Volume 79, Issue 6

July Presidents’ Messages

Dear Arlington AAUW members,

These past two years have been full of amazing discoveries about possible offerings to each of us as members of AAUW. We see newsletters from our sister branches with special times for speakers and book sales. We read fascinating tips on lobbying for the challenges to ERA, Title IX, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging, and many more. And we offer our own contributions to bring us together as members. I am so grateful to have served as a Co-President during this time. Thank you! And I’m immensely appreciative of our Board’s hard workers. Bon Chance to the new Board led proudly by President Terry Bratt! You all are so prepared and enthusiastic!

Thank you All!

Karen Darner, retiring co-President

Dear Arlington AAUW members,

We hope summer has gotten off to a good start for everyone despite the poor air quality due to the forest fires in Canada.  Our Board met in June to plan our programs for the coming year after soliciting ideas from our membership. Topics include AI, Genealogy, Ageism, and Finance for monthly membership meetings and field trips to museums like Planet Word. 

If you haven’t already, it is time for you to renew your AAUW membership. 

Why renew your membership in AAUW?

For more than 100 years, AAUW has been fighting for equal rights for women.  National AAUW and its member branches have been instrumental in the fight to give women equal access to education and gender equity.  National AAUW works closely with Virginia AAUW and member Branches like Arlington AAUW to future our goals for gender equity.  How?

• More than 320 recipients received $6 million in AAUW fellowships and grants for the 2022–23 academic year—the highest amount in our history! The funding advances educational and professional opportunities for women in the United States and around the globe.
• This past year AAUW continued to grow its online programs, hosting more than 58 webinars.
• AAUW’s Start Smart and Work Smart salary negotiation trainings continued to be AAUW’s most sought after programs, reaching more than 4,000 participants in 2022, and over 190,000 to date
• AAUW continued our work with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and other minority serving institutions (MSIs), thanks to a generous grant from The Coca-Cola Foundation. A total of 17 minority-serving colleges, including 8 HBCUs, 7 women’s colleges and 2 MSIs, now offer AAUW’s Start Smart training, bringing the number of colleges and universities currently hosting the program to 77.
• Our powerful annual National Conference for College Women Student Leaders (NCCWSL) engage over 500 students from more than 300 college campuses nationwide through workshops, panels and an inspiring keynote from Nikole Hannah-Jones, creator of The 1619 Project.
• In its second year, AAUW’s STEMEd for Girls program gave over 200 participants and their caregivers the opportunity to explore STEM subjects and careers.
• AAUW’s Two-Minute Activists sent 19,539 letters to elected officials calling for action on AAUW priorities such as pregnant worker fairness, voting rights, confirming Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court, and more.

Arlington AAUW monthly programs and activities are planned by our members on topics of interest for our membership and include 

• a monthly membership meeting which might be a guest speaker, a field trip, or community event 
• providing scholarships to Arlington high school seniors and an Arlington educator award
• monthly book group
• a bi-monthly newsletter
• a monthly high school lunch bunch
• theater matinees, holiday luncheons, and other social events suggested by members

In addition, as members of Virginia AAUW, our benefits include 

• • State Newsletter (Vision) 3 times a year
  • State Conference with great speakers & fellowship
  • State Lobby Days in Richmond
  • Public Policy Leadership (a voice in Richmond)
  • Branch Mini-Grants for programs
  • Liaisons to National
  • A community of friends around the state.

Look for our newsletter in mid-August for our 2023-24 calendar of programs and activities, Let’s Talk about Books selections, and other upcoming events.  Have a wonderful summer!

Sincerely,

Karen Darner, retiring co-President, Terry Bratt, President

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New Treasurer Needed!

We need a volunteer(s) to be our branch treasurer as Mary Spatz, our current branch treasurer is unable to complete her second term. Treasurer duties include the following:

• Participate in bi-monthly board meetings
• Help develop yearly budget
• Keep track of expenses and bank account reports
• Deposit donation checks and dues checks from members 
• Reimburse member expenses via check, send scholarship checks to colleges, and submit insurance payment vis check.

Please let Terry Bratt know as soon as possible if you can volunteer for this one-year position.

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Let’s Talk About Books

 

Our July meeting is scheduled for July 25, at 2 pm at the home of Barbara Gallagher.  Our book selection is The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck.

At our July meeting we will have refreshments and the opportunity to lobby for our suggestions for next year, but the vote of the group will determine if it makes the list.  We need 11 titles since we do not meet in August.  When considering your suggestions (a maximum of three) we ask that it be readily available at the library or in paperback.  If you send me your suggestions with a short blurb about the book, I will compile the list and send to all before the meeting so you can be contemplating your choices.

Here are links to the Master Book List so you can see what we have already read.   Let me know if you have any problems with the files.

List of books by author

Barbara Gallagher, Let’s Talk About Books Chair

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It’s time to Renew!

How can you join?

June is the month to join or renew your membership AAUW Arlington (VA) Branch. It is important to scroll down to the middle of the membership landing page. Click on this link to join as a Branch Member.  Please reach out to Candace Lilyquist if you would like support joining online. Branch dues are $16, VA State dues are 15, and National dues are $72.

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Photos from the May 15 Awards Meeting

  

 

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AAUW Calendar

Our AAUW Calendar has moved to google which means you can check it online from the website or subscribe and see it directly on your phone or laptop! Additional information about the events is available by clicking the item.  Contact Joy at newsarlvaaauw@gmail.com if you have any questions.

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Arlington AAUW Executive Committee 2023-24

Term begins July 1, 2023

• Presidents: Terry Bratt (2023-2025) presarlvaaauw@gmail.com
• Co-First VP for Programs: Barbara Smith and Barbara Gallagher (2023-2025)
• Second VPs for Membership:  Candace L. Lilyquist (2022-2024)
• Third VP for Communications: Joy Gatewood (2023-2025) newsarlvaaauw@gmail.com
• Secretary: Denise M. Hassanein (2022-2024)
• Treasurer: Mary Spatz (2022-2024)
• Public Policy: Sara Anderson