Spring 2024
Annual Meeting Information
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We Are A Dynamic AAUW State and Local Organization
Serving as AAUW-Florida’s President for the past two years has been an honor and a privilege.
My last official act will be presiding over the 2023-24 Annual Meeting on Thursday, May 16th at 6:00 pm via Zoom. Please join me by Registering to attend.
On May16th, to conduct business, we will need to reach a quorum… so sign-up and include your Branch name, that’s important, You will receive a unique code to sign-in and enter the Annual Meeting in May. Follow the Directions described below.
Coming Together
Over the past two year the regional conferences, held in all four corners of the State, have allowed me to meet and get to know members from all 28 active, AAUW-FL branches.
As a result of these personal, grass root connections, I have carried your branch success stories and concerns to the State Board and the National Committees on which I serve.
Keep in mind, that to achieve the AAUW Mission of equity for all, we must continuously work together and find new ways to achieve our goals. While AAUW members are part of a large, multi-faceted organization that has been in operation since before the turn of the last century…. challenges remain and we must be ever changing and adapting in pursuit of our Mission.
Community Engagement
AAUW Florida Branches are working hard to achieve the goal of attaining a higher degree of visibility in their communities while promoting their Mission. To achieve this goal, Branches have, among many endeavors;
- Sponsored a girls’ softball team allowing young women to have role models and their mothers’ to learn more about AAUW and its Mission.
- Hosted a women’s historical figure re-enactor and opened the performance to the Community to share womens’ history with others,
- Acted as poll workers as a fundraiser and to gain community-wide exposure,
- Pursued City Counsel proclamations for Equal Pay Day and
- Placed scholarship recipient photos in local newspapers…
All these initiatives help with recruiting new members and heightening local name recognition.
In addition, raising funds to support Tech Trek girls is paying forward to foster more young women preparing for careers in STEM fields.
Promoting Leadership
I’m proud to be part of such a dynamic organization and I hope my efforts to promote pathways to leadership will result in a robust group of prepared women to hold Committee and elected officer positions in their branches and at the State level.
We must promote, encourage and support up and coming leaders to keep AAUW growing and to make the world a better, more equitable place for All.
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Scan the QR Code to access the registration form: |
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2023-24 Annual Meeting Agenda
- Establishment of a Quorum
- Reports by Current Board of Directors
- Election of three 2024-26 State Board of Director Officers
- Election of three 2025-27 Nominating Committee Members
- Participation in Town Hall with Guest from AAUW National
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Get To Know The Candidates!
Meet the Candidates for open Board positions.
The Nominating Committee will be putting forth the following candidates for open Board positions. Nominations may also be made from the floor at the annual meeting.
Director for Membership
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Marjorie Fontalvo
Marjorie Fontalvo grew up in Miami in South Florida. She attended college in Tallahassee in the Florida panhandle and now lives in the Tampa Bay Area of Southwest/Central Florida. This life experience gives her a unique insight into the diversity of Florida. As Director for Membership of Florida AAUW, she hopes to help branches increase membership by offering innovative membership campaigns incentives. Feel free to contact her at marjoriefontalvo@gmail.com/ 727-519-3630
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Director for Communications |
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Demetrix Rostick-Owens
Demetrix Rostick-Owens is a member of the AAUW Tampa Branch where she previously served as the Director of Membership and currently serves as the Director of Communications. After attending the Tampa Branch’s annual fundraiser in February 2020, she was determined to become a member after hearing about the organization’s mission to bring about “gender equity for women and girls through research, education, and advocacy.” As a mother, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend, Demetrix is steadfast in promoting, without bias, the stories of women and girls. This is the primary reason for her interest in the position of AAUW Florida’s Director for Communications.
Additionally, Demetrix values education and is committed to working with others to collaboratively share what she has learned about the organization through conversations and in written form in the Tampa Branch’s monthly newsletter, the Tiempo. Demetrix has delighted in sharing the news from the Tampa Branch Board Members, information about fundraising and committee opportunities, spotlights of members, and events happening in the local area. In the 2022-2023 membership year, Demetrix was recognized as one of the Tampa Branch’s Board Members of the Year for her committed work on the monthly newsletter.
Demetrix believes everyone has a story worth telling! Her story includes being a full-time higher education professional, wife and mother who finds joy in learning and facilitating learning in others. In her spare time, she engages with her family, volunteers with Meals on Wheel, dabbles in DIY activities, listens to audio books, attends musicals, sings, and participates in (sometimes rowdy) board games and challenges with her family. A perpetual lifelong learner, Demetrix earned her bachelor or arts in psychology and Master of Science in counseling from Georgia State University and doctorate in education from the University of Georgia.
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Saundra Johnson Austin
Saundra Johnson Austin has dedicated her career to promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging of students and professionals in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and careers, particularly for girls and women. She has held leadership positions in the secondary, post-secondary, non-profit, industry, engineering public policy, and the community development sectors. Her research is grounded in the effective implementation of STEM curricula in urban middle schools. Currently, she holds the position as Special Assistant to the Vice President for Research and Innovation at the University of South Florida.
Saundra's AAUW journey began when she became a 2004-2005 Selected Professions Fellow. The funds enabled her to attain her MBA at the University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana. In 2019, she established membership with the AAUW Tampa Branch. She was elected as the President of the AAUW Tampa Branch for 2020-2022. Saundra is currently serving a 2022-2024 term as the Secretary for the AAUW Florida and is seeking a second term as the AAUW Florida Secretary.
In addition to serving on the AAUW FL Board, she is a member of the U.S. White House endorsed initiative Algebra by 7th Grade, the commission for diversity, equity and inclusion to the American Society for Engineering Education Minority Division (ASEE MIND), the Smithsonian Science Education Center’s Advisory Committee for ‘Zero Barriers in STEM Education,’ board member for the Northeast STEM Starter Academy of Mount Vernon, NY, and the Florida-based STEM Xposure.
Saundra received the 1998 National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) Inaugural Golden Torch Award for Minority Engineering Program Director, the 2015 National Association of Multicultural Engineering Program Advocates (NAMEPA) Outstanding Contribution by a Minority Engineering Program Administrator Award, and the 2015 Outstanding Engineering Alumnus for Civil and Environmental Engineering from The Pennsylvania State University.
She earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from The Pennsylvania State University, an MBA from the University of Notre Dame, and a Doctor of Education in Organizational Change and Leadership from the University of Southern California.
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Nominating Committee:
Diana Sells, Chair, Sarasota
Karen Rompalo, St. Augustine
Kamala Anadam, Weston
Rose Llanos, Palm Beach County
Pat DeWitt, Jacksonville, advisor
Chair,
Nominating Committee
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VOTER GUIDE
ANNUAL MEETING MAY 16, 2024
Our bylaws require that we hold an annual meeting to elect officers, hear reports from state leaders, and conduct other official business.
Plan to be a part of our 2024 meeting via Zoom, 6 pm to 7:30 pm, Thursday, May 16. We must meet a quorum, with at least 40 percent of branches and five percent of members represented. You’ll get a picture of the many projects and activities that are helping in reaching a goal of equity for women and girls.
Election of officers
We’ll choose directors for membership, communications, and secretary who will take office July 1. Those are the officers elected in even-numbered years.
Officers serve for a two-year term that starts on July 1. Co-directors may serve for a position, but have only one vote on the board.
Elsewhere in this issue, you’ll learn more about the candidates put forward by this year’s nominating committee. Nominations will also be accepted from the floor. Those candidates will briefly state their qualifications in lieu of a written candidate vita form.
If there is but one candidate or co-candidate for a position, the election may be by acclamation. Any contested offices will be by electronic ballot as outlined in the One Member One Vote policy.
Annual reports
We’ll also hear annual reports from current elected officers. Reports from our AAUW Florida Supporting Foundation, Tech Trek, and the AAUW FL Bylaws and Resolutions Committee are also on the agenda. There are no bylaw amendments to be voted on and none may be proposed at the annual meeting.
New nominating committee
Nominations from the floor will be needed for the election at the meeting to fill three slots for next year’s nominating committee. The members elected will join two members chosen by the AAUW FL board.
The consent of nominees must be obtained first. And they must have been AAUW Florida members for at least three years. A branch cannot be represented on the committee for two consecutive years. So Palm Beach County, Sarasota, Saint Augustine, Sun City Center, Tampa and Weston are ineligible this year.
Town Hall
Once official business has ended, we will convene a Town Hall with a speaker from AAUW National who will give updates and answer your questions.
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In 2024, AAUW Florida will present two Tech Trek camps in June at Florida Atlantic University and at Stetson University. We hope you are interested in donating to the 2024 AAUW Florida Tech Trek Camps for girls who will be selected to attend one of the summer camps. Except for a registration fee of $50 the entire week of camp is free to the girls who have demonstrated an interest and/or ability in science, technology, engineering or math. Students are nominated by their math or science teachers, complete an application and are interviewed by local branches.
Use the form to submit your contribution
Choose one of the suggested amounts or another amount that you would like to contribute
Support a Girl at the 2024 Florida Tech Trek Camp
AAUW-FL Tech Trek is a science, technology, engineering, and math camp for girls who will enter the 8th grade for the 2024-25 school year
Every Contribution Will Make a Difference!
_______ $50 will fund general camp supplies supplies
_______ $120 will provide workshop supplies for a camper for a week
_______ $600 will finance half the camp cost for one girl
_______ $750 will fund a STEM workshop teacher for the week
_______ $750 will sponsor an afternoon workshop
_______ $1000 will fund supplies for a core course
_______ $1200 sponsors a full week of camp for one girl
_______ $1200 will fund a core class teacher
_______ $1500 will sponsor a core class
_______ $5000 will sponsor the Professional Women's Night Dinner
______ Other amount
Name_____________________
Mailing Address____________________________________________
State and Zip Code____________
Branch name if applicable____________________________
(YOU DO NOT NEED TO PAY A DONATION TO ZEFFY when you pay online. Simply change the amount to "Other amount" and it zeroes out.)
OR
Make checks payable to AAUW FL Supporting Foundation, Inc
Write Tech Trek 2024 on the memo line
Mail this form and your check to:
AAUW FL Supporting Foundation, Inc
Post Office Box 126
Palm City, Florida 34991
Contributions are income tax-deductible.
Donations are welcome from all members and community members!
Coordinator,
AAUW Florida Tech Trek
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State Funding for Branch Projects
Your branch can get state funding for projects that advance the AAUW-FL mission and/or provide opportunities for women and girls to achieve their full potential. Any branch may submit a proposal for a Project Grant of $100 to $500 to help with a project that has a direct community impact and follows the stated purposes.
The program has been expanded and now allows two branches working together on a project to apply for a grant up to $1,500. Application forms may be submitted to meet one of three deadlines for 2024-25: October 1, December 1, March 1. After review, final approval will be made at the following state board meeting. Get complete guidelines, instructions, and forms at Branch Resources on the AAUW FL website.
AAUW FL Director for Program
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Vote scheduled for National bylaws membership changes
April 3 – May 15
Advancing Equity for Women and Girls
The AAUW Board of Directors and Governance Committee recommend approval of the following proposed bylaw amendment to open AAUW’s membership. This change will align our membership practices with our purpose of advancing equity for women and girls and enable us to include members with the diverse backgrounds and perspectives needed to achieve our purpose in today’s world.
Amendment Summary
THE PROPOSED REVISION OF ARTICLE III WOULD:
- Replace the Individual Members paragraph of the Membership Qualification provision (currently Article III Section 2 a) with new language indicating the sole requirement for membership is support of AAUW’s purpose.
- Delete the provision on Student Associates (currently Section 3) since students would be allowed to join as full members of AAUW thus eliminating the need for a Student Associate provision.
- Renumber Section 4 Dues as Section 3 and delete the reference to “categories of membership” in this section to permit the board to set different dues for student members as previously allowed when Student Associates were listed as a separate category rather than included as part of the Individual Membership category.
- Make no changes to Article III Section 1 or Sections 5 and 6 on Life Membership and Membership Decisions, except that Section 5 Membership Decisions, and Section 6 Affiliates would be renumbered as Sections 4 and 5, respectively, with no other change.
All voting will take place online starting April 3. AAUW is utilizing an independent, third-party voting system for this year’s vote. Most members will receive emails from vote@simplyvoting.com with their unique Elector ID and Password to vote.
All members without an email address on file will receive a paper ballot by mail. No additional paper ballots will be sent during the voting period.
Voting will close on Wednesday, May 15 at 12:00 pm ET.
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Reminder: Bylaws Changes
By Virginia Farace, AAUW FL Bylaws Chair
There are two changes that branches should have made to their bylaws this past year. First is a mandatory replacement of the first seven articles. The second is to update any mention of the dues/membership year that does not reflect the new rolling membership.
Articles I thru VII Mandatory Changes.
Last spring, members approved changes to National bylaws that need to be incorporated into all branch bylaws. The changes bring National bylaws in line with current governance principles and operations.
The mandatory changes were emailed to all state branches. Some branches have made these changes and sent their bylaws to me to be filed with the state and National. More branches still need to make the changes and send their bylaws to the state Bylaws Chair. If you still need a copy of the template, please contact me.
Rolling Membership
Due to the new Community Hub software now being used by AAUW National, changes in membership expiration dates are now in effect. And that means your branch should change some sections of your bylaws if they include the previous membership year of July 1 to June 30.
How do membership expiration dates work?
- If new members join between the 1st and 15th of the month, the current month is the expiration month. If they join between the 16th and end of the month, the next month is the expiration month.
- For current members, the expiration date is June 30 each year, with a three-month grace period (until September 30) to renew and keep the same June expiration month. Renewing after the grace period changes the expiration month.
- For new members, the expiration date is 12 months from when they join, with a three-month grace period to renew and keep the same expiration month.
Membership Chairs can check the Community Hub to view members’ due dates. Branches can ask National to automatically send out renewal notices to make it easier to keep up with dues renewal.
How is member status defined on the Community Hub?
• Current status is when you are within the 12 months of the membership from start/join date to end/expire date.
• Grace is 90 days after the end/expire date where a member can still renew without lapse in the membership.
• Future is when the membership is renewed beyond 12 months.
How should the bylaws revision be worded?
Use the wording below to revise your bylaws:
Excluding lifetime membership, annual memberships are “rolling” lasting 12 months from the confirmed start/join date through the end/expiration date (i.e., the anniversary date). Membership renewal payments are due on or before the member’s anniversary date. There is a 90 days grace period before members are lapsed and removed from the roster.
Since this is considered a mandatory change, member approval is not needed. But you must still send your amended bylaws to the AAUW FL Bylaws Chair. Email Virginia Farace if you have questions.
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Atlantic Regional Conference
September 27-29. 2024
Mark your Calendar and plan to join fellow AAUW members for a weekend of learning and congeniality at this first-time regional event.
Registration: $209.00 Room Rates: $129.00/night at a Virginia Resort.
More details will be available soon.
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For information contact:
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AAUW advances gender equity for women and girls through research, education and advocacy. |
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