RATIFY ERA-NC is hard at work to make ERA part of the U.S. Constitution. Our focus in North Carolina is on the congressional legislation (House Joint Resolution 113 and Senate Joint Resolution 15), which will remove the deadline for ratification and make ERA part of the Constitution after only three more states ratify. We have persuaded Senator Kay Hagan to be a cosponsor and are trying to persuade other members of the NC delegation to cosponsor the measures. SJR 15 has 34 cosponsors, while HJR 113 has 120 cosponsors. We are urging everyone to call Senator Burr and their respective U.S. House member to urge them to cosponsor. It’s a toll free call to the U.S. Capitol: 1-877-762-8762. Black Mountain members will meet tomorrow with Congressman Patrick McHenry to urge him to cosponsor.
Meanwhile, several other state legislatures are moving ahead with ratification efforts. These include Illinois, where the state Senate recently voted for ratification and where the House is considered a good bet also. Also, the Nevada legislature is expected to take up the ERA soon and is considered to be a favorable possibility. The Virginia Senate has voted twice for ratification, but the measure has been blocked in the House each time. There is pro-ERA activity in several other states as well.
RATIFY ERA-NC is working to expand our network across the state and has recruited several women to serve as “point persons” in their own areas. For example, Varnell Kinnin and Michelle Evans of the Triangle area are helping to organize an ERA program in Raleigh on August 2, tentatively called “The Equal Rights Amendment–Alive and Kicking.” Speakers will include former Senator Ellie Kinnaird, 12-year-old feminist Madison Kimrey of Burlington, NC, and Nancy Glowacki and Roberta Madden of RATIFY ERA-NC. We are planning extensive publicity. The program will include training in how to lobby, how to write an op ed or letter to the editor, and how to organize an ERA house party. Similar programs will be held throughout the state.
Roberta Madden has spoken on the ERA at a well attended meeting in Chapel Hill. She and Nancy Glowacki spoke to a group in the Sandhills area several months ago. Robbie and Anna Stearns presented “A Radical Idea: Equality for Women” at the Unitarian church in Black Mountain recently. Robbie addressed the state AAUW meeting in March and will speak at the June state convention of Business and Professional Women. Both AAUW and BPW have made generous contributions to RATIFY ERA-NC.
Nancy Glowacki has recruited a design professional to create a new logo for RATIFY ERA-NC, which will be used on printed materials and on our website.
Next meeting of RATIFY ERA-NC will be a conference call on June 12.
