| AGJ NEWSLETTER |
| Upstate Update AMSTERDAM * GLOVERSVILLE* JOHNSTOWN BRANCH SHARING THE VISION |
organization on the basis of gender, race, creed, age, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or class. Octoberber 2008 |
Branch Officers:
President
Melanie Pombrio
Vice Presidents:
Program
Helen Martin
Membership
Liz Russo
Ed Foundation
Linda Betz
Legal Advocacy
Linda Betz
Treasurer
Barbara Nigro
President
Melanie Pombrio
Vice Presidents:
Program
Helen Martin
Membership
Liz Russo
Ed Foundation
Linda Betz
Legal Advocacy
Linda Betz
Treasurer
Barbara Nigro
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A MESSAGE FROM MELANIE
We are off and running!
Well, the first couple of months this year are jam-packed and I want to start off by saying a HUGE thank you to all of you that helped
plan and carry out the September Membership Meeting. I had a wonderful evening and was glad to see everyone again. October is
quickly approaching and we have our one large fundraiser this month. Your help is needed and, of course, appre-ciated. If you can
help out in anyway please contact Sandy Maceyka, Helen Martin, or my-self. We also have our joint meeting and are throwing a
shower at the YWCA for their domestic violence program. I am attaching a list of needed items and if you would rather donate
monetarily you can mail me a check by October 7, 2008 or bring any of the items to the October meeting. I would again like to thank
everyone for a wonderful 2007-2008 year and am looking forward to making great strides again this year.
Melanie
Our Contribution to History!
As you know, our branch has kept a scrapbook for many years. This is a great way to document our existence and our part in the big
picture of AAUW. The current scrapbook is usually at every meeting, so please don’t hesitate to look at it! However, your help is
needed in making this happen. If you could clip out any article about AAUW, including articles about our members doing other things,
it would be a big help. Just keep them and bring them to the meetings or send them to me via snail mail.
Thanks for helping to keep our branch in the archives!!!
Ginni Mazur, Historian
The Parade
Thanks to all who participated in Johnstown’s 250-year celebration parade. AAUW celebrated the passage of Title IX of the National
Education Act by sporting mortarboards as we marched with signs and sports equipment. Brand new AAUW member, Ginny Mc
Carthy, joined Michele Acquaro, Ginni Mazur, Liz Russo, Melanie Pombrio, Pat Valachovic, Rosy V. Pynadath, and Bonnie Van Wie
in the march. We had fun and a lot of good exercise.
Honoring Charter Member Helen Mandato: Helen Mandato was honored in the Johnstown parade as a charter member of our
AAUW branch. She road in secretary Sue Summerfield’s convertible. While teaching business at FMCC, Helen and several other
women at FMCC decided to form a local AAUW branch. Our Amsterdam-Gloversville-Johnstown branch of AAUW was founded in
1968 as a result of the foresight of these women. She is the only charter member still in our branch. When you see Helen, thank her.
Without her and the others (Rita Mary Burke was also a founder.), we would not have a local AAUW branch.
Welcome New Members!
We were thrilled to have so many join our branch as part of our membership recruitment event. Please welcome Nellie Georgelos,
Teresa Francisco, Jaime Quinn, Louise Hornung, Phyllis Finateri, Linda Bumpus, Lisa Garguilo, Laura LaPorte, Suzanne Vassi, Ginny
McCarthy, Marlene Williams, Sherry Boynton and Ella Ryder. Watch for their biographies in the November newsletter.
Help Support the Family Counseling Center at the Oc-tober 14th Meeting!
The WISH LIST
Following is the wish list for the Family Counseling Center Shower. Members please bring items or cash for this cause to the October
Meeting. See flyer for details on the October Meeting.
Thanks!
Family Counseling Center Wish List
Light Green Bedroom :
4 Bath Towels
4 Washcloths
2 Bedspreads
2 Mattress Covers - plastic
2 Bed Pillow Covers
1 Radio Alarm Clock
1 laundry hamper
2 Sheet & pillowcase sets
Bedroom Note:
Matress pads must be twin size and cover the entire mattress. They cannot be the kind with the straps at the corners.
Pillow covers must be waterproof. Comforter sets are OK.
Children
8 Plates
8 Silverware
8 Plastic Glasses
1 Sandbox with Sand
Kitchen
2 4-slice toasters
Cooking Utensils
2 Electric Griddles
10 Flashlights
Batteries for above
10 Storage Bins
Dishcloths & Towels
Cookie baking pans
Other - Select Items
Stewart's Gas Cards
Telephone Cards
Vacuum Cleaner
Dirt Devil Dust Buster
Lawn Chairs & Table
Wii with games
Membership Meeting a Success!
We are off to a great start. We had many new faces at our Sep-tember meeting. Some were members years ago that have decided to
“come back to the flock” while others are new residents to our area. Thanks to the “e-mailing efforts” of Terry Conaway, we were
pleased to welcome four from the faculty and staff of Fulton Montgomery Community College. Recruiting by Linda Zilka, Rosy
Pyndath, Helen Martin and Nancy Reynolds paid off also.
Thanks to Pat Valachovic for addressing invitations and mak-ing many phone calls to remind-ing members to renew, to Kaye Schrader
for preparing the invitations, meeting fliers and taking reservations and to Laura Sapone who helped prepare a new display board for
the event, helped to set up, and welcome our guests.
In addition, our guest speaker Catherine Leach really im-pressed us with the message in her winning essay. She expressed appreciation
and respect for the accomplishments of the women who have gone before her and whose accom-plishments have enabled her to have
so many opportunities in life. She certainly deserved receiving our branch’s Dorothy Anderson Wemple High School scholarship
award.
Membership VP Liz Russo
Here is how our Mission Statement is put into action!
BIENNIAL ACTION PRIORITIES
Biennial priorities for federal action are chosen according to the criteria of viability, critical need, strong member support, and potential
for distinctive AAUW contribution or leadership.
To support a strong system of public education that promotes gender fairness, equity, and diversity, AAUW advocates
• Adequate and equitable funding for quality public education for all students
• Opposition to the use of public funds for nonpublic elementary and secondary education
• Vigorous enforcement of Title IX and all other civil rights laws pertaining to education
• Protection of programs that meet the needs of girls in elementary and secondary education
• Increased support for, and access to, higher education for women and other disadvantaged populations
To achieve economic self-sufficiency for all women, AAUW advocates
• Pay equity and fairness in compensation
• Equitable access and advancement in employment
• Vigorous enforcement of employment anti discrimination statutes
• Greater availability of and access to benefits and policies that create a family-friendly workplace environment
• Programs that provide women with education, training, and support for success in the work-force, including nontraditional
occupations
• Strengthening programs, including welfare and vocational education, to improve postsecondary education access, career
development, and ear-ing potential
• Protection of the social insurance nature of Social Security
To guarantee equality, individual rights, and social justice for a diverse society, AAUW advocates
• Vigorous protection of and full access to civil and constitutional rights
• Choice in the determination of one’s reproductive life
• Freedom from violence and fear of violence in homes, schools, workplaces, and communities
• Increased access to health care and family planning services, and expansion of patients’ rights
• Support for U.N. programs that address human rights and women’s and girls’ concerns
As an AAUW member it is your right and obligation to further these objectives.
Michele Acquaro
Public Policy Chair
10/3/08: AAUW-NYS District 4 Fall Conference
On Friday, October 3, the Poughkeepsie Branch will host the AAUW-NYS District 4 Fall Conference: Beyond the Rhetoric:
Understanding how multiculturalism can help your personal, professional, & organizational growth — a day of panels, round tables, and
community discussions about ethnic and racial diversity.
David Tulin, our keynote speaker, is outstanding in his field of diversity training. Galen Kirkland, our luncheon speaker, is the
Commissioner of Human Rights for New York State.
Please join us! First: let Geeta Desai (845-297-7589) know ASAP which roundtable (Business Development, Cultural Competency,
Education, Health & Human Services, or Media) you want to attend (your 1st & 2nd choices), then send your check and registration
form to Cathleen Kinn. The fee for AAUW members is $30, which includes breakfast, lunch, & afternoon dessert.
For more information, check out the Conference Web page.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
October 14: Domestic Violence Shelter Shower, Joint Dessert Meeting, YWCA -Gloversville 6:30pm
October 18: 10am- 4pm and October 19 11am- 3pm: Antique Show Fundraiser, St. Anthony’s Hall 6 Nicholas St., Johnstown
October 22: Board meeting, Johnstown Public Library Com-munity Room 6:30 pm
November 22: “Putting the Ho! Ho! Ho! , Back into the Holidays”, Speaker -Sue Mc Neil, , Tour of new YMCA facility, Johnstown
6:00 pm
Our newsletter is available on our website at www.agjaauw.org
The November Newsletter deadline is October 27, 2008.