AAUW Reading (PA) Branch

AAUW MISSION STATEMENT

AAUW promotes equity for women and girls through advocacy, education and research.

DIVERSITY STATEMENT

AAUW values and seeks a diverse membership. There shall be no barriers to full participation in this organization on the basis of gender, race, creed, age, or sexual orientation.

AAUW provides many opportunities for women to explore their interests. Books, foods, the arts, trips, whatever, but always with a focus on the role of women. Our goal is to foster and encourage women “to stand up and be counted”

Click here to download the current issue of our local newsletter BRANCHLINES

Click here to download the latest issue of The Keystoner

The Keystoner is published four times a year, this newsletter shares information about our work across the state. We invite you to be a part of the exciting things happening across the state and to participate in AAUW Pennsylvania activities. The Keystoner will keep you informed.

2 025-26 Membership Form

AAUW Reading branch members enjoy a buffet lunch at the Inn at Centre Park during the Centre Park Historic District Christmas Tour in December.

January/February Events

AAUW Reading Branch Victorian Tea
Sunday, January 11, 2026 – 2 – 4 PM (Snow Date Jan.25)
at
Virginia Schulze-Johnson’s home
Our January branch meeting this year will be a Holiday Tea. Please bring a seasonal dessert and a
picture of you from childhood in a festive setting for a “guess who?” game.

Fine Arts

No meetings scheduled January and February.

Home Arts

Tuesday, January 27, noon

Klingers at the Airport.

Tuesday, February 24, noon

Lunch at Lilli’s Ranch House.

Literature

Monday January 26, 1.30 p.m.

“My Friends” Fredrik Backman.

Monday February 23, 1.30 p.m.

“The Briar Club” Kate Quinn.

Community Action Grant
We are going to apply for a Community Action Grant from AAUW to help advance STEM for students locally.
Jenn Garrison contacted the Reading Science Center who has recently responded with an interest. The Reading Science Center is a hands-on science museum located at 645 Penn St. Reading. We have been invited to visit one of their programs on Wednesday Feb 4 at 4:30. The focus of the grant is how the program advances gender equity in STEM, community impact and sustainability.
If anyone is interested in attending the Feb 4 program and working on this project, let Karen Parish know. You will NOT be asked to do any grant writing. It will be fun to interact with this project!

Berks Book Bonanza 2026

Currently the Book Bonanza staff is on a winter break. Collecting and sorting books are expected to resume in March after the change to daylight savings time. When we have exact dates and times we will sent out
information.

Donations will be accepted at the County of Berks South Campus location, 400 E Wyomissing Ave, Mohnton, PA 19540. Drop-offs will occur at the ramp in the back parking lot. See website for list of acceptable donations:

https://www.berksbookbonanza.org/copy-of-donation-information

Mark your calendars.

March 11, Noon – Annual Meeting – Wyomissing Library – bring food items to share; we will have a wrap tray. Speaker on downsizing.

2026 AAUW ATLANTIC REGIONAL CONFERENCE
The 2026 Atlantic Regional Conference will be held in Lancaster, Reading branch members will be volunteering as well as attending this event. We will plan to drive rather than stay overnight.
“Unfinished Revolution: Together We Stand” will be held September 25 – 27, 2026 at the Lancaster Convention Center.
The hotel room block is now open for the Lancaster Marriott at the Lancaster
Convention Center- reserve early to secure your stay at and be at the center of the action!
Please visit the conference website at aauwatlanticregionalconference.net for more details

100th Anniversary Update

BCTV 100^th Anniversary presentation. Anyone who missed it or would like to see it again can go to this website:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqNe476LZD4&t=110s

AAUW 2024 Revised Bylaws

The revised bylaws were voted on at the March membership meeting. The first 7 sections were mandated by AAUW National and have been approved by the Board in keeping with their directives. See Bylaws page to read revised bylaws.

Presidents Message.

Happy Holidays to All. It’s been a very busy year and I am looking forward to some quiet time over the holidays. I hope you too will find some peace.
On the policy front, AAUW continues on its mission to expand and protect opportunities for women.
Carolyn Smith and I participated in AAUW-PA Lobby Day to support Women’s Health initiatives. The event was sponsored by AAUW along with a host of other organizations. If you would take a minute, write to your House Representative to support the Healthy Families Act to guarantee all workers the ability to earn paid sick days and family leave. Use this link and AAUW will send out the letters for you:
https://aauw.quorum.us/campaign/148010/ Also, write state representatives to support the Pennsylvania Care Act, a similar legislative initiative.
AAUW’s commitment to Education and the fight to ensure educational opportunity continues. The elimination of the Department of Education and how those with forgivable Public Service Loans will be treated are among the many issues. Already the DOE is calling back laid off workers to help process Civil Rights complaints.
AAUW National has joined forces with the League of Women Voters and others for a campaign to encourage, in a nonpartisan way, voter registration and voting. The It’s My Vote campaign is being rolled out nation-wide. AAUW focuses on Issues, not candidates. Our issues are economic opportunity,
women’s health and education. More actions and volunteer opportunities will be announced.

Pa Public Policy Update.

This year, our state Public Policy Priorities will be reviewed and updated if desired by our organization. A committee is being formed to review the policies and any recommendations from the field to update these priorities. If you are interested, a sign up form is in the November Keystoner.
AAUW Policies and supporting actions are enumerated online at https://aauwpa.aauw.net/policy/priorities/
 To enable members and all citizens to participate fully in a representative democracy and self governance
 To support a quality system of public education
 To improve the economic self-sufficiency of all women
 To improve the operation and transparency of government
The priority we are focused on at this time is the break up of the Department of Education. This Department is charged with enforcing civil rights and equal access for all students. Already Civil Rights workers previously fired from this Department are being offered their jobs back, temporarily, to respond the present case load. The weakened capacity of the Department or lack of a DOE, will provide fewer safeguards.
Join the Two – Minute activist to send a letter to our Congressional Representatives about this issue.
AAUW Action Network – AAUW : Empowering Women Since 1881

AAUW Statement Strongly Condemning the U.S. Supreme Court’s Opinion on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The following is a statement from Gloria L. Blackwell, AAUW Chief Executive Officer:

The American Association of University Women (AAUW) strongly condemns the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. The decision overturns the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling that established abortion as a constitutionally protected right nearly 50 years ago and ignores the will of the American people, 80% of whom support legal abortion.

AAUW believes everyone has the right to make decisions about their own reproductive lives without government interference. Abortion access is vital to women’s ability to control their lives, bodies and futures. Without reproductive freedom, there can be no equity.

Being able to choose whether and when to become a parent improves women’s well-being and fosters economic security—a crucial component of AAUW’s mission. This is particularly important in a country that lacks accessible maternal health care, paid caregiving leave and workplace protections for pregnant workers.

The Court’s decision hurts all of us, but it will do the most harm to low-income people, women of color, immigrants, people with disabilities and LGBTQ+ people, because these groups already face substantial barriers to accessing reproductive services and health care.

While the Court’s decision is a major setback for all Americans, AAUW remains steadfast in our commitment to protecting reproductive rights, a vital component of gender equity.

If this ongoing struggle is important to you please consider becoming a member of our local Reading branch AAUW

PA State AAUW | National AAUW
Educational Foundation | Legal Advocacy Fund

AAUW Action Fund
Congressional Voting Record 116th Congress (January 2019-September 2020)