Dear Members,

I hope all are well!

Saturday, September 9th we held our first Monthly General Meeting. It was wonderful seeing members after the hot summer months. The atmosphere was full of togetherness, and peace. The Board of Directors sponsored the meeting at no cost to members and visitors. Members brought 5 visitors and a visitor brought a visitor after picking up an AAUW flyer at Can We Talk?!

Many thanks to The Baha’i Center that allowed us to gather in their facility and for the help their members provided. Thanks to Norma Khoshbin who made the request for use of the center and worked in ensuring things were in place. There was such spirit of comradery among the BOD throughout the process and the day of the meeting.

Thank you to my brother and daughter who volunteered to help.

Please read Pat Sanford’s Public Policy article which recaps the meeting and its purpose.

This year our programs will occur in different venues and different formats. Dre Andrepoint is the VP for Programs. Please contact her to volunteer for her committee or share your ideas. We need volunteers to implement various short- and long-term programs. You may prefer to volunteer your skills, i.e., typing, writing, planning, telephoning.

I continue to stress the above situations because the next 17 months will be very important to our lives, the lives of women and girls, the lives of family members, and our community. Climate change will affect so much of our life - water, food, weather, migration, jobs, and the economic status of everyone. It will require calm heads, working together, and a comprehensive plan that accounts for everyone. What is our role during the upcoming months? What can we do to ensure positive outcomes for women and girls, the marginalized, and our community? Please be a part of the conversation, the planning, and the action.

In September we also memorialize 9/11. I remember watching the news of the attacks in our office in Heidelberg, Germany. I returned to the U.S. one month later after 21 years to see a smoking airplane sitting in the Pentagon as I drove up I-95 on the way to my new assignment. Mary Ellen Pratt’s office set up childcare in a local hotel to take care of the children whose parents worked at the Pentagon. A few of those children were never picked up by their parents. We honor our military and civilian workers, who, on 9/11, gave the ultimate sacrifice.

Mornings are so beautiful! See you on Oct 7!

La Vita e Bella.

Diane Claiborne-Carr

President

AAUW San Antonio

571-330-1039

dcarr23.woman@gmail.com

2023-2024 Branch Leaders

Executive Committee

President

Diane Claiborne-Carr       

President Elect

Claudia Walker     

Vice President Membership

Ruth Lyle                         

Vice President Programs

Deborah Andrepointe              

Secretary

Mary Ellen Pratt     

Treasurer

Antonina Duridanova

Parliamentarian

Suzanne Benson

Standing Committees

Public Policy

Pat Sanford

Budget/Finance

Antonina Duridanova

Scholarships/NCCWSL

Jeanette Pierce

Karen Reichensperger

Eleanor Skelley    

Colleges/Universities

Martha Steele

Funds

Kimberly Henry

Communications

Malinda Gaul

STEM

Mary Ellen Pratt

DEI

Kimberly Henry

Governance

Jeanette Pierce

Appointed

Historian

Vacant

Community Coordinator

Vacant

Reservations

Vacant

Publicity

Michelle Burk

Member Outreach

Kathy Dicke

AAUW SAN ANTONIO BRANCH

GENERAL MONTHLY MEETING

SATURDAY, 7 OCTOBER 2023

11:00 A.M.

CROWN PLAZA SAN ANTONIO AIRPORT

1111 NE Interstate 410

SAN ANTONIO, TX 78209

RSVP NLT 2 OCTOBER 2023

Luncheon: $29

(Includes Salad, Entrée, Dessert, Iced Tea, Regular & Decaffeinated Coffee, Herbal Tea, Gratuity, No Tax)

Reservations with Antonina Duridanova:

ninadanoff@sbcglobal.net

Checks made out to: AAUW-SA

Mail to: Antonina Duridanova

20935 Cape Coral

San Antonio, TX 78259

We accept Zelle as payment.

Click the bill pay tab in your bank account

and select Zelle. 

Use the email aauwsatx@gmail.com  to send money.

In the memo field identify the payment: 

AAUWSA Oct Monthly Meeting

RSVP NLT 2 October 2023

CANCELLATION NLT 5 October 2023

MENU

CHICKEN MONTEREY

Topped with Monterey Jack Cheese and Avocado

Roasted Potatoes

Sauteed Vegetables

House Salad

Or

TRADITIONAL MEAT LASAGNA

Grilled Vegetables

Caesar Salad

Garlic Bread

And your choice of:

Chocolate Mousse or New York Style Cheesecake

OCTOBER SPEAKER

Jamie Lumpford, our October speaker, is a Senior Business Continuity Specialist with Independent Bank Group.

She is a highly skilled and accomplished Business Continuity/Risk Management professional with a passion for helping organizations navigate through disruptions and ensure their resilience. Throughout her 15+-year career she has demonstrated expertise in identifying potential risks and implementing proactive measures to minimize their impact. She is also known for her strong leadership skills and her ability to collaborate not only with Executive Level Management but also with cross-functional team members to achieve organization goals.

Jamie holds a degree in Business Administration and is a Certified Business Continuity Professional (CBCP). She currently lives and works in the Dallas Metroplex. Outside of her professional pursuits, being the mother of a phenomenal young lady, she is dedicated to empowering girls and women to be the best version of themselves. She is also actively involved in Seniors Helping Seniors, a home health organization. She enjoys reading and listening to all book genres, watching movies, spending time with family and traveling.

The title of her presentation is “Breaking the Glass Ceiling and not Falling off the Cliff with Your Integrity Intact.”

Experts and advocates for women of color say Black women are often hired or promoted to leadership roles at companies at times of crisis with the expectation being that they will fix the issues. The task, experts say, can be so daunting that it quickly leads to burnout or even failure.

The phenomenon has been coined by researchers as the “glass cliff.” It’s essentially the opposite of the “glass ceiling” – the term that describes the barriers minorities face to advance in the workplace. Research shows that women and people of color are more likely to be appointed to poorly performing companies than White males. Many Black women found themselves on the “glass cliff” in 2020 when companies and public agencies scrambled to diversify their staffs and launch diversity and inclusion initiatives as the nation faced a reckoning on racism following George Floyd’s death.

PUBLIC POLICY 2023-2024

Be Aware, Be Involved, Act

2023-2024 is an election year. Elections have consequences. The outcomes of this election year may have a major impact on us, our loved ones, and everyone we know. While AAUW is nonpartisan, we support issues that advance equity for women and girls. To maintain the freedoms we have and to keep others from being further eroded, it is imperative that our members are aware of legislation and candidates that promote AAUW priorities and of the people, candidates, and organizations that oppose them.

Our first meeting this year was designed specifically to encourage members to become actively involved in actions that support AAUW priorities, and to show that the action each of us takes matters. A second goal was to provide members with tools that are easy to use so that as many of us as possible do take action.

Malinda Gaul, national board Vice Chair, Cheryl Fuller, Regional Representative on the state board, and branch president Diane Claiborne-Carr heightened our knowledge and awareness of the mission-based strategies and work AAUW does at the national, state, and local levels.

Then Dre Andrepoint, Programs Vice President, presented the first tool, an overview of the League of Women Voters’ website including Vote111. There is a wealth of information at this website, including pros and cons of proposed bills, ways to contact your local legislators directly and send them a letter indicating your desire to have them vote in favor of bills supporting our priorities or against those that do not, with just the click of a button. https://www.lwv.org

President-Elect Claudia Walker presented the second tool. Claudia showed a YouTube video on accessing and using the Texas Legislature Online website (TLO). The site contains a myriad of information including ways to find and follow bills, contacting your personal legislators, and the names of the committees your legislators serve on. https://capitol.texas.gov

Pat Sanford, AAUW Public Policy Chair, further encouraged members to be diligent in searching for communications sent via Constant Contact by the AAUW Public Policy Advisory Committee and urged them to take action as recommended. The committee will continue working with lobbyist Kate Kuhlmann, who is with HillCo Partners, and who advises and guides the committee through the legislative session.

It's an important year. With elections as close as they are predicted to be, it will take all of us speaking together with voices loud and clear and putting action behind our words. Thank you for your continued support of women and girls.

Pat Sanford

AAUW Public Policy Chair

AAUW Texas Public Policy Advisory Committee

How to Use the Texas Legislature Online Website (TLO Website)

How to Write a Letter to Your Elected Representative

Important Dates for

November 7, 2023 Election

on Constitutional Amendments

Also, please note that there is an election for the San Antonio River Authority Board of Directors (two at-large Bexar County board members). There is also an election for the Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD school board. None of these races have incumbents.

New Census Bureau Numbers Shed Light

on Equal Pay Status for Women

Sept. 12, 2023—Today, the U.S Census Bureau released new wage data from 2022, which shows the wage gap for women remains pernicious and stagnant. According to the new data, for every $1 a man working full-time year-round is paid, a woman working full-time, year-round typically is paid just 84 cents. When looking at all earners, including part-time, part-year, and seasonal, women, on average, only make 78 cents compared to men. The pay disparity is even more severe for most women of color.

Here is the new breakdown on the pay gaps by race and gender:

*Full time refers to those working full-time year-round jobs

*All earners refers to all workers, including full-time, part-time, part-year and seasonal

All women compared to all men:

Full time: 84 cents

All earners: 78 cents

Black women compared to white, non-Hispanic men

Full time: 69 cents

All earners: 66 cents

Latinas compared to white, non-Hispanic men

Full time: 57 cents

All earners: 52 cents

Asian American women compared to white, non-Hispanic men

Full time: 99 cents

All earners: 89 cents

This year marks 10 years of the Equal Pay Today campaign, a national coalition of over 40 nonprofit and advocacy organizations including AAUW that advocate for pay equity for women and LGBTQIA+ people, especially women of color. Equal Pay Today is a project led by Equal Rights Advocates.

“Each year, these numbers show us the persistence of gender and racial wage gaps that women continue to face,” said Deborah J. Vagins, director of Equal Pay Today campaign, a project at Equal Rights Advocates. “The numbers also show us the critical importance of legislative and executive branch solutions that would help millions of families across the country. Our policymakers have the power to ensure equity for all workers, to combat pay discrimination, and to lift countless families out of poverty by adopting policy solutions that address the key drivers of the wage gaps and ensure women are paid fairly.”

The 2023-2024 Equal Pay Today policy agenda offers solutions to address these pay gaps and promote wage justice. Some recommendations include: implementing transparent pay practices and accountability mechanisms; strengthening current equal pay laws and passing new legislation to increase equity; addressing workplace harassment and the subminimum and tipped wages for vulnerable workers; and supporting paid family leave, paid sick and safe leave, and other workplace protections.

About Equal Rights Advocates

Equal Rights Advocates fights for gender justice in workplaces and schools across the country. Since 1974, they have been fighting on the front lines of social justice to protect and advance rights and opportunities for women, girls, and people of all gender identities through groundbreaking legal cases and bold legislation that sets the stage for the rest of the nation.

Ms. and the American Association of University Women are partnering up!

New and Renewing Members Get Ms. Magazine for Free!

Exclusive offer to receive one free year of the legendary Ms. Magazine, which includes four print issues along with digital updates! Sign up today!

Welcome new members: Airika Crawford and Michelle Soules

Congratulate the winners of the Free Membership Drawing awarded at our September 9 meeting:

Michelle Soules - guest winner

Martha Lankford – AAUW-SA member

Congratulate Wondra Chang for her enthusiasm in promoting AAUW - SA. She received a free one year membership.

Did you know that as an AAUW member many companies give you discounts? And every time you use these benefits AAUW receives a royalty to support AAUW's mission. Go to AAUW.org, click membership (upper right corner), then click on Discounts & Perks.

Invite a friend or family member to attend a meeting. If they join as a New Member after attending a San Antonio AAUW event or meeting, the National dues are half price: only $36. AAUW Texas dues are $13.00, and San Antonio Branch dues are $16.00, for a total of $65 for their first year.

IF YOUR MEMBERSHIP IS DUE PLEASE RENEW TODAY!

You can pay online, with Zelle or by check.

call/text/email Ruth Lyle for assistance

210.722.1732

ruthannlyle@gmail.com

Netflix Series

A video on Netflix Documentary Series not to be missed is "Live to 100 , Secrets of the Blue Zones."

Dan Buettner travels to Okinawa, Japan where the island’s oldest residents still share a serene way of life, motivated by sense of purpose, or Ikigai.

In his second episode, he moves from the mountain villages of Sardinia to a sunny suburb of California, and explores what has contributed to these communities’ amazing life spans. People in two very different blue zones.

In the third episode, the Greek island Ikaria and Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula thrive thanks to their unique diets and traditions.

And, lastly, Buettner visits Singapore, then shares his discoveries in the United States to find out if we can create new Blue Zones in a rapidly changing world.

Norma Khoshbin

AAUW members are invited to attend the 125th Anniversary of the Woman's Club of San Antonio, at The San Antonio Country Club, Sunday, October 1st, 6pm to 9pm. 

If you decide to come as a group, please contact Leas_Fagin@yahoo.com or text 210-286-5827, to obtain a table.  

The Woman's Club of San Antonio was founded October 1, 1898, by Eleanor Brackenridge and her friend Marin Fenwick, a San Antonio Express columnist. The mission was to to work towards "The mutual improvement and cooperation in all that pertains to the greater good of humanity."

Eleanor Brackenridge was active in the Texas Federation of Women's Clubs, the Daughter’s of the American Revolution, the Texas Mothers' Congress, the Order of the Eastern Star, and the Presbyterian Church.

Besides helping lead the crusade for women’s suffrage in Texas, Brackenridge worked to promote temperance, children’s welfare and education. Currently, we support 11 scholarships for Women at San Antonio College, help with Respite programs, The State Mental hospital with fundraisers like the Fiesta Hat Luncheon, Christmas Faire Luncheon, and summer programs. All meetings are held at the Woodward Mansion, 1717 San Pedro, the 1^st Wed. of each month from 11-12 followed by a luncheon. For membership and further information please call 210-732-4811.

Culinary Adventures

Why is it called Best Quality Daughter?

It's inspired by a line in The Joy Luck Club when a character says to her daughter, “You pick worst quality crab because you have best quality heart.” Best Quality Daughter is a nod to the complex relationships between Chinese American women and their Chinese-born mothers.

Take a look at their website for awards and honors. When we visit, be sure to visit the restroom where owner JENNIFER HWA DOBBERTIN shares recorded sounds.

If you would like to be added to the reminder email let Ali know.

Ali Heller

Movie Goers

Since the movie schedule comes out every Thursday we cannot plan a month in advance. Look for notice when there is a good movie. Currently, looking to schedule Golda, My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3, and A Haunting in Venice.

DONATE!

You can donate to the AAUW San Antonio Branch for Scholarships by making a check out to AAUW SA and sending it to Antonina Duridanova, 20935 Cape Coral, San Antonio, Texas 78259.

You can also donate to AAUW Greatest Needs

by clicking HERE.

Follow AAUW San Antonio on:

Facebook www.facebook.com/aauw.sanantonio

Twitter @AAUW_SanAntonio

LinkedIn AAUW San Antonio