Gathering energizes California WILPF

California WILPF members left the September 19 cluster meeting energized to work on state legislation, national issues and connecting with international ideals. Forty-five women from eight branches brought questions, proposals and experience to the gathering hosted by the San Jose Branch.

Randa Solick (Santa Cruz Branch) compiled the agenda, which opened with state issues. Sandy Thacker (wilpf@wilpfeastbay.org) sought support for reviving the CA Action project to study and gather consensus on the Disclose Act and Voters Right to Know (dealing with campaign finance transparency), multilingual education, and a $15 minimum wage, among other bills and ballot measures. The action group is reconnecting with branches and plans to update its website.

Members came from Humboldt; East Bay, San Francisco, San Jose, Santa Cruz, Peninsula/Palo Alto, Sacramento, Monterey and the brand new Motherlode Branch. The new national managing director, Lamia Sadek, who will be working from her home in San Diego, joined us on her third official day on the job. She welcomed the opportunity to meet with the branches and urged commitment to developing the membership base.

Board member Barbara Nielsen invited participation in the national issue committees, and Darien De Lu and Regina Sneed urged members to run for the six open board positions: president, treasurer, program committee, development and nominating committee chairs and an at-large member.

Millee Livingston explained the history of WILPF regions, which do not exist officially at this time, although there have been western regional gatherings (last one was five years ago). After a vote, it was agreed that Millee will contact branches and at-large members not represented at the cluster meeting, to find out whether they are interested in a regional conference in 2016.

Members who attended the Congress and Conference in The Hague in April provided a varied and provocative picture. Some members the found condensed time for discussion at the Congress frustrating and “political hardball” surprising. In response to criticism that the Manifesto was already printed, Mathilde Rand (Santa Cruz) pointed out that discussions had been ongoing and would continue on this “work in progress.” Jane Doyle (Santa Cruz) joined with a group working on the impact of the military on the environment. Esther Franklin (Sacramento) was delighted that her granddaughter Mia connected with young women from other Sections; she suggested logging onto the International Facebook page for daily updates. Barbara Nielsen (San Francisco) was moved by the impact of everyone together for one cause.

In a wide-ranging discussion on how to strengthen WILPF and increase our visibility, cluster participants spoke of working in alliance with other organizations – and making our presence visible. Emerging and ongoing issues include racial justice, homelessness, the refugee crisis and the role of militarism, ending the war on drugs, divestment from war industries, and environmental threats. The Earth Democracy Issue Committee is taking a lead in unmasking the TPP (Trans Pacific Partnership) as a tool for corporate takeovers.

Raging Grannies from around the state joined the San Jose gaggle as Penny Gage led the cluster in such favorites as the “All Purpose Generic Protest Song.”

Top photo: California Cluster meeting on Sept. 19  Photo: Paula LeRoy

Inset photo: Raging Grannies lead the cluster meeting in topical songs.   Photo: Cherrill Spencer