Convention 2008: Achieving Equity through Advocacy (Plenary April 5)

• Moderator: Chris Winter, Past AAUW Director of Public Policy
• Beth McGovern, Legislative Director, CA Commission on the Status of Women
• Jenny Erwin, Regional Administrator of the Women's Bureau, U.S Department of Labor, Region 9
• Jacque Page, member of the Executive Council of AARP
• Helen Grieco, Executive Director, National Organization for Women (CA NOW)
• Patricia Dilks, National Women's Political Caucus (NWPC) board member
  

McGovern: The commission was founded by Gov. Ronald Reagan. Last year, the commission held hearings around the state, where they heard about real problems facing women in the state [partial list]:

• Unmet needs of women veterans
• Sexually exploited teen girls
• Needs of caregivers, giving care to young children and the elderly
• Sexually exploited female farm workers

The hearing had the effect of energizing the commission. They have developed a public policy agenda, available online. More hearings are coming up. Sign up for the commission's mailing list. An important project for the commission this year is:

• Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act: Important for women's access to reproductive health clinics. It's a federal act; the commission is getting active in bringing effective implementation, especially enforcement, in California.

Erwin: Her topic was "The Face of Older Women Workers in Today's Labor Force." Have you seen the 1943 guide to hiring women? It was written for male supervisors and included the admonition to hire married women and to try to hire older women who have worked outside the home in the past because they are less cantankerous and fussy.

The workplace of the 21st century is in major change. Fewer people are in the pipeline to become workers. The "silver tsunami": Baby boomers became eligible for Social Security this year. Attrition is a huge threat to our economy. But there are opportunities for older women in the workplace.

The Women's Bureau advocates for increased flexibility in policies in the workplace. The bureau offers resources for women's financial literacy.

Page: AARP's founder, a retired high school principal, advocated for educational opportunities for diverse members of the community, including women. AARP's motto: "To serve, not to be served." AARP is now 50 years old. AARP provides advocacy, education, philanthropy, and service. Elderly women are twice as likely to be poor as elderly men. AARP's new public effort is called Divided we fail. See dividedwefail.org.

Grieco: CA NOW has 55,000 members and donors. CA NOW has both a PAC for non-partisan public policy advocacy and a foundation for education. Feminism (and NOW) wants every woman to be educated, safe, and healthy. CA NOW's new campaign: I [heart] consensual sex.

Dilks: She's issues chair of NWPC of California. Its primary mission is to identify, recruit, and promote pro-choice candidates for office. NWPC partners with AAUW, League of Women Voters and other organizations in California. A parental notification bill is coming up for the third time in the California legislature. These organizations are working against it--again. In Washington, DC, NWPC's focus is fairness for women who are in politics. E.g., the media has criticized Hillary Clinton's hair and clothing. Another focus: Anti-choice activism, which is on the rise. NWPC's goal: 50/50 by 20/20.