"facts about gender equity in education"

the following is from national AAUW headquarters:

"On May 20, AAUW released the most comprehensive analysis to date on trends in educational achievement by gender, race/ethnicity, and income. The report, Where the Girls Are: The Facts About Gender Equity in Education, presents a comprehensive look at girls’ educational achievement during the past 35 years, paying special attention to the relationship between girls’ and boys’ progress.
This report shows that girls and boys from the fourth grade through the end of college are making steady educational gains. It is also the first report to analyze gender differences within economic and ethnic categories.
Many media outlets are already reporting this story. You can help spread the word about AAUW’s new research by commenting on the stories and blogs, starting with those listed below:

As of 1 p.m. on Tuesday, the Washington Post story about AAUW’s report was the second most e-mailed article on their website, and more than 70 readers had posted comments. Among other media outlets, we have already received coverage from
The New York Times
The Wall Street Journal
The Denver Post
The Hartford Courant

Upcoming television programs that will feature the AAUW report include PBS’ NewsHour with Jim Lehrer and To the Contrary. Check your local listings for these broadcasts today and Friday, respectively, featuring interviews with AAUW Executive Director Linda D. Hallman, CAE.

Blogs featuring the AAUW report so far include Education Week’s Eduwonkette, the American Council on Education, and Best Education Today. We encourage you to visit these sites and comment about the research or join the conversation on the AAUW Dialog blog. Welcome to citizen journalism!
Copies of Where the Girls Are may be downloaded free from the AAUW website, www.aauw.org. "

AAuw n.y.state convention

Mission Moving Forward

Westchester Women Make a Difference

by Selena Barron

The AAUW N.Y. State convention took place in Cooperstown , N. Y. from April 25 th through April 27 th at the Otesaga Resort and Hotel. Selena Barron, Jean Havens, Marie McKellar, Jann Mirchandani, Linda Rey, and Barbara Sarver represented the Westchester Branch. The convention presented energizing , passionate speakers and provided attendees an opportunity to meet members from all over the state and to exchange ideas and plans. The convention also gave all of our members many reasons to be proud of our branch. We are a grass roots organization and it is your membership, support and advocacy which makes all our efforts possible. Thank You!

We were one of five branches to receive 21 st Century Recognition “which is given for outstanding work encompassing all priority areas – Membership Development, Community and Campus Outreach, Outreach to Diverse and Underrepresented People or Groups, Visibility, Leadership Development and Technology and Communication – and Association, Educational Foundation and Legal Advocacy Fund support.” We were named a platinum branch and received individual awards for: Membership Development, Campus/Community Outreach, Outreach to Diverse and Underrepresented People, Visibility, Leadership Development, Technology and Communication, NY State Branch Newsletter of Excellence, Platinum Diversity Award for incorporating diversity into branch programming, International Affairs Award for innovative multi-event international programming .

Linda Rey, the chair of our Bu$ine$$ to Bu$ine$$ interest group, participated in a panel discussion, The Role of College/University Members and Professional Women in the Branches. Linda, a co-owner of the Rey Insurance Agency, was also a panel member at our Financial Literacy For Women program in May and will hostess a Bu$ine$$ to Bu$ine$$ interest group meeting at her home on June 26 th . The business members have become an important resource for our branch and we are enjoying the synergy created between their group and the branch.

In fund raising for the Educational Foundation we were second place in total contributions and fifth place in per capita contributions. In fund raising for the Legal Advocacy Fund we were second place in total contributions, fifth place in per capita contributions, achieved a 5% increase in LAF giving, reached a donation of $5 or more per member and had 18 contributors who reached special donor levels.

Barbara Sarver was named an Emerging Leader, an award given to members who have joined within the past three years, who have shown outstanding leadership. Barbara is a member of our Board of Directors, and the Branch Record Keeper. She maintains a data base for each member. As Yearbook Coordinator she designs, edits, proofreads and supervises the printing of the Yearbook. She also helped to update our strategic plan, policy sheet and goals. As a member of the Expanding Your Opportunities Committee she designs and edits the Journal, Brochure and thank you notes that go to contributors and volunteers.

Roli Wendorf was named as our Branch's 2008 Educational Foundation Honoree for her outstanding work as Chair of our Educational Foundation fund raising. Roli was also chair of our Legal Advocacy Foundation and served on the Expanding Your Opportunities Committee. Under Roli's leadership our Branch contributed $6,157.97 for the Educational Foundation and $4,010 for the Legal Advocacy Fund. Thanks to the response and generosity of our members, we were able to raise these contributions without any fund raising events. We are grateful to all of our donors. They permitted our board and council and membership to concentrate their efforts on our award winning activities so that Westchester women did make a difference and did move our AAUW mission forward.

two members honored

Two of our members are among the "40 Under 40" 2008 Rising Stars honored by The Business Council of Westchester. In a special section of the Westchester County Business Journal of June 16, 2008, attorney Marianne Hoffman, partner with the law firm of Jones Garneau L. L. P. and Pamela Njapa-Minyard, Executive Director of Girls Institute of Leadership and Integration are featured among the 40.
Pamela is our branch's representative for the event and game that we are sponsoring with the NY City branch, the Manhattan branch and the Rockland branch and the NY Liberty on August 14th. This is quite an honor. We are proud that these young women are members of our Branch and we join The Business Council of Westchester in congratulating them on their accomplishments.