Learning about RSS

A few of us are meeting tomorrow morning at the Muddy Cup to learn about RSS. What's RSS? Here's a simple video description.



So, roll out of bed, grab a cup of coffee, butter your bagel and learn about something new!

Saturday, Nov. 8, 2008
Muddy Cup in Kingston

9:30-10:30

November Book Discussion: Memories, Dreams, Reflections, by C.G. Jung

Correction: The book for November is Memories, Dreams, Reflections, by C.G. Jung.

We are meeting at the Kingston Area Library Nov. 18th at 1pm.

Kingston AAUW in the News

Image via Wikipedia
Friday night forum - an excerpt from an article in the Catskill Daily Mail
http://www.thedailymail.net/articles/2008/10/31/news/news2.txt

Barber also took part in an Oct. 24 “Meet the Candidates Night” at the Saugerties senior center in neighboring Ulster County. Of the 22 candidates running for New York State Legislature in Greene, Ulster and Dutchess counties who were invited to the event, 10 RSVP’d and seven turned out to discuss their positions on campaign finance reform, healthcare, the economy, the environment and education.

The Kingston chapter of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) sponsored and hosted the event, and they identified the five topics as vital issues of concern.

“I really think events like this are extremely important because first of all, it is very expensive for the candidates to run their campaigns, and the ads that they put out on the radio and so on — they just don’t do it. We need a lot more of these so that people get to know who is running and what they’re running for,” said Palenville resident Irene Miller, who coordinated the event. “We need to know what a candidate’s record is, and what their background is so that we can make good, informed decisions.”

Miller is a member of the AAUW and the New York Citizens for Clean Elections.

Other Greene County candidates who attended the forum include Assemblyman Pete Lopez, an incumbent in the 127th district who is running unopposed, and Assemblyman Tim Gordon, who is seeking re-election against Steve McLaughlin in the 108th district.

“It’s one thing to vote, and everybody should vote, but if you just go in and pull a lever, it doesn’t mean anything,” said Miller. “It’s important to know what you’re voting for, because it’s the only way we can have a democracy, and it’s the only way we can control what’s going on in our lives.”

The AAUW provides a powerful voice for women and girls through advocacy, education and research. It was founded in 1881 and today the organization boasts 100,000 members nationwide with 1,300 branches and 500 college and university partners.

“The candidates who came were very good. They all gave their positions openly and thoughtfully, and I think it was really a wonderful exchange for the audience,” said Miller, “The issues covered at the event are very important, and the voters got to hear each candidate’s position first-hand.”

Kingston CATV to Broadcast Candidates Forum Friday

Unofficial Passions: "Last Friday the Kingston AAUW branch hosted a 'Meet the Candidates for NY State Legislature' event. Kingston Community Access TV filmed the event and you can watch it Friday evening, October 31st, from 7-9 pm.

The candidates addressed the state budget crisis, pay equity, green jobs, health care, education, and campaign financing.

Candidates who attended include:

* Greg Ball (R), NYS Assembly District 99 (Dutchess)
* Don Barber (D), NYS Senate District 51 (Greene)
* Kevin Cahill (D), NYS Assembly District 101 (Dutchess, Ulster)
* Larry Delarose (D), NYS Senate District 39 (Orange, Ulster)
* Timothy Gordon (Ind.), NYS Senate District 108 (Greene)
* Pete Lopez (R), NYS Assembly District 127 (Greene, Ulster)
* Anne Rubin (D), NYS Assembly District 103 (Dutchess)
* Jonathan Smith (D), NYS Assembly District 102 (Dutchess)

Candidates who committed but didn't show up include:

* Steve McLaughlin (R), NYS Assembly District 108 (Greene)
* Robin Yess (R, C, I), NYS Assembly District 101 (Dutchess, Ulster)"

The Pregnancy Penalty

The Pregnancy Discrimination Act was passed in 1978 -- 30 years ago this month. Things are better, but women of all ages are still paying a price in the workforce for having children. Reduced wages and reduced pensions.

AAUW - 30th Anniversary of the Passage of the Pregnancy Discrimination Act: "While men can typically encounter a job boost from fatherhood, women often hit the 'maternal wall,' according to experts who study the issue. While more than 80 percent of American women become mothers during their working lives, studies show there is a 'motherhood penalty' on wages of approximately 5 percent for every child a woman has. 1These pay inequities find their way into women's golden years, not only in the form of fewer funds to save during their working years but also in smaller pensions in retirement.

On Capitol Hill, AAUW is fighting for family-friendly legislation that would help fulfill the promise of the Pregnancy Discrimination Act. 'Unfortunately, AT&T is basing part of its arguments in the Hulteen case on the Ledbetter decision, so women are already reaping what the Supreme Court has sown with that wrongheaded decision,' said Maatz. 'In these tough economic times, there should be an even better incentive not only to enforce the Pregnancy Discrimination Act properly and vigorously but also to pass the Ledbetter Fair Pay Act.'"

Here's a bit about the Hulteen case:

AAUW is closely watching AT&T v. Hulteen, a case before the Supreme Court involving the Pregnancy Discrimination Act. The high court will decide whether women who took pregnancy leave before the passage of the Pregnancy Discrimination Act should get full service credit for their time on leave when calculating their retirement benefits. AAUW has signed on to an amicus brief in the Hulteen case on behalf of the women, arguing against discriminatory practices that treat pregnancy leave less favorably than leave for other disabilities when calculating such benefits.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Are You a Victim of Maternal Profiling?
• Proving the Pregnancy Discrimination Case

12/2 United Nations: Join Us

Image via Wikipedia
Each year AAUW joins the League of Women Voters as co-sponsors of a United Nations Briefing Conference to discuss an issue of global significance to women and children. Join us for this year's briefing Tuesday, December 2nd.

The Impact of Global Warming
on Women and Children Around the World
United Nations Headquarters, NYC

1:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Briefings Program in the Dag Hammarskjöld Library Auditorium

Program Options

(additional charges)

10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Optional UN Tour

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Optional Lunch Buffet in the Delegates’ Dining Room includes International Buffet, Dessert Bar, and Coffee/Tea.

4:30 p.m. -- 5:30 p.m. Optional UN Tour

Conference Fees

Briefing:

• Members of AAUW and other sponsoring organizations - $55;
  
• Non-Members $70;
  
• Students - $45
  

Discounted Tour, Lunch, and Briefing package - sponsor members only: $ 100

Optional Tour - all: $12

Optional Buffet - all: $40

Please note: The UN requires proper attire -- no jeans, shorts, sneakers

We will coordinate transportation from the Mid-Hudson Valley. For additional information and a registration form, email your request.

Blog Action Day: AAUW Focus on Poverty

Today is Blog Action Day on the web. And this year the focus is on poverty. The organizers' goals are to educate people about poverty and move them to action. Here are a couple of posts and ideas you might be interested in reading:

First, I posted about poverty in Ulster County on our Unofficial Passions Blog and I posted to thank the people who work every day combating the effects of poverty on my company grant-writing blog, 79 Grant Writing Resources.

LifeHacker (my favorite place for "tips and downloads for getting things done") reminds us that other people can benefit from our old computers. We haven't mentioned our arrangement with John Foundas for some time. He refurbishes old computers and works with Arlene Bruck to get them to families of Kingston High School students.

Womenstake.org is a great blog that has a post today on The Shameful Link between Health and Wealth.

To check out more posts about poverty, you can visit the Blog Action Day website.

AAUW Supports Plaintiff in Case before the Supreme Court

Two important cases are on the Supreme Court docket this session. Like the Lilly Ledbetter case, they underscore how important the Supreme Court is when it comes to issues that are central to women's safety, economic security, and equity.

Supreme Court Hears Harassment Case « AAUW Dialog: "Vicky Crawford, an employee of the Nashville Metro School District, was asked by her employers to cooperate with an internal investigation of sexual harassment allegations made against her boss. Crawford was later fired and believes she was terminated in retaliation for substantiating the sexual harassment allegations under investigation. While Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 contains an anti-retaliation provision, two lower courts narrowly interpreted the law and found that an internal investigation is not protected by Title VII."

AAUW signed an amicus curiae (friend of the court) brief in support of the plaintiff in March 2008....

And, from Alexis A. Moore, President & Founder, Survivors In Action
Another important case coming up for cert with the US Supreme Court is Martin v. Howard University. Attorney Dawn V. Martin is seeking justice. While Martin was employed at Howard U as a law professor she became the target of a campus stalker and was later fired when she asked Howard U to implement there security measures.

As 'leciaimbery' points out in her AAUW Dialog post, so many recent cases have been decided by 5-4 rulings that we cannot underestimate the importance of each high court justice. Our elected officials nominate and appoint them.

The confirmation of extremist, activist judges to the federal bench undermines a fair and balanced judiciary and could turn back the clock on decades of progress for women and girls. You can read AAUW’s position paper on federal judicial nominations and visit AAUW’s Legal Advocacy Fund Resource Library for more information.

If Women Were More Like Men: Why Females Earn Less - TIME

Have you read this article in Time's on-line edition?

People argue about why women are paid less than men. Is it because women choose lower paying work? Don't take their careers seriously? Take time off for children and family? Or is it because men discriminate against women?

Well, here's a report of very unusual study which would seem to indicate that it's clearly discrimination -- at least some men.

If Women Were More Like Men: Why Females Earn Less - TIME: "If Women Were More Like Men: Why Females Earn Less
By John Cloud Friday, Oct. 03, 2008"

What do you think?

Are Girls More Violent Today?

I share this with you because of our many discussions about gender.

Recently 'Dear Abby' responded to a letter from a grandmother whose granddaughter had attacked her when she refused to loan her the car. Yesterday, there was another from a mother whose daughter attacked her.

In the not-for-profit and law enforcement communities there's been a lot of talk about the increase of violence by girls. Is this a cultural change?

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (a branch of the US Department of Justice) established a "Girls Study Group" (GSG) in 2004. Now they're beginning to publish the results of their research. (Bold formating is mine)

OJJDP News @ a Glance - September/October 2008: "One of the findings of the GSG is that girls are not more violent now than in previous years. Comparative analysis of official and self-report data revealed that the increase in girls' arrests is due largely to a change in how the juvenile justice system is responding to girls' behavior. Further analysis indicates that the increase in girls' arrests appears to be an unintended result of relatively new mandatory, or proarrest, policies put in place to protect victims of domestic violence. This outcome highlights the need to work with law enforcement to identify appropriate responses to conflict between girls and their family members, and for communities to support and provide families with access to family-strengthening and mediation programs that provide intervention rather than just simply arrest.

Clearly, family-strengthening and mediation needs to be available to all families -- not just girls. How do we teach families that have a pattern of resolving conflicts with violence that there are other, more effective, less harmful methods?