Welcome to fall and cooler weather!

Greetings. I hope that all of you survived the brutal summer heat. I am looking forward to seeing you at our first meeting of the 2012-2013 year.

At this meeting, we will be writing letters to women who are registered to vote, but who did not vote in either the 2008 or 2010 elections. This is part of AAUW’s GOTV (Get Out the Vote) initiative. This project is sponsored by NC Women Matter. I have received names and addresses of women from the Greensboro and High Point areas. The purpose of our letters will be to encourage the women of North Carolina to vote in this year’s election. Basically, we will be providing information on issues that affect women, and encouraging early voting. Since we are a non-partisan organization, we will not be endorsing any specific candidate.

We will provide paper, pens and stamps. I also have some sample letters that you can use as a guide. Pick an issue that you feel is important to women and families and plan to use that in your note. The recipient of your letter will respond to your passion as well as to the logic behind your comments.

Women make up just over 54% of the registered voters in North Caroline. Informed women voters can make good things happen in our state for women, children and families!

Looking forward to seeing you there!

– JoAnn

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OUR NEXT MEETING: September 24 (Monday), 3:30 p.m. at Connie’s house, 107 Epworth Drive, Jacksonville. This will be a “Get Out the Vote” letter-writing party. We will hand-write letters to those who have not voted in 2008 or 2010 and encourage them to vote this November. Guests are welcome!

Editor’s note: According to the Sept. 2012 AARP Bulletin, 67.5% of citizens age 18+ voted in the 2008 presidential election in North Carolina. [In comparison] 75% of citizens age 18+ voted in the 2008 presidential election in Minnesota and 51.8% voted in that same election in Hawaii.

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OKTOBERFEST: Once again we will join the Onslow County Council for Women to hand out information of interest to women and their families at the Oktoberfest in downtown Jacksonville. This event is the largest fundraiser for Onslow Community Outreach and its Homeless Center, Soup Kitchen and Caring Community Clinic. Admission is a canned food item (or more). We always have a fun time and meet very interesting women. Connie has the sign-up list. At this time the 10 a.m. – 12 noon slot needs one person. Ask Connie about the afternoon slots at the meeting. Thanks in advance for helping!

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2012 MEETING DATES AND PROGRAMS*

September 24, 3:30 p.m. – Get Out the Vote letter-writing party. Location: 107 Epworth Dr., Jacksonville.

October 22, 3:30 p.m. – Regular meeting. Location: TBA

October 27, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. – Oktoberfest (joint project with Onslow County Council for Women), 421 Court Street, downtown Jacksonville. Contact Connie to sign up to work the booth.

*Locations will be announced closer to the meeting date.

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REMINDER: Our branch website is available 24 hours a day with our branch newsletters, current and past, and the latest information on what we are doing. So if you accidentally erase this e-mail, don’t worry. We are still here! Go to www.jacksonville.aauwnc.org .

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