BUCKS COUNTY WOMAN’S ADVOCACY COALITION
Annual Report 2012-2013
On behalf of the Bucks County Women’s Advocacy Coalition, I am happy to share with
you the third Annual Report of our Coalition, which originally was spawned by The
Bucks County Women’s Fund and subsequently became a strategic alliance of A
Woman’s Place.
We are pleased and proud to count among our Partners thirty-three important
organizations serving women and girls in Bucks County, and over 100 individual women
and men. We welcome more to our cause of speaking with one voice about the injustices
and the needed systemic, institutional reforms to enable women and their families to
become economically self-sufficient.
This year put the Coalition on a more positive trajectory. We are evolving in our
relationships with our elected and appointed public officials. We are transforming our
organization and our ways of work. We are being strategic in our advocacy. Our press
coverage has been significant. Our events have been successful.
Thanks go to all our Partners for the role they are playing in our Coalition to improve the
lot of all women and girls of Bucks County – no matter how long it takes, no matter how
difficult the obstacles, no matter how politically incorrect it might be. Our work is
motivated by the stories of women who wish to provide for their families and be
contributing citizens of our community, but who find difficult obstacles toward that end.
We are in solidarity, and urge those who want to effect change that matters to join us.
Sincerely,
Nancy Morrill, Chair
Governance
Under the Leadership and Governance Committee our database has been refined and
updated. The new Partnership Committee revised the Annual Partner Commitment
Form. Three of the Coalition’s standing committees developed a Charter to guide their
work. Our alliance with A Woman’s Place continues smoothly, with an excellent
performance by our fiscal agent for which we are most grateful. Two members of our
Steering Committee meet monthly with the Executive Director of AWP. The Coalition
presented Donna Byrne with a Certificate of Appreciation in November 2012 upon her
retirement as Executive Director of A Woman’s Place and wrote to the AWP Board. We
developed a policy for stipends for speakers.
We thank Susan Hauser for her service to the Steering Committee.
We are grateful to Pennswood Village in Newtown for use of their meeting space.
Steering Committee:
Ifeoma Aduba
Kathleen Welsh Beveridge
Donna Byrne
Carolyn R. Cowgill, Secretary
Maggie Leigh Groff
Constance B. Karasow
Karen M. Kreller, Treasurer
Nancy P. Morrill, Chair
Tam St. Claire
Robin Stelly
Finances
The Coalition solicited its Partners at the beginning of the Fiscal Year and at the end of
the calendar year for both individual and organizational donations. We are deeply
grateful to the 2012-2013 donors who are helping the Coalition speak with one voice:
AAUW Doylestown Branch, Lysbeth Adams, Ifeoma Aduba, A Woman’s
Place, Kathy Beveridge, Joanne Bintliff-Ritchie, Sandy Blitzstein, Connie
Borichevsky, Maggie Boyer, Bucks Voices for Health Care Reform, Donna
Byrne, Theresa Conejo, Jo Ann Connelly, Carolyn Cowgill, Peggy Dator,
Santo Gairo, Peg George, Gayle Goodman, Maggie Groff, Habitat for
Humanity of Bucks County, Shirley Hart, Susan E. Hauser, Suzanne Hewitt,
Kathy Horwatt, Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania, Connie B. Karasow,
Karen Kreller, League of Women Voters of Bucks County, Maternity Care
Coalition, Louise McLeod, Kullie Mellor, Pat Miiller, Nancy Morrill,
William Morrill, Judie Much, Network of Victim Assistance, Mae O’Brien,
Penn Action, Planned Parenthood Association of Northeast, Mid-Penn and
Bucks County, Quality Child Care Coalition of Bucks County; Jeanne
Scanlon, Tim Schillaci, Ann Sheridan, Barbara Simmons, Mary Ann Sircely,
Soroptimist International of Bucks County, Tam St. Claire, Betty Tatham,
The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania, The Peace Center, Lois Tobin, Noni
West, Lydia Winderman, and YWCA Bucks County.
We are most appreciative of the thousands of hours spent by so many volunteers in
committee work, phone calls, finance matters, meetings, workshop and event
preparations, computer time and the like, along with the in-kind expenditures for food
and website hosting, as well as the almost 5,000 miles driven to Coalition meetings and
events,….. all of which Partners donated generously in service of the Coalition.
Special thanks are due to Mary Ann Sircely and Genevieve LaVO Cosdon who donated
hundreds of hours of professional services in maintaining our website and working on our
annual report, business cards, updating our letterhead and event materials.
The year-end balance forward into FY 2012-13 was $6,476.68. Year end income as of
June 30, 2013 totaled $6,620.00, with expenses of $2,734.22, leaving a total balance
forward of $10,362.46.
The Coalition adopted the budget for FY 2013-2014 projecting an income of $5,000.00,
expenses of $4,643.00, leaving a projected June 30, 2014 balance of $10,719.46.
Key Events
The Steering Committee met 8 times, including conference calls, in FY 2012-13. The
Steering Committee took an ad in the Chocolate Lovers’ Fantasy program booklet
honoring A Woman’s Place, and contributed to the Courier’s fund for the kitchen at the
FSA Homeless Shelter. Thanks to Kathy Beveridge, the BCWAC sponsored the 5th
Anniversary lunch of the PA Budget and Policy Center. As is usual, the Steering
Committee is regularly consulted by email by the Chair of the Coalition.
The full Coalition convened six times during the year including our annual strategic
planning retreat and the Conversation with Elected Officials.
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The Coalition met for our 4th annual strategic planning session on November 17,
2012. Senator Chuck McIlhinney visited to talk with us about our Cliff Effect work
together, after which we strategized about starting a statewide coalition. Jane Meier
Hamilton spoke with us about laying a foundation for a proactive caregiver strategy.
In March 2013 the Coalition participated as a Sponsoring and Nominating
Organization in the Bucks County Women’s History Month Award ceremonies,
which honored our Partner Donna Byrne.
The Coalition, together with our partner BuxMont Unitarian Universalist Fellowship,
hosted the fifth annual Conversation with Elected Officials on April 5, 2013. Our
Coalition Partner, Marianne Bellesorte of PathWays, Inc., presented analyses of the
Pennsylvania budget, followed by a discussion facilitated by our Partner Kathy
Beveridge for all attendees including Bucks County legislators and County
Commissioners. Follow-up meetings have taken place with appropriate elected
officials.
On May 7, 2013 the Coalition held its second Advocacy Day in Harrisburg, visiting
all Bucks County legislators about the Pennsylvania budget and legislation of
concern. Several follow-up meetings and communications have taken place
subsequently.
In partnership with the League of Women Voters, the Coalition offered to host a
Congressional Debate; the incumbent did not accept the invitation.
On December 7, 2012 members of the Steering Committee attended Budget Boot
Camp and payday loans workshop in Harrisburg.
Kerry Smith of Community Legal Services presented to our 9/28/12 Coalition
meeting tips on how to develop a statewide coalition.
The Coalition testified twice before the County’s hearing on the Human Service
Block Grant proposal.
In January 2013 we purchased eTapestry as our database software.
The Health Care Committee had a very active 2012-13 FY often coordinating with the
Pennsylvania Health Access Network to inform ourselves, the Bucks County public and
legislators about the Affordable Care Act implementation. We met with our county
elected officials in their offices locally and in Harrisburg. We were particularly engaged
in collecting stories, distributing e-mails, posting on Facebook, sending letters, attending
Harrisburg rallies, and making personal visits about Medicaid Expansion between March
and the end of June when the PA budget was passed. Unfortunately, Medicaid Expansion
was pulled from the budget by the leadership in the House Rules Committee but our
voice had impact getting support from the majority of our legislators. Medicaid
Expansion, that will give a health insurance option to 500,000 low income
Pennsylvanians, will be our priority focus until it is adopted.
Women’s reproductive health continued to be attacked. This year our focus was on SB3
that banned abortion from inclusion in any insurance policy sold in the state Health
Exchange. We wrote letters to all our Representatives and visited our state Senators
requesting that they include the critically important health exception to protect the health
of women in this anti-abortion bill.
The Health Care Committee was also active supporting the reauthorization of the
expanded Violence Against Women Act that had expired on the national level. This
effort was successful and our Congressman and Senator Casey agreed with us.
We also turned our attention to gun violence urging our legislators to pass bills that will
promote the general welfare and prevent deaths from gun related injury. We wrote, “A
universal background check before purchasing a gun is a reasonable precaution to help
keep our communities safer. Straw purchases of guns-- buying guns for another person
who may not want to have their background checked--should be illegal. Possession of
guns is a serious responsibility.” We will persist in efforts to pass reasonable laws
necessary to protect the common good.
Lastly, we applauded Senator Casey for reintroducing the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
to protect women from loss of job due to pregnancy related limitations in the workplace.
The Communications Committee met five times. The Committee provided support to
several Coalition activities, including the Conversation with Elected Officials event,
Advocacy Day, and Annual Planning Meeting; provided input and review for Letters to
the Editors, press releases and emails; and, provided support to activities of other
committees, particularly the ACA information sessions given by the Health Care
Committee. The Committee developed a new Charter outlining its Purpose, Member and
Chair Responsibilities, and elected a Vice Chair. Further development of the BCWAC
web site was a key focus, resulting in improvements including the creation of a new
multi-page section under Advocacy for the Keep Families Working Coalition on the Cliff
Effect Initiative, transition of our donation page to sync with eTapestry, and the platform
for a complete website overhaul to take us to the next level. A review of all digital media
capabilities was done and a 90 day improvement plan is anticipated for 2013/14
implementation. A list of Partner Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) was collated for use in
developing future communications.
The Cliff Effect Subcommittee –Early in FY 2013, the Coalition completed work with
Senator McIlhinney’s staff to draft proposed legislation to ameliorate the Cliff Effect. In
the fall session of 2012, the Senator introduced two items – a resolution calling for a
study by the non-partisan Legislative and Budget Finance Committee to review current
state practices across agencies that inadvertently cause the cliff effect and to study new
approaches to family work support programs; and a bill that aims to correct two TANF
issues inhibiting women’s self-sufficiency by allowing a family to remain eligible for
subsidized child care longer, reducing the amount of the subsidy gradually rather than all
at once as family income increases, and increasing the family resource (savings) limit to
$3,000. These items were reintroduced in the Senate in early 2013.
We invited the Senator to attend our annual strategic planning session in November, 2012
to discuss how the BCWAC could best support his efforts to promote the proposed
legislation. Following his comments, partners brainstormed elements of a statewide
advocacy plan for the BCWAC to support these efforts. Interested partners joined a
committee to set goals and flesh out the elements of our plan. As a result of their
involvement, the BCWAC developed several key items, including the proposed name of
a statewide coalition, a coalition sign-on letter, a one-page fact sheet about the Cliff
Effect and the proposed legislation, a list of potential statewide partners, and tools for the
BCWAC website to enable partners to sign-on.
Recognizing that the expanded role of the BCWAC in supporting a statewide effort
would require additional resources, several partners worked to develop a budget and
funding request to Women’s Way. This first attempt was not funded but led to
subsequent discussions and involvement by Women’s Way in the Statewide Cliff Effect
Advocacy Effort.
Partners involved with and tracking the issues surrounding Housing in Bucks County met
together 10/23/12 and are monitoring the situation.
Key Communications
Press Releases /Press Advisories: The Coalition issued several press releases or
advisories on a number of topics: Women’s Equality Day (95/12); Payday lending
industry (9/4/12 and 5/15/13); and, a letter to the editor (LTE) thanking our legislators
who voted against payday lending (10/19/12).
Press Coverage: The Coalition was fortunate to have a number of articles, editorials, LTE
and Guest Opinions published during the year.
The Bucks County Herald published a LTE on 5/23 and 6/6/13 entitled “Payday lending
industry makes false claims”; an article by Jodi Spiegel Arthur on 4/11/13 about our
Conversation with Elected Officials; and a LTE on 9/20/12 entitled “Payday lending bill
will undermine strong law”.
The Bucks County Courier Times published an article by Gary Weckselblatt on 4/7/13 on
our Conversation with Elected Officials; LTE on 5/24/13 entitled “Lending industry’s
false claims”; a LTE on 9/16/12 entitled “Don’t pass payday lending bill”; and a LTE on
11/12/12 entitled “Good Riddance to a bad bill”.
The Intelligencer published a LTE on 9/16/12 entitled “Don’t pass payday lending bill”.
Signed Letters and Partnering for Legislative Advocacy: The Coalition joined in others’
efforts to effect policy change: Better Choices for PA (April 2013) to Gov. Corbett re:
his tax reform proposals; to state Senators (June 2013) re: proposed tax cuts; and with the
Coalition on Human needs to state Senators (June 2013) re: closing the Delaware
loophole, to Members of Congress (June 2013) re: reversing budget cuts, and (Aug.
2012) re: saving vital services. We joined the Children’s Defense Fund (April 2013) to
US Senators re: gun safety; and with First Focus (Feb. 2013) to President Obama re:
creating a National Commission on Children. We supported PA Cares for All (Nov.
2012) to Governor and PA Legislators re: “no” to eliminating General Assistance; PCCY
to PA Federal Delegation (Nov. 2012) re: a balanced plan for deficit reduction; the
Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights (Feb. 2013) to US House
Representatives re: the VAWA, along with the National Network to End Domestic
Violence (Feb. 2013) to US Senators re: passage of VAWA.
Other Legislative Advocacy:
We praised: Reps. Davis, Santarsiero and Galloway for co-sponsorship of HR 81 urging
passage of VAWA (2/14/13); Sen. Casey for introducing Prepare All Kids Act (3/7/13);
Rep. Frank Farry for co-sponsoring (at our ask – 1/17/13) Rep. Murt’s and Senator
Mensch’s bills to change the name of the Dept. of Welfare to the Dept. of Human
Services, and urged our Pa. Representatives support for such.
We asked our US Senators to support gun safety laws (3/20/13). We urged PA. Reps.
O’Neill, Quinn, Farry and Petri to expand Medicaid (6/28/13). We urged Gov. Corbett
(with copies to Lt. Gov., Secs. of Health and Welfare, US PA Delegation and County
Commissioners and all Bucks Co. Legislators) to expand Medicaid (3/5/13). We asked
PA Legislators to support a health exception for banning private insurance coverage
under the ACA (3/7/13).
We sent PA Senators the Pew Report on payday lending (8/10/12), and urged them not to
support Sen. Browne’s legislation. We urged our US Representative not to support H.R.
6139 re: payday lending (8/14/12). We sent all our PA Legislators the NY Times article
on payday lending (1/17/13), and urged them to stand firm against payday lending
(2/12/13).
We joined Pennsylvania Health Access Network (PHAN) in Feb. and May 2013 in
Harrisburg re: Medicaid expansion.
Speaking Invitations:
Quality Child Care Coalition of Bucks County – Annual Meeting, 10/9/12, Nancy Morrill
and Gail Reinard re: Cliff Effect
AAUW Doylestown Branch, 10/3/12, Marianne Bellesorte and Tam St. Claire re:
Economics and Healthcare
Council Rock High School North, Student Leader Union, Jan. 2013, Donna Butchko re:
Leadership
2013 Pennsylvania Progressive Summit, March 2013, Robin Stelly with Kerry Smith re:
payday lending workshop
The Peace Center, 2/21/13, meeting with Board, Nancy Morrill
Housing Alliance of PA, Legislative Briefing Calls, Nancy Morrill has participated from
time to time.
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Our Partners
Organizations
A Woman’s Place
AAUW Doylestown Branch
Bucks County Area Agency on Aging
Bucks County Commissioners’ Advisory Council for Women
Bucks County Drug and Alcohol Commission, Inc.
Bucks County Housing Group
Bucks County Intermediate Unit #22
Bucks Voices for Health Care Reform
Child, Home & Community
Delaware Valley Association for the Education of Young Children
Family Service Association of Bucks County
Habitat for Humanity of Bucks County
Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania
Interfaith Community of Lower Bucks
Latino Leadership Alliance of Bucks County
LaVO Design
League of Women Voters of Bucks County
Libertae, Inc.
Maternity Care Coalition
NAACP, Bucks County Branch
National Council of Jewish Women – Bucks County/Greater Philadelphia
Network of Victim Assistance (NOVA)
PathWays PA
Penn Action
Planned Parenthood Association of Northeast, Mid-Penn & Bucks County
Quality Child Care Coalition of Bucks County
Sircely Marketing & Design
Soroptimist International of Bucks County
Soroptimist International of Indian Rock
The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania
The Peace Center
YWCA Bucks County
Individuals
Bonnie Abrams
Lysbeth Adams
Ifeoma Aduba
Kate Atkins
Sharon K. Barker
Connie Bastek-Karasow, MSW
*Carol Baumhauer
Cathy Behrmann
Marianne Bellesorte
Kathy Bennett
Kathleen Welsh Beveridge
Joanne Bintliff-Ritchie
Sandy Blitzstein
Connie Borichevsky
Nancy Bracken
Maggi Boyer
Rita Bratton
Donna Butchko
Donna Byrne
Barbara P. Clark
Pamela Amar Coleman
Theresa Conejo
Jo Ann Connelly
Eileen P Conner
Stacey Conway
Genevieve LaVO Cosdon
Carolyn Cowgill
Liz Crilley
Kathleen Curtin
Kim Custer
Peggy Dator
Rev. Corstian Devos
Julie H. Dugery
Kathy Dwyer
Sally Fabian-Oresic
Mike Fallon
Michele Fina
JoAnne Fischer
Karen Forbes
Lisa Ford
Judy Franlin
Santo Gairo
Peg George
Carol Goertzel
Gayle Goodman
Pearline A. Greene
Maggie L. Groff
Beverly J. Haberle
Jackie Hartzell
Shirley R. Hart
Susan E. Hauser
Elizabeth G. Hersh
Susanne W. Hewitt
Kathleen Horwatt
Cynthia Jones
Florence Kawoczka
Elaine Keckeissen
Andrea Kircher
Karen M. Kreller
Crystal Kwentoh
Mary Ann Lang
Mariel Lorenz
Dara Lovett
Louise McLeod
Kullie Mellor
Patricia R. Miiller
Nancy P. Morrill
William A. Morrill
Suzann Morris
Judie Much
Suzanne Nesi
Mary Jo Norum
Mae O’Brien, CFRE
Trisha Odoms
Najja R. Orr
Kristin Ortleib-Potts
Medge Parcily
JoAnn Perotti
Marlene Piasecki
Lois Plotnick
Marlene Pray
Dina Ricciardi
Sally Risinger
Diane W. Rosati, MA
Joyce Sacco
Phyllis Sampson
Jeanne Scanlon
Charles T. Schillaci
Ann M. Sheridan
Sarah J. Shoffler, M.Ed.
Irene A. Sidline
Barbara Simmons
Mary Ann Sircely
Geraldine F. Sproesser
Tam St. Claire
Robin Stelly
Beth Styer
Kathleen Sweeney
Nancy Szamborski
Betty Tatham
Letty Thall
Lois J. Tobin, MSW, LSW
Nancy Tomlinson
Audrey J. Tucker, MSW
Kimberly Underwood
Becky VanDine
Susan Walker
Noni West
Colby Williams
Lydia Winderman
Shirley Yannich
*deceased
Contact Information:
P.O. Box 248
Doylestown, PA 18901
215-860-1449
www.bcwac.org
coalition@bcwac.org