Documents from the Women's Liberation Movement
An On-line Archival Collection
Special Collections Library, Duke University

DAR II (Dyke for the Second American Revolution)

Minutes from February 6, 1975
(Page images are also available)

2-6-75

2. International Women's Day

3. Boston

4. SWP a lesbian speaker for Sat.

5. Juanita Price           5 1/2 Pici- announcement

1. Criticism (structure)

lesbian separatisum

Donna -- Trust, knowing something said for good reasons.  Did not see the C. as a personal attack.   Some objectivity and trust in whats said, is important.  Comments about things being unstructured, C. of group not just people talking.  Group responsibility.  How do we keep this group from being the same as other leftist groups.  Should of asked questions.  Don't think it was the responsibility of persons talking.

Jean -- felt a need to know what the 1st discussion of C. as a group was.  Don't feel last discussion was settled.

Mickey -- feel C. is important.  helps evaluate what a person has said.  Can't evaluate if a meeting went good or bad.  help us as individuals to improve our political practice our work.

Martha -- Don't think C. helps.  It doesn't work all the time.  has possibilities, people can take things real personal.  If we can get past defenses.

Jean -- Anything structured about C. last meeting

Sally -- think important.  real important group have trust.  C. wasn't personal but was recieved that way.  Possible to broaden scope but we need to be sensitive to each other.  Don't like word objective.

Mickey -- Would use decipline.  In C. can't be objective.  understand how your reaction is going to affect others.

Sandy -- the word C. itself.  If another word was used would feel better.  Too many left groups use it.  Don't like the word.  Word C. thought of as being neg.

Mickey -- The neg . is what people react to.  Not the positive.

Sandy -- Don't expect to hear positive C.  Assume to get C. neg.

Sarah -- What is said affects whole group.  Reaction to how C. was phrased.  As we get closer those things might be eliminated.  Should be aware of each other in C.

Martha -- Can't wait to trust each other.  Have to be real careful in the beginning.

Donna -- Sometimes something might be said that does hit a nerve.  important to trust the other person didn't know.

*Sally -- Can't be strong enough to develop C.  Self C. is very important in C.  Each strong enough to recieve C. because it should be self C.  If somethings gone wrong everyones responsible.  If I say something to someone I should C. own part in it.

Mickey -- to fell that person isn't boxed in.

Arlene -- felt hostility towards Mickey -- felt C. was harsh non-supportive -- sorry Peach left & didn't get a chance to make some contact.

Pici -- didn't talk because she felt the C. was valid & then she felt things were really out of hand and then too late to try to correct it.  Knew she'd cry if she opened her mouth.

Lorraine -- I want to find out what did not crying do for Picci opposed to crying (Arlene), where does it go?  Is that the way you'll always react.

Picci -- No, has to be dealt with.  Wasn't sure group reaction.  Would felt shity if I coldn't have talked to people after.  Afraid people would of reacted to crying.

Sandy -- Wondered if maybe Picci wasn't feeling anything.  So long realized Picci must be feeling.  Think its good.

Sally -- During male dom. meeting, every meeting had to cry.  It was good.  Not be destructive by holding back.  To reach a point of balance.

Linda -- The  more politics the farther away from human feelings and home.  Gone through extreme emotion, from being destructive to disinterest.  Have to place hopes in this group to start from scratch to find balance.

Donna -- The other side, some of us do know each other.  Knowing each other can be the same.

Linda -- Good to have 1 to 1 discussion after meeting.  To have feed back.  Cross over to other friends and groups to have good intermingling.

Margo -- What was the C. was it discussed?

Sally -- Coming along.  In the structure.  Last meeting people felt distracted.  Couldn't follow what was happening.

Lorraine -- Who said we should have agenda, someone to keep us on agenda, that it shouldn't be so strict that discussion can't take place or be cut off.  If others think it's not going good they should say it.

Martha -- How many people been in rap groups.   How many in just business group.

Pici -- Not sure of disagreement about structure.  If discussion evolves that meet peoples needs it should be continued.

Jane -- What does everybody expect from group?   feel insecure.  I was never in group, have no political background.  feel unsure of what I'm doing.  Don't feel I'm contributing to group.

Donna -- Doesn't have to be starting point.  Group doesn't have party line, but political growth is what I want.  All of us are lesbians, thats important.  1st political concern 2nd lesbian

Margo -- Does everyone want to respond to Janes question.

Jane -- Would like tomove on issues (actions).  Keep up on issues.  Do some reading on my own.  Not sure of political definitions.  Come to terms with self politically.

Jean -- Never been politically oriented.  Live with 2 people completely political.  Decided to follow up politics through this group.  Education.

*Margo -- Not clear yet.  Know what I want not sure yet if this group will meet them.  Coming together of being woman and making changes.  Wanting to change conditions of women (emotional) and physical changes of other peoples.  Wants to be related to as a person who can be hurt by criticism and also as someone who can give to group.

Arlene -- Been involved with poli groups since 1970 & been disappointed with harshness of structure & needing to be real well read.  wanted to do something about what's happening now.  Had been disappointed several times -- gave up -- didn't want to be guilt tripped into reading or doing anything she thought irrelevant -- thought bond of lesbian oppression would be imp't bond & would make there be less guilt trips, etc.  -- could come in with own knowledge & experiences which would be valuable in themselves & that she could learn from experiences of others -- feels closer now because of what happened at last meeting -- feels very positive about group.

Lorraine -- Jane -- be willing to find what you'd like to read. -- can help.  Anyone in group, many articles.

Martha -- Sometimes good things in group to read about.  Issues come up.

Mickey -- Structure, got feeling not sit around want to be active.  Each meeting goal to set (structure).  Good accomplish each meeting.

Martha -- Go along ... not right now.

Mickey -- Set goal tonight, did it.  helps to be diciplined.

Donna -- PLASP set up meeting I.W.D. talked about past activities.  felt direct energies inward (Alfa).  3-8-75 even dane, theme I.W.D. ... posters, films, speakers.

Sally -- Use as education, women other parts of world.  Make clear oppression of lesbians and women.  Strides being made.  Vicky has displays, short history of women.  Get displays set up.

Lorraine -- Separate meeting for I.W.D What Alfa women do.

Donna -- PLASP energy towards Alfa.  Coalition forming for I.W.D. left groups know about Alfa

Martha -- Dinner for presentations.  Make a little money.  Sell tickets

Linda -- Specifics talked about by people involved, not now.  We should participate in

Lorraine -- Alfa should deal with women in art.

*Boston*

Lorraine -- Conferense NSA on racism in Boston  Pici and Lorraine & possibley Arlene will go to represent DARII -- People in group might want to be involved in discussion to what to do in Boston.  Will leave Feb. 13.

Martha -- Whos paying for it.

Lorraine -- Ann Jones gave 2 $15.00 ticekts.  The extra ticket could go for Arlene's ticket if she wants to go.

*SWP*

Linda -- 2-8-75 Peter mays keep of campaign for SWP mayor candidate.

Lorraine -- Want you rep. Alfa, agroup for homo but only come to us for things for them.  We should give them support when they never given us?

Linda -- Would want to do without background or as group.

Martha -- SWP tends to rip us off.  This group concensous should be together to respond to different groups.

Lorraine -- (Linda) should respond as individual not as rep.

*Price*

Lorraine -- Not contact her or the women.  Shes no contact with the women.  Horn defending haven't gone to trail yet.  Call alot, says no info.  Bill investigated found story was wrong.  

Sally -- important to keep in touch if they haven't gone to trial yet.

Linda -- Bayou doesn't want women.  How to find out about biast against women.  Bayou admitted didn't like women or blacks.  Should find out.

*Benefit*

Pici -- new groups Red Dyke Theatre.  3-15-75  benefit Soft Ball. $2.00

Sandy -- Red Dyke for Alfa Benefit

Donna -- All monies for PLASP I.W.D. into Alfa.

Sandy -- Concerned about lack of enthusiam[?] for Alfa functions.

*CRIT* *Evaluation*

Lorraine -- Good meeting.  Better ideas.

Martha -- Back to before new people.

Sally -- Beyond where new people are.

Sandy -- Try to start meeting on time.

Lorraine -- Meet right after back from Boston.

Donna -- Import to keep meeting instead of wait.

Mickey -- keep it to the 16th!

Page images for this date:

• Page 15 [full size] [double size]
• Page 16 [full size] [double size]
• Page 17 [full size] [double size]
• Page 18 [full size] [double size]
• Page 19 [full size] [double size]
• Page 20 [full size] [double size]
• Page 21 [full size] [double size]

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