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STATEMENT FROM MASS WOMEN'S POLITICAL CAUCUS REGARDING SENATOR BROWN'S OPPOSITION TO ELENA KAGAN

August 5th, 2010

We are disappointed that Senator Scott Brown has chosen to oppose Elena Kagan for appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court, even as Ms. Kagan is receiving support by many of Senator Brown's Republican colleagues.

Ms. Kagan has contributed her legal expertise to two Presidents, clerked for Justice Thurgood Marshall, served as a distinguished law professor and Dean of Harvard Law School, and is uniquely qualified for this position.

Early on, the Caucus urged President Obama to support the appointment of a woman to fill the Supreme Court seat being vacated by Justice Stevens. We are proud the Senate has move forward in confirming Elena Kagan as the fourth woman in history to sit on the Supreme Court of the United States.

2010 Summer Edition

Newsletter Quick Links

A Message from our President

A Message from our new Executive Director

A New Addition to the Team

Who We're Backing!

MWPC PAC Fundraising Drive

News Your Campaign Can Use

MWPC Member Profile

Upcoming Events

Save the Date for the
Abigail Adams Awards!

Thursday,
October 7, 2010
6pm -- 8:30pm
Fairmont Copley Place

Sponsorships are available for one of the city's most prestigious award ceremonies. Please contact Priti Rao, MWPC Executive Director, at priti@mwpc.org for sponsorship information. Watch the MWPC website for more details to come, www.mwpc.org.

Thank you!

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Get Involved,
Make a Difference!

The Massachusetts Women's Political Caucus is calling for volunteers in its continued efforts to provide on the ground help to endorsed/re-endorsed women candidates this election cycle. No matter the amount of time you can give, we can make sure that your time is spent productively. You may choose to volunteer your time in Boston or at a campaign headquarters closer to where you live. Volunteers for evenings and weekends are especially welcomed. Your time can make all the difference. To volunteer, please call the MWPC at 617-451-9294.

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What We're Watching
How the Commonwealth's New Fiscal Budget Impacts Women

On June 30, 2010, Governor
Patrick signed a $27.6 billion spending plan for this fiscal year, containing massive spending cuts in areas such as public education, local aid, and health and dental coverage for the poor as the result of difficult economic conditions and stalled federal stimulus funds. Steep cuts in local services coupled with hundreds of additional layoffs at the state level are expected.

What are some of the most critical short and long term impacts to women? According to Senator Patricia D. Jehlen (D-Somerville) and Representative Alice K. Wolf (D-Cambridge), Co-Chairs of the MA Caucus of Women Legislators, this year's budget can be summed up as follows:

That the bad news for women outweighs the good in the FY11 budget is not a surprise to anyone this year. The next fiscal year's budget threatens increases in certain TAFDC benefits, breast and cervical health programs, domestic violence services and housing assistance.

Even level funding for certain crucial programs directly impacting women remains a hard-fought challenge. Head Start and Pre-Kindergarten services, programs to improve parenting skills, and sexual assault evidence collection are just a few of the level funded programs which face reductions if certain vetoes are not overridden.

The list of cuts, of course, is much longer; from childcare resources and Healthy Start programs to the administration of domestic violence shelters, women are significantly impacted.

The MWPC will be monitoring the budget impact on women and their families.

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Mass Women's Political Caucus; New Executive Director; and Board Secretary Mentioned in
Top 100 Political Influencers in Bay State in Campaigns & Elections

"This recognition is one that pays tribute to the growing influence of MWPC in working as a change agent to elect more qualified women to office." said Executive Director, Priti Rao.

Congratulations are in order to MWPC, to Priti, and to Joyce Ferriabough, Media and Political Strategist & MWPC Board Member.

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Newsletter Staff

Written By
Linnea Walsh

Edited By
Joyce Ferriabough

Editorial Support
Gail Jackson-Blount
Alex Zaroulis
Ann Murphy
Jessica Gibbons
Naomi You

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A Message from Lora Pellegrini, President, MWPC

Welcome to the Summer edition of our newsletter.

MWPC is energized by new leadership with the appointment of a new Executive Director and Office Manager.

Priti Rao has been named Executive Director of the Massachusetts Women's Political Caucus (MWPC). Priti previously served as this organization's Associate Director and most recently as Acting Executive Director. She brings enthusiasm, commitment and top-flight campaign skills that are critical to achieving our mission of supporting a new generation of women seeking political opportunity. Priti's rise from intern to executive director is a source of great pride for our organization as it epitomizes our fundamental role in supporting and mentoring women political leaders. She is a graduate of Mount Holyoke College, where she majored in Politics and Spanish. Her campaign experience includes coordinating field activities for multiple Congressional and City Council races in upstate New York and Massachusetts.

Supporting Priti as our new Office Manager is Jessica Gibbons and a dedicated team of interns and volunteers. I am very grateful for their hard work and commitment.

On the electoral front, the MWPC Political Action Committee (PAC) has endorsed or re-endorsed more than 35 candidates, with more endorsements currently under consideration. An endorsement from the MWPC is a working endorsement. By that we mean, it is an endorsement that translates into hands-on, on-the-ground support for women candidates, with resources that run the gamut from consulting support, fundraising, campaign skills training, communications and other Get Out the Vote activities. By putting our money and our woman power (and we appreciate the support of men as well) where our mouth is, we work to help make a difference for these candidates, some of whom are running for the very first time.

MWPC Legislative Training: Sharing Successful Strategies

In June the MWPC sponsored a legislative training session for all endorsed candidates and their staff members. Former State Representative Susan Tracy, President of Strategy Group, Inc., coordinated this training, and served as moderator. Presenters included: David Paleologos, Director of the Political Research Center at Suffolk University, Political Operative Extraordinaire Gus Bickford, Angelique Pirozzi, Deputy Caucus Manager for Vice President Al Gore ('99/'00), Jon Patsavos, former New England Finance Director for John Kerry and Hillary Clinton's presidential campaigns, Helen Corbett, Senior Partner at Corbett & Lalli, Anne Danehy, President of Strategic Opinion Research, and Riche Zamor, Founder of Social Context, a social media networking group. Discussion topics included taking the pulse of the electorate, statewide polling, voter identification, Get Out the Vote strategies, media training and strategy, utilizing new media, and all important fundraising techniques...

I hope you will be inspired by the the many activities we've been engaged in to help give women the tools they need to win. Please help us continue our work to bring about real change in the Commonwealth by volunteering your time or making a contribution to our PAC fund. For more information on how to get involved, visit us at www.mwpcpac.org.

Have a wonderful summer and thank you for your continued support.
Lora
Lora Pellegrini

A Message from Priti Rao, Executive Director, MWPC

Greetings!

I am honored to be named Executive Director of the Massachusetts Women's Political Caucus. Having started at the MWPC as the first-ever Representative Deborah Blumer intern, I am grateful for the caring, committed mentorship of the MWPC, an outstanding organization of women who understand that our democracy is more effective and representative when there are more women in public office and at our policy-making tables.

These past several months in my new role, I have had the opportunity to speak to a number of groups interested in how the MWPC plays a role in fostering women's leadership and maximizing women's potential in this area. In May, I participated as a panelist at the University of Massachusetts McCormack Institute's Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy leadership forum. I was fortunate to participate in the National Conference for NOW held here in Boston, and was honored to speak at World Boston's international women's round table focusing on women in politics. During the lively conversations at these events, we focused on how women bring a unique perspective to policy discussions. At a time when challenges loom large, having a woman's voice at the table makes a significant difference.

And speaking of challenges, 2010 is proving to be an especially challenging year for those of us committed to the goal of achieving political parity in this state. Consider this: According to a recent report by the UMass Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy's Political Progress for New England Women Project, as of 2009, women hold 26% of all legislative seats at the state level. This represents a one percent increase from 2007 and reflects very slow advances for the election of women to the Massachusetts Legislature. The growth of representation by female elected municipal officials has been slow - 2007 figures show that approximately one in three Massachusetts municipalities had no women serving in their governing body; while an improvement from 2004 when 42% of cities and towns had no women serving on local boards, political parity has not been realized in the majority of municipalities. It is clear that much more needs to be done in order to level this all-too-important playing field.

Our goal this year, as every year, is two-fold: to encourage more women to run for office and to continue to fully support those women in office who support our mission. We are trying to maintain the progress that we've made, and at the same time involve more women in the political process.

We can't do it alone. We need you! I challenge to each and every one of you to help us in our work. Take an hour or two or more each week to join us in helping a candidate on a campaign. Please take a minute to look through our endorsed list of candidates below. Maybe there is someone who interests you. Contact us if you can help in any way whether holding a sign, making phone calls, writing a check or just telling your neighbor to vote - all of it makes a difference. This election season is a historic one, with more candidates running than ever before. We need to make sure that our strong committed women candidates win. See you on the campaign trail!

Sincerely,

Priti
Priti Rao

Welcome to the MWPC Team
Jessica Gibbons- Office Manager

Jessica's role is varied for sure, and ever critical to keeping the MWPC moving forward. Her role includes supporting Executive Director, Priti Rao, by managing scheduling, event planning, day-to-day operations, and coordinating the activities and projects of the organization's interns and staff.

Jessica believes that her affiliation and being part of the MWPC is a natural fit to the values she holds true to.

Jessica comes to the MWPC after graduating from Westfield State College in January, 2010 with a Bachelor's Degree in Communications and a minor in Women's Studies. She actually began her career with MWPC as a full-time intern last fall, and was promoted to interim staff in January. In May the MWPC Board voted to hire her for the permanent position of Office Manager. MWPC congratulates Jessica as she assumes this role.

Commonwealth Commentary: An Educational Forum

A special thank you to the Blue Cross Blue Shield of MA, sponsors of the MWPC's

Commonwealth Commentary speaker series.

View the State House News Coverage by Jim O'Sullivan and Michael Norton here.

Captions (Clockwise):
1. Why Women Run: The April 2010 Commonwealth Commentary event featured State Representative Karyn Polito (left), Republican Candidate for State Treasurer, and Suzanne M. Bump, Democratic Candidate for State Auditor (right) discussed their campaigning and challenges women candidates face running for political office.
2. Party Chairs Respond to Audience Questions: Jennifer Nassour, Chair, Massachusetts Republican Party, and John Walsh, Chairman, Massachusetts Democratic Party.
3. 2010 Election Strategies: From left to right are Janet Wu, moderator of the panel discussion and WCVB-TV political reporter; John Walsh, Chairman, Massachusetts Democratic Party; Priti Rao, MWPC Executive Director, and Jennifer Nassour, Chair, Massachusetts Republican Party.

Supporting Women on the Move

Captions (Clockwise):
4. Celebrating a Successful Campaign Kick-Off: State Representative Kate Hogan and MWPC Executive Director Priti Rao.
5. Yes, We Also Celebrate Men Who Support Women!! MWPC 9th Annual Good Guy Awardees: From left to right: Rick Rendon, Founder & President, Empower Peace and Co-Founder and Senior Partner of The Rendon Group, Inc.; Gregory Torres, President, MassInc.; Speaker of the MA House of Representatives Robert DeLeo; U.S. Senator John Kerry, recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award; and Sheriff Frank Cousins Jr., Sheriff of Essex County. Check Out Our 2009 Good Guy Awardee, Robert Davoli in the Boston Globe here.
6. Pearls of Wisdom from Ayanna Pressley, an MWPC Backed Winner: From left to right: Representative Gloria Fox (7th Suffolk District), Councilor At-Large Ayanna Pressley, MWPC ED Priti Rao, and MWPC Board Secretary, Joyce Ferriabough-Bolling at the February MWPC Annual Meeting.
7. Supporting a Champion for Women: MWPC Executive Director Priti Rao with State Representative Ruth Balser at her campaign kickoff event.
8. Talking Leadership: MWPC Executive Director Priti Rao was a featured panelist on the University of Massachusetts Boston Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy Panel Women's Leadership Forum held in May, 2010.

Collage 2

Captions (Clockwise):
9. Women's International Forum: Priti Rao and State Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz (second to right) at the 2010 National Organization for Women (NOW) Conference.
10. The National Stage: NOW Conference took place July 2-4 in Boston, MA.
11. Newly Elected Groundbreaking City Councilor Ayanna Pressley Keynotes MWPC Annual Meeting: Pressley speaks to MWPC members and supporters at the Annual Meeting held on February 1st, 2010 at Simmons College.

Collage 3

Captions (Clockwise):
12. Running to Win: North Adams City Councilor Gailanne Cariddi (left) candidate for State Representative in the 1st Berkshire District and Priti Rao (right), MWPC Executive Director, at the June Legislative Training Seminar hosted by MWPC.
13. Our 2010 Industrious Interns: From left to right: MWPC ED Priti Rao, Marian Swain, Emily O'Shaughnessy, Naomi You, Office Manager Jessica Gibbons, Anne Feldman, Alexandria Icenhower, Olivia Lenson, and Gaby Gerlach.
14. Endorsing Our Supporters: State Representative Katherine Clark, candidate for the 32nd Middlesex and Essex Senate seat, is one of a number of candidates endorsed by the MWPC PAC. From left to right: MWPC ED Priti Rao, Board Member Gail Jackson-Blount, Representative Clark, and Board Member Alex Zaroulis.
15. MWPC Executive Director Priti Rao: University of Massachusetts Leadership Forum

2010 Endorsed Candidates

The MWPC PAC is proud to endorse/re-endorse 35 candidates this year to date.

Our candidates represent many different districts and counties all across Massachusetts.

Help Us Reach Our $10,000 Fundraising Goal

Funds will help our candidates win elective office

Your generous donation of any amount--be it $5 or $500 (the maximum individual amount allowed under law)--to The MWPC Political Action Committee (PAC) will go directly to help provide financial support to women candidates. For example, a $100 donation will fund two phone back sessions for a candidate, while $500 will provide a candidate with an intern to work full-or part time on her campaign. It's money that makes a difference.

Visit www.mwpc.org to learn how to donate to our PAC.

Thank you!

News Your Campaign Can Use

Successful Fundraising Strategies in a Down Economy
By Kristin MacEachern, Fundraising Strategist/Consultant

Tough economic conditions call for employing tough and creative, sometimes out -of- the- box fundraising strategies. Creative? Yes, but fear not. Know that even this year, people are still contributing. However, it just may be less than what they gave in the past. So it is essential to ask more people to support your fundraising goals.

1. Widen your NET and your ASK. Instead of getting one $500 contribution from one person you may have to reach out to two people for $250 or five people giving $100. You will get to the same goal, just with more donors.

2. Follow Up. Follow up. Follow up. This is the key to fundraising success. Every time someone says yes, follow up with them on a weekly basis until fulfillment is reached.

3. Budget Wisely. In your fundraising spreadsheet, make sure you have a column for the fundraising goal and a column for the budget number for the commitment. For example, if someone commits to raise $2500 at an event, budget that event for $1500. It is good if they reach their goal, but if not, you will have already planned for it.

4. Set a Campaign Budget. Your fundraising goals should stem from this budget. How much do you need to run your campaign? Staff expenses, office expenses, collateral material. Find out what you need to win and work from there.

5. Identify and ask others to raise money for you. These fundraisers comprise your Finance Team, and they are critical to a winning campaign. Whether they raise you $500 or $5000 it is critical that your supporters take some ownership.

6. THE ASK. Asking people to help you is the most critical component to successful fundraising. Whether you are asking for $100 as an individual contribution or for a supporter to raise the campaign $5000 you need to follow a couple of key rules of THE ASK:

Ask in person or over the phone. Do not ask in an email. People like the personal touch.
Ask for a specific amount and then let the person reply. Do not answer for them.
Give supporters a specific deadline for the contribution or the fundraiser. Then stick to that deadline.

7. Make--and check--your list twice. Lists are the life line of a campaign and of fundraising. Make a comprehensive list of everyone you are going to ask to host a fundraiser and/or an individual contribution of $200 or more. Make sure you get their cell phone number and their email address.

8. Using the Internet. Recent national and state elections use of the Internet in fundraising generated front page news. But as a candidate are advised to be realistic in your expectation as to its prowess at the local level. For most candidates, simply having a contribution or donate button on your website will not be enough to generate what you will need.

Here are some tips to make your website fundraising work for you:

A. When you make fundraising calls, ask individuals who agree to donate, to go on line and give immediately.

B. Make sure individuals know this is the most cost effective way for them to give to you.

C. Include your campaign website on your business return envelope and carry them with you. When someone commits to giving on-line treat it like a commitment. Be sure to follow up with them and ask them to give by a specific time.

D. Get their email address to send them the link to your website.

Kristin MacEachern has worked on a variety of ballot issues campaigns and for Democratic candidates for the last 18 years. Over the last five elections Kristin has played a lead role in field and fundraising, Senator Pam Resor's re-election campaign, Massachusetts Democratic Party Coordinated Campaign, and Mayor Tim Murray's re-election campaign and Lieutenant Governor's campaign. In 2008, Kristin coordinated services for contested legislative races.

MWPC Member Profile

Full name: Ashley Marie Hause

Party Affiliation: Republican

Hometown: Littleton, Colorado.

Occupation: Account Coordinator at O'Neill and Associates, a public affairs firm in Boston.

Why are you a member of MWPC?

I have been a member of MWPC for almost 3 years now. Initially, I got involved to learn more about Massachusetts politics and network with people in the MA political world; but soon came to find that MWPC offers more than most political organizations. They offer hands-on opportunities to get involved with local and state politics, as well as a wide range of professional development opportunities. MWPC's access and relationships across the state enable the organization, along with its members, to get involved with any campaign of their choosing and truly make a difference at the grassroots level. As a member of the Young Professionals (YP) group, I feel that MWPC is invaluable to a younger generation of women because it allows us to get involved in with issues or candidates that we are interested in, network with some of the state's greatest political and professional leaders, and expand upon our existing interests and skill sets.

Of all the women in politics, who do you watch most closely and why?

There are several women who I admire both personally and professionally in politics - a few in particular being, Michelle Obama, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Hillary Clinton. I think each of these women demonstrate a unique story, yet they share the commonalities of hard work, determination and balance. They come from modest beginnings but have proven to be tremendous leaders and role models for not only their own daughters/families but to young women everywhere. Each of these women has made significant contributions to raising the profile and level of equality of women today. In addition, they each seem to lead by example by demonstrating a sustainable work-life balance which, I feel, is equally as important as their professional contributions.

Would you like to be featured in a future Member Profile,
or do you know someone else who should be?

E-mail priti@mwpc.org and let her know. Thanks!

(617) 451-9294 FAX: (617) 523-2292 http://www.mwpc.org

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