April 2019 President’s Message By Liz Jordan and Donna Holmes

Liz Jordan

It’s so exciting!! From May 29 to June 1, 2019, our Sacramento Branch embarks on a whole new effort in providing leadership opportunities to college women. The Board has voted to send our first student to the National Conference of College Women Student Leaders (NCCWSL). Gloria Yost has been working with sophomore Billie Veerkamp, a member of the California State University, Sacramento AAUW branch, who has applied and will attend NCCWSL. Billie is an officer in that AAUW Affiliate and is interested in serving in a leadership role again next year. We are hoping Billie will be accepted for a scholarship to the conference. Regardless, we are confident she will make new friends, learn new skills, and come back to help grow AAUW among women in her age group. This was another of the Board’s goals set last August. CHECK!

Donna Holmes

We want to spur you to action. The easiest way to do that is to make you feel guilty. So here goes: We have between ten and 12 Interest groups. Many of you attend only these groups; sometimes you attend a branch meeting such as the Holiday Luncheon or Author’s Luncheon. Many, many give generously at Membership Renewal to Projects, Fellowships and Grants.

 

We have 29 leadership positions to fill now between April and July 2019. About 30 members regularly step up to do all the organizing and planning of branch activities, such as monthly meetings with speakers, panel discussions, tours, and food. Within our approximate 230 members, the Sacramento Branch has a large demographic of older women who have volunteered in the past. We also have a growing membership of women in their 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s, many of whom are stepping up to serve.

We have learned a common truth: In any organization, about 10% of members do all the work. Many of you are part of that 10% in other organizations to which you belong. But AAUW Sacramento NEEDS YOU.

We will be filling those leadership positions over the next few months, and we encourage you to look on p. 8 of your directory and volunteer to take a position. Some require attending the monthly board meeting. Some require submitting a brief article to Capital Ideas 1-9 times a year. We ask you to serve this LOCAL, 100-year-old and most wonderful women’s organization. Find a friend and share a position! Make some new friends.

Contact Liz Jordan: 916-354-9608; Email lizjord@msn.com. Please help your local AAUW branch today.