Local Branches Should Encourage Student Affiliate Participation

By Amanda Barber, Fairmont State University, Fairmont, West Virginia

The AAUW website provides eight bulleted points on why college women should join the organization. By creating a section on the website that targets students interested in participating in women’s equity issues, AAUW is actively fostering the next generation of female leaders in all areas of society. For today’s college students, the Internet is a vital tool in all aspects of life, from communications via e-mail to public editorials and opinion pieces like blogs. We use the Internet to broadcast our personal passions to the global community through websites like Facebook and MySpace. Internet networking sites like these help us to feel connected to like-minded individuals as well as to find information on organizations like AAUW that put passionate ideas into action on the national stage.

The Internet first introduced me to AAUW. When I bought my car insurance online, I found several groups that offered discounts to members. I read the name American Association of University Women and thought to myself, "I’m a university woman. I should find out what this organization offers." So I "googled" "American Association of University Women" and was immediately intrigued by this mission statement: AAUW advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, and research. I began to search the site, and I found that there was a local branch in the city where my university is located. I quickly e-mailed the state membership vice president as well as the state president, and I was put in touch with my local branch president. I have been an active student affiliate since September 2005.

The local branch that I am affiliated with has given me a somewhat demanding and often rewarding role in encouraging more students to join AAUW. We decided that we wanted to create a satellite group on campus. It was difficult to find information on how to become a recognized campus group because the requirements are not easily accessible online and most local branches are not familiar with the process. But this small setback did not stop our efforts; if anything, it encouraged us to find solutions on our own. Our first step was to ask students to attend an informational lunch held on campus. The group was small but very interested. Next, we followed the steps outlined by the university to become a recognized group. Now, all that is left for us to do is submit our application to the national office of AAUW.

I have been very fortunate to be linked to a local branch that is dedicated to encouraging student involvement. They have invited me to state and regional conventions and have awarded me assistance to attend the National Conference for College Women Student Leaders in Washington, D.C. I was able to join AAUW’s Capitol Hill Lobby Corps for a day on the hill and speak to our congressional leaders about the issues facing today’s female students. But the most valuable experiences I have enjoyed have been the friendships, mentoring, and support system that I have received from lifelong members.

I would encourage local branches to become more active on the Internet as a means of locating and communicating with student affiliates in their area. The Internet can be a powerful tool for mobilization. But even though the Internet can maximize your audience, there is still a need for one-on-one interaction. Branches that have regular membership drives or that need volunteers for local initiatives should invite college students to meetings and be open to new input. The students that you work to attract today will ensure the continuity of AAUW’s role as an organization for women’s equity.