dedication and Open House, which took place October 12th in Montgomery.

• And in November, we wrote a letter to President-Elect Barack Obama.

• We finished 2008 on an ecological note, with a presentation by our own Larry Grewelle. who founded the Montgomery Tree Committee in 2001.  Larry, a self-avowed tree hugger, shared his passion for all things arboreal and showed us how trees can save the world! 
   

 Our group also was involved with…

• the 35th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, lobbied the Alabama legislature on behalf of the Alabama Birth Coalition and Planned Parenthood of Alabama.

• We tabled at the Springfest at the Riverwalk, the Seventh Annual Day of Equality, and Okra Festival ’08 in Lowndes County.

• Montgomery NOW member Cheryl Sabel bravely ran as the only Progressive Democrat for U.S. Representative in the 2nd Congressional District.

• We celebrated International Women’s Day, and helped host Alabama NOW’s annual conference.

• Members of Montgomery NOW escorted 91 days at the local women’s clinic, logging in way over 168 hours of volunteer work there. And these are only the highlights I have listed.

• Montgomery NOW members also serve on a vast array of committees, commissions, and service clubs, all working to advance social justice in its various forms.