REGIONAL DIRECTOR REPORT TO MA BOARD MEETING APRIL 6, 2008

 

Submitted by Patricia Ho, Association Board, New England Regional Director

 

 

STATE OF THE REGION     as of February 1, 2008

 

            State               Members                   Branches

            CT                   926                             20

            MA                  468                             15

            ME                  283                               9

            NH                  112                               4

            RI                      42                                1

            VT                   164                               6       

 

TOTAL  1995    All have lost members in past 3 years

 

State Conventions in 2008: CT, MA, ME

 

State Leadership Conferences in 2008:  CT, MA, ME, VT

 

Public Policy Impact Grant in 2008:  NH Spring Conference

Educational Opportunity Myth or Reality – equity is still an issue

 

RI  LAF meeting, Michael Burch speaker March 2008

 

Invited to apply for PPIG 2008 - 2009:  CT, NH

 

New England = currently smallest geographical region

 

Regions no longer considered viable governance level

            Strategic Process: reduce layers between national AAUW and members

 

 

CHANGES IN GOVERNANCE

 

BYLAWS for new organization and governance are being drafted now, for presentation at Biennal Meeting (national convention) June 26 – 28, 2009

in St. Louis

 

Bylaws will offer guidelines for intermediate entities such as state organizations and branches, encouraging far greater flexibility.  Current 10 regions will no longer exist.

 

 

 

 

 

Meanwhile, carry on

            Be flexible in sharing tasks

            Unnecessary to plan monthly meetings

            Social, collegial interaction important;

However, focus should be on mission-based program activities

 

 

Current examples of branch/state support for AAUW initiatives:

            Publicize, subsidize student attendance NCCWSL June 5 – 7

                        North Shore Area Branches

                        CT and VT state and branch projects

 

            Support STEM activities, including National Girls Collaborative Project

                        CT and ME have regional liaisons and collaboratives

                        MA’s collaborative withdrew despite liaison’s strong efforts

 

            Initiate pay equity, WAGE projects – nearly all N.E. states involved

 

 

NATIONAL COMMITTEES

Applications for one- year term beginning June 2008 on Bylaws,    

Public Policy, and Resolutions committees are due May 15, 2008. 

Check website for further info.

 

 

WOMAN TO WOMAN VOTER TURNOUT MANUAL REVISED      

            Community-based campaigns to get women to vote.  Check website.

 

 

AAUW QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (5 pages PDF)

            Clarification re LAF and EF

            Tax deductible contributions

            AAUW logo and acronym