The December breakfast program on "The Women of City Hall" was a great success!  Thanks to all who attended.  DWC members and guests packed the Village Deli to hear Beverly Calendar-Anderson, Safe and Civil City Director and newly named Director of the Community and Family Resources Department; Danise Alano-Martin, Director of the Department of Economic and Sustainable Development; Susie Johnson, Director of Public Works; Lisa Abbott, Director of Housing and Neighborhood Development; and Doris Sims, Director of Human Resources. These influential women talked about how they got to where they are and provided a preview of the plans for their departments for 2015.  They also discussed the interaction of their departments, and boards and commissions they are responsible for, with the mayor and City Council. Bravo to these amazing public servants and role models for women!  Their efforts help make Bloomington the wonderful and efficient place that it is.

Open House Session for Potential Candidates
Nominations for Bloomington Commission on the Status of Women Awards
Time to Renew Your DWC Membership
News Item:  Victory for Women's Right to Choose
Action Item:  Petition on Ohio Abortion Law

Open House For Potential Candidates

The DWC hosted the first of two open houses for potential 2015 and 2016 candidates and their prospective campaign leaders on Sunday, December 7th from 1:00-3:00pm at Democratic Headquarters. About 21 strong and intelligent women who think they might be interested in running for office (or helping those who do) showed up to learn more about the process, receive encouragement and early support, and ask questions of experienced, progressive, Democratic women. The mayor's office and the clerk's office are up for grabs this year, and who knows whether all the City Council incumbents will run again. So please consider a run for city government and come to the second session on Thursday, January 16th, 6:00-8:00pm again at the Democratic Headquarters. We hope to see you there! 

Commission on the Status of Women Seeks Award Nominations 

The DWC knows how many amazing women live in our community because we watch them in action every day.  Let's nominat some spectacular, progressive women for the Woman of the Year, Emerging Leader and Lifetime Contribution Awards.  The Woman of the Year recipients have improved the quality of life for other women through inspiration, community service or professional accomplishments beyond their normal job responsibilities.  They also serve as role models for women and girls and have made outstanding contributions to the community.  The Lifetime Contibution Award recognizes women who have significantly advanced the status of women through leadership and service.  The Emerging Leader Award recognizes women with a history (five years or less) of significant achievements and the potential for future contributions.

Nomination forms are available in the Bloomington Community and Family Resources Department at 401 N. Morton St., Suite 260, or online at www.bloomington.in.gov/csw  Send completed forms by email to [email protected]  The deadline for submission is January 23, 2015.

Time to Renew Your DWC Membership!

It is time to renew your membership in the Democratic Women's Caucus for 2015. If you agree with our mission to fund, inspire, recruit, support, and train pro-choice, progressive Democratic women to run for office, then please join us, or renew your membership by completing the membership form here and sending it with a check for $20 to DWC PAC, PO Box 2373, Bloomington, IN 47402. Or bring the form and check to our next meeting. Soon we will also have an online payment option. Thank you!

News Item:  Victory for Women's Right to Choose

Federal judge Jane Magnus-Stinson has ruled against an Indiana law that changed the classification of abortion clinics, targeting a Planned Parenthood facility that only provides drug-induced abortions.  Planned Parenthood would have had to add a recovery room and scrub facilities to make the Lafayette clinic meet the same standards as surgical abortion clinics in order to continue offering the abortion pill under the law signed by Gov. Mike Pence in 2013.

The law violated equal protection rights by treating the Lafayette clinic differently than physician offices that provide the same medications, Judge Magnus-Stinson said.  Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller said his office was reviewing the ruling to see what steps it might take next.  But ACLU of Indiana legal director Ken Falk said he believes the judge's decision was sufficient to void the law and that he didn't know of additional arguments the state could raise.

Action Item: Sign Petition on Abortion Ban in Ohio

From Plannedparenhoodaction.org