This may be the most important year of this century for women to turn out and vote. Affirmative action is under attack. Rights and access to abortion have been curbed and there is no sign of letup. The national safety net for poor women and their children has been shredded. Get out and organize. Get out and vote - only for pro-woman candidates, regardless of party. Keep reading to see how you can do more.

Women's Vote '96: The Deciding Vote, a project of the Council of Presidents of National Women's Organizations, has designated September 7 as National Women's Vote Day . On that day, thousands of individual events will be held by women across the country to increase awareness of the women's vote and raise critical resources for getting out the women's vote. You can be host to a brunch, lunch, roundtable or other activity. For a free host kit and info on how you can make a difference, call 202-966-6749; fax 202-466-6195.

Women Organizing for Change is a new campaign to create a powerful feminist online network to counter extremist conservative groups like the Christian Coalition and the NRA. WOC is working to mobilize one million women and supportive men through the Internet for grassroots political action. WOC subscribers agree to work a minimum of one hour each week for pro-woman candidates and causes. They receive alerts for legislative action and political commentary to counter the likes (or dislikes) of Rush Limbaugh and other misogynous media mavens. Reach WOC at 800-WOMAN96; fax 202-861-4297, e-mail [email protected] or donate at POB 57199, Washington DC 20037.

The National Organization for Women is leading the HUNGRY FOR JUSTICE campaign to try and get a veto out of President Clinton, even though he has already promised to sign the Republican welfare bill. The campaign includes daily vigils and fasting by NOW leaders and a demonstration on the day he signs or vetoes. NOW wants groups nationwide to join the campaign with their own speakouts and demonstrations, or by sending the amount of money they would spend on one day's meals to NOW's Hungry for Justice effort. To contact the campaign call Beth Corbin at 202-331-0066; fax 202-785-8576; or check the web page at http://www.now.org The White House comment line is still taking calls on the welfare issue. To urge waffle Bill to veto after all, call the White House comment line at 202-456-1111; fax 202-456-2461; E-mail [email protected]

Women's Equality Day, the 76th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment giving half the U.S. the right to vote, is coming up on August 26. The National Women's History Project has many materials to help you celebrate, including posters, pins, balloons, and a Women's Equality Day banner. They'll also give tips on how to plan a celebration (707-838-6000; E-mail [email protected] In this month of convention bombast from both sides, WFF encourages you to also celebrate your vote in November, by voting out any anti-woman politician.

The Republican party holds its national convention this week, and will undoubtedly try to have it both ways with women. Pro-choice Rep. Susan Molinari (R-NY) will be stuck out on center stage to try to pull in the women's vote, while behind the scenes the boys in the back room (with the help of Phyllis Schlafly) have kept the party toeing the anti-woman mark by keeping a constitutional ban on abortion as one of their bedrock principles. Just goes to show that they still think women are idiots.

"For more than 20 years I've opposed Roe v. Wade, and I support a constitutional amendment to overturn Roe v. Wade." Bob Dole, New York Times, March 1996

Housing Secretary Henry Cisneros recently announced a new program to get more women into home ownership. The Dept. of Housing and Urban Development is giving start-up $$ to 32 groups around the country to provide home-buying seminars and education on the nuts and bolts of loans, credit, & down payments. Info: 1-800-CALLFHA

• Fortuma Roba -- first African woman to win an Olympic marathon
• Wang Junxia -- first track & field medal won by a Chinese athlete
• Pauline Konga -- first medal by a Kenyan woman
• Ghada Shouaa -- first ever gold medal for Syria (heptathlon)
• Lida Fariman -- first Iranian woman to participate since 1979
• Amy Van Dyken -- first U.S. woman to win 4 Olympic golds
• U.S. Softball team -- first gold medal in first Olympics with softball

When Carol Mutter joined the Marine Corps nearly three decades ago, women weren't allowed to be generals. Last week she became the first woman to advance to the rank of three-star general. Give her a salute at Manpower & Reserve Affairs, Headquarters U.S. Marine Corp, 2 Navy Annex, Washington, D.C. 20380-1775