President Nancy McCabe

I attended the California State AAUW Convention in mid-April and received lots of good information. As there were four workshops given at four different times, I could only learn so much! I attended two workshops on leadership, one on program, and one on membership. Certainly the largest take away from the membership workshop is that it growing membership is the responsibility of all members, not just the membership chairs. There are so many opportunities that each of us has to meet potential members in the course of our daily lives. Do you belong to a religious organization? An alumni association? A civic group? A neighborhood association? Have neighbors? Have family?

One way to introduce AAUW to potential members is by telling them that it is the oldest women’s empowerment association in the country. Tell them what we are, not what we are not. Time and attention span is wasted going into how we aren’t all university professors. Probably anyone who knows me wouldn’t have to ask that! Talk about Speech Trek and how that promotes leadership skills. Tech Trek introduces 13-year-old girls to STEM occupations and the possibility of attending college. This is actually life changing. We give college scholarships to women ages 25 and older who need financial assistance in order to complete college. Our national organization awards grants and fellowships to women to enable them to complete degrees and advance their careers or reenter the workforce. AAUW provides nearly $4 million in funding each year to women scholars and community projects that benefit girls and women. Since 1888, we’ve awarded more than $100 million to these women.

How can you not be totally proud of what each of us contributes to and want to share this information with other women? Invite a friend to a meeting and point out that membership is a bargain if she joins at that meeting. Who can resist a bargain?