Visit Monet’s Garden Sept. 9, 2012

Monet's GardenClaude Monet, the celebrated Impressionist painter, was also a passionate gardener and horticulturist. The gardens he constructed during his 40 years at Giverny, rank as one of the great artistic projects of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

He settled there in 1883 and remained until his death in 1926. It was in Giverny that he conceived a paradise of arches with climbing roses, a water garden with a Japanese bridge covered with wisteria, weeping willows that reflected in the pond, and water lilies that bloomed all summer long. From this exquisite landscape, he created his most famous paintings.

You won’t have to travel further than the Bronx to get a taste of Monet’s magnificent paradise; the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory has transformed its space into gardens reminiscent of Monet’s Giverny. On Sunday, September 9, you can enjoy a private tour of the gardens.

Designed by Tony Award-winning set designer Scott Pask, a façade of Monet’s famous pink house with green shutters provides a stunning entrance – stepping out from the house into a long corridor of
magnificent flowers. The main attraction is a living approximation of the two major gardens that Monet created; one in traditional French style, the other, a Japanese-inspired fantasia of water, lily pads and weeping willows. The Victorian glass house of the Conservatory opens onto an indoor re-creation of the Grand Allée at Giverny – a long path with extraordinary flowers blossoming on either side. As the seasons change, so will the flowers.

The entire show is organized by Paul Hays Tucker, one of America’s foremost authorities on Monet and Impressionism. There are two original Monet paintings on view; “The Artist’s Garden in Giverny” and “Irises.” Also on display is Monet’s painting palette, the only one in existence, on loan from the Musée Marmottan. Photographs of Giverny in different seasons by Elizabeth Murray, who gardened at Monet’s estate, are on view as well.

The cost – $105 – includes luxury coach, all gratuities, mimosas with breakfast en route, admission to the New York Botanical Garden, and private guided tour of “Monet’s Garden.” A selection of cheeses will be served with wine on the return trip. Note: Lunch is dutch-treat and available in The Visitor Center Café or Garden Café.

The bus departs from the back of the former Ames, Kingston Plaza, at 8am and the front of the Monticello Govt. Center at 9:15am. We return to Monticello at approximately 5:30pm and Kingston at approximately 6:45pm.

To reserve: make your check payable to AAUW (American Association for University Women), include your phone number, address and email, and mail it to: Linda Gold, 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.” Sign up early to ensure a spot. There will be no refunds unless the spot is filled by someone on the waiting list.

Tell Congress to Increase the Minimum Wage

 

Can you support your family on $15,000 per year?

National Day of Action to Raise the Minimum Wage

Millions of workers – mostly women – struggle to make ends meet on the current minimum wage. At just $7.25 an hour, or roughly $14,500 per year, the current federal minimum wage hasn’t been raised in THREE YEARS and is leaving working families in poverty.

 Since that last increase, prices of basic goods such as milk, gas, and college tuition have climbed steadily, but the federal minimum wage remains stuck at $7.25 an hour.

Kimberly Fountain, AAUW’s State Grassroots Advocacy Manager, who was with us at the AAUW-NYS Summer Leadership Conference last weekend in Cazenovia, mentioned that MomsRising is a great partner in our national efforts to address economic justice issues. We multiply our efforts when we join other progressive organizations working for the same goals as AAUW.*

Partner with MomsRising by telling your U.S. Representative to co-sponsor the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2012 to raise the outdated federal minimum wage. Click the Take Action button.

take action

The Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2012 would gradually raise the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $9.80 per hour, increase the tipped minimum cash wage from $2.13 per hour to 70 percent of the minimum wage, and index the minimum wage to keep pace with inflation. 

Increasing the minimum wage and tipped minimum wage are key steps toward fair pay for women.

Meet AAUW Member David “Uncle Sam” Cardall

David Cardall as Uncle Sam by Daily Freeman staff photographer

This was his 30th year. Yesterday, AAUW Kingston branch member David Cardall once again marched — well, maybe ambled — along the Saugerties 4th of July parade route. David climbs up onto his stilts and dons his striped pants and top hat to chat with the kids and enjoy the crowds.

Three miles is a long walk on stilts in the heat of the day, but you won’t find him anywhere else at parade time. David loves it!

And, we love to see him every year. Thanks, David.

Title IX Makes Kwasnowski’s All-American Rating Possible

[This letter to the editor was sent to the Daily Freeman June 14th but has not been published so we thought we’d publish it here.]


Congratulations to Kingston High School lacrosse athlete Lauren Kwasnowski just named a U.S. Lacrosse All-American. And thank you to the Freeman for your consistently excellent coverage of women’s sports.

None of this would have been possible without the passage of Title IX ensuring gender equity in education.  June 23rd is Title IX’s 40th anniversary. When Congress passed Title IX in 1972, few high schools or colleges had sports teams for young women. There’s been great progress in many places, although sports scholarships for young women like Lauren lag far behind the millions in sports scholarships available for young men.

Increased athletic opportunities for women and girls are only one aspect of Title IX. Title IX has made it possible for women to pursue careers as lawyers, doctors, mechanics, scientists; it affects all areas of education and applies to all institutions and education programs receiving federal funds. Some of those areas include access and admission to higher education, career and technical education, education for pregnant and parenting students, equity in math, science, engineering and technology education, and sexual harassment, as well as athletics.

Like many other areas today where women believed we had made progress in breaking through gender barriers, we find that Title IX is being eroded. Those who oppose equity for women and girls are using targeted budget reductions, reinterpretation of regulations, ineffective compliance monitoring, and the erroneous notion that there is a “boy crisis.” AAUW maintains that education is not a zero sum game, and that the real issue is about girls doing better, not about boys doing worse.

AAUW Kingston encourages all those concerned about equity for women and girls– your daughters, your mothers, your wives, your friends or yourself — to  become a watchdog and speak out wherever erosion is occurring or progress needs to be made. That includes our school district and college budgets and policies, as well as local, state and federal legislation.

We wish Lauren and young women everywhere all the opportunities women have fought for throughout our history and those we have yet to win.

AAUW CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE FORUMS CANCELLED

Julian Schreibman and Joel Tyner

The Democratic Party’s Congressional Primary on Tuesday, June 26 will take place without a forum where the public can evaluate the two candidates side by side. Tyner and Schreibman, vying for the opportunity to replace Congressman Hinchey on the Democratic ticket, have yet to appear before the public on the same podium. Last week, Woodland Pond where the only public forum was scheduled, announced it was closed to the public.

The AAUW Kingston branch sought to fill that gap in the democratic process. AAUW is a nonpartisan organization that has a commitment to educating voters but does not back individual candidates.

The AAUW proposed several potential forums to the candidates. None will take place. Julian Schreibman’s staff responded that he is unable to attend any of the times proposed. AAUW’s national policy requires that for a forum to occur at least two candidates must agree to participate. Unfortunately this leaves the public in this new district with no venue to hear the candidates in person.

AAUW Kingston encourages the public to watch the Daily Freeman video of the Woodland Pond invitation-only forum and to seek out opportunities to meet the two candidates at their separate appearances this week.

Women’s Workforce Bill Needs Your Support

 NEW YORK WOMEN NEED GOOD JOBS!

IT IS THE END OF SESSION AND WE NEED YOUR HELP!

EMAIL YOUR NEW YORK POLICYMAKERS TODAY!

 
In the next few days the NYS Assembly and the NYS Senate will vote on the Women’s Workforce Bill (A.9020b/S.6429a)

This legislation will help close the gender wage gap in NY by improving the information and services women receive from New York’s workforce development system. People will now have information on the gender wage gap and a better understanding about higher paying jobs and the level of wages they need to make to support their families.   And, Democratic Assembly member Ellen Jaffee and Republican Senator Joe Robach are the sponsors showing bi-partisan support.

 Time is short…Click to send this message now… 

NYS ELECTED OFFICIALS: VOTE FOR THIS BILL! GOVERNOR CUOMO: SIGN THIS BILL INTO LAW!

 Click the link below to log in and send your message:
http://www.votervoice.net/groups/NEYWCA/advocacy/?IssueID=29013&AdminPreview=True&SiteID=-1

SPECIAL THANKS TO THE YWCA FOR THESE LINKS, LEADERSHIP AND GREAT VIDEO!

 

NEW YORK STATE PAY EQUITY COALITION (NYSPEC):  Member Organizations:Statewide: American Association of University Women (AAUW), Business & Professional Women’s Clubs, NYS Federation, Inc. (BPW), Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW), DC 37 (AFSCME/AFL-CIO), League of Women Voters, NYS (LWV), National Association For Female Executives (NAFE), National Organization for Women (NYS), Northeast Council of YWCA, NYS Girl Scout Legislative Network, NYS Nurses Association (NYSNA), NYS United Teachers (NYSUT), Public Employees Federation (PEF), Service Employee Int’l Union (SEIU) (AFL-CIO), United Public Service Employees Union (UPSEU), United University Professions (UUP), Women’s Sports Foundation, Regional: BPW District III (4 Capital District Chapters), CSEA Nassau Local 830, Capital District Labor-Religion Coalition, Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (Nassau County & Capital District Chapters), Cortland YWCA Regional, Long Island Women’s Agenda (LIWA) Long Island Progressive Coalition, NAACP, Islip Town & Saratoga County Branches, New York Women’s Agenda, Founding NYSPEC Member: Women on the Job

Forum for Democratic primary candidates by invitation-only

Unexpectedly the forum that will take place on Monday, June 18th at Woodland Pond has been closed to the public. Attendance is by invitation only. It is the only forum scheduled.
We will post information about any recording that may be broadcast.
Not exactly democracy in action…

Update: Thanks to the Freeman. They will livestream the forum.

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!

 

AAUW Criticizes Today’s Procedural Defeat of the Paycheck Fairness Act


Senate Misses Opportunity to Support Women’s Economic Security

WASHINGTON – The American Association of University Women (AAUW) sharply criticized today’s procedural defeat of the Paycheck Fairness Act by a 52-47 vote in the U.S. Senate. The Senate’s rejection of the bill comes after the House of Representatives voted 233-180 against considering the Paycheck Fairness Act last week, despite widespread support of the legislation from the White House and many ordinary Americans committed to basic fairness and equality. The bill was introduced by the Senate’s trailblazing dean of women, Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD). The House version was introduced by longtime equal pay champion Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT).
“This was a missed opportunity for the Senate to do the right thing for women and the nation,” said AAUW Executive Director Linda D. Hallman, CAE. “When women are paid less, it hurts them and their families, and it undermines the U.S. economy. How lawmakers can turn down this commonsense economic policy is truly a mystery.”
By some estimates, women could lose up to $1 million over a 40-year career because of the pay gap. In higher-paying fields such as law, the disparity can result in even greater lifetime losses. Individual choices can affect the gender pay gap, but these choices are not the whole story — and, of course, these “choices” themselves are constrained by stereotype and discrimination. AAUW’s report Behind the Pay Gap controlled for factors known to affect earnings such as education and training, parenthood, and hours worked and found that college-educated women still earn less than men — despite having the same major and occupation as their male counterparts.
“Equal pay should not be a partisan issue. In fact, before the Senate took up the Paycheck Fairness Act in 2010, equal pay was something on which we could all agree. Previous bills brought to the floor with the goal of equal pay for equal work passed with bipartisan votes — until now.” said Lisa Maatz, AAUW director of public policy and government relations. “Women feel the sting of unfair pay all the time — at the grocery store, at the gas station, and in retirement. This isn’t political to them; it’s just common sense. And it’s that kind of kitchen-table economics that women will take with them to the polls in November.”
The Paycheck Fairness Act (S. 3220) would have deterred wage discrimination by closing loopholes in the Equal Pay Act of 1963 and barring retaliation against workers who disclose their wages to co-workers. Currently, employers can penalize and even fire employees for talking about their salaries.
As fair pay icon Lilly Ledbetter said on AAUW Dialog, “Giving women my Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act without the Paycheck Fairness Act is like giving them a nail without the hammer.”
AAUW is widely credited with keeping pay equity on the nation’s radar. Behind the Pay Gap redefined the debate on pay equity and reenergized the drive to pass needed pay equity legislation. This leadership helped to set the stage for the adoption of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act in January 2009, the first major piece of legislation signed into law by President Barack Obama.
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The American Association of University Women (AAUW) advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research. Since 1881, AAUW has been one of the nation’s leading voices promoting education and equity for women and girls. AAUW has a nationwide network of more than 100,000 members and donors, 1,000 branches, and 600 college/university institutional partners. Since AAUW’s founding 130 years ago, members have examined and taken positions on the fundamental issues of the day — educational, social, economic, and political. AAUW’s commitment to educational equity is reflected in its public policy advocacy, community programs, leadership development, conventions and conferences, national partnerships, and international connections.

Breaking Through Barriers

Some call this a War on Women and many days it feels like there are more barriers being erected than torn down. AAUW is nonpartisan. That means we don’t support specific candidates, but we do take positions on specific issues that impact equity for women and girls. Here are some of our recent and upcoming activities.

  • Lobby Day in Albany: we met with our elected representatives about pay equity. In NYS women earn 83 cents for every dollar a man in a comparable job earns. While the Assembly passed pay equity, the Senate never brought the bills to the floor for debate or a vote.  AAUW branches state-wide will be pursuing moving the Pay Equity bills onto the Senate floor next spring.
  • Unhappy Hour: the branch met at Keegan Ales on Pay Equity Day, April 17, to spread the word about our unhappiness that women still earn less than men for the same job. We continue to be unhappy as both the State Senate and the Federal Congress resist even talking about pay equity. Make your elected representatives aware of your position.
  • Miss Representation Screening: The branch screened Miss Representation at the Rosendale Theatre to increase awareness of the many ways that girls and young women are unfairly portrayed in the media. The proceeds help provide local scholarships.  Now we have a project underway to promote media literacy and awareness regarding the misrepresentation of women and girls in the media. If you’d like to participate in this project, contact Adele Calcavecchio.
  • Cancelled … Candidate Forums starting with a June 23 forum before the Congressional primary June 26. Invited candidates: Joel Tyner, Julian Schreibman, and Chris Gibson. Additional forums for state candidates will be scheduled before the state and local primaries September 11 and the general election November 8.
  • Get Out the Vote activities: Help us manage voter registration and voter education, especially focused on young adults who support equity issues. Interested? Contact Susan Holland.

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