3-10-99

   Ten Ohio women active in the political arena are hosting an event from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday (3/12) to examine the effects of federal policies and budget priorities on Ohio women and children. “Women Take Action!” will be held at the Fawcett Center, 2400 Olentangy River Road, and is sponsored by Women’s Action for New Directions (WAND) and Women Legislators’ Lobby (WILL). Local co-sponsors include Ohio State University’s Department of Women’s Studies and Office of Women Student Services.

   Hosting the event will be state senators Rhine McLin and C.J. Prentiss; state representatives Diane Grendell, Priscilla Mead, Barbara Pringle and Betty Sutton; Columbus City Council members Maryellen O’Shaughnessy and Charleta Tavares; former Cuyahoga County commissioner Mary Boyle; and Dagmar Celeste, who serves on the national advisory board of WAND.

   As a tangible example of how the federal budget is allocated, a large “pie” will be sliced to show the proportions of funding given to military and social programs.

   The event is free and open to the public. WAND’s national field director, Bobbie Wrenn Bands, and WILL Washington director Melissa Becker will be available for interviews after 1:30 p.m. on Friday or after the event. Local hosts will be available during and after the program.

   WAND is a national, nonprofit grassroots organization working to empower women to act politically to reduce militarism and violence and to redirect military resources toward human and environmental needs. WILL, a project of WAND, is a multi- partisan network of women state legislators working to influence federal laws, policies and budget priorities.

Contact: Rhonda Benedict, Women’s Studies, 688-4711