Organization
In chapter five we showcase the organizational nuts and bolts of AAUW of Wisconsin including, programs, communication avenues such as our Badger Briefs newsletter, our commitment to diversity, and membership challenges and initiatives.
Programs
In this section we will learn about initiatives suggested by AAUW for projects that promote gender equity and mission-based branch programs, the Best Practices Recognition Award earned by branches for their successes in forwarding AAUW’s mission, and the Initiative for Educational Equity (IEE) Awards AAUW gives to groups and programs that conduct projects that advance equity.
Initiatives
AAUW offers recommendations and assistance in programming to both states and branches. Five community projects suggested by AAUW beginning in 1999 that promote gender equity include:
1. Tech Check for Schools: project to work with middle and high schools to explore gender equity in classrooms, halls, guidance offices, and computer classes.
2. Signposts: a guide to creating gender-fair schools examines technology, math, science, athletics and sexual harassment.
3. Women-to-Women: a community dialogue project on social justice with partnerships addressing a community need (i.e. teen violence, elder care, women’s healthcare, race relations, etc.).
4. Transitions: conferences held with a local college or university to encourage displaced homemakers, single moms, and those without high school diplomas to continue their education through college courses.
5. Sister-to-Sister: summit offers middle school girls an opportunity to be mentored by high school girls on the invisible curriculum of sexual harassment, dating, body image, teen violence, and substance abuse.
In 2008 AAUW introduces new online resource Program in a Box to help branches focus their programs on mission-based activities. Both AAUW of Wisconsin and its branches occasionally sponsor or co-sponsor projects or programs with themes from the above AAUW recommendations during the decade of this historical supplement.
AAUW of Wisconsin program chairs are tasked with overseeing state programming including programs at state convention. The five program chairs serving the state during the decade of this history supplement are: Judy Jaggard AAUW Beloit Branch 2000-2, Kathleen Marshall AAUW Rhinelander-Northwoods Branch 2002-4, Camille Thibaudeau-Meyers AAUW Kenosha Branch 2004-6, Janet Nortrom AAUW Milwaukee-North Shore Branch 2006-8, and Elma Anderson AAUW Green Bay 2008-10.
Branches Earn Best Practices Award
To recognize branches for programming, projects, and planning that help to forward AAUW’s mission, AAUW of Wisconsin presents qualifying branches with the Making the Connection: 21st Century Best Practices Award. Branches evaluate themselves on 16 mission-based criteria. AAUW recognizes award winners at national convention and AAUW of Wisconsin recognizes state branches both at state convention and in Badger Briefs.
Initiative for Educational Equity (IEE) Awards
In an effort to place girls on the U.S. educational agenda, AAUW national office launches in 1991 the Initiative for Educational Equity (IEE). Yearly awards are given to groups and programs that conduct outstanding projects to advance the cause of equity. Four judges base their decision on each project’s impact, collaboration, creativity, and continuity. Past honorees include mentoring projects, organizations doing gender equity projects, job creation for non-traditional careers, businesses promoting an equity issue, and universities that initiate special programs to encourage girls in fields of study where women are underrepresented.
AAUW of Wisconsin gives the IEE award for many years beginning at least by 1992 – 2008. Monetary and certificate prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place are given in 2004 of $50, $30, and $20 respectively. The last AAUW of Wisconsin state board IEE chair is Pat Phillips AAUW Janesville Branch, who serves from 2000-2. However, IEE awards continue to be given until 2009 when, citing the need to reduce paperwork, eliminate deadlines, and create an online resource for branches looking for projects or programs, the state board replaces the award with an Equity Showcase on the AAUW of Wisconsin website.
2000 IEE Award Winner
1st Place: Choices Youth Program, Marinette-Menominee; supports young girls ages 12-18 at-risk of dropping out of school and of being involved with the judicial system.
2001 IEE Award Winners
1st Place Tie: Jefferson County Literacy Council
1st Place Tie: Math & Science ROCK! Appleton; event for middle school girls designed to encourage them to participate in math and science. Sponsored by AAUW Appleton Branch.
2002 IEE Award Winners (unavailable at press time)
2003 IEE Award Winners
1st Place: The Discovery World – Milwaukee Girls Science Partnership; summer camp for middle school girls to learn about science, technology and economics in a hands on museum.
2nd Place: Transportation for New Solutions (TRANS), teaches women and minorities the skills needed to work in highway construction.
3rd Place: Your Vote, Your Voice, Racine; teaches the privilege of voting at age 18 through pamphlets designed by women graphic art students and distributed to high school history and social study classes. Co-sponsored by AAUW Racine Branch.
Honorable Mention: Hispanic Women Voters Advocacy Packet, statewide mailing; to bring Wisconsin Hispanic women to the polls. Created by AAUW Wausau Branch.
Honorable Mention: Money Smarts College, West Bend; a Saturday program to teaches middle school students financial literacy and financial independence. Financially supported by AAUW West Bend Branch.
2004 IEE Award Winners
1st Place: Southern Oaks Girls School, Union Grove; program for education and rehabilitation of adjudicated girls. Nominated and actively supported by AAUW Fort Atkinson Branch.
2nd Place: Sisters Inspiring Sisters to Appreciate School (SISTAS), Hartford Union High School; 150 eighth grade girls attend this school day afternoon to learn about technology opportunities and careers. Equity project started by AAUW Hartford Branch
3rd Place: Susan B. Anthony Award Dinner, Kenosha; annual dinner honors Susan B. Anthony and the contributions of an area woman who exemplifies the ideals subscribed to by the woman’s rights activist. Co-sponsored by AAUW Kenosha Branch.
Honorable Mention: Dreams to Dollars Financial Independence for Young Women, Rock County; day-long workshop joined 55 high school girls with 27 business women to learn about careers that make for financial independence. Co-sponsored by AAUW Janesville Branch.
Honorable Mention: Get Out the Vote Project, Racine; project emphasized importance of registering to vote and voting. Sponsored by AAUW Racine Branch.
2005 IEE Award Winners
1st Place: Young Women’s Leadership Summit, Janesville. Twenty-four girls from nine high schools planned one-day leadership summit for 300 junior and senior high girls.
2nd Place: Make a Difference, Denmark; advanced Spanish language students were paired with Spanish speaking adults to provide immersion experience for students and English skills learning for adults to obtain their driver’s license to commute to work.
3rd Place Tie: Money Smarts College, West Bend; strives to educate middle school students about the reality of personal finance.
3rd Place Tie: Discovery World/Girl Scouts Science Badge Workshop Program, Milwaukee; encourages girls to succeed in the world of science and technology.
Honorable Mention: TechGyrls, YWCA, Racine; works against the digital divide by empowering under served 9-13 year old girls to delve into computer, animation and robotics technologies under the guidance of college-age and professional women mentors.
2006 IEE Award Winners
1st Place: Girls Experiencing Nature: Science in the Out-of-Doors, Wausau; Girl Scouts fosters enthusiasm for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) through Mobil Nature it Project at Summer Science Camps and interests 3,050 girls ages 6-17 in nature activities.
2nd Place: Young Women’s Leadership Summit, Janesville; encouraged 250 young high school women to pursue interests and careers in science, math, and technology through a day of learning, networking, and dialogue. Co-sponsored by AAUW Janesville.
3rd Place: Career Pathways in Health Occupations, Racine; program brings together 406 students from three area high schools to receive career information, knowledge, and skills in the healthcare professions and to receive mentoring from individuals in the healthcare industry.
2007 IEE Award Winners
1st Place: Sisters Involved Strategically Towards Academic Success (SISTAS), Kenosha; extra-curricular program serving middle and high school female students to mentor Africa-American female students by providing activities related to academic, social, and life skills.
2nd Place: The Ophelia Project of South Eastern Wisconsin, Racine; helps girls form healthy peer relationships while creating a safe social climate for all youth.
3rd Place: Northern Task Force on Literacy, Rhinelander; promotes literacy in young women. Sponsored by AAUW Rhinelander-Northwoods Branch.
Honorable Mention: Discover Why, Monona; 150 Junior Girl Scouts, grades 4-6 ,provided hand-on Math and Science activities. Sponsored by AAUW Monona Branch
Honorable Mention: Women’s History Month Project, Milwaukee; program held in six classrooms in three elementary schools enhances girls self-esteem by introducing important women in history. Sponsored by AAUW West Surburban- Milwaukee Branch.
Honorable Mention: Women’s Scholarship Program, Fort Atkinson; provides $13,000 in scholarships to nine area non-traditional women students. Co-sponsored by AAUW Fort Atkinson Branch.
2008 IEE Award Winners (Final year awards are given)
Tie for 1st Place: The MS Adventure Girls Program, Eau Claire, 16 participants for eight weeks cover developmentally appropriate curriculum with a focus on all elements of wellness.
Tie for 1st Place: In Our Own Worlds, Racine; girls incarcerated in the Southern Oaks Girls Schools are empowered by mentors from Racine Branch. Program also includes a creative writing project.
Tie for 1st Place: Black History Bee, Kenosha; thousands of elementary school students learn African-American history through competing in this bee held during February’s National Black History Month.
Communication
Communication between AAUW of Wisconsin and its branches is facilitated by a communication chair position on the state board, the state newsletter the Badger Briefs, and, since 2001, the state website.
The five communication chairs serving on the AAUW of Wisconsin state board during the decade covered by this history supplement are Elma Anderson AAUW Manitowoc-Two Rivers Branch 2000-1, Carol Battenberg AAUW Watertown Branch 2002-4, Sidna Bookout AAUW Milwaukee-West Suburban Branch 2004-5, Linda Slinde AAUW West Bend 2006-7, and Rachel Hirsch AAUW River Falls Branch who served as both Communication chair and Webmaster from 2007-11.
Badger Briefs
Badger Briefs is the official newsletter of AAUW of Wisconsin since its first published issue at a total cost of $75 as “a bound mimeographed booklet” in 1932, nine years after the division’s founding. It continues to be published quarterly and is mailed to all AAUW of Wisconsin members. The four editors during the decade of this history supplement are Katherine Teska AAUW Watertown Branch 2000-2, Betty Balian AAUW Watertown Branch 2002-3, Ronni Nivala AAUW Milwaukee-North Shore Branch 2003-6, and Carol Ebel AAUW Appleton Branch 2006-11.
AAUW went online with the national website in 1995. AAUW of Wisconsin launched the state website six years later in 2001. The first state board position charged with setting up and maintaining the website was titled Technology and Lilita Hardes AAUW Menomonee Falls Branch held the position from 2000-2. Thereafter the position is renamed Webmaster and is held in turn by Pat Phillips AAUW Janesville Branch 2002-6, Christine Gacek AAUW Racine Branch 2006-7, and Rachel Hirsch AAUW River Falls Branch 2007-11.
Theodora Winton Youmans Award
AAUW of Wisconsin recognizes outstanding branch newsletters with the Theodora Winton Youmans Award. Journalist, editor, and women’s rights activist, Youmans (1863-1932) is known as the First Lady of the Wisconsin Press. While Carrie Chapman Catt was the Wisconsin-born leader of the national suffrage movement, Youmans was the only Wisconsin native to rise to lead the fight for women’s right in her home state. AAUW of Wisconsin gives awards in Youman’s name to branches exhibiting outstanding work on branch newsletters. Cash prizes of $20 for first place and $10 for second place are given to each winning branch in two main categories: for branches with less than 75 members and for those with more than 75 members.
Theodora Winton Youmans Award
AAUW of Wisconsin recognizes outstanding branch newsletters with the Theodora Winton Youmans Award. Journalist, editor, and women’s rights activist, Youmans (1863-1932) is known as the First Lady of the Wisconsin Press. While Carrie Chapman Catt was the Wisconsin-born leader of the national suffrage movement, Youmans was the only Wisconsin native to rise to lead the fight for women’s right in her home state. AAUW of Wisconsin gives awards in Youman’s name to branches exhibiting outstanding work on branch newsletters. Cash prizes of $20 for first place and $10 for second place are given to each winning branch in two main categories: for branches with less than 75 members and for those with more than 75 members.
Diversity
To strengthen AAUW‘s commitment to diversity and social justice, AAUW adds “class” to our Diversity Statement in 2001.
Diversity Statement: In principle and practice, AAUW values a diverse membership. There shall be no barriers to full participation in this organization on the basis of gender, race, creed, age, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or class.
Diversity chairs on state boards help branches keep focused on the need for diverse representation in our organization and insure that branches intentionally focus on expanding diversity in each and every branch event and activity from the initial planning stages through completion. The three diversity chairs serving on AAUW of Wisconsin state board during the period of this history supplement are: Susan Ballje AAUW Geneva Lake Branch (2000-2), Judy Adler AAUW Janesville Branch (2002-4), and Barbara Munson AAUW Wausau Branch (2004-10). Highlights of diversity actions during the decade of this history supplement include:
2006, Regional Convention; AAUW of Wisconsin State Board Diversity Chair Barbara Munson co-facilitates a discussion about diversity and sends to branch diversity chairs for their guidance the handout “Doing Diversity” Dialogue.
2008, AAUW of Wisconsin Convention; state introduces a statewide diversity initiative titled Diversity Circles.
Wisconsin Diversity Pin handmade by Wisconsin artist Carolyn Cuyler sells for $30 each as fundraiser for Educational Foundation.
Membership
AAUW began the new millennium facing declining membership, reduced impact, and tightening financial resources. Today, in 2011 AAUW has more than 100,000 members, 1,000 branches, and 500 college/university partners.
AAUW of Wisconsin faces similar challenges. The decade saw the number of active state branches and membership numbers decline. The five AAUW of Wisconsin state membership vice presidents during the decade of this history supplement are: Ann Gustafson AAUW River Falls Branch (1999-2001), Ronni Nivala AAUW Milwaukee-North Shore Branch (2001-3), Kerry Kincaid AAUW Eau Claire Branch (2003-8?), Stephanie Malaney AAUW Appleton Branch (2008-9), and Joyce Hoffman AAUW Racine Branch (2009-11).
Following is a chronological highlight of membership initiatives and activities during the decade of this history supplement.
2000, AAUW launches Shape the Future membership campaign, offering incentives to branches with the goal to help branches attract activists who support the AAUW mission. Twelve Wisconsin branches participate in the program and 40 new members are recruited, including 18 free AAUW memberships. As part of the program branches earn free memberships by offering reduced AAUW membership to new or lapsed members who join on the spot at AAUW-sponsored events.
2000, AAUW resumes its Give-A-Grad-A-Gift program in which members can give a free AAUW national membership to a recent college graduate within two years of graduation.
2001, AAUW of Wisconsin state board surveys the state members with an Every Member Needs Assessment to determine how well the state board meets the needs of members of AAUW of Wisconsin.
2004, AAUW of Wisconsin welcomes AAUW Lake Superior South Shore Branch. The new chartered branch is composed of members in northern Wisconsin and Michigan. The branch is short-lived, however, and disbands by 2009.
2004, in honor of AAUW’s 125th Anniversary, AAUW launches the Keys to the Future: a Member-Get-A-Member membership campaign, based on the premise that new members join most frequently because another member invited them. This campaign challenges every AAUW member to recruit at least one new member during the fiscal year running from mid-June through mid-June. Individual members who recruit one or more new members are listed on the online Membership Hall of Fame. A Key to the Future is awarded to any member who recruits five or more members. Special awards are given to branches that have the highest percentage increase in membership. This campaign continues to exist and may be combined with the Shape the Future campaign.
2005, AAUW of Wisconsin initiates two new traveling membership awards: The Branch Growth Award for the branch with the most new members and the Branch Gumption Award for the branch with the most growth in the number of active members
2006, AAUW national office launches the online Member Services Database allowing donors, members, branches, and states the ability to conduct AAUW business online.
2008, AAUW of Wisconsin establishes a Wisconsin Online Branch, being the first state in the AAUW Great Lakes Region to do so. Organizers hope the branch attracts national members not affiliated with a local branch and that the option encourages members who might not otherwise renew to retain their membership. The Wisconsin Online Branch provides an alternative way for members to connect to AAUW of Wisconsin by allowing them to participate in state conventions, programs, and workshops, and to receive Badger Briefs. Marge Mueller AAUW Oshkosh Branch has been the contact person for the Wisconsin Online Branch since its inception.
2009, To encourage college students to become active student members, AAUW begins offering a free electronic membership to any undergraduate student attending a College/University partner institution. Once the student graduates, the national office automatically sends them a one-year national AAUW membership under the Give-A-Grad-A-Gift program.
AAUW of Wisconsin Total Yearly Membership: For historical reference, the membership total in 1985 was around 5,000 and in 1998 around 3,500.
2000-2001 2,627
2001-2002 2,469
2002-2003 2,379
2003-2004 2.342
2004-2005 2,100
2005-2006 2,046
2006-2007 1,952
2007-2008 1,899
2008-2009 1,857
2009-2010 1,741
2010-2011 1,663
Branches in AAUW of Wisconsin Decrease in Number: AAUW of Wisconsin begins 2001 with 10 of its then 44 branches having 25 members or less. Branches disbanding during the decade include AAUW Flambeau Valley Branch in 2000, AAUW Portage in 2002, AAUW Manitowoc-Two Rivers Branch in 2006, AAUW Lake Superior South Shore Branch in 2009, and AAUW Menomonee Falls Branch in 2011. The decade ends in 2011 with 32 active branches including the online branch.
AAUW of Wisconsin values increasing membership and honors top ten branches achieving membership growth in two categories: over a one year and a three year time span. Winning branches are recognized at state convention, in the convention booklet, and in Badger Briefs.
Part Two History Home Chapter Six