Updated: September 21, 2011

AAUW Mission and Diversity Statements

AAUW advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, and research. AAUW's commitment to educational equity is reflected in its public policy advocacy, community programs, leadership development, conventions and conferences, national partnerships, and international connections.

In principle and practice, AAUW values and seeks a diverse membership. There shall be no barriers to full participation in this organization on the basis of gender, race, creed, age, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or class.

Committees and Areas of Concern and Interest

• By Laws – Ellen Wright and officers

• Community Service – Dorothea Fowler – branch members usually do a fall, winter, and spring community service project

• Budget and Finance – Marcia Bulger, Dorothy Hopkins

• Route 90 Yard Sale – Ellen Wright and the membership – proceeds go to support Camperships at the Cortland YWCA

• Geranium Sale – Barbara Duffy and the membership – proceeds go to support the Eleanor Blodgett Scholarship

• Heartfelt – Dorothy Hopkins, Margaret Little, Ellen Wright – by invitation these members offer story-telling with flannel boards to local pre-school and elementary age students

• Historians – Grace Bentley and Sandra Decker

• Hostesses – Mary Ann Gambitta

• LAF/EF – Mary Ann Gambitta, Sheila Cohen, Kathy Jacobsen

• Newsletter – Jo Ann Wickman

• Publicity – Sheila Cohen

• Scholarship – Eleanor Skinner

• Sunshine – Rosalie Cook, Kathy Jacobsen

• Women’s Coalition – Sheila Cohen, Jo Schaffer, Ellen Wright

• Yearbook – Kathy Crawford, Margaret Little, Ellen Wright

• Youth Recognition Award – Sara Earl, Kathy Crawford, Dorothy Hopkins, Dorothea Fowler, Kathy Jacobsen – this is a new effort still under development

• Why So Few Course – Ellen Wright, Dorothy Hopkins, Sara Earl, Jo Ann Wickman – this group is responsible to promote this STEM program to local middle school/junior high girls

Cortland Schedule of Meetings 2011-12

The Cortland AAUW Branch meets on the first Monday of the month (except in September when we meet on the second Monday) at the Elks Lodge, 9 Groton Ave., Cortland, at 6:00 PM for dinner. The meeting portion of our evening starts at 6:45 PM. We do not meet for regular meetings in January, February, July or August.

• September 12 – AAUW Today, a readers play that introduces AAUW and its various aspects

• October 3 – Talk on the Center for Gender and Intercultural Studies (SUNY Cortland) and Cortland Branch of AAUW

• November 7 – Girls on the Move – Youth Recognition Committee Report

• December 5 - Holiday Auction – proceeds are used for Branch activities

• March 5 – Girls on the Run at Smith School (in Cortland)

• April 2 – The Life Cycle of Natural Gas

• May 7 - Annual Meeting and Election of Officers

• June 4 – Scholarship winners and Youth Recognition awards. Girl Scouts 100th Anniversary

Newsletter

Our Cortland Branch newsletter is published each month the Branch meets or has special events. If you would like to receive a copy, please contact the editor, Jo Ann Wickman to request our latest issue. Please include your name and mailing/emailing address.

Branch History:

The seed for a Cortland branch of AAUW began in 1952 with correspondence between SUNY Cortland and AAUW national. Cortland State president Donald Smith requested that the local college be put on the AAUW qualified list. Many letters in our files attest to the determined efforts of SUNY Cortland faculty and administration to be “accepted” by AAUW National. Finally, a letter dated November 18, 1963 to Donovon Moffett, president of SUNY Cortland, from Blanche Dow, AAUW president, stated "Your institution has been put on the ‘AAUW qualified list and women graduates, including those graduating before this ruling, are now eligible for membership."

On August 17, 1964 , six women met for lunch with two Binghamton AAUW members and made plans for a local branch. On Monday, October 5, 1964 an organization meeting was held at the YWCA with alumnae from 25 different colleges and universities. The following women were elected to serve until permanent officers could be nominated: Sandra Meade, chair; Barbara Kuhlman, secretary; Lois Osborn, treasurer; and Mrs. Edward Telling, membership secretary. In the Spring of 1965, Eleanor Blodgett was elected president. Two members of our branch, Grace Bentley and Sandra Decker, are Charter members of the Cortland branch.

Eleanor Blodgett Scholarship

An annual scholarship is awarded in honor of our first president, Eleanor Blodgett, to a Cortland County resident who is pursuing a four-year degree. Eleanor Blodgett enjoyed a long career as a college professor of English. When she returned to Cortland in retirement, she became an actively involved member of AAUW and the Cortland community until her death in 1990 at the age of 94.

You can reach the branch by contacting Ellen Wright, 607-749-2949.

Links to Other Sites

• New York State AAUW
  
• National AAUW
  
• Branches across the nation