WAMM Embraces Change and Opportunity

by Lisa Ann Pierce, WAMM

"Nothing will ever be the same," they say. We have heard it nearly daily in the major media since September 11, 2001. It is easy to become cynical about this claim, especially when it is spoken out of a context of American political naïveté. Still, it holds some truth. September 11 brought with it a variety of transitions, growing pains, losses, hopes, fears, and outrages. A crisis of that scale, after all, has a way of forcing self-examination, and with it changes that bring both grief and opportunity.

Women Against Military Madness (WAMM) has been experiencing--and, dare I say, embracing--opportunities for self-examination and change in the wake of September 11. WAMM's steering committee and staff are responding both to world events and the surge of energy coursing through WAMM.

More than 150 new members have joined since September 11. Since that date the office has been busy with calls and visits from people responding to world events. Early on, they called and came to us with their fear and rage, seeking connection with others who longed for a nonviolent solution. Later the calls shifted toward interest in joining and supporting WAMM, and more recently the calls have increasingly been from people with ideas who want support in their efforts for peace and justice.

These calls, and the violence that provoked them, have sent the staff and steering committee to work in articulating some short- and long-term goals--goals that will put in action the values and hopes most central to WAMM's mission. In the process, we have found ourselves evoking a long-standing, foundational commitment of WAMM: Our purpose is to empower women to make social change.

"Empowerment" at WAMM has often been expressed like this: "Education + Support = Empowerment." That means that the staff and steering committee are expanding efforts to empower people to activism through training, education, and support.

As I said before, a crisis such as September 11 tends to inspire self-examination, complete with changes, grief, and opportunity. I have been doing some of my own self-examination and making plans for the future, just like WAMM. For me, this means changes in my workload and lifestyle, which I am making with the deep hope that these changes will bring improved health and a fulfillment of my dream to someday become a parent. In light of this, I made the difficult decision to cut back my hours at WAMM. I have resigned my position as co-director.

In light of our recommitment to empowerment and my decision to reduce hours, the steering committee and staff has been carefully examining WAMM's staffing. The steering committee made a decision to expand staff time for the work of empowerment. With staff, they rearranged the co-director job descriptions and created a part-time newsletter editor position. Taking newsletter editing out of the co-director job descriptions will enable increased co-director hours for the work of empowerment. Lucky for me, it also means that I have a sustainable means of ongoing connection with WAMM (which is a little like having my cake and eating it, too).

Of course, this expansion of staff time will require additional funding, but we believe it is worth the effort and we hope we can count on your support. If you would like to support these changes, learn about the 20/20 campaign described on page 5 and come to WAMM's 20th anniversary annual meeting on March 23, 2002 (more information to come). At the annual meeting, we will discuss WAMM's plans for empowerment. We will also hear from Amber Amundson, who lost her husband in the Pentagon attack on September 11, 2001. Amber has been speaking out against the use of her husband's death as a justification for war. I hope to see you there!