by Gudrun Hutchins

National AAUW will have an election this spring. The most important question on the ballot will be whether or not applicants will need to have an earned college degree to become a member of the organization in the future. Since we advocate for equal pay and equal rights and opportunities for all, it seems to be obvious that everyone should be eligible for membership. But this has never been the case. To make clear that no one should be excluded from potential membership, National AAUW is calling this “Open Membership.”

Since its founding in 1881, the American Association of University Women has required a college degree to become a member. The specifics of the degree have varied over time. At the beginning, the applicant had to be a woman and have earned a 4 year degree from a select group of colleges and universities that had enough fields of study and suitable facilities for women. Men were admitted to membership at a later date. At the present time, a two year Associates degree is sufficient; but three years of a 4 year bachelor’s degree program are not because the applicant has not earned a degree.

Approximately 20 years ago the members of the Bennington Branch decided this made no sense. We voted to welcome members without a degree as long as they supported education and equal rights and financial security for women. Ever since then several women without an earned college degree have been members of our branch. They have contributed their talents, ideas, and money to the branch and have participated in a variety of branch activities. They have added to the diversity and abilities of our branch members and continue to do so. In spite of this, our non-degree branch members are currently not eligible to become members of National AAUW so that they can contribute fully to our organization. Many of us believe that needs to change.

Open Membership is a bylaws amendment and requires a 2/3 majority for passage. Members have voted in favor of it by a majority twice before, but it has not reached the required 2/3 majority.

Since Bennington Branch members know that non-degree members add to the talents and abilities available within our membership, we should all vote in this election and vote for Open Membership in AAUW.

 Additional Information on Open Membership can be found on the AAUW website with the following link: 

https://www.aauw.org/resources/member/governance-tools/national-election/open-membership-toolkit/

 In addition to Open Membership, we will also be voting to accept or reject the amendments to the Public Policy Program. These changes are recommended by the AAUW Public Policy Committee and were covered in our February 2021 newsletter. They include much stronger wording about some topics involving discrimination or violence. The changes from the 2019 Public Policy Program are indicated in Red. To see the complete document on the AAUW website click the following link

https://www.aauw.org/resources/member/governance-tools/national-election/2021-comment-ppp/

Voting will take place from 4/7/2021 to 5/17/2021. It will mostly be on-line, but members without an email address on file with AAUW will receive a paper notification and may request a paper ballot. For previous elections, AAUW has sent an email with a unique PIN to each member several days before the start of the election period. However, that information is not on the website yet. After Kathy, Dawn, and Gudrun receive their PIN by email, they will alert you to look for yours in your inbox and your junk mail box in case it has been directed there. Make sure to flag it since you cannot vote without it.

Thank you for caring enough about AAUW to vote for Open Membership. It needs our support and our branch members know that it is valuable.