Capital Letter
Newsletter of the Washington, D.C., Branch of AAUW November 2004
Capital Letter
What a busy fall season. As we’ve done in the past, we began our AAUW year feasting on a colorful and delicious variety of member’s recipes. D.C. AAUW cooks are among the city’s finest chefs! We then were presented a powerful program by Tabitha Ishmael and Sadiyya Robinson who discussed the range of professional roles of contemporary Muslim women and provided a look at how many myths have arisen regarding Islam and women. It was a thought provoking program with personal experiences, anecdotes, a video presentation and dress accompaniment. This was a unique opportunity to both enjoy a delicious dining event and explore issues that are currently and will continue to be in the forefront of daily news.
We were privileged to have Mr. Firoze Rao as our guest speaker in October. We truly had a team presentation as Firoze’s wife, Susan, was also with us and joined in the general question and answer discussion. Firoze and Susan met when she was working in India for the Foreign Service and their comments regarding economics, social issues, terrorism, and how globalization is affecting both India and the United States were truly worthy of “credit” for a university seminar. I believe we will have Firoze’s formal comments available for Newsletter publication; however, if you missed either of these meetings, you missed a truly valuable learning experience. Thanks to Mary Ann and Evelyn for their continuing record of fascinating programs.
On an association note, the National office announced that Executive Director Jackie Woods resigned as of June 30. Many of us met Jackie at the D.C. State Meeting at Trinity College. She will be missed, but a senior management team is providing operational leadership under the direction of the three Board Presidents (AAUW, NEF and LAF). A plan to fill this leadership vacancy is being developed.
We’ll be hearing more about membership building from Alberta Brasfield, but I’ll mention some alarming statistics from AAUW National. Their statistics project that, if membership continues declining at the recent rate, in 10 years (just 10! At the rate time flies in my life, this will seem like next month!) membership will be half of today’s number. AAUW is more than 80 percent dues dependent. The bottom line is that if we, as AAUW members, truly believe in the principles of equity for all women and girls, life-long education and positive societal change, we must commit to membership building for our D.C. Branch. With every member renewal or new member, we provide funding for advancing education, grants to women scholars and research into issues affecting girls in school. As our economy changes almost daily, it is even more important, in my opinion, to have continuing educational opportunities available for women at every stage of their working life. Do you have a niece, granddaughter or friend who graduated this spring? It is very easy to give a recent college graduate the gift of a free one-year AAUW membership. Call Alberta or go to the AAUW web page www.aauw.org/member_center/programs/gradgift.cfm. You only need the graduate’s name, contact information, college/university, state, date of graduation and degree. If you do it on-line, you also need your member number. They’re not thinking that far ahead, but let’s give these young women a chance to become Honorary Life Members in 2054 by beginning their AAUW commitment in 2004!
Looking forward to seeing you at our next meeting. Anne
|
HOLIDAY PARTY Speaker: The Rev. Terrence Ellen.
He will speak of Dorothea Dix and her
inspiring fight for the mentally ill, and provide festive readings to help us
launch the holidays ahead. Saturday, December 4th, from 12 to 2 Place:
Maggiano's (Friendship subway stop or they will validate parking) 5333
Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Washington, DC
20015 Cost:
$25 Note:
We must guarantee 25 people, so be there and gather your friends as
well for a gala gathering. Menu: Family-style service of an incredible
number of entrées salads, appetizers, hors d'ouvres, desserts, and drinks RSVP to Nancy Grace Roman by November 11: nancy.roman6@ verizon.net or 301-656 -6092. |
President’s
Column
(From September)
In June I attended a president’s training session sponsored by AAUW National. I was struck during the various presentations as to how very important and relevant our mission is just as it was in 1881. It is still true over 30 years after I entered the professional workforce, “because equity is still an issue.” Do you remember when the estimate was that women in similar or same positions as men were paid 50 cents for every dollar made by a man? Today that figure is 67 cents…67 cents out for every dollar earned by men. I was shocked and appalled. A gain of only 17 cents over the past 30 years! Is this acceptable progress? I believe the answer is no, it is not acceptable, and our organization continues to search for ways to change that status quo.
AAUW recently developed national advertising to promote this theme. A full page, four-color ad was in Ms. Magazine and another full page, four-color ad was in a special twentieth anniversary edition of Black Issues in Higher Education. The struggle continues and I believe we can be proud of being a part of that struggle for equity.
AAUW co-sponsored a nonpartisan two-day conference to teach young women leadership roles and the ability to influence government and society. The young women’s leadership conferences were held at the Democratic and Republican conventions. The goal of these conferences was to use the conventions as an educational vehicle, introducing young women to the electoral process, exposing them to the most accomplished policy makers, political activists, business and community leaders and the press. The conferences should inspire them to strive for excellence to succeed in their professional lives.
On another note in this election year, AAUW was invited to participate in Debate Watch, a voter education program of the Commission on Presidential Debates. The Commission brings citizens together to watch televised debates, talk about what they learned and to share reactions. AAUW agreed to endorse Debate Watch as the program’s premise fits nicely with AAUW’s voter educational campaign.
I trust you will agree with me that this is still an exciting time to belong to be member of AAUW. Evelyn and Mary Ann will have another year of interesting and dynamic programs and Alberta and Rose will be working to develop an active membership-building program. We are asking you to look around, reach out, and extend the benefits of AAUW by bringing a friend to our meetings, because “Equity Is Still An Issue.”
Anne
Board of Directors
President:
Anne Martin: dannematrin@aol.com
Co-Program
Vice Presidents
Evelyn Falkowski: evefalkowski@earthlink.net
Mary Ann Banta MAsPiper@aol.com
Membership Vice Presidents
Rose L. Acker
Rose.acker@fcps.edu
Alberta Brasfield
Recording Secretary
Dianne Pickar: diane.pickar@csosa.gov
Corresponding Secretary
Claire Morisset
Treasurer
Eddyemae Beards
Assistant Treasurer
Nancy Grace Roman nancy.roman6@verizon.net
EF Chair
Gloria Pendelton
LAF Coordinator
Phyllis S. Curry PhyllisCurry17@aol.com
Njelaka@aol.com
M.C. Terrell Scholarship Chair
Maria Baylor
Public Policy
Open
Newsletter
Mary Ann Banta MAsPiper@zol.com
Nancy Grace Roman nancy.roman6@verizon.net
Book Group
Sandy Seppala sandra.seppala@verizon.net
The Lobby Corps needs us. No experience or expertise is necessary. Each Thursday when Congress is in session, you will be briefed on that week’s priorities and walk to selected congressional offices to educate policy makers and deliver relevant information. To join or learn more, call Mary Lou Melley, Chair, and Lobby Corps Coordinating Committee at 703-.536-6498 or melleym@aol.com.
An aide to Congressman Van Hollen (MD) told a Maryland branch that he welcomes the visits of the AAUW lobby core and always finds them informative. He, as well as the two Maryland senators, had 100% approval on the votes the AAUW considered important to their causes.
Member news |
Sandy Seppala has been busy. Along with convening the book group on a monthly basis, she has just returned from a holiday in Egypt. She came home to a new position. Sandy is now Communications Director for the National Women’s Business Council Her new business phone: 202-205- 6827; and email: Sandra.seppala@sba.gov Congratulations!
Marie Stark recently celebrated her 90th birthday. Marie is not getting out as much as she used to so calls and cards would be appreciated. Jane Hill, another long time member has moved and enjoys calls from old friends. Her new telephone number is 301-725-8498. Maria Baylor is recovering from surgery. We wish her well.
Branch member and Education Foundation Chair Gloria Pendleton is busy these days working under the auspices of Volunteer Maryland for The Pathways School. In 1982, through their relationship with a small school for children with emotional disabilities housed in their building, members of Northwood Presbyterian Church responded to a need and sought to develop a school that would both meet the academic goals and provide a therapeutic environment in which the children would grow and learn. Pathways Center grew from this idea and later became The Pathways Schools, which is a nonpublic, nonprofit institution, sponsored by Northwood Presbyterian Church and supported by Luther Rice Memorial Baptist Church, Christ Congregational Church and Hyattsville Presbyterian Church. Students with emotional disabilities, regardless of gender, race or religious affiliation may attend the Pathways Schools that now has 150 students and operates seven small school programs at three churches, two public schools, and two buildings in Prince George’s, Montgomery and Anne Arundel Counties. Gloria’s work site is the Northwood Presbyterian Church. Gloria would love to have her fellow AAUW members volunteer to tutor or to help on field trips or in art classes. You can call her at 301-681-6369 or call Pathways School at 301-649-0778. You could volunteer for a regular schedule or for only one event. Think about it!
What’s in a name?
The telephone tree has had a name change. It will now be known as the Outreach Committee. Members of the committee will still be making friendly calls to remind members of up coming events. They will also become a more important link between members and the branch. When you receive a call from one of the committee members, feel free to pass on member information, or just have a friendly chat. The members of this important committee are: Jo Bandell, Alberta Brasfield, Phyllis Curry, Marjorie Newman, Kimberly Peay, and Dianne Pickar
Get
out the vote
Election Day is upon us and there is so much at stake for women. AAUW believes in the “Power of One Vote,” and urges you to vote on November 2. But you can do more than just turn up on Election Day. Here are some quick and easy things you can do to help get-out-the-vote.
1. Remind each of your friends and colleagues to vote. Email them, call them, talk to them personally. Be creative.
2. Offer to watch someone’s children so she can get away from the house and vote.
3. Offer a ride to someone who has no way of getting to the polls.
4. If you know people who can’t decide whom to vote for, then discuss the candidates’ positions and records with them, or help them to find information about the candidates and the issues.
Take the 10
for Change Challenge!
Did you know
that nearly half the voting-age population in the U.S. did not cast a ballot in
the 2000 elections? Many of these unregistered or disaffected voters were
women. How can we say our government is representative of all its citizens when
half of us don't vote? We must inspire all eligible women and men to make sure
they vote this November.
In an effort to make this happen, our
coalition partner, the National Organization for Women (NOW), has started the
10 for Change campaign. The campaign aims to mobilize voters by asking
individuals to work to get 10 of their friends and family to vote this
November.
Number of woman
candidates declines
According to a recent report from the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University, the 2003 off-year election featured smaller numbers of women candidates than in years past. This confirms a trend, first identified in 2000, of a decline of female candidates in state office races after three decades of small but steady gains even though women constitute over half of the population in America.
Women hold 73 or 13.5 percent of the 535 seats in the 108th Congress: 14 or 14 percent of the 100 seats in the Senate and 59 or 13.6 percent of the 435 seats in the House of Representatives. In addition, three women serve as Delegates to the House from Guam, the Virgin Islands, and our own Eleanor Holmes Norton from Washington, DC. In 2003, 80 women held statewide elective offices across the country; women held 25.3 percent of 316 available positions. Among these women, 36 are Democrats, 41 are Republicans, and three were elected in nonpartisan races. We’ll shortly know whether the 2004 election will counter this trend or provide a foreboding of further decline.
Support and encourage women to run for office at
every level, community, county, city, state and national. Just as important, support and encourage
girls and young women to consider a career in public service. How long before the U.S. will consider a
woman as POTUS or President of the United States? (From the Clearinghouse on Women’s Issues Newsletter)
Cast Your Vote for Equity for Women
The power of one vote hit home in the 2000
elections. In 2004 exercise your power. Encourage three friends to vote.
Display the Power of One Vote poster (available online and in AAUW Outlook,
coming this month). Vote on Nov. 2. Work to improve equity for women. AAUW
offers a variety of tools—including information on candidates’ stands on the
issues—to inform voters and make sure women’s voices are heard.
Status of Women
The winner of the 2004 Progress in Equity (PIE) Award is the GRACE Project (Generating Respect for All in a Climate of academic Excellence) at the College of Medicine, University of Arizona. The GRACE Project was developed to document potential disparities between male and female faculty in rank and track assignment, salaries and leadership positions, and to investigate potential causes of these disparities, with the ultimate goal of implementing solutions to documented barriers. Data generated by the GRACE Project has already been used to identify salary disparities and opportunities for leadership development for women faculty.
The LAF Board also voted to provide a certificate of honorable mention to two other outstanding programs.
The Women’s Social Policy and Research Center at Vanderbilt University
The Women’s Social Policy and Research Center was established in January 2001 to expand the curriculum of the Women’s Studies Program to involve faculty and students in the examination of how state and federal public policy initiatives impact women’s economic independence and social status, using Tennessee and surrounding states as a laboratory for this work.
Women in Engineering at Purdue University
Women in Engineering at Purdue University has taken the lead in recruiting and retaining women in engineering by offering mentoring, free tutoring, and services for elementary through college age female students. The program has resulted in a significant increase in the percentage of women in the engineering program – from less than one percent to 23 percent.
Teaching
revolves around mentoring
Why Are Women So Underrepresented in U.S. Politics?
With women making up just 14 percent of
Congress, the United States ranks 59th among 181 nations—below Sierra Leone,
according to the InterParliamentary Union. To examine the problem of women’s
comparatively low participation in U.S. politics from historical and
cross-national perspectives—and explore possibilities for enhancing women's
political leadership—the AAUW Educational Foundation awarded its 2004
University Scholar-in-Residence award to Joyce Gelb of the City College of New
York and Eileen McDonagh of Northeastern University. Read more about their work
in future communications. Letters of intent for the next Scholar-in-Residence
award are due Nov. 1.
Women
in WW II
The WWII Memorial, which opened on the Mall in May 2004, includes quotations from American leaders engraved into granite. One of them reads:
Women Who Stepped Up Were Measured as Citizens of the Nation, Not as
Women…This was a People’s War and Everyone Was In It.
Colonel Oveta Culp Hobby
More than 150,000 American women served in the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) during the war. At first, the Army and the American public found it hard to accept the idea of women in uniform. Oveta Culp Hobby, director of the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps later called the Women’s Army Corps, was the first woman to be appointed a colonel. In 1953, President Dwight D. Eisenhower appointed her secretary of the Federal Security Agency, later renamed the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, and now the Department of Health and Human Services. (Clearinghouse on Women’s Issues)
Tenure Denied Release Set for Oct. 19
The AAUW Educational Foundation and AAUW
Legal Advocacy Fund will release Tenure Denied: Cases of Sex Discrimination
in Academia at a press briefing Oct. 19 at the National Press Club in
Washington, D.C. Drawing on 19 sex discrimination cases supported by LAF, the
report gives a human voice to the concept of “sex discrimination” and the
struggles that female faculty face in academia. Watch for details on the AAUW website.
Ruling on rape
at Georgetown University
The U.S. Department of Education ruled in July that Georgetown University’s policy of requiring a campus rape victim to sign a confidentiality agreement before receiving the outcome of any disciplinary action against an assailant was illegal. According to Women’s eNews, Security on Campus, Inc., a nonprofit victim assistance group based in King of Prussia, PA, filed the complaint against Georgetown last year. “Though some say the ruling isn’t a huge breakthrough, [the organization] is hailing the decision, the first of its kind, as significant in treating victims of campus sexual assault more fairly and helping break the silence surrounding campus rape.”
On the Pathway to Success
More than 150 women in K-12 education were energized and
galvanized by speakers, guidance, and networking at the Women-of-Color as
Educational Leaders: 2004 Career Pathways Conference held by the AAUW
Educational Foundation. The conference was designed to coach and inspire underrepresented
women to become school and school district administrators, principals, and
superintendents.
Abortion rights activists have long warned that the Supreme Court is just a vote or two away from overturning Roe v. Wade, the 1973 case establishing a woman’s right to an abortion. But what would really happen should Roe fall and the issue was left to the states? The Center for Reproductive Rights (CCR) recently released a new study “What If Roe Fell?” the first comprehensive legal analysis of how abortion would fare state-by-state. The group studied old abortion bans still on the books, state legislatures that have restricted abortion and which state constitutions offer their own protection. The conclusion: 20 states would protect abortion rights, nine are borderline and 21 would likely outlaw the procedure, potentially affecting 70 million women. But CRR may have painted an overly gloomy picture. Several of the 21 states on its “high risk” list don’t seem likely to ban abortion right away. North Carolina was one of the first states to liberalize it in the 1960’s. Virginia lawmakers have been hostile to abortion, but the state has a pro-choice governor. Kentucky has no current ban and a legislature that hasn’t restricted the practice. “They’re assuming worst case political scenarios,” says Emory legal historian David J. Garrow. And Roe itself wouldn’t fall unless a re-elected President George W. Bush got the Senate to replace two pro-Roe justices with abortion opponents and the new court heard a direct Roe challenge many “ifs” away. (Debra Rosenberg, Newsweek Magazine).
Do you agree with Ms. Rosenberg’s analysis of the CRR report?
Other Items
Save the date
|
Were you a “Government Girl” or did you know a “Government Girl?” Learn more about these important women on Saturday, January 29, 2005.
Satisfy your
sweet tooth and support a special cause
The makers of M&M candies has teamed up with the Susan G. Kormen Breast Cancer Foundation to raise funds through the sale of their new “pink & white M&M candies. For each 8-ounce bag of the special candies sold, the makers of M&M (Masterfoods) will donate 50 cents to the foundation.
Seeking Your
Input
Must all AAUW members hold four-year degrees?
Members have long debated this bylaws requirement. Now every member-at-large,
branch member, student affiliate, and college/university partner is asked to
weigh in on the discussion. Complete the quick membership dialogue survey by
Nov. 15.
http://www.aauw.org/member_center/dialogues.cfm
(You will
need your membership ID)
Submit a Presentation for the 2005 AAUW Convention
AAUW is seeking presentations from
professionals, groups, organizations, and members for concurrent workshop
sessions for the 2005 AAUW Convention: Purpose, Power, Progress, which will be
held June 24-27, 2005, in Washington, D.C. at the Omni Shoreham Hotel. Find out
more information and submit a presentation before the Nov. 19 deadline.
http://www.aauw.org/member_center/index.cfm
AAUW's History Gets Attention
The AAUW Online Museum received special
attention in an article in a marketing e-newsletter featuring cutting-edge
trends, best practices, and innovative approaches for nonprofit organizations.
Read the feature in Getting Attention: Helping Nonprofits Succeed Through
Effective Marketing online.
Seeing Through Other Women's Eyes
From novels to biographies, from history
to poetry let the AAUW ¡Adelante! Book of the Month Club’s powerful new
selections open your eyes to a diverse array of women, cultures, and
backgrounds. Discuss the books online or in person with AAUW members and others
from around the country.
A True Story of Basketball and Honor on
the Little Big Horn by Larry Colton is the November selection.
Women
in AIDs
“Women are substantially over-represented in advertisements for psychiatric drugs and are usually shown as being submissive, sexy or asleep, according to an analysis that compared ads over a 20-year period in three flagship psychiatric journals. The stereotyped depictions of women in the ads contrasted with those of men, who were usually shown in active professional roles.” Overall, 88 percent of the drug ads depicted white people. The report was described in a July newsletter of the American Psychiatric Association based on the study, which was previously published in the Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease. (New York Times)
Calendar
November
9
Book Group "Balzac and the Little
Chinese Seamstress" by Dai Sijie
Note change in book.
Time: 6:15 p.m.
Place:
Zorba’s Café, 1612 20th St.,
NW (1/2 block north of the Q St.
exit of
Dupont Circle Metro.
Contact: Sandy Seppala, 703-739-
2522 (h), 703-597-7925 (cell),
13 Branch Meeting
Time: 12:30 P.M.
Place: Charlie Chian’s 4250
Connecticut, across from Van Ness
subway stop,
December
4 Holiday Celebration
Time: Noon
Place: Maggiano's 5333 Wisconsin
Avenue, NW
7
Book Group Book Group "Friday Night Lights"
by H.G. Bissinger " Time: 6:15
p.m.
Place: Zorba’s Café
9 Newsletter Submissions Deadline
January
11 Book Group Book Group "The
Great
Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Time: 6:15 p.m. Tues.,
6:15 p.m.
Place: Zorba’s Café
15 Nominating Committee Appointed
18 Board Meeting
29 Branch Meeting (note change from 2nd Saturday)
February
17 Newsletter Submissions Deadline
March
1 Board Meeting
12 Branch Meeting
April
9 Annual Meeting
May
14 Branch Meeting
June
1 2005-2006 Dues Due
10 Joint Board/Branch Convention
Planning Meeting
14 Naturalization Ceremony (A. Brasfield & D. Pickar, Chairs)
24-27 AAUW National Convention Omni Shoreham Hotel, Washington DC
American Association of
University Women, Washington, D.C., Branch Capital Letter is the official
publication of this branch. Editors: Mary Ann Banta, Sandy Seppala and Nancy Grace
Roman
Capital Letter—June 2004