Susan Hoover
NYS Public Policy Director

Below are the resolutions which have been passed at NYS Conventions since 2005. Click on each to read the entire resolution.

2008 - Support Clean Money, Clean Elections
2006 - Promote & Education Women to Run for Public Office
2006 - Human Trafficking
2006 - Childcare and its Economic Impact
2005 - Equitable Public Education Funding in NYS
2005 - Task Force on Equity for Women

2008:

RESOLUTION SUPPORTING CLEAN MONEY, CLEAN ELECTIONS

WHEREAS: Clean Elections creates a system of full public financing for candidates who agree to strict spending limits in their campaigns for statewide and legislative offices, is supported by Governor David Paterson and

WHEREAS: A Clean Elections system would enhance democracy by eliminating the
deleterious influence of money in the political process, removing access to wealth as a major determinant of a citizen’s influence in the political process, and restoring the principle of “one person, one vote”, and

WHEREAS: Clean Elections would level the playing field to give qualified citizens without access to big money a fair chance at winning office based on their ideas and integrity rather than how much money they can raise, and

WHEREAS: Clean Elections would stop the endless money chase so that candidates are free of the constant need to raise money and those elected have more time to serve the public interest rather than constantly raising funds for their next campaign, and

WHEREAS: Clean Elections would reduce the escalating costs of elections, and

WHEREAS: Polls show an overwhelming majority of citizens support public financing of campaigns so long as the candidates abide by spending limits, and

WHEREAS: Partial reforms such as “matching funds” public financing systems will not meet the goals of greatly reducing the influence of large, private donors or allow citizens of modest means the ability to run competitively for public office;

WHEREAS: Clean Elections would enhance AAUW’s ability to achieve our goals of equity for women and girls and increase the number of women able to run for elective office, therefore, let it be

RESOLVED: That the American Association of University Women of New York State
(AAUW NYS) urges the New York State Legislature to enact a Clean Elections system of full public financing into law in order to break the hold big money interests have over the electoral and legislative processes of government and restore the democratic principle of one person, one vote, and

FURTHER RESOLVED: That the AAUW NYS President and AAUW NYS Public Policy
Director send copies of this resolution to Governor David Paterson, Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, and Assembly Minority Leader James N. Tedisco, state assembly members and senators.

Submitted by
Rose Ann Palmer, Garden City Branch Member
With Approval of the Garden City Branch

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Resolution Supporting State and Branch Action
To Promote/Educate Women to Run for Elected/Appointed Office

There is a dearth of women leaders in both elected and appointed political office. In our own state of New York women only make up 24.5% of state government leadership. The state legislature is only 22.6% female. Furthermore, New York places 25 th in the nation in this crucial area.

In order for us to achieve equity and positive societal change; core tenets of our AAUW mission, we need to ensure not only that women vote but that viable educated women run for political office. We must assume a more proactive role in our communities to promote and support our mission.

We must expand our coalitions with organizations that share similar goals regarding education, equity and our future.

Whereas, we are at a critical juncture in our history; where our rights as citizens and women are being eroded, eliminated or diminished;

Whereas we need to connect community service with public policy education;

Whereas we need effective representation that reflects our values, goals and mission of equity for all women and girls;

Be it resolved that AAUW-NYS branches and members work actively beyond our traditional advocacy channels of letter writing, e-mailing and providing candidate and issue forums

• to work with our local schools, colleges, universities and communities to establish a training program for women political candidates and potential appointees,
• to alert girls to their potential as political leaders
• to work in concert with existing groups and programs to strengthen their outreach into our communities as defined above,
• to help identify, mentor, support and elect more women to local, state and national government

in order to promote our mission, our issues, and positive societal change which comes from equality of representation in government.

Submitted by Susan Hearty

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2006:

Resolution on Human Trafficking

WHEREAS AAUW condemns the scourge of human trafficking, modern day slavery of women and children, a violation of human rights, and

WHEREAS trafficking is the coercion and controlling of persons who are transported across geographic borders, and

WHEREAS victims of trafficking that are arrested on charges of prostitution should be entitled to an affirmative defense; such laws must not punish or further terrorize victims, and

WHEREAS traffickers use coercive methods to draw individuals into sexual and/or labor servitude, and

WHEREAS there must be a clear and well-defined zero tolerance policy for recruiters, traffickers, pimps, sex tour operators and all those who perpetuate and profit from the trafficking industry, and

WHEREAS the adoption of such relevant laws should be backed by rigorous enforcement, and

WHEREAS we recognize the harm done to trafficking victims and advocate for provision of legal and rehabilitative services, restitution, and immunity from prosecution.

BE IT RESOLVED AAUW NYS will fight the heinous crime of human trafficking including but not limited to having the NYS AAUW President write letters to our state legislators urging passage of the anti-trafficking bills: A 1898-b as introduced on May 23, 2005; and, S. 6231 as introduced on January 4, 2006; and urge Governor George Pataki to sign it into law.

Submitted by Trafficking Committee, NYC Branch

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2006:

Resolution on Childcare and its Economic Impact on Families
in New York State

WHEREAS AAUW has promoted educational equity since its inception; and

WHEREAS AAUW-NYS passed a resolution in 2005 promoting economic equity for women; and

WHEREAS childcare in NYS is a critical factor in the economic health of families; and

WHEREAS the quality of childcare in NYS is inconsistent, placing the overall well being of children in jeopardy; and

WHEREAS NYS families face a multifaceted childcare dilemma—childcare is often unaffordable, unavailable, of unacceptable quality and/or inaccessible; therefore let it be

Resolved that the AAUW-NYS Board investigate childcare issues and the economic impact to families and encourage NYS branches to do the same; and be it further

Resolved that the AAUW-NYS Public Policy committee become an advocate for improved childcare in NYS by joining the NY “Childrens’Action Network” and the “Childcare That Works Campaign”, and keeps AAUW branch members informed about childcare issues.

Submitted by Jane Smith, Bath Branch

Donna Seymour, St. Lawrence Branch

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2005:

To Provide an Equitable State System of Funding for Public Education in New York

This resolution requires AAUW NYS to fight for a fair and equitable funding system for all elementary and secondary public education students in New York as a matter of equity for all.

Discussion: Despite a constitutional mandate to provide a sound basic education to all students and federal legislation mandating “no child left behind,” New York State continues to fund schools unequally leaving 517 school districts unfairly disadvantages. New York State has recently lost a court case because of its New York City funding inequities, but more than forty districts are less well funded than New York City.

A democracy depends on an educated and informed electorate. Our society depends on educated workers. Inadequately educated adults fill our jails at a cost of $30,000 per inmate. A strong, fair and adequately funded system of public education is a modern necessity. Justice demands equality of opportunity for all and that should include educational opportunity.

Whereas the AAUW NYS public policy priorities for 2003-5 state:

AAUW Believes that quality public education is the foundation of a democratic society. We advocate equity, academic freedom, protection for censorship, bias-free education, and responsible funding for all levels of education. We advocate increased access to higher education, especially for women in poverty.

And further state that we are committed:

To support a strong system of public education in New York State that promotes gender fairness, equity, and diversity, AAUW NYS advocates:

• Adequate and equitable funding for quality public education for all students.

Whereas the AAUW and its predecessor organization have supported public education since they were founded.

Whereas New York State is the least equal of all fifty states in terms of educational funding.

Now therefore be it resolved that AAUW NYS and its branches shall work at all levels to insure the passage of legislation that provides equitable and adequate school aid to all the children of New York.

Be it further resolved that the AAUW NYS President and Public Policy Director initiate correspondence to appropriate legislators and other state officers in support of such legislation.

Be it finally resolved that AAUW NYS work with other appropriate organizations to ensure passage of such legislation.

Submitted by Carolyn Lippman, North Shore Branch

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2005:

Resolution Calling for an Action Task Force on Equity for Women

Whereas the mission statement of the American Association of University Women promotes equity for all women and girls, and

Whereas the American Association of University women Education Foundation provides funds to foster equity, and

Whereas in principle and practice the American Association of University Women values and seeks a diverse membership with no barriers to full participation in this organization on the basis of gender, race, creed, age, sexual orientation, national origin, disability or class, and

Whereas the American Association of University Women has long fought to end wage discrimination, and

Whereas the American Association of University Women continues to believe that pay equity is a simple matter of justice and strongly supports initiatives that seek to close the persistent and sizable wage gaps between men and women, and

Whereas the Education Foundation has produced research that focuses on the Gaps in Earnings for Women, and

Whereas Equity is Still an Issue, therefore, be it

Resolved that NYS AAUW undertake an initiative on Equity for Women which would fully support and promote economic equity opportunity for all women and girls across a diverse economic and class spectrum. This initiative would be under the auspices of the Equity Chair. Some possible objectives include:

Monitor the instances of pay inequity, employment inequity, and discrimination against women in the workplace that occur in New York State,

Report these incidents to the branches and members of the state, and

Provide support and information about how AAUW-NYS leaders, branches and members can advocate and be proactive on workplace issues,

Publicize and promote to branches around the state equity issues and AAUW’s mission-based activities in this program area,

Identify, help develop, and distribute branch programming models for local equity action projects, and

Work in coalition with like-minded state and local organizations on women’s equity issues

With the result that AAUW members will live the AAUW mission to make a difference for the women and girls of New York State.

Submitted by Jane Smith, Bath Branch & Donna Seymour, St. Lawrence County Branch

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