As I've written before, this year marks the 150th anniversary of the first women's rights conference held at Seneca Falls, New York, in 1848. This anniversary is a special opportunity to give visibility to women's rights issues and to reclaim our history. I just received the Program Planning Guide from the National Women's History Project, which is coordinating the yearlong national commemoration effort, and I recommend it highly.
The Guide gives detailed, practical ideas for celebrating the anniversary in ways that are appealing and educational--governmental proclamations, public service announcements, school essay competitions, classroom presentations or historical enactments, booths at fairs or parades, speaker programs, library displays, and many more. The tips for organizing these activities are well thought-out and clear, and the appendices describe sources for information and materials like books, videos, posters, buttons, and a sample proclamation.
The Planning Guide is available for $6.50 (plus shipping and handling) from the National Women's History Project, 707-838-6000, nwhp@aol.com. Check out their informative web site http://www.legacy98.org, where events and activities from all over the country are posted. You can also subscribe to the Legacy98 Listserv to keep up with exemplary materials and organized events.
This is a community conference for everyone interested in self-enrichment through cultural diversity, in becoming more aware of present-day discrimination, and in practicing skills that promote mutual respect and greater cooperation. The program will feature keynote speaker Aileen Hernandez, a slide show exploring women's roles in Santa Clara Valley, the PBS Frontline documentary, "True Colors," and various panels, workshops, displays, entertainment, and small group discussions.
Presenters are Deborah Farag and Mary Ellen Mort. The program will help attendees find and make use of information relevant to their job search and personal decision making. Participants will be qualified to use the Career Action Network, the informational interviewing database of the Career Action Center.
Keynote: Kate O'Hanlan, MD, will share light-hearted info on health issues for women 40 to 104. Afternoon topics will be presented by El Camino Hospital who specialize in breast cancer, osteoporosis, heart disease, gynecological issues, mood disorders and fertility after 40. Net proceeds from this event benefit The Support network for Battered Women in Mountain View.
If you work in the health care professions and need to earn continuing credits, this forum qualifies. Call for more info.
A former Arkansas colleague of President Clinton, Susan McDougall, has been in prison for two years for refusing to testify on Whitewater. One of our network members wrote me asking if there are any organizations supporting Susan McDougall or trying to get her out of prison. Does anyone know of any such organizations? Let me know, and I'll pass on the information.
This online update, published periodically 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 and calendar items to Judi Clark at jclark@womenswork.org. Past updates and links to other sites of interest are available on the web at http://www.womenswork.org/beijing-sf/. A detailed calendar of events is posted at http://www.womenswork.org/calendar/cal.html.