Rochester Women's Luncheon
September 22, 2009
11 am to 1 pm
Marriott Hotel Ballroom
Tickets $50
Questions:
local: 507-281-8264 Lynne Kirklin
metro: 651-251-0727
info@womenwinning.org
27th Annual Event
Thank you to all womenwinning supporters who made the 27th Annual Luncheon a huge success! The event drew a record number of over 1,200 attendees of all generations. As Board member Karen Anderson wrote, "my table mates, ranging in age from 16 to 80, were all impressed with the organization and enthralled with Gloria Steinem." We couldn't have said it better.
We were thrilled to reach our fundraising goal of $200,000. These dollars will directly support the mission of womenwinning: to encourage, promote and support pro-choice women's leadership in all political parties and levels of public office. Jessica Trites Rolle left us a great comment on facebook: "A phenomenal event - thank you! And although Gloria Steinem was an inspiration, every woman who spoke was incredible. I am so proud to be a womenwinning donor."
Check out the Event Gallery to view pictures and media coverage, including a live interview with MPR's Kerri Miller and a video interview with The Star Tribune.
Again, thank you for your support!
2009 Supported Candidates
womenwinning State PAC Supports Meg Tuthill for Minneapolis City Council
Meg Tuthill is currently running for the Minneapolis City Council in Ward 10 as the DFL candidate. Meg has been a community activist for the past 30 years volunteering with the Minneapolis Public Schools, City Parks, Girl Scouts and Gay Pride. Along with her husband Dennis, she has been a small business owner in the 10th Ward for the last 40 years. If elected she plans to focus on regulatory services to help women small business owners, ensuring that city tax dollars are spent wisely, increasing the accessibility and transparency of the city council, and making public safety the city’s first priority.
womenwinning State PAC Supports Annie Young for Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board At-large Commissioner
Annie Young has been the At-large Commissioner for the
Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board since 1989 and is seeking re-election. Annie received the Mother of Environmental Justice Award in October 2006 and has focused her work on the three E’s: environment, economics and social equity. Annie’s key issues are promoting green thinking in the park system, raising support for girls’ recreational activities, and advocating for more citizen participation in Park Board decision making. She is running in a highly contested race with three challengers.
womenwinning State PAC Supports Lisa Goodman for Minneapolis Councilmember
Lisa Goodman has been Minneapolis’ Ward 7 Councilmember since 1997. She has a long history of working on women’s issues and has served as executive director of MN NARAL. If re-elected, her key issues will be fiscal responsibility, the environment, historic preservation, and exceptional constituent service. In addition, Lisa plans to use her campaign to help elect other DFL candidates. She is currently running unopposed.
womenwinning State PAC Supports Liz Wielinski for Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Commissioner
Liz Wielinski is running as the DFL candidate for District 1 Commissioner of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. She has been a community activist for many years, with a focus on getting more women elected and promoted to leadership positions. Liz has served in the DFL party, as President of the Columbia Park Neighborhood Association and is a co-founder of Minneapolis Park Watch. If elected, she will focus on increasing citizen review and participation, distributing resources equitably, protecting our trees, and implementing practices to make the Park Board more transparent and accountable.
womenwinning State PAC Supports Anne Mavity for St. Louis Park City Council
Anne Mavity is running for the St. Louis Park City Council in Ward 2. Anne has over 20 years of experience in strengthening communities locally, nationally, and internationally, and is a leader in her community. She has been a Commissioner of the St. Louis Park Housing Authority, Site Council representative in her children's school, a soccer coach for young girls in St. Louis Park, and is currently on the Board of the St. Louis Park Community Foundation. If elected, her key issues will be human-scale development, fiscal discipline, collaboration among schools and city, and engaging residents in the decision-making process.
Mpls City Counci Challenger Amy Arcand Puts out 'Best Organized Challenge This Year'
womenwinning supported candidate Amy Arcand knew that she would face a tough challenge against third term incumbent Gary Schiff for the Ninth Ward seat in Minneapolis City Council. Research has shown that in the United States, incumbents win their races more than 90% of the time (Paxton, Hughes 2007). Arcand's campaign focused on public safety and programming for youth with an emphasis on education. With increased community and civic engagement through well funded neighborhood organizations and though improved police and neighborhood, Amy advocates that citizens can unite, identify and address issues, such as safety and development. Although Schiff won first-ballot endorsement, Arcand won praise from the Star Tribune as the "Best-Organized [challenge] to Minneapolis City Council members this year". We would like to congratulate Amy for her hard work, and wish her well in her next race. We know that when women continue to run, they win!
For further reading on incumbents and women's political representation, please see Women, Politics & Power: A Global Perspective. (C) 2007 Pamela Payton & Melanie Hughes, Sage Publications.
womenwinning State PAC Supports Elona Street-Stewart for St. Paul School Board
In addition to being the Vice Chair, Elona Street-Stewart is also the first American Indian elected to the Saint Paul School Board. She is committed to providing a respectful, safe, nurturing and equitable learning environment where a diverse student body can meet the highest district and state standards. She is also devoted to helping students understand the relationship between their lives and the lives of others, and the relevance of their educational experience to their roles in society.
womenwinning State PAC Supports Elizabeth Glidden for Minneapolis City Council
Council Member Glidden is currently in her first term as Minneapolis City Council Member, Ward 8. Before her election to the city council, Elizabeth worked on many women’s issues as an attorney, such as discrimination and sexual harassment. Elizabeth is committed to youth development and economic justice issues, with a focus on living wage jobs. As a council member, Elizabeth’s key issues are maintaining Minneapolis’ financial stability and social capital, while preparing it for future sustainability, increasing economic opportunities for all citizens, proving young people with the tools for needed for success, and the support of women’s issues and gender equality.
womenwinning State PAC Supports Carol Becker for the MPLS Board of Estimate & Taxation
Carol Becker is the current President of the Minneapolis Board of Estimate and Taxation. During her time on the Board of Estimate and Taxation, Carol has focused on providing adequate funding for the parks, cutting wasteful spending, and increasing funding for street maintenance. Carol realizes we are in difficult financial times and believes the solution is leaders with extensive financial knowledge to help navigate the path to economic sustainability. She believes this should be achieved without over-taxing residents and under-providing vital social services.
womenwinning State PAC Supports Victoria Reinhardt for Ramsey County Commissioner
Victoria Reinhardt is currently serving her fourth term as Ramsey County Commissioner, District 7. During her tenure, Victoria has supported many women’s issues such as health care, domestic violence prevention, and child care. As a County Commissioner, Victoria is committed to cost-effective, quality public services. Her key issues are maintaining funding for transit, transportation, and human services; crime prevention and protection of the environment.
Would you like to make a contribution to support womenwinning candidates? Please Click Here!
Women In The News
Minnesota Research Shows Programs are increasing Political Ambition Among Women
New research from the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey Institute Center on Women and Policy shows that the most instrumental thing in women’s decision to run was the support of organizations and individuals. Program participants say the support given through the collaborative training process makes achieving political office more attainable.
From Electwomen.com: http://www.electwomen.com/?p=1175
Maria Shriver Launches A Women’s Nation
Maria Shriver, head of the California Women’s Conference, is launching a multifaceted project in collaboration with organizations such as the Center for American Progress and USC. The project, A Women’s Nation, will examine the role of women in America today within institutions that are integral to American society, such as government, economy, religion, education, and health.
From Electwomen.com: http://www.electwomen.com/?p=1384
F.D.A. Easing Access to “Morning After” Pill
The F.D.A., in compliance with a Judge’s order, has now lowered the age for legal purchase of the drug Plan B to seventeen. This decision has predictably created some controversy, even though Plan B has not been shown to have any measurable effect, either negative or positive, on teen pregnancies and abortions.
From the New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/23/health/23fda.html?_r=3&hp
Pelosi Tells of a Briefing by Officials on Harman
Speaker Nancy Pelosi has admitted to prior knowledge of a Bush Administration investigation wiretap against her fellow California House Democrat Jane Harman. This may be the impetus for Pelosi’s denial of Harman for the top post on the House Intelligence Committee, which has caused a rift between the two Congresswomen.
From the New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/23/us/politics/23rivals.html
Irish Women Challenge Ban on Abortion in European Court
The Irish government has been taken to the European Court of Human Rights over its stance on abortion. Three female plaintiffs claim that their rights have been violated by the restrictive nature of the country’s abortion laws, jeopardizing their health and wellbeing.
From IrishTimes.com: http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2009/0421/1224245071362.html
EC Still Inaccessible for Military Women
Emergency contraception is excluded from the list of products military facilities and shops are required to stock. This leaves the women who are serving overseas defenseless against unintended pregnancies, which, when coupled with the rise in sexual assaults between military personnel, is alarming.
From RHRealityCheck.org: http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/blog/2009/03/31/ec-still-inaccessible-military-women
