February 2010, Vol. 55 No. 1
Tuesdays - March 2 - April 6 (except the last Tuesday of March). Are you looking for information and discussion on current foreign policy issues topics and a chance to add your opinions to a national report sent to decision-makers? If so, call the Laurel branch library at 301-776-6790 to sign up for Great Decisions 2010. Attendees watch a half hour informational video, discuss readings prepared by the Foreign Policy Association, and complete opinion ballots.
Monday, March 15, 6:30 pm -Celebrate Women's History Month with members of BPW of Laurel and Southern Prince George's and the Bowie-Crofton Soroptimists at the Bowie Center for the Performing Arts starting at 6:30 with a light supper. Joy Jones, a trainer, author storyteller and communicator, will tell us stories about African and African American women from antiquity to contemporary times who are noteworthy women who aren't in your history book. The cost of the event is $30. Any profit will be divided between the four groups. Flyer Attached. Registration deadline is March 5.
Tuesday, March 16, 8 - 9 pm - AAUW Resources for Grassroots Advocates conference call. Field Director Seth Chase and Grassroots Advocacy Coordinator Lecia Imbery will review for you resources available from AAUW to help you: (1) Schedule a meeting with an elected official, (2) Be a well-informed and articulate advocate (3) Communicate your concerns to elected officials as policy is shaped; and Educate and mobilize women in your community to vote-on the issues at stake for women. To register for this conference call, please point your web browser to http://bit.ly/cvBRfU. Registration for this conference call closes on Monday, March 15.
Saturday, April 10 - Sunday, April 11 - AAUW Maryland state convention at Cross Keys in Baltimore. Registration form is attached. The deadline is March 30. This will be a special weekend with an interesting program and opportunities to share information with counterparts from other branches. Come to learn, come to meet interesting women; come to strengthen your branch and be revitalized. The dinner speaker will be Kristin Galles. On February 8, the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals sided with the LAF-supported plaintiffs in Mansourian, et al. v. Regents of the University of California, et al. on several fronts, overturning a lower court judge's 2008 opinion. Mansourianân's lawyer Kristen Galles said, "Thanks again to AAUW for its support. We used your money to pay for the very expensive court transcript and exhibits and travel for the oral argument. Attorneys donated their time for free, but it is very difficult for public interest attorneys to pay such huge court costs out of pocket, so AAUW support can mean the difference between a victory and no case at all."
Tuesday, April 20, 7:30 pm - Branch meeting at Morningside House, 7700 Cherry Lane in Laurel. We will discuss the proposal for a Global Fund for Education.
Sunday, May 2, 2 - 5 pm - Fundraiser for the Virginia Gildersleeve International Fund at J. Patricks, 1372 Andre Street, Baltimore, MD 21230. The cost is $35 which includes music, food, one beer or wine, and a $20 donation to VGIF. Please let me know if you plan to attend. Bring friends. It should be a great afternoon Flyer is attached.
Tuesday, May 18, 7:00 pm - Salad Supper and Maryland Legislative Wrap-Up at Morningside House, , 7700 Cherry Lane in Laurel.
The Laurel Branch is co-sponsoring the Great Decisions discussions at the Laurel Library. Upcoming topics: Global Financial Crisis (March 2), Russia and Its Neighbors (March 9), Persian Gulf (March 16) and Peace building and Conflict Resolution (April 6). It's not too late to join the group. The Friends of the Laurel Library have purchased the Great Decisions workbooks for those who are attending. Copies are available at the Information Desk.
In February, Adel Wortman and Pat Behanna continued our branch practice of preparing dinners for the homeless women staying at the Laurel Winter Haven.
Fatima Wahab has founded a women's group called the African D.I.A.M.O.N.D.S. Women's Movement (WWW.DIAMONDSWOMEN.ORG) which is dedicated to advocacy for women and girls' health and wellbeing, provides a support network for women and girls, help identify resources beneficial to girls and women in the African community, The organization has three programming areas: (1) the DIAMONDS Women's Support Network (2) the DIAMONDS Girls program and (3) the DIAMONDS Global Outreach to women and girls in Africa. The women's group meets on the last Sunday of the month and welcomes all women who would like to be part of this growing women's movement. Note: African D.I.A.M.O.N.D.S. stands for: African Daughters' Initiative for Advancement, Motivation, Opportunity, Nurturing and Determination for Self-reliance.
From the Executive Summary of the Brookings Policy Brief Series #169 (Aug 2009), A Global Fund for Education: Achieving Education for All:
In order to realize the world's commitment to ensuring education for all by 2015, important innovations and reforms will be needed in the governance and financing of global education. In 2008, Presidential Candidate Barack Obama committed to making sure that every child has the chance to learn by creating a Global Fund for Education. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has recently called for a new architecture of global cooperation that requires institutions to "combine the efficiency and capacity for action with inclusiveness." A new Global Fund for Education should be an independent and inclusive multi-stakeholder institution that builds upon existing institutions and supports country-driven solutions. It must be capable of mobilizing the approximately $7 billion annually still needed to achieve education for all, while holding all stakeholders accountable for achieving results with these resources.
None of these objectives will be achieved without a major rethinking of the global education architecture and an evolution of current mechanisms for financing education. More than 75 million children remain out of primary school, and only 53 of the 171 countries with available data have achieved gender parity in primary and secondary education. Achieving these two Millennium Development Goals, and the broader Education for All Goals set out by 164 countries, will require more capable international institutions. A Global Fund for Education that links funding to performance that ensures a greater share of resources reach schools and that coordinates the efforts of diverse stakeholders is essential to putting these goals within reach.
In order to realize President Obama's vision for creating a Global Fund for Education, significant leadership by the United States on global education will be needed in the coming year. A clear commitment by the United States to leverage the contributions of other nations and work together to support country-driven strategies through a Global Fund for Education could catalyze unprecedented international energy around achieving education for all.
For more background information read the Brookings Policy Brief Series #169 (Aug 2009), A Global Fund for Education: Achieving Education for All.
The 25th anniversary of NCCWSL! This special 2010 National Conference for College Women Student Leaders will be held June 3-5, 2010, at the University of Maryland, College Park.
Each year, AAUW and NASPA jointly present NCCWSL-a unique, two-and-a-half-day conference, held in the Washington, D.C., area. The conference gives women student leaders the opportunity to hone their leadership skills and learn how to improve their lives, campuses, and communities. At the conference, attendees have the chance to hear exciting keynote speakers, attend the inspirational Women of Distinction Awards Ceremony, and get involved in community service projects. The conference also offers more than 50 skill-building workshops and the chance to network with other student leaders from across the United States and other countries. See the 2009 NCCWSL highlights to learn more about past successes of the conference.
Health care professionals stress that the single best way to prevent medical error and protect your health is to keep a list of your allergies, medical conditions and medications with you at all times!
Ten million users worldwide already know that the World Medical Card (WMC) is the best and safest portable medical record system available anywhere! Now, AAUW is introducing WMC in the United States, so our members can have the same peace of mind &ldots; at no cost!
Why do I NEED this card? Most important, it could save your life. Do you have any allergies? Do you take medications or have specific medical diagnoses? Your WMC can communicate this information for you in situations where you are unable to provide it on your own. In an emergency, medical professionals worldwide are trained to look for information to guide their treatment - the World Medical Card provides that for them. Language is no barrier because WMC uses the World Health Organization medical codes. So, whether you're traveling around the world or just grocery shopping, carrying the card provides 24/7 access to this vital information, and online backup to all the medical history you choose to include. At home, when changing physicians or consulting a specialist, instead of filling out reams of paperwork, WMC makes your information downloadable at the click of a button.
With this unique partnership, AAUW is able to offer every member a free World Medical Card for a limited time period, so you can always have access to your personal medical information - wherever and whenever you need it.
This is only available through May 15, 2010, and represents a total value of $4.3 million dollars on the part of World Medical Card to help AAUW members be proactive in their medical treatment. Protecting you at home and worldwide, your WMC assures that lifesaving medical data is accessible through your WMC wallet card, online and via your web-accessible cell phone. Your information is safeguarded in secure servers operated by World Medical Center in Oslo, Norway, and protected to the highest level - even higher than your money at your bank!
Additionally, you can provide the WMC to your friends and family at a significant discount - $20 for family and only $35 for friends - (again, standard retail is $43) and many branches are using it as a branch fundraiser.
Please visit AAUW's World Medical Card site to learn more and register today. Just gather your personal information including medications - it will only take 5 minutes.
AAUW is proud to be the pioneer in introducing World Medical Card to America and to give you a simple way to protect yourself and your health. Take personal control of your own health information
By joining AAUW, you belong to a community that breaks through educational and economic barriers so that all women have a fair chance.
AAUW values and seeks a diverse membership. There shall be no barriers to full participation in this organization on the basis of gender, race, creed, age, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or class.