Conference turris::womannotes-v1

    I'm pretty sure MIT has a chapter of AWC.
    Don't know if it is just for MIT women though.
    
    sm

    No, there's a Boston Chapter of AWC and we sometimes meet at MIT,
    Polaroid, and various other places.  I should qualify that, tho',
    because I dropped my AWC membership.
    
    I'll try to dig out the address, if you're interested...

    RE: 64.2
    
    Yes, I'm interested in AWC.  Why did you drop your membership?
    
    
    I am really surprised at the lack of response to my question about
    women's groups around here.  There don't seem to be many DEC women 
    involved with formal women's groups.  How come?  It seems like if
    we really believe in a cause/issue then we ought to support it!
     How can we effectively support any cause, or change any discrimination
    or inequality for women if we don't band together and work as a group? 
    How can we share our experiences and the 'wisdom' learned in the
    school of hard knocks so that future generations can move forward
    and not repeat our mistakes if we only talk about our frustrations,
    and debate issues and theory, and not DO ANYTHING about them?      
    
    How about NOW?  Does ANYONE belong?  
    
    Maybe I'm a little more sensitive to the power of politics since
    I've spent so much time in D.C., but I can't believe there is not
    more activity in this area of the country.  Does ANYONE care?
    
      

    I was involved in a lot of "generic" women's groups and a women's
    center while in college.  One of the reasons I think you didn't
    get immediate responses was that a lot of activities are more topically
    focused these days.  Sure, the colleges still have women's centers,
    and a few of the towns have them, but I have found that in an area
    this size women are more likely to come together around a shared
    issue or interest.
    
    One good source of various types of groups (political, personal,
    support, professional) is the newspaper Sojourner.  It is available
    at New Words Bookstore in Cambridge(or is it Somerville?).  If you
    go there and read the bulletin boards you will find an excellent
    and quite up to date listing of women's activities and cultural
    events in the greater Boston area.  Don't miss the clipboards in
    the foyer which are divided up into categories like housing, childcare,
    etc.
                
    A number of women seem to find "Core Groups" to be a valuable way
    of networking with other women at Digital.  Can anyone who has
    participated in a core group say more about connecting with the
    people who are doing them?
    
    Holly

>    RE: 64.2
>    
>    Yes, I'm interested in AWC.  Why did you drop your membership?

I dropped it because the thing turned into almost exclusively jub-hunting
seminars.  I got tired of attending meetings and having every topic of
discussion be "How To Write An Effective Resume".... same thing with
the breakfast seminars at Bentley College.

Also, there as a clique involving all the top officers and they made
themselves unapproachable.  At the time I was a struggling secretary
and they weren't helping.  I genuinely needed their guidance and got
paid alot of lip service.

I don't know what to tell you about the lack of woman's groups around 
here.  You're right -- most DEFINITELY right -- and I find myself as
guilty as anyone else.  I care, but I don't seem to have the energy to
follow thru right now.  I used to be a drum-banging, placard-carrying
marcher, but it doesn't seem to be the time for such things now.  I
guess, like everyone else, I'm relying on others to do it for me.

I spent alot of time, money and energy during my younger days (I'm an
"elder" now at 32, I guess) and can't do it now.  

I'll track the AWC address for you.  It's been years since I was back and
maybe now things have changed.

Bugsy

    
    Re women's groups at Dec, last year, in between working in Engineering
    groups, I worked at one of Digital's low end business centers for
    six months.  They had a woman's group there, but secretaries were,
    for the most part, not welcome as in excluded.  I say for the most
    part because there was one secretary who was very vocal about "moving
    up", was personal friends with some female supervisors, and is now
    an instructor, and she was included.  But, regular secretaries,
    who do not have college degrees and are not in the process of fighting
    their way out of the secretarial wasteland, were simply not even
    told about, or invited to these meetings.  The only thing I could
    figure is that the women supervisors and managers who ran these
    meetings thought that all secretaries are too stupid to know anything
    about women's issues.  *I* certainly don't think that is true, and
    I felt, and still feel very bitter towards those women when I think
    about it.
    
    I can't help but think that one of the reasons that secretaries
    were not included is that they held their women's meeting *during*
    working hours and they wanted to make sure the secretaries were
    around to cover their phones for them in their absence.  Thinking
    about them makes me seethe.
    
    
    Lorna
    

    
    In addition, it's incidences like the previous one that have sometimes
    made me bitterly feel that the so called women's movement is
    exclusively for professional women (meaning women with college degrees
    and "good" jobs) and for liberal men.  I sometimes feel that
    professional women and liberal men don't care what happens to
    secretaries, waitresses, cashiers, nurses aides, etc.  
    
    
    Lorna
    

    
    Are you trying to say that none of our "battles" are the same??
    
    Unfortunately, I very seldom meet secretaries that I even become
    friends with.  I am not really interested in being involved in
    secretarial types of groups, such as "The Golden Key" which seem
    to go into great detail about the best way to cut and paste during
    word processing, etc.  These are not subjects which merit discussion
    in my mind.  It's just a job - like discussing the best way to sling
    hash.  When the work is that mundane I just do the job, get the
    money and go home.  I don't have to talk about it.
    
    However, I am interested in discussing some of the various issues
    that have been discussed in this notesfile.  Since most of the groups
    that are interested in forming to discuss this type of thing are
    professional groups I don't see why I should be excluded because
    I work as a secretary.  We have a topic in the file about excluding
    men from this note, perhaps you would also like to exclude Wage
    Class 2 women (except perhaps technicians since they *are* technical
    and do make good money they're more like *you*).
    
    You know, if you (meaning feminists) are really interested in changing
    the status of women and getting people to join your cause you wouldn't
    give replies like the one I got.   I find it very discouraging.
    
    I guess I really haven't done much of anything to change the world
    except discussing my views with people in the course of my life.
     
    Lorna
    

    
    What happened to the note I replied to??  My last reply which was
    a response to a now deleted (?) note doesn't make much sense by
    itself.  (I suppose some will think it didn't anyway, but you can't
    please everybody.)
    
    Lorna
    

    Do you think you could tell us the sorts of issues you were replying
    to?  I don't want to reopen the wound that seems to have brought
    all this about, but, as a young, professional woman, I certainly
    would like to understand what sorts of unthinking things I might
    do to hurt people like yourself.  
    	Mez

    RE: .3 
    YES, There is a local NOW group...it's very much alive and active.
    We're (I'm a member) putting a great deal of effort into defeating
    Referendum #1 that will be on November's ballot.  Please call me
    at dtn 297-7917 for further info about the Chapter.  
    
    I've often wondered if there were any feminists at DEC.  I'm new
    to NOTES and WOMANNOTES has at least given me hope.      Carol
    

    I would like to keep this discussion going...but I think we have
    gotten off track.
    
    My question is: Do you think that formal groups are a good forum
    for 1) change, 2) support, 3) networking etc.  If so, the SECOND
    question is: what is the best/optimum origanization for these groups?
    who should be included/excluded from membership etc.
    
    My concern was that I cannot find any sign (or very limited signs)
    that the groups even exist in this area of the country--and I find
    that depressing; thus, my question "who cares?"  Because of my
    experiences changling the system and feeling very alone in the process,
    (re-entry career changer, discrimination (age and sex), unliberated 
    husband, the difficulties of my role as wife of the 'boss', moving
    frequently because of my husband's career, etc.) I have a strong
    desire to share my experiences so others won't feel as alone as I did/do,
    and to help others 'get through' the bad times.  I would also like
    to find others who might share their experiences with me so that
    I can learn.  Its really depressing not to be able to find the support 
    groups and the lack of a women's network around here!
    
    Incidently, I believe we share common problems and it doesn't matter
    whether one is a secretary or a vice president, if we focus on the
    ISSUES we can be a source of information and support for each other.
    
      

    
>    My question is: Do you think that formal groups are a good forum
>    for 1) change, 2) support, 3) networking etc.  If so, the SECOND
>    question is: what is the best/optimum origanization for these groups?
>    who should be included/excluded from membership etc.
    
    Ok, I haven't answered this note before, because I don't belong to any
    women's group.  Yes, I think that a formal group can provide a good
    forum for change, support and networking.  So why don't I belong?
    I think the answer is shyness, time, and convenience plus a lack of
    knowledge about existing groups.  It's always difficult for me to
    join a new group, and if it's also difficult for me to attend a meeting
    because of location or time, then I won't join.  

    I think that a group has to have a goal in order to succeed, and there
    has to be someone willing to spend a lot of time leading the group.
    If a group of women got together just because they're all women, then
    it wouldn't succeed.  But if a group got together because they wanted to
    share experiances or learn about managing others, then if they focused on
    different aspects of management each meeting, the group would probably
    work.  Include anyone who is interested in the topics.  It doesn't even
    have to be a single-sex group to bring out problems that women or men
    have.

    ...Karen

The Women's School is a non-profit learning institution dedicated to
providing education for women. It has been offering free classes and
workshops by and for women for 14 years. They are a part of The Women's
Center (of Cambridge). I'm not officially affiliated with them in any way,
but some of my friends are students and teachers there. As a separate reply
I'll enter the October catalog, so you can get an idea of what goes on
there.

For more information write to:

	The Women's School
	c/o The Women's Center
	46 Pleasant Street
	Cambridge, MA 02139

Or call (617) 354-8807

If you want the long description of any of these, send me mail and I'll
reply with the blurb.  It's too much to type in all at once.  - Don

Your Mother is a What!?!
	October 14, 7:30-9:30 PM
I'm Going to Write Them a Letter! - Writing for Social Change
	8 weeks, starts October 15 7:15-9 PM
Open Support Group for Writers
	Starts October 15, 7:30-9:30 PM (ongoing)
Self Defense for Women Over 40
	4 weeks, starts October 18, 10-12AM 
Straight Talk about Heterosexual Feminists
	October 18, 1-3 PM
Making Your Living Work
	October 19, 1-3 PM
Providing Daycare in Your Home
	October 23, 6:30-8:30 PM
Tightrope Walking on a Shoestring: Writing for the Alternative Press
	8 weeks, starts October 23 7-9 PM
Lesbian Culture, A People Through Time
	October 25, 11AM-1PM
Getting the Word Out: Promotions for Non-Profits
	October 25, 1-3 PM
Writing from Our Lives
	October 25, November 1 and November 8 (any or all) 10 AM - Noon

I thought I would find it here...
How do I find out how to join NOW, and something about the organization
(what it does, how it does it, what it's charter it). It's practically
embarassing that I know so little about .
	Mez

    National Organization for Women
    1401 New York Avenue, N.W., Suite 800
    Washington, DC 20005-2102
    
    (I will check on the amount of membership dues and enter it later
    today.)

    Mez: there are a number of local NOW chapters in eastern Mass. Offhand,
    I only know of the Acton chapter; I'll try to look for addresses and 
    other chapters over the weekend.