CALL FOR STATE REUNIONS

A Story We All Know
Jacqui Ceballos

Feminism didn't die after the suffrage amendment became part of the Constitution. --it just fell into a deep sleep. A few determined women, led by the magnificent Alice Paul, continued to plug away for an Equal Rights Amendment, and with each new generation they were joined by a few more. But nothing much happened until 1963. That's when "The Feminine Mystique" stirred thousands of women. Catherine East of Washington, DC, one of the stalwarts who'd tried to sow the seeds in an infertile soil was overjoyed. There was a movement out there. When she met Betty Friedan, she was certain Betty could lead it. The story of how this led to the founding of NOW is told by Betty in her book, "It Changed My Life." Around the same time younger women in the anti war and civil rights movements were beginning to organize. Amy Kesselman, Heather Booth, Naomi Weisstein, Vivian Rothstein, Jo Freeman and others started the first radical feminist group in Chicago. When lo's newspaper, The Voice of Women's Liberation, took off, the movement had a name. Soon WLM groups were popping up in cities and colleges all over the country. By 1975, the work of feminists had transformed the lives of women and men in the USA and it's effects reached around the globe. (photo right: Alice Paul)



As Muriel Fox
(pictured left), VFA's board chair puts it, "No other social revolution has ever been so broadly all-encompassing as the second wave feminist revolution. The main reason for this impact is the role played by thousands of passionate individual "leaders who made it happen." V FA's main goal is to reach those women, who, by the 1980's were scattered far and wide. We must get their stories out. And that is what the PIONEER DIRECTORY is doing. For several years, Barbara Love and her crew of intrepid sleuthers have searched, found and written up their bios. But many more remain to be found. What's the best way to find missing feminists? By holding state and regional events, of course! Louisiana (where V FA State Reunions had the help of Newcomb's Center for Gender Studies in New Orleans) held the first event and honored over 50. Florida and Connecticut have held reunions and honored many from their states. The Midwest conference honored feminists from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Ohio, Minnesota and Wisconsin, but it was impossible to find all of the pioneers and impossible for some to travel. (Photo right: Barbara Love)


TEMPUSFUGIT! This is a call for every state to find and honor their women and men who made things happen in those incredible years -from the 1960's to 1975 and beyond. We can't wait much longer. Too many are leaving the planet, and time, as they say, is of the essence! We're hoping to get calls or emails from members who want to help organize a reunion in their state. So, dear members,


LET'S GO! Get together with a university, or do it alone...but make it happen. Sheila Tobias, our executive VP and Events chair will help you in every way. I await your calls and emails. My phone and email... 337-501- 4149... jcvfa@aol.com.
(Jacqui Ceballos: pictured left)


Onward! -Jacqui Ceballos


E-MAIL JACQUI CEBALLOS: jcvfa@aol.com