AAUW-Massachusetts Annual Meeting Minutes

Sunday, May 6, 2007

Holiday Inn, Marlborough MA

 

 

9:05 am      77th Annual Meeting Called to Order

 

Credential Report:

  • 1 current president
  • 2 past presidents
  • 1 regional director
  • 6 branch presidents and designees
  • 7 branch delegates
  • 9 branches represented (Bedford-Lexington Area, Boston Inc., Cape Cod, Danvers-Topsfield, Hingham Area, Newburyport Area, North Shore, Taunton Area, Worcester)
  • 11 state board members
  • 0 state MALs
  • 0 non-voting members

 

Agenda moved and accepted with one correction:

Minutes of 2006 Annual Meeting, not 2005 as noted in the agenda.

 

Approval of 2006 Annual Meeting Minutes: 

 

Beryl Domingo noted the minutes were included in the meeting packet.  The minutes were approved.

 

Treasurer’s Report: 

 

Sue Giurleo presented the report. 

Balance forward from 05-06:             $6,141.74

Income in 06-07:                               $7,991.49

Total income:                                   $14,133.23

 

Expenses 06-07                                $6,086.91

Carryover to 07-08:                           $8,046.32

 

Sue noted that:

  • We have a surplus of $1,904.58 which includes $490.47 from My Turn To Learn.
  • Actual balance is $15,776.42 which includes the money market account for $7,730.10
  • Outstanding expenses: One more payment to Administrative Coordinator, Hollie Bagley; $100 for Coalition for Choice; and other convention expenses.

 

 

Regional Director:

 

Patricia Ho, New England Regional Director, gave an overview of New England States region, the smallest region in terms of membership.

  • New England Region may be consolidated with another region, to be determined at National.
  • Regional Convention to be held in Brattleboro, Vermont, October 12 and 13, 2007. Keane, NH and VT branches are co-sponsoring the convention. MA and other NE states leaders will help organize the event.
  • Handout - Education as the Gateway to Women’s Economic Security, to be given to all branch Program Vice Presidents. The handout has suggestions for theme-based programs.
  • Patricia noted that AAUW can be proud of our 125th anniversary celebration and all our accomplishments since Marion Talbot’s call to action on education access in 1881, but more still need to be done.
  • Pat Bologna read the Proclamation from Governor Deval Patrick to AAUW in recognition of the 125th anniversary.
  • Patricia announced the latest research by AAUW Education Foundation, Behind the Pay Gap, published in April, 2007. She suggested that copies of the research should be given to MA legislators. She thanked Marilee Kenney Hunt and Lois Pulliam for their help on Equal Pay Day at the Statehouse this past April. Lois Pulliam will testify on the wage gap at a hearing on 5/9/07.
  • Patricia presented a summary of the key points of the AAUW Strategic Process and provided a handout. 
  • She noted the reasons for engaging in a strategic process: declining membership, shifting demographics, changing trends in philanthropy, cumbersome organizational structure. 
  • Patricia reported that both Boards adopted a new mission statement: AAUW advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education and research.
  • New Task Forces were created to address: 1) Vision, 2) Membership, 3) Organizational Structure and Governance, 4) Internal Communications/Roll Out, and 5) Due Diligence.
  • She provided an overview of proposed bylaws changes and amendments.
  • On International issues, Patricia reported that IFUW annual dues for AAUW are $350,000, and by 2007, AAUW will owe about $1mil in dues and arrears.
  • On 6/21/06, AAUW Board applied for Economic and Social Counsel Status at the United Nations. AAUW signed onto CEDAW.

 

 

President’s Report:

 

  • Pat Bologna stressed the importance of attending the National Convention in June 2007 to determine for ourselves what the Bylaws changes will mean.
  • Highlights of the past year: multi-branch collaborative efforts. Two such programs have been accepted for the Taste of Success exhibit at the Convention: My Turn To Learn and Collaborating Partners for Equal Pay Day Event.
  • She stated that we have had some outstanding state programming. She thanked Program VP, Marilee Kenney Hunt for putting together excellent programs in 2006-2007.
  • She expressed her appreciation for the work of Barbara Burgo, Membership VP, with her go-getter attitude; for EF Chair, Liz Fragola for her diligent fundraising efforts on behalf the Educational Foundation; for Hollie Bagley, for getting members to utilize electronic communication and for maintaining a great AAUW-MA website; and for the work of the State Executive Board for adaptability, availability, capability and other “bilities”.
  • She reported that Michele DesAultes, our regional liaison for the National Girls Collaborative project, is doing a 5-year program to promote STEM programs in MA. Members to contact Michele for ideas and programs.

 

Program Vice-President:

 

Marilee Kenney Hunt reported that for the year 2006-2007, AAUW-MA presented the following state conferences:

·         Fall Conference was hosted in Worcester, with Annie Houle from Maine as key-note speaker on Wage Equity.

·         Winter Conference was held at Bridgewater State College. Co-sponsors were BSC and Massasoit Community College. Marilee expressed her appreciation for Diana Fox and Cris Ajemian for getting the colleges’ sponsorship respectively. The goal was to promote a mutually supportive relationship between colleges and AAUW branches. A panel discussed “sexual harassment and sexual assault on College Campuses”. The conference was well attended.

·         Spring Convention, “Women of the World: Perspectives on Health, Wealth and Music, was held on May 5 – 6, 2007 at the Holiday Inn, Marlborough, MA.

·         She recommended more collaboration with C/U partners by engaging faculty in gender-studies programs. She offered to pursue the C/U liaisons.

 

 

Administrative Coordinator’s Report:

 

  • Hollie Bagley commended Marilee for her organizational skills and efficiency in coordinating state programs.
  • She encouraged members to check AAUW-MA web site all the time.
  • She reported that Newburyport Area has a new web site.
  • Only 3 branches have limited web information, such as list of officers and newsletters.
  • She reported that the BayStater is now published only in electronic format. It is electronically sent to branch presidents for dissemination to branch members. It will also be posted on the AAUW-MA web site.
  • AAUW will introduce its new web site at the National Convention.

 

 

Membership Vice-President:

 

  • Barbara Burgo reported that the Member-Get-A-Member Campaign ended its first phase in November, and has been moderately successful. Second phase is now in place.
  • In MA, we have lost about 80 members. Currently MA has 462 regular members and 19 honorary life members for a total of 481.
  • She recommended that we reach out to MALs, encourage them to join State. We have about 978 MALs according to report from National.
  • We need to do more outreach to C/U partners and to the community.

 

Educational Foundation:

 

  • Liz Fragola reported that as of March 31, 2007, EF donations totaled $21,403.50.
  • She asked to send an appeal letter to branch presidents to make branch donations to EF now rather than later in the year, in order to complete the contributions to EF’s Sema Faigen International Fellowship.  If this is possible we may reach the target goal before the Convention.
  • She reported that we raised $1, 665.00 last night with the basket raffles, the sale of necklaces, 4 personal checks from Pat Bologna, Rosemarie Buote, Florence Baturin and Liz Markson, and the Boston Branch donation.
  • In addition, Danvers Topsfield, Newburyport and North Shore branches raised $1,000.00 at an authors’ lunch, co-sponsored by the three branches on 4/21/07.

 

Legal Advocacy Fund:

 

Hollie Bagley reported on behalf of LAF that AAUW-MA sent $4,247.80 to LAF from 1/1/06 – 12/31/06.

·         She reviewed the LAF VP job description and encouraged members to consider taking the position of LAF Vice President for the State Board.

·         In national LAF news, she reported that $4.07mil was awarded in a sex discrimination case. AAUW adopted 2 new plaintiffs from the Feather River branches of University of California. 

·         LAF celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. For a donation of $250.00 or more, the donor will receive a special pin.

·         On the PIE award, letters have been sent to 73 MA colleges and universities soliciting nominations.

·         MA has a 2007 PIE award winner – Cape Cod Community College for their work on non-traditional gender initiatives.

 

By-Laws:

 

Alice Hooper thanked the branches for updating their By-Laws. 

 

 

Nominating Committee’s Report:

 

Betty Orsi, Nominating Committee Chair, thanked the committee for their work.

  • She announced that we still have a vacancy for VP for LAF.
  • Betty read the names of this year’s Nominating Committee candidates for State office:

 

Beryl Domingo, Taunton Area                    President Elect

Liz Markson, Bedford-Lexington Area        Program VP

Sandra Sousa, Taunton Area                      Secretary (1 year term)

Ginny Giordano, Hingham Area                 Treasurer

 

No nominations were made from the floor.  It was moved, seconded to vote by voice vote, and the slate was voted on and passed unanimously.

 

Patricia Ho recognized, swore in, and installed the new officers.

 

Pat Bologna gave retiring board members her thanks and a gift each.

 

Open Forum:

 

  • Pat Bologna facilitated a question and answer period on issues of importance to AAUW.
    • Question: If membership criteria came up for a vote again, who else would AAUW be open to and would this require a name change?

Answer: It will be open to all who believe in the mission of AAUW, and no, the change will not require a name change.

o   Q: Is AAUW tracking whether there has been a growth in membership after the vote to expand membership criteria to include those with associate and other professional degrees?

A: Yes, AAUW tracks everything related to membership. It takes a while, 1 – 2 years, for change to filter down to branch membership. Christy Jones at AAUW can be contacted for information on membership. Jonesc@aauw.org.

 

  • Pat Bologna offered to get the data on membership regarding the new target populations, but cautioned that it may not be broken down by degree.

 

Coalition for Choice:

 

Lois Pulliam presented information and a handout on the Coalition for Choice.

  • She announced that AAUW-MA supports the Health Education bill, which makes health education (including sex education) a requirement in every MA public school. 
  • She stated that states may begin to chip away at reproductive rights. She reported that on April 18, 2007, the Supreme Court upheld President Bush’s Federal Abortion ban with no exception for when a woman’s health is in danger. This decision is the latest in many attacks to undermine Roe v. Wade. 
  • She said the handout includes suggestions for branch programs in support of reproductive rights.

 

Other business:

 

  • Patricia Ho has AAUW Pins for the 125th Anniversary, for interested folks to purchase in support of AAUW.
  • Patricia Bologna has been checking the blogs after Equal Pay Day, and saw some very negative entries against women.
  • AAUW has been in the media putting forth research and facts on the pay gap.
  • The Federal Government is now doing performance-based pay, which opens the door to wage equity.
  • The current MA administration is pushing diversity in their appointments (minority appointments), but not including women in the “minority” definition.
  • In the Boston Police Department there are two women in high level positions, but one is retiring and the other is on medical leave, and there are no other females in the ranks who can step into those positions.

 

Pat Bologna encouraged members at the branch level to inform the media on issues of pay equity.

 

Awards and Recognitions

With grateful appreciation, the following awards and recognitions were announced.

 

  • The Progress in Equity (PIE) Award winner for 2006-2007 is Cape Cod Community College for their Nontraditional by Gender Initiative Program.

 

  • Branch Pride Recognition Awards, 2007:
    • Bedford Lexington, Danvers Topsfield, Newburyport and North Shore Branches – nominated by Patricia Ho:  These branches assisted in planning of a multi-branch wage equity public hearing. A program well planned and implemented, this noteworthy project extended AAUW’s work into other communities and was an excellent example of translating mission into action.
    • Bedford Lexington – nominated by Liz Markson: The Bedford Lexington Branch is nominated for the excellent presentation of a Legal Advocacy Fund Plaintiff’s Readers Theatre and video at UMASS Lowell in honor of Lowell Women’s Week.
    • Hingham Area – nominated by Kay Campbell: The Hingham Area Branch attributes the achievement of a 32% increase in membership through focused interest groups, enthusiastic member participation, and programming themes that attracted community interest and publicity.

 

 

·         Outstanding Leaders, 2007

o   Sue Giurleo – Bedford Lexington Branch – nominated by Liz Markson: For an outstanding job as treasurer on the state and branch levels. In difficult fiscal times, she has kept a careful, accurate and always cheerful watch on our financial health and has been an outstanding board member, conscious of details and helpful in every way.

o   Rosemarie Buote – Taunton Area Branch – nominated by Vicky Casey: For her dedication and tireless, enthusiastic commitment to the AAUW cause, and doing it all with a sense of humor. She’s a leader and role model, who actively mentors our Remarkable Young Women through their senior year in high school, and into college.

o   Ruthanne Kennedy – Hingham Area Branch – nominated by Kay Campbell: For being hard working, enthusiastic, friendly, cheerful and very loyal to AAUW. She always looks for new ways to raise money and has tirelessly led the EF and LAF fundraising efforts of the branch. She is also an enthusiastic recruiter of members for AAUW.

 

Executive Board announcements on events and projected dates for 2007-2008

 

  • AAUW National Convention in Phoenix, AZ – June 29 – July 2, 2007.
  • N.E. Regional Conference: October 12 – 13, 2007 in Brattleboro, VT.
  • AAUW-MA Leadership Training and Board Meeting: September 8, 2007 at Notre Dame Academy, Hingham.
  • Spring Convention 2008, April 5 – 6, 2008 tentatively planned for Cape Cod Community College.
  • State Leadership Training and Board Meeting 2008 – tentatively scheduled for June 21, 2008.  Location to be announced.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 12:15 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted:

 

Beryl Domingo, Secretary