GASLAND at 6:30 PM tonight at Rhinebeck Town Hall

7/12/11: Branch Strategy, Part 2 - please come!

I hope everyone's having a great summer! A little branch business:

Unless otherwise noted, AAUW Kingston Branch Board Meetings, which are open to all, are held in the Community Room on the 2nd Floor of the Kingston Library (55 Franklin Street, Kingston) from 3 PM to 5 PM on the 2nd Tuesday of each month. Here are the dates for the rest of the year; please add them to your calendars:
-------------------------------------------------------------

7/12 (Story Hour Room, 2nd Floor, next to the Children's Library, on the right)
8/9 (Story Hour Room)
9/13
10/11
11/8
12/6 (1st Tues.)

---------------------------------------------------------------------

The 7/12 meeting (and beyond?) will be a continuation of the
6/26 strategy meeting facilitated by Ruth Wahtera and hosted
by ViVi Hlavsa. Please join us as continue to strategize!....

(photo: from 5/21 Chalk Walk, see Kingston Library Facebook page for more!)

No Surprise: Capitol Hill Staff Mostly Male, White

No Surprise: Capitol Hill Staff Mostly Male, White
A 2011 demographic survey

of 319 congressional staff members revealed that 68 percent are male and an overwhelming 93 percent are white. One former congressional staffer noted

that because staff members often serve as gatekeepers for hearings, meetings, and other critical steps in the policy-making process, a lack of diversity among staff can have serious implications for women and people of color.

AAUW advocates the importance of closing the long-standing political leadership gender gap. Click here

to learn more about Elect Her, an AAUW initiative that empowers and trains women to run for office at all levels—an effort that could change the face of politics in America.

Pamper Yourself at SPAC July 16, 2011

Linda Gold and AAUW present a Bus Trip

NY City Ballet at Saratoga Performing Arts Center

Magic Flute/ Circus Polka/ Apollo/ Serenade

Saturday, July 16, 2011    Cost $122

                               

                    

Pamper yourself for a day! The cost of $122 includes luxury coach, gratuities, mimosas with breakfast en route, an hour to explore the charming town of Saratoga, elegant lunch at the Hall of Springs restaurant and superb seats for this wonderful combination of four ballets. Hors d’oeuvres with wine and chilled beverages will be served on the return trip.

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

A highlight of the performance is Peter Martins’s Magic Flute, which is revived for the first time since City Ballet performed it in 1983. This Magic Flute has nothing to do with the famous opera by Mozart, although the story does contain the wondrous instrument of the title. This one has a score by Riccardo Driga and was originally danced by Peter Martins. It’s a tale of a pretty heroine who loves a poor but proud village lad, but her parents have their sights on a wealthy, but elderly buffoon.

Circus Polka, was originally choreographed by Balanchine for circus elephants – a commission by Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey Circus. The story is told that after receiving the commission, Balanchine asked his friend Stravinsky to compose the music. “What kind of music?” asked Stravinsky. “A polka.” was Balanchine’s reply. “For whom?” “Elephants.”  After its premier in 1944 the ballet was  re-choreographed by Balanchine and later by Jerome Robbins (1972) for young students with a Ringmaster (who was often a notable guest such as the Russian dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov).

Apollo is a charming ballet choreographed by Balanchine with a score by Stravinsky. It is with this ballet that Balanchine, at age twenty-four, achieved international recognition and began his lifelong partnership with the composer. Apollo, the young god of music is visited by three muses: Terpsichore, muse of dance and song, Polyhymnia, muse of mime, and Calliope, muse of poetry.

Serenade with a score by Tchaikovsky, is the first original ballet Balanchine created in America and is one of the signature works of New York City Ballet’s repertory. It’s an exquisite ballet – ethereal and hypnotic­ - in four movements.

We always have a full bus for our Saratoga trip, so sign up early to insure a spot. Make your check payable to AAUW (American Association of University Women) and mail it to: Linda Gold, 1 Jacobs Lane, New Paltz, NY 12561. For further information 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.

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.