Dear Members,

I am looking forward to Spring when the rain makes nature’s colors sparkle, plants grow before your eyes day to day, and temperatures are neither too hot or too cool.

AI is quickly invading every life and economy. We see AI in every element of daily life and throughout every job sector, i.e., robotic medical care, cashier-less stores, drones, 3D manufacturing, driverless trucks and autos, banking, etc. As women fighting for pay and job equity, are we aware and preparing for this new economy created by AI? What effects will the new economy have on generations of women striving for financial independence and wealth in retirement? Certainly, the new economy will provide new opportunities, but it will also pose new obstacles. We need to be involved in developing changes in policies and developing programs to ensure women can progress and thrive.

So, what is AAUW SA’s role in supporting women and girls on the local level in this new economy? We certainly provide support through our scholarships. In our past, we offered a scholarship for women returning to college/university. How can we actively promote AAUW’s “Empowering Women Through Innovative Programs”? How can we promote STEM among minority girls? What can we do to support childcare for families? How do we provide any type of support for homeless women and children programs?

I know we can’t do everything for everyone. I think, individually or as a group, we can, for example, donate things needed to Visitation House which we learned about at March’s meeting. I know we can, for example, plan now to volunteer for Bexar County Fostering Educational Success Program Christmas program. I know we can, for example, partner with YWCA’s Ready to Work to find candidates for a scholarship dedicated to women re-entering the workforce and degree programs. I know, for example, we have at least 3 members who could gather others to provide some free early childhood caregiver training. Each effort listed represents donating things we have but no longer need, giving of time, and redistributing money we already give.  Plus, we can continue to support voter registration. Just thinking.

April is full of activities! AAUW Texas Conference. Our April 13, annual meeting when we will introduce our scholarship awardees and vote for new our branch officers. San Antonio Library Book Fair, San Antonio Festival, Child Abuse Prevention Month, Total Eclipse April 8, Earth Day April 22. Another signal of Spring.

Don’t forget to vote for the AAUW Texas Board. You were sent a ballot. You will be sent access to the AAUW National ballot -1 April- which includes voting on a policy change for AAUW membership requirements.

April is my last AAUW meeting as President but not my last newsletter. I will attend my grandson’s college graduation on 4 May. My term ends on 30 June. Claudia Walker becomes the new President on 1 July.



Have a Wonderful Spring!!

Diane Claiborne-Carr

President

AAUW San Antonio

571-330-1039

dcarr23.woman@gmail.com

2023-2024 Branch Leaders

Executive Committee

President

Diane Claiborne-Carr       

President Elect

Claudia Walker     

Vice President Membership

Ruth Lyle                         

Vice President Programs

Deborah Andrepointe              

Secretary

Norma Khoshbin    

Treasurer

Antonina Duridanova

Parliamentarian

Suzanne Benson

Standing Committees

Public Policy

Pat Sanford

Budget/Finance

Antonina Duridanova

Scholarships/NCCWSL

Jeanette Pierce

Karen Reichensperger

Colleges/Universities

Martha Steele

Funds

Vacant

Communications

Malinda Gaul

STEM

Mary Ellen Pratt

DEI

Vacant

Governance

Jeanette Pierce

Appointed

Historian

Rachel Skelley

Community Coordinator

Vacant

Reservations

Vacant

Publicity

Michelle Burk

Member Outreach

Kathy Dicke

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN SAN ANTONIO

ANNUAL MEETING

13 APRIL 2024

(SECOND SATURDAY)



PAESANOS

 Lincoln Heights/Quarry

555 E Basse Road

11:00 A.M.

Luncheon: $34 (includes Salad, Entrée, Dessert, Coffee, Gratuity)

Make reservations and meal selection with Antonina Duridanova: ninadanoff@sbcglobal.net

Pay:

Checks made out to: AAUW-SA      Note: April Meeting

Mail to: AAUW San Antonio

           P.O. Box 460825  

           San Antonio, TX 78246-0825

Zelle payment: Select Zelle on your bank mobile app . 

Use the email aauwsatx@gmail.com to send money to AAUW San Antonio

In the memo field identify the payment: AAUWSA April Meeting

RSVP NLT 10 April, 2024

CANCELLATION NLT 11 April, 2024

MENU

 SALAD

House Salad

Mixed greens tossed in a creamy Italian vinaigrette.

~~

ENTRÉE (Entrée includes a vegetable and pasta)

(Choose one Entrée)

Cheese Ravioli :Cheese ravioli served in tomato cream sauce with meatballs

or

Chicken Parmesan: Lightly breaded chicken breast baked in a fresh tomato sauce with whole milk mozzarella cheese

or

Shrimp Paesano: Three jumbo shrimp dusted in flour, pan sautéed and baked in a lemon butter garlic sauce

or

Special Salad: Mixed greens in a creamy Italian vinaigrette with artichoke hearts, heart of palm, avocado, and tomatoes, With a choice of grilled salmon or grilled chicken

~~

DESSERT

GUESTS WILL SELECT BETWEEN:

New York Style Cheesecake With raspberry sauce

or

Cappuccino Pie: Cappuccino ice cream on a chocolate graham cracker crust

$34 per person (includes gratuity)

(Beverages, not included. Please pay for any beverage you order except coffee.)

Membership Vote for New Officers

The membership will vote on the nominees for each board office at the Annual Meeting in April. During the April meeting, nominations may be made from the floor at the time of the election, provided written consent by the nominee has been obtained in advance. Until then, anyone wishing to run for any position on the Board should contact a member of the Nominating Committee. Contact information is in our AAUW SA Directory.

The election will be by ballot unless there is only one nominee for a given office, wherein a voice vote will be taken. The election shall be by a majority vote of those members present and voting.

An introduction to each nominee is below.

Respectfully Submitted,

Nominating Committee

Debbie Sochia

Kathy Dicke

Wondra Chang

Patricia Tucker

Martha Steele

WELCOME NEW MEMBER

Olivia Bradshaw

We look forward to getting to know you!

Invite a friend or family member to attend a meeting. If they join as a New Member after attending a San Antonio AAUW event or meeting, the National dues are half price: only $36. AAUW Texas dues are $13.00, and San Antonio Branch dues are $16.00, for a total of $65 for their first year.

IF YOUR MEMBERSHIP IS DUE, PLEASE RENEW TODAY!

You can pay online with Zelle or by check.

On January 30th you received an email from me with the updated AAUW-SA Directory. Please let me know anytime there are changes to your information.

Any membership questions please call, text or email me.

Ruth Lyle

V.P. Membership

AAUW - San Antonio

call/text/email

210.722.1732

ruthannlyle@gmail.com

Speak, Connect, Show Up, VOTE

The primaries have come and gone, and their ramifications will be felt for better or worse. Unfortunately, most candidates supporting public education were soundly defeated thanks in large part to the governor. He put large sums of money into the campaigns of their opponents who will support vouchers. Vouchers have been the governor’s priority for the last two sessions, 2021 and 2023. AAUW strongly supports public schools. So, while the primaries are over, our work, supporting AAUW priorities, is not done.

What can we do? Among the actions we can take, there are four that have proven to make a positive impact.

Speak: Telephone your local, state, and national representatives. Have a short script prepared if that would help. To find who and how to contact your representatives, go to the Texas Legislature Online website, (TLO.org), or to the League of Women Voters voting information website, Vote411. Read email messages from Constant Contact sent by the AAUW Texas Public Policy Advisory Committee. The committee is working again with Kate Kuhlmann, HillCo Partners. She advises us on the best action to take – calling, writing, following bills, and more – to be effective in making our voices heard during the legislative process.

Connect: Attend issue forums which are often listed on organization websites, or host one yourself. For example, while only about 5 % of voters participate in primary elections, the number who vote in local elections that include cities, water districts, and school board elections is even less. School boards across the country have been politicized. It only takes a few voters to change the composition of a strong board that advocates for what is best for students, the community, and the future to one that bans books, fires librarians, restricts curriculum, and discriminates against students of color and who are LGBTQ+. Many school districts hold forums where candidates running for office speak and answer questions. Check the school district website for dates, location, and time. In Texas, the uniform election date that includes school board elections, is Saturday, May 4.

Show Up: Attend marches and demonstrations. If you’d rather “show up” financially, send a donation. That is always appreciated.

Vote: Legislation affects human rights. We each have a voice. Voting is our chance to make our voice heard.

This brings us back to the importance of voting in school board elections. A small number of voters decides the outcome of school board elections. Start by being informed. Then, on Election Day, Saturday, May 4th, make your voice heard. Vote!

Pat Sanford

AAUW SA Public Policy Chair

AAUW TX Public Policy Advisory Committee

Equal Pay Data

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is making available a data dashboard featuring the historic, first-time collection of 2017 and 2018 pay data reported by about 70,000 private employers and certain federal contractors with 100 or more employees each year, representing over 100 million workers. The dashboard contains a unique collection of aggregated employer-level workforce demographic and pay data, reported by pay band. By aggregating this data, the EEOC is protecting the confidentiality of employees and employers.

The release of this dashboard allows industries, employers, and individuals to assess generally how their pay by sex and race compares to others in their industry, job category, or state. Overall, the data employers reported show in the aggregate that women are typically paid less than men.

SIMPLE FIX

by Dee Kite

I woke this morning with the searing pain from a cramp in my calf. What was happening? Was this another MS attack? I was going downhill rapidly. Here, on top of all the other alarming things that had been happening recently, was proof it was almost over for me!

Hold on. Hold on. I’d forgotten Hamlet’s wisdom, “There is nothing either good nor bad, but thinking makes it so.” It was easy for me to forget, as I’d been ignoring it since I was little. Over the years I’d developed an incredible skill to deep-dive into the dark side. If you looked up pessimist in the dictionary, you’d see my picture.

But not this morning. I stopped the chatter and chanted the phrase I’d learned in Ram Dass’s book, Still Here: Embracing Aging, Changing and Dying:

“Ah. So. Even this. Ah. So. Even this…”

Then I threw in Vonnegut’s much-used phrase from Slaughterhouse Five:

“So it goes. So it goes…”

And I was calmed. I’d explore ideas to prevent further cramping but I’d no longer allow my mind to run wild with terror.

When I remember—remembering is the most difficult part for me— to use this simple fix, I’m not only calming myself in the present moment, I’m creating new neural pathways. Steering away from the train wrecks in my mind, to the ocean; where I float on gentle waves; where I’m still enough to hear the gulls, to see the blue sky, to feel the breeze on my face.

Try it next time something “bad” happens to you. Or the next time you’re worrying about what’s happened to someone you care about. Knowing that you will take whatever actions are necessary or possible to fix the problem, begin to calm yourself.

Repeat:

“Ah. So. Even this…”

Saturday, March 2, 2024, 11am

AAUW Luncheon and General Meeting

Bazan Library, 2200 W. Commerce St.

11:09am: The President, Diane Claiborne-Carr, called the meeting to order. She welcomed members and guests.

Ruth Lyle, Vice President for Membership, introduced New Members, Mary Caudill and Juanita Sepulveda.

Mynda McGuire, for Women’s History Month, gave a short talk on the AAUW Founders within the Community. As of January, we celebrated 116 years, one of the oldest organizations in Texas.

11:25am: Lunch break

Dre Andrepoint introduced our guest speakers, Andrea Hofstetter, Executive Director, and Shyanna Mutz, Development Coordinator of Visitation House Ministries (VHM). Visitation House Ministries, 830 W. Mulberry, is privately funded. It is sponsored by Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word. It is transitional housing to educate and empower single women with children experiencing homelessness or at risk. VHM assists women willing to commit themselves to personal, educational, and life skills goals that will move them from dependency and homelessness to positive growth, self-reliance, and permanent housing. Single mothers are to be 21 or older, with school aged children, Kinder to 5th grade, who have experienced homelessness. To serve the children, VHM provides an Afterschool Enrichment Program. In the basic program, mothers must be enrolled as a full-time student, Monday through Friday, throughout the school year and working part-time. After approximately 2 years as residents, the goal is to transfer families with the supportive services of Merced Housing to the Willow Springs Apartment House. The first 6 months housing is provided rent free. The question was asked, “How can we support you?” On June 20th, UIW will host a fundraiser – “Summer Sojourn Gala.” Volunteers and donations such as children’s books, clothing, paper goods, gift cards, household things such as dishes, utensils are welcome. Call ahead to visit. (210) 735-6910.

AAUW National will let everyone know when voting for officers at the National level is open. A change in the Bylaws opening AAUW membership to all women with or without a degree, will be on the ballot, as well. Deadline to vote is May 15th.

State Conference is Saturday, April 6th will be virtual, from 8:30am – 1:00pm. The theme – Charting a Course. Contact Diane if you’re interested in attending a Watch Party. You may watch from home as well. Dre, Andrea, Rachel, Mynda and Diane will create an online Conference Program.

Ruth Lyle reported the Branch’s nomination for selection of this year’s AAUW Texas Honorees: Outstanding member: Diane Claiborne-Carr

Outstanding new member: Dre Andrepoint

Don’t Mess with Texas Books – The National Council of Jewish Women San Antonio (NCJW) is partnering with Trinity University to present a symposium and panel discussion addressing the unprecedented pace of banning books in Texas. The event will be held from 2:00 to 4:00pm on Sunday, April 14, 2024, at the Chapman Auditorium at Trinity University and is free and open to the public.

Debbi Sochia announced the Officer Nominations for 2024:

Vice President of Programs: Martha Steel

Vice President of Membership: Debbi Sochia

Treasurer Elect: Patricia Tucker

Secretary: Debbi Sochia

President Elect: Vacant

Karen Reichensperger, Chair of the Scholarships and NCCWSL Committees, is looking for volunteers. For NCCWSL she has received one applicant so far; the deadline is March 24th. We have submitted an application to State to fund the $565 registration fee.

Martha Steel reminded us that the “Can We Talk” event, March 13th at 7:00pm, will be held at the SAWS Building. We are looking to complete a full table. This year’s theme is Education. Please buy tickets early if you plan to attend.

Pat Sanford, Public Policy Chair, requested members to please vote in the Primary elections and to encourage everyone to register to vote. If you want to receive more information on political candidates, join League of Women Voters or go to their website. Pat would like to see ad postings of our activities on Facebook, such as “Can We Talk”, etc. Also, remember in May there are important School Board elections. Please be aware that Moms for Liberty is a Conservative Political organization that promotes book banning. Kate Coleman, with Melveny & Meyers LLP, Austin, is our lobbyist.

Scholarship finances:

$1,400 – Champagne & Chocolate fundraiser

$2,131 – Textbook drawing fundraiser

$7,500 – 2 Endowments= $6,000 for scholarships, $1,500 miscellaneous, available in April

Total: $11,031

Members may donate at any time.

Meeting adjourned at 1:32pm

Submitted by

Norma Khoshbin

Secretary

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS

The committees are reviewing the scholarship applications. We have 6 graduate applications and 33 textbook applications. This year we split up the textbook groupings because of the number of them. The Board of Directors will meet on March 21st to review the recommendations from the committees and make the final determination about how many to award.

Do come to the April 13th meeting and meet the recipients of our scholarships. The National Conference of College Women Student Leaders (NCCWSL) recipient will also attend.



Karen Reichensperger

AAUW Ely (MN), Member

AAUW San Antonio, Inc., (TX), Scholarship Co-Chair, Past President

Duluth (MN), Past President

Don't Mess with Books in Texas

The National Council of Jewish Women San Antonio (NCJW) is partnering with Trinity University to present a symposium and panel discussion addressing the unprecedented pace of banning books in Texas. The event will be held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, April 14, 2024, at the Chapman Auditorium at Trinity University and is free and open to the public. 

San Antonio First Lady Erika Prosper will be the guest speaker, followed by a panel discussion moderated by Cary Clack, San Antonio Express-News columnist and Editorial Board member. 

Click HERE for more information. 

Culinary Adventures Heading to Boerne......



Let’s look for the Texas wildflowers as we head up Boerne way for April’s outing.  I’ll send a list of attendees a few day before so we can carpool. 

From their website:

“Nestled along the Cibolo, steps away from the Main Street bridge, The Creek offers a menu as varied and delectable as you can imagine”

Movie Goers

Since the movie schedule comes out every Thursday we cannot plan a month in advance. Look for notice when there is a good movie.

DONATE!

You can donate to the AAUW San Antonio Branch for Scholarships by making a check out to AAUW SA and sending it to AAUW San Antonio Branch, P.O. Box 460825, San Antonio, Texas 78246.

You can also donate to AAUW Greatest Needs

by clicking HERE.

Wine Women and Wisdom

Frederick's

Culinary Adventures

Box Street All Day

Book Discussion

February

General Membership Meeting Paesanos

Valerie A. Martinez, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of History

Our Lady of the Lake University

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