AAUW Mission and Action November/December 2008

Convention Best Value Registration Available until January 15
The 2009 AAUW National Convention: Breaking through Barriers will be held June 26–28 at the Renaissance St. Louis Grand and Suites Hotel in St. Louis, Missouri. AAUW is offering its new Best Value registration rate until January 15, 2009! Register now to take advantage of this special value.

AAUW Hosts Media Luncheon
AAUW previewed our brand-new pay equity campaign for 2009 at a media luncheon attended by influential editors, writers, and bloggers in New York City. AAUW Executive Director Linda D. Hallman, CAE, explained that the campaign — Keep the Change until Women Have Real Change — was inspired by new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which show that women now earn 78 cents for every dollar men earn, up from just under 77 cents in 2006. "While this is the narrowest the wage gap has ever been, it's only an additional one cent on the dollar. One cent is chump change. It isn't real change!" Hallman said. Look for campaign materials, e-cards, and actions when the effort is publicly launched in January.

Note Card Contest
It's your last chance to vote! Thousands of AAUW members have already voted for their favorite works of art for the note card design contest. Voting has been extended to Monday, December 15, so check out the design gallery and choose your favorites.

We Got Out the Vote!
AAUW's Voter Education Campaign was in full swing this fall, as branches held voter registration drives and candidate and issue forums, distributed the AAUW Congressional Voting Record for the 110th Congress and voter guides, and turned out the women's vote in many other ways. Our issues were discussed during a presidential debate, and a record number of women were elected to Congress and state legislatures. If you haven't already done so, please let AAUW know how your branch was involved in the elections.

AAUW Holds Post-Election Analysis Call
Hundreds of AAUW members joined the AAUW Public Policy and Government Relations Department staff for a conference call on the post-election environment and what it means for AAUW's public policy agenda. The call covered both legislative and grassroots components, looking ahead at AAUW's legislative agenda for the 111th Congress and the role members can play in moving the agenda forward. You are also invited to share your priorities for our country with President-elect Obama and the new administration through AAUW's Two-Minute Activist.

AAUW Capitol Hill Lobby Corps Preps for New Congress
The AAUW Capitol Hill Lobby Corps hosted an open house to attract and welcome new members and to begin preparing for the new Congress. Members in the D.C. area, or those visiting D.C., are invited to join the Lobby Corps volunteers on Thursday mornings as they give AAUW a voice and a face on Capitol Hill. To join or to learn more, contact VoterEd@aauw.org.

AAUW Signs On to Fight Pregnancy Discrimination
Coinciding with the anniversary of the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, AAUW signed on to an amicus ("friend of the court") brief on a case involving Title VII and the PDA. The case of AT&T v. Hulteen, which is before the U.S. Supreme Court, will address whether AT&T violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by awarding women retirees smaller pensions because of pregnancy leave taken before the PDA was passed in 1978. The Pregnancy Discrimination Act requires employers to treat pregnant women the same as other employees with similar abilities or physical limitations.

2008–09 Campus Action Project Teams Selected
Eleven Campus Action Project teams from across the country will implement projects this spring on the educational barriers faced by girls and women from low-income and/or minority families in their communities. Focusing on the topic " Where the Girls Are: Promoting Equity for All Women and Girls," CAP teams will create mentoring programs, interactive websites, and documentaries and will host conferences and symposiums. This year's project is supported by a generous contribution from the Mary Ann Ahrens Giving Circle. CAP teams will be announced in mid-December.

E-Student Affiliate Opportunity
Students are a vital part of our community, and AAUW is proud to offer FREE e-student affiliate status to all undergraduate students who do not already have a bachelor's degree and who currently attend an AAUW college/university partner member institution. Learn more about becoming an e-student affiliate and share this opportunity with the students in your family and community.

Making the Holidays Bright
Members of the AAUW Shawnee Mountain (KS) Branch are once again participating with the Johnson County Christmas Bureau to open the annual Holiday Shop. Each year for almost 50 years, the Holiday Shop has welcomed low-income Johnson County, Kansas, families to shop for gifts and necessities that allow them to have a happy holiday season. The Holiday Shop relies entirely on donations. For more information, visit the JCCB website.

Upcoming Fellowship and Grant Deadlines — Apply Now!
Career Development Grants support women who hold a bachelor's degree and who are preparing to advance their careers, change careers, or reenter the workforce. Applications for Career Development Grants are due December 15. A complete list of fellowship and grant deadlines is available on the AAUW website.

Fellowships and Grants Alumnae Update
Take a look at the Fall/Winter edition of AAUW Outlook for a brief summary of our first alumnae survey findings. AAUW will be developing resources and content to connect with past fellows and grantees. Visit the fellows alumnae page to see the latest updates on former recipients.

International Update
December 10 marked the 60th anniversary of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Eleanor Roosevelt served as president and chair of the Commission on Human Rights and was instrumental in the adoption of the declaration. Visit AAUW's International Corner to find out more.

Use Your IRA to Help AAUW
The Tax Extenders and AMT Relief Act of 2008 makes it possible for a taxpayer over the age of 70 and a half to make an annual contribution, up to $100,000 in the aggregate, from traditional IRAs to qualified charities. Such a transfer is not eligible for a tax deduction, but it does count toward your required minimum distribution. Learn more about IRA Charitable Rollovers.