In this issue...
President's Message
Featured Article:
- Donate by Volunteering Your Time
State News:
- The Pulse of Public Policy
- AAUW NJ to sponsor two students at NCCWSL
- Presidents, your input is needed
- What Inclusion Really Means - Feb 13 @7pm via Zoom
- Tech Trek and Tweentech looking for volunteers
National News:
- Ms. Magazine and AAUW are partnering up!
Other News:
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Freehold Branch DEI Program, Feb 8 @7pm via Zoom - email for link
- Upcoming AAUW NJ 2023 Dates
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Research
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Education
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Advocacy
Equity
for all
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AAUW members that I’ve asked say they belong to AAUW because they want to make a difference in the world, to be part of the solution to problems of inequity, along with having a good time getting to know like-minded women, of course. Your AAUW NJ Executive Committee is working hard to come up with creative ways to empower you, so that you can empower others to create a more equitable world.
I’m proud of the equity programs that we’ve carried out across the state so far this year, primarily led by a branch or several branches that collaborate. From running a Steminist camp, to representing AAUW at the NJ Conference for Women and Women's Equity Day at Alice Paul Institute, to hosting several engaging DEI discussions, we’re reaching out to our members and our community to advance equity for all.
This month we’re asking you to connect with us to help us empower women - be a leader, help with an event, take action and make change happen!
Karen Brown
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DONATE
by Volunteering
Your Time
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is ‘what are you doing for others?’”
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Since 1881, the American Association of University Women has continued to trailblaze for women, breaking down barriers and making the world more equitable for future generations. Members in New Jersey have always been generous, supporting AAUW financially, but there is also another important way to give. Volunteering your time to the issues that AAUW promotes is another way of giving.
"We only have what we give."
Isabel Allende
There are many different avenues for donating time. Have you thought about volunteering at your Branch level on a committee or as an officer? Perhaps writing a grant to the Charitable Trust to sponsor a project for gender equality in education or leadership for women and girls would be of interest to you. Or maybe volunteering for a special fundraiser which will promote AAUW ideals. These are all good ways to donate your time.
"When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed."
Maya Angelou
There are other ways to donate your time. Teentech, Tech Trek 2023, the National Conference for College Women Student Leaders, and our coalition leader the New Jersey Coalition Against Human Trafficking are all exceptional causes.
"No one has ever become poor by giving."
Anne Frank
AAUW NJ relies on its members and supporters to help drive policy change, shift work cultures, and empower women, so please consider volunteering for an AAUW NJ office. For a full description of State and Branch leadership positions, please go to:
“The greatest gift you can give someone is your time, because when you give your time, you are giving your heart.”
Nina Del Collo
Thank you for generously donating time to AAUW NJ.
Nina R. Del Collo
AAUW NJ Funds Chair
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The Pulse of Public Policy
Submitted by Mary H. Hager, PhD
AAUW NJ Public Policy Director
Let AAUW know your thoughts:
AAUW members play an important role in choosing the organization’s leaders and policy priorities. AAUW is soliciting your feedback on AAUW’s proposed Bylaw changes and Public Policy priorities for the next two years. The deadline for your comments was January 27.
By clicking here on Input, you can access the AAUW webpage which has both sets of proposals (Bylaws and Public Policy priorities) for your review All members will be able to vote on both sets of proposals starting April 5 and ending on May 17.
Key Dates for 2023 Bylaws & Public Policy Vote:
January 27 - Comment period ends at 5:00 pm
April 5 - Voting opens – online voting is encouraged
May - 15 Online voting ends at 5:00 pm ET
May - 17 Vote results announced online
Remember the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act?
On December 22, 2023, Congress passed the PWFA. Much to the relief of advocates, the PWFA was added back into the omnibus spending bill, after having been blocked by the Senate on December 8, 2023. AAUW advocated for the PWFA. The PWFA had bipartisan and widespread public support.
Modeled after the Americans with Disability Act, the PWFA expands protections to pregnant workers requiring reasonable accommodations be made by employers of 15 or more workers, if the accommodations do not present undue hardship to the employer. The EEOC has one year to issue regulations to enact the law.
Congress also passed the PUMP Act (Providing Urgent Material Protections for Nursing Mothers Act) on December 22, 2023, which expands workplace protections upon a 2010 amendment to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) for all lactating employees, including exempt employees. Employers (with 50 or more employees) must provide all who are nursing with reasonable time and private space to express breast milk (not a bathroom).
President Biden signed both into law before the year end deadline.
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Public Policy NEWS NUGGETS
Read AAUW’s Washington Updates for a complete report on upcoming initiatives to support AAUW’s public policy priorities. The following news nuggets are additional information from other outlets you may find interesting.
From Politico's Women Rule...
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Women Rule’s Favorite Stories of 2022. In 2022, two major events threw into question the presumption that women would continue making steady social and economic progress in the United States. Coverage of these two issues made for some of the most urgent, necessary journalism on women and gender in years. Women in power also made headlines throughout the year.
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A Record Number of Women in State Legislature. According to results tabulated by Rutgers University’s Center for American Women and Politics, Women Rules reported on December 22, 2022, that at least 2,404 women will serve in state legislatures in 2023, surpassing the previous record of 2,307. Almost one third of all state legislators will be women — 32.6 percent. The statistics include state-by-state data, as well as data based on party affiliation.
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AAUW NJ Will Sponsor Two Students
Early Bird Rates (Effective through April 3)
NCCWSL STEM Half-Day Workshop Only (May 31): $65
NCCWSL Residential Conference Only (May 31 – June 3): $565
After April 3 - $685 regular rate
AAUW NJ will sponsor two college students to attend NCCWSL this year. All branches may nominate candidates by sending the students’ resumes and a brief “letter of interest” stating why they want to attend NCCWSL and how they expect to use what they learn, to aauwnj@gmail.com by March 3, 2023. The Executive Committee will select which students to sponsor. Sponsored students are expected to report to AAUW NJ board about their experience at the conference (can be in-person, writing, or video).
If your branch is also sponsoring students to NCCWSL
please let the state know by sending an email to aauwnj@gmail.com.
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Presidents, Your Input is Needed
AAUW NJ needs your branch's input as we consider alternatives to our spring state-wide conference. Please plan to attend these two virtual meetings by registering and marking your calendar now.
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Join us on February 13th... |
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Tech Trek Camp is scheduled for July 23-29, 2023 at Stockton University. Nominations are arriving daily from across the state. We are still in need of county chairs in the following counties/areas:
Bergen | Cumberland | Gloucester
Hunter | Mercer | Monmouth
AAUW NJ County Chairs are responsible for reading nominations applications during the months of January and February, following Tech Trek selection criteria and guidelines. The Chair and a selection committee is responsible for conducting interviews on Zoom or in-person with prospective campers and their parents or guardians.
Please think about volunteering where help is needed.
It is greatly appreciated!
Thanks to the following who have already stepped up to Chair county nominations:
Atlantic County-Theresa Basquez; Burlington County-Edwina Sessons; Camden County-Becky Strickland; Cape May County-Theresa Basquez; Essex County-Nina Del Collo; Hunterdon County-Brigid Coakley; Middlesex County-Trudy Iwanski; Morris County-Judy Vernon; Ocean County-Marcia Guzman; Salem County-Marian Haag; Somerset County-Brigid Coakley; Sussex County-Rebecca Mears, Sharon Mullen, Rina Maslow; Warren County-Kathy Greco
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Stockton University
Friday, March 17, 2023
A day of hands-on technology workshops for girls in middle school. Tween Tech serves as a “sampler” for our Tech Trek residential camp, which is open to for 7th grade girls from our state (entering 8th grade after the camp)
If you are interested in volunteering to help at Tween Tech, please email Linda Harmon, NJ STEM Director linda.harmon@gmail.com.
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Ms. and AAUW are Partnering Up!
This year, Ms. magazine celebrates 50 years as a groundbreaking feminist magazine. And AAUW has been the premier organization advancing gender equity for 141 years. Over our long and overlapping histories, both AAUW and Ms. have sparked new laws and ushered in social movements. Now, as part of a special partnership, we’re pleased to offer AAUW members a free, one-year subscription to Ms. And everyone can access AAUW CEO Gloria Blackwell’s recent Ms. article about the need to push harder for women leaders.
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Upcoming AAUW NJ Dates
2023
March 17, 2023 - Tween Tech at Stockton University
Spring 2023 TBA - TeenTech at Essex County College
April 18, 2023 - DEI: Anti-Racism - Let’s Own It! 7:00 p.m. via Zoom. Hosted by the Northern Ocean County Branch
April 29, 2023 - Annual Business Meeting via Zoom. Details to be announced
June 3, 2023 - Leadership Conference - Time, location and agenda to be announced
July 22 2023 Tech Trek Orientation Day for Staff and Alumni Reunion, Stockton University
July 23 - 29, 2023 Tech Trek Camp, Stockton University
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If your branch is forwarding the AAUW mission in some way, please share your activities with aauwnj@gmail.com. We want to celebrate you!
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See what's happening on our social sites |
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