• Flyer about the event — with links for additional information

The rally will be on the Halifax Mall, the open area north of the Legislative Building, bounded by N. Salisbury, N. Wilmington, and W. Lane streets in downtown Raleigh.

View Larger Map

Text of Resolution opposing Amendment One

The image to the left shows how the amendment will appear on all four primary ballots: Democrat, Libertarian, Republican and Non-partisan. Be sure that your friends who have registered to vote as unaffiliated with any party know that they, too, have a vote in this primary (and that, indeed, they can choose a party ballot if they wish).

Members are asked to

• Bring awareness of the pitfalls of the amendment to their branch and their community;
• Organize actions to bring attention to the amendment;
• Get out the vote to defeat this amendment;
• Join in coalition with other organizations working against the amendment

Absentee voting has already begun. Be sure you are prepared to help voters understand both the primary voting process (since many skip the primaries) and this issue.

• NCElectionConnection.com: a great resource for information on the election (how to register, how to get an absentee ballot, when early voting starts, etc.)
• www.ProtectNCFamilies.org – A resource on information against the amendment
• Flyer/program insert from Democracy NC on both voting rules and the amendment. Print some to hand to your branch members/neighbors or order in quantity from info@democracy-nc.org

Edited 4/14 to add Democracy NC flyer.

Marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this state.

The AAUW Public Policy Principles and Priorities (approved by vote of the members) includes the language that

To guarantee equality, individual rights, and social justice for a diverse society, AAUW advocates … [f]reedom in definition of family and guarantee of civil rights in all family structures

Therefore, opposition to the amendment is consistent with AAUW principles.

Starting with a document approved by the NC National Organization for Women, the AAUW NC executive committee has approved a resolution that will be considered by a vote at the AAUW NC annual meeting on March 31.

• Text of the resolution

This will be on the agenda for the March 30-31 meeting in two places:

• Friday afternoon meeting of branch presidents
• Saturday afternoon during the annual meeting of AAUW of North Carolina

Any vote on Friday will be advisory. The Saturday vote will be binding. If the resolution passes, members will be able to mention the formal opposition of AAUW NC when discussing the amendment. If the resolution fails, national policy will prevail, and members in favor of the amendment may, of course, express that opinion — but as individuals, not as AAUW members.

Reminder: AAUW NC bylaws now give a vote to each AAUW NC member attending the annual meeting. We no longer use a delegate system.

More info: Overview of the 2012 annual meeting

HERVotes

• National coalition using social media to drive interest in voting among women
• AAUW is one of founding organizations
• Started in August, 2011. Blog Carnival on a specific topic about once a month
• More info: www.hervotes.org

AAUW Action Fund Campaign: “It’s my vote – I will be heard”

• Comprehensive campaign from AAUW with a focus on 15 states to get out the vote of Millennial (GenY) women. NC is not one of the 15, but all states are encouraged to participate in portions of the campaign.
• AAUW Public Policy Department is leading the effort and will hire part-time organizers in the 15 states to conduct training of AAUW members and allies.
• Watch for Public Service Announcements, an update to the 2006 Woman-to-Woman Voter Turnout Guide, and more.
• Virginia is the nearest impact grant state with training on April 20 in Newport News
• More info: www.aauwaction.org

NC Women Matter coalition

• State-wide coalition of organizations formed to engage and activate women in the state who recognize the importance of ensuring women’s voices are heard.
• Steering committee includes Democracy NC, NC MomsRising, League of Women voters of NC, NC Women United, and the Women’s Forum of NC.
• AAUW NC has joined the coalition.
• A first Training Summit, covering issues, strategies, and tactics, will be March 10 in Greensboro.
• Use this form to register for the Summit or connect another organization to the coalition
• More info: Pat Orrange, 202-285-2495, info@ncwomenmatter.org

NC Council for Women: Women’s History Month Event

• Celebration/networking event with the theme “If Women VOTE, GIVE, LEAD… Women Win”. RSVP: 919-807-7992
• AAUW NC is a co-sponsor, planning to promote the “It’s My Vote” campaign and HERVotes. Exhibit to be staffed by branch members.
• Tuesday, March 27, 6:30-8:30. NC Museum of History
• More info: www.councilforwomen.nc.gov

For a printable version of this information see: AAUW NC GOTV Summary (pdf)

A broad range of issues has been identified, and most now have “branch champions” to monitor them as they move through the legislative process. To join the team that’s monitoring issues, please contact pp-admin@aauwnc.org. All are welcome to subscribe to the alerts email list to receive updates as they are posted.

Please consult the project summary, and members have access to the more detailed kickoff document.

AAUW NC supported NC Women United‘s booth at the NC Governor’s Conference for Women in Charlotte on Nov. 2. While we did talk to people about AAUW*, NCWU, and the upcoming Agenda Assemblies, our main contribution was to provide handouts on the HERVotes campaign as we talked to the conference attendees about how important it is for women to vote in 2012.

Nearly 170 attendees (more than 10%) pledged to vote in 2012 to protect women’s health and economic rights — the response to our challenge was overwhelming. Another 54 pledged via email during the two days before the conference — more than half from the Tar Heel branch list.

Thanks to AAUW Tar Heel branch members Nancy Shoemaker, Mary Peterson, Becky Mock, Jenine Atoji, Diane Schneider and Robbie Madden for helping to staff the booth.

*Of course! See the News 14 video about the conference and catch Nancy with an AAUW brochure in hand about 1 minute into the clip.

After being discussed at the AAUW NC Fall meetings, branches are now choosing issues, recruiting members to monitor those issues, and signing people up to receive alerts.

Watch for more details in the next issue of the Tar Heel News and our e-Newsletter (subscribe now) as well as on the web site.

Background information:

• List of suggested issues for people in the branches to adopt. (These will be sorted out by the coordinating team to ensure maximum coverage.)
• Expectations for those participating in the project — either as issue monitors (aka “senders”) or “receivers” of the alert information

Kirkman House, Mitchell Community College, Statesville NC
9:30 am – 2 pm

Agenda:

• Public Policy Pilot Program
• AAUW NC Budget
• Continued involvement in the Juvenile Literature Award Program
• E-newsletter and THN updates/discussion
• Discussion of State Annual Meeting
• Nominating Committee

Reservations are required (if you want a lunch and materials), but there is no fee. Please contact Pat Abell (see contacts page) or your branch president to register.

Directions

• Take I-40 to Exit 150
• Take NC 115  to downtown Statesville
• Make a right on Broad St. at the center of town
• Broad ends at Mulberry at the campus. Turn right.
• Turn left on West End Ave.
• Turn left into the entrance to the Mitchell CC parking lot
• Drive all the way to the left of the parking lot and park behind the Kirkman House. You can enter the back door.

Campus Map with route and parking information.

Map to Statesville:

View Larger Map

Here is the current list:

• Proposed Public Policy Issues – August, 2011

Please review those topics and, if you have a chance, discuss your interest in any specific ones with the members of your branch who will be attending the AAUW NC Fall meetings.  If there are issues that you think should be added to the list, please contact Karla Atkinson (see contact page).

Please see 2011-2012 AAUW NC Public Policy Priorities for the current status.

Important: One  issue, HB 854 “A Woman’s Right to Know” is scheduled for a veto override vote on Monday, July 25. Please let your legislators know your stand on this issue.  For talking points and updates on Reproductive Rights legislation, see NARAL Prochoice NC and Planned Parenthood.