Dear Members:

I hope your New Year has a promising start!

My wish this year is for kindness, caring, understating, and respect to invade the hearts and minds of all humankind.

For AAUW San Antonio, we are continuing an active year. Please review our Strategic Plan for 2022-2024. This is an active document. We can add to it, or we can change pieces. AAUW bold moves forward are based on galvanizing affiliates’/branches’ powerful representation in every congressional district, state, city, and territory in the country to work toward achieving our goal of gender equity. Does the AAUWSA Strategic Plan move our mission forward to meet our goal? We welcome all questions, suggestions, challenges, strategies, etc. to strengthen and execute our Strategic plan.

We are continuing plans to execute our Hybrid General Meeting 4 February. This allows those who do not feel comfortable meeting in person to participate. The meeting will be held at Silo Elevated Cuisine and Bar. There is easy access by elevator for all participants. You should have received all the information for ordering your lunch or the zoom link if you are joining us from home.

We ask that if you decide to attend in person that you take care to change your plans if you have come in contact with anyone testing positive for any form of COVID or respiratory illnesses within 10 days before 4 February. Please do not attend if you have a fever or do not feel well the day of the event.

If you do plan to attend, know that the room’s capacity is 50, so we do not have to sit uncomfortably close. Also, we have asked that staff providing service to the room are masked.

February is Chocolate and Champagne Fundraising month. Funds raised during this month are applied to the Textbook Scholarship program. We take orders for champagne and cholate during the February General meeting. You will be able to place orders if you are on zoom.

Please read the public policy section by Pat Sanford carefully to stay up to date on the status of AAUW Texas issues in our state legislature.

AARP released very important information on legislation they are lobbying the Texas legislation on behalf of the elderly and marginalized groups. Pay attention to this article. See HERE.

The Nominating Committee has formed. Contact any member to nominate someone or yourself for an elected position. The slate will be announced in March. The sustainment of the affiliate depends on its members volunteering to lead and work in groups to meet our goals. Our committees of one need help. In this day of automation, most committees work through zoom type meetings. As the nominating committee recruits for the slate, please tell them you are willing to lead or work on a committee.

This year, the AAUWSA Directory and Bylaws will be emailed to you. We will continue to email any updates. The Directory without the affiliate roster will be posted on our website. This allows us to update the Directory and Bylaws in real time.

March is Women’s History Month. Stay tuned to ways we may advocate during the month. A committee of our members is planning a presentation on women and girl issues and AAUW mission to address those issues for 11^th and 12th graders of the San Antonio Young Women's Leadership Academy on 31 March. Other groups from around the city will be involved.

Equal Pay Day is 14 March. Texas women will not achieve equal pay until 2049. If Texas women were paid the same as men, their average annual earnings would increase by $7,300 and their poverty rate would be reduced by 51 percent.

We will recognize the scholarship winners and elect new officers in April. Plus, we will celebrate Fiesta!!

Remember, the city of San Antonio will vote to elect 10 city council members and mayor on May 6^th.

Warm Regards,

Diane Claiborne-Carr

AAUW San Antonio President

2022-2023 Branch Leaders

Executive Committee

President

Diane Claiborne-Carr       

President Elect

Vacant       

Vice President Membership

Ruth Lyle                         

Vice President Programs

Monica Ruiz-Mills               

Secretary

Ashlee Martinez      

Treasurer

Adrien Frank  

Parliamentarian

Suzanne Benson

Standing Committees

Public Policy

Pat Sanford

Budget/Finance

Adrien Frank

Scholarships/NCCWSL

Karen Reichensperger

Eleanor Skelley    

Colleges/Universities

Martha Steele

Funds

Kimberly Henry

Communications

Malinda Gaul

STEM

Mary Ellen Pratt

DEI

Kimberly Henry

Governance

Vacant

Appointed

Historian

Patricia Tucker

Community Coordinator

Vacant

Reservations

Betty Russell

Publicity

Michelle Burk

Member Outreach

Kathy Dicke

February Meeting

The program for February 4, 2023, is Access for Youth in the Foster Care System, which aligns with our theme Supporting Marginalized Women and Girls During This Time of Change by exploring systems that foster disparities and inequities.

Our speaker, Airika Buford, is the Project Director for the Bexar County Fostering Educational Success Program. She is a dedicated macro practice social worker with expert knowledge in child welfare case management; experience in community organizing in urban settings, community outreach, and youth engagement; skills in grant writing, program evaluation, and policy analysis; skills in advocacy, quantitative, and qualitative research; website development; and marketing design. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Wayne State University, a Master of Social Work from the University of Michigan, and is currently working on a PhD in Higher Education/Higher Education Administration at UTSA.

It takes a village to create a holistic pipeline of support for students with experience in foster care. This presentation will introduce the audience to the Bexar County Fostering Educational Success Program and its collaborative effort to improve access and retention of youth and young adults interested in or pursuing higher education. Ms. Buford will provide an overview of the model, strategic framework, and special initiatives put in place to fill in the gaps in resources and support services for BCFES participants. Lastly, the presentation will discuss the community support needed to ensure that pipelines of support like these are sustainable and how to become a part of the village that helps to improve the educational trajectory of students with a history in foster care.

Member Spotlight

Nancy Fix Anderson, Ph.D.

Once upon a time in a kindergarten, the teacher began handing out rhythm band instruments to her class. With great excitement a little girl exclaimed that she wanted to play the drums! The teacher promptly responded that only boys play drums; girls play the triangles.

This event proved to be the genesis in one of the major threads in the life tapestry of AAUW member, Nancy Fix Anderson: that of a passionate feminist and involvement with many groups promoting equal justice for all.

Nancy has been a member of the American Civil Liberties Union, Emily’s List, Planned Parenthood, the Sierra Club and, of course, the American Association of University Women. Upon relocating from New Orleans to San Antonio following Katrina, Nancy met Dr. Sharon Bartling. Sharon, then president of AAUW-SA, encouraged Nancy to join our branch. In Nancy’s words she was “blown away” by the diversity of experience of the members, the strong feminist input, and the emphasis on equity. Attending AAUW meetings and various interest groups, she has become close friends with many members. For several years she spearheaded the Wandering Wonders interest group and organized monthly walks to many of San Antonio area parks and nature preserves.

This interest in physical activity brings us to another thread in the tapestry of Nancy’s life: that of athletics. In her early years she attended Hockaday School for Girls in Dallas where she began participating in sports. While in her 30s she became an avid runner participating in races with the New Orleans track club, running 10 marathons, including qualifying for and running in the Boston marathon. Later in life while teaching for 20 years in the University of New Orleans summer school program in Innsbruck, Austria, she began hiking in the Tyrolean Alps. To this present day she hikes with friends locally and internationally including the Camino de Santiago de Compostela, Hadrian’s Wall and the English coast to coast trail. Through these experiences Nancy discovered that sports provide insight into race, gender and class relationships and their impact upon one’s world view. These concepts are reflected in a book she authored on Victorian sports.

A third thread in the tapestry of Nancy’s life is her academic career. She received her BA from Stanford, a MA in history from the University of California, Irvine and a PhD in British and European history from Tulane University. For many years she was a professor of history at Loyola University New Orleans where she co-founded the women’s studies program. Nancy has maintained close contacts with her students, one of whom donated in her honor to Loyola saying that her teaching had influenced him to “become a citizen of the world.” While at Loyola she was awarded the University dux Academicus as Outstanding Professor. She has published three books and many scholarly articles on Victorian history, and, in addition to teaching at the Uno summer school program in Innsbruck she also taught at the Loyola program in Leuven, Belgium. Nancy is a recipient of four National Endowments for the Humanities grants and fellowships, and an American Institute of Indian Studies fellowship to do research in India. Currently Nancy teaches a class each semester in the NEISD program, adults learning in retirement (ALIR). Her most recent class was on Sir Thomas More. She plans to teach a class in the Spring 2023 semester on the Russian Empire.  Nancy enjoys a reputation as an outstanding ALIR teacher. To meet the demand for her classes, she teaches two sections of her courses; one in the ALIR classroom and another on Zoom.

Another thread in her fascinating life is a love of travel all over the world. Her most memorable trip was to Iran that focused upon Iranian women.

Another love is the arts. Nancy is a patron of the San Antonio Philharmonic and other music organizations, the art museums and classic theatre.

By far, the most important thread in Nancy’s life is her family. Husband Cliff of 50 years passed away soon after moving to San Antonio. Her proudest accomplishment is raising her babies while pursuing a doctoral program and teaching at the university level. Flexibility in her schedule provided time to focus on son Michael, now an attorney in Boston, and daughter Kathryn currently a professor at our Lady of the Lake University. She has three grandchildren and enjoys taking them on trips, including a hiking vacation to Iceland.

Engaging in experiences outside her comfort zone and exploring the unknown have been themes in the threads in the tapestry of the amazing life of Nancy Fix Anderson. This is best exemplified by this accomplishment early in life. As a teenager she became an airplane pilot! She soloed at 16, earned her pilot’s license at 17 and as an undergraduate participated in the Stanford flying club!!

The San Antonio branch of the American Association of University Women is truly honored to have such a distinguished member and appreciates the many contributions of Nancy Fix Anderson, Ph.D. to our organization and beyond.

Janet Black, Ph.D.

AAUW San Antonio members tour the

Institute of Cyber Security and Innovation

Public Policy

National

This just in from Robin Lucas at AAUW National: AAUW’s national Public Policy Team is officially part of the “Bigger Than Roe” marches that will take place across the country on January 22 (some places on the 21st). These marches commemorate our united stance supporting women’s rights to make their own choices about their bodies, health, and family planning.

State

The AAUW Texas Public Policy Team met with Kate Kuhlmann, lobbyist with HillCo Partners, and Brenna Sallee, one of her team members, via Zoom on 1.4.23 to discuss navigating the 88th legislative sessions that began on 1.10.23. The following are highlights of the discussion. The committee members and HillCo representatives clarified the big issues AAUW Texas wants to follow:

• Parts of pay equity initiatives pertaining to women’s health

• Women’s healthcare and concerns including abortion, pre and post pregnancy care, and Medicare expansion

• Open and fair elections

• Reducing gun violence

• Education issues including the teacher retirement COLS, opposition to censorship,

vouchers, and curriculum

HillCo will send committee members weekly bill tracking updates, monitor agency meetings and legislative press conferences, and share dates and times with committee members so they may observe proceedings. Following the meeting, committee members furthered plans for coalition building including joining with the League of Women Voters for Lobby Days in Austin February 27 and 28.

Local

AAUW SA is aligned with national and state AAUW public policy priorities. Check our website, review our strategic plan, and come to meetings or view recordings of monthly meetings to hear presentations on equity for women and girls and keep abreast of activities you can be involved in to keep moving forward our mission of advancing equity for women and girls through education, research, and advocacy.

Pat Sanford

AAUW SA Public Policy Chair

AAUW Texas Public Policy Team

Nominations for AAUW-SA 2023-20224 Board of Officers

The Nominating Committee is tasked with developing a slate of nominees for our 2023-2024 board of officers. The Committee will present a slate of nominees to the membership at the March General Meeting. The names of the nominees will be sent to every member in the March Newsletter. The membership will vote for the officers at the Annual Meeting in April. 

The Elected Officer positions are:

President (1-year term)

President Elect (1-year term)   

Vice President for Programs (1-year term)

Vice President for Membership (1-year term)

Secretary (1-year term)

Treasurer (2-years term)

Treasurer Elect (1-year term)

Members interested in any of the positions should contact any member of the Nominating Committee. Officer duties are described in the AAUW-San Antonio 2022-2023 Directory and Bylaws which will be online by the end of the month. Job descriptions for each position are located on our website www.sanantonio-tx.aauw.net.

Nominating Committee Members:

Jeanette Pierce - 210.394.8280

Martha Steele - 823.425.7477

Kathy Dicke - 314.249.8319

Janet Black - 210.884.6520

Wondra Chang - 361.774.2980

Women’s History Month at YWLA

AAUW-SA is participating in Women’s History Month at YWLA (Young Women’s Leadership Academy) on March 31, 2023, 11:30 am, 2123 W. Huisache. We will be leading small group discussions with the juniors and seniors on gender and pay equity, Title IX, advancing women in leadership, and other issues.

Support the Textbook Scholarships

Chocolate and Champagne Fundraiser

at the Luncheon

$25 Chocolate

$50 Chocolate and Champagne

$100 Chocolate, Champagne, and a Surprise!

You may also mail a check to Malinda Gaul

15734 Knolldown, SAT 78247

Textbook Scholarship Drawing

Congratulations to Malinda Gaul and Nancy Fix Anderson, winners of the $300 and $100 credit cards during the January 7^th drawing. This fundraiser raised $2,265.10. The Textbook Scholarships will be awarded in April.

The next fundraiser is the Chocolate and Champagne Fundraiser on February 4^th at our monthly meeting.

You may donate through our fundraisers or just donate to AAUW San Antonio. See the Donate section of this newsletter for further instructions. We would really like to exceed last year’s donations. 

National Conference for College Women Student Leaders (NCCWSL)

Would you believe that we have already received an application to this premier leadership conference, and it hasn't even been announced by our branch? The answer is "YES"! We will be announcing it after the Board of Directors decides the allocation of costs. It will be in person this year, May 31 - June 3 at the University of Maryland.

Please welcome our new member:

Marla Maples

We look forward to getting to know you.

Ruth Lyle

Membership Vice President

ruthannlyle@gmail.com

210-722-1732

SHARE

Have you read an interesting book? Binged a great tv series? Listened to new music? Visited an exciting city, country, art exhibit, music festival, restaurant?

Let us know so we may share it in our newsletters.

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Soy de Tejas

Located in the heart of downtown in Historic Market Square, Centro de Artes gallery is a

two-story exhibit space dedicated to telling the story of the Latino experience in the

United States with a focus on South Texas through local and regional art, history, and culture,

and showcasing Latino artists and Latino-themed artworks.

Soy de Tejas - A Statewide Survey of Latinx Art

Opening Reception February 9, 2023, from 6 PM to 10 PM – Soy de Tejas presents the works of forty native Texan and Texas-based contemporary artists who reflect the diverse and beautiful complexity of Latinx identities. Curated by Rigoberto Luna, the more than 100 artworks filling the two-story exhibition forge new connections and explore intersections from a nexus of artists who ambitiously blaze a trail of contemporary artmaking, presenting fresh Latinx perspectives and experiences while amplifying the voices of a segment of Texas' most inspiring established and emerging artists.

Location: 101 S. Santa Rosa Ave. San Antonio, TX 78207 – in Historic Market Square

Gallery hours: Wednesday – Friday: 10:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday & Sunday: Noon – 5 p.m.

Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Note: Closed on City of San Antonio holidays.

Nina Simone: Four Women

Presented by The Public Theater of San Antonio at The San Pedro Playhouse, San Antonio TX

January 20, 2023 – February 12, 2023

This play with music by Christina Ham includes popular Civil Rights anthems such as

“Mississippi Goddam,” “Go Limp,” “Young, Gifted, and Black,” and more.

“Nina Simone: Four Women is set on September 16, 1963. The day after the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. This play with music uses the framework of one of the Civil Rights Era’s leading songstresses’ most blistering songs to give voice to a group of women

suffering self-hatred due to the different hues of their skin.

A journey that leads these four women through healing and transformation.”

Listen to Nina Simone’s song “Four Women” to get a sense of theme.

Program Schedule for 2022-2023

March 4, 2023: TBA

April 1, 2023

Lead: Dr. Karen Reichensperger, Scholarship Committee Chair

Program: San Antonio AAUW Scholarship Winners

Election of Officers

May 6, 2023: Scobee Girls STEM Summit (Aligned to DEI topic: Equity)

Speakers: Michelle Risse and Andrea Montano

Program: Scobee Education Center: STEM Education for Young Women Interested in STEM Careers

This presentation will reflect on the programs Scobee has provided through the Artemis Academy for Girls, the Scobee STEM Summit and what research tells us about how general STEM careers currently reflect our population. The Scobee Education Center has hosted the Scobee Girls STEM Summit since 2016 and funded an all-girls STEM camp.

Committee Members:

Monica Ruiz-Mills

Judy Branch

Mary Ellen Pratt

Martha Steele

DONATE!

You can donate to the AAUW San Antonio Branch for Scholarships by making a check out to AAUW SA and sending it to Treasurer Adrien Frank, 140 Patterson, #104, San Antonio, TX 78209.

You can also donate to AAUW Greatest Needs

by clicking HERE.

Follow AAUW San Antonio on:

Facebook www.facebook.com/aauw.sanantonio

Twitter @AAUW_SanAntonio

LinkedIn AAUW San Antonio