Let's not allow democracy to die! If we are to keep it viable, we must bring about a change in the political process. We must get out and work for the betterment of all of us. This is a big election year. We have an opportunity to elect candidates who support AAUW's issues. We can change the face of our state legislature and Congress. Due to term limits, there are more seats open than ever before.

There are many bills coming up in Congress that require a lot of work, on our part. We need to let our representatives know how we feel. We must do everything possible to protect the laws that have been passed that protect our rights. We must keep church and state separate and not allow public monies to be used to support parochial schools. We must ensure that gender equity language and language from the Educating America's Girls Act (S1264) is included in the new bill.

We must work very hard to get women out to vote. If we are to win, it will be necessary to build on the grassroots' level - at the level of every branch. It concerns me very much that some branches still do not have a Public Policy Chair. The Voter Education Campaign has established a wonderful line of communication from the state level, to the Clusters, and then to the branches. This will NOT work if we do not have someone in the branches to contact.

We have been invited to participate with other groups working on campaign finance reform and the development of new Congressional districts. There is a lawsuit concerning vouchers in the state. This is an issue that will probably go all the way to the Supreme Court. Think of all that could have been done with that money if it had been spent to improve public education instead of on lawsuits.

This is a time when we need to remember John F. Kennedy's words in his inauguration speech, "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country."

Do it for yourself and for generations to come!

(New e-mail address is [email protected].)

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