Across the country, school boards, and candidates for school boards, are taking up controversial policies that have led to:

• Banning books from school libraries
• The censorship of curriculum in school classrooms due to individuals finding content “objectionable”
• Policies leading to the prevention of safe school climates for students of all sexual orientations and gender identities

Here are some resources to help you learn about and participate in AAUW’s school board advocacy.

Watch this webinar: School Boards: The Battleground for the Education Culture Wars

And check out the resources referenced in the webinar.

Read AAUW-WA’s position statement on Supporting Public Educators, Academic Freedom, and Equity Efforts in Schools.

School Board and SPI Elections

There are no school board elections this year but the Superintendent of Public Instruction position is up for election. Use our  SPI Candidate Comparison to see how these candidates stand on specific issues.

The League of Women Voters provides How to Choose a School Board Candidate: What Every Voter Should Know.

Serving as a School Board Director

Are you interested in running for your local school board? The Washington State School Directors Association (WSSDA) provides a helpful get-started webpage, Serving on Your Local School Board.

Using AI for Content Creation
Wednesday, February 28, 7 pm online via Zoom

We’ll look at how artificial intelligence is used for creating content that is tailored to the needs and interests of individuals. In consumer markets, this personalized content is used to engage customers, increase brand loyalty, and inspire action. How can AI be used effectively by those of us communicating with AAUW members, potential members, and supporters? What are the possibilities for use in social media, on websites, and in webmail?

REGISTER –>

Presenters — Nadine Stecklein and Judi Edwards

Nadine Stecklein is assistant director for internship programs at Whitman College and an instructor at Walla Walla University She has a B.A. in Public Policy and a master’s in Public Administration. She was the first Latina president of the College Place Lions. Recently becoming an entrepreneur, she is the owner of a Photo Booth rental company. Read more about Nadine…

Judi Edwards has been a member of AAUW since 1993. She holds a certification from the I.C.C.P. (Institute for Certification of Computer Professionals) in Data Processing and an MBA in Information Systems. The realm of A.I. has always been part of her work life. Photoshopping images for a website and correlating data in a database to form a customer’s specific profile was all in a day’s work.

Sunday, April 21
12:30 to 4:30 p.m.
2024 Annual Meeting
“The Climate Matters to Women”

Following the presentations, the annual business meeting included the President’s report, finance update, updates from the Board, voting on bylaws, and election of officers.

To view the recording on Zoom, use this link.  Passcode:  ?juw=&8k

Approved Bylaws, click here
Financial Reports, click here

Guest Presenters

Ming-Ming Tung-Edelman, founder of Refugee Artisan Initiative, “Turning Trash into Treasure.” RAI teaches immigrant women how to achieve financial independence through small batch production with an emphasis on zero waste.

This video explains the work of Refugee Artisan Initiative. Click here

Renee Hadley is a licensed geologist with a background in aquifer mapping, agricultural extension, tree seed collection, invasive species surveys, and geo-technical engineering. She is district manager for the Walla Walla County Conservation District and president of the AAUW Walla Walla Branch, “Adapting to Changing Landscapes.” View her presentation slides. Click here

For more information contact Jodi Forsell, programs@aauw-wa.org

OPPORTUNITY MATTERS

For our fall, 2023, webinar series, “Opportunity Matters” was a powerful theme. The webinars had a future focus, as well as examples of current practice, to showcase what will make AAUW’s vision of equal opportunity a reality.

Completed 2023 WEBINARS

June kickoff – Dr Season Hoard presented “The Gender Pay Gap: The Opportunity Lost Cost of the Gender Pay Gap on Washington Women” – CLICK FOR PRESENTATION VIDEO –>

September 12:  “Advocacy and Legislation Matter.”  AAUW-WA lobbyist Nancy Sapiro and Public Policy Director Sandra Distelhorst talked about upcoming legislation, such as Keep Our Care Act and Equity in Education bills. Then Sandra talked with Gina Masullo about her research on political engagement and opportunities to advance gender equity through political action. Dr. Masullo is the author of The New Town Hall: Why We Engage Personally with Politicians, and two other books on online engagement.  As a gender-nonconforming breast cancer patient, Gina Masullo has had personal experience with gendered bias in healthcare.

October 3: State Senator Karen Keiser, author of Getting Elected Is the Easy Part, shared her observations about opportunities for upcoming generations of women legislators and leaders. To view the recording, go to this link and use passcode: xam.3hyW

October 10: Focus on Literacy – Cat Howell, Executive Director of Literacy Source in Seattle, and Katherine Freimund, director of Whatcom Literacy Council, described how their organizations help women gain skills and education to create opportunities for themselves and their families.

November 14: Jessica Gerdes, Manager of Outreach and Mentorship at the Department of Translational Medicine and Physiology at Washington State University. By introducing students  to healthcare roles such as EMT, her program addresses the shortage of healthcare providers in rural areas in our state. View slides used by Jessica Gerdes in her presentation. To view the recording, go to this link and use passcode: !5.k5vWp

December 12: Grace Yoo, Executive Director of the Washington State Women’s Commission, established in 2018 by Governor Inslee. She discussed the work of the commission and  opportunities for women in leadership. View slides used by Grace Yoo in her presentation. To view the recording, go to this link and use passcode: #8XWM#Yu

The Gender Pay Gap
Saturday June 17

Our Keynote Speaker for the 2023 Fall Webinar Series will be Dr. Season Hoard, a professor in the Division of Governmental Studies and Services (DSGS) at WSU. Dr. Hoard will introduce our 2023 topic: Opportunity Matters. She will speak primarily about topics such as the gender pay gap, but will also touch on preparing women for employability in high wage, high demand STEM fields.

She has been responsible for developing applied research designs, conducting evaluation research, coordinating research projects, and managing client expectations since 2016. Prior to 2016, Dr. Hoard served as the Research Coordinator, coordinating and conducting applied research projects. Prior to joining DGSS, Season earned her Ph.D. from the School of Politics, Philosophy and Public Affairs at WSU with a focus on comparative public policy and gender and politics.

Summer Leadership Meeting
Sat. August 5 

Our state organization’s annual leadership meeting – all members were invited. AAUW-WA board makes leadership development interesting, useful, and even fun. There is open dialogue and an environment of collaboration, which inspires members to become or continue as confident leaders.

COPIES OF PRESENTATIONS – SEE LINKS IN AGENDA BELOW

What AAUW records should your keep? Our first speaker of the morning was Ruth Seele from the Center for NW Studies at Western Washington University. She is an archivist for AAUW branches in the NW corner of Washington and AAUW WA. Where do you take the records you keep? What are you doing to keep a snapshot of what you are doing now? Think of the space you can free up in your basement!! KEYNOTE SPEAKER PRESENTATION SLIDES LINK –>

Opening Remarks from our President – Emily Hitchens – AAUW WA Strategic Plan 2023 SLIDES LINK –>

Breakout sessions:

• The Community HUB at national AAUW website – tutorial on our website – click here –>
• Your branch Website – PRESENTATION SLIDES LINK –>
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion – PRESENTATION SLIDES LINK –>
  DEI Branch Agenda Template doc link –>
  DEI Panel Discussion Template slides –>
• Social Media/Instagram/Meta – PRESENTATION SLIDES LINK –>
• Membership
• College and University partnerships – PRESENTATION SLIDES LINK –>

We missed hearing from Sandra Distelhorst, AAUW WA Public Policy , but she reviewed and updated the state AAUW and national stance and actions YOU CAN TAKE to support the ERA/ Equal Rights Amendment – click here…

Any questions, please contact programs@aauw-wa.org

Emily Stone, Public Policy Director at the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence (WASCDV). WSCADV is the leading voice to end domestic violence in Washington State. Their mission is to improve how communities respond to domestic violence and to create a world where all people can live and love without fear.

WASCDV advocates for legislation that impacts survivors of abuse in the Washington State Legislature and Congress, educates their membership about the policy process, and helps connect them with their legislators. They also provide input on court rules and state agency policies related to survivors and domestic violence programs, as well as participate on committees and work groups that address a variety of social justice issues.

Ms. Stone is the keynote speaker for Washington State Annual Meeting April 2023.
See links for more about Ms. Stone and related organizations:
https://wscadv.org/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-stone-msw

Even though some of these events may have already passed, please note the activity as an idea for our State or your Branch organization.

Monday, July 17, 7 pm – Our ONLINE BRANCH is hosting a virtual panel discussion on MISSING & MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN (MMIW): Cultivating Allyship. For registration and details, click here… Event will be RECORDED with the Link shared upon request, as well as via AAUW WA Online Web Site

Monday, Sept. 11, 6:30 pm – Our WA state DEI Committee meets on Zoom monthly, except in the summer. You are most welcome to attend! Please email diversity@aauw-wa.org for the Zoom invitation.

Hudson’s Bay branch – September – branch will participate in the Peace and Justice Fair with an aim to sign up new voters.

PAST ACTIVITIES 2023

Highline branch May 2023 – The branch partnered with Renton Technical College to host a discussion with Carolyn DeFord, a member of the Puyallup Tribe, a member of the state commission on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People (MMIWP), and the tribe Community Domestic Violence Advocate.

Lewis County branch – held the Lunafest film festival and has formed a DEI-centered bookgroup.

Port Townsend branch May 2023 – Collaborated with local organizations and donated $2,000 to purchase DEI-related books for school and public libraries. Read about details…

Wednesday, May 10 Workshop: Diversity and Intersectionality – The national Inclusion and Equity Committee invites all AAUW members to participate in a virtual workshop in preparation for World Day for Cultural Diversity observed on Sunday, May 21. This workshop provides a hands on learning opportunity for AAUW members to explore aspects of diversity and intersectionality.

May 23 , Tuesday – Washington State Alumni Assoc. – How to Talk About Race – Renowned speaker, author, and equity consultant Dr. Nancy A. Dome co-founded Epoch Education in 2014 to provide leaders in education and business with accessible professional development in diversity, inclusion, belonging, and equity.

See the Youtube/Zoom recordings below to review the sessions.

Our headline speaker, Emily Stone, will help us learn more about domestic violence in Washington State, and how her organization is working to seek legislative and policy change particularly in the areas of prevention and support for survivors. As we look for groups with whom we/AAUW can partner, we will discuss how WASCDV work intersects with ours, and how we can potentially collaborate with them in the future.

Our afternoon Business Meeting covers our organizational changes and updates. For those newer members of AAUW, the business meeting will help you understand the workings of the state organization.

8:15 – 12  Annual Meeting program
8:45 Keynote Speaker – Emily Stone, Public Policy Director at the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence (WASCDV). Read more…

10 – Reaching Out to Younger Women – College & University Program Chair Nadine Stecklein (Walla Walla) and Elena Cervantes (Edmonds Sno-King)

10:55 – Spreading the Word – Social Media Coordinator and member of our Communications Team Katherine Cleland (Seattle)

11:45  Break – Grab a quick bite and pour a glass of wine to sip as we hear from our Women in Wine Panel.  

12 – 1pm  Women in Wine Panel – Facilitated by Debbie Dumont (Walla Walla)

1 pm – Business Meeting

• $35- AAUW member
• $20- student member
• $20- 1st time attendee