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What is MN NOW?

Welcome to the National Organization for Women - Minnesota Chapter. This statewide organization was formed in 1971 and our mission is still the same: taking action to bring women into the mainstream of American society NOW, exercising all privileges and responsibilities thereof, in truly equal partnership with men.

What are MN NOW's Core Issues?

MN NOW has actively worked to change the political, social, economic and cultural landscape for women in Minnesota. Our primary emphases are:

ratification of an unamended Equal Rights Amendment
repeal of all laws restricting safe, legal abortion
protection of lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender civil rights
eliminating racism
freedom from violence
opposition to punitive welfare reform

What does MN NOW do?

MN NOW is a multi-issue, grassroots advocate working for women's rights in Minnesota. Unlike single-user groups, MN NOW works on the whole range of women's issues, which allows us to shift focus when the need or desire arises for the maximum benefit of women.

MN NOW carries out its mission in various ways. We propose and monitor legislation that affects women; develop public policy; provide information to members and other women's organizations through mailings such as our newsletters the Minnesota NOW Times and Legislative Update and legislative Action Alerts; lobby legislators and government officials; testify at public hearings; assist in the organization and support of local chapters of MN NOW; produce educational materials; provide speakers; and endorse and support political candidates who will work to advance MN NOW's issues. We also serve as an information resource for women, students, media, government and international groups.

To carry out our work of grassroots political activism, MN NOW has several statewide committees in need of your volunteer efforts, including:

Chapter/Membership Development Committee - Coordinated by task delegate chair, members plan and implement efforts to recruit and sustain members and develop local chapters statewide. They may do so in conjunction with other committees such as program or fund-raising. Efforts may include event tabling, educational forums, speaking to students or other groups, and more.
Fundraising Committee - Coordinated by a task delegate Members help with all aspects of fundraising. In addition to a share of NOW membership dues rebated to chapters by our National office, MN NOW depends on its members' ongoing financial contributions to sustain us. You can help by assisting with ideas, design, and implementation of our fundraising and member reactivation appeals to our members and in planning and coordinating special events.
Legislative Committee - Chaired by our Legislative Coordinator, committee members monitor legislation and activate our members when calls and letters to legislators or the Governor are needed. They assist the Legislative Coordinator in developing the annual legislative agenda, writing the Legislative Update newsletters and legislative Action Alerts. Minnesota NOW has found one of the most efficient ways to quickly mobilize activists is via our Email Activist Alert System.

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Newsletter Committee - Chaired by our Newsletter Editor, committee members help to produce the organization's quarterly newsletter, the Minnesota NOW Times. The purpose of this publication is to report on MN NOW policy, actions, events, chapter news, and to provide a forum for MN NOW members. This may consist of writing, editing and proof reading articles, soliciting advertisements, or helping with the labeling and bulk mail preparation.
Political Action Committee - MN NOW formed a PAC in 1982 to help elect feminist women and men to local and state office. The PAC members represent each of Minnesota's eight congressional districts to ensure a strong voice statewide.
Program Committee - If you wish to help plan state programs and actions or if you have a forum or issue of particular interest join the Program Committee and help make it happen. Under the direction of Program co-chairs, this ad-hoc committee's members change with the particular issue or action of focus. In this manner, the committee can continually reinvent itself depending on its focus. MN NOW's ongoing "Don't Fear the F-Word" open discussion series on contemporary topics has been popular. Several past programs and actions include legislative issue forums, Take Back the Night rallies, Love Your Body Day programs, an International Women's Day workshop, a Date Rape Drug Awareness action and more. Member activists also united to attend the October 2000 World March for Women to address the widespread issues of poverty and violence against women. On April 25 2004 activists joined over 1 million pro-choice supporters on the National Mall in D.C. to March for Women's Lives. Be sure to bookmark the MN NOW calendar page to keep up with what's happening!

MN NOW believes that there is strength in numbers and that we can broaden our message by bringing women's concerns to broader issue coalitions. We are members of the Minnesota Women's Consortium, the Affirmative Options Coalition, the Women Candidate Development Coalition, the MN Coalition of Organizations for Sex Equity in Education (MCOSEE), the MN Housing Partnership and the Pay Equity Coalition. This is another opportunity for you, the activist, to get involved with an issue of particular interest. You can be a MN NOW coalition liaison.

Local chapters of ten or more MN NOW members are active throughout the state. Current chapters include: Fergus Falls NOW, Minnesota Valley NOW (south metro area, Prior Lake, Shakopee), North Central NOW (Wadena area), Sherburne-Wright NOW (2 counties NW of the Twin Cities), St. Cloud/Great River NOW, Twin Cities NOW (metro area) and Uptown NOW. Although we have active members in Duluth and Rochester areas, there are currently no formal chapters. If you are interested in connecting with members in any of these areas please check the Chapters page or contact MN NOW.

MN NOW has approximately 2,400 members and is primarily supported financially through membership dues and contributions. Membership is open to anyone who believes in the mission of the organization.

Please join Minnesota NOW today!

mailto:mnnow@mnnow.org

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What is MN NOW?

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