If someone is passionate and committed to our AAUW issues, she should not only be allowed to join us, that person will also most likely be a great member because of that passion. Every branch benefits from such committed, active members, helping the branch be a vital part of the local community. They often take on leadership positions, too. This is also a boon to branches in small towns with a finite pool of potential members.
Caroline Pickens, AAUW McLean Area (VA)
April 8, 2015
I’ve heard the arguments for and against open membership. I’ve been a member since the late 1990s and attended the convention when we voted for membership with an associate degree. I believe it’s time for AAUW to open the membership to people who support the mission, no matter their education status. I welcome those who believe in equal opportunity for all.
Kathy Shaw, AAUW Marshall (MI)
April 6, 2015
It is incredulous that an organization that promotes “equity” for women is exclusive. In my years of membership, I’ve heard many times when I approach people who are obviously qualified about membership, they are turned off because of our membership requirement. As we work with businesses in creating partnerships, it’s embarrassing to explain how we can be working for equity – when membership is not open to all. If people support our mission, they should be able to be members.
Sandy Hansen, AAUW Livermore-Pleasanton-Dublin (CA)
April 6, 2015
In Idaho, and especially rural Idaho, we’re outnumbered and it’s important to include every willing voice in our on-going work towards equity and education for women and girls. We particularly need every willing voice to speak up for civil rights for all and for a woman’s right to choose if and when to bear children.
Marilyn Arp, AAUW Long Valley (ID)
April 4, 2015
AAUW appears to assume that a college education provides a person with a better, broader skill set to advocate on behalf of women. This membership requirement should be challenged. Did MLK require a college education to March in Selma? Does NOW require its volunteers in women’s health clinics to be college educated? Does a local rape crisis require its Board members to have a college degree? Any civil rights organization that restricts its membership to those with college degrees is missing a potential pool of members who can commit to the AAUW mission without needing “papers.”
Karla Atkinson, AAUW Brevard and AAUW Tar Heel (NC)
April 4, 2015
Times have changed, and we must change with them. It is way past time to do this. Let’s get this done. You have my support, and thanks for doing the work to get this issue across the finish line.
Doris Bernlohr, AAUW Tar Heel and AAUW Chapel Hill
April 4, 2015
I have been supportive of the efforts to allow AAUW to open up the membership requirement to those who advocate for the mission of AAUW, regardless of their educational qualifications. I am pleased to see the proposed bylaw amendment presented to the membership for a vote in 2015.
Barbara Bonsignore, AAUW Rochester (MI), April 4, 2015
Here is the rationale for the Bylaws Amendment as it appears in the AAUW Voter Guide
Whereas the purpose of AAUW is to advance equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research, restricting membership is inherently inequitable and furthermore limits AAUW’s influence in the community. Over the long history of AAUW, our organization’s mission and membership requirements have steadily evolved with our successes and with the times. As a part of that evolution, it is imperative that our organization recognize the power of welcoming anyone who supports our mission, as do most other mission-based nonprofits. The reasons for doing so are both ethical and practical:
The 2015 AAUW ballot has a question about dropping the degree requirement for AAUW membership. This is the first time since we jettisoned the “only delegates who attend convention may vote” system that the question is on the ballot. All members — branch members, national-only members, representatives of AAUW College/University Partners — may vote with a simple online form.
The question on the ballot is, essentially, to replace
A graduate holding an associate or equivalent, baccalaureate, or higher degree from a qualified educational institution shall be eligible to receive admission to AAUW membership
with
Anyone who supports Article II of these Bylaws shall be eligible for AAUW membership
Article II of the 2013 Bylaws says: “The purpose of AAUW is to advance equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research.”
The trigger for membership is, as before, payment of dues. The supporters of this website proposed a simpler amendment that would focus on that verifiable fact rather than a prospect’s support of the organization’s mission. However, the two proposals were combined into one, and the group fully supports this language as an appropriate change to the AAUW Bylaws.
For full information on the change, see the AAUW Voter Guide that was sent to all members as part of the recent issue of Outlook.
Last fall AAUW opened up a comment period when members could submit amendments to the organization’s bylaws. A change was submitted to drop the degree requirement for membership (exact wording will be linked when it appears on the AAUW website).
Members should watch for more information through AAUW channels about the logistics of the election. This change requires a two-thirds majority of those voting to pass.
The OpenUp AAUW group submitted the following rationale for the change.
Over the long history of AAUW, our organization’s mission and membership requirements have steadily evolved with our successes and with the times. As a part of that evolution, it is imperative our organization recognizes the power of welcoming anyone who supports our mission, as do most other mission-based non-profits. The reasons for doing so are both ethical and practical:
(1) An organization is strongest when its members actively support its mission. Since AAUW opened membership to men in 1987, our membership demographics did not significantly change (our membership is still overwhelmingly female). However, it meant that the men who joined were dedicated to AAUW’s work. AAUW stands to benefit by offering that same openness to any person who supports AAUW’s mission and wants to join us.
(2) Requiring a college-degree for membership mistakenly implies that only those with degrees could possibly value or advocate for education for girls and women.
(3) AAUW’s stated objective to break down barriers for women is weakened by maintaining our own barrier to AAUW membership.
(4) Membership recruitment and processing would be greatly simplified, with no more awkward questions of prospective members about whether they are “qualified” for membership; but we would continue to be free to support and celebrate our members’ educational accomplishments and aspirations.
(5) Nothing in this change would affect college/university partner members, student affiliates and reduced fees for them, or the many programs that AAUW supports on campuses across the country.
Open Up AAUW 