Dear Members,

It is Spring!!! Did we have Fall and Winter?

We celebrated Black History Month in February and will celebrate Women’s History Month in March. During these celebrations we recognize the achievements of each group and their contributions to the building of this country and to the enrichment of life in this world. We recognize the individuals who contributed to those achievements. But it is also the recognition of the continuous fight of each group to exist freely and equally in this country and around the world. And it is a fight that has lasted hundreds of years and will continue for many more.

I remember learning to read the “Colored Only” and "White Only” signs over public and private water fountains and listening to my parents discuss saving money to pay poll taxes to be able to vote in the late 50’s and 60’s. Today, parts of the voting rights were rescinded in 2013 by the Supreme Court under Shelby County v. Holder and the Equal Rights Amendment to protect women’s rights has yet to be ratified.

Are we working hard enough to affect change? What connections are we building to meet these challenges?

As an AAUW member, you may want to review AAUW Public Policies Priorities as you help GOTV, decide which candidates you will support, discuss the candidates with others, etc. Find the priorities HERE

Among all the voting this spring is AAUW National voting for bylaw changes and new members of the Board of Directors. You should have received notice by email. These links should lead you to all you need to know and dates for the voting.

2024 Proposed Bylaws Changes

AAUWSA slates of officer candidates for 2024 2025 is in this newsletter but is missing President Elect and Secretary candidates. Please volunteer for these positions. The job descriptions are on the website. Candidates have provided a small bio and a picture so that you may get to know something about the members who want to volunteer for these very vital positions in our organization.

I look forward to Andrea Hofstetter, Executive Director, Visitation House Ministries, explain how she built connections to meet the challenge of homeless mothers as our guest speaker on March 2nd.

See you March 2.

Diane Claiborne-Carr

President

AAUW San Antonio

571-330-1039

dcarr23.woman@gmail.com

2023-2024 Branch Leaders

Executive Committee

President

Diane Claiborne-Carr       

President Elect

Claudia Walker     

Vice President Membership

Ruth Lyle                         

Vice President Programs

Deborah Andrepointe              

Secretary

Norma Khoshbin    

Treasurer

Antonina Duridanova

Parliamentarian

Suzanne Benson

Standing Committees

Public Policy

Pat Sanford

Budget/Finance

Antonina Duridanova

Scholarships/NCCWSL

Jeanette Pierce

Karen Reichensperger

Colleges/Universities

Martha Steele

Funds

Vacant

Communications

Malinda Gaul

STEM

Mary Ellen Pratt

DEI

Vacant

Governance

Jeanette Pierce

Appointed

Historian

Rachel Skelley

Community Coordinator

Vacant

Reservations

Vacant

Publicity

Michelle Burk

Member Outreach

Kathy Dicke

AAUW SAN ANTONIO

MONTHLY GENERAL MEETING

March 2, 2024

11:00 a.m.

Bazan Library

2200 W. Commerce Street 78207

Box Lunch

$18.00

YOU MUST RSVP NO LATER THAN FEBRUARY 29, 2024

OR WE WILL NOT HAVE LUNCH FOR YOU.

CANCELLATION NLT FEBRUARY 29, 2024

Reservations with Antonina Duridanova: ninadanoff@sbcglobal.net

Checks made out to: AAUW-SA

Note: March Meeting

Mail to: AAUW San Antonio

           P.O. Box 460825  

           San Antonio, TX 78246-0825

 Zelle payment: Click the bill pay tab in your bank account and select Zelle. 

Use the email aauwsatx@gmail.com to send money.

In the memo field identify the payment: AAUW Monthly Meeting.

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN

SAN ANTONIO

RECAP OF MONTHLY GENERAL MEETING

Paesanos

555 E. Basse

Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024, 11am

11:15am Meals served

11:50am Dre Andrepoint introduced the speaker: Valarie A. Martinez, PH.D, Associate Professor of History at Our Lady of the Lakes University. She presented a talk on Ethnic Study courses in the San Antonio High School curriculum. She began sharing the history of marginalization and community-based resistance locally, movements, walkouts as well as the establishment of Ethnic & Women’s studies programs in higher education. The development of research centers and hard work of like-minded individuals created an elective course and had it approved in 2014 – Mexican American Studies. In 2016 there was a massive campaign to compile information from scholars to reject the current history textbook and create a more truthful, accurate one. It was passed in 2018 and in 2020 African American Studies course was included.

In the 2022-23 school year 18,000 students enrolled in these courses. She claims it was the holistic approach of scholars, coalition building and community engagement, that made this happen and more work needs to be done to have Asian American and American Indian/Native studies available and textbooks created. Knowing names of judges, school board and city council members on the ballots when voting that support ethnic studies is powerfully important. There’s a call to action: Action Network Letter Campaign. 

For more information contact Valerie Martinez, 210/528-7061, 806/928-1606, vamartinez@ollusa.edu.

Martha Steele - Can We Talk event addresses education, theme: Can We Talk about the Future of Public Education?. March 13^th, held at SAWS building, 2800 US Hwy 281 North. Register now, cost $30 until 2/16; $45 until 3/8; $55 after 3/8^th. 

Contact Martha if you plan to attend. Steelemar@gmail.com. 

Payment: Online Zelle – aauwsatx @gmail.com or by check.

Day of event - 5:30pm – Vendors; 6:15pm – Dinner; 7pm – Program

Malinda Gaul – Champagne & Chocolate Scholarship & Textbooks Fundraiser is on. 

$25 Chocolate

$50 Champagne & Chocolate

$100 Chocolate, Champagne, and a surprise

Malinda shared the election of AAUW State Board of Directors are coming up in April. The Board supports women’s rights and is open and inclusive to all women. Diane Carr is running for State Membership position and Cheryl Fuller for Central District Representative.

Malinda also shared that voting on proposed National bylaws change that would fully open up AAUW membership by removing the requirement for a college degree. Many AAUW members see this as an equity issue that needs to be addressed. All members should have received an email from National on the voting that opens in April

Diane Carr:

AAUW Texas 2024 Conference, Saturday, April 6^th . The Conference will be held online, Zoom, half a day, 9-1pm. AAUW Texas wants members to participate in the state conference. Diane called for watch parties to encourage participation, $50 will be received for snacks. Contact Diane dcarr23.woma@gmail.com to be included. Our local general meeting will be on Saturday, April 13^th.

Our branch will be nominating our Most Outstanding New Member and Most Outstanding Member for consideration by AAUW-Texas. Criteria: a narrative describing accomplishments and why they qualify. Outstanding Member - person who dedicates herself to ensuring that the branch activities are successful, generous with her time and willing to help out wherever necessary. Outstanding New Member - a member who has been with the branch 3 years or less and is involved.

Diane is looking for someone to help with web design of the Texas conference online program booklet. Dre, Valerie and Adrien volunteered.

Diane’s question to the members – What is AAUW’s focus? What are we passionate about to get accomplished as members? A suggestion is to collaborate with like-minded groups and support each other. Education and student support welled up from the group, programs for young women with children, alternate schools, pregnant teens, students lacking credits, Visitation House Ministries...ideas members can investigate and share at the next meeting for further consultation.

Debbi Sochia – Nomination Committee met Wed., Jan. 31^st. 

Officer Slate:

President-Elect - Vacant

Vice President of Programs – Martha Steele

Vice President of Membership – Debbi Sochia

Secretary – Vacant

Treasurer Elect – Patricia Tucker

It was suggested that each nominee send in their experiences and background for their position to be posted in the March newsletter.

Ruth Lyle – Membership – An updated membership directory was sent out recently. Any updates/edits to please call her.

Meeting adjourned at 1:30pm.

Submitted by Norma Khoshbin

Secretary

Report from Nominating Committee

2024-2025 SLATE FOR AAUW SA EXECUTIVE BOARD

The nominating committee met virtually on Wednesday, January 31, 2024. The committee acted in accordance with the AAUW San Antonio Branch Bylaws and followed guidelines set forth for the Nominating Committee. The nominating Committee submits the following nominations to serve as officers for the AAUW San Antonio Branch for the 2024-2025 year:

• Vice President for Programs (1 year term) Martha Steele
• Vice President for Membership (1 year term) Debbi Sochia
• Treasurer Elect (1 year term) Patricia Tucker
• Secretary (1 year term) No nominee
• President Elect (1 year term) No nominee

Positions with “no nominee” are still open.

The membership will vote on the nominees for each board office at the Annual Meeting in April. During the April meeting, nominations may be made from the floor at the time of the election, provided written consent by the nominee has been obtained in advance. Until then, anyone wishing to run for any position on the Board should contact a member of the Nominating Committee. Contact information is in our AAUW SA Directory.

The election will be by ballot unless there is only one nominee for a given office, wherein a voice vote will be taken. The election shall be by a majority vote of those members present and voting.

An introduction to each nominee is below.

Respectfully Submitted,

Debbie Sochia

Kathy Dicke

Wondra Chang

Patricia Tucker

Martha Steele

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

Mary Caudill and Juanita Sepulveda

Invite a friend or family member to attend a meeting. If they join as a New Member after attending a San Antonio AAUW event or meeting, the National dues are half price: only $36. AAUW Texas dues are $13.00, and San Antonio Branch dues are $16.00, for a total of $65 for their first year.

IF YOUR MEMBERSHIP IS DUE, PLEASE RENEW TODAY!

You can pay online with Zelle or by check.

On January 30th you received an email from me with the updated AAUW-SA Directory. Please let me know anytime there are changes to your information.

Any membership questions please call, text or email me.

Ruth Lyle

V.P. Membership

AAUW - San Antonio

call/text/email

210.722.1732

ruthannlyle@gmail.com

It's here....

the election year that we’ve been talking about for the last three years. Pundits prognosticate, pollsters predict, media slants one way or another. To be fair, there are impartial and objective print and broadcast news sources. However, finding them can be a challenge.

AAUW will be a local, state, and national resource as the year progresses, culminating in Election Day, November 5th. Look for timely information, resources, and suggestions for action you can take to help make positive change, and more. For example, at the local level across the United States, school boards have become divisive, and often, political. AAUW National’s webinar on February 7, titled “School Boards: The Battleground for the Education Culture Wars,” dealt with controversial policies that have led to book banning, censorship of curriculum, and policies leading to the prevention of safe school climates for LGBTQ students. Kathi Harper, a member of AAUW in California, was the presenter. She was excellent, focused, and dynamic. Kathi’s information is well organized and her slides make the information easy to use. Click here to view and scroll down to Recent Webinars.

The League of Women Voters, LWV, is an invaluable resource that AAUW promotes. The league’s website provides key information including dates for the 2024 elections, Vote11, a site that provides election information on elections, candidates, bills, and more. You can sign up to receive regular email updates. Click here for League of Women Voters website. Click here to go to the Vote411 website.

AAUW is nonpartisan; however, AAUW is not apolitical. It has always been a values driven organization. AAUW Texas has a Public Policy Advisory Committee that works with lobbyist Kate Kuhlmann of HillCo Partners and her team to navigate Texas legislative sessions. Kuhlmann and team provide support, guidance, and suggestions for action AAUW members can take organizationally and individually, urging legislators to vote for bills that support AAUW priorities and against those that do not. Check your email for messages you will receive directly from state via Constant Contact.

Find timely news and reminders in this newsletter every month. It will be a busy, active, and important year for all of us. It is imperative that we are engaged. Being informed is a strong way to start.

Pat Sanford

AAUW SA Public Policy Chair

AAUW TX Public Policy Advisory Committee

Voting Quotes for 2024

I think these quotes are very relative to today’s political voting scene and always has been! Let’s fine one person who does not vote and ensure the person is registered and take the person to the poll during each time period this year!

Susan B. Anthony “Someone struggled for your right to vote. Use it.”

Peggy Noonan Our political leaders will know our priorities only if we tell them, again and again, and if those priorities begin to show up in the polls.

“I have no fear that the result of our experiment will be that men may be trusted to govern themselves without a master.” Thomas Jefferson, Letter to David Hartley, 1787

“We may define a republic to be … a government which derives all its powers directly or indirectly from the great body of the people, and is administered by persons holding their offices during pleasure for a limited period, or during good behavior.” James Madison, Federalist 39, 1788

A share in the sovereignty of the state, which is exercised by the citizens at large, in voting at elections is one of the most important rights of the subject, and in a republic ought to stand foremost in the estimation of the law. Alexander Hamilton, The Papers of Alexander Hamilton, Harold C. Syrett, ed. (New York, Columbia University Press, 1962), Vol III, pp. 544-545.

The elective franchise, if guarded as the ark of our safety, will peaceably dissipate all combinations to subvert a Constitution, dictated by the wisdom, and resting on the will of the people. Thomas Jefferson, The Jeffersonian Cyclopedia, John P. Foley, ed. (New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company, 1900), p. 842.

The rational and peaceable instrument of reform, the suffrage (votes) of the people.

Thomas Jefferson, The Jeffersonian Cyclopedia, John P. Foley, ed. (New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company, 1900), p. 842.

Barack Obama "There's no such thing as a vote that doesn't matter."

Thomas Jefferson “We do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate.”

Plato "One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors."

John F. Kennedy “The ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs the security of all.”

Pericles “Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn’t mean politics won’t take an interest in you.”

Louis Brandeis The most important office, and the one which all of us can and should fill, is that of private citizen.

SIMPLE FIX

by Dee Kite

I’m both hypervigilant and imaginative. It’s a combination leading to envisioning quite a few frightening scenarios. Like this one:

In an airport far, far from home I lose my phone. My connecting flight is cancelled and I have to book an alternative. I need to let my cousin, who is going to pick me up, know my new flight number and when I’ll arrive. I could borrow someone’s phone to call her. But. While I still remember some of my childhood phone numbers I don’t remember hers. I only remember two people’s phone numbers. In this scenario, neither answers.

Thankfully, there’s a simple fix. You can do it today. Make a list of all important phone numbers and keep a copy at home, a copy in your wallet and send a copy to a person whose number you remember.

Voila. One problem down. Don’t worry though, I’ll think of a hundred more.

WORK SMART

The YWCA of San Antonio is doing their Third Annual Wage Equity Summit on Saturday, March 2, 2024, at Alamo Colleges District Headquarters, 2222 N. Alamo St. It is from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm and includes speakers for general sessions and breakout sessions. Our Malinda Gaul is presenting AAUW’s Work Smart as a breakout. She participated last year and says it was really good. Here is the link. The Summit includes free breakfast and lunch.

Don't Mess with Books in Texas

Did you know that Texas bans more books than any other state? That is why National Council of Jewish Women San Antonio is organizing a city-wide symposium about book banning on Sunday, April 14, 2024 in the afternoon. The event will follow the SA Book Festival on Saturday, April 13th and will take place right before the Texas Librarian Association conference, which will be in SA the following week.

The theme of the symposium is how book bans affect our San Antonio Community. They plan on having a guest keynote speaker and a panel discussion featuring a teacher, a school librarian, a parent, an author and a public librarian.



More details coming soon!

From Box Street........



"We are Box St. All Day; A glow-up from our popular food truck and catering company, The Box Street Social. We are a Full-Service All Day Brunch Restaurant, located in the heart of San Antonio in Hemisfair, in between the Tower of the Americas and Yanaguana Garden. The New Civic Park is our beautiful front yard! Serving up great views and even better food "all day". Espresso bar, craft cocktails, bubbles and local beer. Fresh donuts made in house. Brunch available All Day but Lunch & Dinner offerings also available for when you’re not feeling breakfast all day. Come as you are, we're ready to serve you!"

Movie Goers

Since the movie schedule comes out every Thursday we cannot plan a month in advance. Look for notice when there is a good movie.

DONATE!

You can donate to the AAUW San Antonio Branch for Scholarships by making a check out to AAUW SA and sending it to AAUW San Antonio Branch, P.O. Box 460825, San Antonio, Texas 78246.

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

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