AAUW San Antonio Branch Sisters,

As I sit waiting for convocation to start a new school year, I began reflecting on the importance of education. Every profession goes through someone teaching them something. At one of my trainings this week I saw the quote below by one of my three favorite famous humans Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. As we move forward beginning a new AAUW year let’s simply reflect on the quote.

Claudia L. Walker, Ed.D. 

President

AAUW San Antonio

2025-2026 Branch Leaders

Executive Committee

President

Claudia L. Walker, Ed.D.      

President Elect

Martha Steele

Vice President Membership

Debbi Sochia                        

Vice President Programs

Martha Steele             

Secretary

Debbi Sochia    

Treasurer

Sharon Parson

Parliamentarian

Vacant

Standing Committees

Public Policy

Pat Sanford

Finance/Budget

Sharon Parson

Scholarships/NCCWSL/CU

Jeanette Pierce

AAUW Funds

Vacant

DEI

Vacant

STEM

Vacant

Governance

Jeanette Pierce

Appointed Positions

Membership Outreach

Adrien Frank

Community Coordinator

Claudia L. Walker, Ed.D.

Reservations

Martha Steele

Publicity

Michelle Burk

Historian

Rachel Skelley

Communications

Malinda Gaul

AAUW San Antonio Meeting

September 6, 2025

11:30 AM - 1:30 PM

Our kickoff meeting this year will feature speaker Misty Moon-Harty, who will speak to us about putting into action our theme for 2025/26, “Celebrating Our Differences as We Advocate for All Women.”

Misty is the current Director for Racial Justice and Gender Equity at the YWCA San Antonio. She earned her M.A. in counseling at Spring Arbor University in Michigan. She is a licensed professional counselor, and a Social Justice Fellow at the San Antonio Foundation.

Before moving to Texas, Misty worked for the YWCA of Kalamazoo, Michigan. She has also worked as a trainer in cultural diversity and awareness. In her current position as Director for Racial Justice and Gender Equity, she is able to exercise her passion to eliminate racism and empower women.

This is a great meeting to bring potential members.

Meeting Location

Royal Inn Oriental Cuisine

5440 Babcock, Suite 150

San Antonio 78240

Seating will be 8 persons per table,

to facilitate conversation.

Menu*

Corn soup and egg rolls

Family style platters of

Moo Goo Gui Pan

Beef with Fresh Asparagas

Vegetable Lo Mein

Choice of iced tea or soda

Cost

$17.00

You may pay with exact change at the door

or make the payment using Zelle,

to AAUW San Antonio.

*If the banquet offerings do not meet your dietary requirements, you may order directly from the menu. This service will, of course, be slower than the standard banquet service.

Deadline: RSVP to Martha Steele

steelemar@gmail.com

by September 2, 2025

What to Support and What to Oppose

As a new school year begins, hopes of learning, growth, and development are on the minds of students, educators, and parents. Yet, in the Texas legislature, division and divisiveness reign. We hope that the legislators work in the best interest of all Texas citizens. And we can work to make that happen.

The first special session was called ostensibly to address preparedness for future flooding and to provide immediate relief for those adversely affected by the devastating effects of the floods. The first item of discussion, however, was redrawing the maps of congressional districts to find five additional Republican seats. There is national controversy surrounding this move. Boundaries are drawn once a decade according to US Census numbers. Redrawing boundaries now would be an unprecedented mid-decade move. As of this writing, California is going to the people to ask them to vote in favor of redrawing California districts too, in order to provide more Democrat seats. This would offset new seats in Texas. Accurate representation is at stake. Simply put, if one party is the majority in an area, their representative(s) should reflect that.

You can contact your representatives personally at

https://comments.house.texas.gov/home 

OR   

https://senate.texas.gov/redistrictingcomment

to oppose this mid-decade redistricting effort.

You can act to support and oppose the following bills during the second special session. Contact your legislators by phone, email, text, mail, and in person.

The 89^th second Special Session began Friday, August 15. The agenda includes:

• SB 8, to eliminate the STAAR Test. AAUW supports this bill.
• SB 6, Women and Child Protection Act or Act to Protect Unborn Children. AAUW opposes this bill. It would further restrict access to abortion pills, which are already illegal to mail to the state. The bill allows private citizens to file lawsuits against abortion manufacturers and target shield laws in other states that protect manufacturers and doctors that prescribe the pills.
• SB 10, Protect Human Trafficking Victims. AAUW supports this bill. It shields victims from prosecution from some crimes if they are threatened or coerced into the act by their trafficker.
• SB 7, Protect Women’s Spaces / HB 32 Bathroom Bill. AAUW opposes these bills.
• SB 12, Community Censorship Bill. AAUS opposes this bill. The bill would drastically limit the ability of leaders to advocate for what’s best for schools and communities. It does not restrict private school lobbying efforts.
• SB 11, Expanding the Attorney General’s power regarding election enforcement. AAUW opposes this bill. Some voting rights activists have warned that the bill seems aimed at increasing election prosecutions, and potentially intimidating voters and local election officials.

For more election information, read the following article ‘Election Law Changes Coming Soon from the 89^th Regular Session’ by Georgia Kimmel, state public policy chair.

In the October newsletter, I will share information with you on the 2025 November Constitutional Amendment Special Election being held on November 4, 2025.

Thank you for supporting AAUW priorities and US democracy.



Pat Sanford

AAUW SA Public Policy Chair

AAUW Texas Public Policy Committee

The Two-Minute Activist

The Two-Minute Activist is a source of information on topics relating to women’s issues. It also enhances our ability to send emails and texts to legislators to fight for equal pay, family leave, stopping sexual harassment, equality in education and more. Sign up on the AAUW webpage to get regular alerts to be able to take timely action.

You can also text “AAUW” to 21333 to get AAUW action alerts via text. 

Culinary Adventures is on a break while Brunch Bunch gets started.



Book Discussion

We meet monthly, all year around. We don't take a summer break. If your name is not on the contact list and you would like it to be, please inform Debbi Sochia dsochia@att.net our new facilitator.

AAUW Moviegoers (Let’s All Go to the Movies!)

Moviegoers! We meet on the last Sunday of each month.   I send out an email with a list of currently showing movies to vote on and then let everyone know the winning movie and location. Please join us! All are welcome!

Call/text/email Debbi Sochia

dsochia@att.net

(210) 218-2675

What Does AAUW National Do?

Policy Advocacy: Focuses on national issues affecting women and girls, such as education, equity, pay equity, and reproductive rights.

o   We coordinate our Public Policy Committees, participate in coalition work and partner with other prominent National organizations to raise awareness about our policy priorities (such as the YWCA for our Gen Z Town Hall in Philadelphia).

Subject Matter Expertise: We have historically produced in-depth studies on topics like the gender pay gap and women in leadership roles.

o   While we haven't produced reports recently due to limited funding - we have done high level analysis of pay gap data recently released. We are frequently asked to comment on topics related to pay equity, student loan debt and other issues related to gender equity. You can see our recently updated page on Latinas and the pay gap for example here: https://www.aauw.org/resources/article/latinas-and-the-pay-gap/

o   We have tens of thousands of social media followers across all platforms and have well over 1 million website viewers - ensuring that our brand remains prominent and relevant. CEO Gloria Blackwell has been invited to White House events on at least three occasions recently.

o   On a Global level - Gloria is AAUW's representative to the UN - and our work in this capacity provides great reputational value related to global gender equity work.

Salary Negotiation and Financial Literacy Training: Offers training and resources for women to develop skills to be financially empowered.

o   In particular our Work Smart, Start Smart and Money Smart trainings provide valuable resources and tools for women to become economically empowered. Nationally we work with organizations such as the HBCU Career Center, Tri Delta, Coca Cola Foundation, Finra Foundation, SAGE and others to bring these trainings to thousands of women across the country. These trainings were developed and are updated and managed by the National office. They have been independently evaluated by two separate entitles and continually receive very high ratings from participants.

Fellowships & Grants: We award and administer over $6 million in fellowships and grants each year to hundreds of women in the US and Internationally. 

o   We also connect our members and branches to these awardees and alumnae and have an Alumnae Relations team charged with growing and maintaining relationships with our thousands of distinguished Alumnae.

Membership Services: Provides support and resources for local branches and members, including access to national networks and events.

o   We host all aauw.net websites, process dues, support 990 filings, and maintain our history and globally recognized brand. Without AAUW National - AAUW branches would instead be independently organized entities who would not be networked with one another or have the ability to utilize the AAUW name. 

In essence, while AAUW National sets the strategic direction and focuses on broader issues, local branches implement programs and initiatives that directly benefit their local communities. Together, our aim is to work towards the common goal of advancing gender equity.

Follow AAUW San Antonio on:

Facebook www.facebook.com/aauw.sanantonio