Welcome to the Rochester Branch of the American Association of University Women

February 2012

The Rochester Hills Public Library and the Auburn Hills Public Library are co-sponsoring the AAUW Rochester Branch's Eighth Grade Women's History Month Essay Contest. The theme is "A Woman of Significance to Me." The purpose of the contest is to encourage students to exhibit their writing talents by composing essays of not more than 400 words. A student entering the contest should answer the question: "What personal goals am I able to pursue because of the influence of a woman, either past or present?" The person chosen as a subject of the essay could be a family member, a teacher, someone in the community or a historical figure who has opened new pathways of opportunity. The contest is open to eighth grade students in the Rochester and Avondale school districts. There are monetary prizes for first, second and third place winners.

Applications are also available at both libraries. The essay submission deadline is March, 2012.

Enter Our Essay Contest
Entry Form Available Right Here Essay Contest Entry Form
Need Additional Information EssayContest Rules

Oakland University Partners with AAUW
Oakland University students can join AAUW free as online undergraduate student affiliates by accessing the website www.aauw.org. Click on “join" and "free student affiliate”. Graduate students can join for $18.81 - the year AAUW was founded. Faculty members are also invited to join AAUW, AAUW-MI and the Rochester Branch by contacting Jody Shevin, membership chair, at http://www.aauw-rochester-michigan.org. The purpose of this partnership is to unite the alumnae, faculty and students of Oakland University in order to promote education and intellectual growth, develop community leadership, and advance the status of women. An essay contest,“A Woman of Importance to Me”, sponsored by the Rochester AAUW Branch will be offered to students who join as affiliates.

AAUW National News
AAUW Reacts to New Census Data Showing the Wage Gap is Stubbornly in Place
Calls for Passage of the Paycheck Fairness Act Washington - Lisa Maatz, AAUW's top policy adviser, issued the following statement in light of the income data released today by the U.S. Census Bureau.
"The government's new report on income, poverty, and health insurance coverage shows that the wage gap between men and women working full time remains stubbornly in place. In 2007, the average woman made almost 78 cents for each dollar earned by her male counterpart. According to newly released 2008 figures, that number now stands at just over 77 cents for each dollar earned by a man. Given the tough economic times, some might say that women should be satisfied that the gap didn't widen. However, given that the wage gap has been stagnant over the past decade - in good times and bad - AAUW sees this as a time for action.
It is critical that we make real progress on closing the wage gap. Wage discrimination hurts whole families, not just women. This is not a time for employers to fall back on the stereotypes of men as the primary breadwinners, and tough economic times are not sufficient excuse to ignore civil rights laws. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, about a fifth of families with children are headed by single working moms, and nearly half of all families with children depend on two paychecks. Clearly a majority of working families have a stake in equal pay for equal work. These are real women, working everyday to make ends meet. They are not asking for special treatment; they are asking for simple justice.
AAUW remains committed to passage of the Paycheck Fairness Act (S. 182/H.R. 12), a much-needed update to the Equal Pay Act of 1963. Congress made an important statement earlier this year by adopting the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act - the first bill signed into law by President Barack Obama. But it's only the first step to fair pay. The Paycheck Fairness Act, along with the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, will help create a climate in which pay discrimination is not tolerated. The House has already passed the measure, but the Senate needs to take up the mantle. It's time we strengthened the Equal Pay Act so that it can finally live up to its name."
For more information or to schedule an interview with AAUW Director of Public Policy and Government Relations Lisa Maatz, please contact Lisa Goodnight, AAUW Sr. Media Relations & Marketing Associate at 202/785-7738 or goodnightl@aauw.org.
To learn more about AAUW's position on pay equity, highlight, copy and paste this address into your browser.
http://www.aauw.org/advocacy/issue_advocacy/actionpages/payequity.cfm

(Reprinted from AAUW Washington Update) --Sandra Everill, Public Policy Chair

We hope you enjoy your new site!

Hi Ladies ! I would love to hear from you.

Please contact me at jshevin@yahoo.com
Jody Shevin, Vice President of Membership

The Rochester Michigan Branch of the AAUW is providing information and services on the Internet as a benefit and service in the furtherance of AAUW's nonprofit and tax exempt status. AAUW materials may not be reproduced or duplicated by any organization or person without written permission. AAUW reserves the right to remove any materials that are posted by third parties onto this site or materials that are e-mailed to third parties that AAUW considers to be objectionable. Notwithstanding the reservation of this right, AAUW is not responsible for any material posted by any third party. AAUW specifically disclaims any and all liability for any claims or damages which result from any postings by third parties. Although the AAUW site includes links providing direct access to other Internet sites, AAUW has not participated in the development of those sites, and does not exert any editorial or other control over those sites.