Burlingame's Embassy Suites buzzed on Saturday, March 16 with the sound of AAUW women supporting one of our favorite causes.  

Jennifer Reisch, Legal Director for Equal Rights Advocates spoke to the group about her work as attorney for Betty Dukes in her suit against Wal-Mart.  Her words were inspiring as they demonstrated how LAF funds are used to support the case.

During luncheon conversation with AAUW CA President, Alicia Hetman, Jennifer was also inspired -- to complete the application form and become a member of AAUW!

Pictured: Sharon Westafer, AAUW Funds Director; Hetman; Reisch.

With a matching funds challenge from Gloria Weston, longtime supporter and activist for LAF and for whom the Gloria Weston Outreach Fund is named, luncheon attendees were inspired to raise $3600 on the spot.

Sue Miller, our Public Policy Director, reports the following:

In response to a complaint filed by the Chico Branch AAUW California, the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) has concluded that the Chico Unified School District (CUSD) fails to comply with Title IX regulations for the sport programs at the two high schools.

The OCR determined that the high school sports program did not meet any of the three prongs used to assess whether a school is providing nondiscriminatory sport opportunities for both sexes. The District is not effectively accommodating the interests and abilities of female students and there is a pattern of disparities favoring boys with regard to locker rooms, practice and competitive facilities, the time of day for competitive events, and publicity.

[More]

The female athletes supported by AAUW in their Title IX suit against UC Davis will be the featured speakers at an AAUW Funds luncheon to be held on November 5 at the Burlingame Embassy Suites Hotel.

Reservations for the luncheon can be made in the AAUW Funds section of this website, under 2011 Funds Luncheons HERE.

Attorney Noreen Farrell reported the Court found in favor for the Title IX claim against the University, but let the individual UC officials off the hook for the constitutional claim.  The Court was not supportive of the women wrestlers, but could not avoid the clear facts of the case showing a program-wide Title IX violation when they were students.  

AAUW's support was very important in this case.

The  Mansourian v UC Davis case is going to trial on May 23 in federal court in Sacramento. A time has not been yet set but will probably be around 10:00am. The Mansourian lawyers would love to have local AAUW members there to show support.
  
The US Federal Courthouse in Sacramento is located at 501 “I” Street, Suite 10 – 100, Sacramento, CA.  There is a two story parking structure at 7th Street and “G” Street.
   
Amtrak has a station at 401 “I” Street, Sacramento, easy walking distance to the Courthouse.

We regretfully announce that the Gloria Weston Campus Outreach Program scheduled for Monday, April 19th at the Claremont Colleges, has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances.

We hope to be able to reschedule the event.

Rozanne Child, AAUW-CA AAUW Funds Director
 

The American Association of University Women-CA, Intercollegiate Women’s Studies of the Claremont Colleges, and the Scripps College Department of Gender & Women’s Studies are pleased to announce Pay Equity Events on April 19, 2010 at the Claremont Colleges in honor of Equal Pay Day.  

We are thrilled to have Michael Kimmel as our honored guest and speaker.  Dr. Kimmel will meet informally with faculty, visit classes and also speak to the greater college and local community at 7 pm.  He will also conduct a gender equity outreach workshop  for students, faculty and staff as part of AAUW-CA’s Gloria Weston Campus Outreach Fund at 4:15 pm in the Mallott Commons, Pomona College. 

The Gloria Weston Campus Outreach Fund provides funding for programming on college campuses in California that promote gender and pay equity. For additional information, please contact Carlynne McDonnell 909-964-3187.

Approximately 75 attendees listened intently Saturday as Michelle Jaureguito Henley related the horrific details of the unjust treatment she and her two co-plaintiffs received from the administration and trustees of Feather River Community College.  At times overcome with emotion, even though the case began nearly five years ago, Henley slowly and deliberately revealed the events of her story.

In the photo, from left: Gloria Taylor, AAUW CA Co-President; Henley; AAUW Funds Director, Rozanne Child

After being unjustly accused of participating in and condoning the bad behavior of her staff member, Henley lost her career, her credibility in the community and her marriage.  She spoke of the many times she had felt like just giving up and walking away from the fight, but each time she was spurred on by the encouragement of her co-plaintiffs and by AAUW members who have heard her story and offered their support.

Details of Henley's case can be found on the AAUW national website by clicking HERE.

Current California LAF supported plaintiff, Michelle Jaureguito Henley from Feather River Community College, will speak later this month at two luncheons.

NORTHERN California
January 30, 12:00 - 3:00
Crow Canyon Country Club
711 Silver Lake Drive, Danville

SOUTHERN California
January 31, 12:30 - 3:30
Kellogg West Conference Center
3801 W. Temple Avenue, Pomona

 For information, contact aauwfundsdir@aauw-ca.org

Donations for 2009 AAUW Funds are due by December 1, 2009.
Please remember they must reach our AAUW Funds treasurers by December 15th for proper crediting in 2009.  You may download the forms on our California Website at www.aauw-ca.org.  Just click on forms and documents and go to AAUW Funds and LAF.  Please make out all checks to AAUW Funds and in the memo line signify the fund number. Send the donation forms to:

• AAUW Funds Treasurer 8925 E. Callita St. San Gabriel, CA 91775
• LAF Treasurer 7632 Woodland Lane, Fair Oaks, CA 95628

If you have any questions or need assistance please feel free to contact Rozanne Child AAUW Funds Director at aauwfundsdir@aauw-ca.org. Remember all donations to AAUW Funds including LAF are 501(c)(3) and are therefore tax deductible.  Thank you for you generous donations to AAUW Funds.  Let’s make it another Banner Year for AAUW California!

AAUW Funds Assessments are due November 15, 2009.  Your branch treasurer will be receiving an assessment letter in the mail.  When you receive your assessment please mail a check to AAUW California Office, PO Box 160067, Sacramento, 95816-0067.  These monies will be used to help complete the California Unfinished Endowments.  Thanks for your support.
 

Rozanne Child, AAUW Funds Director

The northern AAUW Fellows Luncheon at Crow Canyon Country Club in Danville was an exciting event.  Over 130 members, guests and fellows enjoyed a delicious salad luncheon with lots of time to visit with one another. At our table, we got acquainted with Selected Professions Fellow,Samika Boyd, a 3rd year law student at Boalt.

After lunch, AAUW Funds Director Rozanne Child talked about the changes in structure that have led to the new term AAUW Funds, which encompasses not only what was formerly known as the Educational Foundation (EF), but also the Legal Advocacy Fund (LAF), the Public Policy Fund, the Eleanor Roosevelt Fund and the Leadership Programs Fund.

Then we heard from six AAUW Fellows and three Grants recipients who are currently working in northern California.  It is wonderful to hear these young women talk with passion about their studies and community work and express their gratitude for the opportunities afforded them by the funds they have received from AAUW.

After the luncheon, I spoke with one of the fellows, Sabrina Sanchez, who is working on a doctorate in American History at UC Santa Cruz.  I told Sabrina I love these events because they let us AAUW members put a face on the results of our fundraising.  Sabrina told me the recipients are glad to see the people who have worked hard on their behalf, as well as to have an opportunity to toot their own horns.

Harriet Tower, AAUW CA Communications Director

Making donations is now simpler and allows you to designate your support to the programs you care about most.  For those of us in California a new LAF Transmittal Form and “EF” Contribution Form have been developed to handle AAUW Funds donations.  They are available on this website in the Forms & Documents section. The new forms have the fund numbers listed in the instructions and on the forms.  Please note that the person from your branch submitting the forms will not send  them to the California State Office as in the past but to the EF or LAF committee treasurer listed on the form. When the treasurers receive your checks and donation forms they will prepare an Excel spreadsheet and send your checks to National in Washington D.C. for proper branch credit.  Please feel free to contact Rozanne Child, AAUW Funds Director at aauwfundsdir@aauw-ca.org if you have any questions or concerns. Just remember EF is now referred to as AAUW Funds.

At the National Convention in St. Louis in June, California was again the top contributor nationwide to both “EF” and “LAF”.  Thank you California!!  Let’s work together to make 2009 another Banner Year for California. Your commitment to support AAUW Funds reaffirms our Value Promise.  By joining AAUW, we belong to a community that breaks through educational and economic barriers so that all women have a fair chance.

Rozanne Child
AAUW Funds Director