If there’s something in your branch newsletter that’s of general interest, please do mail it separately — or post it! — to be sure it’s considered for the state newsletter.

1. You should have received a message last week about using the Member Services Database (MSD) to report your branch’s 2008-2009 officers. I can’t emphasize enough how important it is that you do send in this information so that there is continuity of communication from the Association to your branch. Please do be sure you’ve reported the 2008-2009 president and that she knows how to get into the MSD. You’ll find that your treasurer and membership vp will be able make good use of the MSD to check Association records — please encourage them to register and use the system. Entering the other officers (you’ll find it’s a quick point and click to choose the folks in your branch — no need to enter contact information) will ensure that they, too, get appropriate mailings from the Association.

If you’d like me to give a “virtual tour” of the system, let me know and we’ll schedule one or two sessions during May.

2. Last year we tried to use the national information to populate the AAUW NC branch/state officer listing. For several reasons, that didn’t work so well, and for this year, I’m asking you to fill out the simple AAUW NC form that we used in 2006 and 2007. You’ll find that at

http://www.aauwnc.org/08-09/bof.php

You don’t need to enter member id’s or contact information — we’ll get that from the national listing — and send it to you for proofing.

3. That, then, brings me to the importance of all of your members having correct information on file at AAUW. Again, the Member Services Database helps with this. Each member can register, login and correct any errors in her or his information. Your branch treasurer can make updates to all the branch member records — and every member can see the information for all the others (an instant “yearbook directory” if you will). If your branch treasurer isn’t the person who’s the best one to do these updates, please do name someone else as “co-treasurer” to help out with this specific task. And if the branch president doesn’t want to handle the maintenance of the online officer information, note that any other member can be granted those rights.

Again, let me know if you’d like a demo of the system – we can set that up so that we’re “connected” over the ‘net and you can watch me use the system, then I can watch you …

Thanks so much for helping us get the 2008-2009 year off to a good start.

-Nancy

cc: Other AAUW NC Leaders

1. Background Information
   • Public Policy Program (state), Public Policy Program (Association),
2. Women’s Advocacy Day will be Wednesday, June 18 at the Legislative Building in Raleigh! Come join us!
   • Women’s Advocacy Day Flyer
   • NC Women United Report Card on 2007 Session
3. Information on current issues
   • Paid Sick Leave: Talking points on paid sick leave.
     • NOTE: The board will be asked to confirm AAUW NC’s support of this effort.
     • See also National Partnership for Women and Families (but be prepared to turn off your computer audio)
       
   • Domestic Violence: NCCADV 2008 Legislative Agenda
4. Pay Equity: Watch for a convention version of the “I am the face of Pay Equity” campaign with stickers (to show the other hotel guests what we’re about) and prepared post cards to write to our senators.
5. Young Advocates ToolKit - the information in the last issue of the Tar Heel News will be updated with information on how the branches have taken advantage of this project, funded with a public policy action grant from the Association.

4/15/08:

The Tar Heel News instructions were based on the hotel information, and as of last week the hotel says that they are correct. However, the new Greensboro Urban Loop was opened a few weeks ago, and the signage on I-40 is changing. This road is not yet displayed on Google maps and similar mapping utilities, so if you are not familiar with Greensboro, please be careful and review these instructions. The new road does not affect those coming from the south (Charlotte) on I-85. As noted below, the change when coming from the west (Winston-Salem) is to stay on Business 40, not I-40 (which is the new road). For those coming from the east (Raleigh) here are two suggestions.

• On the east side of Greensboro, after the Mt. Hope Church Rd exit, there are two very large exits. The first is a left exit (now marked I-85/I-40 to Charlotte)–DO NOT take that. Stay to the right, on Business 40 (to Greensboro). Then follow either of these:
• Option 1:
  • Take the next exit onto I-840 (to US 70)
  • Exit onto US-70 west (towards Greensboro)
  • Follow US-70 past the US-29 intersection, and take a left at the next light onto E. Lindsay St.
  • Take Lindsay St. into downtown Greensboro, cross Elm St. and make the next left onto Greene St.
  • Hotel is on the left
• Option 2:
  • Stay on Business 40 to Exit 37/Old Exit 125 (Elm/Eugene St.). Make a right
  • Follow Elm/Eugene and stay straight to continue on Eugene when the roads split
  • Right on Bellemeade St.
  • Left on Greene St.
  • Hotel is on the right.
• Either Option 1 or Option 2 (after I-85 splits from what is now Business 40) are well marked and show up on Google maps.

4/3/08:

• A new section of I-40 has opened recently that may be unfamiliar to some of you. The directions in the Tar Heel News are correct. However, just to clarify: if coming from the west (Winston-Salem), do take Business 40 into Greensboro. If coming from the south (Charlotte) take I-85 to Exit 320 (Business 85/Greensboro). If coming from Raleigh, take I40-W/I85-S to Exit 37/Old Exit 125 (Elm/Eugene St.). Hotel Information and Directions.

3/11/08:

• In some places the deadline for the hotel is given as March 17. However, the actual deadline is March 18. There’s no harm in being early! Make your reservations today!

3/3/08:

• The presenter at the Saturday session, 3:30 - 5:30, will be Anthony Hill, member of the Association board. He’ll be assisted by South Atlantic Regional Director Carol Newnam.
  4/20 update: unfortunately Mr. Hill was in an accident on Friday, 4/18, and was unable to attend convention after all. Thanks to Carol Newnam for filling in, and we wish Anthony well and hope he’ll be able to meet the members in NC at some future event.

2/17/08:

• The memorial service will remember those members who have died since the 2007 (not 2006) convention.
• Parking at the Marriott is not free (as it says on page 7 of the newsletter). Hotel guests registering as part of the AAUW group will be charged $7 for a pass that it is good for unlimited access during their stay. The regular fee is $10/day, so be sure to confirm the parking cost when you register. There is a parking deck at 220 N. Greene St. (the hotel address is 305 N. Greene St.) - parking is $.50/hr; free after 6 p.m. and on weekends.

Note that this is a correction to the date previously announced.

Our bylaws and policies (unlike those of some other AAUW entities) do not put specific restrictions on the choice of a date for convention, but do state that the date must be approved by the executive committee — your elected officers. As you can imagine, the checklist of items for scheduling and putting on a convention is quite long, and depends to some extent on the good faith and institutional knowledge of those who are taking responsibility.  I encourage us all to be sensitive to all important holy days when scheduling our meetings — at both the branch and state level. It is only by putting such sensitivity in our “organizational DNA” that such oversights will be prevented in the future.

I have also asked that the Association put future dates for holy days on the master calendar two or three years in advance. Until that’s done, I find the New York City alternate side parking restriction dates a good “first cut” for important holy days, and the Interfaith Calendar a source for dates in future years.

We apologize to those who will not be able to attend on April 19, and we regret we will lose out on their input.

Do pass this word to your friends who might be considering attending. Note the following:

• The morning workshops and lunch — just $25
• For those who want to make a day of it, add breakfast and the banquet — $60 total
• For those who join when they register, 2008-2009 membership is $48.50, a savings of  about $24.50 on a one-year branch membership

There’s still time to get your name listed — or to encourage your those you know to be eligible to join. The sooner you join, the better — the deadline is the end of Convention (when we’ll start accepting “memberships” for 2008-2009).

See more about the 100 Club.

I. Join by documenting 100 hours spent on AAUW at any level during 2007

There’s a simple form to fill out to document the time spent: PDF | Word

If your 100 hours were spent on a project (not on meetings), you may “claim membership” with an e-mail describing the project(s) and approximate time spent. Send that to president@aauwnc.org.

II. Join by contributing $100 to AAUW NC

There are several ways to make the donation:

• Send a check payable to AAUW NC to Mary Fran Shickedantz, 2809 Watauga Dr., Greensboro, NC 27408. This is simplest if you want to make the donation in honor or in memory of someone.
• Make an online donation — see the AAUW NC 100 Club form at PayPal.
• Purchase a 100 Club logo item at www.cafepress.com/aauwnc

1. *** Next week, Tuesday, March 18 is the deadline to make a reservation *** at the Greensboro Downtown Marriott Hotel for a room during the AAUW NC Convention. Call 800-228-9290 or 336-379-8000.

The room rate is $99/night, single or double, plus 12.75% tax. Rooms held for AAUW NC at that rate will be released after March 18, and the room rate will increase.

2. April 7 is the registration deadline for the Friday and Saturday, April 18-19 AAUW NC Convention. (On Sunday from 8:00-9:30 AM there will be a Post-Convention Leadership Focus Session with Millie Hoffler-Foushee) To register on-line, go to www.aauwnc.org. You can pay on-line with a credit card or mail a check.

For a form you can download and print (and take to gatherings of those who might be interested in the Convention) see the paper registration form (the same form that appeared in the Tar Heel News).

With Convention questions, call or email Co-chair Sue Mengert with questions: smengert@mindspring.com or 336-288-1420

Last night, Greensboro members filled the Welcome Bags, and we’re looking forward to welcoming you and members from your branch for the excellent program and enjoyment that has been planned.

Sue Mengert

AAUW members in NC raised $41,909 up from last year! Our contributions went to the following areas of AAUW.

Association ($3816 raised)

• All branches contributed to the association – from cards or address labels or other contributions

Educational Foundation ($29391 raised)

• $29 per capita – up from last year
• 5 branches contributed $29 or more per capita
• 15 other branches contributed
• 1 branch did not contribute to EF

Legal Advocacy Foundation ($5141 raised)

• $5 per capita from 10 branches
• 8 other branches contributed
• 3 (less than 2006) branches did not contribute to LAF

All contributions to AAUW

• $41 (up from $35 in 2006) per capita for total contributions

Where the money went

• 7 branches contributed to Association, EF, Leadership Training Institute (LTI) and LAF
• 9 branches to Assoc, EF, and LAF

Thanks to all of you for your hard work in the branches raising money, sending in forms and keeping tabs on all of it. It has truly been a pleasure working with all of you.

At convention we will celebrate the efforts of our fundraising

Please remember to buy raffle tickets for the convention basket raffle and keep working for the cause; equity is still and issue.

Thanks, Lill Van Order, Fundraising AAUW-NC

Notes:

• Totals by Branch for the calendar year 2007 (rounded to nearest dollar)
• These figures do not reflect the money raised for local scholarships nor the AAUW-NC 100 club; they are in addition to these