The Equal Rights Amendment won unanimous support from participants at the American Association of University Women state meeting in Burlington April 12-13. Roberta Madden, a member of the Asheville branch, presented a resolution to endorse the renewed efforts to make the ERA part of the Constitution.

She explained that joint resolutions will be introduced next month in both houses of Congress to eliminate the ERA deadline and to make it part of the Constitution after three more states ratify it. She encouraged members to contact Senators Hagan and Burr and their respective House members and urge them to cosponsor the resolutions, which will be similar to HJR 47 and SJR 39 in the previous Congress. Senator Ben Cardin (MD) and Rep. Robert Andrews (NJ) will introduce the legislation in May.

After a lively discussion, participants voted to declare AAUW-NC’s support of RATIFY ERA-NC, and to pledge the active engagement of its members with members of Congress so as to clear the way for a robust campaign in North Carolina in the next General Assembly. They also voted to set aside $500 to support the work of RATIFY ERA-NC, which is applying for nonprofit corporation status and is launching a statewide educational campaign on the ERA.

For more information, contact Roberta Madden, co-director of RATIFY ERA-NC.

The League of Women Voters of North Carolina held its annual convention in Charlotte May 31-June 2 and voted to include the Equal Rights Amendment as one of nine important issues on which the League will work. Previously, the state board had designated the ERA as non-recommended because it was believed that no legislation is pending.  However, we explained that important legislation is indeed pending, since SJR 15 and HJR 43 (to eliminate the ERA deadline) were recently introduced in Congress. The delegates then voted to include ERA in a list of nine items deserving LWV attention.  However, on the second day, the group prioritized the items and picked the top four to address, meaning that LWVNC funds would go only to those four (education, immigration, health, and voter ID).

During the convention, the Equal Rights Amendment Caucus met to consider how to capitalize on the best opportunity we have had in 30 years to make the ERA part of the U.S. Constitution. The caucus was facilitated by Roberta Madden and Nancy Glowacki, members of Asheville-Buncombe County and Henderson County Leagues respectively, and founders of RATIFY ERA-NC. Joint resolutions have been introduced in Congress to eliminate the deadline so that only three more states are needed to ratify the amendment. These measures are Senate Joint Resolution 15 and House Joint Resolution 43. No member of the NC delegation has signed on as a cosponsor to date.

The ERA caucus was designed to educate about the current status, to focus on the next essential steps to help pass the current legislation in Congress, to prepare for the legislation we hope to initiate later in NC, and to elicit willing and enthusiastic League action to assist in this endeavor.

About 20 women participated in the caucus, with 16 of them signing up for the following responsibilities:
    To serve as LWV point persons across the state to help sponsor/organize area ERA educational public meetings that RATIFY ERA-NC will facilitate.
    To lobby North Carolina’s U.S. senators and representatives to support and/or co-sponsor
the strategic legislation in Congress and eventually for an ERA resolution in the NC     General Assembly in 2015.
    To serve as database manager for RATIFY ERA-NC.

Participants took part in lively role-playing as practice for speaking with reluctant or uninformed lawmakers and addressing strong objections to the ERA. Feedback confirmed that two requirements are necessary: 1) know your facts and 2) practice non-defensive listening and discussion. General feedback was very favorable; people shared and learned and were ready to move forward.

“To hear many people speak, equality of the sexes has been established for years.”

by Bernadette Cahill – WNN Opinion

Watch this short video from ERA Education Project to learn more.

By Bernadette Cahill (originally appearing in the High Country Press, March 14, 2012)

Full ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), which would guarantee equality under the law on account of sex in the U.S. Constitution, will move another step closer on Thursday, March 22 when Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-Md.) introduces in the Senate a resolution to remove the ratification deadline – and North Carolina’s senators could help make it happen if they sign on as sponsors.

Senator Cardin wrote last week to all his colleagues, including Senators Kay Hagan and Richard Burr of North Carolina, inviting them to become original co-sponsors of the measure.

Senator Kay Hagan said Wednesday, “I look forward to reviewing Senator Cardin’s legislation. I have always been a strong supporter of women’s rights; and as a mother of two daughters and North Carolina’s only woman Senator, I will continue to fight for the fair, equal and just treatment of women everywhere.”

High Country Press is awaiting a response regarding Senator Burr’s intentions. Continue reading →