I can’t believe it. We’ve been officially blogging for a year. When we first started planning for AAUW Dialog back at the end of 2007, we weren’t sure if we knew exactly what we were doing, what we were getting into, or what to expect. Would anyone other than our friends and loved ones read what we had to say? Would AAUW members find value in the discussion? Could we reasonably commit to updating the blog daily? Was AAUW Dialog a better name than AAUW Blog? Well, 278 posts and more than 72,000 views later I would say, “Yes, yes, and yes.”
Many bloggers start with very lofty goals and aspirations, and AAUW Dialog was no different. We were going to change the world. Ok, maybe not the world, but we did set out to give voice to issues that would help break through barriers to economic security, pay equity, educational attainment, equal opportunity, and so on for women and girls. Who would have thought that Married but Looking and Cheating Women could be a catalyst for change?
Already we’ve introduced you to 23 outstanding AAUW fellowship and grant recipients who are conducting groundbreaking research and impacting their communities locally, nationally, and globally. We joined over 12 thousand bloggers on Blog Action Day to discuss poverty and its impact on women, and we joined the Blog for Fair Pay. We blogged through the 2008 election campaign from the DNC to the RNC, election day, and on through the presidential inauguration, never forgetting to ask the important questions: Should AAUW Endorse Sarah Palin?, If Not Hillary, Who?, Why Women Should Vote?, and who will say the word “change” first so I can win Vice Presidential Bingo? We’ve had serious discussions about equal rights for women, sexual harassment, pay equity, salary negotiation, women’s leadership, health care, and reproductive rights, but still along the way we’ve taken time to cover topics truly important to women like fashion, beauty, dating, and marriage.
To tell the truth, the best part of AAUW Dialog for me is the weekly team meeting. Not only do I get to brainstorm with a group of creative, funny, and sometimes bawdy colleagues, but we always share treats.
In case you were wondering, AAUW Dialog stands for Discussion, Information, Advocacy (B)log. We hope that we have discussed issues that are important to you, informed you about topics critical to breaking through barriers for women and girls, and have successfully advocated for action. Are you enjoying these topics? What issues would you like to see us cover in the future?
Thanks for being with us along the way throughout year one. We hope to hear a lot more from you in year two.
AAUW Dialog 