Current Candidates for 2008 NOW-NYC Board of Directors
President:Sonia Ossorio
As president of NOW-NYC for the past three years, Ossorio led NOW-NYC's 2005 campaign to repeal the statute of limitations on rape. A large-scale public education campaign and media campaign were key components to this hard-fought victory for women. Ms. Ossorio crisscrossed the state meeting with legislators, local district attorneys and sexual assault service providers. She garnered support by talking about the devastating effect this outdated law has had on women, families, and society. Overwhelmingly, the public was not aware of the ticking clock rape survivors faced. That outrage translated into action.
"Before the law was passed there was no statute of limitations for arson but a five year statute for rape, so if your apartment building was set ablaze in 1980 and the arsonist was found in 2000, he could be prosecuted but if you were raped in that building that same night, you only had until 1985 to find and punish the rapist." At the end of the legislative session the Senate and the Assembly passed a bill eliminating the statute of limitations for rape. More
Chair:Judi Polson
My Goals for the Position: My goal is to continue the momentum we've built by maximizing the impact of the efforts exerted by president, Sonia Ossorio, as well as those of our time- and-money-strapped membership.
Please Read Before You Vote: I am eager to help build on the successes of the past 2 years. I have always been proud to call myself a feminist and have personally lobbied Scott Stringer and Jerry Nadler, and have built a lobbying relationship with Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill. I am a resourceful team player who has, for twenty-six years, negotiated corporate America's bureaucratic minefields by focusing on results through strategy, execution, and partnerships. More
Secretary:Gaby Moreno
I have been a NOW member since I was 16. However, my active involvement with NOW began in 1989 when I was asked to work on a NOW-NYC newspaper mailing. After working on several mailings, I went to work on the Alternative Housing Committee for the National Conference that took place in New York City in 1991. After the Conference I became involved in the Reproductive Rights Committee, and I co-chaired the committee for two years. As co-chair I kept up with legislation pertaining to reproductive rights in order to develop action campaigns, including lobbying, letter-writing, demonstrations, and other events that fell under the reproductive rights umbrella. During Operation Rescue attacks on New York City abortion clinics I worked as a group facilitator, and I marched in the largest pro-choice demonstration in Washington in 1992. I have organized Zap Actions and letter writing campaigns in response to repeated assaults on women's reproductive rights and worked on a video on unnecessary hysterectomies. More
Treasurer:Rosemary Coluccio
Rosemary joined the board of the National Organization for Women and the Service Fund of NOW-NYC in early 2006 to oversee the organization's financial restructuring. Currently the Director of Finance and Administration at the International Women's Health Coalition, she has 17 years of experience creating and implementing effective financial strategies, policies, and processes in both the private and not-for-profit sectors. Prior to joining IWHC, Rosemary served as a financial consultant providing technical assistance to several local and national non-profits. Her work experience includes serving as the Director of Finance and Administration at both the Latino Commission on AIDS and the Empire State Pride Agenda, and 11 years as an Accountant in the private sector. Rosemary earned an MS in Taxation from Baruch College's Zicklin School of Business, a BS in Accounting from the Stern School of Business and an Associate's in Liberal Arts from New York University.
Director of Membership:Samantha Inesta-Cottone
Samantha started at NOW-NYC in the winter of 2004 as a volunteer. She was an organizer in New York for the March For Women’s Lives in April of 2004, which took place in Washington, D.C. and drew more than 1.15 million people. In addition to a full-time job, Samantha spearheads membership processing and coordinates NOW-NYC’s action alert network database. Samantha’s interest in NOW-NYC comes from an ideal that all women have a place in this world. Through NOW she works to develop a creative and open organization for women of all faiths and cultures. Her activism is fueled by a desire to see an end to the negative and sometimes oppressive stereotypes that exist of women in our society.
Director of Volunteers:Arthur Lundquist
Why I'm Running: I've always been impressed by the members who show up for meetings and get things done, in spite of pressures at work and at home. I'd like to find ways to help our members continue the momentum they start up at those meetings. I have in the past contributed my data-processing skills to the NOW-NYC office on an ad-hoc basis, and I would like to build on these successful efforts to help the chapter reach out more efficiently.
My Goals for the Position: My goal is to create a system for faster follow-up to the issues raised at chapter meetings so that momentum started there will continue to build.
Please Read Before You Vote: We have a unique chance to change the direction of America in 2008. I'd like the chance to help bring that change with NOW. More
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