http://www.democrats.org/

Dear Feminist Activists,

Time is running out.

In most states, the deadline to register to vote is only three short
weeks away! With registration deadlines looming, there is not a minute
to lose in registering to vote.

You can register to vote quickly and easily online by clicking here. All
you have to do is select your state, fill out the form online, print it,
sign it, and mail it in. Five easy steps to make sure that you will be
registered to vote in what may be the most important election of your
lifetime.

Women are underrepresented in Congress and the state legislatures - we
must be fully represented at the voting booths.

Too much is at stake in this election to put it off another day. This
election will decide the fate of issues central to women's lives:
reproductive rights, civil rights, human rights,
global peace and national security, global trade and economic policies,
women's economic equality, and the protection of our environmental
resources. In 2004, feminist voices
must be heard.

Though our lives can be unbelievably busy and hectic, nothing is more
crucial right now than taking a moment to register to vote.

Register to vote now, and make it personal - get 10 of your friends to
register, too!

For equality,

Ellie Smeal
President

P.S. You can help us reach even more feminists by donating to support
our Get Out Her Vote program, a national voter registration, education,
and mobilization
campaign targeting young women on college campuses.

VOLUNTEER FAIR TUESDAY
The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Austin Affiliate will hold a
volunteer fair Tuesday, August 24, 2004 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the
Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, located at 1800 N. Congress Ave.
Whether you have one hour or one hundred hours to donate, please stop
by the event to find out how to volunteer for events like the

Komen Austin Race

for the Cure� and Shop for the Cure� as well as breast cancer education
programs and office duties. 

Last year, more than 1000 volunteers helped put together the Komen Austin
Race for the Cure�, which had more than 15,000 participants.  This
year more than 17,000 runners and walkers are expected.

Volunteers for the Race
may:
drive race applications to various locations, help sign-up participants,
sell merchandise on race day and during registration times, enter
data, and race day logistics such as set-up, water distribution, post food and
beverage stands, and clean up.

The Shop for the Cure� committee is also
looking for a wide variety of volunteers to serve on committees including
marketing, sponsorship, merchant, and special events.  Individuals and
groups are encouraged to volunteer.

About the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Austin Affiliate
The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Austin Affiliate was
established in 1999 to spread the life-saving message of early detection and to
support breast cancer screening and diagnostic programs in Central Texas.  It has
granted over one million dollars to organizations in the greater Austin
community that carry out the organization's mission.

Approximately 75 percent of net income from the Komen Austin Race for the
Cure� and other fundraising activities remain in the community to fund
breast cancer education and screening programs in Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays,
Travis and Williamson counties. 

The Komen Austin Affiliate places a special
emphasis on programs that provide breast cancer education and screening to
medically underserved populations, and are working toward the goal of
offering treatment programs for those who have limited options if they are
diagnosed with breast cancer.

The Komen Austin Affiliate shares a minimum of 25 percent of the net
income with the Komen Foundation for its Award and Research Grant Program. 

In 2004, the Komen Austin Affiliate awarded 11 local grants totaling more
than $500,000 to support breast cancer education and screening programs, as
well as programs to assist breast cancer patients in and around the Austin
area.

To receive additional information about Komen Austin,

call (512) 473-0900 or

visit  <file://www.komenaustin.org> www.komenaustin.org.
______________

Subject: Latina Mami print newsletter: submissions needed
 Sent Feb 19 2004
Latina Mami is publishing its bilingual parenting print newsletter (8,000 copies) geared toward Latino families and is accepting any parenting tips, resource lists, or articles that your agency can offer, please submit them to us! Please send to me electronically, either in the body of the email or as a word attachment, less than 800 words, please. If you only have them in English, we can also translate to Spanish.
 
Thanks--
Gloria
 
____________________________
Gloria Perez-Walker
Director, Latina Mami
5812 Berkman Drive
Austin, TX  78723
(512) 494-7758  phone
(775) 854-7924  fax
gloria@latinamami.org
http://www.latinamami.org
"Mamis of Color" radio show, Tuesdays, 3-4 PM (webcast at www.koop.org)
 
building healthy communities for latina mothers and their children

**************************
Sent: Saturday, November 15, 2003 12:46 AM
Subject: Redistricting: Hearing Tuesday 11/18; Fact Sheet

Please forward!

Our Travis County Commissioners will hold a public hearing Tuesday,
November 18 at 9 a.m. in the Commissioners' Courtroom on the first floor of
the Stokes Building at 314 W. 11th Street for the purpose of gathering
testimony that will be submitted to the Justice Department in opposition to
the redistricting plan. It is especially important for minority voters to
attend and testify at this hearing!

The hearing will focus on the following two topics:

A. Impact of Proposed Redistricting on the fragmentation and isolation
of African-American Voters in Travis County and regarding its impact
upon Hispanic Voters' Community of Interest in Travis County; and

B. Impact of changes to Precinct Polling Lines and Precinct Polling
locations on County Voters, especially African-American and Hispanic
Voters.

Facts (population figures based on 2000 census, figures rounded to nearest
thousand):

Current Congressional District 10
Represented by Congressman Lloyd Doggett (elected 1994), 652,000 residents,
502,000 of voting age.
Located in the eastern half of Travis County, roughly East of MoPac plus
West Austin between MoPac and Loop 360.
The current district includes 85% of the population of the City of Austin.
The rest of Travis County (161,000 residents) is part of current
Congressional District 21 represented by Lamar Smith (R-San Antonio).

Most Travis County African-Americans and Hispanics reside in Congressional
District 10:
There are 80,000 African-Americans in Travis County; 77,000 (96%) live in
CD 10.
There are 229,000 Hispanics in Travis County; 215,000 (94%) live in CD 10.

What does the new plan do to Travis County and Austin?
Roughly speaking, the new plan splits the county and city population into
thirds with each becoming a small part of three sprawling, multi-county
Congressional Districts 10, 21 and 25.
281,000 Travis County residents including 209,000 Austinites will live in
new CD 10.
278,000 Travis County residents including 200,000 Austinites will live in
new CD 21.
254,000 Travis County residents including 235,000 Austinites will live in
new CD 25.
The new Congressional Districts (652,000 residents each) will be dominated
by people who live outside of Austin and Travis County.
New CD 10 stretches along Highway 290 all the way to Houston.
New CD 21 is represented by Lamar Smith, Republican of San Antonio
New CD 25 stretches from East Austin all the way to the Mexican Border.

What happens to African-Americans under the new plan?
27,000 African-Americans will be in new CD 10, a district that is 2/3
white/Anglo.
8,000 African-Americans will be in new CD 21, a district that is 3/4
white/Anglo.
44,000 African-Americans will be in new CD 25, a district that is 2/3 Hispanic.
African-Americans go from having an important influence on who Austin sends
to Congress to having little influence in any of the new Congressional
Districts.
This is the most important element of the testimony we hope to place before
the Justice Department!

What happens to Hispanics under the new plan?
64,000 Hispanics will be in new CD 10, a district that is 2/3 white/Anglo.
40,000 Hispanics will be in new CD 21, a district that is 3/4 white/Anglo.
125,000 Hispanics will be in new CD 25, a district that is 2/3 Hispanic.
While a majority (58%) of Travis County Hispanics will find themselves in a
majority-Hispanic district, they will also find themselves outnumbered more
than 2-to-1 by Hispanic voters in Starr and Hidalgo counties; the rest will
find themselves with little influence in the other two districts.

Further, the new CD 25, while majority-Hispanic, is an artificial creation
snaking through nine-counties all the way to the Mexican border. Travis
County's Hispanic voters would no longer be part of a genuine community of
interest where they live, work and raise their families.

Why will this plan be confusing to Travis County voters?
Forgenerations, Austin has been at the heart of the 10th Congressional
District and has been represented by people who have called Austin home
including Lloyd Doggett (1995-present), Jake Pickle (1963-1995), Homer
Thornberry (1949-1963) and Lyndon Johnson (1937-1949)

Currently, over 80% of us in Travis County are represented by one
Congressman, Lloyd Doggett, who was born, raised, graduated from Austin
High School and the University of Texas and has had an extensive career in
public service right here in Austin.

Overnight, we will find ourselves split into thirds and scattered among
three, sprawling districts covering hundreds of square miles.

Fourteen polling precincts will be split between two different
Congressional Districts.
Precincts 101, 103, 121, 137, 138, 150 and 275 will be split between new CD
10 and new CD 25.
Precincts 267 and 331 will be split between new CD 10 and new CD 21
Precincts 406, 411, 438, 456 and 460 will be split between new CD 21 and
new CD 25.
In some cases (precincts 150, 275 and 331) only a few houses are split off
from their neighbors.
In two precincts (411 and 456) there are no public buildings that can serve
as polling places.
If you live in one of the above precincts, please make a special effort to
attend and testify about the likely affect on you and your neighbors!

If the judges uphold the new districts, will you know who your
representative is?

Please attend and please encourage others to attend! The testimony gathered
will be sent to the U.S. Department of Justice, and it is especially
important for minority voters to testify at this hearing!

"The eyes of the people are fast opening! Fight on!" -- Andrew Jackson

-------------------------------------
Sonia Santana
2005 Barton Parkway
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 441-2507
FAX (512) 441-2491
-------------------------------------

------------- End Forwarded Message -------------


Nora de Hoyos Comstock, Ph.D.
Las comadres para las americas
connecting Latinas all over the world!
http://www.lascomadres.org
Comstock Connections/The Sana Group
3103 Loyola Ln., Austin, TX 78723
512-928-8780 voice and fax
Cell: 512-751-7837
email:nora@comconn.com