BOARD RETREAT JUNE 12

PRESIDENT’S LETTER

All interested AAUW members are invited to join the upcoming joint board planning session in Rosendale, Thursday, June 12, 10 am to 2 pm. We'll gather for four-hours, including lunch, at the mountain top center, LifeBridge.

Here are excerpts from the web to begin your thinking how we can benefit from our time together:

Excellent boards attend to detail and also take time to look at the bigger picture. Retreats away from the usual place of meeting and with a different kind of agenda are a good way to self-examine and explore how the board might adjust its style and composition to get focused results. According to Dr. Sandy Hughes of BoardSource, an annual retreat is considered a “best practice” for boards. . .

Recently, the board of a three-year-old organization gathered for a tightly packed four-hour session, including a working meal, having crafted an ambitious agenda: Flexibility was the key. . .

Most organizations are a work in progress, still refining strategy, seeking to expand the base of members and public participation. . .

With assistance from a timekeeper, the facilitator’s role is to keep the group on task and to ensure that everyone had a chance to talk. And talk we will do – freely and openly – but in a spirit of respect and sensitivity for each other. . .

In the course of those four hours (which ended precisely on time) the example board generated ideas for marketing and publicity, new tricks for fund-raising, for programs and ideas for new initiatives.

What are your ideas? Let me know your interest in joining this opportunity. Even if you cannot be present, I would like to present your thoughts and vision for KAAUW next year.

With thanks, Garnette

Kingston Branch Receives President's Award - Honorable Mention

It's the first night of the AAUW NYS Convention and we're already receiving recognition. This is the first year of the President's Award. The plan is to recognize two branches that implemented exemplary mission-related programs. Well, we didn't receive the award, but they felt they wanted to recognize Kingston for our use of technology. Here's Irene Miller, Ruth Wahtera, and Susan Holland with our Honorable Mention certificate. We are delighted to have our work recognized.

This afternoon at the resolution caucus, we were surprised by some opposition to the Clean Election resolution. Some members expressed concern that this effort would divert members from the AAUW NYS public policy goals. We think it is central to accomplishing our goals. So tonight the three of us worked on an amendment we'll propose tomorrow. The amendment clearly states the relationship between Clean Elections and our goals. Wish us luck.

Lilly Ledbetter was the keynote speaker tonight. Her story is compelling and it extends beyond the Supreme Court ruling.

For two decades at Goodyear Tire, Lilly Ledbetter was paid less than any man in her position. The Supreme Court ruled that since she did not file suit within 180 days of receiving the first discriminatory paycheck (even though the company forbade employees to reveal their salaries) she is unable to ever collect any back pay. A bill in Congress to make the 180 day clock start after each act of discrimination failed this week to get enough votes in the Senate to avoid a filibuster or override a veto threat.

She spends much of her time now working for passage of the Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. She reported on her week in Washington and how close we came. But not close enough.

So that's the news from Cooperstown. What's happening with that tour of Washington, folks? Or, did you leave your computers home???

How to Register for Focus the Nation

Our AAUW Board Member Doris Goldberg's artwork of the Hudson River past-present-future has been chosen for the Focus the Nation teach-in and Art Installation.

You can see Doris' work at the Bard Art Reception Friday, February 1st, 6:30-7:30 pm. Update: the exhibit will be on display through Feb. 7th.

Update: you can read Doris' post on her creative process here -- link.

FOCUS the NATION is a national teach-in at over 1,300 institutions of learning. Government, educational institutions, faith groups, civic organizations and businesses will collaboratively engage in an interdisciplinary discussion about " Global Warming Solutions for America."

Click for more information:
REGISTER (note: you will not get a confirmation email after registering)
SCHEDULE (Word document)
Panel sessions (Word document)