January 30–February 16
AAUW Leader Joins Advisory Committee of Health Care Think Tank
AAUW Executive Director Linda Hallman now serves on the advisory committee of the prestigious, invitation-only Health Sector Assembly, the health care think tank that includes bipartisan health constituencies and represents employers, consumers, government, foundations, industry, economists, academics, and selected providers. Hallman’s involvement with HSA began when she was executive director of the American Medical Women’s Association. Described as the “who’s who of people in health care,” the HSA brings together the nation’s major players to release an annual consensus document designed to move the health care dialogue forward. While there is no shortage of proposals regarding how health care reform should be achieved, AAUW is most concerned that any enacted reform provides access to quality and affordable health care for all Americans. Visit AAUW’s Position on Health Care to learn more and to download the summary statement of the 2009 Health Sector Assembly.
AAUW Op-ed on Pay Equity Still Generating Buzz
“For Women, What a Difference a Year Almost Made,” the op-ed co-authored by AAUW Executive Director Linda Hallman and pay equity activist Lilly Ledbetter, continues to receive attention. First published on January 29 on the popular news site The Huffington Post, the op-ed, which calls for wider support of the Paycheck Fairness Act, the “essential companion legislation” to the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, later was published on the United Steelworkers’ website and referenced on BlogHer.
AAUW Legal Advocacy Fund Supported Case against UC Davis Moves Forward
The Associated Press (Tuesday, Feb. 9)
A lawsuit filed by three female wrestlers can move forward thanks to a recent ruling by the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. Since 2005, AAUW has offered financial and organizational support to the case, and we signed an amicus brief for the 9th Circuit appeal. Plaintiff Christine Ng told the Associated Press, “We are thrilled. We wanted our day in court, not only for us, but as an opportunity to stand up for all girls and women trying to participate in contact sports where stigmas against women remain strong.” The story has been featured in the Central Valley Business Times, Inside Higher Ed, and on the AAUW Riverside (CA) Branch website. Read more about the case on the AAUW website and on AAUW Dialog.
Wanted: Women for Student Government
Washington Post’s Campus Overload Blog (Tuesday, Feb. 16)
Maggie Luttrell, who was featured on AAUW Dialog and attended the National Conference for College Women Student Leaders in 2008 and 2009, offers advice for college women who are running for or thinking about running for student government office. In her guest blog post for the Washington Post, Luttrell wrote: “I ran for student body vice president, and I was the only female running for an executive seat. When I was out riding the bus system, loitering in the dining halls, walking in between classes, I was a walking billboard.”
Campaign College Travels to New Orleans
Loyola University (Thursday, Feb. 11)
Loyola University in New Orleans has issued a press release to announce that it will host a Campaign College training session on Saturday, February 20. Campaign College is a campus-based program that addresses the disparity between the high percentage of women in colleges and universities and their low representation in student government by encouraging women to run for campus leadership positions.
AAUW-Led Program for Latinas Generates Media Attention in Illinois
Pioneer Local (Monday, Feb. 8 )
Dare to Dream, an AAUW-led program that puts on an annual conference in Illinois for middle school-aged Latinas, was featured in a recent news article. The article said Dare to Dream gives “the girls a positive experience with science and math-related studies to encourage college attendance.” Dare to Dream, a current Community Action Grant project, is just one of more than 60 AAUW-led programs currently participating in the National Girls Collaborative Project. Visit the Dare to Dream website to learn more.
AAUW of Tennessee, AAUW Maryville (TN) Branch Offer NCCWSL Scholarships
The Daily Times, Maryville, Tennessee (Sunday, Feb. 7)
The AAUW Maryville (TN) Branch and AAUW of Tennessee are offering scholarships to students interested in attending the upcoming 25th anniversary of the National Conference for College Women Student Leaders (NCCWSL) on June 3–5 at the University of Maryland, College Park. NCCWSL is a two-and-a-half-day conference designed to enhance the leadership skills of college women students and to promote effectiveness in their work on campus and in the community. To learn more about this exciting event, visit the NCCWSL website.
Join AAUW’s Twibbon Campaign to Close the Wage Gap
AAUW has created the Support Equal Pay Twibbon to keep the wage gap issue at the forefront of debate. (A twibbon is an image that represents a cause and can be overlaid on your Twitter profile image.) On average, women earn just 77 cents to every dollar earned by men. Just one year out of college, working women already earn less than their male colleagues, even when they work in the same field and have the same degree. As women now make up half of the workforce and a larger percentage of breadwinners than ever before, wage discrimination hurts the majority of American families. Get your Twibbon now, urge your senators to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act, a much-needed update of the 46-year-old Equal Pay Act, and find out how you can get involved with Equal Pay Day on April 20.
Member Leader in California Extols the Virtues of AAUW
San Jose Mercury News (Thursday, Feb. 4)
The AAUW Los Gatos-Saratoga (CA) Branch will host a discussion focused on the challenges of getting legislation that benefits women and families passed. Gladys Bernyk, branch public policy chair, said, “From the beginning, AAUW has encouraged women and girls to be educated and participate in life. … From the beginning, AAUW has been a strong proponent of education for everyone.”
Secrets of Powerful Women Includes Chapter by AAUW’s Lisa Maatz
An essay by Lisa Maatz, AAUW’s director of public policy and government relations, is included in The Secrets of Powerful Women: Leading Change for a New Generation, a collection of essays written by 24 top women community and business leaders, politicians, and journalists that was released earlier this month. In her chapter, Maatz shares one of the important lessons she learned in elementary school. Support AAUW through your purchase of the book by using this link to the Barnes and Noble website. Also check out Maatz’s latest video, “Using Her Powers for Good.”
AAUW Recognized Again for Funding Efforts to Address Math, Science Gender Gap
The Pacific News Center and WTVA.com this have published articles about the $50,000 in Campus Action Project (CAP) grants to AAUW awarded to 12 institutions across the country for the 2009–10 academic year. CAP grants fund projects that target the barriers women and girls face to entering and staying in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields. Announcements about the AAUW awards previously appeared on the Harvey Mudd College website and on Enterprisenews.com.
AAUW Staffers Nominated for 2010 Young Women of Achievement Awards
AAUW Dialog (Tuesday, Feb. 16)
Kate Farrar, director of AAUW’s leadership programs, and Holly Kearl, AAUW Legal Advocacy Fund program manager, were nominated for the 2010 Young Women of Achievement awards, given each year by the Women’s Information Network to women under 35 who have made a difference in their communities. The 17th Annual Young Women of Achievement Awards: Celebrating a Woman’s Nation will be held Thursday, February 18, 2010, at the Carnegie Institution of Washington.
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