Information about AAUW’s new Community Hub

Dear Branch Presidents and Finance Officers,

This is an update about the status of the AAUW membership information database system changes and membership renewals, as well as information on how to learn more about it.  Please read and inform your members.  Most importantly, some members should be able to renew their membership and make a donation. 

The AAUW of VA Board will send information periodically on this subject reflecting the best of our knowledge at the time.  However, branch leaders should attend weekly AAUW staff virtual meetings (described below) and any webinars to hear directly from the staff about the new database and other   AAUW matters.

  1. AAUW’s New Database System 
    1. The new AAUW database system for membership information, replacing MSD, is called the Community Hub and is being rolled out in stages.  We understand from various sources that implementation is delayed for several parts of the new system.  
    2. In general: Go to https://www.aauw.org/new-systems-update/  for information on the new AAUW database system and training videos on creating a new account and other matters—which change  time-to-time.  
    3. All members need to create a new account on the AAUW Website now–especially officers. (Directions for this are below)
    4. Clarification:  There is no webpage at this time named “Community Hub.”  Currently, “Community Hub” seems to be the name for the entire new AAUW membership information database system.  Therefore, when a member goes to the main webpage at aauw.org, clicks on the “log in” link in the upper right corner, you go to a “Welcome” page that gives you the option to log in by setting up your new AAUW account or using your new AAUW account login.  If you use the new login, you will access the “Personal Snapshot” page.  This seems to be the AAUW webpage each member uses at this time for access to the membership information database.
    5. Much individual and branch membership information is not yet accessible for members. Individually, most members can update their personal information.  Some members can renew their membership and make donations, as well as perhaps see the branch roster.   
  1. DIRECTIONS FOR CREATING YOUR ACCOUNT 
    1. To create your new AAUW account. 
      1. Go to the main webpage at aauw.org.  
      2. Click on the “log in” link in the upper right corner. You will go to a “Welcome” page that gives you the choice to set up your new AAUW account. 
      3. The new password can only be letters and numbers.
    1. Important: Keep a record of the password you used for your previous AAUW account because, for some time, it will continue to be necessary to access certain areas on the AAUW system. For example, your prior password must be used to send an application to the AAUW Five Star Recognition Program.  
    1. When you log in to AAUW using your new account information, you will access the “Personal Snapshot” page with your contact information.  This seems to be the main page for each member to access Community Hub.  From there, there are tabs to access the membership information database (as it becomes available) and you can go to other parts of the AAUW website.
    1. You will see your personal contact information.  You should see “Member? Yes” and a listing of the category of membership. If there is an error message “You are not a member,” inform AAUW staff at connect@aauw.org.  AAUW staff is aware of this problem and is fixing it.
    1. There are tabs in a line within the blue band, including “check out,” “log out,” and “Personal Snapshot” to return to that page if you have opened any other tabs on that page.  To the right above that band is the red “Donate” button.  
    1. Although the AAUW video at https://www.aauw.org/new-systems-update/  on donations indicates that there is a “donate” tab in the blue band, I do not find one.
      1. Instead, to make a donation, click on the red “Donate” button and go through the usual process to make a donation.
      2. Although the payment page may reference a “credit card,” a debit card can also be used to make a donation.
    1. There are tabs on the left side of the “Personal Snapshot” page to access various membership information database capabilities and not all are yet working.  I suggest you review the following to make useful changes to your personal records.
      1. The “My Contact Information” tab allows you to correct and add to your personal contact information.
      2. The “My Affiliations” tab takes you to information about your state and branch affiliate status and, depending on your access rights currently, allows you to see and edit a branch board roster. 
      3. The “My Education” tab allows you to correct and update a listing of your educational degrees (which currently is usually missing or incomplete).
  1. TO RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP
    1. Those members who have created an account and their Personal Snapshot information correctly reflects that they are current members should be able to renew their membership at this time.  As stated above, I don’t believe that the Finance Officer currently can send out a group email to all branch members with a special individual renewal link. However, the Finance Officer can send the following directions to current members for processing their renewal online after checking and making any changes to the directions.
    2. Directions:
      1. Log into Personal Snapshot, as described above.
      2. Click on the “My Membership” tab on left side. You will go to the “Membership Management” page. 
      3. Popup: “Thank you for renewing your Branch and State memberships.  Please proceed with Branch and State selections as prompted in the screens that follow.”  Click “Renew.” 
      4. Choose your branch from a full list of all branches organized by state and click “next” to go to your state and ensure correct state is checked and click “Next.”
      5. You are given the option to give to the Greatest Needs Fund and click “Next.” 
      6. Your invoice will be displayed for branch and state membership. Review. Ensure it shows the correct branch and state and billing amounts. If correct, follow directions to pay with a credit or debit card.  Then print out a receipt and look for a confirmation email from infosf@aauw.org.

 

  1. Training on the New AAUW Database System

a.    The AAUW staff specifically involved in the transition to the new membership information database system are providing periodic online training on Thursdays.  (This is held in the time slot usually used by Connect2AAUW – described in the next item.)  

b.      The next training session will be on March 31st.  To register for that training session, follow the directions below for registering for the Connect2Virtual Office Hours and chose that date. 

  1. Connect2AAUW Virtual Office Hours

a.    To provide AAUW staff support to AAUW state and branch leaders, AAUW is holding weekly one-hour virtual meetings entitled Connect2AAUW Virtual Office Hours on Thursdays at 3:30 p.m.  Leaders will be able to obtain staff support on AAUW website navigation, resources, tools, and more.  I have found that every meeting deals with the new membership information database system in addition to other subjects (like NCCWSL scholarships).  

b.    Here is the link to register for any meeting. 

    1. The meeting date field is a drop-down so that you can register in advance for future meetings, including the special training sessions on the membership information database system.  
    2. You must fill in a mandatory field for questions.  Suggestion: either pre-submit a question or just write that you want to listen to the meeting.