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Visit the "What's New" link to the left of this page for details on upcoming
chapter events!
NOW draws its broad grassroots strength from a nationwide network of more
than 600 local chapters, including MidSuffolk, which are chartered by
national NOW and engage in a wide variety of action programs in their
communities. Most of MidSuffolk NOW Chapter's events are fee of charge and
open to all! Nonmembers welcome! Events are usually held on the last
Saturday of the month and are held at SUNY Stony Brook's Old Chem Building,
Colloquium Room of the Women's Studies Department where parking is FREE and
directions and a campus map can be found at stonybrook.edu
To Help you get acquainted with the National Organization for Women
The National Organization for Women (NOW) is the largest organization of feminist
activists in the United States. NOW has half a million contributing members and 550
chapters in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
NOW was founded in 1966, just three years after publication of Betty
Friedan’s THE FEMININE MYSTIQUE. After the President’s Advisory Council on the
Status of Women had shown overwhelming discrimination against women in all phases of
life, women and men met in Washington, D.C. to organize in order to establish the
required social changes, and started NOW with 28 members.
Mid-Suffolk NOW is an outgrowth of the original Stony Brook University
Campus Group, formed in the early 1970’s, which then became the Stony Brook Campus
Committee of the newly formed NOW chapter.
Monthly meetings are held and open to membership and the public. Committees
are continually in formation, and members are encouraged to become involved in
issues that are of particular interest to them.
Dictionary Definition of a FEMINIST: a person who believes in the theory of
political, economic and social equality of the sexes.
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MID-SUFFOLK NOW- Committee Activity & Outreach to the Community
- Child Custody - Advocate activity for equality and fairness in child custody
legislation and implementation. Keep current with legal developments in the field,
plus feedback on lawyer performance.
- Consciousness Raising - Informal sessions of members sharing experiences of bias in
the workplace, social groups, academe, family, media, and schools.
- Employment-Pay Equity - Equal Pay for Equal Work has been the battle cry of NOW for
the past 35 years. While progress has been made since the 70’s when the disparity
was 59 cents for every dollar a male worker earned, we still have a long way to go:
the current disparity is now about 76 cents to the dollar. Gender Discrimination,
Sexual Harassment and Family Medical Leave Act issues.
- LGBT Rights - Educational outreach in support of the civil rights of lesbian, gay,
bisexual and transgender communities in education, hate crimes, housing, freedom to
marry, employment, and finance.
- Media Watch - Individual and Chapter responses to media outrages by “Letters to the
Editor”, group discussions on response to television ads, programming content that
degrades women and girls. This committee is great for raising community awareness of
our issues.
- Political Action - Mid-Suffolk NOW is a participating member of the NOWPAC- Political
Action Committee on the State and National levels. Candidates for local elective
office are screened and referred to N.Y. State NOWPAC for endorsement.
- Reproductive Rights - NOW is committed to a woman’s basic civil right to choose her
reproductive choices. We are committed to the prevention of unintended pregnancy and
elimination of “the Gag Rule”, which hinders the free speech of doctors and health
care providers when counseling patients.
- Speakers Bureau - Speakers on Women’s Rights subjects are available to speak before
professional, school, church, trade, business, education and service groups.
Historical record of discrimination against the girls and women of Long Island is
the subject of one talk, supported by newspaper clippings, NOW chapter newsletters
and Women’s Liberation memorabilia.
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Officers & Committees
2007-2008
Officers
| Co-President |
Nora Bourrut |
| Co-President |
Grace Welch |
| Vice President |
Julia Maresca |
| Secretary |
Joyce Wowak |
| Treasurer |
Gail Segui |
| Chapter Counsel |
Nancy Ellis, Esq. |
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Committees |
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| Child Custody/Court Reform |
Tracy Simmons |
| Employment Law/Pay Equity |
Prof. Nancy Ellis |
| Lesbian/Gay/Bi/Transgender |
Julia Maresca |
| Media Watch |
Joan Tobin |
| NY State Council Delegate |
Diane Bruessow |
| NOW Political Action |
Joyce Wowak |
| Referrals |
Grace Welch |
| Reproductive Rights |
Nora Bourrut |
| Speakers Bureau |
Grace Welch |
| Women and Health |
Margaret Maier |
 ERA-Equal Rights Amendment
Equality of rights shall not be denied on account of sex.
For Current status of the ERA, go to ERACampaign.net
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GET INVOLVED! JOIN A COMMITTEE!
- Child Custody
- Consciousness-Raising
- Employment-Pay Equity
- LGBT Rights
- Media Watch
- Political Action
- Reproductive Rights
- Speakers Bureau
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