As we mentioned in an earlier post, AAUW NC has joined the NC Women Matter coalition to support statewide efforts to increase the number of women who vote in 2012 general election in November.
NC Women Matter is a nonpartisan, 501 (c)(3) effort to provide voter registration and GOTV (Get Out the Vote) training. Nancy Shoemaker (Tar Heel), Mary Peterson (New Bern), Joan Robertson (Raleigh/Wake County) and Greensboro members Charlotte Divitci, Janie Dominique, and Elaine Hughes attended the convening meeting of the coalition in March in Greensboro. Nancy attended a followup meeting in May where the coalition launched new branding based on the fact that women are 54% of registered voters in NC.
The focus of NC Women Matter is strictly issue-based and directed exclusively to issues that are relevant and important to women and girls. The organization will not endorse candidates, coordinate with political parties or attempt to sway women to vote in a particular way.
As a coalition partner, AAUW NC will participate in at least one collaborative outreach effort to Get Out the Vote. AAUW NC branch members will receive messaging materials that can be used in their communities.
Watch for information about opportunities to support the coalition with
- Woman to Woman letter writing campaigns
- Phone banking to reach out to women who are not regular voters
- Canvassing efforts to reach women in person
Membership in the coalition also affords AAUW NC an opportunity to enhance our state membership list with voter data. With this voter information, branches can reach out to members or members-at-large in their area to educate them on issues of importance to women/girls in the November election.
To learn more about the coalition see www.ncwomenmatter.org or subscribe to their enewsletter: http://eepurl.com/jKPeD