Spend an UnHappy Hour with AAUW on Pay Equity Day

AAUW Kingston wants you to moan, groan, and scowl with us next Tuesday, April 17, Pay Equity Day. That’s the symbolic day when women’s wages catch up with what men made last year. In NYS women earn only 82 cents for every dollar a man earns.

So, we encourage you to join us at our UnHappy Hour. It’s an informal networking opportunity for women and men who care about equity for women and girls. And, if you belong to a group that serves women and girls, bring some of your literature. And bring your friends. And all the men who quietly support equity for their wives, mothers, and daughters.

Some of us will be spending the day in Albany at AAUW-NYS’s Public Policy Day meeting with Senators Bonacic and Larkin and Assemblymen Cahill and Lopez. By 5pm we’ll be ready to toast their commitments to support the state legislation that will help further our agenda, so do join us.

Where? Keegan Ales, 20 Saint James Street, Kingston, NY 12401.

When: Pay Equity Day, Tuesday, April 17, 2012 5-7 pm

Open to all. Cash bar. (Kitchen is closed on Tues. nights.)

AAUW Kingston Receives Planning Grant

Enjoy Omega!

Congratulations to us and thanks to Omega!We’re grateful to receive a grant for the branch to attend the Omega Women Serving Women Summit in May.

We’ll use the time to set priorities and plan for the coming year — especially following up on the Miss Representation/media literacy project. We have reserved space for 25 people, members and people interested in collaborating with us. You can read about the details here. Call or email Adele Calcavecchio, Susan Holland, or Ruth Wahtera to reserve your space.

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.

Planning for Pay Equity Day – April 17

It takes almost 15 months for women to earn what a man in a comparable position earns in 12 months. That gap begin straight out of school and can mean thousands of dollars.

Today, when most families depend on two bread winners and single mothers are often one paycheck away from homelessness, AAUW is taking a leadership position on the state and national level to advocate for pay equity and comparable worth.

The Kingston Branch will be holding two events on April 17, Pay Equity Day.

AAUW-NYS Public Policy Day: Join us as we join other AAUW members in Albany to meet with our state Senator and Assembly Reps about pay equity and other public policy issues. The more the merrier – register at AAUW Public Policy Day 2012 and let Susan Holland know so we can travel together.

Bring your friends, neighbors, and adult children to the “Unhappy Hour” — an informal networking event for people who care about pay equity for women and minorities or want to learn more. We’ll gather at Keegan Ale from 5-7 pm.

Join Us this Saturday for Conversation about Women’s Issues Around the World!

You’re probably quite familiar with the pay gap here in the United States. But did you realize that the pay gap is global? Women in OECD countries make, on average, 75% of the amount their male counterparts make. We often look at Scandinavian countries as extremely progressive, but Denmark and Finland have pay gaps, too. There, women make 78% and 75.5% (respectively) of what men make.

Join us on Saturday at 1:30 pm for a panel discussion and refreshments at the Kingston Library. We will be talking about women’s issues around the world. We have three fantastic speakers:

Dr. Sara Hsu, Assistant Professor of Economics at SUNY New Paltz. Dr. Hsu also serves as the News Editor for the International Association of Feminist Economics (IAFFE) and was formerly Assistant Director of the Gender and Macro International Working Group (GEM-IWG).
Joan Monk, New York State AAUW Board Member and District Council Director. Mrs. Monk is one of the co-creators of NYS My Sister’s Keeper Program (MSK); a program focused on women’s issues throughout the world. In February, she and Cecilia Dinio Durkin were awarded the Committee on Teaching About the United Nations (CTAUN) Best Practices Award in recognition of their successes as co-chairs of the Poughkeepsie MSK Program.
Dr. JoAnne Myers, Associate Professor of Political Science and Co-director of Women’s Studies at Marist. She is also the Director of Public Administration Concentration, Political Science Internship Coordinator, and the Coordinator of the Women and Society Conference. Dr. Myers serves as Chair of the Board of the Eleanor Roosevelt Center at Val Kill and has also served as President of the Board of the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, and on the Board of the Grace Smith House.

AAUW Kingston 2012 Spring and Summer Day Trips

We’ve lined up four lovely spring and summer trips for your convenience and pleasure. We hope you’ll join us for one or all of them.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012 (rain date, May 23rd)

Pepsico Gardens and Sculptures &
the Purchase College Neuberger Museum

The museum exhibit is featuring artist, Kiki Smith (check out her website) and an outstanding on-going exhibition of African Art.

The bus leaves at 8:30 AM and returns by 5 PM (with a stop for lunch). Cost: $48 or $45 for members of AAUW, SIP and SSIP Payment includes the bus, driver tip and museum entrance

* * * * * * * * * *

Monday, July 2, 2012

James Taylor Concert at Tanglewood

Enjoy an evening with the mellow sounds of a long time favorite, James Taylor.

The bus leaves at 4:30 PM and returns by 11 PM. Cost: $112 or $109 for members of AAUW, SIP and SSIP. Payment includes bus, driver tip and seats in the shed. Bring a picnic to eat on the lawn before the performance!

* * * * * * * * * *

Saturday, August 11, 2012

Cooperstown and the Glimmerglass Opera featuring Aida

The bus leaves at 8 AM and returns by 7:30 PM Cost: Orch: $116 or $113 for members of AAUW, SIP and SSIP Rear Balcony: $99 or $96 for members of AAUW, SIP and SSIPPayment includes bus, driver tip and entrance to the performance. Cooperstown alone: $42

Michelle Johnson sings Aida

* * * * * * * * * *

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Hudson Valley Shakespeare at Boscobel featuring
Romeo and Juliet

Enjoy the beautiful views, the balmy summer air, and immerse yourself in romance.

The bus leaves at 4 PM and returns by 11 PM Cost: $77 or $74 for members of AAUW, SIP or SSIP Payment includes bus, driver tip, and entrance to the show. Bring a picnic to eat on the lawn before the performance!

Details that apply to all trips:

To reserve your place, call ViVi at 845-331-0155 or write vvhlavsa@aol.com Then send your check, made out to AAUW-Kingston Branch to: ViVi Hlavsa, 191 Lapla Road, Kingston NY 12401

All trips leaving from the rear of the former Ames in the Kingston Plaza and stop for pick-ups at the New Paltz Thruway Park-n-Ride when going south.

These trips, like membership in the Kingston Branch of the AAUW, are open to all so bring your friends. Enjoy!

Thank You!

AAUW Kingston – This Week

Thanks so much to everyone who attended Miss Representation and especially to those who worked on the planning committee. And, we have a few pictures from International Women’s Day that we’ll post later today.

This week’s activities include:

Meet n Eat – Monday, 12:30, Holiday Inn. An informal discussion group. A chance to get to know other members.
Board Meeting – Tuesday, 3pm, Kingston Library. Open to all members. We’ll be assessing our experiment in operating using an “occupy Wallstreet”-like structure.

We’re also looking for volunteers to give a couple of hours to help with the following:

It’s My Vote – I will be heard , our local voter education program, and HERvotes, the national coalition that AAUW belongs to.
Visit with our legislators on Pay Equity Day
Help plan the “Unhappy Hour” on Pay Equity Day
Help with our booth at Women’s Expo on May 19 or with the planning beforehand.
Write an op-ed for the branch addressing our public policy positions

There’s plenty to do to move our agenda forward. Can we count on you?

Tonight! AAUW Kingston Presents Miss Representation & Panel

About the Film

Miss Representation is an award-winning documentary that debuted at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. The film critically examines the representation of women and girls in American media. Furthermore, it explores how misrepresentation in the media contributes to the continued underrepresentation of women in positions of power. For more information about the film and the Miss Representation organization, please visit www.missrepresentation.org.

About the Panel

Denny Dillon is a stage and screen actor, comedian, writer, and visual artist. Nominated for a Tony and winner of the CableACE award for best actress in a comedy series, Dillon is also a Saturday Night Live alumna. In recent years, Dillon has redirected her creative energies to the visual arts. Her pen and ink drawings and multimedia pieces have been exhibited in galleries and are sought by art collectors. She owns The Drawing Room, an art gallery in Stone Ridge, and serves on the Rosendale Theatre Collective Advisory Board.
Ann Gibbons has decades of experience in communication and print journalism. She has worked as a writer, managing editor, executive editor, and public relations professional. Two of her favorite career moments were overseeing the reporting team that exposed Sprague Electric’s pollution of the Hoosic River and founding The Hartford Woman, the first women’s regional news magazine in the United States. Presently, Gibbons is a feature writer and police reporter at the Daily Freeman.
Dion Ogust is a critically-acclaimed photographer, videographer, and photojournalist. Her photography appears on numerous book and CD covers and her videos are featured on websites, television, and other public venues. Ogust has been published in the New York Times, Time Magazine, Acoustic Guitar, Hudson Valley Magazine, House, and the Woodstock Times. She has served on Board of Directors of the Center for Photography in Woodstock and participates in the Onteora Student Mentor Program. She is also a painter and printmaker.
Nicole Quinn is an acclaimed writer, director, actor, and producer. In addition to her work as a playwright, Quinn is an accomplished screenwriter. She has written for HBO, Showtime, the major television networks, and Jodie Foster’s Egg Pictures. She is the founder and owner of BlueBarnProductions. Quinn also serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Rosendale Theatre Collective and teaches a playwrighting workshop at Rondout Valley High School.
Cassandra Lee Walker is an actor, comedian, and singer currently based in New York City. Some of her recent work includes Don’t Go into the Woods, a rock and roll horror movie musical directed by Vincent D’Onofrio, projects with College Humor, an online comedy sketch group, and studying and performing with The Upright Citizens Brigade.
Adele Calcavecchio, our discussion moderator, is an actor with forty years of experience on Ulster County stages. She is also a retired teacher and a retired Bed and Breakfast owner. She currently serves on the boards of the Kingston AAUW, the Arts Society of Kingston, and Performing Arts of Woodstock.

Facts and Figures – Why should you care?

Male characters outnumber female characters by 3 to 1 in family films.
In 2008 and 2010, of all the speaking roles in the 100 top-grossing movies, 32.8% were female, 67.2% were male.
From 2006 to 2009, not a single female character was depicted in G-rated family films in the field of medical science, as a business leader, in law, or politics. In these films, 85.5% of all working characters are male and 19.5% are female; in reality, 50% of the workforce is female.
In the entertainment industry, only 7% of directors, 13% of writers, and 20% of producers are female. Greater female involvement in the creative process is crucial to more accurate representation of women in the media. On average, when even one woman writer works on a film, there is a 10.4% increase in screen time for women characters.
About two-thirds of reporters, writers and, newsroom supervisors are male.
Of the top 100 syndicated opinion columnists in the United States, only one-third are female.
Only 20% of news articles are about women, and many of those stories are about violence and victimhood.
In the 2010 midterm elections, women lost seats in Congress for the first time in 30 years.
Women make up 51% of the population and only 17% of Congress.
The U.S. ranks 90^th in the world for women in national legislatures.
In U.S. history, 34 women have served as governors, 2,319 men have served as governors.
A mere 3% of Fortune 500 CEOs are female.
Women hold only 3% of influential positions in the mainstream media (telecommunication, entertainment, publishing, and advertising).
Women represent more than 86% of America’s purchasing power.