A Message from NFDW President, Cindy Jenks
Wishing you a wonderful New Year. May your holiday be filled with joy, peace, and good health. As we end 2019, it is important to recognize all the hard work that Democratic women have done in all of our federated states.
We have obtained awesome victories and endured some heartbreaking defeats. But we are strong women, and there is next year, during which will be the most important election in my lifetime, but let’s reflect over 2019:
Each time we asked you to work hard to help pass the Equal Rights Amendment, you answered the call and I am thankful.
When we asked you to rally for workplace safety for healthcare providers, you lobbied for this critical issue. You answered the call and I am thankful.
When we asked you to support International Day of the Girl, you did and I am thankful.
When we asked you to support our striking unions, you answered the call and I am thankful.
When we asked you to help lobby for statehood for the District of Columbia, you answered the call again and I am thankful.
Each time we asked you to rail against sick children being deported or families being ripped apart, you joined the fight and I am thankful.
When we asked you to share Women’s Equality Day, you joined women throughout the country asking for equality and I am thankful.
When we asked you to stand against the mass shootings in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio and demand gun safety laws, you answered the call and I am thankful.
Each time we asked you to work for equal pay for women, you answered the call and I am thankful.
Action Alerts for these issues can be found on our website.
It has been an exciting year. I had the privilege of attending the DNC Executive Board meeting in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and the general session in San Francisco, California. In San Francisco, we met several of the presidential candidates, and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. It was an awesome experience. It is notable that NFDW has three members who serve on the DNC, and these key positions are a testament to all of our hard work over the years.
I also had the honor of attending the Kansas Federation of Democratic Women’s State Convention in Olathe, Kansas, as well as the Florida Federation of Democratic Women State Convention. I also met with Florida Members in Orlando. Both conventions were very impressive, and I saw how hard these ladies in both states are working for our Federation and our Democratic Party.
The Southern Regional Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia was a fabulous gathering and very informative. We viewed a video about voter suppression, and it was very sobering to realize how often this happens. Valuable information on the 2020 Census was presented, and demonstrated how important it is that our localities have everyone counted.
Check our website for information on the 2020 Women in Blue Day in DC on March 25 and 26 and the 2020 NFDW Convention that will be hosted by the Kansas Federation of Democratic Women June 10-14. Both are going to be exciting events well worth attending.
Because of the great victories in Virginia, and in spite of the lawsuit that has been filed by three states to prevent a 38th state from ratifying, I am hopeful that the Equal Rights Amendment will be ratified in January, 2020. For more information about the lawsuit, check our Facebook page or website www.nfdw.com. Hopefully, with one more state’s approval, success is truly on the horizon.
Women have had the right to vote for 100 years, but still do not have equal rights under the U.S. Constitution. It is time for us to make history. If we get enough advance notice and the weather permits, I would like to be standing on the Virginia Capitol steps in Richmond when this happens. I encourage those who are able to join us, to also come. ERA is a NFDW priority, and we will keep you posted as we learn the details.
I appreciate each and every member of our Federation. You do the hard work necessary to accomplish our goals, and you deserve to be acknowledged for your efforts. KUDOS to everyone.
The best to all of you!
