AAUW NEWS OF NOTE

Mission Statement: AAUW promotes equity for all women and girls, lifelong education, and positive societal change.

Vision Statement: AAUW is committed to making a significant impact on education and equity for all women and girls. We will remove barriers and develop opportunities to enable women and girls to reach their full potential. This shared vision drives the work of AAUW at all levels.

CALENDAR

Please join us for an entertaining program on Tuesday, March 13 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM in the Fireside Lounge at Linden Ponds. The program will be presented by Sally Matson., who will take us on a historical journey into the life of Susan B. Anthony, lifelong advocate of women’s rights. Using Susan B. Anthony's own words--her fiery speeches, humorous letters, and revealing diary entries--Sally Matson has woven together a story filled with wit and emotion - The Underground Railroad, the Civil War, the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments, her arrest and trial for voting illegally in Rochester, and countless trips out West.

Sally Matson is a graduate of the Northwestern University School of Communication and has studied writing at the University of Virginia and Manhattanville College. She is an actress, narrator, and educator

Directions: Linden Ponds is located off Route 53, on Whiting Street in Hingham, near the Weymouth town line. The Gatehouse will be expecting AAUW members and guests. They will direct you to the guest parking lot on the left and the Oakleaf Clubhouse on the right. The Fireside lounge is located on the 2^nd floor of the Oakleaf Clubhouse.

PRESIDENT’S LETTER

Welcome to our latest new members. We hope you will find our branch as stimulating as I have over the years. The women in our branch are an interesting group, full of surprises. We’re math whizzes, gourmet cooks, polyglots, literary mavens, basketball coaches, adventurous diners, authors-in-training, globe-trotters, packrats, political activists, mahjong know-it-all’s, and committed volunteers. And that’s just scratching the surface! Most of all, we share the vision and values of AAUW. We look forward to getting to know you. The Winter State Meeting was a grand success. There were at least 80 people in attendance, with barely an empty seat during the keynote panels on sexual harassment on campus. I went to the conference assuming I knew a lot about this topic, but came away far more enlightened. The issue is important to AAUW. First, harassment and assault incidents are fairly common – for both female and male students. Second, institutional mechanisms for dealing with complaints are not standardized and are less than optimal in many cases. Third, making a complaint has the potential to ruin a student’s higher educational experience. Kudos to the organizers in our branch!

Please consider taking on a new leadership role in our branch – nominate yourself or a friend to help us keep expanding our membership while offering excellent programs to the community. To nominate someone (or yourself) please contact our Nominating Chair Pat Bologna, 781-749-1726 or e-mail bologna.family@comcast.net. I hope to see you in March! Kay

AAUW Applauds Harvard's Break with Tradition, Appointment of First Female President

On Feb. 11, Harvard University made history by naming Drew Gilpin Faust as its first female president. At a news conference, Faust said, "I am not the woman president of Harvard. I am the president of Harvard."

According to new data from the American Council on Education, women represent only 23 percent of college presidents, a number that has grown since 1986, but which shows that women are still underrepresented in this career field.

"All too often universities fall prisoner to conventions and even stereotypical ideas about leadership that unnecessarily limit their options—and which put female candidates at a disadvantage," said AAUW President Ruth Sweetser. "Today, Harvard notably broke with the tradition of only male presidents and made strides to break the glass ceiling in yet another career field where women are historically underrepresented. AAUW is confident they will be the better for it."

The association is hard at work preparing for convention as well as its strategic realignment. If you are interested in keeping up with the strategic process, please visit the website: www.aauw.org.

The updated Strategic Process section on the AAUW website (www.aauw.org) includes

· a copy of the October 2006 Joint Boards’ Report on the Strategic Process findings,

· Frequently Asked Questions and contact information to submit additional questions, and

The May Convention in Marlboro, MA will continue that topic, and will also discuss in detail the proposed bylaws amendments that will be raised at the National Convention

Please let Kay Campbell know by noon on March 27^th if you are planning to go to the national convention and if you’re interested in being a branch delegate!

Sandy Carle will host the next game night at her home on Tuesday, March 20^th at 7:00 PM. Call her at 781-340-6281 (e-mail: scarle12@aol.com) to RSVP.

Our next meeting will be on March 22, 2007, at the home of Kay Campbell. We always welcome new writers, so if you’re interested in attending please call Kay at 781-740-0788 or e-mail: kaycam@aol.com for the writing assignment.

ADVENTURES IN DINING

Join us at El Sarape, the Zagat-rated Mexican restaurant in Weymouth Landing. We’ll meet there at 6:30PM on Thursday, March 1^st. Call or e-mail Kay Campbell if you want to join us! (781-740-0788 or kaycam@aol.com).

It seems like just yesterday that February’s column was written and here it is time to write again. Our branch has been advancing in membership numbers this year, thanks to all of you. We think you will agree that our new members have brought new enthusiasm and vigor to our branch. However, we cannot let down our vigilance. Our growth is far from finished. Please continue to spread the word about AAUW to friends, colleagues, neighbors. This month’s meeting is perfect for extending an invitation to that someone you have had in mind. Beginning March 15 anyone joining will receive the rest of this year’s membership for the price of next year’s dues. And, of course, if your prospective member joins at the branch program meeting, she will receive the Shape the Future discount and you will become her recruiter through the Member Get A Member campaign.

Pat joined at the February 3rd State Conference after being invited to attend by Cristina Ajemian, a member of the Taunton Area Branch. Yes, the program was that good!

Judith recently moved to Hingham and was delighted to discover the Hingham Area Branch. We hope to meet her at the branch meeting in her own territory.

ChitChat: Even if her house is still not finished Pat Granahan has reason to be joyful. She recently flew to Cancun for the wedding of her daughter, Julie. And, after more years than any of us can count, all her hard work advocating for alternative energy resources seems to be taking hold. In addition to seeing a recent article published in the Green Corner of the Hingham Journal, the scientific contents of which Pat wrote, Pat is excited that the Hingham Light Plant has voted $30,000 for a “met” tower to study the feasibility of wind power. A great accomplishment, Pat! And speaking of accomplishments, our Hingham Journal AAUW Corner is the envy of branches across the country. President Kay devoted this month to the Legal Advocacy Fund in honor of its 25^th anniversary. If you have not read the article yet, you can find it at the following link: http://www.townonline.com/hingham/columnists/8998924494227636223.

It is outstanding! Our own Chrisanne Gregoire was nominated for Hingham Citizen of the year. Chris is about to run for her 7^th three-year term as a member of the Hingham School Committee. Although she did not win, we think she deserved it for all her years of dedication to the children of Hingham. Thank you, Chris. AAUW-MA President Pat Bologna announced that Ginny Giordano has accepted the nomination for AAUW-MA treasurer. Our branch will be well represented at the state level. Congratulations, Ginny. We’ll be sure to vote for you at the annual meeting in May. Sheila and Hollie bumped into Sondra Schmidt, her son and husband, during a recent sojourn into Boston. It really is possible to meet AAUW members all over the world as well as our own backyard.

Our AAUW New England Regional Director Marcelline Barron has been moved to hospice care as she continues her battle with cancer.

Earlier this month, the Massachusetts State Executive Board voted to send a modest contribution to the Founding Leader campaign in honor of Marcelline's many years of dedicated service to the mission and vision of AAUW. These contributions will be directed exclusively (at Marcelline's request) to the AAUW Leadership Training Institute. Additional information can be found in the Winter 2006 issue of The Baystater (page 2).

If you would like to make an individual contribution, the deadline for all contributions in her honor is May 1st. Please send your donation to: Mrs. Carol Virostek
President, AAUW-CT

I ask that you keep Marcelline and her family in your thoughts. Thank you for your consideration. Pat Bologna

Visit www.aauw-ma.org - look for the tab in the middle that says “WAGE SURVEY”

Many of you will remember the wonderful presentation that Annie Houle made to the Fall 2006 Conference attendees. She is the Director of the Wage Project that amplifies the experiences and details the inequities in a working women's wage. In the following communique, she asks that AAUW-MA members assist in her data gathering process. I encourage you to read over the survey and answer the questions. The Wage Project and other women will certainly benefit from your input and information. In the 2006 AFL-CIO Working Women Survey, the following summary is most apropos: "Working women know the importance of a good job in a just economy...where pay keeps up with prices, and lawmakers listen to working people."

Thank you for your anticipated cooperation. Best regards, Pat Bologna

CALENDAR

ADVENTURES IN DINING

Join us at El Sarape, the Zagat-rated Mexican restaurant in Weymouth Landing. We’ll meet there at 6:30PM on Thursday, March 1st. Call or e-mail Kay Campbell if you want to join us! (781-740-0788 or kaycam@aol.com).

Join us at El Sarape, the Zagat-rated Mexican restaurant in Weymouth Landing. We’ll meet there at 6:30PM on Thursday, March 1^st. Call or e-mail Kay Campbell if you want to join us! (781-740-0788 or kaycam@aol.com).