Now

National Organization for Women
Mid-Suffolk Chapter

About Us

Activity & Outreach

Officers & Committees

Get Involved

Renew Membership

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.

^

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.

^

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.
   

Committees

 
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


EraERA-Equal Rights Amendment

Equality of rights shall not be denied on account of sex.
For Current status of the ERA, go to ERACampaign.net

^

GET INVOLVED! JOIN A COMMITTEE!

  • Child Custody
  • Consciousness-Raising
  • Employment-Pay Equity
  • LGBT Rights
  • Media Watch
  • Political Action
  • Reproductive Rights
  • Speakers Bureau
Mid-Suffolk Chapter National Organization for Women
P.O Box 330
Stony Brook, NY 11790
631-234-4747
Email: midsuffolknow@yahoo.com