Category Archives: Meetings

10/1 at 2 PM: AAUW webinar on the future of the Supreme Court

AAUW Webinar Announcement:

Perspectives from the AAUW Legal Advocacy Fund:
Justice Ginsburg’s Legacy and the Future of the Court

Thursday, October 1, 2020 2 p.m. ET

In the wake of the passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, we invite you to join us for a webinar to learn about the accomplishments of this titan of justice and what the future holds. As evidenced by her honor as a 1999 AAUW Achievement Awardee, Justice Ginsburg was a champion for the rights of women and girls, and hugely instrumental in advancing AAUW’s priorities. But what does the future hold for her seat on the bench and how will it impact AAUW’s work? Join AAUW CEO Kim Churches and Director of Public Policy and Legal Advocacy Kate Nielson for a discussion of the past, the future, and your role in shaping history.

Susan H.

The Younger Women’s Task Force of New York City Relaunch Event – You’re Invited!

Join the Younger Women’s Task Force of New York City (YWTF NYC) for “Cocktails and Conversations”

Thursday, July 24th, starting at 5:30 pm at the Loreley Restaurant and Biergarten in Lower Manhattan (map)

Learn about YWTF NYC and our mission – State your mission – Find out about open board positions and ways to get involved your own way!

YWTF NYC is back, but not without you! At the first official event of the summer, we want to know, what YOU want out of your membership? Networking? Career advice? Mentorship? Work/life balance tips? Do you want to lobby our representatives to advocate for women’s issues? If you answered “yes” to one or all of the above, we can’t wait to meet you!

Originally founded in 2005, YWTF NYC is an organization devoted to younger social justice and women’s rights activists. YWTF chapters in cities around the country work on a variety of issues in different ways as an arm of the Association of American University Women (AAUW), an organization with well over 100 years of experience in advocacy, philanthropy, education, and research. For more information about YWTF, please visit aauw.org/YWTF.

Please join us for “Cocktails & Conversation” to learn more about us, talk about the issues that matter most to you, and find out about ways to take action with YWTF. We will be serving light appetizers and encourage you to bring your friends along! Please help us spread the word and share this information with other activists in the region.

For more information and to RSVP, please visit: “Younger Women’s Task Force NYC – Cocktails & Convos” or email YWTF.NYC@gmail.com

Celebrate Human Rights Day

The Eleanor Roosevelt Leadership Center at Val-Kill and the United Nations Association, Southern New York State Division (UNA-SNY) are holding an exciting event in honor of Human Rights Day.

“Whose Human Rights?” will be held on Tuesday, December 11, from 11 am to 2 pm at the Henry A. Wallace Center at the FDR Presidential Library and Home in Hyde Park (map).

The featured speaker is Gillian Martin Sorensen, Senior Advisor and National Advocate at the United Nations Foundation. The event will also honor the memory of Margaret K. (Molly) Bruce, a United Nations staff member from the time of its founding in 1945 until 1977, when she retired as one of the highest ranking women in the UN Secretariat. Ms. Bruce was also a friend and colleague of Eleanor Roosevelt, a human rights activist, and an advocate for women around the world.

Please RSVP as soon as possible to Maureen Benedict at 845-229-5302 or mbenedict@ervk.org.

This is a free event. Coffee and tea will be served, but unfortunately it is too late to order lunch, participants are encouraged to bring a packed lunch. If you have any questions, please contact Jennifer Mayfield at 914-388-2937 or jennifer.a.mayfield@gmail.com.

Miss Representation Education Committee Meeting

The Miss Representation Education Committee will meet before the open board meeting on December 6, at 3:15 PM at the Kingston Library. All Branch members are more than welcome to attend. We will be discussing ways to bring the movie Miss Representation and its messages into area schools. The movie examines the way women and girls are represented (and under-represented) in our media and the impacts those depictions have on society.

If you have any questions, please contact Jennifer Mayfield at jennifer.a.mayfield@gmail.com or Adele Calcavechhio at adeleacts@gmail.com.

The International Committee to Meet on November 11

The International Committee is set to meet at 2:00 PM, on Sunday, November 11, at the Olympic Diner in Kingston (map).

The committee hopes to carry forward the momentum of the influential New York State AAUW international program, My Sister’s Keeper (MSK), which wrapped up earlier this year. We will discuss ways to continue working toward the goals of MSK, as well as potential new directions that the Branch can take in our international advocacy.

Please join us to talk about ideas for programs, charities to support, potential areas of focus, and more.

If you have any questions, please contact Jennifer Mayfield at jennifer.a.mayfield@gmail.com.

Picnic in the Rain

Yes, the annual picnic will go on as planned — but, indoors. The major challenge may be the trip from the car to the door, so please plan to carpool.

See you this afternoon!

International Panel Sparks Discussion

Jenn Mayfield, Joan Monk, Joanne Meyer, and Sarah Shue

The April Branch Meeting brought together three terrific women with very different expertise. Jenn Mayfield, our International Chair hosted the panel.

Joan Monk discussed My Sister’s Keeper, AAUW-NYS’ project that grew out of reading Half the Sky. Joan encouraged each of us individually and as a branch to get informed, inspired, and involved. Her best quip of the day — “Comfort the troubled and trouble the comfortable.”

Sarah Hsu, Assistant Professor of Economics at SUNY New Paltz, specializes in the economics of women and poverty and crisis economics. She provided a fast round the world discussion of the impact of the worldwide recession.

JoAnne Myers, Professor of Political Science and Co-director of Women’s Studies at Marist, brought it all closer to home. Her message: that every issue impacting women and families around the globe impact us locally as well — from water to health, infant mortality and food insecurity, and transportation, to mention just a few issues. She cautioned us against “checkbook philanthropy” and encouraged us to action.

Those in attendance left thinking about what issues we’re most passionate about.

Recycling in Ulster County

Several of us spent a fascinating morning at the Ulster County Resource Recovery Agency last Tuesday. Thanks to Sheila Beall for arranging our trip to the recycling facility this month. And, thanks to Executive Director Tim Rose (new member Ginny Rose’s son) and Recycling Coordinator Michelle Bergkamp provided a wonderful tour. Thanks to Dave Cardall for the photos.

The next Household Hazardous Waste, Electronics, & Pharmaceutical Collection is Sat. April 28, free by appointment. (845) 336-3336.

Learning about Modern Mongolia

Butch Stedge

Butch Stedge loves Mongolia and the Mongol people.

On Saturday, about 30 people gathered to hear Butch Stedge talk about modern Mongolia. Originally scheduled as our AAUW speaker at the January branch meeting (cancelled due to snow), Butch graciously rescheduled.

He shared slides of the countryside and some of the ancient history — Ghengis Khan — and more recent history — since the break up of the USSR.

Mongolia is now a democracy. About half of the population lives in modern cities, the other half are semi-nomadic. 98% of the population is literate. It’s mineral rich and has very little land suitable for agriculture. Most of the rural population herd goats or sheep. Religious tolerance has long been part of their history.

Special thanks to Glenn Packert who worked hard to manage the technical difficulties for us.

Planning for Spring: AAUW NYS Convention

Come to the AAUW-NYS Convention April 20-22, 2012 in Rochester!

This year’s state c

onvention theme, “In Their Footsteps”, will celebrate the historic women’s rights movement centered in New York State. It will begin with a Friday afternoon tour of the Susan B. Anthony House and continue on Saturday with a dialogue between impersonators of Anthony and of Matilda Joslyn Gage will bring alive the conflicts within the women’s suffrage movement – surprisingly relevant to today’s political divisions. Workshops on“The Haudenosaunee Influence”, “Harriet Tubman“, African-American “Uncrowned Queens“,”Elizabeth Cady Stanton“,”Women of the Chautauqua Movement“, and “The Seneca Army Depot Peace Encampment” will all expand on this theme.

Keynotes by Cathy Kelm, head of AAUW’s Lobby Corps in Washington, and by Congresswoman Louise Slaughter, as well as workshops on The Temp Economy and “Clean Money, Clean Elections“, a dialogue on the Women’s History Trail, and “Project Women” will show how we can continue the mission today. We’ll extend that mission throughout the world with our international speaker, Jane Roberts.

By popular demand we will again have military bridge on Friday evening, an exercise session (yoga this year!) on Saturday afternoon, musical entertainment on Saturday evening, and opportunities for swimming, walking, and bidding on LAF offerings (purses this year!). As a special treat, the Branch Showcase will be a presentation by the Bath Branch of the play “Momoirs” on Sunday morning.

– Peggy Kelland, AAUW-NYS V.P. Program