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Presidents' Packet 2023-2024

Sheila Blair, AAUWMI President

12883 Plum Street, Southgate, Michigan 48195

[email protected]

734-674-2246 (Cell)

TIPS & TRICKS

Our membership directory is based on the information submitted in AAUW’s Community Hub Database. Please check the Community Hub to ensure your contact information is accurate, as well as that of your branch members.
As AAUW National has such a limited staff, please ask AAUW of Michigan before asking them. Often times, we can answer your questions. Please contact your state board counterpart or me with any questions you might have or if you are in need of assistance. We know that it can be frustrating to email [email protected] and not receive a timely answer.
Please invite any AAUWMI Board member to participate in your meetings. We can participate via Zoom or in person. You may also request having a board member do a presentation for your branch. To do so, please contact the AAUWMI President.
CALL TO ACTION: We are always seeking committee members from your branches to serve on a statewide committee. Please ask your members to serve. Please submit the names of those interested to the State Services Manager as soon as possible.
The new Shape the Future discount code is: ShapeTheFutureFY24

Learn more about Sheila Blair

Another Great Year is Ahead!

Hello New and Returning Presidents!

Something tells me this is going to be a great year! There are a minimum of three things that are going to make it an amazing year.

The Regional Central States Conference is in October in St. Louis, MO. I would highly encourage you and your branch members to attend, if at all possible. Even if you don't learn one thing at the conference (which you will, of course), it's a great opportunity to bond with your board members and branch members.
The AAUWMI Biennial Conference will be held next Spring and this will be first time we will not be using delegates and every vote will count, so we are looking forward to an increase in attendance.
Before this Fiscal Year ends on June 30, the national AAUW organization will put the open membership issue (i.e. elimination of the college degree requirement) on the ballot again. In my opinion, this one issue could either secure the future of this organization or it can break it, depending on which way this vote goes. AAUWMI will be focused on this issue throughout the year, holding town halls and other events related to the big vote in the Spring.

Other reasons this will be a great year is that the AAUWMI board and their committees will be producing a playbook for each branch position to make recruiting leaders and transitioning leaders a lot easier and smoother.

An incredible event we have coming up VERY SOON is the AAUW of Michigan Women's Equality Day Celebration on August 26th. It's a luncheon with very compelling presenters. Please register by Friday, August 18.

In order to include you and your board members into all our important correspondence, please make a list of your board members with their names, positions, emails and phone numbers and send it to Leah Monger, our State Services Manager at [email protected].

Be on the lookout for a new set of AAUWMI Policies, which will be distributed later this Fall.

Lastly, if you ever need support for your position or your branch, please contact your state board. We are here to assist.

Very Truly Yours,

Sheila

AAUW of Michigan Leadership Team 2022-2023

Elected Officers/Executive Committee

President

Sheila Blair

[email protected]

734-674-2246

President Elect

Amy Shamroe

[email protected]

517-930-9999

Program VP (Co)

Barb Duran

[email protected]

313-300-1710

Program VP (Co)

Linda Kevorkian

[email protected]

248-219-1915

Finance VP

Sally Doty

[email protected]

248-909-4583

AAUW Funds Director

Ruth Briggs

[email protected]

734-676-6248

Membership VP

Eva Habib

[email protected]

313-418-9085

Secretary (Co)

Kay Calley-Martin

[email protected]

269-209-7992

Secretary (Co)

Jan Van Gasse

[email protected]

906-396-2747

Appointed Directors

Bylaws Director

Jan Van Gasse

[email protected]

906-396-2747

Public Policy Director

Ruth Brown

[email protected]

517-398-0116

Diversity Director

N'Kenge Gonzalez

[email protected]

248-935-3655

College/University Director

Michele Reid

[email protected]

269-275-8193

AAUWMI Administrative Staff

State Services Manager

Leah Monger

[email protected]

231-287-7022

Government Relations Coordinator

Mary Pollock

[email protected]

517-449-2386

AAUW of Michigan

Important Dates 2023-2024

Saturday, August 26, 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. ET – Michigan Women’s Equality Day, St. Mary's Cultural and Banquet Center, 18100 Merriman Road, Livonia

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, President, [email protected] 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 [email protected] to attend those meetings.

Call for AAUWMI Bylaws Amendments

Members of AAUWMI have the opportunity to review and propose amendments to the AAUWMI bylaws each year. Amendments help insure that we keep pace with the most current governance practices and that we are operating in a way that is consistent with the will of our membership.

Now is the time to examine the state bylaws and propose amendments that your affiliate members believe will help AAUWMI remain responsive to our members, focused on our mission and current in our practices. The AAUWMI bylaws are posted on the AAUWMI website: https://www.aauwmi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/AAUW-of-Michigan-Bylaws-April-2023.docx

The deadline for submitting proposed bylaws amendments is February 3, 2024.

The state may adopt and amend bylaws related to state affairs, but such bylaws shall not conflict with AAUW BYLAWS.
A phrase, a sentence or a whole article may be amended.
Reasons should be stated to explain why the recommendation is being made.

Procedure for Adoption (AAUWMI Bylaws, Article XX)

The provisions of these bylaws not governed by the AAUW BYLAWS may be amended at the annual AAUWMI meeting by a two-thirds vote of those present and voting, provided written notice shall have been sent to the members at least thirty (30) days prior to the meeting.

An amendment to the bylaws at the state annual meeting shall become effective and binding on all AAUWMI affiliates.

Enclosed is a copy of the Bylaws Amendment Form for submitting proposed amendments to AAUWMI Bylaws.

Please use a separate form for each proposed amendment being submitted.

For more information, please contact:

Jan Van Gasse

AAUWMI Bylaws Director

W5745 River Meadows Lane

Norway, MI 49870

(906) 396-2747

[email protected]

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION: February 3, 2024

Download the Fillable Bylaws Amendment Form

AAUW of Michigan Public Policy Priorities

2023-2025

AAUW is non-partisan but not values-neutral. We fight to remove barriers and biases that stand in the way of gender equity. Public Policy Priorities underscore AAUW’s mission to advance gender equity for women and girls through research, education, and advocacy.

AAUW of Michigan Public Policy Priorities are developed by the AAUWMI Public Policy Committee in alignment with AAUW Public Policy Priorities (2023-2025) and approved by the AAUWMI Board.

Download the AAUWMI 2023-2025 Public Policy Priorities