President’s Message
                                                                                                                November 2011

Angela Kelsey was our speaker last month, as we observed Domestic Violence Awareness Month. As a victim of domestic violence, Angela Kelsey chose to speak, write, and teach to tell the truth about her life and help other women tell the truth about theirs. Signs of abuse often are not recognized, and Angela encourages people to speak frankly about this taboo topic. Angela also works to create and sustain safe places for women and their children and pets, places where women can reclaim their dignity and their lives. Angela spoke frankly about the abuse in her life and how she didn’t want anyone to know that it was going on. Through her experience, she gives hope to women that the cycle of violence can be broken and a better life is possible. Thank you, Angela.

November 11 is Veterans’ Day. Loretta Young, Veteran, US Air Force, will be our speaker. Loretta enlisted as an active duty member of the Air Force during the early Viet Nam era. She was stationed at Travis Air Force Base in California. She served one tour of active duty, was honorably discharged and moved to Chicago, where she was employed by American Airlines. Loretta is retired and volunteers for many groups in Broward County, many of which are veterans’ organizations. We will also have a short film, “Called to Serve: A History of America’s Military Women,” distributed by The Women’s Memorial in Washington, DC. The film is a tribute to the 2.5 million women who have served in the military, beginning with the American Revolution.

Our Saturday Protests continue each week at 9:00am at the corner of Federal Highway and Atlantic Boulevard in Pompano Beach. Occupy Fort Lauderdale will begin its occupation on Tuesday, November 8 at 4pm at the Fort Lauderdale City Hall, 100 N. Andrews Avenue. The occupiers will be on the plaza in front of City Hall 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All interested parties are invited to join them. Our recording secretary, Sarah Brown, has been attending the meetings and rallies and will be at the occupation as much as time and work permit.

Congratulations to our webmaster and newsletter editor, Joanne Sterner, who was honored as a major Florida feminist leader for her work on behalf of women and girls by the Veteran Feminists of America. Joanne “paved the way for women in retail employment with a successful EEOC suit on behalf of her co-workers in the 1970s. Now in Florida, she brings her energy to women’s Right to Choose, electing women to office, and to NOW.” Sheila Tobias, co-president of VFA and author, presented the award to Joanne.

VFA was organized in 1992 to remember and record the hundreds of pioneers who crafted the 1960s Women’s Movement. VFA sponsored a celebration of the 45th Anniversary of the founding of the women’s movement on October 28 and 29, 2011, at Rollins College, Winter Park, Florida. Gloria Steinem gave a talk Friday evening to a standing-room-only audience. On Saturday, panels of veteran feminists and young feminists discussed issues under the title of “Still Moving That Mountain: Feminism, Past and Future.

A conversation with Gloria Steinem and Patricia Schroeder Saturday afternoon included discussions of questions and topics from the moderator Muriel Fox, an early NOW leader. It was an extraordinary opportunity to see these two icons of feminism together and hear their ideas and remembrances. Saturday night, Gloria Steinem presented the Lifetime Achievement Awards.

Two of our members, Joanne Goodwin and Betty DiMaio, will travel to Washington, DC, for a November 10 meeting at the White House for Florida Community Leaders. Congratulations to you! We can’t wait to hear all about it. I hope that the President makes a surprise visit during the meeting.

See you at our November 16 meeting. Have you decided to run for office? Think about it.

Maggie