April 2009

Monthly Meeting – Monday the 6th 7:30-9:00pm

Since we agree on the importance to us all of fair, open and honest elections, join us for an evening with Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner to speak on: Ethics in Politics, Changes in Election Law and How These Interact to Effect Open and Honest Elections. This event will be in the Sanctuary of the First Unitarian Church on the corner of Linton & Reading Rds. The Secretary of State will talk for 20-25 minutes and then take questions. This is a FREE event.

4th Annual Prevention First Lobby Day – Wedsnesday the 22nd 9am-4pm

Please join Connie Schultz, Pulitzer Prize winning columnist, Ohio NOW and other members of Freedom of Choice Ohio (FOCO) on Wednesday, April 22 for the 4th Annual Prevention First Lobby Day. This exciting day will be full of trainings and opportunities to talk to your state senator and representative about the Ohio Prevention First Act and other critical prevention legislation. There will be information packets, suggestions on how to talk to your legislator and a keynote address from Connie Schultz of the Cleveland Plain Dealer and author of  “…And His Lovely Wife.”  Appointments will be made for you so you can go alone or with a small group to talk to your legislator to ask for support and passage of the Prevention First Act. 

The Ohio Prevention First Act will 1) require insurers to cover the cost of birth control pills or devices if they cover other prescription pills or devices. (Many cover Viagra, why not the pill?) 2) Guarantee rape survivors access to emergency contraception in emergency rooms. 3) require pharmacies to fill all in–stock legal prescriptions and dispense all over-the-counter medications and 4) provide students with medically accurate information on abstinence, contraceptives and condom use to prevent unintended pregnancies and STD’s including AIDS/HIV. Nearly 50% of the pregnancies in the US are unintended, one of the highest rates for an industrialized nation. We need the Prevention First Act – a common sense solution to the problem.

Gather 9am at the YWCA on 65 S. Fourth St. Columbus, OH 43215. Box Lunch - $15 by April 1st $20 afterwards. Please register by calling 1-800-466-2725 ( Ohio NARAL) or email focohio@gmail.com. Once registered you will receive information by e-mail with maps, parking, and everything you need. Click here to see the webstie announcement for this event by its sponsors.

20th Annual Take Back the Night March – Friday the 24th, 6pm-10pm

Plans are a little different this year as we will gather at the Peace Bell in Covington. The march will take us to Fountain Square, a little longer than 2 miles, but can you imagine, we have a piece of Fountain Square, the Sony screen, microphone and all. The march is a joint production between the Women's Crisis Center of Northern Kentucky and Women Helping Women of Cincinnati. Take Back The Night's mission is to increase the community's awareness about sexual assault while empowering, unifying and freeing those who have survived incest, rape or assault and honoring those who have not. Follow this link to see a calendar listing of this event on the national Take Back the Night website. On the calendar click the second event for April 24th that says simply "Take Back the Night".