Dear Members, 

I'm pleased to kick off the first election year in Run Women Run's history. 

The 2010 election cycle is heating up, just in time to support some formidable, highly qualified women candidates running for federal, state, and local office. During this election year, Run Women Run will be hosting programs designed to provide you, our members, with direct access to the candidates so that they can get to know them and their positions on the issues that are important to you. As part of Run Women Run's goal to recruit, mentor, and inspire qualified pro-choice women to run for political office, we provide them with a forum to connect to the community. With campaign costs spiraling out of control, we also need to assist these women financially, and with other types of support.

Our March 18, 2010 Candidate Forum, hosted in partnership with CALIFORNIA LIST, was a tremendous opportunity to meet many of these candidates. If you missed the program, I encourage you to go to our website to learn about the candidates. Spread the word to your friends and family, and please open your checkbook to support these women on an individual basis. As the grassroots Internet campaign run by President Obama in 2008 demonstrated, even small contributions can make a big difference.

There are also other ways to get involved. Our new website has a section for members to sign up to host an event for a candidate and invite other members to join them. Events can range from stuffing envelopes with campaign materials, knocking on doors, posting fliers and holding up signs, to hosting a fundraiser. In my own experience, piling friends and colleagues in the car for a road trip to Vegas to help Hillary win the state primary was one of the most memorable and inspiring occasions in my life.

In the coming weeks, Run Women Run will be compiling the responses to election questionnaires that were distributed to the candidates. Shortly thereafter, we will begin endorsing candidates. If you are on the Advisory Board, please keep a look out for an email that will enclose a ballot for you to cast your vote.  

As we look ahead this year, I want to encourage you to join one of our highly effective committees (committee reports are below) so you can choose how you'd like to participate. One of the strengths of Run Women Run, and why we expect to accomplish our mission, is having the support of the accomplished women who chair and serve on our committees. These women share a common vision and are dedicated to reversing the declining trend of women seeking political office. 

We look forward to your involvement, and thank you for your continued support for Run Women Run and the women who will be making a change.

All the best,

Michelle Burton