Welcome to AAUW of South Carolina

Laura Burcin, President of AAUW of South Carolina

Welcome to the American Association of University Women (AAUW) of South Carolina website.

I hope you’ll find valuable information on this site along with links to other branches and AAUW – all to keep you up to date on doings in AAUW. We welcome your help in advancing the mission of our organization.

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

With close to 200 members and 10 active branches throughout the state, along with more than 300 Members-At-Large, we are able to further this mission and bring equity to the women and girls in our communities.   AAUW SC has branches in: Aiken, Beaufort, Charleston, Denmark, Due West, Gaffney, Greater Columbia, Greenville, Myrtle Beach, Rock Hill and a virtual SC state branch.  For more than 130 years AAUW keeps working towards equity for women and girls in education, economic security, civil rights, and Title IX issues.

At both the state and local level, we partner with organizations such as the League of Women Voters, the SC School Improvement Council, the SC Women Lawyers Association, the Friends of Education, the Leadership Institute at Columbia College, Womens Rights and Empowerment Network, the SC Progressive Network and other  groups who are working to improve the lives of all our citizens.

I’d love to hear from you – just drop me a line at BurcinL08@verizon.net

SC AAUW ANNUAL ZOOM MEETING

Saturday, May 23, 2020

Zoom invite will be sent 1 week prior

10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Meeting Agenda:
                      • Welcome
                      • AAUW Funds Named Gift Recipients
                      • Election of officers
                      • Public Policy Status
                      • Girls Who Code Opportunity
                      • Fall Leadership Meeting
                      • Wrap Up and Q&A

No fee

Please RSVP to burcinl08@verizon.net

AAUW of South Carolina Strategic Plan 2019

MISSION -To advance gender equity for women and girls through research,education, and advocacyVISION -Equity for allVALUES: Nonpartisan, Fact-based, Integrity, Inclusion and Intersectionality

EDUCATION & TRAINING

    • Hold Title IX programs with invitation to community to educate about the breadth of the Title IX initiatives
    • Plan STEM awareness, promotion and/or events
    • Advocate for quality public education and full funding for SC public schools

ECONOMIC SECURITY

    • Support passing the ERA Bill after its’ introduction to the SC Legislature
      •  Visit legislators in their home office to lobby for their support
      •  Write letters to the editor. AAUW website has template
      •  Hold a branch programs about the ERA.
      •  Visit legislators in session, call them out, to voice AAUW support andask for their support
      •  Network with other state and national organizations focused onpassing the ERA
    •  Support passing the Pay Equity Bill after its’ introduction to the SC Legislature
    •  Hold Equal Pay Day Events across the state
    •  Train 1000 (national goal is 10 million) women in salary negotiations by 2022
      •  Each branch pledges to hold a program on the gender pay gap andrespond with what they can do to support this training (financial,facilitator, host…)
      •  Work with C/U partners to find one or more who will hold a StartSmart Session
      •  State board may offer a grant to branches that will hold a Work Smart Session
      •  Hold an information session to show women how to take the Work Smart class online 

LEADERSHIP – Increase leadership of women for SC

◦ Women running for public offices, boards and commissions. In the 2018mid-term elections AAUW SC had three members running for office: Carol Tempel, Elise Fox and Carol Jackson. As well as members holdingsignificant roles on candidate campaigns. Multiple branches held panel discussions with the candidates for community awareness.

  • Leadership on college campuses. Make the colleges aware of the Elect Her program supported by AAUW. https://runningstartonline.org/programs/ elect-her
  • Establish new branches
  • Collaborate with state-wide organizations and higher education towards mission objectives

GOVERNANCE & SUSTAINABILITY

  • Support redistricting to enable expanding voting rights and ensuring equitable political participation and representation.
  • Encourage branches to plan mission based programs throughout the year.
  • Maintain state-wide communication
  • Encourage state-wide membership according to bylaws.
  • Initiate a state-wide fundraising campaign support mission-based program or professional development and leadership scholarships
  • Encourage/support branch websites and social media.
  • Encourage all branches to participate in MPP financal services
  • Encourage state leaders to visit and conference with their respectivebranch counterparts
  • Link branches with college/university partners and encourage face to face meetings with their representatives; increase the number of e-affiliate memberships