I was in the middle of writing this post about our fabulous grassroots groups when the Palin bashing reached critical mass and required an immediate response.  It’s actually a good thing because now I can show everyone that we aren’t just sitting around complaining and venting. We are building an army of women and men coast-to-coast to act, not just sitting on our rears grousing!!

I would like to recognize all of our groups thus far.  It is an impressive list when you consider that we have only been working on this grassroots development project for a little over three months.  Much of the praise goes to my co-chairs Thia Lawson and Judy Silver.

It started in New York City with one of our commenters on the blog, a few of her friends, Amy Siskind, and Karen G who met at the Mamaroneck train station to discuss what was on their minds.  From that meeting has grown our Monserrate strategy, which has put an awful situation on the front burner, and gotten an increasing amount of attention as pressure is placed on him to resign.  The group has since met again and even added a new member just today. 

The next development was a Meet Up in Columbus OH, which has grown from nine people who met at Mary Jo R.’s studio, to an growing group which is preparing their fourth get together on April 23.  We celebrated the Inauguration in The New Agenda style (an elegant lunch, wine, and our own kind of discussion in the middle of the day), published an op-ed piece in the three main newspapers in Ohio (Columbus, Cleveland, and Dayton) and opened the discussion about how to get a woman elected to our open U.S. Senate seat.  We have also had a Friday evening get together where we joined with Cinda Cartee to put together an huge event on Women’s Equality Day at the Ohio Statehouse.  We will be introducing the exhaustive results of The State of Women in Ohio, a two-year study by the Institute of Women, Gender, and Public Policy at Ohio State University.  Finally, we are getting together a group of 20-somethings to put together their own ideas of where 21st century feminism needs to go.  Beth P and Suzette S. will lead the meeting and talk about putting together a manual to educate younger women on what sexism is.

Thia and our Atlanta group recently had its first meeting.  We were thrilled to have women attending from all age groups and political persuasions.  Some of the women in attendance have been fighting for women’s rights for many years, and several were 20-somethings who will lead the fight for years to come.  Since this was their first Meet Up, they spent over two hours getting to know one another, drinking coffee, and venting.  This group is very excited because it appears there will be a woman in the running during the next election for governor.  What a wonderful way to spend a Saturday afternoon!

I’d like to recognize Patty M, Laura L, Laura W, Jill in Cleveland;  Sharon W, Becky B in Dayton; and Susan H, Yana K and Mary E in Cincinnati.  All are getting groups off the ground in their communities, and have second Meet Ups planned in April.  These three groups all want to focus on getting more local women elected.

Our co-Founder Anna Belle held a Meet Up on a beautiful early spring day in March in Louisville, KY at an Irish Restaurant on Frankfort Ave.  What an interesting bunch!!!  This group of educators has decided to put together a pilot program with a local school system to put women’s history into the K-12 curriculum.  Once it has been successfully completed, they plan on exporting it to the rest of the country.  No small plans coming from Kentucky!!

Co-Founder JL held a Meet Up in LA, and had so many people who wanted to be there that they had to set up another one immediately.  Co-founder Prameela organized and officiated at a Bay area Meet Up in Napa in the heart of wine country.  Don’t you wish you could have been there?  I’ve heard from both JL and Prameela that the women couldn’t have been happier to meet one another.

AM organized Boston for the first meeting and found Judy to head up the group.   This Meet Up also led us to Judy Silver who has since become Founder with The New Agenda.   Amy Siskind is excited to be able to attend the next Boston Meet Up.

We have also held a conference call linking up our 20-somethings from all over the country.  We are currently running a contest among that group, to give themselves a catchy name, and the winner will receive $50 donated by the committee chair.  It is very interesting to hear these younger women’s take on sexism and feminism.  One of our 20-somethings Karen has even contributed several articles for our blog.  If you would like to listen in on the next call, just let me know at cynthiaruccia@thenewagenda.net 

If you look at our listing on the right side of the page, we have many more groups forming—–Washington D.C., Scranton PA, Asheville NC, Charlotte NC, Santa Fe NM, and Tucson AZ.  If you are tired of being angry about sexism and want to put your money where your mouth is, please contact us at newagendateamcaptain@yahoo.com if you would like to help form a group.  Or if you would like your email address shared with others in your area who would like to form a group, email your city and state to connectlocally@yahoo.com  We may already have a group forming in your area, or we would be thrilled to have you help us start one!  Many of the groups have been put together with our commenters and visitors to the website and blog.  It is fabulous to get together and map out which role you will each play in eradicating sexism in 21st century America.  As Aunt Sam  says——WE NEED YOU!!!