You may register at this link: There is no charge to attend the conference, but you must register in order to receive the link to Zoom: https://forms.gle/hRPhhfPYuV3F8aTb7
Click here to view PDF materials for the conference: agenda, speakers and panelists, and business meeting materials.
Registration opens at 9:00 a.m. The conference begins at 9:30 a.m.
In talking with members about planning the conference we heard from many who told us that they really just felt like giving up. They couldn’t really imagine how the losses in abortion care, voting rights access, sexual health care for minorities, to name a few, would be something that we all could survive.
Maryland NOW hears this concern! In fact, the country that is becoming our new United States is facing challenges we never thought we’d see. We’ve put together a day to think about solutions — “Forging Ahead – A Future Through Action.”
Our keynote speaker will be Jessica Fitzwater – a name we’re sure you’ll be hearing more about in the near future. Jessica ran for and won the Frederick County Executive position last November, and was endorsed by our MD NOW PAC. She will speak on “What’s At Stake in the 2024 Elections and What We Can Do To Turn Things Around.” We’ll have two panels, the first examining what our coalition partners are planning to do to build and solidify support for our isses.
Our Morning Panel, “Where Are We Going,” includes Michelle Siri, Executive Director of the Women’s Law Center and chair of Marylanders for Reproductive Choice, Jennifer Tucker, Senior Advisor, Strategic Partnerships and Engagement, ERA Coalition/Fund for Women’s Equality, along with Margo Quinlan, a co-convenor of the Trans Rights Advocacy Coalition. .The second panel, “How Do We Get There,” will involve field directors to discuss concrete ideas for grassroots outreach in which Maryland NOW can plan to also participate. Panelists include Sharon Blugis, who is with Reproductive Justice Maryland, Rahula Strohl, Public Engagement Manager for Planned Parenthood of Maryland who will discuss GOTV plans for the referendum to add abortion righs to the Maryland state constitution in 2024, Judy Wixted, an Eastern Shore Democratic party leader who will help us learn how to activate our supporters in the more conservative areas of the state, and Larry Stafford, the Executive Director of Progressive Maryland.
During our Annual Conference we will also elect our Executive Committee, review our work from this past program year, and discuss your ideas for how to get where we want to go!
Please join us on this important day!
There is no fee to attend the conference, but you must register to receive our Zoom link and conference materials. There are membership requirements in order to vote for our officers but we welcome the participation of everyone in discussion and planning for the year ahead.
To register, please follow this link to our registration form, https://forms.gle/hRPhhfPYuV3F8aTb7
To learn more about participating in Maryland NOW’s leadership – to become a candidate for one of our Executive Committee positions, please contact our Nominations Chair, Crystal Peters to learn more about the positions and what’s involved.
If you have other questions about the conference, or questions about Maryland NOW, please write to us at MDNOWStateConference@marylandnow.org.
You can also contact us by phone – (410) 347-1455. We will return your call as soon as possible.
