by Karla Atkinson, AAUW NC Co-VP of Programs
My Co-VP Lill Van Order and I welcome you all to convention in Charlotte on April 16-17, 2010! We have planned convention activities with a variety of topics which we hope will appeal to all branch members.
Make a point to attend the Board meeting on late Friday afternoon. Full participation by all branches is important, especially before we begin another year of planning and programming for our state organization in 2010-2011.
On Friday evening (following dinner on your own with friends) we will show the film highlighting the efforts of Congresswoman Patsy T. Mink (1927-2002), principal author of Title IX. Mink drafted the legislation as an outgrowth of adversities she faced in obtaining her undergraduate degrees at the University of Hawaii and University of Nebraska.
Attendees will have a choice of attending two of three workshops on Saturday morning.
- Beth Jacobs from the NC Justice Center will discuss a decade of efforts in NC to narrow the racial achievement gap in education.
- Beth Dehghan, NC Coordinator of efforts to ratify the international bill of rights for women, will provide an up-to-date report on these activities, as well as compare the global welfare and well being of women over the last fifteen years.
- Mel Miller, professional financial advisor, will discuss the values of networking in the context of professional and social benefits.
Following a lunch buffet, Carol Rognrud, AAUW Senior Development Officer in Washington, will speak and entertain questions as our Leader On Loan for this convention.
We expect that, in part, discussion at the business meeting at 2PM will focus on proposed bylaws changes that address the voting process for AAUW NC members attending convention or special meetings of the state.
Later on Saturday afternoon, author and illustrator Clay Carmichael will receive the AAUW Juvenile Literature Award and comment on “Wild Things,” her awardwinning book. Carmichael will also be available for book-signing.
Our annual Memorial Service will conclude the Saturday activities before the evening banquet begins, which will feature a cash bar, a “Toast to the Branches” and installation of new state officers.
The Gaston Regional, Statesville, and Salisbury branches are working with convention coordinator Diane Schneider, hospitality chair Evelyn Mercer, and other members of the Charlotte branch to make the hospitality suite arrangements for Friday and Saturday.