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PA NOW Remembered Our Past and Builds for the Future

Ellie Smeal Keynote Speaker
 Pennsylvania NOW held their 35th Anniversary celebration convention on Friday through Sunday, October 12-14, 2007.  Over 100 people attended the three-day convention. Peg Pennepacker, a consultant and expert on Title IX access for girls in middle and high schools in Pennsylvania, spoke about on Title IX’s history in Pennsylvania and the need for data collection on athletic programs in the junior and senior high schools.  Eleanor Smeal, Executive Director of the Feminist Majority and the first President of PA NOW spoke on the history of NOW’s founding in Pennsylvania and where we go from here.

In Remembering our Past and Building for the Future, PA NOW presented several awards honoring women who have made PA a more equalitarian state.  Certificates of Appreciation were presented to the 12 Slippery Rock University women who successfully challenged their University’s closure of the women’s water polo, swimming, and field hockey programs.  Alma Speed Fox and JoAnn EvansGardner were presented with the Wilma Scott Heide Pioneer Feminist Award.  Susan Frietsche, Esq. and the late Patricia Jardine were honored with the Molly Yard Woman of Courage Award.  In the afternoon, former PA NOW Presidents and founders of local chapters who attended the convention were recognized for their work for NOW with Certificates of Appreciation.

The Convention also included workshops on Title IX, domestic violence, emergency contraception and reproductive rights, racial justice, voting and elections in PA, and family responsibilities discrimination throughout the day on Saturday.  Entertainment by Joan Dickerson and Toni Blackman highlighted our evenings. 

There were also two resolutions passed at the convention: Resolution Regarding Pittsburgh Police and Domestic Violence and a Resolution Regarding WDUQ-FM radio station.

Then on Sunday, we heard from current and formerly PA NOW PAC endorsed candidates at our PAC Brunch fundraiser.  Among the speakers was Christine Donohue, 2007 NOW PAC endorsed candidate for the PA Superior Court.

See pictures from convention and some of the awardees.

New Executive Board of PA NOW Elected

On Saturday, October 13, 2007, the PA NOW Convention elected a new Executive Board for 2008-2009.  They are

President: Joanne Tosti-Vasey from Centre County
Vice-President: Kathleen Wilson from Allegheny County
Treasurer: Pamela Macklin from Allegheny County
Secretary: Mary Kay Peterson from Chester County
At-Large Member: Brenda Lawrence from Dauphin County
At-Large Member: Doris Pridgen from Philadelphia
At-Large Member: Susan Woodland from Erie County