IT’S TRANSITION TIME

By Mary Smith

In our two-year sharing of the job of president of AAUW Texas, my portion of the time is ending and Ann Berasley’s is beginning. She will be the active co-president for the next six months. Does this mean that I will not be reachable if you need me – absolutely not. But, Ann is the lead president. I am hoping to be able to needlepoint some Christmas angels for next year’s Christmas tree and finish up some projects started years ago (probably not.) (I’ve been trying to finish some of them since I lived in Saudi Arabia 25 years ago.)

It has been my pleasure serving as your president these past 30 months. The mission of AAUW is why all of us joined AAUW Texas instead of merely joining an interest group organization. While our number of branches in Texas and across the nation have fallen in numbers, the equity of women has still not been reached so our work is still not finished. Let’s get the Equal Rights Amendment finalized quickly and continue our work for better childcare, women’s health care, no banning of books, no further taking away of voting rights, etc. There is plenty of work to be done at the local and state level. Power to us! I am so proud of all of the work you are doing!

AAUW Texas MEMBERSHIP

Diane Claiborne-Carr

Sustainability

“It is now, after an election, when the real work begins.

We must come together and continue the fight to advance equity for women.”

Gloria Blackwell, CEO, AAUW

Sustainment of membership is part of the macro areas of our work in the advancement of education, leadership, economic security, and governance for women and girls and equity for all. Keeping our branches active and functioning requires new members and sustainment strategies. One strategy that meets both member and fiscal sustainment is the AAUW Legacy Circle. This program is always a little challenging to explain to members. AAUW has made it easy to provide information about the program to members.

You can find a complete brochure at

https://www.aauw.org/app/uploads/2020/02/Legacy-Circle-Brochure-nsa.pdf 

and more clarifying information at

https://www.aauw.org/resources/member/support-aauw/leave-a-legacy/.

This brochure can be modified to make it a branch tool by adding your branch contact information. Plus, having a brochure makes it easy to distribute to every member. This tool will help you meet the Five Star Criteria to "Recruit at least one Legacy Circle member from your branch in FY25.”

Another Five Star Criteria is "Retain at least 80% of branch membership.” Membership for AAUW is low nationally. However, many of the Texas branches are maintaining their membership numbers, plus or minus 2 to 5 members. As the renewal date has changed to an anniversary date, this requires constant reminders to our members even if you signed with national to send reminders for 3 months. Also, we need to be in constant recruitment mode.  

What we are experiencing in Texas is branch disbandment. Dissolution of one branch is a dissolution too many. If a branch is experiencing problems with inactivity or high numbers of inactive members, they should contact their district representative for support in reviewing strategies to improve inactivity and to prevent dissolution.  We want to prevent lagging inactivity and lagging new memberships. Retaining at least 80% of your membership is fair, but we do want to strive for growth. Let’s start sharing strategies for which you have had positive results or share ideas that we can at least try. A recent email from a branch VP for Membership suggested members “gift” an AAUW membership. This can be “gifted” for birthdays, graduations, or to celebrate a new job. or just the idea of “giving.” During this season of giving, what a great idea!   

                                                                                                                                                  

Have a wonderful Holiday!

Diane

Public Policy Update

Post election is time to get ready for what comes next nationally and in Texas. First, we should all urge President Biden to do everything he can to publish the ERA to the Constitution. Please watch for Texas Public Policy Alerts. Sign up to be a Two-Minute Activist https://www.aauw.org/act/two-minute-activist/era/ to receive urgent information from our national AAUW Public Policy Team. Your action is needed now. Having the ERA in effect could help move pay-equity legislation through Congress, strengthen protections against sex-based discrimination in schools and in workplaces, and increase access to reproductive health care.

In Texas, what comes next is the 89th Texas Legislative session which begins January 14, 2025 and ends June 2, 2025. Legislators have already filed more than 2,000 bills! These include bills related to our AAUW Texas Legislative priority issues. For more information about our priorities, refer to the Public Policy page of our website https://aauw-tx.aauw.net/publicpolicy/

Our Lobbyist, Kate Kuhlmann, will report to us highlighting the most pressing legislative issues. During the 89^th Legislative Session the Public Policy committee members will meet bi-weekly with Kate to discuss legislation on which needs our immediate action. She and the staff at HillCo Partners will generate reports for us. We will pass the information along to Public Policy Chairs, continue to alert you to take action via Public Policy alerts and through our quarterly Public Policy Zoom meetings. You can watch Kate’s recent Introduction to the 89^th Legislative Session on our website http://aauw-tx.aauw.net. Click here to watch.

Mark your calendar for AAUW Texas Legislative Day (Lobby Day) on March 17, 2025, 2 pm to 6 pm. We have reserved a room at Capitol Legislative Conference Center and hope you will be present. It is a great opportunity to meet with legislators and their staff to advocate for issues, educate them, and build relationships.  More information will be provided as we get closer to March.

The Public Policy committee members include Pat Sanford, Gloria Long, Mary Smith, and Melanie Barnes, Lubbock Public Policy Chair, who recently joined our team.

Thank you for your commitment to women’s issues and for being part of our united AAUW Texas voice.

Georgia Kimmel

Public Policy Chair

LEGACY CIRCLE

In the AAUW Texas Strategic Plan, Goal A is to assist every branch to achieve a five to one star rating. The state hopes to do this by encouraging each branch to add programs and activities to reach the new AAUW 2025 goals for Five-Star. When we evaluated the one factor across the state which was missing in most branches, it was that there were no legacy circle members. In the Advancement portion of the 5 star program, you, as a branch, only have to have ONE member become a legacy circle member in FY25 to get one of the three points needed in that section.

So, try to recruit at least one Legacy Circle member from your branch in FY25.

What is the Legacy Circle?

AAUW’s Legacy Circle acknowledges donors who have included AAUW National in their estate plans with a planned gift. Please note that the Legacy Circle does not recognize planned gifts made to AAUW state or branches.

Is there a minimum amount you must leave to AAUW to qualify?  

There is no minimum amount. You are not required to disclose your donation amount. We ask that you be as generous as possible and will celebrate a gift of any size.

Are there any benefits associated with the Legacy Circle?                                               

All Legacy Circle members receive a special Legacy Circle pin designed by Swarovski exclusively for AAUW as a tangible symbol of their generosity and commitment.

Can I leave my gift to a specific program or area of interest within AAUW?                   

While we are grateful for every gift we receive, we strongly prefer unrestricted donations, which offer AAUW the flexibility to use funds where they are needed most at any given time.

What are the different ways to make a planned gift?                                                    

Planned gifts at AAUW include:

• Bequests: A bequest is a gift that is made through a will or living trust. Bequests can be made as a percentage of an estate, a specific dollar amount, or a specific asset. Bequests can be unrestricted or restricted to a specific purpose.
• Retirement plan assets: Retirement plan assets, such as an IRA or 401(k), can be donated to AAUW. This can be a tax-efficient way to make a charitable gift.
• Life insurance: Life insurance policies can be donated to AAUW. This can be a tax-efficient way to make a charitable gift.
• Charitable gift annuities: A charitable gift annuity is a contract between the donor and AAUW. The donor makes a gift to AAUW (minimum $10,000) in exchange for fixed payments for life. Donors must be 75 or older to set up an AAUW charitable gift or annuity. Donors who are not 75 should consider a deferred Charitable Gift Annuity.

More information is available at https://www.aauw.org/resources/member/support-aauw/leave-a-legacy/

As soon as you have made the necessary arrangements, complete the Legacy Circle enrollment form, sign it, and send it to AAUW, Planned Giving Office, 1310 L St. NW, Suite 1000, Washington, D.C., 20005.

LILLY LEDBETTER: OUR HERO OF FAIR PAY

Adapted from a California article by Mary Smith, co-president of AAUW Texas. The author is given at the end of the article.

In October 2024, Lilly Ledbetter, an icon in the equal pay movement, passed away at 86. Ledbetter’s story is not just one of individual resilience; it embodies the ongoing struggle for women’s equality in the workplace. Lilly worked for nearly two decades at Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company and uncovered that she was being paid thousands less per year than her male counterparts. This revelation sparked a fire within her, igniting a campaign that would forever alter the landscape of equal pay in America.

In 2007, Ledbetter took her fight to the Supreme Court yet the Court’s ruling was disheartening; it stated that she had filed her complaint outside the statute of limitations. In response to the 5-4 majority opinion, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg provided one of her infamous and noteworthy dissenting opinions, calling out the eight male justices for their apathy. “The court does not comprehend or is indifferent to the insidious way in which women can be victims of pay discrimination,” she said, imploring Congress to act.  

Her activism ultimately led to the introduction of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, which President Obama signed into law as his first piece of legislation. This landmark act marked a significant victory in the fight for gender equality, sending a clear message that pay discrimination would not be tolerated.

Ledbetter’s legacy shows us that change is possible through persistence, courage, and community. As we reflect on her contributions, we are called to continue the work of advocating for equality, ensuring that future generations inherit a world where every individual is compensated fairly for their contributions, regardless of gender. Together, we can continue to champion the cause of equality and ensure that Lilly’s legacy endures.



Written by Erica Dias, Member AAUW California Public Policy Committee

THEY CAME FOR THE SCHOOLS SEMINAR IN OCTOBER

By Cheri Butler, VP Programs

We had a very successful zoom presentation from Mike Hixenbaugh on October 10 regarding his book "They Came for the Schools". Over 120 attendees enjoyed his talk about the takeover of the school board in Southlake, Texas by the far right and the continued threat of these efforts.

We are currently working on another program for the spring next year to highlight Texas Women who are making a difference in their field. We want to solicit your ideas so if you know of someone that you feel should be included, please contact me.

Elected Officers  

Mary Smith

Ann Berasley

Pam Wolfe

Malinda Gaul

Cheri Butler

Diane Claiborne-Carr

Debbie Campbell

Vickie Natale

LInda Walsh

Elected District Representatives

Brenda Van Derbur

Cheryl Fuller

Vacant

Tamara Mancini

Standing Committees

Georgia Kimmel

Appointed Positions

Michele Taylor

Sara Wood

Chasity Crawley

Communications Team

Malinda Gaul

Janani Janakiraman

Jerrilyn Woodard-Entrekin

Contact at:https://aauw-tx.aauw.net/about/leadership/

President

President

President

President

Program VP

Membership VP

AAUW Funds VP

Finance Officer

Secretary

South District

Central District

North District

West District

Bylaws/Parliamentarian

Public Policy

C/U Partners

Branch Services

JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion)

UWT Editor/Constant Contact

Website

Facebook