Business Leaders, Educators Give Real-Life Experience with Reality Store
The Spectrum, St. George, UT (Nov. 17, 2005)

Middle and high school students throughout the Washington County School District buzzed with excitement as they got a hefty shot of reality at the fifth annual "Reality Store" event this week.

Students were randomly handed real-life scenarios. After they were given a job and fictional family life, students made the rounds to volunteer-manned stations where they paid basic bills like grocery, housing, child care, transportation, medical and health insurance.

By the week's end the event will have reached more than 10,000 area students. Jeanne Wall, president of the St. George chapter of Business and Professional Women, the event's main sponsor, hopes the event raises students’ goals.

"It's to make the kids aware of the business and professional side of their life that will offer them the quality of life they think they want," she said.

"This is such an eye-opener and such a high-level learning experience for them ... more than reading about an occupation," said educator Carol Huebner.

"Maybe it might convince them to get additional training," said Susan Ninnis an event sponsor from the American Association of University Women who staffed the child care station.

"I think it gives them a jolt of reality and what their parents are going through in facing reality," said Emmy Gilmore with the Workers Compensation Fund of Utah. "A lot of times they're so sheltered, they don't know what's going on in the real world."

When Los Angeles native Mary Jane Auerbacher enrolled in the University of Redlands in the 1940s, she thought of Redlands as a hamlet on the edge of the desert. By the time she had married and graduated, she discovered a vibrant university town, where she could share her variety of interests from botany and education to organ playing and music history.

And share she did.

Auerbacher was one of the founding members of Valley Preparatory Academy, where she taught music for more than 20 years, and has plunged herself into dozens of local and regional organizations like the American Association of University Women, Spinet, the Redlands Community Music Association and Church Women United.

For years, she helped promote music by volunteering with the Redlands Community Music Association. Auerbacher was in charge of baking the sweets and appetizers for the patrons party.

With the local chapter of the American Association of University Women, Auerbacher has found a close-knit circle of fascinating women from a variety of backgrounds.

"We have more members than all the organizations in the district combined," said Auerbacher, who chalks up the large membership to the number of educated women in Redlands. "Because it's a university town, there's a lot of diversity."

Holiday Home Tour Offers Unique Features: Annual Event Benefits Efforts to Aid Education
Houston Chronicle, Houston, TX (Nov. 10, 2005)

The North Harris County Branch American Association of University Women is presenting an eclectic mix of houses to fund educational and service programs throughout the community.

"People who come to the tour can not only get ideas for decorating, but they can support education, which is critical," tour co-chairwoman Sue Mason said.

The tour will feature homes in Champions, Champion Forest Villas, The Lakes of Sterling Gate, Pinnacle Estates and Barrington Woods.

Last year's home tour raised $21,600, tour co-chairwoman Sue Ann Lurcott said.

The branch put $13,400 of that money into nine grants for schools in the Aldine, Cypress Fairbanks, Humble and Klein school districts along with the Barbara Bush Library in Spring.

"We're supporting educational grants in the community for things that otherwise wouldn't happen," Lurcott said. "It's amazing the difference $1,000 can make for a school or library. It's so rewarding when we give these grants and we hear from the recipients how much it means to them, how much it means to the students and the parents, too."

The branch also completed their efforts to fund the $100,000 Virginia R. Lyon Fellowship last year.

The first fellowship was awarded to Ivonne Torres of the University of Houston, who is examining how people of various ethnic backgrounds respond to advertising that features diverse people.

Her work ties in perfectly with the association's efforts, Mason said. "We're trying to ensure equity for women of all ages, races and nationalities. Our focus is education because education is the key to success."

Now that the Virginia R. Lyon fellowship is complete, the North Harris County branch will be contributing a portion of its tour proceeds to the national association's Barbara Jordan and Lynette K. Solomon American Fellowships.

Documentary Prompts Gift of Books
Charlotte Observer, Charlotte, NC (Oct. 19, 2005)

Rock Hill resident Dot Barbaree couldn't stop thinking about "Corridor of Shame," a documentary she saw this summer about rural schools along Interstate 95 in South Carolina.

"If you see it, you think, 'I've just got to do something about this,' " said Barbaree, 72.

With the help of her American Association of University Women group, Barbaree collected about 600 books - literature, science, history, reference and poetry. On Saturday, she met up with the school's librarian in Columbia to hand them off.

The Estill High library has about 7,000 books, which is a decent amount for the 400 students there, said the school's media specialist, Audrey Koudelka. But many of the books are old, she said, and the district has little money to replace them.

Barbaree said she hopes others watch the documentary.

"Maybe more groups will say, 'Hey, what can I do?' "

Education Came Late, Makes a Difference In AAUW Leader's Life
St. Louis Post-Dispatch, St. Louis, MO (Oct. 3, 2005)

Gerry Jacobs, 65, grew up in the Soulard neighborhood of St. Louis. Jacobs, of Croatian-Bohemian descent, described the neighborhood as a virtual hotbed of ethnicity.

After high school, she said, everyone was expected to find a job and support themselves.

"At the time, we could do that very well," she said. "Higher education was not an option for many, especially not for women."

Jacobs married Claude "Jake" Jacobs when she was 18. She took care of her ailing father-in-law and worked with her husband in his tire business. After her children started school, she went back into the marketplace and earned a degree in business at Lindenwood University. She did it the hard way -- one class at a time in the evenings and through the summer.

Her life was changed through education, she said, and her passion for learning was enhanced.

"Going back to school gave me an appreciation for classical art and music, travel and meaningful conversation. There's the economic aspect of course, but in truth women still don't get comparable wages to men," she said.

Jacobs recently took on the job of president of the St. Charles chapter of the American Association of University Women, an organization that advocates women's education and equal rights. She joined the AAUW in 1983 immediately after getting her degree. In the past 22 years, she has served as treasurer, directory editor and hostess chairwoman.

The St. Charles chapter of the AAUW was formed in 1933. On the local level, AAUW members sponsor speakers at monthly meetings that are open to the public. They raise money for scholarships for older women returning to college and for high school women who show potential.

"What we try to do nationally is to support women who are going into political jobs or business -- those who have influence and who are willing to help women get ahead in all fields," she explained. "We have a legal advocacy fund that comes to the aid of women who are suing for their rights because they've been refused tenure, are harassed, fired or not promoted."

"When I went to my class reunion, my classmates who expected to retire at 62 were forced to go back to work when the technical stocks went bust," she said. "My education was subsidized by my companies. Fewer companies are doing that these days, and that makes it more difficult for women to go back to school."

Membership in the AAUW is declining, Jacobs said, especially among younger women. She suggested a reason: Women are raising families while working full time.

She said the AAUW opened her eyes to the fact that women still struggle in our society and their contributions aren't appreciated.

"Day care still isn't federally supported, for example, and the (Equal Rights Amendment) wasn't passed in Missouri," she said. "These are things AAUW is trying to change by supporting women who can make a difference."

Our Schools: Mentoring
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, NY (Sept. 26, 2005)

What would it take to get 10,000 community mentors to help the students, teachers and administrators in the City School District? That's a question many have raised about the "Call to Arms" report issued last month by a group of thoughtful community members. The group asked: "Why not lead the nation in this community initiative?"

Locally, there are many excellent partnerships with the schools. Each one is eager for new volunteer mentors. One of the good programs, highlighted in the report, is the Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection, which offers jobs to city school students at local businesses and a counselor at schools to work with students. But there are many other partnerships as well, including “Women Helping Girls” of the American Association of University Women [that] uses mentoring to help girls at one high school to succeed.

Group Pursues Social Justice: Equity in Education a Goal for 85 Years
Fort Collins Coloradoan, Fort Collins, CO (Sept. 11, 2005)

Even at a time when they couldn't vote, women were still breaking the mold by pursuing higher education. Nearly 85 years later, that legacy is remembered through the American Association of University Women, a national organization that promotes equity for all women, lifelong education and positive societal change within local communities.

"These women have been promoting social justice, equity for girls and they've been doing it for a really long time," said Kori Wilford, public information secretary for the Fort Collins branch of AAUW. The local branch of AAUW has been part of the community since 1921, when several college graduates adopted the organization with a focus of promoting education and positive societal changes for women.

Now it has grown into a group that encompasses 50 members of all backgrounds and both genders, but still remains focused on its original goals.

"It wasn't too long ago that we couldn't go to college, that we couldn't vote and that we couldn't have reproductive freedoms," said Wilford, 28. "We've had a lot of advances, but there are still so many things we need to work on."

It's been 85 years since the ratification of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote - and the struggles are different now, said Janet Pugh, co-president of the Fort Collins AAUW.

Pugh joined the AAUW in 1957 and has supported nationwide issues such as equal pay, the Equal Rights Amendment, job sharing, widespread healthcare access, freedom of choice and civic support of public education.

"In the last 50 years women have had to take on a lot more to meet the realities of today," said Pugh, 63, who describes AAUW's members as "quiet, studious and yet supportive of a lot of leadership opportunities for women."

Throughout the years AAUW has changed with the times, aiding the clean up of the Poudre River, donating millions of dollars each year to furthering education, as well as providing funding for women taking legal action against sex discrimination.

Each spring the group holds a used book sale at Foothills Mall and puts the money raised toward its mission as an organization. The organization also supports before and after school programs and study sessions of legislative issues. Hazel Arndt joined the association 49 years ago and has seen it change "a hundred times." "Now we do a lot of work through individuals; through the schools and continuing to provide information about careers and give information to the school district," said Arndt, 85, the Fort Collins AAUW historian. "We do a lot of work in the community."

For Wilford, her experience in the organization has helped her recognize the past sacrifices of many of the women in the organization.

"Women who came before us worked really hard for some of the things we enjoy," Wilford said. "We just don't realize how hard people worked for those freedoms."

Woman-to-Woman Program Unites Women From Many Backgrounds
News & Record, Greensboro, NC (July 10, 2005)

The opportunity to freely share your thoughts and ideas in an open forum can become limited when formal education ends. Women often find themselves dealing with the day-to-day concerns of hectic careers and family life, leaving them little time to express their views and get actively involved in the community.

The High Point YWCA and the American Association of University Women of High Point want to change that. Through a program called Woman-to-Woman, they hope to give women from diverse backgrounds the opportunity to meet one another, discuss social issues affecting their community and possibly even act on their ideas.

Issues might include access to health care, pay equity, education and race relations.

Rebecca Mann, women's services director at the High Point YWCA, says a grass-roots approach is key to community involvement. She says the program is for all women in the community, and they are "hoping to get as much diversity as possible."

Mann says the short-term goal of Woman-to-Woman is to get women talking about issues that affect the community and create friendships among women who can learn from one another.

Long term, she hopes the group moves beyond discussion to activism.

"We can be a rather divided community. It's rare that you find people from Emerywood, Five Points and Deep River sitting down at the same table to discuss local issues that they care about and working together to make life better for the people in their communities," Mann says. "Our goal is to start that dialogue and bring together women who wouldn't otherwise have had the opportunity to work together."

Mary Stephens, president of the High Point chapter of AAUW, is excited about collaborating with the High Point YWCA. She has worked with the Y in the past as a mentor for a teen mom program. "Both organizations promote education and support for women and girls; therefore, it makes a good marriage to work together toward this goal," Stephen says.

The goal of the YWCA - to eliminate racism and empower women - meshes well with the AAUW's goal of promoting education and equity for women and girls.

Stephens believes there will be an emphasis on educational opportunities for girls in the community within the group.

"I strongly believe in the education of women so that they can succeed," Stephens said.

The current focus in many Woman-to-Woman programs nationally is the proposed Social Security changes. "Women may be the largest body of constituents when it comes to voting so they can vote to promote their interests when they are educated on the topics," says Stephens.

She and Mann will share leadership of the group and help participants identify common concerns.

"Once the group singles out issues to work on, Mary and I will help guide them in working toward positive change," Mann says.

Scientific Discovery
Salt Lake Tribune, Salt Lake, UT (June 28, 2005)

Monday was the first full day for the girls, ages 12-14, at the three-day camp aimed at steering them toward the traditionally male-dominated sciences. Having spent Sunday night in Westminster's dorms, the girls were eager for some hands-on projects using technology, math and science.

Caitlin Joy Bellon, an eighth grader at Mt. Jordan Middle School in Sandy, doesn't need much pushing. The 14-year-old, who likes looking at things under a microscope, wants to be a science teacher. She already has given the camp a "cool" rating and would like to be invited back next year.

That's what Sue Nissen likes to hear. The head of the American Association of University Women in Salt Lake City - which is the joint sponsor of the camp with the Mathematical Association of America - refused to step into the debate stirred last January when Harvard University President Larry Summers suggested that men are better equipped than women for careers in science.

There's plenty of evidence that when young girls are motivated and encouraged, they excel at science, Nissen said. The goal is to reach them early. "If a girl doesn't have a good support system or the inner strength, she tends to hold back or 'self-silence' herself in math and science classes."

Westminster math professor Carolyn Connell says there was a lot of interest in the year's event.

"We could have easily had 80 to 100 girls for the camp," said Connell, who plans to seek money to put the camp on again next year.

After finding herself the only female in a physics class at the University of Texas in Austin years ago, reality hit home for her. She later gravitated towards math, an area where she felt more comfortable.

Connell says parental encouragement, especially from the father, is vital for interesting girls in math and science.

Not to take anything from mothers, she added, but girls often need their dad's approval to go into nontraditional roles.

"It's a confidence booster."

Group Fights Harassment on Campus: Oregon Women Try to Raise $100,000 for National Campaign
Statesman Journal, Salem, OR (June 20, 2005)

The Oregon chapter of the American Association of University Women plans to raise $100,000 to support a national campaignto stem sexual harassment on college campuses.

"I'm hoping we can shine a light on this problem and ultimately diminish it," said Betsy McDowell of Salem, the president of the Oregon AAUW.

Founded in 1881, AAUW is a nonprofit organization of college-educated women, dedicated to promoting equality for women and girls, lifelong education and positive social change. Nationwide, the organization has more than 100,000 members.

The AAUW has commissioned a national survey by Harris Interactive, a New York-based firm, to answer key questions about campus harassment, including:

Preliminary data are expected within weeks from a surveyof 2,000 male and female undergraduates ages 18-24, said Elena Silva, director of research for AAUW in Washington, D.C.

Silva said that AAUW will use survey results to develop practical materials aimed at helping students, faculty members and school administrators combat sexual harassment at hundreds of colleges and universities. She said the literature should be ready by next spring.

"While we don't know the findings, we do expect that we will find that sexual harassment is, in fact, a problem on college campuses," Silva said. "Anecdotally, we know this. So we're already in the first stages of trying to work out what type of programmatic piece we will do."

National organizers are counting on the Oregon contingent's $100,000 contribution to cover the bulk of the cost for producing anti-harassment materials.

"It makes a world of difference to us," Silva said. "It's that type of funding that enables us to take the research and put it to practical use. We like to think that we have an impact with the research, but we know that the how-to guides and the tools and the resources we are able to provide beyond the research is what really makes a difference. So we couldn't be happier or more grateful to Oregon (members) for their support. It's a huge contribution for the project."

McDowell hopes that AAUW's focus on campus harassment will ignite larger efforts to eradicate sexual harassment.

"It's not just an academic phenomenon," she said. "It's happening in the workplace. I'm hoping that if we can shine a light on it at the campus level, that will broaden the topic out into the mainstream of corporate America. The ultimate hope would be that it would cease to be a problem."

Oregon members of AAUW face a December deadline for raising$100,000 for the national project, called "Building a Harassment-Free Campus."

AAUW has tackled sexual harassment before on a nationwide scale in a campaign directed at younger students.

In 2001, the organization sponsored a national survey in which four of five students surveyed - boys and girls in 8th through 11th grades - reported that they had experienced some type of sexual harassment.

Silva said that AAUW followed that report by developing a sexual-harassment resource guide for students in grades K-12 as well as parents, teachers and school administrators.

Now, she said, AAUW is embarking on a similar anti-harassment campaign geared toward college students. "We'll really have the whole pipeline, from K all the way through 16," Silva said.

Wage Gap Worse Between Men, Women
The York Dispatch, York, PA (June 8, 2005)

The pay gap between what men and women earn worsened the past couple of years, and women working in York County fare even worse than the national and state averages.

That's according to an analysis funded by the local chapter of the American Association of University Women. Lila Haxton, a member of AAUW and the National Organization for Women, compiled the local statistics from the 2000 census data; and AAUW funded the project.

Across the United States, women working full time last year earned 76 cents for every dollar earned by a man working full time. In Pennsylvania, the number is 72 cents, the 14th worst in the nation.

By comparison, York County women earned 68.2 cents for every dollar for men, according to the 2000 Census data, the most recent figures available; and those in York City earned 76.9 cents.

The local numbers probably haven't improved since 2000, if the national rate is any indicator. Historically, the U.S. gender gap had been closing at a rate of less than half a cent per year, but it worsened in the past two years, from 77 cents in 2002.

Getting companies to pay the same amount for identical work continues to be a struggle --with national studies consistently finding that women on average earn less than men for the same jobs -- but even harder is getting them to understand the benefits of "pay equity."

"Pay equity" is the idea that jobs equivalent in skill, training requirements and responsibility should pay the same. Studies have shown, though, that the more an occupation is dominated by women, the less the position pays, regardless of the job's entry requirements and performance standards.

Girls Get Career Tips from the Pros
The San Diego Union-Tribune, San Diego, CA (June 2, 2005)

A group of female university graduates is on a crusade: to instill in young girls the confidence that they can choose any career, be it as a nurse, novelist, pilot or pipe fitter.

The group, the American Association of University Women, brought eight female professionals to Cuyamaca Elementary School, where they talked to 120 fifth-grade girls about their education and career paths.

In addition to a pilot and a pipe fitter, the girls met a forest ranger, an audiologist, a landscape architect, an aviculturist, a costume designer and a pharmacist.

The university association has sponsored an annual girls' career day since 1990, event organizer Victoria Spilkin said.

"We wanted to relate to young girls that they can do whatever they want to do, and they can start thinking about it now," she said.

The women who speak at the career days represent wide-ranging educational levels, income brackets and areas of interest.

Local Girls Examine Key Issues at Summit
Times-Picayune, New Orleans, LA (May 12, 2005)

The American Association of University Women, Covington-Mandeville branch, in coalition with the LSU Ag Center, held its much-anticipated Girls Summit on March 12 at the Ag Center on Koop Drive. Forty girls, ages 11-17, participated in this Sister-to-Sister Summit, a nationally endorsed conference by AAUW.

Jody Cagle, a retired high school principal and member of AAUW’s Covington-Mandeville branch, and Iris Webb, family and consumer sciences educator for St. Tammany Parish, brought the summit to its fruition after many months of preparation. Also involved were Eileen deHaro and Judy Martin of the AAUW.

The purpose of the summit was to give girls the opportunity to voice their concerns and direct the community to provide what they needed for a smooth transition to womanhood.

The girls choose from many topics of interest that were discussed in "chat rooms." Topics included Body Image, Teen Pregnancy, Peer Pressure, Teen Suicide, Dealing With Cliques and Harassment/Bullying.

During each discussion, a designated reporter wrote down the group’s major discussion points. At the end of the conference, an open meeting was held to share major points on all of the topics.

Additional highlights included a yoga session and a luncheon with Miss Teen USA, Shelley Hennig of Destrehan. Hennig shared her concerns about self-esteem, the importance of education, and opposition to teenage drinking and driving. She said she lost a brother because of a DWI accident and her comments made a big impression on attendees.

Congressmen Debate Best Approach to Sustain Social Security
The Arizona Daily Star, Tuscon, AZ (May 3, 2005)

Southern Arizona's two congressional representatives shared a stage Monday to debate Social Security.

They agreed Medicare was a bigger problem.

Aside from that, Republican Jim Kolbe and Democrat Raul Grijalva found little common ground during a debate that attracted about 400 mostly senior citizens to Valley Presbyterian Church in Green Valley.

Befitting the venue, in the church sanctuary overlooking the Santa Rita Mountains, the two-hour debate was a civil exchange of facts, figures and ideas.

Organized by the League of Women Voters, the Green Valley News and the American Association of University Women, the debate marked one of the rare occasions when congressmen from opposing parties debate a public-policy issue outside of Washington, D.C.

Volunteer Gives New Meaning to Endless Energy
Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA (April 23, 2005)

Darleen Sheldon's 5-year-old grandson says, "Grandma lives a lot," and that seems to be a perfect description of her.

Sheldon has just wrapped up another successful American Association of University Women Used Book Sale. She has participated in 20 of the 54 book sales that have been held in Coeur d'Alene over the years.

AAUW chapter members sort more than 1,000 donated books to prepare for the popular two-day fund-raiser. Money earned from the book sale gives the Coeur d'Alene chapter an opportunity to work toward the aim of the AAUW, which is to encourage higher learning by providing scholarships to North Idaho College sophomore women.

"We usually average around $2,000, but our all-time high was $2,300," Sheldon says.

AAUW was founded in 1881, according to its literature, when a group of women graduates organized to support each other and the next generations of women in higher education.

AAUW's national network of 160,000 members and 1,600 branches is "dedicated to tearing down barriers to equality and creating opportunities to help women and girls reach their full potential."

"Education is our primary focus, and the Coeur d'Alene chapter does what it can to make a difference," says Betty Brabb, chairwoman of the education foundation fund. "Over the years we have given about 100 scholarships."

Bucks Women Speak Up;
Local, Living Women Are Changing America, Too.
Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia, PA (March 20, 2005)

When Natalie Kaye saw the theme for this year's Women's History Month, there was no stopping her.

Inspired by the "Women Change America" theme, the coordinator of the Women's Center at Bucks County Community College mobilized a planning committee and started lining up speakers for a three-day forum echoing national recognition for women's contributions to culture, history and politics.

"I thought, we have women right here in the Bucks County area, and why not give them an opportunity to tell their stories, and why not give women and men the opportunity to hear them," Kaye said.

The community college will host the forum, beginning Tuesday on the Newtown Township campus. It will close with a candlelight ceremony at 2:30 p.m. Thursday. Admission is free to the forum.

Other speakers will include Lynn Doyle, anchor of CN8's It's Your Call;Diane Gibbons, Bucks County district attorney; Ellen Saracini, widow of Victor Saracini, pilot of the second airliner to hit the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001; and Roberta Mayer, assistant professor of art history at the community college.

"We have very caring, dedicated women who care deeply about improving the lives of people in their community, have done so, and are continuing to do so," Kaye said. "I hope the students and the community are inspired to see that one person can make a difference. The power of one. This is about positive change."

The forum is funded through the Women's Center and by donations from the college's Human Rights Club and the Doylestown chapter of American Association of University Women.

On March 30, the center will conclude Women's History Month with a free cultural celebration, featuring foods, crafts and music from around the world.

Seminar Will Explain Effects of Title IX Law
Wausau Daily Herald, Wausau, WI (March 20, 2005)

Title IX legislation prohibits sex discrimination in education and affects virtually all public schools and post-secondary institutions. Passed in 1971 and into effect in 1975, Title IX states: "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance ... "

Celebrate and learn about Title IX with the American Association of University Women on April 12, in the University of Wisconsin Marathon County Terrace Room.

AAUW Marks 30 Years of Serving Students
The Stuart News/Port St. Lucie News, Stuart, FL (March 20, 2005)

There are a few things the Stuart area branch of the AAUW wants you to know.

One is that they are not associated with the automotive industry union -- something that a lot of people ask, according to American Association of University Women Chapter President Cathy McCartney. The other is that they are very serious about their mission: to provide college scholarships to deserving young women graduating from local high schools and to transfer scholarships to female graduates of Indian River Community College.

This year's luncheon and fashion show to raise money for these endeavors was a milestone, marking the 30th anniversary of this event. More than 200 women attended the soiree, Fashions by the Sea, on March 9 at Mariner Sands Country Club.

Barbara Wade and Jenny Fread were co-chairwomen of the event. Also serving on the committee were Edwina Dunworth, Polly Trapp, Helga Galli, Marilynne Emmons, Kathy McCartney and Barbara Fahey.

Since 1975, the organization has awarded more than $80,000 in scholarships. In 2001, in partnership with The Iris Arnowitt Foundation, the group established the AAUW/Iris Arnowitt Transfer Scholarship to enable female graduates of IRCC to pursue a baccalaureate degree.

"Over the years, the Stuart area branch of the AAUW has attracted some of the most influential, talented and energetic women from the community into its membership ranks," Wade said. "Members have excelled in their commitment to serve and support the women and girls of Martin County."

Girls Target School Bullies
The Journal News, White Plains, NY (March 20, 2005)

Manissa Mathurin has never been bullied in school; she'd be the one to pick on others.

But the 16-year-old Spring Valley High School sophomore realized one day last week that her behavior had to change when her 10-year-old sister came home from school crying.

"I asked her what was wrong, and she said people made fun of her on the bus," Mathurin said. "I couldn't understand what they were making fun of. I've never been bullied, and I thought about how I used to do it to other people."

Mathurin sought ways to stop bullying and teasing among girls at yesterday's third annual "What's Really Cool" Conference at Finkelstein Memorial Library.

More than 120 students in seventh through 12th grades attended the program, which included skits and discussions on ways to prevent girls from bullying each other and become more assertive when faced with damaging behavior.

The conference, also put on by the American Association of University Women and the Rockland County Youth Council, focused on why girls bully other girls; who are the players in a clique; who becomes a target; and how to foster positive relationships.

The panel also discussed "cyberbullying," using the Internet and other communication technology to harass others.

Tiffany Chisholm, a 16-year-old at North Rockland, said she kept herself involved in a club where she can maintain a positive attitude and boost her self-esteem.

"As far as being a bystander, I'm not going to watch anymore," she said. "Almost everybody has bullied in the past, but I'm not going to do it anymore."

Letecia Corlett, a 15-year-old at Ramapo Freshmen Center, said she was recently the target of bullying by another girl at school, but felt empowered by yesterday's conference.

"This girl says I look ugly, but now I know it's because she feels insecure about herself," she said. "Whatever people say about me, I know it's not true. I'm just going to start ignoring them and what they say."

Gender Equality at Issue in State
Wausau Daily Herald, Wausau, WI (March 20, 2005)

Increased education opportunities. Strong political voices. Healthy and safe lives. Equal pay.

Those are some of the core equality concerns of Wisconsin women, and activists on the local and state levels are starting to address those challenges thanks to an initiative started last year by Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton.

"I think things are gradually improving in those areas, but obviously we have a lot more (improvements) to make," said Marian Seagren Hall, 68, of Wausau, who is a regional coordinator for the American Association of University Women.

Seagren Hall and Barbara Munson, 61, will play key roles at this week's Wisconsin Women Forward Convention in Madison, which will try to identify and come up with solutions to gender equity problems throughout the state.

Last year, the Institute for Women's Policy Research gave the state a C-minus for the status of Wisconsin women, meaning the state lags behind other states in gender equality issues.

Since then, a nonpartisan group, led by Lawton, started an initiative designed to empower Wisconsin women. The task force, called Wisconsin Women = Prosperity, or WW=P, has made raising that grade its primary mission.

So what are Marathon and Lincoln counties' greatest challenges? It's too early to determine that, Munson said. She's hoping those issues will be identified at the conference. Munson, who lives in Mosinee, is a regional coordinator for the WW=P task force and a member of the Oneida Nation.

"Each region is different," she said. "(The issues surrounding) Superior compared to inner city Milwaukee are going to be drastically different, for example."

The conference will break into regional group discussions.

"That's where the rubber will really hit the road," Seagren Hall said.

Touching the Future
The Reporter, Philadelphia, PA (March 20, 2005)

The world’s next Marie Curie was at Walton Farm Elementary School on Saturday.

So was the next Rosalind Franklin‚ although she still gets grounded.

A future Margaret Mead was there too‚ but she still has to get through sixth grade.

A celebration of women in math and science was the theme for the Lansdale American Association of University Women’s Touch the Future presentation this year‚ which was hosted by the North Penn District elementary school.

About 88 fifth- through seventh-grade girls of the North Penn School District came out to have fun and learn during the program.

This year‚ district boys were invited to take part in the event.

“The original idea is to show young girls all there is for women in math and science‚” Touch the Future Committee Co-Chair Ellen Price-Maloy said. “It was opened to boys to open their horizons and show women can be so much more.”

The school cafeteria was turned into a room of hands-on exploration and discovery where everything from Bernoulli’s Principle and the science of a chicken egg were displayed.

Lara Gober of the Roth Farm Living Museum brought in a rooster and hen‚ and eggs for experiments.

Another station had participants blindfolded to “scent out” everything from hot sauce to chocolate syrup.

Hissing cockroaches were a popular feature‚ care of Merck Institute for Science Education. Endo Pharmaceuticals‚ of Chadds Ford‚ showed students how they get so much power into a tiny capsule.

Endo Pharmaceuticals’ Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Carol Ammon was the keynote speaker for the event.

She founded the company through a management buyout from The DuPont-Merck Pharmaceutical Company in 1997.

She said her speech was about empowering young women to strive for careers in math and science‚ regardless of glass ceilings.

“It’s really important for them to believe in themselves‚” Ammon said. “If they do that‚ anything can happen.”

Ammon said the event encouraged girls to look at opportunities in business and science environments.

“You need role models for young girls‚” she said. “Science and math can be fun and there are no boundaries once you go out there.”

Female Beauty Doesn't Come in Just One Size, Speaker Says
Orlando Sentinel , Orlando, FL (March 11, 2005)

Woody Winfree asked about 35 people in the audience to close their eyes while she gave them a quiz. Among her questions:

"Are you dissatisfied with some aspect of your body?"

"Are you comfortable wearing a bathing suit in public?"

"Do you know anyone with a eating disorder?"

About 80 percent of the audience answered yes to the first question.

Winfree walked to the middle of the stage and asked, "Why are we so dissatisfied with our appearance?

"I think I know why."

She threw up her arms with a magazine in each of her hands: "This is why."

Beautiful models graced the covers.

Winfree, co-author of the book I Am Beautiful: A Celebration of Women, spoke recently at the eighth annual Women's History Month program in the Paul P. Williams Fine Arts Auditorium at Lake-Sumter Community College.

"It is the single dimension that we see," she said. "We are all under the spell of the pretty woman -- judged and valued by their looks."

By the time a girl turns 18, Winfree said, she will have been bombarded with more than 4 million messages from media avenues such as TV and magazines, and from lunch boxes and dolls on how a woman should look.

"It is out of control," she said. "When is it going to stop?"

Winfree said the book, which has sold 20,000 copies since 1996, collects stories from 92 American women between the ages of 19 and 89 from 34 states. Each woman tells why she is beautiful in her own way.

The event was sponsored by the college's Student Activities, Equity & Diversity Committee and Women's Program and also by the American Association of University Women Lake & Sumter County Branch.

Lecture Provides Insight Into the Arab World, Role in U.S.
The Detroit News, Detroit, MI (March 9, 2005)

The Plymouth-Canton chapter of the national American Association of University Women will play host to speaker Celine Taminian of the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services at the Waltonwood at Cherry Hill in Canton on March 17.

The American Association of University Women, founded in 1881, is a nonprofit organization with 100,000 college graduates in the United States. It is part of the International Federation of University Women with members in 67 countries.

Taminian, 26, an educational outreach coordinator for ACCESS, said she often presents programs on the Arab world and Arab-Americans throughout Michigan, Indiana and Ohio.

A Livonia resident, Taminian, will brief attendees on the 22 countries of the Arab world and the different cultures and religions practiced that include Islam, Christianity and Judaism.

Taminian, who is Jordanian and Armenian, said Arab Muslims make up 20 percent of Muslims worldwide. There are more Muslims in other parts of the world such as India or Indonesia than in some Arab countries, she added.

She will also discuss the May 5 opening of the Arab American National Museum in Dearborn.

Taminian said speaking engagement such as hers informs people that Arab-Americans are part of American culture. The first major wave of immigrants was in the 1880s.

"We are trying to show that our story is an American story," she said.

Women’s History Month
Wausau Daily Herald, Wausau, WI (March 6, 2005)

For long time, women were power behind power

For a long time, the only way women could participate in public life was through their husbands, said Marian Seagren Hall, programming vice president of the American Association of University Women. The group is planning activities in March to recognize Women's History Month.

"I know that (Hoyt) relied a lot on what Eleanor thought about many things," Seagren Hall said.

After the emergence of the second women's movement in the 1960s and '70s, women became more visible in their leadership roles, said Rima Apple, a professor in human ecology and women's studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

But even before then, women still were working in important roles behind the scenes.

"They weren't, perhaps, as visible as the men, but they were incredibility active and important," Apple said.

That work can been seen in such organizations as the League of Women Voters, parent-teacher organizations and Girl Scouts troops, she said.

Ripples Become Waves With Women’s History Series
York Daily Record, York, PA (March 6, 2005)

Judging by numerous e-mails and phone calls that we’ve received, our current series on 31 achieving women has found a following.

The York Daily Record/Sunday News has assembled this series of public service advertisements to run during Women’s History Month.

These snapshots of community-minded women came from longer profiles published in the American Association of University Women’s booklet “Legacies.”

The book, published in 1984, itself is a historical artifact.

It shows what a selected group of prominent women — many toward the end of long, productive lives — achieved in the first 75 years of the 20th century.

Taken together, their biographies show they generally worked as educators, librarians, children’s book authors and nurses. The Visiting Nurse Association, YWCA and Martin Library figured prominently in their development, and vice versa.

Whether from backgrounds of privilege or not, many climbed to prominence through volunteering for social service agency boards or performing hands-on work for those organizations.

Roseanne L. Garner and Betty K. Hooker stated in the preface that “Legacies” was intended to be a first chapter, not a final chapter in the story of achieving York women.

One e-mailer, a family member of an achiever, expressed another good reason for running these stories in the newspaper.

“By virtue of what you are presenting to the York readers, you will be raising the bar for young women,” she wrote. “What these women have done in the past is wonderful, and you are showing folks what can be done. More important, you are encouraging the possibilities.”

She lamented that TV, newspapers and other media often lower the bar by the poor role models they present.

“Your articles will cause ripples that become waves!” she wrote. “Never underestimate the power of a newspaper — good or bad.”

The real thanks here should go to those at the AAUW who painstakingly assembled the profiles 21 years ago.

They probably never imaged their work would be adapted and presented to hundreds of thousands of readers.

Let’s hope, indeed, that these ripples become waves.

AAUW, League of Women Voters Hear School Voucher Discussion
The Times and Democrat, Orangeburg, SC (March 3, 2005)

Sen. John Matthews, an Orangeburg Democrat, and Will Folks, press secretary to Republican Gov. Mark Sanford, discussed the "Put Parents in Charge Act" at a forum in Columbia on Feb. 23 sponsored by the S.C. American Association of University Women and the S.C. League of Women Voters.

The two followed presentations by Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, Orangeburg Democrat, and Steve Morrison, an attorney for the plaintiffs in Abbeville v. South Carolina.

Matthews and Folks presented the case for and against the governor's voucher proposal. Sponsors of the forum had studied the bill's contents and grilled Folks on his case for vouchers.

"The investment in public schools hasn't translated into the results we need to be competitive. We simply don't think that's acceptable," Folks said.

Gov. Sanford has stated publicly that his children attend Heathwood Hall [with a $15,000 tuition cost] in Columbia.

"Despite what our sister states are investing in education," Matthews said, "Sanford is the first governor since 1954 to propose cutting public education."

During the question-and-answer session, moderator Betty Bayless, South Carolina AAUW policy chairman, asked Folks about the bill's provision for the so-called scholarship-granting organizations which provide dollar-for-dollar tax credit incentive for individuals and corporations to fund private school tuition.

The Gender Gap in the Classroom
Chicago Daily Herald, Chicago, IL (Feb. 28, 2005)

Thirteen years after a national study raised concerns about girls' self-esteem in classrooms, the pendulum may be swinging in the other direction.

Some education experts and local school officials say they see evidence boys are falling behind girls in the classroom both socially and academically.

So real is the concern that an estimated 300 residents and suburban school administrators are expected to attend a daylong workshop on the subject Friday in Lombard. The seminar is hosted by Kindlon and Christina Hoff Sommers, a former university philosophy professor.

Their message will be that schools need to focus more on development of boys.

Possible solutions range from establishing same-sex classes to retesting boys once diagnosed with attention deficit disorder to the need for a clearer understanding of boys' social development.

The concern mirrors the focus on girls in the early 1990s that grew out of a study by the American Association of University Women.

That 1992 study, "How Schools Shortchange Girls," called for building self-esteem in girls and their interest in subjects such as math and science.

Since then, girls have improved in those subjects.

"If our study has spurred others to think about boys, that's great," said Kim Benziger, state president of the American Association of University Women. She said the study focused on girls because the interests of women and girls is the organization's mission.

Benziger, a former kindergarten teacher and the mother of two sons, said there is little doubt problems exist for boys.

"We still need to learn a lot about how children learn," she said.

Sundaes and Science Aimed at Girls
The Detroit News, Detroit, MI (Feb. 28. 2005)

Whether it's learning about the habitats of bats or giving a health check to a golden retriever, fifth- through eighth-grade girls and their moms will have a opportunity to experiment with science without having their male counterparts around.

On Thursday, Avondale Middle School will host Sundaes and Science, sponsored by the Rochester chapter of the American Association of University Women. The goal is to encourage girls to be interested in science and possibly consider it as a career.

Jourdan Allen, 14, is looking forward to an evening when she and her mother can do hands-on experiments together.

"It's all girls there, and it's fun," she said, adding she thinks girls feel less intimidated about getting involved in science when boys aren't around. "I think girls wouldn't have as much fun if guys were there too."

Jourdan has been attending the event since she was in fifth grade. She said that extra exposure to science has increased her interest in math and science.

"Most people say girls do better in social studies and reading, but when you go to Sundaes and Science you realize science is more fun," she added.

According to the Michigan Department of Career Development, the number of fourth-grade girls and boys who like math and science is relatively equal. But by eighth grade, twice as many boys show an interest in those subjects.

"In today's job market, a lot more women are needed in these fields -- that's where the higher-paying jobs are," said Judy Karandjeff, director of the Michigan Women's Commission.

She also said statistics show girls feel less confident about their performance in math and science as they progress from elementary to high school. This has been linked with their declining interest in those subjects as they get older.

Rochester Hills resident Elizabeth McIntyre, a member of the Rochester chapter of the American Association of University Women, said there has been a presumption that women and young girls lose interest in science and math beyond middle school.

"We want to tell them about opportunities and the excitement they can find in science and math," McIntyre said. She also noted that girls often see women in humanities-related careers and have less interaction with females in science-related professions.

Sports Pioneers Share Perspective
Attleboro Sun Chronicle, Attleboro, MA (Feb. 28. 2005)

Sports was the topic of the day Sunday at the Women at Work Museum, as both senior athletes and student athletes offered insight on the law that opened new opportunities in women's athletics.

The program was titled “Title IX: An Opportunity for a Lifetime.” Program moderator Sheila McKenna, a senior Olympian and member of the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association, said the goal of the program was to present a historical perspective on girls and women in sports, pre-Title IX and post-Title IX.

Title IX was enacted in 1972 to assure that “no person in the United States shall on the basis of sex be excluded from participation and be denied the benefits of or be subjected to discrimination under any educational pro gram or activity receiving federal financial assistance.”

Title IX is considered a landmark, expanding athletic opportunities for women in all levels of school sports.

Hosted by the Attleboro branch of the American Association of University Women, the keynote speaker was Kathleen Laquale, associate professor and program director of the Athletic Training Curriculum Program at Bridgewater State College. Laquale is noted for a long list of firsts in the field of sports. She made an announcement at the end of her presentation that added yet another first to her credit.

Santa Cruz One of Four UC Campuses Participating in Teen Science Program
Santa Cruz Sentinel, Santa Cruz, CA (Feb. 28, 2005)

Aptos High School senior Chelsea Huff is one of the county’s best track athletes, racking up points in the triple jump and high jump. But she also harbors a fascination for undersea kelp forests that are home to thousands of marine organisms.

So when she learned she could spend her summer with researchers who study marine ecosystems, she jumped at the opportunity.

"It was one of the best experiences of my life," said Huff, 17, who plans to major in environmental science and marine biology at Humboldt State University.

The California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science, known as Cosmos, connected Huff with scientists.

The four-week program, launched by UC five years ago, aims to inspire a new generation of scientists, engineers and mathematicians — careers that have slipped in popularity among today’s college students.

So far, more than 1,900 teens have participated, half them girls.

Huff was bitten by the science bug when she was in junior high.

She went to a summer camp at Stanford University, sponsored by the American Association of University Women with the idea of exposing more girls to scientific careers.

"I took a course on rocketry and loved it," she recalled. "If my career in marine biology and environmental sciences falls through, that is the next subject I would pursue."

Huff was the one of four Aptos High students — and the only girl — to participate in Cosmos at UCSC last summer.

Girls Day in Science to Take Place
Pasadena Star-News , Pasadena, CA (Feb. 27, 2005)

For the eighth year in a row, Pasadena City College will bring junior high and high school girls closer to a career in the sciences by hosting Girls Day in Science on March 5.

The event, which is sponsored by PCC and the American Association of University Women, will include more than 200 students from local schools taking part in a day of scientific exploration on the PCC campus.

Students participate in workshops on life and physical sciences, including hands-on activities, like making bouncing balls in the chemistry lab, getting an astronomy lesson and a tour of the observatory, and dissecting a cat in the biology lab. The keynote speaker for the event is JPL scientist Dr. Ayanna Howard.

The idea for Girls Day in Science grew out of a study conducted by the AAUW that showed that the number of girls to boys in science courses drops sharply in junior high.

Program Help Girls Pursue Science, Math
Sacramento Bee , Sacramento, CA (Feb. 24, 2005)

Harvard University President Lawrence H. Summers sparked an outcry last month when he suggested innate differences between men and women might partly explain why fewer women pursue science and math careers.

Despite several attempts by Summers to clarify his statements, the furor hasn't died down.

Many educational organizations and other groups offer programs for youths interested in science and math.

Here are a few upcoming events aimed specifically at encouraging the interests of girls.

Tech Trek Camps

The American Association of University Women California is holding six Tech Trek camps this summer. The weeklong math/science camps targets current seventh-grade girls.

Teck Trek will be held at six college campuses this summer: Stanford University; Mills College; California State University, Fresno; University of California, Santa Barbara; Whittier College; and University of California, San Diego.

Local AAUW branches work with teachers to identify prospective campers, but parents can find out about getting their daughters involved by calling AAUW California.

Association Has Supported Education for 50 Years
The San Diego Union-Tribune, San Diego, CA (Feb. 20, 2005)

In the 1950s, there weren't as many college-educated women as there are today.

The American Association of University Women, formed in Boston in 1881, gave female university graduates a voice.

In 1955, North County women with degrees joined the ranks of the association by launching the San Dieguito branch at a community church in Solana Beach.

Irmajean Lewis was elected as president, said Margaret Edwards, 80, a longtime member who served as president of the branch in 1959.

The branch became a valuable networking and supportive resource.

"Back in my day, women either went to college or worked in defense companies," said Edwards, a Leucadia resident. "And college was only supposed to be a way to meet a good husband and provider."

The San Dieguito branch blossomed and eventually changed its name to the Del Mar-Leucadia branch. It is now coming up to its 50th anniversary.

The group's mission has remained steady: to promote equity and education for women and girls, said current president Linda Lum.

The branch includes women from Del Mar to La Costa and covers Encinitas, Olivenhain, Cardiff-by-the-Sea, Rancho Santa Fe, Solana Beach and Carmel Valley. There are more than 220 members.

Nationally, there are more than 1,600 branches and 160,000 members.

Edwards earned a bachelor's degree in literature and music from Mount St. Mary's College in Los Angeles and a master's in psychiatric social work from University of California Los Angeles.

Her mother was her inspiration.

"She was a teacher," Edwards said. "There was no question that I would pursue my education. The college experience was better than I ever expected, with forward thinking and a diversity of women."

That forward-thinking spirit still drives the Del Mar-Leucadia branch.

Since the heart of the American Association of University Women revolves around education, early on, the local group turned its focus toward schools. Members sat in on school board meetings to monitor what was going on, Edwards said.

"The men on the school board weren't intimidated by a group like ours," she said. "They were more like condescending and didn't know what to do with us."

The women's group questioned school board decisions.

"Our children were not being offered quality education, and they were bored," Edwards said. "Students were surfing rather than going to school. If they were really excited about school, they'd be in school."

In 1959, AAUW member Wilma Heinzelman was elected to the San Dieguito Union High School District board, Edwards said.

"That's when we knew we could make an impact," she said.

Today, the Del Mar-Leucadia branch of the American Association of University Women offers fellowships, scholarships and grants to qualified women, especially those returning to school. Community action projects include literacy, helping the homeless, legal advocacy for women's rights and creating resources such as Tech Trek, a high school program that helps girls advance in math, science and technology.

Guest speakers are featured at monthly meetings. Special-interest groups such as book clubs, bridge and conversational Spanish are led by members.

"Women connect with other women through the diverse programs we offer," said Lum, 60. "The branch has always offered a forum for women with like-educational values.

"To celebrate our 50th anniversary, the goal is to raise $100,000 for our programs."

Edwards said she hopes younger women in the community will join the branch and see the association's value.

"Education is the most valuable treasure I've ever had, so I'll always be a member," she said.

Summit Lets Girls Speak Their Minds; Open, Freewheeling Format Clears the Air
The Times-Picayune, New Orleans, LA (Feb.17, 2005)

At a free workshop designed for girls between the ages of 12 and 16, Miss Teen USA Shelley Catherine Hennig of Destrehan will discuss "Making Good Decisions" on March 12 at the LSU AgCenter office on Koop Drive.

The Sister-to-Sister Girl’s Summit is an opportunity for girls to talk in small groups about major issues they face as they enter middle and high school years. Topics will include but are not limited to body image, peer pressure, sexual harassment, bullying, dealing with cliques, teen pregnancy and teen suicide.

Chat sessions will be led by local high school girls who have been working with adult mentors to prepare for the event. One adult adviser will sit in on each session to assist when needed. However, the discussions will be led by teen girls in an open format to allow for free discussion.

Hennig’s message, which includes information on self-esteem for girls, speaks to the heart of the program which is designed to empower young girls at an age when they are asking questions about who they are, what is in their future and how they fit in.

"I wish I had had this opportunity when I was younger. I think this program will be very beneficial for all girls," said St. Scholastica sophomore Jorda Box, who will moderate one of the chat sessions.

"Some of the things we are going to talk about such as body image, peer pressure and teen sex really do affect a girl’s life every day."

Others at the training session agreed that the summit is a good opportunity for girls to discuss topics on their minds that are not necessarily discussed openly at home or with their peers.

"I hope they can open up and trust that they are in a safe environment to discuss these issues," said Katie O’Donnell, a Mandeville High junior. "They might not have anyone else to talk to about these issues."

Mandeville High sophomore Eliece Knight added that this is a good opportunity to get together with other girls and talk about things.

"Since everyone will be talking about the same things, no one will be there to judge you," she said.

The summit is sponsored by the Covington-Mandeville branch of the American Association of University Women and the LSU Agricultural Center.

Adult organizers bring a lot of experience to the table.

AAUW member Jody Cagle has worked in education for 30 years in numerous exceptional programs including magnet/gifted schools and juvenile detention programs.

For 12 years, Cagle was principal of an alternative high school for pregnant and parenting teens, which included both male and female students. She has also attended numerous workshops on teen pregnancy and teen sex.

"This summit is an opportunity to get young teens to talk to older teens about the kinds of problems they are going to encounter in school and life," Cagle said. "This will be a discussion between young women about things that are going on in their lives and probably things they might not want to discuss with their parents or other adults."

Cagle added that another focus of the summit is to empower girls by developing solutions for their concerns with the assistance of older teens who have experienced the same things.

She saw the positive effects of this format during several practice sessions when the girls began talking about why advertisers use such sexy images or atypically thin women to sell products.

"This led to a discussion about self-esteem and the girls talked about being okay just the way you are," she said, adding that when the teen culture says follow your peers, it’s very hard to be okay with your own decisions.

"Self-esteem is learning to know that you’re the best person you can be all the time and to know what you want."

"One thing always comes out when you work with young people, and that is they are absolutely, amazingly wonderful," she said. "We had girls ages 11, 16 and 17 in our practice sessions and they just took over the discussion and came up with solutions to the issues raised."

Letter to the Editor
Social Security More than Savings
The Montgomery Advertiser, Montgomery, AL (Feb. 16, 2005)

When President Bush delivered his State of the Union address he highlighted his plan to privatize Social Security. The president said there is an imminent crisis in funding for Social Security.

The American public should not be fooled. The president's proposal is a benefit cut in disguise, and Social Security privatization weakens the program, making its financial problems worse not better. The president's proposal is the crisis; privatization balloons an already huge deficit and increases the debt future generations will have to pay by trillions of dollars.

We shouldn't lose sight of the fact that Social Security is more than just a retirement program. It is a comprehensive life and disability insurance program as well. When someone retires or becomes disabled, or in the event of a death, families receive desperately needed monthly benefits.

Privatization ignores the need for disability and survivor benefits, and replaces lifetime guaranteed benefits with a private account containing a finite amount of money. For women, who tend to live longer than men, this means we could literally outlive our benefits. Further, the value of such accounts would fluctuate at the whim of the stock market. Anyone having the misfortune of retiring during a bear market would be out of luck.

As a woman, I join with the American Association of University Women in opposing privatizing Social Security. I know that Social Security is of particular importance to women. I also know that privatization is nothing but bad news for women.

Cindy Andreucci, Phenix City

The Sky's the Limit: Event Teaches Youth to Aim High;
Math, Science Professionals Offer Career Insight
The Houston Chronicle, Houston, TX (Feb. 10, 2005)

IT was after attending a science and mathematics conference for middle school girls that Julie Thralls, a sixth-grader at the time, saw the link between math and science and a profession.

"It spurred my interest in chemistry," said Thralls, who remembered doing an experiment with markers and peroxide to separate colors.

"It was cool."

It was so cool that the Spring Woods High School junior participated again in seventh and eighth grade.

When she was in ninth grade, she volunteered to help other young women at the event, and will volunteer again this year at the 13th annual Expanding Your Horizons in Science and Mathematics conference.

Sponsored by the West Harris County branch of the American Association of University Women, the one-day conference is designed to expose young women to careers in math and science.

This year's keynote speaker is NASA astronaut and mission specialist Sandra H. Magnus. Magnus was a crewmember on board the space shuttle Atlantis, which made a 4.5-million-mile trek through space in October 2002.

Dana Cutts, who handles publicity for the conference, said registration was limited to 600 participants - and was filled three weeks prior to the event.

Dozens of professional women in fields ranging from medicine to space exploration will talk about what they do, bring equipment and demonstrate experiments.

"It's a wonderful opportunity to show young girls a variety of things that they can do with their minds and the wide variety of careers that are open to them," said Natalie Antinoff, veterinarian, who will be a presenter.

"It sparks an interest for them while they are young."

It's the fourth year for Rita Cammarata, a pediatric dentist, to be a presenter.

"I want to let those kids know (dentistry) is fun and a great profession," said Cammarata, who has a practice in West University.

"I want to make sure they get to look at what we do."

Thralls isn't sure yet what career she will pursue, but she said the conferences showed her what she doesn't want to do.

"It helped me not choose a career in the military and FBI," said Thralls, who had previously thought about both professions.

She said she might pursue something related to chemistry or cooking or possibly flying.

In the meantime, Thralls is covering her bases at school. She took chemistry last year and is taking physics this year, as well as precalculus.

Thrall's mother, Sonya Meador, said her daughter's involvement with the conference changed her whole attitude about learning in school.

"It really turned her around," Meador said.

"That first time, she came home with so many ideas of what she wanted to be."

For Ro Leucken, a Spring Forest Middle School science teacher, it will be her sixth year to take pupils to the conference.

"I think it's good for the girls to be able to meet and see women currently working in science and math fields and to see their jobs aren't boring - that they're interesting," Leucken said.

Leucken said her pupils are inspired when they get back from the conference.

And she is too.

"I usually take one or two things away from the conference that I can use in the classroom," Leucken said.

Workshop Helps Expand Horizons for Middle School Girls; NASA astronaut Magnus to Speak
The Houston Chronicle, Houston, TX (Feb. 10, 2005)

The Willoughby sisters can't get enough of the Expanding Your Horizons in Science and Mathematcis annual workshop.

Sope, a senior at DeBakey High School for Health Professions, will be volunteering at the program after participating throughout middle school. Mayowa, a seventh grader at the Rice School, will also be attending this year.

"I liked being able to see professional women doing something I wanted to do when I grew up," said Sope. Best of all, she added, "No one picks anything for you. The program is tailored to each girl. If you don't want to do medicine, they have engineers and astronauts. It's awesome."

The conference, sponsored by the American Association of University Women, helps expose middle school girls to careers involving math and science. They get the chance to meet and interart with women who are active in math-and-science related careers. This year's keynote speaker is NASA astronaut Sandra H. Magnus.

"She's the ultimate expanded horizons gal," said Priscilla List, conference chair.

Magnus flew in space on the shuttle Atlantis in 2002. She holds a bachelors degree in physics and a doctorate in engineering.

This year, the program focuses on the health professions, including a physical therapist and a biomedical researcher; the business side of mathematics; the sciences of engineering, meteorology, and architecture; and women involved with marine biology and wildlife rehabilitation. Parents and teachers can learn how about eating disorders, academic anxiety, communication techniques for teens, and methods to incite classroom interest in the sciences and technology.

Sope Willoughby said the program showed her that her dream of medical school is not impossible.

"The women who gave their time to speak inspired me. These were professional women doing their thing and being successful."

They showed Willoughby that she could do it, too.

Julie Thrall, a junior at Spring Woods High School, is another three-year veteran whos returning for her second year as a volunteer.

"I didn't know there were so many different careers in math and science," she said. EYH showed her that food chemistry will play a big role in her future in the culinary arts.

Letter to the Editor
All About Women - Half The Population Can't Get Full Attention Where It Counts
The Seattle Times, Seattle, WA (Feb. 10, 2005)

Virginia Valian asks, shouldn't we expect girls to "excel at math and treat them accordingly"? ("The sex of science," Times, guest commentary, Feb. 6). My answer is yes, but it's not a new issue for teachers.

Twenty years ago, I learned that math teachers: often took over the girl's pencil to solve the problem for her; tended to answer boys' questions with more challenging, probing questions; and in general, gave more attention, both good and bad, to boys than girls.

Many teachers became aware of unconscious but discriminating classroom behavior and changed it. Working with organizations like AAUW (American Association of University Women) and Women in Engineering, we encouraged girls to take more math courses and learn about math-related careers.

Also, because of Title IX, girls were being challenged to take risks and were becoming more competitive not only on the field but, perhaps more importantly, in the classroom. As a result, there are more girls enrolled in high-school AP calculus classes than ever before.

And yet after all these changes, women are still underrepresented in math-related fields like engineering and computer science. Why? A young woman engineer once answered my question with, "Maybe they just don't like it."

All educators must continue to encourage girls in math and sciences. Women must continually speak out against biased behavior involving promotions, tenure and salary raises. And finally, as technical and math-related jobs evolve to include more collaboration and less isolation, those who hire must be reminded to consider all applicants, especially from underrepresented groups.

Sue Carrel, Seattle

Girls Encouraged to Aim High
Whittier Daily News, Whittier, CA (Feb. 9, 2005)

Jenay Arrona had never heard of a project scientist or a civil engineer before Tuesday's "Unlimited Potential' math and science conference for eighth-grade girls.

The 13-year-old from Cedarlane Middle School in Hacienda Heights was one of 406 girls from 25 area middle schools that attended the conference at Whittier College.

"It made me think I had more choices than just the usual things,' Arrona said. "The civil engineer was cool because they can design things. But my favorite was the project scientist with all of the space stuff.'

Hosted by the local branch of the American Association of University Women, the 12th annual event aims to inspire young girls to consider science and technology careers.

Numerous workshops featured professional women from a variety of fields, sharing examples of their work, talking about their jobs, advising areas of high school study in preparation for such careers and answering questions from the students.

"It's so important to reach girls when they are young enough to convince them to stick with math and science,' said Linda J. Spilker, Ph.D., who has participated in the event for the past five years.

Spilker, a principal research scientist at Jet Propulsion Laboratory in La Canada Flintridge, brought slides of Saturn to show the students. For 16 years she worked on the Cassini s pacecraft, which was blasted from Earth in 1997, arriving at Saturn in July 2004.

Spilker has worked for JPL for 28 years in fact, it is the only job she has ever had. Married with two daughters, she acknowledged that increasing the numbers of girls in the sciences requires questioning some basic societal assumptions.

"The challenge is sort of a cultural challenge,' Spilker said. "To hear that girls aren't as good in science and math is absolutely not true. We need to teach them that math is a cool career choice.'

In another workshop, Lt. Col. Lyn McNeely flipped through slides of various aircraft that she helped test as a member of the Edwards Air Force Base Test Team.

The 40-year-old admitted that her interest in the Air Force stemmed from her "corny' desire to do something for her country. But it was flying that hooked her.

Speaking in a Southern drawl and dressed in an olive-green flight suit, McNeely related her immediate love of flying.

Despite having "perfect parents' who fully supported her ambitions, being a girl did expose her to treatment not aimed at boys.

"I remember going to school and having a teacher tell me that I wasn't supposed to be good at math because I was a girl,' McNeely said. "But the guys I were with in the Air Force Test Pilot School were great. All they cared about was if you could complete the mission.'

Out of 24 test pilot students, McNeely was the only female. Now she is one of three women in an 11-member test team.

Kathy Schaefer, a captain for the Brea Fire Department, inspired laughter when she dressed student Jacqueline Luna in her 100-pound fire suit, then told her she only washed it once every five months.

Women are strong, the petite Schaefer told the room of eighth- graders, adding that she juggles the competing claims of family life and saving lives.

"I remember this one man who got burned on his whole face and body,' Schaefer said. "I was looking him in the face and he said, 'It's because of you I'm alive.' I have saved lives and I can walk taller because of that. People are alive because of me.'

Schaefer has inspired girls at 10 previous conferences. She enjoys seeing the spark of interest when the girls pepper her with questions following her talk.

But do conferences like these have an effect?

Sharing McNeely's workshop was Amy Yeomans, who attended the same conference in 1997 when she was a student at Granada Junior High School. She was so inspired that she is pursuing a math degree at UC San Diego.

"I liked it because it was a full day of lots of women talking about their jobs,' Yeomans said. "They weren't just the typical female jobs like teacher or nurse, but they presented all kinds of careers. And they were happy in their jobs, they really enjoyed what they did.'

We Can't Lose Sight of Fight for Equality
Tampa Tribune, Tampa, FL (Feb. 6, 2005)

Sun City Center Community Hall was packed Tuesday morning.

Silent auction tables on one side of the room attracted a crowd, as did the coffee and tea station on the other side.

Box lunches of sandwiches and fruit provided and served by high school students in the culinary arts department of the South County Career Center were placed on tables set for four. Cards and games would be the order of the day after the Women of Distinction program, which honored Judy Lisi, president of the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, entertainer Peggy Burgess and me.

This is the third year the Sun City Center branch of the American Association of University Women has presented the awards.

Previous honorees include Priscilla Mixon, executive director of Ruskin's spouse abuse shelter, the Mary and Martha House; Tampa surgeon and humanitarian Sylvia Campbell; Susan Haig, associate conductor of The Florida Orchestra; entertainer Rosa Rio; radiation oncologist Kathryn Kepes; and Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio.

The event is the branch's major annual fundraiser.

The money provides college scholarships to young women at East Bay High School who excel in math and science.

It's the organization's way of stoking the fire of equal opportunity — and keeping it burning.

Paying it forward, so to speak.

Founded in 1881, the association promotes education and equity for women and girls. The Sun City Center branch is one of 1,300 in the United States. About 100,000 women are members of the organization. The Sun City Center branch has nearly 300.

These are women who have fought the good battle. They are all college graduates. Many have advanced degrees. Many worked in business and industry. Many more were teachers.

Most members of this branch are retired. So most of their struggles came during times when the advancement of women was not universally viewed as a positive cultural shift.

That the association is still concerned about equal opportunities for women 124 years after its founding and 85 years after American women earned the right to vote gives credence to the fact that in this country, we have made great strides, but the journey isn't over.

Building Strong Young Women Is the Goal of Sister-to-Sister
The Idaho Statesman, Boise, ID (Jan. 31, 2005)

In an effort to bring education, support and clarity to sensitive issues that affect young women in the Treasure Valley, the annual American Association of University Women's Sister-to-Sister Summit will be held Feb. 12