September 2010

Nuggets of News
Volume 6, Issue 1 Delta-Contra Costa Branch AAUW
Contact Information
Patty Chan
President
pattychan@hotmail.com
(925) 754-4122
President’s Message
Linda Locke Welcome to another season of AAUW service to East County 2010-11!
VP Program
I hope everyone had a great summer and are ready to join together in “Breaking
linnlocke@comcast.net
Through Barriers for Women and Girls”. I look forward to a productive year with
(925) 754-2161
exciting programs (ice cream social), fundraisers (Gary Bogue, garage sale, Barnes
Jacquie Wandry & Noble, gift-wrapping), and gatherings (holiday party)!
VP Membership
(925) 757-6255 It will be great to see your smiling faces at our annual Fall Membership Luncheon
scheduled for Oct. 14. I joined back in the early 80s when I was invited to a similar
Deborah Cummings event. The people I met that day were friendly and seemed to be committed to
Secretary improving the lives of women. I thought it would be a great opportunity to give back to
Debbie94565@yahoo.com the community. Now, many years later I am proud and honored to be part of a
(925) 439-7665 national organization that creates possibilities in so many ways every day! The
friendships I’ve formed and the people I’ve met are priceless! Invite someone you
Gail Meyer know to join – just as someone did for me – and someone did for you... It will be a gift
Treasurer and a new generation of AAUW-ians is essential to continuing our work. My goals for
Gem925@sbcglobal.net our branch are to increase membership, our treasury, and visibility in our local
(925) 757-6136 community.

Billie Pfotzer THANK YOU for being part of my team and bringing your creativity and energy!
EF or AAUW Funds AAUW CA’s interest is”...promoting equity for all women and girls, lifelong education
(925) 757-1612 and positive societal change.” I appreciate your continued support and commitment.
Please feel free to send me any ideas or comments you may have.
Jennifer Westerman This is YOUR branch!
LAF or AAUW Funds
Patty Chan
& Public Policy VP
(925) 754-4122
jenniferwesterman@com
cast.net pattychan@hotmail.com
(925) 779-1079

Jacquelyn Higgins Summer Branch Leadership Workshop

Newsletter
& Web Manager On July 31, the Branch Liaison Committee with Alameda and Contra Costa IBCs
jakehiggins@earthlink.net offered a Branch Leadership Workshop at The Stratford in Pleasant Hill. Over 40
(925) 754-6804 women from local branches attended including 6 AAUW State and National elected
directors. The opening presentation for the whole group thoroughly examined the
Joyce Blakley
current structure of the AAUW Funds, formerly EF and LAF. In two separate
Tech Trek
joycemizb87@yahoo.com
breakout sessions relevant topics: from the CA Website to Community Networking,
925-757-4885 Program Planning to Alternate Leadership Structures, were discussed in various
formats. There was an Open Discussion Forum for each of the two sessions. The
Joan Coss feedback from the attendees was very positive. It was like a mini convention! Ideas
Tech Trek are already in the works for another next year. Unfortunately I was the only person
jam2clc@aol.com from Delta attending this year. Keep the last weekend in July open for next year as
925-754-9432 that is probably going to be the date. Everyone can benefit from such an event—and
the cost was only $10 with lunch included! -- Debbie Cummings
 Nuggets of News Page 2 of 8

Book Club Meeting

The next Book Club Meeting will be held on Monday, Sept. 13, 7 p.m., at Debbie
Cummings house. We will be selecting books for coming year. Be sure to come and
bring your choices for us to consider.

“Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.”
Groucho Marx

Equity Issues in the News

AAUW Spokeswoman Makes TV Appearance to Discuss Issues Facing Women and Girls
Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) invited Lisa Maatz, AAUW director of public policy and government
relations, to the U.S. House of Representatives recording studio to discuss a variety of topics affecting women and girls.
Go to the AAUW YouTube page to listen to excerpts of their discussion, which first aired on The Washington Report, a
weekly cable show created to educate and inform Texas’s 30th Congressional District. The clips focus on health care,
AAUW’s STEM work, jobs, preparing tomorrow’s workers, and retraining in a recession.
Why Women Should Vote – Now More than Ever! AAUW Dialog
AAUW Membership Director Christy Jones this week blogged about Women’s Equality Day in a post that told the
compelling stories of the suffragists through incredible photos. “This is the story of our grandmothers and great-
grandmothers; they lived only 90 years ago,” Jones wrote. “The women were innocent and defenseless, but they were
jailed nonetheless for picketing the White House, carrying signs asking for the vote.” Click here to read the full post.
Journalists from the La Crosse (WI) Tribune, Orlando Sentinel, San Diego Gay & Lesbian News, and the Contra Costa
(CA)Times turned to local AAUW branch members to find out how they were marking the 90th anniversary of the 19th
Amendment, which granted women the right to vote. AAUW of Illinois held a Women’s Equality Day program titled:
Changing WHY SO FEW to QUITE A FEW. AAUW was also mentioned in a Huffington Post article titled, “Don’t Pop
the Bubbly Yet for Women’s Equality Day.”
AAUW Members Across the Nation Call for Swift Passage of the Paycheck Fairness Act
Dorothy E. McBride, president of the AAUW Tacoma (WA) Branch, rallied for the Paycheck Fairness Act in an Aug. 24
op-ed for The News Tribune that compared the fight for suffrage 90 years ago with today’s struggle against the gender-
based wage gap. Linda Lumley, public policy director for the AAUW Battle Creek (MI) Branch, and Kathy Banfield
Shaw, public policy director for the AAUW Marshall (MI) Branch, co-wrote an Aug. 22 guest column for the Battle Creek
Enquirer, urging broader support of the Paycheck Fairness Act, while Patricia L. Ehret, of the AAUW Camarillo (CA)
Branch, highlighted California’s wage gap statistics in her Aug. 25 Ventura County Star article.
Arizona Newspaper Highlights AAUW Salary Negotiation ProgramThe Arizona Republic
AAUW’s $tart $mart Salary Negotiation Workshop was mentioned in an article titled, “Negotiate the best pay from new
job.” In the story, Patricia Estrada, of Phoenix, said: “I didn't know benefits could be negotiated. I always thought you got
whatever was offered.”
AAUW Why So Few? Research Report Spurs Dialogue at Manhattan Community College
(Monday, Aug. 23) Borough of Manhattan Community College
The AAUW report Why So Few? Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics continues to inform
discussion surrounding women’s underrepresentation in these fields. An article titled “Are You Sure You’re Not a Math
Person?”— appearing on the Manhattan Community College website— quoted statistics from the AAUW report.
AAUW Legal Advocacy Fund Program Manager Blogs about Street Harassment
(Wednesday, Aug. 25) Feministing
Holly Kearl, AAUW legal advocacy fund program manager, continues to speak out against street harassment in a blog
about her new book, Stop Street Harassment: Making Public Places Safe and Welcoming For Women. Kearl described
the experiences that prompted the book, and encouraged readers to speak out as well: “This is an issue that impacts
women worldwide, especially young women, but few people talk about it.”
 Page 3 of 8 Nuggets of News

2011 AAUW National Convention

Renaissance Hotel • June 16–19, 2011
Washington, D.C.
Add your voice to the "Big Teal Machine" as
AAUW members from across the country take our message
to Capitol Hill on Lobby Day.

In the meantime, don't miss your chance to speak truth to power by calling your
senators now and urging them to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act before they leave
town for the November elections.
Call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at 202/224-3121. Add your voice!
w w w.aau w.org

AAUW-CA: Convention 2011 -- Celebrating 90 Years

Mark your calendar to celebrate AAUW-CA's 90 years at our 2011 Convention in
Irvine, CA April 8-10, 2011. We are looking forward to an amazing celebration and
hope that you will join us.

As we did last year, we are asking anyone who is interested in doing a workshop at
Convention to fill out a Request For Proposal. If the link doesn't work, the RFP can
be found on the AAUW-CA website under Convention 2011.

Also, Exhibitor/V endor information is posted on the website under Convention

2011.

Please contact me with any questions. See you in Irvine!

Carlynne McDonnell 909-964-3187

Calendar of Events for Delta-Contra Costa AAUW

Monday, September 13th, 7pm - Book Club Meeting at Debbie Cummings’ home

Thursday Sept. 16th, 6:30pm –Board Meeting at Patty's office, Rivertown Resource
Center 301 W. 10th St (corner D St.)

Thursday, October 14th – Fall Membership Potluck Dinner at Linda Locke’s home. Invite
a friend! A-L Bring a main dish M-Z Bring a side dish or dessert

Thursday, March 24, 2011, 6pm – Gary Bogue Fundraiser Dinner

April 8-10, 2011 – AAUW – CA Convention in Irvine

June 16-19, 2011 – AAUW National Convention in Washington, D.C.

July 2011 – save the last weekend for the Summer Branch Leadership Workshop
 Nuggets of News Page 4 of 8

Delta-Contra Costa AAUW General Meeting Minutes: June 14, 2010

Call to Order, Introductions and Announcements: The meeting was called to order by Patty Chan, President, at 8:00 PM. There
were 12 members present. Patty thanked Lura Cota for hosting the potluck dinner and meeting. Debbie announced that there will be
officer training on Saturday, July31, 2010.

Minutes: There were no minutes.

Treasurer’s Report: Patty reported that the club has approximately $9,000 minus $2,000 for the two Los Medanos scholarships for a
total of $7,000 in the checking account.

President’s Report – Patty Chan: Patty stated that the garage sale at Jennifer’s house on June 11 and 12 brought in $288 on Friday
and $220 on Saturday for a total of $508.00. Jennifer said that the remaining items not sold were donated to several charities.

Membership – Jacquie Wandry: Doris said that Jacquie purchased a gift card to Target to be raffled off for members who paid their
2010-2011 dues. Doris gave the members tickets and a winner was selected. Jacquie also made a lavender basket as a raffle prize.
The tickets were 6 for $5.00 or $1.00 each. Linda Locke won the basket.

Election of OfficersL Patty presented the slate of officers for 2010 -2011:
President Patty Chan
Secretary
Treasurer Gail Meyer
Membership Jacquie Wandry
Program Linda Locke
Public Policy Jennifer Westerman
Newsletter/Website Jacquelyn Higgins
Tech Trek Joyce Blakley and Joann Coss

Patty opened the meeting to nominations from the floor. Jennifer nominated Debbie Cummings for Secretary. Linda Seiden will assist
Debbie with the position of secretary. Linda Locke made the motion and Jennifer Westerman seconded it to elect the slate of Officers.
Motion carried.

Program: Debbie reported that the Ice Cream Social was successful. There was no administrator from Deer Valley High School to
present the awards to their students. Pittsburg High School has a new representative. She recommended that we remind the school
representatives about the need to be present at the Ice Cream Social. The guest speaker was Trine Gallegos. Lisa Vorderbrueggen
was the guest speaker at Linda’s Locke’s home for the Holiday party.

Funding Raising: Patty reported that the club made $1,190 from the Gary Bogue dinner and fundraiser. Gift wrapping at the Antioch
Sport Authority took in $684, the book fair at Barnes & Noble $510 and Z-Best Coupon books $80. Future fundraising ideas are Pinky
Car Wash will give us a percentage from all car washes on Wednesday. Debbie suggested that we also sell lemonade and water.
Cold Stone Creamery has members sell ice cream on Monday or Tuesday from 4:00PM – 9:00 PM. Patty is checking into both of
these ideas.

State Convention 2010: Debbie and Patty volunteered at the AAUW State Convention in San Ramon and received a reduced
convention rate. There were 300 members, good vendor were present and it was a well done convention. There was voting for 8 new
directors. The top four people are voted for President, Secretary and Chief Financial Officer. Debbie said that Northern California has
good representation on the state board. We had a display to get our club name out into the AAUW community.

Scholarship: Joan said that two $1,000 scholarships were awarded to two female students from Los Medanos College. Christina
Cannon, first finalist, who has been accepted at Idaho State University and Nicole McCurry, the second finalist, accepted at University
of California at Davis. There were five candidates. Patty explained that the club writes a $2,000 check to Los Medanos College
Foundation and it sends the money to the universities when the students are registered.

Tech Trek: Debbie reminded the club that Joyce and Joan will help with 2 other branches to host the Trek Tech social for the female
students. There is a possibility that JFK University has a room available.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Linda Seiden
AAUW Secretary
 Page 5 of 8 Nuggets of News

Reserve the Date for Gary Bogue

March 24, 2011 is our date for the Gary Bogue Dinner. I hope this works for
everyone as it gives us time to print and sell tickets.
Linda Locke

2010 Election Preview air dates set

Check out your public access television station for our 2010 Election Previews,
recorded round-table interviews with nearly 100 candidates in 24 Contra Costa races.
The Times has helped produce, along with the League of Women Voters and Contra
Costa TV, the election previews for 18 years, and I moderated during the three-day
recording schedule this week.

(Click here for my full story on the previews.)

We will also post the 24 segments on www.contracostatimes.com starting next

week. Here are the air dates:
Congressional District 7 — Contra Costa TV Channel 27, and AT&T Channel 99:
Sept. 2, 6 p.m.; Sept. 5, 9 p.m.; Sept. 9, 8 p.m., Sept. 13, 8 p.m.; Sept. 19, 9 p.m.;
Sept. 27, 8 p.m.
Congressional District 10 — Contra Costa TV Channel 27, and AT&T Channel 99:
Sept. 2, 6:30 p.m.; Sept. 5, 9:30 p.m.; Sept. 9; 8:30 p.m.; Sept. 13, 8:30 p.m.; Sept.
19, 9:30 p.m.; and Sept. 27, 8:30 p.m.
Assembly District 11 — Contra Costa TV Channel 27, and AT&T Channel 99: Sept.
2, 8 p.m.; Sept. 6, 8 p.m.; Sept. 9, 6 p.m.; Sept. 12, 9 p.m.; Sept. 20, 8 p.m.; Sept. 26
at 9 p.m.
Contra Costa County District Attorney — Contra Costa TV Channel 27, and AT&T
Channel 99: Sept. 2, 7:30 p.m.; Sept. 5, 10:30 p.m.; Sept. 9, 9:30 p.m.; Sept. 13, 9:30
p.m.; Sept. 19, 10:30 p.m., and Sept. 27, 9:30 p.m.
Antioch City Council — Comcast East Contra Costa Channel 24: Sept. 20, Sept. 27
and Oct. 4, 8 p.m.
Brentwood City Council — Comcast East Contra Costa Channel 24: Sept. 21, Sept.
28 and Oct. 5, 5 p.m.
Oakley City Council — Comcast East Contra Costa County Channel 24: Sept. 20,
Sept. 27 and Oct. 4, 7:30 p.m.
Antioch Unified School District — Comcast East Contra Costa Channel 24: Sept. By Lisa Vorderbrueggen
20, Sept. 27 and Oct. 4, 9 p.m.
Liberty Union High School District — Comcast East Contra Costa County Channel
24: Sept. 20, Sept. 27 and Oct. 4, 7 p.m.

The author of the article above, Lisa Vorderbrueggen, will be our guest speaker
at the Fall Membership Dinner at Linda Locke's home on October 14th
 Nuggets of News Page 6 of 8

SB 929 to Ban Cadmium Pas sed by the California Assembly

B 929 (Pavley), the bill co-sponsored by AAUW CA to ban Cadmium from children’s
jewelry, has successfully passed the California Assembly. Our lobbyist, Charlotte
Newhart, worked very hard on AAUW’s behalf and we are grateful to her for her
efforts. Thanks to all of you for sending messages of support to your legislators!

Please log on to the
AAUW CA website's
public policy section
for a status report
on other legislation
supported by
AAUW CA in the
2010 Legislative Session.
The final vote was 52-24, with all Democrats voting in favor except for a no vote by
Anna Marie Caballero and Alyson Huber abstaining. Three Republicans voted for
the bill: Nathan Fletcher, Danny Gilmore, and Michael Villines. Consider sending a
thank you email to your legislator if she or he voted in favor of the bill!
Since the bill passed the Senate earlier, it will next go to the Governor for signature.
You’ll receive an Action Alert about sending a message to the Governor when the bill
is forwarded to him for action.

AAUW-CA news
AAUW Funds Luncheons
Two exciting luncheons have been planned for you – at the Marriott Hotel in Irvine on October 23, and at the Crow
Canyon Country Club in Danville on October 24. You will hear California 2010 Fellowship and Grant recipients as well as
Gloria Blackwell, National Director for Fellowships and Grants. Click HERE to register online with your credit card or
Click HERE for a reservation form to mail in with your check. Lorelei Self, AAUW Funds Director

Speech Trek
The Speech Trek Committee is pleased to announce that you can view one of the 2010 Speech Trek finalists, Ela
Banerjee, Roseville/South Placer Branch, on our website on the Speech Trek page HERE. It is also available on
YouTube along with other Speech Trek videos, including a testimonial from the 2009 Speech Trek winner, Alexandria
Aiello, the first Speech Trek winner, Anna Torres, and a testimonial from Hayley Thirlwall. Our August Speech Trek
Newsletter was inadvertently omitted from the Branch Presidents packet. It can be found in Forms & Documents, under
Speech Trek, HERE. Cathy Foxhoven, Program Director and Speech Trek Manager

New Support for Branches

This year, an AAUW CA Director as well as a Branch Liaison has been designated for your branch. To find yours, go to
Branch Leadership then Branch Connection or click HERE. The Directors and Branch Liaison Team are available to
answer questions, share challenges and triumphs and provide whatever support your branch needs. We look forward to
working with you. Megan Smock and Anne Henke, Branch Liaison Directors

Public Policy News

Study the State Budget Process - AAUW branches statewide are encouraged to join in studying the dysfunctional
California Budget process, and make recommendations about how to change the process. Study details are on our
website under Public Policy HERE. Working together we can develop a well-researched report to send to our elected
officials in March 2011. Talk to your branch Public Policy Chair about taking part in this interesting and important
project. Sue Miller, Public Policy Director

AAUW California: http://www.aauw-ca.org

Page 7 of 8 Nuggets of News

Ca mpus-b ased funding a nd l ea ders hip opp ortunities from AAU W

Dear AAUW Member Leader: I’m excited to share information about the 2010–11 AAUW Leadership Programs with you.
Each of the programs presents many ways for your branch to be involved in supporting campus women leaders and
college/university relationships. I encourage you to share these opportunities with other members of your branch, college
students, and administrators and with the staff of women’s and career centers at colleges and universities in your
community.
Elect Her—Campus Women Win: Elect Her—Campus Women Win, a collaboration between AAUW and Running Start,
encourages and trains young women to run for student government on their campuses. Apply to be one of 10 new
campuses to host a session in spring 2011. Applications are available today and must be submitted by September 15,
2010. Selections will be announced September 30, 2010.
Student Advisory Council (SAC): Each year, AAUW selects 10 outstanding college student leaders from around the
nation to be AAUW campus ambassadors and to advise AAUW on student issues. SAC members participate in monthly
conference call discussions on leadership and campus issues, contribute to the AAUW blog, promote AAUW programs,
and build ties to their local AAUW branch. SAC members visit AAUW in Washington, D.C., in the fall for a two-day retreat
and orientation, and they fulfill leadership roles at the National Conference for College Women Student Leaders.
Applications to serve on the SAC will be available Aug. 30, and must be submitted by October 1, 2010. The new SAC
will be announced October 8, 2010. (Students of C/U partner members receive preference.)
Campus Action Projects (CAP): AAUW’s research report Why So Few? Women in Science, Technology, Engineering,
and Mathematics, released in March 2010, garnered national media attention, including articles in the New York Times
and Washington Post. To put our research into practice, teams of student leaders and campus faculty nationwide can
apply for up to $5,000 in CAP grants to design and implement programs that address barriers highlighted by this report.
Each team’s goal should be to help increase the number of girls and women who enter and stay in science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics fields. Applications will be available Aug. 30, and must be submitted by October 22, 2010.
Project awards will be announced December 3, 2010. (C/U partner members receive preference.)

Find information about these programs and more on the leadership programs section of the AAUW website and by
selecting Educator/Admin on the I AM navigation menu on our home page. We look forward to engaging you and your
students in these exciting leadership opportunities. Please send any questions about these programs to
leadership@aauw.org.

Sincerely,
Linda D. Hallman, CAE, Executive Director

There are more i nternet links a nd a rticles t han will fit in one
newsl etter. For more w onderful information, t ry t hes e i mp orta nt
web sit es:
Washington Update is internal communication for public policy leaders and members of the American Association of
University Women.

AAUW Legal Advocacy Fund (LAF) works to combat sex discrimination in higher education and the workplace. LAF
is pleased to report the adoption of a new case, Foltz et al. v. Delaware State University. Fifteen members of the
Delaware State University (DSU) women's equestrian team filed this lawsuit to challenge the school's decision to
eliminate the team and replace it with competitive cheerleading. The suit, which alleges that the school failed to
provide equal athletic opportunities to DSU's female students, has been approved as a class action. LAF is
disbursing $11,500 to the Women's Law Project, the Philadelphia organization that represents the students, to bring
an expert witness to the October trial. Read the AAUW press release for more information.

One Member, One Vote To access the One Member, One Vote online system, log in using your member ID and
then select One Member, One Vote from the left navigation.
 AAUW Membership Information
Delta-Contra Costa
Branch Now more than ever, the American Association of University Women needs strength
in numbers. With approximately 100,000 members, 1,000 branches, and over 500
Annual Dues college and university partner members, AAUW uses its powerful voice on critical
issues affecting women and girls.
Assoc.: $49
Share in the commitment to speak out on vital social, economic, and political issues.
State: $17 Education. Civil rights. Affirmative action. Reproductive choice. Sex discrimination.
Local: $14 Title IX. Health care. Hate crimes.

TOTAL: $80 Who can join?

(Student dues $48) AAUW membership consists of individual and college/university members. If you hold
st.
an associate's or equivalent, bachelors, or higher degree from a regionally accredited
Fees are due June 1 college or university, you can join AAUW as an individual (member-at-large) or as a
Make checks payable to member of one of AAUW's 1,000 branches. Branch members also belong to the
AAUW, Delta CC Branch national organization.
and mail to: If you are an undergraduate in a two-or four-year regionally accredited educational
Jacquie Wandry, institution, you can join as a student affiliate of a branch or a student-affiliate-at-large.
Membership Chairman, P.O. Qualified institutions are educational institutions that offer recognized associate,
Box 827 baccalaureate, or higher degrees and that have full regional accreditation (including
Antioch CA 94509. two-year or community colleges) or appropriate professional association approval.

Please include your current AAUW values and seeks a diverse membership. There shall be no barriers to full
address, phone number, and participation in this organization on the basis of gender, race, creed, age, sexual
email. orientation, national origin, disability, or class.

About Our Organization…

We’re on the Web!
See us at: Since 1881, AAUW (formerly known as the American Association of University
www.aauw.org & Women) has been the nation's leading voice promoting education and equity for
women and girls. We have a nationwide network of nearly 100,000 members, 1,000
http://dccaauw.blogspot.com branches, and 500 college/university institution partners.
For more than 127 years, AAUW members have examined and taken positions on
the fundamental issues of the day — educational, social, economic, and political. Our
commitment to our mission is reflected in all aspects of our work.

From your AAUW CA Presidents- Judy Pfeil and Gloria Taylor

Communication: one member, one vote excerpts from Linda Hallman
Adopted at the 2009 AAUW National Convention, the concept of One Member, One Vote moved AAUW national
elections beyond a delegate-only process to an every-member opportunity.
Under One Member, One Vote, members can now propose and discuss bylaw changes, resolutions, and Public
Policy Program amendments online and “meet” the candidates through biographies, video, and candidate links.

In addition to frequent website and other online updates, key information will be available to all members in the
Fall, Winter, and Spring/Summer issues of AAUW Outlook as well.
Please log in, explore the One Member, One Vote online system, and familiarize yourself with the process. A
Frequently Asked Questions document (FAQ) is available to assist you. To access the online system from the
AAUW home page, click on Member Center (in the top right corner), log in with your member ID, and then select
One Member, One Vote.
As a reminder, members can find their member ID on the AAUW Outlook mailing label or by using the Member
ID Lookup link, which is also available from the log-in page of the Member Center.
For an overview of the One Member, One Vote process, please visit the Current Topics Briefing Series online.
Linda Hallman, CAE - AAUW Executive Director
Collaboration:Linda Mayo Vice President for Communications