The National Organization for Women of New Jersey is announcing their election of it’s First African American as President, Maretta J. Short.  A press conference will be held at the NOW-NJ office located at 110 West State Street in Trenton, NJ at 12:30 PM on the First day of Black History Month February 1, 2007 to make a public announcement about this historic moment.

Ms. Short will also announce a list of issues presently being addressed by NOW-NJ such as Paid Family Leave, Welfare Reform Policies (Welfare to Work Training Programs and Community based Abstinence Education, Equal Marriage, and the War in Iraq.  In addition Ms. Short plans to organize educational workshops such as “Grass Roots Fundraising” and “How to increase the amount of women state elected officials.”  Ms. Short says, “According to the Center for Women and Politics out of the 40 available seats in the New Jersey Senate only 7 are women, 5 are Democrats, and 2 are African American.  Out of the 80 seats in the Assembly only 16 are women and 11 are Democrats, 2 are latina’s and 3 are African American.”  The new NOW President declared, “This means the rate of female state representatives must be increased and not decreased.”  Short also proposes to hold a breakfast in Honor of Rosa Parks, the Mother of the 60’s Civil Rights Movement.

Other officers elected To the State Board are Terri Fasano, Administrative Vice President and President of Morris County NOW Chapter, Bear Atwood, Secretary and former NOW-NJ President, Lorraine Petrie, Membership Vice President and Membership Vice President of Alice Paul Chapter, Ivy Brown, Affirmative Action Vice President and Secretary of the Essex County Chapter, Jennifer Arminger, Leadership Vice President and President of Alice Paul Chapter, and Mariann Mann, Acting State Treasurer and Vice President of Union County Chapter.

Please call to confirm you will be there to account for amount of refreshments to be served.