...empowering women since 1922 | |
Update from AAUWMI co-VPs for Programs
Barb Duran and Linda Kevorkian
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AAUW of Michigan's annual Women's Equality Day Celebration, commemorating the certification of the 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote, was held on Saturday, August 26, in Livonia. The event drew nearly 100 people--men and women--from all of Michigan's women's advocacy organizations. The event included a keynote presentation by Speaker Pro Tempore of the Michigan House of Representatives, Laurie Pohutsky (D-Livonia); a report from Meghan Kissell, AAUW Senior Director of Policy and Membership Advocacy; and an update on the status of ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment from Laura Carter Callow, Michigan Women's Hall of Fame inductee, AAUW member, and pioneering advocate for the proposed amendment since the 1970s. | |
Luncheon attendees listen intently to the presentation. | |
Laura Carter Callow, AAUW Livonia member and longtime advocate for the Equal Rights Amendment, addresses guests at the 2023 Women's Equality Day Luncheon in Livonia. | |
AAUW's Meghan Kissell; Speaker Pro Tempore of the Michigan House of Representatives, Laurie Pohutsky from the 17th District; and AAUWMI President, Sheila Blair. | |
AAUW Central States Regional Conference | |
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We are excited to be participating in the planning for the Central States Regional Conference that will be hosted by AAUW of Missouri in St. Louis, MO, October 19-21. The conference theme is "Reaching new heights--together!" Keynote speakers include AAUW CEO Gloria Blackwell and Lisa Maatz, public policy and organizational consultant. The conference program includes plenary and breakout sessions on the topics of Voting Rights and Issues, Reproductive Rights and Women’s Health, Equity and Inclusion, Succession Planning and Leadership, Women’s Economic Security, Pay Equity, and AAUW and the Future.
Register for the conference by September 16 for the early bird rate of $200. Registration increases to $225 after that date. The registration deadline is September 30. AAUWMI recommends mail-in registration since the online process is a bit complicated. Contact Lois Domsch for help if you prefer to pay online via PayPal.
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The registration form includes information about hotel reservations at the conference venue, Drury Plaza Hotel at the Arch. The conference rate of $221/night is available until September 16. Regular rates of $250 or more per room apply after that date. Parking is an additional $27/night. | |
Tary Time
Kay Calley-Martin and Jan Van Gasse, AAUWMI Co-Secretaries
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Are you a branch secretary for 2023-2024 or assuming that role? If so, please let us know who you are by emailing Jan Van Gasse. We would like to initiate "Tary Time." This would be a group email or a Zoom session focused on questions that branch secretaries might have. Kay and Jan will provide answers. Questions might include:
- Is there a job description for the secretary position?
- Where do I find the new branch logos?
- What should minutes include?
- What needs to be saved in your archives?
- How do I navigate the Community Hub?
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Action and Advocacy
Ruth Brown, AAUWMI Public Policy Director
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Welcome to the AAUW 2023-2024 program year! AAUW has a rich history in making an impact in legislative affairs and advocating for Public Policy issues that your branch can continue in making a difference that will empower future generations.
Every AAUW branch should have an active Public Policy Chair focused on Public Policy issues. If your branch lacks a Public Policy Chair, please step up, and ask your branch President for five minutes on every meeting agenda for a "Public Policy Pulse" to direct your branch members' attention to one important Public Policy issue of local, state, or national importance. Keep your comments to five minutes, and achieve this by practicing timing yourself before the meeting.
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One way to keep to five minutes is to reference only one issue each meeting. It may be directing branch members to a resource such as an article or website or inviting them to a Public Policy meeting or event that you are planning. It may be to ask them to advocate, that is, to support a particular cause or policy. What are some issues most branch members could rally around?
AAUW has many resources available to you to help generate five minute Public Policy topics. You can also connect with branch counterparts to find out what they are doing. There will be a Zoom meeting for Public Policy branch counterparts on Monday, September 11, 2023 at 7pm EST. If your Public Policy Chair is not available or your branch has no one in this position, please designate someone to represent your branch, and let me know the name, role, branch, and email address of the person attending so they receive the Zoom link. Please come ready to discuss your branch Public Policy plans for this year or your past activities. You don't need to plan the whole year now since you will want to be respond to current affairs as they develop.
Thank you for your dedication and commitment to AAUW and for keeping a focus on Public Policy matters, and especially for keeping action and advocacy top of mind this program year. Contact me if you or your branch members have questions.
Ruth Brown, AAUW of Michigan
Public Policy Director
travelgirl4@comcast.net
(517) 398-0116 cell and text
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AAUWMI's Public Policy Priorities in Lansing
Mary Pollock, Government Relations Coordinator
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Since my last report in late May, the 102nd Michigan Legislature elected in November 2022 completed a timely and record-setting budget for state government and education. Additionally, it passed a slew of important measures Governor Gretchen Whitmer has signed into law concerning voting rights, sexual assault, child marriage, and more. Meanwhile Michigan is prominent in the Trump indictments.
The 38 members of the Senate have introduced 465 bills, and the 110 members of the House have introduced 935 bills in their first six months, plus both have introduced numerous resolutions. I am tracking 481 measures for AAUWMI related to our AAUWMI 2023-2025 Public Policy Priorities.
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The Legislature recessed for its summer break on June 29 to recuperate from the pace and did not return all summer. They reconvene September 5 for an exciting autumn full of new bill packages on pay equity, reproductive health, paid leave for family and medical reasons, financial disclosure for lawmakers, housing, energy and the environment, and many other topics. There is speculation that there may be early adjournment in late October to make it possible for a law to go into effect in time to have a February 27 Democratic presidential primary. And two House members may be elected mayor of their cities this November, meaning the House Democrats will lose their majority until special elections are held.
Read about your state government at work by clicking below to read my entire Capitol Report.
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AAUWMI Virtual Lobby Corps | |
If you are interested in legislative happenings in Lansing, join AAUWMI Virtual Lobby Corps Zoom calls on the third Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m. EST. Mary Pollock, AAUWMI Government Relations Coordinator hosts the meetings and often has guest speakers. Email pollockm@comcast.net to get on the distribution list for meeting reminders and late-breaking news. | |
Introducing AAUWMI's New Membership VP
Eva Habib
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As I begin my first year as the State Membership VP, I am honored to serve you, AAUWMI, and the AAUW mission, and I look forward to a great year ahead.
Membership is the cornerstone of our existence as an organization. One of my goals is to keep our members engaged, inspired, and appreciated. I plan to have a closer relationship with branch members and their Board officials, especially membership chairpersons. I held a “Meet and Greet” Zoom meeting with branch membership chairpersons on August 28 to get to know each other better.
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I have introduced the chairpersons to the Membership Team Playbook and the recording of the June 26 AAUWMI program on recruiting younger members, which are excellent tools to help them carry out their duties. I am also working with a committee on possibly creating a new branch in the Lansing area.
AAUWMI Membership Committee Members are active and discussing plans for the 2023-2024 membership year.
Each member is an ambassador of AAUW. This year I strive to grasp the public attention to AAUW’s mission and bring its value to them. Together, we can do it.
You can reach me anytime via email or text at 313-418-9085 with questions or concerns.
Cheers to a great year of membership!
Eva Habib
MI Membership VP
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Bylaws Briefings
Jan Van Gasse, AAUWMI Bylaws Director
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Because of AAUW bylaws revisions approved by AAUW members last Spring, all AAUW branches will be required to update their bylaws over the next three years. Branches can approve the required changes with a vote of the board. A full vote of the branch or state membership is not required to implement national-mandated changes to affiliate bylaws. Branches and states are required to adopt the first seven articles found here. The deadline for submitting revised bylaws to AAUW via connect@aauw.org is June 30, 2026. Please also send your revised bylaws to the AAUW of Michigan Bylaws Director Jan Van Gasse for AAUWMI’s files. Amended branch bylaws are to be sent to the AAUWMI Bylaws Director within 90 days of amendment. | |
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Please note that due to the bylaws changes to AAUWMI’s bylaws that were approved at our annual meeting on April 29th, many branches will need to change their bylaws if they mention delegates to the annual meeting. We will no longer have delegates, but rather each member in good standing as of the official notice of the annual meeting is entitled to vote. All proposed amendments to AAUWMI’s bylaws were approved at the annual meeting; updated Bylaws can be found here. Any proposed amendments to branch bylaws that are in addition to those mandated by AAUW must be sent to the AAUWMI Bylaws Director for approval by the AAUWMI Bylaws Committee before the call for the branch to vote.
You might remember that there was a vote in 2021 on dropping AAUW’s degree requirement for membership. There will be another vote in the Spring of 2024. Looking back at some of the data for Michigan in the 2021 vote provides interesting information for AAUWMI and for branches.
Members who voted in Michigan were more supportive of the change than the overall vote. The vote was very close to the two-thirds vote (66.6%) of a quorum of five percent (5%) of individual members voting.
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| Participation | Affirmative | | AAUWMI Members of Branches | 30.2% 561/1856 | 63.75% | | National Members in Michigan | 5.8% (23/573) | 69.7% | | All Branch Members | 29% | 63% | | All National Members | 8% | 66% | | All AAUW | 23% | 63% | | |
Listed below are the top 10 states with the highest number of branch members. Notice that there was a 66% or higher “yes” vote in only two states: Wisconsin and Washington. | |
| State | Number of Branch Members | % Who Voted Affirmative | | California | 9270 | 60 | | Michigan | 1856 | 64 | | Pennsylvania | 1722 | 65 | | Minnesota | 1718 | 64 | | Florida | 1576 | 40 | | Washington | 1517 | 76 | | New York | 1516 | 74 | | Texas | 1432 | 49 | | Virginia | 1030 | 65 | | |
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Future newsletter articles will discuss the Open Membership vote in much greater detail. I have been appointed to AAUW National’s Degree Requirement Task Force, and we will be providing newsletter articles, PowerPoints, speaking points, etc. prior to the Spring vote. What is important now is that we encourage every member to vote. As an organization, we believe in Get Out the Vote, and we must model this ourselves. I will be communicating with each branch president in the next few weeks as to how many of your branch members voted in the last election and how they voted in aggregate. Please use this data to encourage your branch members to vote. A suggestion might be to have voting occur at a branch meeting when the voting opens next Spring.
I welcome any questions or comments that you might have concerning bylaws, policies, or the Open Membership Vote. I can be contacted via email at via phone.
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Fiscal Matters
Sally Doty, AAUWMI Finance Vice President
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As we conclude the first quarter of our fiscal year that started July 1, it’s a good idea to check our list of items that are required at this time.
- Update your tax information – AAUW will file the 990N for you if you regularly have an income of less than $50,000. You can access this under “My Affiliation” on your home page of the Community Hub. Go to my Tax Info tab. If you open it and read it, you are requesting that AAUW file your information. Be sure to look at all the information and make sure that it is correct.
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Update your contact information and that of your members. You are able to update individual members’ information as long as the member has an email address. This is how AAUW is keeping track of your members. If a member has changed their email, it must be updated in the HUB. Any member is able to update their own information, as well as the Finance Director, President, and Membership Director.
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Go to Tutorials: https://www.aauw.org/membership/new-systems-update/ for access to tutorials on your present tasks.
- Be sure that your finance officer’s information is correct and that it has been sent to AAUW, AAUWMI and me.
AAUW is continuing the “Office Hours” on Tuesdays at 3:00 p.m. and Thursdays at 3:30 p.m. for problems that we can’t seem to figure out by our own intuitions. You can sign up for Tuesday sessions here or Thursday sessions here. I would recommend that you try to attend one of these events. It is always good to hear what other AAUW members are asking about.
I have formed a Finance Committee consisting of Bonnie Boggs from Monroe, Carole Wells from Dearborn and Sharon Postnieks from Rochester. We will be working on a streamlined Finance Position description of duties, etc., like the Membership Playbook written by the Membership Committee last year. To that end I will be calling a meeting or two of all of you to find out what you really need and want. Please, watch for an email from me asking for your preference of a time.
In the interim, if you need assistance, text me at 248-909-5683 or send me an email, sallyaauw@gmail.com.
I am looking forward to working with all of you this year.
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AAUW's Fellowships and Grants Programs
Ruth Briggs, AAUW Funds Director
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Do you or someone you know need money for graduate study, post-doctorate basic research, or a community action project? If so, you can apply now for funding through AAUW's Fellowships and Grants Programs. In 2022-2023 AAUW disbursed 6.3 million dollars. That's a lot of money!
Applications are open now until Nov. 15 for AAUW fellowships and grants. AAUW is providing more than $6 million in funding to 285 fellows and grantees in the 2023-24 award year. Detailed application instructions are on the AAUW website. Please share this information widely. We would love to hear of any recipients with ties to Michigan!
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AAUWMI's New College/University Director
Michele Reid
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As the new AAUWMI College/University Director, Michele Reid welcomes your comments and suggestions regarding academic outreach and partnership opportunities our board should consider pursuing in the coming months. She has lived in Michigan since 2017, when she moved to Battle Creek to work at Kellogg Community College, where she is currently KCC’s Chief Library Officer. Her background is in systems, automation consortia, and instruction as well as libraries. With over 40 years of experience in both public and private institutions, including in senior positions in state government, academic libraries, and information technology, she has also been active on regional, state, and local nonprofit boards throughout her career. She is now serving as President of the AAUW Battle Creek Branch. | |
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Michele earned a PhD in Higher Education Administration with a focus on adult and vocational education from North Dakota State University, and also holds an Associate degree from Valencia Community College, a Bachelor’s in History and Spanish, summa cum laude, from the University of Central Florida, a Master’s in Library and Media Studies from the University of South Florida, and a Master’s in History from Rutgers University. Please feel free to contact her at reidm2@kellogg.edu or 269.275.8193. | |
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Updating your Branch Publications with
AAUW’s New Logo Colors
Leah Monger, State Services Manager
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Recently, several branches have asked how to get their branch’s logo in AAUW’s new red and navy colors. Head to State & Branch Tools on the AAUW website. Next, click “Download AAUW Logos and Branding Materials” near the bottom of the section labeled “What Do You Want to Do? You are now in a shared folder in AAUW’s SharePoint site. Look for a folder labeled “State and Branch Logos” and click through a couple more screens to find a folder for Michigan, where you will find your own branch logo. AAUW provided multiple file formats for the old blue and green logos, but .png is the only format they are providing for new logos. If you need a vector file format such as .eps to avoid pixelation, you or a graphic designer will have to convert the .png file to the needed format. | |
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AAUW also has a document titled “AAUW Color Palette” that might be useful to you or your graphic designer. This document suggests complementary colors to use with the red and blue logo colors and provides all the hex, RGB, and CYMK codes to ensure you get the exact colors. You can find this document file immediately under the "State and Branch Logos" folder when you first enter the AAUW SharePoint site looking for logos.
As always, I’m your front line of support with any AAUW or AAUWMI questions you might have. I might not have the answer, but I’ll find someone who does! Please contact me for assistance.
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Michigan's Attorney General Meets with
Iron Mountain/Kingsford Branch
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Attorney General Dana Nessel visited with the Iron Mountain/Kingsford branch
on August 13th during her tour of the Upper Peninsula. The branch was excited to meet her and honored that she chose to spend time with us in the beautiful Upper Peninsula.
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From La Femme to La Feministe
Submitted by the AAUW-Dearborn Branch as part of the branch's
90th anniversary celebration
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The Dearborn Branch will be celebrating their 90th anniversary on September 16. Former branch president Valerie (Val) Murphy-Goodrich will be arriving to the celebration in style in her Chrysler “La Femme.” The 1955 model came with a two-tone paint job in pink and white and came equipped with pink accessories including a rain cape, rain bonnet, umbrella, and calf-skin purse containing a compact, comb, lighter, lipstick and cigarette cases! In 1956, the second and final year of production, Chrysler coupled new colors for "La Femme": “misty orchid” and “regal orchid.” | |
"La Femme" (eye lashes not factory issue) | |
We might laugh now at the stereotypically feminine design of "La Femme," but Val points out that cars provided women increased personal freedom by furthering access to jobs, leisure activities, and social interactions. This particular car is a symbol of women's mobility in America and a reminder of the long journey women continue to travel toward gender equity. | |
AAUW-Dearborn's 90th Anniversary Luncheon
AAUW-Dearborn’s 90th Anniversary Luncheon is scheduled from noon-3:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 16, 2023, at Park Place Banquet Center, 23400 Park Street, Dearborn, MI 48124. "La Femme" will be parked outside the venue for viewing during the event. Tickets are $30, and a cash bar will be available. Contact Judith Buck to reserve a seat by Wednesday, September 6, 2023.
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AAUW of Michigan
Important Dates 2023-2024
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Friday, September 1 – Summer/Fall newsletter distributed
Wednesday, October 4, 7:00 p.m. ET – Branch Presidents’ Quarterly Zoom Meeting
Thursday, October 5 – Latinas’ Equal Pay Day
Thursday, October 19 – Saturday, October 21 – Central States Regional Conference, St. Louis, MO
Saturday, October 28, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. ET – AAUW of Michigan Board Meeting* (via Zoom)
Tuesday, November 1 – Announce Nominating Committee to Branch Presidents
Thursday, November 30 – Native Women’s Equal Pay Day
Friday, December 1 – Fall/Winter Newsletter distributed
Wednesday, January 3, 7:00 p.m. ET – Branch Presidents’ Quarterly Zoom Meeting
Saturday, January 14, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon ET – AAUW of Michigan Board Meeting* (via Zoom)
Saturday, February 2
- Board Nominees (in writing) due to the Chair of the Nominating Committee
- Deadline for submitting proposed Bylaws Amendments
Friday, March 1
- Call to Annual Meeting distributed
- Winter/Spring Newsletter distributed
Wednesday, March 27, 7:00 p.m. ET – Branch Presidents’ Quarterly Zoom Meeting
Saturday, May 4 – AAUWMI Annual Report distributed
Friday, May 10, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 PM ET – AAUW of Michigan Board Meeting* (in person)
Friday, May 10 – Saturday, May 11 – Annual Meeting and Convention, Detroit Marriott Livonia, 17100 North Laurel Park Drive, Livonia, MI 48152
Saturday, June 1
- Spring/Summer Newsletter distributed
- Affiliate Annual Reports due
Wednesday, June 26, 7:00 p.m. ET – Branch Presidents’ Quarterly Zoom Meeting
*Any member of AAUW of Michigan is welcome to attend Board meetings. Please send an email to Sheila Blair, AAUWMI President, at sheilablairpmp@gmail.com if you would like to attend any meeting, and she will send you the details.
Note: Lobby Corps meetings occur monthly. If you would like to know what's going on in our state legislature, please email pollockm@comcast.net to attend those meetings.
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AAUW of Michigan Leadership Team 2023-2024 | | |
Elected Officers/Executive Committee | |
AAUWMI Administrative Staff | | | | |
