ELECTION RESULTS CORRECTION!

San Jose Branch Presented "Strong Girls, Strong Women"

 AAUW-San Jose and the Santa Clara County Office of Women’s Policy (OWP) sponsored “Strong Girls, Strong Women,” a leadership conference for high school girls and the adults in their lives on Saturday, May 4.

More than 200 participants watched documentary, “Miss Representation” and attended workshops on media literacy, self-defense, creating PSAs and more. AAUW-SJ members presented a session on finances for teens as well as a presentation to adults of the research report, “Crossing the Line: Sexual Harassment in the Schools.” During lunch, Devanshi Patel, star of  “Miss Representation,” moderated a panel of high school students sharing their community service projects. There was no charge for admission. 

The event received commendations from the Mayor of San Jose, the Santa Clara Board of Supervisors and the California Legislature.

A Human Trafficking Forum, attended by nearly 200 South Placer residents and hosted by Roseville-South Placer branch in April, presented a panel of ten speakers, who raised awareness of the problem of human trafficking in our world, our country, our state, and our community.

Taking part in the forum were speakers from law enforcement, including the Rocklin City Police Department and the FBI.  Also represented were several organizations that provide services and shelter for victims in our community: My Sister’s House, Bridget’s Dream, Courage Worldwide, Opening Doors, Stand Up Placer, and The Grace Network.

[More]

Voting in the AAUW CA election closed on May 11, 2013 at 5:00 pm PDT. 

With 12.9 % of the AAUW CA membership voting (1563 ballots cast), these are the election results:

The Public Policy Priorities for 2013-15 were APPROVED.

The proposal to increase state dues by $4 effective 2014-15 WAS NOT APPROVED.

The proposal to amend the state bylaws to reduce the number of state directors from 16 to 12 effective 2013-14 was PASSED.

Because the bylaws amendment was passed, only four directors at large were elected: Lynne Batchelor, Helene Carr, Cathy Foxhoven, Sue Miller.

The other candidates elected were Chief Financial Officer: Donna Mertens, President-Elect: Kathleen Doty.

Click HERE for details.  You will need the “Members Only” username/password to access the file.

Outgoing State Director and Fallbrook Branch President Sherry Ludwig (also member of O-P, San Diego, La Mesa-El Cajon, and CA Online) was appointed to the Commission on the Status of Women on May 7 by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors. Members Laurenn Barker (Fallbrook) and Jane Niemeier (La Mesa-El Cajon, San Diego, Fallbrook. State Liaison and State Convention Planner '14) were both present as the unanimous vote was taken. Wishing Sherry the best of luck in her future endeavors, which will always include AAUW!

 As the AAUW CA President I also sit on the Board of Directors for EdSource.

I am at the annual EdSource Symposium in San Jose. This one-day event is being held in conjunction with the state PTA Convention. The morning panel is now talking about "The Impact of Governor Brown's Local Control Funding Formula---Will it Lead to Higher Quality Education for All?"

Fresno County Branch, our newest branch, consisting of less than 20 members, did their first informational outreach on the campus of California State University Fresno on April 9, 2013 celebrating the unhappy holiday of Equal Pay Day. Over 85% of their members participated in one way or other to make the event a success.

Members purchased PayDay candy bars (labeled with "not fun" facts about pay inequity) as their hook to get the passing students to stop and chat for a few minutes about what Equal Pay Day means and how it affects them.

Along with the on campus team, one member volunteered to handle the  publicity for the event. She was very successful - letter to the editor, large article in the Fresno Bee Business Section on the day of the event and, to top it off, TV news coverage on the most popular channel in the Fresno market!

As they were wrapping up on the day of the event, they were planning to do this event on an annual basis and expanding to their local community college.

 During the lunch break at our Annual Meeting, several AAUW CA board members attempted to lead a Q&A discussion with members.  The lunch was held in the Capitol basement cafeteria, a very noisy and oddly shaped room.  It was not conducive to group discussion, so the session was brief.

Click HERE for a transcription of the questions and answers.

Other information about the election and the issues can be found on this website in the Elections section HERE.

The final round of the 2013 Eleanor Stem Allen Speech Trek Contest was held on Saturday, April 20 at the AAUW CA Annual Meeting. The three finalists gave their speeches and the prizes were awarded.

Pictured are (from left): Pavin Trinh, 1st place winner of $1500, (Alhambra-San Gabriel); Tierney Pretzer, 3rd place winner of $500 (Mariposa);  Kaitlyn Schultz, 2nd place winner of $1000 (Oakddale/Escalon/Riverbank)

Gray Allen, sponsor, awarded the prizes and made a few remarks about his wife, Eleanor Stem Allen, in whose memory the contest is named.