october 10th meeting minutes

VOX Agenda October 10, 2007

I. Welcome New Members! J?

II. Member sign in

III. Pass out PP STD/BC pamphlets and constitution

IV. Talk about tabling commitments

a. Oct. 25^th and 26^th Thursday and Friday

V. Talk about Halloween Campaigns

a. Passing out condoms and candy

b. Water bottles?

c. Other ideas

VI. T-shirts for VOX

VII. Sierra Club Sex and the Environment

a. No longer attending workshop.. reasons

b. Still doing advertisement/publicity

VIII. Film Screening (Fall Quarter Main Event)

a. Tentatively scheduled for Nov 8^th If These Walls Could Talk (or other movie ideas)

b. Speakers and co-sponsors

c. “Treats” for movie goers?

IX. QSU Halloween Event canceled

X. Students Stopping Rape event

a. Oct 19^th in SRB from 9-1

b. Co-sponsorship + invite members/friends, food?

Social Chairs: Contact Progressive Christian Students, St. Michaels, Clergy for Choice (other campus orgs who might be interested in co-sponsoring film night?)

- St. Michaels Chaplain’s Email: revjanelle@gmail.com (Nicole Janelle)

- Progressive Christians: www.geocities.com/ProgressiveChristianStudents

Co-Chairs: Book IV Theater for event (Jasmine)

-Carly: Register with OSL

Treasurer: Needs access to our OSL funds + needs to attend mandatory A.S. meeting

Test your knowledge of the candidates!!

As you probably know, the results of the 2008 elections will have a tremendous impact on women's reproductive choices, the future of comprehensive sex education, access to birth control - including emergency contraception - and reproductive justice as a whole. Take the quiz to test how well you know the position(s) each candidate has expressed!!
http://prochoiceaction.org/can/candidatesquiz.html

Women Can't Withdraw Consent?

A Maryland appellate court ruled that once a woman consents to sex, she can’t change her mind. Not if it hurts, not if her partner has become violent, not if she simply wants to stop. Now, the state's highest court is hearing the argument again. (Yay!)
The court’s ruling cites a case from 1980, which defines rape based on common law that considers women property. This definition says that rape is just the initial “deflowering” of a woman; in fact, the injured party in a rape isn’t even the woman who has been assaulted—it’s her father or husband. The decision notes that after penetration—the “initial infringement upon the responsible male’s interest in a woman’s sexual and reproductive functions”—anything following can’t be rape because “the damage is done” and the woman can never be “re-flowered.”

Source: Baltimore Sun

Sign SB94 to Increase Access to Family Planning Services!

Legislation that would increase funding for Medi-Cal family planning services is currently sitting on Governor Schwarzenegger's desk--and we have only SIX days left to convince him to sign it!

With just the click of your mouse, YOU can help protect women's health.

Simply follow these steps:

1. Visit http://gov.ca.gov/interact to email the Governor.

2. Choose "Have Comment" as the purpose of your email.

3. Enter your name, email address, and select "Medi-Cal Issues/Concerns" as the subject of your communication. Then click "submit."

4. On the next page select "Pro" as your position and send the Governor this brief message:

Dear Gov. Schwarzenegger:

I'm writing to urge you to sign SB 94 (Kuehl), which would improve access to cost-effective family planning services for tens of thousands of women.

SB 94 will increase Medi-Cal reimbursement rates so that women can continue to access contraceptive services, breast and cervical cancer screenings and testing and treatment of STDs. With this small investment in family planning today, the state can save millions - not only does SB 94 bring in $9 of federal funding for each $1 spent on family planning, but it also saves California future medical and social service costs associated with unintended pregnancies and STDs.

SB 94 makes fiscal sense and is sound health care policy.

VOX October 3, 2007 Minutes

In attendance:
-Returning members: Brian Nguyen, Jasmine Wetherell, Liz Singleton, Brianna Eardley, Haley Davies, Keely Patterson, Jessie Nieblas
-New members: Michael Reynoza, Keo Xiong, Joanna Ekstrom, Rebecca White, Darcel Elliott, Cindy Reyes, Mandy Trigueros, Christina Castillo, Silvina Kim, Reiley Reed, Carly Hann

I) General Introduction of group: Purpose etc.
II) Member Introductions
III) Reproductive Rights in the News
1. Aurora, Il. PP
2. FY 08’ Foreign Operations Spending Bill (Global Gag)
3. SB 94 Bill (Medi-Cal funding/access to family planning)
4. AB 629 (Comprehensive Sex Ed)
5. Deficit Reduction Act 2005 – Expensive BCP
IV) VOX Tentative Events for 2007-2008
- OSL Activities Fair
-QSU Halloween Dance co-sponsorship
-Roe v Wade Anniversary
-SB City Council Elections
-Pres election campaign
V) Discussed membership committments (tabling, meetings)
VI) Elected Officers
• Co-Chairs: Jasmine Wetherell, Carly Hann
• Vice-Chair: Brian Nguyen
• Publicity Chair: Haley Davies
• Treasurer: Cindy Reyes
• Historians: Reiley Reed, Silvina Kim
VII) Future Meetings 7 pm @ Women's Center
VIII) Officer Meeting: Tuesday, October 9th 6pm @ Nicolettis' (UCEN)

Safeway Groceries hosting anti-choicers in Aurora

Having lost their appeal to the Aurora city council to shut down the new Planned Parenthood clinic, the antis have set up shop on private property -- specifically the parking lot of a Dominick's/Safeway grocery store -- adjacent to the clinic. Of course, photographing women and license plates outside of abortion providers is not exactly a novel anti-choice tactic. But this time they're not standing on public sidewalks.

As a private business, Dominick's/Safeway could throw them off the premises and make them stop this intimidation. So call Safeway corporate and ask that the Aurora location do just that:

1-877-SAFEWAY(1-877-723-3929)
Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m, Local Time
Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Local Time

The Dominick's/Safeway store in question is at 3025 E. New York St, Aurora, Ill. 60504.

To contact the Safeway corporate offices call 925-467-3000

Source: Feministing

Ann Coulter Talks about Women Democrats

"If we took away women's right to vote, we'd never have to worry about another Democrat president. It's kind of a pipe dream, it's a personal fantasy of mine, but I don't think it's going to happen. And it is a good way of making the point that women are voting so stupidly, at least single women.
It also makes the point, it is kind of embarrassing, the Democratic Party ought to be hanging its head in shame, that it has so much difficulty getting men to vote for it. I mean, you do see it’s the party of women and 'We’ll pay for health care and tuition and day care -- and here, what else can we give you, soccer moms?"

Sources:New York Observer