American Association of University Women/NC
Spring Board Minutes
March 15, 2002
Marriott Hotel, Greensboro, NC

President Mary Jo Pribble called the meeting to order at 7:20PM, and recognized Carolyn Thomas who welcomed the
members to Greensboro and the Marriott Hotel, on behalf of the Triad Cluster, Winston-Salem, High Point, Greensboro,
Eden, and Alamance.

President Pribble recognized our guests, Nancy Rustad, Association President; and LaRonnia Williams, South Atlantic
Regional Director.

Secretary Pat Abell called the roll. Twenty-one officers and seventeen branches were present. The motion to endorse the
minutes as printed was approved. Lill Van Order, Sibyl Lange, and Phyllis Guberman were appointed to the Reading
Committee.

The president’s report was omitted.

President-Elect Report - Laura Rumbley asked eligible chair and board members and interested members to please contact
her if willing to serve on the board or in other positions.

Treasurer’s Report – Bobbie Edmisten reported that the dues amount had decreased with 120 fewer members. There was
a large expense for publication of the history books. Several items had not been covered but would be before the end of the
year in July. The treasurer’s report was approved as printed.

Program Vice President – Grace Knechtal described the planning of the convention and commended all those who had
worked on it. Summer Leadership would focus on Membership led by Sue Metz, Membership Vice President.

Membership Vice President – Sue Metz said that membership was down. Branches that had increased membership by 5%
or more, Raleigh/Wake County, Mooresville, Statesville, and Twin Rivers, would be honored at the Banquet. Honorable
mention went to Brevard and Hendersonville. Doris Bernlohr asked when does a Branch ceased to exist. Mary Jo said that
foundering branches could ask for assistance or other branches could offer to help. Nancy Rustad said that the Association
asks state associations to be flexible and encourage branch members to stay on the association records as active as long as
possible before disbanding to give a branch every opportunity to survive.

Committee Reports

Finance Chair Mary Marrow told the members that the committee was recommending that dues be raised. She moved
that the dues be increased by three dollars. After discussion for and against the motion President Pribble asked the treasurer to
discuss the Budget proposals. Two proposals based on the current membership, A with no dues increase factored in, and B
with dues increase factored in, were presented. Elizabeth Laney asked that the increase be delayed for a year. Karla Atkinson
from Brevard asked that if once the reserves were built up could the dues return to the $8 amount. Branches are advised to
keep one year’s expense in reserve. Because expenses were up, dues needed to be increased. Sibyl Lange asked why the
increase would be effective for 2002-2003 and not 2003-2004. President Pribble explained that the increase was discussed at
the 2001 convention last year and tabled. The dues increase was discussed at the Fall, 2001 Board meeting but Board assent
was unclear. We were discussing it now to assure the Board’s consent to the increase. Elizabeth Laney objected to the dues
increase being effective for the year 2002-2003. The vote to increase the dues was called and the motion passed on hand
count. Nancy Shoemaker moved that the language in the Tar Heel News be confirmed so that the 2002-2003 dues received
before July 1, 2002, would be $8, but the 2002-2003 dues received after July 1, 2002 would be $11. Motion passed on hand
count.

The Bylaws report was delayed.

Diversity Chair Diane Caldwell reported that changes are slow and the fight for greater diversity goes on. She said that she
would meet with Diversity Chairs the following day. The power of unification and understanding among women and pooling our
strengths would be discussed. She added that if we could produce a world surely we could help save it.

Educational Foundation Chair Claudia Rose announced that branches would be recognized at the luncheon on Saturday.

Fellows Liaison and Educational Equity Chairs Amelia Mitchell and Allene Poe were absent.

International Affairs Chair Shirley Quisenberry updated the members regarding the Commission on the Status of Women,
which met recently at the UN. Members were encouraged to call Senator Edwards and ask him to support the adoption of the
House wording on a Senate bill to urge the United States to rejoin UNESCO attached to a foreign aide bill.

Legal Advocacy Fund Chair Doris Bernlohr reported that donations to LAF were down. 18 of 28 branches contributed
$6403.15 in 2001. She challenged Board officers to contribute to LAF before May 1 to earn matching funds.

Public Policy/State Issues Chair Barbara Ann Hughes announced that Brevard was planning to publish a Voter Guide.
She reported for the Federal Issues Chair Dorothy Busey that emphasis would be on getting women to the polls. She had
attended the meeting of the Women United Coalition. Funds for NC Equity have been exhausted, but there will be a Women’s
Advocacy Day next year and new funding would be found.

Cluster Chair Virginia Palmer said that four cluster meetings were held this year on two separate dates. President Pribble
asked clusters to coordinate dates with the chair so that she and the Cluster Chair could attend each cluster meeting.

Recognition Program Coordinator Laura Rumbley submitted the State application by the deadline March 31.
Applications next year will be due in the fall and will require documentation about how the State supports the branches in their
Recognition Programs.

Historian Clara Allen said that the history books would be available the next afternoon. Her Chapel Hill study group on
Aging has been studying the issues facing the elderly. Folders of information were provided.

Housing Coordinator Gelene Lineburger announced that the Summer Leadership Conference would be in High Point, July
19-20; Fall Board Meeting would be in Mooresville, date unavailable; and State Convention would be in Raleigh, April 2-4,
2003.

Nominating Committee Chair Lill Van Order stated that the committee members were Sandra Abromitis, Asheville;
Judythe Atkinson, Winston-Salem; Gelene Lineberger, Gaston Regional; Janet Weber, Raleigh; and Lill Van Order,
Wilmington. Positions for election were Program Vice President and Recording Secretary. Current officers, Sue Metz and Pat
Abell, agreed to run for office again and were presented as the slate of officers for election.

Resolutions Chair Elizabeth Laney asked for copies of resolutions before the meeting at which they would be presented.

Tar Heel News Editor Marty Folsom displayed photos from former editions, which could be claimed by members at the
back of the room. The deadline for the Summer Tar Heel News was April 30, 2002.

Technology Coordinator Nancy Shoemaker told the group that members interested in what she was planning should
contact her. NC Women United, which had lost its host NC Equity, had been borrowing web space from us. She had
developed a job description for the Technology position, which could be adapted to a branch description.

President Pribble introduced a new connection, Helen Martikainen, representative to the Coalition for Aging, a 33-member
organization. Helen commended Clara Allen for her recognition of the need to study the aging issues. By 2020 there will be a
100% increase of people in the over-65 age group, and there will be a shortage in qualified personnel to care for them. The
Aging Issues Survey of AAUW branch members revealed the top three choices to be 1) expand funds for prescription drug
benefits for elderly and disabled, 2) appropriate two million dollars for the recurring cost for transportation for the elderly, and
3) allocate funds to directly increase salaries and benefits of aides in nursing homes and other health care services for the
elderly. She suggested that study groups be formed in each branch to learn what services, number of personnel, and concerns
affect individual branch areas.

Unfinished Business

The Parliamentarian had noted that thirty days notice had not been given before the Fall Board voted to incorporate the
Financial Guidelines into the Policy Statement. After a review of the guidelines and minimal discussion, the motion to
incorporate the guidelines into the policy was approved.

The treasurer noted that no action had been taken on the budget. Bobbie Edmisten moved for the adoption of Budget B.
The motion passed by voice vote.

Laura Rumbley presented the idea of combining some board positions. She moved that the board 1) combine the Bylaws
and Resolutions Committee, 2) Eliminate the Housing Chair and place the responsibilities under the Corresponding Secretary,
and 3) eliminate the Equity Chair and place the responsibilities under Public Policy. The motion was withdrawn, because the
Executive Committee can approve any committee changes made by the president according to the Bylaws.

Mary Fran Schickedantz commended Gelene Lineburger for the excellent job she had done as Housing Coordinator.

Nancy Shoemaker discussed the Online Satellite. One branch would be required to host the satellite. Branches that would
like to host the new Satellite branch were asked to get in touch with Nancy.

LaRonnia Williams had a printed report available on SAR activities. She asked members to fill in her cards provided for
comments and mail them to her. She invited members to attend the SAR Conference in Tampa, Florida, June 7-9, 2002.

After announcements the meeting was adjourned at 9:55PM.

Pat Abell, Secretary

Approved: 19-Jul-2002
Last updated: 05-Aug-2002
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