Jan is a singer, a songwriter, a licensed body worker specializing in CranioSacral Therapy, and a teacher. She is an advocate for the ethical treatment of ALL animals and a volunteer with several animal advocacy organizations. She is also a staunch believer in the need to promote environmental responsibility.
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Filed under Family, Self Savvy
The U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) is in a tailspin at the moment due to self-inflicted wounds. These self-inflicted wounds are just the latest PR disaster in their handling of the lawsuit filed by players on the U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT) demanding equal pay.
The Equal Pay Act dates to 1963 so the USSF can’t claim they were blind-sided by a new federal law. The law prohibits disparity in pay between men and women doing the same job. It was bolstered in 1972 with Title IX of the Education Amendments which prohibited sex discrimination in education and forced schools at all levels to create women’s sports programs.
Since then the USWNT has won the World Cup four times and Olympic gold medals 4 or 5 times. They are the global standard for women’s professional soccer that all other nations strive to match. Meanwhile, our men’s team has had trouble recently qualifying for the Olympics and has never made it past the Elimination Round of the World Cup.
That brings us back to the USSF’s bumbling response to the equal pay lawsuit. Instead of admitting the women might have a point, the USSF has argued that the women’s game is inferior to the men’s game.
On March 9th, the USSF filed its latest pleading which argues that the US Men’s National Team players are paid more than the world-topping women’s players because the men’s game requires more skill, is more physically demanding, and involves more responsibility. That’s a PR own goal coming from the organization responsible for promoting both national teams.
The USSF has also tried to argue that the men’s game generates more revenue which justifies the pay disparity. In depositions, the women have pointed out that the USSF spends a lot more money and resources promoting the men’s team than the women’s. Besides, recently the women have generated higher revenue per game than the men’s team.
The immediate outrage sparked by the USSF’s blatantly sexist pleading was so overwhelming that Carlos Cordeiro resigned as its president before the week ended. But Mr. Cordeiro didn’t operate in a vacuum. The board set the strategy and approved his handling of the lawsuit. They should also resign.
Meanwhile, the USSF has appointed Cindy Parlow Cone, a former USWNT player, as the president while they search for a permanent replacement. Ms. Cone has been given the thankless task of cleaning up the mess left by the men and trying to salvage USSF’s brand. Wish her luck.
About Norma Shirk
My company, Corporate Compliance Risk Advisor, helps employers (with up to 50 employees) to create human resources policies and employee benefit programs that are appropriate to the employer’s size and budget. The goal is to help small companies grow by creating the necessary back office administrative structure while avoiding the dead weight of a bureaucracy. To read my musings on the wacky world of human resources, see the HR Compliance Jungle (www.hrcompliancejungle.com) which alternates on Wednesday mornings with my history blog, History By Norma, (available at http://www.normashirk.com). To read my musings on a variety of topics, see my posts on Her Savvy (www.hersavvy.com).
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Filed under Business Savvy, Fun Savvy, History
My husband woke me at 5:20 that morning – I was deeply asleep and somewhat groggy when he told me that Nashville had been hit by a tornado during the night. I was slow to take in what he was saying, but when I had climbed out of the fog of sleep and turned on the news, the overwhelming reality of what had happened to our city and state was all too real – and all too overwhelming.
As is always the case in situations like this, the immediate response is to connect with loved ones. Are you Ok? We are OK. Anyone hurt? What do you need? How can we help? I sent out texts to family in other cities; checked with friends who lived in the path – learned as the day moved on that a friend had lost her home, that another had significant damage.
We know now that a tornado determined to be at EF2 strength decimated the John C. Tune Airport, moved on into North Nashville, pounded Germantown, and then, reaching EF3 strength, obliterated Five Points in East Nashville before continuing through Hermitage, Mt. Juliet and on to Lebanon. According to the National Weather Service this tornado traveled over a 60-mile path, the longest recorded in Tennessee history. It caused 6 deaths and thousands of dollars of property injury and destruction. Another tornado struck in the Cookeville area; this E4 storm killed 18 people and ripped open homes and businesses.
Almost one week later, the reality of what must be done to rebuild is coming into focus. Churches across the area are becoming centers for donations. Twenty thousand volunteers signed up to help with projects this past weekend through Hands On Nashville. So many volunteers showed up that in some areas the big machinery trucks and electrical repair trucks had trouble getting through! Music benefits are planned (of course). The Titans and Taylor Swift have made million dollar donations to tornado relief.
Tennessee is known as the Volunteer State – this designation really came true this weekend, and it will come true again next weekend – because that’s what people in Nashville do.
Margaret Renkl, Nashvillian and contributing writer to the New York Times, said it best. Her opinion column in the New York Times, titled “What It Means to #Nashville Strong” is so worth reading.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/08/opinion/nashville-tornado.html
It’s the Nashville way.
Communications and relationship specialist, counselor, Imago Relationship Therapist, businesswoman, mother, proud native Nashvillian – in private practice for 30+ years. I have the privilege of helping to mend broken hearts. Contact me at http://www.susanhammondswhite.com.
Filed under Self Savvy
Years ago I worked for Los Angeles’ County’s central labor council, which is the political organizing body for the local AFL-CIO. It was an exciting time and I learned about grassroots organizing and political mobilization. Probably the most powerful message for me is that we are incredibly privileged to live in this country, flawed though it is, and to have the right to make our voices heard in a peaceful manner.
Many of our union members were immigrants who fled countries where they did not have the right to vote, enough food and water, education for their children and basic health care. It was always so moving for me to watch new American citizens vote for the first time. In fact, it was my honor at times to help drive people to the polls. The weekends leading up to election day are known as GOTV, or Get Out The Vote. We would head into neighborhoods with historically low turnout, and knock on doors. I visited places I never knew existed in my own hometown and talked to so many people who were grateful for the opportunity to participate in their government. It was probably one of the most formative experiences of my adult life.
I’ve become passionate about the voting process and encourage everyone I know to make sure they vote, particularly young people, who often feel disenfranchised by a cumbersome system designed to discourage people from getting to the ballot box. Today, more than ever, it is imperative that everyone who is qualified, gets registered and then goes to the poll. This is the primary way to make our voices heard and to decide who we want working for us. When so much feels out of our control, the one thing we can control is our own voice. So today, wherever you are, think about what it means to live in a democracy. And if you live in a state that has a primary, make sure you Get Out The Vote. Our future depends on you.
Barbara Dab is a journalist, broadcast radio personality, producer and award-winning public relations consultant. She is the current Editor of The Jewish Observer of Nashville, and a former small business owner. Barbara loves writing, telling stories of real people and real events and most of all, talking to people all over the world. The Jewish Observer newspaper can be read online at www.jewishobservernashville.org .
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Filed under History, Self Savvy, Uncategorized
HerSavvy
Susan Hammonds-White, EdD, LPC/MHSP
Jan Schim
Norma Shirk
Renee Bates
Barbara Dab
HerSavvy 