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Show Page 2 N.Y. Times Recounts LDS Domination oflW.Y. Confab . By John M. Crewdson Reprinted from the New York Times SALT LAKE CITY - When representatives of the International Women's Year organization here began planning their statewide convention several months ago, they invited a number of Utah women's groups to participate in hopes of showing, as the coordinating committee put it, "that diversity doesn't have to divide people." "They kept talking about outreach, trying to get as many women involved as possible," recalled Esther Landa, the current head of the National Council of Jewish Women, who presided over the convention three weekends ago. One of the groups to which an invitation was extended was the Relief Society, the Women's Auxiliary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. But none of the organizers, who had anticipated a crowd of perhaps 2,000, was prepared for the 12,000 or so Mormon women responding to their church's call to insure the support of "correct principles," who streamed into the Salt Palace auditorium in downtown Salt Lake City. As the convention staff struggled to print sufficient numbers of ballots and other materials to keep pace with the swelling demand, the Mormon women seated themselves on boxes and table tops and proceeded to reject by overwhelming majorities resolutions favoring the equal rights amendment, abortion on demand and more than 'a score of other women's rights proposals put forward bv the I.W.Y. organizers. Mormon Delegates Nearly 14,000 women were ultimately registered by the Utah convention, more than twice the attendance at any of the other statewide meetings, and of the 14 delegates selected from an anti-E.R.A., "pro-life" slate to attend the I.W.Y.'s national meeting in Houston next November 12 are members of the Mormon Church. "It was like a war, only they had atomic weapons and we had words," said Maggy Pendleton, a college counselor and I.W.Y. organizer who is described by friends as the closest thing to a radical feminist as one can find in this fundamentally conservative state. The Mormon women, who she estimated had outnumbered non-Mormons by about 10 to 1, "could vote down anything they wanted to," she said. "They ran the whole thing. I've never been so rudely treated in my life. " Although she and other organizers said they had had hopes of opening a "dialogue" with the , Mormons that might begin to reverse the polarization that has existed in Utah between churchwomen and feminists for some time, the acrimony that prevailed at th convention overrode nearly every attempt at a thoughtful discussion of women's issues. In the middle of it all was Jan L. Tyler, a 34-year-old former professor of child development at Brigham Young University, who, though an active member of the Mormon Church, is also an ardent supporter of the equal rights amendment, something to which her church is officially opposed. A Foot in Both Camps As head of the Utah coordinating committee, Miss Tyler said, she had been "committed to do all I could to provide this kind of forum for Utah women," and had hoped that, with a foot in both camps, she would prove , to be a bridge between them. But for her, the convention produced a number of "unfortunate things that gave me personal pain," among them her observation that many of the women "who were professing a tremendous concern for life" in their opposition to abortion "were very abusive in their actions toward others." Don LeFevre, a spokesman for the Mormon Church, acknowledged that the Relief Society had encouraged its membership to take part in the convention "and vote for correct principles." "The church," he said, "has always been concerned with threats to the stability of the family and the home. We don't make any excuses for our women's participation. We're proud of them. Other women's groups could probably take 2 note from their book." Although the Mormons place a heavy emphasis on early marriage and large families-birth control is frowned upon, Mr. LeFevre said, and abortion viewed as "one of the most revolting and sinful practices of this day"-its opposition to the equal rights amendment is founded more on physiology , than theology. "We recognize men and women as equally important before the Lord," the church's leadership has declared, "but with differences biologically, emotionally and in other ways. E.R.A., we believe, does not recognize these differences." Although none of the Relief Society members were given explicit instructions on what course to pursue at the convention, Mr. LeFevre said that church "officials " provided them with "informational material" on the mechanics of registration and copies of the church's positions opposing the equal rights amendment, abortion and other issues, "in case they had any questions." Similar appeals for participation were sent by the Relief Society headquarters here to its representatives in several other states, Mr. LeFevre said, after the church decided that, based on the impressive turnout it had mustered in Utah, its women might be able to "help support correct principles" at some of the I.W.Y. conventions remaining to be held. In Washington and Montana, two of the states selected for action by the church, resolutions supporting the E.R.A. were rejected by conventioneers, about half of whom proved in both cases to be Mormons, according to I.W.Y. organizers. Mary Munger, the head of the Montana coordinating committee, said that all 14 of that state's delegates to the Houston convention had gone on record as opposing the ratification of the E.R.A. , and that the convention there had produced "very little dialogue." While various coalitions of conservative religious and political groups have played a role around the country in diluting the I.W.Y.'s advocacy of increasing equality for women, there is what Nikki Van Hightower, a Houston city official serving as liaison to the national convention, called "a very deep concern" over the involvement of the Mormon Church. Mormons Started Late "Nobody started out anticipating anything like this," Mrs. Hightower said, "but it has grown and grown." The effect of the church's involvement would ultimately be minimized, she said, only because it had not begun in earnest until after many of the state conventions had already been held. "But," she added, "if they had gone on much longer. . ." Several of the women who have worked on behalf of the 4f 71 rV" ,. vy f Greer Markle Martha Diehl John Stahl Bonnie Calmes I.W.Y. in Utah said they suspected the anti-E.R.A. organization headed by Phyllis Schafly, the conservative Republican, might have had a hand in the Mormon Church's decision to influence the outcome of the conventions in Utah and elsewhere, but none of them was able to produce any evidence that such had been the case. However, a slate of anti-feminist anti-feminist delegates, including several women prominent in Mormon Church affairs, was circulated on the floor of the Salt Palace under the auspices of the Eagle Forum, the organization that Mrs. Schafly heads. Most of those delegates were ultimately elected to represent the state. Despite their obvious disappointment at the turn of events in Utah, both Mrs. Landa and Miss Tyler cautioned against concluding from the I.W.Y.'s experiences there that no potential existed for a discussion of women's issues between feminists and the Mormon Church. Mrs. Landa noted that Barbara Smith, the president of the Relief Society, had maintained that the church's domination of the Utah convention should not be interpreted as a complete rejection of women's concerns and had spoken in favor of equal pay, legal protection for women in divorce actions and assistance to working women with family responsibilities. Some of her recent mail from Mormon women who had attended the Utah conference, Mrs. Landa said, had contained expressions of vL r - n Workshop Added An additional cinematography cinema-tography workshop in film editing has been announced by Pat Smith, Arts Festival director. The workshop will feature the talents of Joe Mayer, an experienced film editor for Schick-Sunn Classic Pictures. Mayer brings diversified experience and expertise to the workshop. He broke into the film industry as an assistant editor with Walt Disney Productions in 1965. Since then he has worked as an editor for KNXT-TV in Hollywood, and KMGH-TV in Denver. He has also edited a number of feature length films and documentaries including 34 How About It ? What did you think of the Alpine Slide? Greer Markle -1 think I'd like it better if there were a ferris wheel at the bottom. Heather Howels - It was fun ! That was just my second ride and I went pretty fast because of the kids going so fast behind me. I really liked those hills. Martha Diehl - It's a lot more exciting ,that I thought. It's really neat. I'm glad they did this. I hope there will be more slides around. The only suggestion that I have is that they have a "first time" track and a "veterans" track. Tony Howels - When you go fast and hit the curves, you don't know the hills are coming and it's fun 'cause you go down the hill full speed and your stomach goes up! . . John Stahl - It's great! Watch the first 10 percent because you can wreck real easily. I got up on the sides and got going back and forth. My sled went over the side once but I didn't go with it. Jere Calmes, Jr.-It's fun! Sorta reminds me of a roller coaster at Magic Mountain, Calif. Bonnie Calmes - I went so slow I got my money's worth. Ira Sachs - So far this summer it's been the high point of my journeys to Park City. embarrassment over the behavior of the . more strident opponents of the equal rights amendment and had described the event as a positive experience that had ' permitte'd.themqjA6 ' directlyf in some leases for the" Tirst 'time, what the women's rights movement was really about. Dealing With Issues Miss Tyler concurred, saying she had concluded, based on her telephone calls and letters, that many Mormon women were "thinking about things they've never thought about before. A lot of them are beginning to transcend their own conditions and say that there are other women in the world who find themselves in circumstances very different from mine." She remained convinced, she said, that despite the "political" positions taken by the Mormon Church on such issues as the E.R.A., it was not impossible to reconcile at least some feminist concerns with the church's theology. "That doesn't mean that there isn't some pain and introspection that goes on, dealing with issues you might otherwise have ignored," she said. "That isn't to say it's an easy thing." One unfortunate aspect, she said, was the sentiment among many Mormon women that "if they don't buy the whole package" of women's rights issues, "they're somehow shut out" of the movement altogether. "If the women's movement is going to define itself as just another part of society that's exclusive, then it's really in trouble." ski shows for the Columbia Broadcast System . and McGraw-Hill films. The workshop will be held Wednesday. August 17th. from 7:30 to 9:30 P.M. at the C'est Bon. Mayer intends to discuss his editing philosophy and to introduce basic editing techniques. He stressed workshop participants will have actual "hands-on" experience operating the "Movieola", 16mm film editing equipment. He will also contrast the differences between videotape and film editing procedures and discuss the production of Schick-Sunn Classic's "The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams." Chamber Made Submitted by the Park City Chamber of Commerce Bus transportation will be provided during the Exhbitor Day of the '77 Arts Festival, Aug. 20-21 from 10:00a.m.-8:00p.m. each day; $.25 for adults, kids free. f . Four to five buses will be running during peak s times designed for the convenience of visitors and residents. Traffic restraint will be on Park Ave. between 13th and 14th Streets. The purpose is to discourage parking the the Main Street area and to enable residents and businesses to get about easier. Resident stickers are available at the Chamber of Commerce and at City Hall. Let us help promote your business plans for the ! Arts Festival. Call the Chamber of Commerce. A suggestion to Main Street businesses: If you put one garbage can (or such) out during the Exhibitor Days, we will provide the trash liner, two pick-ups, and a truck pick-up Sat. at 8:00p.m. How about it? FOOTBALL A "Socks, Jocks, Shoes, and Mouthpiece Day" will be held Friday, August 12 at 11 :00 a.m. at the Park High gymnasium for all 9-12th grade football players. Bring $30.00 to cover fees. Uniforms will be distributed at this time. Physicals are required prior to Monday's practice and can be arranged through the Park City Family Health Center 649-7640. PARK MEADOWS MEETING There will be a Park Meadows homeowners meeting August 17 at 7:30 at the Park City Racquet Club lounge. COMMUNITY EDUCATION If you are interested in community education classes in cake decorating, sewing, children's gymnastics. Creative dance or dramatics for children and teens modern dance (teens and adults), ballet (children, teens, and adults), charm, poise and beauty classes or other classes, please contact Nan McPolin at 649-9417, mornings or late evenings. Welcome The Newspaper would like to welcome the following groups to Park City. We hope you enjoy your stay here and we look forward to seeing you again in the near future. Salt Lake Administrators Association Gulf Resources Chemical Corporation Consolidated Freightways Energy and Public Lands Conference 1 Heather Howels Tony Howels Jere Calmes, Jr. Ira Sachs mm Wednesday, August 10, 1977 n Public KINDERGARTEN PREPARATION Children who will be five years old on or before October 31st, 1977 will be admitted to kindergarten this fall. The following services are being offered to all children entering kindergarten : physical examination readiness test immunizations urinalysis hemoglobin Richard J. Williams, M.I), is donating his time and use of his office as a community service. Immunizations will be provided by the Utah State Department of Health. A readiness test will be given to each child individually by a school district employee. The test booklet will be given to the parents to take home and will give them an idea as to how scholastically prepared their child is to begin school. Utah law requires that children entering school for the first time have the following minimum doses of vaccine: 4 DPT (Diptheria, Pertussis, Tetnas), 3 Polio, 1 Measles, iRubella. A physical examination is required of entering kindergarteners by the Park City School District. Parents wishing further information or an appointment for the above mentioned services should call the Park City School District office 649-9671 as soon as possible. NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS Bids will be received until 5:00 P.M., August 18, 1977 at City Hall, 52X Main Street, Park City, Utah on the following improvements: Removal of existing street lights and relocation of eleven of the same to Swede Alley. Restoration and installation of historic lights on Main Street, including wiring, base, asphalt cutting, conduit and painting. For further information, contact City Recorder. 649-9321, Park Citv. Utah. LABOR DAY,,, Trying for the best Park City Labor Day ever. AH entries welcome. Parade entry forms to be obtained at Chamber of Commerce in Park City. All forms to be back in by Sept. 1, 1977 to be eligible for prizes. If additional information is desired, call 649-7582 or 649-9464, Chairmen Bonnie Ryan and Mary Putman. Special request to all viewers, please no fireworks at parade. LABOR DAY BEAUTY CONTEST REQUIREMENTS Girls ages six to twelve are all eligible for princess title. Best dress only. Young ladies from thirteen to seventeen for teen title. Must be single. Evening and swimwear competition. Young ladies from eighteen to twenty one for Miss title. Must be single. Evening and swimwear competition. Sponsors will be available for any girls not having their own. Contest will be held Sunday, September 4, at the new Park City High School. Girls will be contacted ahead of time for practices. All applications have to be phoned in by August 25. Phone in applications to 649-7582 or 649-9464 after 6 p.m. PUBLIC HEARING The city Council of Park City has been asked to meet concerning zoning the following property to a estate district. Beginning at a point West along the section line 2185.00 feet from the East quarter corner of Section 22, Township, Range 4 East, Salt Lake Base and Meridian, and running thence South 2440.00 feet; thence South 45 degrees West 3690.00 feet; thence West 454.44 feet; thence North 870.00 feet; thence North 65 degrees 37' East 101.00 feet; thence North 3 degrees 24' East 91.00 feet; thence North 48 degrees 29' 43" West 194.17 feet; thence North 58 degrees 30' West 232.95 feet; thence North 950.00 feet; thence West 350.00 feet; thence North 3150.00 feet more or less to the $uuter section line of Section 21, Township 2 Sooth, Range 4 East, Salt Lake Base & Meridian ; thence East 425.00 feet more or less along said quarter section line to the east quarter corner of said Section 21 ; thence South along a section line 300.00 feet more or less to the West quarter corner of said Section 22; thence East along the section line 3255.00 feet more or less to the point of beginning. The property owners of Lake Flat area have requested annexation and zoning of the property. The City Council has determined that annexation and zoning should be done simultaneously. simultane-ously. This proposal comes under the authority of the City Council listed as 10-9-2 of the Utah Code annotated 1953 and the Park City Land Management Code, Chapter 1, Section 9. A public hearing is scheduled for review of this proposal by the City Council and the interested public on the 18th of August 1977 at 7:00 p.m. at the Treasure Mountain Innf ml Notices 1 1 |