Dear Members:

Welcome to the fall season, even if you cannot feel it.

We were very busy in August. A special "Thank You” to Michelle Burk, Ali Heller, Ruth Lyle, Malinda Gaul, and Adrien Frank for all their work in organizing our AAUW booth and Title lX session at Can We Talk? And that thank you is extended to all who volunteered to work at the booth. 

Can We Talk? Action Summit, held 27 August, addressed Gun Issues, Abortion Rights, and Title lX. If you are interested in AAUW’s position and advocacy efforts on these and other issues, visit “Where We Stand” on the AAUW website. This site includes fact sheets based on research.

During our first AAUW San Antonio General Meeting on Saturday 3 September, Kimberly Henry and Veronica Quinonez led us through a great discussion and exercises on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. They would love your feedback. The program presentation slides, recording of the presentation, and a survey are on the website. The feedback survey is also in this newsletter. Please provide feedback.

Our next big activity is our fundraiser. This fundraiser starts now and ends the end of October. We are selling real, fresh, vibrant holiday wreaths, swags, centerpieces, and garland. Please order at least one item, but we hope you will invite friends and family to order also. It is so easy to forward the information to them. One click and you can select your items, provide address, provide payment information, and wait for mail to deliver your order around Thanksgiving. Just imagine real mountain handmade evergreens filling your home with that holiday smell! You can order from this newsletter, our website and Facebook sites, or the Constant Contact email you will receive.

AAUW San Antonio was invited to join the League of Women Voters San Antonio Youth Initiative Committee. This new endeavor by the LWVSA launched just last year. Read more about the initiative at the LWVSA website lwvsa.org. Look under Youth Initiative. If you are interested in working on this project, please contact me at dcarr23.woman@gmail.com.

The AAUW San Antonio Directory will be published the end of September. If you want changes to your contact information in the directory, please send the changes to aauw.sanantonio@gmail.com. The directory will include this year’s program, but, the program is included in this newsletter. Many thanks to Monica Ruiz-Mills and her committee for their hard work in developing a program based on our theme “Supporting Marginalized Women and Girls During This Time of Change” in such a short time.

See you Saturday, Oct 1 at our next meeting.

Diane Claiborne-Carr

President

AAUW San Antonio

AAUW San Antonio Members at Can We Talk?

Meet the 2022-2023 Branch Leaders

Executive Committee

President

Diane Claiborne-Carr       

President Elect

Vacant       

Vice President Membership

Ruth Lyle                         

Vice President Programs

Monica Ruiz-Mills               

Secretary

Ashlee Martinez      

Treasurer

Adrien Frank  

Parliamentarian

Suzanne Benson

Standing Committees

Public Policy

Pat Sanford

Budget/Finance

Adrien Frank

Scholarships/NCCWSL

Karen Reichensperger

Eleanor Skelley    

Colleges/Universities

Martha Steele

Funds

Kimberly Henry

Communications

Malinda Gaul

STEM

Mary Ellen Pratt

DEI

Kimberly Henry

Governance

Vacant

Appointed

Historian

Patricia Tucker

Community Coordinator

Vacant

Reservations

Betty Russell

Publicity

Michelle Burk

Member Outreach

Kathy Dicke

October Program

Inequities in Bexar County

Ernie Wittwer

Our October presentation will center on the topic of inequities within Bexar County.

Since the late 1970s, wealth in the US has migrated upward; the rich are much richer at the expense of the poor and middle class. The US is the least economically equal of the seven large economies of the G-7. We are now as economically unequal as we were in the 1920s or the Gilded Age of the late nineteenth century. Inequality harms our democracy, our economy, our society, and our health. Our current circumstance was brought about largely by public policy choices made on our behalf by our elected representatives. Different choices on taxes, health care, education, labor, housing, criminal justice, and childcare could reverse those circumstances.

A group from the League of Women Voters of San Antonio spent more than two years evaluating issues related to inequity at the national, state, and local level. This presentation contains the highlights of their findings.

Presenting the findings of the study is Ernie Wittwer. Ernie Wittwer spent his career working for the Wisconsin state government and the University of Wisconsin. He held several high-level management and policy positions with the state department of transportation. At the University of Wisconsin—Madison, he was the director of the transportation research center and an adjunct professor. He has been a member of the League of Women Voters of San Antonio for four years. He served as Treasurer, chaired the economic study effort, and is now a member of the program committee, where his emphasis has been on climate change.

September Meeting Recap

Our first presentation set the groundwork for our theme, Supporting Marginalized Women and Girls During This Time of Change. The program, Exploring Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, focused on increasing cultural humility and combatting discrimination by providing a safe place to explore diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

Kimberly Henry, AAUW DEI Chair, and Veronica Quinonez led the group through an interactive discussion on the foundational elements of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Key terminology and concepts included differences between equality and equity, the meaning of diversity and inclusivity and how it translates into practice and reflecting on the next steps of DEI and becoming more aware as individuals and as an organization. The recording and presentation are posted on our AAUW SA website. Please complete the survey about the presentation.

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Shape the Future Membership

Invite a friend or family member to attend a meeting. If they join after attending a San Antonio AAUW event or meeting the National dues are only $33.50, AAUW Texas $13, and San Antonio Branch $16 for a total of $62.50.

Thank you for supporting AAUW!

Ruth Lyle

Vice President Membership

Membership Survey

Our Board of Directors serves you, our members. We want to hear from you! Please take a few minutes to complete our survey. Let us know what types or programs, speakers, and interest groups you would like us to provide by answering a few questions.

Membership News

Please welcome new members: Claudia Walker,

Mary Helen Vera, Nancy Franklin, and Mary Brennan.

Congratulations to Taylor Watson,

Can We Talk? winner of a free one year membership to AAUW-SA.

We look forward to getting to know you.

Questions?

email, call or text.....

Ruth Lyle

Membership Vice President

ruthannlyle@gmail.com

210-722-1732

Scholarships

Students are going back to school and we start looking for scholarship committee members. At the October meeting, I will be asking for three (3) members to serve on the textbook scholarship committee. In November, I will ask you to review the college/university contact list for changes and additions that you are aware of (no research). In January, I will ask you for dates when we can have a scholarship meeting to discuss the applications which I will send you the beginning of February. Then, your/our work concludes at the April meeting when we will announce the winners. It is such a rewarding experience to read about the young women who will take up our flag in the future. If you can't make the October meeting, you can email me your desire to be on the committee.

Karen Reichensperger

Scholarship Committee Chair

jkreichen@att.net

Public Policy

The start of the school year often brings excitement and the possibility of new beginnings. That is an apt description of our branch’s first meeting this year on September 3rd. We’re still meeting via Zoom, but we have much that is new and much to celebrate. Our theme for 2022-2023 is "Supporting Marginalized Women and Girls During This Time of Change." Monica Ruiz-Mills, Vice President of Programs and her committee members Judy Branch, Mary Ellen Pratt, and Martha Steele, have secured programs for the entire year that are aligned with the theme and will provide information and insight into what is happening, what can be done, and how we can help as an organization and as individuals. Co-presenters Kimberly Henry and Veronica Quinonez set the bar high at the first meeting by conducting a working and learning session complete with a workbook they designed for participants. The presentation, “Exploring Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion,” was designed to not only provide working definitions of key concepts but also to increase cultural humility and combat discrimination by providing a safe place to explore diversity and inclusion. This presentation gave us a lens to become more intentional in our efforts to support diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Kimberly is the DEI Chair of our branch, a new position established by President Diane Clairborne-Carr. Kimberly will include 5–10 minute sessions throughout the year at our meetings to help us continue to explore these important issues.

This work is closely aligned with the public policy efforts AAUW Texas is undertaking this year. The 88th legislative session starts in January 2023, and AAUW will again hire lobbyist Kevin Stuart to help us navigate the session and to take meaningful steps to help pass bills that support AAUW’s public policy priorities. The state public policy advisory committee sent a survey to members statewide asking them to check the five issues in a list of 12 that they would most like the AAUW public policy team to address. In preliminary results, the top five were women’s health care and reproductive choices, open and fair elections that are broadly accessible to all voters, opposition to the censoring of city, county, and public school libraries, reduction in gun violence, and pay equity. AAUW TX also encourages members to become poll workers, to register voters, and to contact state and federal legislators urging them to support our public policy priorities and other women’s rights issues.

We are an organization of intelligent and interesting women. It is gratifying to me that we have opportunities within our branch and at AAUW TX and AAUW national to continue to learn and be ever more discerning. And that no matter what our age, we can still make valuable contributions that make the world a better, more equitable, and inclusive place.

Pat Sanford

Public Policy Chair

Do you know who represents you?

Follow this link to learn who represents you now.

Do you feel that person represents you and your needs?

Do you want a change?

The League of Women of Voters will have the ballot later this month at this link.

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Have your read an interesting book? Binged a great tv series? Listened to new music? Visited an exciting city, country, art exhibit, music festival, restaurant?

Let us know so we may share it in our newsletters.

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Want a great evening of music, food, and drinks?

Jazz, TX

Located in the basement of the Bottling Department at the historic Pearl Brewery, Jazz, TX is San Antonio’s favorite spot for live jazz.

https://jazztx.com/

San Antonio Youth Literacy

Second Grade Reading Buddy Program

Our Second Grade Reading Buddy program is an early intervention program focused on promoting the literacy skills of elementary school-aged children who are at-risk of school failure due to poor reading skills.

We train adult volunteers to become SAYL Reading Buddies. Our volunteers tutor students in more than 30 elementary schools and program sites throughout San Antonio. Our curriculum focuses on strengthening and improving the literacy skills of students who are reading below their appropriate grade level.

Want to Become a SAYL Reading Buddy?

http://sayl.org/reading-buddy-application/

Program Schedule for 2022-2023

September 3, 2022: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Speakers: Kimberly Henry and Veronica Quinonez

Program: Exploring Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The presentation will focus on increasing cultural humility and combats discrimination by providing a safe place to explore diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

October 1, 2022: Inequity within our communities (Aligned to DEI topic: Privilege)

Speaker: Ernie Wittwer

Program: Study on Economic Inequity in Bexar County

The presentation will address poverty, education opportunities, diverse populations, and pay equity in Bexar County.

November 5, 2022: CAST Schools Network (Aligned to DEI topic: Diversity in Education)

Speaker: Jeanne Russell, Executive Director of CAST Schools

Program: Opportunities for Youth through the CAST Schools Network

Discussion of the various educational opportunities provided to students in San Antonio through the Centers for Applied Science and Technology (CAST) Network, a non-profit organization with a network of tuition-free, industry-led, career-themed high schools and one Pre-K through 12th Academy. The schools are located in underserved areas of San Antonio and encompass an innovative school approach in areas of STEM, medical professions, technology, leadership in retail, hospitality, and tourism, teaching profession, and the Advanced Learning Academy.

December 3, 2022: Preparing for our future now (Aligned to DEI topic: Presumption of Incompetence/Bias)

Speaker: Carol Bertsch, PA

Program: Getting Your Affairs in Order

Explore the importance of establishing Wills and Powers of Attorney while you still have mental capacity. Discussion on the various options for paying for long-term care and making decisions while we still have the mental capacity.

January 2023

POC: Helga Anderson

Program: Wine Women and Wisdom

POC: Ali Heller

Program: Culinary Adventures

February 4, 2023: Access for youth in the foster care system (Aligned to DEI topic: Systems that Foster Disparities and Inequities)

Speaker: Airika Buford, Project Director, Bexar County Educational Success Program, UTSA

Program: It takes a Village: Creating a Holistic Pipeline of Support for Students with Experience in Foster Care.

The Bexar County Fostering Educational Success Program (BCFES) is a collaborative effort to improve access and retention of youth and young adults interested in or pursuing higher education. The presenter will provide an overview of the model, strategic framework, and the special initiatives put in place to fill in the gaps in resources and support services for BCFES participants. Lastly, the presentation will discuss the community support needed to ensure that pipelines of support like these are sustainable and how to become a part of the village that help to improve the educational trajectory of students with a history in foster care.

March 4, 2023: The Status of Women in San Antonio Update (Aligned to DEI topic: Disparities and Inequities)

Speaker: City of San Antonio Member TBA

Program: Status of Women in San Antonio

The Status of Women in San Antonio report was commissioned by the city of San Antonio to provide an overview of disparities in San Antonio in the areas of gender, health, well-being, economic opportunities, political participation, and safety.

April 1, 2023

Lead: Dr. Karen Reichensperger, Scholarship Committee Chair

Program: San Antonio AAUW Scholarship Winners

May 6, 2023: Scobee Girls STEM Summit (Aligned to DEI topic: Equity)

Speakers: Michelle Risse and Andrea Montano

Program: Scobee Education Center: STEM Education for Young Women Interested in STEM Careers

This presentation will reflect on the programs Scobee has provided through the Artemis Academy for Girls, the Scobee STEM Summit and what research tells us about how general STEM careers currently reflect our population. The Scobee Education Center has hosted the Scobee Girls STEM Summit since 2016 and funded an all-girls STEM camp.

Committee Members:

Monica Ruiz-Mills

Judy Branch

Mary Ellen Pratt

Martha Steele

Culinary Adventures

Paesanos 1604

DONATE!

You can donate to the AAUW San Antonio Branch for Scholarships by making a check out to AAUW SA and sending it to Treasurer Adrien Frank, 140 Patterson, #104, San Antonio, TX 78209.

You can also donate to AAUW Greatest Needs

by clicking HERE.

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