Reserve now: Clark Institute Trip August 6, 2011

Linda Gold and AAUW present a Bus Trip to Williamstown, MA

Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute

for the exhibit, “Pissarro’s People”

Includes complimentary optional visit to Williams College Museum of Art

Saturday, August 6, 2011    Cost $100

     

The cost includes luxury coach, all gratuities, breakfast with champagne en route, tickets to the special exhibit, “Pissarro’s People” at the Clark Art Institute and optional transportation to Williams College Museum of Art. Lovely platters of cheeses and fresh fruit with a selection of wines will be served on the return trip. Lunch is on your own at the Clark’s Courtyard Café, Clark Café, or Stone Hill Terrace Café.

Don’t miss this glorious trip to the Berkshires. We’ll visit the Clark Art Institute - one of the most beloved and respected museums in the world. The Clark’s summer exhibit, “Pissarro’s People” is a highly personal and poignant exploration of this great Impressionist’s portraits, harvest scenes, and market views.  The paintings in this stunning exhibition reveal his personal relationships, profound social and economic concerns, and anarchist beliefs. While at the Clark, we’ll view its renowned collection of French Impressionist paintings by Monet, Degas, Renoir and Pissarro. The color and light-filled “Renoir Room” is extraordinary. The museum is also known for its 19^th century American paintings (Homer, Sargent & Cassatt), as well as a gorgeous collection of English and American silver.

During the afternoon, we’ll provide bus transportation for those interested in an optional visit to Williams College Museum of Art. Among the many exhibitions on view are: “Art Re: Art,” “The Gallery of Crossed Destinies,” and “Labeltalk 2011: Art of the Ancient World.” In addition to the special exhibitions, this museum houses the world’s largest collection of works by the artist brothers Maurice and Charles Prendergast. Bequeathed to the museum by Charles’s widow from 1983- 1995, the collection incorporates over 450 magnificent watercolors, oils and sketchbooks. 

The bus departs 8am from the front of the Monticello Government Center on North Street, and 9:15am from the back of the former Ames in the Kingston Plaza. We return to Kingston at approximately 6:30 pm and to Monticello at approximately 7:45pm.

  

To sign up, make your check payable to AAUW (American Association of University Women) and mail it to: Linda Gold, Gourmet Art Tours, 1 Jacobs Lane, New Paltz, NY 12561. For further info, call Linda at 845-255-5256 or email artladyLG@aol.com. Specify “art tours” in the space for “subject” so that your message is not deleted. Your early sign-up will insure a spot.

Protect the Reproductive Health of NYS Women

Tell Rep. Cahill what you think

The NYS Assembly is evaluating two pieces of proposed legislation right now. It's critical we let them know our position.

• Vote NO! Assemblyman Katz has introduced a piece of legislation (A-7841) which would defund vital health care centers that provide services to thousands of women in New York including Planned Parenthood.

• Vote Yes! The Reproductive Health Act introduced by Assemblywoman Glick (A-6112) needs to be passed to ensure New York State's laws are strong as it relates to protecting a women's reproductive health options.

Assemblyman Kevin Cahill is a member of the Health Committee and can play an important role protecting the women and girls of NYS.

Use the YWCA advocacy site to tell your elected representative how you feel.

Pay Equity Legislation in NYS

How can there be such a disparity between what women and men are paid for the same job? One reason -- employers give the same jobs different titles and slightly different job descriptions. Another? Workers who identify wage discrimination or even share salary information remain vulnerable to retaliation.

Tell Sen. Bonacic to get this bill passed!

For several years running, the New York State Assembly and the NYS Senate Labor Committee has passed the NYS Fair Pay Bill (A.6130/S.2200), which addresses these two issues. But, each year, the bill dies before passage. Sometimes it’s the Senate Finance Committee, sometimes an end run by the Senate leadership. 

The bill is currently in the Senate Finance Committee  once again. Senator Bonacic, who represents many of us, is a member of the Finance Committee.

Please take action. Call or write to Senator Bonacic asking him to support this bill to reduce wage disparity based on the centuries old bias against “women’s work.” Passing this Act will ensure that equivalent jobs are paid fairly despite the gender and/or race of those performing the work.

A quick way to make your opinion known is to use this link offered by the YWCA.

Should the Branch Provide Wal-Mart Gift Cards?

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Mention Wal-Mart and the debate starts.
What will the Supreme Court rule on whether women working for Wal-Mart can sue as a class? Should you shop there when their low prices are the result of moving jobs out of the country? When the foreign companies they contract with pay unfair wages, ignore employee safety, or employ unfair labor practices?

Well, we have an issue that confronts our branch directly and the Public Policy Committee wants the branch to revisit it again before we provide our holiday diversity gift cards. Here's the debate -- which should prevail, giving Wal-Mart gift cards which provide recipients great selection and low prices or boycotting Wal-Mart due to their social policies and finding an alternative source for the gift cards?

Here are some members' comments.
Please add your comments below.

From Jean Semilof: Unfortunately, Wal-mart is far from the only company that pays minimum wage and that uses underpaid and exploited workers. If we were to boycott every store and manufacturer that does this  we would would probably be able to buy very few manufactured goods. As Chairman of the Community Service Committee of the Ulster County Board of Realtors, I can say, firsthand, that the local Wal-mart has been outstandingly generous in supporting our many charitable events. 

From Delores LaChance: Do you recall the German woman [Wal-Mart employee in Germany] who did not understand why the Wal-mart workers were having these problems in the US when German employees were not? They were even getting 36 vacation days per year. This is where our government fails its citizens; not so in many European states. From the looks of some current government antics in support of corporations, it can only get worse before getting better. 

From Susan Hirsch: Film was very good -  lots of issues raised, some of which were new to me.  Each summer we spend a week at Chautauqua...  A few year's ago the theme was "the world of work." One of the speakers addressed the low wages and lack of worker's rights at Wal-Mart.  His parting comment was one I took to heart.  He said he was in total sympathy with the need for people to shop at Wal-Mart if on a tight budget.  But, if Wal-Mart shopping is not a necessity then speak with our pocketbooks and go elsewhere.  I do not shop there.   

In response to the question raised elsewhere about gift certificates we gives to Wal-Mart - by all means my vote is a loud and clear:stop!  Gift certificates can be given to the mall or to one of the supermarkets.  The dollar will not go as far - but sometimes trade-offs must be made. The lowest price should not be our goal.  All the government economists have yet to be able to balance low cost and livable wages.  But, unfortunately, only the government can regulate effective long term policies (higher minimum wages, changes in import-export policy, etc.)  But since there will not be effective changes on this level in the foreseeable future,  it is up to the individual to vote with shopping decisions for whatever limited effect that will have.

From Carole Leib: In this country, it is NOT a crime to be successful.  Wal-mart pays into SS and has a health insurance plan for its employees.  They are paid AT LEAST minimum wage.  How much should people be paid to stock shelves?  Walmart hires disabled people.  They have a clean store and good merchandise.  Because they are big, they can buy in volume and sell at a (generally) lower price than their competitors.  THAT IS NOT A CRIME.  Other large chains also buy in volume, but are not challenged like Walmart because they don’t pass the savings on to their customers:  they pocket them.  Walmart treats its customers very well – and, except to isolated incidents that we hear of from time to time, treats its employees very well, also.  Think back to the furor when the mega-malls were being built.  There was an uproar that it would kill small business.  Today, how many people (other than me) still want to do away with the malls?
 
Walmart represents progress.  You may not like it, but they function within the law.  If you want to stop them, you need to change the laws – but that could have disastrous results.  The law protects Walmart as well as us.

 What do you think?
 

5/24/11: Public Policy Film/Discussion - The Economics of Happiness

Check out the updated AAUW Kingston "Public Policy Plus" calendar, which includes information about:

- Ulster County Reapportionment Commission meeting at 5 PM today

- our Public Policy Film/Discussion this month -- The Economics of Happiness, Tuesday, 5/24, 7 PM at the Rosendale Theater

- plus a whole lot more!...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Click on the link below for the updated calendar:

http://tinyurl.com/3cd3gfo

Click on the file name (kaauwpp+.pdf)
or the green DOWNLOAD button to save
and view the calendar.

Considering the Spiritual; Different from the Religious

Sister Maria Lopez and Program VP Bev Sloane

Sister Maria Lopez says in her hospice work she provides spiritual support to Buddhists, Baptists, atheists and people of every other or no religious persuasion. And, there's a difference between spiritual and religious.

At the May 14 branch meeting,  Sister Maria explained  what spiritual care  is and used many of her hospice experiences to show the difference it has made in the lives of many.     The discussion ranged widely from our personal experiences with hospice to how our belief systems impact our relationships with others.

Sister Maria Lopez, a  member of the  Sisters of the Presentation,  has been a hospice chaplain in Ulster and Dutchess counties for 11 years.    Maria received a BA in Education from Mount Saint Mary College and an MA in Religious Studies from Manhattan College in the Bronx.  

Maria has extensive experience in education,  spirituality, and missionary work in Latin America, and pastoral work in NY.   She also served as  Executive Director of the Presentation Sisters International Association, where she directed the IPA  Global Social Justice Network,  and  established the Presentation Sisters as an NGO in consultation with ECOSOC at the UN.

Reapportioning and more...

Check out the updated AAUW Kingston "Public Policy Plus" calendar, which includes information about:

- Ulster County Reapportionment Commission meetings at 5 PM today, Monday, 4/25, and at 3 PM on Wednesday, 4/27

- our Public Policy Film/Discussion next month -- The Economics of Happiness, Tuesday, 5/24, 7 PM at the Rosendale Theater

- plus a whole lot more!...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Click on the link below for the updated calendar:

http://tinyurl.com/3wae9y5

Click on the file name (kaauwpp+.pdf)
or the green DOWNLOAD button to save
and view the calendar.

4/19/11: Public Policy film/discussion @ BSP

Carbon Nation
a climate change solutions movie

Tuesday, April 19
6:30 PM -- Set up
7:00 PM -- Doors open
7:30 PM -- Film (discussion afterwards)

Backstage Studio Productions (BSP)
323 Wall Street
Kingston

Cost: free (donations accepted)
Cash bar with hot and cold drinks, including beer and wine

What do an entrepreneur in Alaska, a cotton farmer in Texas, a civil rights activist in California, and the CEOs of Stonyfield Farms and Duke Energy have in common? They are saving energy, creating jobs, and boosting the economy - all the while turning a profit in the process. You can see the stories behind these people in Peter Byck's latest film Carbon Nation.

Come see how climate change solutions can address other social, economic and national issues. Get a glimpse of some of the industries that can aid economic recovery, the power of entrepreneurship around the country, and the feisty, inspiring nature of the challenge of climate action today.

Hosted by:
League of Women Voters - Mid-Hudson Region

Other Sponsors:
Catskills Live! Trails & Wilderness Association
Hudson Valley Smart Growth Alliance

Supporters:
AAUW Kingston Public Policy Committee
BSP
Hudson River Sloop Clearwater
Sustainable Hudson Valley

Photo: Peter Byck
------------------------------------------------
For more information, call or e-mail
Susan Holland, 845-389-3961
Please let Susan know if you can
come at 6:30 PM to help set up.
See you at BSP!

Reflections on Geraldine Ferraro

Image via Wikipedia

From Rokki Carr:

Geraldine Ferraro was my contemporary in some respects: age, immigrant parentage, profession delayed by motherhood, teaching careers, tenure as lawyers in the Queens County criminal justice system.

By sheer chance, I never met her until her campaign for Vice President of the United States, the first Italian American and the first woman to run for that office.  Without a doubt, she was persecuted by the press as well as by her political opponents based uniquely on her gender, treated as no male candidate had ever been, subjected to unnecessary scrutiny, even by her Church, all of which she withstood heroically, and with a display of intellect and moral character rarely so eloquently displayed.  She never won another political race although she continued to serve the public even through her long battle with multiple myeloma.  Her reflection on the failure of the Mondale-Ferraro ticket was a demonstration of her wit as well as of her feminism.

“Throwing Ronald Reagan out of office at the height of his popularity, with inflation and interest rates down, the economy moving and the country at peace, would have required God on the ticket, and She was not available!”

I identified with Gerry more than with any other woman in public life.  So where have we organized Hudson Valley women been  these thirty years?    Certainly not out there honoring or even acknowledging this Newburgh born champion of our rights.  Until her death this week, we just allowed her to recede into a very faint memory.  During the Sara Palin pantomime, her name never came up.  Like Frances Perkins, her predecessor pioneer on the national scene, we have allowed her to be forgotten.  She campaigned beside Hilary Clinton, but appeared only as a remote shadow.  I think it's time we awakened to the reality of how complicit we are in this feminine amnesia.

It's not too late to make amends for our communal transgression.

What's at Stake for Women in Wal-Mart v. Dukes

 On Tuesday, March 29, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the Wal-Mart v. Dukes case. In addition, our Public Policy Film and Book Meeting will watch Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price. 5:30 pm in the Kingston Library Community Room.

What's at Stake for Women in Wal-Mart v. Dukes: "Set against the backdrop of widespread disparities in pay, there is a tremendous amount at stake in the pay and promotions discrimination class action that will be argued in the Supreme Court on March 29th. In Wal-Mart v. Dukes, the Supreme Court will determine whether a nationwide class of women workers challenging alleged sex discrimination by Wal-Mart in pay and promotions can proceed. According to the plaintiffs’ evidence, women at Wal-Mart on average earned $5,000 less than men, even though women tended to have higher performance ratings and more seniority. Women also were less likely to be promoted to store manager positions and had to wait significantly longer for promotions than men. The Court’s decision will also effectively determine whether workers can continue to challenge company-wide discrimination by larger employers."

Title VII was intended to eradicate precisely the type of pernicious discrimination that is alleged in this case. Indeed, a company-wide class challenge is the only effective way to remedy company-wide discriminatory practices. With the average wage gap at 77 percent, women and their families are watching closely to see whether the Court’s holding will continue to allow the class action vehicle to be a critical tool for employees to challenge pay discrimination. In this economy, the stakes could not be higher.

AAUW's Legal Action Fund supports the plaintiff's case financially. Join us and bring a friend to discuss the film and its implications for us personally and as a branch.