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Now Playing in your own Home Theater Director Al Sutton presents
Director: Al Sutton |
EQUALITY...I AM WOMAN Premiers June 17th at VFA's Tribute to Betty Friedan and the NYC 1970 March down Fifth Avenue at the National Arts Building, Gramercy Park, NYC. This inspirational documentary of the 1970 Women's Strike for Equality features
the music of Helen Reddy, narration by Gloria Steinem and Jacqui Ceballos, excerpts from Betty Friedan's speech
in Bryant Park, and images by photojournalist Bettye Lane and others. The historic, archival footage documents
the largest gender equality event in US history, where fifty thousand gathered in New York City to celebrate. It
also acknowledges the contribution of the early pioneer feminists. Special “Open Mic” guests at the tribute and screening included such notable feminists
as Muriel Fox, Founder of NOW, Karen DeCrow, Chair of the Women’s Strike for Equality and former NOW President,
Ann ( no e) O’Shea, Betty Friedan’s Assistant in 1972 and now the Assistant Justice of the New York Supreme Court.
Hilde Caren, Betty Friedan’s assistant for the last fourteen years of Betty’s life. Other close friends of Betty
Friedan shared their memories as well. Renowned Artist Linda Stein who was recently featured defending women’s
equality in the film by British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen a k a Ali G, “Borat”, presented the VFA with a portrait
of Betty Friedan.
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VFA
HONORED BY THE NATIONAL WOMEN'S HALL OF FAME AND PRESENTED WITH "KEEPER OF THE FLAME" STATUETTE
Until the birth of the Second Wave the lovely little village of Seneca Falls was better known as the setting for the Xmas classic It s a Wonderful Life, rather than the home of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and the birth site of the feminist movement. Great historic figures such as Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott, Sojourner Truth and Frederick Douglass, who had attended the first convention, seemed to have been forgotten, as were the gains they had achieved for women. In 1971 Karen DeCrow, then president of Syracuse NOW, convened a political conference in Seneca Falls. I attended with Connie Comer and Tina Santi from New York NOW. Nowhere were there signs of the town s historic background. Our group was photographed in front of the laundromat that replaced the church where the historic convention was held. What else would replace a women s historical site but a laundromat! someone remarked. But with the new feminist movement, interest in the 19th century movement was renewed. The National Women's Hall of Fame was established in 1969. Later, the late Senator Patrick Moynihan helped revive the town as a national historic site. The laundromat was torn down and a nice plaque now graces the spot where the church once was. Cady Stanton s house and other historic spots were cleaned and the Women s Rights Park and the National Women s Hall of Fame were established. The Hall of Fame honors women from all professions, but Seneca Falls is famous because Elizabeth Cady Stanton held the first feminist conference in the local Methodist Church, so some of us feel that special attention should be given to Second Wave feminists who made all this possible. Yes, Betty Friedan, Catherine East, Gloria Steinem, Bella Abzug, Charlotte Bunch, Karen DeCrow and a few others have been initiated into the Hall, but every pioneer feminist who worked so hard to achieve equal rights for our sex deserves to be honored. Many have been nominated but not selected, though they very much deserved to be. Without the new feminist movement, there would be no Hall of Fame. So one day I was inspired to call the Hall. I m Jacqui Ceballos, I said, president of Veteran Feminists of America. Amanda Bishop, the Hall s deputy director, knew who I am and excitedly called Chris Moulton, the executive director, to the phone. Both sounded very happy to hear from me. I dove right in. Almost every pioneer feminist deserves to be in the Hall of Fame, I said. It is impossible to honor them separately, but why not honor them as a group? Then I added, Many are in their 80 s and 90 s so it should be soon. Both thought it a great idea and promised to get back to me. A few weeks later Chris called. We have a date for an event and we d love to honor VFA. There are places for 100 guests,
with 10 complimentary tickets for you and other pioneer feminists. Our eyes have seen the
future and rejoice at what s to be,
WHO'S IN THE GROUP PHOTO? Next morning we were driven to Syracuse for the
train to New York by Trudy Mason, who had graciously risen very early to accommodate us, so early that we had no
opportunity to say goodbye to our friends. And after two days in New York Gracia and I left together and took our
flights to Phoenix and San Diego.
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It is not easy to get to Seneca Falls.
Gracia and I had to fly into Syracuse the day before in order to arrive in time. We were met by Chris and driven
the hour or so to Seneca Falls and treated to dinner. The next morning they took us to the site of the first convention,
where a nice building replaced the ugly laundromat, and we were photographed beneath the sign which announced that
this was the site of the first feminist convention. We then visited the statue of Stanton, Amelia Bloomer and Anthony
and were photographed alongside these great women.
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THE GENDER AGENDA: March 19, 2010 Click Here to Go To the Beyond Borders website Gloria Steinem with How do we get beyond borders that divide women and men with common goals and interests? Sometimes borders (like the politically freighted term feminism) become barriers to common growth and change. Sometimes borders reflect economic, class, and geographic disparities. When we allow any border (even a glass ceiling) to become a boundary, we cage and limit ourselves. Some borders – professional, political and religious – are barriers to human progress.
What work can we achieve on behalf of women and girls to move beyond barriers to full empowerment? How can we transform
the barriers we observe into liminal places for us to transition from old to new ways. Many honorees were interviewed and videotaped by SMU students at the March 2010 Dallas conference. Unfortunately, time and resources did not permit recorded interviews with all honorees, but we would be glad to mount any videos you can send us of Second-Wave feminists discussing their commitment to women’s equality and actions on behalf of women’s equality. We are very grateful to the SMU students from the Spring 2010 course, “Back In The Day: American Activisms 1960–1980” who prepared questions for each interviewee as part of their coursework. Click here to Go To: Video Interviews
American women have made extraordinary strides in the march to achieve equality.
The results of this struggle are evidenced by progressive legislation including the 19th Amendment granting women
voting rights in 1920 and the Fair Pay Act of 2009 removing statutory limitation obstacles when filing an equal-pay
lawsuit. Our focus on March 19, 2010 was on Texas Second-Wave feminists who were honored by the national VFA Board. Click Here to Go To The Speakers Click Here to Go To the Honorees Click Here to Go To the IMAGES of that incredible day in Dallas CONTACT BONNIE WHEELER: bwheeler@mail.smu.edu |
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The Gender Agenda: Beyond Borders
Pursuing Women's Rights at Home and Abroad |
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The Ultimate
Sisterhood On Friday, March 19th,I was fortunate to be surrounded by
some of this country’s most inspirational women, who were gathered at The Women’s Museum in Dallas for the Veteran
Feminists of America event “The Gender Agenda: Beyond Borders.” For the 250 of us in attendance, the event provided
a chance to reflect upon women’s past, women’s present and women’s future. One hundred years ago we could not even
vote; today, we are half the workforce; in the future, there’s still much to achieve.
Ms. magazine founder Gloria Steinem delivered the keynote
speech. “Radical does not mean you’re violent. It means you go to the root,” she said. She was also featured in
the documentary that was screened, Sisters of ’77, about the first-ever National Women’s Conference in 1977. |
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CALIFORNIA CELEBRATION OF WOMEN'S EQUALITY DAY AUGUST 26 ON AUGUST 27, 2009 ANOTHER GREAT SUCCESS!  My daughter, Michele and I arrived early at the Stockton Country Club café in northern California on August 27, 2009. Michele immediately set up a table with VFA brochures & application blanks, Barbara Love's Feminists Who Changed America and Merikay McLeod's book, Betrayal, which she'd given to VFA; and a tasteful display of beautiful Gloria Steinem refrigerator magnets we'd converted from pins hoping to sell enough to pay for my trip. And we did. This event was not VFA financed, but a gift from Beverly McCarthy and the San Joaquin County Commission on the Status of Women, so there was no money for "extras." (right: Jacqui Ceballos and daughter Michele at table) Beverly, who planned the whole event, was seeing that all ran smoothly. The place was soon buzzing with activity -- women greeting one another, many who hadn't been in touch for years. By noon more than 150 guests had arrived --many African American and Latina women, and quite a few men -- the most diverse representation since our New Orleans event in 2002. Out of town guests were feminist icons Laura X (nee Murra), founder and director of the National Clearinghouse on Marital and Date Rape; Mary Stanley, of the California Women's Political Caucus; and Ruth Gottstein, publisher emerta of Volcano Press, which published the first book on domestic violence, Battered Wives.  Led to the head table I was
handed a beautiful program with a huge photo of our medal of honor gracing the cover, and seated next to Ruth Gottstein,
who told me of her conversations with Del Martin and her partner, Phyllis Lyon, before Del's death, and gave me
copies of Del's books, Battered Wives
and Lesbian/Woman. (left: Mayor Ann
Johnston, Jacqui Ceballos, Beverly McCarthy and Ruth Gottstein)The mayor, Ann Johnston welcomed all warmly and led us through the Pledge of Allegiance. A young soprano, Chantelle Faulks, after telling us that she'd never heard of "I am Woman" before Beverly had asked her to sing it, gave a lovely rendition of Helen Reddy's gift to the feminist movement. Beverly got up to a round of applause and told the story of the San Joaquin County Status of Women Commission, which she founded and has directed for years, then introduced me. I gave my usual story of VFA with a little added spice. They must have liked it, as they gave me a standing ovation! Laura X later said, "Jacqui gave one of her  best energizer bunny speeches."
I think the women were just thrilled to be honored--which confirms my main thesis--that all these great women who'd worked around the clock in the 1970s and 1980s making incredible changes locally and nationally, appreciate a little recognition. Ours was truly a great generation, and of that generation only a few, maybe Betty and Gloria, are recognized and will be remembered. If we want the feminist revolution to continue, we must not let the soldiers who made it happen be forgotten! Beverly called the names of the honorees, and one by one they came up to be medaled by me. Meanwhile Michele videotaped the event, while my daughter in law, Elinore, and Merikay McLeod took some photos. After the event many came to thank me. All said they're taking the brochures home to fill in leisurely. Hopefully, they'll join VFA. I'm following up with a note reminding them. It's so important that feminists keep connected, even after many have retired from activity. A LITTLE BACKGROUND AS TO STOCKTON EVENT - In 1962 I was living in Bogota, Colombia, with my Colombian husband and four children, a "dama de la casa" with time to devote to my great love, singing. Bogota was a small town of one million then, and I met every visiting musician, including a soprano, Aline Eraso, who, with her Colombian husband and 3 year old daughter was visiting in Bogota. We became friends, and for years, after she returned to her home town of Stockton. CA.we exchanged Xmas cards, though our lives went in completely different directions. She was singing with the Stockton Opera Company and I was back in New York working full time in the movement.  In the 1980s when I was now living
in New Orleans recuperating from years of heavy feminist activity, Aline visited me with her daughter. At the time
my son Denis was also visiting. Guess it was fate. They married and have lived in Stockton for 10 years.(left: Jacqui Ceballos, Maria Elena Serna, Mayor Ann Johnston)
During the early movement years every town of whatever size had a feminist movement. Were there any  feminists in Stockton? I'd asked Aline. "Of course, she
said. Beverly McCarthy." So I sent Beverly information about VFA, and she joined. But every time I was in
Stockton, she was out of town. Finally, we met by circumstance having Thanksgiving dinner at a local restaurant.
Of course I urged her to have a VFA event to honor Stockton's pioneer feminists. Beverly, who has been president
of the local NOW chapter and every year for the past 20 or so has given a Susan B. Anthony celebration, agreed.
She had the Status of Women Commission co- sponsor it, sent out a letter to all she knew deserved to honored, and
the rest is herstory. Besides thanking Beverly, we thank all who helped her, including Merikay Mcleod, my daughter, Michele, who, in spite of her busy life, took off to help, and my daughter in law, Elinore Eraso Ceballos, who took off work to help with photographing. (right: Merikay McLeod) VFA so appreciates Beverly that we've elected her to the board, along with others who have done above and beyond for VFA in the past two years: Eleanor Pan, Zoe Nicholson, Sally Lunt and Bonnie Wheeler. Eleanor was responsible, with Barbara Love, for the great Florida event in March, Sally Lunt gave a knockout event for Feminists Who Changed America in Boston last year, Zoe did the same in Los Angeles, and Bonnie Wheeler, who, with Sheila Tobias is planning a major event in Dallas for March 10, 2010. Jacqui Comments: Jacqui Ceballos jcvfa@aol.com Doors have been opened for us through the efforts of others By Merikay McLeod I was reminded recently that we’re often so solidly stuck in our oh-so-busy present, we forget how we got here. Such forgetting can rob us blind, and even hurt others. For example, I vote in local, state and national elections. I work, receive a paycheck and deposit that check in my bank account. I own real estate. All of these things were once denied women, but today they are part of my ordinary life. These and so many other things have come to me as the result of other people’s hard work. When we forget that doors have been opened for us through the efforts of others, we may fool ourselves into thinking that we opened them ourselves. Or we may traipse blindly through life, thinking we owe no one for all we have. Such ignorance breeds the arrogance of entitlement. What reminded me of all this was a luncheon at the Stockton Golf and Country Club August 27, honoring 43 local feminists whose efforts have changed the world in small and large ways. Sponsored by the San Joaquin County Commission on the Status of Women and the Veteran Feminists of America, the luncheon was an enthusiastic celebration. More than 150 women and men from throughout the foothills and Central Valley attended. Jacqui Ceballos, national president of VFA, flew in from Arizona to personally congratulate the feminist activists – some well into their 80s – for making America better. As each honoree’s name was announced, Ceballos slipped a VFA medal of honor on a red-white-and blue ribbon over her head, and thanked her for her contribution while the audience cheered and applauded. I was one of the 43 honored. I received my medal for bringing equal pay to a religious publishing house back in the 1970s. Before my lawsuit, women at Pacific Press Publishing Association earned about half what men earned, and they had no opportunity for equal advancement. As Jacqui Ceballos slipped my medal over my head and thanked me for the effort I had put forth so many years ago, I marveled. My experience back then was one of being ridiculed, criticized, ostracized, shunned and even threatened. There were few thanking me in those far away days. Instead, Most of my colleagues were busy badmouthing and mudslinging in a desperate attempt to distance themselves from the "crazy libber" insisting on equal pay for equal work. My story is similar to the other 42 honorees’ stories. We each pursued our cause because it was the right thing to do, and because we did not want others to have to live in the world we’d endured. My husband is a Viet Nam vet and whenever he describes the sick-at-heart feeling of risking all only to be vilified upon returning home, I tell him I know the feeling. As with veterans of other wars, we women didn’t take on the cause to be thanked, but the VFA ‘thank you’ felt profound. Whenever I hear radio personalities referring to feminists as Nazis, whenever I hear women repudiating the struggles that have given them lives rich with possibilities, or shrugging carelessly about the rights and privileges they now enjoy, I want to shake them and say "Don’t you realize the sacrifices that have been made on your behalf?" At the VFA luncheon, an entire roomful of people knew well the sacrifices and it felt transforming to be in their presence. Another foothill feminist – Ruth Gottstein of Volcano in Amador County – received a medal. Gottstein owns Volcano Press. She published the first book in the U.S. addressing domestic violence. During the luncheon, we told each other our stories – sad, funny, frightening -- and always with the ending that our efforts had made a difference and that difference made the struggle worthwhile. Stockton Mayor Ann Johnston, who MC’d the event, said the best part of being mayor is seeing the expressions on the faces of young girls who come to her office. "They say, ‘You mean, I can be mayor?’" she said. "The light of possibility shines from their faces." For me, the best part of the luncheon was remembering what sisterhood feels like. And remembering that here in America, our rights and responsibilities come to us through the (often hard-fought) efforts of others. back to top |
| Veteran Feminists of America and FEMINISTS WHO CHANGED AMERICA Celebration in... POMPANO BEACH, FLORIDA · APRIL 20, 2009 · A SMASHING SUCCESS! Ireland to Florida Feminists: "Our work is far from done" Yes, we did it! Again! What was to be a small event to honor pioneer and contemporary activists in Florida showed early signs that the café
Eleanor, a snowbird from Long Island, emceed the event and from the first welcome established an air of celebration. And indeed, the guests acted as if they were at a joyous reunion--proving once more how important VFA events are to keep feminists together and actively involved in our great cause. The room was decorated with great memories. Two slide shows flashed pictures of early feminist actions and heroes on the wall next to the podium in a continuous loop; the famed Women's quilt made of T-shirts from early demonstrations hung near the stage; memorabilia from the 1960s and 1970s was arrayed on tables. And special guest , Elizabeth Cady Stanton ( actor Elizabeth Perry) inspired us as she recited the Women's Bill of Rights she‘d given at the first women‘s rights convention in Seneca Falls in 1948. “Our work isn't over,” said Pat Ireland, the longest-term president of NOW who served from 1991 to 2001, inspiring all with her exciting talk. "Two out of nine is not half," she'd told President Bill Clinton at a White House reception in reference to the sorry makeup of the Supreme Court. “Clinton got it," she said. VFA'S MEDAL OF HONOR FOR exceptional contributions to improving the lives of women and girls was given to 40 women and one man, Barry Silver, a lawyer and rabbi, who served in the Florida Legislature and successfully sued Jerry Falwell and his Operation Rescue to stop the blockading of health and abortion clinics.
In an important departure from the past VFA honored contemporary feminists , an important departure from the past which was much appreciated by activist leaders of today. THE JOYCE WARSHOW AWARD, presented by her partner, Dorothy Sander in memory of the late psychologist, author and filmmaker was given to Barbara Love for her work in feminism and feminist history, and especially for her chef d'oeuvre, Feminists Who Changed America. It was a very emotional moment when Ryan Cox stepped forward to accept an award for her late mother, Linda Cox, founder of Broward County NOW and member of the Florida House of Representatives. Among guests were former state representatives, who'd remembered that
CALLS TO ACTION-- A petition was circulated to save the Women's Studies program at Florida Atlantic University. Josephine Beoku-Betts, Interim Director, was one of the honorees. A "PASS THE TORCH" CEREMONY was emotional as Eleanor called for the oldest and youngest woman in the room to speak on behalf of their respective generations. To great applause, 90-year-old transferred a blazing candle to her 26-year-old counterpart, along with the symbolic responsibility for carrying forward the feminist agenda. WELL-KNOWN GUESTS included Rep. Elaine Bloom, former Speaker, Pro-tempore, Florida State Legislature; Janet Canterbury, three time president of Dade County NOW and Florida state NOW; Sally Heyman, County Commissioner, Miami-Dade; and Gwen Margolis, former Florida State Senator; Ann Fonfa, co-president, North Palm Beach County NOW; and Pam O'Brien, Executive Director of Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse, Palm Beach County.
This was VFA's second outstanding showing in Florida. In 2002 we co-sponsored a conference at Florida Atlantic University with Atlantic's Women's Studies Department and South Palm Beach NOW. VFA's primary goal is to document the history of the Second Wave and to honor all who made it happen, which we've been doing for the past 19 years, mostly in major cities. This was one of the few celebrations given in “the interior.” Why? Because no one from a smaller town has ever came forward to handle the event. But this one may have been a good sign. Two more are being planned, one in Stockton, CA with Beverly McCarthy at the helm; and another in Dallas (certainly a major city) hosted by Bonnie Wheeler. See articles below for progress on these. VFA made a nice little profit from this event, in spite of the low cost of the luncheon, thanks to Eleanor's planning. And again our thanks to her and Barbara Love and the inspirational “Feminists Who Changed America” for keeping VFA alive and lively! For more information call Eleanor Pam, Master of Ceremonies and Co-Chair 561-278-1967; cell 516-526-2689 E-Mail Eleanor Pam: eleanorpam@aol.com THERE's MORE! Click Here for Honoree Bios and more back to top |
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VFA TO SALUTE FEMINIST LAWYERS 1963- 1975 06.09.08 Joan Michel: Joan@lawyers.vetfems.org From the handful who guided the government and helped change antiquated laws. To the thousands who continued that work and challenged the profession.
The Salute honored the women who launched the first feminist law firm in NYC; the women who brought the essential cases to guarantee employment rights, access to men-only bars and clubs; the woman who won the right for teachers to continue to work while pregnant; the woman who led the case stewardesses brought against their airline employers to allow them to stay on the job after age 35. Before she was a Supreme Court Justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg founded the ACLU's Women's Rights Project, and the feminist lawyers she worked with and some of the interns she mentored were on hand to share their stories. Panel conveners included Cynthia Fuchs Epstein, author Women in Law and Karen DeCrow, author of Sexist Justice, each book a first in its field. Looking to the future, Judge Emily Goodman moderated a panel of younger women attorneys. Our honorees, including Justice Ginsburg, were on hand to accept a VFA medal and to tell their history-making stories to our video recorder. Some participated on the three panels. Honored Honored In Memoriam For further information about this event,
FOR MORE ON THE SALUTE TO FEMINIST LAWYERS PLEASE VISIT: www.lawyers.vetfems.org For further information about this event, please contact Joan Michel.at Joan@lawyers.vetfems.org . Other info at website www.lawyers.vetfems.org
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"Unfinished Business of the Women's Movement," the first Midwest VFA event held
in Chicago August 27-28 was dedicated to the late Gene Boyer, a founder of many feminist organizations, includingNOW
and VFA. Gene hailed from Wisconsin. When she died last August, one of her final wishes was that the feministactivists
from the Midwest be recognized for their many contributions.
Saturday brought a full day of speakers, panels
and breakout groups. The first session was "How the (Mid)West was Won - the
Untold History of the Women's Movement in the Heartland." Speakers includedVFA
board member Mary Lynn Myers, feminist author Sara Evans, labor leader Rev. Addie Wyatt and former IllinoisState
Representative Laurel Prussing. 
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VETERAN FEMINISTS OF AMERICA All Photos by NYC Photographer
Joan Roth
MEMORABLE CELEBRATION HONORING
FEMINISTS IN THE ARTS The Hanging.. November 1, 2003 -Cristina Biaggi fills
out forms for insurance, etc...
VFA's Coordinators of event, President Jacqui Ceballos;
Board Chair, Muriel Fox and Editor of Pioneer Feminist Project, Barbara Love
Nancy Azzara describing her art
Sheila Lamb and her art work " Ode to a Dead Gecko"
COMMENTS FROM ARTISTS GLORIA ORENSTEIN: Jqcqui, I've spoken to half the world and everyone is just thrilled. I have first and foremost to say thank you for what you and VFA have done! Such a contribution to history! Like Sylvia Sleigh, one of the most renowned of artists?.there she was old and feeble, yet she dragged herself to the podium to be honored. She was in tears! And Miriam Schapiro and Faith Ringgold. What a reunion! VFA is like the United Nations for Women! SILVIANNA GOLDSMITH: I am so proud and honored to have been part of that extraordinary evening . It is no wonder so many were moved to tears. Praises and blessings to all the heros and survivors honored. Gloria, I loved your descriptions of your mother and her constructions. You really brought her to life. And.Suzanne, I never will forget that innovative workshop I took with you and your incredible masks, ones that dared show the pain and anger we felt but weren't allowed to express. Jacqui, how great that you and Gloria conceived of this event together! Brava! Muriel, it was wonderful to get to know the person behind all this wonderful work. And Sheila and all the committee -- I must salute you for the amazing amount of work that went into a fabulous evening. One sad final note. Two artists are to be added to the memorial list: Stella Waitzkin, died October 2003, age 83,at the Chelsea Hotel, where she lived since1968. She was a renowned sculptor of books. in many shows including the Smithsonian. She was an original member of WAR, as was Nancy Spero. Doloris Holmes, died tragically June 2001 She was a poet, playwright, creator of White Mask Theatre, and interviewer of Anais Nin in 1972, which tape (made by me) is now in the Smithsonian Archives of American Art and is available online. She was a member of WAR and in the X-12 show. DARA BIRNBAUM: It was an odd experience to be in the room with so many women my age! It
SUZANNE BENTON: I hope you and Muriel are enjoying the glow of a fantastic set of events that was set in motion by your passion and enduring dedication to feminism and the feminists who changed the world. Thank you for bringing us artists into your fold. DOLORES ALEXANDER: Congratulations on your wildly successful event last Friday. It was clear that all the honorees were thrilled to be there and to be recognized with the VFA medals. MURIEL FOX: Congratulations to all of us! Yes, that was a memorable, heartwarming event we all pulled off. Comments from participants have been ecstatic. We can also congratulate ourselves that throughout this year we all worked together on this complex and difficult (almost impossible) project in a spirit of great cordiality and sisterhood. It was a refreshing, if exhausting and time-overwhelming experience. There was such a warm feeling of camaraderie. The art work was excellent, the Ginsberg portrait superb. My daughter also loved the event and meeting the people she has read about rather than lived through as we have.
Rockland Center for the Arts let us use their insurance policy and thus saved us many hundreds of dollars. The director of Rockland Center was enthusiastic and let's hope this will lead to future exhibit exposure for feminist artists. As you know, that beautiful event was all videotaped and will be sold to universities and other institutions. If you think of any art-oriented institutions that might wish to purchase it, please send Sheila Tobias their names and addresses. Sheila's e-mail is sheilat@sheilatobias.com. Her address 724 N Campbell St, Tucson, AZ 85719
FINALLY, THE SAD BUT SWEET "UNHANGING" on the 10th, with photographer Joan Roth taking last shots of artists and their works. Suzanne Benton is there til the end, with a young friend who is writing about feminism. Again the artists or their reps troop in and out to pick things up, rewrapping and toting their works. Again we're there until after 6 PM waiting for someone to pack up their work The hall is empty and another art show is being hung. We're pushed into the parlor to give them space. Suzanne has to leave, and I sit in an overstuffed chair by the huge windows looking out on Gramercy Park, feeling so tired, but so happy and dwelling on the great accomplishments made by OUR GREAT GENERATION of the Second Wave.
We thank these members whose generosity helped make this unprecedented event possible: Merle Hoffman, Cristina Biaggi, Elizabeth Shepherd, Diane Welsh, Pamela Martens Carole deSaram We also thank the hard-working Art Committee, which has devoted many months of effort to this project: Co-Chairs Suzanne Benton and Gloria Orenstein; Diana Kurz, Susan Schwalb, Linda Stein, Cristina Biaggi, Pamela Martens
Panelists Miriam Schapiro, Nancy Azara , Suzanne Benton
and Anita Steckel
Nancy Azara, Suzanne Benton, Judith Brodsky, Betsy Damon, Gloria Orenstein, Arlene Raven, Faith Ringgold, Susan Schwalb, Miriam Schapiro
Black & White photos of the November 6th Event honoring Feminist Artists, taken by photographer and VFA member Joan Roth Veteran Feminists of America Committee for this Event: Jacqui Ceballos, President; Muriel Fox, Board Chair; Sheila Tobias, Executive VP & Events Chair; Amy Hackett, Treasure; Grace Welch, Admissions Chair; Carole deSaram, Reception Chair; Jan Cleary, Website Director; Adele Conover, Public Relations Chair; Natalia Ronceria Ceballos - Door Asst.
MORE PHOTOS!
Sheila Tobias and Miriam Schapiro, Jacqui Ceballos
Dell Williams, VFA co-founder & founder of Eve's Garden with photographer Bettye Lane and Joan Nixon.
Jeanne Hirsch, artist and co-author, with her late mother, Holly Hirsch, with Judge Emily Jane Goodman
Beth Ames Swartz and daughter
FAITH RINGGOLD |
| A CONFERENCE TO CELEBRATE AND EVALUATE THE EFFECTS OF THIRTY YEARS OF TITLE IX THE CELEBRATION Panel of FEMINIST LEADERS A Director, Third Wave Foundation JACQUI CEBALLOS, Pres. Veteran Feminists of America HELEN DALE, Pres. Maryland Women for Responsive Government TERRY ONEILL, V.P. National Organization for Women ELEANOR SMEAL, Pres. The Feminist Majority Discussion leader: Pat Reuss, activist, Violence Against Women What is Title IX?  Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, now known as the Patsy T. Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act in honor of its principal author, but more commonly known simply as Title IX, is a 37-word United States law enacted on June 23, 1972 that states: "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance."[1] Although the most prominent "public face" of Title IX is its impact on high school and collegiate athletics, the original statute made no reference to athletics[2]. The legislation covers all educational activities, and complaints under Title IX alleging discrimination in fields such as science or math education, or in other aspects of academic life such as access to health care and dormitory facilities, are not unheard of. It also applies to non-sports activities such as school bands and cheerleaders. After a reception and dinner, THE VETERAN FEMINISTS of AMERICA will induct into its HALL of FAME: PATSY MINK, who introduced Title IX in Congress and two Maryland feminists who testified for Title IX– PAULI MURRAY and ANN LONDON SCOTT— and honor others who helped make it happen : VAL BONETTE, CINDY BROWN, JANET BROWN, NORMAN CANTU, BARBARA COX, MARGARET DUNKLE, MARCIA GREENBERGER, GWEN GREGORY, MARY ELLEN HILLIARD, JEAN LEDWITH KING, HOLLY KNOX, JULIA LEAR, MARILYN LEVY, GRACE MASTALLI, MARGOT POLIVY, MARLENE PROVISER, TERY SAARIO, BERNICE SANDLER, TINA SANDI-FLAHARTY, DONNA SHAVLICK, CLELIA STEELE, MARY JEAN TULLY, DONNA DE VARONA, LESLIE WOLFE SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9th 8:00-4:00 PM THE EVALUATION The emphasis is on small group discussions where you, the participants, will in the morning, grouped by occupation, evaluate the effects of Title IX on your employment and your lives, and in the afternoon will regroup by remaining problems to be resolved and their possible remedies. Sessions morning and afternoon on the ERA by Karline Tierney. Other discussion leaders and speakers on Saturday are: Lois Herr, Jean Ledwith King, Joan Hult, Bernice Sandler ,Melody Simmons, Sheila Tobias HONORARY CONFERENCE COMMITTEE BETTY FRIEDAN, Founder of NOW; THE HONORABLE BIRCH BAYH - Introduced the Amendment in Senate; ELIZABETH BOYER - Founder of WEAL; KIM GANDY - President, National Organization for Women; HELEN HOLTON - Baltimore City Council Member; JEAN LEDWITH KING - Lawyer- Worked on Title IX; SENATOR BARBARA MILKULSKI; TERRY O’NEILL - Vice President, NOW, Spokesperson Title IX; TERY SAARIO - Program Officer, Ford Foundation in 1972; BERNICE SANDLER - Premiere activist for initiating Title IX; ELEANOR SMEAL - President – Feminists Majority; GLORIA STEINEM - Founder, Ms Magazine; MARY JEAN TULLY - President NOW LDEF 1970’s; ANN TURPEAU - Women’s Rights Activist,9yrs.DC Commission on Women Art lovers will be especially happy: Baltimore has three fine galleries: The Walters Museum of Art, Cone Collection of Impressionist tat BMA, and the relatively new, National Visionary Museum with annually changing extraordinary shows. . A selected listing of special exhibits currently showing in Baltimore and DC will be included in your registration acknowledgement packet. Baltimore the city associated with Eubie Blake, Frederick Douglass. Thurgood Marshall, and birthplace of Pauli Murray has become a destination for people with an interest in black history. If enough interest is indicated, we might arrange a special tour. Then of course, we do have a fabulous harbor and seafood, Let us know your interests; we will attempt to help you find them. The Timonium Holiday Inn is located a mile or two north of Baltimore 695 east of I 83. Light rail will take you from the airport to Timonium—over an hour--all the way through town—to a stop three blocks from the hotel. . A cab for about $20 from Penn Station takes about 20 minutes a bit more from BWI. . Van service for $29 first and $10 each thereafter from BWI. Advise arranging before hand to come on the same train with, or who plan to arrive at BWI at the same time as) others heading towards the Title IX Conference. ARE WE THERE YET? TITLE IX: EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR WOMEN Presented by THE VETERAN FEMINISTS OF AMERICA PLANNING COMMITTEE Betty Newcomb, Chair  TITLE IX APPLIES TO A GREAT DEAL MORE THAN ATHLETICS AND SPORTS During the l960’s federal law and executive orders mandated employers to give equal opportunity in employment to women. But in order to maintain socially desirable male female ratios, boys with lower grades and SAT scores stood a much better chance of being admitted to coeducational institutions than did girls. Professional schools continued their traditional quotas—meaning no more than--to restrict the number of women admitted: about 4% to law school, 8% to medical school, 1%to 4% to all other professional schools. Federal employment guidelines required equal opportunity for equally qualified candidates. Clearly, women were denied the opportunity to obtain equal qualifications. And even if they had equal qualifications, for example, obtaining a Ph.D. as a qualification for teaching in higher education, hiring, promotion, and salaries of women lagged far behind those of men. Admissions for girls and women to technical training were minuscule or nonexistent. In sports, which have drawn the most attention to Title IX, the picture was equally dismal. Girls largely supported the boys’ teams through cheer leading, cheering blocks, and raising money for the boys. In the event that girls and women persevered and actually competed athletically, the support given their teams was far less than that given to boys’ and men’s teams. COME TO BALTIMORE LEARN MORE ABOUT TITLE IXVETERAN FEMINISTS OF AMERICA Marian D. Daniel - MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE; Rose Fragua - COMMISSION FOR WOMEN; Phyllis Freeman - WOMEN’S CENTER, TOWSON UNIVERSITY; Lois Herr - VETERAN FEMINISTS OF AMERICA and ELIZABETHTOWN COLLEGE; Monica M. Loving - M2 MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS; Jessica Morgan - Pres. MD NOW OF MARYLAND WOMEN’S LAW CENTER OF MARYLAND; Pam Putman - MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH; Sue Schlenger - LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS of MARYLAND; Debbie Seeberger - AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR AFFIRMATIVE ACTION; Aleta Styers - VETERAN FEMINISTS OF AMERICA; Karline Tierney - AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN; Athena Yiamouyiannis - NATIONAL ASSOCIATION GIRLS’ & WOMEN’S SPORTS; ADVISORS: Joanne Orlinsky - MARYLAND COMMMISSION FOR WOMEN, Former Chair; Linda Shevitz - MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION A ONE DAY COLLOQUIUM TO CELEBRATE AND EVALUATE THE EFFECTS OF THIRTY YEARS OF TITLE IX In order to assure an informed group of participants, upon receipt of registration, each registrant will be sent comparative education and employment information for 1970-2002 and a summary of laws and executive orders. Abbreviated bullets of such information will be included in press releases and call to colloquium materials. After a keynote speech on the current threats to-Title IX, the emphasis of the 9 am PLENARY SESSION will be to create a MODEL for the attendees to follow in the small group discussions. A highly skilled discussion leader will lead two people, one from an employment area and Athena Yiamouyiannis from athletics will lead a discussion comparing women's education and employment status in 1972 with that of 2002: What was hoped to be accomplished? What are the realities? Where have expectations been met? Not met? Are there unexpected consequences, desirable and undesirable? Can possible remedial actions be identified? By what means could remedial actions be taken? What appropriate government action? Other public action? Group action? Private action? The 10:45 SESSIONS will be SMALL GROUPS by related fields of occupation or interest. Each group will be led in a discussion modeled on that demonstrated.in the 9 am plenary. Items or concerns will be noted on a central blackboard. The discussion leader will try to identify many specific interests for later discussion. During lunch, the conference planning committee will assign topics for the afternoon sessions that reflect the concerns and interests identified in the morning sessions. The PLENARY LUNCHTIME SESSION (12:00 to 1:30) will feature a presentation by Bernice Sandler on Title IX, its importance, and how it came about. People present who playedan important role in its enactment and its implementation will be recognized. Lois Herr (whose book on the 1970's ATT action will be released in December) will speak. The 1:45 to 3:00 SMALL GROUP SESSIONS, expected to be an occupational mix, will focus discussions on identifying possible solutions for the problems identified in the morning small group sessions and be encouraged to form networks for further communication, either through organizations represented on the committee or on their own. The 3:15-4:30 pm PLENARY will be presented reports from the morning sessions of celebration worthy results and from the afternoon sessions reports of remaining problems and possible remedies. PRESS CONFERENCE will follow. The Baltimore event is intended to be a prototype for other similar colloquia in other parts of he country, designed to be followed in 2004 by a national colloquia to evaluate 40 years of Executive Order 11246 and Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. ------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------- VETERAN FEMINISTS OF AMERICA President: Jacqui Ceballos Event Coordinator: Betty Newcomb Treasurer: Amy Hackett July 23, 2002 The Honorable Barbara Mikulski The Senate Office Building, Suite 709 Washington, D. C. 205 1 0 Dear Senator Mikulski: The Veteran Feminists of America, in cooperation with a number of Maryland women's organizations and state agencies, will "Celebrate and Evaluate the Impact of 30 Years of Title IX" in Timonium on November 8 and 9, 2002. The November 9 Colloquium is to be a prototype for similar events to be initiated by The Veteran Feminists of America in other states to evaluate the effects of federal action taken 1963-1972 to provide gender equity in education and employment. At the November 8 dinner event we will induct into the VFA Hall of Fame two outstanding feminists with Maryland connections: Ann London Scott and Pauli Murray, both of whom contributed to the passage of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.
We would like to present you with the Veteran Feminists of America's Special Service award for your continued, long lasting support for women's issues. In a recent E-mail to me, Muriel Fox, Chair of V Board, wrote, "Barbara Mikulski marched with us many, many times." Further, we would be greatly honored if you would be the keynote speaker at the Saturday 9 am plenary session. We hope that you might view a speech to a feminist audience on November 9 to be a timely occasion on which to state your responses to the highly publicized attacks against Title IX from the Bush administration as well in the courts from others. And of course, you are as aware as we are that now almost daily, the evening news clarions new findings of growing employment disparities between men and women who are now guaranteed fair play in admissions by Title IX. Intense efforts will be made to assure that the press be there. As you read the attached plan for the colloquium, you will see that in this event you (we hope) and Bernice Sandier (the "mother" of Title IX) and probably Lois Herr are the only speakers to talk to the audience. The participants are the major role players in their small groups where they will evaluate thirty years of federally mandated equal opportunity for women and girls. At the 4:00 pm plenary, they will present their recommendations for future action - both governmental and otherwise - to complete the job the VFA members helped start in the mid sixties. The press will be invited. We hope to start a groudd swell of citizen evaluation as we approach the fortieth anniversary of the Civil Rights Act. Enclosed you will find: the current version of an early save the date flyer that includes the names of the planning committee and the organizations they represent information about the Veteran Feminists of America a descriptive agenda for the colloquium the first draft of information to be included in the program about Ann London Scott. Pauli Murray material, still in preparation, will be forwarded to you at a later date. I will call your office mid-August when we hope that we will learn that you have granted our request. In the meantime, please contact me with any questions you may have or requests for additional information. Very sincerely yours, Betty Newcomb, VFA Event Coordinator back to top |
| Celebrating feminist writers who changed the world
1966-1985 Friday, April 26, 2002 Barnard College The Veterans Feminists of America Salute to Feminist Writers, in the words of Jacqui Ceballos, was another banner event planned by Muriel Fox and Sheila Tobias. "A once-in-a-lifetime assemblage of feminist writers gathered under VFA auspices at Barnard College, New York on April 26, 2002 to be honored for their achievements". Celebrating feminist authors who changed the world, the day's events started off with a Luncheon Discussion for Honor Roll writers in Sulzberger Hall. Two panel discussions, fiction and nonfiction, continued the celebration from 1 to 5 pm. The HONORS DINNER beginning at 6 pm opened with a warm welcome by Barnard President Judith Shapiro. Muriel and Sheila expressed the VFA's appreciation to the Barnard Center for Research on Women for their hospitality and cooperation. Then, as each honoree was called to the podium, Sheila read a tribute to the writer, presenting her with a Veteran Feminists Medal of Honor.  The first author's medal went to the First Author of the Second Wave. The citation for Betty Friedan, in the event's program, notes that The Feminine Mystique probably changed world history more than any other book ever written. The Boston Women's Health Book Collective members were next to be honored, for taking the lead in educating women about their physical natures at a time when it was "unseemly" to note that we had special physical natures. Ruth Bell-Alexander, Joan Ditzion, Paula Doress-Waters, Nancy Miriam Hawley, Jane Pincus and Judy Norsigian, current Executive Editor, were medalled individually for the collective effort of writing Our Bodies Ourselves, which has sold more than 4 million copies in 20 languages. Citations for all the feminist writers honored at the event are collected in the 4/26/02 Program's Honor Roll of Feminist Writers. This Program is a WONDER! By including a tribute to each author the Program's creators have collected an incredibly comprehensive account of the Second Wave's manifold efforts and accomplishments. Anyone who is researching the Second Wave's work to change our culture's grievous past sexist social practices can find the beginnings of all the trails to the institutional changes that ensued in this short Veteran Feminists of America historical document. The many aspects of women's lives that the Honor Roll writers drew attention to - - health and reproduction, rape, psychology, homemaking, girls' education and math anxiety, law, lesbianism, language, woman's image in popular culture, women's exclusion from public sphere deliberations - - are evidence of the pervasiveness of the problem that Betty Friedan crystallized as The Feminist Mystique, and evidence that a multi-faceted social revolution was underway. Think of the living conditions of women in the 1960's that evoked all this revolutionary feminist writing work in response. VFA SALUTES... Sidney Abbott - Together with Barbara Love, she wrote the feminist movement's first article and first book by lesbians about lesbians. Co-chair of NOW's Lesbian Civil Rights Task Force. Dolores Alexander - Wrote important documents and press materials while Executive Director of national NOW from 1968 to 1970. In 1979 she became a force in Women Against Pornography and organized its successful March on Times Square. Madeline Amgott - Creator and executive producer of "A Better Way" for King Features Entertainment and Lifetime cable, presenting 78 profiles of women. Louise Armstrong - Her writings and lectures have been a major force in aroused awareness of child sexual abuse, incest and male violence. Pauline Bart - Her feminist books include Portnoy's Mother's Complaint: Depression in Middle aged Women, and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Office. Mary Kay Blakely - A longtime activist, journalist and author, she has written three books. Wrote the Hers column for the New York Times. Now on the advisory board of WomensENews. Susan Brownmiller - Changed the world's thinking about rape in Against Our Will: Men, Women, and Rape. A founder of New York Radical Feminists.  Paula Caplan - A feminist psychologist, actor and author of books and plays. Books include The Myth of Women's Masochism, and You're Smarter Than They Make You Feel. Physllis Chesler - Her Women and Madness revolutionized the attitude of practitioners and lay people alike in appraising the mental health of women. Ceil Cleveland - As editor of Columbia University magazine for 10 years she introduced numerous feminist issues. Founded the Cincinnati Women's press. Eleanor Foa Dienstag - Her Whither Thou Goest: The Story of an Uprooted Wife was a best-selling feminist book. An award-winning journalist and columnist. Muriel Fox - A co-founder of NOW in 1966. She was national chair of NOW and president of the NOW Legal Defense & Education Fund and is Chair of Veteran Feminists of America. Marilyn French - Her 1977 novel, The Women's Room, dramatized movingly the plight of "middle-class women betrayed by men and society." Carol Gilliga - Her In A Different Voice is must reading for experts on gender and on the raising of girls. Her other major feminist books include Women, Girls, and Psychotherapy, and Reframing Resistance. Mary Gordon - She has written five highly acclaimed feminist novels, including Final Payments and The Company of Women. Professor of English at Barnard. Vivian Gornick - The author of eight books and several hundred articles, she co-edited the pioneering Women in a Sexist Society in 1972. Signe Hammer - With Susan Brownmiller and others, organized the sit-in at Ladies Home Journal that earned the historic feminist insert in the August 1970 issue. Carolyn Heilbrun - A feminist critic, writer and educator for more than 25 years. On the English faculty of Columbia University. (Editor's note: Carolyn Heilbrun died in October 2003.) Shere Hite - It began with The Hite Report: A Nationwide Study of Female Sexuality, published in 1976 in cooperation with the New York chapter of NOW. Five studies have followed so far. Ruth Hershberger - She wrote about sex discrimination in Adam's Rib ten years before Simone deBeauvoir and Betty Friedan. She is also a widely respected poet. Beverly Jones - She and the late Judith Brown, both SDS southern activists and University of Florida students at the time, wrote the first major paper about women's liberation that inspired feminist theorists and activists. Called "Toward a Female Liberation Movement," it was presented in Sandy Spring, MD in August 1968 at a meeting of women involved with SDS and other civil rights organizations.  Merle Hoffman - Founded and edited "On the Issues," an intellectual feminist magazine, for 17 years. In 1982 she produced the documentary "Abortion: A Different Light." She has founded several women's health centers. Erica Jong - Her first novel, the best- selling Fear of Flying, championed the right of women to proud, unabashed sexuality and self-expression. She has published six volumes of poetry, all feminist, funny and empowering. Jurate Kazickas - She and Lynn Sherr created "The Liberated Woman's Appointment Calendar and Survival Handbook," now known as "The Women's Calendar." Mim Kelber - A journalist and activist for nearly five decades, she co-founded Women Strike for Peace and was a speechwriter and policy advisor for Bella Abzug from1971. Suzanne Braun Levine - She edited Ms. Magazine from its 1972 inception until 1988. She recently edited its 30th anniversary issue, "The Best of Ms." Harriet Lyons - A member of Ms. Magazine's original editorial staff. She co-edited "Decade of Women: a Ms. History in Words and Pictures." Catherine MacKinnon - Mackinnon's writings in feminist law have produced major legal changes throughout the world. Her book, The Sexual Harassment of Working Women (1979), awakened victims and opinion leaders to this long-overlooked form of sex discrimination. Rosalie Maggio - Her book NonSexist Word Finder, Bias-Free Word Finder promotes language that doesn't discriminate against women and other groups. Kate Millett - Wrote Sexual Politics, which was hailed as a manifesto on sexism in Western culture. In other books she explored feminism and homosexuality from personal, scholarly and artistic perspectives. Letty Cottin Pogrebin - Her eight books include Growing Up Free, and Deborah, Golda, and Me, a memoir about reconciling feminism and Judaism. A founder and co- editor of Ms. Rosetta Reitz - Her book, Menopause: A Positive Approach, has received 13 printings over 20 years. She organized "Menopause Workshops" to bring information to women. Judith Rossner - In her numerous stories and articles and her lectures on psychotherapy, she has brilliantly advanced the perspective of a realistic feminist. Marlene Sanders - More than any other newswoman, Marlene Sanders has fought for feminist causes while also earning top jobs in radio and TV. She chairs the board of WomensENews. Barbara Seaman - Her 1969 book, The Doctor's Case Against the Pill, led to Congressional hearings, the birth of the women's health movement, and ultimately a safer birth-control pill with only one- tenth the hormone dose of the original version.  Alix Kates Shulman - Her book, Memoirs of and ex-Prom Queen, (1979) sold more than a million copies and was the first major novel of the women's liberation movement. Catharine R. Stimpson - Founding editor of Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society, considered to be the most widely recognized feminist academic journal in the field. Her selection of essays on literature, culture and education, Where the Meanings Are, appeared in 1988. Kate Swift - Swift and the late Casey Miller pioneered in feminist analysis of the English language. Their Handbook of NonSexist Writing suggested ways to change English usage to treat women fairly. Sheila Tobias - Her 11 books and many articles instruct women on ways to understand and survive the Patriarchy. Her 1997 book, Second Wave, Faces of Feminism: An Activist's Reflection on the Women's Movement clarifies the "why" as well as the "how" of our movement. Joan Tobin - Since 1973 she has been publishing fiction and articles that appeared in leading newspapers as well as various NOW publications. She chaired the "Feminists Special Interest Group of American Mensa" and edited its newsletter, "The Feminists Special." Ellen Willis - A free-lance writer since 1966 and an early radical feminist leader. Willis wrote countless articles and books. Now director of Cultural Reporting and Criticism Concentration in the NYU graduate program. back to top |
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| SPRING REUNION VFA HONORS SOME OF OUR NATIONAL TREASURES WASHINGTON, D.C. April 28th, 2000  It's always fun to be in Washington DC. Reunions are smaller and more intimate than the ones we hold in New York. There's time to meet those who run the important organizations based there, to visit long and laugh a lot with veteran and young feminists, to sight-see and eat in some of the Beltway's great restaurants, and maybe even to get in a l little lobbying. Being at the Sewall Belmont House is a high in itself. The aura and energy of Alice Paul, who chained herself to the White House, was jailed and force-fed, wrote the Equal Rights Amendment and got it introduced year after year in Congress, permeates the place. The late Catherine East, our first honoree, who was a great supporter of VFA, had urged us not to forget the women who worked in Washington, either in or close to the government. This year we honored six, along with activists from Texas, Iowa, Louisiana, Michigan and New Hampshire.
It was good to hear the applause that greeted Patricia Schroeder, Betty Friedan and Ellie Smeal when they arrived. Nothing like some boisterous hand-clapping to say "thank you." (pictured left: Ellie Smeal) Other prominent guests included Senator Max Baucus, who walked from the Senate building next door to greet fellow Montanan Mary Condon Gereau; Alice Cohan from the Feminist Majority came with Ellie; Judith Kaplan, former New York NOW activist and chronicler of feminist history, came from Fort Lauderdale. There were so many young women in attendance. Lara Avery arrived with her mother, Kathryn, an honoree; Tara Levison was with her mother, Cathryn Adamsky, also an honoree; Karen Staser and Chris Renz, president and director of communications of the National Women's History Museum, were there. There were also representatives from the Clearing of Women's Issues, CLUE, WIN, "OFF OUR BACKS," the AAUW and The Women's History Project. Actually everyone there was prominent. If you'd like to see the guest list, send a stamped envelope to VFA .  THE PROGRAM Introducers, the honorees, and a little of what they've accomplished... Karen Mulhauser (right), former Executive Director of Naral and president of Karen Mulhauser Associates, introduced former Congresswoman Pat Schroeder (photo: Kappie Spencer)  PAT SCHROEDER, UNDEFEATED ACTIVIST PAT SCHROEDER won election for Congress in Colorado's first district In 1972 and was re-elected eleven times. A Democrat, she became the first woman to serve on the House Armed Services Committee and was a prime mover behind the Family and Medical Leave Act. Schroeder left Congress in 1997, undefeated after serving 24 years. An early supporter of legalized abortion, she sponsored legislation making it a federal crime to obstruct access to women's clinics; in 1991 she expedited the National Security Committee's vote to allow women to fly combat missions. She was a leader in issues of education, a champion of free speech and a strong advocate for protecting intellectual property rights and reinforcing the creative incentive for developing intellectual property, which she continues to do as president and CEO of the Association of American Book Publishers. She is as well known, though, for saying of Ronald Reagan, "He's just like a Teflon frying pan: Nothing sticks to him." Mary Eastwood, a former president of the National Woman's Party introduced Mary Condon Gereau, Kathryn Avery and Karline Tierney, all ERA activists and active in the National Woman's Party or NWP Corp. MARY CONDON GEREAU:  DEVOTED TO EDUCATAION AND WOMEN'S RIGHTS. President of the National Woman's Party Corp. from 1991 to '96, Mary was active in the ERA campaign with the NWP. Hailing from Iowa and Michigan, she was with the American Red Cross as a program director for the Services to the Armed Forces and was Dean of Students at Eastern Montana College. She served two terms as Superintendent of Education there, and was president of the Council of Chief State School Officers, one of two women among 48 members. Mary has been a consultant to the U.S. Senate Interior Committee and to the Subcommittee on Indian Affairs. She was Executive Director of the White House Committee on Education and Secretary to the Penn State Legislative Dept of the National Education Association, all topped off with the presidency of the ERA Ratification Counsel of NEA. KATHRYN AVERY - BEHIND THE SCENES VOLUNTEER. Kathryn Avery graduated from the U of Washington in English Literature and Theater Arts. When she moved with her military husband and family to Washington in the 1970's she met Alice Paul, who put her right to work. She spent 20 years as an indispensable backstage volunteer for the National Woman's Party, where she worked for passage of the ERA and helped organize the famous ERA march in Washington in 1977. Always active in theater wherever her husband was stationed, she works today in Washington with the Children's and High School Shakespeare Festivals. She lives with her daughter, Tara, in Falls Church, VA.  KARLINE TIERNEY ERA & AAUW ACTIVIST A native of Auburn , NY the chemist, married to a chemist, moved with husband and three adopted children to Baton Rouge, LA. in 1965 where she and her husband were employed. The AAUW member heard Sylvia Roberts speak on the ERA and joined the feminist movement. Soon she was head of the state's ERA campaign. While on the AAUW national board she traveled to meetings nationwide speaking on the need for the ERA, participated in marches and galvanized hundreds of women and men into action. She was a founder of the LA.Women's Political Caucus, served on the Mayor's Commission on the Needs of Women and on the board of the Battered Women's Center. Retired, she and her husband live in Catonsville, MD.  JOY SIMONSON, FEMINIST ACTIVIST/LEADER From Scarsdale , New York the long-time DC denizen is president of the Clearinghouse on Women's Issues (over six million members!) and secretary of OWL. She's been president of the D.C. League of Women Voters and the National Association of Commissions for Women ( 3 terms), was executive director of the National Advisory Council on Women's Educational Programs, was Senior Program Officer of the U.S. delegation to the U.N. Conference in Mexico City and delegate-at-large at the '77 National Women's Conference in Houston. She was the first woman to serve as chair of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board of D.C. from 1964 to '72. When she retired from the professional staff of the Employment and Housing Subcommittee of the House Government Operations Committee, she was the oldest employee in the entire House. Gracia Molina-Pick, founder of the first Chicana/Latina Women's Liberation organizations, introduced:  ANNE BROCK TURPEAU, WOMEN AND HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST A native of West Virginia, Anne Turpeau was a member for nine years of the D.C. Commission for Women and Chairperson from '76 to '79. Under her leadership the Commission became a statutory body of the government of the District of Columbia and advanced revisions of the D.C. code which eliminated sex discriminatory language in the civil laws of the district. She was the Commission's director of a federally funded research project on sexual harassment and organized a citywide conference on elder abuse. She served as co-chair of the National Women's Conference Continuing Committee for 3 terms; was a member of the U.S. Delegation to the U.N. Mid-Decade Conference in Copenhagen and a representative at the Nairobi conference of NGO's, Today she is active in the Friends of the D.C. Commission for Women and the Heritage Tourism Commission. (photo: Judith Kaplan) Kay Cole, Dallas activist, introduced, Maura McNiel -  MAURA McNIEL -- GRASSROOTS ACTIVIST/ORGANIZER. Maura moved to Dallas from Minneapolis in 1953 and became involved in the civil rights movement and invironmental issues. A course she took called "Explore" changed her life, and from then on, the feminist cause came first. She founded Women for Change in 1971, the first women's center in Dallas, then helped organize the Rape Crisis Center, Women's Coalition, Family Place (for battered women), the Southwest Credit Union, The Dallas Commission on the Status of Women and the Women's Issues Network. She worked on Choice, childcare, the women's vote. In 1978 she began Women Helping Women Awards which later became the "Maura Awards". She now lives with her daughter and granddaughter in Los Altos , CA, but travels every year to Dallas to attend the now celebrated MAURA AWARD ceremony. (photo: Judith Kaplan) Pat Cuza, first Exec. Director of the Michigan Women's Commission introduced:  JEAN LEDWITH KING, ATTORNEY, ACTIVIST, MIDWEST PIONEER FEMINIST Jean Ledwith King of Ann Arbor helped found the Women's Caucus of the Michigan Democratic Party, which achieved equal representation of women at all levels both in the state and national party. She founded "Focus on Equal Employment for Women" which filed a complaint against the U. of Michigan for discrimination against the women faculty and staff (they won); helped found the Religious Coalition for Abortion Reform, challenged the Kalamazoo school's choice of text books under Title IX; was co-chair of the Research & Fund Report Committee of the federal Glass Ceiling Commission, which documented the shortage of women and minorities in top management and was president of the Women's Law Fund '81 to '83. She was a member of the Board of Trustees and president of the Women's Law Fund from '81 to '89. She continues practicing law with emphasis on gender bias cases.  Aleta Styers, founder and first president of Chicago NOW and VFA's new Finance Chair, introduced Kappie Spencer. KAPPIE KAPLAN SPENCER, TRUST BREAKER, ONE-WOMAN OPERATOR Kappie Kaplan Spencer has been on a 30-year crusade to change the sexist language and laws of wills and trusts which demean and discriminate against women. She is a pioneer member of Planned Parenthood, worked on campaigns to keep funding their educational programs, took part in the Beijing Conrference, was State and National Legislative chair of AAUW in '82 and '83 , was involved in major ERA campaigns. She the Iowa phone company to list women separately from their husbands in the directory (now in all states ). She works also on the National Gender Balance project to get more women on boards. From Iowa, she lives in Sarasota in winter. Heather Booth, a founder of Chicago Women's Liberation introduced:  CATHRYN ADAMSKY Educator, inspirator, mentor for hundreds of young women, Cathryn taught at Chicago U in the late 60's and was inspired by the women who formed the first women's liberation group there. She later taught Psychology at Indiana-Purdue, where she lobbied for and was allowed to teach women's studies, a program she created. She helped found the Association for Women in Psychology and coordinated the first conference in 1973 and was spokeswoman for AWP from '77 to '82. She was head of Women's Studies at the U of New Hampshire, where she helped develop the first minor and ultimately the first major in women's studies. Under her leadership the university got a National Institute for the Humanities grant for an institute, "Women in 19th Century American Culture." She now lives in Portsmouth, NH Virginia Whitehill, all-around activist of Dallas spoke for:  RUTH McLEAN BOWERS -- activist, feminist philanthropist. Ruth has served on the board of Planned Parenthood, helped found Texas Abortion Rights Action League, helped fund the Roe v Wade Supreme Court case, served on the board of National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws - (NARAL) and is responsible for the first abortion clinic in San Antonio. She is also very interested in the education of young girls and women and has served on the board of Regents of Texas Women's University. She's been active in the National Women's Political Caucus and Emily's List. Ruth lives in San Antonio and Hawaii. Sylvia Roberts - attorney, won landmark cases for women, including NOW case against Southern Bell in early '70's. Baton Rouge, LA and Evelyn Dubrow, CLUE activist, lobbyist, could not be with us. After each honoree received the VFA medal of honor (with their name and the date of the event etched on the back), the former president of the National Woman's Party, Elizabeth Chittick, addressed the guest briefly and called on the current president, Marty Langlon. Marty spoke about the campaign to meet the $500,000 grant awarded the Sewall Belmont House. Paula McKensie, an NWP vice-president gave news of NWP events, and VFA's Barbara Love, publisher of the Pioneer Directory, urged the women to take and fill out the questionnaires and help us find early feminists. Two highlights were when Tara Adamsky and Lara Avery accepted for their mothers, who were in poor health. There is nothing quite so moving as daughters of feminists who are proud of their mother's work! Aleta and I were struggling over the bills ( DC is expensive!) and were wondering how we'd meet the loss, when a Boston member, Betsy Dunn stepped by and wrote us a check for $400. Needless to say, the conversation later on was how we can earn a little money to help keep VFA going!.. An hour later we were at Betty Friedan's apartment for cocktails… greeting other women and men who'd not been at the luncheon. Betty beamed as her photo taken with some, and she loved hearing them tell her how "The Feminine Mystique" affected their lives. Later some of us went out to dinner in small groups. Diana Gartner, Barbara Love , Gracia Molina Pick , Betty Friedan and I were there til the last person left, so with Betty we went to an exotic Asian restauarant where we heard Betty's family's response to her latest book (not too good) and shared NOW memories. Saturday at noon Aleta , Barbara and I gave reports of VFA's past and future activities.to the few who showed up at the Mayflower Hotel for the VFA meeting. Members will receive a full report later on. Besides Aleta Styers, who came from New York City to handle the door and help in general, several VFA members from far away showed up to help out and/ enjoy the event. Gracia Molina Pick, my right hand and good pal, flew in from San Diego, Barbara Love of NYC and CT was promoting the "Pioneer Directory." Then there was Diana Gartner, early NY NOW Image Committee chair and Baltimore resident; Winnie Wackwitz, a pilot and an author of girl's adventure stories, accompanied the Dallas group; Elizabeth Spalding, early NOW Marriage and Divorce committee and current president of the Hartford chapter was with her son and daughter-in law; Betsy Dunn flew in from Boston and came with Suzanne Butler from Maryland. back to top |
| A B RI E F STO RY 0 F ST RI KE 1970 Jacqui Ceballos and Joan Michel The Storyline Yes, we moved mountains, changed the course of rivers-but we also lost a lot. We lost high heels, tight bras and girdles and fashion-certified hemlines. We lost the need to have a man cosign our leases and credit cards. We lost the obligation to follow society's dictates about the kinds of careers we could aspire to, at having to accept lower wages that compromised our dignity. We lost being defined by our marriage-or-not state, by our sexual orientation. We lost the fear of lawyers and courts who left us in poverty after divorce. And, as Robin Morgan put it so well, "Goodbye to All That." Goodbye to limited career opportunities, to quotas in medical schools and other male-only domains. To men-only restaurants, bars, executive airline flights, clubs, college libraries. To skimpy support (if any at all) for women's sports. To disbelief, disregard and disdain of sexual harassment in the workplace, to sexual abuse of young girls and children, to wife battering. To back- alley abortion mills. To ridicule at our demand for equality, dignity, independence and equal pay. To being accused of ruining our children. For being blamed for every one of society's ills. That's a lot of losing. So come. Come reunite with your sisters in joyful celebration of all the things we unloaded in the 70s. It is the decade of the 70's. Watergate. The Beatles. After which our small movement sweeps boldly across the country. Women's Liberation groups and NOW chapters spring up in cities and towns, colleges and universities. Caucuses form in every field, in government, law, medicine, sociology, psychology. Throughout the days and throughout the nights, in lofts, apartments, in mansions and offices from east to west, from north to south, women find new strengths. They are seen and heard on the streets, in houses of worship, in Congress, in the courts and the clubs, hotel dining rooms, bars, doctors' offices, lawyers' dens. They are out to change the world. We celebrate these soldiers of the 70s. Some are on longer with us; many have burned out. While we continue to search, we honor all. As we find the missing, we add them to the Directory of Pioneer Feminists and our symbolic Feminist Wall. We urge you to send us the names and addresses of these women in the wings so we can honor them front and center.
BETTY FRIEDAN - THE FIRE When in 1970 Betty Friedan completed her term as president of NOW and announced she would lead a national strike on the 50th anniversary of suffrage, Aileen Hernandez, the new president, was stunned. How could NOW take on this immense project? But unbeatable Betty took it on, and while the Strike didn't paralyze the nation, it made us a grassroots movement. That is well documented. What is not documented is the role played by a small group of women in making the national Strike, especially the march and other NY events, the mindblowers they were. Most of these women are not here tonight. Being honored is not such a big deal for them; the growth and development of feminism was thanks enough. But VFNs goal is to write them into the history books so future generations will know their names, and what they did, and understand that serving feminism is as noble a cause as fighting for one's country. And even better than apple pie. We dedicate this evening to these unsung heroes who helped make us a movement. THE BACKGROUND Betty was wise to name Karen DeCrow National Strike coordinator. Karen handled the press and revved up the formation of NOW chapters across the country. But if the march was to happen, it had to happen in the Big Apple. How would Betty do it? In 1970, she wasn't too popular with most New York feminists in the city. Lesbians were demanding their rights within the movement, and Betty didn't handle that too well, She could bring in the YWCA, the League of Women Voters, the Human Rights Commission, but no way could she do it without the feminists, the passionate crusaders on a mission to change the world. Women's Liberation groups were hesitant to get on the bandwagon. Nor would New York NOW's president cooperate (until just two weeks before the great day, when Strike fever was raging). How could I ignore so spectacular a chance to promote our movement? I knew just about everyone, and I knew independent feminists, the Young Socialists and new members of NOW would be the first to answer the call. I took things into my own hands and got on the phone. The first to answer the call were independents Anne Haziewood Brady and Marjorie DeFazio, and Ruthann Miller and Rosemary Gafney of the Young Socialists. Along with Ruth Chaney, they took the reins as planners and organizers. There were others, some there from Day One, who came in as the excitement mounted: Jill Ward, Mary Vasiliades, Joyce Vinson, Jo Hazleton, Mary Scully, Carole DeSaram. The Strike Coalition was a going thing, so as its liaison to the Coalition and Strike coordinator I concentrated on NY NOW. My enthusiastic committee probed for ideas for demonstrations that would attract the 50,000 marchers we'd quoted to the press. "Let's take over the Statue of Liberty," Patricia Lawrence said. "The Puerto Ricans did it last year." With Marian Gannet, Pat strategized the event. And so 40-foot banners-"Women of the World Unite" and "March on August 26 for Equality"- --were hung on Ms. Liberty's balconies a few days before the 26th, and the shot was heard around the world. A few weeks before the big day I had taken charge of the press conference when Betty Friedan, stuck on the Long Island Railroad, didn't show up. I told reporters (looking at their watches and threatening to leave) that not only would thousands march, we'd distribute our own newspaper, we'd place plaques around the city to mark where statues of great women would be erected, give "Barefoot and Pregnant Awards" to ad agencies for their sexist commercials. Now we had to make it happen. By now the excitement quotient had blown off the Richter scale and every feminist group in town was planning actions. The NOW YORK TIMES was done in less than two weeks by Deborah Beale, Nancy Borman, Ivy Boftini, Tiffany Holmes, Jillian Mulvihill, Rose Atamian, Maria Malero, Sharon Rost, Clara DeMiha. Some wrote articles under pen names like Judith Capulet, who authored "Marriage Legalized as a Career." (Guess you know Betty Barry of the Marriage and Divorce Committee was Judith!) The New York Radical Feminists, The Feminists, Redstookings, Media Women, every group in town planned demonstrations for the 26th and helped swell the ranks of marchers. All these great soldiers who ran the coalition, planned the demonstrations, organized the march and the rally, we honor them now and forever. A SALUTE TO A FEMINIST FUTURE AND VFA'S ROLE LOOK WHAT WE STARTED! American women are fighting to help women around the globe, to ftee them from poverty, rape, genital mutilation, marital abuse, "honor 'killings, eternal pregnancies --you remember it, you name it. We will continue until every woman has access to education, employment, marital equity, birthcontrol, healthbenefits. We here know our movement can only claim success when women around the world have human rights. And this could take centuries. Our vision is the VFA will be a support for future generations of veterans. We are now reaching out to veterans of 1976 to 1985. Though I'll work with VFA as long as I'm able, my hope is that we will have a New York office with at least one paid assistant, and active committees to help with public relations, fundraising, membership, etc. To do this we need to be set up on a solid footing, and we need our members to help. What can you do? E-mail Jacqui at address: jcvfa@aol.com. Get busy and put us on the map! SUSAN BROWNMILLER - A civil rights activist in the'60s, Susan, a writer, was sent to report on women's liberation in 1967. She joined the cause and became a member of the New York Radical Feminists. A great orchestrator, she planned the Ladies Home Journal Sit-in in 1969. She also organized a force against pornography and probably is responsible for getting pom off Broadway. She s written for many newspapers and several books. Among them "Against Our Will," about rape, and her latest book "in Our Time," the story of the second wave of the feminist movement. JACQUI CEBALLOS -Joined NYNOW in 1967. headed the public relations committee and speakers bureau and cofounded and did PR for Anselma Dell Olio's New Feminist Theatre. She helped organize the Strike Coalition and was Strike Coordinator for the chapter in 1970. She was the chapter president in '71 and Eastern Regional Director in '72. She helped Befty Friedan found the National Women's Political Caucus, ran as a delegate for Shirley Chisholm for President and was a founder and Exec Director of the Women's Forum. With Jane Field and Dell Williams, she ran a speakers bureau and PR firm. In 1990 she did interviews for the Schlesinger Library's History of NOW project funded by Mary Jean Tully and founded the Veteran Feminists of America in '92. KAREN DECROW - Besides being National Strike Coordinator, Karen founded Syracuse New York NOW, was Eastern Regional Director and President of national NOW for two terms. She organized the first political conference in Seneca Falls in 1971, is a founder of the NY and National Women's Political Caucus. Karen has written several books on feminism. She writes a syndicated column on current issues and practices law in Syracuse. .jpg) CAROLE DESARAM - joined NOW in 1970 and helped carry the banner "Women of the World Unite" down Fifth Avenue 8/26/1970 and with other feminists climbed up the side of the NY Public Library with the banner at the end of the march, and, in 1972 hung it on the Statue of Liberty. She headed up zap actions, closing down the Stock Exchange, Citi Bank and other institutions that discriminated against women. She created the FBI poster (Feminist Bureau of Investigation) along with Nancy Borman and Doris Rush with pictures of CEO's who discriminated against women. She started the national movement to end discrimination in giving women credit. She also chaired several committees locally and nationally, became President of the NYC Chapter in 1974 and served on the National Board of NOW. JANICE LAROUCHE - In 1969 Janice impressed three NYNOW members at the Albert Ellis Institute when she refuted the allegations of the speaker (topic -"The New Woman"). they invited her head the speakers-bureau. She joined NY NOW and was on the. board. Aware of women's need to learn how to succeed in the business world, she started a study group that developed into the Career Workshops for Women. "Women were raised to be housewives- Strategies for success in business was not on their horizon, they couldn't deal with money, and needed assertiveness training. She studied psychology and added this dimension to the Career Workshops. A founder of VFA, for the first year she held feminist soirees at her apartment, where Kate Millett, Evelyn Cunningham, Barbara Seaman, Phyllis Chesler, Letty Cottin Pogrebin and other veterans held sway. Janice still gives career training classes and does consulting for corporations and businesses. KATE MILLETT - Was a member of NYCITY NOW since 1967. As head of the chapters education committee she wrote Token Leaming, a booklet which exposed the seven sister colleges - (to educate young women to be wives and mothers). Her doctoral thesis was published as a book Sexual Politics in 1970 and caused an immediate sensation. Among her other books - Flying and The Loony Bin. An artist of note, her tree farm in upstate New York is also an women's art colony. JENNIE BATLEY - Princeton, NJ, NYC. After the events of 1970, Simone de Beauvoir's "The Sex" become even more meaningful. Upon finishing my Ph.D. at Columbia University in the Department of French and Romance Philology, In 1977 I taught French language and literature at Princeton U., a fierce bastion of male chauvinism. During my first year of tenure my colleagues labeled me a 'feminist', a derogatory term. But some students were interested in the new currents of ideas, and for them I compiled a reading list of French women authors, tracing the roots of feminism to a medieval French poetess. Thanks to what happened in 1970, 1 felt support in my search for the feminine voice and gained enough confidence to oppose some males of the Old Boy Network. Condescendence and arrogance was only a cover up for their insecurity. Their common goal then was to control women, neutralize our power and cancel our eagerness to be a vibrant part of the intellectual community. But thanks to the sisters who opened a breach in the stoned wall of male dominion, who courageously lead us, I found the courage to become, in 1977, the isolated bearer of a feminist torch in the underworld of Princeton University megalomanic all-maleness. ANNE HAZLEWOOD BRADY moved to the city from New Jersey around 1969. A poet and writer starting a new life after raising four sons, she became active at the Women's Center in Manhattan. A freelance feminist, she was the first one to answer the call. At the first meeting (somewhere in Soho), Anne plunked down the vital $1,000 for an office. The exuberance of the march is captured in her beautiful poem on our cover, We took to the streets like a river. She's published books of poetry on her own and with Marjorie DeFazio. In the early 1970s, Anne moved to Maine, where she continues writing when not climbing Machu Picchu or canoeing through the Grand Canyon. DOROTHY CROUCH - was an active member of NOW NY from 1969 to 1974, serving on the Membership Task Force, as chair of the board, in 1972 as president and later as a member of the Advisory Council. Today she is DC Comic's vp of licensed publishing and associate publisher of MAD Magazine. She is also the founder and president of Crouch International, which provides publishing-related services to clients on three continents. Previously, Dorothy had been vp, general manager and vp? International for Warner Books and vp, International for Warner Publisher Services. Dorothy is also active on the American Arbitration Association's commercial panel of arbitrators, and is the author of the book "Entertaining Without Alcoho MARJORIE DEFAZIO - Living on the Upper West Side with her husband and three sons, Marjorie heard the call. Aware of the writer's need for "A Room of One's Own," she split her huge apartment in two--her husband and sons on one end, she on the other-and switched priorities; housekeeping time was now writing time. She helped out at the Women's Center and was one of the Strike's principal organizers. A poet, playwright and director, Marjorie compiled and edited with Anne Raising Our Voices, Women Through the Ages, poetry about women by women. Later, with Patricia Horan she wrote, directed and acted in What Time of Night It Is, the story of the 19th century feminist movement performed for NOWs national conference in 1972. In 1975, again with Patricia, she wrote and directed the story of women's progress in the US as seen through their underwear; it was presented at the Hotel Pierre with Colleen Dewhurst as narrator to an audience of distinguished feminists and the press. Today she lives on a farm in upstate New York. ELEANOR FOA DIENSTAG -New York City. The march was the first major step in my becoming an outspoken activist. I had recently moved - reluctantly - from New York City to Rochester. Back in New York for a visit, pushing my baby in a stroller, I came upon 'The March', and absolutely had to be a part of it, so I handed the baby and stroller over to my mother, told her I'd see her later, gota 'WomenUnite' shoppingbag (now framed and on my wall)and marched. l had already contributed to 'Ms.' magazine, but the event galvanized me to further action. Back in Rochester I joined NOW and wrote, Whither Thou Goest: The Story of an Uprooted Wife. The book made me 'notorious' in upstate New York. My children and I even got hate phonecalls. So I would say that the march was the first major step in my becoming an outspoken activitist. The feminist movement, and my participation transformed my life as a wife, mother, sister, writer and person, in every way. I think of the 1970s as a golden age for women of my generation - a fabulous time to be a woman. It was not only personally empowering but it began to change the workplace, so that after leaving my marriage I could earn a living and support my children (two boys), who have turned out to be wonderfully feminist husbands and fathers. SYD BEINER-NYC - I joined the NYCity chcipter of NOW (where it all began) in response to the '71 'lesbian purge.' I was an active reporter on the early feminist newspaper Majority Report; was editor of the NOW-NY Chapter Newsletter from 1972to 1975 and was Chairperson of the NOW-NY Chapter Board in 1974. 1 was an active NOW-NY member from 1971 until 1980. Since 1981 1 have been, and still am, a NOW-East End Chapter member. 515 E 85 St 10G - NYNY 10028 CONSTANCE COMER -NYC Constance Comer was a 'housewife and mother' Manhattan style when she heard about the women's movement and decided the "problem that had no name' was her problem, too. She joined NYNOW and changed her life. She was soon lobbying in Washington for the ERA, and sitting on the steps of the Capitol in an "all night vigil' holding ERA signs. In 1970 she was the .priestess' who led the dedication of the park where statues of Susan B. Anthony and Sojourner Truth would hopefully be erected. Her photo reading the dedication is on this event's invitation. Connie is a teacher and a partner in Business Training Seminars. 70 West 95 St NYC 10025 JUDITH HENNESSEE - The movement crystalized so much that I'd thought all my life, and the march was my opportunityto do somrthing about it. It was the most thrilling thing in the world. I joined New York-NOW and began working on a license challenge to WABC-TV, a long project that focused on sexism in the media and forced the station to sit down and deal with us and make changes. Thirty years later I wrote a biography of Betty Friedan, 'Betty Friedan: Her Life' published lost year by Random House. Recalling those wild, wonderful days, I'm so very proud of the history we made. TIFFANY HOLMES - NYC - Joining NOW just a few months before the strike, I was soon caught up in the fever-pitch excitement of its preparations. As part of that, I jined those who were producing the parody of the Times: The Now York Times. Some of us even went out at night to sneak copies of it into newsstands' copies of the real thing, giving unsuspecting buyers a bonus with their morning coffee. We also distributed copies on THE day, August 26, 1970. In fact, we had so much fun with this that we produced the paper for two more years! My other main contribution to feminism; writing the book WOMAN'S ASTROLOGY-. Your Astrological Guide to a Future Worth Having, debunking the sexist programming that SO many horoscope articles - and individual readings! - provided. I am an editor by profession and write mystery stories. 100 Beeker St 7G NYNY 10038 JUDITH KAPLAN - NYC, Boca Raton, FL - Joined NYC NOW in 1970 and served as treasurer and fundraiser. She organized a Monte Carlo night, was active on the Image Committee, lobbied, demonstrated, created and sold a women's history collectible series, "the Women's History Series of First Day Covers by NOW-NY." She salvaged historic material from the 'Second Wave" including New York NOW newsletters, announcements and magazines. It is all cataloged and listed and available to students and teachers. Since the mid 1960's she's promoted women's history as the cornerstone to the advancement of our sex. She's published articles on women in history, and women on stamps in the philatelic and non- philatelic press. She wrote 'Women Suffrage on First Day Covers" depicting how stamps told the story of the Suffrage Movement, collected autographed letters, documents, books, memorabilia about women's history, especially of the early feminist movement and donated the collection to the Central Florida Community College in Ocala, Florida. Called the Kaplan Women's History Collection, it is on permanent display and is in a traveling exhibit yearly. Judith has had her my own business since 1974. In 1980 she, her husband (also a collector) and two children moved to Florida, where she offered her business facilities for the Palm Beach NOW chapter. Her phone was the Rape Crisis and the Support ERA hot line. In '85 she represented the state as the Small Business Person For Florida. Today she is a Trustee of the Feminist Scholarship Foundation in Boca Raton, an advisor to the Kaplan Women's History Collection and to the National Museum of Women's History, which is establishing a comprehensive Women's History Museum in Washington, DC. ANN JULIANO JAWIN - My first real "action" was being part of the l970 march in NYC. I felt exhiliarated by being part of the women demonstrating for their rights. I was also sobered by seeing the anger and hostile looks and words some on the sidelines threw at us. I joined the Task Force on Education and Employment and the rest is "herstory!" I stayed with the Task Force for almost ten years. During that time, edited the last two of the NYC Reports on Sex Bias in the N.Y.Public Schools Series l973 to l979. Report and testimony led to the Bd of Education adopting policy for equal opportunity and appointing a Title IX Coordinator for each school. Filed Class Action law suit against Bd. of Ed. discrimination against women supervisors resulting in court monitoring appointment practices. Designed and taught first Inservice Course in Women's Rights required for new teachers.  Published one of the first full resource books for women, A WOMAN'S GUIDE TO CAREER PREPARATION, Scholarships, Grants and Loans, Anchor Press, 1979. Ran for public office of N.Y.S. Assembly and N.Y.S. Senate. Held Democratic Party office of District Leader and State Committeewoman. Founded Queens Women's Center, a full resource center for women in l987. Established lst office in office space donated in Queens Borough Hall and in l998, granted occupancy in landmark building in decommissioned Army Base at Ft. Totten, Bayside, Queens to become the first women's full service women's center in New York City. Recognized by NOW, NYC, Susan B. Anthony Award. Nominated to Hunter College Hall of Fame. Received the Ralph Bunche Award for Human Rights, Queens Chapter of the U.N. Assn, Queens Chapter. Mayor's Volunteer Service Award. Most of these awards were given in recognition of the work I was doing for women. JUDITH LORBER - I came into the women's movement in 1971 when I finished my Ph.D. Women's rights and gender equality were the most important questions of my time, as far as I was concerned. I'd been a "latent feminist' since I was 14 years old (way before the movement was in the public view). I began to develop and teach women's studies courses in sociology and then in the new women's studies program at Brooklyn College in New York City. I was the first Coordinator of the CUNY Graduate School Women's Studies Certificate Program (1988-1991). When Sociologists for Women in Society was organized in 1972, 1 was one of its first members. I was president in 1981-82 and Founding Editor in 1987 of its new official journal, Gender & Society. All of my professional work has been in feminism - my books - Paradoxes of Gender (Yale 1994) and Gender Inequality: Feminist Theories and Politics (Roxbury, 1998), my research on women and medicine, published as Gender and the Social Construction of Illness (Sage 1997) and Women Physicians: Careers, Status, and Power (Tovistock 1984), and my teaching in the US and in other countries. In 1996, 1 received the American Sociological Association Jessie Bernard Career Award for my contributions to feminist scholarship. I am just as proud to have raised a son (now 32 years old) to be a feminist who is going to marry a feminist next June. BARBARA MARTIN - Greenwich, CT - A librarian, Barbara joined NOW in 1970, and was president of Greenwich NOW in '71 and Asst State Coordinator in '75. She worked to repeal sexist legislation and on passing the ERA in CT she wrote a book list on women's history which was distributed nationwide; lectured and did general consciousness-raising, especially among suburban women, for many years. She was active in community affairs . Today she is still works part time at the Greenwich library. She recently reunited with the son she gave up for adoption 36 years ago and says that is the most satisfying and important thing in her life. Her son, his wife and their son are moving to Greenwich to be near her. 54 Putman Park Greenwich, CT 06830 ELAINE MERKLIN, NYC - lt was the beginning of the'70s. Vacationing in Provincetown I was on my way to the beach, when I saw a woman thumbing a ride in my direction. That day, I picked up my one and only hitch-hiker - Mary Vasiliodes - and this singular action changed my life forever. Mary introduced me to NOW NEW YORK and all the wonderful women she knew; eventually, this led to knowing Dolores Alexander's mother - Sally DeCario - a dear and warm woman who helped me during a difficult time. Mary also gave a name and voice to thoughts and feelings I had had all my life. Marching, picketing, attending (Can you believe it!) proud Lesbian- feminist meetings, devouring womens' histories, and photographing events became a way of life, sweetened by occasional dinners at Mother Courage. It is nearly 30 years later, and my beliefs and values have only strenghtened with time. I now live quietly on Cape Cod - knowing that I am one woman among many women from countless generations of women - all of worth cind with a story to tell. Blessed be Mary V. and blessed be you all, Elaine Margaret (after my dear grandmother) Merklin. 61 Newport Rd. Brewster, MA 02631 JOAN MICHEL - NYC - Guess you could say I was sort-of like the wife.... did my thing behind the scenes, never in the spotlight, never to the roar of the crowd. I helped the beautiful (too-soon gone) Pat McQuillan organize the first-ever Marriage and Divorce conference, which in effect legitimized the movement for a lot of women-they called them housewives then-who were unsophisticated about feminism. I remember that rainy night well .... it was early enough to make the evening news, and excited women come running in off the streets. My activist journey started in 1971, when I rode the bus from Riverdale-I even had to borrow the $1 fare from Irma Diamond (Newmark) -to the NOW office. Jacqui was president and swamped with paperwork (someone had to stuff the envelopes) and inquires ('What is it you women want?') From then on I did the desk (licked the stamps & answered the phones) and helped with the Women's Forum, the Politcal Caucus and wrote press releases out of Jacqui's apartment. Kept at it slow and steady since then, doing what I could when I could to burn the sexism out of language (does everyone know that Hero was a woman?). I was one of the founders in 1992 of the VFA and have been VP of PR ever since. These days I help Jacqui with some big do's. I'm a writer and editor (for Hadossch magazine) and a food writer and editor (freelance) for several publications and cookbook writers. I have three sons and twelve grandchildren so for. Not bad for a late bloomer! IRMA DIAMOND NEWMARK -NYC, Pompano Beach, FL - I was a suburban housewife when I first heard Jacqui speak and was immediately galvanized to enter NYC NOW where I was active on the Image and the Employment committees. I participated in the 'Fly Me' campaign and delivered ' Barefoot and Pregnant' awards to advertizers on August 26 in New York City. It was exciting, as we were trying to change womens inferior image in the media. During this time drvorced, worked on my Ph.D (in Sociology) and formed the first Bronx NOW chapter. I then at several colleges, including Iona in New Rochelle and the NYC, Bronx branch of Continuing Education. My daughter and son were always very supportive, even proud of my work. In '75 I married, and moved with my husband and his three children to Israel, where we lived for several years. There I continued my work in Sociology and, with my dentist husband, formed Dentists of the World. We spent several years in Japan as consultants to Japanese businesses. We returned to NYC in '91 where I become active with with the Status of Women Committee at the United Notions and was a co-founder of the VFA. Today I live in South Florida and am in touch with the NOW chapters in that area. GRACIA MOLINA PICK - San Diego, CA - Gracia began her activism as a teenager in her native Mexico in the fight for the vote for Mexican women. She earned her B.A. from the Feminist University of Mexico City, School of Diplomatic Low, married Richard Pick and moved to San Diego. While caring for her three children, she got her M.A. from Son Diego State U, and began her doctoral studies in comparitive literature and Education Administration. She was on the faculty at UCSD, UCR, UCSS and Mesa College. She's worked with Cesar Chavez's Grape Pickers union On August 26, 1970 Gracia and the Organizacion Feminil and the Chicano activists were preparing to march in the Chicano Moratorium, the largest non-violent latino protest against the Vietnam. (Latina losses were near the total American casualties in WWII). In the early 1970's she formed the first Latina Women's Liberation group and invited Gloria Steinem to help celebrate. In 1975 she represented her group at the United Nations Conference on Women in Mexico. Gracia has worked tirelessly on behalf of Democratic candidates, and helped with the first successful effort to begin the grossroots integration of minorities into the State Democratic Party For years she has helped register new citizens at the Naturcilization Ceremony in Son Diego, and in 1996, along with her colleagues, registered 14,500 new voters. All the while, she volunteers at hospitals and serves the homeless on Sundays . Invited to take part in our celebration of Gloria Steinem in 1994, Gracia first learned of VFA, and has been one of our chief volunteers since then. She is now our West Coast Vice President. 1016 New Kirk Dr. La Jolla, CA 92037 LEE BLEDA OLIVER - NYC - I walked into Central Park on August 26, 1970 and found that the marchers had nearly reached the West Side. The "Feminist Mystique' showed me how normal I really was! In the '60's I worked in the Civil Rights Movement, but the Civil Rights Movement never worked for me, or for other women who had a right to expect a better way of life. I joined NOW and was a member of the board in 1971. Nancy Gordon and I were joint chairs of the Political Affairs Committee and produced a booklet called 'Women and the City: How to Use the Machinery.' In '71-- I was one of the founding members of the Women's Advocacy Committee and with help from women who worked for the City of New York we formed a resume bank. We issued a report called "A Study on The Women in New York City Government: Clerical Workers.' It showed that women received lower pay, needed more education, received less promotions and got fewer options than men in similar job categories. In the years following, I picketed, made lobbying trips to Washington for the ERA and tried to make life uncomfortable for politicians and firms who discriminated against women. Pat Korbet, MaryVasiliades and I formed 'Women's lnterprises,' a mail-order catolog of women's products. Recently at the Church of the Holy Trinity I addressed a group and distributed a report called 'Women: Issues of Yesterday, Today and the Future.' FLORENCE RUSH - In 1970 Florence become involved with New York Radical Feminists. She wrote and published 'Best Kept Secret: Sexual Abuse of Children.' She helped organize OWL (Older Women's Liberation) was a media representative in NYNOW and Women Against Pornography.' She lectures on women's issues, Freudian influences, rape, etc..and is now an AIDS activist related to women and children. LAURA SCHARF - NYC Laura joined NOW around 1970 and worked with Midge Kovacs and the Image Committee on the Public Service campaign. (Among other things, the committee did television monitoring of every station for two weeks, and filed a petition to deny the license renewal of WABC-TV). A board member, she headed the Sexuality Committee and, with Dell Williams, organized two sexuality conferences. She remembers never ending meetings, high visibility for all NOW actions and those famous sexuality conferences, the first ever held. She later moved to Cortland Manor, NY with her husband and children and refocused her priorities into the non-profit sector, starting her own business public relations, fund-raising, organizing and writing. 279 Sprout Brook Rd Cortdiant Manor, NY 10566 DOROTHY SENERCHIA -NYC The co-founder of Veteran Feminists of America, Dorothy was active from 1969 to 1974. A member of NewYorkNOW, she was a supporter of the New Feminist Theater led by Anselma Dell'Olio, a frequent marcher for abortion rights and other issues (when she could get away from her position on Urban Planning for the City of New York), on the Strike Coalition in New York and counselor for Big Sisters program. She remembers meetings in church basements, the 1970 march down Fifth Avenue and Mother Courage, a feminist hang-out in the Village (run by Dolores Alexander and Jill Word) . In 1980 she made a film, "The Funeral. " After an illness doctors couldn't diagnose, she wrote 'Silent Menace' a book on signs and treatment of chronic candidiasis. Starting life as a violinist, today she studies piano and supports theater groups. She is on the board of VFA and is Dining Room Coordinator for VFA banquets. 1161 York Ave NYNY 1 0021 ELAYNE SNYDER -NYC - Elayne stepped into the street and into women's history on August 26, 1970 during the Great March . She joined NOW immediately. Believing everyone should join and work for equality, she began as Membership Coordinator for the New York chapter and the roll went up to 1500. President of the chapter in '74, she promoted women in business along with NOW issues, and created the NOW Christmas Fairs, where women entrepreneurs sold their wares and advertised their businesses. She ran the Women's Chair Memorial, a chapter fund raiser, where people honored women in history by buying a chair with names of their hero (or their names) stenciled on the chair. The over 100 sold are still in use today. She started a Public Speaking class to help the women to better communicate the issues and found her career path. She then taught "Effective Communication Skills for Women " at the Woman School, one of the first continuing education colleges addressing women's new needs. Today she teaches at New York University and at the American Management Association and conducts a speech consulting business. She has authored two books on public speaking, Speak for Yourself With Confidence, the first of its kind to use the word SHE Elayne Snyder exclusively, and Persuasive Business Speaking. This last, and her Random House Audio Tape, The Persuasive Speaker, are still available. She is a founder of the Veteran Feminists of America. ALETA STYERS - Chicago (now in NYC) - VFA!s head of our newly formed Financial Committee is the founder and first president of the Chicago NOW chapter. She led the chapter in efforts to desexigrate the Chicago Tribune and local restaurants, to repeal discriminatory employment laws and to gain access for women to trade schools. She raised funds for efforts to support the Martin Marietta case and to prevent Senate ratification of Judge Carswell's appointment to the Supreme Court. The first woman in the management program of Paine Webber holds a B.A. from New York U and graduate degrees from Yale and Northwestern. She's been a Foreign Service Officer of the Dept. of State, an International Economist for the Harris Bank, and a Corporate Manager of Economic Planning at Babcock & Wilcox. While at B & W she was named one of the ten leading American women in manufacturing. Today she lives and runs her own business in New York City. One of the early women members of the Yale Club of New York, she's held several official positions with the Club. The second woman to serve a full term on the Council, the governing body, she's also served on the Planning and the Finance Committees. VIRGINIA SMITH WATKINS - Des Moines, IO & Minneapolis, MN - Prior to 1970 1 had read the Feminine Mystique and knew it spoke to me. I lived in Des Moines at the time and joined NOW as a national member. I was inspired by NOW Acts and all the news of what was going on. I decided that I must get active, so I convened the Des Moines NOW Chapter. I moved to Minneapolis where I immediately plunged into feminist activities which eventually culminated into 6 years of service on the NOW National Board. While I worked on many issues within NOW, I also worked for feminism via my career in social services. I am specifically gratified that in the latter context I was responsible for passage of the first Child Care Sliding Fee legislation in Minnesota, 5841 Whited Av., Minnetonka MN 55345 Phone 952-934-2525 Email: VirginiaWatkins@MSN.com GRACE WELCH - lslandia, NY - On the day I saw that banner headline about the Women's Strike March down Fifth Avenue in the NEW YORK DAILY NEWS I called the New York NOW office, was put in touch with Nassau NOW and joined on the spot and immediately became active. I handled public relations for the chapter, attended board meetings, and helped form the first Long Island Feminist Coalition press conference at Hofstra University with an action against the Colonie Hill Hotel in Hauppauge and the American Red Cross for sex discrimination. In 1973 nine women and one man, (my husband, Frank) convened the South Shore NOW chapter. I served as Chapter President for two terms, 1974 to 1976. We held the first Human Sexuality Conference on Long Island at Dowling College in 1974, the first Assertiveness Training Classes in Oakdale, L.I., the first co-ed Consciousness Raising Groups, the first Masculine Mystique consciousness-raising - meeting with editors of NEWSDAY, the first 'Women's Image in Advertising' at the Long Island Advertising Club. We challenged (successfully) Little League discriminating against girls joining. In 1 973 1 ran for Central Islip School Board on a Title IX platform. My research revealed that the sports budget for male students was $43,000, and the girls' $300! My years as a feminist activist have been the most rewarding experiences of my life, and continues to sustain and energize me. I've been secretary and treasurer of VFA for three years and am working in Hillary's campaign. Note: Grace is also a yoga teacher. 67 Scotch Pine Rd Islandia, NY II 722  FRANK WELCH - Islandia, NY - Frank Prince Welch, husband of Grace, was Treasurer of the Long Island chapter of NOW in 1975. He was always there to schlep, deliver, paste, post, drive, you name it, says Grace. DELL WI LLIAMS - New York City - On August 26, 1970 I was working as on account executive in a Fifth Avenue firm when I saw the women lined up to march down the avenue. I joined them, and joined NOW, immediately becoming active in many areas. I organized fund raising and celebratory events for the chapter. That year, 1972, I co- founded one of the first feminist businesses, New Feminist Talent, a speakers bureau, with Jacqui Ceballos and Jane Field, to supply the demand for feminist speakers . Still active in the chapter, Judy Wenning, the president in 1973, asked me to organize a conference on women's sexuality. My life really changed radically then. The theme was to "explore, expand and calibrate our sexuality. It was the first sexuality conference in the world, and I believe it started the women's sexuality movement. For the women who attended, in many ways it changed their lives. I organized a second conference a year or so later, and then founded the first women's sexuality boutique, EVE's GARDEN, a mail-order business to destribute products and information and to assist women on their path to sexual liberation. I ran the business for twenty years. In 1992, I was a co-founder of the Veteran Feminists of America and have been on the board since then. I was born in the Bronx and started my professional life as a singer and actress . During WWII -- I was in the Army and traveled with a theatre group to entertain the troups. Today I am making commercials and looking to do more acting. MARGALO ASHLEY FARRAND - Pittsburgh, NYC, L.A A NOW member since 1970, she was on the founding board of Pennsylvania NOW, convenor i president of East Hills Pittsburgh chapter, and Co-coordinator of Eastern Regional NOW Convention. In '73 she was legal assistant to NOW lawyer, Sylvia Roberts, helping with Title Vil individual and class action suits against the U. of Pittsburgh. In New York in '73 she negotiated agreements with KABC-TV and KNBC- TV- filed petitions to deny the licenses of KNXT, KTLA, KTTV & KCOP. Graduated from NYU Cum Laude in 1978 in Poiities and Mass Media/Journalism, she moved to California, graduated from Southwestern U School of Law and has been a practicing attorney since 1981 in Family Law. She was president of the Pasadena Interracial Women's Club, Co- president, Hollywood NOW, convenor/ coordinator of Los Angeles Women's Coalition. She researched Constitutional issues for a sex discrimination suit against the 1984 Olympics and proposed civil rights legislation, which helped win women right to compete in marathon and other sports in '84 Olympics. She was a candidate for Los Angeles County Supervisor, 5th District, '92 and for California Assembly, 59th District in 1994. SHERRY ROGERS - Forest Hills, NY. I lived in Schenectady during the 1970 march. I became aware of the Women's movement when I heard Shirley Chisholm announce her candidacy for President in Albany, NY in January, 1972. 1 got into a CR group and it changed my life. Actually, it saved my life! I became active because we were busy ferrying women down to NYC from the Albany area to get safe abortions and wanted to change the laws so they could have safe legal abortions closer to home. I moved to Forest Hills later, and was president of the Brooklyn chapter in the mid 70s. I was elected while on vacation.. No one else wanted the job! I'm currently active in getting ERA passed into low! It's my priority before I die! SANDY WARSHAW - Honored by NYCNOW with the Susan B. Anthony award in 1994, Sandy has been an activist in OWL, served two terms on the board and is currently on the steering committee of the Greater New York Chapter. She was in the Peace Movement, helped open alternate schools in New York during integration battles, was founding vice-president of SHARE ( Self Help Experience for Women with Breast and Ovarian Cancer. She is on the Executive Committee of the World Congress of Gay and Lesbian and Bisexual Jewish Organizations and is Director of the Dept of Policy, Education and Community Organzing for SAGE - Senior Action in the Gay Environment. MARY VASILIADES - New York City A public relations executive in early 1970, Mary was intrigued by the news coming from the feminist movement. As a board member of the Publicity Club of New York she organized a panel discussion on women's liberation, inviting Jacqui Cebellos from NOW, and Mindo Bickman and Diane Caruthers of New York Radical Feminists. Jacqui recruited her to help organize the strike and become active in NOW. She attended coalition meetings, wrote copy for flyers and worked on the Statue of Liberty action. The following year she again worked on the August 26th march, writing press releases and speeches. She was elected to the NOW board and also became active with NY Radical Feminists. She lobbied in DC for the ERA, worked on the NYRF's Rape Prevention Conference, and with the Manhattan Women's Political Caucus. She ran as a delegate in the Shirley Chisholm presidential campaign and wrote for the feminist newspaper, Majority Report and was a partner in a feminist mail order business, Women Enterprises. Mary's photographs of many of these and other events are included in her slide show, Memoirs of a New York Feminist. NOTE: Ann Hazlewood Brady, Marjorie DeFazto, Dorothy Senerchia and Aleta Styers have all been active since 1969, or before. They are included with this post-I 970 group because of their Strike actions and because we missed them in 1996 and 1997 celebrations of NOW and the Women's Liberation Movement. back to top |
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OVER 250 SHOW UP TO HONOR BETTY FRIEDAN
 It was what everyone says is the best event we've ever had--and Betty was almost a no-show! She was in the hospital, forbidden by the doctors to leave, which had Jacqui & Joan at near nervous breakdowns as they tried to set up an intercom between her hospital room in Washington and the National Arts Club in NY. But Betty insisted she would be there--and by heaven she was! She missed the first shuttle from DC and arrived an hour late, but she was there. 
When she arrived Barbara Seaman was at the airport to pick her up in a limousine. They got to the Arts Club around 4:30 and Betty looked great, not at all ill. Did she want to rest? NO! She wanted a drink and asked "Where's the panel?" She walked in to a rousing round of applause as the panel was deep into discussing "Betty Friedan's Impact on the 21st Century." I was downstairs trying to handle the seating arrangements (a fiasco!) and so can't report on it (wait for the video). Panelists were Muriel Fox; Catherine Stimpson, Dean of Graduate School of Arts & Culture & Society at NYU; Emma Coleman Jordan, Professor of Law at Georgetown U who represented Anita Hill in the Clarence Thomas Confirmation Hearings; and Cynthia Fuchs Epstein, Professor of Sociology at the Graduate Center of the City College of NY. (pictured right: panelists Catherine Stimpson, Muriel Fox and Cynthia Epstein)
The dinner was wonderful, a welcome change from the Armory's
fare. We ate and talked, not to waste a minute. Sheila Tobias, always cheerful and spirited, was chief emcee, but
Muriel Fox and I were in there helping. Maybe it wasn't the best organized, formal occasion, but everyone had the
time of their lives! Betty talked first, then passed the torch to 26-year-old Galen Sherwin, president of NY NOW. I passed it to my granddaughter Natalia Ronceria, a frosh at Clark U; Myrna Lamb passed it to her granddaughter, April. (right: Galen Sherwin receives the "Torch" from Betty) We got no further, as the testimonies took the entire time! But others there were Suzanne Benton and daughter Janet from Ridgefield, CT; Patricia Burnett (Detroit) with Hilary; Diana Gartner of Baltimore, with nieces Devra and Linda Berkowitz; Connie Comer's daughter and granddaughter, Deborah and Brooke Whitfield; Shelah Leader with Lauren; Florence Falk Dickler with her daughter. Some members wish their daughters and granddaughters would belong to VFA -- so we're considering a "Pass the Torch" contingent. What do you think? Betty sat up front with her friends. The program was "us," the women in the audience. We each gave a brief testimony about how Betty changed our lives. They were all moving, funny, sometimes hilarious, always inspiring.
Next, although it took me longer to understand its importance,
you were chief midwife for the rebirth of organized feminism. You not only wrote, you organized. More photos of Betty's celebration!
Kathy and Carol Giardino presented Betty with red roses. The event was a smash, as they say. Betty was thrilled. Everyone loved it. It was a magical evening. We hope to have more at the beautiful National Arts Club. For VIDEOS of the complete evening -Send $35.00 ( for the dinner) , $25.00 for the panel discussion - or $60.00 for the two tapes. CONTACT JACQUI CEBALLOS FOR VIDEO: jcvfa@aol.com Some More Thoughts on Betty's Celebration! Some More Thoughts on Betty's celebration: |
