Susan Burk & Leslie Tourigny
Co-Vice Presidents for Program
We are very excited to begin a two-year term as the Co-Vice Presidents for Program and look forward to working with all the branch program officers. Thanks to all of you for volunteering for this critical branch position.
As we see it, programs are the connective tissue of AAUW. They connect our mission of advancing equity for women and girls to our actions, and in doing so, connect us to AAUW National, AAUW of Virginia, other state affiliates, other branches, our local communities, our country, and to the global community. There’s no end to the innovation and creativity we can bring to our programs, and also no need to always be reinventing the wheel.
First Meeting of the Year for Branch Program VPs/Chairs Was A Great Success
We had a great turnout for this virtual meeting on September 5, 2024, and we thank everyone who was able to attend for their participation. For those who couldn’t attend, as well as those who did, here’s a link to the recording from the meeting:
Sept. 5 Program Meeting Passcode: 8VKG#HY3
Sept. 5 Program Meeting (no passcode)
The program meeting begins a the 4 minute, 44 second point of the video.
AAUW National Program Resources
- Beginning during the pandemic, AAUW National began holding a series of excellent webinars on a variety of mission-related topics. Some of these may be useful as branch programs: https://www.aauw.org/resources/programs/webinars/.
- Also, AAUW National has developed a series of toolkits that contain information that is also helpful when developing programs.
Our programs are the best way to engage our members and others and to spread the word about AAUW-VA.
Branch Program Officers
You can find a short position description on the AAUW of Virginia website.
2024-2025 AAUW-VA Program Priorities
There are several top program priorities for this program year:
- AAUW of Virginia’s Centennial Celebration and 2025 State Conference – On March 28, 1925, the seven existing AAUW branches in Virginia voted to form the Virginia Division of AAUW. Our centennial celebration will be held on March 28-29, 2025, at the Sheraton Suites in Old Town Alexandria. Our State Conference will be held on March 29, preceded by preconference activities on March 28. The conference will be hosted by Northern District branches, but assistance from any AAUW-VA member will be most welcome.
- Increasing Opportunities for Branches to Collaborate on Programs – It is no secret that a lot of work goes into developing and presenting programs so we will work on increasing opportunities for branches to collaborate on programs. This has the potential to divide the workload among branches and increase the number of attendees.
- Facilitate the Sharing of Information About Branch Programs – We have already developed a template and process so that branches can provide overviews of their best programs to share with other branches. Scroll down for details.
DO YOU NEED TO LET OTHER BRANCHES KNOW ABOUT AN UPCOMING PROGRAM YOUR BRANCH IS PRESENTING?
WHAT ABOUT FINDING AN IDEA FOR AN INTERESTING PROGRAM FOR YOUR BRANCH TO PRESENT?
Well, you are in luck!! Our newly instituted PROGRAM SWAP SHOP is open for business. You won’t have to keep on reinventing the wheel. You’ll be able to share the details of your branch’s programs with other branches and receive their good program ideas. Also, you now have access to branch program officer contact information, so you’ll be able to announce your programs to a wider audience, if you want.
Program Swap Shop
The PROGRAM SWAP SHOP is organized into three parts. Part 1 (only) is restricted to Branch Program officers who will be given a password to enter the SWAP SHOP PART 1, which has confidential contact information.
PART (1) ANNOUNCING UPCOMING BRANCH PROGRAMS. Here you’ll find a comprehensive listing of the names and email addresses for the 2024-2025 AAUW-VA CO-VPS FOR PROGRAM, BRANCH PROGRAM VPS/CHAIRS BY DISTRICT, AND DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVES so you can easily announce your programs to AAUW-VA members in your district and/or around the Commonwealth by emailing directly to branch or district program officers for further distribution.
This list is Password Protected at the link below. Program VPs will be given the password.
PART (2) PROGRAM INFORMATION FORM. At the link below, you’ll be able to complete a short online information form about any program you branch presented that you want to share. This will give other branches information to plan a similar program, if they wish.
PART (3) NEED A PROGRAM IDEA? Here you will be able to review all of the program forms collected from branches by clicking on the various links.
Program Ideas (Click on each to see details.)
League of Women Voters Voter Registration
A Conversation with Deborah Todd, Award Winning Journalist
Women in Retirement Estate Planning
The School-to-Prison Pipeline: Restorative Justice as a Less Punitive Approach
Seniors Staying Strong Movement is Medicine
The SREM GAP: Building a Better Future for Girls and Women
Virginia Elections Voter Access Will My Vote Count