The Oswego Branch of the New York State AAUW was formed in 1916. We have a long and proud history. The branch supports the Educational Foundation with a named grant every two years and works with the public schools to inform them about educational equity issues.
Updated: October 19, 2011
Thursday, Sept. 22 - 7:00 pm - Jonathan Daniels, director of the Port Authority, will talk about the Port Authority and the canal system - We will meet at the Port Authority
Tuesday, Oct. 18 - Time TBA - Meet with Zonta and hear our Leadership Conference participants - Dinner at Steamers
Saturday, Nov. 12 - 12:30 p.m. - Professor Alok Kumar of the College at Oswego will speak on nuclear energy - Luncheon, place TBA
Saturday, Dec. 3 - 12:30 pm - Luncheon and holiday program - At The Church of the Resurrection
Saturday, Jan. 21, 12:30 pm - Revisiting Eleanor Roosevelt, Frances Perkins, WPA and Social Security - Luncheon, place TBA
Saturday, Feb. 18, 12:30 pm - Stem Cell Research presented by Emily Oaks, Ron Engel and Helen Engel - Luncheon, place TBA
Saturday, Mar. 24, 12:30 pm. - Marta Santiago from Oswego College speaking on Affirmative Action - Luncheon, place TBA
Saturday, March 31, 2012: District III Conference
Thursday, April 19, 7:00 pm. - Paul Lear, director of Fort Ontario, speaking on the Civil War and its effects in Oswego - Heritage Foundation
Thursday, May 17, Time TBA - Mercedes Niess, Director of the H. Lee White Marine Museum, and Ted Panayotoff, Oswego Lighthouse restoration project - Dinner, place TBA
Saturday, June 9 - Time and Place TBA - Next year planning meeting
The American Association of University Women, now that’s a mouthful so we like to refer to ourselves as AAUW.
AAUW was formed in 1881 by 17 college graduates. There weren’t many women college graduates in those days. Our focus has always been to open the doors of higher education to all women without regard to race or class. Our Educational Foundation is the largest non-government source of funds available to women who wish to pursue a graduate education, and for teachers to receive fellowships to work on school programs that help girls succeed. Each year over $3 million in fellowships and grants are awarded to women around the world.
Members of AAUW are also members of the International Federation of University Women. We work with women’s organizations in 67 other countries to promote peace, to protect human rights, and to improve the status and education of women and girls.
On a national level, AAUW lobbys for public policy issues that affect us all. We have sponsored important research focusing on the quality of education currently provided in public schools. Our research report "How Schools Shortchange Girls" showed that even teachers who think they’re treating boys and girls equally, often pay much more attention to the boys than the girls. This is wonderful for the boys and it makes them feel important, but it lowers the self-esteem of the girls. In addition, girls are not encouraged to study math and science, thereby limiting their career choices.
Another study focused on the harassment many students face at school and the related frustration and hopelessness they often experience. Our recent update on ‘Hostile Hallways: Bullying, Teasing and Sexual Harassment in School’ was released in 2001. The report reveals that four students in five personally experience sexual harassment and one student in five fears being hurt or bothered in school. These types of incidents are occurring all over the country, in the least expected towns and cities. It is becoming a widespread problem, but hopefully one we can still do something about. NYS AAUW is a participating member in the Dignity for All Students Coalition. The coalition supports any meaningful measures that help protect students from harassment in public schools on the basis of, among other things, their ethnic group, religion, gender or physical or mental disability. The education of our children is everybody’s concern. They are the future. We urge you to get involved with your local schools and make sure your kids are getting the education and good treatment they deserve.
AAUW’s Legal Advocacy Fund began right here in New York. In 1980 eleven faculty women at Cornell sued the university for unequal treatment in pay, promotion, and tenure. We believe the campus climate for all women—faculty, staff, and students—has improved since AAUW started helping women to sue for sex discrimination. AAUW also recognizes colleges that are doing it right. Progress in Equity Awards are presented to colleges for great programs that help women, faculty, or students succeed. We are proud that SUNY Oswego has been a recipient of the Progress in Equity Awards.
The Oswego branch originated in 1916 and has a long history of community involvement. We assisted the American Red Cross with kits for Britain and with the War Chest, we participated in the development of the St. Lawrence Seaway Project, and were involved with the development of Operation Machine Shop. It is now known as Operation Oswego County. The Oswego branch collected donations for the Oswego Hospital’s very first addition; we donated items to the PATH program – Program to Assist Teenage Homeless; and we contributed books to the Oswego Public Library.
Our GEMS program - Girls Excelling in Math & Science - awards certificates for outstanding achievement in both math and science to young women in junior high or middle schools who receive 90% or better in both subjects during the school year.
Now, being an AAUW member is not just all work and no play. In the midst of all our projects, we still manage to make time to socialize and to attend cultural events as a group. Any fundraising we do on a local level helps support the Educational Foundation and the Legal Advocacy Fund. Your tax-deductible donation is, of course, always welcome.