NARAL Pro-Choice Georgia records

NARAL Pro-Choice Georgia described itself as "the political arm of the pro-choice movement." The non-profit organization engaged state and national politics in order "to guarantee every woman the right to make personal decisions regarding the full range of reproductive choices, including preventing unintended pregnancy, bearing healthy children, and choosing legal abortion." Incorporated in 1980 as the Georgia Abortion Rights Action League (GARAL), it was the Georgia affiliate of the National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL), which had been established in 1969 as The National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws. For much of GARAL's existence, the president of NARAL was Kate Michelman, who served 1985-2004. NARAL's state affiliates build local grassroots organizations, develop and support pro-choice policy and leadership in the states, and insure that pro-choice strategies are coordinated. GARAL created a separate non-profit entity, the Georgia Abortion Rights Action League Education Foundation (with Internal Revenue Service status as a 501(c)(3) organization), to pursue strictly educational, not policy-based, goals. In 2003, when the national organization shortened its official name to NARAL Pro-Choice America, GARAL took the name NARAL Pro-Choice Georgia and the foundation was renamed the NARAL Pro-Choice Georgia Educational Foundation. NARAL Pro-Choice Georgia dissolved in 2007.

Governed by an elected board, NARAL Pro-Choice Georgia employed an executive director and other staff members, though it relied upon volunteers. The Development Committee oversaw soliciting financial support. The broad mission of the organization, ensuring reproductive choices for Georgia women, was to be achieved through both direct lobbying of the legislature and through affecting the electoral process. Specific goals of NARAL Pro-Choice Georgia included effective sex education, accessible birth control, pre- and postnatal care, and coverage of reproductive health issues in health care reform. It also worked toward providing public funding for abortions for those women who needed it, safe access to abortion providers, and continuing availability of abortion services in Georgia.

NARAL Pro-Choice Georgia's advocacy efforts included direct and grassroots lobbying, grassroots and internet organizing, coalition work, and media relations. NARAL Pro-Choice Georgia educated citizens about the political process, trained activists, created newsletters and other publications, organized political events, and served as "a pro-choice voice in the media" through press releases and interviews.

During the legislative session, NARAL Pro-Choice Georgia employed a full-time contract lobbyist who was at the Georgia Capitol every day tracking bills, creating strategy and writing weekly reports. It also sponsored an electoral program to evaluate, endorse, and help elect pro-choice candidates. The organization created its own political action committee, GARAL-PAC, a statewide, non-partisan organization dedicated to electing pro-choice candidates to the Georgia General Assembly.

NARAL Pro-Choice Georgia's staff and volunteers undertook numerous projects and programs, many of which were intended to encourage and train new activists and leaders in the reproductive rights movement. Examples include TORCH (a teen leadership program), the Women of Color Leadership Program, the Campus Organizing Program, and a Volunteer and Intern Program. In other instances, NARAL Pro-Choice Georgia undertook projects to research the availability of reproductive services and counseling in Georgia.

Executive Directors of GARAL and NARAL Pro-Choice Georgia included Janelle Yamarick (1990-1996), Beth Cope (1997-2003), Becky Rafter (2003-2006), and Dionne Vann (2006-2007). Other staff members over the years included Program Coordinator Roxanne Formey (1999-2001); Errin Vulay and Jennifer J. Sorrells, who served as Director of Organizing (2000-2001 and 2001-2002, respectively); and Ebony Barley, who coordinated several programs as Director of Communications and Community Relations.