"Leaders Envisioning the Future"

This was the theme of the 2007 AAUW TX Leadership Conference which was held in Austin this past weekend.

Before we could envision our future, we needed to be clear about who we are now. We accomplished this via a "visit" from our founder, Marion Talbot, and a showing of "Iron Jawed Angel."

Our keynote speaker, futurist Terri Grimm, helped us understand the benefits of envisioning the future and also gave us some tools to help us in that work. A wonderful panel helped us see the importance of envisioning our financial future. In workshops and during round-table discussions, we gained tools to help us envision our future as AAUW leaders. Emmy-award-winning journalist, Jeff Crilley, gave us some tips and techniques on using the media to envision our future. And, Lisa Maatz, AAUW's Director of Public Policy and Governmental Relations, shared the importance that public policy has in our future.

It was an educational, inspirational, and fun-filled weekend and the participants left eager to do the work of AAUW in Texas!

Anniversary of Seneca Falls Convention

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men and women are created equal.” These words were not present in the Declaration of Independence; rather, they were written in the Declaration of Sentiments and signed by a number of women leaders, including Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott. This all occurred at what was the first women’s rights conference in the United States, known as the Seneca Falls Convention, held in Seneca Falls, New York on July 19 and
20, 1848. On the anniversary of this historic gathering this past weekend, all of us need to celebrate the event and the strides made towards women’s equality. But we also recognize that even today, over 150 years after the convention, the equality that Elizabeth Cady Stanton
spoke of has not been achieved. AAUW urges you to use this anniversary to be an advocate for women and girls, because equity is still an issue.

Never Argue With a Woman

One morning the husband returns after several hours of fishing and decides to take a nap. Although not familiar with the lake, the wife decides to take the boat out. She motors out a short distance, anchors, and reads her book.

Along comes a game warden in his boat. He pulls up alongside the woman and says, "Good morning, Ma'am. What are you doing?"

"Reading a book," she replies, thinking "isn't that obvious?"

"You're in a restricted fishing area," he informs her.

"I'm sorry, officer, but I'm not fishing; I'm reading."

"Yes, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment. I'll have to take you in and write you up."

"If you do that, I'll have to charge you with sexual assault," says the woman.

"But I haven't even touched you," says the game warden.

"That's true, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment."

"Have a nice day ma'am," and he left.

MORAL: Never argue with a woman who reads; it's likely she can also think.

Is Education Still an Issue?

My nephew sent me some statistics about the number of adults in the US who buy and read books. The data is quoted by Para Publishing, who is quoting Jerrold Jenkins:

--58% of the US adult population never reads another book after high school.
--42% of college graduates never read another book.
--80% of US families did not buy or read a book last year.
--70% of US adults have not been in a bookstore in the last five years.
--57% of new books are not read to completion.
--the average person stops reading a book on page 18.

I find these statistics unconscionable for residents of the so-called "greatest country in the world." Reading helps develop vocabulary, language and writing skills; it opens doors to times and places that we are unable to visit personally; it opens our minds to new ideas; it engages the brain to visualize people and places. If we are not reading, we are an uneducated nation!

We know that equity is still an issue; it appears that education is an issue as well. What are we going to do about it?????

Eleven People on a Rope

Eleven people, 10 men and 1 woman, were hanging on a rope under a helicopter. The rope wasn't strong enough to carry them all so they decided one of them had to leave because, otherwise, they were all going to fall.

They were unable to decided who should let go, until the woman gave a very touching speech. She said that she would voluntarily let go of the rope because, as a woman, she was used to giving up everything for her husband and kids, and men in general. She said she was used to making sacrifices with little in return.

As soon as she finished her speech, all the men started clapping.

April 24 is Equal Pay Day

Tomorrow,April 24, is Equal Pay Day, the annual symbolic day on which women's average wages catch up to men's from the previous yearand a new American Association of University Women (AAUW) Educational Foundation report, Behind the Pay Gap, is being released. The report shows that, just one year out of college, women working full time earn only 80 percent of what their male counterparts earn even when they work in the same field. Ten years after graduation, the gap widens, with women earning only 69 percent of men’s wages with less authority in the workplace compared to their male counterparts. The report is being released on

Even after controlling for hours, occupation, parenthood, and other factors known to affect earnings, the new AAUW research indicates that one-quarter of the pay gap remains unexplained and is likely due to sex discrimination. This disparity is disturbing more than 40 years after passage of the Equal Pay Act.

Pay equity is essential to the long-term economic security of women and our families. Pay disparities affect women of all ages, races, and education levels–regardless of their family decisions. A lifetime of lower wages means women have less income for their families today and less savings for retirement tomorrow.

According to another AAUW Educational Foundation report, Gains in Learning, Gaps in Earnings, with college-educated women in Texas earning 71% of college-educated men's earnings, Texas is ranked 38th in the country for the size of its pay gap college educated workers.

I believe that equal pay for equal work is a simple matter of justice for women. The members of our state’s Congressional delegation should support legislation such as the Fair Pay Act and the Paycheck Fairness Act to close loopholes in current equal pay laws and help close the gender wage gap. As Equal Pay Day and the AAUW Educational Foundation report remind us, equity is still an issue.

Interviews on the Behind the Pay Gap report will air on the Today Show, Good Morning America, and CBS Early Morning tomorrow. All shows start at 7:00 a.m. EDT, though it is not known the exact air-time of the segment. Be sure to tune if you can.

For more information, check out http://www.aauw.org/research/statedata/index.cfm and/or

A Tribute to Georgia Kidwell

One of the highest honors an AAUW member can have is to have an AAUW Educational Foundation grant or fellowship named for her. I was privileged to attend the Northeast Tarrant County Branch meeting during which time they recognized their member, Georgia Kidwell, with a completed Research and Projects Grant in her name. The branch worked very hard to raise the $35,000 required and now the grant will provide funds to branches across the nation from now on.

Pictured from right to left is Mary Duboise, AAUW TX Educational Foundation Vice President; Georgia Kidwell; Priscilla Mowinkel, AAUW TX Membership Vice President; and Linda Conger.

Congratulations to the Northeast Tarrant County branch for their great fundraising! And, congratulations to Georgia Kidwell, a very deserving honoree!

Tarrant County Branch Wine Tasting and Silent Auction

Carl and I attended a wonderful fundraiser in Fort Worth on Sunday, April 15. The Tarrant County Branch conducted a Wine Tasting and Silent Auction at the beautiful Sanford House B&B (pictured far left). Tickets were $35 which gave each attendee tastes of three different wines and appropriate snacks for each wine. Many Fort Worth businesses contributed items for the silent auction: gift certificates, beautiful books, one-of-a-kind items of clothing (check out the stunning jacket in the bottom picture), and other wonderful treasures.

The venue was beautiful and conducive to visiting, relaxing, enjoying, and spending :-)

Many kudos to event chair Mary Bailey (far right in the bottom picture), Sally McCracken (far left), Randi Thistlethwaite (center), and all the members of the Tarrant County Branch who made this event a resounding success!

Branches Are People Too!

As I travel around Texas and visit various branches, I am more and more aware that branches have individual personalities -- just like people do. Some are innovative and energetic; others are more laid back. Some welcome guests with open arms; others are more reserved. Some are gregarious and fun-loving; others are more serious.

Whatever the personality, I find most Texas branches to be committed to the AAUW mission and dedicated to moving it forward!

So, if you visit a branch that doesn't fit your personality, visit another one in the area. Of, if that is not option, consider joining as a member of AAUW TX until you find a branch that feels right for you.

WHAT TEACHERS MAKE

A friend sent this to me and I want to send it to all the teachers out there -- thank you for what you make!


The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life. One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with education.

He argued, "What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided their best option in life was to become a teacher?" He reminded the other dinner guests what they say about teachers: "Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach."

To stress his point he said to another guest; "You're a teacher, Bonnie. Be honest. What do you make?" Bonnie, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied, "You want to know what I make? (She paused for a second, then began.)

"Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could. I make a C+ feel like the Congressional Medal of Honor. I make kids sit through 40 minutes of class time when their parents can't make them sit for 5 minutes without an I Pod, Game Cube or movie rental.

You want to know what I make?" (She paused again and looked at each and every person at the table.)

I make kids wonder. I make them question. I make them criticize. I make them apologize and mean it.

I make them have respect and take responsibility for their actions. I teach them to write and then I make them write.
I make them read, read, read. I make them show all their work in math.

I make my students from other countries learn everything they need to know in English while preserving their unique cultural identity. I make my classroom a place where all my students feel safe. I make my students stand to say the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag, because we live in the United States of America.

Finally, I make them understand that if they use the gifts they were given, work hard, and follow their hearts, they can succeed in life.

(Bonnie paused one last time and then continued.) "Then, when people try to judge me by what I make, I can hold my head up high.

You want to know what I make? I make a difference. What do you make?"

There Is much truth in this statement: "Teachers make every other profession."

What is going on here?

On the Tonight Show's "Jaywalking" segment last night, in honor of Women's History Month, Jay Leno hit the streets asking young women questions about women's history. The women were in their late teens and early twenties; some had their mothers with them.

They did not know who Betty Ross was; they did not know a woman is currently running for president; they could not identify the pictures of either Susan B. Anthony, Eleanor Roosevelt, Laura Bush or Nancy Pelosi. And they didn't know what "ERA" stands for.

What is going on here????? Shame on the education system, shame on parents and mentors, and shame on us as AAUW members for not doing a better job of educating our young women!

Meet Cynthia D'Amour

Several years ago, I learned about Cynthia D'Amour and her website, www.chapterleaders.com,
designed for leaders of volunteer organizations. It is truly a resource center with books, CDs, and articles designed to help us with the problems that all organizations have with membership, meeting management, leadership development, and working with volunteers. Up until recently she published a semi-monthly e-zine entitled, "Active Member Minute" with tips on how to get members involved; back issues are now on the website.

Just today she announced her blog, http://cynthiadamour.com.

Check it out to chat with other volunteer leaders about our common issues.

Third Wave Feminism

At Women's Legislative Days, I heard two 30-something speakers, Jennifer Baumgardner and Amy Richards, and their talk (along with their books) changed the way I think about Generation X!

They talk above 3 waves of feminism: the First Wave battled for the vote and for the Equal Rights Amendment; the Second Wave worked to establish reproductive freedom and job equality, and worked on the leftover goal of the Equal Rights Amendment. The young women of today, the Third Wave, feel as if they live their feminist lives without clear political struggles.

So, what are the goals of the Third Wave? They continue to work on issues identified by the Second Wave: sexual harassment, domestic abuse, the wage gap, and the pink-collar ghetto of low-wage women's work. In addition, they have more modern problems: equal access to the Internet and technology, HIV/AIDS awareness, child sexual abuse, self-mutilation, globalization, eating disorders, body image, and sexual health.

I am now convinced that our GenX sisters are, in fact, feminists; they just express it differently than the Second Wave did. Now, how do we, as AAUW members, persuade these women that we can be a vehicle through which they can express their feminism?

"An American Brat" -- a real treat!

In celebration of Women's History Month, Karen Morris and the Houston Branch organized an afternoon at the theater for AAUW members to see "An American Brat." Bapsi Sidhwa wrote the book of the same name, based on her real life, and then worked for several years to develop the stage adaptation of this delightful play. For an additional treat, because it was the first performance of the current run, there was a talk back session following the play. All the cast members, the director, and the author came out on stage and answered questions from the audience. It was entertaining, educational, and enjoyable!

Sidhwa, called "Pakistan's finest English-language novelist" by the New York Times, visited with AAUW members after the talk back session. We also visited with cast members and even recruited a couple of potential Houston branch members!

If you are in Houston between now and March 25, I highly recommend you see the play; if that's not possible, I suggest you read the book. It offers some much to think about regarding family, culture, religion, and intergenerational tensions that exist for all of us.

From left to right: Luke Eddy, Rahnuma Panthaky, Arzan Gonda (cast members), Karen Morris (president, Houston Branch), Bapsi Sidhwa, Linda Conger and Sundy Srinivasan (cast member)

A Trailblazer Extraordinaire

Meet Emogene Emery, 96, who is thought to be the oldest member of the Abilene Branch of AAUW. I met her in February when I attended the branch's 75th anniversary celebration. She is an amazing woman.

When asked why she joined AAUW she replied, "I was so disturbed by the way Shawnee (public schools in Oklahoma) treated single women. . .I liked what AAUW members were trying to do, which was give women a chance."

She went on to tell her story: she graduated from college when she was 20; her father became ill and her mother wanted her to stay in Shawnee and take a job teaching. She was told, "I'm sorry, Miss Emory. We'd like to have you in our school system, but we can't hire single women." When asked why they didn't want single women, she replied, "They thought the women didn't need the money."

Miss Emory has spent her life working for women's equity, and has inspired many college women to pursue their dreams. She got her college degree when it was rare for a women to attend college, rarer for a woman to graduate, and and even more rare for a woman to achieve advanced degrees. She is truly a trailblazer and one of the many women in AAUW we can thank for the improvements in equity which we enjoy today.

What will our granddaughters and great-granddaughters say about the improvements we made for them?

Victory for Women

A victory for all women who have battled gender discrimination in the workplace was won this week when a jury awarded Janet Conney $4.07 million from her suit against the University of California Regents and UCLA.

In 2003 Conney, a former assistant clinical professor at the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute and Hospital, sued UC-Regents and UCLA for sexual harassment, retaliation for complaining about discrimination, and pay inequity.

Conney is supported by AAUW's Legal Advocacy Fund (LAF) which provides funding and a support system for individuals seeking judicial redress for sex discrimination. To date, AAUW has donated more than $17,000 to Conney's case. The award is one of the largest awarded to an AAUW LAF plaintiff.

Read the full case summary of Janet Conney v. The Regents of the University of California, et al.

Swifty and Friends

This is Karen McKibben Morris and I with Swifty, the swimming pig. She's only 4 months old and will be vying for a Guiness World record at a competition in Los Angeles later this month. Title IX has opened the doors of athletics for ALL females!

AAUW Educational Foundation Changes Women's Lives

A couple of weeks ago I attended the 42nd SMU Women's Symposium. Our luncheon speaker was Dr. Asma Barlas, Associate Professor and Chair of Politics and interim director of the Center for the Study of Culture, Race, and Ethnicity at Ithaca College.

Dr. Barlas' book, "Believing Women" in Islam: Unreading Patriarchal Interpretations of the Qur'an, addresses sexism, patriarchy, misogyny, tradition, and reform, drawing on a diverse group of scholars but establishing her own voice and distinctive scholarly and Islamic position. She "rereads" thousands of years of interpretations of the Qur'an and convincingly asserts that the Qur'an affirms the complete equality of the sexes. This new view takes readers into the very heart of Islamic teachings on women, gender, patriarchy, allowing them to understand Islam through its most sacred scripture, rather than through Muslim cultural practices or Western media stereotypes.

This "groundbreaking piece of scholarship" is a huge step toward establishing equity for Muslim women and girls, and for that we in AAUW applaud her. But, more interesting and arguably more important, it was an AAUW International Fellowship which allowed Dr. Barlas to get her Ph.D. She came to the U. S. from Pakistan and AAUW was the only source of funding she could find for an international student. In the late 1980's, she receieved $10,000 from the Educational Foundation; this allowed her, a single mother, to quit her job and pay for daycare for her children so that she could dedicate her days to her study! She told me she would be forever grateful to AAUW!

This is only one example of the many ways women's lives are being changed by women who receive help from AAUW's Educational Foundation.

AAUW Dues

Currently, an AAUW member in Texas pays $45 for Association dues, $10 for AAUW TX dues and $10 - $16 for local branch dues -- a total of $65 - $71 per year. Many people I've recruited have reacted with "Is that all you pay in dues?" However, I've had current AAUW members tell me that folks are not re-newing because the dues are too high.

What do you think?