2010 Membership Drive

By Sangita Nayak

During this 2010 membership drive, I have been reminded about how there are so many moments to join 9to5. Here are three different ways women have become members so far this drive.

1) While volunteering with 9to5, women joined as a 9to5 member in order to keep our work going. One woman, who volunteered for the first time, filled out the form and paid her membership immediately, so she could help 9to5 financially and demonstrate her investment in our work.

2) One member asked if she could renew online and asked for our website address. In no time flat she had entered the website and paid her membership. Online memberships take little time to complete and few 9to5 resources to process. Join online today at www.9to5.org/membership.

3) Many members have been successful in recruiting new members, this reminds us that members like giving to members. If you are a member why not ask friends and family if they would like to join your local 9to5 chapter. Every year this is a major way 9to5 Milwaukee grows its membership.

Celebrate 36 years of 9to5 - join today for only $15! As a member of 9to5, you will receive:

- Our quarterly Newsline magazine
- An invitation to 9to5's Annual Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C.
- Action alerts on legislation to expand workplace rights and family friendly policies
- Connections to other women activists in Milwaukee and across the country

...not to mention your contribution will help move 9to5 and its issues forward. Join TODAY!

Honoring Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton

By Laura Kendellen

On the first day of the first woman elected to lead from the office of Lieutenant Governor in Wisconsin, Lt. Governor Barbara Lawton received the Status of Women in Wisconsin report that gave us a low C-grade. That became the impetus for her groundbreaking economic development initiative, Wisconsin Women = Prosperity, that put our state to work to raise the grade for Wisconsin women. Her design for that work, addressing the inextricable nature of the building blocks for prosperity, became a national and international model. Since then, Lt. Governor Lawton has never backed away from the sometimes thorny issues that define smart, family-supporting public policies for working women in Wisconsin.

9to5 Milwaukee, Paid Sick Days Wisconsin and the YWCA of Greater Milwaukee invite you to a FREE event on April 8th at 5:00 p.m. honoring Lt. Gov. Lawton for her continued commitment to Wisconsin working women and their families.

Join us to learn how positive work and family practices strengthen job preservation for workers and employers, and help low-income workers move out of poverty.

• Keynote by Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton
• Comments by Congresswoman Gwen Moore
• Legacy Bank's Margaret Henningsen

Refreshments will be provided.

RSVP Amy Stear, Wisconsin Director, 9to5 Milwaukee
9to5milwaukee@9to5.org or 414-274-0923

Visit the 9to5 website for more details.

Milwaukee’s Fair Share

By Laura Kendellen

Help make sure Milwaukee gets its fair share by pledging to participate in the 2010 census.

At the March member meeting, learn why the 2010 census is an important tool for Milwaukeeans to receive the resources they need like health care, job training, child care and schools.

Saturday, March 20th at 11 a.m. Nonprofit Center (2819 W Highland Blvd.)

After the meeting, join 9to5 staff in community outreach, collecting signatures from Milwaukeeans who pledge to participate in the 2010 census.

In 2000, 1/3 of Milwaukeeans went uncounted which means families did not get their fair share. By reaching out to 2,010 Milwaukeeans, 9to5 can help ensure an accurate 2010 census, which means funds for critical programs like job support and BadgerCare.

For more information about the 2010 census and to pledge online visit www.9to5.org/census.

Pledge cards are also available at the 9to5 office (207 E Buffalo Street, Suite 211). Sign one for yourself and take a few to have your friends and family sign.

To get involved, contact angie@9to5.org.

Road Trip to Paid Sick Days Justice

By Christopher Flowers
Edited by Laura Kendellen

On January 20th, 9to5 organized a group of Paid Sick Days supporters to hop on a bus at 7:30 a.m. and take a short but exciting ride to Madison. About 25 more supporters from across Wisconsin met us there.

At the Capitol, we attended the Paid Sick Days ordinance court hearing where 9to5’s attorney, Barbara Quindel, described the need for Paid Sick Days in Milwaukee. The courtroom was packed with close to 50 Paid Sick Days supporters and only a handful of seats were taken by our opponents with the MMAC.

“I was excited to attend the appeal and witness history in the making for both employers and employees,” says Angie Grice, a 9to5 intern. “I am a student pursuing business management and accounting with hopes of running my own business. I know that some employers’ associations are against Paid Sick Days, but as a future entrepreneur, I would give my employees paid sick days.”

The overall experience was very enlightening and empowering. We are people making history and it gives employees hope for a better future.

9to5 thanks attending Paid Sick Days allies:

• Wisconsin Democracy Campaign
• Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence
• Wisconsin Apprentice Organizers Project
• Sojourner Family Peace Center
• Voces de la Frontera
• Freedom Inc.
• Madison Worker Rights Coalition

…and the many Milwaukeeans who made the day-long trip!