THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN
Punta Gorda-Port Charlotte Branch

AAUW is a national organization that promotes equity for all women and girls, lifelong education, and positive societal change. With 150,000 members nationwide, nearly 6000 in Florida, the Association has 55 Branches in Florida. Our local branch of about 80 members supports education and equity for girls and women through donations to the AAUW Educational Foundation and the AAUW Legal Advocacy Fund. We also award two scholarships each year to women residents of Charlotte County who are working toward a bachelor's degree.

The AAUW Educational Foundation (EF) funds fellowships and grants for graduate women and pioneering research on girls and education. Among scholars supported by AAUW fellowships were 1954 American Fellow Hanna Holborn Gray, former President of the University of Chicago, 1961 American Fellow Marina von Neumann Whitman, Vice President, General Motors, 1966 American Fellow Nannerl (Henry) Koehane, President, Duke University, and 1975 American Fellow Judith Resnick, Challenger astronaut.

In 1999-2000, $3 million was given in awards to 271 women. The Foundation has given awards to more than 7300 women from 125 nations since 1882. For application or information about fellowships click on this website. http://aauw.org.

Eleanor Roosevelt Teacher Fellowships are awarded to women K-12 public school teachers who develop innovative curriculum projects designed to encourage girls' interest and achievement in math, science, and/or technology

The AAUW Legal Advocacy Fund (LAF) works to achieve equity for women in higher education. LAF works to improve the climate for women on campus. Thirteen Progress in Equity awards have been given to colleges since 1987. Since 1981 LAF has helped students, faculty and administrators challenge discriminatory practices involving sexual harassment, denial of tenure or promotion, and aid for women's athletics programs. LAF has provided more than $620,000 in financial support -- plus thousands of dollars in technical assistance--for 59 lawsuits.

The Punta Gorda-Port Charlotte Branch, AAUW annually awards two scholarships for local women. The Penny Penner scholarship has been awarded to 19 Charlotte County women since 1977, and the Alma Stephens scholarship has been awarded to 7 women since 1993. For applications or information about local scholarships, call 639-0743 or 505-2571. For the last ten years, the PG-PC Branch has sponsored the Reading is Fundamental (RIF) program at the Cooper Street Recreation/Education Center, and for several years also at Neil Armstrong Elementary School for the ESOL classes. Free books are distributed three times each year.

PG-PC AAUW also participates in the Symphony of Trees, the Salvation Army Bell Ringers, mentoring programs in the schools, and Charlotte Coalition Against Tobacco.

General membership meetings are held the second Thursday of each month, September through May at Seminole Lakes Restaurant I n Punta Gorda. Meeting start at 10:30 A.M. Members and guests may stay for lunch at 11:30 A.M. There is a business meeting followed by a program. For reservations call 629-0747 or 764-1859 by the preceding Saturday. See the upcoming events page for specifics about programs.

The International Relations Study Group meets at the United Methodist Church at 10 AM on the fourth Tuesday and is open to the public. Bridge and Craft groups and a Book Club also meet monthly. An annual fashion show-luncheon-card party serves as a fundraiser for local scholarships and the Educational Foundation. Members enjoy outings to the theater and other special events. Members receive the AAUW publication Outlook, the Florida AAUW newsletter, Florivision, and the monthly local newsletter, Charlotte's Web. Friendship and working together for a common cause is a great reward of membership in AAUW.

Membership is open to all graduates of accredited four-year colleges. Yes, men too! For membership information call 575-2106 or 764-7181, or e-mail [email protected] or [email protected].