A wonderful group of MWF members met in Livingston on Jan 14 for the first general meeting and potluck of the year. We had all the posters from past events hung up around the room to remind us of all this organization has accomplished in the past.  We also had a great spread of food contributed by the members.

As an organization we have undergone some changes - new board members added, some of the old ones stepped down - and the last part of 2009 was time for getting re-organized.  Now we’re back in the saddle and ready to ride.

We will resume monthly meetings on the second Thursday of each month.  In February, we’ll hold the meeting at the Livingston library as in the past, and beginning in March we will have an exciting new location to meet. Stay tuned.

At the January meeting we brainstormed on events, actions, and issues the members want to take on.  In February we will start planning for those events.  Here is a list of the things we have on our plate already for 2010:

• In February (Feb 18) we will repeat our successful fundraiser for the Livingston Food Pantry called Reading the Range.  Joan Kresich is organizing this one.
• In March we will hold our annual meeting to elect new board members and officers.  Contact any board member with suggestions.
• We will be helping sponsor the Eyes Wide Open anti-war exhibit in Bozeman.  Margarita McLarty is organizing this one.
• Jan 31 there will be a speaker on the death penalty sponsored by the Abolition Coalition.  We will help publicize it. Margarita McLarty
• We would like to help raise money for the Trust Women Fund.  Contact Bonnie Hyatt-Murphy with ideas
• A movement called Transition Towns aims to get local communities actively working on how to survive the social cost of peak oil and climate change now, before the crisis begins to break down our social structure.  Sustainable, local energy, food, financial systems, transportation, etc.  are all separate projects that can be taken on by various groups in the community.  Montana Women For would like to spearhead this movement in our communities - to get things started.  Several of us are reading the book that outlines what other towns have done.  Joanie Kresich is motivating this one.
• We would like to help promote the Move your Money movement started by Arianna Huffington and others.  It is simple - move your money from any of the “Too Big to Fail” banks into community banks that are stable and strong.  Margie Kidder is behind this one.
• Livingston needs public transportation - throughout town, down the valley and possibly to Billings.  Poor people, children, elderly people and others are in desperate need of a way to get around.  Donna Gleaves is the inspiration for this.
• We need to encourage women and progressives to run for public office.  March 15 is the deadline for registering to run for the State Senate post.  MWF will try to help get the word out and get women who may have never considered it to go for it.  Priscilla Dysert is  the contact for this.
• We want to make a schedule and coordinate our members to attend city commission meetings with specific suggestions, especially ones we are willing to help with.  This might include some of the above, such as the transition towns projects, public transportation, etc.  Margie and Linda are going to coordinate this
• We will sponsor ourtreach education from the Lambda organization to fight ignorance and prejudice regarding gay and lesbian issues.  Bonnie Hyatt-Murphy is organizing this.
• We would like to organize a tribute to Marty Claar, the woman who has set up and run the Loaves and Fishes community meal program for so long.  Bonnie Hyatt-Murphy suggested this one.
• We would like to get involved in the Real Food movement, in coordination with some of the wonderful organizations that are already working on this in our communities.  The movie Food, Inc. is a great place to start.  There will be a screening next week in Bozeman, and we would like to do something similar here in Livingston.  Margie is the source for this.
• In April or May we would like to do a fundraiser for Montana Women For and for another charity in the community.  Ideas are welcome.
• In July we would like to be in the Livingston parade again.  That is just too much fun to pass up.
• We will be setting up a scholarship for a non-traditional woman student using member dues.  Joan Kresich is on the committee to set this up
• In October we want to do something at the Bioneers conference in Bozeman.
• We would like to have a film series on issues of peace and justice.  Margarita McLarty and Bonnie Hyatt-Murphy will plan this
• We would like to do more on the issue of peace and opposition to the expansion of the wars and occupations our country is waging in the Middle East.

If you would like to get involved in any of the above, you can contact the person listed with the issue/event or you can email contact@montanawomenfor.org and we’ll get you in touch with the group working on it.