Sheila Blair, AAUWMI President

12883 Plum Street, Southgate, Michigan 48195

sheilablairpmp@gmail.com

734-674-2246 (Cell)

Present Professional Programs & 

Make Meetings Memorable 

Barb Duran and Linda Kevorkian

Barb Duran

Linda Kevorkian

Top 10 Places for Branches to Find Programs & Speakers: 

In each newsletter we will offer up a couple of places where you can look to find informative and value-added speakers for your branch meetings, right in your own community! The first two are: 

1. City or Township Officials: (police chief, fire chief, mayor or township supervisor, planning commissioner, city clerk, etc.)  

2. Your city’s librarian or Friends of the Library group.  

Stay tuned for the program video to discuss our goals in more detail, and thank you for all you do to advance equity for Michigan’s women and girls.

Public Policy Director's Message

Ruth Brown

AAUW has a rich, impactful history in legislative affairs and Public Policy advocacy. Your branch can continue this legacy and empower future generations. 

Every branch should have a Public Policy Chair because this is one way AAUW differentiates itself from other organizations. If your branch does not have a Public Policy Chair, please consider volunteering for this important position. The basic job responsibilities can be found in the "AAUW Policy Leaders 2019-2020 Resource Manual." Here is a brief summary:

Advocate AAUW's Public Policy Priorities to policy makers; represent AAUW's Public Policy Priorities to AAUW members, the public, and the media; organize AAUW branch members and supporters to take action on policy priorities; and lead AAUW voter education and turnout campaigns for your branch.

In addition, a branch Public Policy Chair should know AAUW of Michigan Public Policy Priorities and communicate them to branch members and local elected officials, the media, and prospective members; update the State Public Policy Director on branch activities and seek help if needed; participate in the AAUWMI Virtual Lobby Corps that Mary Pollock leads on 3rd Thursdays of every month at 7pm; regularly check the Lobby Corps Facebook page; sign up for AAUW’s Two-Minute Activist and promote this service to branch members; and inform your branch of important Public Policy issues through reports at meetings and/or writing articles for your branch newsletter.

Promoting AAUW's Public Policy Priorities and your branch public policy activities through local media can be used as a membership recruitment tool.

AAUWMI is fortunate to have Government Relations Coordinator Mary Pollock, who keeps abreast of Michigan legislative activity and has many connections in Lansing and throughout Michigan. Mary visited 13 branches last year and gave programs on current Michigan legislation affecting AAUW members.  

As AAUWMI Public Policy Director, I am your liaison to the State Board and to AAUW National. Please contact me if you or your branch needs assistance or has questions. Thank you for your dedication and commitment to AAUW and for keeping a focus on Public Policy matters.

Lansing Report

Mary Pollock, Government Relations Coordinator

This is political season and there is plenty of news affecting AAUW’s values. 

• Michigan August 2 primary,
• Petition initiatives including one already certified to the ballot and two that AAUWMI has endorsed,
• Overturning of the 2018 Legislature’s Adopt and Amend maneuver,
• Michigan Supreme Court’s LGBT civil rights decision, and
• Kansas vote on reproductive rights.

Remember that we are non-partisan in that we don’t support (or oppose) candidates or political parties, but we are political in that we support (or oppose) certain issues as outlined in the AAUW Public Policy Priorities. 

Bylaws Briefings

Jan Van Gasse

As the new Bylaws Director for AAUW of Michigan, it is my intent to use these quarterly newsletter briefings to highlight pertinent information about branch bylaws, policies, etc. I am a detail person, so greatly enjoy bylaws and policies and making them right! I’d like to discuss bylaws in this briefing – what is their purpose, when should they be reviewed, and what are branch responsibilities to AAUW of Michigan?

The creation of bylaws is a part of the formation process of organizations and they are required by law in Michigan. Bylaws are the primary governance document of your organization. They are a 20,000 foot snapshot of how your organization operates. They are the top set of rules and can only be changed at a meeting of the members. This protects the bylaws from being changed without the knowledge of the members. Bylaws take precedent over policies and policies must be in harmony, not conflict, with the bylaws. 

Bylaws are practices that are intended to remain in place for the foreseeable future. In other words, they have a sense of permanence and should be etched in the proverbial stone.  

The first seven articles of branch bylaws are required by AAUW. Other articles usually include static, “boilerplate” topics, such as:  

• Membership categories
• Officers, Board of Directors, Executive Committee, and Committees
• Responsibilities of the officers, directors, and committees
• Nominations and Elections
• Meetings of the Membership
• Financial Administration
• Property
• Indemnification
• Amendments to the Bylaws

It is important to know the difference between the words “shall” and “may” when writing your bylaws. Use the word “shall” when it’s something that is required. Use “may” when the task is optional.  

Most experts would say that bylaws should be reviewed annually so that all board members re-familiarize themselves with the provisions. This will go a long way toward preventing costly errors. New board members should be provided with a copy of the bylaws when they begin their term. Bylaws should be amended as needed.  

Proposed amendments to branch bylaws shall be sent to the AAUWMI Bylaws Committee for approval before the call for the branch vote. Bylaws are to be amended at a branch meeting by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of those present and voting provided written notice shall have been sent to the members at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting. Amended bylaws are to be sent to the AAUW of Michigan Bylaws Director within 90 days of amendment. 

I would be glad to help you look at your bylaws. I would also ask that your Bylaws Director or president, if your branch has no Bylaws Director position, submit to me your current bylaws, either electronically or via mail. AAUW of Michigan policies indicate that the Bylaws Committee will maintain a file of current branch bylaws. The copies that I have seem to be extremely dated or, perhaps, some branches need to look at amending their bylaws!  

I look forward to our ongoing quarterly briefings and plan to discuss policies in the next newsletter. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns you might have. 

Fiscal Matters

Sally Doty, AAUWMI Finance Vice President

As Finance Directors we have been challenged this year by the migration of the new AAUW Community Hub. I know that many of you have been able to participate in the AAUW Office Hours hosted by Angela Cooper and Tremayne Parquet. I do believe that once the kinks have been worked out, we will have a better platform to use than the Member Service Database, which we were using.

Thankfully, Angela and Tremayne are trying to keep up with our problems and soon all will be smooth sailing.

Until then feel free to contact me with any questions. I will be convening a Zoom event for all of us soon. I will need to know what your needs are prior to that.

Presently, your tasks have been to sign up for AAUW to file your taxes (you will see this link in “my affiliations” in the HUB), sending in dues for your members if they do not do it directly, and sending in new members.

I have sent instructions directly to the list of finance directors that has been provided by the branch presidents. These were provided by AAUW of California. We appreciate all the help we can get. If you did not receive this email, let me know. Texting me is the most reliable way to connect with me – (248) 909-4583.

AAUW has posted tutorials for the Community Hub on its website, and AAUW of California also has archived webinars on its website. 

What I learned about …

Taking Minutes Part 1

Kay Calley-Martin, AAUWMI Co-Secretary

(Preface: Everybody has their own way to take minutes. This is just a helpful guideline.)

Preparing before a meeting:

Familiarize yourself with the minutes of the previous meeting’s minutes to be approved at the meeting. Send the minutes or post on a shared drive for all Board members to review before the next meeting.

Review the agenda:

I usually format my minutes according to the President’s agenda. This gives me an organizational tool to fill in during the meeting, (A tip from the past president, Jan Van Gasse).

Roll Call is important to know if there is a quorum. A quorum is the minimum number of board members who are present to make the proceedings of the meeting be valid. The usual number is a majority of the board. (There should be a number in your bylaws.)

If a quorum is not present, you can:

1. Adjourn the meeting to another day or next meeting.
2. Change the time of the meeting.
3. Recess, take time to call others or gather enough members to make a quorum.
4. Take other measures to assemble a quorum. A motion to do something to obtain a quorum is treated as a “privileged motion” and takes precedence over the motion to recess.

During the meeting, record only the decisions of the meeting, work to be done for upcoming events, or support of policies. 

Motions:

Motions for the year or the biennium of the current President, should be kept separated for reference purposes. Motions should also be kept as a compilation of all the years.

Next newsletter: More about motions and recording minutes

Kay Calley-Martin, Co-AAUWMI Board Secretary

aauwmi.calleymartin@gmail.com

How to Donate to or Apply for AAUW Funds

Ruth Briggs, AAUW Funds Director

Every gift to AAUW has an impact, but your dollars go furthest when they support funds critical to AAUW's mission "to advance gender equity for women and girls through research, education, and advocacy." AAUW's strategic plan lays out a bold vision for the future. By giving to the AAUW Greatest Needs Fund or its strategic focus areas, you can make that vision a reality. A donation to the Greatest Needs Fund will help expand AAUW's highly successful, community-based, mission-driven programs, such as Start Smart and Work Smart and the National Conference for College Women Student Leaders (NCCWSL), conduct groundbreaking research, and launch innovative initiatives to help women and girls thrive. Supporting AAUW through the Greatest Needs Fund, or to any of the strategic focus areas of Education and Training, Economic Security, and Leadership, gives the organization tremendous flexibility to respond to unforeseen challenges facing women and girls, cultivate mission-based opportunities for action, and attract new members and supporters. 

The Greatest Needs Fund allows AAUW to respond rapidly, in its communications and advocacy, to critical issues affecting women as they emerge — whether it’s a new threat to Title IX, an opportunity to partner with employers, or the dawn of a social justice movement like #MeToo. When donations are not restricted to fellowships or specific projects, AAUW has the dollars needed to pivot as the national dialogue shifts — and get its work covered by major media outlets such as the New York Times, CNN and Fortune. Greatest Needs is also what fuels AAUW's groundbreaking research and effective advocacy work to pass fair-pay laws and other key equity legislation.

Fellowship & Grant Applications Now Open!

Since 1888, AAUW has been one of the largest funders of women’s graduate education, investing in women who go on to change the world. AAUW has provided $6 million for more than 320 fellows and grantees in the 2022-23 award year. Please help spread the word that applications are now open for the 2023-24 year! Recipients will follow in the footsteps of award-winning authors, scientists, scholars, changemakers and community leaders. Click on the graphic for more information about current opportunities and how to apply.

Creating an Equitable Now

N’Kenge Gonzalez, AAUWMI DEI Director

In a capitalistic society there must be economic stabilizers put in place to maintain a certain equilibrium, otherwise the economy will be sent into a tailspin.

If we take a more equitable approach in areas that impact health, education, and lifestyle we will begin to heal America by creating an environment for all to achieve. This means raising awareness of access to resources and knowledge of how to use them (equity). One method to go about the abolishment of barriers to equity is the review and revamp of institutional and systemic practices that create environments and circumstances for one group to succeed over the other.   Replacing these practices with more wholistic approaches to education, vocation and socialization is key and can be done with financial infusions, investments, adjustments and education in communities and/or individual(s).

According to a November 2020 newsletter from the National Fund for Workforce Solutions, Racial inequities in income cost the US economy about $2.3 trillion per year, and as the workforce approaches a people-of-color majority that toll will only grow in the absence of bold, equity-focused solutions.

Therefore, income inequality means that if individual(s) do not make enough money to meet the cost of living, their ability to afford essentials and mounting bills is severely impaired. It is necessary to level the playing field for those who still struggle to make ends meet due to possible discriminatory practices in hiring and pay equity.

In this article, I will focus on only a couple factors that have contributed to societal inequity because of the limiting effect it has had on generational wealth--the rising cost of higher education coupled with instances of predatory lending, and the housing market that was impacted by Jim Crow laws and predatory lending. Unfortunately, this article cannot adequately address predatory lending practices, but it is a problem that must be understood.

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division 

https://lccn.loc.gov/2003654393

The first step to gain equality was to establish a set of procedures designed to eliminate unlawful discrimination among applicants, remedy the results of prior discrimination, and prevent such discrimination in the future. Affirmative Action, as defined by The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission created by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, enforces the following employment anti-discrimination laws: 



• Equal Pay Act of 1963
• Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (race, color, religion, national origin)
• Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (people of a certain age)
• Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Sections 501 and 505 (people with disabilities)
• Titles I and V of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
• Civil Rights Act of 1991

If we work together as industry, government, NGOs and individuals we will be able to create an equitable now.

Membership Matters and State Services Update

Leah Monger

AAUWMI Membership VP and State Services Manager

I wear two hats for AAUWMI as Membership Vice President and State Services Manager. Usually, I contribute separate newsletter articles for my dual functions, but my two sets of responsibilities converged over recent months as AAUW’s new Community Hub rolled out. The Hub is still a work in progress, and a lot of new functionality was released during August. I now have more access to edit and update member records than in the old membership database, so I can resolve more problems than previously. If you or another member is having difficulty accessing your membership record, please contact me to see if I can help. If some of your branch members are not receiving emails from AAUW and AAUWMI, it's very likely the Hub database contains old email addresses. I can correct email addresses for AAUWMI members in the Hub, so please have anyone who isn't receiving information contact me to diagnose what is causing the problem.

Have you renewed your AAUW membership for the 2022-2023 year? AAUW has extended a grace period through September 30 for 2021-2022 members. If AAUW does not receive your renewal by the end of September, your membership will be moved from the “active” list to the “lapsed” membership list. You can renew your membership online through the Community Hub, or contact your branch Membership Vice President to renew by check.

During August I assisted many branches to update leadership rosters in the Hub with 2022-2023 officers. The deadline to update officers in the Hub is August 31. As of this writing, a few branches have not yet updated their rosters. I will extend term dates in the Hub for 2021-2022 officers of those branches through 2023 to ensure that someone will still receive communications from AAUW and AAUWMI directed to specific officers. If your branch needs help updating officers after September 1, please contact me.

Five Star Recognition Program

AAUW of Michigan is proud to report that four branches earned stars in 2021-2022 through the AAUW Five Star Program. The Dearborn branch earned stars in all five categories: Advancement, Public Policy & Research, Governance & Sustainability, Programs, and Communications & External Relations. AAUW-Battle Creek and Farmington each earned a star for Advancement. AAUW-Rochester was awarded two stars for Programs and Communications & External Relations. Congratulations to all these branches for their achievements! Additionally, AAUW of Michigan earned a star for Communications and External Relations. 

Judy Buck, president of the Dearborn branch, submitted a report about their process to earn all five stars, and her account should inspire and encourage other branches to reach for all five stars in the 2022-2023 year.

"Upon my initial review of the Five Star program, I found it to be daunting process. I was a new president this past year and had never experienced the application process and all it represented. As I studied the 5 areas of focus, I soon realized that various branch members might have the answers I needed to complete the application.

Focus A Programs

My first contact was to look to our program team to ensure we met the criteria and that we were addressing our mission based upon the AAUW Strategic Plan. We honored the memory of Ruth Bader Ginsberg and hosted an event discussing Human Trafficking.

Focus B Advancement

We chose what we thought were three obtainable requirements to earn the Advancement Star. We were able to increase our contributions to the Greatest Need Fund by 25% over the last fiscal year and we were able to make a branch affiliate contribution to the Greatest Needs Fund in honor of AAUW’s 140th Anniversary.  Lastly, we were able to retain 90% of our membership even though the COVID Pandemic did play a role in losing some members. This was possible because we redoubled our effort to invite new members to our programs and functions.  

Focus C Communications

Through the diligent effort of branch members monitoring posts to Facebook and our website, we were able to meet the requirement of posting 3-5 DEI Focus posts. DEI became an initiative we have further embraced by collecting DEI themed books for children ages 4-8 which were donated by branch members under the category “Community Outreach”, a free will initiative within our branch.

Focus D Public Policy

This was one of our most informative events. I was sure to record the members present at a Zoom event which featured Mary Pollock, AAUW Government Relations Coordinator, as I knew this was a Five-star Requirement. We had an excellent turnout for this event where the membership was also reminded to sign up for the Action Network program. Our Public Policy chair was our former branch President.

Focus E –Governance and Sustainability

We worked diligently on creating a succession plan in our branch to help new officers understand their role and who they need to interact with for various issues. And our strategic plan was created and posted to our website. We were able to appoint a Diversity Officer who is affiliated with the University of Michigan – Dearborn.

Suggestions for the future: review the requirements with our branch members, talk to your branch members who will be responsible for the necessary information to complete the application, Keep good records of all events and participants.

With the help of experienced members, this task became a lot easier than I originally thought it would be."

Rochester AAUW Lunches with the Suffragists

On August 10, 2022, in the beautiful glassed-in conservatory at the Rochester Royal Park Hotel, Rochester AAUW hosted a Victorian Suffragists Luncheon. Susan B. Anthony (1820-1906), Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815-1902), Lucretia Mott (1793-1880), Martha Wright (1806-1875), Sarah Grimke (1792-1873), Alice Paul (1885-1975) and Annie Londonderry (1870-1947) attended. They, of course, were really Rochester AAUW members in costume. The above suffragists told their stories from 1848 at the Seneca Falls Convention to the passing of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. constitution in 1920. The fight for the right to vote in political elections regardless of sex was finally a woman’s right – after 72 years!

Following the delicious lunch with dessert, the guest speaker portraying Belva Lockwood (1840-1906), an early woman lawyer, spoke. She was wearing a cranberry silk Victorian dress with a bustle and spoke about the rights women didn’t have in Victorian times regarding money, divorce, property, jobs, and comfortable clothing. For example, she brought to the luncheon and rode an old 1890 bicycle which caught the fabric of her skirt in the wheels. However when she would wear “bloomers'" for safety and comfort, others would laugh at her and call her names. Belva had the last laugh as she became the first woman to speak in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington D.C.

AAUWMI Online Store

Don't forget that AAUW of Michigan is selling note cards featuring the work of American artist Meneese Wall. We feature a line of her notecards depicting icons of the women's and civil rights movements. The 5" x 7" notecards are printed on high-quality stock and can be purchased individually or in sets. Each card includes a colorful print of Wall's original artwork on the front and a detailed description of the depicted individual or event on the back. We also have Wall's award winning book, We Demand the Right to Vote. Proceeds support AAUW of Michigan programs. Support AAUW of Michigan by making a purchase either for yourself or as gifts!

Individual Note Cards

Note Card Sets

AAUW of Michigan

Important Dates

2022-2023

September 2022

Thursday, September 1 – Summer/Fall newsletter goes out

Thursday, September 8 – Moms’ Equal Pay Day

Wednesday, September 14, 6:00 p.m. ET – Deaf Awareness Month Zoom program with Katie Booth, author of The Invention of Miracles. Hosted by the Traverse City Area branch. Register here.

Thursday, September 15, 7:00 p.m. ET –Zoom Program on Ballot Proposals Endorsed by AAUWMI. Register here.

Wednesday, September 28, 7:00 p.m. ET –Branch Presidents’ Quarterly Zoom Meeting

October 2022

Saturday, October 8, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. ET –AAUW of Michigan Board Meeting* (via Zoom)

Thursday, October 20, 7:00 p.m. ET – Lobby Corps Meeting**

November 2022

Tuesday, November 1 – Announce Nominating Committee and Resolutions Committee to Branch Presidents

Thursday, November 17, 7:00 p.m. ET – Lobby Corps Meeting**

Wednesday, November 30 – Native Women’s Equal Pay Day

December 2022

Thursday, December 1 – Fall/Winter Newsletter goes out

Thursday, December 8 – Latinas’ Equal Pay Day

Thursday, December 15, 7:00 p.m. ET – Lobby Corps Meeting**

January 2023

Wednesday, January 4, 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)

Thursday, January 19, 7:00 p.m. ET – Lobby Corps Meeting**

** All AAUWMI members are eligible to join the AAUW of Michigan’s Virtual Lobby Corps by emailing pollockm@comcast.net to get on the mailing list for meeting reminders and late-breaking news.

February 2023

Friday, February 3 

• Board Nominees (in writing) due to the Chair of the Nominating Committee
• Deadline for Submission of Resolutions
• Deadline for submitting proposed Bylaws Amendments

Thursday, February 16, 7:00 p.m. ET – Lobby Corps Meeting**

March 2023

Wednesday, March 1 –

• Call to Annual Meeting goes out 
• Winter/Spring Newsletter goes out   

Thursday, March 16, 7:00 p.m. ET – Lobby Corps Meeting Meeting**

Wednesday, March 29 – 

• Deadline to receive names of Annual Meeting delegates
• 7:00 p.m. ET – Branch Presidents’ Quarterly Zoom Meeting

April 2023

Saturday, April 15, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 noon ET – AAUW of Michigan Board Meeting* (via Zoom)

Thursday, April 20, 7:00 p.m. ET – Lobby Corps Meeting**

Saturday, April 22 – AAUWMI Annual Report goes out 

Saturday, April 29, 9:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. – Annual Meeting

May 2023

Thursday, May 18, 7:00 p.m. ET – Lobby Corps Meeting**

June 2023

Thursday, June 1 – 

• Spring/Summer Newsletter goes out
• Affiliate Annual Reports due

Thursday, June 15, 7:00 p.m. ET – Lobby Corps Meeting**

Wednesday, June 28, 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, sheilablairpmp@gmail.com if you would like to attend any meeting and she will send you the details.

Elected Officers/Executive Committee

Appointed Directors

AAUWMI Administrative Staff