For more than a century, AAUW – the American Association of University Women – has been the nation’s leading voice promoting education and equity for women and girls.
Through its vital nationwide network, AAUW opens doors for women and girls and influences public debate on critical social issues such as education, civil rights and health care. AAUW also sponsors community programs; publishes groundbreaking research on women, girls, and education; provides the world’s largest source of funding exclusively for graduate women; and fights sex discrimination in education. AAUW’s work extends globally through its membership in the International Federation of University Women with 79 national affiliates and members in over 120 countries.
To read the complete article, please click here.
AAUW advances equity for women and girls through adocacy, education, and research.
AAUW will be a powerful advocate and visible leader in equity and education through research, philanthropy, and measurable change in critical areas impacting the lives of women and girls.
In principle and in practice, AAUW values and seeks a diverse membership. There shall be no barriers to full participation in this organization on the basis of gender, race, creed, age, sexual orientation, national origin, disability or class.
The "College Women's Club" of Rochester was organized in April, 1919 by forty-five women who were interested in promoting greater friendliness and sociability among the college women in Rochester. Meetings were held in members' homes until 1938. In 1938 the home of Dr. and Mrs. W.J. Mayo became the Mayo Foundation House. Mrs. Mayo designated AAUW as the only nonmedical group to have regular meetings at the Mayo Foundation House. In September, 1978 the meeting place was changed to Calvary Episcopal Church in Breckenridge Hall. In September, 1980 the meeting place was changed to Zumbro Lutheran Church in the Fireside Room. Meetings are currently held at the Charter House. Click here for an extended article.
FROM THE PRESIDENT
November 28 is AAUW's 125th Anniversary!
On November 28, 1881, Marion Talbot and her friend Ellen Richards met at Talbot's home to organize "an association of women college graduates" who would work to answer the questions that this new breed of college-educated alumnae were asking all over the nation: Why was a college education important to women? How could they make more of their degrees? And most important, how could they help other young women who wanted to attend college? Click here for the entire article.
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More about AAUW from http://aauwmn.org
For more than a century, AAUW – the American Association of University Women – has been the nation’s leading voice promoting education and equity for women and girls.
Through its vital nationwide network, AAUW opens doors for women and girls and influences public debate on critical social issues such as education, civil rights and health care. AAUW also sponsors community programs; publishes groundbreaking research on women, girls, and education; provides the world’s largest source of funding exclusively for graduate women; and fights sex discrimination in education. AAUW’s work extends globally through its membership in the International Federation of University Women with 79 national affiliates and members in over 120 countries.
History
AAUW began in 1881, when Marion Talbot called together a meeting of women graduates. Seventeen attended, representing a unique gathering: the first generation of alumnae. The purpose, too, was unique: to support each other and the next generations of women in higher education. From the start, AAUW has worked to improve the quality of education for girls and women. In 1882 the Association of Collegiate Alumnae was formally established, merging in 1921 with the Southern Association of College Women to create the American Association of University Women.
Mission
AAUW promotes equity for all women and girls, lifelong education, and positive societal change.
Structure and Tax Status
Unified by a single name and purpose, AAUW is composed of two corporations: the membership Association, a 501(c)(4) corporation with a supporting 501(c)(3) organization called the AAUW Leadership and Training Institute, and the AAUW Educational Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization. The AAUW Legal Advocacy Fund, also with a 501(c)3 tax status, is a program within the Educational Foundation.
While the corporations have their own bylaws, budgets, and boards of directors, they all are committed to gender equity and positive societal change.
What We Do
AAUW Association: The mission of AAUW’s association is to promote equity for all women and girls, lifelong education, and positive societal change. The power of AAUW’s association stems from its 100,000 plus members, 1,300 branches, and 600 college/university partners nationwide. Branch members and members-at-large range from recent college graduates to older women in all professions. Student affiliates are working toward their first degrees. In addition higher education institutions can join AAUW through the college/university partnership program. Association activities focus on several areas.
AAUW Educational Foundation: The mission of the AAUW Educational Foundation is to provide funds to advance education, research, and self-development for women and to foster equity and positive societal change. The AAUW Educational Foundation is the world’s largest source of funding exclusively for graduate women. Established in 1958, the Foundation supports several programs:
AAUW Legal Advocacy Fund: The mission of the AAUW Legal Advocacy Fund is to provide founding and a support system for women seeking judicial redress for sex discrimination. The AAUW Legal Advocacy Fund is the nation’s largest legal fund focused solely on sex discrimination in higher education. Since 1981 LAF has helped female students, faculty, and administrators challenge discriminatory practices involving sexual harassment, pay inequity, denial of tenure and promotion, and inequality in women’s athletics programs. LAF uses these strategies:
Sources of Support
The Association is supported by member dues, affinity and other nondues revenue programs, and individuals committed to its work. The Association’s Leadership and Training Institute, a 501(c)(3) organization, accepts corporate and foundation grants, federal grants and contracts, and gifts from individuals. The Foundation and Legal Advocacy Fund are supported by individual, corporate, and foundation grants.
For More Information:
http://www.aauw.org
http://aauwmn.org
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The "College Women's Club" of Rochester was organized in April, 1919 by forty-five women who were interested in promoting greater friendliness and sociability among the college women in Rochester. Meetings were held in members' homes until 1938. In 1938 the home of Dr. and Mrs. W.J. Mayo became the Mayo Foundation House. Mrs. Mayo designated AAUW was the only nonmedical group to have regular meetings at the Mayo Foundation House. In September, 1978 the meeting place was changed to Calvary Episcopal Church in Breckenridge Hall. In September, 1980 the meeting place was changed to Zumbro Lutheran Church in the Fireside Room. Meetings are currently held at the Charter House.
Affiliation of the Rochester College Club with AAUW took place very early and members became active in serious projects as weell as social activities. Study groups, the Association study topics, and continuing interest groups have always been an important part of the AAUW program.
Furthering the cause of education has been a paramount interest of the Rochester Branch. In 1922 the Rochester College Club established a scholarship fund for helping local young women who graduated from the Junior College to ocntinue their education. After eight years it was converted into a loan fund which helped twenty-five young women. In 1970-71 the board voted to use the proceeds of "Massey's Day" for a Rochester Community College scholarship. In 1978 the board voted to use the proceeds of "Massy's Scholarship Day" (which was started in 1934) for a female Mayo Medical Student scholarship.
In 1927 the Rochester Branch began to make regular contributions to the Association Fellowships Program of AAUW. In 1953 a Fellowships Grant of $500 enabled the Rochester Branch to name an International Study Grant for one of its members. Since then the branch has given 155 named grants to the Association. The Centennial Fund was set up in 1971 by the Association convention with the goal of adding ten million dollars to the Educational Foundation by 1982, the 100th anniversary of AAUW. The Inez G. Schaefer Unit of the General Fellowship Endowment fund was started in 1972 by a personal gift from Inez G. Schaefer, a member of Rochester's own branch. In 1973 the Rochester Branch matched this gift of $2,500. Inez G. Schaefer was appointed to be the first chair of the Centennial Fund Development Committee/. The Fellowship Fund is now called the Educational Foundation. funds for the Educatinal Foundation and any community projects have been raised by several activities. From 1951 to 1998 the primary fund raising activity is the AAUW House Tour. From 1954 to 1998 the fall AAUW Fashion Show has also been contributing its proceeds to community projects. The 1998 AAUW Fashion Show proceeds were given to the Young Women's Conference held at the Rochester Community and Technical College.
The Rochester Branch of AAUW has always been conscious of its civic responsibility and has cooperated with other organizations in many ways. the branch was proud to help sponsor the first two concerts given in Rochester by the Minnesota Orchestra. A volunteer program at the Rochester State Hospital wa active from 1950-1980. In 1969 a pilot project called "Teacher Aid Volunteers" was organized. It continued until 1977 when the program was turned over to the Rochester School System and was administered under the name "Volunteers in Education." In 1996 the branch sponsored a writing contest for junior and senior high school students with one of the students winning the state contest. The writing contest continued for five years. In 1997 the Branch was one of the sponsors for the Young Women's Conference held at the Rochester Community and Technical College. The sponsorship was continued through 2002.
The Rochester Branch of AAUW has joined forces with the League of Women voters and the Rochester Busdiness and Professional Women's Association to share ideas and programs. In 1997 the Branch started AAUW Day at the Women's Shelter Apache Mall Gift Wrapping Booth. The money raised wrapping Christmas gifts is given to the Rochester Women's Shelter.
Eight State AAUW Conventions have been held in Rochester: 1929, 1939, 1955, 1961, 1971, 1981, 1993, and 2000. the Upper Midwest Regional Conference was held in Rochester in 2004. Rochester Branch members having served as Minnesota Division Presidents are as follows: Mrs. H.F. Helmholz, Sr. (1931-34), Mrs. S.A. (Betty) Christian (1964-66), Mrs. Richard (Nancy) Selby (1978-80) and Mrs. L. Thomas (Susan) Lemke (1984-86). Branch members who held state offices are Diane Hellie on the Minutes Condensing committee and AAUW Minnesota Membership Vice President, Marilyn Morem on the AAUW Minnesota Finance committee, and Connie Schuelka as Secretary and Historian.
In 1997 the Rochester Branch was one of four out of forty-six branches in Minnesota to receive the Five-Star award for progress in public policy, commuity action, leadership, Legal Advocacy Fund, and visiblity. This award was received again in 1998. In 1999 the Rochester Branch received seven of seven stars in the Association's recognition program. Membership and Education Foundation were the two stars added to the list of five. Because of the individual contributions to the Educatinal Foundation and the Legal Advocacy Fund, Rochester is the only branch in Minnesota to receive this recognition in 1999.
In 2000 Rochester was one of two Minnesota branches receiving a Six-Star award and in 2001 was one of four Minnesota branches receiving a Six-Star award.
The Association introduced a new award called, the 21st - Century Recognition Program. Rochester Branch earned the Platinum award in 2002 for the "Young Women's Conference" and in 2003 for "Getting out rhe Vote." The Association has turned the awards system over the the states.
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125th AAUW Anniversary - Rochester Branch President, November 2006
November 28 is AAUW's 125th Anniversary!
On November 28, 1881, Marion Talbot and her friend Ellen Richards met at Talbot's home to organize "an association of women college graduates" who would work to answer the questions that this new breed of college-educated alumnae were asking all over the nation: Why was a college education important to women? How could they make more of their degrees? And most important, how could they help other young women who wanted to attend college? Not surprisingly this association, which they called Association of Collegiate Alumnae, was a success and within a year they had more than 60 members. The ACA continued to grow and other regions of the country formed like organizations such as the Western Association of Collegiate Alumnae in 1883, who in 1888 awarded $350 to a Vassar graduate for the first-ever fellowship of its kind. The Southern Association of College Women, who spent 18 years relentlessly working to create an equitable curriculum, regardless of gender, and detroy the "college for Women" stigma that prevailed in the south. As these three groups grew they realized they had much in common and in 1921, ACA, WACA, and SACW merged to become the American Association of University Women.
Our own organization also has a very long distinguished history. Formed in 1919 by forty-five women who were interested in promoting greater friendliness and sociability among the college women in Rochester, as the Women's College Club, the group affiliated very early with AAUW and members became active in serious projects as well as social activities. We members of AAUW Rochester Branch can be very proud of our contributions to the Association, as well as our contributions to our community in the form of scholarships, science awards, sponsorships of various community projects such as the Young Women's Conference, I'm Going to College at the state level, and most recently the initiation of a similar project locally called College is Possible - We can Help, in partnership with Rochester Community and Technical College, and the Olmsted County Youth Commission. We have also at times joined forces with the League of Women Voters and the Rochester Business and Professional Women's Association to share ideas and programs.
As you can see, as an orgaization we have a great interest in projects that help our community be a better place to live and we are always looking for new projects that will help us fulfill our mission. If you have an idea or proposal for any such project please contact me or any other board member and we will be glad to consider it.
1. Resolution on the Definiton of the Public School
WHEREAS... The American Association of Universtiy Women has renewed and emphasized its commitment to advocacy for unity, especially in education; and
WHEREAS... The provision of an equitable and effective system of public education is a Constitutional mandate of the state of Minnesota; and
WHEREAS... Higher education institutions and public school districts increasingly turn to private foundations for support in implementing new programs;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that AAUW of Minnesota continue its vigilance towards the public purposes of public education by attention that is informed and non-partisan and that supports the traditional principles of equal opportunity for all and the development of learning capabilities among all for the good of the individual learner and of society as a whole.
IMIPLEMENTATION:
AAUW of Minnesota in its public policy actions will advocate for this resolution through its own testimony and by participating with other advocates of public support for public education and those measures that fulfill Minnesota's Constitutional mandates for public education.
2. Resolution on the Future of the Association
WHEREAS... The American Association of University Women has been in the forefront of organizations advocating for equity and education for 125 years; and,
WHEREAS... The Association looks forward to its future as a progressive organization and renews its essential commitment to equity, education, and advocacy; and,
WHEREAS... After a systematic and inclusive strategic study, the Association Board and the Educational Foundation Board adopted in 2006 a revised mission statement: AAUW advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education and research; and,
WHEREAS... The delegates to the 2007 Association Convention will consider a number of strategic and structural changes concerning the future of the Association;
BE IT RESOLVED that AAUW of Minnesota in delegate assembly at its state convention 2007 affirm the Association's mission statement and commnit to a positive future for the Association at all levels.
IMPLEMENTATION:
AAUW Minnesota will alert all branches to the proposals for change in Association and encourage branches to be represented by delegates at Association Convention in Phoenix.
AAUW Minnesota will encourage that branch delegates examine all proposals and their rationale as presented in advance of the Association Convention.
AAUW Minnesota will encourage that branch delegates go to convention informed by discussion in their branches and make their decisions upon hearing all the presentations and dicsussion at Association before voting on proposed changes.
3. Resolution on the Earth Charter
WHEREAS... The American Association of University Women's Public Policy states, "AAUW believes that global interdependence requires national and international policies that promotes peace, justice, human rights, sustainable development, and mutual security for all people, and
WHEREAS... The current Public Policy Program further states, "We advocate public discussion to ensure enlightened decisions on these issues," and
WHEREAS... The world is becoming increasingly interdependent and fragile, and we are one human family and one Earth community with a common destiny;
WHEREAS... The dominant patterns of production and consumption are causing environmental devastation, the depletion of resources, and a massive extinction of species;
WHEREAS... The benefits of development are not shared equitably and the gap between rich and poor is widening; injustice, poverty, ignorance and violent conflict are widespread and the cause of great suffering;
WHEREAS... As unprecedented rise in human population has overburdened ecological and social systems;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that AAUW of Minnesota embrace the spirit and aims of the Earth Charter by informing all members and encouraging them to particpate in the global partnership for a just, sustainable and peaceful world and to work for the realization fo the values and principles of the Earth Charter. (Click here for more information about the Earth Charter and here for the actual document.)
IMPLEMENTATION:
The AAUW of Minnesota throught the Vice President of Public Policy will provide a copy of both the "Earth Charter" and "How to 'Live' the Earth Charter" to all Minnesota Branches and post these documents with links on the AAUW Minneota Web Page. The Minneapolis Branch will fund the distribution of these paper documents.
The AAUW of Minnesota Vice President for Programs will include the topic in a list of Suggested Programs for Branches.
The AAUW of Minnesota State Board will consider submission of this resolution to the 2009 Association National Convention.