Copyright 2000 The Buffalo News
The Buffalo News
October 29, 2000, Sunday, FINAL EDITION
SECTION: LOCAL, Pg. 3B
LENGTH: 319 words
HEADLINE:
PARTICIPANTS AT STATE NOW CONVENTION STRESS POLITICAL;
ACTIVISM
BODY:
Dozens of women gathered downtown
Saturday for the annual convention of the state chapter of the National
Organization for Women, an event that made political activism its theme in this
election year.
"Women need to embrace power -- everything from making
informed choices when they vote to advocacy to running for office," said Kathryn
Lake Mazierski, president of NOW-New York State. The convention theme, "Shaping
Women's Political Future in the 21st Century," also touched on such issues as
pay equity and abortion, as well as insurance coverage of
contraceptives and health screenings for women.
Mazierski, of Lockport, said the organization sees many of these issues
as a matter of fairness.
She noted, for instance, that in June, the
Republican-led State Senate approved a measure requiring
insurance companies to cover prostate screenings for men. A
short time before, it had killed a similar health insurance
measure covering screening for breast cancer, cervical cancer and osteoporosis
in women.
"That's a critical piece of legislation to women, but it keeps
getting killed," Mazierski said. "Critics argue it will increase
insurance premiums, but that's not true. It's legislation that
will benefit employers by preventing illness among their female employees."
About 65 women signed up for the convention in the Adam's Mark Hotel.
Mazierski attributed the low turnout to the nearness of the election, a
key concern among NOW members, many of whom are actively involved in campaigns.
The organization usually does not make presidential endorsements, but
has endorsed Hillary Rodham Clinton, a Democrat, who is running against Rep.
Rick A. Lazio, a Republican, to represent the state in the U.S. Senate.
"A part of the theme this year is educating women to be careful when
they vote," Mazierski said. "Research the candidates, and don't take their
messages at face value."
LOAD-DATE: October 31, 2000
