Volume 117 Issue 5

January 2026

2025-2026 Theme:

Celebrating our Differences

As We Advocate for All Women

new-year-header5.jpg

Message from the President


As we close out the year and enter into 2026, I must express how thankful I am for you ladies who support the giving projects we have done in December. Pictures of 8 of 10 educators are below. I didn’t get pictures of the other 2. It was a busy day the last day of school.


I am going into 2026 with expectation. I don’t expect everything to be perfect, but I do expect to handle what comes my way with grace and poise. 2025 was an absolutely phenomenal year for me. I can only expect 2026 to be another super year. As I age, I just seem to accept life as it comes at me and this year I am expecting to be gracious and poised.


As AAUW women, I believe we have all set high expectations for ourselves. Please let’s continue to do that as we support new leadership in this upcoming year and continue in AAUW greatness!


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


FEBRUARY MEETING


February 7, 2026, 2:30 pm

 

Valentine Celebration for February

 

At our February 7th meeting, we’ll take a break from our more serious concerns and again open ourselves up to creativity. This year, we’ll take a painting lesson at Painting With A Twist, located at The Alley, 555 W. Bitters Road (different location from last year).


We’ll meet at the studio at 2:30 p.m. for wine and snacks, and the lesson will start promptly at 3:00 p.m. I hope the afternoon start time won’t be an impediment, but our choices were limited. For some, perhaps the afternoon time may be more convenient, allowing time to get to the grandchildren’s morning ball games.

 

The cost will be $37 to paint a canvas, and $42 to paint the image on a wood panel. The image is a perky bouquet of sunflowers (see above).

 

This is a pay-in-advance event; sign up online for the 3:00 p.m. class. The earlier we sign up, the better, in order to ensure space in our class. Cancellation is allowed up to five days in advance.

 

https://www.paintingwithatwist.com/studio/sanantonio/event/4193692/

 

Parking at The Alley is convenient. Don’t be worried about the small number of parking slots out front; there is a much larger lot in the rear.

 

If you have any questions, or experience any problems in signing up, call Martha Steele, 832-425-7477.

Join the League of Women Voters

January 19, 2026 - MLK March

For More Information Click Here

Membership Matters! 

YOU Matter!


Happy New Year Everyone! 


I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday and you’re ready for a fantastic upcoming year. As your Membership Vice President, I’ve been doing a little reflecting on our membership and wanted to include a brief message, along with my regularly scheduled program, on how to renew your membership.


Recently, I sent emails to a few members we hadn’t seen in a while. One response I received really caught my attention: I’m not interested anymore. I get it. I’m super busy teaching as well as maintaining our tiny herd of Angus cattle up in Fredericksburg (we have 6.5 units now!) As we continue working in our current jobs or our responsibilities in our retirement, sometimes membership in organizations no longer catches our interest or meets our needs. Life moves fast. Ferris Bueller once said, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” 


"Member." That tiny word means so many things to different people. Some of us never miss a meeting and attend as many interest groups as we can. Some of us are “mailbox members” because we can no longer safely leave our homes but we still support our AAUW and maintain friendships with fellow members. What does being a member of AAUW mean to you? How can we best support YOU as a member in our organization? How can we better serve those members who are not able to join us in person?


Renew Your Membership

Gift someone you know a Membership to AAUW! 

Know someone with a birthday coming up? 

Or maybe want to surprise a friend by renewing their membership?


Dues are $103

How this Breaks Down:

National Dues: $74

AAUW Texas: $13

San Antonio Branch $ 16

Total: $103


 WHY: Member dues are an important funding source for AAUW. Costs have increased annually, but AAUW has not raised the amount of dues for many years. Our dues helps fund our work such as:


  • Education and Advocacy: Our dues help support AAUW's Public Policy and member advocacy programs which defend higher education and rights for women on campus.


  • Member Trainings: Regular virtual member gatherings and training programs which provide education and engagement on relevant topics.


  • Member Engagement: such as Archives Corps, Lobby Corps, and national committees, as well as coordinating member advocacy through our 2-minute activist.


  • Real-Time Support: members can receive daily assistance through the Connect Team.


You can pay in a variety of ways:


 Online: https://www.aauw.org/ (you will have to have made an account)


With Zelle: Zelle payment: Click the Zelle tab in your bank account.  

Use the email aauwsatx@gmail.com to send money.

In the memo field identify the payment: AAUW


 Or by check: Checks made out to AAUW-SA

Mail to: AAUW SAN ANTONIO

P.O. Box 460825

San Antonio, TX 78246-0825



 Call/text/email Debbi Sochia, Membership Vice-President for assistance.

dsochia@att.net

(210) 218-2675

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. 

Interest Groups

BRUNCH BUNCH

Wednesday, January 14

10:30 am

Bread Box

Artisans Alley

555 W. Bitters Road

San Antonio, TX 78216

RSVP by Monday, Jan. 12, to:

Ann Marie Rehner

amrehner1@gmail.com

WINE, WOMEN, & WISDOM

Wednesday, January 28

4:30 pm

Frederick's Restaurant

7701 Broadway, Suite 20

San Antonio, TX 78209

Check It Out

RSVP by Monday, Jan. 26 to:

Malinda Gaul

mgaul@satx.rr.com

BRIDGE

Monday, January 5 and 19

12:00 noon

IHOP

915 E. Rector

San Antonio, TX 78216

Constact:

Norma Khoshbin

832.428.3322

normakho@yahoo.com


If you want to learn how to play bridge or want to refresh your bridge playing skills, come and join us.


We are willing to start from scratch and teach anyone who is interested to learn how to play!

GAME DAY

Friday, January 16

1:00 pm

If you enjoy playing games, please join some of your fellow AAUW members for an afternoon of fun!

100 W. El Prado Drive #207

San Antonio, TX 78212

RSVP to:

Kathy Dicke

314.249.8319

kdicke946@gmail.com

BOOK DISCUSSION

Saturday, January 17

10:00 am

Independent People

by Halldór Laxness

Home of Debbi Sochia

17017 Klier Oak

San Antonio, TX 78232

RSVP by Wednesday, Jan. 14, to:

Debbi Sochia

210.218.2675

dsochia@att.net

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


Moviegoers! We meet on the last Sunday of each month (unless I miscalculate how many days are in each month and then I pinch hit, lol). 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! 

Our next movie is scheduled for Sunday, January 25!

Call/text/email Debbi Sochia

dsochia@att.net

210-218-2675

Potential New Interest Group


I’m considering putting together an Interest Group focused on Service Opportunities. Ideas include going to elementary schools to read to the children, retirement homes to play bingo with the residents, giving them manicures, going to the Bulverde Animal Defense League to play with the cats and walk the dogs. These are just ideas. 


Would anyone be interested in an interest group like this? ~Debbi Sochia

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 recently released pay gap data. 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

For more information visit the AAUW websites:


AAUW NATIONAL


AAUW TEXAS


AAUW SAN ANTONIO