Conference turris::womannotes-v2

    Yes, I was having similar thoughts about a strike - only it shouldn't
    be reserved to only women but to all who are pro-choice.  We need
    all the strength we can show and I think now many men will be
    galvinized into action and realize that this is an issue that
    directly affects us all.
    
    Personally, I dislike the idea of any Lysistrata-like action; I
    think giving or withholding sex in order to get something is
    demeaning and degrading to women.  Also, my husband is my
    closest friend and on days when I feel this whole world is
    turning mad he is one of the few things that makes my life 
    worthwhile.
    
    Sue

    Catherine,
    
    Is there a number we can call to sign up?  Friends have expressed
    an interest as well and I don't know where to send them.
    
    I too believe it is time for action.
    
    I may not have the right to choose to have an abortion so I have
    focused my attention on other choices.  I am choosing to withdraw
    all of my money from the bank as a sign of protest over the
    loss of the right to choose (among other things).  Many of my friends
    are doing the same.  Nothing attracts the attention of politicians
    as fast as money.
    
    Mary

    
    Since this is a place to put ideas, I had one over the weekend that
    I wanted to sound out.
    
    Since the immediate effect of the decision will be on poor women
    who depend on public funds and facilities for abortion, what about
    starting a fund to help poor women get abortions? And if states
    are able to start making abortions illegal (depending on future
    decisions further dismantling R vs. W), wouldn't it be neat if there
    was a fund to pay for these women to be transported to a state where
    abortion was still legal?
    
    Would you contribute. Why or why not? Is it a stupid idea?
    
    Roberta

    
    RE .3   GREAT IDEA!  The fund could also be used for the cost of
    the actual procedure and counseling too.
    
    Other ideas:
    
    1. I'd  like to see a pro-choice sit-in/ phone-in/ letter
       writing campaign at/to the Supreme Court *EVERY
       DAY* of the next term.  
    
    2.  Pro-choice pickets outside the various abodes and haunts 
        of each pro-life justice 
                               
    3.  I second .2 idea!
    
    4.  VOTE pro-lifers out of office *at every level* of government
                                
    - Mary

    Well, if (under Missouri law) life begins at conception, then
    a conceptus is a legal dependant, and can be deducted on one's
    income tax.  Further, since only 10% of conceptions ever make it
    to birth, multiple deductions per year would not be unreasonable.
    
    							Ann B.

    re .3:
    
    Roberta, I'm not pooh-poohing your idea, but for the same amount of
    money as a single abortion, how many condoms do you suppose you could
    make available to the underprivileged women of St. Louis and Kansas
    City?  I'd be willing to contribute to that fund.
    
    Marge
    
    

    
    True, Marge, but the reality is that condoms _do_ break sometimes.
                                                                      
    Ann, I LOVE your idea. I think every woman in Missouri who is
    pro-choice should declare a few miscarriages next year (sorry to
    get gross, but this _is_ war.)
    
    Roberta

   Count me in.

                                              -Robert Brown III

    Not denying that condoms break, Roberta... just wondering about the
    "payback" of my $300 or whatever the going rate is for an abortion...
    Seems to me that, even with breakage, you'd get more mileage for
    several gross of condoms than with a single abortion... 
    
    Marge

Well, when in doubt write a letter, so I've just sent the following
letter to all my state and national legislators.  

[Great to see some of these ideas!]
========================================================================

	Sen. Edward M. Kennedy
	315 Russell Senate Office Building
	Washington, DC 20510

	Dear Senator,

	In the aftermath of the recent Supreme Court ruling limiting the 
	rights of women to control their own bodies, I feel compelled to 
	let you know that I consider stemming the tide that is eroding
	the freedom and privacy of women in America to be of the highest
	priority.  I urge you to do all that is within your power to
	protect, defend, and establish the right of women of all 
	economic classes and circumstances to choose their own
	reproductive destiny. 

	The actions of the Supreme Court represent nothing less than a 
	major step back toward the days when women's bodies were 
	chattel, and amount to a declaration of war on the independence 
	of women.  No American citizen should ever again be considered
	the property of another, whether the other is the state, a slave
	owner, or a husband.  Women, too, are endowed with the 
	inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of 
	happiness.  These rights are hollow unless women have the
	freedom to decide what will become of their own wombs.  I 
	consider it your obligation to vigorously defend such 
	fundamental and inalienable rights.  I look forward to hearing 
	from you about what strategies and initiatives you have to offer to 
	protect my right to be a free and self-determining human being.


					Sincerely,



					Catherine T. Iannuzzo

    
    Marge,
    
    The payback of saving poor women from the infections and death from
     illegal abortions is pretty great too, I'd say. You can make all
    the condoms you want available, but that won't completely eliminate
    unwanted pregnancies.
    
    Roberta

    Colorado Springs has had a Fund for Equal Medical Services since
    ammendment 3 passed in 1984.  For further information contact
    PlannedParenthood or thw Womens Health Service, and ask for information
    on the FEMS Fund.
    
    FWIW, this is supposed to be a loan program, but due to the
    circumstances of many of the women utilizing the fund, FEMS is
    chronically short of money.  Any and all help is needed.
    
    There is also a pro-choice coalition being started in CSprings. 
    Information is also available at Planned Parenthood and Women's health.
    
    Meg
    

>    Is there a number we can call to sign up?  Friends have expressed
>    an interest as well and I don't know where to send them.

The tel. # for Boston NOW is 617-782-1056.  If you're not in the Boston 
area, I'm sure they could refer you to other chapters.

Does anyone have the number for NARAL (National Abortion Rights League)?

    re .11:
    
    >>You can make all the condoms you want available, but that won't
    completely eliminate unwanted pregnancies.
    
    I think we're in violent agreement there. I'm simply trying to state
    that abortion is not the only solution, and that there are other worthy
    ways to spend your charitable dollars that will help impoverished women
    to prevent unwanted/unintended pregnancies.  Education and prevention,
    imperfect as it may be, is a worthwhile way to "take action", no?
    
    Marge

    Marge,
    
    The (Okay, *another*) problem with condoms is that they must be
    used by a man in order for a woman to benefit from them.  In a
    machismo-oriented subculture -- such as many of these women live
    in -- it is somewhere between difficult and impossible to get
    this co�peration.  Sometimes it is dangerous to even try.
    
    						Ann B.

Re:  .13

>   Does anyone have the number for NARAL (National Abortion Rights League)?

It is posted in 183.37.

						--Q (Dick Wagman)

    I think I know where Marge is going, though [correct me if not, Marge
    :-) ], and I strongly agree with her:  if the fund also supports
    various inexpensive BC methods (having diaphragms or iuds fitted, free
    foam, free pills, free condoms (use 2 for better results!), and so
    forth), it seems pretty clear that at least some substantial fraction
    of the problem would go away and the rest of the money would cover a
    much larger percentage of the residual cases where, as Roberta points
    out, the BC method fails and abortion is the only way out.
    
    Just sounds like better karma t'me.
    
    						=maggie

    re .15:
    
    Very true, Ann... I'm not suggesting that it is a perfect solution, far
    from it... however, I think that you can expect that an investment made
    in several gross of condoms provided to impoverished women would have
    as great, or greater, a payback in terms of preventing unwanted births
    as a single abortion... 
    
    ...and if I were a woman who presented a condom to a man and he flatly
    refused to use it, at least I'd have an idea as to where his sense of
    responsibility lay... and what kind of cooperation I might expect from
    him were I to become pregnant.  It has value even then!
    
    There are no perfect solutions, only various options to be considered
    for their value.  In the current post-Webster rush to the legislatures,
    it would be wise, IMHO, to remind them that we want improved
    legislation regards sex education, prevention availability, and much
    improved adoption laws.  Taking action can be on a number of fronts,
    not just one.
    
    Marge 

    I've wondered how housework would be regarded today if housewives had
    unionized, so I like the idea of women refusing to do housework.  Who 
    knows, maybe it would lead to the recognition of housework as "real
    work."  I'm not sure if a complete strike or a piece-by-piece strike
    would be more effective (no-laundry month followed by no-dinner week
    followed by no-telling-anyone-where-to-find-the-stuff-they-left-lying-
    around week).  Of course, I'm not doing housework for anyone, so it
    doesn't effect me, but I still like the idea.

    RE: .18
    
    Marge,

    I normally stay out of abortion debates, but I just want to say that I
    agree with everything you've said. I sometimes feel like I am the only
    woman in the world that held these views. It is nice to know that I'm
    not. I too would like to see more emphasis placed on educating about
    prevention, and on a little matter called "responsibility for one's
    actions" (and that goes for the male as well as the female).  

    Deb   

    Molly Yard said today that NOW is planning on a massive rally in D.C.
    at the end of October.  The goal is to bring together the largest
    demonstration the nation has seen to date.  They want to mobilize over
    one million people for this event.  I don't have any more specifics
    than this.

    	If they hold another rally at the end of October, I will come out
    	from Colorado for this one!
    
    	Save me a spot on the Women of Note Banner, folks!
    

    I would like to write to my legislators to express my concern over
    abortion rights after the Webster v. Reproductive Health Services
    decision.  I don't know any way of getting their addresses from
    Geneva, however, without calling the U.S. long-distance.  Does someone
    on the net have access to the addresses of the Senators from New
    York (where I live) and Michigan (where I go to school)?  Thanks.
    
    Keith

    I am not completely sure if this is on the subject or not, but
    yesterday I went to have a perscription filled and found that
    John Hancock no longer will accept that perscription and THEN
    the pharmacist went on to mention that birth control pills were
    no longer covered unless medically needed for uncontrolled menses
    etc.
    
    Well,  I went straight up.  I may not be able to have children any
    longer, but my daughter sure can.  Odds are bad enough - one in 100
    women get pregnant on the pill, some still do after tubes are tied,
    condoms do break.  The poor pharmacist - I am not sure if he knew what
    hit him, but he was agreeing with me by the time I left.
    
    If there is ANY way but abortion, personally for me I would choose it -
    but that is my way.  I used to take double precautions when my family
    was done.  But now companies are not covering for pills.  There is also
    some expected backlash in the states that don't condone abortion in
    terms of birth control.
    
    I'm sorry, but this puts us back to ..... "If God didn't want me to
    have all these children, I wouldn't have them." or the old unrealistic
    "If you don't want children, don't....."  Sure, and I have several gold
    mine maps for those who believe that one.
    
    What they do not seem to realize is that through the ages there have
    been abortions and there will continue to be ones, only now in some
    places they won't be performed in safe circumstances with aftercare
    when needed.  
    
    I could go on, but will quit as flames are growing and I don't want
    to rant and rave further.
    
    Cathy
    

Cathy, this is a hot button for me too, and it's been discussed elsewhere in
the file. I was under the impression that John Hancock _never_ covered BCPs
'merely' for controlling birth, but that many HMO's do. You might consider
switching.
	Mez

    
    Marge,
    
    We could go one forever on this. My point is simply this: Yes, I
    would like to see condoms made available to poor women. I would
    also like to see the environment cleaned up, the homeless housed,
    and hunger ended. In _addition_ to all those things, which also
    take lots of money, I would _also_ like to see the rights of poor
    women to have abortions protected. 
    
    Since the point of this topic (if I read the base note correctly)
    is what can we do to keep abortion safe and available in lieu of
    help from the Supreme Court, your argument seems to me to be at best 
    irrelevant and at worst an attempt to derail the discussion.
                                                               
    Re: taking action
    
    Last night I caught a few minutes of a program on the radio where
    some people mentioned coming out to the Brookline clinics Saturday
    mornings. Does anyone know anything about this? Is there some sort
    of counter protest going on? Or do they want people to help escort
    women into the clinics safely? I wish I had caught more.
                                                            
    Roberta

    
    You might also consider supporting Planned Parenthood...which
    as Marge has suggested seeks to "prevent" the pregancy, though
    it also supports abortion rights.  Don't have a local #, but
    the national address is :
    Planned Parenthood
    810 Seventh Avenue
    P. O. Box 4447
    NY, NY  10163
    
    As for the debate here...I think any fund set up, or supported
    as per NARAL, NOW, Planned Parenthood, or any other organization
    should support both BC and abortion payments, and EDUCATION...
    I know, time consuming, costly, and difficult to manage, but
    really, isn't it critical to the nation's well being?  We can't
    keep putting kids on this planet who are unwanted, will not be
    cared for, and will cost us all MUCH more $$$ in the long run wiht
    welfare, child services, etc, etc.   
    
    I too feel the need to act.  Keep the info coming here on 
    activities and organizations which are supportive to the cause.
    I will be writing my congresscritters, and local reps...
    
    deb
    

    	It's very good to see so much mobilization around the country
    	in regards to this issue.
    
    	In case anyone was lulled into believing that the Supreme Court
    	decision wouldn't really have much of an effect on the protection
    	of our rights to safe and legal abortions -- I don't know anyone
    	on the Pro-Choice who was so lulled -- the Pro-Life contingent
    	is making no secret of the fact that they intend to go for as much
    	legislation as they possibly can on the state level (to make
    	abortion illegal) and also plan to bury the Supreme Court in an
    	"avalanche" of cases designed to try overturning Roe v. Wade (as 
    	quoted from Randall Terry, M.H.R.I.H., himself.)
    
    	This is indeed WAR, and I'm gratified to see the calls to action
    	springing up around the country.
    
    	Has anyone heard anything else about another rally in Washington
    	in late October?

    
    
     For anyone who might have agreed with the Supreme Court decision,
    here's an address that you may want:
    
    
                     Operation Rescue
                     P.O. Box 1300
                     Arlington, Ma. 02174
                     (508) 994-8380
    
    
    

    I have a problem with the remark made in .15
    
    My views on abortion aren't relevent to what I am going to say,
    but do you seriously think that if you handed the man you are about
    to "have sex with" (versus make love with) a condom and he refused
    to use it that he truly cares about the act he is about to partake
    in?  Sounds like he would be rather self serving and I sure wouldn't
    want to be in "her" shoes!!!!!!!!  Women are so concerned with their
    rights as people and with being treated with equality and such that
    any woman who allows herself to be had in this way should rethink
    her position.  Sounds like some other part of her anatomy is talking
    and the brain took a rest.
    
    JUST MY HUMBLE OPINION...
    
    -sandy
    

    Sandy,
    
    There are many communities where most of the men refuse to use
    condoms and have been reported to have beaten up women who
    asked them to.
    
    Bonnie

    
    If the permit is granted to the organizers, the October rally in
    Washington will be held on 10/29/89 .
    
    am
    
  
    

    Roberta, this file is supportive of all viewpoints, or has been in the
    past.  I am not derailing any discussion and my viewpoint is not
    irrelevant.  Feel free to discuss support of abortion; I will continue
    to offer alternative methods of helping indigent women, including
    education, birth control, adoption...I'll even go so far as to suggest
    turning publicly supported abortion mills into publicly supported
    walk-in vasectomy mills.  Privately supported abortion mills will never
    willingly turn into vasectomy clinics since they rely heavily on
    repeat business.  
    
    Your goals and mine intersect when we talk about helping the
    underprivileged women have better means to prevent unwanted children. 
    Let's focus on that, rather than where the differences are.  There are
    *lots* of approaches that can work.
    
    Marge
    
    p.s. Thanks, Deb.

I went to the Boston NOW open house last night.  The NOW office is at 
971 Commonwealth Ave in Brighton (upstairs in the Midas Muffler 
building), tel. 617-782-3241.  [There is someone there almost all the 
time from around 9am-11pm or so.]

The place was absolutely packed, with women out in the halls and on the 
stairs.  There were maybe 80-100 women in a a not-too-large office 
without air conditioning (hot!).  The Decision has galvanized women 
everywhere who are rushing out to sign up for the movement.

There were speakers who gave a brief overview of NOW's activities.
They have numerous committees devoted to organizational and topical 
issues.  I was a little late and missed the presentations on the 
Finance, Membership, Administration, and Newspaper committees.

The issue-oriented committees include the Reproductive Rights Task
Force, which had many new members all of a sudden, (next meeting July
11, 7:00pm), the Economic Equality committee, which is working on
economic legislation that affects women, such as the Up To Poverty
campaign (next mtg July 17 @7:00pm), the Feminization of Power program,
directed at getting women and feminists elected to public office (next
mtg July 18 @7:00pm), the Lesbian Rights Task Force, which is working on
issues such as the Lesbian & Gay Civil Rights bill (next mtg July 19
@7:00). 

Particularly important are the escort services they provide at the
abortion clinics (specifically the ones in Brookline on Beacon St). 
Every Saturday at 7:00 am you are encouraged to show up in the Coolidge
Corner area of Beacon St (1842 Beacon St is the address of one of the
clinics) to demonstrate support for choice and to help clients access
the clinics.  There will be peacekeeper training for anyone interested
in doing this kind of work on July 12 at 7:00pm at the NOW offices. (I
highly recommend this -- sometimes these situations become unpleasant,
and being trained to deal with them is important.)

NOW also has a PAC (Policy Action Committee) that is focussed around 
supporting pro-choice candidates for office and targetting and defeating 
anti-choice candidates.  Since the war against women's rights has been 
carried to the states, the upcoming 1990 local elections are going to be 
CRUCIAL.  In Massachusetts, the House of Representatives is 2 to 1 
ANTI-CHOICE.  Many anti-choice bills are submitted to them annually
(including one that called abortion murder and called for anyone who has
one to be sent to the electric chair), and THEY PASS.  They get defeated
in the Senate, which has a 2-VOTE PRO-CHOICE majority.  Our rights in
Mass. are much more tenuous than most women in this state believe! 
There will be several very key races coming up in 1990, including the 
gubernatorial race, which has only one unqualifiably pro-choice 
candidate.  (Ray Flynn, incidentally, is violently anti-choice.)

And the big surprise: NOW has announced another mobilization for choice, 
tentatively scheduled for October 29 in Washington, DC (pending permits 
etc).  The target is to get at least a million pro-choice supporters.
Let's be there!

NOW is also planning a big reproductive rights conference for the fall, 
that will involve all the groups working together to insure free choice.
More details to come as that evolves.

You can join NOW and receive and receive their chapter, state, and 
national newsletters, although this isn't necessary to be a volunteer.
Regular dues are $35, but there is a sliding scale of $20-$34. 

To reprise the schedule (all meetings at 7:00 pm at the NOW office at 
971 Beacon St. unless otherwise noted):

July 11	- Reproductive Rights Task Force
July 12 - Peacekeeper training for clinic escorts
July 17 - Economic Equality
July 18 - Feminization of Power
July 19 - Lesbian Rights Task Force

July 8 and every Saturday morning starting at 7:00 am, at 1842 Beacon St, 
Brookline - clinic support

    for the letter writers...
    I think Tom's addresses in note 420 (?) are still
    accurate...
    

Catherine,

Thanks for your summary of the NOW meeting.  I was also there, but my notes 
aren't as good as yours.  Let me add a bit of additional info.  NOW 
distributed a "Summary of Feminist Voting Records" for the Mass. State Senate 
and House of Reps.  NOW asked us all to write our state Rep and Senator and 
express our support for, or disappointment with, their voting record on 
feminist issues.  A call to NOW will get you the info you need to start 
influencing your Senator and Representative.  For those of you who live 
outside Mass., a similar summary is probably available from your local NOW 
chapter.  Boston NOW is at 617-782-4059.

Kathy

To get involved with NARAL locally, you can contact the Boston 
affiliate:

Mass Choice
14 Beacon St.
Suite 419
Boston, MA 02108
(617) 720-1880

Contact person: Pam Nourse

Another good organization that is working for free choice (they are 
currently circulating a petition to be sent to legislators) is Planned 
Parenthood.  They are of course also quite active in education and 
prevention of unwanted pregnancy.  In Mass, they are located at

Planned Parenthood
99 Bishop Allen Dr.
Cambridge, MA 02139

admin tel. 617-492-0518
counselling tel. 617-492-0777

    re .38:
    
    Catherine refers in .38 to the Planned Parenthood League of
    Massachusetts (PPLM) which is a separate (but affiliated with)
    organization from Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA).
    
    re .23, where to get your legislators addresses:
    
    Every time I move to a new town, I call the town hall to get the
    addresses and phone numbers of my state rep, state senator, and US
    congressional representative.  If you don't have your town's town hall
    number, call information to get it.
    

    
    What can we do to get RU486 sold in this country?
    
    If taken before intercourse, it is a birth control pill, not an
    abortifact.
    
    Its not illegal to import and sell it.  Who can we contact?  How
    can we get some small pharmaceutical firm to get involved?  They
    would be a guaranteed success.
    
    re Marge - I agree with you Marge that it won't hurt to distribute
    condems.  It would also help the AIDS problem at the same time.

    Here in Northern California, there are three active NOW chapters I've
    been able to reach- San Francisco at 415-861-8880, Palo Alto at
    415-494-9091, and Felton/Santa Cruz at 408-335-7704.  All three have a
    recorded message with information about current meetings, locations,
    and further contact points.
     
    The Palo Alto/Mid-Peninsula chapter has a general membership meeting
    the third Monday of every month, at the Palo Alto YWCA, 4161 Alma
    Street, Palo Alto (near San Antonio), 7:30 PM.  Their mailing address
    is PO Box 135, Palo Alto, CA, 94302.
    
    I also spoke to an old friend in St Petersburg Florida last night.  She
    said it took her 45 minutes to get through to the nearest chapter of
    NOW on Wednesday, it was busy with so many calls...and when she did, 
    she was informed that the response since Monday has been so strong 
    that a new chapter of NOW will be forming in her city.  The groundswell
    is forming...
         
    DougO

Marge,

>    Your goals and mine intersect when we talk about helping the
>    underprivileged women have better means to prevent unwanted children. 
>    Let's focus on that, rather than where the differences are.  There are


If by not focusing on differences you mean I can't discuss ways to give women 
access to abortions, I cannot agree to that. 

I think it is incredibly audacious for you to suggest that I should focus
only on suggestions the goals of which you support. 

I'd like to hear from those who support abortion as well. Is it a
good idea from a pro-choice perspective? If some states outlaw abortion, would
a fund to help women obtain safe legal abortions in more enlightened states
be a good thing?

Roberta

    Re .38:
    Interesting choice of address for Planned Parenthood!
    
    -Tracy
    

    re .42?
    
    Where did I say you couldn't talk about supporting abortions???
    
    I suggested that there is room for discussion on ALL means of helping
    underprivileged women.  I would like to discuss means other than
    abortion.  You would like to discuss abortion.  That's fine.  Is that
    fine?
    
    thanks,
    Marge

    	RE: .42
    
    	Roberta, I am in complete agreement with you that providing the
    	means for safe and legal abortions for poor women (from states 
    	which outlaw abortion) is both a good idea and a practical way 
    	that we can help lessen the impact that this decision will have 
    	on the fates of poor women!!
    
    	As we all know, the poor women of this country will be the ones
    	who will pay the most dearly if safe and legal abortions become
    	outlawed.  Whatever help we can offer to these women is important!
    
    	Great idea!
    

Remember that John Hancock is just an administrator.

Digital Equipment Corporation decides what Digital will and will not pay
for when you are on the Digital Medical Plan.

Call the Corporate Benefits Manager.

/john

    
    Marge,
    
    in .6 and .9 you made it clear that you considered providing condoms
    a _better_ way to spend the money than on abortions, thus presenting
    an either/or choice, as if abortions and condoms were interchangeable,
    which they are not.. You are now changing your tune to say that
    you are _not_ presenting an either/or choice, but are merely saying
    what _you_ would like to do. That is fine, and I welcome the change.
    But it is _not_ what you said initially.
    
    I no longer have any problem with what you are saying. 
                                                           
    Roberta
                                                                        

    I can see how you would interpret my .9 in that way, Roberta... but I'm
    confused about your reading of .6 which specifically said "I'm not
    pooh-poohing your idea"...
    
    alas,
    Marge_heading_home

    I believe that the reproductive clinic in Missouri is, in fact,
    beginning to raise money so that poor women can have access to
    abortions.  I *think* I heard that (more than once) on the news.
    
    Nancy

    	
    	As soon as the rally in Washington at the end of October is
    	definite, could someone post it here?  I'd like to make my
    	plane reservations as early as possible (in case the airways
    	turn out to be crowded that weekend because of the rally.)
    
    	Also, can we start discussing any plans that folks have for
    	meeting in Washington, sharing hotel rooms, etc.?
    
    	Coming from such a distance, I just want to be sure I can get
    	all my plans finalized well in advance of the rally!
    
    	Thanks much!!
    

    Perhaps this  time  there could be chartered planes. It would make
    it easier for a lot of people to attend. You might be able to look
    into  it  from Colorado. I believe that Mass. Coalition for Choice
    is working it from the Boston area.

--David

    RE .39
    	I'd call my town hall if I were in the U.S., but calling long
    distance from Europe costs over $1 a minute.  I'm been trying to
    get the info from a "U.S. Information Service" here in Geneva, but
    I haven't been able to get through.
    
    Keith

I thought that both sides of the abortion issue might appreciate
the following information.  Taken from the Worcester Telegram (July 7, 1989)


			POSITIONS ON ABORTION

Central Massachusetts legislators 

Legislator                                  Position on abortion (pro or anti)

HOUSE OF REPRESENTITIVES

Robert Antonioni, D-Leominster				anti
John J. Binienda, D-Worcester				anti
Peter I. Blute, R-Shrewsbury				anti
Robert J. Bohigian, D-Worcester                         anti
George J. Bourque, D-Fitchburg                          anti
Stephen M. Brewer, D-Barre                              anti
Andrew Collaro, D-Worcester                             anti
William Constantino Jr., R-Clinton                      anti
John R. Driscoll, R-Northboro                           anti
Robert A. Durand, D-Marlboro                            pro
Barbara Gardner, D-Holliston                            pro
William J. Glodis, D-Worcester                          anti
Augusta Hornblower, R-Groton                            anti
Paul Kollios, D-Millbury                                pro
John F. MacGovern, R-Harvard                            anti
Mary Jane McKenna, R-Holden                             anti
Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge                            anti
Kevin O'Sullivan, D-Worcester                           anti
Marie J. Parente, D-Milford                             anti
Chester A. Suhoski, D-Gardner                           anti
Marilyn Travinski, D-Southbridge                        pro

SENATE

Louis P. Bertonazzi, D-Milford                          anti
Argeo Paul Cellucci, R-Hudson                           pro
John P. Houston, D-Worcester                            pro
Mary L. Padula, R-Lunenburg                             pro
Robert D. Wetmore, D-Barre                              anti
Thomas P. White, D-Worcester                            anti

Like Catherine, I have never joined NOW because I disagree with *some* of 
what they do and how they do it.  But this morning, I became a member.

For those of you in central Massachusetts, there is a Worcester section of NOW.
Call Nancy Irons (508) 755-9564 for more information.

There is a meeting next Tuesday night at 7 pm at the YWCA.

See you there?

Barbi

    re:.53  Mary,
    
    I'm totally totalled! If your atricle is correct and anti means
    anti-abortion and pro means pro-choice, we are severely outnumbered.
    With a pro-choice majority of people how could this happen? How
    in the hel* do we stand a chance? I think I'm loosing faith, people.
    
    A Very Disapointed,
    Kate
    

    re .53
    
    Has anyone seen a list like this for eastern Mass.?

    NARAL has sponsored a National Mobilization Campaign.  You call a 
    900# and leave your name and address and they will send you an 
    Emergency Campaign Kit.  I don't know what's in it; I haven't gotten 
    it yet.  The call costs $1.75 so call from home.  The number is 
    900-988-8888.  

    NARAL Affiliates
    ----------------
    
    Arizona		(602) 257-8675	Phoenix
    			(602) 624-7931  Tuscon
    
    California		(415) 751-0300	North
    			(213) 393-0513	South
    
    Colorado		(303) 388-4720
    
    Connecticut		(203) 246-0767
    
    Florida		(904) 398-5588
    
    Georgia		(404) 377-2181
    
    Illinois		(312) 644-0972	Chicago
    			(217) 525-0900	Springfield
    
    Indiana		(317) 283-6033	
    
    Maryland		(301) 949-6822
    
    Massachusetts	(617) 720-1880
    
    Minnesota		(612) 827-5827
    
    Missouri		(314) 367-9860
    
    Montana		(406) 251-5951
    
    New Hampshire	(603) 228-1224
    
    New Mexico		(505) 294-0171
    
    New York		(212) 724-5770	New York City
    			(518) 465-3076	Albany
    
    North Carolina	(919) 687-4959
    
    Ohio		(614) 221-2594	Columbus
    			(216) 522-0169	Cleveland
    			(513) 281-9778	Cincinnati (ok Bob? :^)
    
    Oklahoma		(918) 582-7601
    
    Oregon		(503) 223-4510
    
    Pennsylvania	(215) 923-3172	Philadelphia
    			(412) 471-1507	Pittsburgh
    
    South Dakota	(605) 361-5014
    
    Tennessee		(615) 297-8540
    
    Utah		(801) 328-9355
                        
    Vermont		(802) 229-9207
    
    Virginia		(703) 281-4452
    
    Washington		(206) 624-1990	Seattle
    			(509) 455-6310	Spokane
    
    Wisconsin		(414) 332-4664
    
    Wyoming		(307) 332-2890
    
    
    Non-Affiliate Field Organizers
    ------------------------------
    
    Alabama		(205) 930-0471	Kenneth Wright
    
    Hawaii		(808) 599-5488	Nora Feuerstein
    
    Iowa		(515) 225-0731  Judy Bierkamp
    
    Maine		(207) 622-7524  Kathy Urban (Augusta)
    			(207) 879-8376  Carol Schiller (Portland)
    			(207) 945-6832  Sharon Barker (Bangor)
    
    Nevada		(702) 798-3877	Catherine Cunningham
    
    Rhode Island	(401) 941-4530  Marti Rosenberg
    
    South Carolina	(803) 272-6804	Martha Morgan
    
    
    

    I've had the number for NARAL sitting on my bulletin for months now -
    with all good intentions to call and never did til today.  They are
    sending me my application so I may become a member.
    
    Any more news on the October March? Perhaps we should start another
    official march note - I'll be there again. It was quite an experience
    last time.  I also want to help get the word out.  I know I wouldn't
    have found out about the last one it if it weren't for this forum. 
    If anyone has any ideas of how to get the word out or if I may be
    of help, let me know.
    
    Suzanne

    	Thanks for the national and state NARAL numbers.  After some phone
    	calls (I'm at home), I've given my name/address/phone to the
    	national NARAL, and spoke with the Colorado NARAL (in Denver) as
    	well as the Colorado Springs representative (at Planned Parenthood)
    	at (719)-475-7162.
    
    	The idea of sending some kind of caravan to Washington for the
    	March (from Colorado) is being discussed at some of the upcoming
    	strategy meetings being held in the next week or so.
    
    	I *definitely* think that we should have a new note for the
    	next march.  I will be going myself (one way or the other) and
    	hope to be able to help spread the word about it here in Colorado.
    
    	Looking forward to seeing many of you in Washington!!

    I've pencilled in October in Washington, BUT...
    
    I'm wondering if Washington is the place to be on this issue anymore.
    
    The Court has handed this issue back to THE STATES to decide.  The
    legislators we need to reach are in the State Houses.  At present, the
    national legislature is not enacting laws on reproductive rights.
    
    Hence, our time might be spent more wisely in trying to organise 51
    separate rallies -- DC and each state capital -- all on the same day.
    
    Imagine the impact of N-thousand marchers in Montpelier VT, in Concord
    NH, in Austin TX, in Springfield IL, in Baton Rouge LA..._as_well_ as
    in Washington DC!!!
    
      Ann
    
    

    	My understanding is that the next March on Washington is designed
    	to make a statement about the 3 *new cases* being introduced to
    	the next session of the Supreme Court that are ALSO seeking to
    	overturn Roe v. Wade completely.
    
    	Although most of the mobilizing (through NARAL) seems to be aimed
    	on the level of the States, I think another national march is
    	important, too. 

re: .55 on the Mass. legislature

The Mass. House of Representatives is 2-to-1 ANTI-CHOICE.  This comes as 
a real shock to many Mass. citizens who feel we are a progressive state.
Since a referendum a few years back on choice shows that most Mass. 
voters support choice, this means there are many legislators who are not 
representing the wishes of their constituents.  NOW is trying to target 
legislators that are particularly out-of-whack with the wishes of their 
districts and make this discrepancy an issue in their campaigns.

    I would strongly encourage any prochoice person who wants to influence
    the vast middle ground of people who don't hold strong opinions
    on either side (variously figured as 60-80% of the American
    population) to read the book I mentioned earlier "Abortion
    and the Politics of Motherhood: byt Kristin Luker, University
    of California Press, 1985 ISBN 0-520-05597-7.
    
    The author very clearly analyzes the motivations of both the
    pro-choice and the pro-life sides of the issues. She also
    describes approaches for both sides that they need to use to
    capture the votes of the middle. 
    
    One thing that I realized in reading the book is that neither
    side understands  the motivations of the other. The more we
    can understand those who hold a different opinion than we do,
    especially on and issue such as this one, the better chances
    we have to prevail in the political market place.
    
    I would strongly urge anyone who cares strongly about this
    issue on either side to read the book.
    
    It does not favor one side or another,  but gives the history
    of the public laws and church laws on abortion and clearly
    explains how each side feels.
    
    Bonnie

    
    	Any more word on the next March on Washington?  (Did they get the
    	permits?  Is the March set to go?)
    
    	Also, has anyone else noticed that the press is reporting the *huge*
    	pro-choice mobilization that is occurring all over the country?
    
    	It overshadowed the efforts of Operation Rescue this past weekend
    	in every single news report I saw.
    
    	Also, every poll that I saw (regarding the recent Supreme Court
    	decision affecting this issue) showed that a big majority of
    	Americans are *against* the decision.  (Not that we didn't know
    	that already, of course.)

    O.R. was definitely, absolutely, overshadowed in MA this past weekend. 
    At the primary Brookline Clinic over 200-300 (my estimates) pro-choice
    people showed up.  About 20-30 O.R. were also present. O.R. didn't show
    any significant numbers at any of the other clinics within 2 hours of
    Boston, including CT.  However, in one of the western states
    (Minnesota?), there were about 200 representatives of each side.  50+
    people on the anti-choice side were taken to jail on trespassing and
    other charges.
    
    Interesting point made by some "anti-choice" people in Texas over the
    weekend: it isn't the side that holds the biggest rallys and it isn't the
    side that necessarily writes the most letters that "wins."  Its the
    side with the best organized political machine.  Guess which side is
    still the best organized?

    On Donahue yesterday they listed 10 states that currently would most
    likely stay pro-choice.  Now if I can remember them all
    
    Hawaii, MA, Oregon, NY
    
    My memory fails me.  Someone said all the pro-choice women would move
    :-). They also said there were 10 states that would make abortion
    illegal and the rest of the states would be battle grounds.
    
    Considering this, I think it would be very important to set up a fund
    for poor women to travel to these states.  Has NOW or NARAL or PP
    set anything up like this?
                              
    Suz

    
    Interesting that Hawaii featured as pro-choice, since I vividly
    recall a documentary on pre-natal care that said that there was
    a depressing lack of doctors willing to take pregnant women onto
    their lists. They featured stories of women moving to California
    to have their babies.
    
    I am saddened by the thought that the planes taking pregnant women
    to Hawaii in order to exercise the option of an abortion might be
    used on the return flights to ferry pregnant Hawaiian women to the
    mainland in order to exercise the choice not to have an abortion...
    
    /. Ian .\

    
    re: 10 states that will probably stay pro-choice - 
    two more are Colorado and New Mexico.
    
    Ones that will probably turn the quickest to illegality:
    Missouri, Louisiana, Georgia, Utah                       
                                                       
    Pennsylvania and Florida are in trouble too.       
                                                       
                                                       
    If any of you out there live in NYC and are interested in becoming
    a clinic escort, contact NOW at 212-807-0721.  They are currently
    gathering names for a new escort training course.  
   
    
    Phyllis
    
    

    
    Supposedly, O.R. has sent out a national call to descend on the
    city of Boston, Ma. on 7/22/89. Call NOW for further info.
    
    am  

    I just called my travel agent - the best she could find for a flight
    from Manchester, NH or Boston to D.C. was $168.  Anyone know of
    anything any better?
    
    Suzanne
    
    P.S. is the date confirmed yet?
    

    No, the date is not confirmed yet...that I've heard anyway.
    
    NOW's national convention is in Cinncinati next weekend (July 20 to
    23).  I'm going and will report back here.
    
    When I flew to DC for the April march, $168 was the cheapest flight
    that I could get. However, that goes into Dulles, and that adds to the
    cost of your flight.  Dulles is WAY out of the city and you can go by bus
    ($12) or taxi (about $35).
    
    However, NH NOW is going to look into chartering a plane.  We might get
    the cost down even further.  Since we have so much time, we thought we
    would do that.
    
    I'll keep you posted. 
    
    judy

    To find out which NOW Chapter is nearest you, call the National NOW 
    Office in Washington, DC.  The number is 202/347-2279.
                                                     
    Carolann
    
    P.S.  I've already posted this in an older note...but here it is
    again...the South Middlesex NOW Chapter covers Framingham, Natick,
    Ashland, etc.  Send me MAIL for further information.
    
    

Note 685.55                       
USEM::DONOVAN                                        

>    I'm totally totalled! If your atricle is correct and anti means
>    anti-abortion and pro means pro-choice, we are severely outnumbered.

	Its ok Kate.  We can take the list into the voting booth with
	us next time and vote them all out.  Some of those candidates
	I have voted for many elections, I just didn't know their 
	position on certain issues.  And a candidates position is so
	much more important now that our freedom is in such danger.

>    With a pro-choice majority of people how could this happen? How
>    in the hel* do we stand a chance? I think I'm loosing faith, people.

It happened because we weren't paying attention.  And since abortion was
legal, it didn't seem so important what a candidate's personal opinion
was.  We are awake now.  Things will change.  Be carefull for those who
try to play both sides against the middle.  Already I'm hearing politicians
say that they are both, pro choice and anti abortion.  Those guys should
get voted out on the basis of extreme hypocrisy_:-)

Note 685.56                       
GEMVAX::KOTTLER                                       

>    Has anyone seen a list like this for eastern Mass.?

I'd like to see a list posted for every state in the union if possible.

Mary

    Everyone I know is going to Washington in October.  Whole families,
    friends, and relatives.  We will probably caravan (since there are
    so many of us) or try to rent some kind of bus.  
    
    Can someone post the date of the October march so that we can get
    hotel rooms?  (If we can't thats ok too.... can't attend all those
    Grateful Dead concerts and not learn how to camp out_:-).

    
    The March is scheduled for Sunday, 10/29/89 (pending permit). Best
    bet is to contact local organizers to check on permit status.
    
    Ann Marie

    I'll bring a cake for you Ann Marie._:-)  Think I'll be able to
    find one among millions?  If not, then I'll share it with whomever
    is around me... your sisters and brothers.
    
    Happy Birthday in advance_:-)
     
    Mary

    This was included in the packet that I received from NARAL.  If you can
    join please do - register yourself pro-choicers!  The membership is
    only $20.
    
Statement of Kate Michelman
Executive Director
National Abortion Rights Action League
July 3, 1989

    The Supreme Court ruling this morning in Wevster V. Reporductive Health
Services is a giant step backward for this country and a tremendous loss of
liberty for every American.  For months we have posed the central question in
this debate: Who Decides?  America's answer has been clear: We do.  But the
Court today said no, politicians will decide.

    The Justices cracked the foundation of privacy that has been the basis for
personal decisions about abortion, contraception and other freedoms in America
for decades.  We are now careening down the slippery slope toward goverment
control of our mos fundamental right.  Women's lives hange by a thread, and the
Justices this morning handed politicians a pair of scissors.

    Today the Supreme Court said that states can make the right to choose so
difficult, so expensive, so burdensome that it will no longer be a right for
all Americans, but a privilege for the few.  THe fireworks you see for
independence day tomorrow will pale beside what lies ahead.  This ruling will
set off a political firestorm throughout America.

    As we move forward into the 21st Century, the Court is allowing politicians
to send America backward, to the days when a woman had to risk her life inorder
to end a crisis pregnancy.  The Court did not explicitly say it was overruling
Roe V. Wade, but what they have done is every bit as damagin.  They have
stripped away the rights of American women.  Roe V. Wade, is, at best, and
empty shell, and in taking three abortion-related cases this fall, they are
poised to shatter even that shell.

    This morning, the Supreme Court placed women's most fundamental right in
the shifting sands of electoral politics.  America's political landscape will
never be the same.

    The days when politicians can remain silent on choice end now.  Women can
no longer count on the Court to protect their rights.  NExt, legislators,
governors and other politicians will be heard.  The final arbiters, however,
will be the voters.

    NARAL will make choice a voiting issue unsurpassed by any other.  Who will
decide?  The voters, as this battle shifts from the courts to the ballot boxes. 
NARAL will launch the most sophisticated, hard-hitting political campaign in
American history to preserve our right to choose.  It will include electoral,
legislative, grassroots and legal activity.  We have awakened the sleeping
giant, and today we begin mobilising that giant for the battles that lie ahead.

    In the months ahead, the pro-choice majority will be active in ways our
opponents can only imagine.  To politicians who oppose choice we say: Read our
lips.  Take our rights.  Lose your jobs.

    Since January, NARAL's membership has increased by 50% (* editorial: this
is encouraging).  We raised a million dollars this May, compared to $300,000 in
May of 1988.  THe pro-choice majority is smarter, more politically savvy, and
more energized than ever.  Politicians should know: We will be watching.

    Starting today, NARLA will demonstrate against this ruling throughout
America.  Already we know that our affiliates are speaking out today...
NARAL will launch a national media campaign this week to inform voters about
how damaging this decision is.

....

   We will target key races and concentrate our resources, turning the one
million people who signed onto our mobilization campaign into an electoral army
that demands a new level of accountability from elected officials.  We will
defeat politicians who oppose choice and replace them with htose who do not
waver in their support.

    NARAL wil utilize the strongest tactics available, including paid media
that hits politicians at home.  ALready, in Florida, we have begun to educate
voters about the anti-choice, anti-woman statments by Congressman Craig James.
His constituents were stunned and disturbed to learn about his positions. 
NARAL will replicate that campaign wherever necessary.  We have begun
independent expenditures in the New Jersey gubernatorial race and expect to do
the same in the race for Lieutenant Governor in Virginia.  NARAL wi.l be
involved next year in the gubernatorial and Senate races in Iowa.

    In the next few weeks, we will enlist bi-partisan support for federal
legislation to protect the right to choose abortion.  Senators Robert Packwood
and Tim Wirth and Representative Les AuCoin have agreed to immediately begin
exploring legislative remedies to this morning's ruling.  NARAL will develop
strategies to get representatives at every level of government on the record on
choice.

    This morning, when the Supreme Court upheld a bad law, every American lost. 
The Justices destroyed constitutional protections at the expense of women and
families, and at a considerable cost to individual liberty, personal freedom
and privacy.

   Today, the momentum shifts to the pro-choice forces, as NARAL works to
remedy the Court's mistake.  From now on, when we ask "Who Decides?" Americans
will answer, "We do, with our votes."
    

    I just started going through the womannotes file in the past two
    days, and I must say that it's one of the most positive forums that
    I've seen.  It's nice to know that people are concerned for the
    well being of others.
    
    I have just moved to Waltham, found out who my State Senator and
    Representatives are, called them up to ask for some more information
    on there positions on the issue of the day.  I just received the
    packet from State Rep. Peter G Trombley (D-Waltham, 9th Middlesex
    District) and was shocked by some of the votes and numbers, which
    I will list here.
    
    
    
    Key Votes of the 1985-86 Session:
    ---------------------------------
    
    (1)	Against	- Land Bank Creation
    (2)	Against - Stronger Lemon Law
    (3)	For	- Restricting Abortions
    (4)	For	- Presumptive Sentencing
    (5)	For	- Credit Card - 18% Repeal
    (6) For 	- Aid to Non-Public Schools
    (7)	Against	- Voter Registration by Mail
    (8)	Against - Gay Rights
    (9)	Against - Handgun Ban
    (10)For	- AFDC Increase
    (11)Against - Stronger Unisex Insurance
    (12)For	- Comparable Worth
    (13)Against - Increased Aid to Cities and Towns
    
    
    Election Results
    ----------------
    
    1986 Primary:
    
    Trombley (D) 	4,227
    All Others		    0
    Blanks		2,559
    -------------------------
    Total Votes		6,736
    
    
    1986 General:
    
    Trombley (D)	8,010
    All Others		    0
    Blanks		3,359
    -------------------------
    Total Votes	       11,369
    
    
    
    The thing that really blows my mind is that with Trombley's positions
    (Abortion, Gay Rights, Handguns, Lemon Law, etc.) that nobody even
    OPPOSED him in the race!  He seems to be just the kind of guy who
    doesn't have the same position as the majority.  
    
    I'm sure that he will be one of the State Reps who will be targeted
    in the 1990 election, but my question is, where is there a group
    who can offer an alternative candidate?  I'm sure this can be asked
    of many of the districts accross Massachusetts.
    
    So what do we do??
    
    /\Ken Mattsson

NARAL AFFILIATE LIST 

(Partial only - please let me know if there is one missing that you need)

CARAL-North
Susan Kennedy
4110 Geary Blvd #204
San Francisco, CA 94118
(415)751-0300

CARAL-South
Robin Schneider
1337 Santa Monica Mall
Third Floor
Santa Monica, CA 90401

Coloerado NARAL
Lisa Zoeller
1980 Dahlia Street
Denver, CO 80220
(303)388-4720

CONN- NARAL
Klara Grape
32 Grand Street
Hartford, CT 06106
(203)246-0767

MASS Choice
Pam Nourse
14 Beacon Street #608
Boston, MA 02108
(617)720-1880

NARAL of NH
Peg Dobbie
30 South Main Street
Concord, NH 03301
(603)228-1224
    

    re:  .80
    
    another one.....
    
    		Arizona Right to Choose
    		Marla Smith
    		2021 N. Central ave  Suite 301
    		Phoenix, AZ  85004
    
    		(602)257-8675
    
    
    pat

    So it dosn't matter if the fetus is viable outside the womb or not.
    
    It's PRO LIFE not anti choice.
    
    It's nice to see the supreme court making sure that everyone (even
    the unborn) has the fundamental right of life liberty and the persuit
    of happiness which we all take for granted here in this great country.
    
    You'll see me at the march also.  I'll be taking action on the pro
    life side of the demonstration.  I'll be representing all of the
    unborn women which have or will have to be the victims of abortion.
    
    I hear about  how dangerous things used to be as compared to now,
    but the maternal death rate has only been cut in half.  I just can't
    see the justification of the ending of 1,500,000 lives a year in
    the U.S. (less then 2% because of mothers life in danger , incest,
    and rape).  
    
    I far as I'm concerned you made your choice when you decided to
    have intercourse in the first place.  I know I'm going to get flamed
    for this, but I have to be true to what I know is the right thing
    to do. 
    
    You have said it is the poor who will suffer most.  This is untrue.
    It is middle class America who has the greatest amount of abortions
    in the U.S.
    
    Lastly, don't use my money (taxes) to fund something that is against
    everything that I believe in.  
    
                                              An opposing view,
    
                                              Mike
    

    You know I'm a little more worried about this march.  They didn't take
    us seriously the last time and so there weren't many reprecussions -
    ie counter demonstrators.  But now they know we are in full force and
    that we mean business - we had a bigger rally that the anti-choice
    people could ever dream of.  Do you think that this will have an effect on
    the anti-choice people showing up at the pro-choice march in October?
    
    Don't get me wrong I'm still going to go and I'm very excited about it
    - I just thought it might be something to consider.
    
    Suzanne

>			But now they know we are in full force and
>    that we mean business - we had a bigger rally that the anti-choice
>    people could ever dream of.  Do you think that this will have an effect on
>    the anti-choice people showing up at the pro-choice march in October?
    
	There is always that chance, but wouldn't it be nice if there
	were sooooo many pro-choice people at the march that the rally
	would be the biggest ever!!!!!!

	I would think that the pro-life people would be busy bothering
	clinics and such that weekend as far away from D.C as possible.

	_peggy

		(-)
		 |
			Not only are we not alone in our stand
			but there are over 600,000 willing to 
			stand beside us with limited organization.

.82>    Lastly, don't use my money (taxes) to fund something that is against
.82>    everything that I believe in.  

    I actually agreed with you here, Mike.  I've often wished
    that there was some way I could send in my income taxes with
    a form indicating that I'd like 5% to go here, 10% to go
    there, 0% to defense, etc... (I know it's not a practical
    idea, and would increase the paper-work nightmare
    tremendously, but I still despise knowing that a significant
    percentage of my income goes to defense.)

    -- Linda

    hi gang,
    could we use this note to discuss "taking action" and use other
    notes to discuss the pros and cons of abortion?
    
    liz

    Mass Choice has targeted a number of state reps and senators for
    defeat because of their "misrepresentation" of their constituents. 
    Mass Choice plans to find pro-choice candidates and to help with
    volunteers, money, and endorsements.  Their decisions on whom to target
    are based on an analysis of votes on a 1986 anti-abortion referendum, 
    with districts that voted against the referendum being classified 
    as pro-choice.  Those legislators targeted are:
    
    Reps:
    ----- 
    Joseph Connolly, Natick
    Kevin Poirier, North Attleboro
    John Driscoll, Northridge
    Willian Flynn, Hanover
    John MacGovern, Harvard
    Thomas Palumbo, Newbury
    
    Senators: 
    ---------
    Walter Boverini, Lynn
    John Brennan, Malden
    Francis Doris, Revere
    Edward Kirby, Whitman
    David Locke, Sherborn
    
    The following additional anti-abortion legislators also have 
    pro-choice districts but are not currently targeted by Mass Choice:
    (There may be others.  These four are from the area served by the
    newpaper that printed the article.)
    
    Sen. Theodore Aleixo, Taunton
    Rep. Philip Travis, Rehoboth
    Rep. William Vernon, Mansfield
    Rep. Francis Woodward, Walpole
    
    
    Nancy

    I just heard from Boston NOW that the march for October 29 is *ON*. 
    They will be having an organization meeting on August 1; contact the
    NOW office for the location.

    Thank you Liz,
    
    As a moderator I am requesting that people refrain from
    discussion of abortion in this note, and limit themselves
    to discussion of ways to take action.
    
    Thankyou
    
    Bonnie J
    =wn= comod

    
    
     RE: .89
    
          Why did you change your note?

    Last night I had a very powerful experience.  Some friends and I 
    went to the Peace Keeper training session that NOW sponsored.  
    Peace Keepers are the women who act as facilitators at political
    rallies and actions.  The specific focus of this training was to help 
    us learn how to help women get safely into an abortion clinic if 
    non-supporters of a woman's right to choose try to prevent her from
    going into the clinic.  We learned how to escort a client, how to
    create a wall around non-supporters, and how to create a corridor 
    through a crowd of supporters to allow a client and her escorts
    access to the door of the clinic.

    I'm glad that I attended the training for a number of reasons.
    First of all, I really feel like now I can act; I can make a difference.
    The Decison had left me feeling helpless and disempowered.   As I learned 
    how to use my body to help a woman defend her right to choose what to do 
    with her body, I felt something like this:

	Maybe I wasn't able to do enough to keep the courts from chipping away
	at a woman's right to choose, and maybe I wasn't powerful or 
	persuasive enough to keep people from voting into office men who would 
	like nothing better than to take away a woman's right to choose, 
        BUT I could do this thing.  I could make it a little easier for a 
        woman to exercise the rights she still has. 

    The physical activity took place outside, but the training started
    inside so the organizers could say a few words and make some 
    announcements.  When we got to the NOW office, the office was
    overflowing with women (and some men) who wanted to learn how to be 
    facilitators.  We ended up standing in the hall outside the door.  It 
    was hot and hard to hear, but as I thought about my own discomfort, I 
    was reminded of what it means that there wasn't enough room for
    everyone -- it means that our numbers are growing, that in the face of 
    this terrible blow that we have suffered, women have decided to act, 
    to fight back.  And as I thought about what it means to fight back
    by learning how to keep the peace, I was comforted, and I felt that
    maybe I really could find the energy I need to keep on working.

    To those of you who have been thinking of getting active in this struggle
    but have hesitated because you're not sure you have the time, or you
    figure it won't really make a diffence, I encourage you to think about it
    some more.  When I was driving to last night's training, I felt tired
    and cranky and like I really didn't have time to be doing this, but
    when I left, I felt energized and hopeful.

    I appreciate the optimism of those who see this as a chance for women to 
    organize themselves as a political force in this country.  Sometimes I even
    share that optimism, but mostly I see this as an issue of survival.  I feel
    that I must fight, or I may be entirely erased.
                   
    Justine

    NARAL of NH can use volunteers.  Every 1st and 3rd Wednesday they meet.
    Calls are made, lists are checked, mailings are done, phone numbers are
    looked up etc.  They are also trying to get all NH pro-choice citizens
    to sign this petition - (which I will be receiving in the mail
    shortly).  They need people to help circulate this as well as people to
    sign it.  I'll be attending next Wednesday night and will post more
    info.
    
    Suz
    
    P.S.  If anyone in NH wants to sign my petition please send me mail on
    how to get in touch with you.  I'll gladly drive to your home or meet
    you at a general locale so our voices can be heard! Thanks!

    
    Thanks for the update, Justine. Wish I could've been there but I
    had a prior commitment.
    
    am

This is not a topic for discussing one's views on abortion.  
It is a topic for discussing pro-choice action.

    re : Mike
    Your comments would be most welcome in topic 183.
    
    Catherine, I see nothing in the title that limits this to "pro-choice"
    action, simply "action".
    
    Marge

    re: .96
    
    � I see nothing in the title that limits this to "pro-choice"
    � action, simply "action".
    
    True, but then it seems to me that the relationship is:
    
    Title:base_note::tip::iceberg
    
    In re-reading Catherine's base note, I see nothing that specifically
    indicates that it's about taking pro-choice action, but the overall
    meaning of the note makes that the clear direction to me.
    
    Steve

RE: Note 685.92 JENEVR::POIRIER "Be a Voice for Choice!" 
    >NARAL of NH can use volunteers.  Every 1st and 3rd Wednesday they meet.
    >Calls are made, lists are checked, mailings are done, phone numbers are
    >looked up etc.  They are also trying to get all NH pro-choice citizens
    >to sign this petition - (which I will be receiving in the mail
    >shortly).  They need people to help circulate this as well as people to
    >sign it.  I'll be attending next Wednesday night and will post more
    <info.
    
     Where do they meet? I am a member of NARAL and I never heard of this!
     (Maybe cause I get 2-3 pro-choice mailings/day and I missed it?)
     I'd like to help out.

     Gale
     

    REL 99
    
    They meet in Concord NH on Main Street.  If you are interested give
    Ruth Pratt a call at:
    
    (603)228-1224
    
    I called and asked what I could do to help and they said they need
    people on the 1st & 3rd wednesdays 6- 9 to do general stuff.  Hope
    you can help Gale!
    
    Suzanne
    

    There have been notes started in both AITG::Catholic-Theology and
    AITG::Religion to organize people who are opposed to abortion.
    
    Key pad 7 will add Religion to your notebook.
    
    Bonnie

    I see no problem with discussing taking action for pro-choice or
    pro-life in this topic, but to keep things a little more organized,
    the pro-life activities perhaps deserve a note of their own.
    
    -Jody
    

I began this topic with the intention of discussion action that choice 
supporters can take in the wake of the Webster decision.  I have changed 
the base note title to reflect that intent.  Anyone who wishes to 
discuss something else is welcome to start another topic.

    This forum has become extremely biased.  You cannot change the rules
    in the middle of the game. RE: Taking action vs. Taking action for
    pro choice.  I deleted my reply (.94) because it was set hidden.
    It seems that in this medium that if you disagree, you are censored
    out.  There fore I chose not to participate in this file anymore.
    You people can agree with one another til your hearts content. 
    Moderators, if you feel this does not belong here, feel free to
    move it to a dissentious goodbye note.  I'm not going away mad,
    I'm just going away.:')  See ya in the funny papers.
    
                                                         Mike  

    re: -1  "We people" will agree with one another until our government 
    remembers that "we the people" in agreement is what is supposed to
    make policy in this country.

    re .104:
    
    Respecting the base note author's wishes, I have opened topic 701.* for
    discussion of supporting actions for the pro-life movement.
    
    Marge

note .107

>	... how shall we say this tactfully ???
>    
>    It's truly a shame when any "debate" is "won" by tactics
>    such as out-shouting the proponents of the unpopular position ...

>    Which leaves it up to a Devil's Advocate to observe that Marge
>    isn't "wrong" because she has one less vocal support person ...

>    ~--e--~  Eagles_Suggest_Y'all_Seriously_Consider_Mike's_Reasoning...


Eagles,

Catherine has the right to change the title of her basenote if she
finds that it did not clearly express what she intended. She has
the right to redirect the directon of the note if it starts getting
off the subject. Any basenoter has this right.

Mike could have (as Marge) did started a separate note. In fact
I think it would make more sense to keep the two topics separate.
Trying to organize for both causes in the same note could cause
a great deal of confusion.

Bonnie

    Dear Editor:

    Following is the text of a letter I wrote to my state 
    representative.  I encourage all pro-choice voters to let
    their represnetatives and senators know how they feel:



    Dear [...]:

    I strongly disagree with your position that favors
    restricting access to abortion.  I respect the sincerity with
    which you hold this view, but I believe that every woman
    has the right to make this difficult decision for herself.

    I also believe that a legislator must represent the wishes of the
    majority of his constituents.  However, an anti-abortion referendum
    question was defeated in your district in 1986.

    In order to be justly represented in the State House, I feel
    obligated to vote for, and actively support, only pro-choice
    candidates in the next statewide elections, and to encourage others
    in the pro-choice majority to do likewise.

    Sincerely,
    Nancy R. Smith

I apologize for not writing this up sooner.

Last Saturday I went to one of the abortion clinics in Brookline to be a 
presence for choice.  There were perhaps 200-300 pro-choice supporters
and about 2 dozen anti-choice activists.  The anti-choice folks seemed 
to attract the most media coverage.

I was there for several hours, and what struck me the most about 
observing both sides was the total disregard for personal space that the 
anti-choice people demonstrate.  I suppose that is the point of the 
whole idea, but somehow it became more real to me as I saw them push 
themselves on clients, quite literally shoving pictures of bloody fetuses in 
their faces.  Depending on the vigorousness of the assault, the client 
would be surrounded by 3-6 escorts, their hands linked to keep her safe, 
but anti-choice people would still be pushing at her, trying to break 
the circle around her.

The police had put up barriers to keep the crowds back from the door, 
and did a civil job of keeping the entrance clear.  However, the O.R. 
folks were always crowding across the cleared area, getting in the way 
and needing to be shooed back by the police.  Even this crowding of 
the public space illustrated the horribly intrusive nature of their 
behavior.

By contrast, the clinic escorts always ask a client if she wants their 
assistance, and never force themselves on anyone who does not want it.
They also make a point of not touching the client, and try to avoid 
crowding her (which takes some effort when you are being pushed and 
bumped by the opposition).

One of the anti-choice group's tactics is taking photographs of everyone 
going in the clinic, as well as of pro-choice demonstrators.  I found 
this quite upsetting.  I know their lack of respect for the privacy of women 
making this decision is the entire point of their politics, but all 
the same it seemed indecent to be taking their pictures like that.  
I had to wonder if these pictures be used against those women 
in the future if abortion is made illegal.

For those who remember my Washington, DC ensemble, I'm sure it will be
giving no end of scandalous delight to Operation Rescue, as one of them
snapped my picture in my "Suffragettes from Hell" jacket -- no doubt
confirming their worst expectations.  These people are overwhelmingly 
religious, carrying rosary beads and praying loudly, and seem quite 
convinced the rest of us are going to hell.

There are some pro-choice people who are bothered by our need to be at 
these places.  The essence of our belief about abortion is that is 
should be private, and fielding a couple hundred folks in the street,
even to help, violates that privacy.  However, if we aren't there, then 
the field is left for the anti-choice folk, who are not at all gentle 
or respectful of anyone's wish to be left alone.

If a client stops and does talk to them, they try to hustle her into 
a waiting car to take her off to be "counselled".  In my mind this is 
very close to kidnapping.  One of the O.R. men likes to hide in the 
bushes and jump out at the women and drag them in to be "counselled".
If the escorts and pro-choice supporters weren't there, the clinics 
would be very unsafe for clients.

After seeing all this, I decided to attend the NOW facilitator training.
It felt like an empowering and personal way to ensure my own and other
women's rights.  Operation Rescue is planning a national hit on clinics 
soon (interesting enough coincident with the NOW national convention,
when many experienced facilitators will be away), and we will need to 
give women all the support we can.

    Rewrite:
    
    ============================================================================
Note 685.112                Taking Action for Choice                  112 of 112
ACESMK::POIRIER "Be a Voice for Choice!"             10 lines  17-JUL-1989 09:46
                                -< NARAL of NH >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    For those interested I have received petitions from NARAL of NH. 
    Anyone from NH interested in signing these petitions for choice please
    contact me so we may make some type of arrangements.
    
    NARAL of NH is also trying to raise money to help the pro-choice
    movement through their 7th Annual Craft Raffle.  Please contact me for
    more information.
        
    Suzanne
    

                                                                    
                            <** Moderator Plea **>

    Please, folks, the two "Taking Action for ..." notes are meant to be
    used for planning by the respective groups, not for a continuation of
    argument.  Argument goes in 183.*   Further misplaced expressions of
    argument in this or the pro-life planning string will be summarily set
    hidden or deleted by the first moderator seeing them.
    
    If you are pro-life and are writing in this, the pro-choice string,
    please behave as a courteous guest and use the term "pro-choice":
    nobody will really suppose that you're betraying your principles or
    selling out.  Anyone who feels unable to be courteous to such a small
    degree is probably too angry to be writing in this string anyway.
    
    Thank you.
    
    						=maggie

    I feel stupid admitting this, but I've decided to suffer the
    embarrassment to show how the supreme court's decision and the reaction
    of pro-choice groups across the nation and people in this conference
    can awaken even the politically brain-dead like myself. 

    I had considered abortion a women's rights issue, to the point that I
    thought my opinion was irrelevant since I'm a man. "Women should decide
    this", I reasoned and since there were women active on both sides of
    the issue, the most supportive thing I could do as a man was remain
    neutral. Clever, huh? Well, it sounded logical to me at the time. 

    The decision and some of the reactions I've seen in the media and here
    in this conference finally got through to me and I had to actually sit
    down and think about where I stood. It didn't take me too long to
    realize the obvious: since I was willing to remain neutral and leave it
    up to women, I clearly belong on the pro-choice side. 
    
    Of course, I'm still politically brain-dead, so my actions will be
    somewhat limited, but here was my first action: deciding. Second
    action: posting a note, being publicly, not privately, pro-choice,
    supporting by word, if not by any particular deed.

    I know this might not seem a lot to the activist community in this
    conference, but I felt I should mention it anyway. Who knows where
    these initial acts will lead? I don't feel that I was alone in not
    deciding and now that I have, I want to encourage other non-activists,
    particularly men, to think about the issue and know how you really
    feel. It's not absolutely necessary to go out and look for some
    particular action once you've decided, despite what the activists say.
    It's enough that you have decided and when a possible action is offered
    to you, you'll have a clear enough understanding of your own feelings
    about the issue, that you'll "know" what action to take. 
    
    At the very least, even if you will never have to face the "choice"
    yourself, it's something to consider next time you vote.
    
    To the activists: I encourage you also. This decision has changed
    things. You may discover that a greater number of people respond
    to your actions than were likely to before.

    John_who_may_not_have_moved_very_far_but_is_at_least_standing_on_one_side_
    of_the_fence_now_instead_of_trying_to_sit_on_it 

    
    PS: I hope this note belongs here. I wasn't sure if I was describing
    an action or an opinion. Unfortunately, the recommended 183 topic
    was write-locked.

    
    
    re .113:
    
    Note #183 is now write-locked, so telling people to take their opinions
    on the abortion debate to note #183 is currently not an option.  Where
    are people supposed to continue the debate?  Start a new note?  Or is
    some moderator going to make it writeable again?  Or are we not supposed
    to continue the debate?
    
    Some moderator, please answer.  Which one of the above is it?
    

    For the time being, until topic 183 is reopened, PLEASE withhold
    discussion of abortion per se.  I know this may be difficult, but
    perhaps a breather/cooldown time is what is needed....
    
    -Jody

    
    So we're *not* supposed to talk about abortion - a topic that is most
    definititely of interest to women?  I thought that from the discussion
    in the 'processing topic', we've all seemed to agree that we should be
    able to discuss in this file whatever women want to talk about, and it
    sure seems we want to talk about the abortion issue, more so now than
    ever before, given the recent Supreme Court ruling.
    
    Tell me it ain't so - tell me we can talk about whatever we like!
    Or this file will become pretty useless to many (me anyway), if the
    *moderators* decide what we can and cannot talk about!
    
    

Moderators 'own' this file, and are responsible for the contents and grief.
Always have, always will.
	Mez

    By the way, I should make it clear that I think the moderators have
    been doing a pretty good job with this file.

    The difficulty appears when it takes so much time to "watch" a topic
    like 183.  And yes, it is better to have it closed in many ways
    for a short period than to have it careening out of control, riling
    tempers and becoming full of flamage, judgement, and moralistic
    opinion.  Please be patient and wait.  It is not outlawed forever.
    Only until we can handle it again....and it DOES take a GREAT deal
    of time and energy.
    
    -Jody
    

    
    Hi.  Somewhere in here someone mentioned the program about abortion
    that's been aired on TBS.  We discussed it in some detail at the
    NYC NOW meeting last night.  NOW has suggested that we call and/or
    write to Ted Turner and the Programming Directors at TBS to let
    them know we appreciate their efforts and support.  The phone number
    is 404-827-3034.  That will connect you directly to the publicity
    department.  The woman I spoke with was VERY appreciative of the
    call.  Most of the calls they receive are negative.. it's CRITICAL
    that we provide positive input as well.  Remember, silent NO MORE!
    The address is:  Programming Department
    		     Attn:  Director of Programming
    		     WTBS              
    		     1050 Techwood Drive
    		     Atlanta, GA  30318
    
    On another note, we learned last night that Operation Rescue receives
    ENORMOUS amounts of money from DOMINO'S PIZZA.  Any of you who have
    children/friends on college campuses might want to let them know.
    I am not suggesting a boycott, but educated consumers make smarter
    choices.  Just spreading the word...  
    
    Lastly, to whoever it was in here who told us how incredibly crowded
    the last Mass NOW meeting was.. thanks for the tip!  We got there
    early last night and were able to get seats right up front where
    we could hear everything.  The place was packed solid - even the 
    hallways!
    
    Phyllis
    
    

    Re: -1  And I just read recently that Domino's Pizza is being taken to
    task for putting young people's LIVES on the line, (only already born 
    people, tho!), to further their market position.  Promising a 30
    minute delivery time has a lot of youngsters screaming around the
    streets at breakneck speed trying to deliver Domino's promise and 
    keep their jobs.  No wonder they need lots of new babies to be born!
    It makes me wonder, along the same vein, how much the tobacco industry
    is behind the pro-fetal movement.  It's a fact that since about 5,000
    people a die each day from nicotine addiction, the tobacco industry
    needs to recruit 5,000 new smokers daily just to stay even.  The
    pro-fetal movement, (pro-life seems to be too broad a term for this
    movement which seem to be concerned with pre-born life only),  may have 
    been more vocal and more successful legislation-wise not necessarily 
    because "God is on their side" but because capitalism is.  Hot dogs,
    MOTHERHOOD and apple pie.  It's becoming a little more clear...

    	
    	Any more news on the next March on Washington?  Is it time to start
    	a new note to coordinate the plans of those who are going?
    
    	

    
    re: why not a boycott?
    
    Because I don't want anyone to assume I speak for DEC.  I've already
    had personnel on my back here for being rather outspoken. :^)  *I*
    won't ever buy Domino's Pizza again but I won't tell other people
    to do the same.  Just the facts..
    
    Phyllis
    
    ps.  besides I live in Manhattan and we have much better pizza than
    that anyway. :^)

    
    re: the next march
    
    Hold off on the new note for a while.  There's a National NOW meeting
    this weekend (in Cincinnatti maybe?) and the march will be discussed.
    Apparently, there's still lots of disagreement as to whether there
    should be one march on DC or separate marches on state legislatures.
    There's valid arguments for each.  I think a lot of people are excited
    about returning to DC and feeling the presence/power of a million
    people.  On the other side, though, it's been made pretty clear
    that this fight resides in the states so we might be better served
    at that level.  Hopefully, a decision will be made this weekend.
    
    I'll be attending a NOW Reproductive Rights committee meeting on
    Thursday and should get an update then.
    
    Phyllis
    

    There will be a pro-choice demonstration at the Pre-term clinic in
    Brookline  tommorow morning. Does anyone know what time? I believe
    this  is  in  response to an operation rescue demonstration at the
    same time.

--David

    I read in Saturday's Globe that the pro-choice rally will be on
    November 12 at the Lincoln Memorial.  It was buried in an article
    about NOW, I think.
    
    Can anyone confirm this?  Does anyone know more?  Is this a date
    change?  Or does it mean that October 29th will be for statewide the
    pro-choice rallies?
    

Better start the cards and letters now! I heard on the radio this AM
the Attorney General in Mass is going to introduce a bill to
make *ALL* abortion illegal. the newscaster said "the AG said he was
doing it because he is catholic."    

IMHO Attorney Generals are supposed to enforce not propose law.

If anyone wishes I have address and phone numbers for all Mass reps and 
senators.
Amos

    It was the other way around.  Frank Belloti (although a Catholic
    who personally objected to abortion) was proposing an amendment
    to the state constitution that declared a woman's right to
    abortions.  He is running for governor and is a Democrat.
    
    							Ann B.

    re: .128
    
    That doesn't sound right.  Shannon submitted a brief on Wesbster
    to the Supreme Court of the United States in *favor* of choice.
    
    
    The morning news brought reports of *former* Attorney General
    Francis Bellotti (and probable candidate for Governor) proposing
    an amendment to the Massachusetts Constitution.  The language
    in the amendment would make it entirely clear that privacy is
    a *fundamental* right in this state, and that abortion is a
    private matter.
    
    Not that the proposed amendment means a hill of beans.  It has
    almost no chance of getting through the House, which is
    overwhelmingly pro-life.  But then again, with representatives
    "re-examining" their positions, perhaps there is a chance.
    1990 in Massachusetts will be a *very* important set of elections,
    not only for the Governor's race, but also the races for the
    House and Senate.  (The Senate is marginally pro-choice.)
    
    
    In other news, Dukakis has announced his choice for the vacancy
    on the Supreme Judicial Court.  Although Dukakis insists that there
    was no "litmus test" on abortion in choosing the nominee, the
    candidate is thought to be pro-choice.  (An earlier Massachusetts
    Supreme Judicial Court found that citizens of Massachusetts have
    a right to privacy in the Massachusetts Constitution.)
    
    								-mr. bill

>                    <<< Note 685.130 by BETHE::LICEA_KANE >>>
>                               -< Are you sure? >-

>    re: .128
    
Early in the morning (6:30) my hearing my very well not work properly :-)
I hope your version is right and mine wrong.
I apologize for any errors in reporting what I thought I heard
Amos

Amos, you can take a look at 183.1010 and .1011 for the full text of what
Bellotti actually proposed, as well as some background info.

						--Q

	This evening I talked with a woman from CARAL who is organizing 
    the south bay area activities for CARAL/NARAL. Watching and hearing
    the news reports isn't enough any more.  Operation Rescue hit Salinas
    either yesterday or this morning (I am too tired to remember!) and
    they will continue.  Interestingly, Lynn (CARAL) indicated that
    the San Jose area poslica departments are very serious about
    prosecuting and arresting these folks - although a first attack
    is usually a surprise, they don't get away with it twice.
    Unfortunately once is too many times if it prevents someone from
    entering a clinic. 
    
    If you are in the area and are interested in helping CARAL, contact:
    
      Lynn Billig
	408/249-7850

Their next general meeting is on August 22nd.  I am on her mailing list and 
will share the info when it arrives.  They have committees on the following 
areas of concern: 

	Petition Signing/Voter Registration
	
	Boycott Domino's Pizza (apparently the owner(s) have contributed
				heavily in Michigan anti-abortion campaigns)

				Also something about right-wing activism on 
				the part of Carls' Jr. - but then we healthy
      				folks know better anyway!)

	Media Committee

	Organizing House Meetings/Films (a reach out program where they 
					show a CARAL film and introduce 
					people to the issues, letter writing
					programs, getting involved - maybe
					we should have one??

	Legislation Action Committee (keeping track of who stands where, i.e.
					Vasconcellos and Cortese are clearly
					anti-choice)

	Database/sw/hw (oh dear..)


Irene
    

    
    I received a very nice letter today from Senator Brock Adams (D-WA),
    presumeably in response to my letter to him, stating his continued
    support for choice. It was encouraging to read. I have not yet
    received any response from our other senator Slade Gorton (R-WA).
    (maybe he knows i'd never vote for him anyway ;^})
    

I don't think I was that far off yesterday after all.

Seems NOW doesn't like bellotti's bill. "Compelling state interest" can
(and will) be interpreted to mean 
whichever-way-the-wind-blows-on-beacon-hill-today.

Write your darn letters if you truly want to be heard.
Amos    


PS  look at bellottis record in general and then when he says trust-me
    bend-over

    Great article. U.S. News "Abortion Furor". Mail me for a copy.
    
    Kate
    

    
    did anyone go to the national NOW meeting this past week-end? are
    they still trying to organize a march in late october?
    
    ~robin

    
    My local chapter (NYC) is telling us November 12th.  You should
    probably call National NOW for definate info since they will sponsor
    it.
    
    Phyllis
    

    Any explanation why the later (and presumably colder) date??????

    
    Not that I've heard.  I'll be at a meeting Thursday night and will
    let you know whatever I hear.
    
    

    I was a delegate at the National NOW Convention this weekend.  Yes,
    indeed, the date is now moved.  It was done for two reasons.  (And
    possibly more, but two were announced.)
    
    First off, NOW is co-sponsoring a march on October 7 for the Homeless. 
    (Homeless NOW)  Co-sponsorships are very important to marches to get
    the word out to different groups and guarantee a larger turnout.  NOW
    realized that we would lose friends if we had a march too close to the
    October 7 date.
    
    The other reason is that the election is being held on November 7. 
    Many of the people who will go to the march will be working on
    campaigns and NOW decided to move up the date to allow them to do both
    easily. 
    
    On that note, I think I'll start a new note to announce the march.  I
    don't know if it will actually be a march or a demonstration.  The
    anti-abortion folks are having something at the Lincoln Memorial next
    April.  They equate this movement with the civil rights movement and
    are using that monument to tie in the symbolism.  
    
    Hope you didn't make your plane reservations!  
    
    Judy
    
     

    	
    	Thanks for all the info on the rally in Washington on November
    	12th!
    
    	I'll contact NARAL in Colorado, and NOW in Colorado Springs to
    	see what plans are being made to send busloads of Coloradoans
    	to this event.  (See you in the new March note!)
    

	It scares the daylights out of me that some politicians are 
	trying to take away my right to decide what to do with my own 
	body.  I joined NOW many years ago and found that there were 
	too militant for my tastes (maybe that's changed?) so I'm still 
	a little reluctant to sign on with them again.

	I've never been much of a joiner, and working full time and
	taking care of family plus going to school two nights a week 
	doesn't leave a whole lot of extra time.  But I still want
	to do *something*!  I live in a small town where there isn't
    	much action on this issue, or much interest either. 

	Once school is finished (next June) I plan to get truly involved 
	(planning committees, logistics, lobbying, etc.).  But right now 
	I don't have a lot of time to go to weekly meetings and sit around 
	and gripe, so does anyone have any concrete suggestions of what 
	needs to be done now and how I could help?   

	Conni
                                                           

    Of course, NOW, NARAL, or Planned Parenthood will be happy to have your
    financial support if you don't have the time right now to be involved. 
    In NOW, usually 10% are activists, 20% attend meetings, and 40% attend
    rallies and demonstrations.  I'm sure other groups have similar
    numbers.  
    
    If NOW is not to your liking, then join one of the other groups that I
    mentioned.  NARAL is a one-issue group and is not as militant as NOW. 
    Planned Parenthood has different fund drives to help with the various
    things that they do.  You could also join a Political Action Committee 
    who will donate money to pro-choice candidates. 
    
    But, please, do something if you are interested in abortion rights.  
    
    Judy

    
    Hi Conni,
    
    There's definately plenty to do - even without ever attending a
    meeting.  You can become part of a phone tree.  When NOW or NARAL
    needs to get the word out about a demonstration/protest/etc., there
    are specific people they call, who then call ten people each, and
    so on.  (Remember the Faberge commercials :^)).  If you call a local 
    chapter of either organization and tell them how much time you can 
    spend, they'll give you other ideas.  Even 1/2 an hour a week can
    mean a lot.  
    
    Phyllis
    
    

    
    Hi.  I went 'tabling' last night with NARAL for the first time.
    It was fun and I really felt like I was *doing* something.  I'm
    going to try to go out once a week.
    
    We met at NARAL headquarters first and got a briefing.  Mostly a
    basic rundown of the Webster decision, facts about NY legislators
    voting records, etc., stuff to answer basic questions you might
    get.  Then we broke up into six groups of 4 or 5 people each.  There's
    one captain per group, someone who's tabled before.  Each group had a 
    specific station (we went to 80th & B'way).  We set up our table
    with a Pro-Choice banner pinned up behind us, lots of literature
    and buttons, sign-up sheets and a can for $ contributions.  Two of 
    us took clipboards w/lots of petitions and stood on corners near the 
    table to collect signatures.  The other three sat at the table and
    answered questions, handed out newsletters, and collected $.  We
    stayed for about an hour and a half and collected 285 signatures
    and around $60!  Multiply that by six and it's not too bad for a
    couple of hours.  I only got a couple of people who made anti-choice
    comments, and no-one was violent or even loud.  LOTS of people stopped
    and talked for a long time and thanked us.  It really felt good.
    I'd definately recommend this for anyone who has a couple of hours
    a week and wants to do something positive.  NARAL in NYC goes out 
    tabling every Wednesday; you'll have to call your local chapters to 
    get schedules elsewhere. 
    
    Phyllis
    

    Well, I sent out all my letters to the legislators some 2-3 weeks
    ago....have only heard back from Dukakis.  His reply was, of
    course, a form letter, but did include an address he gave on
    Jan. 22 at the Church of the Covenant.  Very good.....for the
    most part.  Perhaps not radical enough for some, but a good
    statement of the fact that many of us who are pro-choice
    are not condoning abortion for the sake of abortion, but rather
    as an alternative when b.c. fails, or other circumstances occur...
    and we'd rather see *all* those circumstances done away with, so
    abortions don't have to be performed.  
    
    If you want I can type in the text when I have more time...it
    runs almost 6 pages....
    
    Anyway, if I hear from any others I will also let you know their
    replies.
    
    I have heard the 11/12 date for the rally as well...would seem
    correct.
    
    deb
    

    RE:.148
    
    I also got Governor Dukakis' letter. It was informative and sincere.
    I'm still waiting to hear from our state senators. 
    
    Kate
    

    		The National Abortion Rights Action League
    			    of New Hampshire
    
    			        PRESENTS
    
    			A DISCUSSION FOR CHOICE
    
    			Tuesday, August 8, 1989
    
    				7:00 P.M.
    
    			   Nashua Public Library
    			      2 Court Street
    
    		         New Members are welcome.

Its quite amazing to come back to this file after a month's vacation
and see all the energy being generating around this issue.  If you are
pro-choice and want to get involved in the march, I hope you will
consider being a facilitor at the March.  If you go down the day
before, you can get training throughout the day.  There's always a
tremendous amount of volunteer work to be done at events like this and
the more the merrier.  I always feel more involved and have a more
enjoyable time if I can volunteer to help stage the event.


john

Northern California and Beyond...

            PRO-CHOICE MARCH AND RALLY
  TO PROTECT WOMEN'S RIGHTS & SAVE WOMEN'S LIVES

  SUNDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1989, San Francisco, CA

  Assemble:  11AM, Justin Herman Plaza
             (Market St at The Embarcadero)
             Embarcadero BART/MUNI Station

  March:     12 Noon, up Market Street

  Rally:     1:30 PM, Civic Center
             (Polk and Grove Streets)
             Civic Center BART/MUNI Station

  Sponsored by NOW and Bay Area Pro-Choice Coalition

    *** Organizational Meeting Every Wednesday ***
     ***     7:00 PM The Women's Building     ***
      ***     3543- 18th Street SF 94110     ***
       ***        Childcare Provided        ***

        KEEP ABORTION SAFE, LEGAL & ACCESSIBLE
        Let's Celebrate our Strength and Power!

    NARAL's 20th Anniversary Convention...
    
    October 13-15 in Washington DC at the Sheraton Washington
    Workshops, Strategy sessions, speakers and entertainment
    
    Also 10/16 Lobby day, for those who can stay.
    
    Conference Registration $75 for members, $100 for non-members
    call 202-828-7056
    
    General NARAL info/questions call 202-371-0779
    
    
    
    
    deb
    

    FYI - the following is from an Associated Press article that appeared
    yesterday (reprinted without permission):
    
                           THE ROLL CALL OF THE REGION             
    
    WASHINGTON --  Following are the votes of New England members of
    Congress in the 261-206 roll call yesterday by which the House agreed
    to allow welfare abortions for rape and incest victims.
    
    A "yes" vote is a vote to get rid of the restrictions.
    
    CONNECTICUT: Democrats - Gejdenson, y; Kennelly, y; Morrison, y.
    Republicans - Johnson, y; Rowland, y; Shays, y.
    
    MAINE: Democrat - Brennan, y.  Republican - Snowe, y.
    
    MASSACHUSETTS: Democrats - Atkins, y; Donnelly, n; Early, n; Frank,
    y; Kennedy, y; Markey, y; Mavroules, n; Moakley, n; Neal, n; Studds,
    y.  Republican - Conte, n.
    
    NEW HAMPSHIRE: Republicans - Douglas, n; Smith, n.
    
    RHODE ISLAND: Republicans - Machtley, y; Schneider, y.
    
    VERMONT: Republican - Smith, y.
    
    

    I am so incredibly angry at Congress that I can't stand it.  (I'm
    also mad at Bush, but at least I know how to *write* him and where
    he stands.)  Rape and incest are the two "exception" conditions
    under which a *very clear* majority of the country is willing to
    agree that abortion may be appropriate, yet there is no federal
    funding available for those abortions. AARRRGGGHHHH!!!!
    
    The final straw for me was hearing a news clip on my radio on the
    way home. A congressman against the override talked about "not seeking
    revenge on the rapist by destroying the innocent child..."  There
    was *not one word* in what he said about the innocent VICTIM!! 
    Great - that woman now gets to be a victim *3 times* - once during
    the rape, once for the poverty which forces her to rely on Medicare
    in the first place, and once for bearing the child and either raising
    it or giving it up.  (Maybe that's really 4 times.)  The child will
    always be subject to some stigma as well, regardless of how much
    we might wish it to be otherwise.  And if the victim is herself
    a child, how much worse can it get?
    
    Having gotten that off my chest.  (Thank you for your patience.)
    How can I find out what the vote was of particular legislators?
    My rep is Bob Early, but others may also want to know how their
    reps voted.  Clearly I am about to start writing letters - my first
    ever.  What else, short of street demonstrations (I really freak
    in large crowds) can be done?

    
    First, check your local paper.  The NY Times doesn't have a list,
    but someone at my NOW office told me that she saw a listing of the
    reps from this area (NY, NJ, CT) in the Daily News.  I'll get one
    later and type it in.
    
    For a complete listing, try calling the Capitol Switchboard:
    202-224-3121.  They'll be able to route you to someone who could
    mail you a copy.
    
    Regarding, things to do:  there's lots that don't involve crowds
    or demonstrating.  Call your local NOW or NARAL office to find 
    out about tabling or phone banking.  And write LOTS of letters!
    
    Phyllis
    

    
    Here's how the vote went for NY, NJ and CT:
    
    Y = Override Veto
    N = Don't override
    X = Didn't vote
    

    New York
    --------
    
    Democrats:	Ackerman - Y
    		Downey - Y
    		Engel - Y
    		Flake - Y
    		Garcia - X
    		Hochbrueckner - Y
    		LaFalce - N
    		Lowey - Y
    		Manton - N
    		McHugh - Y
    		McNulty - Y
    		Mrazak - Y
    		Nowak - N
    		Owens - Y
    		Rangel - Y
    		Scheuer - Y
    		Schumer - Y
    		Slaughter - Y
                Solarzx - Y
    		Towns - X
    		Weiss - Y
    
    Repubs:	Boehlert - Y
    		Fish - N
    		Gilman - Y
    		Green - Y
    		Horton - Y
    		Houghton - Y
    		Lent - N
    		Martin - N
    		McGrath - N
    		Molinari - N
    		Paxon - N
    		Solomon - N
    		Walsh - N
    
    
    New Jersey:
    
    Democrats:	Dwyer - Y
    		Florio - Y
    		Guarini - Y
    		Hughes - Y
    		Pallone - Y
    		Payne - Y
    		Roe - N
    		Torricelli - Y
    
    Repubs:	Courter - X
    		Gallo - Y
    		Rinaldo - N
    		Roukema - Y
    		Saxton - N
    		Smith - N
    

    
    Connecticut:
    
    Democrats:	Gejdenson - Y
    		Kennelly - Y
    		Morrison - Y
    
    Repubs:	Johnson - Y
    		Rowland - Y
    		Shays - Y
    	

    Today's Globe listed how the MA reps voted.  Bob Early did not vote. 
    However, I suspect that he would have voted 'no' on the override since
    he is adamantly anti-choice.  On the original vote of the bill in the
    House, Mr. Early voted the measure down, as has been his consistent
    pattern, so it was no surprise.  What irks me about it is that I called
    his office and asked why he always votes anti-choice.  I asked if that
    is because the majority of his constituents are pro-life, and I wanted
    to know if I am in the minority by being pro-choice.  At least then I
    could respect his voting as being representative of the people in his
    district.  But I was told by the woman on the other end that he voted
    his conscience, and didn't care what his contituents wanted.  Funny, I
    thought representatives were supposed to represent.  Silly me.  
    
    I certainly made it quite clear to his office that I would be working
    to support the pro-choice candidate that opposes him at the next
    election, and that would include my time, money and vote.
    
    Cathy

>I wouldn't want to have
>    to "prove" that I had been raped in order to get an abortion.  (I'm
>    not at all sure that I would want to even *report* that I had been
>    raped.  The aftermath could be worse than the attack.  See Nancy
>    Bittle's <Don't Scream> note for the reasoning on this opinion.)
 
 I don't believe that the President wanted the victim to prove she had been
raped- I think he wanted to avoid women using rape as an excuse to get a 
freebie. Re; reporting, etc- I am well aware of the reasoning, and I 
definitely can empathise. I'm caught in the middle here- I think some sort
of compromise should be reached.

 When it comes to rape and incest victims, I think the pro-lifers have to give 
in a little bit and not fight the use of federal funds for abortions for those
who can't pay. On the other hand, I can see why some people oppose federal funds
for abortions of convenience. Seeing both sides just means you get twice as
many enemies- but at least i can try to justify a compromise in my own mind.

 The Doctah

    The congressman's name is *Joe* Early, not Bob Early.
    Here's how you can get in touch with him:
    
	Joe Early
	2349 Rayburn House Office Bldg.
	Washington, DC 20515
	
	Local:
	34 Mechanic St
	Worcester, Ma 
	508-752-6718

    The way New England Congress members voted on the override
    of Bush's veto (from today's Globe):
    
    Connecticut:
    Democrats:  Gejdenson, y; Kennelly, y; Morrison, y
    Republicans:  Johnson, y; Rowland, y; Shays, y
    
    Maine:
    Democrats:  Brennan, y
    Republicans: Snowe, y
    
    Massachusetts:
    Democrats: Atkins, y; Donnelly, n; Early, X (didn't vote);
    Frank, y; Kennedy, y; Markey, y; Mavroules, n; Moakley, n;
    Neal, X; Studds, y
    Republicans: Conte, n
    
    New Hampshire:
    Republicans: Douglas, n; Smith, n
    
    Rhode Island:
    Repulibcans:  Machtley, y; Schneider, y
    
    Vermont:
    Republicans: Smith, y

Please keep to the topic of Taking Action for Choice.
	Mez

    I've deleted my note on the "RU486 Underground" and the related
    responses that followed it.
    
    Three of us went to the "rally" and it turns out that I should have
    spent more time talking to the guy on the saturday:  he's a flake.
    Well-meaning, heart in the right place and all that, but he definitely
    sheds bits and pieces when he moves.
                                                       
    						=maggie

    The question in 858.0 leads me to another question:  if there should be
    another series of rallies or marches scheduled, say, next April, how
    can we make sure that they're very well-publicised?  The publicity
    given...or rather NOT given...to the March and now sunday's Rally is
    pretty appalling, t'me.
    
    						=maggie

    RE: publicity
    
    I wish I knew. I sat in front of the TV waiting for coverage, which
    turned out to be about 5 seconds of Molly Yard's speech, and a brief
    crowd shot. Big, hairy, deal.
    
    They also kept saying "thousands of.." - not "TENS of thousands of..."
    or "HUNDREDS of thousands of..." - it sounded like a handful of people
    got together and decided to meet on the corner of State and Main for
    the heck of it.
    
    Sheesh.
    
    --DE
    

    The Nashua Telegraph carried it on the front page, and used
    the term "hundreds of thousands".  Quite impressive.  However,
    I get the strong feeling that the Telegraph's editorial stance
    is seriously pro-choice.
    
    				Steve

    After New Jersey and Virginia elections, even the noted conservative 
    reporter, George Will now thinks that most citizens are pro-choise/ He
    believes that pretty soon we will start seeing the turn-around in the
    republican party line.  But he proclaims that the citizens are smarter
    to fall for the speudo-change.
    
    - Vikas

Reminder: make it obvious to the poor co-mods just what each reply has to do
with Taking Action for Choice. Don't rely on it being intuitively obvious to
the casual observer.
	Mez

    re .175, Nusrat- (did I spell that right?)
    
    No, you're absolutely correct; marches alone are not sufficient.
    I deem my participation in the Mobilization as symbolic, and while
    important in terms of sending a message to politicians at both the
    national and local levels, one of the speakers there said it best:
    
    "This does *not* absolve you of the responsibility to take action
    back home.  Return to your states, and work to elect representatives 
    who will fight to protect the right for all women to make their
    own choice."
    
    Woefully inadequate paraphrase, but I got the message.  The Webster
    decision threw the legal battle to the states.  Its time for us
    to write our statehouse reps and spell out our positions clearly.
    Mine will be told that loud Pro-Choice statements are expected from
    each of them.  They will be told that active Pro-Choice votes are
    expected from each of them.  And they will be told that if they
    are not able to take such positions, my votes will go to those of
    their opponents who can and do take such positions.
    
    DougO

From yesterday's BOSTON GLOBE:

"'An Evening of Chocolate Madness' will be savored tomorrow (Wednesday,
November 29) from 7 to 9 pm. at the Harcus Gallery, 210 South St., to
benefit Mass Choice, the statewide abortion-rights organization.  Just 
about everything, from mousses to truffles to pastries to ice cream, 
will be available for sampling, and a group of celebrity judges will 
select the best creations from all the treats donated by two dozen 
shops and restaurants.  For information, call (617) 720-1880."

I called, and they're asking a $25 donation per attendee.  The gallery
is near South Station, (on the MBTA Red Line) at the corner of Kneeland 
and South streets.

-- Jane H.

i picked these up at the NOW store in washington d.c. when i was there for 
the rally in november. i've just gotten around to ordering some for myself 
this morning, and i thought i'd put the information in =wn='s in case there 
are others who would like to purchase some for themselves.....



CHOICE check:
------
      "PRO 
     CHOICE" is written into the background, across the face of the check.
            "Protect our right to choose" is written in red under the 
            written dollar amount line.

to order, mail to MESSAGE!CHECK POBox 3206 Choice-70 , Seattle Washington 
98114.


 
EQUALITY check:
--------
 
     printed in red at the top/center of the check is "Equality* for 
     Women". next to the signature line, is the definition of 

               *equality - the state of being equal: having the same 
                           rights, privileges, opprotunities and
                           compensation

to order, mail to MESSAGE!CHECK POBox 3206 EQ-70 , Seattle Washington 98114



for either ordering, you need to include the following in your 
correspondence:


        o  $14.00 (per 200 singles) 
                  or
        o  $14.95 (per 150 duplicates

                  and
        o  a reorder form from your checking account. Note any changes.
        o  a deposit ticket from the same checking account.


**washington state residents add 8.1% sales tax.
** allow 2-4 weeks for delivery.


~robin

    Opportunity for Action.....
    
    SUPPORTING STATE CANDIDATE who is strong on CHOICE issues.
    
    a FUND RAISER and evening with EVELYN MURPHY, a long time CHOICE 
    supporter and candidate for Governor of Massachusetts on
    Democratic ticket is being held....
    
    JANUARY 18th, 6-8 P.M. in Lexington at home of
    Milton and Shirley Kay, 3 Rogers Road, Lexington.
    
    This is an opportunity to clearly hear and ask questions on 
    her stance on CHOICE and other state issues.
    
    Tickets are being sold for $20.00 each.
    
    Event is being sponsored by Greater Lowell, Acton and Lexington
    Chapters of NOW.
    
    If interested call EMILY KAY at 508-250-8526 
              

    
    Seventeen years ago today, January 22nd, 1973, the Supreme Court
    upheld safe and legal abortion in the landmark Roe v. Wade decision.
    
    In remembrance of this important anniversary, Planned Parenthood
    is initiating a telephone campaign.   They are asking that everyone, 
    nationwide, call the White House at 202-456-1414, at exactly 12:00noon 
    (your time) TODAY, to remind George Bush that he was elected to 
    represent ALL Americans.. not just anti-choice extremists.
        
    This adminstration must stop threatening the lives of women in the 
    courts, through federal agencies, and in statehouses across the country.  

    There has also been a toll number set up where you can leave a recorded
    message for your state.  The number is 1-900-GOVERNOR, and costs
    $1.95 for the first minute, .95 cents for additional minutes.
    
    Let Freedom Ring!!
    
    

    I assume you're asking people to use their home phone to charge this
    to, and not their Digital phone. ;^)

    
    But of course.  :^)
    
    I feel like I'm calling ticketron.. "All circuits are busy.."
    
    
    
    

    Marge,
    
    I don't think DEC phones work on 900 numbers.  Not that I'd try,
    of course.  :-)
    
    ed

    
    Well, I finally got through, only to be told.. "You'll have to call
    this number:
    
    	202-456-7639
    
    which is the White House comments line.
    
    Only took me two tries to get through there though!  After a minute
    or two on hold, a woman answered.  I identified myself as a
    registered voter from NY state and said I had a message for Pres.
    Bush.  I started with something about how the majority of citizens 
    in this country were pro-choice and she said "You're telling me!" and
    laughed!  :^) :^)  I said, I take it you've gotten lots of calls, but 
    she said she couldn't say.  
    
    Also.. according to today's Newsday (a NY newspaper).. Barbara Bush
    has admitted to being pro-choice!  The source was yesterday's Newsweek
    magazine.  The front cover headline says:
    
                               Bush, Wife Split
                              On Abortion Issue
    
    About time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    
    :^)
    
    

    Is there any way of finding out just how many phone calls the White
    House got on the Roe v. Wade anniversary?

    I have not seen the following legal maneuver before; my deductions from
    the article are that a local jurisdiction passes a law making some
    action a crime but imposing a trivial penalty.  Then, if the local
    administrators are cooperative, anybody breaking the law is then tried
    under the local law, fined a token amount, and is then protected (By
    double jeopardy?  Or just by courtesy?) from prosecution under state or
    federal laws.
    
    
    				-- edp
    
    
Article           42
From: [email protected]
Newsgroups: clari.news.election,clari.news.law.drugs,clari.news.group.women
Subject: Voters approve abortion freedom zone
Organization: Looking Glass Software Limited, Waterloo ON
Lines: 38
 
 
	ANN ARBOR, Mich. (UPI) -- Voters approved a charter amendment to
create a ``zone of reproductive freedom'' where abortions can be
performed if future laws make them illegal, and upped the fine for
marijuana possession from $5 to $25.
	Proposal C to create the zone of reproductive freedom was passed
15,698 to 11,419, complete but unofficial returns showed Monday night.
	Under the amendment, a doctor convicted of performing an abortion
in the city or a woman convicted of having an abortion would be fined $5
if such action violates a more restrictive state or federal statute.
	Advocates said the proposal amends the charter to designate the
city a reproductive freedom zone to give local authorities an
alternative to criminal prosecution should state or federal laws change
to outlaw abortion.
	``I'm just thrilled!'' said Karen Piehutkoski, a supporter of the
measure. ``I'm proud they made the choice to give people a choice on
abortion.''
	``This makes Ann Arbor the first (city) in the nation to have a
zone of reproductive freedom,'' she said.
	Barbara Listing, the president of Right to Life of Michigan, said
abortion foes in Ann Arbor, where the University of Michigan was
located, rather than fighting the $5 plan, are concentrating on a
statewide petition drive to require parental consent for anyone under 18
to have an abortion.
	Opponents of keeping the $5 marijuana fine said it had created a
perception of the city as a haven for drugs, a perception reinforced by
the annual April 1 ``Hash Bash'' -- a marijuana party -- on the U-M
campus.
	The City Council first adopted the $5 pot fine in 1972 as a form of
de facto decriminalization of marijuana sale, possession and use. The
measure was approved by a 12,901 to 11,419 margin. Possession of
marijuana, under the charter, remains a misdemeanor.
	When Republicans replaced the Democratic-Human Rights Party
majority on the council in the 1973 election, they repealed the law, but
voters reinstated it a year later after a petition drive by the
student-back Human Rights Party.
	Officials said some 25,000 voters, or 33 percent, went to the polls
to cast ballots.

re: -1: I feel really dumb, but I don't understand this issue of a
"zone" of reproductive freedom.  Maybe it is too close to Friday and
my grasp on the English language is a little shaky.  :-)  This sounds
important though - does anyone care to translate this into baby
English for me?  How can this law keep reproductive freedom in the
event of future laws against abortion - don't laws in general supercede
previous, conflicting laws?  Is this a law against laws against
abortions?  Or am I totally missing something here.

Guess I got up too early this morning.  *yawn*

D!

edp gave the rationale fairly well at the beginning.  I think the main point
is that local "crimes" are normally dealt with (investigated, prosecuted,
etc.) by the local police rather than by state authorities; and this gives
the local police the option of choosing whether prosecute a particular
activity under the local rather than under the state law.  (Assuming that
the local police are cooperative, of course.)

I recall that the legality of the $5 marijuana fine was the subject of 
considerable debate when I lived in Ann Arbor, though.  Certainly a number
of obvious questions spring to mind:

	Does state law not supersede local law if they conflict?

	Does the principle of double jeopardy apply when an action is
	illegal at more than one level of jurisdiction?  Or could you
	still be prosecuted under state law even after paying your $5
	fine under the local law?

	Unlike states, towns and cities do not have independent authority
	to make laws.  Their power to legislate is statutorily granted by
	the state (whose power is *constitutionally* guaranteed by the
	United States Constitution), and is constrained by the enabling
	statutes.  I wonder whether that power extends to making laws 
	specifically intended to contravene state law.  (This is true in
	NH; I'm only assuming that it is true universally.  There might 
	well be states where municipal legislative authority is guaranteed
	in the state constitution.)

Hmmm...guess I was confused because I didn't realize that cities could make
their own laws.  So the "zone" refers to the city of ann Arbor?  Can the 
police decide which of multiple laws they want to charge someone with?  So
that means if a particular police-man is pro-choice, he might choose to 
prosecute under the $5 penalty law, whereas if he were pro-life he might
choose to press charges relating to the stronger state law?

D!

    I believe local laws may be "more" stringent than state or federal but
    not "less". Otherwise any town that wanted to could make gambling
    leagle. That's been a big issue in Colorado lately and it seemed the
    state had to approve. liesl

    No person may be tried/punished more than once for the same crime.  If
    abortion becomes a crime then in Ann Arbor the only punishment for an
    abortion will be the $5 fine.  The defendant would not be subject to
    presumably harsher state penalties. 

    Moved to a more appropriate topic....
    
    -Jody
    
    
           <<< RANGER::$2$DUA8:[NOTES$LIBRARY]WOMANNOTES-V2.NOTE;1 >>>
                        -< Topics of Interest to Women >-
================================================================================
Note 1084.0                  Bumper Sticker Source?                   No replies
GIAMEM::MACKINNON "ProChoice is a form of democracy" 14 lines   9-APR-1990 10:02
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    Not sure where to put this note, so if it is in the wrong place
    moderators please move it to where it should be.
    
    
    I am looking for a place to buy a bumper sticker.
    It reads " I am prochoice and I vote".
    
    If anyone knows where I may be able to purchase this
    bumper sticker please let me know via a reply or
    you can send me mail at GIAMEM::MACKINNON.
    
    Thanks,
    Michele

    I'm not positive, but I suspect that New Words bookstore in Hampshire
    St. in Cambridge might be a good source.  Other possibilities: 
    WomanCrafts in Provincetown and the NOW bookstore in Washington DC
    (1100 K Street I think, Mez do you remember?)
    
    						=maggie

According to my business card with the ERA text on the back, the address is:
The NOW Store
1615 K St. NW
Wash DC 20036
(202) 331-0066
	Mez

    I got this information secondhand (at least).  I trust the person I got
    it from, who wishes to remain anonymous, but I don't know anything for
    certain about the originator:
    
    "[ATT is alleged to be taking calls at this toll-free number about their
    decision to de-fund Planned Parenthood:]
 
	1-800-842-8369
 
    They want to know if you're pro or con, and whether you're an employee,
    shareholder, or customer."
                             

I just called, and that indeed is what this 800 number is set up for.

Looking at MCI rates,

Carla

    I just called, too.  If you'd like to call, today is the last day, so
    hurry up!  The AT&T rep on the other end couldn't tell me what the
    company plans to do with the poll results, which I found
    unsatisfactory.  
    
    Unfortunately, I don't have a choice for long distance service in the 
    boobies where I live.  But now I'm thinking maybe I can get a Sprint 
    or MCI card at least for third-party long distance calls.  Anyone ever
    tried to do this?
    
    Don't know if this was mentioned earlier...if you want to write AT&T,
    send your letter to
                          Jane Redfern, Vice President
                          550 Madison Ave.
                          Rm 2300
                          New York, NY   10022
    
    P.S. I'm pretty sure United Way won't fund Planned Parenthood, either. 
    Can anyone confirm this?
    
    Nancy_who_doesn't_know_where_she'd_be_without_PP
    
    

  As of this moment, there's a recording announcing that "This
  temporary number is no longer in use.  AT&T's mailing address
  is ..."

                                   Atlant