Since my monthly letter to you is traditionally on the first page of the Branch Update, I assume these are the first words you are reading. So my very first advice is: KEEP READING!! The presidency of an AAUW branch can sometimes be daunting, and you have two priceless lifelines: the Update and your Directors-at-Large. The Update will be sent out at the beginning of each month, and will be chock full of critical information, from time lines, action alerts, and articles from your state directors to important forms and tips to make your jobs easier. Your Directors-at-Large (see FL AAUW State Officers list in this issue) are an excellent source of information, trouble-shooting, and mentoring, and are the conduit between you and your state Board. Of course, I am always available to help – or even just shoot the breeze. Please keep in mind that I enjoy visiting your branch meetings and projects, and always appreciate an invitation. To date, I have the following commitments: 9/15-Palm Beach County; 9/29-Sarasota; 10/11-Ft. Myers, 10/12-No. Palm Beach County; 10/20-Naples; 10/27-SW Interbranch; 11/3-Pompano; 11/10-New Smyrna Beach, and 11/17 Sun City Center.

Speaking of speakers…don’t forget to use our Leaders-on-Loan. Every branch and Interbranch is allowed one Leader-on-Loan per fiscal year (you need not apply for an LOL if you want the state president to visit). Leaders-on-Loan include your state Board, Educational Foundation fellows, and Legal Advocacy Fund plaintiffs, as long as they live presently in Florida. Florida is one of the few states that offers an in-state LOL program, so I urge you to take advantage of it.

Another program unique to Florida AAUW is its Mini-Grant program. We offer grants up to $500 for branch programming. The fall grant deadline was in August, but you have a chance to apply for a spring grant by December 1. Please contact our Co-Directors for Program for applications forms and information.

Now, to my favorite subject: programming. We can stay comfortably entrenched in our AAUW bubble, perpetuate our monthly speakers, and never break out into the community. Or we can start planning community projects, and linking to other community organizations. For me, this is a no-brainer, but I also appreciate how much work and organization it takes to make that leap of faith to put together a community project. Let me say up front that you are not tackling this alone. Please let your Directors-at-Large know that you need support and mentoring, and they will put you in contact with your state Directors and other branches who have expertise and experience in this area. You might also look to working with another branch, or putting together an Interbranch project among various branches. The sky’s the limit!

And don’t forget nominations for FL AAUW 2002-2004. Nomination forms and Vita forms are elsewhere in this Update.

My best wishes for a fun and fulfilling year,

Leslie

The Hillsborough County branches are putting together a Financial Independence for Girls (FIG) program for early next year. They would like to get feedback and advice from any of the other FL AAUW branches that have already presented this program. Please e-mail Mary Jane Mayer at mjmaauw@tampabay.rr.com with any suggestions. Also, if you found materials outside the kit that you thought were helpful, they would like a contact number for those as well. Many thanks from the Tampa, North Tampa, Brandon and Sun City Center branches!

Alert to all branches: please be sure to send a copy of your new branch directories to:

Has your branch chosen a State or National program to undertake in 2002. If so, as you and your members arrange your ducks in a row, remember that there are mini-grants available to your branch. The grants provide funds from $100 to $500 to support and advance the priorities and mission of FLAAUW. These dollars may be needed by your branch to get the project off the ground and/or assure that it will be a rousing success. You may want to apply for a mini-grant. If you do not have an application form, one may be obtained from your Director-At-Large or by contacting your Co-Directors for Program. Do keep in mind that the deadline for Spring grants is December 1, 2001, with the grants to be awarded by February 1, 2002. This précis of the guidelines for mini-grants may assist you and your members in your planning. For example, it is important to know the eligibility requirements, “ Any Florida AAUW branch may submit a proposal that has direct community or public impact. No branch may receive a grant in two consecutive years.” Funds can only be used for: postage, mailing, shipping, lease of equipment, photocopying/duplication, audio-visual materials, project-related phone costs, advertising/publicity/graphic design and travel. On the other hand, funds cannot be used for: meals, food, beverages, personal expenses, lodging, building funds, purchase of equipment, salaries, scholarships, honoraria or previous expenses. The regulations are: your branch must administer the grant with an AAUW member, in a leadership position, controlling the project; the project may not influence legislation or favor a political candidate; the funds may not be used to benefit other organizations and lastly, unsuccessful proposals may be resubmitted only once. The Mini-Grant Committee will review each proposal using a criteria that stresses clarity, as well as creativity, in stating need, planning, feasibility, objectives, time frame, budget and evaluation. Apply for a Mini-Grant to conduct an outstanding project. Good luck!

And, don’t forget…

GRANTS FROM AAUW

Community Action Grants provide seed money to individual women, AAUW branches, AAUW states, AND local community-based nonprofit organizations for innovative programs or non-degree research projects that promote education and equity for women and girls. Awards for one year grants range from $2,000 to $7,000 and for two year grants from $5,000 to $10,000. Applications will be available on August 1 and the postmark deadline is February 1, 2002. [Check out the AAUW.org website.]

Leslie Henderson has just received confirmation from the Educational Foundation that they are sending her 28 copies of the latest Community Coalitions Manual. This is a coup, since there are not many copies left. Every branch should have a copy of this wonderful book which is chock full of the how-to’s in building coalitions and dealing with coalitions in AAUW programming. She will be sending them out on a first requested basis starting the week of September 17. HOWEVER, please note that there are not enough for all 53 branches, so if you already have one for your branch, please do not request another. One last caveat: each is the property of the branch, not one’s personal copy, and should be passed down from president to president, or program VP to program VP. Your cooperation in this is appreciated.

The actual cost of the manual is $14.95. This is a one-time offer of only a shipping/handling fee of $5.00. Please make your checks to Fl AAUW and send to:

Please include the name and address where it should be sent. Any manuals not requested by branches will be returned to the Foundation on December 1. Any net gain from sending these manuals will be returned to the Foundation to cover its shipping cost and the rest as a donation from Florida AAUW.