This is the web copy of the contents of a booklet written by Eileen Cudney, Jo Conte and Toni Head. When reading this herstory, keep in mind that it was written in 1983 and so current events are referring to 1983 time frames.
A Brief History of Florida NOW
This statement was found on the cover of the book and is referring to the Tenth Florida NOW State Conference held in January 1984.
What we have here is a book affectionately entitled "A Brief Chronology of the History of the National Organization for Women in Florida and of Its Involvement in the Campaign to Ratify the Equal Rights Amendment in the State of Florida" starting with the first known incident of the Florida Legislature acting on the subject of the Equal Rights Amendment and also with the first time NOW members in the State of Florida got together somewhere else to discuss the possibility of a state organization and ending with the Tenth Florida NOW State Conference which probably won't even have started by the time you purchase this book because we are offering this little gem for the first time at the Tenth Florida NOW State Conference and you'll probably snap it up on Friday night before the conference starts.
By Eileen Cudney, Jo Conte, Toni Head
Florida NOW Past Presidents
Karen Coolman Homes Amlong - Karen was appointed as Florida NOW's first State Coordinator (a title later changed to President) in 1973 pending the formal organization of a state structure. She was elected State Coordinator at the First State Conference in September 1973, and served until September 1974, when she resigned to devote more time to her campaign for the Florida House of Representatives. She was elected to the Florida House in November 1974 and established Broward's "Family Seat". Linda Cox, Broward NOW's first President, became Coolman's legislative aide and was elected to the House of Representatives when Coolman resigned to attend law school. Feminist Ann MacKenzie became Cox's legislative aide and was elected to the House when Cox resigned to attend law school. Karen Amlong is now a member of the law firm Holmes & Holmes after a successful career in political campaign consulting.
Margaret Barovich - Margaret was elected as State Coordinator in September 1974 to fill out the term of Karen Coolman and was reelected State Coordinator at the Second and Third State Conferences in 1974 and 1975. She had been actively involved in the organization of Florida NOW and had previously served a State Secretary. Barovich had also been the first President of South Palm Beach County NOW in 1973-1974. She was born in Moorestown, New Jersey, home of Alice Paul, and was married to Don Barovich in 1964; they have two sons, Mark and Glenn. She is employed by IBM as the manager of business/industry publications for the personal computer.
Valerie Adams - Valerie was elected as State Coordinator at the Fourth State Conference in September 1976. She was the Convener of Indian River NOW in 1973 and served as its Coordinator in 1974. She was elected as Florida NOW's Assistant State Coordinator in 1974 and was reelected in 1975. She resigned in June 1977, to move to Georgia where she now resides with her family.
Rebecca L. Berg - Rebecca became State Coordinator upon the resignation of Valerie Adams, in June 1977. She was reelected at the Fifth State Conference in 1977 and served until March 1978. Berg had also served as President of Brevard County NOW 1974-1975, was the Contingent Coordinator for Florida Parades for the ERA in 1975, was elected as Assistant State Coordinator in September 1976, and served on the National Board 1978-1979. Berg graduated last year from the University of Florida Law School and is now in attorney in Jacksonville.
Genece Minshew - Genece was elected State President in March 1979, and was reelected at the June 1980 State Conference. She had served as State Treasurer in 1976-1977 and had served as President of Jacksonville NOW 1976-1977. She has been honored for her work with Hubbard House, a spouse abuse shelter in Jacksonville. She resigned in September 1980 and now resides in Georgia where she is employed by Southern Bell.
Eileen K. W. Cudney - Eileen became State President in September 1980, upon the resignation of Genece Minshew. She had been elected as Assistant State Coordinator in 1978, as State Treasurer in 1979, and as Vice President in 1980. She was a founding member of Charlotte County NOW and has served as President. She was employed by National NOW as the Coordinator of the South Florida NOW-ERA Countdown Campaign in 1981-1982 and remained on staff to work in the November 1982 elections. She successfully coordinated the state senate campaign of Peter M. Weinstein of Broward County and is now a legislative aide to Senator Weinstein.
Pat Kennedy - Pat was elected State President at the Eighth State Conference in June 1981, and served until 1982. Kennedy is a longtime activist, having served as Broward County NOW Treasurer, and working with Florida NOW's finance and fundraising committees. She is currently coordinating plans for the National NOW Convention to be held in Miami Beach in June 1984.
An Historical Chronology of the First Ten Years of Florida NOW
1971
ERA History:
The Florida Legislature passed a Memorial to the U.S. Congress urging that the ERA be sent to the states.
1972
ERA History:
The ERA passed out of Congress on March 22, 1972 and was approved by the Florida House on March 24, 1972 with an 84-3 vote. The Measure was not considered in the Senate because Senate President Jerry Thomas claimed that the State Constitution prohibited the legislature from taking up an amendment in the same session in which it passed Congress. The Courts later ruled the prohibition to be unconstitutional but the session had ended by the time the ruling was made.
1973
Organization
History:
Karen Coolman was appointed State Coordinator of Florida NOW by National NOW. The first known meeting of NOW Floridians was held on February 13 at the National NOW Conference in Washington, D.C. In April, NOW activists met in Orlando to plan a state conference but it became clear that "folks weren't getting along." A subsequent meeting in Tampa was held to allow an airing of ideas and feelings in a constructive way. A Nominating Committee and ByLaws Committee were named at the Tampa meeting and the first Nominating Committee meeting was held on August 21-22 in Gainesville.
National charters were issued to Broward, Dade, Gainesville, Jacksonville, Orlando, Pensacola, Polk, South Dade, South Palm Beach County, Tallahassee and Tampa. By the end of the year, charters were pending for Indian River, Naples, North Palm Beach County and St. Petersburg. Other chapters were formed in Key West, South Broward, North Broward, St. Lucie County, South Brevard County, Daytona-Ormond, Naples, Clearwater, Perry, Ocala, and West Palm Beach. The First State Conference was held this year with an impressive turnout.
1973
ERA History
There were various ERA activities throughout the spring and legislative session, including an ERA birthday packet presentation and extensive lobbying efforts. The ERA failed in the House 54-64 and was killed in Senate Committee. On August 26, ERA activities were held throughout the state. NOW activities ranged from picnics to feminist theater to cocktail parties, banquets and suffragist marches.
The First State
Conference
Held September 7-9, 1973 in Orlando
Featured Speakers:
Jackie Frost, Regional Director
Wilma Scott Heide, National President
Scheduled Workshops:
Fun Rai$ing for Fund Rai$ing - Betty Armistead and Jeanette Blevins. (Including discussion of plans to raise $10,000 NOW-ERA War Chest.)
Raising Florida's Consciousness - Anna DeMoss, Monna Lighte (Techniques for dealing with the press.)
Building a Constituency - Pam Ahlen, Karen Coolman, Jackie Frost. (How to attract and keep NOW folks.)
Working in Coalitions and Making Coalitions Work - Pat Hayward, Bonnie Lampe, Joann Lordahl.
Child Care - Trinka Hastings
Sexuality - Debbie James and Sheila Pennie
ERA Strategy Session - Jackie Frost, Regional Director
Women's Centers - Allen Spangler
Masculine Mystique - Pete Brandenburg, David Bolton, Cate Crowley. (C/R for Men.)
Employment Discrimination - Lee DeCesare, Billie Parodi
Women in Sports - Nancy Hamill, Alyce McAdam
Rape Crisis/Self Defense - Alyce McAdam
Chapter Dynamics - Edna Saffy
Abortion - Edie Lashman, Mary Ranney
Title IX/University Compliance - Donna Cotton, Margaret Menzel
Creating a Commission on the Status of Women/Serving in Local Government - Nikki Beare
Confrontation and Demonstration - Mary Dunetz, Dale Goldstein
Self-Help - Glenna Good
Laws Affecting Women - Bonnie Lampe
Minority Women - June Degnan
Consciousness Raising - Sally Carter, Angela Ford
Officers Elected 1973
State Coordinator
Karen Coolman, Broward
State Chairone
Gwen Cherry, Dade
Legislative Coordinator
Pat Hayward, Tallahassee
Secretary
Bonnie Lampe, Pinellas
Treasurer
Edie Lashman, Broward
Membership Coordinator
Pam Ahlen, Broward
1974
Organization
History:
It is said that a certain apathy set in once NOW had voted to become a part of ERA '74, a coalition group in which NOW did not hold the power. In February, Margaret Barovich because State Secretary and Jeanette Blevins became State Treasurer. State Coordinator Karen Coolman had worked at chapter development and there were some 30 chartered or convening chapters in existence. Coolman resigned in September to concentrate on her run for the Florida House of Representatives and Margaret Barovich was selected to fill out the term. The newsletter took a giant step toward sophistication; the October issue was produced on a mimeograph machine instead of the ditto machine. Some 10-20 Floridians attended the Southern Regional Conference in Memphis. The position of Chairone was dropped.
1974
ERA History:
The coalition calling itself ERA '74 voted down NOW's proposal for a rally in Tallahassee. After praising the group for its ladylike manners, the legislature defeated the ERA on a 19-21 vote in the Senate and allowed the measure to die in House committee. In October an ERA strategy meeting was held in Orlando and Edna Saffy's move for a statewide parade was approved. Six new women legislators were elected in the November elections: Karen Coolman, Helen Gordon Davis, Mary Ellen Hawkins, Elaine Bloom, Gwen Margolis, and Nancy Harrington.
The Second State
Conference
Held November 22-24, 1974 in Orlando with 156 registered. The conference was memorable for the wars with the hotel. The $10 meat loaf banquet was the final blow.
Featured Speakers:
Pat Callair , South Carolina, National Board
Jackie Frost, Regional Director (Keynote Address)
Liz Cox, National Legislative Office.
Scheduled Workshops:
Consciousness-Raising - Janice Mara
Nurses NOW - Phyllis Greenfield
Confrontation - Mary Dunetz
Implementing Affirmative Action Plans - Robert Mataxa, Nancy Foy, Carol Hart
ERA The People's March on Tallahassee - Edna Saffy
Forming a Rape Crisis Center - Alyce McAdam
ERA Update - Liz Cox
Career Development for Women - Carolyn Griffis
Women in Jail - Roberta Fox
Christianity and Feminism Are Compatible - Betty Steele
Officers Elected 1974
State Coordinator
Margaret Barovich, South Palm Beach
Assistant State Coordinator
Valerie Adams, Indian River
State Secretary
Alyce McAdam, Gainesville
State Treasurer
Jeanette Blevins, Gainsville
Legislative Coordinator
Pat Hayward, Tallahassee
Other Candidate: Jaye Lincicome of Broward was a candidate for Legislative Coordinator.
1975
Organization
History:
The first months of the year were totally devoted to the "Florida Parades for the ERA" which was a major organizing tool for the organization. Membership in Florida NOW went over the 1,500 mark while national membership went over 50,000. Later in the year, the National NOW Convention in Philadelphia was a bitter contest between opposing factions and repercussions were felt throughout Florida NOW. "Alice Doesn't Day" was no more successful in Florida than in the rest of the nation.
1975
ERA History:
Florida became a national ERA target and over the objections of practically everybody, Florida NOW organized and sponsored "Florida Parades for the ERA." Planning had been going on for over a year and by early April, a parade office was opened. On April 14, some 3500 people marched through the streets of Tallahassee in support of the ERA, the largest such event ever seen in the capitol city. All 40 Senate districts were represented. Guest celebrities included Alan Alda, Marlo Thomas, Betty Friedan and Karen DeCrow. Marchers drank gallons of orange juice and passed out oranges to counteract the rumors of a Florida citrus boycott. The rumors threatened to turn certain pro-ERA voters around. A new slogan was coined: "Vote for us and we'll vote for you!" Because the rent on the parade office was paid through the end of the month, NOW took over the office and kept it through the session. NOW members came to Tallahassee and were trained by Liz Cox of National NOW's legislative office and by Florida NOW Legislative Coordinator Pat Hayward. In spite of the unprecedented activity in the support of the ERA, once again the Florida Senate defeated the ERA on an 18-22 vote after the House had passed it 61-58.
The Third State
Conference
Held September 12-14, 1975 in Jensen Beach. Featured Speakers:
Robert Shevin, Florida Attorney General
Shirley McCune, Director, Resource Center on Sex Roles in Education
Sarita Chotta
Is the State an Equal Opportunity Employer? Or How I Grew Old at $50 a Week - Jo Conte
Chpater Finances/Fund Raising - Jeanette Blevins
Guerilla Theater - Alyce McAdam
Keeping Your Own Name - Judy Wilson
Assertiveness Training - Jane Beahm
Right to Choose - Louise Perry
Litigation - Roberta Fox
Legislation and Sexual Right - Joy Cillaroto, Elaine Gordon
Prostitution - Lee DeCesare
Women and Language - Cathy Goodwin
Employment Discrimination - Phyllis Hamm
National NOW - Rep. Karen Coolman, Jackie Frost, Mary Lynn Myers, Margaret Barovich
Aging Positively: The Inner Journey - Marchy Thompson
Feminism and the Mother Who Chooses to Stay Home with her Children - Shirley Rathkopf
Title IX - Carole Martin, Jackie Shadburn
How to run a Media Campaign - Rep. Karen Coolman
Sex Discrimination Suits - Margaret Menzel
Marriage Contracts - Sheila Knaust Sagaris, Sallie Harrison
Sexism in Broadcasting - Paul Duncombe
Consciousness Raising - Judy Wilson
Women Living Alone - Eileen Bird
Women Incarcerated - Janice Eichmiller
Officers Elected 1975
State Coordinator
Margaret Barovich, South Palm Beach
Asst. State Coordinator
Valerie Adams, Indian River
State Secretary
Alyce McAdam, Gainesville
State Treasurer
Rebecca Berg, Brevard County
Legislative Coordinator
Emilie Wilson, Tallahassee
Other Candidate: Phyllis Hamm of Tampa was a candidate for State Coordinator.
1976
Organization
History:
It was a year for planning and consolidation. The organization voted to open a legislative office and hire a lobbyist. The State Education Task Force was established. Members were trained in parliamentary procedure. The difficulties between Florida NOW and National NOW intensified. Broward NOW challenged the Southern Regional Conference for having established a cutoff for hardship registration fees. The National Board ruled the conference to be in violation of policy and appointed a new board member from the region. Florida NOW filed Title IX charges against the Florida Department of Education. Displaced homemaker legislation, a priority of the organization, was passed by the legislature after intensive NOW lobbying.
1976
ERA History:
Although the ERA died in Senate and House Committees, the organization remained visible by opening our first legislative office in March. It was designated the "Ann London Scott Legislative Office" to honor the former National NOW Legislative Coordinator who had died. Alyce McAdam was hired as our first lobbyist. Opening day of the legislature found Doonesbury cartoon scrolls delivered to all legislators with the message "We've Waited Long Enough." Florida NOW was heavily involved in the November elections where a challenge to Dempsey Barron was almost successful. Senator Barron was forced into a unpredicted run-off which he barely won. Three anti-ERA legislators were defeated.
The Fourth State
Conference
Held September 10-12, 1976 in St. Petersburg Beach. Featured Speakers:
Karen DeCrow, National NOW President
Scheduled Workshops:
NOW's Constitutional Convention - Margaret Menzel
International Feminist Movement - Toni Head
What to Say to an MCP - Judy Wilson, Sondra Last
Family Law - Susan Weinberg, Roberta Fox
Women's Influence on the Florida Primary - Florida Women's Political Caucus
Assertiveness - Feeling Comfortable With It - Betsy Kramer
Self-Identification/How to Write a Resume - Ann Gazourian, Eileen Grindle
NOW Strategy for ERA '77 - Margaret Barovich, Martha Gaines
Women in Business - Linda Storey
Know What You Need and Use What You've Got - Andrea Drake
Feminist Psychotherapy - Merry Haber
Parliamentary Procedure - Strategy and the Feminist Movement - Karin Morris
Decriminalization of Prostitution - Carole Liberte, Founder of Coyote in Florida
Trust Busting (Feminist Women's Health Center, Tallahassee) - Sara Grusky
C.R. The Feminist Connection - Dade CR T/F - Terry Frieberg, Judy Wilson
How to Win Enemies and Influence Friends - Emilie Wilson, Alyce McAdam
Right to Choose, Update Abortion - Marge Watson
Sex Discrimination in Education/Title IX - Anita Uber
"Mary Ann", A Meeting of the Florida Women's Political Caucus Support Committee
Battered Women - Florence Morgenroth
Women and Poverty - Mary Jo Binder (National Task Force Chair)
Organization Dynamics - Edna Saffy
New Programs and Legislation on Rape - Alyce McAdam (National Task Force Chair)
Chapter Development - Judy Wilson
Feminism and Economic Systems - Ruth Zaleon (National Task Force Chair)
How to Start Your Own Business for Less Than $100 - Elizabeth Copeland
Free to be Lavender - Dade Lesbian Task Force
New Trends in Rape Prosecution/Rape Crisis Programs - Margaret Jose, Lyla Ellsworth
Women and Unions - Nancy Serrano, Phyllis Hamm
Fund Raising - Pat Hayward
Female Attorneys in a Male-Dominated Society - Patricia Ireland, Susan Weinberg
Officers Elected 1976
State Coordinator
Valerie Adams, Indian River
Asst. State Coordinator
Rebecca Berg, Brevard County
State Secretary
Carol Mangan, Dade
State Treasure
Genece Minshew, Jacksonville
Legislative Coordinator
Ann Gazourian, South Palm Beach
Other Candidate: Carol Blum of Broward was a candidate for State Coordinator; Eileen Grindle (Stewart) of Broward was a candidate for Assistant State Coordinator; Marth Smith of Ft. Myers withdrew her candidacy for State Secretary.
