Huntington Branch

New York State AAUW


Updated 6/1/2008

2007– 2008 Officers:

AAUW advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education and research.

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, age, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or class.

Branch Background

The organizational meeting to establish the Huntington Branch of the New York State AAUW took place on April 16, 1955. We were called the Huntington Township Branch until the 1980’s when Rufus Langhans, Town of Huntington Historian, informed us that Huntington was not a township but a town! He explained that New Jersey had townships - not New York!

Mrs. Charles Warren, an AAUW Fellow and one of the branch founders, served as the first Fellowship Chair. Through the years, the Huntington Branch has raised funds in support of the AAUW Educational Foundation and communicated with EF recipients because of our belief in advancing the education and self-development of women. In 1958 we named a Huntington Fellowship Grant with the highest per capita contribution in New York State. Branch EF involvement is ongoing.

Our Excellence in Science Awards program epitomizes our branch commitment to promoting equity in education and opening up options for women and girls in our community. Each year we recognize young women in their Junior year in our local high schools who, through their extraordinary interest, method of inquiry and creative expression, have presented themselves as outstanding students. This positive and proactive initiative promotes the enthusiasm and participation of young women in science study and, later, in the choice of scientific professions or careers.

For 27 years, the Huntington Branch was involved in the Stepping Stones program which is one of the services offered by the Family Service League. Adults with psychiatric disabilities are assisted through this day treatment program which includes recreational activities. Each year the picnic we planned was staffed by branch members who also prepared the food and desserts.

AAUW believes in working in coalitions with groups who share our mission of promoting equity for all women and girls, lifelong education and positive societal change. Locally the Huntington Branch sits on the Town of Huntington's Women's Advisory Council which strives to promote not-for-profit organizations in the community that provide services for women and their families.

In addition, for the past 23 years, we have been active in the Women on the Job Task Force which is a unique coalition of groups that come together to develop effective strategies for change of unacceptable working conditions on Long Island. The Task Force is a diverse and non-partisan group. Besides working on Long Island and making efforts to achieve statewide reforms, the Task Force participates in such groups as the National Committee on Pay Equity and the National Partnership for Women and Families. The WOJTF is actively engaged in New York State in advocating for the passage of Pay Equity bills which still have not been passed by the Senate. We will continue to urge the NYS Legislature to pass pay equity bills the coalition supports to ensure that women in NYS are paid their fair share and can achieve economic self-sufficiency.

In 2005 we celebrated our 50th Anniversary and we continue to assess our role as an AAUW branch in the Town of Huntington. Our programs and activities will always seed to promote education and equity for women and girls and to have a positive impact on the communities we live in. This common branch focus creates lasting friendships and offers members opportunities to develop leadership and organizational skills. As we network and discover new local resources, we have expanded our professional and personal interests. We welcome all those who want to join us in this endeavor.

In 2006 – 2007 AAUW celebrated its 125th anniversary with a special membership drive – “Keys to the Future: a Member Get a Member Campaign”. In order to ensure that AAUW is viable for another 125 years, we continue to encourage every AAUW member to make a personal commitment to recruit at least one new member. For incentive, members who are successful recruiters will receive recognition from the Association.

The essential keys to AAUW’s future are:

Each member holds the keys to the future of AAUW.  We encourage you to use them NOW to open the door to AAUW’s second 125 years!

2007 - 2008 Calendar of Events:

The AAUW Huntington Branch Calendar for 2007 - 2008 includes membership meetings, interest groups and special events.

In principle and in practice, AAUW values 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.

The meetings will be held in the Huntington Public Library located at 338 Main Street at 6:45 pm. We meet to network and enjoy an informative program – our member business meeting is held afterwards. The public is welcome to attend our programs at the library. The library is accessible for attendees with disabilities and handicapped parking is located on Prospect Street. Please feel free to contact the Huntington Public Library at (631) 427-5165 if you need additional information.

Branch Newsletter

The branch newsletter, LIAISON, is published nine times per year. If you would like to receive a copy, please send an e-mail requesting our latest issue to our branch membership chair(memhunaw@yahoo.com) - and include your name and mailing address for hard copy - or - e-mail address for the online version.

Do You Know.........

According to Women’s Voices Women Vote ( www.wvwv.org), 22 million women on their own did not vote in the last presidential election. This is the largest group of non-voters in our democratic process. If unmarried women voted at the same rate as married women, over 6 million more voters would have gone to the polls in 2000.

“In Florida, that would have meant 200,000 additional votes would have been cast. The 2000 presidential election was decided by 537 votes in the state of Florida. Many elections in this country have been decided by very few votes. In fact, women won the right to vote in the United States in 1920 by a single vote cast in the Tennessee legislature. One vote does indeed count (www.onevote.com).”

Voting together, women on their own could determine who wins and loses elections. Voting together, women on their own could make affordable health care, job security and equal opportunity education real. Therefore, 22 million women on their own can make a difference by transforming American politics. See also www.smartwomenvote.com

AAUW LAF:

AAUW LAF recently participated in two programs on college campuses. At the invitation of their Women's Center, LAF made a presentation on Title IX at Texas A & M University in College Station, TX, during their "Women's Week" programming. In February, LAF made a presentation at the University of North Carolina School of Law's annual conference on Race, Class, Gender and Ethnicity. The conference focused on issues regarding educational success at the K-12 level and LAF presented single-sex education.

Additionally, LAF presented on Title IX on a panel "Women in Education" organized by the Meridian International Center in Washington, DC, for women legislators, educators and journalists visiting the U.S. from various countries.

HUNTINGTON BRANCH’S INITIATIVE FOR EDUCATIONAL EQUITY:
EXCELLENCE IN SCIENCE AWARDS PROGRAM-
2007 marks the 11th year of our Excellence in Science Awards and we are proud to announce the 2007 award winners. The following young women in their Junior year of high school have distinguished themselves. Each of them was presented with an EISA certificate and gift certificate from the Huntington Branch at their school awards ceremony held last May-June. The presenters were members of the EISA Committee.

Our Excellence in Science Awards Reception was held on November 29, 2007 and was co-hosted by the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory at the Dolan DNA Learning Center in Cold Spring Harbor. Our president, Gina Savarese, welcomed families, teachers and school administrators to the ceremony. Introductions of the Excellence in Science Awards winners were made by Susan Hirschmann, our chairperson. Following an inspiring and exciting discourse based on recent research, made by Katherine McJunkin, a doctoral candidate from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, the presentation of the awards was made to our selected winners. The participants were honored as well by the Huntington Town Council and received Certificates of Recognition.

In the 1990’s, we recognized the need to encourage young women in our high schools to go on to careers in science. With the active help and support of all AAUW Huntington branch members we established and continue to promote this program:

AAUW Huntington is grateful for the support of our yearly fall EISA fundraiser by the local businesses, who donate gift certificates, and by the branch members and community residents who buy raffle tickets . The funds collected in the fall are used in the spring when the next nine young women are chosen by their high school science teachers to receive our Excellence in Science Award. We look forward to having the continued cooperation of our community in our fundraising efforts.

Developed by a committee of our members, this science awards program now has become a tradition in the nine high schools in the Town of Huntington. Administrators, students, faculty, and parents attending the awards ceremonies know that the American Association of University Women is an advocacy and equity organization for women and girls. These school communities understand that the goal of our AAUW branch awards are to advance the education and the self-development of young women locally just as our AAUW Educational Foundation does nationwide with its advanced degree fellowships and career development grants.. As we encourage these high school juniors to continue their education and interest in science, we ensure that the next generation of women will be empowered to continue to grow and to reach their personal goals in the 21st century.

Contact the Branch

You can reach the Huntington Branch membership chair, J. Sue Nestor, by e-mail at memhunaw@yahoo.com

Links to Other Sites

NYS AAUW Homepage