June 2008

Eager for an appointment to explain the ERA to the House Speaker-designate (R), ERA Inc. relocated to Northwestern Florida’s Panhandle, Okaloosa and Santa Rosa Counties—extremely “conservative”, his district. While there, we gave ERA talks every day before all political groups and rallies, women’s clubs, with newspaper coverage four times. Audiences were surprisingly receptive to the ERA. Several joined the Alliance and have held rallies with postcarding and photo-ops. Another group plans a bipartisan alliance there. Though never granted an appointment with Speaker Ray Sansom, we did meet with the region’s Senator Don Gaetz (R) who now gives speeches for the ERA. Sen. Gaetz is the one who was able to get Special Interests to admit that States’ constitutional ERAs have not brought about the “silliness” they claim ERA will bring (e.g., “turn all teenagers into prostitutes).

ERA spent the rest of 2008 creating Thank Yous for supportive legislators; networking with member-organizations, speaking; updating our web site; arranging for speakers for the Legislative Delegation Hearings in each Florida county—very effective. A listing of these Premier ERA Speakers can be found elsewhere. They are absolutely magnificent. Legislators actually applauded one of our speakers!

Acquired 31 bill cosponsors. and a male Republican Prime SPONSOR for the House bill HCR 8001, Rep. J.C. Planas. This thanks to Laura Morilla of the Miami-Dade Commission for Women, which is one of Alliance’s member-organizations.

Scheduled appointments in Tallahassee with the Chiefs of Staff of Governor Crist and Lt. Governor Kottkamp, and with Senate President Pruitt. Appointment with Speaker Rubio tba.

In between, the Alliance staff has been digging through our legal files and consulting with our legal teams nationwide to create our new Rationales for ERA Ratification. All legislators now have a copy. Ask us for your special copy.

Mentored a new ERA Leader who visited from Virginia. Keeping in touch as she begins work in her new Virginia organization.

February 27, Met with Rep. Hooper about the ERA. Will see him in Tallahassee.

February 28, Spoke before Top of the World Democratic Club

March 3, deadline for submission of lead article for The Woman Activist, published by the legendary Flora Crater of Crater’s Raiders of the 1st ERA campaign.

March 4, a major Primary Day

March 5, tabling for ERA with Nancy Hoppe at Gloria Steinem event, Eckerd College, 5 pm.

March 6, Gala celebrating the 35th Anniversary of the USF Department of Women’s Studies

March 7, Meeting, Executive Committee of the Advisory Board, USF Department of Women’s Studies

March 9-11, Attend the D.C. NCWO Summit meeting of all the heads of all women's organizations in USA for an ERA Task Force meeting we initiated.

March 13, Celebration of the 85th Anniversary of the Democratic Club and the birthday of one-half of its leadership, Harvey Morgenstein

March 16, Drive to the Florida capital, Tallahassee, to begin ERA lobbying with Debra Fleming (Outreach Coordinator), our College Students for ERA, and others. We start at the top of the capitol and visit all 160 legislators or aides, floor by floor.

March 16, League of Women Voters of Florida dinner; Lobby Days

March 17, Florida Womens Consortium meeting
March 17, Group Reception

March 18, FWC breakfast, then lobbying. Appointments with Sen. Margolis 1 pm, and Senator Joyner
March 18, 5:30 Tallahassee BPW Reception

March 19, Appointments: Rep Sansom 11 am-11:15;
Women’s Legislative Caucus
Senate President Pruitt 2 pm

March 20, 7:45, Chiefs of Staff (Gov Crist) Eric Eichenberg, (Lt Gov Kottkamp) Larry Ringers

April 12, Speak at AAUW, St Augustine

April 6, 9 am--Univ. South Florida Advisory Board Exec. Committee meeting, Tampa

April 7 and 13--Leagues of Women Voters newsletter deadline

April 11, 2 pm--Gulf Beaches Library, Pinellas County, "ERA is Back, and it's for Men as well as Women"

April 14-15, 9am--Unitarian Universalist Fellowship "ERA Forum", Ocala, with honorary cocktails and dinner the previous evening. Local AAUW to attend, public invited to Forum on Sunday.

April 22--Florida Humanist Newsletter deadline

April 28, 9:30 am--The Villages Democrats, "ERA: The Simple Moral American Value of Equality for ALL"

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