Please write Bonnie if you need more information on the Consortium's great work or our upcoming 30th birthday celebration. And please remember that contributions are always welcome, and put to very good use in connecting and supporting everyone who cares about equality and justice for women.
We would love to put YOUR name (or company name) in lights! Read our annual report, and click here to sponsor the nation's largest statewide network of women-focused groups.
According to feministing.com it was reported that the fast food chain Carl Jr.'s or Hardee's as it was known here in Minnesota is having a contest in which the details were posted on craigslist called, "Hot Chicks Eating Burgers." Women can submit videos of themselves eating one of their burgers and win $1000 and a trip to Vegas if it is "hot" enough for their marketing campaign. The company has a history of showing "hot" women celebrities eating their burgers in their advertisements, these celebrities include; Paris Hilton and Audrina Patridge from MTV's The Hills. The restaurant's slogan has become "More than just a piece of meat." Personally, I don't believe showing several half-naked women celebrities eating a Carl Jr.'s burger equals good food. I think its sad that the company has resorted to this type of advertising to sell their food.
I also have to wonder what effect this has on young girls and women who see these advertisements. The advertisements portray an unreal illusion, skinny nearly flawless women chowing down on a giant Carl Jr.'s burger. This gives females the messages of eating a big fattening burger while maintaining a flawless figure. How are women supposed to react to the media when they are telling them to be skinny but at the same time eat a fattening burger? The media is giving women an impossible standard to live up to. Also, Carl Jr.'s is reducing women to pieces of meat by telling women to be hot and compete in a chance to advertise their product while looking good.
People need to make Carl Jr.'s aware that product quality counts not just what "hot" woman you can get to do your advertising.
-Alanna Storey
Here's an opportunity to reach 8,000 Minnesota leaders & show your support for all women’s issues! We will celebrate a birthday in January and you are invited to co-sponsor. Note the deadline is January 22 to be listed in the program!
The Minnesota Women's Consortium is the nation's largest network of organizations committed to women's equality, with 175 member groups reaching 300,000 Minnesotans. MWC is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, 501c3 charitable organization, so your contribution is tax-deductible (less the $25 food cost for attendees).
The annual Celebration fundraising event is promoted in hard copy and electronic publications sent weekly and biweekly, so your name will be viewed by more than 8,000 people multiple times in January.
Dear friends, Here's an opportunity to reach 8,000 Minnesota leaders & show your support for all women’s issues! We will celebrate a birthday in January and you are invited to co-sponsor. Note the deadline is December 22 to be listed!
The Minnesota Women's Consortium is the nation's largest network of organizations committed to women's equality, with 175 member groups reaching 300,000 Minnesotans. MWC is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, 501c3 charitable organization, so your contribution is tax-deductible (less the $25 food cost for attendees).
The annual Celebration fundraising event is promoted in hard copy and electronic publications sent weekly and biweekly, so your name will be viewed by more than 8,000 people multiple times in January.
CELEBRATION 29 - "Women & Girls, Hearts & Minds: Excellence in Education"
Thursday, January 29, 2009 * 5:30 - 8:00PM * Radisson University, Minneapolis
There are many ways to sponsor & show your support for the Consortium! For all sponsor levels listed below, gifts received by close of business on December 22 will be acknowledged in the invitation mailed statewide on January 6.
* Join the Seneca Falls Society by contributing $4,000 (the Abigail Adams "Fomenting Rebellion" level) - $250 (the Clara Uelland "Minnesota's Own" level), or one of the named levels in between. (Click here for the historic list.) This includes admission and recognition in the invitation and program.
* Be a Table Sponsor for $600 - pay before Dec 22 but send by Jan 22 the names of the seven guests who will join you. (Up to you if you want them to reimburse you at $75 each.) OR, ask us to use your table sponsorship for scholarships for students and others who otherwise could not attend. Besides admission for 8, table sponsorships include recognition in the invitation, program, and table signs, and guarantee that friends can sit together. Click here to make it happen!
* Contribute $135 or more as an Individual Sponsor. This includes admission for one plus recognition in the invitation and program. Easy to do online!
Your support makes this event accessible, allowing us to keep the regular admission price at $50 per person and allowing for a limited number of scholarships. Thank you! For more info write Bonnie or call us at 651/228-0338. If you prefer, you may send your contribution via check or credit card to 550 Rice Street, St. Paul 55103, OR phone Lorraine with your credit card information.
We can hardly wait to see your name in lights!
Here's the pre-invite letter we send out each year, encouraging you to be listed as a supporter in the invitation we'll mail in early January, for the super event we'll host on January 29 -- our 29th birthday party and our only fundraising event of the year. As you will see, all you need to do to be listed (and have your name viewed by over 8,000 people) is click here and give $135 or more. There are also opportunities to host a table of 8 for $600 - write me if you'd like more info on that. The big doings will include dinner this year and aren't you just holding your breath to find out who the honorees are for our theme, "Women & Girls, Hearts & Minds: Excellence in Education"?
YES YES we will soon have an analysis of the election results and their significance for women - not just the stats on how many women were elected or re-elected (which as Erin points out below is only one dimension of feminist work), but how we are doing on women's issues. Meanwhile, a colleague sent me a good summary of recent research on pay equity. Highlights:
* Previous study: full-time year-round female employees in the U.S. now earn 79% of earnings for their male counterparts - up from 61% in 1978 but still a big gap.
* Previous study (in 2000): "When symphony orchestras switched to blind auditions - those in which the musicians play behind a screen - women had a significantly better chance of being hired."
* New study on transgender people. Women who become men (FTMs) earn an average of 1.5% more after the change, while men who become women (MTFs) earn an average of 32% less afterward. The results were true regardless of whether they were "out" or in same or new jobs.
The Minnesota Women's Consortium hosted a wonderful training session today to help feminist groups and other small nonprofits prepare fundraising plans, reach out to individual donors, write socko grant proposals, and connect with each other. Many thanks to wonderful presenters Mala Thao, a private development consultant; Aretha Green-Ruppert of the Girl Scouts of Minnesota & Wisconsin River Valleys; Amy Hellwich of the Women's Foundation of Minnesota; Jody Williams of Community Shares Minnesota; Marilyn Bryant of the Consortium's Seneca Falls Council of Advisors; and Consortium director of member services Bharti Wahi who organized the event.
Left: Mala and Aretha talk about approaching individual donors. Below: Amy, Jody, and Marilyn discuss "do's and "don'ts" of fundraising.
If we don't have your snail-mail address, you have not seen our spring fundraising letter (Download FRletter.pdf) - poor you! It's a great quick review of the Minnesota Women's Consortium - who we are, what we do, what's coming up next, and why you want to be a part of it. Our fiscal year ends June 30, and we need your help to carry on the feminist work so important now, on the cusp of history - with big budget deficits and new elected officials ahead for our state and our nation. Do take this opportunity to let us know you care - contributions of all sizes are very welcome, and we are famous for pinching every penny. You can give anytime via "make a gift today" on our regular website.
A quick preview of the letter: largest statewide network.. an award for organizational leadership... informative publications.. unique events.. education on issues & strategies ... resource materials ... nurturing services...But, we have not yet reached equality! So coming up: health care reform ... economic security for older women... Greater Minnesota women... electoral projects ... increased technical assistance. Please consider making a tax deductible contribution!
Thank you so much! 
