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Friends and colleagues honor Susal Stebbins
Susal Stebbins, lobbyist for Minnesota NOW for 10 years, was honored at a reception in November for her decade of service to the organization. She left Minnesota NOW in October to pursue other interests. About 50 people attended the reception at Metro State University in St. Paul, including Minnesota NOW members, colleagues she worked with at the Minnesota Legislature, and others from the feminist community. During the reception, Stebbins was recognized for her hard work on behalf of MN NOW and the feminist community. Among the contributions Stebbins has made on behalf of women as MN NOW’s lobbyist: • Working on a pay equity bill in the early 1990s that resulted in a pay increase for women across the state. • Getting gender equal insurance rates under the state’s health care plan, MinnesotaCare. • Pushing a lesbian and gay rights bill through in 1993 that eliminated discrimination in housing, education and jobs on the basis of sexual orientation. • Getting a clinic access bill passed in 1993, which is the first time a limit was put on anti-choice harrassers at clinics. Stebbins was also recognized at the reception for her success at coalition building. Among the coalitions she worked with are Minnesotans for Affordable Housing, Jobs Now, Affirmative Options and the Minnesota Alliance for Progressive Action (MAPA). Following the recognition, Stebbins was presented with a lifetime membership to MN NOW, with contributions given by MN NOW members and other supporters of Stebbins. Following are some of the comments friends of Stebbins shared at the reception: “Because of the work Susal has done, we (MN NOW) have a presence at the State Capitol,” said Sheri McPherson-Higdon, president of MN NOW. “She’s done a lot for our image.” “NOW is the only organization that focuses on a broad range of women’s issues,” said Lyn Crosby, secretary and fund-raising chair for MN NOW. “Susal helped legislators see the connections with feminist issues.” “Susal brought a great sense of integrity to her work,” said Dave Mann, executive director of MAPA. “Her departure is a tremendous loss to NOW and those who don’t even know the things she’s done for them,” said Laurel Parrott, former president of MN NOW. “No other person at the state legislature in the last 10 years knows more about women’s rights and has done more for women than Susal.” |