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Kingston AAUW Calendar
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Thursday, August 26 19th Amendment ratified in 1920. Women got the right to vote. Encourage everyone you know to use it!
Tuesday, August 31
5:00pm Pub Policy film: Iron Jawed Angels
Saturday, September 11
4:00pm Branch Membership Coffee
Sunday, September 12
5:00pm Potluck, film, and discussion
Tuesday, September 14
3:00pm AAUW board meeting
Saturday, September 25
12:00pm Branch Meeting: Cuba, a country in transition
Tuesday, September 28
5:00pm Public Policy Film/Book Discussion
Sunday, October 10 5:00pm Potluck, film, and discussion
Tuesday, October 12
3:00pm AAUW board meeting
Trips
Click on the link or call Vivi for details.
Nov. 11-18 Barcelona
Check out the details!
Make the KAAUW google calendar a favorite and you'll always know what's happening. Integrate it with your own google calendar. Print it. |
Potluck and a Film
James's Journey to Jerusalem
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On Sunday, September 12th, 5 PM, we'll meet at
ViVi's house (directions on request) for a covered dish supper and to
watch the 2003 film, James's Journey to Jerusalem directed
by Ra'anan
Alexandrowicz.
Here's a summary of the plot:
In the imaginary, remote village of
Entshongweni, the young James is chosen to undertake a pilgrimage to
Holy Jerusalem. But Israel is no longer the Holy Land that James and his people
imagined.
At the airport, he is suspected of trying to enter
as an illegal worker. He is jailed and destined for deportation. Inside
the dark cell, as James prays to God to allow him to complete his mission, a
miracle: A mysterious stranger posts bail for him.
But it soon becomes
clear that his savior rescues illegal workers in exchange
for enslaving them. From then on, James' journey tours through the
cruel heart of our economic system.
With good teachers, a bit of luck, and some
lateral thinking, James learns the tricks of the game and plays it towards an
inevitable end.
Hope to see you there
--ViVi
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2010-2011 Kingston Branch Officers
| VP, Programming - Beverly Sloane
VP Membership - Ruth Bean
Treasurer - Jane Riley
Recording Secretary - Carol Leib
Corresponding Secretary - Joan Reis
Committees
Bus Trips - ViVi Hlavsa
Communications - Ruth Wahtera
Directory - Sheila Beall
Diversity - Arlene Bruck
Educational Foundation - Doris Goldberg & Irwin Rosenthal
Historian - Virginia Kohli
Hospitality - Pat Stedge and Ginger Yaple
International - Vacant
Legal Advocacy Fund - Dolores LaChance
Publicity - Rosalie Zimmerman
Public Policy - Susan Holland
Telephone Tree - Virginia Kohli
See your directory for phone numbers and email addresses.
Click here for links to leadership profiles.
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Kingston AAUW Branch Communication Committee
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Ruth Bean
ViVi Hlavsa
Susan Holland
Doris Licht
Ruth Wahtera, Editor
If you have something you would like posted on either the Kingston AAUW or the Unofficial Passions site, e-mail the information to a committee member.
| About AAUW
| AAUW's Value Promise
By joining AAUW, you belong
to a community that breaks through educational and economic barriers so
that all women have a fair chance. AAUW's Mission
AAUW advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research. |
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| Greetings! | The wonders of the internet... I've put this issue together while camping along the Erie Canal and Great Lakes.The process of working long distance isn't perfect, yet. But, I've found it easy to stay in touch despite the distance. Will you stay in touch with us as you travel to Florida, Arizona, and other more exotic places?
Lots happening as the days get cooler. Films, a membership coffee, a program on Cuba. And, be sure to read Pat Stedge's correspondance with Carolyn Donavan, AAUW's representative at the United Nations.
Hope to see you soon.
-- Ruth Wahtera, Editor
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Branch Membership Coffee Hour
| Introduce your friends to AAUWWhen: Saturday, September 11, 2010, 4 pm
Where: Vivi Hlavsa, 191 Lapla Rd, Kingston
Who: All members and guests
It's going to be a fun and informative event for members to reconnect and find out what others have been doing this past year. It would be great if you could bring along a friend--male or female--who you think may be interested in joining our Branch. Or, how about bringing along the next generation of AAUW members: children or grandchildren! Get the names of prospects to Ruth Bean by calling (845) 255-5752 or emailing Ruthdbean@gmail.com. I'll send them a personal invitation. At the coffee hour, we will introduce ourselves and explore our Branch's programs for the new year. Bring some refreshments to share. Questions about food? Call Ginger Yaple at (845) 331-3703 or email gingerlee44@gmail.com. Need directions? Contact Vivi at (845) 331-0155 or V.V.Hlavsa@gmail.com. |
Public Policy Committee
Introducing our Public Policy Film and Book Series August 31st
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Iron Jawed Angels screening and discussion celebrating Women's Equality
Day, 5 PM to 8 PM, Tuesday, 8/31, Kingston Area Library Community
Room. (Bring some dinner to eat during the movie.) This year the Public Policy Committee will
meet on the 4th Tuesday of the month from 5-8 pm. We propose to alternate movies, like Flow: For Love of Water, Blue Gold: World Water
Wars, GASLAND and books, like Half the Sky, I Am Nujood - Age 10 and Divorced,
Silent Spring, to focus discussion on the issues presented. Join us for this first meeting on Tuesday,
August 31st, when we join AAUW branches
across the nation marking the 90th anniversary of the 19th Amendment which grants women the right to vote. (Women's Equality Day, Aug. 26) We will watch and discuss " Iron Jawed Angels," which tells the
remarkable story of the passionate and dynamic young women who put their lives
on the line for equality.The film follows political activists Alice Paul and Lucy
Burns as they use peaceful and effective strategies, tactics, and dialogues
to revolutionize the American feminist movement to grant women the right to
vote. For more information, contact Public Policy Chair Susan Holland. |
Sept. Branch Meeting
Cuba: a Country in Transition
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Beverly Sloane (VP, Programs)
reports that on Saturday, 9/25, at noon, Libby Anton Roth will talk about Cuba: a
country in transition.Details of where will follow. |
From Pat Stedge
The Horror of Hanging a Seven-Year-Old
| At the June meeting, Pat Stedge focused our attention on
the case of the 7-year-old boy who was hanged by the
Taliban in the village of Herati in the Sangin District of Helmand Province. Pat
agreed to follow up our discussion with a letter to AAUW's representative at
the United Nations, Carolyn Donovan. Here is Carolyn Donovan's response.
Dear Patricia and the Kingston NY Branch AAUW,
You are indeed right to be outraged by the treatment of the
Herati boy on June 10th. The world is outraged. Over its long history
the United Nations has developed conventions and protocols to try and
stop such "terrorism." Many of these documents are universally
accepted such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, others such as the
International Criminal Court are new and just establishing their potential.
It is important to keep in mind that the United Nations is, just as its name suggests, a group
of nations which have joined together at the request of "We the
peoples...." Governments can complain or vote sanctions as is done in the
Security Council, but individuals can't influence the United Nations directly.
Civil society must move the nations to adhere to agreed upon peace,
development and humanitarian standards. The UN cannot criticize a country, that
must be done by a high level official such as Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
The story that Kingston AAUW is focusing on would come
under the Convention on the Rights of the Child and a Study on Violence Against
Children requested by UNICEF published about 3 years ago. The killing is
probably under the purview of Ms. Marta Santos Pais, the Special Representative
of the Secretary-General for Violence Against Children.
Ms. Pais spoke to the Working Group on Girls in May. Her responsibility
is daunting, but her background as a lawyer helps her concentrate on three
goals. First, she is trying to get each government to appoint a high level
focal point or an official responsible for protecting children; second, she is
urging governments to pass legislation which protect children from violence,
and finally she calls for increased research and data which will strengthen
arguments and highlight the worst offender nations. At this time
twenty-six countries have explicit anti violence against children laws. (This Web site will tell you more about Marta's efforts, UNICEF and introduce you to
Tony Lake the new executive director of UNICEF http://www.unicef.org/protection/index_53727.html )
As AAUW's representative at the UN, I am charged with
keeping AAUW informed on international issues related to our published Public
Policy which you can find on the Website. I do this by joining with other
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) with similar concerns in the areas of
women's and girls' rights, education and economic well-being. NGO networks such
as the Status of Women Committee and the Working Group on Girls, are where I
put most of my effort. The NGOs make visits to government missions, not just
the U.S., and put pressure on governments to implement agreed documents such as
the Beijing Platform for Action, the Convention on the Elimination of
Discrimination Against Women and many others.
During advocacy visits representatives educate representatives
in targeted UN missions on the issues, suggest emerging good practices, and offer
to provide additional data that might convince the government to accept our
suggested wording for a document.
Finally, however, it is the government must act,
deny impunity, accept the rule of law and protect the human rights of its
citizens.
There are probably hundreds of ways to work toward ensuring
that such child murders and other violence against children are punished and
future lives saved, but it all takes time.
As educated, responsible citizens AAUW members can speak out
individually, but the organization works through established channels to reach President
Obama and UN Ambassador Susan E. Rice. Concerned citizens must make their
opinions known to their legislators and they can also join in civil society
groups which specialize in certain issues. In this case one might look to see
what Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and other human rights NGOs are
saying about the incident and become part of their advocacy efforts. These are
large NGOs which control large networks working in child protection and child
rights. They speak out regularly about situations where people are deprived of
their human rights.
I appreciate your Branch's outrage and would be happy to explain
my position and some of the workings of the United Nations in
more detail. Please feel free to call me (home phone). Melissa Guardaro
[AAUW-NYS International Rep] has already contacted me concerning an AAUW NY visit to the UN after the opening
of the General Assembly and the MDG (Millennium Development Goals) Summit in
September .
Yes, the UN is complicated and not always effective. But today
in 2010, it is the only game in town.
With great respect,
Carolyn
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Carolyn Donovan
UN Representative AAUW
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Book Discussion Group
The Yiddish Policemen's Union
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For our Tuesday, Sept.21 meeting we will  discuss The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon. This takes place in Sitka Alaska where a fictitious
Jewish community has been established after WW2 to welcome survivors of
the Holocaust. --Judy Irwin
And a note from Marjorie Regan:To all our Faithful Book Club members,
I have loved being the Moderator for our group from June 2002 until June 2010.
We've read many wonderful books and learned so much about different cultures and different time periods.
Island at the Center of the World and Paradise Alley taught us more of the history of New York City, the Mother City for many of us. Edith Wharton wrote of the rigid social class system in New York.
Beloved, In The Fall, The Souls of Black Folk, The Known World gave us a glimmer of understanding of what it was and is to be Black in our United States.
Suite Francaise, Leeway Cottage, Stones From the River presented some aspects of how the Holocaust affected France, Denmark and Germany.
Lisa See and Da Chen wrote of different eras in China.
We got to Africa in Poisonwood Bible, Heart of Darkness, Things Fall Apart.
Reading Lolita in Tehran, The Reluctant Fundamentalist gave us varied ideas about the Middle East.
I can't leave out India. Remember The NamesakeThe Glass Palace.
It's been a satisfying experience discussing these and all the other books we've read and enjoyed or hated.
I am looking forward to Judee Irwin directing our next years of reading and debating and learning. So thank you, all of you who participated as we encouraged each other to grow and broaden our insights and judgements.
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Branch Member address updates
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New Members:
David Cardall DCardall@hvc.rr.com
Marie Daniels, tmjkdaniels@yahoo.com
Linda Gold artladylg@aol.com
Yuvelca Reyes, Yuvelca@gmail.com
New address for Lydia Mellos - 35 Dick William Lane, Apt. 325, Ulster
Park, NY 12487.
New email
addresses:
Janine
Fallon-Mower: roscommongirl@gmail.com
Andrea
Newman-Winston - stgmgra@yahoo.com
Bette Nitzky bsnitzky@gmail.com
Ellen Osgood eeosgood@gmail.com
Barbara Scanlan bscanlan@hvc.rr.com
Ginger Yaple gingerlee44@gmail.com
I'm
currently preparing the 2010/11 Directory, so anyone who has changed their
address, email, or phone, please let me know right away.
Thanks,
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AAUW Member Benefits
What do you get for your membership due | We highlight a benefit in each issue, but you can view them all here. The most benefits are free for you, your family, and friends. And, the companies make a contribution to AAUW funds.
MagazineLine Back-to-School Special on The Economist... and 100+ additional special offers!
Order today and receive a year of The
Economist for only $99. But hurry, this special Back-to-School price expires October 31st.
In addition to our special for The Economist, we have 100+ other great
special offers. Take $5.00 off any of the following titles: Newsweek,
Cricket, Weight Watchers, and Ebony. Order today and lock in your special AAUW Member rates!
Note: to take advantage of any AAUW benefit, you must use the AAUW links found on our website or AAUW.org |
News and Celebrations
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Recommendations:
From Vivi: Just saw a dazzling
performance by a young black dancer and monologist, LaTonia Phipps.
"Fishing in Brooklyn" will be playing again on Saturday
night August 28 at 8 PM and Sunday August 29th at 2 PM at the Woodstock
Fringe. Go to Woodstock, turn right on Rock City Road, Left on Glasco,
then Right on Upper Bryercliff Road. The theater is about a mile or two
up that road on the right. Highly, highly recommended. You
won't be sorry! ViVi
From Ruth W. (not used to having two Ruths!): If you own a Kindle you'll love
this blog: Kindle Review which tracks mostly free and some low cost (usually $
.99 - $3.99) ebooks for the Kindle - fiction and non-fiction by the famous and
not so famous. http://ireaderreview.com/category/free-books/Publishers offer these books to get the buzz going; self-published authors and
those with books no longer carried in bookstores offer their work, too. WOW, it's
like being a kid in a candy store. You can subscribe to get the updates by
email.
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Social
Security Celebrates Milestone, Faces Uphill Battles- August 14th marked the 75th
anniversary of the signing of the Social Security Act by President
Franklin Roosevelt. With the added attention related to the anniversary,
the Obama administration's deficit
commission , and the release of the
Social Security Board of Trustees long-range
financial outlook , Social Security
has faced increased scrutiny and political
pressure for reform from both sides
of the aisle.
AAUW is committed
to a Social Security system that provides lifelong
protections for women and families and is firmly against privatizing Social
Security. Social Security needs to be strengthened, not weakened through
privatization. For more information, read AAUW's position paper on women and retirement security , and stay tuned
for the release of our Social Security Matters Program in a Box
Take
Action! Tell the members of the National Commission on Fiscal
and Financial Reform that cutting Social Security benefits is not the right
path to fiscal responsibility.
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