Happy New Year! It has been several weeks since the last update. I am realizing that the challenge is not that there is too little to put into an update but rather too much. The time is soon coming when this newsletter has to become either an automated list serve or a more-than-one-woman job. The advantage of a list serve is that anyone on the list can post; so there is much more information. The disadvantages may be that postings don't have a common form or editing style, and they come frequently. If we are not to become a list serve, there need to be several of us processing information. For instance, the different categories--like events, resources, web site information, and news or requests--and the address list could be the responsibility of different people. What do you think? Any volunteers?
Here are some upcoming January events.
Are you looking for women of spirit, women who want to help create a future where people live out of the fundamental truth that all is one? These Networking Sessions bring together women who are working to further primary identity. (We are one--one spirit, one humanity, embedded in a single, living, sacred, and emerging Universe. This is our primary identity.) The Networking Sessions are a place to exchange ideas, encouragement, and personal challenges and learnings. If you would like more information or would like to make a five-minute presentation about your own or your group's efforts to further primary identity, please let us know.
The open house is an opportunity for girls and parents to learn about the Girls Middle School and sample its innovative curriculum in a hands-on way. There will also be parent information evenings on Jan. 20, Feb. 17, and March 17, 7--8:30 pm, at the Friends Meeting House, 957 Colorado Avenue, Palo Alto.
The featured speaker is Dr. Celia Moreno, staff psychiatrist at the Stanford Counseling and Psychological Service. She has a special interest in women's issues and has participated in conferences on the health status of women, women in medicine, and women in leadership.
Visiting Scholar Dr. Cole will deliver the keynote lecture in honor of Martin Luther King. She is president Emerita of Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, and the first African American woman to head this historically Black college for women, a leading educator and advocate of people of color and women everywhere, and the author of the book "Conversations: Straight Talk with America's Sister President."
This program will feature Kate Michelman, President, National Abortion and Reproductive Rights League (NARAL).
The featured speaker will be Sarah Weddington, the attorney who victoriously argued this landmark case before the Supreme Court 25 years ago.
Hear the story of a woman who survived an illegal abortion in the days before Roe v. Wade. Invited speakers include San Jose Mayor Susan Hammer, California Assemblymembers Liz Figueroa and Jim Cunneen, and Supervisor Blanca Alvarado. During the week, some public television stations will be showing Dorothy Fadiman's third abortion-related documentary, "The Fragile Promise of Choice." KTEH-Channel 54 will show it on Jan. 19 at 10 pm.
This online update, published weekly in the greater San Francisco Bay Area, covers events, resources, and information related to follow-up to the UN Fourth World Conference on Women and the issues covered in the Platform for Action document. You are encouraged to send in information and news to Judy Kramer at jahkramer@aol.com. Past updates are available on the web at http://womenswork.org/beijing-sf/