Page Title

By President

Janice Abele

jlabele@aol.com

Musings On The Future of AAUW Membership

Text Box: Our AAUW year is off and running! We have seen current and new members step up and offer their time and energy when they probably had little of either to spare. Our rewards are the furthering of the AAUW mission and the camaraderie of like-minded women. We can be serious and have fun! I would like to encourage participation among all our members. There are so many ways that you can be a meaningful part of our branch. Ask a board member how you can help. There are many proposed changes on the horizon for AAUW as a whole. One of the most divisive is the proposal to open our membership to any and all regardless of educational credentials.

Text Box: This is an issue that strikes a nerve with many of us. Whether this proposed change comes to fruition or not will be decided by a vote at national convention in St. Louis in June 2009. I believe that the most important thing to remember is the mission of the organization. We all hold the same values to be most dear: equity for women in the workplace and in higher education; the removal of barriers that prevent women from attaining all that they are capable of achieving. Perhaps by broadening the definition of who may become a member, we will see increased membership and a strengthening of our organization that will bring about a heightened awareness of our mission among the general population.

Text Box: On this flip side of this, as an organization that promotes education, shouldn’t we ourselves be educated? What better way to promote our mission that to have an educated membership. Back on the local level, our branch is increasing membership. We are very fortunate to have four new members among us. Susan Garner-Warsinske, Susan Gelberg, Tonya Nave, and Jerry Fong. I would like to extend our warmest welcome to these four dynamic women. Our next program on October 16th at the Majestic Theatre promises to be informative and great fun. I hope to see you all there!

“I would like to encourage participation among all our members. There are so many ways that you can be a meaningful part of our branch. Ask a board member how you can help.”

- Janice Abele