The following is a tribute to Sandy Spaulding given by her Friend Mary Ann Dahle during the memorial service.

I'm Mary Ann Dahle and I'm a member of the SJ/South Bay chapter of NOW. I first met Sandy in 1992 when she joined the chapter. In typical Sandy fashion, she jumped in with both feet.

The following summer in 1993 she found herself on the front lines of clinic defense, coordinating the Pro-Choice community against Operation Rescue. She'd be out at the clinics before the Sun was up in the morning and would still be working on the next day's strategy long after most of us had gone to bed.

Sandy's organizational skills, boundless energy and sheer determination were a major factor in the success of the Pro Choice community that summer. Not a single clinic was shut down.

Sandy was elected President of the chapter. She served for several terms. She always challenged NOW to deal with racism within the organization. She dealt with this first by setting up our meetings at the Mexican American Center and later at the NAACP. She was on of our most visible coordinators in the media, often showing up on the television's evening news, or being quoted in the San Jose Mercury Newspaper. Yes, Sandy was everywhere.

Not being one to be Satisfied with just one position, she also served on the Santa Clara Commission on the Status of Women. In her

spare time she cofounded the South Bay Coalition for Affirmative Action - which helped defeat Proposition 209 in Santa Clara County.

Sandy truly talked the talk and walled the walk as was reflected in her choice of employment, whether she was working in the family law practice of Joyce Sogg, being executive director for Mid-Peninsula Peace and Justice Center or as a union rep for local 715 and California Nurses Association. She was always fighting injustice both off And on the job.

In 1997 the chapter decided after much prodding and pushing from Sandy to host the 1998 California State NOW Conference. After 9 long Months of planning, frustration and hard work, the conference was a great success. Many of those who attended the conference proclaimed it to be the best conference in years. Everyone had worked hard, but Sandy had worked the hardest.

That summer Sandy had several difficult personal losses, most difficult was the death of her father. It took a toll on her and she took some much needed time off from NOW, but continued her activities as an activist.

She was still there when we needed her and her passion never wavered. She continued in her support for Welfare Reform, Immigrant rights and, of course, clinic defense and women's right to choose.

She had a tremendous presence in our chapter and her passing will leave a huge hole in the activist community. We will miss her commitment and compassion, her zest for life, her intelligence and lAughter and her smile. Most of all we will miss her Friendship. Sandy left the world a better place than it was before. She touched so many people. She will forever be in our hearts.