May 2020

Click here for a great video:   What AAUW does  Be proud!

The gender pay gap won’t close until 2119 at the current rate of change.
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Empowering women since 1881

May,  2020

President’s Message from Harriet:

It is sad to report that Tech Trek has obviously been cancelled for this year.  We had selected four great girls.  Celia has sent letters to them expressing our disappointment.

Below is the slate of officersfor 2020-21, which was approved by email vote April 6, when 50%+ vote was received.

Harriet

Elected Officers:

President – Beverly Zwick
President Elect – OPEN
Secretary – Chris Taxier
Treasurer – Marilyn Forsstrom
VP Fund -Esther Aronson and Thea Siegel
VP Membership – Joan Flax and Diane Merrick
VP Program – Karen Cox, Mary Ann Quinn, Nancy Kawamura

Appointed Officers:
Bulletin & Website – Marilyn Forsstrom
LAF – Tobi Balma
Tech Trek – Celia Spitzer and Edna Ethington
Public Policy – Sondra Cohen and Jackie Shahzadi
Publicity – Edna Ethington
Academic Awards – Carol Marsh
International Issues – Jackie Shahzadi
College/University Liaison – Tobi Balma

 

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AAUW CA Convention is cancelled
April 17-19, 2020

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Please welcome and support your new officers.  Remember that their job is to lead and encourage other members.  Please offer to help them when they ask.

Reminder to members:  As is written in your directory, the AAUW mail/email list is to be used for AAUW business only.  If you wish to share something personal with selected members, please verify with the members first, if they want to be included.  Members who find themselves receiving email they do not want should feel free to ask to be removed.  We’re all friends here.

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Meeting & Program, Karen, Nancy & Mary Ann

WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH

Our guest speaker, Miryam Fernandez,  arrived in America from Peru at a tender age of 5 years old.   She will share how she met her challenges and obstacles to become a very successful educator. in Los Angeles Unified School District.  Please join us at our March meeting to hear, “My Story As An Immigrant”

Date: March 19, 12:30 p.m. 

Meeting and speaker possibly rescheduled for next year

     Place: Cerritos Park East

AAUW Fund, Faith

New fundraising project this month.  Rubios in Cerritos Towne Center will donate a portion of their proceeds for member who dine there between 5 and 8 on Thursday March 26.  You must have a copy of their flier.  Fliers will be emailed to you to print out yourself and a limited number will be available at our meeting.  EVENT CANCELLED

 Annual Branch Funds Luncheon

Your Funds Chairs are challenging ALL members to step up and contribute to the FUND.  There are many options to consider – see the website for more information.  We would love to see a 100% of our members contribute this year to the AAUW FUND.  In fact, $20 in 20 is our slogan.  This is the last year of this decade so, let’s each give at least $20 in 2020.

The La Palma-Cerritos branch of AAUW created our own memorial fund in July 2017, called the Alberta Brose Memorial Fund, to go to women who return to school just as she did.  We currently have completed our goal.  This was a short time, two year fund with a goal of $5000 for completion by June 30, 2019. The branch got CA State and National recognition for completion. Final donation has gone to AAUW Fund for Career Development Grants for graduate students returning to school after 5+  year absence.

This lady is the recipient of our own Alberta Brose Memorial Fund.  We are proud!

Career Development Grants

Name: Elsie Carbajal
Award Year: 2018-19
Award: Career Development Grant
Institution: Brandman University
Location: Irvine, California
Discipline: Education
Degree and Specialization: M.A., Education leadership

 

Elsie Carbajal is a seasoned special education teacher who is passionate about meeting the diverse needs of public school students with special needs. Her goal is to strategically reform outdated practices that limit the growth and progress of the unique population she services. She plans to obtain her master’s in education leadership to collaborate with stakeholders and make informed decisions to enhance student outcomes in and out of school.

Sponsors:
4431 – Alberta Brose Memorial Fund
1262 – Laguna Beach (CA) Branch/Laguna Hills (CA) Branch
1285 – San Diego County (CA) Branch/Marilyn George Poluzzi
1298 – Los Angeles (CA) Branch/Dallas Shenk
1484 – San Clemente-Capistrano Bay (CA) Branch
4105 – Redlands (CA) Branch/Bernice Black Johndrew
1491 – Somerset Hills (NJ) Branch—Science and Technology

Membership, Sue S.

Hello AAUW breakfast (current and future) club members

No breakfasts are scheduled

Please RSVP so that we can have a seat for you. As always guests, potential members and well behaved grand children are welcome to join to us.  We now have 45 members. 

I need some input please !
Our numbers for breakfast have gone down in some months which is normal. I’m just trying to plan so I need some answers . 
  Please take a few minutes and give your responses. 
   I am still interested in meeting for breakfast, yes or no  ? 
   I like the restaurant,  yes or no ? 
   I could come on  the last Wednesday  –  the last Thursday of the  month ? 
Suggestions ??

        Through the years we have decided that we need to be able to make reservations if we have a certain number, separate checks work the best, good selection, reasonable prices, central location. I am not opposed to changing restaurants, if this would be the best idea. I do need suggestions, however.

Sue Solomon 562 -926-2746 (littler106@aol.com

Download a brochure

Celebrate Graduates with a Free AAUW Membership 

Celebrate the success of a graduate this season with the Give a Grad a Gift campaign. Anyone who has graduated within the past two years is eligible, so don’t forget interns or student teachers you might know. A free one-year membership is a great way to celebrate their accomplishments! Give a Grad a Gift can also be applied to the Younger Women’s Task Force.

Public Policy, Sondra Cohen

What’s AAUW Public Policy All About?

Since AAUW’s founding in 1881, our advocates have taken positions on the fundamental issues of the day – educational, social, economic, and political. Our positions emanate from our Mission, Vision and Values:

  • Mission: To advance gender equity for women and girls through research, education and advocacy
  • Vision: Equity for all
  • Values: Nonpartisan. Fact based. Integrity. Inclusion. Intersectionality.

Our positions are rooted in our member-approved Public Policy Priorities at both the national and state levels.  The AAUW California Public Policy Priorities for 2019-2021 were approved by our members this spring, and can be found on the website www.aauw-ca.org . The AAUW CA Public Policy Committee meets early in each legislative session to review bills and determine those on which to take action. In Washington, AAUW staff and volunteer advocates communicate with both Congress and the administration. In California, we employ a part-time lobbyist to represent AAUW CA in the California Legislature.

Economic Security is a critical issue for women of all ages, a foundational aspect of everyday life, and is particularly important to women’s ability to support themselves and their families.  Many continue to struggle with economic insecurity, wage discrimination, and employment benefits. Legislated solutions could benefit many women.

Real change in federal and state policy, however, will only come about when our elected officials hear from voters, like us! It is so important that branch members be up to date on AAUW positions on federal and state legislation consistent with AAUW’s mission, and contact elected officials to share our positions. Also, we must hold those we have elected accountable as they vote on issues affecting women and girls.

Become involved with your branch’s Public Policy Committee. If your branch doesn’t have one, start one!  You can download and print a copy of the Public Policy Priorities from aauw-ca/category/publicpolicy. Become an activist, by signing up on the national website aauw.org/resource/two-minute-activist .This will connect you with both state and national calls to action.

Start now! It’s not too soon to begin educating yourself about the issues in the important 2020 elections!

International Issues, Jackie Shahzadi

Women Graduates-USA

Dear Jackie,

  • SMALL GRANT OPPORTUNITY FOR WG-USA MEMBERS

    The Submission Deadline has been extended from April 15th to May 15th.

    The following grant opportunity is open to all WG-USA members who meet the specific criteria/guidelines stipulated in the application.  WG-USA is eager to support and showcase members who are passionate about the mission of our organization and are involved in creative ways to help support women, whether through research, publications, training modules or similar endeavors.

    WG-USA’s Small Grants Program, now in its second year, offers funding for activities that further the mission and vision of WG-USA through its focus areas ofRefugee and migrant women and girls; Education for women and girls; Violence against women/Human trafficking; and Global women’s health.  You can find more information about these issues as they relate to WG-USA on the Home page and also under What We Do.  For 2020, two grants of up to $1,000 are available for individual members who would like to undertake a project or augment an existing project that fall under WG-USA’s focus areas.

  • If you have any questions concerning the grant application and are interested in applying, please send your request to Fay Kittelson at faydkittelson@gmail.com. Applications are now available; deadline for submission is May 15, 2020.

“Women Graduates-USA through its global focus and reach, empowers all women and girls to create a secure and just world built on education, advocacy, friendship and mutual respect.”
www.wg-usa.org

through its global focus and reach, empowers all women and girls to create a secure and just world built on education, advocacy, friendship and mutual respect.

WG-USA is an online organization based in the United States focusing on global issues *Support and Advocacy for Refugee and Migrant Women and Girls
*Safe Access to Education
*Human Trafficking Advocacy and Action
*Women, Peace and Security

Join WG-USA at www.wg-usa.org

In 2019, Graduate Women International celebrated its 100th anniversary with a Centennial Celebration in Geneva, July 25-28. GWI was founded in 1919, by representatives of AAUW, and other international women’s groups. It used to be known as the IFUW, international Federation of University Women. Currently, Women Graduates-USA is the organization representing American women at GWI.