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                       COUNCIL OF PRESIDENTS 

                            WHO WE ARE

The Council of Presidents was originally formed to facilitate the
exchange of information among a small group of leaders in national
women's organizations. It was created as an informal, ad-hoc forum
in which these women could coordinate strategies to lobby and
implement public policy concerns common to all women's
organizations. Today, the Council of Presidents is comprised of
over 80 national women's organizations. These groups meet on a
bi-monthly basis in Washington D.C. to coordinate public policy
action on shared legislative priorities.

Council of President membership is open to the head of an
organization which accepts the premises and priorities articulated
in the yearly adopted Women s Agenda In addition, each organization
must be:

     o    a free-standing women's organization with its own Board
          of Directors and leaders representing a national
          constituency and perspective;

     o    the organization's membership must be composed
          predominately of women and its broad purpose includes
          promoting public policy and legislative strategies
          affecting women; and

     o    the organization may not be one whose primary purpose is
          to elect candidates from a single political party.

The Council of Presidents operates with no governing structure, no
staff, and no budget. As issues or actions are proposed, supporting
organizations develop strategies and implement activities.

In 1988, the Council of Presidents developed a national
non-partisan election strategy. The Women's Agenda, which is a set
of issue priorities, was endorsed as a central platform important
to all women activists. The Agenda was presented to a conference
sponsored by the Council of Presidents, entitled the Women's Agenda
Conference, which was held in Des Moines just prior to the Iowa
primary election. All candidates for the President of United States
were invited to address their positions on the issues contained in
the Women's Agenda. Each year, the Council of Presidents continues
to release the Women's Agenda. In 1992, the Council of President
has expanded its strategy to include the release of both a
Legislative Agenda and a Women's Agenda through which the primary
goal of the Council continues to be met: to facilitate practical
and effective working relationships within the women's community on
shared issues. 

For information on the Council of Presidents contact Susan Bianchi Sand
of the National Committee on Pay Equity at (202)331-7343.