The version of the AAUW NC bylaws that complies with the changes voted at the 2009 AAUW ceonvention in St. Louis has been posted:

• Bylaws of AAUW of North Carolina, Oct. 2009

This version includes only the changes mandated by AAUW. If you’d like a redlined version to see the specific changes from the previous version, please contact info@aauwnc.org or call 866/525-2155 and leave voice mail with how to contact you.

Proposed amendment defining who may vote

You can find the current discussion of the delegate system in Article XII, Section 2, paragraph a (page 7) of the bylaws above. The executive committee has approved a proposal to replace that with language from the AAUW model state bylaws, Article XI, Section 4, Option 2:

Each voting member in good standing as of the official notice of the meeting may attend and be entitled to one vote at any annual or special meeting of members.

Rationale

The changes approved  by AAUW give the states much more flexibility in their structure and governance. However, only one change is under consideration for presentation to the convention at the AAUW NC convention in April in Charlotte: a change that drops the system of having credentialed delegates to the convention and replaces that with a system where every member in good standing has one vote at any AAUW NC meeting.

This change is modeled after the national change that says that every member of AAUW (not just those who attend convention, and not just those who are delegates) will have a vote on all matters that come before the membership. This implies a mail or electronic ballot that the AAUW NC executive committee deemed was not appropriate for our organization. They thus chose the middle ground — dropping the delegate system in favor of a broader based electorate, but keeping the tradition of all business being transacted in person at the annual meeting of the state.

For the past few conventions, there have been very few members who have attended who have not had a vote at the meeting. However, some branches that bring larger than average delegations do have to pick and choose which members may actually vote. On the other hand, a close vote is exceedingly rare, and there is little enforcement that only those with “credentials” speak up on a voice vote. Simplifying the credential system by using a list of all members as of a certain date saves work for both the convention organizing committee and the branch presidents who now need to appoint the delegates and report them to the state. Indeed, we hope the presidents use that time to convince more members to attend and see first hand the work of AAUW NC.

Related amendment on the definition of a quorum

This change, if approved, will have an effect on the definition of a quorum for a state meeting. As you can see in the document above (Article XII, Section 2, paragraph c), currently a quorum at an AAUW NC meeting is defined as:

If a majority of the branches are represented by their President or at least one (1) other branch delegate, the meeting shall have a quorum.

If we drop the  delegate system, the wording of this needs to be changed (say from “other branch delegate” to “other branch member”). The model bylaws, however, suggest changing this to

The quorum shall be ____ percent of the membership

and suggestions have been to fill that in with 5% (as in the national bylaws). [Recently 80-100 members have attended convention. AAUW NC membership has hovered around 1000 branch members.]

The executive committee (with guidance from the bylaws committee) has not yet announced proposed language for the quorum. It is likely, however, that it will include either a fraction of the branches, a percentage of the members, or both. If you have comments on this, please contact the Bylaws Chair, Elizabeth Laney (see the contacts page).

The executive committee will address this and propose specific language for the change to meet the requirement that all bylaws changes must be announced at least 30 days before the meeting.

What you really need to know:

• The 2010 annual meeting will use the delegate system outlined in the 2009 bylaws
• The 2010 annual meeting will consider a bylaws amendment to move towards giving every member at the meeting a vote (which would be effective at all future meetings). Exact language will be announced in late March and may be amended at the meeting.
• You can always find the bylaws, policies and other important documents on the Documents page of this web site.

Minutes of 2009 AAUW NC annual meeting

These are to be approved at the 2010 annual meeting in Charlotte on April 17.

Minutes of 10/9/09 AAUW NC board meeting

Thursday, March 11
6 pm - 8 pm
Radisson RTP
Morrisville, NC - just off I-40 at Davis Dr/Exit 2800

This networking event will allow the representatives of the membership organizations that are part of the NCWU coalition to connect with each other and with the other NCWU member organizations to see where there are opportunities to work together.

It is also being advertised to the public, and we hope to attract those who haven’t yet connected to use public policy to advance issues of concern to the women of North Carolina — those who might have been members before moving here, or those who just may want to find out how these organizations have changed in recent years.

AAUW NC will be using Shape the Future discounts for new members who join at the event. If you’d like to be part of the AAUW delegation or want to send information on your branch as part of the display, please contact one of AAUW NC’s reps to NC Women United - Elaine Ostrowski and Nancy Shoemaker. [See state contacts page.]

See www.ncwu.org for registration information and more details.

AAUW NC Spring 2010 Newsletter, Tar Heel News

Highlights of this issue:

•  Convention 2010 information
  • Agenda and highlights (p. 1, 6)
  • Clay Carmichael, winner of Juvenile Literature Award, will be there (page 3)
  • Hotel information (page 4)
    • Deadline for AAUW rate: March 17
  • Registration (page 5) (download an extra copy)
    • While AAUW NC has provided online registration with PayPal payment for recent conventions, that may not be available this year. Please go ahead and register using the paper form.
    • Deadline: April 1
• More AAUW NC news
  • President’s message (page 2)
  • Nominating committee is still seeking candidates for 2010-2011 (page 1)
  • AAUW NC welcomes M. Cookie Newsom to the AAUW NC board and as AAUW C/U representative for UNC Chapel Hill (page 2)
  • Connie Gamble Ochse is stepping down on June 30. The Communications team needs a new leader, and the Tar Heel News needs a new editor-in-chief. (page
  • What’s next for AAUW NC? (page 7)
    • Link to article referenced in this essay and other references
• Branch news
  • Wilmington scholarship awarded (page 2)
• More news from AAUW and around the state
  • 25th anniversary of NCCWSL (page 3)
  • NC Council for Women/Domestic Violence Commission names AAUW New Bern member Mary Peterson as chair (page 6)
  • NC Governor’s Conference for Women - Nov. 9 in Raleigh (page 7)

Read more about Dr. Newsom in the spring 2010 issue of the Tar Heel News.

For an example of the kind of programs that UNC-CH hosted under Dr. Mangum’s leadeship, see

• Workshop for current and potential AAUW campus contacts
• Event for students, faculty and staff on Title IX and Pay Equity

Dr. Newsom is already brainstorming other events. Please contact her if you have suggestions or comments.

AAUW NC FY10 Budget

AAUW Twin Rivers/New Bern is hosting their annual authors’ luncheon on January 30 (Saturday). The luncheon is at the Chelsea Restaurant on the corner of Middle and Broad Streets; gathering at 11:30 and lunch served at noon. We will have an author at each table. This year we have a poet, two writers of local history, a playwright whose play will be produced later in the year in New Bern and others (ten authors total). You are cordially invited to attend. Tickets are $25. Contact: Mary A. Peterson, 6303 Gondolier Drive, New Bern, NC 28560, Phone: (252) 636-5074, Email: mapeterson2@yahoo.com.

JoAnn

The AAUW NC State Convention will be held at the Hilton University Place, Charlotte, Friday, April 16 and Saturday, April 17, 2010.

The Hilton is located at 8629 J.M. Keynes Drive, Charlotte, NC 28262, next to the I-85 exit and just 6 miles from I-77. It’s a 100% non-smoking, lakeside property, whose meeting rooms and guest rooms have been recently renovated. The room rate is priced at $109 per night for double occupancy. You may book your reservation now. The number to call is: 1-800-HILTONS. Ask for “AAUW” and anyone answering can help you. You may also call the hotel reservation desk directly at (704) 547-7444. The deadline for making a reservation at the convention rate of $109 is March 17, 2010. Please book your room early to be assured of availability. If you have questions or need further information, please call Diane Schneider, Charlotte Branch President, weekday evenings, at: (704) 598-6268 or e-mail dmschneider@carolina.rr.com .

We are gathering new and gently used purses, pocket books, totes, and wallets to benefit Onslow County Literacy Programs. Purses should be clean and good quality. They will be dropped off at The Daily News. At the Oh Baby Family Expo on May 22, those purses will be auctioned off to raise funds for literacy. Questions? Please contact Connie Gamble Ochse, (910) 346-8223, cgo@ec.rr.com.

January 30 - 11:30 to 2:30 p.m. AAUW Twin Rivers/New Bern Authors’ Luncheon. Chelsea Restaurant at Middle and Broad Streets, New Bern. Tickets $25. Contact Mary Peterson (252) 636-5074 or mapeterson2@yahoo.com.

April 16-17, 2010 - AAUW NC Spring Convention, University Place Hilton, Charlotte. Convention is a time to connect with your fellow AAUW members from all over the state. This group is a rich source of knowledge on a multitude of topics. Don’t miss it!

*Advancing equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, and research.*

My Co-VP Lill Van Order and I welcome you all to convention in Charlotte on April 16-17, 2010! We have planned convention activities with a variety of topics which we hope will appeal to all branch members.

•  Detailed Convention Agenda

Make a point to attend the Board meeting on late Friday afternoon. Full participation by all branches is important, especially before we begin another year of planning and programming for our state organization in 2010-2011.

On Friday evening (following dinner on your own with friends) we will show the film highlighting the efforts of Congresswoman Patsy T. Mink (1927-2002), principal author of Title IX. Mink drafted the legislation as an outgrowth of adversities she faced in obtaining her undergraduate degrees at the University of Hawaii and University of Nebraska.

Attendees will have a choice of attending two of three workshops on Saturday morning.

• Beth Jacobs from the NC Justice Center will discuss a decade of efforts in NC to narrow the racial achievement gap in education.
• Beth Dehghan, NC Coordinator of efforts to ratify the international bill of rights for women, will provide an up-to-date report on these activities, as well as compare the global welfare and well being of women over the last fifteen years.
• Mel Miller, professional financial advisor, will discuss the values of networking in the context of professional and social benefits.

Following a lunch buffet, Carol Rognrud, AAUW Senior Development Officer in Washington, will speak and entertain questions as our Leader On Loan for this convention.

We expect that, in part, discussion at the business meeting at 2PM will focus on proposed bylaws changes that address the voting process for AAUW NC members attending convention or special meetings of the state.

Later on Saturday afternoon, author and illustrator Clay Carmichael will receive the AAUW Juvenile Literature Award and comment on “Wild Things,” her awardwinning book. Carmichael will also be available for book-signing.

Our annual Memorial Service will conclude the Saturday activities before the evening banquet begins, which will feature a cash bar, a “Toast to the Branches” and installation of new state officers.

The Gastonia and Salisbury branches are working with convention coordinator Diane Schneider and other members of the Charlotte branch to make the hospitality suite arrangements for Friday and Saturday.

Essentially, when an issue is proposed the steps are -

• The public policy/advocacy chair confirms that the issue is in line with other published AAUW principles and priorities
• The executive committee, by majority vote, may decide to endorse the legislation

Policy on Endorsing Proposed NC Legislation