Meeting Minutes August 14 2018

 NOCO NOW Meeting Tuesday, August 14, 2018Action Items:-Renew Membership if you have not already-Call about Global HER Act-Opportunities to help with mid-terms: voter registration and campaignsSee below for more informationMeeting Minutes:

• Social Time 6:30
• Meeting Called to Order by President, 7 PM
• Attendees (18) introduced themselves and shared which of the NOW pillars they were most passionate about. Reproductive Rights was the pillar most mentioned, followed by Economic Justice, although it was agreed that all six pillars are connected and each is important.
• President reported on:
  • FOCO NOW's presence at New West Fest Aug. 11, 12 as part of coalition of progressive organizations
  • Upcoming Candidate debates/forums
  • Fundraising possibility using grocery store certificates
    • Stephanie volunteered to contact King Soopers about the grocery store certificates program
• Treasurer Report
  • $40 expense for meeting space per month
  • $134 in checking account
  • 30 member renewals at @$7 is $210 is still owed to the chapter from National NOW
  • Members discussed possible fund raising opportunities
• Committee Reports
  • Legislative Committee Report
    • Voter Registration continues in partnership with FOCO Indivisible
      • New West Fest
      • Food Truck Tuesday
    • Elections
• Speaker: Rebecca Cranston, Candidate Colorado Senate District 15
  • Important race since GOP currently controls CO Senate by 1 vote
  • Considered one of most competitive races in CO and is gaining national attention
  • Discussed her background and why she entered the race
  • Answered questions from attendees
  • FOCO NOW members can help campaign with
    • postcard mailings
    • monetary donations
    • canvassing

• • HER (Health Empowerment Rights)
    • Call and/or use social media to ask our US Congress Representatives and Senators to support the Global HER Act (S.210/ H.R.671).
      • Introduced by Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Representative Nita Lowey (D-NY-17
      • The HER Act would repeal the Global Gag Rule (GGR) and create a permanent legislative barrier to its re-imposition, making international family planning funding permanent, regardless of who is in the White House
      • GGR denies U.S. aid from going to any foreign non-governmental organization (NGO) that in any way works (and even uses their own non-U.S. funds) to provide, refer, counsel, or advocate for access to safe abortion services in countries where it is legal.
      • The idea is to increase, not limit, access to international family planning programs to ensure that every woman, girl, and person seeking care can make their own healthcare decisions without exceptions.
      • More information at:

http://www.populationconnectionaction.org/fight4her-2-2/

https://www.advocatesforyouth.org/storage/advfy/documents/her-2017.pdf

• • Post Cards for Colorado
    • Pick up or return postcards at Whole Foods on Thursdays, 7 PM
    • Postcards to support Phil Weiser
    • Postcards to support Rebecca Cranston
• Announcements, VP
  • Importance of membership renewal
  • Distributed information from the National Women's History Project on "How Women Won the Vote"
    • 2020 is the Centennial of Women's Suffrage
    • Call to Action to plan "to honor the successful drive for votes for women in your state" in 2020