Letter to Presidents

Dear Branch Presidents,

As we kick off our new AAUW year, co-president Kelvie Comer and I want to make you aware of two exciting Washington State projects, and enlist your branches’ support in executing them over the coming months.

Public Policy Impact Grant

AAUW of Oregon and AAUW of Washington State were jointly awarded a Public Policy Impact Grant at the national convention.  We need your branches’ support and commitment in executing the action plan for this grant.

The Public Policy Impact Grant focuses on pay equity as its primary issue, with paid sick days being its secondary issue.  The overall goals of the grant are for our two organizations to:

  • Host a successful joint Oregon and Washington State Convention,
  • Raise awareness of the pay gap, as well as programs and resources available like $tart $mart, and
  • Increase support from legislators for legislation that addresses equal pay and paid sick days.

Since the grant was awarded in June, grant chair Mardy Stevens of Oregon has been working with both the presidents and public policy chairs from both states, as well as with AAUW, to lay out the action plan for this grant.  A solid framework is now in place.  However, for us to be successful in executing this grant, we need to support and commitment of all of our branches — and that is where you come in!

Please review the current action on our website.  https://aauw-wa.aauw.net/files/2012/11/PP-Impact-Grant-Action-Plan-Sept-2013.pdf  You will note that any action which applies to AAUW-WA is highlighted in a bright green color and lists an actionee from the State Board, as well as a planned completion date.  These actionees are laying out the details of what needs to be done and are there to coordinate action — but they cannot accomplish the goal without the support and commitment of the branches.  As such, you will also note that there are actions highlighted in a lighter shade of green that need to be taken on by some or all branches in order for us to be successful.   Actions highlighted in light purple apply to branches in both states, as they apply to our Joint Convention.

We are counting on the branches not only to attend Lobby Day and the Joint State Convention, but to take on the responsibility for ensuring that action occurs, including 200 signatures on petitions, conduct of 5 C/U Tabling Events, 5 Letters to the Editor, and 50 e-mails or calls to State Legislators.

We need your leadership and your branches support to be successful.  We need you to discuss this important Public Policy Impact Grant with your Boards and branch members, and let us know specifically which actions your branch will take on for us.   Please let us know, from the plan below, WHO in your branch will do WHAT and by WHEN.   If we don’t hear from you soon, you’ll be hearing from Kelvie or me, or from Public Policy chair Doris Holmes.  Please don’t hesitate to contact Kelvie or me at president@aauw-wa.org if you have any questions on the impact grant.  Thank you in advance for joining us in taking ownership of this action plan.  Together we can make a difference in Washington State on pay equity and paid sick days.

Tech Trek

After a very successful first Tech Trek Camp in July, AAUW of Washington State has been awarded a $10,000 grant from AAUW for a 2014 Tech Trek Camp!  Tentative plans are for the camp to again be at Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma the week of July 20-26, 2014.

Fifteen branches participated by identifying and sending girls to the 2013 camp.  Can we make it twenty branches  — or more –in 2014?   Please discuss Tech Trek with your Board and branch members, and consider participating in this project for 2014.  More information will be posted shortly on the AAUW WA Tech Trek website (techtrek-wa.aauw.net) about the first steps branches need to take to send campers from their local area.  If you have any questions, please contact Tech Trek Camp Director, Karen Manelis, techtrek@aauw-wa.org.

Kelvie Comer and I both wish you and your branches a successful year with AAUW, and we hope you will take an active part of making this a successful year for AAUW Washington State as well.

Thank you,

Barbara Sando

Co-president, AAUW of Washington State