Please be aware that with the July 1, 2009, organizational changes, the AAUW Educational Foundation (EF) now operates under the united 501(c) (3) cooperation known as AAUW.

Many AAUW members are struggling to find appropriate terminology to use when fundraising or presenting programs related to what we used to know as the Educational Foundation. While we no longer use the name Educational Foundation, we still have all the programs it encompassed. Our national leaders ask that donations be made to AAUW FUNDS, as a name that covers all the former programs of the Educational Foundation and more. A useful summary of these charitable funds and projects is available at http://www.aauw.org/contribute/upload/supportingAAUWPrograms.pdf.

The end of the year is fast approaching and so is the deadline for the 2009 recognition year for your contributions to AAUW funds which also includes the Legal Advocacy Fund and Leadership Programs. Deadline for contributions is December 31, 2009. There is also a new Contribution Report Form. The form can be downloaded from the Member Center on the AAUW website at aauw.org under forms. The new mailing address for donations is AAUW Development Office, PO Box 98045 Washington DC 20090-8045. Please be sure to send a copy of your submitted Contribution Report Form to Rosemary Baker (EF, LTI) and Sabina Howell (LAF).

The Educational Foundation Honorees (formerly Named Gift Honorees) should be submitted to Rosemary Baker.

As always, if you have any questions, please contact Rosemary Baker, EF Sabina Howell, LAF.

AAUW Legal Advocacy Fund (LAF)

The AAUW Legal Advocacy Fund (LAF) was conceived and implemented to aggregate member contributions to invest in activities that prevent and combat sex discrimination and promote gender equity through support of litigation and educational programs. Beginning January 1, 2009, LAF case support was expanded to address discrimination cases that protect women in all workplaces, as well as those that arise in the academic context. LAF will continue to seek to support plaintiffs with significant cases that have the potential to set precedent and protect others against discrimination in the future.

LAF still operates as a restricted fund of AAUW’s 501(c)(3) charitable structure, which means that donors may specifically direct their support to LAF. Their donations to LAF are, and will continue to be, tax deductible on their personal federal tax returns. Donations to LAF support all of the activities described below. Funding allocations are determined by the Board based on funds available and current requests.

LAF focuses our direct financial case support strategically. The plaintiffs whose cases we support involve legal issues that will clearly impact our fight for pay equity and workplaces free of sex discrimination and show significant potential to set precedents that will protect women in the future. AAUW supports the cases of plaintiffs who are combating sex discrimination in the workplace – both in academia and the wider workplace.

You can direct your donations to directly support plaintiffs or to go to general LAF funding.

AAUW continues our long-term support as amicus curiae, those who volunteer advice to the court, in gender discrimination and other civil rights cases. AAUW works closely with members and other respected organizations that are active in the gender equity arena to identify key cases with significant issues that align with our mission and would benefit from our expertise and credibility.

Stephanie Johnson – Chair
October 25, 2009

Points of Interest

* Women in Politics and Public Policy at Chatham University will have a Meet the Mayoral Candidates meeting. For more information, go to our state website and under public policy, click on the link!

* November 3, 2009, don’t forget to vote!!!!

* AAUW-PA — Women in Politics – Awareness at Home and Abroad – 10:00-3:00.

Join us in Pittsburgh on November 14, 2009 at the Pittsburgh Athletic Association -www.paaclub.org.

Issues in the forefront:

Leadership Corps is being developed by National.

Every branch is encouraged to have an event related to Equal Pay Day in April.

All branches are being encouraged to have a Public Policy Chair and/or activities related to public policy issues.

The new public policy priorities (flyer) are available. Pennsylvania will follow closely what has been written.

Public Policy updated pamphlet “Breaking through Barriers: Taking AAUW Home” makes three points:

• AAUW advocates for women’s economic self-sufficiency through career, financial, and life choices.
• AAUW wants to guarantee equality, individual rights, and social justice for a diverse society.
• AAUW advocates support of a strong public school system that promotes gender fairness, equity, and diversity.

AAUW-PA FYI, Fall 2009

Deb Roney, president@aauwpa.org

Kate Sweeney, co-president@aauwpa.org

First, thank you to all branch members across the state who journeyed to the district meetings in Districts 1 and 3. You will read in the next Keystoner about the excellent presentations and discussions that took place there. Your presence made the days a success and stimulated mission-based work around the state.

October 31 is a major deadline. Two important branch documents are due then:

1. The Affiliate Agreement (for most branches the 501(c)(4) and for a few the 501(c)(3) version) must be completed. Instructions are found at: http://aauw.org/member_center/branches_states/Affiliate.cfm. The signed agreements are to be sent to: AAUW Finance Department, 1111 Sixteenth Street NW, Washington, DC 20036.  They may also be faxed to:  202-861-8068.  If in PDF format, the agreement can be sent by e-mail to allfinance@aauw.org.  Please be certain no pages are missing from the agreement you complete.  Check your copy against those posted to the website.
2. The mandatory changes to branch bylaws to bring them into compliance with the new national bylaws must be made and submitted to the state Bylaws Chair, Dot McLane. If you wish to propose additional, non-mandatory changes, they need to be submitted to Dot before December 31 and then to your branch for a vote after Dot okays them. You can reach her at dotmclane@comcast.net or 215-362-3805.

Also, please note that the board has updated the Leader on Loan materials and posted them on the website. Consider inviting someone to your branch or board meeting this year to present on important AAUW issues or work with your branch on a mission-based initiative. Details are on the website or can be obtained in hard copy by request from Graham Boose, AAUW-PA Leader-on-Loan Chair and College/University Chair, by contacting her at cu@aauwpa.org or from Toni Hoffman, Administrative Director, admindir@aauwpa.org. Toni will include a hard copy for those who receive FYI by mail.

Again this year, we want to hear from branches about their successes and challenges. Over the second half of January and much of February 2010, a state board member will contact each branch. Questions will be made available ahead of time via email, or via regular mail for those presidents who prefer a hard copy.

by Jean Macaluso
Membership VP PA

MEMBERSHIP STARTER KITS

Branch MVP’s received Membership Starter Kits in mid-September with pertinent information about Affiliate Agreements to be passed on to Presidents. Also included were impressive brochures with concise and valuable information about Shape the Future Membership Campaigns, Student Affiliate Programs, College/University Partnerships, and brochures “Breaking Through Barriers” and “Join AAUW”.  Not only are these brochures excellent for recruiting new members but also to reaffirm our own reasons for belonging to AAUW.

MEMBERS AT LARGE

MVP’s have received information from me about contacting Members-at-Large (MAL’s) in your branch areas. I asked that they send me zip codes of communities that feed into your branches, then I, in turn, would search my master list for names with those zip codes and send the information to your MVP. Thus far, I have heard from 12 branches. This can be an effective recruitment strategy, so please check to see if your MVP has responded.

PA STARS PROGRAM REPLACEMENT

The previous program has been revised in format and rationale. The new program will not be competitive and will have no monetary attachment. It is called BRANCH RECOGNITION , and all branches , regardless of size, are encouraged to submit information because we feel that every branch is worthy of recognition as we strive to uphold our mission. More information will appear in the next issue of the Keystoner, and final forms will be sent to you Presidents in late November. Deadline for submitting information will be February 1, 2010.