November Meeting Minutes

Greater La Crosse NOW

November 23, 2009

Minutes, submitted by Andrea Hansen

Members in attendance: Alison Toetz, Chloe Miller Hansen, Betsy Gleiss Kaftan, Andrea Hansen, Heather Jett, Maureen Freedland, Amanda Bailey (WSSA), Megan Woodward (WSSA)

Regrets: Rebecca Toetz, Susan Crutchfield, Kris Geitwitz

1. Chloe called meeting to order and introductions and welcomes were made, especially to Maureen, and Amanda and Megan (Women’s Studies Student Association).

2. Ali gave the Treasurer’s report. We have $702.00 in our bank account. Some of this comes from a portion of the membership fees from this chapter. There have been 4 people renewing and 1 reinstated. You can join NOW through the national website http://now.org/ with memberships of $10 – $65; organizations can join, too. Chloe brought T-shirts ($12 new; $10 older)

3. Amanda and Megan provided an update of things happening on campus through WSSA. We all agreed that WSSA and NOW could be helpful to each other and we wanted to collaborate when we can. Amanda will provide Chloe with a link to WSSA http://www.uwlax.edu/wssa/ calendar for events such as: February Vigil; Women’s History Month.
   
   

4. Ideas for generating memberships:

• Send gift memberships to the friends, especially young women and daughters in our lives
• Have membership materials at the following events:
• Showing of Iron Jawed Angels – HighPoint Class room (Chloe and Ali); plan to watch this together at a NOW meeting (early next year)
• Dec 7: 6:00 pm Graff Main Hall (Chloe: get Heather the info for this table)
• January event: Alternative State of the Nation Event-Coulee Progressives, Concordia Ballroom (Andrea and Maureen will track)
• April 23 & 24: NOW Regional conference – outreach

5. Producing a NOW Women’s Calendar was discussed. Ideas: use this as a year- long project for 2011, featuring women in nontraditional careers, or women through a life-span (baby at the New Year….December elders?); etc… Walgreens has calendar formats and reasonable pricing

6. Email and meetings

• All agreed that email works for us. Ali will change the email address to our NOW chapter’s name.
• Meeting Wizard works for us.
• Meeting place: Diversity Center in the Cartwright Center (Amanda will reserve this space for us)
• We would like to meet once a month
• Tuesdays at 5:00 pm may work in December. (Chloe will send out scheduler for meeting date in December.)

7. La Crosse has been chosen for the Regional NOW Conference.

The facts:

• April 23^rd (5-8:30 pm) and April 24 (9-5)
• Cleary Center
• Expected attendance: 45-60
• States in the region: WI, MI, IL, OH
• Continuing Ed and Extension is providing basic conference support (no registration)
• NOW state and national offices handles marketing and registration
• NOW-La Crosse Chapter has input in planning and making connections with presenters, etc..

Chloe and Andrea will communicate ideas to Emily Reynolds (NOW-WI Chapter President).