My first CSTI (Community Strategic Training Initiative) was in 1994 when I was visitng from New York and the focus was on "Fighting the Right". I recall that Loretta Ross and other major thinkers and visionaries were sharing their experiences and strategies to help us foresee and respond to this massive onslought to our rioghts and democracy. When I returned to the NW Region in 2000, I tried to participate in as many of the CSTI's as possible. Last year, in 2007, when NOW was working with 12 other gender and racial justice groups to organize our sucessful NW Women of Color and Allies Summit -- with Aimee Santos Lyons as a panelist -- was especially helpful to reach women of color from the corners of our vast NW region. Thank you, Western States Center, for continuing to inspire and be relevant!