The National Women's Political Caucus is a nationwide multi-partisan organization that works to build women's participation in the political process by increasing the number of pro-choice women in elected and appointed positions, specifically by recruiting, training, and supporting women who seek those elected and appointed offices.
The Alameda North chapter endorses and works for the election of women candidates who support our bottom line issues for Congress, State Assembly, State Senate, Mayor/City Council, Board of Supervisors, School Board, and more. We also actively support unrestricted reproductive choice with clinic defense programs, and collaborate with like-minded organizations in voter education and civic involvement.
NWPC Alameda North concentrates on candidates in Alameda, Albany, Berkeley, Emeryville, Oakland, and Piedmont, California.
Please review prior to the June 18, 2008 Annual General Membership Meeting.
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NATIONAL WOMEN’S POLITICAL CAUCUS, ALAMEDA NORTH
(NWPC-AN)
A BRIEF HISTORY 1973-2006
In 1848 in Seneca Falls, N.Y. the organized women’s movement began. At that time Carrie Chapman-Catt and Elizabeth Cady Stanton were among the leaders of women’s suffrage. Finally, in California in 1911, and nationally in 1920 with the passage of the 19th Amendment, women won the right to vote.
National Women’s Political Caucus (NWPC) was born in Washington, D.C. in July 1971. It was the first women’s organization dedicated to getting feminist women elected or appointed to national, state, or local offices. Among the founders were Bella Abzug, Francis "Sissy" Farenthold, Gloria Steinham, and Betty Friedan. Organizing for the California NWPC started in October 1971 and it became an official state organization in 1973 and, divided into Northern and Southern California caucuses.
NWPC Alameda, Marin and San Francisco split off from the Northern California caucus shortly thereafter. The Alameda caucus hosted the first California State Convention in Berkeley in the fall of 1973 with Senator Barbara Mikulski (then a member of the Baltimore City Council) and Senator Dianne Feinstein (then President of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors) as the keynote speakers. It was a lively convention debating whether ending racism or electing women to office should be NWPC’s primary purpose. Locally in 1974 an NWPC member, Helen Burke, became the first woman elected to the EBMUD Board, and in the years that followed NWPC-AN endorsed and helped elect many outstanding male and female candidates. The caucus not only recruited candidates, but held much needed campaign training open to all. NWPC-AN’s mission is "To become the leading organization in the East Bay for women to participate in the political process."
Endorsement policies have changed over time. From its inception the NWPC-AN endorsement policy favored women, however it allowed endorsement, though not financial support, of feminist men. The first major split over an endorsement occurred in 1980 over the non-endorsement of a male incumbent who had previously been endorsed. A three-year leadership struggle ensued. The second major dispute occurred in 1996 at the State Convention and a major change was voted in. Although local caucuses up to that time determined their endorsement policies, a resolution to prohibit locals from endorsing men passed and became state policy. Since then NWPC-AN hears from male candidates, but cannot endorse them. The third contentious fight in 1997 led us to organize to oppose a State resolution to allow a dual endorsement of incumbent Senator Barbara Boxer and her challenger, former San Diego Mayor Susan Golding. Our argument, that NWPC should not dilute its endorsement of a well-performing incumbent, won the day.
We raise money to help elect our endorsed candidates. NWPC-AN holds an annual Susan B. Anthony fundraiser at which we honor women who have made significant contributions in their fields. For instance, at the 25th Anniversary of NWPC-AN we honored 25 pro-choice activists at the Montclair Women’s Club and Senator Boxer was the keynote speaker. More recently we have done direct mail, have held a fundraising garden party in the summer, and have done house parties for specific endorsed candidates.
To learn about issues and increase the visibility of the Caucus NWPC-AN has held many public events. In 1992 a "Speak-out/Teach-in on Sexual Harassment" brought over 300 people to Laney College, and a couple of years later we held "Women Reinventing Politics" there with the columnist, Ellen Goodman as the keynote speaker. More recently "Women Hold Up Half the Sky" featuring Oakland Councilwomen was a well-attended program. On a regular basis we hold forums on ballot initiatives and endorsement meetings for candidates in local races. Our 21st century website, www.nwpcan.org, provides the latest information, calendar, history, photos, and our newsletters.
NWPC-AN takes on special projects that support our bottom line issues. For many years members have been active in clinic defense, in Oakland and further afield. Voter registration drives, phone banks, staffing campaign offices, and precinct work have been done by members of NWPC-AN. Our banners have flown at many marches and rallies. Our goal is 50/50 by 2020. Make a difference in the future with NWPC-AN!
