South Dakota Women 4 Women Day 2010
January 25, 2010 11:36:07
by Carmen
South Dakota Public Affairs Manager
Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota Action Fund
Last minute preparations are underway for the 5th Annual Women 4 Women Day at the capitol in Pierre, SD. In the last few years this event has included national speakers Christina Page and Sally Roesch Wagner, and rallying to stop both of the 2006 and 2008 abortion bans, but the main purpose remains: engage women to make a difference in their state.
The event is hosted by the South Dakota Advocacy Network for Women, a coalition of groups including local chapters of BPW, AAUW, NARAL, Democracy in Action and proudly, PPMNS Action Fund. Since 1984, the SDANW has made sure that women’s voices are heard on important women’s issues: reproductive rights, violence against women, equal opportunity and education. SDANW Co-Chair Shannon Stevens said, "Women 4 Women Day is such an inspiring event. It's something I look forward to every year. Not only is it a time to let our legislators know about the issues that are important to us as individuals and as women, it's also a time to build relationships with other like-minded women. There's a real sense of empowerment after we leave the capitol.”
As many as 200 women and men from across South Dakota have made Women 4 Women Day an annual success. Aided by free transportation, busloads of constituents make their way to Pierre in February to network, lobby and impact legislation. This year, the committee added a legislative cocktail reception so the participants would be able to meet legislators in a more relaxed setting, outside of the capitol.
"Citizen involvement is imperative to the legislative process. Lobbyists can talk to legislators all day long, but nothing makes a bigger impact than the communication & grassroots activism of South Dakota people," says Mandy Hagseth, serving as the SDANW lobbyist for a second legislative session. You can stay up-to-date with Mandy’s activities at the capitol by way of her blog, Live at the Legislature.
For more information about Women 4 Women Day or to register, please visit www.StandUpSD.com.
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