North East, PA | NAWBO Public Policy

NAWBO Northeastern Pennsylvania

Report from Atty. Marianne J. Gilmartin

NAWBO Public Policy Chairperson

Public Policy Update:

During NAWBO's June 2009 National Conference entitled "Power Your Dreams", Public Policy committee chairs and members from various chapter's discussed the lack of a Public Policy Forum. Last year, when NAWBO severed its relationship with its former management firm, Public Policy fell by the wayside in favor of a comprehensive restructuring plan for NAWBO. That restructuring continues, and NAWBO assures the local chapters that Public Policy will be revived, probably in time for next year's NAWBO National Conference in Washington, D.C. I have volunteered to work with NAWBO National to coordinate a Public Policy component in 2010 that will include break-out sessions on national policy issues and visits to our federal legislators.

In the meantime, our local chapter encourages all members to remain committed to the work being done by Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP) in addressing issues of importance to women business owners. Those issues include: procurement - a move to ensure that certified WBE's obtain access to not less than 5% of the Small Business Administrations federal contracting dollars; and affordable health care - without a Public Policy forum, NAWBO currently lacks a platform on this issue.

As a local chapter, we remain committed to public policy issues and will host a legislative forum in early 2010 in which invited legislators will speak about issues of importance to working women generally and women business owners in particular. Our chapter's Public Policy Committee will solicit topics from members as the event approaches.

Marianne J. Gilmartin

Stevens & Lee, P.C.

425 Spruce Street

Suite 300

Scranton, PA 18503

Phone: (570) 969-5362

Fax: (570) 343-1892

Mobile: (570) 412-7057

email: mjg@stevenslee.com