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NOW SPEARHEADS ERA EXTENSION DRIVE

The imminent introduction of a Joint Congressional Resolution calling for a seven-year extension of the deadline for ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment will culminate months of N.O.W. research, planning and strategy. The measure, which would extend until March 22, 1986 the date by which three states' legislatures must ratify the ERA, is expected to be introduced in the House of Representatives before its anticipated recess. Senate action is expected in January.

Numerous political, pragmatic and legal reasons bolster the idea of an extension of the deadline.

The current deadline requires ratification of the ERA by 38 states within seven years of its passage byCongress on March 22, 1972. However, Article V of the Constitution places no time limits on the ratification process. It-provides that Congress, by a vote of 2/3 of the members of both Houses, may itself propose amendments to the states or, upon application of the legislatures of 2/3 of the states, may call a Constitutional Convention for proposing amendments.

Proposed amendments must be ratified by 3/4 of the states or by state conventions in 3/4 of the states, whichever mode Congress elects. Article V does not specify any time period within which ratification need occur. The time period and the length of the time period have been determined by the courts in the past to be political questions, and questions which can be decided only by a majority vote of Congress.

Since Congress under Article V has irrevocable authority to determine the period within which ratification may effectively occur, and since Congress may include such a determination in advance as well

SYRENSOUND

Women's culture is rich with new attitudes and from these, new dynamics. Women's productions stir tradition; more balanced relationships between performer, producer and audience are being explored.

Women's culture-making is not exclusive. Validity, quality, content, impact and authenticity are the shared responsibility of performer, producer and audience. Together the three create a socially responsible atmosphere. They may all support the need for women-only space at a concert by their participation They may all actively discourage the "I'm better than you or you're bener than me" (star-tripping) attitude that so often creeps into the performing arts. Likewise, the three share in creating the public interest/appeal/demand.

Already I'm describing qualities unique to this women's culture. All three share in the give and take of an event: in the womon energy that's created; in the candidness and vulnerability that we encourage both on and off stage; in offering free child care; in making community announcements. Lyrics are serious and honest. They speak directly about our lives and herstories.

The technical end of a production is setting precedents. The technicians--electricians, lighting and 'sound engineers, printers, carpenters, etc., are all women. It's a natural high and even more, a significant statement to be any part of an all-womon production.

This women's culture has been burgeoning nationally over the past few years. Already it's hostess to dozens of women's productions companies and collectives, several all women's record labels (Lima Bean, Olivia, Urana, Wise Woman, Womens Wax Works, to name some), national documentary broadcasts, recording studios, lighting technicians, electricians, audio and recording engineers . . . not to mention a spiraling number of performers and

musicians.

as after an amendment is proposed, it follows that Congress may amend a period which it has originally

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The Militant

The culture is providing a new place and new opportunities for women to develop technical skills, and to share knowledge (in a strikingly noncompetitive way) that is often inaccessible to them. Most technical fields are very male, hard to afford educa. tion and training in, and are often a just plain unpleasant milieu to be in (male colleagues are amused or irate or threatened by the presence of female intelligence). It's a simple fact: the privilege that is inherited by men the opportunities, encouragement, assurance that the field is open to them does not exist for women. But the old boot strap routine does -watching, then assisting, in studios or with live sound reinforcement and eventually doing your own small, then larger scale jobs.

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Such is the herstory of Syrensound, a local group of technicians whom you may have already seen at work. The members include Willow Bentley, Pam Markley, Judy Stoner and myself, Betsy Reeves. We all wanted to learn more about audio engineer. ing and wanted to do it in a supportive environment where we could share our skills and help each other (sans competition) and provide stimulation and

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set for ratification if it determines that such a period has proved to be unreasonable, i.e., if the amendment is still politically, socially and economically relevant.

The legislative history of the ERA reveals that time limitation was adopted by the 93rd Congress as a "compromise" with opponents of the ERA. The specific seven-year period was chosen because seven years had been "customary", not because seven years was considered to be a reasonable time in which an amendment with such profound implications would remain politically, socially, and economically viable.

The question then is whether the ERA is still a politically and socially relevant issue, meriting a time extension in which to be considered. Clearly, the ERA is still being debated, is still needed, and, according to every poll, is still supported by a majority of the public. Therefore, it should be afforded an extension of time in which to be considered fully and rationally.

It took from 1848 until 1920 to win for women the constitutional right to vote -72 years! Efforts for ratification of the ERA actually began in 1923 by Alice Paul. Even if we take the entire extension and do not achieve ratification until 1986, it will still have taken only 63 years, 9 less than winning the right to vote.

Feminists don't need arbitrary time limits to spur our work for equal rights. The reality of our lives is the pressure that compels our efforts. And we know that achieving full rights for women is an ongoing effort -before and after ratification of the ERA.

--Alice Rickel

criticism in our learning. What we've ended up with are standards for quality and a combined knowledge that even exceeded our expectations. Over the past two years we've provided sound for Oven Production events (including Meg Christian, Holly Near, Lotta Crabtree, Annie Dinerman, Rita Coriell, Sally Piano, Alix Dobkin and Wallflower Order), have worked in collaboration with Terratu Inc. on the Coventry Street Fair and other sound jobs, and have participated on sound crews at the national women's music festivals in Illinois and Michigan for the past two years.

We're presently available to do jobs of a wide variety folk, acoustical, jazz, jazz/rock, classical, and sound accompaniment and poetry readings, speaking engagements, etc. .. anything requiring sound reinforcement.

To reach us, or for further information, call 371-1697 or 932-0668, or write to Syrensound, 1633 Belmar, Cleveland Heights 44118.

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"I guess it takes a few more years before they find out, they're the weaker sex!”

--Betsy Reeves

What She Wants/December, 1977/page 1