This weekend candidates running for office in California NOW's Spring election must turn in their paperwork. I can hardly believe I am running for a state office in CA NOW and the circumstances are just as unexpected. In January I was asked to facilitate a Cafe Conversation (see Jan 11, A Terrific Weekend) with a group of women and, at the end of the day, they collectively came to a decision to run for officers in California NOW.
All day I had been a neutral facilitator leading the group through a number of formal processes such as writing a core idea on a blank matchbook cover (thank you Winston Churchill). Practicing affirmative inquiry ~ asking if they could make NOW the most effective women's organization in the US, what would it look like. What would it take to attract thousands of new active members? What would they do to make NOW the leader in feminist activism? What fundamental changes would they like to see in the internal political landscape? What would make NOW irresistible?
Certainly, I had no idea how this was all going to go. I don't think anyone did. As a facilitator, I require of myself to be open to any and all possibilities. After hours of positive inquiry, value harvesting and formal conversation, they felt compelled to put together a slate of candidates with a new and very specific platform.
Late in the day, a list of positions was written on a board and one woman formally interviewed everyone in the room. Instead of people saying what office they wanted, skills were mined and matched to each position. When the woman on my right was finished being interviewed I fully expected the interviewer to skip over me; after all I was not invited as a member of the group but to moderate. Throughout the day I had not answered questions ~ only asked them. Now I was being questioned and, finally, they asked me if I would run with them as Membership VP. They told me that it was something I have been doing all along ~ asking feminists, named and un-named, to join the National Organization for Women.
I do wonder if I am too old. One of my strongest feelings is that NOW, across the nation, cries to be updated and lead by women who are the age-majority, most in need and representative of feminism at work. I am none of those. However, I have to believe that my age will unfold into a particular service to this group of professional, capable, activists. I am so in love with my older sisters and inspired by my younger sisters, my hope is to be a welcome runner between them ~ explaining, representing, introducing, matching Elder & Heir.
And, oddly, I have a remarkable gift to give~ my love for NOW. I have fought several battles on NOW's behalf; both internally and externally. I fell in love with NOW over 30 years ago. I became a member in the 1970's and a leader in the 1980's. Today I am President of Pacific Shore OC NOW. My activism, fasting, marching, speaking, always leads to encouraging new activists to join NOW to advance women's lives. Bridging generations, working in the second and third waves, dedicated to the American Women's Movement, I hope to be elected Membership VP for California NOW.
I am not surprised Eternity brings you into leadership roles again.
Given your new vantage point, I would like to bring this article to your attention as you have faster access to movers and shakers
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2007/03/07/women_in_military/index.html
It is not right what is happening to these women.
Posted by: fellow monk | March 10, 2007 at 04:32 PM