New and renewing AAUW members gathered at the Waldo Branch Library for the annual Fall Fling Membership Kick-Off event. Thanks to Renee Carlson, the meeting room was transformed into a café-style setting, perfect for lively conversation among the members and guests.

Board Member and MO State President Linda Berube gave a run-down of all the activities currently underway at the State and National AAUW levels; Branch President Nicky Stanke did the same for Kansas City’s year.

Doretta Perna came as a guest and left as a member – Welcome, Doretta! Past member Marilyn Bables also attended and was greeted warmly at the prospect of her rejoining.

The three-state strategy to ratify the E.R.A. was the most discussed initiative of the morning, and those present were invited to sign the petition urging its ratification. The petitions will be gathered and sent on to Jefferson City as the momentum builds.

In 2011, Jane Biers and Debbie McWard, who are leading a statewide effort to recruit Missouri colleges and universities to join AAUW as College/University Partners, approached Betty Shouse and Jane Crigler to see if they would contact their alma maters and ask them to join. They did and William Jewell College, where Betty got her bachelor’s degree, and Central Methodist University, where Jane attended, agreed to join. This brings the number of colleges and universities in Missouri who are AAUW Partners to 18!

Perhaps there are other KC Branch members who would contact their alma mater to see if they would like to become a partner? There are many benefits. All undergraduate students at partner institutions are eligible for free e-student affiliate membership. As such, they can receive electronic copies of AAUW’s publications and research. They also have access to all AAUW’s student affiliate benefits including a vast array of leadership and professional development resources, and can apply for AAUW fellowships, grants, and awards. There are advantages for the institution as well. Among these, they can tap into AAUW’s powerful advocacy for education, and they receive recognition in AAUW’s online directory of partner members. Faculty, staff and students are also eligible for member discounts on many things from subscriptions to insurance.

For more information on AAUW-KC partnering with your alma mater, please call Jane Crigler at 816-523-7781.

AAUW-KC members and guests joined together on Dec. 1 to honor these community organizations for their work in advancing education and equity for women and girls:

DeLaSalle Education Center – $2,525 for a High School Seniors Seminar to help students understand and prepare for success beyond high school and into careers.  This grant is the first Leadership Memorial grant, funded through the membership contributions to recognize the AAUW leaders who have recently passed.

Front Porch Alliance – $2,000 for Dream Street Design, a T-shirt silk screening business that teaches students entrepreneurship and business skills while helping them earn money to help them develop skills to be successful, contributing members of their community.

Green Works in Kansas City – $2,525 for Girls Lead, a program for alumni of the Green Works school program that will train 10 girls to work with business entrepreneurs in the inner city to coordinate environmental and energy efficiency audits to help businesses understand opportunities for savings and implement best practices.

Niles Home for Children – $2,950 for a Financial Literacy Initiative, the grant will fund a cap stone weekend retreat for ten students, where the students will plan and run a mock retail area to apply all financial the skills they have learned, from budgeting for all expenses, including purchasing and preparing food for the group, to managing their mock funds and businesses.

United Inner City Services, St. Marks – $3,000 for TEAM (a Teacher Education and Mentoring Program).  This program will be used to train women from within the community to help them exceed basic requirements for teacher and teaching assistant services for children attending St. Mark’s pre- and elementary school.  Employment within the community served, as well as improved student teaching, are the target outcomes.

Make Plans to Join Us for KC’s Women’s Equality Week – August 23-29, 2015

During this third annual event, many local organizations will come together to present programs to promote women’s equality and celebrate women’s accomplishments. Watch for more details at www.aauwkc.org and in the August/September Taking Action.