Official Invitation: FAST WOMEN MONTANA (free listserv) – ALL invited including male allies.

Progressive friends,

Since the birth of my son thirteen months ago and spurred last month by a 33 year old, House Majority Leader, dictating the hemlines of my legislative colleagues, I have become increasingly incensed with the drumbeat of anti-women rhetoric in the state of Montana and in our nation.

I am writing now to organize, encourage, and fight back.

In the state of Colorado, there is a progressive listserv called: FAST WOMEN.

It was founded by some of the brilliant organizers at Progress Now Colorado. The listserv is by invitation only and when you join, you are officially… "A FASTIE". The idea is that together, we can respond to all attacks on women immediately through the internet and social media… a rapid viral response… and FAST!

Here is a copy of the Colorado Fast Women listserv goals:

This group works to be:

1. A safe space for women to network online and off with other women, to share successes and brag a little, and to ask for help from the group on women related work.

2. A place to share information about attacks on women or issues related to women for rapid response action.

3. A place to help raise up Colorado women’s voices in the media–both online and off.

4. A place to work to find, encourage and help more women get elected to office.

I propose we start Fast Women Montana… a FREE listserv seeking the same goals:

A safe place to vent, to share, to post job announcements, to ask for help, to congratulate, to organize, and to raise the voices of Montana women throughout the state.

The ground rules are below my signature line. Once connected, please free to post and share on the listserv whenever. Your post need NOT be only about politics. Job sharing and encouragement are a big part of this sisterhood. I will NOT be overly monitoring the listserv content other than to accept your nominations for others to join (and only in an effort to keep it a safe, progressive, place). Remember that men are feminists too and can also be nominated. We welcome our male allies!

You have now been OFFICIALLY nominated and you can nominate another Montana Fastie here: http://goo.gl/forms/KBLx1UguH4

Here’s to strong women. May we know them. May we be them. May we raise them!

And please, for the love of God, watch your hemline… in solidarity and friendship,
Ellie

Ellie Boldman (Hill) Smith
Representative
House District 90

State Director, Young Elected Officials Network

State Director, WiLL (Women Legislators’ Lobby)

Western Region Democratic Representative, Executive Board, Women’s Legislative Network, NCSL

House Judiciary Committee

House Health and Human Services Committee, Vice Chair
Interim Committee of Law and Justice

501 Daly Avenue

Missoula, Montana 59801

(406) 218-9608 cell

http://www.elliehillforHD94.com

Twitter: @EllieHill

Facebook: Ellie Boldman Smith

Fast Women Montana Goals:

This group works to be:

1. A safe space for women and male allies to network online and off with other women and male allies, to share successes and brag a little, and to ask for help from the group on women related work.

2. A place to share information about attacks on women or issues related to women for rapid response action.

3. A place to help raise up Montana women’s voices in the media–both online and off.

4. A place to work to find, encourage and help more women get elected to office.

Guidelines:

This group is:

1. For progressive to moderate women and male allies who want to raise up women in media, politics and everywhere else.

2. A safe space to talk, share and support each other. Personal and political attacks are not welcome.

3. All information posted is off-the-record unless explicitly stated by the author. Please do not forward messages from this group without permission.

4. To nominate someone to be added to the list, please first tell them a little about the list, then have them complete their information here: http://goo.gl/forms/KBLx1UguH4

Etiquette:

1. When replying to someone with a short message of thanks or congrats, please do so to the person only, not the full list.

2. Please feel free to introduce yourself to the list. Part of the power of the list is connecting with others, so please share who you are if you are so inclined and/or you don’t have to.

3. Participation is key. Please share, add to the discussion, offer your thoughts and support others. Please share job announcements and encouragements.

4. Please add your name to your emails, especially if your email address doesn’t make it clear who you are.