In this issue:

Nancy Pelosi

First woman to be Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives

1. NEW POLITICAL LEADERS

As with every other endeavor, Fifty/Fifty Leadership sees the need for women's equal participation.  This past Tuesday we went to the polls and did a pretty good job at moving this idea forward.  Nancy Pelosi is now the first woman to be Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.  One more step toward a woman in the White House.  In 2007 nine States will be governed by a woman - or just 18%.

Senator Dianne Feinstein will become the first Chairwoman of Senate Rules Committee, and Senator Barbara Boxer will become the first Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW). Debra Bowen is the California Secretary of State - only the seventh woman to hold a statewide office in California.

California has nine new women Assembly members:

The nine women incumbents in the California Assembly, all succeeded in their bids for re-election:

There are four new women in the California State Senate:

And two Senate incumbents who both won re-election:

There are now two women Board of Equalization members:

2. Shop Till You Drop

'Tis the season to shop, shop, shop.  If you would rather beat the traffic hassles and surf the internet for your gifts this year, you can buy all you want and a portion of everything you spend will come back to Fifty/Fifty Leadership - without any extra cost to you.  Just click on the link below for Giveline and shop away!

Fifty/Fifty Leadership is now listed on Giveline

If you're unfamiliar with Giveline, it is an online retailer which gives an average of 16% (up to 33%) of sales to your selected nonprofit organization. It's simple: you shop in the online store, choosing from over one million bestselling name-brand products, and with each transaction Giveline will send Fifty/Fifty Leadership a significant cash donation.

Giveline.com is an online store created for the community-minded shopper, offering more than a million bestselling products including books, movies, music, electronics, housewares, gifts and more. Every purchase generates a substantial donation to Fifty/Fifty Leadership - an amazing average of 16% of store sales, sometimes as high as 33%. Giveline has great products, great service, and great prices - the only difference between Giveline and other major online retailers is that every purchase earns money for our organization. Check it out today, and if you decide to buy, remember that Fifty/Fifty Leadership will earn significant funds in support of our mission!"

So, click here and start shopping!

Or - http://www.giveline.com/default.asp?v=V087912649

If you are more comfortable shopping through Amazon.com, click on Fifty/Fifty's website Products page and then click on the link to Amazon.  Every time you purchase something through Amazon, Fifty/Fifty Leadership is credited with a percentage of your purchase.

3. LEADERSHIP CIRCLES

As well as partnering with the Glendale YWCA to put on the H.E.R. Conference in March, we will be putting on a Leadership Circle with women who have been using the services of the Y - including women who have escaped from domestic violence and are turning their lives around.  By next month we will be able to report on the start of this first Circle .

Leadership Circles are small groups, held in homes, offices, restaurants, church halls, community rooms, etc.  They provide an opportunity to hone your leadership skills and learn new ones.  Leadership Circles will help you recognize the leadership you already have and express it.  "Leadership" has mostly been defined by men; through Leadership Circles we will add our voice to the definition of leadership.  The program will be expanding nationally so that everyone who wants to be a leader will have a place to go to share successes, learn how to overcome barriers and break through the ceilings.

4. ARMENIAN FREEDOM ACADEMY

Developing Tomorrow's Armenian Leaders

What can twelve young, energetic, dynamic, well-trained leaders accomplish? Fifty/Fifty Leadership, a non-profit organization promoting women's equal leadership, will bring twelve young women to Los Angeles from Armenia for one year.  During that year, we will fast-track them in their leadership skills so that they can immediately make a difference when they return home.

This exciting program is set to begin in 2007 in the Glendale / Pasadena / Burbank area.  Please join us to hear out about this exciting program and to find out how you can be a part of helping to make this breakthrough-program happen.

The Freedom Academy will bring 12 young women who have been identified as potential leaders of their communities in Armenia , to the United States for a year-long program to develop their leadership skills. It is the assertion of the creators of the Freedom Academy that there is a dire need in developing countries such as Armenia for powerful leadership, especially for the untapped human leadership potential in previously neglected leadership talent among women and girls. If the 8 Millennium Development Goals of the United Nations are to be met by the year 2015, it is absolutely essential to create fast track leadership programs for women. After attending the Freedom Academy program the graduates return to Armenia to be integral to developing, implementing and leading projects designed to bring their homeland into line with the 8 Millennium Development Goals.

5. IN THE NEWS

Leadership around the world In France, Segolene Royal won the nomination for President of France for her party, the Socialist Party against two male rivals.  She claimed over 60% of the vote.

Marriage and economics In 2001, married people with children were twice as likely to file for bankruptcy as singe adults or childless couples according to the Federal Reserve Board's 2004 Survey of Consumer Finances. Los Angeles Daily News

Health and Genes Scientists at University of California, Los Angeles have found that more than 25,000 genes in the brain, liver, fat, and muscle tissue act very differently according to gender.  Fully 70% of the genes analyzed in the liver, where drugs are metabolized, show variations. Parade Magazine

Working Moms Segolene Royal is a mother of four, Michele Bachelet, President of Chile is a mother of three, Ellen Sirleaf-Johnson, President of Liberia is a mother of four, and Nancy Pelosi is mother of five.  Now what's that about not being able to work and raise children? Women's ENews

6. EVENTS

Please let us know of events in YOUR area that we can post here. If you know of conferences, programs that will inform, educate and inspire, we will consider them for publication. Ed.

Tuesday, November 21, 2006 @ 7 p.m.

Now That She's Gone
A one woman show written and performed by Ellen Snortland
(Two engagements in November)

The Coffee Gallery
2029 N. Lake Ave.
Altadena , CA 91001

UNA Membership Drive
The show is a "gift with membership" $25 for non-UNA members, $10 for members, students and seniors. 7pm at the Coffee Gallery, 2029 N. Lake Ave. corner of Morada Pl. and N. Lake Ave. RSVP to Sherry@unapasadena.org . OK to show up at the door.

AND - Tuesday, November 28, 2006 @ 4:30 p.m.

Loyola Marymount University
Westchester Campus
St. Robert's Auditorium
Los Angeles, CA 90045

Parking and directions at entrance to University.
Donations accepted for documentary of "Beauty Bites Beast". RSVP to Ellensnortland@cs.com

Now That She's Gone is a play that explores Ellen Snortland's often wacky, irreverent and sometimes torturous relationship with her Norwegian-American mother. Now That She's Gone has been described as a Lily Tomlin/Garrison Keillor/Eve Ensler hybrid...passionate, poignant and funny in turns.  A memoir piece with sex, drugs and lutefisk, the play and performance have received rave reviews and standing ovations in California, New York, and Washington, D.C.

November 20 - December 15, 2006

Help CrimeSurvivors Help Survivors of Crimes

Last month CrimeSurvivors, a non-profit helping victims of crime, had a very successful 5k walk and fair and Fifty/Fifty Leadership was there as an exhibitor.  If you would like to support this very worthy organization, go to their website at www.crimesurvivors.com or perhaps attend one of their events:

NOVEMBER 20 - 22, 2006 - Giving Thanks Campaign

(Provide Goody Baskets to all Agencies working with Victims of Crime to say, "Thanks for  being there for victims to survive, you are making a difference and we appreciate you").

DECEMBER 4 - 15, 2006 - Survivors Gift Drive & Elf's Holly Day

(Gifts will be provided to families effected by crime with each family member receiving a gift, wished a Happy Holidays and to share that they are Survivors). 

* Boomers Irvine (Bring a gift with a min. value of $10.00 to get a free all day pass of fun) *

Please contact Patricia at (949) 872-7895 or crimesurvivors@aol.com .

Sunday, December 10, 2006

Armenian Freedom Academy

11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Click here for details

Sunday, February 16 - 18, 2007

The Challenge of Africa, The Promise of Africa

University of Southern California and UNA Pasadena presents a major international conference to create a better future for the African continent

For more information, click here:  www.unapasadena.org

Saturday, March 24, 2007

H.E.R. CONFERENCE TO CELEBRATE
WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH

Mark your calendars!  The Health, Empowerment and Resources Conference for women and girls will take place Saturday, March 24 th at Woodbury University, Burbank, California.  Fifty/Fifty Leadership is partnering with the YWCA of Glendale to bring educational and inspiring programs and speakers.  More to come!

Tuesday, May 8, 2007

WomenLead 2007

This conference will be held at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles, CA and is designed for women who want to step courageously into the leadership zone.  Each author will share with you insights to enable you to create your own strategy to be a confident leader in all aspects of your life. 

Several authors will speak and hold interactive sessions with attendees:  Dr. Lois Frankel, Kathleen Kelley Reardon, Anne Fisher, Carol Frohlinger, Esq., Barbara Stanny, Synthia St. James and Liz Pulliam Weston

Attendance is limited to the first 500 registrants so that you'll have the opportunity to ask the questions that are important to you and interact with each of the authors on a personal level. 

For more details and the registration form, http://www.drloisfrankel.com/womenlead/index.html

7. EDITOR'S COMMENTS

We have a woman as Speaker of the House of Representatives.  More women around the world are taking leadership of their countries.  Is the U.S. up to having a woman as President?  How about you?  Would you vote for a woman?  If so, which one?  Here's a poll - I will share the results in the next newsletter:

Please send your answers in an e-mail to Pauline Field at PaulineField@charter.net

8. About Fifty/Fifty Leadership

9. MEMBERSHIP - HOW YOU CAN BE INFORMED AND INVOLVED

Becoming a member in Fifty/Fifty is your statement that you want to add your voice to help transform our culture such that when leaders are chosen, they are chosen equally - women to men. What else is in it for you?

• Your subscription to this newsletter, The Equality Standard so you'll have facts about women and girls locally, nationally and internationally, plus learn about events of interest in Los Angeles, New York, D.C., Sacramento, and more

• Discounts at many events put on by Fifty/Fifty Leadership

• Your name will be added to our website as a supporter of the work we are doing

• Your membership may be tax deductible - please check with your tax professional

Can you be involved without becoming a member? Yes. Subscriptions to The Equality Standard are $12 per year. As a special offer for the launch of this new newsletter, if you subscribe between now and December 31, 2006, you will receive the newsletter until December 31, 2007. You can pay by check or credit card. Please send your check or the credit card information below to Equality Standard, P.O. Box 11202, Glendale, CA 91226 or you can call or email your credit card information to PaulineField@charter.net , 818-243-2322

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10. TO CONTINUE RECEIVING THIS NEWSLETTER

As stewards of the resources of Fifty/Fifty Leadership and with dedication to the women and girls we serve, we can no longer continue to use those valuable resources to provide this newsletter free of charge. If you are reading this, you will continue to receive it through the end of the year. In January 2007, however, it will be sent only to members and subscribers. It also can be viewed on this website, but to receive it directly to your e-mailbox, membership or a subscription will be required.

11. FINAL WORDS