AAUW’S DIVERSITY STATEMENT

UNITED WE STAND

In principle and in practice, AAUW values and seeks an inclusive membership, workforce, leadership team, and board of directors. There shall be no barriers to full participation in this organization on the basis of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, geographical location, national origin, race, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status.

Adopted by the AAUW Board of Directors, June 1988; revised October 1988, October 1992, February 1993, June 1994, June 2000, January 2005, July 2009, July 2011, April 2016, April 2017, June 2018

Dear Members:

I hope you enjoyed the holiday season! It seemed busy and short!   

As we look forward to the new year, we know it will be busy and demanding! There are many events that will occur from now until June, but this is the Election Year! The political and social events over the last three years will culminate into an over-the-top November. 

There is a big concern about the primary and general elections this year. Some voters do not understand how important it is to vote in the primary election. Although our organization is non-partisan, we can support candidates who support our position on issues. Many members ask, “who are the candidates and where do they stand on our issues?” AAUW Texas is investigating how to provide that information on state candidates. As of now you can retrieve the names of the Certified Democratic and Republican candidates in Bexar County at https://www.bexar.org/1568/Elections-Department. Vote411 candidate information has not been published as of this printing. If a candidate answered the League of Women Voter's survey, their stance on issues may be covered in that document. You can also find information on becoming an election official and Volunteer Deputy Registrar at the Bexar County website.

I am going to start with March, Women’s History Month. “Can We Talk?” is March 13. The theme is “Can We Talk about the Future of Public Education?” A panel will discuss the status of San Antonio/state public school issues, i.e. 80% dropout rate, school vouchers, low teacher pay, low state funding, low enrollment, etc.  We can start registering now while the cost is low - $30 until February 16; $45 until March 8; $55 after March 8. We pay $100 for a table for 8. Sometimes we can squeeze in 2 more. I am emphasizing this because we cannot invite others to our table unless we have no-shows. This event may be heavily attended. Please register through our branch if you plan to sit with our group. If you register directly with “Can We Talk?”, we will not know to count you in our group. Contact Martha Steele ([email protected]) if you plan to attend.

Also, in March you will be introduced to the slate of nominees for the Branch’s elected officers for our 2024-2025 program year. If you are interested in joining our Board of Directors in any capacity, please contact a member of the Nominating Committee. Their contact information is listed in this newsletter.

The Primary Election is March 5, 2024! How can we make sure candidates who support our issues are elected?

In February, we continue our speaker series and fundraising. Chocolate and Champagne will be available for donations to the scholarship fund. This fundraiser supports our textbook and NCCWSL scholarships. Our major advocacy activity is awarding scholarships. 

Our branch needs to nominate our Most Outstanding New Member and Most Outstanding Member for consideration for recognition by AAUW-Texas. A narrative describing the accomplishments of the nominees and why they qualify to be named the AAUW Texas Most Outstanding Member or New Member will be submitted to the AAUW Texas Conference Committee. The winners will be announced during the April AAUW-Texas Conference. Criteria for Outstanding Member is a person who dedicates herself to ensuring that the branch activities are successful. The person is generous with her time and willing to help out wherever necessary. Criteria for Outstanding New Member is a member who has been with the branch 3 years or less but has jumped right in to participate and make her mark.

Submit your suggestions to [email protected] no later than 6 February 2024.

Watch out for April! The AAUW Texas Biannual Conference is Saturday, April 6, 2024. Read more about the conference in this newsletter. The conference is a half day and Texas AAUW is encouraging Watch Parties. They will pay per person for 4-15 members for refreshments. Let’s get involved! If you are willing to sponsor a Watch Party notify me at [email protected].

April is also the month our branch votes on the slate of Elected Officers and honors our scholarship awardees. Our April monthly meeting is scheduled for April 13, the same day as the San Antonio Book Festival. Fiesta San Antonio is 18-28 April.

We have lots of work ahead. We need your help!

See you February 3 at Paesanos.

Stay Safe,

Diane Claiborne-Carr

President

AAUW San Antonio

571-330-1039

[email protected]

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

AAUW SAN ANTONIO

MONTHLY GENERAL MEETING

February 3, 2024

11:00 A.M.

Paesanos

 Lincoln Heights/Quarry

555 E. Basse Road

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

Reservations with Antonina Duridanova: [email protected]

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

Mail to: AAUW San Antonio

           P.O. Box 460825  

           San Antonio, TX 78246-0825

 Zelle payment: Click the bill pay tab in your bank account and select Zelle. 

Use the email [email protected] to send money.

In the memo field identify the payment: AAUW Monthly Meeting.

RSVP NLT JANUARY 29, 2024

CANCELLATION NLT FEBRUARY 1, 2024

MENU



 SALAD

House Salad

Mixed greens tossed in a creamy Italian vinaigrette.

~~

ENTRÉE

(Entrée includes a vegetable and pasta.)

GUESTS WILL SELECT BETWEEN:

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.)

Raising Money for Scholarships

We are receiving applications for textbook and NCCWSL

scholarships and we need your support.

Chocolate and Champagne Fundraiser

$25 Chocolate

$50 Chocolate and Champagne

$100 Chocolate, Champagne, and a Surprise!

You may participate at the February 3 luncheon

or

by mailing your check

made payable to AAUW SA to:

AAUW San Antonio

P.O. Box 460825  

San Antonio, TX 78246-0825

or

 by Zelle payment: Click the bill pay tab in your bank account and select Zelle. 

Use the email [email protected] to send money.

In the memo field identify the payment: Chocolate and Champagne.

Include Your Address For Delivery



OR

IF YOU DO NOT WANT THE ITEMS

INCLUDE THAT INFORMATION WITH YOUR CHECK

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN

SAN ANTONIO

RECAP OF MONTHLY GENERAL MEETING

December 2, 2023

Baha’i Center

Present: 24 Members, 2 Guests

The President, Diane Claiborne-Carr, called the meeting to order at 11:15. She welcomed members and guests. She had guests recognize themselves and give their names or had the member who sponsored their attendance introduce their guest.

Ruth Lyle, Vice President for Membership, introduced new members and gave the names of those not present.

Drawing for three door prizes.

Buffet Lunch was enjoyable.

Around 12:00, Ruth introduced an ice breaker that allowed participants to get to know something about each other.  Members scrambled to gather the required information on each other. Time was called to determine the winner by the amount of information gathered on a person.

Jeanette Pierce headed our Giving Project. We packed 150 sanitation bags for Christian Assistance Ministry (CAM). Jeanette gave a short history of the ministry. It was founded by nine downtown churches but is now supported by over 100 churches of all denominations, corporations, and volunteers. CAM provides “safety-net” services for vulnerable and at-risk populations. The ministry has lots of small projects that need help, so we packed zip-lock bags with sanitation toiletries. 

Ruth conducted the Textbook Scholarship fundraising drawing for prizes. Odelia O’Neal won $200 VISA Card, Ali Heller won $100 VISA Card, Suzette Price won $50 VISA Card, and Norma Khoshbin won $50 VISA Card.

More door prizes were given away.

We thanked the Baha’i Center for allowing the AAUW San Antonio Branch to hold two meetings in their facility. We left a certificate to express our thanks. The members enjoy the center for it’s warm, inviting, and convenient environment. The staff has allowed us full access to the facility.

We also honored Norma Khoshbin for all the support she gives in making the use of the center so easy. She cleans after our event. She hauls trash and sweeps floors among other jobs to return the facility into a ready to use facility for the next group.

Door prizes were given away.

Diane and members provided updates:

• The Nominating Committee was introduced: Martha Steele, Kathy Dicke, Patricia Tucker, Wondra Chang, Debbie Sochia.

• No meeting in January.

• February: Chocolate and Champagne Fundraiser.

• April: Women’s History Month, Recognize Scholarship Awardees, Vote for 2024-2025 Officers.

• Airika Buford of BCFES explained the Holiday Bash for the students, what they needed, and solicited for volunteers to help during the Bash.

The meeting was adjourned at 1:45.

Acknowledgements:

Thank you to all members who provided food, refreshments, and decorations. Special thanks to Debbi Sochia Eyfells and Lea Fagin for decorating, Kate Veters for check-in and welcome table, Wondra Chang for donating the prize for the game, Ruth Lyle for managing the Textbook Fundraiser, Suzanne Benson for managing the event, and all who helped set-up, breakdown, and clean-up.

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

Sheila Mira and Krystyna Mrozek

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.

Ruth Lyle

V.P. Membership

AAUW - San Antonio

call/text/email

210.722.1732

[email protected]

A Call for Volunteers

for the Board of Directors

As an organization, we need an infusion of fresh and new ideas to invigorate our efforts in advancing equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, and research. We need you!

Nominations are open for our elected officers slate for the 2024-2025 year which begins 1 July 2024. You may now nominate someone or yourself. If you wish to nominate someone, first ask their permission, then provide the name of your nominee to someone on the Nominating Committee.

The open officer positions are:

President -Elect

Vice President for Programs

Vice President for Membership

Assistant Treasurer

Secretary

Volunteers are also needed to work on committees. A list of committees is listed on page nine in our Directory. The other committees will be announced at a later date. At present, these are committees of one. If you have ideas, skills, or interests in working on any committee, please contact a member of the Nominating Committee. Some skills that may be needed for some of our committees are: writing, listening, artistic, web-site development or maintenance, grant writing, marketing, stuffing envelopes, talking, worker bee, telephoning, reading, etc.! Remember you don’t need to leave home to volunteer.

Hope to talk to you soon.



The Nominating Committee

Debbi Sochia Eyfells

Wondra Chang

Martha Steele

Patricia Tucker

Kathie Dicke

(Contact information in your AAUW-SA Directory)

Scholarships

The Scholarship Committee is beginning its work for the spring awards of Textbook and Graduate Scholarships. Committee members include Pearl Eng, Ali Heller, Rachel Skelley, Patricia Tucker, Claudia Walker, Karen Reichensperger, and Jeanette Pierce, Chair.

Application information was sent to area colleges and universities in November and the same information was to be sent again on January 12 to remind campuses about our scholarship offers. We have received a dozen responses so far with the majority being for textbook scholarships. The deadline for students to apply is February 3, 2024. Our application review work will be conducted in February with results shared at the March Board meeting.

The committee would appreciate having one more member and invites those who would like to assist in this important aspect of our mission to let Jeanette Pierce know as soon as possible by email at [email protected].

Jeanette Pierce

Scholarship Committee Chair

NCCWSL 2024: Dare To Be...

We're excited to announce that the National Conference for College Women Student Leaders (NCCWSL) 2024 registration is now open! Each year, AAUW hosts college women from around the country to elevate leadership, advocacy, and equity for college women. The leadership training, inspiration, and networking is without comparison. Core objectives are:

• Leadership development: Develop and strengthen a voice, skill set, and mind-set for leadership

• Professional development: Build a professional tool kit for postgraduate life

• Activism: Learn how, why, and when to take action and be a change maker

• Women’s issues: Gain a better understanding of local, national, and global issues and policies affecting women and of AAUW's role in empowering women

• Identity and diversity: Own their personal identities and roles in increasing and supporting diverse voices

This year's conference will be in the DC metro area May 30 – June 1, 2024. The 2024 program is shaping up to be the biggest, boldest NCCWSL yet!

Last year, nearly 450 college women student leaders and campus professionals joined AAUW national staff at the University of Maryland, College Park, for the 38th annual NCCWSL conference. AAUW Maryland sponsored the Women of Distinction Awards ceremony, where we recognized the contributions of six leading women: Jodi-Ann Burey, Jean Chatzky, Natalie Gillard, Blair Imani, Swati Sharma, and Maryland Sec. of State, Susan Clair Lee. A couple of the speakers were Nikole Hannah-Jones, Pulitzer Prize-winning creator of “The 1619 Project”; Raven Baxter, Ph.D., known as Dr. Raven the Science Maven, an internationally acclaimed American educator and molecular biologist; and Kristin Henning is the Blume Professor of Law and Director of the Juvenile Justice Clinic and Initiative at Georgetown University Law Center.

Announcements will soon be sent out to our area colleges. See more information on our web page.

Karen Reichensperger

Past Scholarship Committee Chairperson

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Brandi Ann Revillas, San Antonio College, majoring in Mortuary Science was one of the students we sponsored last year. She writes about her experience.

First and foremost, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to AAUW SA for giving me such an amazing opportunity to attend NCCWSL (I learned that it is pronounced “nick-whistle”)and experience a world of networking outside of my own. It was such an honor to be a part of a large community of women from all over the nation. Plus, I got to spend an awesome evening in Washington, DC with dinner a block away from the White House!

Anyway, without further ado, I’ll share one of the most important subjects that stuck with me while attending sessions at the conference (and it is imperative to me that I follow up with this matter): the lack of support for student parents in other states. I attended several sessions about financial stability, marketing/sales, and building self-confidence, but the ones that stood out to me the most were the parenting sessions. The first one, titled “Tired as a Mother: Navigating Work and Parenting in Higher Education”, was an open panel/discussion led by mothers who shared their experiences working in higher ed while raising kids. The second one, titled “Creating a Culture of Inclusion and Belonging: Supporting Student Parents”, was held by an organization called Generation Hope with a mission to support student parents and ensure they have opportunities to succeed. Just to give an idea of what the sessions entailed, as a young single mother of three children trying to juggle school and life at home, I felt safe, secure, and at home in those moments because I could relate to just about everyone in those sessions. I was also overwhelmed with emotions when I realized that, as a mother from Texas, I have been taking life as a student parent for granted and didn’t even know it.

Texas is extremely supportive of student parents – there are so many resources available for us, especially at my school. San Antonio College has organizations within the campus’ Empowerment Center that cater to non-traditional and parent students. They offer scholarship opportunities for parents attending college, they provide assistance with food stamps and Medicaid, as well as financial assistance with utility bills and phone bills. They also provide free bus passes for transportation to and from school each semester, day care on campus, a food pantry, and diapers if you need them, and we even have family and kid friendly events like Halloween “trunk or treat” and carnivals all year ‘round that SAC actually encourages you to bring your children to. So, when I heard that some of these moms from other states don’t have the same support that we do in Texas, it opened my eyes a bit and I started to think about how I could make a difference. Several of them even said that they felt completely ignored or pushed to the side.

After I shared a little about myself and being a student parent in Texas, some of the other attendees were shocked and even made comments such as, “Wow, I need to move to Texas!” I thought, “Surely, I am not the only one in this room that has this much support back home.” But I actually was, which made me wonder what the heck I could do to help change that – but that’s where Generation Hope comes in. They give presentations about their mission to school administrators all over the nation, and I think that’s a good start. Keeping people informed! I exchanged contact information with Jess Myers, Sr. Higher Ed Impact Manager with Generation Hope and I plan to follow her and the organization on social media to stay informed.

It's AAUW's Art Contest Time!

AAUW’s annual art contest is officially under way, and we invite members to submit a high-res image of their original painting, photography, sculpture, collage or other artwork. We will be accepting submissions through January 31, 2024. Your work could be among the winning entries! 

Starting in February, AAUW members will select their favorite entries via ranked-choice voting. The winners will be featured on a collection of notecards sent to all members this spring. The back of each card will include the winning artist’s biography, a fact about AAUW and a highlight of the artist’s local branch affiliation when applicable. 

Please spread the word to your state and branch! We know from past years’ entries that there is a lot of talent out there! 

For more information on submitting artwork, or to peruse last year’s art gallery, please visit the AAUW Art Contest page. 

AAUW TEXAS 2024 Conference

April 6, 2024

Charting a Course Through the Challenge of Change

The conference will start at 8:30 am via a Zoom Meeting link for sign in and greeting with the presentations starting at 9:00 am.

The Conference will be free to all AAUW Texas members who will receive a link to the conference prior to the meeting. It will be a half-day conference with two keynote speakers, three mini sessions, and our biannual business meeting. 

The tentative schedule for the half day conference is:

8:30  Set-Up/Sign-In

9:00  Mini Session: Sustainability - Paula Jerrnigan

9:30  Keynote Speaker: Dr. Maria Elena Bottazzi

10:15 Break

10:30 Mini Session: DEI - Chasity Crawley

11:00 Business Meeting

11:30 Break

11:45 Mini Session: Networking - Joyce LeBombard, LWV Texas

12:15 Keynote Speaker: Dr. Malinee Neelamegam

1:00  Closing

Please plan to participate in the AAUW Texas 2024 Conference. It is a wonderful opportunity to learn and share. You will receive a link to an evaluation form after the conference. Your answers to the Google Form survey will give the AAUW Texas board important input for future events. See you on April 6!

AAUW Texas Conference

Charting a Course Through the Challenge of Change

WATCH PARTY

Saturday, April 6, 2024

8:30 AM – 1:00 PM

AAUW Texas wants members to participate in the state conference. To encourage participation, an incentive ($$$) is being provided for branches to hold WATCH PARTIES at homes or other meeting venues. Gather your members and your branch will be reimbursed $10.00 per member for attending the watch party. Funds received can be used toward refreshments for your gathering or for a group lunch after watching the conference. Checks will be made payable to your branch and mailed to branch finance officer.

This is a wonderful opportunity for branch members to meet and learn. Plan your party NOW!!!

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.

Follow AAUW San Antonio on:

Facebook www.facebook.com/aauw.sanantonio

Twitter @AAUW_SanAntonio

LinkedIn AAUW San Antonio