September 17 - Exciting Event!

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It Is YOUR Time: Women Taking Action
Hosted by California Women Lead (with NWPC LA-Westside)
Saturday, September 17, 8:30 am - 2:00 pm
Fiesta Hall at Plummer Park: 7377 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood

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Breakfast Discussion: Do women really matter in elected office? We'll tell you the importance of why we need women! Join Wendy Greuel and Jan Perry, both candidates for Mayor of LA in a discussion moderated by West Hollywood City Councilwoman Abbe Land.

Session 1: We know that you already have what it takes to run for elected office - we will show you how! Walk through a personal assessment of the skills you already have with CA Women Lead State Board of Director Vice President Teri Burns and CA Women Lead CEO Rachel Michelin.

Luncheon Panel: A discussion on the future of Los Angeles under redistricted seats and how it affects women. Where are the opportunities, what will be the challenges? How can women get involved? Join a lively discussion with Mary Hughes, The 2012 Project (invited); Rachel Michelin, CA Women Lead CEO; Serena Josel, Planned Parenthood LA Director of Public Affairs; Lindsay Bubar, NWPC-Westside President, and Moderator Assemblywoman Holly Mitchell (invited).

Session 2: Social Media - how you can utilize your established social media outlets to help get elected. Social Media Stragestist & Manager Rebecca Simon will provide you with tips on how to use social networking to fundraise, develop coalitions and help put together a successful campaign.

Session 3: Women need to be asked to run for office. Because we know that, we are asking you to take the leap to run! Learn about resources available to you from women leaders around the state. Find out why IT IS YOUR TIME TO TAKE ACTION!

Don't miss out – register early!! Event includes light breakfast and boxed lunch -- $20 if you reserve your spot before September 15 and $35 if you reserve at the door. REGISTER

Women know how to jump the hurdles & get the job done!

By Diane Wallace

From the time I was a little girl, my two grandmothers and my mother always guided me to know and believe that if you need to get something done, ask a woman!  I offer this as an example:

I have been a career educator in the California public education system – teacher, principal, district administrator, and an administrator of a statewide early literacy project.  I love my career choice.  However, I fully admit that the public education system is a huge bureaucracy.   Tons of hurdles.   I retired in 2008 and now teach research methodology to graduate students in a master’s degree program in education, which allows me guide future educational leaders to learn how to evaluate the effectiveness of their work.  Most of my graduate students are women.

During my entire career, I have remained non-partisan.  However, I have voted in every primary, general, and special election for as long as I can remember.

In 2010 I became more active in politics. In 2011 I was asked to submit my name to be elected as a Delegate to the California Democratic Party – a process that has always been a mystery to me.  Hurdle.  I was elected and discovered that you can join different groups within the Party.  There is a caucus for nearly everything but not an Education Caucus.  Hurdle.

I was amazed!  An Education Caucus seemed to be such a good idea – to provide an organization that would provide teachers, parents, administrators, school board members, support staff, interested community members and others with the opportunity to learn about, discuss, and support our California public education system.  Everyone in pubic education exists in silos and the situation calls out for improved communication and better information about this huge bureaucracy.  

I contacted leaders of the Party – in my area, at the county level, and at the state – and discovered that a caucus could be started.  Actually, everyone thought that there was an Education Caucus.  Hurdle.  And when we confirmed that it did not exist, everyone agreed that it was an excellent idea.

Creating change within a political party is a major undertaking!  Enormous hurdle.  Initially, we developed by-laws that reflect our goal to include all stakeholders.  We needed to collect signatures.  Major hurdle.  The Party requirement is for signatures of Delegates.  But we decided that we also wanted signatures of regular Democrats.  Self-imposed hurdle!

So a group of active Delegates and many of my education colleagues sent signature pages via email.  And we collected signatures of Delegates at the State Convention.   They arrived on my fax machine and as scanned documents. We now have a total of nearly 400 signatures.

In May we were informed that the Party was concerned about creating more caucuses, due to the expense.  Hurdle.  And they suggested that we apply to be a statewide-chartered organization.   Hurdle.  

The last hurdle will be this coming November.  We will present our petition to establish the California Democratic Education Caucus as a statewide, chartered organization at the Executive Board meeting of the Democratic Party in November 2011.

I am honored to have led this effort but I could not have done it with out the support and efforts of my daughter, family, friends, and colleagues.  It takes a woman with a team to overcome the hurdles.    

This Date in Herstory

On Aug. 26, 1920, the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution, guaranteeing American women the right to vote, was declared in effect.

Benefit Ovarian Cancer Research: Sept. 10th

THE OVARIAN CANCER CIRCLE

INSPIRED BY ROBIN BABBINI 

is spotlighted by the LA Sparks (Women's Pro Basketball) game

Saturday, Sept. 10th at Staples Center

All funds raised benefit ovarian cancer research

Purchase tickets: www.theovariancancercircle.org

Upcoming Events

The National Women's Political Caucus of California and local caucuses, like ours!, have  important events coming up within the next few months.  Listed below are various events that will be held throughout the state.

8/26       Women's Equality Day in Fresno: 5:30pm Equality Day Gala at the Fresno Art                            Museum.  Two feminist comics will perform,  Event tickets are $75 each. To RSVP,     please call (559) 717-8871. Click here for more info!   Women's Equality Day in Orange County: 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM with The Honorable Loretta   Sanchez. RSVP to nwpcoc@gmail.com 9/9        NWPC Deadline for EMMAs submissions: detailed information at www.nwpc.org 9/11      NWPC LA METRO PAC SOIREE, 3:00-6:00pm, 4868 Sunset Avenue, La Crescenta, CA                   91214,  RSVP to: nwpclametro@gmail.com 9/13      NWPC CA Deadline for NWPC CA guaranteed room rate of $129/night, single or                   double at the Hyatt Summerfield Suites in Emeryville. Call 510-601-5880 to book your NWPC rate. The price includes parking, wifi, and breakfast.  9/15      Woman of Achievement honoree submission and payment due 9/17      LA Westside partners on Women Taking Action in West Hollywood: 8:30AM- 2 PM www.nwpclawestside.org 9/18      NWPC CA co-host Fundraiser: for Betty Yee: at home of Mary Nichols in LA from 4-6                 PM. Click here for more information!     10/6:    NWPC CA deadline to register for October Board meeting for $70. Registration will                   go to $80 on October 7, so register at http://www.nwpcca.org/register 10/14:  NWPC CA Trainings 12 - 4pm: Train the Trainer & Starting a Local Caucus. More                  information on these trainings will be on www.nwpcca.org               NWPC CA Board Networking Dinner 6:30 - 8:30 PM, location TBA 10/15    NWPC CA INC Board Meeting 8:30am- 3:30pm at Bridgecourt Room (next to the                  Chamber of Commerce), Emeryville NWPC CA VIP PAC Reception: before WOA & Celebration of 100th Anniversary of Womens Suffrage in California in Emeryville 6-7 PM at Emeryville Memorial Center, 4321 Salem Street Emeryville 94608 Women of Achievement Awards & Celebration of 100th Anniversary of Womens    Suffrage in California, Emeryville Ca 10/16    NWPC CA WLF Board Meeting 9am-12pm Bridgecourt Room (next to the                         Chamber of Commerce), Emeryville   10/20     LA Westside Calendar Event: 6:30 PM at The Mark 9320 West Pico Blvd. LA 90035                 www.nwpclawestside.org    11/4        NWPC National Executive Committee Mtg in LA: 6-8 PM, location TBA    11/5        NWPC National Board Mtg in LA: location TBA 11/6        EMMAs in LA at the Skirball Cultural Center