AAUW, SALISBURY BRANCH
AAUW: Since 1881 AAUW Salisbury Branch: Since 1951
Membership Meeting,
Thursday September 8, 2011 6:30 PM
Trinity Oaks Retirement Community
Second Floor, Special Events Room
Minutes
The AAUW, Salisbury Branch met on Thursday September 8, 2011 at the Trinity Oaks Retirement Community at 6:30 PM in the Special Events Room. Brunetta Franklin, President, welcomed everyone to the first meeting of the new year. The following members were present: Brunetta Franklin, Eileen Hanson-Kelly, Holly Czuba, Carolyn Blackman, Kathy Taber, Edith Alcorn, Kathy Pulliam, Elaine Stiller, Carol Cody, Dixie Scott, Lori Eberly, Nicole Sherrill-Corry, and Billie Simmons. The following members were absent: Greg Alcorn, Nancy Bilson, Zebbie Bradley-Bondurant, Billie Simmons, Norma Goldman, Catrelia Hunter, Ann Medlin, Erma Scarlette, Bonnie Hodges, Linda Kesler, Alyce Lanier, Renee McCachren, Becky Hammill, Lollie Streiff, Kathy Taber, Erma Scarlette, Harriet Murphy, Judy Grissom, Jeannie Sherrill, and Donna Wiseman.
Brunetta introduced our guest speaker, Dr. Kathy Taber-Maier. Kathy’s program was titled “Why So Few in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math)”. She started out by giving us background information regarding women in these particular fields of education. The mindset of the 1950’s and 1960’s was definitely towards males and this was reflected in the testing of specific products such as automobile safety air bags and early voice recognition systems. Both had been designed by males and fit the male body or followed the male voice. It was felt by many that women were not suited for STEM professions. The Math SAT scores were higher in boys than girls and girls did not perform as well in these subjects in school. In the 1960’s research changes as there is now more diversity included such as religion, ethics, disabilities, and gender. It was found that boys did not score higher because they were better in these areas, but that they had had more practice in spatial skills and manipulation because of their play and activities. In the 1980’s boys scored 13 to 1 higher than girls on the Math SAT but by the 2000’s that had changed to 3 to 1. This is not a gender change but an environmental change. Girls taking just one course that helped with spatial skills did as well as the boys on tests. Kathy went on to say that what you are told totally affects your performance and this is shown by girls being told they were not as good as boys in the area of spatial skills and their test scores reflected this. She also talked about implicit bias which is people talk about change and the need to do it which is easy to say but hard to do. Kathy shared with us studies illustrating this. We need to shift cultural influences to improve the number of women in STEM professions and one way we can is to provide good female role models in school teaching science, math, etc. Many students especially gifted ones want to be in occupations that help the community and we need to show how STEM occupations can accomplish this. Brunetta thanked Kathy for providing us with such an insightful program.
After a refreshment break, the business portion of the meeting continued.
Business:
Kathy Pulliam, Secretary presented the minutes from the May and June, 2011 meetings. A motion was made by Carol Cody and seconded by Nicole Sherrill-Corry that the minutes be approved as presented. The motion carried.
Financial Report:
Eileen Hanson-Kelly gave the report. We show a balance of $6,152.47 with $4,077.30 in checking and $2,075.17 in the CD. We have 28 paid members as of the September meeting. The sale of Sketches is doing well with an income of $270.50. Also, this total includes the sale of note cards. Edith Alcorn was concerned about our continued contributions to LAF. She felt it was important to keep doing this and everyone agreed. Brunetta said this would be included in our planning of projects.
Public Policy:
Eileen went over the AAUW NC Public Policy Pilot Project with the group, which are potential legislative issues to address. These are expanding educational opportunities, promoting economic security, promoting and defending civil rights, access to health care, and civic participation and equality. She provided an info sheet that listed specifics for each. AAUW NC would like each branch to choose an area and keep the Legislature informed and to follow what bills; etc is formed regarding this area. Brunetta asked everyone to think about this.
Open Discussion:
Ann Medlin presented the new yearbooks to everyone and asked if there were any corrections or additions at this time. Brunetta thanked Ann for all her hard work.
New Business:
National AAUW Month. The First Annual Nationwide Anniversary Celebration will be on November 28, 2011. This will be the 130th Anniversary of AAUW. Our October meeting will be a Birthday Party for AAUW. We want to reach out to others and invite them to attend, as this will be a good to time to tell about the goals and mission of AAUW. Eileen will be doing the program at this special meeting.
AAUW Educational Foundation Fellowship and Grant Awardees for 2011-12. Brunetta encouraged members to participate.
AAUW NC has launched an e-Newsletter as way to cut costs and still get information out to all branches and members.
The Fall Central Cluster Meeting will be held October 1, 2011 in Statesville. Brunetta will be attending and encouraged others to as well. Several of the above items would be discussed at this cluster meeting.
Brunetta had received a request from the North Carolina Transportation Museum for a one-time donation to help with purchase of 2-way radios for security since the funds for police services had been cut. The cost of the radios is $335.00. It was suggested to consider this at the planning meeting in January 2012.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:10 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathy G. Pulliam
Secretary