AAAUW: ‘Where everyone knows your name’

By Gwen Sayian

Thu Dec 27, 2007

Hingham - We have written before about what an interesting and stimulating group the local Hingham branch of AAUW (American Association of University Women) is. As a new member, I want to tell you the real secret of what makes it such a wonderful group: nametags! Before you say “boring” let me clarify.

I’m not talking about the usual “Hello My Name is.” You have to fumble for a pen, and decide if you should write just your first name, or both your first and last name. Don’t you sometimes wonder what it means when one person writes her name big, yet someone else writes her name really small. Does script size correlate to ego size? Then there’s the problem of some people feeling a little frisky. They write their cousin’s name instead of their own, or decide this is the time to try an alias.

The AAUW-Hingham Area Branch (encompassing Plymouth to Quincy) uses pre-printed nametags. The tags are filed in a tasteful box, discretely placed in a corner of the room. You casually stroll over, pick your name out (or someone else’s if you want to see if people are paying attention), and you’re never name-less again. Conversely, you will always know everyone else’s name! So along with AAUW being a great place for stimulating discussions and presentations, it’s just like the bar in the “Cheers” television show where, “everyone knows your name.”

OK, I’m being tongue in cheek, but since I joined AAUW Hingham about a year and a half ago, I am struck by how welcoming and sincere the members are. In my first year, I attended only two presentations, though I was active in the Writers Group. At the meetings that I attended, I always felt welcomed and valued. We all know the feeling of dread when you go to a get-together where you either know one person or maybe no one at all. You feel like you’re alone in a forest of faces, traveling an unknown route through dark woods, hoping someone will be your guide, your friend to help you navigate this new experience, or at least show you which table to sit at.

I have never felt lost at an AAUW event. Maybe it’s maturity or perhaps the quality of the members, drawn together for the purposes of life-long learning, supporting other women in education and the desire to keep involved in stewarding women’s equality. I was attracted to the mission and goals of AAUW: to continue to advocate for women, our daughters, granddaughters and following generations. Although these issues are not always the focus of the meetings, you can receive alerts by email of upcoming important events as well as become more directly involved if you wish.

To promote life-long learning, AAUW sponsors monthly events, such as October’s parenting presentation given by local author Lynn Reeves Griffin. In November, AAUW hosted a gathering featuring a visiting Chinese scholar who talked about women’s role in Chinese culture. Social worker Barbara Tortarella will speak about humor’s role in our mental health in February. In honor of women’s history month in March, Dr Margaret Bendroth will discuss “The Nineteenth Century Woman: A View from the Twenty-First Century.” April’s meeting features former Lt. Gov. Evelyn Murphy discussing the continuing issue of Pay Equity for Women. All of these events are free and open to the public.

On a more personal level AAUW sponsors several special interest groups such as the Writers Group, Adventures in Dining, Girls’ Game Night, Book Group and the De-clutter Bugs. Our next event will be in January, when we’ll have a potluck supper at the Allerton House in Hingham, combined with a book discussion of “A Thousand Splendid Suns” by Khaled Hosseini.

AAUW is a national organization formed more than 125 years ago, with a current membership of more than 100,000. Here, our membership is close to 60 women. We’re a diverse group of teachers, social workers, writers, poets, librarians, stay-at-home moms and businesswomen. Some are retired, some not, but all share a mutual interest of friendship, learning and advocacy.

No, the AAUW Hingham Area Branch isn’t really all about the nametags, although they do make things a lot easier for a new member to feel at home. Come to think of it, maybe at the February meeting I’ll try switching nametags to see what role humor doesplay in our mental health. To me, AAUW represents good friends, interesting topics, education and the opportunity to continue working toward women’s equality. We invite you to join us for any of our upcoming events. Nametag optional (but recommended).

Holders of associate’s or bachelor’s degrees who live in the South Shore towns from Plymouth to Quincy are welcome to join the Hingham Area Branch. To learn more about AAUW, call Patricia McKay at 781-337-3375, or e-mail: hollie@gallivan.org. Visit the branch Web site at aauw-ma.org and follow the links to the Hingham Branch.

Gwen Sayian. is Hingham resident and member of AAUW.