November 2007 |  From the desk of Kelli Conlin, President
The holidays are here with Thanksgiving at the forefront, and we have so much to be thankful for this year. While our pro-choice legislators, volunteers and CAN members are among the finest of the pioneers in reproductive rights, there are other leaders of this pro-choice state that deserve recognition. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all of NARAL Pro-Choice New York's staff and board. Our staff includes 17 unique and wonderful individuals who dedicate their lives to ensuring reproductive rights for all women. Our organization would not exist without their perseverance and commitment to choice. Between our political advocacy department, our TORCH program, our Low-Income Access Program, our Latino Reproductive Rights Project, our Contraception Access Program, our communications team (who write these fabulous newsletters), and our development and finance department, there are all people behind our successes that deserve acknowledgement for their work. Our board works diligently with staff and myself to make sure that we receive the support we need in order to do the work that we do, and their wisdom and insight serve as a guide so that we can continue to be a leading pro-choice organization in New York state. For that, we are forever grateful. Thanksgiving is not only a time to be thankful for the people who inspire you, but to make sure that they know it. We hope you took the time this holiday to be grateful for all the wonderful people in your life. From our family to your family, we hope you had a very happy Thanksgiving. For Choice,
Kelli Conlin |
Our Biggest Thanksgiving Thanks EVER Yes, it's the morning after Thanksgiving, but better late than never! We here at NARAL Pro-Choice New York staff have much to be thankful for this year; but there's a special someone who we want to thank over the others; a special someone whose belief in their convictions has helped to keep New York the champion of choice it is. And that someone is...*drum roll*... You. Our Choice Action Network (CAN) members (which is all of you who receive these emails – just in case you didn't know!) have achieved so much for us over the years, and this year has been no less of a triumph. Here are just a few of the awesome action alerts you took this year: Who would have thought just a click of your mouse would be such a powerful act? Maybe your schedule didn't allow you to phone bank with us, maybe you really wanted to watch Extreme Makeover: Home Edition instead of flyering, or maybe online activity is just more your gig, but you do take action, and really make a difference from your computer. So after celebrating with your family and friends and being thankful this holiday, keep in mind that someone is thankful for you. And that's us. So thanks. *Awwwww*
Pro-Choice Crush of the Month: Representative Joe Crowley (D-NY)  While we do love our CAN members, there are also a number of other people who have been advocating for us in a big way, and Rep. Joe Crowley of the 7th Congressional District of Bronx and Queens is one of them.
If you haven't already heard, the Deficit Reduction Act (DRA) of 2005 inadvertently hiked the cost of birth control on college campuses. In short, the law, which went into effect in January 2007, has taken away the right of pharmaceutical companies to offer discounted birth control to colleges, universities and even some family-planning clinics. This makes it impossible for many women on limited budgets to receive accessible and affordable birth control when they need it. So Rep. Crowley joined with a number of other lawmakers to introduce the Prevention Through Affordable Access Act (H.R.4054), which would essentially restore access to affordable birth control on college campuses and at family-planning clinics. Crowley's bill has also been introduced in the Senate(S. 2347). To date, more than 140 senators and representatives cosponsor the legislation.  In the meantime, college activists across the country are mobilizing in support of the Prevention Through Affordable Access Act. New York students held a big rally in Washington Square Park last week. (Featuring our very own intern Nora Valencia – on the left – in this picture from Metro.)
(And since you just got CAN kudos in the previous article, we thought it’d be appropriate to give you the opportunity to take action on this critical bill too. Click hereto urge federal lawmakers to support Rep. Crowley’s legislation!)
Choose Wisely: Thanksgiving Pro-Choice Distractions So you're celebrating the holidays with your family, playing catch-up and listening to your cousin go on and on about his miniature glass animal collection, desperately thinking of something, anything that could distract you from the family gathering boredom that often comes at Thanksgiving and the coming holidays. Don't get us wrong, we love our families, just need a little pro-choice break from the tedium once in a while. So we put together a list of pro-choice distractions which helped us get through our Thanksgiving; the winter holidays are just around the corner and we thought it might help you survive your crazy relatives until the New Year arrives. So enjoy! Distraction #1: YouTube Debate Mania | The Republican presidential candidates are holding a debate in Florida on November 28, and YouTube is allowing people to submit questions via videoto be broadcast live during the political pandemonium. So if you have a video camera time to spare, why not put together a family pro-choice video question for the candidates to answer? I'm sure there are more than enough questions concerning choice you can think of... |  |
Distraction #2: Your Daily Dose of Women's Health News The National Partnership for Women and Families releases a women's health policy report every weekday for you women's health lovers. The up-to-date headlines cover what's new in women's health, whether it be another dangerous appointment by Bush, a pro-choice victory or new research in reproductive technologies. Either way, it's always good to be up on your women's health news. (And it beats Aunt Doris' 30-minute story about the intimate details of her cat's recent surgery.) Distraction #3: Pro-Choice Actor-vists  | Now this is a great idea. A playwright and director joined forces to create Words of Choice, a pro-choice theater organization that puts the words of pro-choice activists into dramatic interpretation. They have a DVD out that is not only a great resource for organizations and theater groups, but for activists who want to show others what choice means in a deeper and creative way. It could be something for you to digest while you (literally) digest your holiday feasts. |
Distraction # 4: Blow Up Spots on Choice | Want to know which politicians are telling the truth about their position on choice? Check out Politifact.com, which actually checks facts on various statements the presidential candidates have made. The "truth-o-meter" gives you the real deal as to whether their contentions are true, and it includes a section on abortion. It's pretty crazy to see how much misinformation can be disseminated within the political sphere! |  |
Distraction #5: A Good Resource for Thanksgiving Debate Let's face it; not all of our family members are going to agree with us on everything, even concerning choice. So if you're getting some slack from Uncle Calvin for supporting reproductive rights, check out the Guttmacher Institute's "In the Know: 20 Questions About Pregnancy, Contraception and Abortion;"it's a great resource for pro-choice advocates to use in debates or just for your own general knowledge. The 20 questions even come as reading cards so you can help Uncle Cal absorb the information easier. "P is for privacy..." We hope you find these useful and hope you had a very wonderful Thanksgiving! |  |
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