AAUW MARIN SEPTEMBER 2022 NEWSLETTER

edited by Dottie Burk and Cherie Sorokin

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New AAUW Report on the Impact of

Student Debt on Women

Perfect timing! Just as President Biden announced some student debt forgiveness and continuation of the pause on repayment, AAUW published its newest report on the impact of student debt (among other things) on women of color, particularly women in the NY Metropolitan area. You can read the report here. The report focuses on the experiences of women in the NY Metropolitan area because of the availability of funding for research in this area. This newest report is a follow up to an earlier one on economic security issues for women in the same area.

The disproportionate impact of student college debt on women is something AAUW has been focused on for quite some time. Women hold 2/3rds of the student loan debt in the U.S. They need to borrow more and must take longer to pay their debt back because of gender and economic gaps. The Biden Administration's actions are helpful, but as our AAUW President Gloria Blackwell pointed out in AAUW's posted response to the recent announcement, there is more work to be done. Check out Gloria's statement here.

AAUW of California Town Hall

Sunday, September 11, 3:30-4:30

Register Here

Learn about AAUW-CA. This September 11 Town Hall on Zoom is a great opportunity to hear from our AAUW-CA leaders. Hear their plans for AAUW-CA this year, hear them laugh, catch their enthusiasm. Will almost be like meeting them in person! These women devote countless hours to keeping AAUW vibrant and sustainable and a recognizable voice in support of women in our state

AAUW Marin News

As summer nears its end, AAUW Marin is looking forward to an active and exciting year ahead. Members of your current board met to plan the path forward. Some goals were set and others remain to be discussed at future meetings. Our branch has many strengths including our ability to send girls to Tech Trek (STEM camp for middle school students) and NCCWSL (National Conference for College Women Student Leaders) and to provide scholarships at our local colleges. You can meet these girls and young women at our September and October programs.

During the coming year the BOARD will focus on the best ways to continue to support AAUW’s mission: Advancing Equity for Women and Girls through Research, Education and Advocacy. Can we increase the programs we support? Can we continue to have monthly programs? How can we increase our support for the AAUW Greatest Needs Fund? How do we go about raising funds? Are the ways we have been doing this in the past the best ways? The answer to these questions leads to the issue of retaining current members and acquiring new members. Attracting new members is the concern of most organizations now. Peoples’ lives seem to be filled with commitments, so the challenge is to show the importance of AAUW, especially during this time of concern regarding issues that most often affect women.

As I mentioned, we will be considering these issues throughout the coming year and are looking for input from you as members. This is a reminder that board meetings are open to all members. We will be meeting in person outdoors for the next two months. The next meeting is on September 19 at 5:30 pm at Cherie Sorokin’s home. We try to keep the meetings to one hour, if possible. Consider joining us and bringing us your ideas. RSVP here to let Cherie know you are coming and to receive directions. If you would rather, you can email your thoughts about what you see for the future of our branch.

There are officer positions that remain open. We are in need of a newsletter editor (a great way to keep up with the happenings in our branch and interest groups) and a position as social media manager and photographer (show off your talents with your photos). In the meantime, keep in touch by coming to our events, joining an interest group or two, and reading the monthly newsletter.

Looking forward to hearing your ideas,

Dianne

TIME IS RUNNING OUT!!!

What to Do? Re-join us today if you haven't yet! Membership for the 2022-2023 year started July 1. 

Why? AAUW offers you multiple ways to stay engaged with our mission of advancing equity for women and girls, as well as to develop friendship with others who understand that the fight for equality is still critical! Excellent national webinars! Engaging monthly branch programs! A wide variety of interest group meetings! Energetic, intellectually curious friends! A mission that is more important than ever!

By When? You will be dropped as a member if dues aren’t paid by September 30. If you have yet to renew and need assistance, contact Membership Chair, Chris O’Neill, at coneill514@comcast.net or 415 847-0002. 

AAUW Marin Upcoming Programs

Bridge Building and More!

Come Meet Our 2022 Tech Trekkers

Saturday, September 10 at 10:00

Start off our AAUW programming year with a continental breakfast up at Homeward Board and a visit with our 2022 Tech Trekkers, plus a few words from our own members who participated as teachers or dorm moms. Christa Tsao, a student at College of Marin, will also speak on her work to re-start the Computer Science Club at COM--a combining of her love of science and her leadership skills. NOTE: Start time is 10:00 not 11:00 as stated in last month's newsletter. This will give us more time for reconnecting with each other and munching on those delicious Homeward Bound scones!

For those you who don't know, Tech Trek is a week-long summer camp started initially by AAUW CA and focused on encouraging middle school girls to consider careers in STEM. The camps are organized and run by AAUW volunteers on a number of university campuses in CA and now in several other states.  

Cost is $20, $21 if paying by PayPal. The PayPal link is here. Checks should be sent to Sue Torres and made out to AAUW Marin. Sue's address is 256 Marinda Dr., Fairfax, 94930. Please send in your check so it reaches her by September 8, which is coming right up! A separate invitation was already sent on Monday and reminder will also be sent early next week. We'd love to get attendance for this program up to 40! Guests are welcome. We will open the doors and spread out the tables for more ventilation and social distancing. Masks are welcome, but not required. But please, vaccinated and boosted members and guests only.

Protecting Reproductive Rights in CA

Special Zoom presentation

September 28th at 6:30 pm

Kathi Harper, AAUW CA Public Policy Co-Chair, will speak to us on the efforts in CA to protect the right to reproduction choice, including abortion, via a constitutional amendment to be voted on in the election this fall. She will also touch generally on the ballot propositions supported or opposed by AAUW based on our public policy platform.

This hour-long program is free, and guests are welcome. Watch for the Zoom link that will be sent mid-September.

Earlier this summer Kathi did a fabulous presentation on the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. If you didn't see it, it is still posted on the AAUW CA Website 

Save More Dates for Future Programs!

The list of our planned programs for the year can be found on our website! We have some great things planned, including monthly in person meetings (Covid permitting) as well as several bonus programs on Zoom. Note that, like everything else these days, dates, times and speakers are subject to change! Take a look  Here



And Let's Not Forget Our August

Reception with WLPC!

We had a lovely afternoon of wine, bubbly water and flatbread pizza on the beautiful Dominican Campus, meeting and enjoying the company of women from Dominican's Women, Leadership, and Philanthropy Council (WLPC). We also heard from Dominican President Nicola Pitchford about the great work Dominican is doing to increase graduation rates and economic prospects of first-in-the-family-to-attend college students and underserved minorities.

Top: WLPC president, Melissa Prandi, Mary Denton (WLPC), new AAUW member, Gay Kunz, with member Barbara Thomas, and branch members Cherie Sorokin ,Pauline Nakamuli and Gerrie Young

Middle:L to R Leslee Budge (guest) and members Becky Bingea, Dottie Burk, Nancy Van Horn and Katherine Brinnier

Bottom: Lily Samii (guest) and AAUW member Shahla Cherazi

Top: Nicola Pitchford, president, Dominican University of California

Middle:.AAUW members Pat Ernsberger and Nancy Finston and WLPC member Rozan Donals with Laura Phipps, Gay Kunz and Barbara Thomas in the distance

Bottom: Dr. Sarah Lee, Dominican Faculty and Alice Cochran, AAUW and WLPC member

Reminder from Nancy Major,

AAUW Marin Public Policy Chair

When Women Vote, We Change the Conversation!

Get Ready to Vote: Since 1881, AAUW has been a leading voice promoting education and equity for women and girls. AAUW encourages women voters to get involved in the political process and gain a better understanding of the impact legislative action can have on our lives.

Especially this fall! The recent US Supreme Court Dobbs decision on abortion has stimulated action in many states across the nation, including California. Our legislature passed and Governor Newsom signed AB1666 which will enable a woman coming into California to receive an abortion to be protected from lawsuits originating in her home state. This bill was co-sponsored by AAUW CA! A further step protecting a woman’s right to make personal medical decisions is a Constitutional Amendment, Proposition 1, which will be on the November 8 ballot. It would amend the California Constitution to prohibit the state from denying or interfering with an individual’s reproductive freedom in her most intimate decisions, which includes the fundamental right to choose to have an abortion and the fundamental right to choose or refuse contraceptives. AAUW CA supports this Constitutional Amendment.

Congressional races are particularly important this November. Redistricting after the 2020 Census has changed the boundaries of many Congressional districts. In the current partisan climate, we need to be aware of what is at stake in both our national and state upcoming elections. Be sure to become informed soon on the candidates for Congress in your district. As you sort through all this, please reflect on priority issues affecting us, our daughters, and granddaughters, and evaluate candidates’ positions on these issues.

 Resources: Here are resources to get helpful, non-partisan information:

• AAUW CA website:  Public Policy section will soon have more detail on priority issues and questions to ask of candidates.
• AAUW Action Fund Website will soon be updated with 2022 Voter Guides 
• CA Secretary of State website has voter info, and info on ballot Initiatives.
• State and County Voter guides – mailed to all registered voters in October.
• www.wedrawthelinesca.org – maps of newly re-drawn congressional districts

Register to vote, if you haven’t already! And if you have recently moved, you need to update your information with your County Registrar of Voters!  Voting is a powerful tool to bring about change!

AAUW Marin established a Tech Trek Alumnae Group (TTAG) in 2021. Marin TTAG's goal is to keep in touch with our Tech Trekkers –continuing the Tech Trek experience by providing a forum for like-minded young women to stay connected, explore and expand STEM opportunities, and set themselves up for success in college and beyond.

The Marin Branch hosted its first Tech Trek Alumnae Group gathering this year on

August 7th at Piper Park in Larkspur, welcoming new Tech Trekkers from the 2022 Camp at Sonoma State University, introducing them to 2019-2020-2021 Tech Trekkers. Our

young STEMinists had a chance to meet their Marin counterparts “in-person”, share

experiences, and discuss future plans. Member Alfia Wallace joined Angela and Melanie to share the great internship opportunities with Marin Science Seminars.

If you are interested in hearing more or volunteering on the TTAG Committee, contact

Melanie Chancellor and Angela Nuckles at MarinTTAG@yahoo.com

Interest Group News

September is a great time to join a new interest group or revisit an old one. All groups welcome new members. Just contact the group leader for information or to be added to the group email list. For a list of all Marin branch interest groups with leader contact information, click HERE. 

Note: Interest Groups are just for members of AAUW Marin, but guests who may be thinking of joining are welcome to visit an interest group twice before being asked join. Questions about a particular interest group should be directed to the group leader. For general information or to suggest a new group, contact Interest Group Chair, Vicki Samo, at vickisamoster@gmail.com



September Highlights Submitted by Group Leaders