Volume Viii, No. 3 May/June, 1975 National Now Unifies!!!
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VOLUME VIII, NO. 3 MAY/JUNE, 1975 NATIONAL NOW UNIFIES!!! There is a new spirit of unity within the National Organization existence of NOW. will not play bluff games with the for Women. This renewed commitment was solidified at our organization. I came here to recommend that the conference May 24-25 National Board Meeting in St. Louis. Board mem not be moved out of Philadelphia, but I want to say that the bers arrived at the meeting with letters, telegrams and phone tables are turned. It is the Majority Caucus who will be messages from NOW members and chapters throughout the responsible for insuring fairness of procedures in Philadelphia. country. Together we have met the challenge of diversity and You have the challenge to keep the organization whole, to unity. leave Philadelphia with more than we have now - to unify us. I beg you not to take from the members in other parts of Betty Friedan, in St. Louis to receive a Humanitarian of the the country the right to feel that credentialling ... will be Year Award, attended her first Board meeting since she was fair, elections will be fair." This statement to not move the president of NOW. On Sunday morning, during the NOW conference and to unify NOW was echoed across the room. LDEF meeting, Betty addressed the Board and many NOW members observing the meeting saying, "There will be a Elaine Latourell, Board member from Seattle, citing the women's movement. There is an irreversible change in con economic hardship for Western members and other distant sciousness _ . Rise above what's been tearing you apart . .. sisters travelling east to a conference, proposed that there be Be bigger than this . If you could just sense this thing that is some kind of equalization of travel funds for the National yet to be done . _ . " Conference in Philadelphia. This was adopted in principle, and referred to the Budget Committee for implementation. NOW has grown rapidly and we have a diverse membership The Budget Committee will report to the July Board meeting. with many diverse viewpoints. Wh ile this has meant the development of a dynamic, active organization, too often in Judith Lonnquist, Legal VP, said, " I believe what we have seen recent months our differences have resulted in unhealthy today is the ultimate stand towards unity to end division. I conflict. ask my sisters in the Majority Caucus for a pledge to work for a fair election, to end the withholding of dues, and to end the On the National level , two caucuses formed, having little internal dissension, to stand with us and work together against communication with each other. In December, a number-of our common enemy outside the organization." National Board members walked out of a National Board meeting; in February, we held an informal, unofficial meeting Rosemary Belmont, Eastern Regional Co-Director, said, "I am to attempt conciliation and compromise which ended in more very impressed with what people have said here today. confusion; in Ma~ch, we had a se rious conflict over By-laws Impressed with the efforts of conciliation . _ . I intend to amendments which resulted in a court case. personally go home and urge people to come out of escrow." Jean Conger, -Rosemary's co-director, said, " . .. I recognize This case is significant to all niembers. The March/April how difficult it was for many people to come to this decision, DO IT NOW contained By-laws amendments, which the Board and I thank you. I echo what Rosemary said, and I, too, will had voted by mail ballot to submit to the membership. The work to urge people to de-escrow." court case was brought by some National Board and other NOW members against NOW, Inc. and Cathy Irwin (PR-VP) Ellie Smeal, Board member from Pennsylvania, stated, "We on the grounds that under Washington, D. C. statutes, cor are very honored that the National Conference will definitely porate boards must agree unanimously to vote by mail on an stay as a unified conference in Philadelphia. The state organiza issue, before the actual vote is taken. Although NOW is tion will do everything to help make that a fair conference, incorporated in D. C. , the Board had never followed this fa irly administered electK> s, but a unified one ... I think we procedure. The court case, won by the plaintiff, called for will have the largest feminist conference of NOW in its history." stopping the ballots on the amendments. Thus, we have not This pledge of unity by national board members marks a put ballots in this issue. renewed commitment to work together to achieve our com In addition to t hese problems, some chapters have withheld mon goals for women. Our internal problems are not over, their National dues. The situation had indeed become a serious we will continue to debate our viewpoints on the internal one. structure of NOW and the external role we so proudly play. But, the manner in which we disagree can now be healthy A number of Board members communicated a concern to and productive. Betty Friedan remarked, "This reconciliation chapters about holding our national conference in Philadelphia, is to the maturity and basically the good feminism of the based on, among other things, the fact that the State of aue women on both sides of what I hope is the schism that will Pennsylvania has been withholding National dues. Chapters heal. It's beautiful!" throughout the country responded both affirmatively and negatively. It is a challenge to all of us that we can and will meet. Let the UNIFICATION spirit of St. Louis prove "YOU CAN'T STOP NOW" and that "IT IS OUR REVOLUTION NOW". On Sunday, May 25, during the conference agenda item of the Board meeting, Mary Jean Collins-Robson, Board member SPECIAL NOTE: DO IT NOW is normally only sent to from Illinois, spoke saying, "The question of moving the con current NOW members on record. Because of the nature of ference is being debated in our membership. They are already the news to be shared, and in keeping with the spirit of con concerned about fairness. The Majority Caucus decision to ciliation, this DO IT NOW issue is being sent to bo1h 1974 and have a conference in Philadelphia if the conference were 1975 NOW members on record. Those of you. who have not moved out of Philadelphia, I regard as a grave threat to the renewed to date, we ask you to please reconsider. I" NOW Task Force THE MARRIAGE CONTRACT News Our present marriage contract, unwritten and unevenly en · forced in the several states by their statutorv and/or case law, has three basic assumptions as follows: OLDER WOMEN TASK FORCE 1. The male is head of household and must provide for the The NOW Task Force on Older Women is finalizing a r household. DISPLACED HOMEMAKERS BILL with Rep. Yvonne Brathwaite Burke for introduction this 2. The female is subordinate and renders serv ice, domestic and session. A displaced homemaker is someone who has accepted sexual, (child-bearing and child-rearing understood) . a role, encouraged by our society, of caring for other persons 3. The marriage contract is for life, ("until death do us part" ). without pay, without fringe benefits, pensions, unemployment It is readily seen that this is not a contract between equals. insurance, and without job security. Many homemakers find themselves "displaced" in their middle years - through A contract providing for an egalitarian relationship might have divorce, widowhood or when their children are grown, and the following three essential elements instead : are thrust into a hostile job market with little preparation, 1. The partners share the -responsibility of providing for and and less hope of success. The combinahon of age and sex "heading" the household, of choosing the domicile, name, discrimination in employment leaves nothing for these women etc. There is a declaration of assets by each upon entering except the most menial, low-paying jobs. Many cannot obtain the relationship and an agreement as to whether these and health insurance, and some will never be eligible for social other separate assets acquired later such as gifts and inheri· security benefits. Small reward for years as wife and mother! tances are to be merged and, if so, how they are to be The bill would provide job training programs, creation of new divided again in case of termination of the contract. There jobs building upon the life experience of former homemakers, is also a declaration of debts and responsibilities to others and create service centers designed to meet their specific needs. such as relatives, former spouses, or children of former Hearings on the proposed legislation may serve to throw a marriages. An agreement is made on how to deal with spotlight on the plight of so many older women today, caught these responsibilities. in the backlash as women move from dependency to self There is a statement of job or career ambitions and any sufficiency. plans for further education, etc. for both spouses. There is A state version of the Displaced Homemakers Bill has been a statement of intention concerning whether there are to be introduced this session into the California legislature. This children and how the spouses are to share the care and will provide a demonstration multiservice center for displaced support of the children. There is to be equal ownership homemakers, to pioneer new job categories that would utilize and management of the income acquired during the the expertise of former homemakers in a broader social setting. marriage and equal division in case the contract is termi The project would develop such new service positions as health nated.