Tag Archives: Membership

Membership Matters

AAUW MEMBERSHIP MATTERS By Bonnie Penix and Jan Stuter

A WELCOME AND A FAREWELL

As we end our membership year, we are very pleased to welcome our newest member,

Bonnie Penix

Carmen L. Hobbs, to AAUW Sacramento. Carmen has a BS in nursing from San Jose State University and an MS from Sonoma State University in nursing leadership and management. She is retired from the position of nurse consultant with the State of California. She has a particular interest in working with our Public Policy and Scholarship Committees. She also is interested in joining Great Decisions, Cultural History, Readers’ Theatre and the Singles Dining Out groups. Carmen made a point of attending our final program meeting of this year on Zoom, and we are all eager to meet her in person as COVID restrictions are lifted.

Sadly, this will be the last column of our two-year term as co-membership directors and what a tumultuous two-year period it has been! The joy of our 100- year anniversary and the challenge of the COVID pandemic were only two of the events that shaped and influenced our term. We wish Donna Holmes and Marty McKnew the best outcome as they navigate membership during their two-year term.

Janice Stuter

ON MY (FINAL) RADAR (From Jan):

One of the last recommendations I would like to make as I end our stint in office: Instead of eliminating a degree requirement for members, why not add an “or” qualification that would extend membership to any interested women and men without formal degrees who have contributed to the advancement of equity for women by working with us locally, statewide, nationally or internationally as a volunteer, financially or otherwise, on projects related to our goals. This qualification would certainly broaden the net we are able to cast to recruit new members while still focusing recognition on one of our primary goals, education and equity for all women. We might also be able to award posthumous membership to those awesome women and men who fought for equity and are no longer with us. I hope National will explore this as an alternative path to more inclusivity in our organization.

Branch Birthdays, Book Groups, Printable Newsletter Articles, Interest Groups, and Did You Know?

Branch Birthdays, Book Groups, and Printable Newsletter Articles

  • Click here for Branch Birthdays for June
  • Click here for Branch Birthdays for July
  • Click here for Book Group books for June
  • Click here for Book Group books for July
  • Click here for Printable Newsletter Articles

Interest Groups

You can find out about the Interest Groups offered by the branch by looking at the banner on the home webpage (just under the branch photo) and clicking on “Activities”. Click on “Interest Groups” and you will find a list of all Interest Groups, when they meet, and the group leader to contact for more information (email addresses and phone numbers can be found in the Branch Membership Directory and Handbook).

Some Interest Groups are taking a break during the pandemic, but a number are still meeting – virtually! According to the Interest Group Coordinator, Vicki Nicholson, here are the groups that are currently meeting:

  • All Book Groups
  • All 3 sections of Great Decisions
  • Art & Architecture
  • Board Games (Evening) – recently started meeting again!
  • Film Fans
  • Reader’s Theater
  • Travel

Feel free to contact a group leader to learn more about the Interest Group. They would love to have you join in!

Did You Know?

AAUW CA Public Policy Update: A reminder that you can get the latest information on California state public policies that concern the AAUW mission at aauw-ca.org.

AAUW Membership Renewal

AAUW Membership Renewal By Sharon Anderson

The branch renewal letters went out in the mail on Monday, April 19. The day before that, I sent out, to all our members, a mass email that includes National’s invoice form. If you will use National’s emailed invoice form to renew this year, to that we say: Yippee!  It saves us a lot of time and trouble, getting all the dues in the right slot very quickly.

The invoice was mailed out from my computer, but it doesn’t look like it because I have to use National’s program. The email will be from memberinfo@AAUW.org.

National’s email invoice is easy, as you no doubt learned last year, but here’s a refresher, just in case:  1) open the email with your credit/debit card in hand; 2) click on the blue (aqua?) highlighted option 1: “Click here to use debit or credit card”; 3) fill in the blanks; 4) click “next”; 5) click the “submit” button at the end.  Besides dues, you can also donate to any of National’s Funds on this invoice.

For any donations that you wish to make to any of Sacramento’s programs with your renewal, please include a check mailed with your renewal form, because National will not process our branch donations.

If you have any problems, please call me. Please be sure to postal mail back your paper application to me, as we do need it for our bookkeeping purposes. If the emailed invoice gets lost in your inbox, just let me know and I’ll send you another one.

If you haven’t renewed as you read this, renew now! Thank you!

Sharon Anderson, Membership Treasurer
916-396-9790

Membership Matters

AAUW MEMBERSHIP MATTERS By Bonnie Penix and Jan Stuter

Janice Stuter

Our term as Membership co-chairs is ending. It’s been a challenge and a privilege to hold this responsibility. In spite of the COVID-19 pandemic, AAUW Sacramento branch has welcomed 22 new members over these past two years. Two of them live locally but are national members only. Four did not renew this year. So the total of continuing new members acquired over the last two years is 16. It’s invigorating to meet more women who wish to help advance equity for all, and to learn from their different experiences, points of view and new ideas.

A big welcome to our two most recent new members:

Bonnie Penix

Margi Park lives in Midtown. She holds a BA in French from SUNY Binghamton and an MS in health from Columbia University. She is retired from her work as an education programs consultant for the State of California. Margi would like to be involved with AAUW Funds and Public Policy. She also looks forward to participating in a number of our interest groups. Margi is a longtime friend of Bonnie Penix.

Jennifer Krebsbach lives in Folsom. She is a graduate student at Sac State. She holds a BA in psychology, an MS in applied behavior analysis and autism studies, and will complete her MA in education-gender equity from CSUS this month. Jennifer plans to help with Speech Trek and the Scholarship Committee. She also wants to participate in Board Games and Bridge.

Please join us at the May 15 installation meeting when we will also honor five of our longtime members: Dorothy Bracchi, Susan McLearan, Elaine Moody, Pat Stilwell and Gloria Yost, each of whom will receive a special Honorary Life Membership certificate and pin to mark a great milestone — 50 years of membership in and contribution to the goals of AAUW.

The Nominating Committee has put forth the names for the next slate of officers for our Sacramento Branch. Donna Holmes and Marty McKnew will be the next Membership co-chairs. We feel these experienced and dedicated women will be excellent stewards of membership as we move into a new year of opportunities and possibilities for AAUW and for all women.

Branch Birthdays, Book Groups, Printable Newsletter Articles, and Interest Groups

Branch Birthdays, Book Groups, and Printable Newsletter Articles

  • Click here for Branch Birthdays for May
  • Click here for Book Group books for May
  • Click here for Printable Newsletter Articles

Interest Groups

You can find out about the Interest Groups offered by the branch by looking at the banner on the home webpage (just under the branch photo) and clicking on “Activities”. Click on “Interest Groups” and you will find a list of all Interest Groups, when they meet, and the group leader to contact for more information (email addresses and phone numbers can be found in the Branch Membership Directory and Handbook).

Some Interest Groups are taking a break during the pandemic, but a number are still meeting – virtually! According to the Interest Group Coordinator, Vicki Nicholson, here are the groups that are currently meeting:

  • All Book Groups
  • All 3 sections of Great Decisions
  • Art & Architecture
  • Film Fans
  • Reader’s Theater
  • Travel

Feel free to contact a group leader to learn more about the Interest Group. They would love to have you join in!

Time for Membership Renewals and Membership Matters

MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS START MID-APRIL By Sharon Anderson and Liz Jordan

From Sharon Anderson, Membership Treasurer, and Liz Jordan, Finance Director:

Renewal forms for 2021-2022 membership will be mailed out by USPS in mid-April.  The deadline for returning dues and paperwork is June 1, 2021.

The process is the same as last year’s process, and it is very easy for first-timers.

Please remember, we have the opportunity to pay our dues, plus any donation to any of National’s Funds, online in the Membership Payment Program (MPP).

  1. The renewing member receives an email from an AAUW email address.
  2. With your credit card handy, fill in the required blanks and click “submit.”
  3. You don’t have to request this renewal email; Membership Treasurer Sharon Anderson, will send an email dues invoice to each and every member with an email address on file.

We anticipate members will increase their use of National’s MPP for paying dues because it is so easy.  Many more members used MPP last year, which is a tremendous help to the branch.

Calls for assistance are welcome!

1st Reminder: any donations to our branch programs can be made by check, made out to AAUW Sacramento, and returned with your renewal application.

2nd Reminder: Dues for 2021-2022 will increase by $3 because the National dues are going up from $59 to $62.  Your total renewal fee (except for life members) will be $102.

AAUW MEMBERSHIP MATTERS BY Bonnie Penix and Jan Stuter

50-YEAR MEMBERS

This month our membership treasurer, Sharon Anderson, has submitted the names of three of

Janice Stuter

our branch members to be considered for Honorary Life Membership in AAUW. Each of them has been an AAUW member for 50 years! They are Susan McLearan, Elaine Moody and Gloria Yost.  They richly deserve recognition for their many years of helping to advance equity and opportunities for women and girls in many facets of our lives. We will be honoring them at our May meeting, still on Zoom, and hope you will attend.

ON OUR RADAR

Once again, members of AAUW will be asked, in a national organization election, to eliminate the degree requirement as a condition for membership. Neither of us agrees that taking this step is necessary for us to show our dedication to inclusion. There are organizations, such as NOW, founded in 1966, that are open to any woman wishing to improve women’s life situations. Our organization recruits individuals who have acquired formally awarded degrees of two, four

Bonnie Penix

or more years; have a sincere interest in providing equal opportunity for women and girls in all phases of life; and are committed to nurturing their own ongoing personal growth, culturally, politically and socially.

We both attended the recent webinar on this issue and remain unconvinced that removing the membership requirements will result in a substantial improvement in attaining our goals or improving our membership numbers. We would much rather see adding a new area of eligibility, equal to full membership, for those exceptional individuals who have through their actions contributed substantially to the positive programs and opportunities available for women and girls.

NEW MEMBERS

We want to welcome two new members to our branch: Elaine Ellers and Rosemary Howard.

Elaine lives in Fair Oaks. She has a BA in international relations from Monterey Institute of International Studies and an MA in social work from UC Berkeley. She works as manager of the Sutter Teen Programs. She is interested in Film Fans, Great Decisions and Scrabble. Elaine would like to assist with our Speech Trek program. Elaine was referred by Arlene Cullum. Thank you, Arlene.

Rosemary lives in Carmichael. She has a BS in biochemistry from UC Davis and an MBA from CSUS. Rosemary is retired and is interested in Arts & Architecture, Film Fans and Great Decisions. She also is interested in Speech Trek outreach.

The Time is — Now?

The Time is — Now?

Submitted by Liz Jordan. From the AAUW CA Board: Living our Vision of Equity for All
Click here to find out more and see some inspiring videos. Also, see https://www.aauw-ca.org/documents/2021/03/living-our-vision-of-equity-for-all-presentation.pdf/.

Is this the time, now, after 140 years, to invite everybody with similar goals to join AAUW? The AAUW California Board of Directors thinks it is and would like you to know why.

We work hard for the AAUW vision of equity for all and the mission of advancing gender equity, education, health issues, and more. But so do others, including many without a college degree. Are we missing out on their energy, ideas, and help? Before you vote, please review the aauw.org home page. It reflects our inclusive mission for equity. Our membership bylaws do not.

Here is some history that may surprise you: Until the late 1940s, only women with four-year degrees from a small list of accredited, elite universities could join AAUW. According to Sharon Schuster, past AAUW National and California president, “Some would like to forget that we used to vote on prospective members — with all of the implications of what that meant.”

The World War II years broadened AAUW’s vision and all women with four-year degrees from any accredited schools were invited to join; applicants were required to present their degree certificates.

The next requirements to be dropped were accreditation and proof of degree. Then the  4-year degree requirement was dropped as holders of 3-year nursing degrees and 2-year associate degrees became eligible. Eligibility was also extended to students working toward a degree. In the 1980’s, men were allowed to join. Now, in 2021, most membership requirements have been eliminated and only one remains: that of the two-year degree.

AAUW California understands why some members might be reluctant to embrace this idea: it has long been a badge of accomplishment for women to earn a college degree, and we all enjoy socializing with others who enjoy the same things. But shared values are not an automatic byproduct of a college degree.

Before we discuss the benefits of removing this last barrier, you should know that quite a few foundations refuse to grant funds to organizations that discriminate. Yes, that is how they view this requirement. And this reduced funding pool restricts our work.

The younger generations do not view our restriction receptively either. We believe that they are more likely to join organizations with open membership working for similar goals.

The same can be said for potential members of more diverse backgrounds. We have the same vision for the future of all women and all girls; we should work together. And we can do that more effectively if we welcome everybody. Also, in order to provide support for those excluded or marginalized, we need to stop excluding and marginalizing. We need to LIVE our mission and vision.

So, how would AAUW change if everyone could join?

Your enthusiastic Tech Trek moms without degrees want to help our splendid STEM camps. Now they could.

New people might join your board to help with AAUW projects and events. They will bring fresh perspectives.

Remember when you had a friend who wanted to join AAUW but was one year short of a degree? Now she could.

This would be AAUW’s future face: more people of all backgrounds and colors, more hands working on our mission; more members to join discussion groups. We would be an organization that welcomes everybody.

And, how would it NOT affect AAUW or your branch?

It will not affect the uniqueness of AAUW. Its uniqueness is its breadth of programming, research, policy, advocacy, fellowships and grants, and grassroots membership.

  • It will not change your branch’s involvement in local scholarships or interest groups.
  • It will not change the mission of the branch. Mission is not determined by a degree, but by belief in and dedication to equality for women.

Sharon Schuster also said, “AAUW has survived because of our ability to change and because our membership requirements have changed over the years.”

So, when April 7th arrives, do remember the issues we raise here and cast your vote in the AAUW National election for a positive future for an AAUW that welcomes everybody.. As much as we value the way we have been, we can also value the way we will be. It’s time we walked the talk.

Carol Holzgrafe, Director
Branch Assistance Contact
AAUW California

Upcoming Member Vote

Upcoming Member Vote by Charmen Goehring-Fox

[NOTE: Another view on this issue immediately follows Charmen’s article.]

Charmen Goehring

Many of you may be aware that we have a national AAUW election coming up April 17-May 7 that includes a bylaw proposal to eliminate the degree requirement as a condition of membership. For the sake of transparency, let me say that I am 100 percent in favor of elimination. There are many pros and cons, and lots of feelings around the proposal. Let’s talk about some facts first.

*This is just the second time since 2009 that the National AAUW Board has put the proposal to a vote. The appearances on the ballot between 2009 and 2018 were suggested by a member, which is one of our rights of membership.

*This is not about getting more members — when we voted to allow those with two-year degrees or when we voted to allow men, there was not a surge of two- year degreed or male members. It is not expected to create a flood of new members now.

*Only about 15 percent of AAUW’s budget is funded by our dues. The rest comes from other sources such as corporations and other organizations. It is becoming increasingly difficult to compete with other organizations for these funds as we are seen as “exclusive” at a time when everyone is working to become more inclusive. Our mission will be jeopardized by lack of funds if we can’t get donors to see AAUW as a worthwhile investment.

*Younger women, those under 50, have been telling AAUW for years that they see the degree requirement as exclusive and they do not want to be part of an organization that holds on to this.

*AAUW is not considering changing the name. Many people now think we are university professors which, obviously, is not accurate. Many companies and organizations have changed membership makeup over the years and yet, kept their well-established name- think GEICO, YMCA.

*Our degree requirement has changed over time. In the beginning, only those with a degree from a specific list of schools could join AAUW. In 1949, the members voted to open membership to women with a degree from any accredited four-year college or university. In 1985, we voted to allow men and in 2005, those with a two-year or equivalent degree were voted in.

Among the pros of eliminating the degree requirement:

  • We will be able to “walk our talk” of equity for ALL women.
  • We will be able to welcome equity-minded people who have amazing skillsets but no degree.
  • We will be seen as more inclusive and open to our communities.
  • We may attract younger women and women of color (many of whom have historically not had the same education opportunities as white women).

Some of the cons of eliminating the degree requirement:

  • We lose our exclusive appeal and are less distinguishable from other women’s organizations.
  •  We might be seen as less focused on encouraging women to achieve degrees (though we will still be the largest provider of grants and fellowships).
  •  We may attract to our branches women who are different from us.

I urge you to consider this matter, talk with others, seek out information. Check out the AAUW Townhall Webinar, Dues and Education Requirement (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhkHHqKwT3w&feature=youtu.be) This has been a year of reckoning in our country and it is time to bring AAUW along too. As Frieda Schurch, 50- year member and major AAUW donor, said on the floor of the 2005 AAUW Convention, “What are we about? Equity for women or showing off our degrees?” It is time again to answer that question.

Another View on the Upcoming Vote by Vicki Nicholson

When I proudly joined the Fremont Branch in 1974, I was eager to meet and have conversations with educated, intelligent women who also supported education and equity.  I was not disappointed.  Since the degree was the “value factor” for joining, I am giving voice to members who want to retain the degree requirement.  I respect current members who admit that, though they formerly supported its retention, they now are willing to eliminate it.

To some extent AAUW has achieved its goal of promoting college education for women and girls because our sisters have secured more degrees than men for some time.  However, we are aware that we cannot relax our push for pay equity, equitable health care, more equitable representation of minority communities as leaders, among other issues.  We certainly welcome all partners who join us in these efforts.

If the degree requirement is completely eliminated, AAUW will no longer be distinctive — just American Association of Women.  And if there is no corresponding name change, then the AAUW label would be misleading or, worse, a form of false advertising.

I am most angered by the fact that the membership HAS spoken on this question and it has been rejected at least twice in recent years.  I resent National attempting to railroad through the degree requirement elimination AGAIN.  National should wait at least five years before putting the change to a vote once again.  Since I am a paid life member, I cannot disassociate myself from the national organization but, if degree elimination is passed, I would have to re-evaluate local branch ties.

Membership Matters

AAUW MEMBERSHIP MATTERS By Bonnie Penix and Jan Stuter

Bonnie Penix

March is Women’s History Month. Did you know that the concept of specifically celebrating women’s history began in California? The actual celebration of Women’s History Month grew out of a weeklong celebration of women’s contributions to culture, history and society, organized by the school district of Sonoma, California, in 1978. Presentations were given at dozens of schools, hundreds of students participated in a “Real Woman” essay contest and a parade was held in downtown Santa Rosa.

A few years later, the idea had caught on within communities, school districts and organizations across the country. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued the first presidential proclamation declaring the week of March 8 as National Women’s History Week. The U.S. Congress followed suit the next year, passing a resolution establishing a national celebration. Six years later, in 1987, the National Women’s History Project successfully petitioned Congress to expand the event to the entire month of March.

Women’s History Month highlights women’s contributions to US history, culture and contemporary society. Women are recognized for their achievements in science, government, literature, art, sports, community and medicine. Some names you might recognize are Marie Curie, Rachel Carson, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Eleanor Roosevelt, Jane Addams, Carrie Chapman Catt, Mae Jemison and Wilma Mankiller. Honoring the accomplishments of these women has a positive impact on the development of self-respect and encourages new opportunities for girls and women. As we celebrate 140 years of AAUW’s existence, we will continue to speak out for gender equity in all aspects of our society, and to promote opportunities for women and girls of all backgrounds.

We invite YOU to:

  • Invite your friends, relatives, co-workers and neighbors to join AAUW and help advance our

    Janice Stuter

    endeavors.

  • Invite them to attend one of our public meetings where they can join at a reduced rate.
  • Invite them to join an organization of accomplished women.

We don’t all have to have names as famous as those above. Each of us has value in her own right and something to offer. What we mostly need to have is a commitment to helping grow strong, successful women as we move forward in history — to continue to create and tell “her-story.” To quote Carrie Chapman Catt: “To the wrongs that need resistance, To the right that needs assistance, To the future in the distance, Give yourselves.”

If you have ideas for member recruitment and/or retention, please be sure to share them with us. Thank you!

Branch Birthdays, Book Groups, Interest Groups, Printable Newsletter Articles

Branch Birthdays, Book Groups, and Printable Newsletter Articles

  • Click here for Branch Birthdays for March
  • Click here for Book Group books for March
  • Click here for Printable Newsletter Articles

Interest Groups

You can find out about the Interest Groups offered by the branch by looking at the banner on the home webpage (just under the branch photo) and clicking on “Activities”. Click on “Interest Groups” and you will find a list of all Interest Groups, when they meet, and the group leader to contact for more information (email addresses and phone numbers can be found in the Branch Membership Directory and Handbook).

Some Interest Groups are taking a break during the pandemic, but a number are still meeting – virtually! According to the Interest Group Coordinator, Vicki Nicholson, here are the groups that are currently meeting:

  • All Book Groups
  • All 3 sections of Great Decisions
  • Art & Architecture
  • Film Fans
  • Reader’s Theater
  • Travel

Feel free to contact a group leader to learn more about the Interest Group. They would love to have you join in!