American Association of University Women NC
Spring Convention Business Minutes
Marriott Executive Hotel, Charlotte, NC
March 27-28, 2004

President Rumbley called the meeting to order and welcomed the members to the convention. Pat Abell called the roll. The minutes were approved as printed, by voice vote. Phyllis Guberman, Bobbie Edmisten, and Elizabeth Laney volunteered for the Reading Committee.

Representatives of Coalitions – Beth Messersmith, Director of NC Clean Elections announced the legislature had passed the Judicial Campaign Reform Act and asked members to work to inform the public to check “Yes” on the income tax file form. This will approve the $3 deduction for tax money to pay for campaign funds and to publish a voter guide. Gloria Blanton urged that we remain members of Clean Elections Coalition.

Barbara Ann Hughes reported that NC Women United was holding forums presenting the NC budget and will begin to have Women’s Assemblies in the fall to prepare the Women’s Agenda for the long session of the legislature in the spring ’05. The Covenant for NC Children no longer employs Paula Wolf due to lack of funds. Hughes gave the report of Dr. Helen Martikainen on The NC Coalition on Aging Issues, which includes increasing daycare funds for the aging and disabled and understanding the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act passed by the US Congress.

President Rumbley recognized SAR Director Ann Terry who told the group about the plans for the Regional Conference in Atlanta, June 11-13, 2004, at the Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center. Brochures were available at the table at the back of the room.

Credentials - The Credentials Committee Report was postponed.

Parliamentarian Lou Howard read the Rules of the Meeting, which were adopted.

Treasurer’s Report – Treasurer Millie Hoffler-Foushee reviewed the report item by item. It was filed for audit.

Finance Report – Sandra Abromitis provided copies of the budget report for 7-1-04 through 6-30-05. Dues were based on an increase of twenty members. The Board had approved the budget report.

Program Vice President Mary Peterson said she would give her report at the continuation of business meeting on Sunday.

Membership Vice President Sue Metz praised several branches whose membership had increased including Cherokee, Eden, Gaston Regional, Greensboro, Hendersonville, Sandhills/Southern Pines, and Winston-Salem. Maintaining membership were Bryson City, Chapel Hill, and Jacksonville. Pembroke, Tarboro, Mooresville, Alamance, and Rocky Mount have disbanded.

Fayetteville State University is trying to organize a branch. We have 1153 members, which reflect a loss of 230 members in three years. Names of current Members At Large, MAL’s, can be obtained from Nancy Shoemaker by providing the zip codes in the area of a branch.

Nominating Committee – Chair Sandra Abromitis named her committee: Phyllis Guberman, Delilah Donaldson, Lola Jackson, and Jean Harrington. Sandra announced that Karla Atkinson, Brevard Branch, had agreed to be secretary nominee and Evelyn Mercer, Charlotte Branch, had agreed to be Membership Vice President Nominee.

President Rumley gave the offices for election next year, which are Program Vice President, Treasurer, and President-Elect. Five members of the Board were nominated to the new Nominating Committee for 2004-05. They are Linda Sarkis, Greensboro; Carol Kiser, Hendersonville; Pat Abell, Statesville; Judy Atkinson, Winston-Salem; and JoAnn Hall, Jacksonville. The nominees were accepted by voice vote.

Bylaws – Chair Sandra Champion said that there were no mandated Bylaws changes. Several Branches had made changes to accommodate co-chairs.

Educational Foundation – Chair Mary Jo Pribble announced that the total contribution to EF for 2003 was $35,900.03, an increase of $200 over ’03. Pribble was informed that the Association has been phoning new members soon after they join to ask if they have questions or have any problems.

Pribble said that two EF Fellows had spoken at the convention. There are seven Fellows in North Carolina at this time. She asked the members to remember the Silent Auction and the Book Sale for the benefit of EF.

Legal Advocacy Fund – Lill Van Order thanked the members for their contributions to LAF. Our goal was $10,000 and we had a total of $9,483.50 this year with twenty-two of twenty-three branches contributing. Fourteen of twenty-three branches contributed $5 per capita.

The LAF Breakfast was held that morning. We received a travel grant which paid travel for our plaintiff speaker, Suzanne de Janasz. LAF contributions total $1,030 at this time.

Public Policy – Barbara Ann Hughes will let members know the issues through the Branch Public Policy Chairs. She urged Branches to sponsor Women’s Agenda Assembles in their areas and invite other groups to join as sponsors. She also suggested that members discuss the issues at Cluster meetings.

Resolutions - Chair Elizabeth Laney read the resolution proposed by the Brevard Branch that AAUW/NC be a co-sponsor of the March for Women’s Lives, April 25, in Washington. Laney moved that the resolution be adopted.

Sue Metz asked if we would have to contribute; Karla Atkinson said we would not. Rumbley said that a group of twenty or more could represent AAUW/NC at the March. The Resolution was passed by voice vote.

Unfinished Business – Clara Allen announced that she had history books for distribution and sale. The Credentials Committee postponed the report until Sunday.

New Business – There was no new business.

Open Forum – Nancy Shoemaker said that she was involved in a program for younger members, under 40 years of age, and encouraged members to tell their young members about the program begun by the president of the Cincinnati Branch.

Mary Jo Pribble said Hendersonville was discussing an Online Satellite group and asked where the dues go. Nancy Shoemaker said that the dues could go back to the sponsoring branch or support satellite branch expenses.

Laura Rumbley asked members to discuss the Affiliates Agreement the branches had signed with Association. Connie Osche said that Jacksonville Branch uses an insurance agency that offers liability insurance for events cheaply. The Charlotte Branch investigated incorporation and it was too expensive to do. Mary Jo Pribble said that the Hendersonville Branch has a $150 policy that they had had for years that covered regular meetings. Fund raising events required insurance for the day, which costs $25. Ann Terry said that a branch should only consider incorporation if the branch owned property. AAUW has listed a carrier on the website.

Gloria Blanton told the group that she had information about bus schedules for the April 25th March.

Millie Hoffler-Foushee reminded members that she is running for office and asked members to support her candidacy.

Sandra Abromitis announced that the next convention would be in Asheville.

Laura Rumbley invited members to visit her in her suite after the banquet.

Mary Peterson informed the members that the Center for Political ---- was having workshops in May, June, and July to prepare women to run for local government office.

After announcements the meeting was adjourned at 3:15 P.M. until Sunday morning.

Pat Abell, Secretary

Business Meeting continued, March 28, 2004

President Laura Rumbley called the meeting to order and asked Ann Terry to give her report. Terry announced that Sylvia Newman, LAF President, died of cancer March 27, 2004. She was our leader on loan last year at the convention. Lill Van Order had a card for members to sign and a gift to LAF will be made in Newman’s memory.

Installation – Ann Terry recognized outgoing officers Laura Rumbley, Sue Metz, and Pat Abell, extending the thanks of the AAUW/NC Board of Directors, members, and AAUW Board of Directors. She introduced Karla Atkinson, Secretary; Evelyn Mercer, Membership Vice President; and Jo Anne Hill, President. Using the theme of chain links she asked them to commit to the goals of AAUW.

Rumbley presented gifts to all past and present officers. Joanne presented Laura Rumbley with a gift.

President Hill made brief remarks and told the members to “buckle up” for the next year.

Gloria Blanton thanked Janet Weber for bringing special guest, Dr. Ethelyn Harper, member of the Jacksonville Branch now living in Charlotte.

Ann Terry, SAR Director, brought the report of the Association. The leaders have struggled to get information to the branches due to the reduction in size of the board to save expense. The caliber of women working at the Association is the best. The staff is doing more with less. Local members of branches should consider taking an office. An email newsletter, Mission in Action, has been added. She asked the members to join her in Atlanta at the Georgia Tech. Conference Center where thirteen states will meet for the SAR/SEC Regional Conference in June. Female scholar athletes and the President of the Association, Nancy Rustad, will attend. Terry announced that all states in SAR have given to EF and LAF. She said that for many women AAUW is the only source of scholarships and grants. The National Conference for College Women Student Leaders will feature Teresa McMillan and will be held at American University in Washington, DC, June 3-5, 2004.

Grace Walker, Asheville Branch, invited the members to the 2005 State Convention to be held in Asheville. She showed a video from the Asheville Chamber of Commerce.

Mary Peterson asked members to return the evaluation sheet.

President Rumbley thanked Evelyn Mercer and Bess Burns, the Charlotte Branch members, Marty Folsom and Nancy Shoemaker, the Brevard Branch, Lill Van Order, Mary Jo Pribble, Ann Terry, and Lola Jackson, Barbara Ann Hughes, and incoming president Joanne Hill.

The meeting was adjourned.

Pat Abell, Secretary

Approved: 16-Apr-2005
Last updated: 19-Apr-2005
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