Thank you for your interest in learning more about AAUW. Our mission is: To empower women through education and career development. One important way we do this is through our scholarship program. To raise funds, we will be collecting and selling used books and accepting cash donations. To help provide educational opportunities to more women in our community, please make your tax-deductible donation now.
DECEMBER/JANUARY LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
By Roxann King
Greetings, Branch Members.
This fall did not disappoint. We were busy. Before I get into details, I want to share an email message from member Patricia Wyatt about the book sale: “This season of responsibility as an advocate for Nannie Helen Burroughs has limited my involvement with our branch. Beginning at the book donations site to the floor sales and clean up, I felt inspired by you all, the AAUW-AAC legacy women. Your determination, perseverance, and wisdom empowered. For me it was great to have an opportunity to join with other branch members in support of the book sale fundraiser, AND GET OUT OF THE HOUSE, other than to teach. Thankful Thanksgiving. Be blessed.”
I agree in a big way. Working together so hard for three months builds friendships and feels so good. The book sale proceeds are the money that we use to run our scholarship programs and our branch.
During the book sale, I am the book sale treasurer. Here are a few financial facts from the sale. This year credit card sales (62%) exceeded cash sales (38%) for the first time. Right now, our sale account shows income from the sale including $1,187 in donations, minus expenses so far. We still owe sales tax, and there is still one unknown: income from the sale of the remaining books to Wonderbooks in Frederick. We did well!
January also marks the beginning of the 2026 Maryland General Assembly. Currently we are working with the other Maryland branches to determine our legislative agenda for this year. AAUW Maryland usually supports the entire agenda determined by the Maryland Legislative Agenda, around eight or nine bills, and may also choose to support additional bills impacting women’s education and equity. For details, read the public policy update.
We continue as the largest branch in the state. We have wonderful new members and lots of older members. It is important to connect with members socially as well as in more serious contexts. During the upcoming months we will continue to try different venues to meet the needs of more of our members. Our evening Monday night meetings at Woods Church have had very low attendance. In January and February, we will have Zoom meetings. As the weather changes and the days get longer, we will be trying some new venues and times in the Spring. We will also have a few weekend outings, so be sure to check the program updates. I hope to see many of you at the Holiday Breakfast at the Lighthouse Bistro on December 6 or at the Book Sale Celebration Dinner at Julep Kitchen and Bar on Tuesday, January 20 (snow date January 27), or at the day trip to the Visionary Museum on Saturday, January 10, for our own guided tour.
Best wishes for a safe and beautiful holiday season! And THANK YOU so much for all of your help.
For information about the branch’s Special Interest Groups and activities, please browse our website and contact us using the link above.
In accordance with its bylaws: AAUW is not affiliated with and does not support any other non-profit organizations; AAUW does not support the campaigns of any candidates for public office; but AAUW does support public policy initiatives related to education and equity for women and families that have been approved by the bi-annual voting of the AAUW members.