When did you first see Ms. Magazine?

I can’t recall exactly the first time I saw it, but I do remember subscribing to it soon after it launched in 1972. I lived in Odessa TX, not exactly the bastion of feminism. But within the pages of Ms., I found women from all over the country saying what I’d been thinking. And I realized I wasn’t alone in feeling that something was terribly unfair about the way women were treated in society.

I also learned about the National Organization for Women from Ms. I joined as an at-large member and located the other five or six at-large members within a 100-mile radius.

Ms. has had bumps in the road necessitating several incarnations and relaunches over the years and is currently published by the Feminist Majority.

I gave a party to honor one of the relaunches about a dozen years ago and found myself marveling that I was in the same room with its founders, including Gloria Steinem and if I remember correctly, Letty Cottin Pogrebin, Pat Carbine, and Suzanne Braun Levine. More importantly, it was clear from the magazine’s content and the reception invitees that in this reinvention, the magazine would appeal to a younger generation—or perhaps more accurately, women the age we second wave feminists were when Ms. was first published.

Today I’m going down to City Hall to celebrate Ms. Magazine’s 40th Anniversary.

The occasion will be honored by the City Council of New York – Wednesday, June 13, 2012. There will be a tribute at City Hall at 1:00 p.m. with a ceremony for the First National Feminist Publication “Born in New York.”

Even if you’re not in NY, you can join the celebration – Make the Ms. WONDER WOMAN first issue cover your profile picture on June 13th. Better yet, send a check or buy a subscription to help make sure Ms. will be around for at least another 40 years.

Please share your thoughts on the impact and importance of Ms. to you and to women.