MAY 6, 2021

Oakland-Piedmont members attending:  Lenore Gallin, Diane Rawicz, Kathleen Cha, Nancy Adams, Miriam Rabinovitz, Cam McArthur, Sara Armstrong, Janet Clark, Rebecca D’harlingue, Stephanie Woodbury, DeAnna D’Zamba, Gloria Taylor, Barbara Kridl, Linda Hoffman, Dana Barnett, Ann Johnson, Marilyn Little  Also attending:  Sarah Miyazaki, AAUW-Berkeley; Carol G Holzgrafe, AAUW–CA; Dawn Johnson, Chair of Governance AAUW–CA; Susan Wacek, LDP; Devon LaHar, LDP

The meeting to Revitalize the Oakland Branch was led by VP Lenore Gallin
Recording secretary Diane Rawicz
Introductions and what we hope to get out of the meeting.
“We don’t want [the branch] to die because we die,” Sarah Miyazaki, Berkeley.

Subjects Covered:  There were four main subjects covered this evening:
Governance and Compliance; Responsibility to National; Responsibility to Members; and Impact On the Community.

What is Important
Carol Holzgrafe, CA branch assistance, said that many branches face the same issues of declining membership and shortage of board leadership.

Asking these hard questions promotes discussion and can lead to prioritization.

• What is important to the Branch members?
• What is important to you – what to keep, what to let go, what to give?
• What would your life be like without AAUW?

Make a list of duties and share that list.  Approach the task or situation from a new view.

Governance

Three leadership positions are required to meet national requirements for a branch board. Administrator/President, Finance/Treasurer, and Communications. A Leadership Committee supports the Executive Board.
Dawn Johnson, CA chair of governance, says that an alternate structure gives flexibility; a move towards using task forces with a start and finish is appealing when introducing a new project/ It’s okay to jettison what is stale.

On  June 2 Dawn is leading a webinar on how to empower leaders, recruit members and increase engagement of volunteers.

Regarding the Bylaws:  Johnson recommends we leave the Bylaws as is for the coming year while this pilot project of governance is implemented. When we do change the Bylaws, suggest language, “there will be a minimum of three officers and as many others as needed to fulfill our work.” Keep the language flexible.
[Refer to the AAUW O-P Policies & Procedures for the following] Chart all duties and steps to complete a task; this makes it easier to recruit people. Use a single sheet of paper – this is how to do XX.

Motivation & Programs
People are motivated to volunteer when they get something out of the experience – research shows the prospective volunteer asks, “What’s in it for me?” That means the Branch has to answer the questions:

• What can they learn by involvement with our Branch?
• What is AAUW going to do for them?

AAUW-CA hired a marketing consultant who will present a plan in the near future.

O-P did a survey of our membership and several expressed interest in an Advocacy group led by Kathleen Cha. She reports that 12-14 expressed interest and about 8 have shown up. Survey showed that several were interested in a film series but the committee has yet to follow through.

Several attendees liked the idea of the interest group being responsible for an event each year. O-P branch has two book interest groups, Morning and Evening Books, and since 2020 members are attending both groups via Zoom. It was an expectation in the past the interest groups hold an author event and it’s been several years since they have done that, but it can be revitalized. Berkeley has held a successful author series for years and could be interviewed on their process.

Social Track & Service Track

Historically, women join AAUW because they are looking for a social group and support the mission with their dues. The challenge is to build a bridge from the social track to service. That bridge could invigorate members and attract new members. One key is to be specific with the volunteer(s) about what the task is, support them, and thank them.

All interest group leaders are urged to meet together annually to review the mission of AAUW and of the Branch.

Branch Buzz

At the conclusion of each Board meeting, there are three bullet points on a Branch Buzz:

• Celebrate
  Coming up
  Opportunity

Branch Buzz is shared by the interest group leader with the group. The members know what’s hot and where they can be involved.

Joint Programs

Community Mapping form asks members to list the organizations they are involved or affiliated with. The lists are compared to see where there is overlap – two or more members are linked with the same organization, there is an opportunity. Perhaps we can speak to that organization’s membership about AAUW. They learn about us and we can recruit members. It could also spur an idea for a shared program or event. Community Mapping could also facilitate engagement with civic and business groups for our mutual benefit.

Hybrid events with in-person and Zoom are becoming quite popular as they appeal to a broader audience.

League of Women Voters Piedmont has a film series and they would likely want to collaborate with O-P. Kathleen Cha will share contact information.

Miriam Rabinovitz, a Berkeley resident who is an Oakland-Piedmont member, is very involved with several organizations. Last spring’s O-P Shoe Drive garnered lots of Berkeley participation yet they did not know about AAUW. Berkeley-based Ashby Village is another organization that has expanded its outreach into Oakland and beyond. If they can do it, what’s stopping us?

Sarah Miyazaki looks forward to meeting with Lenore Gallin and Miriam Rabinovitz of O-P to discuss a working relationship with the Berkeley Branch.

Community, Diversity

We are an aging organization that needs a presence in the colleges. Offer a grant or scholarship to women. Berkeley Branch was started many years ago with the College Women’s Club so they have access to funds they use to give to women graduating and transferring to UC Berkeley. Last year Berkeley gave $7,000. A 30-year-old new member used various social media to get the word out and that made all the difference. They had over 100 applicants for seven grants. Five branch members reviewed the applications, and decided on the winners.

Susan Wacek from LDP Branch said they offer scholarship through the local college Las Positas. She meets with the Financial Aid director and wants to expand outreach to include college professors.

Community Service Programs

O-P Branch’s two service programs, Tech Trek and the literacy program at MLK Jr Elementary School, are our most dedicated and active programs that are highly beneficial to the community.

There are several organizations in the area to appeal to women, said Gloria Taylor, so what’s necessary to attract a diverse membership is to find out what they are interested in; consider joint activities; what are we doing that will attract them to us?

Tech Trek
We need ambassadors in the community to let them know what Tech Trek is so it’s not threatening, so kids and parents aren’t afraid to sign up and be interviewed by a panel of older white women, offered Nancy Adams, TT coordinator of O-P. Keep track of TT girls and invite them and their parents to Branch events. Carol Holzgrafe’s Paradise had their TT girls help at an auction fundraiser where everyone had a good time.

Conclusion
Thank you, everyone for participating. This was a fruitful, productive meeting. I learned a lot and I hope you did too. We will share the minutes of this meeting and look forward to future opportunities to exchange ideas and strategies to advance the AAUW mission

– Lenore Gallin

Summary submitted by Diane Rawicz