AN INVITATION TO JOIN – SEPTEMBER, 1966
N.O.W. is a new national organization being formed “To takeaction to bring women into full participation in the mainstreamof American society NOW, assuming all the privileges and responsibilitiesthereof in truly equal partnership with men.
“With so many Americans consciously concerned with full participationof all our citizens and with dramatic progress at many levelsin recent years, the time is ripe for concerted directed nationalaction. The report of the President’s Commission on the Statusof Women, “American Women” has laid out a broad fieldof action. Governor’s Commissions in virtually every state inthe union have studied or are studying the situation in theirstates and many are working to modernize their laws and practices.An Interdepartmental Committee, advised by the Citizens AdvisoryCouncil on the Status of Women, has responsibility for promotingfull partnership within the federal government. The Civil RightsAct of 1964 prohibits discrimination in employment on the groundof sex, as well as of race, religion or national origin, and theAlabama jury case of 1966, White vs. Crook, brings women underthe “equal protection of the law” as provided in the5th and 14th amendments of the Constitution.
The basis has thus been laid for realizing the democratic Americangoal of full participation and equal partnership for all citizens.We are convinced, however, that only with continuing pressureand action by those most concerned can we assure the gains thatare in sight and prevent the dilution of the goals.
Through its broad range of individual members, N.O.W. will buildupon the work of and cooperate closely with other organizationswith similar goals, action and non-action, private and public,women’s organizations and organizations concerned with specificissues and fields of action. N.O.W. will identify areas in whichaction is needed and provide leadership in pursuing appropriatecourses of action.
As an organization of individuals, not delegates or representatives,N.O.W. will be able to act promptly. It will not generally engagein independent research but will act on the basis of informationand recommendations available from status of women commissions,government agencies and specialized organizations. As a private,voluntary, self-selected group it will establish its own proceduresand not be limited in its targets for action or methods of operationby official protocol.
Membership is open to any individual who is committed to our purpose.Initial dues of $5.00 are payable to the Temporary Chairman. Allwho join prior to October 15, 1966, will be charter members andwill participate in organizational and program decisions and inthe election of officers.
Temporary Steering Committee
Dr. Kathryn F. Clarenbach, Temporary Chairman
2229 Eton Ridge, Madison, Wisconsin 53705
Miss Dorothy Haener, Michigan
Mrs. Esther Johnson, District of Columbia
Dr. Pauli Murray, New York
Mrs. Inka O’Hanrahan, California
Mrs. Betty Talkington, Iowa
Dr. Caroline Ware, Virginia
NOW’s First Election Ballot
Attachment A NOW 10/26/66
Nominees for National Officers and Executive Board l966-67
Chairman of the Board: Kathryn Clarenbach (Wis.)
President: Betty Friedan (N. Y.)
Executive Vice President: Aileen Hernandez (Calif.)*
Vice President: Richard Graham (D.C.)
Secretary-Treasurer: Caroline Davis (Mich.)
Other Board Members:
Boland, Colleen (Ill.)
Conroy, Catherine (Wis. and Ill.)
Degler, Carl (N. Y.)
Drews, Elizabeth (Ore.)
Fox, Muriel (N.Y.)
Furness, Betty (N.Y.)
Haener, Dorothy (Mich.)
Hart, Jane (D.C., Mich.)
Hedgeman, Anna (N.Y.)
Indritz, Phineas (Md., D.C.)
Lewis, Rev. Dean (Pa.)
O’Hanrahan, Inka (Calif.)
Plante, Patricia (N.Y.)
Purvis, Eve (Indiana)**
Roe, Charlotte (N.Y.)
Rossi, Alice (Ill.)
Schletzer, Vera(Minn.)**
Schwartz, Edna (Minn.)**
Simchak, Mora (D.C.)*
*Subject to nominee’s acceptance, following effective date of herresignation as Commissioner of EEOC.
** Subject to nominee’s acceptance, not yet asked.