Salisbury Branch AAUW

Rowan Cabarrus Community College

Salisbury, NC

February 11, 2016

Members present were:  Ruby Walker, Becky Hammill, Kathy Pulliam, Eileen Hanson-Kelly, Dr. Patricia Trueblood, Dr. Catrelia Hunter, Vincia Miller and Dr. Carol Cody

Guests were:  Ed Hanson-Kelly, Gloria Hause, Allison Creswell

Dr. Carol Cody, President, welcomed everyone to the meeting and thanked everyone for attending. She turned the meeting over to Becky Hammill who introduced our speaker Janet Spriggs, CFO of RCCC.

Janet gave such an interesting and informative speech about women in education with a power point presentation that it would take several pages to get all she said written down. I am going to just list some important facts that she gave to the group and I hope if you have the opportunity to hear her speak you will attend.

1. There are 59 community colleges in NC and can provide access to education within 30 minutes of your home. RCCC has 5 campuses serving 21,000+ students with the average age 27, 99.4% from NC, 56% part-time students, 63% female and offering degrees, diplomas and certificates.
2. Many women have changed lives in education throughout the years. In Colonial America Mary Lyon was instrumental in this cause as well as Phillis Wheatley, the first Black woman to write a book in America. Services to women during this period were Dame Schools, Quakers & Moravians believing in education for both genders, and the first female academy in Philadelphia.
3. In the 1800’s secondary education had rapid growth including specific things that related to women. Some of those were Godey’s Lady’s Book edited by Sarah Josepha Hale, Vassar College opening as well as Mt. Holyoke and Oberlin providing ladies courses that were comparable to men’s courses.
4. Co-education began in earnest in the 1900’s with schools such as Iowa and Wisconsin yet the stigma remained that women would be hurt by an education such as become more masculine or harm the reproductive system. Yet, progress continued and teacher’s organizations were founded in colleges like Radcliffe, Brown, and Harvard. The American Federation of Teachers was organized to promote better working conditions for female teachers. The African-American community also improved education with the ideals of prominent leaders like WEB DuBois and Booker T. Washington, who were passionate to make things better.
5. In 1955, Autherine Lucy was the first African-American to desegerate the University of Alabama and did receive her MA in 1992. Title IX was established in 1972 and was the first broad civil rights law that prohibits sex discrimination. With this law female attendance soared in colleges and universities.
6. Now in the 2000’s more American women than men have college degrees. There is more diversity in colleges and the number of women presidents is about 32%. While improvements have been made there is the need to continue to be diligent about women in education. Janet ended her talk with a quote from Malala Yousafzai,” Let us pick up our books and our pencils. They are our most powerful weapon. One child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world.”

Business:  The minutes of the January meeting were approved. A motion by Dr. Patricia Trueblood and seconded by Becky Hammill was made to accept the minutes as corrected.

Treasurer’s Report- Eileen Hanson Kelly reported that there is a total of $3,423.97 in checking and $2,013.41 in the CD making our total $5,437.38.

NCCSWL- We have received two applications and it was suggested that we approve these 2 ladies. Eileen will check on the payment as the students register themselves. Carol will be in touch to notify them.

Programs-

The March meeting will be a Brunch to raise funds for the NCCWSL scholarship at FUCC at 9:00 am on Saturday March 12^th. Dr. Truebloiod reported that she had received a call from Congresswoman Alma Adams’ office that she would be able to speak at the brunch. Due to not hearing from the congresswoman’s office for a number of weeks, Dr. Trueblood had contacted East Spencer Mayor Barbara Mallett to speak and she had agreed. It was decided that Dr. Trueblood follow up the call from Congresswoman Alma Adams and we would have both women speak. We had several catering choices but it was decided to go with Debbie Suggs at $7.00 per person. Becky Hammill and Dr. Judy Grissom are the hostesses and it was felt it would be best to set up at FUCC the day before. Eileen would check into this as well as reservations. This is our NCCSWL fund raiser for the scholarships.

There was still interest to have the Unequal Bake Sale at the First Friday event in Downtown Salisbury on April 1^st.  Vincia Miller said she would get another contact from Livingstone College.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:10 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Kathy Pulliam, Secretary