PRESIDENTS’ MESSAGE: Greetings members!
The years of campaigning are finally over, and we will have a new President in the White House in January.
Connie and I attended the Fall Board meeting in Chapel Hill last weekend. A resolution to approve the new Tar Heel Branch, a “branch without borders”, was approved. This branch intends to provide “a more flexible affiliation method for members in communities where there is no branch.” Doris Bernlohr of Burlington is the new branch’s president and contact person – dbernlohr@bellsouth.net.
Pay equity continues to be a concern. Although some improvements have been made over the years, there is still a sizable gap. A “Keep the Change” initiative will be launched in the coming months.
Transportation to the National Convention in St. Louis was also discussed. The convention will be held June 26-28, 2009. Bus travel was researched, and the pros and cons were discussed.
The state convention in Wilmington on March 27, 2009, was also discussed. It will be a celebration of 100 years of AAUW in North Carolina.

JoAnn and Judy, Co-Presidents

Editors note: For detailed summaries of each Fall Meeting workshop, please go to www.aauwnc.org.
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OUR NEXT MEETING: Sunday, November 23; 1:30 p.m., Tony’s Seafood on Western Blvd. in front of Target (Jacksonville). Share a holiday meal with members and guests. Please bring donations for the Onslow Women’s Center. Contact JoAnn or Judy if you have questions about what to bring.
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YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO ATTEND: AAUW Twin Rivers Holiday Brunch on Saturday, December 6; 11:30 a.m. at the Catered Affair on Trent Rd., New Bern. Contact Connie for more information/carpooling/reservations – cgo@ec.rr.com .
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CALENDAR

November 23, 1:30 p.m. – Holiday meal with members and guests; bring items to be donated to the Onslow Women’s Center. Location: Tony’s Seafood on Western Blvd. in front of Target (Jacksonville). Please RSVP to JoAnn – coachjo@embarqmail.com or 910-577-1890.
November 27 – Happy Thanksgiving!
December – NO BRANCH MEETING – HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
January 26, 2009; 6:30 p.m. – Branch meeting, TBA.
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SAVE THE DATE: Celebrate 100 years of AAUW in North Carolina! AAUW Wilmington hosts a celebration at the beach on March 27, 2009 at the Blockade Runner, Wrightsville Beach, NC. You won’t want to miss it. Details in the Winter 2008 Tar Heel News and the January 2009 branch newsletter.
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PLAN NOW: To attend the 2009 AAUW Convention in St. Louis, MO, June 26-28, 2009. We will vote on major changes to the structure of AAUW.
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PAST AAUW Jacksonville Regional Branch newsletters and articles about our branch can be viewed on our web site: www.jacksonville.aauwnc.org.
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Heather F. Ochse, Editor, hksalc@yahoo.com
*AAUW advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education and research.*